Ransom the Shapeshifter: Part One (special preview)

Something was wrong. You shouldn't have been able to wake up by now. Your cryostasis should have lasted the whole journey, and you would have been woken by your commanding officer. Instead, you woke to the flashing red lights and warning alarms that something had gone wrong.

You sat up out of your pod,  groaning in pain. “Fukcing hell. Did we crash or something?” Prickles ran down your arms and the back of your neck as you moved. Your legs ached as you stood from the chamber. Stepping down onto the cold, water covered floor it was more like walking on needles. All the other pods were open as well, but no one was inside them. A pipe on the wall was spewing water, gushing and spilling onto the floor. Perhaps the ship had crashed, but for some reason you had the nagging suspect that couldn’t be the case.

You left the chamber to try and find the others. Perhaps they were working on the problem already. As soon as the door opened a bit, power went off and everything went dark.

“Fuck,” you coughed out. There was a groaning that the ship made, as if settling. There was a grinding and crunch in the distance. “Geez,” you grumbled under your breath. You stretched your neck which helped with the prickling.

You managed to push the door open just enough to wriggle through and step into the hallway. The hall felt tilted and the emergency lights were on. They had this sort of purplish white color. They always had a way of playing tricks on your eyes.

“Hello!” You hollered out. “Is anywhere there? Hello!” You went further down the hall, finding more pipes had ruptured and most of the ship was wet. You rubbed your eyes then searched your pockets for your glasses. Then you remembered they were in storage with the rest of your belongings.

“So fucking stupid,” you huffed under your breath. You placed your hand upon the wall, hoping to come across people as you made your way to storage. “We’ll keep your glasses safe, don't worry.” You said in a mocking tone. “Now here I am walking around pantless and blind.”

You looked around with a scowl upon your face. “I thought it was around here. But…maybe I’m not awake yet.”

A figure walked across the hallway before you, or at least, that’s how it looked from your point of view. You also thought you heard them singing softly, but that was even harder to tell with the sound of water pouring all around you.

“Hey!” You yelled out. “Is someone there? Hello!” You rushed forward, running and tripping into the hallway and sliding into the opposite wall.

“Take me home, country roads, to the place-” The song faded into the depths of the ship, buried with the sound of splashing water as you tried to get up. You smacked the wall trying to rise and the door behind you wooshed open and you were sucked back into the adjoining room.

“Motherfucker!” You screamed as you were played the fool by the slip and slide the spaceship had become.

You crash landed into the room, getting stopped by some overturned bedding and blankets. You crawled out from them, laying down a mattress onto the wet floor long enough for you the gain your barrings. You squinted, trying to make out the room around you. There were lockers! A good start.

“Mine was next to Finnigan’s, which he said was always eighth from the right so mine would be…one two three-” You counted down the row, dragging the mattress with you to keep from sliding in the water.

“Nine.” You placed your hand upon your locker and found the lock on it was busted. Opening the metal door, you patted around inside until you found your glasses case. “Finally.” You cracked open the old case and took your glasses out, setting them upon your face to finally have a good look around.

From your locker you got your uniform, your badge, you holster and weapons. As you dressed, your ears burned as you heard something outside. It sounded like someone singing again.

“To the place, I belong-” the note carried out and faded into the ship.

You listened hard enough it made your ears grow hot, and then you were sure you had been hearing things. You searched your locker for the last thing you wanted with you, your hat. But it was gone.