Black Jack

SMASH!

A glass jar exploded against the window of the med bay

Tucker ducked as another object whizzed past his head.

Jack was hurling everything he could get his hands on.

His face was twisted in rage. His voice raw and broken.

“THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!” Jack screamed.

A scalpel clattered against the floor as Jack knocked over the table.

Jack’s fury burned. “If you hadn’t made me run into that damn pipe—”

“You killed Dr. Martinez! How the hell was I supposed to react?” said Tucker.

Jack’s face twisted.

“SHUT UP! You and everyone else on this ship! You’ve always hated me!”

Tucker sidestepped as Jack threw a tray at him.

“Jack—don’t do something you’ll regret.”

Jack barked out a laugh.

“Regret?!” His voice cracked. “What the hell do I have to fear? I’ve already killed someone!”

He took a shaky breath.

Then, quieter—“And now… my future is ruined.”

His eyes darkened and he looked down at his hands.

“It's all gone.” said Jack. “Our research, our friends OUR FUCKING PLANET!...What is this? Is this all a sick nightmare?! Are we bound by animalistic instincts? Do we have the power and strength not to destroy?...Since you took something from me…” He gritted his teeth. “I’m gonna take something from you.”

Jack spun.

Dove for a drawer.

Tucker’s stomach dropped.

“Jack—DON’T! I don’t want to hurt you!” Tucker yelled.

Jack’s fingers closed around something. He turned, grinning. A small blowtorch in his hand.

He ran to the door.

“What are you doing Jack?” asked Tucker.

“Changing your destiny as you did mine!”

Flicked it on.

The blue flame roared to life.

Jack pressed it to the lock.

The metal melted instantly.

Click! The door unlocked. Jack’s grin widened.

“Now,” he murmured. “To check on your future wife.”

Tucker reacted instantly

He grabbed a silver pan and HURLED IT!

CRACK!

The pan slammed into Jack’s head.

Jack staggered back. Tucker charged.

He grabbed Jack by the collar and threw him away from the door.

Jack hit the floor hard.

“You’re not touching Lien.” Tucker said through his teeth.

Jack laughed maniacally as he got off the floor. Jack’s laughter was breathless.

“When did she tell you?” he asked.

Tucker froze.

Jack tilted his head. “I remember when I found out… during her check-up. I remember thinking: No matter what, I have to abort this child. She can’t give birth in space, it would backfire at me, the medical professional.

Sure, Dr. Martinez is in charge, but it’s my job to alert him. I would give her some time to tell you and slowly convince the both of you that we didn’t have the equipment and she would die. Then, I would kill our extra passenger and move on.”

Jack looked up at the ceiling as he continued. “I never thought I’d get the chance to kill. Medics save. They don’t kill. But I always wondered if I was even capable of that.

A piece of me was looking forward to finding out and when we succeeded in solving the world’s problem, I thought I’d never get the chance. But now,” Jack said with a big grin, “I can’t wait to find out.”

Tucker’s blood boiled.

“I’LL KILL YOU!” Tucker screamed.

Jack’s grin stretched.

“Let’s test that theory! ARE YOU CAPABLE?!”

He leapt and the blowtorch roared.

He rushed Tucker.

Tucker barely had time to grab the pan as a shield.

Jack punched him in the gut.

Tucker gasped, doubled over.

Jack grabbed him—threw him.

Tucker slammed into a table—

It collapsed beneath him.

The IV stand toppled.

Jack made a break for the door.

Tucker—still on the ground— kicked the fallen table.

It slammed into Jack’s legs.

Jack tripped—

Fell face-first.

Tucker was on his feet in seconds.

Jack scrambled up—yanked the door open.

Tucker tackled him.

They crashed into the wall.

The blowtorch fell.

Tucker swung hard!

POW, POW, POW! Slamming his fists into his face.

Jack blocked one—punched back.

Then—a knee to the gut.

Tucker took the hit.

Grabbed Jack—

Threw him to the floor.

Pinned him.

Tucker’s hands closed around Jack’s throat.

Jack’s eyes bulged.

He flailed, swinging blindly.

One!

Two!

Three hits to Tucker’s face and on the third, Tucker’s grip faltered.

Jack twisted and flipped over.

They rolled and hit the IV stand.

Jack grabbed it—pressed it against Tucker’s throat.

Tucker choked.

His face turned red.

Jack grinned. Tucker pushed. Fought to lift the metal bar.

His vision blurred. Jack leaned in. Pressure increased.

Tucker’s chest burned.

His arms shook.

In a last, desperate move—

He bucked his hips and threw Jack over him.

Jack hit the floor with a grunt.

Tucker coughed, gasped for air.

He kicked the IV stand away.

Then Tucker charged.

Jack scrambled back—

His hand found the blowtorch.

He grabbed it—ignited it.

He kicked tucker in the groin and as Tucker toppled over, Jack shoved him against the wall.

Tucker hit the wall hard but put up his hand fast enough to grab Jack’s arm with the torch.

But the slam knocked out his wind, and he struggled to keep Jack’s arm back.

The flame roared inches from his face.

It was burning the wall.

Burning hotter.

Jack smiled and simply increased the length of the flame with a button on the torch.

Tucker’s skin stung.

The flames edged closer and his face started to burn.

Tucker screamed.

BAM!

Tucker hit him with a headbutt.

His skull smashed into Jack’s nose.

Jack stumbled back, covering his face.

He uncovered it and saw the blood pour out and pool into his hand.

Tucker didn’t think.

Didn’t hesitate.

He grabbed a shard of mirror from the ground.

Then—

HE POUNCED!

He tackled Jack to the ground.

And stabbed him in his throat.

Deep.

Jack’s bloody liquid scream tore through the room.

Tucker stabbed again.

And again.

Harder. Faster. Wilder.

Blood splattered.

On the walls.

On Tucker’s face.

On his hands.

Then—one final thrust.

The glass shard buried itself deep within his head.

So deep Tucker couldn’t pull it free.

His chest heaved and he rolled off of him. He lied next to him for a moment trying to catch his breath.

Did he really just do that?

Did he really just kill ANOTHER one of his crew mates?

He stood up, breathing hard.

Jack’s body was still.

His eyes frozen open.

The pool of blood spread outward.

Tucker’s fists remained clenched.

His body shook.

He didn’t want this.

Why him?

Why again?

Is he truly just a beast?

He saw his reflection in the shattered glass.

His face was splattered in red.

His eyes were dark. Hollow.

The image shook him.

But he buried his feelings.

Slowly, he grabbed a cloth from the ground.

Wiped his face.

Then, without looking back—

He draped the cloth over Jack’s lifeless face.

And walked out.

No one else needs to die.

He would make sure of it.