The Beast of Tsunam (Rev Smalley: Galactic P.I. Book 1)

by Combs, Scott A.

  The explosion was stupendous. It vaporized the tentacle along with the creature’s body and most of the rubble in a cloud of roaring flame and pulverized concrete.

  “That was different,” said Rev.

  Flint shook his arm and stretched his limb stroking it with his other. “Too different for me.”

  Chapter 26

  IT WAS VERY DARK and deserted on the causeway as Rev and Flint made their way to the Eugenics Lab. The fear of the Tsunamian-eating beasts had made a strong impression on the populace; there was not a soul to be seen. When they entered the building only a couple of attendees manned the service counter.

  Rev and Flint strolled past talking nonsense to each other hoping to act like they were important enough not to be bothered by an interruption. It didn’t work and one of the attendees held up an electronic clipboard.

  “Sign in⁠—⁠time and destination,” said the dark-haired Tsunamian.

  “Sure thing,” said Rev grasping the clipboard.

  “Aren’t you the Earth man investigating these creature attacks?” asked the other attendee.

  There wasn’t any reason not to answer since he didn’t look like any Tsunamian. “That’s me.”

  “You’ve seen what one of those creatures can do?” asked the first attendee.

  “Yes and seen them up close and personal.”

  “Really?” said both at the same time.

  “Are they as scary as rumor tells it?” asked one.

  “Scarier,” said Rev.

  The first attendee poked his friend in the shoulder. “Told you.”

  “So what,” replied the other.

  “We should get our names on the list, that’s all.”

  “What are you two talking about?” asked Rev.

  “Oh,” said the one that looked like Taki except this guy had a full head of dark hair. “Since the creatures showed up, the Reclamation Centers have been swarmed with requests for self-termination.”

  “Yeah,” interrupted the other. “Martial law was declared today and everyone who wants to ‘pass on’ must petition for a request to receive the service.”

  Flint and Rev stared dumbfounded. “Just how many have requested these services?” asked Rev.

  “Millions, maybe more than a billion. It’s hard to tell.”

  “That’s a serious proportion of the populace,” said Flint.

  “Why would so many want to just give up?” asked Rev.

  “We’re scared,” said the first attendee. “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t ordered to be.”

  “Me neither,” said the other. “I tried to put my request in this afternoon and it looks like I have to wait for three whole days before I can get a response.”

  “I’m sorry for you,” said Rev.

  “Maybe you can get me an early clearance?”

  “Why do you think I can help?”

  “Well, you must be very important. I just thought you could tell someone in the government that I was helpful and pull a few strings.”

  “Why am I important?” asked Rev.

  The first attendee smiled and pushed a red button on the clipboard. A picture of Rev and Flint appeared along with a whole set of details that scrolled down the page. “We have orders to help you in any inquiry. See it says right here,” he said pointing to the high-priority dispatch notice.

  The other attendee interrupted. “You have clearances for everywhere.”

  “I see,” said Rev totally confused by this turn of events.

  Flint read the notice. “We do appear to have absolute clearance to any and all inquiries.”

  “How do I use my new found authority?” asked Rev of the attendants.

  “That’s simple, just use your palm print on any lock pad for access if there aren’t any guards present. Of course, you can always just call for assistance if you need it from any intercom.”

  Rev smiled at Flint sheepishly. “Just when you thought we weren’t welcome.”

  “So can you?” asked the other attendee.

  “Can I what?”

  “Put a word in for me to go to the head of the self-termination list.”

  “So you can kill yourself?”

  He nodded emphatically.

  “Sure thing. Just jot down your name so I can get the spelling right.”

  The attendee started to scribble his name on a digi-pad when the first attendee snatched it from his hand and looked at it. “You can’t do that!”

  “Why not?”

  “You can’t go without me,” he said and he scribbled his name under his friend’s then handed the device to Rev who took it, glanced at it and put it into his pocket.

  “We done here?” asked Flint.

  “Anything else boys?” asked Rev. Both shook their heads. “Good. Got to go and find those scary creatures.”

  “In here?” both asked.

  “We think so,” said Flint.

  They both looked like they were going to be sick as Rev and Flint crossed the lobby. “If we find any we’ll be sure to send them your way,” said Rev, his voice echoing in the large atrium.

  “Don’t say such things,” replied the first attendee.

  “Why not? You both want to die so much. I’m sure the Beast will accommodate your wishes.”

  Rev rounded a corner in a huff. Flint hovered closely and felt the anger from his partner. “There’s something seriously wrong with this planet,” said Rev clenching his fists.

  “Because everyone wants to die a painless death?”

  Rev glared at Flint. “I just don’t understand why nobody’s pissed off. Life is too short not to fight for it.”

  “Maybe you’ll feel different after a few thousand years,” said Flint.

  “I don’t think so,” replied Rev. “Nothing could make me give up like⁠—⁠like those two,” he said angrily.

  “It’s their culture,” defended Flint.

  “Then maybe it’s a good thing that Tsunam euthanizes everyone into oblivion and does it quickly so there won’t be anyone to charge us for our crimes.”

  “That’s harsh don’t you think?”

  “Maybe, but our problems would be less,” mumbled Rev as he walked to the elevator and waited for the doors to open. Rev went in with Flint close behind. Flint entered their destination and watched the doors close.

  “Let’s hope that Dr. Ziller hasn’t passed on yet in this madness,” said Rev.

  “Why Dr. Ziller?”

  Rev turned and gave the automaton a smile. “We need him to run the analysis of the tissue samples.”

  Something in his face made Flint wonder if that was all Rev wanted. “Why do you think he’s here so late when everyone else is in hiding?”

  There was a long pause and the door to the elevator opened. Rev walked out and up to the Eugenics Lab door. “Because,” said Rev. “He’s up to his neck in trouble and he’s about to find out just how pissed off I can be.”

  Rev read the names on the little digi-pad and started to chuckle to himself.

  “What’s so funny?” asked Flint.

  “Their names⁠—⁠Slovifric and Fractusus.”

  Flint looked puzzled.

  “Fric and Frac,” laughed Rev.

  * * *

  THE EUGENICS LAB was completely vacant except for the hurried steps of Dr. Ziller. He toyed with a weapon in his lab coat feeling its weight tugging down as if it wanted to escape. He knew he wasn’t good at using pistols but he also knew that his days were numbered. He could no longer expect the government to be stupid enough not to realize that he knew more about the creatures than he made out. Also that troublesome Earth man. Ziller wouldn’t let an Earthling alien take him into custody without a fight⁠—⁠he’d die protecting himself if need be.

  Ziller had destroyed his computer and all the data concerning this current project and was in the act of going to the clean room where he needed to destroy the live samples. It wouldn’t do to have any evidence around when the authorities arrived.

  He
turned the corner to his office in a rush and got the scare of his life as he stared up into an angry Earthling face.

  “You!” said Ziller.

  Rev grabbed Ziller by his jersey to stop him from running away. Ziller struggled and then remembered the weapon. He fumbled inside his pocket and gripped the weapon.

  “Hi, doc,” said Rev. “Remember me and my little friend?”

  “Y-yes.”

  “We’d like you to do a couple of tests. Isn’t that right Flint?” Flint buzzed around Rev and flanked the doctor, scrutinizing him with his powerful optical scanning.

  “He’s armed,” said Flint.

  “Really?” Rev drawled the word out, savoring the moment. “You wouldn’t be thinking of shooting an officer of the law in the course of his duties would you?”

  “Hardly,” said Ziller trying to stay calm. “It’s for protection while these creatures are loose.”

  Rev spun the doctor around hard. Before he could object, Rev put his hand into the same pocket that Ziller’s hand was in. He yanked the hand and the weapon out, dangling the man by it, a few centimeters off the floor.

  “You’ll be plenty safe with us around so I’ll relieve you of the weapon,” said Rev as he squeezed hard and felt the joints in Ziller’s hand pop until he yelped and let loose of the gun. Rev put it into his own pants pocket and frisked Ziller looking for more surprises. When Rev was done he turned Ziller around facing him and looking deep into his eyes. All he could see was fear.

  “All right doc,” said Rev. “Would you please run our tests.”

  “What kind of tests?” stammered Ziller.

  “Blood and tissue samples from one of the creatures,” said Flint.

  Ziller looked nervous, beads of sweat started to form on his forehead. “I don’t do the testing. I’m an administrator,” he responded.

  “Come now doc,” said Rev. “You’re a smart guy. I bet you know everything there is to know about working with bio material.”

  “I don’t know what you’ll gain by me testing them,” he pleaded.

  “First we want to know what planet the creature’s from and maybe a little bit about its genetic makeup. Think you can do that?” snapped Rev.

  “Certainly,” he said. “Follow me please.” He led them across from the clean room and entered a very sophisticated setup with analyzers and scopes of every type. An examination table sat off to one side and computers lined the walls. Ziller went to a terminal and pushed a button which produced a robotic arm that swung around and opened its tensile fingers.

  “The sample if you don’t mind,” he said rolling his eyes at the mechanical arm.

  Flint produced the sample and held it for the metal fingers which closed around the small glass vial. Once the grip was secure the arm spun around and placed the sample into a tray that was extended from the analyzer. The dark red liquid was sucked into the analyzer with a slurping sound. Then the analyzer extracted a small amount of the blood. Rev and Flint watched intently as the sample was subjected to a blue-white flame and another sample began to separate in a centrifuge.

  After just a few moments, data showed up on the vidi-screen. Ziller tapped on the terminal and then swirled his finger around a section of the data on the screen. He dragged it from one side of the monitor and electronically dug deeper into another section. Rev and Flint watched as the monitor showed various molecular strands of DNA. Ziller swirled over another point and dragged that part to the same spot as the other. He continued assessing the data for a few more seconds and then he looked up at Rev and the automaton.

  “Well, there’s nothing very special about the sample.”

  “What planet is it from?” asked Rev.

  “From here, of course. It’s the blood of a Tsunamian male. I could actually tell you the type of male if you need. That’s easy enough from the DNA. All Tsunamians share the same blood type. It’s very pure without any waste as you can plainly see,” he said pointing to an enlarged area of the blood.

  As he said this Flint watched a strange thready organism float past the monitor. “What’s that?” asked Flint pointing to the shape.

  Ziller slid his finger in the direction of the shape and brought it back into view. To his amazement the thing appeared to realize it was being watched and tried to swim away. The harder Ziller tried to follow it, the thing proved even faster at eluding observation.

  “Does that look Tsunamian to you doctor?” asked Rev.

  “No,” said Ziller, “and it doesn’t seem to register on the analyzer either.”

  “Odd don’t you think? A perfect Tsunamian blood sample with little black pets floating around inside it.”

  “Yes,” said Ziller astonished.

  Rev spun the doctor around in his chair and held him by his collar. “We can guarantee that the thing we took the sample from didn’t look Tsunamian unless you’re building three meter, four hundred kilogram citizens with sharp teeth and claws,” said Rev. “Now tell us how a Tsunamian doctor got involved in creating these monsters.”

  Chapter 27

  DR. ZILLER SQUIRMED UNDER REV’S penetrating stare. He looked around and calculated his chances of escape, knowing they weren’t very good. He started to sweat as he tried to stand up. “I⁠—⁠I don’t know what you mean,” he stammered.

  Rev pushed him back into the chair. “I recognized you as one of the figures holding weapons on Flint and myself as we materialized in the transmat tube. Actually, I wouldn’t have seen you if you hadn’t fired your weapon. The light from the blast gave me a clear view of your face. But the real question I should be asking is . . . ” Rev waited as if he wanted a drum roll for the question. “Who ratted us out?”

  Flint whipped around and extended an arm like he was going to hit the cowering man. “I must’ve been focused on the laser pulses instead of the assailants,” said Flint. He shook in anger and his neural brain hummed with excitement. “My restraint circuits are flaring up.” His arm extended and his little fingers clenched convulsively. “All I want to do is inflict harm.”

  The little automaton made a menacing motion towards Ziller’s face. He cringed; automaton who acted threateningly were non-existent on this planet. He knew Flint possessed enough power to tear him in two. “You’re programmed not to harm sentient life,” declared Ziller in desperation.

  “That’s the funny thing,” said Rev. “Ever since Flint’s been assigned to me, I guess some of my bad habits have rubbed off on him.”

  “Yeah,” said Flint zooming to the other side. He clawed at Ziller’s lab coat and tore a shred of cloth from his pocket.

  Rev continued, “Somewhere along the way I damaged some of his circuits and he just hasn’t been the same since. Personally, I think it’s for the better but others might think he’s just a little headstrong.”

  “Let me strangle a confession from him,” said Flint extending two translucent arms with claw-like fingers.

  “Keep him away from me,” screamed Ziller.

  “Sure,” said Rev. “But once he gets a notion in his synthetic skull⁠—⁠well you know.” And Rev shrugged.

  “No, I don’t know.”

  Flint made snarling sounds and lunged at the timid doctor. Rev let loose of Ziller’s collar and caught Flint as he raced to mangle the face of the traitor. Ziller fell off the chair onto all fours and scurried away to the door. Rev winked at Flint and the little automaton winked back.

  Ziller pawed at the door. As soon as the door was open he bounded through. “You’re all crazy,” he screamed. His footsteps could be heard as he ran for his life.

  “Nice acting.”

  “Who’s acting?” Flint glowed. “I really want to hurt him.”

  “Are you allowed to feel that?”

  “I feel a lot of new things since my circuits have been damaged.”

  “I guess we better go find him and change his evil ways,” said Rev.

  Flint tracked him easily with sensors; he located a locked lab door where Ziller had retreated. A sig
n by the door indicated that access was restricted to high security personnel and a long list of penalties enumerated what would ensue if they weren’t followed.

  “Now why would he lock himself in a lab?” asked Flint.

  “We’ll soon find out,” said Rev as he placed his hand on the access point. The panel scanned his hand and flashed for a moment saying he didn’t have authority to enter.

  “I thought I could go anywhere,” said Rev. “The love is so soon forgotten.”

  “Very poetic. Try again,” said Flint.

  This time the lock on the door clicked open. The door slid into the wall with a vapor-like swish. Inside the room complete darkness engulfed them. The P.I. immediately noticed an odd ozone smell.

  Flint attempted to get the lights operational. Moments later a small flicker of the lamps barely glowed. Rev blinked his eyes getting them to adjust to the new surroundings.

  “What’s wrong with the lights in here?”

  “I don’t know,” said Flint. “I turned them up all the way. This is all we’re going to get.”

  Flint followed the doctor’s trail with Rev close behind to another room deeper inside the chamber where they looked through dark purple windows into another, smaller lab. Barely discernible was the shape of Ziller working frantically with his back toward them. Rev stumbled up and peered into the lab cupping his hand around his eyes. “Looks like we got him cornered.”

  “What do you think he’s doing?” asked Flint as he watched Ziller extract a long tendril of slime from a tube.

  At this point Rev was fascinated. They watched as the man held the ooze with thin forceps. The dark matter started to squirm and whip. Ziller turned and realized he had an audience. His face distorted with hatred.

  Ziller held the aggressive dark substance at arm’s length as if he had a snake by the tail and then he dropped it after it tried to bite him. Ziller backed away to the far side of the lab as he started to convulse. The snake-like tendril slithered along the floor getting closer to the shaking Tsunamian.