When you've died a lot, you learn not to panic. But I stand behind the idea that being chased by zombies is a completely different level of near-death experience, so I panicked properly.

I lifted my arms above my head and waved them around as I jogged down the hall, wailing, "Ahhhhhhhhh!"

@auroraloon had said two rights, a left, and up some stairs. That meant at some point we would go left. I looked around me, trying to make out the way in the blinding lights. But with all the corridors and rooms on this level of the starlab, I knew it was foolish to forge ahead on my own. Plus, I didn't want to be the one to get us lost. She would mock me so hard that I'd probably have to shoot her.

So, I walked backwards, with my glen10 ready to fire. @auroraloon stumbled her way as quickly as she could, her snakeskin making her a reflective sunbeam, a human disco ball that sent rainbow colors all around her. I just needed to stay close to all the sparkles to know she was nearby.

"That would be a great outfit for parties," I said.

I have no doubt she rolled her eyes again. "You know, you don't have to talk." She sounded out of breath, and I wondered just how bad her injuries were.

"Making conversation before I die soothes my nerves," I replied. "And you have to admit, it's not looking great for us." We walked into what seemed to be in a larger room. I hoped we hit that left turn soon.

She surprised me and played along. "I'd like to see you dressed as a piñata."

"Well, I am full of candy."

"You sure you're not full of shit."

I had to hand it to @auroraloon. She was great at banter.

I laughed. "Whack me with a stick, and you'll find out."

"Just give me a stick," she quipped. I knew she was panting from her injuries, but the way she said that made every part of my body tingle.

I had a great reply planned, having to do with sticks and candy, with maybe a bit too much sexual inuendo for the situation, but then the first zombies started to catch up. My humor is wasted on emergencies.

I squinted in the brightness and then unfocused to improve my aim, or rather, stopped aiming altogether. It took a few shots to down the first one, but after that I got comfortable.

Unfortunately, I also needed to be mindful of my ammo. Unplugged, it was harder for me to keep count. I knew that I had gone through my original clip and two spares already thanks to my bullet tornado (but hey, I got out of that #doomroom, didn't I?). I had just started on a fresh clip, but I only had one more clip on me. I figured I had about 34 shots left before I'd be completely out.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

I dropped two more zombies when @auroraloon screamed. "Bodies!"

I thought one or maybe two. I glanced behind me and saw several scattered around through my squinting eyes. @auroraloon stepped over one along the wall and turned left, out of my line of sight. I was entering into an open space where the corridors intersected. This was our last turn. I felt like we were so close, but somehow that wasn't reassuring.

We had to hurry.

I took down another of the #overtaken from the direction we came and sprinted after @auroraloon.

When I made the corner, my heart sank. It wasn't just the several bodies. This was a junction point of carnage. This was a heap of bodies, some still moving on the floor. I wondered if this was @cyberneticflare and @photon_binary's doing. Or maybe they had met up with @pixel_princess and @astrowave, I hoped.

My thoughts were answered when a zombie appeared through the shining light across the intersection. It had no regard for its own safety. Openly exposed, me holding my glen10 square at its head, it charged forward. I recognized the uniform, and the stupid scanner slung across its chest. It was @photon_binary.

No one would find out what really happened to @photon_binary, how he became one of the zombies. He was annoying, sure, but the empty look on his face as he charged at me, the uncharacteristic growl, made me sad. He was a scientist. Now he was overtaken, a mindless thing that only wanted to make more mindless things. I noticed a wire hanging loosely from his head. One of them must have finally gotten to him, plugged in, taken over.

I pulled the trigger as the lights suddenly went out.

First blinded by the light. Now blinded by the darkness.

Luckily, my shot was true. I heard @photon_binary drop to the floor and felt his arm against my boot. I kicked him off of me and jumped back with a shriek, hurrying to find a wall to put my back against so that I could protect myself while my eyes recovered. His breath changed to a few gasps followed by silence.

"Power is out again," I heard @auroraloon shout from somewhere off to my left and ahead of me.

No shit, I wanted to say but held my tongue. I was focused on @photon_binary.

I knew what I needed to do next, as long as I had time. I crept forward carefully in the dark and reached a trembling hand down to @photon_binary's head. I fumbled around for where his mindspark would be. My hands were getting covered in his blood, and it was near impossible with gloves on, so I pulled off my right glove so I could root my hand around in his brain.

I'm not a hero, really. This is just who we are. It's the memories that matter. It was the least I could do for @photon_binary.

I grimaced as I peeled back part of @photon_binary's scalp on the right side with my utility knife, then dug my fingernails in toward where I'd blown his head open. It was gross. I was lucky I didn't puke in my helmet. I dug around as quickly as I could, feeling through the bits and bone. I didn't have time in the dark to be gentle, and he wouldn't mind.

Finally, I found it and pulled out a memoryshard. Eureka! I shook off the thought of @photon_binary's final breaths, satisfied that at least I had his memories.

I heard @auroraloon to my left, moving away down the dark hall, beyond what my adjusting eyes could see.

Power is out, her voice repeated silently in my head.

I suddenly realized my idiocy, grasping the gravity of what @auroraloon had said. "Power is out," I said with a laugh, and I plugged back in.