by ML Guida
WHOOOOSH
Thirty-nine kilometers….thirty kilometers….twenty kilometers….
Vaughn’s stomach dropped all the way to his toes.
The science officer Stan looked up from his scanner, his face pale. “Vaughn, the Stealth is turning around and firing up her weapons.”
Sweat slid down Vaughn’s throbbing temples into his eyes, blurring his vision, but he didn’t lose his focus. Vaughn clenched his fists. “Lock photon ruptors on the Stealth.”
Grod punched in coordinates. “Photon ruptors locked.”
“Rye, fire.”
“Firing photon ruptors.”
VREEEEEEEEEEEE VREEEEEEE VREEEEEE
Three green ruptors whizzed toward the Stealth, hitting the space ship on the left side. Black smoke and fiery sparks exploded.
“We hit their main thrusters,” Stan said.
TZAPT
Purple rays hurled toward the Intrepid.
Vaughn smashed his fist on the arm rest. “Hard left, Helmsman.”
The Intrepid teetered.
Stan looked down at his scanner. “Vaughn, deck four is damaged. Reporting casualties.”
Vaughn’s stomach tightened. Sickbay was on deck four. But he couldn’t stop. More lives were at stake. “Rye, fire photon ruptors.”
VREEEEE VREEEE VRRREEE
This time, the ruptors sizzled into the Stealth’s front. Glass shattered. Metal crumpled and blackened. Fire and smoke burst into space. The Stealth slumped to the side.
“We hit their main bridge, Vaughn. It appears they are disabled.”
Vaughn leaned back in his chair. “Krup, contact Commander Cer.”
Knup pulled up the viewing screen. Black and white smoke filled their bridge.
Cer appeared badly burned, this time his cockiness had vanished. Vaughn wasn’t sure, but he thought he saw admiration in his eyes.
“I underestimated you, Vaughn. A deadly mistake.”
Vaughn sat straighter in Tash’s chair. “Prepare any of your survivors to board the Intrepid.”
Cer shook his head. “You know that is not our way.” He pulled a red level on the wall. Sparks sparkled then a fiery explosion rippled through the Stealth’s bridge.
The screen disappeared. Instead bits of metal and debris of the Stealth floated through the space and down into the Lathea’s atmosphere.
“They’re gone,” Grod mumbled.
“Obviously.” Stan put his hands behind his back. “You took a big chance, Vaughn.”
Vaughn rubbed his glistening forehead. “I know.” He dropped his hand. “Krup, alert the United Planet Confederation command.”
Krup nodded.
“Grod, set a course for Aria.”
“Yes, sir.”
Stan motioned for Vaughn to come to his station. Vaughn reluctantly came over, not wanting to get a tongue lashing for taking such a big risk.
But that’s not what Stan wanted.
“Before we engaged in battle with the Kamtrinians, I found the information you wanted on Greum and Ivona.”
“And?”
“The information most enlightening was on Ivona.”
Vaughn wound his hand as if to speed up the process. “Which was?”
“Did you know that Ivona was related to Nucl the traitor? He was her stepbrother.”
Stan’s voice buzzed in Vaughn’s ears, setting off a sting of adrenaline bursts. His lungs seized up and fear spun out of control. He didn’t wait for him to finish.
He grabbed his telicator. “Security, sickbay now.”
“But Vaughn, I wasn’t finished.”
Vaughn grabbed his arm. “Anything significant with Greum?”
Stan shook his head. “No.”
Vaughn released him. Right now, nothing mattered. Sandra was alone with Ivona. His mate.
Krup turned his chair around. “United Planet Confederation command is contacting you, Vaughn.”
Vaughn raced to the elevator.
“Excuse me, sir?”
The doors shut on Krup’s bewildered face.
“Deck four.”
His heart knocked against his ribs and blood whooshed through him, making his muscles bulkier, his size larger. His bear threatened to burst out and rip the elevator apart. He paced in the elevator as if it had suddenly gone into slow motion.
His telicator beeped. “Vaughn, here.” His voice was more of a growl. He was losing control. All his calmness jumped out of the spaceship.
“This is security, Blar speaking.”
“Report.”
“We found Marc unconscious.”
“Were Sandra, the Earth woman, or Ivona there?”
“Negative.”
“Seek them both out immediately.”
“Yes, sir.”
The elevator doors finally slid open. Vaughn raced out and headed for Ivona’s quarters. He just hoped he wasn’t too late.
“Now, you’ll discover why the Admiral and his sons must die.” Ivona shoved Sandra into her quarters.
She stumbled. Fear squeezed her heart. “I won’t let you hurt Vaughn.”
Ivona gritted her teeth. “I’ll make you watch him die.”
Hate burned in Sandra’s gut.
Suddenly, the Intrepid rocked back and forth. She slammed into Ivona hard, knocking her into the wall.
Her eruptor fell from her hand, and Ivona reached for the weapon.
Sandra had a chance. She drew on all of her karate training. With all of her strength, she slapped Ivona’s wrist hard. The woman howled, pressing her wrist against her chest. Luckily, she missed the eruptor.
Sandra kicked it across the room.
Ivona narrowed her eyes. “That wasn’t very nice.”
Sandra went into a defense stance, her feet shoulder length apart and turned to the side. “I considered it self-defense.”
“You actually think you can defeat me?” Ivona’s eyes darkened. “I’m a bear.”
Sandra tilted her head back, her hair falling along her shoulders. She refused to answer.
Ivona took a menacing step toward her. Sandra remained in defense mode, despite her paralyzed heart and lungs.
The woman released a terrifying growl and grew in size. Hair lengthened all over her body. Her fingernails changed to sharp talons, and she shifted into an overgrown, angry grizzly bear.
She lunged.
Sandra turned, but she wasn’t fast enough. One paw clawed into her flesh. Pain shot up her arm, bringing tears to her eyes.
Ivona stood up on her hind legs, snarling.
But Sandra wasn’t done.
Using all of her strength, Sandra raised her back leg and smashed her foot into Ivona’s stomach. Ivona fell back on her ass.
Ignoring the pain and blood dripping down her quivering arm, Sandra crawled on all fours as fast as she could.
The bear released another snarling growl. Heavy footsteps pursued her. Nails clicked on the floor, getting closer and louder.
Sandra snatched the eruptor on the ground. Sharp claws tore into her leg. She screamed, but held onto the eruptor with her shaking hands.
She whirled on her back to have a huge grizzly bear standing on its legs, towering over her. The bear dropped onto all fours, pinning her. Hot breath puffed into her face. Sharp teeth gleamed in its mouth. Death reflected in its green eyes. Drool splashed onto Sandra’s cheeks.
She fumbled with the eruptor.
“Security!” Someone yelled outside the door. Sandra thought it was Vaughn.
The bear turned its huge head, growling and bearing its teeth.
That was all the time Sandra needed. She fired. A green beam burst out of the eruptor and hit the bear in the chest.
The bear yelped and whined, then collapsed onto Sandra like a semi-trailer, crushing and flattening her to the floor.
She opened her mouth to scream and sucked in hair. She choked, spitting up blood and tears welling in her eyes.
“Vaughn,” but it wasn’t even a whisper. It was a desperate p
lea.
The bear, hair, and room went in and out of focus and spun. She closed her eyes.
“Sandra, Sandra.”
Was the last thing she heard before she passed out.
Chapter 15
Familiar beeps and bings echoed in Sandra’s head. Sickbay. That’s where she heard those sounds. She opened her eyes to see Vaughn slumped in a chair next to her bed. Even in sleep he was handsome––despite his drawn and grim face. His hair was crumpled as if he’d been running his hands through it.
She looked down and realized her arm was bandaged. She moved and winced. Pain reminded her not to try and be a superhero again.
Sickbay was quiet. A sandy haired man she didn’t recognize was examining Tash who looked even sicker. They needed to get him into the freezer fast. Or had they? And her plan hadn’t worked.
She struggled to sit up and gasped. Strong arms wrapped around her waist.
“You need to rest, Sandra.”
She looked into Vaughn’s worried eyes and shook her head. “No, Tash.”
He shook his head and sighed. “We put him in the freezer Sandra and it didn’t work.”
“But for how long?”
“For an hour. His vital signs plummeted. I couldn’t risk him being in there any longer.”
She clasped his arm. “Vaughn, listen to me. Ivona claimed that the rarets didn’t like cold.”
“Rarets?”
“That’s what she called them. She said that’s why she had the Echium Glauca plant. It wasn’t just because the plant was poisonous, it was because the creatures liked heat. You have to give them time to freeze.”
“But it could kill Tash.”
She pointed. “Do you think he’s going to get any better?”
He gritted his teeth. “No, I don’t.”
“Then trust me. Ask Ivona.”
He pushed the hair off her flushed face. “Honey, Ivona’s dead.”
Sandra’s stomach did a three sixty and bile rolled up her throat. She coughed and sputtered. Tingles crept from one finger to the next, turning every finger numb. She could feel the blood drain from her face and she shook uncontrollably. “No.”
He stroked her hair. “It wasn’t your fault. Ivona had the eruptor set to kill.”
Tears stained her cheeks. “I didn’t…I didn’t…”
“I know. If you hadn’t killed her, she would have killed you. Security found the documents she had hidden behind the toilet.” He glanced over at the admiral who was still unconscious. “The evidence is compelling. There will be a trial. A scandal.” His voice cracked. “A fallen hero.”
“I’m sorry, Vaughn.” She hugged him.
He buried his head into the crook of her neck. Wetness fell on her skin and he shook in her arms. She rubbed his back, wishing there was a different outcome. She didn’t know what was in those documents, but it was enough to tear Vaughn apart.
“Vaughn.” She pulled away from him. “We have to save them. Where’s Marc? He knows.”
“Unfortunately, Marc is still unconscious and has been taken to his quarters.” He cleared his throat. “Stan.”
The sandy-haired man turned around.
“We need to try again,” Vaughn said.
Stan flashed a disapproving look at Sandra. He appeared to be even more arrogant than Marc had been.
“Vaughn, Tash’s vital signs are dangerously low. You could kill him.”
“That wasn’t a suggestion, Stan.”
Stan stood straighter. “I think you’re making a terrible mistake. But you’re the captain––for now.”
“Get the geodrift and move Tash into the freezer again.”
Sandra clenched her fists, wanting to smash one into his smug face. She moved her leg and hissed. Red hot agony stabbed her, and she couldn’t move.
Vaughn pulled back the blanket to reveal another bandage wrapped around her right calf. “Sandra, your back calf was ripped down to the bone. You can’t walk.”
Ignoring the crippling pain, she asked. “Don’t…you have a wheel chair?”
“Well, yes.”
“Please, get me one.”
He rolled his eyes, but went over to the wall. A hidden door slid open to reveal several wheelchairs that looked like they could win a race against any sports car on Earth––sleek lines, a motor, big wheels, and a comfortable looking leather seat. He wheeled one over to her.
She moved to get into it. Vaughn picked her up and gently lowered her into the cushy chair.
“This is motorized by command. You tell it how fast you want to go and where you want to go.”
She slid her hand over one armrest. “I’ve never seen a chair with all these bells and whistles.”
Stan held the geodrift. He shook his head, but aimed it at Tash. The same yellow light bathed Tash and gently lifted him into the air. He led Tash into the large freezer and lowered him onto the table.
Sandra looked up at Tash. “So, what do I do? I want to monitor Tash in the freezer.”
He smiled. “Chair, move to laboratory desk.”
The chair smoothly rolled to the desk where Sandra could pull up the computer screen. “There’s a monitor in the freezer, isn’t there?”
“Yes.” Vaughn typed a code and a camera focused on Tash.
Stan closed the door. “This is foolish.”
“Maybe,” Sandra mumbled. “But we’re out of choices. Can I increase the temperature in the freezer?”
Stan and Vaughn looked at each other uneasily. “Yes,” Vaughn said. “Are you sure about this?”
“I am. Why would Ivona have lied to me? She was planning on killing me.” Her voice sounded confident, but her rumbling insides were layered in doubt.
Vaughn decreased the temperature until it was way below freezing.
Just like Stan said, Tash’s vitals dropped. His face turned a pale blue and his lips turned white. Icicles formed on his hair. His heart beat slowed. Frost formed on his skin.
“Come on.” Sandra stared into the monitor, willing something to happen. Anything.
“He’s going into hibernation mode,” Vaughn said.
Sandra shook her head. “Don’t let his body temperature increase.”
“Why?” Stan asked.
“Because he’ll be warm. The rarets like warm. They’ll just burrow deeper into him.”
He frowned. “Rarets?”
“They’re a bug from Ocrion.”
“Great,” Stan mumbled.
“Look.” Sandra jumped. “Something’s happening.” Excitement rippled through her voice.
Tash’s hair moved by itself. Revulsion rolled around in her gut and revolted up her throat. She gagged, putting her hand over her dry mouth. Something slimy and bright blue slid out of his ear, then slithered onto the floor. It reminded Sandra of a blue scarab beetle, but it had two heads and eight legs.
Stan’s eyes widened. “What the Shades is that?”
“That.” Sandra forced the sickening feeling back down and looked up at him. “Is a raret.”
Two more plopped on the floor. Their bodies turned white and they stopped moving.
“How many more are in him?” Vaughn’s mouth and nose wrinkled into a sneer.
Sandra shrugged. “I don’t know. But they can’t live in a cold body.”
After ten minutes, nothing else fell out of Tash’s ears.
Sandra glanced at Vaughn. “I think the rarets are dead.”
Vaughn kissed the top of Sandra’s head. “Shades, I hope so. Stay here.” He picked up a transrecorder and his eruptor.
Stan followed close behind.
He glanced at Stan. “I want to scan those things to see if they’re found in anyone else.”
Stan’s face had turned green, but he nodded.
The door slid open. The minute warm air hit the rarets, they moved toward Vaughn and Stan at lightning speed. Vaughn aimed the transrecorder.
When one lurched at him, he fired. The raret screeched then disappeared.
Stan
got the other two.
Vaughn moved the transrecorder over Tash. “According to the transrecorder, he doesn’t have a raret inside him.”
“Good,” Stan said. “Let’s get your dad in here.”
Vaughn nodded.
Stan used the geodrift and returned Tash back to his bed, then the Admiral was lifted into the air and into the freezer.
Once again, the temperature dropped in the freezer. The Admiral’s face changed to icy blue and his skin frosted over. Snow froze his hair. Like Tash, three rarets crawled out of his ear and crept down onto the floor.
Bile burst up Sandra’s throat and she had to clamp her mouth shut tight. She thought any minute she’d spew all over the screen, but somehow she kept it together.
The three rarets were fried like before, and the Admiral was returned to his bed.
“Vaughn, I think these things come in threes.”
He nodded. “I agree.” He looked at Tash and his dad who already were thawing out. “But their symptoms were different than the women.”
“I know. But Ivona said cold would affect those creatures too.”
He sighed. “I have a feeling this is going to be a long, disgusting night.”
“You’re telling me,” Stan mumbled. He studied Sandra. “I’d like to apologize. You really are a bright woman.” He glanced at Vaughn then at Sandra. “I should have believed in you.”
Vaughn smiled. “Stan, I need you to pick ten infected women and call them down to see if this will work on them.”
Stan raised his eyebrow. “Trying not to start a panic?”
“Yes. We need to see if the same method would work on the women infected. Otherwise, we need to try something different.”
In less than a half hour, Stan had arranged it.
Vaughn contacted security. “Send the women in one at a time.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ten women were lined outside sickbay hoping for a cure. Security guards were posted to keep anyone from panicking and bursting into sickbay. They couldn’t afford to let one raret escape.
The doors slid open for the first victim: Contrella. She was the first Arian Sandra had drawn blood from. Fitting that she’d be the first one to see if freezing would cure the microorganism inside her.
Sandra smiled. “Hello, Contrella.”
“Hi,” she murmured. “You found a cure?” Her eager voice only sent uneasiness underneath Sandra’s skin. What if she was wrong?
