text: First creative writing I've done in several years. I finally feel my spark coming back after fighting through a bout of depression. It's cold. I can see the water particles in my breath freeze as I breathe. They have breached the main hull, knocking out life support. I am huddled behind a desk in a side room off the bridge, blaster in hand, eye on the bridge entry. Ready to blast the first thing that comes in. Lights are off, power knocked out, too. The only light I have is the occasional red glow of the emergency strips along the walls, illuminating the dead crew strewn around the bridge. "Warning. Delta protocol enacted. Self-destruct will commence in T-minus three minutes and twenty-five seconds" I grit my teeth. I refuse to die here, alone in a strange nebula, in this cold, metal grave. The ship automatically initiated the self-destruct protocol when we were boarded. 5 minutes. 5 minutes until this thing explodes, taking them with it. But not me. I refuse. I hear a noise from the hallway. As if the mandibles on a giant bug were clicking together. I shivered. These creatures were things from a nightmare. A nightmare I must escape from. "Warning. Delta protocol enacted. Self-destruct will commence in T-minus two minutes and fifteen seconds" I exhaled sharply. I didn't realize I had been holding my breath. I had 2 minutes to reach the escape pod. It was right around the corner. If I could rush out, distract the invaders with a few shots from my blaster, I could make it. Close off the airlock, and escape in the pod. I only needed about 60 seconds to do it. I narrowed me eyes, mustering up all the courage I had left, and channeling my almost crippling fear into energy. "Warning. Delta protocol enacted. Self-destruct will commence in T-minus one minute and forty-five seconds" I can do this. "For the Sovereignty. For Vandor!" I raised my blaster, it's steel cool against my hand, giving me strength. I stood and ran for the door of the bridge, firing off a round of blasts to clear my way. I heard screeching. I must have hit one of the bugs! As I charged through the gaping holes in the bridge door, I was almost caught by a black mandible as a creature reached for my neck. I managed to twirl around and doge it, letting off a few more shots in it's general direction. Hissing from the creature. I ran a down the hallway, dodging sparking panels and downed pipes from the ceiling. I could see the door! I was almost there! I reached out to open it. Suddenly, I felt something grab my waist. It was tight, hard, and pulling back from the door. It was one of the creatures. "Warning. Delta protocol enacted. Self-destruct will commence in T-minus one minute and fifteen seconds" "No!" I screamed. I will NOT die here! I lifed my hand to fire off a round into the creature's face. No blaster! I must have dropped it when it grabbed me! It hissed, hot hair blowing into my face. The smell of death. I couldn't make out it's full form in the dark, but from the occasional spark or flash of red from the emergency panels, I could tell it was black, shiney, with many eyes looking at me. Its mouth was a hole with two large pinchers on either end, and many smaller ones in it's mouth. It leaned in for the kill, pulling me towards it. I reached out into the dark for anything, and found what I hoped was an electrical cord hanging from the ceiling. I thrust it forward, into the creature's mouth. It screeched as the electric charge surprised it, releasing me and stumbling back. I wasted no time getting back to the door, charging through and shutting it behind me. I locked it and climbed into the small, cramped escape pod. "Warning. Delta protocol enacted. Self-destruct will commence in T-minus forty-five seconds" I flipped the boot up switch, preparing to launch the pod. But nothing happened. "No! Nonono!" I tried it again. Still nothing. "Warning. Delta protocol enacted. Self-destruct will commence in T-minus thirty-two seconds" I tried it once more. A whirl, lights flickered, and then went out. Oh God. Had the pod been damaged? Is this the end? My mad race for freedom, was it all in vain? "Warning. Delta protocol enacted. Self-destruct will commence in T-minus twenty seconds" My head sank into my hands. "Please" I whispered, hoping my silent prayer would be heard. "Warning. Delta protocol enacted. Self-destruct will commence in T-minus fifteen seconds" I tried the switch again. "10" The lights flickered "9" They didn't shut off! "8" The navigation panel came to life, loading the preprogrammed emergency coordinates "7" I felt a vibration in the seat as I felt the pod trying to come to life "6" Sweat beaded on my forehead "5" The airlock door of the pod slid shut. "4" It clicked. Locking me in "3" Just waiting for the launch button to light up" "2" It lit up! "Launch sequence completed." "1" I slammed my hand down on the launch button. ...... ...... ...... "Timmy! Time to go!" My mother called to me from the exit of the grocery store. I looked up at her from the small cockpit of the rocket that I had just sat in. She chuckled, walking over to me. "Aww, did my little spaceman forgot his quarter? Here." She reached into her purse, pulling out a shiny quarter, and put it into the coin-slot of the rocket. Ruffing my hair, she watched as i grinned, enjoying the few moments of fun I had while the rocket bounced back and forth. It was a good day to be a kid.