Twisting and turning, sweating and with a loudly beating heart, James gave up and opened his eyes. Had his heart ever been this loud? He couldn't sleep because he kept hearing his racing heartbeat, thumping loud and clear in his ears, making him feel like he would die from a heart attack. The others had somehow managed. But their slow, deep breaths and occasional snores didn't help him. On the contrary. He sighed. Maybe he couldn't sleep because of the fight? He felt terrible about it. He shouldn't have pushed Bill like that. It had been immature. But everything had just been so overwhelming. So desperate and... hopeless. He decided to apologize first thing in the morning.

Growling. Deep, guttural growling. Soft padding footsteps. James held his breath. Was it the dog? Oh hells. Snuffling and heavy breathing, then a looming shadow, moving towards him. He tried to hide, pulling up the covers. But he couldn't tear his eyes away from the beast. Drool from the open maw pattered onto the floor. Teeth glinted in the pale light from the computer screen. The dog closed in on him, it's large head swinging back and forth, its stinking breath gagging him. Then the dog made an odd noise. Beeping.

James sat up, blinking in confusion, sweaty and with a thundering heart.

'Wha...?'

The ship bleeped an odd short melody and shuddered to a standstill. He'd never heard that tune before. He wondered what it signified.

A pair of legs came down from the bunk bed above, and James started, the dream coming back to him in full force. Holy shit, he hadn't been aware of it even being a dream. Those creatures would haunt him for a long time, he was sure.

'Morning,' Dakarai said happily and landed with a thump on the floor.

'Mmh,' James mumbled.

'Rise and shine, we're home,' Dakarai added.

That's right. We're back at Gordion. Or, at least we should be. James took a deep breath and let it out slowly. They were alive, they had landed. All they had to do now was sell their scrap and then talk the manager. If there was one. Bill didn't seem to think so. But surely there was someone they could talk to?

'Let's get moving,' Bill grated from the door and pressed a button. The doors hissed open, and the the familiar, sea-smelling wind of Gordion blew into the small ship.

James' mood soared. Had he ever been happy about being here before? He didn't think so. Hurrying, he got up and dressed along with Dakarai and Rebecca.

As soon as they were done, they grabbed as much scrap as they could carry and followed Bill out to the windy docks. Sea spray made the concrete slippery and the overcast sky looked as welcoming as ever. Still, James were happier than he'd been in a long time about being home. He didn't even think he'd ever seen Gordion as his home. Just a place to exist until he could find a way off the planet. But now, staying didn't sound too bad.

He walked up to the large, insanely tall Company building. Towards the square window he had spotted on his first day. Bill and Dakarai had already placed their stuff on the counter there. He didn't see anyone on the other side.

'Hello?' James called as he placed his stuff on the counter along the others'. Nothing answered. Odd.

'I wouldn't do that if I were you,' Bill said behind him.

'Why not?'

'It doesn't like noise.'

'It?' James looked back over the counter. There was nothing there. In fact, there wasn't even a door. How would anyone get there? The only thing he saw in the shadowy alcove behind the counter was a much smaller hatch. Closed.

'What's all this? Where's the door?' he asked, looking back at Bill again. Seeing the man reminded him he had to apologize. He bit his lip.

'This is where we sell the stuff,' Bill said needlessly.

'Yeah, but... there's nobody here?'

'Yeah, and what's that hatch about?' Rebecca added, leaning in over the counter to see better.

James heard something. He couldn't quite place it. Like of something large moving, or sliding over the floor perhaps.

'Rebecca, get back. I don't like this.'

'I would advice you all to step back as soon as you've unloaded the scrap. Let's go get the rest,' Bill said.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

James nodded and walked back to the ship. Something about The Company building freaked him out. But maybe he was just on edge after everything he'd bee through the past three days. It wouldn't be too far off to assume he'd gotten mentally scarred and heard things. He chuckled to himself. That was probably it.

'What're you laughing about?' Dakarai asked, as he jogged past.

Jogging? How did he have any energy left?

'Just thinking that I'm going insane, don't worry about it.

Dakarak laughed out loud. 'Yeah, man. You and me both. Let's get the engine.'

James helped him carry the heavy thing back to the counter.

'All ready?' Bill asked.

'Yeah, we've emptied the ship,' Rebecca said as she came carrying the last few bits of scrap. She put them on top of all the other things they'd piled, and took a step back. 'There!' She brushed off her hands as best she could and looked at Bill. 'Now what?'

Bill hit a small brass bell to the right of the counter.

'Step back everyone. More.'

For once, they all did as they were told. Probably too unsure of this strange place to dare do anything else.

Something rumbled from behind the wall.

'What was that?' James whispered.

Dakarai shrugged. But James watched Bill's reaction. He stood a few steps back, watching the hatch intently. Then he went forward and slapped his hand onto the bell a few more times. The light dinging somehow sounding ominous in the salty, windy air. James shuddered.

'Oh, come on,' Bill grouched and hit the bell again.

The hatch opened.

Bill quickly jumped back several steps. Farther back then the rest of them.

'Maybe we should move a little more?' James asked and nudged Rebecca. She nodded and followed.

James looked at the darkness within the hatch, wondering what would happen.

Then, something whipped out. Rebecca squeaked. James couldn't believe his eyes.

Thick, long, deep red tentacles shot out, encircled the scrap they'd piled on the counter and with loud rattling pulled it all into the hatch.

For a few seconds, they all just stared at it. What the hell had just happened?

The hatch shut.

James swallowed. His throat had gone as dry as a desert. What the hell?

'Dear Lords of the seven deep seas, what was that?' Dakarai hollerred then, breaking the tense silence. They all started asking questions, bombarding Bill with them. What was it? How big was it? Where there no people in the building? Wouldn't they get paid now?

Bill raised his hands. 'Calm down.'

They stilled, but James could feel their terror and their questions simmering under the surface.

'That... thing is what takes the scrap. That's how it usually goes. It comes out, takes the stuff in, then we get paid. I don't know what it is. I don't know what it does with the stuff. Okay? That's all I know.'

'Is that some alien monster? Is it something from Gordion?' Rebecca asked, her face pale as a sheet.

'I don't know.' Bill shrugged. 'Look at that screen.'

James looked back towards the building. He hadn't even noticed a screen. But there, hanging above the bell on the counter, was a large screen. Red letters came alive on it, showing their earnings. Then a mechanical voice spoke from some speaker somewhere.

'Your hard work is invaluable to The Company. You are true professionals.'

James stared at the sign. Was this it?

'Is there... nobody you can talk to?' he said weakly, his knees like spaghetti.

'No,' Bill snapped. 'That thing is it. And so far, I haven't gotten anything out of it ever apart from growls.'

'There's really nothing we can do then?'

Bill made a face. Then he walked off towards the ship again.

James and the others just stood there, the wind pushing them, and the first drops of rain pattering on their visors.

They were doomed.

'Guys, let's go.' Dakarai beckoned and started towards the entrance.

'Right. I almost forgot,' James breathed and followed.

They could just leave, right? Surely The Company wouldn't keep them locked in here? Right?

But as they got to the large gate, they found it closed and locked. And no matter how they called, knocked or pressed buttons, nothing happened. Eventually, defeated, they returned to the ship where Bill waited. He had a sad look on his face. Probably having done the same thing himself at some point. He knew what they were going through.

James inhaled deeply, took a final good look around the docks, then entered the small shuttle again.

'Bill. About yesterday,' he began. 'I'm so sorry for-'

'It's alright, kid. I know.' Bill motioned for them to come over to the computer. 'Let's do some shopping.'