by Amelia Esla
They’d never find him there. There was plenty to eat, if you knew what was consumable, and he had heard there were caves in the White Top Mountains, far to the north.
He could stop by Uncle Sam from time to time and it would not take long for his parents to forget about him, probably less than five minutes.
A month or two in the Jungle until they were gone was a prospect that looked better with each step he took towards the Boathouse. To the surprise of the teenagers, there was a sizable crowd waiting for them. In addition to the parents there were at least twenty more adults, not all of them human. One of them, he recognized as the black Shaill mollusk medic from the hospital.
At the rear where the floaters always parked, and next to the Rangers Hover tank, one of the Green and yellow Flyers of the Institute.
Not far from it, he spotted his parents, recognizing the color scheme of their Armor suits. The entire crowd was wearing armor suits of various designs and types.
It looked as if a company of Orbital-assault infantry soldiers had dropped to the surface of this planet. The presence of six expeditionary Marines with full armament reinforced that impression. The crowd became silent and all heads most underneath full sealed helmets turned to watch as the group of teenagers appeared coming around the sharp bend the shore line made about 500 meters to the East.
The sight of unprotected human juveniles walking along the shore line accompanied by a Moolax spider, a young Water Snake and a sizable black Beast no one seeing it, recognized; silenced the last mumbled comment. In that complete silence, Martha finally whispered. “He really is outside!”
Ranger Solomon was standing just a few steps removed from the inside of the force field barrier that separated him and the crowd from the outside and the approaching teenagers.
He raised his hand and pointed at Roy and the others with an open hand. “I can see you are as shocked as I was when I saw it first; they are indeed outside. No armor, no battle suits and they just walked almost nine kilometers in an environment we all consider absolutely lethal.”
The Ranger made a pause, yet there was still complete silence, one spoke. It was clear that the adults present, some of which had heard the rumors of kids being outside, still tried to believe their own eyes. For centuries they were told that nothing not native to this world would survive for long. So he continued. “You notice they are not injured and quite frankly appear more at ease out there than some of you behind a military grade energy shield and heaviest armor. There is no rational explanation I can think off, other than the one obvious: they are true children of this world.
Attest to the fact that man can adapt to any environment eventually.
“When humans came to this world almost 400 years ago, they survived only under the heaviest protection, taking trips beyond the cities walls for the briefest times and inside the heaviest technology armor our civilization could create. Still despite all that, many died.” He gestured down his own body and said. “I was born here and so was my father and I don’t wear the same thick armor he did and without really thinking about it expose myself for short periods to the outside Something my father would not have dared. “Now our kids take the next steps and not only survive out there for extended time in nothing more than Bio seal suits.
“And If that wouldn’t be amazing enough, the true marvel is the fact that they somehow tamed and bonded with what we see as terrifying, creatures. ”
He took a breath as he was talking fast and with increasing intensity to his tone of voice. “This is a historic moment for Green Hell, because it is the turning point where this world is no longer just a scientific curiosity to a scientific elite, but also becoming a home world to us all in its own right. I am convinced that the grandchildren of these teenagers will not call this world Green Hell, but Green Paradise because their eyes will see beauty where we only see death and danger.”
The City Council Foreman and Major of Green Hell, who was also Norm’s father was the first who started to clap.
His wife brushed back her helmet and followed her husband’s lead. Moments most of the adults present clapped and there were cheers for the simple Ranger who managed to put all this in context and words.
Roy could not hear what the Ranger was saying as the force field was an effective barrier for everything including sound waves. All he saw was the Ranger gesturing and talking to a bunch of adults. The waiting was as worse as coming here, but then the adults started clapping, cheering and now with most helmets folded back into the collars of the suits, Roy saw the smiles.
Melissa said. “Whatever he said must have been good, they seem to approve.”
Maria brushed bangs to the side and raised her head. “He gave a fairly good speech, I must say.” Bob not taking his eyes of his father said. “I know you can read lips, but his back was turned towards us for the most time. How would you know what my dad said?”
She raised her arm and pointed at her PDD. “They are broadcasting the whole thing on Green Hell Two. If you really observe and not just look, you see Galwina Smith the news lady, of Channel GH2 complete with Cam Bot over there.”
Bob grunted at her from the side. “Yo are a Smart ass.”
Maria giggles silently and then said. “I know.” She then dialed her wrist PDD to a higher volume so they all could hear what was going on inside.
The Ranger raised his hands and with this motion got the attention of the people there once more. “Do not applaud me just yet, because I want you to trust your children and don’t force them to conform to our rules, at least in this case. Let them make their case to you.”
After a moments it became apparent to the people that the Ranger had said what he has to say. Melissa’s father was the first to stepped forward, saying with a hint of fear in his voice. “That was a great speech Ranger, but my beautiful, delicate daughter is standing out there. Let her in and we see about her sneaking outside in the future!” Someone behind Melissa’s father pointed at the red haired girl outside. “Is that a Pandora Swan perched there behind her head and her shoulders?” Melissa’s father grabbed the arm of the Ranger, “For God’s sake do something! That thing has claws as sharp as razors, the slightest scratch could kill her!”
The man’s voice rose a few notches. “I am no Off-Worlder, I know what these monsters can do!” Melissa stepped close to the energy barrier and gave her father a withering look in a way only she could, and whenever she did that somehow her bright red hair seemed brighter and her eyes burned with a green and intense fire. She spoke in her own PDD and her voice carried an edge just as sharp as the claws of her swan she. “Yes father that is a Pandora Swan, his name is Silver. He has never hurt me, even though he could. He does something else however, he protects me and I know he cares for me. Dad I love this animal as dearly as I could love anything. I knew this day would come and you find out, but I know my rights. I am old enough to file for a divorce from you my parents,if you so much as try to separate me from Silver. I love you Dad but I will not abandon Silver because of you. I beg you as your daughter, don’t make me choose.”
Her father swallowed hard, strong emotions moved the jaw muscles of the richest man in Ant Hill. His knowledge of Green Hell; all he knew about this world; the fear for the life of his only daughter clashed with the image of her standing out there. So completely at ease and with one of the deadliest killer animals, of this world of killer monsters on her small shoulders. He clenched his fists but before he could make up his mind as to what to say or do his wife, Melissa’s mother moved past him and looked at her daughter through the barley visible force field.
The mother looked much like an older mirror image of Melissa. She had the same almost translucent complexion, the same flaming hair and green eyes sparkled with intelligence, mischief and curiosity. “It does not look like she is hurt. If that Swan wanted to harm her, she would be dead long before we even knew she had one.
“I had a feeling that she was one of the kids that sneaked out, for quite a while.”
Then she gave her husband an elfish smile.” Haggard O’Malley you know how stubborn the females on the Brady side of our family can be, I think you will lose this battle too!”
He said. “You knew she went outside?”
“Knowing is a strong word to something I didn’t really believe possible until now, but I suspected it when she ordered Terran All Terrains instead of DeNoir Heels; when she had a Bio Seal suit hidden under her bed or when our daughter asked for a Bo-Zap Blaster, on her last birthday...”
Haggard only now really noticed the strong Plasma weapon riding low in a fast draw holster, next to an Ka-Bar MC7 Combat knife and he said with a weak voice of fading disbelief. “I thought she was joking. You actually got it for her?”
Aideen paid no attention to her husbands question and said. “I never seen a swan so close. I never knew they look so beautiful. Look Haggard how it’s wings drape down her back and appear like a shimmering cape.”
The Ranger took the opportunity the change of mood in Haggard O’Malley and said . “Melissa, your Swan is not a hamster or a domesticated cat, as they have on other planets. This is a wild predator and as far as we know the reason this animal acts so differently is because it is sick.”
Melissa spoke in her PDD. “Not one of you would know how a Pandora acts on anything. You could not tell a Mountain Pandora from a Swam Pandora or if it is a male or female.”
The ranger could not really argue that so he went on. “I researched the matter from my point of interest in the whole affair and the custom of owning animals for domestic uses is quite common with many Union Civilizations.
“As I understand here are many different local laws and customs associated with that practice; however since Green Hell has no local laws regarding holding local life forms as pets; probably because no one ever even dreamed it possible; Federal Law comes in effect and it states that holding a non sentient life form for any purpose,be it companionship, entertainment or commercial is a permitted act of self expression and part of the pursuit of happiness which are of course fundamental rights.”
He said louder so everyone could clearly hear what he had to say. “The ownership of life forms that have the potential of harming another citizen is restricted just as Class III weapons are restricted, such animals are considered a Weapon and need an owner permit.
The permit allows the owner to keep a dangerous life form for protection , but it also makes the owner liable and responsible for any damages, injuries or lethal harm caused.”
He was almost finished with his long sermon and looked sternly at Melissa. “That means if your Swan harms or kills someone you could end up on the business end of a Federal executioners rope.” Melissa said. “I am in control of Silver.”
Turning sideways she pointed at a swarm of arrow wasps that was approaching from the jungle’s edge. The adults behind the screen got nervous and some ducked even though they were behind a force field. Arrow Wasps appeared in swarms that could contain anywhere from maybe twenty to about a hundred of these eight, nine centimeter long insects.
Arrow wasps normally used their double pair of wings to fly through the air, at speeds not exceeding that of a fast walking man, but when they got threatened or if the swarm encountered potential prey several of the swarm perimeter guards would turn around, pointing their long steel hard stinger (that was sharper than an old style syringe’s needle) towards their intended target. Then use an internal turbine like organ to propel themselves to projectile speed of a fast flying arrow or dart and over distances of up to fifteen meters of straight flight.
An Arrow wasp died in the process as it could use that propelling organ only once as this act expelled all its energy. The result however was an Arrow wasp sticking deep in a victims body and release dozens of fast growing flesh eating larvae, it was a particular nasty way to go.
Following Melissa’s whispered command, “Go get them, Silver,” the swan shot like a streak of shimmering metal from Melissa’s shoulders, extending its folded lower sickle blade wings. Half moon shaped, twenty centimeters long forward curved and like its claws incredibly sharp .
The swan made eerie sounding cries, while it displayed aerobatic skills no one of the adults had ever witnessed.
The swan skillfully avoided the Wasps that committed to attack flights, while it cut and pieced the insects in a frenzied attack.
The swarm was sizable and there were too many Wasps for one swan alone. The Swan cried once again and then like an echo, the chorus of half a dozen Pandora Swans answered the call and six birds appeared from above the jungle canopy, and then dove into the wasp swarm, assisting Silver. Martha who still felt stunned, seeing her son standing outside, found her voice and whispered to Paul. “First the Bolters and now Pandora Swans. This is clear communication and coordinated fighting.”
Paul also still processed what he saw with some difficulty and then said watching this stunning display of animal combat. “Martha, after all this time of research, we still really know nothing about Green Hell, nothing at all!”
Even though there were now six Pandora Swans decimating the Insects, the swarm of Wasps. The swarm was still numerous enough to become dangerous to the kids.
The five teenagers simultaneously pulled their weapons and with precise shots decimated the whirling mass of insects, even hitting and burning those that propelled themselves to arrow speed. None of the kids had any sort of assisted targeting systems fitted to their weapons, yet none of them missed a shot , or hurt a swan.
Ma Swanson gasped aloud. “Jeezuz Christ, these kids are good and I thought I saw some fancy gun play in my days, but that takes the cake!”
One of the marines watching agreed. “I doubt I could hit a a six centimeter target flying in an erratic pattern, without Computronic assist and each of them does it with ease.”
The spectacle was soon over. The Wasps completely obliterated. the wild Swans on their way back to the Jungle, while Silver winged down and returned to his spot on Melissa’s shoulders, breaking his dive speed with powerful flaps of its wings, hovering a moment almost like a Terran Humming bird, before gently extending its talons and landing on Melissa’s shoulders.
It was clearly evident to anyone watching that the wild bird displayed great care not to hurt the Girl with is claws. Once it had settled, resting on the special padded and reinforced shoulder pads; Melissa had glued on all her suits to allow Silver to get a firm grip without piercing the suit material,or her skin beneath.
Silver buried his head in Melissa’s locks and only his long, sharp stuck out almost 40 or fifty centimeters above her brows.
Melissa reached up and petted the Swan. The animal squinted his yellow eyes and made a rattling pleased sound.
Haggard, her father wiped his hand across his mouth and said. “Did you see that? I mean by all the Saints did you see that?” Melissa’s father no longer sounded afraid but proud. “I doubt there are many Off-Worlders who have that kind of control over their dogs and cats. Seeing that changed my mind forever how I look at our world and its life. I approve and allow my daughter to keep her Swan. She can even bring it home.”
The Ranger gave Ma Swanson a sign with his hand and the woman created an oval man sized gap in the force field by pressing a sensor on her belt remote. She croaked with her locally famous tin can voice. “Gate field activated, She can come in!” Several of the adults present hastily closed their helmets and eyed the structural gap nervously.
Melissa walked towards the hole, and just before she stepped onto the Duro-Crete pad she pulled her blaster fired sideways, startling most of the people present, while it appeared as if Melissa didn’t really look at what she was shooting, She did not slow her walk , restored the weapon as fast as she had pulled it back to its holster.
Less than three meters from where she had been, was the charred remains of a Burrow Digger, a scale armored worm like centipede with strong scissor like mandibles , strong enough to pull a person inside a four ton Battle suit towards a mud bog, as Martha
Masters could attest.
These ugly and frightening looking monsters were fast and invisible as long as they remained hidden below ground. Anyone of the adults present would have been completely surprised by the fast attacking monster.
The red headed teenage girl however simply stepped through the force-field gap as if nothing happened.
Ma Swanson restored the integrity of the shield and the Ranger pointed at the still wriggling body of the Digger, despite the fact that most of its head was gone.“Melissa how did you know the Digger was there and ready to attack?”
She turned her head to look and the smoking remains. “Oh ,that one.” She smiled disarmingly at the Ranger. “I had to burn it. That one was to close to evade and Burrow Diggers are just too big for Silver to take on all by himself, besides Bob’s Wobbler normally takes care of them.”
“Okay fair enough but what warned you?”
She looked at the Ranger as if he asked if space is black. “Didn’t you see it’s breathing stalk sticking out between the Murder Grass. Keep an eye out for the breathing stacks and they are easy to spot.” Solomon shook his head slowly and spread his arms. “I rest my case, these kids really do see the this place with different eyes.”
Melissa’s parents approached their daughter slowly and Silver raised his head out of Melissa’s locks and screeched a coarse warning at them.
Melissa pulled of her suits glove and scratched the Swan right underneath the beak and the bird relaxed. “Sorry Mom and Dad, but Silver is very protective of me and does not like strangers coming to close without my permission, but he knows now that I approve of you and you can come closer.”
Her dad laughed. “What better protection could I ask for? Melissa is growing fast and I already considered purchasing a Shatter gun, but having a real Pandora watching over her is much better!” His comment made quite a few adults laugh.
