Once again Douglas was walking. He had left the elevator about five minutes ago. It had been a really fast trip and he even enjoyed it a little bit. "You should nearly see the leak by now. Only a few steps more." Rain's voice was tense. Even more than earlier that day. But Douglas didn't notice it. He himself felt more tension than he ever did in his life. Since now the hull had been illuminated by a nearby sun. Douglas had asked Rain about it but all she could tell him consited of scientific details from the ship's database. Deep inside he hoped she would tell him it's called 'Sun' and the 3rd planet looked blue but obvoiusly he was a long way from home. But now, just one step ahead was shadow. Darkness. Douglas' eyes couldn't cope with.
"Do I carry anything like a lamp with me?"
"A lamp?... Erik says you have a infrared system. Find a switch on the right side of your helmet." Douglas activated the switch and suddently his view faded into shades of grey.
"Got it." 'I can still see were the shadow begins. The sunlight must enourmously heat the hull up.' He made some more steps and then he saw what had happend. There was a big gap in the hull. Well, they had expected that. But "What the hell is that?"
"Douglas? What's the matter?"
"It's ... it looks like ... ANOTHER SPACESHIP! ... And there are figures moving around ... in spacesuits ... GRENDELS! ... they are approaching - HELP!"
"Fire, open fire!"
"It doesn't work! ... they are behind me ..." Topping any speed record in running on the hull of a spaceship - well, nobody actually did this before, but still - he reached the elevator. "The code, fast!"
"Which code?"
"The elevator code, fast!"
"Wait a moment..."
"I don't have a moment!"
"4784" The elevator started to move.
"That was close. They nearly got me. And now tell me why this stupid gun didn't work."
"You switched it on, didn't you?"
"Switch it on? You told me only to push that button..."
"Do you see the switch on the left side?"
"Yes, and it's turned off. Bet I get out of this in one piece or I'll tear you into pieces. Since I got out of the ship you are constantly trying to kill me!"
"Calm down, we are all a little bit nervous..."
He already wanted to answer "A BIT nervous?". 'Calm down, Douglas. Save your breath. She'll have to pay for this. But not now.' He switched his gun on. 'Now they can try to get me.' He looked up to enjoy the ride at least a bit. 'Isn't this shadow moving? I have still this infrared system on...' He switched it off. And they obviously did try it. "They are coming after me!"
"They are doing what? Do you have an idea how fast this elevator is?"
"I have, I'm on it, do you remember? But they have a spaceship..." Coming to a conclusion he lifted his gun. And then he started to fire. Bolts of energy hit the ship enlighting the black hull. The ship shook a bit but didn't slow down. It was still approaching at high speed. And then it suddently opened fire. If Douglas would have heared the ship's wapons hitting the hull he would have been afraid. Very afraid in fact. But luckyly the vacuum kills any sounds. Around Douglas the world exploded. Not only the hull on the "Albian Explorer" was hit - even the elevator smoked. The hit spots didn't melt. The material evaporated. Several times Douglas got nearly hit. It was only a question of time until a direct hit would tear him into bits. Not noticed by Douglas the elevator approached its destination. It already slowed down. 50 metres... 20 metres... 5 metres... 1 metre... full stop. The black ship shot by Douglas and he was able to hit is target directly into the bottom. It slowed down, did a loop and moved into attack position again. Coming closer it suddently started to reel. And crashed into the "Albian Explorer". Douglas, still standing on the elevator, got hit by a piece of scrap.
"Douglas?... What's going on there? Douglas?!" There was no answer. There was only silence. And a ship wreck. And large purple letters painted on it: "NASA".