Episode 128. Hellfire

Story

On Enterprise's bridge, the atmosphere is suffocating. Tarantula's shots continue hammering the ship, shaking the already badly damaged structure. Angie and I stand near the central console, ready to initiate the ultimate maneuver: self-destruct. In front of us, two slots are waiting to receive our activation keys.

In silence, we turn the two keys together. The mechanism engages, activating the beginning of the self-destruct protocol. The main screen lights up, confirming the procedure. All that remains is to follow the voice instructions.

The console beeps, recording the code. I turn my eyes toward Angie.

Another beep sounds, confirming validation of the codes.

On the main screen, the countdown now appears in red, waiting only for the final order. Suddenly, the bridge turbolift door explodes with a deafening crash. Through the thick cloud of smoke, T'Met emerges... on the Ducati.

Without really understanding what is happening, I obey without hesitation. Enterprise slowly begins its run toward Tarantula...

I grab the handlebars of my dear Ducati. T'Met and Angie take position, but suddenly the engine cuts out without warning.

Suddenly, a destructive shot from Tarantula strikes the bridge head-on, throwing debris everywhere. Emergency containment fields deploy, barely keeping us inside. The air is saturated with smoke and gas, alarms howling.

Without warning, Money Penny lunges forward, plunging straight into the open turbolift shaft and dropping like a stone. Angie screams, clinging desperately to T'Met while Agnes tries to stabilize the machine.

Mini-rockets burst from the sides of the motorcycle, exploding in a chain of detonations and opening a gaping hole at the bottom of the shaft. The firelight blinds us as we plunge toward the opening. At the last second, Money Penny activates her retro-thrusters. Our speed drops abruptly, and we emerge into a corridor in flames.

At once, the motorcycle's wheels retract, replaced by four metal limbs that extend with mechanical precision. The transformation is smooth and fast, and in an instant, the Ducati becomes a four-legged robotic machine. Without losing a second, it starts running, crossing the burning corridor with surprising agility. T'Met and Angie cling firmly to my back as pieces of ceiling collapse around us, hurled by the explosions.

The corridor bulkheads tear apart as we pass, deafening detonations echoing all around us. Money Penny leaps over gaping holes, rebounds off the walls, and races toward the shuttle bay. The deck cracks and collapses beneath us, but my robotic motorcycle crosses the obstacles far better than if it had kept its two wheels.

Money Penny deploys a rocket launcher from her shell and fires several missiles at the bay access door. The door explodes in a burst of flames, and the Ducati leaps through. In front of us, at the center of the bay, stands the temporal bubble, with Emilie and Charlene waiting beside it, desperately waving their arms.

But just before reaching the bubble, an enormous metal beam collapses from the ceiling, violently striking the Ducati. Money Penny stumbles and tips over, sending all three of us flying through the air.

I get up and, despite the pain, grab my motorcycle by the handlebars, righting it with what little strength I have left. T'Met and Angie stand up, supporting each other.

At that instant, Enterprise collides with Tarantula. The collision triggers a cataclysm of flames and explosions. The walls break apart around us, and a wall of fire and debris surges toward the temporal bubble.

With one final push, we dive into the temporal bubble just before the flames catch us. The roar is deafening, shaking us as if in a storm of fire. Around us, the wall of the bubble turns red, almost translucent, surrounded by the fury of Enterprise disintegrating.

For long seconds, we remain petrified, watching through the translucent wall as the apocalypse unfolds mere centimeters from our heads.

Then, slowly, the flames subside, the noises fade, and calm returns... giving way to a deathly silence.