Metamorphosis Alpha 2

by Craig Martelle (ed)

  The boy rose with his weapon, took careful aim, and fired.

  Click!

  Click!

  The muti-deer eventually noticed the pair. It bounded off in the other direction.

  “Dad, what happened?” Achilles asked looking over the weapon.

  “You lost the chance at a trophy because you didn’t check your weapon,” said his father. “I hope this is a life lesson for you. Always check a weapon when you first get it. Don’t assume it’s loaded.”

  With that statement Beck gave his son the four shot plasma magazine for the rifle. “This lesson applies to lots and lots of things. When you get equipment or when you first put on equipment check it out from top to bottom. You should never take for granted what others tell you about equipment they are handing you. That way you won’t get an ugly surprise like you did today.”

  Achilles rolled his eyes, not appreciating the lesson at all, but keeping his maw shut.

  The roar, through the forest, shocked them both. There was only one creature that made that noise. The two of them dived into the brush and scooped leaves on top of their bodies. They put themselves near a large tree so it wasn’t likely that they would be trampled by the coming monster. In seconds they were invisible. In less than a minute a Tyrannosaurus Rex moved slowly by, sniffing the air where the pair had just been. It growled in irritation at the smell of mint. It moved on several hundred yards and the pair lifted their heads up to watch the predator leave the area.

  “Should I shoot it, Dad?” Achilles said targeting the beast.

  Beck gently pushed the weapon down. “No, when I was just a pup we had Tyrannosaurus Rex meat for supper. The flesh tastes terrible. The eater burps up the taste for hours after. Eating it made my friends and I sick to our stomachs. I can see by the look in your eye that you really wanted to test your weapon on something tough like that giant reptile. However there is a problem. First the monster is so tough it can take two plasma shots and still come after the shooter. Its lightning fast on its feet and you would be amazed at how quickly it can turn around and get at you. I’m sure you could have killed it after three or four shots to its body. Then this huge dead creature would start to rot. It would attract the attention of scavengers and some of them are more dangerous than the T-Rex. Let’s head back to camp and make dinner there. I’m sure we will have better luck tomorrow morning.”

  They worked their way back to camp; gathering fire wood as they traveled.

  “This wood is heavy, Dad,” the son remarked. “Wouldn’t it be easier to use our vibro-axes and cut down a few saplings near camp?”

  “Son you have the pleasant job of being a guardian of the forest. In our clearing of this dead wood we are helping the forest and making it easier for us to move around among the trees. Tomorrow we will come back to this area and not have to worry about tripping over fallen limbs.”

  They got back to camp, set up a large camp fire in the middle of the area, and relaxed.

  “It’s nice here sitting by the fire,” Achilles said hours later. “Those raw beef strips mom made for us sure hit the spot. I hope we get that muti-deer tomorrow.”

  “Now that you are on the hunt, let me give you an important trick that has always worked for me,” Beck advised his son. “I don’t know what other shooters call it, but I have always called it trigger control. I have found it the difference between being a good shooter and a great shooter.

  “I learned about it from a laser pistol class I had when I was thirteen. In that class the instructor stressed the need to take a relaxed but firm grip on the firearm. A trooper from the clan army helped me shoot and gave me a bit of different advice. He told me to squeeze the weapon so hard that my fingers hurt.”

  “Dad, I would think that would cause you to shake with whatever weapon you were firing,” Achilles remarked.

  “You are absolutely correct, son,” his father said. “There are tremors, however if you learn to shoot through those shakes you will be amazed at your increase in accuracy. Squeezing like that separates the trigger finger from the rest of your fingers.

  “I want you to try the squeezing technique. Over time and shooting more I know you will find your accuracy increasing, especially at longer ranges. That is the lesson for the day. Get in your sleeping bag; we are going to get up real early. That reminds me, we really need to get you into a laser pistol class during summer school. As we go out hunting more and more you having a second weapon is a good idea for both of us.”

  “Night. Dad. I’m really glad we are doing this.”

  Achilles’ father couldn’t help but smile with pride at his son.

  * * *

  The next morning Beck handed Achilles a spray bottle. “Spray yourself all over with this and put extra on your feet.”

  “What is it?” Achilles asked.

  “That mint you put on yesterday is good for the first day of hunting. It’s an unusual smell and doesn’t put off the prey. However, the smart predators will start hunting by tracking that smell and then you are in trouble. That T-Rex we saw yesterday is a prime example of what we could face. Yesterday it was put off by the scent of the mint. Today it could decide to track on that smell just to see what it finds to eat. What I have given you is called a cover scent. It’s an old family recipe. What kind of trees do you see around us?”

  “That’s another easy question, Dad. I see lots of pine trees and oak trees. There are some beech trees by the river.”

  “Excellent, son, you are correct. Now, today we will be taking some of the pine needles and acorns and put them in a bag with water. We let that sit warming in the sun all day. The next day we put that water into this spray bottle to replace what we use today.”

  Suddenly, Achilles eyes brightened in understanding.

  “Yes, now you see. It’s called a cover scent. With the application of this water we smell like the surrounding forest. That means we can’t be smelled from the land around us.”

  “Cool, Dad, that’s a great trick,” Achilles said.

  “Indeed. I have a few more things to teach you today. Let’s get hunting,” Beck said. “While we are walking let me hear the four firearm safety precautions we should be using.”

  “Okay, no problem,” Achilles said. “Let’s see now, hmmm. Treat every firearm as if it were loaded; unless your dad gives you a weapon for your birthday and then you know it’s not loaded.”

  They both chuckled at that.

  “Only point your weapon at what you plan on shooting. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are really ready to shoot. Hmmm, that fourth one is a tough one. Give me a minute.”

  They walked just below a ridge line.

  “Now I got it. Before shooting clearly identify your target and what is beyond your target in case you miss.”

  “We are going to hunt the south facing ridges. Muti-deer and other animals like to soak up as much sun as possible. Oh look. You will find this interesting.”

  Beck picked up two old antlers and started knocking them quickly together. Achilles had a questioning look on his face.

  “The muti-deer knock their antlers on the sides of trees,” Beck said. “That noise acts like a challenge for the male deer. Hearing the sound, they will come running in time. Add that noise to this,”

  Beck made a deep grunting noise and Achilles couldn’t help but laugh.

  “That snort, youngster, is the noise of a rutting male. It can bring an aggressive buck right to your feet. Tell me what you know of blood trails.”

  “Okay, I can do that,” Achilles said. “I shoot the muti-deer and follow its trail. If I see fur and dark-red blood I probably have a heart or lung hit. If I’m looking at thick dark red blood it could be a liver hit. And with me shooting this isn’t going to happen, but if I see watery blood with stomach matter in the mix I’ve got a bad hit.”

  “That’s very good son,” his father said surprised at his son knowing all of that. “Always carry your rifle in your downhill hand in case you slip. If you are go
ing downhill never have your rifle on your back. If you fall then you could shock your scope and take it out of alignment. Now what kind of deer signs are we looking for?”

  “Now you are asking tougher questions,” Achilles said. “I did see some videos on this very topic. All muti-deer leave signs of their passing. There are tracks, there are droppings; they make flattened grass beds in thickets. They rub trees and scrub with their antlers. They do these things to communicate with each other, but it helps us find them. If you look at these signs for age, the ones that are recent can tell you that you are in a good area to find a muti-deer.”

  “Good, good, I’m really pleased with the work you have put in before your first hunt,” Beck said. “I wish I would have done the same when I was your age.”

  His son smiled at the praise of his father.

  As they hunted, Beck noticed the Jawed Plants had spread further than was normal for summer growth. He would have to talk to the horticultural robots to make sure they cut that growth back. No one minded five or six of those monster plants in the area, but twenty or thirty were too many.

  “Son, I smell muti-deer to the…ulp.” In a second Beck was hanging by one leg high in a tree by a thick spider thread. “Look out for the spider Achilles. It will be huge!”

  Achilles changed the setting on his rifle and shot a five inch wide beam of pure plasma energy at the spider strand holding his father. His father hit the ground and rolled to his feet.

  They both heard a distinct Zzzzzst. The leaves around his father caught on fire. On the ground a mass of white webbing was revealed as a huge black spider came out of a trap door near his shocked father.

  Blurringly fast the spider rushed toward the now stunned Beck.

  Achilles raised his rifle and placed three perfect plasma shots in the center mass of the spider. With each shot huge gouts of blood and gore ripped out the back of the spider. It was dead with the first shot, but didn’t stop moving until the third shot.

  Achilles ran to his father’s side and began chest compressions. “Please don’t die, Dad! Please don’t die!”

  Minutes later — “I promise not to die right now if you stop crushing my chest,” came the weak reply from his father. Beck took out two more plasma magazines. “Load your weapon and expect more trouble,” he said weakly. “Look what’s already happening to your spider.”

  Targeting the spider again, there were two Death Vines slowly pulling the spider apart and eating the pieces. Achilles helped his father up and they stumbled back to camp. It wasn’t long before his dad was feeling much better in front of a camp fire.

  “Well that was an interesting morning,” Beck told his son. “The Black One shot an energy pulse through its webbing and stunned me. I could see what was going on but couldn’t react to it. You handled yourself perfectly and saved us both. I don’t think we should tell your mother about any of that. Agreed?”

  Achilles laughed, “Agreed. So, Dad that spider was my first kill. Should we have gutted it for the meat? What does spider meat taste like?”

  Beck grimaced. “Truth be told, it tastes a bit like chicken. But it’s a lot gamier. Also there are several poison injection glands on its body. If you break one of those in the cleaning it splashes poison and ruins the meat. All in all it isn’t worth the bother. When I had it, I was young like you. My father had an expert chef prepare it and I didn’t much like it at all. Now, get into that bed roll. Hopefully, tomorrow won’t be as exciting as it was today.”

  The next morning was rainy. They dressed for the weather and looked out of the force field tent. There several hundred yards away a huge cave bear was preoccupied at eating blue berries from the patch.

  Achilles looked at his dad and clearly ached to take the shot.

  His dad whispered to him. “All right son we can do this, but there are several problems. Such creatures often have force fields around their mutant bodies. Set your rifle on needle shots. It’s possible your first few shots will be completely negated by the energy field of the bear. Shoot your magazine and then reload as fast as you can. After your four shots I’m going to start shooting in the hopes of blasting down its force field. That beast is going to rear up on its hind legs and charge us. If it gets one swipe at us we are dead. Do you understand that?”

  Achilles nervously shook his head, ‘yes.’

  “All right, you and I will take careful aim. You fire off four rounds at the center mass of the bear and I’ll do the same. We have a very good chance of killing it before it gets to us. When you are ready start shooting.”

  In the distance the bear didn’t see them as it ate more and more berries.

  Achilles started shooting and the bear took on a bright glow. After four plasma rounds the bear didn’t look affected at all. It rose up on its hind legs and started racing for the pair. It was at least three tons of enraged predator all aglow with a protecting mutant force field.

  While Achilles quickly exchanged plasma magazines an excited Beck began firing. He was very aware of the danger to his son. Each of his shots struck the center of the bear. The glow of the force field became dimmer and dimmer. At the third shot there was no glow at all. The next two pistol shots went into the body of the bear, but only slowed it down. Beck quickly exchanged pistol cylinders.

  However, his son placed four plasma bolts into the exact same spot his father had targeted. Huge fist sized chunks of gore tore out the back of the bear. It came crashing down, dead, ten yards from their tent.

  A nervous Achilles looked at his father who still had his weapon raised and ready to shoot. “Dad remind me not to fire at a mutant bear unless I have an army squad backing me up.”

  “Son, reload your weapon and put four rounds in the head of that monster. I’ve seen creatures that size get up from the kind of damage we just put in it. We want to make doubly sure its dead.”

  The boy shot again and had no trouble with the target. Only then did Beck lower his weapon. “Well it was nice of the bear to come to our camp to eat its last meal,” the dad said with a nervous laugh. “You are going to do most of the work in gutting and skinning that creature. I’ll help you carry the huge pelt back home. They got to work and it took most of the day. By the early evening they were ready to go back home.

  * * *

  They walked quickly through the forest. The pelt was heavy, but both of them were in great spirits. Suddenly Beck stopped.

  “Smell that?” Beck asked sniffing toward the wind.

  “Yeah, Dad, what is it? It smells awful,” Achilles said.

  “That my son is the distinctive smell of U-mens,” Beck said. “They are tough to kill and take a lot of damage before falling down. They almost always have better equipment than we do. Now, we have two choices. We’ve got our kill and can just go home. However, U-mens around the area are never good. The clan leaders would like to know what they are doing here. We could check the nasty creatures out. It’s your hunt so you pick, knowing it could be very deadly to move near them”

  “Well geez, Dad, no one battles better than you do,” Achilles said with pride clear in his voice. “I’d stack ten of these U-mens against you any day and I don’t even know what they are like. Let’s check them out and see what we see.”

  “That’s my boy,” Beck said taking off his backpack and reaching into a side pouch to pull out four spheres. “Leave your pack here son.”

  “Grenades, Dad, what in the world were you thinking in taking neutron grenades on a muti-deer hunt?”

  “When I packed them, I was thinking of protecting us against creatures much more powerful than the Tyrannosaurus Rex we saw yesterday. Low and behold we can now use them to cover our trail if we have to retreat. Put these two in your front belt pouch. You do remember how to use them from your grenade course last year? You press the button, quickly count to three and throw them a good distance. You have to keep in mind the blast radius of the neutron radiation.”

  “I know, Dad, geez you would think I was just a kid,” Achilles gro
used. “You know I graduated at the top of the grenade class. No one could throw grenades as far or as accurately as I could.”

  “Yes, yes. Just be careful with these and don’t use them unless I tell you to,” Beck warned. Beck gave his son the other five magazines of plasma rounds and had him set his rifle for needle beam firing. To himself, he wished they had heavy duty assault laser rifles, but he might as well wish for a laser tank when it came to that. He motioned his son to follow along his left side and they went hunting U-mens.

  They silently moved through the forest. The gross smell of U-mens getting stronger and stronger. The pair could hear the creatures talking in the distance.

  “Paul, I think the scientists apartments are just over that hill,” a female said.

  “Paul, I have two creatures moving up on our position about two hundred meters out and to the south,” a man said. “They don’t look too big on the sensors. I don’t think they will be much trouble.”

  “You never know with the creatures on this level,” a third man said. “Keep a sharp look out for those creatures.”

  “Dad, they are speaking our language. How can they do that?” Achilles whispered in wonder.

  “Yes, well, err, that is another class you will take when you are an adult. They seem to know we are coming up on them. When the time comes you fire on the female if the fighting begins,” Beck whispered.

  The U-mens talked on.

  “I sure would like to explore Epsilon City,” the female remarked. “I’m sure there are many technological treasures we could use.”

  “We have some units in inviso-suits getting ready to go there, but it’s a dangerous place,” the third male said. “We have tracked at least seven different species of Wolfoids thriving in that city. It would be certain death to be caught by them.”

  The pair of hunters looked down from a hill at three groups of U-mens. The three they heard talking were just thirty yards away. There were a group of five by a large military vehicle and another group of three on a hill looking north.

  Using hand signals Beck told his son to throw his two grenades at the group of three on the hill and then shoot at the female nearest them. Beck prepared his two grenades.