by Ethan Proud
Her brother stood in shock. Mercy killing wasn’t a practice often employed at the Wreckage. They had doctors and barely encountered any real danger.
“If I meet a similar fate, show me the same kindness,” Jana said roughly. She was the elder of the two, neither of them were squeamish and both had a natural bloodlust without being warmongers. But Gana had lived his whole life looking up to her, and she had inherited the best traits from their parents—now he saw her in a different light. Her love wasn’t the nurturing type. It was tough, but it was there.
“Do we go deeper or retreat?” Gana asked.
“Deeper, we have a job to do,” Jana answered as she collected the gear she could carry from her dead comrades. “We at least need to locate the first lake.”
A warbling cry echoed overhead. More gonis were in the area.
“And kill as many of those things as possible.”
“We have company!” Lago shouted and the cavern lit up with the crack of gunpowder and firing pins.
The siblings rushed the corridor’s outlet and saw a myriad of neon lights rushing their way. Some of the gonis crawled along the walls, while others dove through the air. Their bullet riddled, mangled bodies squished against the rocky floor. Yet more still came.
Three of the creatures landed directly in front of the Exos. Their wings were folded up neatly, as if they were ready to negotiate. They let loose wails worthy of banshees. The gonis were no match for the bullets and died before they had finished their hellish calls.
Then a sound rattled the very foundation of the planet. The cry clearly belonged to a goni, but one the size of a dune. The slaughter of its progeny had enraged it.
“What was that?” Utria panted as the remaining gonis scattered.
“It’s the goni the Commanding Family warned us about,” Gana said and shone his beam deeper down the cavern. “This way.”
“This is crazy,” Utria said in disbelief, but she didn’t hesitate before plunging deeper into the dark.
“This is survival,” Lago said direly.
“Shut up. And dim your lights. We want to see it before it sees us,” Jana ordered.
A moment later, they were in nothing but darkness. Their eyes adjusted and they could detect the roughest of outlines, or perhaps they imagined it. Or their brains fabricated it from the gentle echoes they produced. Either way, after fifteen minutes of blind creeping, Utria walked into a soft fleshy form that was at least the height of a man. With a shout of alarm and a few well-placed shots, the molla cap tumbled from its stalk.
“It would appear that we are headed in the right direction,” Jana said aloud, no point in whispering now. Their location had been announced to all. A moment later they heard a sound completely unfamiliar to them. Had Taiga or Lepiro been with them, they could have told them it was that of an immense body sliding into the water. It was the sound of death personified.
With their lights on low beam, the Shrikers advanced. Picking their way between the massive ‘shrooms, they were on high alert for hidden dangers. Of course, nothing revealed itself. The Greylings were counting on their deity to take care of these new intruders. The sapling sized molla eventually gave way to smaller clumps, growing amid a garden of pebbles and broken shale. The Shrikers were mere feet from witnessing their first body of water.
The lights began to bounce off the reflective surface and illuminated the entire cavern just as Lago’s toe broke the surface. He jumped back at the cold sensation and felt excitement bubble up his chest. No matter the peril they were in, Exos were always delighted by the precious commodity of water. Not only was the lake lit by the cavern, but it was also emitting its own red light. The goni lifted its head from the water and let loose a screech as it swam towards its next prey. None of the Shrikers had the fortitude to stand before it and turned on their heels and fled before it had even reached the shore.
The goni behind them didn’t pursue them into the molla farm, it was probably struggling to drag its mass onto the rocks, which bode well for the recon team. However, the Greylings who had been hiding now revealed themselves. They leapt from behind the molla stalks and tackled the fleeting Exos. Jana felt claws slide deep into her abs as she blasted her assailant off her. She felt warm blood pool in the shallow of her hips and ribs as it also came bubbling up her throat. She leveled her barrel at another of the aliens and it too met its end swiftly. She could feel her organs press against her threadbare skin and squeeze past her diaphragm. Gana dealt with his attackers just as deftly as his sister and rushed to her side as she slipped back to the ground.
“No, no, no…” he said as he pressed his fingers against her stomach, forcing her intestines back inside her. “You’re going to be fine… you’re going to be fine.”
Jana smiled, her teeth red. “You have to get the others out. Remember what I told you.”
“We’re all getting out of here. I can’t do that,” he said as pandemonium reigned around them.
Jana smiled again. “You have to. This is bigger than any individual. Our people need to reach the Second Earth.” She feebly reached for his pistol in its holster but couldn’t pull it out.
Tears ran down Gana’s cheeks as he withdrew the weapon and pressed it to her chest. “I love you,” he whimpered as he felt the kickback.
Jana had a smile on her face as she sailed into the afterlife, if there was such a thing.
Gana stood and shouted at his fellow scouts. Lago and Utria abandoned the vicious melee and followed him as he led them back to the surface. The Greylings did not relent in their pursuit, even the occasional gun blast did not stop them. They were determined to repel the invaders from their home. However, as a sliver of light appeared the creatures faltered. The night was their territory, but they were unwilling to face their foes in the light.
The scouts emerged, ragged and bloodied. The expressions on the faces of their fellow soldiers and the commoners were of pure shock.
Rhea was at their side in an instant. “What happened?” she exclaimed. She was relieved that her own men had emerged, though she still felt the loss of the military men and women who had not made it.
“We did our best,” Gana said miserably.
Rhea blinked back her own tears and embraced him. “You did good. I am so sorry about Jana.” Rhea felt Gana let out a sob into her shoulder. She squeezed him tighter as his body was wracked with grief. He let out a muffled cry and Rhea placed her hand on the back of his head.
“We will get off this planet,” she assured him, although she knew it did little good.
The Commanding Family approached the soot-streaked, blood-smeared scouts.
“Take a rest. You deserve it,” Fleet said. His mouth was sticky with fear. Of the ten soldiers sent into the earth, only three returned. And it appeared as though they had been through hell. “Dmetri!”
The Chief of the Infantry came trotting over.
“Take forty men with you down there and establish a foothold,” Fleet commanded without communicating with his fellow leaders.
“Yessir.” Dmetri nodded and barked out an order. He mobilized his men quickly and disappeared into the fissure. The clamor of battle echoed for many hours, with each passing minute the dissonance seemed further and further away until it stopped altogether.
X
Dmetri reached the surface some time later and was met by expectant stares. His face was haggard and his eyes hollow.
“We’ve taken the lake.”
The cheers were deafening.
Chapter Thirty-Six
“This water isn’t for you,” the man said heatedly.
Taiga smiled through her skull mask. “Chances are, my massacred people found it for you.” She dipped the cup into the cool surface. Her fingertips rejoiced at the feeling.
“It’s rationed.” The speaker was a guard and male, but Taiga was not intimidated. The guard, however, was, especially when three other Hydras seemed to appear out of nowhere.
“I think we will take some too
,” Yuto said and dipped a flask into the barrel. Bubbles streamed from the mouth as the air was forced out by the water.
“Don’t make me put you in cuffs,” the guard said without much conviction.
“We’ve been drinking piss for years so you can drink clean water. We are collecting what’s due.” Deirde spat into the water and the Hydras left the guard in peace. Or relative peace, as many of the commoners saw the display and were attempting to reenact the shake-down to get extra water. They weren’t as successful. Comparing the Hydras to Shrikers was like wolves to purse poodles. One was dangerous by nature, while the other could only act it.
Lepiro watched in disgust as the Shrikers ate the gonis that had been slaughtered hours earlier. Icharus sat on his shoulder, concern evident in his little eyes.
“And they called us barbaric,” he laughed. “The gonis are the only reason our kind even survived here. This is how they show their thanks.”
“Should we at least try to assimilate? Looking like we do, we will never be accepted,” Taiga commented.
“I’d rather die than be one of them,” Deirde said haughtily and Yuto agreed.
“You misunderstand me. We are targets,” Taiga growled.
Everywhere they went, eyes followed. It wasn’t just the commoners who were watching either. Fleet approached them with a purpose.
“Look out,” Lepiro hissed as the man neared earshot.
“I trust your stay has been hospitable.”
None of the Hydras could tell if the statement was meant to be ironic. None of them answered, either.
Fleet continued undeterred. “If it is not asking too much, we would like the four of you to be on the next mission to The Source.”
“It sounds like you want to get rid of us,” Yuto smirked. “Maybe if you give us guns we can be persuaded.”
“Do you know how to use them?” Fleet asked beneath a furrowed brow.
“We’d need training, you moron,” Deirde said in disgust.
“Speaking as someone who has seen those horrors, I would prefer to decline,” Lepiro said. He was determined not to be the next sacrifice to the god in the lake.
“I personally would like to kill some of those creatures,” Yuto said.
Taiga knew he wanted vengeance for Rio, and felt a pang of jealousy.
“This was recovered on the last mission,” Fleet said and tossed a flat palm sized rock on the ground. Inscribed on its surface was a single number. “Hydra Nine. You’re more similar to them than you are to us. Come with me, I’ll have Jorgen equip you.”
Fleet turned and left the four staring at the symbol on the ground.
X
Four empty barrels, each bearing the marking 16-21-18-5, were set up as targets. Rocks were set in the bottom so they wouldn’t blow over each time one of the Hydras hit their mark. They shared looks of approval when the sound of metal tearing plastic was heard, and chuckled when an attempted shot was only met by a burst of sand.
“I like the war paint.” Jorgen nodded. “Squeeze the trigger. Don’t pull it. Exhale.”
“It’s not war paint. It’s for those we’ve lost. Both to the Greylings, and to you,” Deirde snarled. A moment later a bullet ripped through the drum.
Down the line, Taiga and Yuto stood in cold silence. The reunion between husband and wife had been lacking.
“Are you going to say anything?” Taiga asked and fired another burst from her rifle. She wasn’t pleading or begging. She was simply angry that her husband had shown no concern for her safety.
“We haven’t loved each other in a long time. There’s no point in continuing the ruse,” Yuto said rudely.
“I never loved you. Other than Rio we were the youngest in Hydra Seven,” Taiga answered. “You were the only choice left.”
Yuto stiffened at the mention of his deceased friend.
“Would you like a hug?” Yuto asked without looking at his wife.
“Not from you.” Taiga laughed smugly.
Yuto let the gun go slack in his hands and looked over at Lepiro and back at Taiga.
“Are you serious?!” he asked incredulously but without anger. “When did you have time to do that?”
“There’s not much to do underground,” Taiga said simply and Yuto laughed.
“I have missed you,” he admitted.
“I’ve missed you too. But not like that,” Taiga said and took aim again.
“I guess the four of us are all we have left.”
“Indeed.”
Jorgen interrupted whatever was going to be said next. “I think you are ready. Or as ready as you are going to be. Lago! Escort these soldiers to the base camp at the lake.”
“On it,” Lago said and smirked at Deirde. “L-long time no see.”
She only curled her lip in response.
Lago didn’t seem perturbed. “We will get outfitted with lights and canteens before we go down. Follow me.”
“You were on the first team that went down there, right?” Yuto asked. The Shriker stiffened, but didn’t answer. “So you know what it’s like seeing your friends killed? Imagine if it had been done by your own kind. Like our colony.”
“Am I supposed to pity you?” Lago sneered.
“No, but your friends will after they see you die,” Yuto continued casually.
Lago whirled around. “Is that a threat?”
“Only if you have friends.” Yuto shouldered past him, and Lago could do nothing but stand there dumbfounded.
“So those lights and water?” Taiga asked as she too stepped by him.
Lago growled but did not offer any more argument. He said little as he distributed flashlights and water to the Hydras.
Moments later, they were slipping into the fissure. The darkness engulfed them, but being hunters they were used to exploring every cavern and hidey-hole encountered. Lepiro and Taiga knew what awaited them and their pounding pulses were from the same nauseating fear that Lago felt. Yuto and Deirde felt a different kind of anxiety. Theirs was driven by a need for vengeance. Whether it was reserved for the Greylings or Shrikers, they weren’t sure yet. Yuto stared at the flat gap between Lago’s shoulders and thought of putting a bullet into his spine. He wasn’t sure how long he stared at the man’s back, thinking of pressing the barrel against it and pulling the trigger. It would be so easy. But then where would he go? Back to the surface? No, he still needed to avenge Rio. He would have to take part in the battle for The Source. Then turn on the Shrikers.
“Can you stop shining that th-thing on me?” Lago cast his gaze over his shoulder and his eyes locked onto Yuto’s.
“My bad,” Yuto said lamely but raised the flashlight so it shone directly in Lago’s eyes. He let the beam fall a moment later.
Great. Lago thought. I’m more likely to get jumped now by the Hydras then I am by the Greylings.
Why hadn’t the Commanding Family sent more men down with him? It was probably a show of faith to win over the Hydras. Stupid.
The clamor of war echoed from the cavern, like a roar building in the back of a throat.
“I hope you actually know how to use those,” Lago said of the guns before sprinting in the direction of the sound. He nimbly avoided rocks and cracks that would have surely tripped him and probably cause him to discharge his rifle right into the bottom of his skull.
The Hydras behind him made no noise as they slunk between the pillars of rock formations, Lago’s own careful footsteps suddenly sounding impossibly loud. Taiga ghosted by him, she remembered the way to the first lake clearly. She hadn’t been under the same duress that Lago had been on his first journey beneath the surface and the landmarks were coming back to her.
The molla farms passed by her in a blur as she descended deeper into the grotto. She saw the dim glow of the scorpion moths and their spawn across the lake. What was in the forefront of the scene stopped her dead in her tracks.
Gonis screeched and dive-bombed the infantrymen beneath them, picking them up and dropping them in the lake
or against the rocks, or devouring them as the creatures climbed back into the air. The flash of fired shots caused a strobe effect and it seemed like the fighting was a series of stills shown on a projector. Not a battle unfolding right before her eyes.
Her attention was snapped from the airborne aliens and focused instead on the lake shore. Emerging from the water were dozens of Greylings. She saw more dark shapes cutting through towards the shore, barely making a ripple in the surface.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Lago saw what Taiga had and wasted no time before charging into the fray, his gun leveled for the Greylings that had just reached the shore. He roared a warning to his fellow Shrikers, but of course it was lost amid the din. After only a moment’s hesitation, the Hydras followed him.
The Greylings moved quickly as soon as the element of surprise was lost and broke off into groups of five or six. One group headed for Lago and the Hydras, while the rest cut into the unsuspecting line of infantrymen still looking skyward.
Lepiro squeezed the trigger, felt the absence of recoil, and knew he needed to reload. Yuto and Taiga stepped in front of him to provide cover while he fumbled with his clip. Opposite them, Dierde stood impassively, spraying bullets at the oncoming wave of Greylings. Her eyes seemed blank and did not even emanate the hatred she felt deep in her gut.
A lucky Greyling made it past the strafe of death and raked its claws down Lago’s side. He twisted his body and slammed the butt of the rifle into the creature’s face, shattering the bones and leaving it writhing on the ground. He fired a shot to halt another approaching alien before finishing off the one on the ground. He felt naked without his fellow scouts. The Hydras would obviously defend their own before considering helping him. He looked behind him up the shoreline and saw that the infantry had split their attention between the gonis and the Greylings storming the beach.
