Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 1926824" data-attributes="member: 6294">"The Targ Totality" - Part 8Fury and Gustav remove their helmets as they and S'Ondra follow the lumbering Archie."It is good to breathe fresh air again." Gustav inhales mightily."We're on a spaceship, Doc, it can't be all that fresh." Fury reminds him, "But it is nice to be out of that helmet."  He unconsciously touches his hair.The four space adventurers head down a series of plain, featureless metal corridors, strangely reminiscent of those from Xinthon's tomb."This way." Archie intones as they reach an intersection, then abruptly halts and holds up a hand, "Wait."There is a momentary confusion of limbs as the group tries to follow two different sets of directions at once.  The Archie sweeps his arms out and herds all three of his companions backward.  Moments later, a group of Targ walk past the intersection.After the aliens are out of sight, Fury spares a stern look for Archie,"How about a little more warning next time, old boy?"Archie, mentally cataloguing the cleaning processes he will require after touching two humans and a Venusian, makes no reply.Eventually, the group enters a corridor with several steel doors leading off on one side.  Each door is emblazoned with a yellow and black symbol, similar to that of a radiation warning.  The signs have lettering below them."These are the science laboratories." Archie indicates the doors with a motion of his arm."Ve must attempt to gain access to ze formula for ze mould antidote." Gustav peers down the hallway, "Are any of zese rooms unoccupied?""The ship's sensors indicate that all laboratories are in use." Archie has plugged himself into another wall panel, "Laboratory Three has the fewest occupants.""Which one would that be, old boy?" Fury gestures at the - too him - incomprehensible Targ lettering."Number three is the third one along." The lack of inflection in Archie's tone speaks volumes."It might not have been." Fury grumbles, "They might have started numbering from the other end, or something." He frowns manfully, "In any case, the important question now is how to get them out of that laboratory."He turns to Gustav,"Doc, you're the one with rank on his chest.  You'll have to go in and tell them to leave.""Zat should present no trouble." Gustav claps his hands together and then jams his helmet on his head.  His voice is muffled as he continues, "Often I have had to make my assistants leave ze lab.  Zis will no doubt be little different.""No doubt." Fury's tone makes it clear he is reconsidering the wisdom of this strategy, but Gustav is already striding forward.  The door glides open as he approaches, and the plucky German Scientist (and how many of those are there in popular entertainment?) steps through.The laboratory is a spacious chamber.  In the centre of the far wall is a massive glass tube, easily ten feet in height and more than half that in diameter.  The tube glows with an eerie light, which reflects off the walls and gives them a rather unhealthy greenish cast.  Within the tube is an ugly, fearsome-looking creature, possibly reptilian or amphibian in nature.  It has a broad head with a slightly beak-like mouth and thick, powerful arms that end in heavy claws.A pair of computer banks face the tube, and an encounter-suited Targ stands at each.  The only visible difference between them and the Doctor is that the insignias on their uniforms are blue, rather than red."Achtung!" the Doctor announces, with only the slightest tremor in his voice, "Zere has been a containment leak in zis room and you must depart immediately, wizzout delay or question.  Hear me and obey, for we are ze Targ Totality, and follow ze orders we get wizzout question.  Seig Heil!"Outside the door, there is a thunk as Fury starts softly banging his head against the wall.</blockquote>

Verification