Alien: Endymion (5th Interval)

    As the faint rattle of metal emanated from the far reaches of the corridor beyond the frozen storage bay, a soft and echoing whisper above David's macabre recitation, Jacob suddenly realized what was happening. He'd been lured into a trap. He'd taken the bait. Now David was calling the hounds. Wheeling swiftly about, his sidearm drawn up in his fear and rage, Jacob harshly intoned "You son-of-a - "

    However, Jacob's words were suddenly cut off as a cold and inhumanly powerful hand clamped tightly around his throat - and another idly swatted his pistol from his hand. As the weapon clanged heavily to the ground, Jacob gasped in pain as he reached up to grip David's arm - fighting against the android's terrifyingly powerful clutch. Maintaining his lifeless gaze upon Jacob's eyes, David continued to sing, his voice rising to a droning, monotone cacaphony amidst the ice and metal "OH, SHORT LIVED IS TREASURED YOUTH; I AM A SAILOR'S TOMB..."

    Straining against David's grip with both hands, Jacob fought for freedom and breath. However, as he struggled, David began to slowly step forward - pushing him back with little effort. Back toward the storage bay's dimly-lit entrance. Back toward the faint rattlings that were steadily approaching. Unable to breathe or resist the androids implacable advance, Jacob felt blood rushing to his temples in heavy throbs as his boots scraped across the grated floor and David brought his voice to a near deafening pitch "...YET BESIDE ME A FARMER LIES..."

  The cold of the storage bay suddenly washed away to faint warmth as Jacob found himself steadily pushed out through the door and into the ship's connecting corridor. Yet, the man-like machine maintained his grip on Jacob's throat - holding him transfixed within a moat of weak, artificial light. Still standing in the dark of the storage bay's entrance, his features partially obscured by the shadows and lazily-drifting ice, David suddenly grew silent. Watching Jacob struggle feebly against the grip of his hand, he slowly cocked his head to the side - as if studying the situation with disconnected interest.

   Jacob's vision had begun to blur as every fiber in his body screamed for air. His lungs ached as if they might burst at any moment and he felt his strength rapidly ebbing away. However, his ears had not yet become dulled. That much was horribly true. For he could still hear it, the creature, slowly advancing through the dark of the ship. Drawn to David's voice. Continuing to watch Jacob with his emotionless regard, David arched a straw-white eyebrow ever so slighlty - as if amused by the ordeal. Continuing to tighten his grip upon Jacob's throat, David softly said "They just need a firm hand, Officer Best...". Out of time and options, his body on the verge of shutting down, Jacob took the only option he could find. Utilizing the android's prodigious strength to his advantage, Jacob kicked outward and to the side - allowing David to keep him suspended upright. In that instant, Jacob's boot impacted the access panel to the storage bay - smashing harshly against the emergency release. With a faint hiss, the thick door slid out from its hidden recess - gliding swiftly upon magnetic rails.

   Milky-white blood suddenly gushed forth in multiple, ropy streams as David's arm was crushed at the elbow between the door and its frame. The sickening sound of synthesized tissue and bone steadily buckling and splitting under tremendous pressure filled the air as David's hand - now bereft of function - slowly relaxed around Jacob's throat. Dropping to the ground heavily as he coughed and gasped for air, Jacob pushed himself up to his hands and knees. Trembling, his vision swimming, Jacob forced himself to stand despite his body's protests - and as he looked up, his eyes met David's. Gazing out from the frost-clouded view-shield of the storage bay's door, his ruined arm spasming faintly between the unmoving slabs of metal between which it had been crushed, the android wore a simulated expression of faint mirth. As the corner of his mouth lifted in the faintest ghost of a half-smile, David spoke, his voice muffled heavily by the door "You really should consider fleeing now, Officer Best...".

   David's words had barely begun to register to Jacob's mind when he suddenly heard yet another faint rattle from the dark of the corridor to his left. Only this one was near. Very near. Breathing softly, Jacob turned his gaze slowly from the imprisoned android to look out into the dark - straining to see behind his fogged safety goggles. For many long moments, Jacob's eyes were met only by the dark of the hall and the faint moats of light streaming through it. However, as he watched, one of the shadows slowly moved away for the others - a fluid, elegant shape that seemed loathe to leave the dark behind. Dim moisture glistened upon umbral skin as a faint and echoing hiss issued out from the shadows.

   Weaponless, his mind awash in dread, Jacob obeyed his body's first instinct. He ran.