The Soul Eaters (The Thin Hex Line Book 1) by Gwyndolyn Russell (e reader txt) 📕

Reaper asked as he pulled himself into the room. "Where’s the damage?"

"Don't know, sir." Willis said.

"There's no power in the bridge. It's been drained. " Apelu clarified.

"Drained?"

"No controls. The ship is flying on its own at full speed." Willis pulled open the service panel to see if he couldn't figure out the problem.

"That can't be possible."

"It must be that rock that hit us." Apelu suggested.

"Maybe? I don't know how. It looks like it's attached, but without the system running, I can't see shit."

"It looks like we're headed straight to the planet." Reaper pointed at the window.

"Sir, we're barely getting through the system with those stars." Willis looked up from the console. "We aren't suited for atmospheric conditions. If we land, or...crash there, we may never get off the planet."

"That'll be the least of our concerns…." Reaper pulled himself to the pilot's seat. "Can you establish controls? Steer us away?"

"I'd love to...but…" he touched several of the wires with his bare fingers. Not even a tingling sensation.

"No power at all. I can't route any from here."

The intercom sparked to life. Static barely gave way to an artifacting voice.

"Cap...no….get…work...engi...oh...heat."

"Did anyone catch that?" Reaper asked.

"All of our systems are losing power."

"We're getting real close to that planet…." Apelu backed away from the console.

"If we go in at this speed the ship will break apart." Willis looked to Reaper.

"Go find Torch. See if you can re-route the power. I'm gonna make sure the sec team is ready. We may have to abandon ship."

As Reaper headed down the hall, the power failure caused all of the lights to flicker. Eventually they shut off and never came back on. He groped his way through the dark. Thank God he knew this ship like the back of his hand.

The civilians were quiet, hidden in their rooms. Perhaps the silence could preserve their lives. He stopped at an airlock to ask for Jackal.

"Lieutenant's at the main door of the cargo bay." One of the soldiers said.

Reaper headed that way. Sure enough, Jackal was holding onto a bar on the wall, trying to get the intercom there to work.

"Lieutenant," Reaper stopped next to him.

"There you are!" Jackal looked up to him. "I can't get anything to work. We've lost power through the whole ship. Even life support is down."

"As long as everything stays sealed, we have time." He looked over to Fenris, "whatever that thing is, it's taking us to B-58."

"Not possible." Fenris stated. "Eos...do not…" it was at a loss for the word.

"Have the tech?" Jackal questioned.

"I suspect whatever that thing is that's hit us, has drained the power to the ship. Our main thrusters are at full power. We're pointed right at the planet."

"Utopia." Fenris said.

"What?"

"This happened to the Utopia." Jackal clarified. "They didn't crash into a planet though."

"There were none near it." Reaper said.

"No more eos." Fenris stated. "Only it."

"Is it aiming to kill us by crashing the ship?"

The valkyrie shrugged. "Do not care about humans." It pointed at itself. "Wants me."

"All of this just for you?"

"They know I come. Know why." Its head tilted. "Normal to...turn away. Not bring to." It hacked and shook its head.

"Are you okay?" Reaper asked.

Before he could get an answer, the ship rattled. It seemed the panels were about to rip off.

"What the hell is that?!" Someone shouted.

Black tendrils broke through the inner walls. Like vines they grew through the metal. Wherever they held, the panels stopped shaking. They reinforced the ship as it broke into the atmosphere.

Fenris looked around, watching each of the tendrils.

The ship jolted; recoiled backwards like it hit a wall at full force. It slowed down. Everyone floated from their positions if they held nothing. The ship tilted down sharply. The rattling calmed. The ship leveled out and everyone touched the floor. The sound was unbearable, making many cover their ears.

A screech sounded from outside. A massive winged machine skirting across the side of the ship, narrowly dodging it. Wings like that for the ocean let it soar gracefully just below the atmosphere. It, with a few of its own kind, twisted around the ship as it descended to the ground thousands of miles below. Halfway there, the creatures broke away, returning to the clouds above.

Then the ship came to an abrupt stop on its belly, making loose objects bounce to the ceiling and crash back down. Before anyone could react, the exterior of the ship was surrounded by monstrous sounds. Shrieks, roars, growls. Claws scratched at the surface. They could hear things skittering across the top and over the walls.

"Christ...are those…" someone stammered.

"Is anyone hurt?!" Reaper shouted over the commotion.

"Were good, sir!" Someone answered.

"Give me a radio check!" Jackal ordered. "Everyone sound off to your team leads!"

"I'm going to get my suit." Reaper squeezed Jackal's shoulder.

"Fen, where are you going?" Jackal followed the valkyrie to the cargo bay door.

"Stay." Fenris said, looking down at him.

"So you can go alone out there? They'll eat you!"

"I will make them leave." It said. "When quiet, come out."

Since the door wouldn't open by the button without power, Fenris pried it open by its strength. It bit through the pain of the chains digging into its body.

Jackal shouted for Yaaranam and Mjolnir to help. Both gripped the door at either side and held it open for Fenris to go through. It took all their strength to keep the door from snapping shut.

Jackal tried to follow the valkyrie out the door, but it shoved him to the floor.

"Hey, what's your---"

The door nearly shut. Yaaranam uttered a cry, straining on her side. The other soldiers piled up, each gripping the inner edge to pull.

"Get something to hold it open!" Jackal ordered.

Those not holding the door frantically searched for anything strong enough to keep it propped open.

The creatures outside squealed at the sight of Fenris. Some immediately ran off in fear. Out into the cargo bay, Fenris let out its ferocious roar. The eos surrounding the ship shut up. Listened. Those not brave enough ran away while they still could. Those that thought