by Simon E Bond
"Got it, we can ditch over there,” said Charlie wiping the sweat from his brow as he tried to hold the ship steady. Looking ahead he noticed a rocky mountain and just behind it the surface was smooth with no craters at all; it was their only chance at ditching.
"WARNING—PULL UP, LOW ALTITUDE" repeated the ship’s computer over and over,
"WARNING—PULL UP… PULL UP,"
"Brace for impact; hold on!" screamed Charlie.
A loud bang echoed throughout their rover as the left wing clipped the top of the mountain; tipping the ship over on its side.
"I am so sorry,” thought Charlie as he closed his eyes.
The screen in front of him shattered, debris blew inwards, and then darkness…
The three men stood together silent; they heard the dense thud as the stricken rover disappeared over the other side of the mountain. A large dark plume of smoke started to rise in the distance. It was time to contact Stout, but they knew there would be hell to pay if the occupants on-board the crashed rover were dead.
The temperature was dropping well below freezing again as the sun started to set; one of the men inflated his suit slightly before switching the visor and his helmet turned a dark black.
The other two men repeated the same action; it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Let's take a closer look; he wanted one alive so it’s worth a try at least,” said the leader of the group.
They started to walk towards the foot of the mountain, the rocky surface becoming steeper with each step as they started their approach upwards.
"What if they’re dead? Stout will make sure we are too,” said one of the pilots.
Zed—the leader of the group—stopped in his tracks, turned around, and walked over to Carter.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" shouted Zed squaring up to him.
As tension began building in the air, the third pilot—Blake—just stood and watched from not far behind.
"The last thing we’re going to do is let that fat fucking freak get the best of us,” shouted Zed.
Carter just shrugged his shoulders and bowed his head in response.
"Right, so now that we got that out of our system, I suggest we keep walking and check to see if there are any survivors,” replied Zed. He may have been a rogue, but was a born leader.
"And if there are no survivors?" asked Carter.
"Then that’s something we will think about if it happens,” Zed replied.
Climbing the mountain was tricky but the spikes underneath the men's boots dug firmly into the surface, making the ascent less difficult then what it may have been. The wind picked up again and slowed all three down, but they kept moving as fast as they could. The outpost police would have been alerted once the crash had occurred and a search party would already be on the way.
Eventually the three of them reached the top of the mountain and beneath them lay the scattered wreckage of Charlie's rover strewn over a wide area. Flames flickered from various spots on the ground along with rising smoke. As the three of them descended into the crash site, Zed activated the life sensor within his helmet. He picked up two life forms, but only one which read of any active bodily functions.
"You two go check over there; it must be the main piece,” said Zed pointing to a large piece of cockpit structure half buried underneath a rock.
"I’ll check around the craters; whoever they are, they must be around here somewhere,” replied Carter.
"There will just be one human; no signs of life from the other so it’s most likely an android, this planet is filled with them,” said Zed, gathering his pace as he pointed his weapon towards the cockpit.
The other two men slowly walked between the wreckage kicking whatever they came across with the soles of their feet.
"Nothing here, Zed; just going to check out this big piece here,” said Carter.
The other two men walked on some more until they had also reached the cockpit. The front part was buried deep underneath the rock and soil but there was an opening at the rear and they decided to take a look inside.
"Bingo,” laughed Carter.
Inside lay the body of a human and alongside him were the scattered parts of an android…
Chapter Five
As Charlie started to wake and his vision cleared, he became aware of a dull light around him and machines covering most of the room he was in.
Various figures walked by. They looked like engine room operators, walking back and forth across the room.
Charlie's head ached with pain; it felt like a needle was slowly digging into the side of his skull.
He tried to stand up but couldn’t move his legs or arms and found he was tied to a chair. His hands were secured firmly behind his back—someone wanted him here for a reason.
"Charlie… sir, it's me," echoed a familiar voice from the corner of the room.
It was Richard, except this time he sounded slightly different; almost as if he was damaged.
"Richard? Is that you?" replied Charlie, his voice gravelly from being unconscious.
"For your own protection, don't say too much,” replied Richard.
"How bad are you hurt?" asked Charlie, struggling to keep his head straight as his vision slowly returned to normal.
"I am very bad, sir; a rebuild will be needed."
Charlie looked at the ground and did not reply—the unthinkable could happen; he may lose his best friend. They had crossed paths in the past. It only sometimes seemed it was often, but Richard was his only true companion.
"Finished have we?" echoed a man's voice from the corner of the room as he shone a spotlight onto Richards broken frame. Charlie realized it must be the men who shot his ship down.
"Wake that other piece of shit up. I can't stand his mumbling,” said Zed, still holding the spotlight firm.
Carter filled a bucket with cold water from a hose attached to the wall then threw the contents onto Charlie's face before he grabbed his hair and pulled his head back.
"You are in some serious shit,” Carter said forcefully.
The double doors of the engine room opened up and Stout appeared from the darkness. The noise of his wheelchair in full motion became louder as he approached Charlie.
"So I take it you were the one who stole from me?" asked Stout.
A pause hung in the air while Charlie's vision became clear.
"No response then?" Stout questioned mockingly.
When Charlie looked around and focused his eyes on Richard, his stomach sank. The android’s body consisted of only his upper torso damaged beyond repair and the head which lay untouched.
"What the hell happened? What have you done to him?" Charlie burst out.
But his anger was cut short as Stout approached him and forced a metal rod into Charlie's neck; the electric current surging through his body.
"The one thing that I insist that all humans or any other being learn is manners when I grace them with my company,” said Stout, laughing sadistically.
He pulled away the rod to leave Charlie foaming at the mouth and unable to speak.
"I have not introduced myself, have I? How rude…,” said Stout, "I am Stout—you do not need to know my surname—and you are aboard the engine room of my ship."
Charlie tried to reply but his body was still shaking from the trauma.
"And these gentlemen are my dear scouts, a small band of merry men if you like; they work for me. Meet Zed, Carter, and Blake; they located the both of you today back on that waste hole.”
Stout reached out with his metal hand as a gesture to the three henchmen behind him and then he moved towards the crippled Richard.
"And what is this heap of junk?" asked Stout, his wheel poised just over Richard's head.
"You leave him alo…” Charlie struggled to say as Zed grabbed him by his throat.
"What was that? Let me cut you a deal, give me the codes for the credits you stole and I will let you
go,” said Stout looking at Charlie; his eyes filled with intent.
"No, Charlie, please; you don't understand his motives," begged Richard, his voice gradually becoming weaker with each passing moment.
"I give you ten seconds. Zed, give him a wakeup call," instructed Stout.
Zed walked over to Stout and pulled out a small tube from the side of his chair. Zed flicked the cover off the tip with his thumb and a small needle glistened in the light. He forced the end into Charlie's mouth and depressed the syringe to allow the liquid to quickly flow down his throat.
Taking a huge breath, Charlie was able speak normally once again.
"What are you going to do?" he replied to Stout with fear.
"Maybe get rid of your friend here, use him for spare parts for my chair, who knows?" replied Stout.
"Leave him fucking alone, you sick bastard!" growled Charlie as he tried to break free from captivity.
"So be it then,” said Stout.
Stout pushed the controls on his chair and the wheel started to roll over Richard's head, crushing the metal below. Pieces started to shatter and fly off as Stout completed his destruction and forced the wheel completely over the androids skull.
"No… you bastard!" screamed Charlie.
Stout repeated the manoeuvre again with his chair, each crushing blow sending a shiver throughout Charlie's entire body. The anger inside Charlie started to build as he rocked his chair from side to side in an attempt to break free until he quickly became exasperated.
"What the fuck are you doing?" shouted Zed and landed a punch across Charlie's cheekbone.
"Well? Come on, Charlie; don't be shy, answer the man,” Stout sniggered.
"Why? He did nothing to you,” sobbed Charlie as tears and blood trickled down his face. He wanted to rip Stout's head off for murdering his best friend.
Spitting the contents from his mouth onto the floor, Charlie looked straight ahead with rage beginning to boil in his eyes.
"Get him out of that damn chair,” said Stout.
The three men walked over, loosened the rope, released Charlie, and threw him face first onto the floor. Pushing himself up with his hands, he turned around only to be knocked down once again by Zed’s hammer-like fist.
"Take care of him; the medical bay will take care of his injuries, and then he is mine,” said Stout as he disappeared through the doorway.
Zed raised his fist again and dealt Charlie blow after blow as blood continued spraying onto the floor.
"You want to have a go, guys?" said Zed taking a step back. Charlie was lying on his back and his face was motionless.
Carter and Blake joined in, kicking and stamping on Charlie's body until they almost killed him. Zed gave the order to back off and called the medical bay for Charlie to be collected.
The door opened and two robotic droids entered. They hovered over the body in front of them, scanning it; his pulse was weak but he was alive.
"This bastard would be luckier we did kill him; god knows what Stout will have in store for him, probably feed him to one of his pets,” said Carter as he lit up a cigar.
The body was lifted onto a stretcher by the two droids and an oxygen tube was inserted into Charlie's mouth. He was quickly wheeled out of the room and down a corridor, en route to the medical bay.
Stout's android was finishing off the work on the planet's surface and had just finished the last dig of Kromtic before the rover took off to return to Stout's ship.
There was just enough fuel to reach the atmosphere and board the ship as the android's rover climbed at a steady pace away from the surface and left Krone behind.
"Will be docking soon, sir," reported Stout's android.
"Good, unload the cargo for me; I need a confirmed count of Kromtic,” replied Stout.
Stout sat back in his chair in his main quarters surrounded by the vicious insects and reptiles behind the glass. They were his family and they were hungry for their next feed but Stout dismissed their needs this time round.
Looking through a database of female portfolios he searched for a decent replacement for his late in-house escort girl. This time it had to be someone he could trust, letting his guard down cost him dearly and he had already learned that mistake.
"Various skills and a great body; you will do,” said Stout rubbing his fingers over the screen. The image displayed in front of him was a brunette who had the perfect CV for the job.
The buzzer sounded at the entrance to his quarters and interrupted his escort shopping so Stout moved his chair towards the door.
"Who is it," he said.
"Medical complete, sir; major tissue damage repaired,” replied the voice of a medical droid.
"Let him in then,” replied Stout.
The door opened to allow Charlie, handcuffed and wearing a plain all in one grey coverall, enter the room looking like the prisoner he was.
"I hope they patched you up well Charlie,” said Stout patronizingly; he was in the mood for playing games with him. Stout was a sadistic killer first and foremost, but playing with people’s emotions was his favourite past time.
"What did you do to me; I don't feel any more pain,” said Charlie, giving his captor a confused look.
"Well of course you don’t; my medical team are the best in this system. You had fractures and a badly beaten face, but you’re better now,” Stout said.
"And what about Richard?" replied Charlie.
"What him? His parts were melted down,” said Stout with a sly grin on his face.
"You fuckin…" Charlie lurched forward towards for him and the sound of a gun being loaded rang out behind Charlie. He stopped in his tracks and looked up at a stairwell where an android stood guard aiming his weapon straight at him.
"Step back from him,” said the guard.
Charlie took a few steps back away from Stout. He wanted to get even, but knew in this moment he would not be the one standing if he did.
"Are you okay, sir?" asked the android.
"I’m fine,” replied Stout then turned his attention back to Charlie, “You see, I am untouchable and you have crossed the wrong person. You tried to hack my account; no one gets away with that."
"I have debts to pay, besides my last dig did not go as it should,” replied Charlie, the handcuffs starting to dig into his wrists.
"I should feed you to them right now,” said Stout gesturing towards his tanks. "But I have something more; shall we say… enduring."
The guard started to make his way down the staircase towards them, his gun was still aimed at Charlie; Stout was taking no chances with the situation.
"Take him over there,” said Stout as he pointed to what looked like an operating table with a red light glowing above it.
Grabbing Charlie's arm, the guard dragged him across to the table. He removed the handcuffs as Charlie winced in pain, then the guard stunned him in the back with his weapon.
As Charlie fell to his knees the guard grabbed him by the scruff of his hair and pulled his body across the floor.
"Get him on the table!" shouted Stout.
Charlie fought desperately to break free but the android’s strength was too much. He quickly forced Charlie down on his back before strapping his feet and arms to the table.
"Now… I’ll give you a choice," said Stout as he rubbed his hands over Charlie's overall in a perverted way.
Charlie became frantic and couldn’t move.
"Shut him up will you,” said Stout to his guard.
"Yes, sir," replied the android. He grabbed a mouthpiece from the table and quickly forced it around Charlie's mouth.
"Good, that will keep him quiet for a while,” replied Stout. He was sweating badly and needed his injection.
"Let's get this over with quickly I make you a deal Charlie, this chip will be implanted into your skull,” said Stout. "You will complete different tasks for me from now on and if you do not; then I trigger the chip and you will be dea
d."
The guard loaded the chip into a sharp instrument and then tucked the end of it underneath Charlie's hair ready to release the insertion.
"You need a haircut my friend and a shave too. Working for me, you have to look the part and your appearance is displeasing to me at this moment,” said Stout.
Spit shot upwards from Charlie's mouth and his eyes bulging with fear. He was desperately trying to speak and break free but the mouth piece was proving difficult.
"Implant to be inserted now,” said the android.
Charlie heard a small crunch was by the side of his head as the instrument pierced his skull.
Charlie clenching his fist and shook his head in pain.
"Take it, you weak bastard,” shouted Stout spitefully.
Charlie continued to struggle with the pain but after a couple of minutes it subsided and he calmed down.
"Would you like me to give the sedative shot now, sir?" asked the android while holding out another needle.
"Do it quickly, I want him out for a good while; his tasks will soon begin,” replied Stout.
Charlie's vision began to blur as the contents of the needle pumped into his blood stream.
Chapter Six
The baking hot sun bore down onto Charlie's body. The sand beneath him was coarse and the breeze in the air hardly noticeable as it blew over him. Mountains of sand dunes were scattered all around—he was alone.
"Where am I?" he muttered. He spat bits of sand out from his mouth from laying on his front with his head dug into a bed of sand.
Sitting up, he looked at the bright blue sky that shone above; no space crafts in the distance or any towering skyline, nothing.
"Hello….Hello… what is this place?" shouted Charlie, but all he heard was his voice echo around him.
"You’re awake then?" sounded a voice within his ear.
“Stout? What could he be doing here?” thought Charlie; he could not see a living soul around him.
"Hello, did your beating make you deaf?" said Stout.
"Where the fuck are you? You sick bastard!" screamed Charlie.
"Let me explain; you are on the surface of a distant planet, one of the Stelt moons,” replied Stout, savouring the moment. "You have a chip in your head, I control it, do anything other than the tasks I have for you and you die with one flick of a switch,”
