The sleeping pod’s oxygen tanks, where the Tycoon and his wife resided, remained intact; the tanks for the living pod, and the remaining 147 settlers, were destroyed.
“Tonight, we will die.” Bushido confirmed, checking the monitor.
Voices erupted.
“Let us out!”
“I can’t believe that jerk wouldn’t let him in.”
“How long ‘til it breaks through the inner perimeter?”
“Is there any chance of survival?”
All eyes were turned to Bushido, the de facto leader.
The horrifying images were raw on his retinas - the alien lifeform had taken its time eating the settler trapped between perimeters, methodically tearing off chunks of flesh for over five anguishing hours until the final leg twitch.
“Did anyone know his name?” Bushido asked.
“Hiro, his name was Hiro.”
“Let us take a moment to remember Hiro.”
The settlers bowed their heads.
“Let us out!”
After a minute’s silence, Bushido continued. “There is little hope. Even if we did have enough oxygen, the creature will breach the sleeping pod first. This is the safest place.”
Bushido looked through the transparent partition at the Tycoon, who appeared to be sleeping on one of the 150 beds. His wife, standing by the partition, was sobbing hysterically.
“That jerk may have led us into certain death, but at least it will be a death on our own terms.”
“Let us out!”
Bushido approached the partition.
“Why did your husband not let Hiro back in?”
“He had no choice, it would’ve killed us all,” the wife wailed. “I don’t wanna die like that, not like that.”
“If Hiro were alive, we may have had a chance.”
During its torturous feeding, the creature had slashed its razor sharp tail back and forth, inadvertently slicing through the oxygen tanks.
“Did you know it was on this planet?”
The Tycoon got up and approached. Someone spat at the partition.
The Tycoon spoke.
“We knew, but our observations led us to believe they were herbivores.”
“Well obviously not. It gorged on Hiro like a bear.”
“Let us out!”
“You know this planet and settlement better than anyone. Is there any chance of survival?” Bushido asked.
The Tycoon shook his head.
“Then our fate is sealed.”
Bushido turned his back on the Tycoon and muted the intercom, but not before the wife screamed for the fifth time.
“Let us out!”
Embracing the welcoming silence, Bushido spoke.
“Tonight we lay down for our final sleep. Let those two have all the beds. There is only one bed in these quarters, located in the nursing station. I suggest Old Kenzo has it.”
The crowd nodded.
“It has been a long day and we are all exhausted. There are six hours of oxygen left, let us all find space and spend time with our loved ones. Those alone, I invite you to sit with me. It would be my honor to know you better, learn about your lives, and spend my final hours with you.”
Bushido sat down.
All 146 souls joined him, including Old Kenzo.