FEB 2026 - Something in the Vents (Patreon)

"Turns out they really didn't need to make the vents that big after all, huh?" Alex snorted.

"Hmm?" Zoey grunted, barely looking up from her work."The vents. Made for bigger crewmates, right? And yet, they just hire me and you for these repairs."

There was a long pause.

"You sound perplexed" Zoey uttered, her voice deadpan.

"Well... I'm just saying! There's no need for people to be able to stand up and walk around in them, right?""If it ain't broke...""Whatever."

Alex rested on his haunches beneath the stepladder. Zoey was already up there anyway. This was more of a time-killer than a two-person job. Beside him was a heavy toolbox and a duffel with a few extra bits. The Tasmanian devil reached in, retrieving a clunky mobile communicator, fiddling a little. He could probably get through to intel if they weren't on break."Come in, this is Howler. We're looking into the vents now. Any updates?" He asked, using his callsign. It was not one he had assigned to himself.

The communicator only replied with a steady, uninterrupted malaise of static. Alex tried again, repeating himself and waiting.

Waiting...

Zoey's voice seized his attention.

"Alex.""Yeah?"

There was a scraping sound. It echoed once, and then twice from further down the vents."Grab the ladder.""What's up?""Grab. The. Ladder."Alex got to his feet, mumbling and gripping both supports. He planted his feet, and waited for his co-worker. He heard her boot against the metal- a step taken backward. A step taken so slowly and carefully you would think that Zoey was trying to walk across an ice lake."What are-"A screech.The vent rattled vigorously as something bounded forward. Zoey was able to give a high pitched yelp before her voice was suddenly muffled. A whoosh of air and a clatter signalled that something was up there with her... and it was on top of her."Zoey??" Alex blurted out, staring up into the darkness of the vent hatch.He heard only a wet, heavy swallowing sound."Oh God. Oh fuck. Oh God..." Alex breathed. He barely managed to get himself moving without stumbling onto the ground. He made a beeline for the Captain's office, barrelling through the door and calling out. No one answered.He lunged for a nearby drawer. He knew what was in there. He checked the cylinder to find all six rounds loaded. His heart thumped in his throat, and he ran once again back to where he was working, back to where he heard those noises.The vents rattled once again.January's Feature for 2026! Featuring Xenomorph from the Alien Franchise. Zoey is an OC of mine, and Alex the Tasmanian Devil belongs to EvergreenPlate on Twitter, FA and Eka's. His likeness was used with consent by the artist.https://x.com/EvergreenPlatehttps://www.furaffinity.net/user/evergreenplate/https://aryion.com/g4/user/Evergreenplate This scene/scenario is not canon.

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