Stowaway

by Z D Dean

  “How will the captain recover? You are not the medical officer.”

  “Damn it, if you question me again, I will deactivate you. The ship stays where it is, and you stay the hell out of this bay.”

  An almost comical look of confusion spread across the robot’s face before it exited the medical bay. Axis hooked Samix up to the vital machine, placed an oxygen mask on her face, covered her with the emergency blankets and sat down near the entrance. The sight of Samix laying on the medical bed reminded Axis of all the times Farn was in the exact same spot. Farn was one of the clumsiest individuals Axis had ever met, regularly having accidents in his lab which required recovery time in the medical bay. As he thought about all of the times Farn had been in the medical bay, one particular incident stood out. Early in the trip, Farn had dropped a large masonry drill that he was using on his hand. The drill mangled his hand to a nearly unrecognizable pulp, and Jorloss had to put the injured limb inside a special device for recovery. Less than a day after the accident, Farn’s hand was completely recovered. Spinning to the nearest computer, Axis began searching through Jorloss’ medical logs for the incident.

  Axis found the incident reports and began reading them. Jorloss had placed Farn’s hand inside a soft tissue regeneration matrix. The matrix, a thick blue gelatinous liquid, worked in concert with the nanites. It provided all of the materials required to repair a severely damaged appendage which the nanites could not repair on their own. With hope renewed, Axis began scouring the bay for the matrix. He found it, with accompanying containment bags, in a storage unit filled with temperature sensitive compounds. Axis quickly grabbed a containment bag and filled it, nearly overflowing, with the matrix. With the bag full, he gently slid Samix’s brutally crushed and frostbitten foot into the matrix and sealed the bag around the undamaged part of her leg.

  With nothing more he could do for Samix, he turned his attention to security. Axis knew the once homicidal AI had been completely reset but, even knowing so, couldn’t get himself to trust it. Now roaming around the ship in its frame, it could dispatch the remaining organic crewmembers easily. Although Axis wanted to stay at Samix’s side, he knew he needed insurance against the AI. After doing one final check on Samix, he headed out of the medical bay towards the robotics lab, ensuring the bay door would only open when his interface was near. Since their mission together Zade and Axis had become friends, and Axis learned that Zade had amassed a small arsenal in the robotics lab. The two pieces of hardware he was interested in were a copy of the earth firearm Zade regularly carried, and one of the multifunctionality replica breaching charges Zade had created.

  After finding the cache, Axis strapped on a thigh holster carrying a sidearm which was loaded with Zade’s highly effective excalibur rounds. Zade had been experimenting with different sizes, Axis chose the largest one, he believed Zade had said it was a .50 caliber. As both royalty and a scientist Axis felt ridiculous carrying around the cannon, but he was currently dealing with a situation that fell well outside the realm of either science or the royal court. The charge, Axis found, was incredibly easy to use. After connecting to it with his interface he encrypted the connection and programmed it to be remotely detonated. Now armed, he headed back down to the subdeck. After firmly attaching the charge to the AI core, he shot a message to Mur. The failsafe almost guaranteed that the ship would never return to civilized space, but he would only use it if Mur turned again and the crewmen’s deaths were imminent.

  “I am giving you this order as the acting captain. You are not to enter the medical bay at any time or remain on the same deck as either myself or Samix while in your frame. If you violate this order you will be deemed a threat to this ship, and I will be forced to neutralize you through direct means. In the event I cannot neutralize you directly, I will do so indirectly.”

  Realizing that he must have done something horrible earlier, Mur responded sadly, “Roger.” The emotion in his response sounding eerily human.

  With everything in place, Axis headed back to the medical bay where he positioned a chair facing the door, laid his sidearm across his lap, and pulled security. Some point after the ship went into night cycle Axis dozed off. Two days passed before Samix stirred. He returned to the medical bay after a meal to see Samix struggling to sit up in her bed. Axis dropped the cup of sloop he had gotten and ran to her side. The day prior her foot had healed enough to remove the recovery matrix and aside from being slightly pale and underweight she looked perfectly healthy.

  “What’s going on?” She croaked through parched lips.

  “Woah take it easy. You’re in the medical bay recovering.” Axis said as he handed her a small cup of water.

  Samix couldn’t remember anything after she opened the door to the AI core, so Axis filled her in on the events that transpired after she reset the AI. Starting with how Mur had tried to prevent her from tampering with its core and finishing with how he had set up a means of protection from Mur. Samix sat quietly listening to the story before she spoke again.

  “We need to go back for the others. With the time dilation of our warp, we have no idea as to how long they have been stranded.”

  “I know, but you were the only one with access to the planet’s location.”

  With a look of forced concentration, Samix sent a copy of the location’s image to his interface. Axis quickly opened the message to examine it, and when he turned his attention back to Samix he saw that she had fallen back asleep. Axis quickly instructed the AI to travel to the location, and within seconds he felt the ship drop into warp. Axis sat down hard, almost overtaken by the feeling of hope that Samix’s recovery stirred. It was the hope that everything might turn out ok. Axis knew that even though the ship was moving in the right direction, there was no way he could recover the lost crew on his own. He sat silently willing Samix to recover before they reached their destination.

  Chapter 12

  Days passed on the strange planet, time when Jorloss seldom moved. Zade had been keeping watch and scavenging for supplies to no avail. Having only one person to feed and hydrate helped stretch the trivial amount of rations and water brought on mission in his assault pack. Not expecting a prolonged stay off the ship, Zade had only packed three bottles of water, a small bag of trail mix, and a small package of jerky, all staples of the combat soldiers’ diet. By night three there was only one bottle of water and a handful of trail mix left. Zade fell into an uneasy sleep, body aching from the limited nutritional intake, unrestful sleep and stress associated with being on alert constantly.

  Slowly returning to consciousness Zade noted that the previous night had been the best sleep he had gotten since he arrived on the planet. Immediately upon opening his eyes he was greeted by a pair of large green eyes, inches from his face, staring back at him. The unexpectedness of seeing Jorloss recovered enough to move around immediately put Zade in a hyper alert state and he surveyed the cave around him.

  “I was worried about you. After I woke, I shook you to try and wake you up but you didn’t move. After closer examination I noticed that you were cold and had taken on a faint blue shade. Figuring it was from sleeping on the cave floor unprotected, I gave you the makeshift blanket that I’m assuming you put on me.” Jorloss said, the look of worry dissolving at Zade’s waking.

  “Worried about me! I was worried about you. You almost bled out when the SSILF turned on us.”

  “Thank you for patching me up, by the way. I do have some questions once you fully wake up and get moving. Mainly why aren’t we back on the ship?”

  “Well that’s the million-dollar question isn’t it?” Zade replied before informing Jorloss about the events that took place since the conflict.

  Zade explained that he had carried Jorloss from the objective towards the ship, only to find that it had left before they reached the landing zone. Afraid that the melee may have sparked the interest of the locals, Zade had created some false trails then went to ground in the cave they now occupied. Jorloss stood, listeni
ng intently as Zade spoke. For Jorloss the story raised as many questions as it answered. Zade finished his explanation as he began digging through his assault pack, looking for something before Jorloss finally spoke up.

  “So, I guess the question now is why did the ship leave and what are the odds it will come back?”

  After realizing that, while he slept, Jorloss had finished off the remaining food and water Zade began thinking aloud.

  “I’m sure it’s a matter of when the ship returns, not if. If you and Samix are friends from childhood, I don’t think she would leave you behind, something must have malfunctioned on the ship. But since you finished off the last of our supplies, we need to focus on getting water and food until they come back.”

  Assuming, correctly, that he was the only one out of the pair who had any type of survival training, Zade launched into a plan for their survival. The objective of any survival situation is to make it to a populated friendly area. In the event that there is no nearby friendly populated area, it is best to stay near the spot where you were lost, Zade explained. As for food, while Jorloss was recovering Zade had seen plentiful game in the jungle but was unsure if it was edible. Jorloss confirmed that the nanites in both their bloodstreams would prevent any sickness, so Zade started explaining the most detrimental problem the landing team currently faced. While Jorloss rested Zade had scoured the map of the area for any kind of water source. Unable to find any streams, ponds, or creeks, Zade recognized that the nearest water source was the well in the village to their north. Sensing where Zade was heading Jorloss spoke up.

  “No, no, no. We cannot be seen by the locals. You said it yourself, your species couldn’t grasp the concept of alien life, how do you think this species will react?”

  “I don’t know how they will react. But I do know that without water, in this heat, I will be gone in three days.”

  Zade began disassembling the litter so he could put his uniform top back on. Jorloss just sat pondering a solution, the enormity of his situation finally impressed upon him. Zade stuffed the extra uniform top in his assault pack, and while heading to the mouth of the cave motioned for Jorloss to follow him.

  “Do you think it is wise for us to approach the village?” Jorloss asked as he stood to follow Zade.

  “We will not approach the village. I will approach the village, alone, after night has fallen to reduce the chance of being caught.”

  Zade and Jorloss were currently headed out to scavenge for food. Since this planet was similar enough to Jorloss’ home world to have the plant of interest at the objective, Zade figured that Jorloss would be able to identify things to eat. Zade was confident that he could harvest game, but without the vitamins from fruits and vegetables, feared that he would become ill. The two wandered through the jungle following a rough north west heading.

  “You can thank this guy for the blanket.” Zade joked as they passed the carcass, he had skinned days earlier.

  Clearly there were predators and scavengers in the area. The skinned animal had been reduced to nothing more than a red spot on the ground with bones sticking out of it. The two men meandered for hours with Jorloss occasionally identifying plants that resembled those from his home world which were edible. The most promising for Zade was a small purple and red seed filled berry that Jorloss identified as having many vitamins. Removing the empty trail mix bag from his pack, Zade filled it with the strange berries. Jorloss informed him that he should, under no circumstances, swallow the berry’s seeds. The plant thrived in an acidic dark environment in its adolescence and could easily rupture an individual’s abdominal wall if it took root in the digestive tract.

  As dusk set in the two men agreed that a small fire in the cave would be low risk and agreed that if they ran across game, they would attempt to kill it for a food source. As the men were returning to the cave, rustling vegetation caught Zade’s attention. Quickly motioning for Jorloss to stop, Zade crouched and waited to see what was making the noise. The creature that emerged from the brush was almost identical to a wild boar on earth. The thought of fresh bacon almost made Zade spring into action without thinking. After restraining his urge Zade motioned for Jorloss to retreat back far enough to talk while still able to keep the pig within sight.

  Zade had gone boar hunting countless times on earth, so he knew that the animal could use it’s twelve-inch-long, razor sharp tusks with lethal efficiency when threatened. He also knew that pigs relied heavily on their sense of smell, meaning Zade could dispatch it if he could stay down wind of it. The plan Zade laid out was simple. The area they were in was rimmed with rock outcroppings, and luckily the wind was blowing towards the only traversable exit. Knowing that a gunshot could raise suspicion and give away their position, Zade would wait atop the outcropping near the exit with his combat knife. Jorloss would circle around upwind of the animal, and drive it towards Zade, a feat most likely accomplished as soon as the pig caught Jorloss’ scent. He hoped that, since being driven, by the time the pig caught his scent it would be within striking range.

  After agreeing on the plan, Zade used his improved low light vision to quietly move into place. Once he was perched atop the rocks, he sent a message to Jorloss’ interface telling him to start driving the pig. Being from a species commonly identified as prey on their home world, Jorloss approached the animal with a cautious timidity. As he approached the dangerous animal, Zade could see that although it noticed Jorloss it didn’t identify him as a threat and stood its ground. Zade knew that if the pig was startled while Jorloss was within striking range there was a good possibility of injury, so he sent another message to Jorloss instructing him to start making noise.

  Jorloss stopped walking as he read the message. After which he looked in Zade’s direction, unable to see him through the gloom, with a look that bordered on terror. Before Zade could start moving towards the pig, worried that Jorloss had frozen in fear, Jorloss clapped his hands and the boar started towards the small exit directly in front of Zade. The pig stumbled as it picked up Zade’s scent, the perfect opportunity for him to strike. Zade launched himself off the rock, landed astride the four-hundred-pound beast and buried his combat knife to the hilt, top dead center just in front of the animal’s shoulders. The strike severed the animal’s brain stem, killing it immediately. It was the cleanest kill Zade ever had, rifle, bow, and shotgun included.

  As he started field dressing the animal, Zade looked over his shoulder to see Jorloss, once again, frozen in fear. It was only the second time he had seen Zade work, but it was the first not driven by self-defense, and was clearly trying to process the brutality of his actions. As he finished skillfully cleaning the animal, he called Jorloss over and handed him his assault pack not wanting to get it messy. With the fresh kill balanced across his shoulders, Zade led the way back to the cave. The men walked in silence, Jorloss immediately entered the cave while Zade prepared the fire and meal. As he made up the meal Zade kept an eye on the scientist.

  Jorloss was exhibiting an emotion he knew well. Zade had seen it on the faces of his newest soldiers during their first contact and had experienced it personally during his first battle. It was the look of shock that every man wears the first time he realizes that he has just taken a life, or someone was trying to take his. The shock is born from a sharp, sometimes painful, reminder that he is mortal. For noncombatants time dulls it, for warriors repeated exposure desensitizes them to it. Not because they wish for death, not because they feel invincible, but because the warrior accepts that life is fleeting, and everyone has an expiration date. Now, Zade knew, Jorloss had to decide. He could choose to question his actions and let the events destroy him or he could choose to accept the events and grow stronger from them. Zade stayed quiet knowing that no outside comfort or third-party rationalization could make Jorloss’ decision any easier.

  After finishing the most delicious bacon he had ever eaten, Zade set to securing the meat for the night. He used a trick he learned while hiking in the Rockies. Walking a sh
ort way away from the cave entrance, he found a large branch that would support the weight of the pig and threw his spool of cord over it. Positioning the cord far enough from the trunk to prevent a predator from climbing the tree to get at the meat, Zade tied the pig up and hoisted it into the branches. Hikers often did this with their packs to prevent bears from destroying them while looking for the food inside.

  Returning to the cave Jorloss was nowhere to be found. Zade emptied his assault pack of everything but the empty water bottles before striking out to find him, and ultimately get water from the village. He found the scientist pacing back and forth just north of the cave entrance and extended the useless platitude he knew would not help Jorloss make his decision.

  “You OK? We had to eat.” He said, attempting to keep it simple.

  “I don’t know if I’m OK. My people have never predated on other living things, ever. You just killed an animal and I helped, what does that make me?”

  “Honestly, it makes you a person who, while in a difficult situation, chose to eat and live vs starve and die. Nothing more, nothing less.”

  “It can’t be that simple. I’ve seen you take on worse situations with a smile on your face. How do you deal with it?”

  “For most people, like you, it is that simple. Your actions were borne out of necessity. You only have to question yourself once you find yourself enjoying the kill.”

  “You don’t enjoy combat? Your smile suggests otherwise.”

  “Jorloss, I don’t think my reasoning will help, but here goes. Yes, I do enjoy…lethal interactions…but I have a personal code that allows me to live with myself after I am done. I never knowingly hurt innocents. I never engage with individuals who cannot defend themselves. I never wantonly kill without a need to. If I meet those three rules, I sleep good at night.”