Metafire

Jack said, "Going." He pulled himself like a bullet into Metafire. He looked about. He could see lights going out as Steven pulled himself around. He saw several people resting in their slings. He started moving himself quickly around. The sleeping gas would now be in the Bluebird capsule. They had perhaps an hour. He would find Erisa and get instruction from Steven on how to tie all these guys up.

Then he heard Steven. "Goddamn!" Then there was nothing.

He said, "Steven?" Nothing.

In an instant, the colony lit up. He saw three people rushing for him. They all had face masks on. They all had something in their hands. He turned back toward his ship. There was Erisa's face. Asleep. Tight in her sling. He grabbed the sling and pulled himself past. As hard as he could he pulled himself into his ship, and screamed, "They're awake. They're attacking. I'm coming back. Scooter! Jim!"

Just as he pulled by the hatch, Scooter closed it and spun the wheel. They were sealed up safe.

Jack was breathing hard. "Scooter. Jim. What do we do now. They are awake. I don't know what they had. But they got Steven. I don't know what happened. It happened so quick!"