Darkness was the being’s only companion. Until it opened its eyes and pain entered the fray. A device was constricting it’s breathing. Confined. Trapped. Adrenaline found its way inside the cramp metallic pod. The being attempted to thrash about. Panic caused its limbs to flail back and forward. 

But its struggle was in vain.

 A dense sticky orange gel clung to the creature’s every muscle. The being was submerged in this viscous mucous-like substance. Even, without claws; the gel was able to dig into the creature’s skin curbing its movements. 

Freedom had to be earned. 

The creature tilted its head as far back as the gel would allow. It arched its shoulders inward, then began focusing solely on shifting its right foot. It kept gyrating its foot left to right until it got loose. 

By thrusting its foot forward repeatedly the prisoner was able to create a small tunnel for its leg. 

While still trapped inside the pod and surrounded by overly possessive jelly. After what felt like hours of twisting and turning. At long last, the prisoner managed to make just enough room to kick the shit out of the pod’s door.

 The silence was broken by a loud. THUNK! CLINK! The door to the creature’s metallic jailer lay lifelessly on the floor.

As its foot stretched out of the gel. The clean jagged floor underneath the pod was spattered with little puddles of gel. The hexagon shaped tiles engrained in the floor were covered in tangerine.

Although the floor was shockingly cold that didn’t stop the being's leg from dancing motionlessly in triumph.

Not soon after a hand emerged from the capsule. The creature angled the pod’s broken door against the floor like a pole vaulting stick. In one fluid motion the being used the door to push itself out of the pod and into the wall. 

It ripped the breathing apparatus from its mouth, then began coughing up chunks of coral colored mucus. 

"Disgusting looks like honey, but it tastes like day old piss.” 

The being said as it scratched at its tongue then went on a spitting spree.

After gaining some composure it used its fingers to comb bits jelly out of its hair. Underneath the clumps of slime, the being’s dandelion colored hair was spiked outward. 

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As the creature stared at its reflection on the wall a man starred back at it. 

His mysterious forest-green eyes were swollen from irritation. He was clearly old enough to grow chest hair. His muscular sturdy arms were covered in hair as well. Apparently, he had scratched his knee during the breakout. The man touched his stomach and gave his body the once over. 

 Something seemed out of place.

On the man’s wrist was a small chip with number 1.0.0.0.0. inscribed on it. The writing was so small it was almost unreadable. The chip was about half the size of a pebble. It was embedded on the inward side of his wrist next to his pulse. 

He checked his other wrist. 

“Nothing.”

 He tried pulling the chip out to but it was like pulling a fingernail off. He sighed then slouch down on the wall. He paused to observe his surroundings. He looked around the room eyes shifting from wall to wall. 

The room was well lit the only shiver of darkness came from the window. 

“Hmm, so I’m in space.” 

The man said aloud as he looked out the window. Some equipment which seemed unrecognizable was tucked away in the corner next to a few boxes which looked like crates. 

“Ergo, this must be the cargo hold.”

 Next to his old cell was an unopened capsule with the number 9.9.9.9. On it. He lifted the broken door up 1.0.0.0.0. was carved on it. His eyes wandered from the other capsule to the door. 

Some time went by until the man drummed up enough courage to knock on the other pod. 

“Hello anyone, there?” 

The only response was the faint mummers of the ship's engines. He placed his ear to the front of the pod. 

“Breathing!”

 He said excitedly. He pounded on the pod’s door its occupant still remained dormant. 

There weren’t any handles on the pod or any obvious buttons of entry. He placed his broken door back on the hinges of his old prison. He examined how each piece related to one another. 

“I kicked at the right side of the door. So...” 

The man thought aloud as brushed his hands against the edges of the now reassembled pod. The smoothness metal offered no secrets. 

The pod appeared to be sealed shut. 

The man inspected the damaged area of his pod’s door. His kicks bare fazed the door. He could have kicked at the door for days and it would not have opened. 

“Here.” 

He said nonchalantly. The man began poking and pounding on the right side of his pod. He mechanically traveled down to the base of the capsule.  

“The capsule door opened because of a side compartment which was pressurized. My constant kicking must have knocked my pod into this pod. If they're designed the same way, then…” 

He started probing pod 9.9.9.9. for weakness. His fingers massaged the righted-ward side of the capsule's base. 

He came across a spot which felt different from the rest of the pod. This spot was just as smooth, but it was far less solid. When the man’s fingers pressed down on the pod's soft spot the metal started to bend inward like playdough. 

As the man removed his fingers suction noises were followed by smooth “vooush!” sound. 

The door to pod 9.9.9.9. slowly began to open.