“You’ll pay for this, Thaddeus Kaspar.” Adrian’s words were lost in the smoky haze as Kaspar retreated down the hallway to find Gillian.
Gillian groggily rose from her bed with a pounding headache. She shuffled over to her door and placed her hand on the handle. Slowly, she turned it and swung the door completely open.
Kaspar felt the hard jarring impact. His legs buckled from underneath and sent him sprawling out across the floor.
Exodus
“Oh, shit,” Gillian said as she stepped out of her room. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness and found the commander laying flat on his back.
“Gillian?” Kaspar said, looking up at her. “What a coincidence, I was just coming for you.”
“I had a rough night.”
“I heard.” Kaspar stood up.
“I...”
“Not now,” Kaspar cut her off. “Adrian’s hot on our tail.”
“What’s with the goggles? You look like a dork.” She giggled.
“We have a serious problem here, Jilly,” Kaspar escorted her back into her room. “Sit down.”
“What’s up?”
“Ah, would you please...” he said pointing to her suit.
“What?” She casually peeked at her suit, noticing her zipper was undone and her bra partially exposed. Sheepishly, she zipped her suit up. “Sorry. ”
“Adrian is one of them.” Kaspar didn’t even think twice about Gillian’s disheveled look. “Did I catch you in the middle of changing, or attempting a shower?”
“Them?” Gillian asked. “Ah, well, something like that. It’s a long story.”
“Those little shits that Shaw talked about.” Kaspar fidgeted about. “You can tell me later, okay?”
“Okay,” she paused. “Oh yeah, the Carnelians,” Gillian repeated. “I read about them in the captain’s journal. They are a stubborn and persistent race.”
“Adrian wants to get off the moon ASAP and use the Abagail as his means of transportation to this planet he’s babbling about. It seems there are more of them out there roaming around in space. Adrian’s tapped into their pool and fed them the planet’s coordinates.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, he’s chatting up quite a plan. We need to beat him to the punch and reach that planet before they do. It’s shaping up to be a race for survival.”
“There is a potential planet he’s talking about. Shit, I bet he read my mind last night when he came over.”
“I don’t want to know.” Kaspar stood up. “Get up, we don’t have a lot of time, Jilly.”
“Why?”
“Shaw’s in place to ignite the explosives and take Adrian and his new friends down with the blast.”
“And us?”
“We need to high-tail it back to the ship and get the hell out of dodge,” Kaspar answered firmly.
“And Shaw?”
“He says to leave him behind.”
“We can’t.”
“Jilly, our options are limited. Either we leave, or we die a horrible death on the station.”
“Why the goggles?”
“They can see in the dark, we can’t. Shaw and I have the only pairs, so stay close. It gives us an extra advantage to where they are.”
“Where’s Randolph?”
“He didn’t make it.”
“Ulysses?”
“No.”
“Just us?”
“Just the two of us. I’m not really digging a threesome with Adrian right now.”
“Was that your attempt at humor?” Gillian asked with a smirk.
“Perhaps. I’ll feel better after we leave.”
“Isn’t the ship damaged?”
“Trust me. I have some insider information about Abagail’s condition.”
Gillian walked over to the door and closed it as they left.
“Shaw?” Kaspar spoke into the earpiece. He and Gillian continued along the corridor.
“Commander? You are alive.”
“Yeah, and I put one hell of a dent in Adrian. I’ve bought you time, but I don’t know how much. He heard your last transmission and he’s headed your way.”
“Thanks for the heads-up. Do you have the girl?”
“Yes. We are headed back to the ship now.”
“Good deal. Good luck. Shaw out.”
“Likewise. And don’t blow yourself up. Kaspar out.”
Kaspar turned to Gillian. “Jilly, stay close to me.” He handed her a weird looking weapon, about the same size as a 9mm. He grabbed the shotgun strapped across his back and readied it for action.
Gillian sized up the commander. “You remind me of John Rambo.”
“I love those movies,” Kaspar said. “When Shaw and I went into the artillery room to reload, I brought back the old-fashioned shotgun, a 9mm, and a couple of plasma shooters.”
“A plasma shooter?” Gillian stared down at her weapon.
“Yeah, the NatDel 2000. This is the same weapon that’s currently being used by our military. A definite advantage over the enemy. It fires a series of searing ‘bullets’ of plasma into your enemy, instantly burning through their bodies. The strength of this weapon is incomparable to anything back on Earth. The army has reconfigured their hardware into plasma. It’s the wave of the future.” Kaspar scouted out the area using the goggles. “And, you, Jilly, are the first civilian to use the weapon.”
“I’m getting all tingly inside. How does it work?” Gillian turned the weapon to Kaspar.
The commander took the weapon and examined it briefly. “It works the same as a handgun. The only thing it needs is a charge before it fires a round. Press down this hammer to charge the weapon. It will light up in red once you press it and turn green when it’s completed charging. It takes only a few seconds between shots to completely restore itself. Probably about five or so.” Kaspar looked at Gillian. “Follow me so far?” Kaspar had another plasma shooter tucked into his suit’s belt, as a backup.
She nodded.
“When you pull back on the trigger, it will release a series of plasma bullets, usually six in a group. They are about a fraction larger than a normal bullet, but pack a powerful punch. They are blue in color because of their intense heat. So, please, be very careful.” Kaspar handed over the weapon.
“I’ll cover the rear.” Gillian raised the weapon and pressed down on the hammer, watching the button turn to red. Kaspar was right. Gillian counted to five and the weapon turned to green indicating it was fully charged and ready to fire.
“I don’t see any sign of them,” Kaspar whispered. “Let’s move slowly and intelligently. Don’t fire random shots. Make sure you see the target. These aliens are quick and relentless. Don’t give them a window of opportunity.”
“Agreed.”
Lieutenant Matthew Shaw’s plan was working. He had successfully planted the C-4 inside the main generator’s room and started to head over to the last quadrant when he was greeted by an expected visitor.
“Lieutenant Shaw,” Adrian’s voice hatefully growled.
“Adrian,” Shaw answered back, turning around to face him. Shaw was still a good twenty feet away from the only door where Adrian was standing. Shaw reached behind and grabbed the shotgun that he had strapped across his back.
“Now, let’s not be hasty,” Adrian ordered. He slowly raised his hands.
“This is how I negotiate.” Shaw snapped back the shotgun, ready to take a shot.
“Primitive.”
“Call off your dogs,” Shaw growled back.
“Dogs?” Adrian mocked back. “Don’t hurt their feelings like that. They make a Doberman pincher look like a teddy bear.”
“Whatever. Call them off.” Shaw raised the weapon.
“Let me think about it.” Adrian paused for a moment. “No.” He closed his eyes and within a matter of seconds the room started to fill with the aliens.
Shaw was trapped and his only way out was to ignite the C-4.
“You are going to kill me?” Shaw prodde
d.
The Carnelians gathered into the room. The smaller of the species crawled all over the walls, and scampered across the floor. The fully evolved adult ones walked into the room on their own, ready to form a protective circle around Adrian.
“Yeah,” Adrian said slickly. “How cool is that?”
“I’m ashamed to even know of your legacy on Earth,” Shaw said.
“Okay, okay,” Adrian’ s playful nature had risen to the occasion. “I’ll bite.”
“You are just going to let your playthings kill me?”
“Effective, yes?”
“I’ve met a lot of cowards in my life, but you take the cake.” Shaw smirked. “I can see it now. Freshly baked in the bakery case. It reads: Adrian Blakely, World Loser.”
“Is that your attempt at humor?” Adrian rebutted. “I’d recommend another career choice, Lieutenant. Your delivery was weak. And, don’t get me started on the punch line.” Adrian thrived in these situations. “I am in a position of greatness. My name finally means something.”
“Yeah, loser.” Shaw quipped back. “It’s a sad day in our galaxy when these aliens turn to you for leadership.”
Adrian bristled. He open his hand and sent a powerful ball of energy hurtling towards Shaw’s body. “Play time is over, Lieutenant.”
Shaw felt the thunderous impact as it sent him flying backwards into the wall. The shotgun fell to the floor, just out of reach.
“I guess I hit a sore spot.” Shaw extended out his left hand and flipped up his middle finger.
Adrian cocked his head, sending a mental shock wave racing across the room. With one smooth transition, it snapped Shaw’s finger.
Shaw let out a howl of pain.
“So, you want to play?” Adrian’s eyes glowed with an evil surge.
“Unless you don’t want to, chicken shit,” Shaw managed through the pain.
“You are in my sandbox now.” Adrian let off a vicious scream while he angrily charged towards Shaw, parting the blue sea of Carnelian’s in the process.
Shaw fingers almost secured the shotgun. Only a few more inches and he would have it.
Adrian felt the jarring impact from the side of the shotgun as Shaw brought it full force into the side of his face. Adrian stumbled off to the side, momentarily dazed.
Adrian not only flooded the main generator room, but he also sent wave after wave of the Carnelian’s into the corridors.
Kaspar watched the greenish dots approaching them. “Hang tight,” he called out to Gillian.
Hundreds of adult Carnelian’s swarmed the hallway, cutting off Kaspar’s intended path to the ship.
“Aren’t they under Adrian’s control?” Gillian asked.
“They seem to have their own agenda right now.” Kaspar started to fire into the crowd using the shotgun. The immediate impact scattered the remaining aliens. Kaspar managed to clear a temporary path through the obliterated wave.
“Jilly, watch the air ducts.” Kaspar tapped her, bringing her attention to the layout of the corridor.
She tightly pulled on his sleeve in agreement.
After letting off another barrage, Kaspar turned his head to find Gillian shooting at her own personal wave of aliens. “That’s my girl.”
The plasma bullets seared through the Carnelian’s instantly severing their bodies.
“Let’s hope they can’t....” Kaspar’s thought was interrupted by his greatest fear. “Regenerate.” He stared at the wriggling, severed bodies as they started to grow back into their previous form.
“Gillian!” Kaspar called out.
“Yeah!” she shouted back.
“Aim for the antennas on top of their heads. It’s the only way. Otherwise they are going to regenerate and come back for another round. We don’t have enough firepower for another round.”
Kaspar looked up at the ceiling. “I wonder...I have an idea. Stay close.”
“I can’t see,” Gillian responded. “By the time I see their antenna’s they will be too close to me.”
“Do you have a belt on?”
“Yeah, why? Now is not the time for that, Commander.”
“Hook it on to my belt.”
“All right, but I don’t follow.” Gillian kept firing away. Her random shots found their marks, but the wave still plodded along. She hooked up to Kaspar’s belt. “Commander?”
“Yeah?”
“They have just turned themselves into balls.”
“Oh, fuck me. This is just getting better by the minute. Hang on.” Kaspar turned around and switched positions with Gillian, swinging her around. Kaspar examined the approaching horde. One by one he let off devastating rounds into the crowd, until his gun emptied. “Shit, I’m out.” Kaspar tossed the shotgun aside and reached for his plasma shooter. He could hear Gillian blasting away. “Here,” Kaspar took off his night goggles. “Clear us a nice path to the ship.”
Gillian took the goggles over her shoulder and slid them over her face. “Cool, it’s like a video game.”
“Let’s just make it to the next level.” Kaspar raised his weapon and blasted away the oxygen ducts running along the ceiling. “How close are we?” The oxygen started to hiss out into the corridor.
“Straight ahead, I can see the hangar.” Gillian cleared the path, aiming directly at the aliens’ antenna. “What are you doing back there?”
“I can a propane tank straight ahead. They must use the tanks for welding purposes. I can try to ignite this entire corridor with the propane and escaping oxygen. Hold your breath, it’s going to be abumpy ride.”Kaspar kept firing away at the oxygen ducts.
Gillian took in a deep breath and, with one final shot, cleared the path just enough for the two of them to squeeze through.
Kaspar reached back and felt Gillian’s belt. “When I unlatch, head for the ship, don’t look back.”
“Commander, no,” Gillian pleaded. She took another deep breath in.
“It’s not up for discussion Jilly,” Kaspar prepared for the final fight. “Now!” He unhooked from Gillian and slowed his pace. His eyes caught the shape of a fire extinguisher along the side of the wall. With a hard punch, he smashed the glass and yanked out the canister.
Gillian scampered down the hall, and opened the hangar doors, sliding herself inside and then closing the doors behind her. She caught her breath and lowered her weapon.
Kaspar rolled the canister down the hall directly into the oncoming horde of aliens.
“It’s like deja vu.” Kaspar took a breath in and fired a series of plasma bullets into the propane tank, exploding it upon impact.
A wall of fire engulfed the corridor, following the path of pure oxygen right towards the fleeing commander.
Gillian heard the explosion and raced back to the door. “Commander!” She could see the orange wall of fire screaming right towards the hangar.
The explosion shattered the windows, sending glass hurtling everywhere.
“Now, that wasn’t wise.” Adrian used the generator’s railing to stand back up.
Shaw pulled out the detonator. “It looks like the commander has successfully reached the ship and caused quite a stir out there.”
“What are you doing?” Adrian asked.
“I’m going to blow you right into the next dimension.” Shaw’s jaw line tightened. “Enjoy your trip, Adrian,” Shaw flipped open the lid.
Adrian charged at Shaw colliding with the lieutenant, sending the detonator sliding across the floor. The two men shuffled across the floor, locked in a tight embrace.
Shaw felt Adrian’s claws ripping through his suit.
“Man to man,” Adrian said with a smirk.
“Man to alien is more like it.” Shaw brought up his knee right into Adrian’s groin.
Shaw let off a series of wild shots to Adrian’s face and saw the slash across his neck. “Is that wound from the commander?”
“A nice door prize from our dance earlier in the hallway.” Adrian returned the favor and countered with a hard r
ight hook into Shaw’s face.
“You are not getting on that ship,” Shaw hissed. He saw his chance and headed for the idle detonator.
“Oh, I beg to differ.” Adrian raised his hand and sent another wave of energy into Shaw’s body. Shaw careened head-first into the railing. “I’d like to continue this little fight of ours, but I have a flight to catch.”
Adrian walked over and picked up the detonator. “Too bad you won’t see the end result of your plan.” Adrian threw the detonator into the main generator’s pit, watching it sail down into the abyss below.
Shaw rolled around, his head smashed open from the hard collision with the steel railing.
“You know what?” Adrian said as he forcefully bent back the protective railing, exposing an entrance into the generator’s abyss.
“What?” Shaw spat up blood. His legs sprawled out on the floor. He was unable to counter Adrian’s next attack.
“I think I have a ticket for you after all.” Adrian reached down and picked up Shaw by his throat. Adrian comfortably dug his nails deep into Shaw’s neck and carried him over to the center of the generator. “It’s a one-way trip, of course.” Adrian dangled Shaw over the pit’s entrance. “You are a stubborn fuck. The rest of your team died without any struggle. But, you? You’ve tested my patience for the last time.” Adrian started to withdraw his nails from Shaw’s neck. “Goodbye, Mr. Shaw.”
Shaw opened the palm of his hand, displaying another detonator.
Adrian was slow to react to Shaw’s action. “What are you doing?”
“Goodbye, Adrian.” Shaw pressed the button, sending one explosion after another ripping through the generator’s room.
Adrian immediately released Shaw into the pit on the fiery heels of the crackling explosion, and staggered backwards. The entire room started to give and crumble on the stupefied billionaire, preventing him from escape.
The Carnelian’s were engulfed in the blast, instantly burning inside the wreckage. Their screeches could be heard throughout the space station.
Remnants
“Commander.” Gillian’s words were lost inside the fiery explosion. She feared the worst. Thaddeus wasn’t going to be coming back. She had to come to grips with the fact that she was going to be the only survivor of the Abagail’s maiden voyage. Gillian would be stranded on the ship. She didn’t have the DNA specific clearance needed to start the ship’s engines
Rise of the Carnelians (Europa) Page 22
