Bloody Hands (Part One of Two)

"I think I got it !" Lieutenant Tyra yelled from within the Jeffries tube.

*Finally some progress...* Taline thought to himself.

It had been at least three hours and Taline had failed to make much improvement on the life support systems. Fortunately, Tyra had made some headway.

"Great. I am going to try to put life support systems back online. You ready ?" Lucas asked.

*This is it...* The Lieutenant Commander thought, in his own little world. *We just may escape that black hole. Show that monster, Darwin, how little help Taline is ! Ha!*

His mind returned from his petty emotions to the ship, as he spoke through his special respiratory suit.

"Okay, here we go... Keep your fingers crossed."

*Just a few seconds more.* He thought with anxious excitement. He looked over the console, reviewing exactly what he was to do. The last hours' labour will finally bear fruit.

He began the countdown "...in three, two, one..."

His mind tried to calm him down *Ok...* He smiled as he took a deep breath.

His fingers hovered over the buttons. "Here...we...go!"

As the buttons depressed his ears finally detected the warning cries of Tyra. "...Wait !"

*Huh ?* A bewildered Taline thought, his smile fading. *What had been going on this whole time ? Why hadn't she said something sooner ? What exactly....*' His thoughts were cut off by an explosion in a Jeffries tube. *An explosion ? That sounded like it came from the tube that....*

The smile that formed less than a second ago had twisted into a look of terror. *'Good God, no ! It can't be true !*

He rushed as fast as his legs would carry him. He knew it was true: he had heard her stifled scream. He skidded to a stop, nearly falling upon reaching the tube. He peered into the tube's contents. A twitch in the fingers. The room started spinning.

Falling. Nothing but falling. Falling and blackness. Legs rigid and growing increasingly less capable of supporting body weight as they carried backward. Eyes blinking uncontrollably. Right arm grasping desperately for something to hold onto. Hands shaking. Body trembling. Breathing irregular. Heart racing. Legs unable to support body weight. Knees crashing to the ground, barely holding up. Hands clenching to fists. Arms falling hopelessly to sides. Hands relaxing, unfurling fingers. Heart nearly out of chest. Difficulty breathing punishing. Back curved. Body hunched over. Head leaning towards back. Eyes sealed shut.

The blackness gave way to a silhouette. A silhouette gave way to another two silhouettes. Three silhouettes focused into three images. One focused, then another, then another, then the first. Charred companion. Tightly gripped coupling in a black hand. Final look of pain. Breathing just enough for a remorseful howl of despair. The abyss of guilt came through the tortured cry:

"What have I done !"