22 Boss (1/2)

Cries and constant banging of the metal doors grits on everyone's nerves, but the doors remained firmly shut. The 3 of them thus took the time to explore the room thoroughly.

”This racket is making me crazy,” Kristine moaned. The banging against the doors and the sounds of drums at the back. ”I wish they stop.” She lifts up a piece of threadbare rag from the pile of dusty cloth. ”Think they ate all these people?” She indicates the pile of rotting clothing.

Karl shrugs, ”Maybe,” He lifts what appears to be a broken spear, the metal badly corroded. ”Nothing of use here, all spoiled.” he drops the spear back into the pile of broken weapon shards. ”They seem to be using stuff from museums.”

James stood at a raised platform in front of what appears to be a block of chiseled stone, but the majority of it has been destroyed and vandalized by the green skins. ”This appears to be a kind of throne or stone chair here.” He looks around the room in the dim light. 8 finely chiseled pillars with the art defaced standing 4 by 4 on each side of the room. ”This is supposed to be a throne room!” He exclaims.

”Yes, it is quite obvious,” Kristine gave up her battle against the noise. She indicates the raised platform and says, ”That is where the monarch sits, viewing down on his or her subjects.” She steps up the platform next to James. ”This is probably used for ceremonies. The pillars should be carved beautifully but looking at the vandalism, you can see how they knock off the carvings.”

”You seems to know a lot about this stuff,” James said.

”Yup graduated from Cambridge, I majored in archeology and history.” She replied. ”It's actually quite exciting to find all these alien ruins.”

”Why did you sign up with the navy?” James asked curiously.

”Well, seeing all my friends get drafted or volunteered. Plus the money pays off my student loans, and I get to see the stars.” Kristine shrugs. ”You?”

”Well, I came out of college, worked a few years at odd jobs,” James said casually. ”When the war started and I decided to do my part for mankind.” He smiles. ”Actually I just wanna escape from my life. A change of pace.”

”So how's the change of pace now?” Kristine gestures around them. ”Great?”

”Haha, yea, it's pretty exciting actually.” James smiles.

”Hey, you 2 lovebirds,” Karl spoke up from where he stood at the edge of the doors. ”I don't hear anything at all!”

The 2 of them blushed after hearing Karl's words but soon realized it has suddenly gone quiet. The drums, cries and even banging on the doors have stopped. They quickly joined Karl at the doors. ”Did help came? They retreated?”

”I don't know, suddenly they all just quiet down. I am getting a bad feeling here.” Karl whispers.

”Ok, I take it back my wish, it's starting to feel really creepy,” Kristine whispers back.

”Why is everyone whispering?” James asks in a low whisper.

”Cause it's quiet out there!” Karl hiss back.

Sudden the beating of the drums sounds again, except it seems louder. Karl backed off from the doors and raised his shotgun. ”Bad feeling,” he repeats.

James hands Kristine a pistol and 2 stacks of pistol magazines. ”I found your stuff earlier outside, most of it is trashed, but the gun and ammo aren't damaged.”