A quick stop at the security station

The elevator doors slid open with a pleasant chime, inviting Marie to step inside the softly glowing cabin. She moved forward slowly, still unsure of her destination. The control panel to the side of the door came to life as she entered, and she eyed it warily.

Hesitantly, Marie reached out with her gloved hand and jabbed a finger at the panel. The doors in front of her came together, and the elevator gently accelerated into motion. Marie chewed her lip as the level indicators illuminated one after the other on the light strip above the door, not glancing back toward the control panel as if afraid she'd change her mind.

The elevator's gentle motion slowed then stopped. Marie shook herself out of her brief reverie, and moved to the side of the doors, raising her pulse pistol in front of her. Her other finger hovered over the control panel.

"NOW ARRIVING AT THE MAIN SECURITY STATION. ENJOY YOUR VISIT."

The off-white door panels in front of her eased open with a quiet hiss, revealing a dimly hallway, lit by flickering emergency lighting. Marie tensed, expecting some fresh horror to leap out of the darkness toward the bright interior of the elevator but all remained quiet.

Gingerly stepping out, she took in her surroundings. Marie found herself in what appeared to be a spacious reception or waiting area, roughly semi-circular in shape. The walls were lined with metallic lockers and shelving, with one section set aside for utilitarian-looking benches and seats. In the center of the room, facing the elevator bank, sat a curved desk cluttered with blinking consoles. Beyond it, a wide hallway led deeper into the deck. Two doors on either side of her offered other paths, though she noticed the indicator panel of the one on her right was glowing a bright red - the door was likely disabled or locked.

Though there was no immediate danger, here and there she saw clear signs of the recent presence of the infected. Smears of the uncomfortably familiar yellowish goo were splattered haphazardly across the desk, with a larger pool of the vile liquid collecting on the deck behind it. Several of the consoles were smashed to pieces, and she noticed deep gouges in the door of one of the storage lockers on the far side of the room.

Keeping a wary out out, Marie brought up the datapad Samson had given her, and keyed up her location on the project 3D map. The hallway on the far side of the room looked to be the path to her destination.

Stowing the pad, she keyed up the comm channel of her crew. There was a short delay, then Nicholas's worried voice broke into her RIGs helmet.

"M-Marie? What's going on?" his words sounded strangely distorted - a consequence of the damage his RIG had taken, Marie guessed.

"Relax, Nick," she said, "I'm fine. Just arrived at the security deck. Clear so far, but these things have definitely been here. I'll check the Chief's quarters - shouldn't be too far from where I am."

"Oh good," the pilot exhaled, "I was worried that..."

"I'm good," Marie broke in quickly, "I'll check in again after I'm done here. Out."

She broke of the link, then moved around the desk, and entered the dark hallway on the other side.