by C. S. Harte
“Rayfin…” Meomi breathed.
21
Thorne aimed his hand cannon into the sand and fired two shots before Meomi pushed away his weapon.
“You could hit Rayfin!” she screamed.
“We need to kill it before it runs away with Rayfin inside,” said Thorne with a sneer. “Unless you have a better idea?”
Meomi attempted to chase the sandwyrm before Thorne pulled her back. “Let me go!”
“You don’t know if there are more than one,” Thorne said calmly. “It would make matters worse if you were swallowed as well.”
“We have to do something…” Meomi looked up into the sky. “Where did Bast go?”
“That is a good question.” Thorne aimed his gun at the rolling sand shifting away from them. “I hope he has a good answer.”
“I’m still alive over here!” Rayfin shouted over suit comm. “I think I’m stuck in its throat. I can feel it trying to swallow me…” He squealed. “This is beyond gross…”
“Hang in there Ray!” Meomi ordered.
“Just so you know, that’s exactly what I’m doing here — hanging off its tonsils. At least, I think this squishy, slimy thing is the tonsils…”
“Can you reach your knife? Try cutting yourself out,” Thorne ordered.
“I don’t think I can without losing my grip. Next idea please.”
The sand stopped shifting.
“Ensign, we lost track of your location,” Thorne said. “Can you stir the sandwyrm into moving again?”
“Like what? Tickle its throat?”
Bast flew back into the scene. In his hand was a glowing blue sword that appeared to ripple as if made of energy. After circling in the air for a couple loops, he changed course, diving directly into the spot where he last saw Rayfin.
Thorne and Meomi stared at the feat with their mouths open.
“I’m tickling the throat,” Rayfin said. “Is anything happening? Guys?”
“If we make it back to our universe and save the Commonwealth, I plan on requesting rocket thrusters be part of the next exo suit updates,” Thorne said.
“I have to admit, that looked fun.” Meomi nodded.
“What does? Is something happening?” Rayfin asked.
A long streak of dark green liquid oozed to the surface. Another pool of crimson formed where Bast dove into the ground.
“Please don’t let that be Rayfin’s blood…” Meomi cried.
“Look!” Thorne pointed at a gloved fist in the sand next to the red puddle. He rushed to the outstretched hand and, along with Meomi, pulled Bast out of the ground with Rayfin attached to his leg.
“That was amazing, Bast!” Meomi patted him on the back.
“I have to admit, I didn't expect you to come back,” Thorne said.
"I would not leave you," Bast said politely.
“Thanks, Bast!” Rayfin took off his helmet and scraped off the congealed layer of green on his visor. “But next time a little more advanced warning would have been nice.”
“I am sorry,” Bast said as the sword evaporated in his hand.
“He was kidding,” Thorne tapped Bast’s shoulder. “What was that blade? I’ve never seen tech like that.”
“My suit is able to generate photonic weapons,” Bast answered.
“I’m afraid we do not have such technologies. What does that mean?" Thorne asked.
“My suit allows me to transform photons into physical matter,” Bast said matter-of-factly.
“What? Really?” Rayfin stood. “So you can create anything as a weapon using only light?”
“Yes, but there is a drawback,” Bast said.
“I would imagine technology such as that requires a massive amount of energy,” Thorne said.
“Indeed it does, Captain Thorne. I had to fly closer to the sun to quickly charge my photonic generators.”
“So that’s why you flew away,” Meomi said while glancing at Thorne.
Bast nodded.
“You are full of surprises, Bast,” Rayfin said.
“Thank you.” Bast nodded. “But we must continue our journey. We have over 30 kilometers left before we reach the city of Raena.”
Meomi helped Rayfin with his helmet. “You good to go, sailor?”
“Sure, I only nearly died inside the throat of a giant man-eating sandwyrm.” He smirked at her. “Always forward, Captain.”
The team resumed their campaign eastward. They passed through a narrow valley lined with copper sandstone. Peering down at them were lumpy, rock-shaped creatures about the size of small children camouflaged against the walls of the ravine.
“Do you see them?” Rayfin pointed to the hidden creatures. “Are those aulladors?”
“They are a similar species to aulladors called gritadors,” Bast said.
“What’s the difference?” Rayfin moved closer to a nearby gritador.
“Gritadors are slightly larger and are capable of spitting acid in a wide cone.”
“What?” Rayfin jumped back. “You let me get close to one!”
“You do not need to fear them,” Bast said. “The acid will not penetrate your exo suit, and there are few of them left.”
“I wasn’t scared.” Rayfin laughed and pounded his chest. “You’re talking to a guy that was nearly eaten alive. I don’t fear much anymore.”
“That is good my friend. We will soon encounter creatures much deserving of your fear.”
“Wait, what?” Rayfin’s jaw dropped.
“I have seen monsters living on this planet I hope to never confront again,” Bast said in a flat tone.
Rayfin stopped while Bast continued walking and waited for Meomi. “We need to get off this planet, Captain.” He shook his head. "I have a bad feeling I will be the first to die.”
“Not if I can help it, sailor.” Meomi pushed Rayfin forward.
The surface temperature of the planet reached 319 Kelvins.
Excess heat warnings flashed on Meomi’s visor. “Is there anywhere we can stop for water?”
“Yeah, I could use some too,” Rayfin said.
“Water is a scarce resource on this planet,” Bast said. “There is a reason why this is a desert planet.”
“Oh, is that why there's so much sand around here?" Rayfin raised his eyebrows. “Seriously, is there no drinking water?”
“All the cities are built on top of natural aquifers,” Bast said. “Raena is no different. There will be springs where we can resupply.”
Meomi took her helmet off.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Thorne said. “You should let your suit’s coolant system keep you cool.”
“It was getting stuffy in there,” Meomi said. “I feel better outside of it.”
“Why don’t you ever take off your helmet, Bast?” Rayfin asked.
“Many of the creatures on Caelora rely on stealth as their main advantage while hunting prey,” he said. “I have survived for as long as I have by being extremely cautious.”
“Fair enough,” Rayfin said. “Just curious, what else can your suit do? We already saw you fly, create energy swords, and shoot lightning.”
“You’re referring to my attack on the vulas?”
Rayfin nodded.
“I would hesitate to call it lightning.” Bast held out his palm. Arcs of electricity formed in his hand, swirling around each other, increasing speeds generating a sphere of pure energy.
“Wow, what is that?” Rayfin eyes opened wide.
“My exo suit generates a magnetic field capable of shaping the electricity produced by my gloves into an energy orb stable enough for me to throw at an enemy,” Bast said.
“Well that settles it, you are now officially my new best friend.” Rayfin laughed.
“I owe a great deal to my father. He invented all the features you have seen me use,” Bast said.
“I don’t suppose he built a second one for me to try?” Rayfin asked.
“No, he did not,” Bast said dryly.
> The team continued their march with little conversation as the temperatures continued to rise. They reached Raena without further attacks by hostile creatures with an hour to spare before the sun began its decline.
“What are we looking at?” Rayfin asked as the team rested before the gates of the city.
Carved into both sides of the canyon walls leading into Raena were enormous 100-meter tall statues of a humanoid alien species, each wielding long, ornate scepters in their right hands. The statues featured scaly, textured reptilian skin. The armor appeared to be fashioned from the hides of giant cobras with the hoods covering their heads and the tails wrapped around their waists.
“We are at the entrance to the city of Raena,” Bast said. “I do not know who these statues depict.”
“You've been here before, right Bast?” Thorne asked.
“Once.” He nodded. “To look for life but I did not find any.” Bast held out his hand. A silver, metallic sphere formed in his palm.
“What is that?” Thorne reached for his weapon.
“Do not be alarmed,” Bast said. “This is my survey drone.” He threw the drone into the air. It immediately streaked away leaving a blur of white light. “The drone will provide us with detailed maps of the city and alert us to danger.”
The team slowly made their procession into the recesses of the city built in the center of a hollowed-out mountain. Raena had the feel of being underground even though it was well above sea-level. A massive stone ceiling — remnants of the mountaintop — provided cover for Raena. Scattered holes in the domed roof allowed pockets of light to poke through and illuminate the city below.
Meomi studied the remarkable architecture of Raena. The western half of the city appeared expertly carved from the mountain itself. Homes and large building structures shared the same stone as the mountain rocks. The level of detail and smoothness of the carvings suggested an advanced society.
The eastern half of the city had taller buildings, some nearing the height of the stone roof, made from polished silver metal. These metallic dwellings were wider and taller. The stark contrast between the halves of the city suggested Raena was built by two races in two separate eras.
Meomi made her observations in silence with the team. They followed the main road from the entrance of the city for over an hour. The path ran through the heart of Raena leading to the other side. Relics of flower beds lined the edges of the street. Meomi tried to picture what life in this former majestic city looked like as the sun began to set.
“There! 11 o’clock,” Thorne said to the group. “Do you see the flashing yellow lights?”
“I thought you said there was no electricity here?” Meomi asked Bast.
“There is no electricity anywhere on this planet. Not just Raena,” Bast replied.
“Could it be light from someone’s exo suit?” Thorne asked.
“I’m reading a pattern in the flashing,” Rayfin said.
“I wonder…” Thorne titled his head. “Could it be ancient Morse code?”
“Can you understand Morse code?” Meomi asked.
“No. We’ve long abandoned its usage,” Thorne said.
“It could be human. A Fleet Officer,” Meomi said. “Only one way to find out…” She sprinted toward the light with the rest of the squad following.
The sunlight faded in the cavernous city. Giant beams of light from the roof shrunk into tiny slivers.
Everyone halted as they reached a fork in the road. The flashing light required taking the western path deep into the heart of the stony side of Raena.
Bast stood on the eastern roadway. “I suggest we find shelter and high ground soon. Before night completely falls.” He pointed to a high-rise building. “That building is close and offers a high vantage point. We can resume our investigation of the light source tomorrow once the sun rises.”
“We’re only three klicks away, and the building with the light source is also a tall building,” Rayfin said.
“What do you suggest we do, Captain Hana?” Thorne asked.
22
Meomi zoomed in on the flashing light with her visor camera. It appeared sourced from an old-fashioned kerosene lantern sitting on the fifth-floor windowsill of an empty eight-story building. Behind the lantern, she saw figures moving in the shadows of the light. With her eye movements, she switched to an infra-red camera view. The outline of two humanoid figures emerged in splashes of yellow and orange. “Do you think other Fleet Officers could have made it here? Or somehow were sent here?”
“After learning about pocket universes, anything is possible, right?” Rayfin asked.
“I do not believe there are any other humans on this planet,” Bast said assuredly. “Please, it is getting dark. We must find shelter soon or risk being hunted.”
“We’re only a couple klicks away from it,” Rayfin said. “It’s worth checking. We can find shelter around the buildings there.” He peered up into the domed ceiling. “There’s some time left before it gets dark.”
“You’ve been quiet, Thorne.” Meomi stared at him as he fixed on the blinking light.
“What?” He faced Meomi. “Sorry, I can’t help but think the pattern of flashing represents a message.” Thorne returned his gaze to the lantern.
“Do you think we should head toward the light?” Meomi asked.
“As curious as I am about the source, I prefer we do not deviate from our mission,” Thorne said. “I believe the pyramid is our best chance out of this universe and back into ours.” He placed his hand on Meomi’s shoulder, an act that did not go unnoticed by Rayfin. “Remember our mission. We have to warn the 5th Navy. If we lose all those ships, the Mimic's invasion fleet would have a straight line to Earth.”
“I saw humanoid figures in that building,” Meomi said. “I’m sure of it. It’s worth pursuing.” She leaned into him. “They might have answers we may need.”
“I agree with Captain Hana,” Rayfin said.
Bast shook his head. “Whatever path we ultimately choose, we need to decide with haste. Where we are standing is not safe. There are many corners for predators to hide.”
“Thorne?” Meomi stared at him. “We need you to be with us.”
“Fine, we will head toward the light,” he said with a nod. “But we should go weapons hot. Like Bast said, there are too many places where monsters can hide.”
The team followed the western road toward the flashing light and into a residential area where multi-story buildings gave way to family homes. Smooth paved roads transitioned to dirt trails.
Meomi peered through the glassless window of a house close to her. The room was devoid of any furniture. “Is it weird we haven’t seen any signs of life? No furniture in the dwellings, not even a table or chair for eating and sitting?”
“There are a lot of things about this city that don’t add up,” Rayfin said. “I haven't seen vehicles or signs of a mass transit system. Did people walk everywhere?”
“Bast, are the other cities on Caelora like this? Do you have an explanation?” Thorne asked.
“I do not have an explanation,” Bast said. “Indeed, all the other cities on this planet are like Raena — newly built with no signs of life.”
Piercing screeches echoed through the neighborhood.
“What was that?” Rayfin jumped.
“A Calfar?” Thorne ordered everyone to take a defensive position.
“It sounded close,” Meomi said kneeling with her rifle pointed forward.
“No, not a Calfar. You will know when you hear one,” Bast said. “I believe we heard a kanduro. They are a harmless bird that nests on the mountainside.”
“For harmless birds, they sounded like bloody murder,” Rayfin said as he lowered his rifle.
Thorne looked up into the slits above the city as the light dimmed. “We should hurry.”
“Yes, I agree with Captain Thorne,” Bast said. “We have precious little time left to find shelter.”
Meomi zoomed in on the lan
tern again. Her suit’s computer estimated a distance of one and a half klicks. “Can’t we use these homes as shelter?”
“No, Captain Hana,” Bast said. “These buildings are far too inadequate as a defensive stronghold against the Calfars.”
“Then let’s double time it to the light source,” Meomi said. “We don’t have many options, men.” She felt a quiver in her stomach as doubt crept into her mind. Meomi aimed to make the best decision possible with the information available. Sometimes she would allow her gut instincts to factor too much. Meomi knew this was one such time and hoped that heading to the lantern light was not a decision she would come to regret.
“Look!” Rayfin pointed to a flock of kanduros flying in a spiral pattern over the team. The brightly colored feathers of the kanduros glistened whenever they intersected the remaining beams of light from the mountain roof.
Meomi took the dazzling vision of the circling birds as a good omen — a sign she made the right decision. In her mind, the two humanoid figures behind the lantern light were critical members of Fleet High Command. Saving them would make up for some losses she endured. It was finally a positive swing in luck that even Thorne could accept. Her lips curled into a smile at the image.
Ever since Nocia and the loss of her Chief Security Officer, Meomi felt as if chaos and despair were the only outcomes swirling around her. As the kanduros continued to glide in their elegant formation above the city, Meomi experienced a renewed hope growing inside her.
“I’ve never seen such beautiful creatures,” Meomi said as she reached out her arms.
One of the kanduros descended toward her. It was as if it read her mind and intended to land on her arm.
Just as the kanduro neared Meomi, deafening screams slashed through the city. The toxic sound reverberated against the mountainside, scattering all the kanduros from the sky, taking with them the last vestige of light.
The lantern light suddenly turned off.
Darkness blanketed the entire city of Raena, surrounding Meomi and the team with ghostly echoes and uncertainty.
