บท 46: Chapter 46: Miguel

Miguel stared, stunned when the spacer's arm fell. What was he thinking? That thing tried to blow them up! Miguel reacted, lunging for the weapon, ripping it from Archer's hand. He raised it in the same motion, pointing it at the creature. He heard shouting and he knew one of the voices yelling was his.

Reality operated in slow motion. As Miguel pulled the trigger, putting all his hate and frustration into the shot, he registered too late Sammel throwing himself in front of the target.

Unable to stop the shot, Miguel could only watch as the beam from the laser pistol tore through the younger O'Malley and sent him crumpling to the deck.

Someone pulled the weapon from his hand while Archer fell to his knees beside his brother. Miguel had eyes only for the creature. It oozed through the open hatch, the last of it disappearing into the black beyond as the door hissed shut behind it.

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