Transient Echoes

by J. N. Chaney

  It took Mei a second to realize what they were talking about. “You mean the flippies?” she asked. “Where did this come from?”

  Sophie took a seat across from Mei. “Don’t ask me.”

  Travis motioned at Sophie before answering. “Zoe here threatened to reprogram the flippies to fight each other. I was against it at first, but she’s got me half-convinced. The only problem is her top pick.” He shook his head at Zoe. “I’m so disappointed in you.”

  “We’ll see who’s disappointed when Mort kicks the crap out of Jeff. Give me two days with the little guy. You won’t even recognize him.”

  Travis scoffed. “Oh, I see. So you’re going to modify him? Tack on a saw, maybe a flame thrower? You can’t go changing the rules.”

  Mei motioned for the two of them to sit. “Is everyone ready to get started? Where’s Bartholomew?”

  The flap to the tent opened and Bart walked in. “Over here, boss.” John was right behind him. Mei waited for them to take their seats before she began.

  “I received a call this morning from Prescott,” she said.

  “What did the little weasel want?” asked Zoe.

  Mei went through the entire call, beat for beat, detailing everything Prescott had said.

  “Sounds like they’re getting impatient,” said Travis.

  “No surprise there,” said Zoe.

  “I might have something soon, but I can’t make any promises,” said Bart.

  “I need a more concrete answer,” said Mei.

  “I get that, but there’s so many problems, big and small. I’m doing everything I can to get one of these buckets up and running. It’s not easy. Tell them we need more time.”

  “I already did,” said Mei. She bit the inside of her lip, breaking the skin. She already hated herself for what she was about to ask. “What if I relocate a few people to help?”

  He shook his head. “I’m the only one here who knows the first thing about the coils.”

  “Except me,” said Travis. “But you need me for the dig.”

  “Right,” said Bart.

  “Not true,” said Zoe, raising her finger. “Travis has been teaching me how to use the flippies. They’re mostly automated, so all it takes is knowing how to boot them on and shut them down. I can handle it.”

  Mei shot a glance at Travis, arching her brow. “When did you have time to teach her about the flippies?”

  “The last few times you sent us to the site by ourselves,” said Zoe.

  John grinned. “You two were down there alone? My, my.” Mei gave him a stern look that said to shut up. He frowned and stared at the table.

  “Bart, are you fine with Travis helping you out?” asked Mei.

  He shrugged. “We all have to make sacrifices sometimes.”

  “You make it sound like I’m a burden,” said Travis.

  “Hey, you said it, not me.”

  Mei ignored them and glanced at Zoe. “Are you absolutely certain you can handle the flippies?”

  “Better than this guy,” she said, thumbing at Travis and grinning. “But yeah, I can do it.”

  “Great. We’re settled. Zoe’s on flippy duty while Travis helps Bart with the Framling Coil.”

  “For how long?” asked Travis.

  “However long it takes to get one of those machines partially functional. I don’t care if it’s the coil itself or the power supply. We just need something to show the board. We need to give them a distraction.”

  ******

  Unknown Location

  April 14, 2350

  Today was Terry’s eighteenth birthday. It was also the third year he’d spent on this strange new planet so very far from home.

  In the early days, he didn’t move around much, staying close to the spot where the portal had dropped him. The world was unfamiliar, so it was better to stay where he knew it was safe. But when he found there wasn’t a lot of food or resources there, he began to explore further, migrating away. He found better sources of food, better places to camp.

  Over the years, he had returned there, but it had become increasingly rare. For the last two years, he only went there on his birthday. An annual pilgrimage.

  In those early days and much to his surprise, he’d found a cluster of ancient ruins, seemingly advanced, built and shaped by what he assumed must be an intelligent race of beings, though they had long since vanished. Only their architecture remained—little dome houses overgrown with weeds.

  Had the Variant atmosphere killed them, too? The gas had obliterated most of the human race, spreading across the globe and consuming everything. Perhaps these forgotten aliens created it here. For several months, Terry tried to understand who they were, searching through the buildings for answers. But he never found anything substantial. He couldn’t read their language. He couldn’t find any evidence of why they were gone. He had nothing.

  The ruins were where the portal left him, so he only saw them when he returned on his birthday. Today he would see them again, the same as he had the year before. It was something to look forward to.

  He traveled for half a day through valley and jungle until at last he came upon them, these decrepit, ancient buildings. Vines encased most of the domes, while thick weeds littered much of the ground. Given enough time, he wondered, would the planet take it back? Would it be as though nothing had ever existed here?

  Where did all the people go? asked Janice, the voice in his head.

  “I don’t know,” he muttered, passing by a door with a circular window nearby. He glanced inside, spotting an empty room with rotting furniture. He remembered exploring a home like this and pressing his foot against what must have been a couch, only to see it crumble to pieces.

  I bet they hated it here and left, said Janice.

  “Could be,” he said.

  Maybe they died, she said. Maybe you killed them when you came here, just like you killed your friends on the other side.

  He didn’t answer.

  Yes, she said matter-of-factly. Yes, I’m sure you did.

  Terry walked through the center of town, toward what he believed to be the southern end, though of course he couldn’t say if this was true. He had no idea how directions worked on this new world, but he looked at where the suns rose and called it east, because there was no other way. And who would tell him he was wrong?

  Beyond the final stretch of buildings sat a forest, the threshold demarcated by a massive tree with thick branches which bent so far they touched the ground. A carpet of red flowers covered the dirt near its roots, fighting with the weeds for dominance. Terry passed under the arch of a branch, picking leaves from it and flicking them away.

  The air was thick with moisture as storm clouds gathered overhead, darkening the forest and dampening the sky. It took him an hour to reach his old campsite—a small cave buried in a grassy hillside—and by then, a shower of rain had begun to fall, soft and steady. The cavern was fairly shallow, only about three meters of space between the rocks, but the overhang was enough to give him some reprieve. He had liked it well enough when he lived here. If the food in this area had been more plentiful, he might’ve even stayed.

  Terry sat against the wall of the cave, resting at the edge of the shade and listening to the rhythm of drops as they pattered against the leaves, running off in rivulets before swelling and falling into the mud below. From his bag, he retrieved a piece of fruit and his machete, a slab of metal he’d taken from the Ortego building’s debris when he first arrived. Over time, he managed to sharpen the edge into a weapon. It made traveling through the jungle significantly easier.

  He set the blade against the wall of the cave in case he needed it later.

  Terry sighed and bit into the ripened skin of the fruit. Pink juices slid down his cheeks and dripped onto his thighs. Against his better judgment, he ate a second helping, savoring the taste.

  It was his birthday, after all. He might as well indulge.

&
nbsp; ******

  Unknown Location

  April 13, 2350

  Terry awoke to the sound of animals whining. He stretched his arms and moaned. Another day in paradise.

  The dawn clouds were mostly parted, soon to be replaced by a vast and open firmament, and one of the twin suns rose brightly on the horizon’s edge. The Variant air always smelled so clean and sweet after the rain. It would be a good day.

  He grabbed his pack and emerged from the cave, leaving the hole in the earth behind and continuing along his way. His destination lay on a cliff overlooking the forest near the abandoned city. The trek required another hour’s hike through the forest and then a river-crossing, not to mention the eventual climb.

  Late in the morning, he emerged from beneath the trees and found himself on the bank of the river, which was swollen by the storm and diluted with fallen leaves. Several trees littered the riverside, their rotting trunks drowning in the stream. He walked along the northern bank of red clay, leaving a series of footprints behind, a trail for no one to follow.

  A cry rang out somewhere close by, identical to the one that woke him. It came from the east.

  What do you think it is? asked Janice.

  “Could be a bird,” he muttered.

  More like lunch, she said. You should check. I’m hungry.

  He nodded and headed into the forest. A few minutes later, he heard another cry, except it was louder. He was getting close.

  A short time later, he found an opening in the trees, revealing a small glade filled with boulders and broken twigs. Stepping between the rocks, he tried to stay as quiet as possible. As he approached a few of the larger stones, he heard a whimpering groan, light and nasally. Terry leaned against the side of the boulder in order to see the source of the crying.

  The animals were lying on a pile of twigs, huddled together like balls of fur, their eyes still sealed. They appeared to be newborns.

  It was a nest.

  Each of the animals had gray hair all over its body. He recognized the species, which typically carried horns on their foreheads, although this particular feature was noticeably absent on the offspring. The animals had strong back legs with shorter arms in the front, each with six thin claws. Dangerous when fully grown.

  Food is food, said Janice. Grab one, and let’s go.

  Terry hesitated. He didn’t want to kill a helpless infant, not even for food. He still had fruit. He’d be alright.

  Don’t be a coward.

  Terry stepped away from the nest. He’d made a mistake coming here. The mother wasn’t around right now, but she might be soon, and he didn’t feel like introducing himself.

  As he moved, one of the animals yelped, causing the others to do the same. Somehow, he’d disturbed them. Better get out of here quick, he thought.

  He leapt over one of the rocks, grabbing the branch of a nearby tree and pulling himself onto it. He took a moment to look at the nest, but immediately regretted it.

  Two meters from the infants, staring at him from the grass, a hulking beast stood breathing, slime dripping from its mouth and nose.

  Terry maintained eye contact, not quite knowing what to do. The animal growled, opening its jaws to reveal an unpleasantly large set of teeth.

  This isn’t good, said Janice.

  Terry turned and bolted, leaping from the tree and out of the glade. He curved around a stump, kicking up dirt and switching directions. The animal was fast and growing closer with every step. He reached to his side for the machete. He’d never killed anything larger than a small bird with it, so there was no way of knowing how effective it would be against an animal this size. The idea of orphaning the newborns wasn’t appealing, but he’d do what he had to.

  He left the forest and saw the river. The beast emerged soon after, enraged and snarling. Terry saw no other option but to run headlong into the current, hoping the beast would know better than to follow. It didn’t and plunged into the water behind him.

  The riverbed was riddled with pebbles, making it difficult to stand. He lost his footing a few times to the pressure of the rapids, falling into the water as he struggled to regain his composure. He gripped the sunken earth, caking his hands in red mud, cutting his palms and feet. After a frantic shuffle through the water, he finally reached the other side.

  He struggled out of the water, drenched and dripping. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the creature swimming toward him, shrieking as it tried to stay afloat. But the rapids were strong and powerful, slowing the beast significantly.

  Terry ran into the tree line, paying no mind to his direction. He’d find his way out eventually. For now, he was more concerned with getting some distance between himself and the raging mother of three.

  Several minutes into the woods, he realized he could no longer hear the animal’s wailing. Maybe she abandoned her chase or was swept away by the river. Either one was a relief.

  He considered going back the way he came, but he wasn’t eager for a repeat encounter with the den mother. The trees were thinner ahead, which could mean a clearing. He decided to investigate. If anything, he’d find a spot to rest.

  A short walk later, he discovered a break in the trees, revealing a massive valley. Not only that, but another dome like the ones in the city. This one seemed to be much larger, though—at least twice the size of the others. He’d never known this place existed, despite all his time exploring the nearby countryside. Why would they build such a thing so far from the other buildings?

  Lots of reasons, said Janice.

  He nodded. Humans often had remote installations far away from their cities and towns. Maybe it was for a specific resource. Maybe there was a mine nearby. He’d never found one before, but it didn’t mean they didn’t exist.

  Terry descended into the valley toward the building. Standing before it, he stared through the windows but saw nothing. A door was ajar, pushed open by a patch of overgrown weeds.

  He went inside, minding the corpse of a small rat-like animal near the entrance. Stepping beside the body, he winced at the smell. The dome was sectioned off into different floors, unlike most of the others he’d seen previously. Attached to the foyer where he stood, there was a long hallway leading to several rooms.

  The nearest didn’t have much, except for a pile of metal tiles near the corner. A quick glance showed the floor was only half completed. Had the builders been in the process of constructing this place when they abandoned it? There certainly wasn’t much furniture to speak of, unlike the other buildings.

  He left to check the next room. This one was empty, too, but there were no piles of building supplies this time. It was simply vacant. He moved on, but found the same thing in each of the other rooms. At the far end of the hall, there was a staircase, which he decided to climb, but with dwindling expectations. This place was proving such a disappointment, just like everything else on this planet.

  He touched the railing of the staircase, stirring dust into the air. He took a step and a soft creak echoed through the dome, followed by another as he pressed his foot against the step and continued. He wondered how sturdy the material was or if he should be concerned with the noise, but quickly put it out of his mind.

  As he emerged from the stairs, he found the second story to be much like the first, with the exception of the distant window overlooking the valley. As before, Terry checked each of the rooms, only to discover they’d yet to have their tiles installed. Again, he wondered what happened to cause them to stop construction so abruptly.

  Terry went to the back of the hall and stood at the window, staring into the blue valley. Perhaps he would stay the night here. He considered camping in the city once when he first discovered it, but each of those buildings looked lived in, like memorials or graves. Not like this one, which remained untouched.

  The twin suns set in the late evening, replaced with the beautiful night sky. The arm of a galaxy spread across the darkness, engulfed by millions of flic
kering dots of light. Somewhere in that chaos was the world he had come from, though it was lost to him.

  On the second floor of the alien dome, using his pack as a pillow, he lay against the cold metal tiles, staring through the window and longing for sleep.

  Brother, said the girl in his mind. Why are you so scared?

  The voice startled him. He turned on his side and closed his eyes.

  None of them loved you. Not like I do. You know it’s true.

  He buried his face in his pack, squeezing the straps, trying to shut out the words.

  You’re scared, she said. You’re afraid.

  He began to shake.

  You’re going to die alone.

  Chapter 3

  Ortego Outpost File Logs

  Play Audio File 281

  Recorded: April 15, 2350

  THISTLE: Some of these readings are a bit confusing, Lieutenant.

  FINN: Sorry, sir. I ran into a hitch on the road.

  THISTLE: Rabs?

  FINN: Flat tire. Had to swap it with a spare.

  THISTLE: Why didn’t you finish the run?

  FINN: And risk another one going out on me? I’d be stranded.

  THISTLE: Fair enough. So when you going back?

  FINN: I’ll make a second pass tomorrow, but so far I’m not seeing any nests or hazardous wildlife. Seems pretty clean.

  THISTLE: Remember, Colonel Ross wants a full sweep. No exceptions.

  FINN: Come on, Cap. I’ll do the full job. You know me. I’m not lazy.

  THISTLE: Is this the part where I bring up the time you left your weapon behind?

  FINN: Hey, I went back for it.

  THISTLE: Not before we were halfway to the nest.

  FINN: I made it back in time for the fight, didn’t I?

  THISTLE: Hmph. I suppose you did.

  FINN: Apology accepted, boss.

  THISTLE: Alright Johnny, there’s one last thing I’m supposed to tell you, before I forget.

  FINN: Yes, sir?

  THISTLE: The outpost you’re staying at…how’s it looking? Are those scientists doing alright?