by Gary Weston
To Millet, it was all beginning to sound a little surreal. ‘We are not from Earth. In fact, we’re not even from this universe.’
Zonn was shocked. He looked from one Human to the other, both poker-faces giving nothing away. ‘Not from…this universe?’
Millet said, ‘Us, no. You put your call for help to an Earth in our universe. A planet that’s been dead for many years. We live on an Earth-like planet, called Home. We would very much like to go back there.’
‘I…see. I think. Another universe. Well. Whatever next?’
Shorty said, ‘You need to listen and learn. We risked our own lives coming through what we call the split to rescue you. Nearly didn’t make it. Anyway. To get back to our planet, we must pass through that split again.’
‘Sounds…risky,’ admitted Zonn.
‘Exactly,’ said Shorty. ‘Which is why I…we, decided to tell you. You either come with us or we dump you back out, no hard feelings.’
Zonn said, ‘We do that, we die.’
Millet said, ‘We could look around for a planet for you. As long as it isn’t, you know, too far, far away. No guarantees, of course. And our time is very limited.’
‘But we come with you,’ said Zonn, ‘We could die.’
‘Yeah,’ said Shorty. ‘Interesting choices. You need some alone time to decide?’
Zonn wriggled out of the chair. ‘This is not a decision for me alone. I need to consult with my people.’
Shorty said, ‘That’s reasonable, Frank.’
‘I guess. Come on, Zonn. Back to your pod.’
They returned to the airlock and as Zonn was about to climb back in the pod, Millet said, ‘Zonn. I know it’s a lot to take in but you need to hurry on this one, ok?’
‘I understand,’ said Zonn as he vanished into the pod.
‘Captain Dorran. Close the airlock, please.’
As the airlock door closed, Shorty said, ‘Frank. Cut the dude some slack.’
‘We might save their lives. That, in my book, is plenty of slack.’
As they walked back to the flight-deck, the alarm sounded.
‘Captain?’
‘Sir. We have a situation.’
Dorran pointed at the situation on the screen. It was a ship. Very big and bristling with hardware. Gagonjet Singh’s voice called out, ‘General Millet, Sir. Waiting on your command.’
‘Deep breaths. No sudden moves. Captain Dorran. Can we say hello?’
‘Do we want to say hello!’
‘We probably should. Yes. Say hello.’
‘Right. This is Captain Dorran of the D S I. This could get messy and we would rather avoid that. You guys got anything to say?’
There was an unpleasant crackle through the speakers. ‘You are involving yourself in something beyond your understanding. We have tracked you here. You have those on your ship who should not be on your ship. Get them off your ship and let us do what do what we have to do.’
‘Which is?’ Millet demanded.
There was a pause before the voice replied. ‘This is not your battle. Get them off your ship.’
‘I am General Frank Millet of the D S I.’
‘Never heard of you.’
‘I’m not surprised. But I tell you this. I do not like being dictated too. Perhaps you should just back off and let us get on with what we have to do.’
The voice returned after a pause. ‘You simply do not understand. Get them off your ship or we will destroy all of you.’
Oh, that did it. This was the D S I he was trying to push around. Millet was fuming and by his side, Shorty was actually growling. From the laser turret, Shooter Singh was not too pleased, either.
‘We can take them, Sir. Just say the word and it will be our pleasure.’
‘Cool down, Singh. You over there. You have a name?’
‘Not important.’
Millet snapped, ‘Your attitude sucks. Show yourself.’
The screen flickered to a face. It was only a face a mother could love. It was a leathery blue colour. Creased and lined; ears on top of its head, more teeth than mouth, slits where eyes and nose should be.
‘That’s nasty,’ said Shorty.
‘Not pretty, I agree,’ said Millet. ‘Listen. Time is not on our side. We have not come here to fight with you or anyone.’
‘Good to know. so. Get them off your ship and go.’
Millet said, ‘There you go again with that attitude. We do not respond well to threats.’
‘I’m coming over there. Open your ship to me.’
Shorty said, ‘I don’t recall you being invited.’
‘Open the damn door. I am coming over.’
‘Sir?’ said Dorran.
Millet could see a formidable suited being crossing the void between ships. He must have known how vulnerable he was; six itchy-fingered laser cannon shooters ready to take him out at a single word from their General. Millet was impressed by that. He and Shorty went to the airlock.
‘Like he said. Open the damn door. Wait until we are inside the airlock, though. I’ll say when.’
‘Yes, Sir.’
Chapter 354
Millet and Shorty went to the airlock and Dorran opened the inner door. Once inside, the inner door was closed. The pod was as they had left it, the two flap-doors open wide. As Shorty secured her helmet, Millet chanced a glance into the open pod. Seconds later, he collapsed in agony.
‘Frank? Frank?’
Millet’s eyes were rolling in his head and he was shaking all over. ‘Urgh!’
‘Frank.’
Millet’s eyes opened wide and he stared at Shorty. ‘The enemy is here. Kill them. Kill them, Kill them.’
Shorty fell back away from the being on the floor who now only looked like her husband and General. She was so scared, she drew her gun and pointed it at him. Then she saw the trickle of blood from a tiny hole in the middle of his forehead. The thing that was once Millet started to get to his feet.
‘We need to kill our enemy.’
‘Frank. You gotta get your helmet on.’
‘Kill our enemy.’
Thinking fast, Shorty said, ‘Ok. We’ll do that. But you need to get your helmet on for us to do that.’
The thing that looked like her husband seemed confused. Shorty tapped her own helmet.
‘Put it on. Then we can kill the enemy.’
The creature picked up the helmet and fitted it to his suit. He just stood swaying slightly, staring at a terrified Shorty who still had the gun in her hand. A hammering on the outside of the airlock made her heart leap into her mouth and her stomach churned.
‘Do I open the airlock?’ asked Dorran.
‘That would be a good idea right now.’
The airlock opened and Shorty saw the biggest being wearing a spacesuit she had ever seen in her life. He was also fast. He grabbed the pod with the last of the tiny beings, and using the zero gravity of space, hurled it outside. It floated away from the fighter and seconds later, a blast from his ship turned it into shards of scrap.
‘Dorran,’ said Shorty. ‘Close the airlock.’
The airlock closed up and Shorty and the huge being were sealed in with what was once Frank Millet. It was “Millet” who moved first, grabbing Shorty’s gun. He pointed it his “enemy” but before he could shoot, Shorty reacted, knocked the weapon from his hand and had him pinned down on the floor.
‘Let me deal with it,’ said the giant.
Shorty kept her hold on “Frank” and turned to look up at the barrel of a weapon.
‘He’s my husband.’
‘He was your husband. I must kill him.’
Shorty covered “Frank’s” body with her own. ‘I can’t let you do that.’
‘Then I’ll have to kill you to do it.’
Shorty closed her eyes. ‘That’s the only way you’ll kill him.’
She waited for a quick death that didn’t happen. Instead she found a hand on her arm and she was pulled to her feet as if she were a rag doll.
The gun was pointed at “Frank” making it impossible for her to make a move. The giant removed his helmet. The very sight of his face chilled the Captain’s blood in her veins.
‘This is what they do,’ said the giant. ‘They infest other races. Right now, this one is preparing to multiply. From this one will come many. All your kind will be infested if it is not destroyed.’
‘I can’t let you do it. I love him.’
The giant said, ‘He is no longer what you love. This abomination is now merely a shell. A host. We have spent hundreds of years seeking them and killing them. These are the last of their kind. The one in your husband’s body is the very last one. One hour from now, hundreds will pour from every orifice to continue like the parasitic plague they are. I must destroy the body they feed on.’
Shorty looked at “Frank” on his feet, swaying slightly, his eyes dead and expressionless. She had no doubt what she had been told was the truth.
‘Then kill us both.’
The giant frowned. ‘But you are not infected.’
‘I can’t live without him. Kill us both.’
The giant sighed. ‘That is an unusually powerful love. I appreciate that. Perhaps…’
‘What?’
‘If caught early, there is a chance. This is a dangerous procedure. Rarely successful.’
Shorty said, ‘He’s as good as dead already. Please. Try to help him. If it fails, you can kill him.’
‘I will try. He must come with me to my ship.’
‘Ok. I’ll come with you.’
‘Very well. But we must hurry.’
‘Captain Dorran,’ said Shorty. ‘Open the airlock. We’re going over to their ship.’
Dorran gasped, ‘Shorty?’
‘Open the damn airlock.’
The airlock opened up and out there across the void was the huge ship of the giants.
‘Time to go.’
Chapter 355
With the now unresponsive body of Frank Millet between them, using the tiny jets from the giants suit, they entered the monster of a ship. The giant was now amongst his own kind, who soon recognised the situation for what it was. In a language Shorty couldn’t understand, there was a heated exchange between the large beings. She couldn’t understand the words, but body language was clear enough. The one who had helped her and “Frank” across was far from being flavour of the month by bringing the parasite into their ship. Shorty spoke up.
‘Please. I beg of you. If you can help him, please try.’
One spoke up. ‘I am Drasrovelot. I am captain of this ship. That should not be on here.’
‘That is…was my husband. Please. Can you help him?’
Drasrovelot looked into Shorty’s face, saw the tears running down her cheeks, felt the love she had for her husband.
‘We shall try.’
In his own tongue he ordered the infected Human to the ship’s surgery and two of his kind picked the once Human up between them. Shorty was about to follow, when the one who had helped her placed a hand on her shoulder.
‘Trust me. You do not want to see this.’
Shorty nodded. ‘I do trust you. Thank you.’
He led her to a seat which she climbed up onto, feeling like a tiny doll on it. He sat opposite her.
‘My name is Vaxinortal. I am this ship’s second in command.’
‘I’m Vickie Armstrong. Everybody calls me Shorty. Those creatures. What are they?’
Vaxinortal said, ‘Those people you see were the last the Pidintors infected. You were undoubtedly told lies that we were the evil ones. It is how they survive. They have travelled the galaxy, in the guise of some other being. All very friendly. Then, when the guard is down, they take over the next ones, and on they go. Once inside a new host, they make their way to the brain. They have the ability to hook into that brain, learning everything about the host. In time, they become the host.
To a casual observer, they are that being. But. All the time, the body is being used to breed and feed more of them, until the host dies very painfully and slowly. My people were almost once lost to them, but we were too strong for them. Any of my kind infected were killed and burned. Millions were lost to the Pidintors. But, we overcame them. They escaped from our planet and we have vowed to hunt every last one down.’
Shorty said, ‘And the last one is inside the body of my husband?’
‘Yes. Shorty. The chances of saving your husband are not good. Removing the parasite will probably kill him. Perhaps in our hospital we may have had a chance. It is too late to take him there. Do not expect your husband to live. And…’
There was an and? ‘What?’
‘If we cannot remove it, my captain will not hesitate on ejecting it off the ship, alive or not.’
Shorty rolled with the burden of her breaking heart. ‘I wish I knew what to say, but…’
‘This is Captain Dorran. Shorty? You hearing me?’
In her suit radio, Shorty said, ‘Yes.’
‘Shorty. Frogmorten and Cracker have just told me. The split. It is shrinking fast. We stay here much longer, we won’t get back.’
‘Put Cracker on.’
‘Cracker here, Shorty.’
‘Listen. General Millet is undergoing some serious medical operation. He’ll…‘Shorty choked back the tears. ‘He might not pull through. But it’s his only chance and we need time.’
Cracker said, ‘We’ve been monitoring the split. At the rate it’s shrinking, there’ll be nothing left in about seven hours. Maybe less.’
Dorran butted in. ‘Shorty. The smaller that split is, the less our chance is of surviving getting through it alive. We are out of time.’
‘Don’t you tell me that, Dorran. Frank is fighting for his life. I won’t…’ The words of Vaxinortal rang inside her head. “Do not expect your husband to live.” On the three fighters were her own brave people. She would not sacrifice them for Frank. ‘Captain Dorran. Go. Get our people home.’
‘Shorty. Is there anything wrong with you like there is with Frank?’
‘No. Only Frank.’
Dorran snapped, ‘Then get yourself over here now. Frank would tell you to do the same.’
‘And I’d ignore him same as I’ll ignore you. Go. Save our people.’
Through her radio she heard the agitated discussion between Dorran, Frogmorten and Cracker, then Dorran said, ‘Shorty. I’m sending the other two ships out of here. I’ll stay behind for you.’
‘No. All three of you go now.’
‘Not gonna happen. Luppino. Carpenter. You getting all this?’
Both captains replied that they were.
‘Then you get going. Stick together and get through that split.’
Luppino said, ‘Sorry Shorty. It’s the only thing that makes sense right now. Good luck to you and Frank.’
Carpenter said, ‘Shorty. I’ll have the beer ready for you two on the other side. Good luck.’
‘Thanks, guys.’
Dorran said, ‘They’ve gone. One hour, Shorty. Then we’re going, too.’
‘Thanks.’
Vaxinortal had heard and comprehended what was happening. Almost. ‘This split. I do not understand.’
Shorty said, ‘I’m not sure we do. There is more than one universe. My people are not from your universe.’
‘You came here from another universe? I have never heard of such a thing.’
Shorty managed a slight chuckle. ‘I’m wishing we hadn’t either.’
Shorty did her best with her limited knowledge of things scientific to explain what had happened. Vaxinortal listened patiently without interrupting. When she had finished he said, ‘And if you stay here too long, your ship must leave and you will never go home.’
‘Yep. That’s about the size of it.’
‘If that was this ship and I were you, Captain Drasrovelot would not wait. He would go and leave me here.’
Shorty nodded. ‘And I’d understand that. I didn’t expect Captain Dorran to do what he did. I jus
t hope they don’t pay the price for that decision.’ She checked the time, which had somehow flown by. Another thirty five minutes and Dorran would be away to join the others and leave her behind.
Chapter 356
‘That looks ugly,’ said Luppino.
‘I thought that the first time,’ said Carpenter. ‘Any ideas how we approach that thing?’
‘Full speed and aim for the centre would be my guess.’
Carpenter said, ‘Our ships died going through it remember?’
‘But we did get through it. It sort of sucked us in and spat us out the other end. Hey. You heard the scientists. That thing is shrinking. The longer we wait, the less are our chances.’
‘Ok. Listen up, everyone. This could be a rough old ride. We’re hitting that thing right in the middle at full power. We either make it or…’
‘We’ll make it,’ insisted Luppino.
Carpenter laughed. ‘You heard the man. Hang on to your teeth.’
The two fighters, side by side, hurtled towards the split. The fiery cauldron from hell broiled and rolled. Wild lightning crashed and thrashed all the way through it. Everybody braced themselves and they were plunged into the split.
Almost instantly, all the power from the plasma thrusters died, only auxiliary battery power struggling to keep any internal lights and instrumentation going. Several lights shattered, and showered them with shards of glass. The roaring sound hurt their eardrums and their bodies shook so hard, most passed out.
The ships were being mercilessly punished as they were pulled into the middle of the swirling nightmare. Things buckled and groaned beyond their limits, and at the very point when the ships were about to be crushed, the roaring noise stopped and both vessels were spat out into their own universe. As they raced along, the ships stabilised and the engines fired up. Through the cheering, Carpenter said, ‘You were right, Luppino. We made it.’
‘I’m always right. Do we wait for the others?’
‘You can hang around if you want. I’m going Home.’
‘Then Home it is.’
Chapter 357
Captain Drasrovelot went up to his second-in-command, Vaxinortal and whispered something. Vaxinortal grinned, or at least that’s what Shorty hoped he was doing.
