by J G Cressey
Laurence gazed at the man, feeling almost hypnotized. It was as if his odd little friend was reaching inside him and plucking at a chord. There was a good chance, of course, that he’d become delirious during the long night. Maybe this strange man was no more than a projection of his subconscious. He didn't feel delirious though. Far from it. In fact, his mind was perhaps clearer and more focused than ever. He was probably close to death, and his current situation should be considered impossible. But strangely, the impossible suddenly seemed altogether possible. Was it his turn? His turn to become a man of worth? That plucked chord was resonating, giving him strength. Not physical strength. He could still barely lift his head. No, a nameless strength that, in truth, had been building all night…or perhaps for months now.
Questions began to form in Laurence’s mind like soda bubbles in a bottle. Every one of those questions suddenly burst, however, as his little friend stood bolt upright and began peering over the rocks.
Seconds later, he’d ducked down again. “It's been a pleasure conversing with you, Laurence,” he said as he stretched forward over the pool and extended an open palm. “Tarquintin Matisse.” He smiled. “Friends call me Tark.”
Laurence managed to raise a weak arm and slapped his limp hand into the open palm. He marvelled at the strength in the old man's grip as his hand was rigorously shaken. The little fellow was most definitely real.
Tark released Laurence's hand, which promptly fell back into his lap. “I'll see you soon, my friend.”
Before Laurence could enquire as to where the little chap was off to, a familiar sound came from beyond the rocky ridge behind his head—the chilling footfall of one of the Carcarrions. Laurence shifted his head in an attempt to see the approaching menace.
“They're coming…” Laurence said as he rolled his head back towards his white-haired friend. But the man was gone. Laurence had little time to puzzle over the disappearance before the large, jet black alien crested the ridge. It slowly stalked around him to stand exactly where his little wiry friend had been perched just moments before.
The alien peered down with its lifeless, ice-gray eyes. Determinedly, Laurence craned his neck and stared right back, his own eyes emanating his new-found bravery and defiance. For a long while, their eyes remained locked. Despite every fiber of his being fighting him, Laurence was determined not to break. He wouldn’t lower his gaze, not this time.
Then the creature moved, reaching a heavily muscled arm behind its back.
So this it, Laurence thought as he watched the creature pull out what was sure to be some sort of death-dealing weapon. At least I got to be brave once if only for a few moments.
But he was mistaken. Instead of a weapon, the creature pulled out what appeared to be a large chunk of raw meat and tossed it at his feet. Laurence’s eyes widened as he stared at the glistening flesh. He looked back up at the creature, searching for some sign of deceit, a clue that the offering was rotten, or for it to be snatched away from him in some cruel game. But he could see no such sign. There was something though. Just before the creature turned to stride away, a hint of something on the smooth, feline-like face: yes, an unquestionably sadistic smile.
Once the beast was gone from sight, Laurence turned back and stared disbelievingly at the food before him. He couldn't be sure what kind of meat it was, but he didn't much care. It was food. Life. Strength.
He was still staring dumbly at the flesh when the familiar tanned face, framed with white hair, appeared from behind a rock to his right.
“Looks tasty, Laurence. If I were you, I'd start filling my belly.”
Then, the face was gone again.
Laurence didn't need his little friend to tell him twice. With an incredibly painful effort, he levered himself forward to seize the hunk of raw flesh in his trembling hands. Then, with dark blood flowing between his knuckles, he brought it to his salivating mouth.
Chapter Twenty-Four
LIGHTS OUT
Cal watched in disappointment as the huge, snake-like creature reared up, parting trees as it did so, and opened its massive, multi-fanged mouth.
“It’s gonna strike,” Toker blurted, taking a fearful step back from Cal and the others.
“Where you off to, bloody wuss?” Eddy chided him. “It can’t hurt you.”
“I know,” Toker said tetchily. “You think I don’t know that?” He took a tentative step forward and forced himself to look up at the twelve gleaming white fangs—not an easy thing to do considering each was as long as a man’s arm and looked strong enough to pierce metal.
Then the creature did indeed strike.
“There goes another spy drone,” Viktor mumbled as the smart-glass of the Star Splinter’s cockpit went black. “Don’t reckon it’ll be working too well after passing through that thing’s gut.” The boy tapped a couple of controls, and the cockpit window reverted back to its real-time view: star-studded space and a distant, green planet.
Cal stared at the planet for a time, trying his best to hide his frustration. The alien research base, Delta Point Three, had been their best chance at getting some real answers. Unfortunately, the lack of communication from the planet surface suggested the base was unoccupied. And now, the fourth of the Star Splinter’s spy drones had been eaten but not before revealing that the base actually was occupied though not by anything even closely resembling a human. He’d had friends on that base. He wondered where they were, what had happened to them. If things stayed the way they were, he’d probably never find out.
Everyone remained silent.
Eventually, Jumper laid a hand on Cal’s shoulder. “I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”
Cal nodded. “Maybe.” He rubbed the back of his neck and considered for a moment. “But I’m still going down there.”
The words made Toker choke on thin air. “You can’t be serious, bro,” he said once he’d recovered. “We can’t go down there. The base is all bust up. There’s bloody beasties everywhere, worse than bloody Mars.”
Cal put up a placating hand. “Not we, Toker. Me.”
“But why? What’s the point?” Toker argued, an edge of annoyance in his voice. “If you go down, we all have to go down. That’s the way we operate.”
“Well, maybe that needs to change,” Cal replied, feeling a little annoyed himself. He didn’t need them, not this time. “Not all of those buildings were breeched. There might be survivors. It will only take one of us to find out.”
“Survivors? Down there? No chance, bro.”
“Looks like the base was attacked,” Jumper suggested, “just like Mars. I think Toker’s right, Cal. You’ll not find anyone down there.”
Toker nodded. “Nothing but man chompers.”
“Is a lot of beasts,” Eddy agreed. “Reckon any survivors would’a got et up.”
Toker turned and glared at her. “Jeeze, little chick, d’you always have to point out the grizzly bleeding obvious.”
“Shut it. I’ll go down there with you, Cal.”
Cal shook his head. “No, not this time, Eddy. I’m the one that dragged us here; I should be the one to take the risk.”
“But why take the risk at all?” Toker persisted.
“Because, Toker, even if there’s no survivors down there, there might be information. We need information.” Or maybe it’s just me who needs it, Cal thought, but his growing irritation pushed the thought aside.
Toker nodded at Viktor. “So get little genius here to get the info remotely.”
“It doesn’t work that way, idiot,” Viktor said harshly, his tone suggesting he’d said it a hundred times before.
“So send down another of your little spy drones.”
“We’ve already sent four. We haven’t got an endless supply, you know,” Viktor spat back. “I don’t wanna risk anymore. We’ve only got three left.”
“So we should let Cal risk himself then, should we?” Toker said, raising his voice and turning on the boy.
“I didn’t say that,” Vik
tor shouted back.
“Okay, easy, easy,” Cal interjected. “No one’s saying that. But I’m going alone. The choice is mine.” This was rapidly becoming one of the rare times he missed his military rank and the simplicity of orders.
“Right, Cal,” Eddy agreed. “An’ I’ll be goin’ too…to watch your back.”
“Are you deaf?” Toker said. “He’s already told you no, Ed. Besides, if you go, that definitely means I have to go.”
Cal stared at the pair. “I’m going alone.”
Eddy screwed up her face, her eyes still on Toker. “Wot you on about? We don’t need you slowin’ us down and givin’ away our position with your flippin’ squeals.”
Jumper moved in and put a hand on Eddy’s shoulder. “If anyone should go down there, it should be me. I’ve got the most experience with dangerous beasts.”
“I have plenty of experience,” Cal said, looking at Jumper. “Besides, you taught me everything you know.” The words sounded lame in Cal’s head, and he suddenly felt a teenage boy again, justifying his recklessness to his tall, all-knowing hunting mentor.
“You can’t teach everything, Cal.”
“You taught me enough,” Cal replied, trying his best for a firmer, more adult tone but probably overcooking it a little. “And I’m the one best qualified to asses any information.”
“None of you need to go,” Toker said, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “It’s too bloody dangerous.”
A part of Cal agreed with his young friend, but for the moment, that part was smothered under frustration, annoyance, and an overwhelming need for information. He had to find out what the hell was going on. To come all this way and not even get a piece of the puzzle… He was starting to feel out of control, and it was only going to get worse the longer he remained ignorant.
“Unless…” Toker said. “Maybe Melinda should go.”
Viktor whirled on him. “Huh? Why the hell should my Melinda go?”
“What d’you mean why?” Toker shouted back. “Cos she’s quicker and stronger of course.” He shook his head. “And you call me idiot. Besides, she’s not alive like the rest of—”
Viktor lunged at him, tears springing from his eyes. “Shut up. She is alive.”
Toker stumbled back, narrowly missing the boy’s bony fist. “Hey, watch it, squirt.”
“Take it easy, kid,” Jumper said as he reached out and restrained the boy.
For a moment, Cal thought Toker might try and strike back, but then his shoulders dropped and he held up his hand placatingly. “Okay, okay, I take it back.”
Cal rubbed his face and eyes. This was getting ridiculous. They’re just stressed. I’m bloody stressed. Maybe he could drop them all off on some colony for a bit. Do some detective work unimpeded. Alone’ I could get some answers.
Seeming oblivious to the tension, Eddy took a step forward. “If Melinda’s goin’, I’m definitely goin’.”
Toker turned on her. “Bloody hell, chick, it’s not a competition.”
“Just cos you’re too flippin’ scared.”
Seeming unable to retort, Toker glared at Eddy, his expression caught between exasperation and anger. Fists clenched, he shook his head and stepped away towards the flight console. “Okay, you know what, you lot bloody decide between yourselves who goes down there and gets munched. I’ve had about enough teeth and frickin’ claws for one lifetime. Bunch of bloody madness.”
Cal rubbed his eyes again. I could be down there by now.
“Coward,” Eddy barked at Toker’s back as he turned to stare out of the cockpit window.
Sniffing loudly, Viktor shrugged Jumper off and turned to bury his tear-streaked face in Melinda’s ample bosom.
“Okay, everyone just calm down,” Cal said, his own voice still far from calm. “We’ve come too far to just turn back now. I’ve made my decision. No one else need take the risk.”
“An’ I’ve made my decision too, Cal,” Eddy persisted. “I’m comin’ with you.”
“No, Eddy.”
“I ain’t lettin’ you go down there without me watchin’ your back.”
“Hey guys, what the hell’s that?” Toker asked.
Cal barely registered his young friend’s question and easily ignored it. “I’m going alone, Eddy, and that’s final.”
Jumper sidled up to Eddy. “She’s right, Cal. You don’t have to be the lone hero.”
“D’you guys hear me?” Toker called out.
“I’m not trying to be a hero, Jumper, I’m trying to save lives.”
“Guys,” Toker persisted, louder this time.
Jumper shook his head. “And at what cost, Cal, your own life?”
“Bloody hell, will you lot bloody listen to me?”
“What, Toker?” Cal shouted, finally losing his composure.
“Yeah, what you flippin’ whinin’ about?” Eddy snapped.
“Look. What the hell is that?”
They all turned to see that Toker had climbed onto the flight console and was now on his tiptoes, staring at something through the cockpit window. “That there…what is it?’
With a sigh, Cal stepped forward and peered up through the window. He could see nothing but stars. Even the green planet had moved out of view due to the slight twisting drift of the ship.
“What’s what?” Eddy asked, nudging past Cal to get a better look. “Oh… What the hell is that?” she exclaimed, planting one of her knees on the console and stretching towards the glass.
Cal stared at the window, still seeing nothing but stars.
Giving in to curiosity, Viktor peeled himself away from Melinda. “Hey, you don’t have to clamber all over the consoles, dummies,” he said with a sniff. “It’s smart-glass, zoom tech built in.” The boy shuffled over to a combat-boot-free console and tapped at the controls.
Shit. Cal’s gut lurched as he caught sight of the thing in question. A ship…possibly. It was a long, silvery block, glinting in the light of a distant sun, little more than a sliver. “Anything on the scanners, Viktor?”
“Nothing. According to this console, it’s not there.”
“Course it’s there,” Eddy spat, “an’ it’s bloody well getting closer I reckon. See, it’s getting bigger.” The girl slid off the console and hopped over to one of the combat chairs. “It’ll be in cannon range soon. Then we’ll see how real it is.”
“Hold off, Eddy,” Cal said, not moving his eyes from the fast growing object. Fuck. This isn’t good.
“What do you suppose it could be, Cal?” Jumper asked quietly.
“I’ve no idea. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Still standing atop the flight console, Toker briefly turned to look at Viktor. “Thought you said you could zoom in on it.”
“I can’t zoom in on something that the scanners say isn’t there,” the boy replied defensively.
With nothing to compare it to, Cal couldn’t easily judge its size, but he had the distinct impression that it was large. Not Big Blue large but big nonetheless. The lurch in his gut had turned to waves of adrenaline that were joined by alarm bells clanging ten to the dozen. In all his years in the military, he’d never seen a ship like it, if it even was a ship. Its design was smooth and featureless, alien in every sense of the word. And Eddy was right, it was approaching fast. “This is no time for attack, Eddy. This is a time for running.” Swinging himself into the piloting chair, he quickly powered up the ship’s Vortex engines. “Viktor, the cloaking device if you would.”
“Just tried it, Cal. It’s…it’s crapped out. Everything’s going hay-wire.” There was fear in the boy’s voice. “Someone’s hacking into the ship’s systems…it shouldn’t be possible. No one could hack through this level of security. It can’t be done.”
As if mocking Viktor’s words, the Vortex engines died.
Cal looked back at the strange craft. It was almost out of view due to the Star Splinter’s slow, twisting drift, but he could see enough to know that it was getting damn close.
“My cannon doesn’t work, Cal,” Eddy pointed out in a tone that suggested that the looming threat was nothing more than a toy-breaker.
“Viktor, try—” Cal’s words caught in his throat as the cockpit’s lights went out. What the hell? His thought was supported by a chorus of swearing from the others, most notably Toker.
Fortunately, the cockpit wasn’t in complete darkness; a block of light, emanating from the distant sun, was falling through the main window. The light offered just enough illumination to see Toker tumble off the flight console. Cal sprang out of the flight chair but wasn’t quick enough to prevent his young friend from hitting the deck with a sickening thud. “Toker, you okay?” he asked, kneeling by his side.
“Shit…shit. I think my arm’s bust up.”
Helping him into a sitting position, Cal did his best to inspect the arm in the dim light. Sure enough, it was achieving an improbable angle at a point with no benefit of a joint. “Don’t worry. We’ll get you fixed up in no time,” Cal said, trying his best to sound optimistic. “For now, it’s probably best if you stay sitting.”
Eddy shuffled over and stared down at Toker’s arm, her expression part disgust, part genuine concern.
“You okay, Eddy?”
“Yep,” she said without taking her eyes off Toker’s arm. The disgust was already fading, leaving behind only concern.
“Nothing’s working,” Viktor called out. The boy was frantically tapping at one of the lifeless consoles. Cal suspected that the absence of technology to one such as Viktor was akin to a loss of sight. “We’re adrift, completely dead in the water.”
“Keep trying,” Cal said as calmly as he could manage. Striding over to the side viewing panel, he leaped up on the console beneath it. Pressing his head against the panel, he just about made out the edge of the giant, cylindrical threat. It was still closing in fast and was beginning to dwarf the Star Splinter. “It’s almost on us,” he said, still managing a calm tone despite his rising fear and anger. He should never have brought them here, not so close to the Carcarrion home planet. He shouldn’t have even suggested it.
