Lab Rats in Space by Bruno Bouchet Page A

own holographic projection. Everyone took a step back, worried he was reaching out to strangle them. Everyone except for the captain. He stood his ground. He glanced to the side as Rudi joined him on the command deck. Rudi gave him the tiniest nod of the head to let him know the plan was in place.
    â€˜Oh can’t I?’ Xanax smiled for real. ‘Why don’t we try a little experiment?’
    He pressed a button on the Typetor and raised one eyebrow with perfect precision.
    The crew held their breath, but nothing seemed to happen.
    â€˜Check for intruders and arrest them,’ Redlock ordered without taking his eyes off Xanax.
    â€˜There are none, the ship’s clear,’ came the answer.
    Redlock looked at his monitor and saw that Xanax’s ship was virtually alongside his. They would not be able to outrun him now.
    Xanax and the captain stared at each other.
    â€˜I’m waiting Xanax.’ Redlock hoped Xanax’s experiment had not worked.
    â€˜You have an intruder. I can promise you that. You should notice it right about…’
    Xanax snapped his fingers with a squeak.
    â€˜â€¦now.’
    The second Xanax said ‘now’, one of the crew crumpled to the floor. His body looked liked it had turned to jelly.
    â€˜Help,’ he cried.
    â€˜It’s a virus,’ continued Xanax, ‘rather unpleasant. It turns bones to jelly. You can see the results. Let’s see how long your crew can last without bones. Won’t that be a fascinating experiment Captain Redlock?’
    Another crew member fell to the floor.
    â€˜Don’t worry, it only lasts a short time…’ announced Xanax, ‘…if you have the antidote.’
    The ship’s navigator opened her eyes wide as she felt her bones collapse into a wobbly mess. She grabbed her chair for support, but with no bones in her fingers she couldn’t grip. Down she fell, unable to move and barely able to breathe.
    â€˜Soon your entire crew will be helpless. You won’t be able to operate the ship. Nobody will. I think the antidote is a fair exchange for those life forms.’
    â€˜Fine, you can take the containers,’ Redlock said.
    Xanax tutted so loudly a bit of spit came to his mouth. He raised a finger and wiped the bottom of his lip carefully.
    â€˜Not good enough, Redlock. As you said, there are no life forms in the containers. I WANT THOSE LIFE FORMS NOW!’
    Xanax shouted so loudly the controls in front of Redlock shook.
    â€˜No.’ Redlock returned quietly. ‘They’re just children.’
    â€˜They may look like children but believe me they are extremely dangerous.’
    â€˜Captain!’
    Redlock looked at Rudi. He had fallen too. The captain was the only person left standing on the deck. He had no choice.
    He could feel a tingling sensation in his feet. It was starting. Soon his bones would be jelly.
    â€˜OK. I give in. Release the antidote. Here.’
    Redlock opened the docking port to allow Xanax to board his ship.
    â€˜Very wise. I’ll see you shortly. You’ll all recover once we’re aboard.’
    Xanax’s hologram disappeared.
    Redlock’s legs were giving way. He grabbed the control panel in front of him with his arms. He could feel them growing weak. There was just one button he had to press. One button he had to reach for. He was holding his whole body up with what he had left of his arms. It felt like a dead weight. He leaned his stomach on the panel to try and take some of the weight as his arm stretched forward to the launch button. He could feel the jelly racing along his arm, working past his elbow towards his wrist.
    He stretched further. He was just millimetres away from the button. As his finger hovered near it, he felt the jelly in his hand bones. He had to reach that button. Without it, the children would be sent back to the Research Station. He stretched but he couldn’t move his finger any further. He