by Susan Kelley
Had the people perpetrating these treatments called themselves medical doctors? Molly didn’t know if she wanted to continue the mission though she wouldn’t let her father down by backing out. The study of diseases, vectors, treatments and genetic predispositions were her main areas of interest. Nature did enough all on its own to destroy human life or distort it in lethal or crippling ways. Most people believed she’d inherited her father’s steely interior, but Molly doubted her own toughness when forced to witness and record these crimes against humanity and breaking every oath ever taken by physicians.
“I would give a lot to examine that live one,” Helen grumbled. “When are you going to tell Lieutenant Big Shot how we run our discovery journeys?”
“I’m sure your father gave Mak strict orders about your protection, Molly,” Hector said. “And after what we saw today, you have to admit we’ve never been on a trip like this one. A dangerous trip, that is.”
“Andy and Kory have always been enough escort for us,” Molly said.
They worked quietly then, though Molly tried to hear anything from the ship’s open door. Mak had kept Andy outside when they’d returned from the trip. Molly had grown up among the military establishment. Poor Andy’s firing of his weapon wouldn’t be easily explained or forgiven by someone like Mak. Molly’s father might have gone so far as to discharge Andy, but Mak couldn’t do that out here in the middle of empty space.
Molly thought she should go speak for Andy. He’d been an asset to her team in the past. But his actions had shocked her. His attack on the creature seemed of fear and anger. How could she trust him if he was so afraid of what they might encounter that he would discharge his weapon against orders? She sighed and went back to her work. Whatever Mak was saying to Andy, it was a military matter.
“Look at this, Molly,” Hector said.
She left her workstation and went to his side. A large viewing screen hung suspended at head height.
Hector pointed to the greatly magnified image of gene pairs. “This is the gene that influences white blood cell production. It’s been changed but without seeing their notes, I don’t think I can identify what enzymes were involved and how they were altered.”
“So part of their purpose was to improve their subjects’ immune systems.” Molly wondered if something good might have come from the inhumane studies. “It we had a blood sample from the live one, we might figure out what they did.”
“Fresh blood would be easier to work with,” Helen said. “But I don’t think that wild creature is going to volunteer a sample.”
“You’d have a sample if I had shot it,” Andy said as he walked into the lab. He spoke quietly and looked over his shoulder.
“Are you finished getting your balls busted?” Helen had never hid her disdain for the corporal.
Andy curled his lip, but he looked over his shoulder again. “The lieutenant has never worked in a science unit before. He told me, ordered me, to send you to the bridge, Molly.”
“I wanted to speak with the lieutenant anyway.” Molly started for the door, but Hector stopped her.
“Ask him how we can get those blood samples. Maybe a Recon Marine can run that giant down,” Hector said with a grin.
Though she knew Hector was at least half joking, trying to lighten the mood after Helen’s and Andy’s sour exchange, Molly considered the idea. What was the use of having a Recon Marine along if they didn’t take advantage of his unique skill set?
Mak sat in the pilot’s seat, working on the ship’s AI unit. A thin wire connected the unit to the rectangular object Mak had taken from the deserted lab. “Thank you for joining me, Doctor.”
Now was the time to settle the command issues. “I chose to join you. I didn’t come to the bridge because you ordered it.”
Mak stood up and took a step to close the distance between them. Did he seem taller here in the small confines of the bridge? “Do you need to return to the lab for more samples or will the ones you have suffice?”
Molly thought of Hector’s joke. “Actually, what we really need is a blood sample from the living lab experiment.”
Mak did the cute thing with his eyebrow. Damn, when had she started thinking it was cute? And adorable was a better description. “You must have a sample or you would like a sample?”
Molly couldn’t lie even with a bit of exaggeration. Not when it might mean something dangerous for him. “A sample would give us a better look at what was done in the lab.”
“What was done? They experimented on those men and then deserted the base, leaving their victims locked up to starve to death.” Though his expression didn’t change, something bleak and hopeless dulled Mak’s bright eyes.
Molly hadn’t considered how the sight of the dead lab experiments had affected Mak. He’d been nothing less than professional. She’d half-believed those reports claiming the Recon Marines didn’t have feelings like normal people. Surely with his origins, the sight of the abused and abandoned…soldiers had touched him more than anyone. “I meant what was done on a cellular level.”
The AI chirped an alert but Mak kept his gaze on Molly. “You have the samples taken from the bodies.”
“Fresh blood always makes a better study.”
“Perhaps you misunderstand the mission we’re on, Doctor. The general told me we were to track down all the sites where Admiral Lester and his criminal colleagues had worked their illegal research and make sure there were no more surprises like the Nemon person we saw in the vid. How would getting a blood sample help us complete the mission?”
“I understand the general’s directives, but it would be wasteful to miss the opportunity to do studies that might help develop new immunity treatments. Perhaps we can glean something useful that would make everything done here not so terrible.”
Mak tilted his head, silent for a moment as if mulling her meaning. “I guess that depends on whether you were one of the people inside those cages or outside them.”
Molly’s heart did a funny little skip at his stark words. True words. How aware had the lab’s subjects been of their impending doom? “If we learn something from a blood sample that can save lives, maybe their deaths won’t have been for nothing.”
Mak looked away, staring out the front view screen that showed nothing but grass and sky. “I don’t know if I can get a sample without shooting them. I can try a stunner but they’re so big I don’t know if it will knock them down.”
Molly hesitated to ask, and perhaps Mak wouldn’t tell her, but she had to know. “Did my father order you to kill anything we found on our mission?”
Mak swung his gaze back to her, his eyebrow raised in its question mark. “The general would never issue such an order.”
“Even if we find someone like that monster, Nemon?”
“Lethal force will be used if necessary for self-protection.”
Molly didn’t want the creature to be killed in order to collect its blood. Then something Mak had said registered in her thoughts. “You said they’re so big. Do you think there are more than one of them still alive?”
Mak gestured at another screen on the control panel. “Scanners show five of them watching from beneath the trees. They must have been lucky enough to escape their cages before starving, but they didn’t know anything but the lab.”
“What are they watching? They can’t see the ship from there.”
“I set Pender on top of the rise to give them something to think about.”
Molly looked closer at the scanner, seeing the bright human shapes scattered throughout the trees. “They’re really spread out.”
Mak nodded. “They don’t approach each other, probably don’t have any social skills or ideas of teamwork. Their intelligence level is unknown unless you’ve found something. Judging by their poor physical appearances they’re not adept at finding food. How long ago did the caged ones die?”
“The dry air makes it difficult to say exactly, but I would guess they’ve been dead for almost two yea
rs. Do you think they’re considering an attack? They can’t have any love for people like us after what happened in that place.”
“The one who followed us inside didn’t act aggressively. Maybe some instinctual curiosity drove it to investigate our presence. They haven’t moved since they trailed us back to the ship. Sometimes one will leave for a short while, but then it comes back to the same spot and watches.”
“And the mere sight of one man holds them at bay?”
Mak clicked on a comm link built into the control panel. “Come aboard, Pender.”
“Yes, sir,” Kory answered without hesitation or question.
“We’ll see if they approach.” Mak walked to a long cabinet on the right side of the bridge. Molly realized it was an addition to the science vessel. He opened it and took out a weapon. It resembled a pistol but with a thicker, square barrel. “If one comes close, I’ll try to bring it down with a stun. I don’t think the others will try to come to its aide. Get your blood collection equipment ready.”
Pender climbed the steps as Molly hastened back to the lab. Hector helped her put together a sample kit along with a camera. She was back on the bridge with Mak within three minutes.
“You stay here with Pender, doctor.” Mak added the stun pistol to his thick belt and then took another pistol out of the cabinet. It gleamed with lethal intent. “As soon as I have one incapacitated, I’ll call for you. Pender will escort you to my position.”
“You’re going out there by yourself?” The creature was more than a head taller than Mak, and even in its starving thinness, it outweighed Mak two times over. “They’re too big and strong for you to take on alone.”
“I’m not planning on wrestling with them, doctor.”
Mak headed for the door but Molly hurried after him. “At least take Kory with you to cover your back.”
Mak stopped and turned so suddenly that Molly bumped into him. It felt like she’d run into the bulkhead. “Be ready with your instruments.” He moved soundlessly down the steps.
Kory waited by the open door with her. Mak had disappeared over the ridge so they saw nothing but waving grass topped by blue sky.
“Do you think he went in the trees after them?” Molly’s heart took a few hard strokes as she considered the danger her request had put Mak in. The dark shadows would make for hazardous stalking of the large, fast creatures.
Kory didn’t answer. He went to the bridge and then returned with the AI unit. He tapped it a few times and then held it so Molly could see the screen. The outside sensors showed the bright outlines of five bodies moving slowly toward the ship. Molly looked out the door, expecting to see them appear at the top of the slope at any moment.
“I think my presence kept them at bay,” Kory said. “The lieutenant called me in so they would leave the shelter of the trees and approach. Now he can single one out.”
“Why don’t I see Mak’s image on there.” The creatures grew larger on the screen.
“His camouflage gear blocks all but the best heat detection. He could be anywhere out there.”
“Won’t they see him, or hear him? Or perhaps even smell him?”
“You know more about Recon Marines than I do, Dr. Drant.”
Molly did know more than most people but that didn’t add up to much information. “There’s no cover out there for him.”
Kory shushed her and pointed toward the slope near the front of the ship. One of the creatures stood there, tilting its head as it stared at the ship. Molly moved outside onto the first step. The creature crouched as if to pounce or flee but did neither.
It took a step down the slope but then suddenly wilted to the ground as if its legs were made of string. It thrashed about and tried to stand up, but the grass came alive only a few feet from it. The stunner sparked in Mak’s hand, and the creature slumped into an awkward heap. He prodded the creature with his foot and then turned his back on it and the ship. Another gun appeared in his hand. Loud reports rang out as he fired into the air.
Kory’s radio chirped, carrying Mak’s quiet words in the stillness following the gunfire. “Bring the doctor.”
Kory insisted he go first up the slope. Mak didn’t watch them, instead standing with his real gun in his hands and looking toward the trees.
Molly’s hands shook as she fitted a tube to the first needle. Kory helped her stretch out the creature’s arm. Its skin felt dry and scaly beneath her fingers and moved loosely across its muscles. Some vitamin deficiencies and likely general malnutrition. Seeing it up close made its size more intimidating than when she’d seen it from a few feet away. The arm she poked the needle into equaled the size of her thigh and then some. She drew four tubes of blood and then snipped a few strands of its stringy hair and put it in another tube. If only they could stay and observe the creatures’ habits, how they lived, slept and what they ate. She pried open its slack mouth, seeing a full set of teeth though many were cracked or broken.
“Careful sticking your fingers in there,” Mak said.
She hadn’t realized he’d turned to watch, but she glanced up and saw his dark gaze on her. Using a smooth metal swabbing scoop, she took a sample of saliva and dropped the entire thing into a tube. She checked to make sure they were all sealed and then stood up. “I have enough.” Though she could spend months studying the creatures.
“Pender, take Dr. Drant back to the ship.” Mak turned his back on them again with his gun still in his hand.
“Aren’t you going with us?” Molly asked.
“I’m going to stay until he wakes up.”
“Why, sir?” Kory asked.
Mak gestured with his chin toward the trees. “The others are watching. They’ll kill him if we leave him helpless like this.”
“Why do you think that?” Molly handed the bag of samples to Kory and then walked up the slope to stand beside Mak. Nothing stirred except the grass for as far as she could see. “How do you know they’re out there?”
“They’re there. I watched them on the sensors for a few hours. They avoid getting too close to one another. Probably they compete for food and who knows what else. The treatments they underwent might increase aggressive tendencies and competition between them.”
“You think they’d tear this one to pieces like an animal might?”
“Pender, take the doctor’s things back to the ship.” Mak waited until the young soldier walked away before answering. “When men are stripped of everything but their basic instincts, they are animals. Your DNA research surely supports that, Dr. Drant.”
Molly looked at Mak as a scientist, noting his perfect features, his beautiful dark eyes, and had to wonder about the people who had designed him. Had they intended to create a man of beauty? Had his handsomeness been purely accidental? One thing she knew from the trial of the Recon Marines, their handlers hadn’t expected the marine’s intelligence to lead them to disobey orders. “Why do you care if it dies?”
The sun edged toward the horizon, ending the long day. The sky darkened to a deep, clear blue, matching Mak’s eyes as he turned his gaze toward her. “It? When you study its DNA, you’re going to find human genes. Leaving it completely helpless would be the same as shooting it in the head. That would make us less human than he is.”
Molly looked down at the unconscious creature, guilt filling her. Had she been thinking of it as nothing but a lab specimen? Something she’d vowed never to do, put science ahead of compassion. Yet this Recon Marine, created to be a lethal weapon, humbled her with a view of the world that was more humane than hers. “Do you mind if I wait with you?”
“Don’t you need to get back to your samples?”
She settled into the grass, finding the seat still warm after a day of bright sunshine. After a moment, Mak sat down beside her, his gun still in his hand.
The sky deepened to purple and then black. Stars, bright and clear, formed a sparkling masterpiece across the dark expanse. The grass looked more silver than gold and green in the light, still waving in
the light breeze. A low humming and chirping from awakening night creatures added to the music of the wild. “This is what I love about seeing new worlds. The clean air, the endless sky, the sounds of new species of birds and insects that no one has ever heard before. New plants, strange animals and a completely different night sky.”
Mak made a noise that might have been a sigh. “I’ve seen so many different skies and each one has its own beauty.”
“Sometimes I feel completely inconsequential in the immensity of the universe. If something happened, we’re completely off the beaten path here. These outlying planets aren’t even on most star charts. No one has mapped the entirety of this galaxy.”
Mak leaned closer to her and pointed toward a binary star hanging low on the horizon. “That star system is the gateway into the Pegasus Galaxy. The five stars in a line over there are the outermost stars of the Darwin Galaxy.”
“How do you know this?”
“I’ve been to every mapped galaxy at least once and also to a dozen more uncharted ones. Once I see a sky, I remember it. On Old Earth, men learned to navigate ancient seas by using nothing but the stars.”
“Are you a student of history then, lieutenant?”
“The only thing I studied the first twenty-five years of my life was war. Since I’ve had the freedom to do so, I’ve become a student of many things.”
Molly couldn’t imagine Mak’s early years. She remembered her father, the stern general, reading bedtime stories to her. Though her upbringing had been odd compared to many because of her father’s position, it had been achingly normal compared to Mak’s. Rumors abounded of the harsh training the Recon Marines had endured, but how many people considered the bars placed upon the marine’s education? “What is your favorite field of study?”
Mak looked at her, the stars reflected in his eyes. “I like them all. I want to learn everything about everything.” He looked away as if embarrassed.
