In the Blink of an Eye

by Mark Dutkiewicz

  “Amen Emerson. Amen.” Taking a break from scanning the terrain Pierce turned his attention to the private. “No sense in worryin about it now. Blood suckas look ta be gone. I’ll say one thing ’bout them squids. We’s wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them.”

  “Yeah. What’s left of us,” Emerson couldn’t hide the pessimism from his voice.

  “That ain’t no way ta talk Emerson. We’s in a FUBAR situation, an I’m gonna need ya ta help carry the load. What with Cap’n Butla bein down n out we’s got no officas ’less them airdales decide to show up.”

  “Sorry Gunny. The way that thing handled Dumont like a rag doll, and Banx taking that blast right in front of me. Made me think about my little girl, ask myself if I’ll ever see her again.”

  “Keep talkin that way and you’ll make sure you don’t.”

  Emerson smiled at the thought of his daughter. Settling his rifle across his knees he rustled in his pocket pulling out the creased photo he carried with him. “She’s twelve now, got her mother’s eyes,” he lamented gazing at the image of the beautiful honey skinned girl. “They grow up too fast.” A faint shimmer of tears just being held back tinted his eyes. “Haven’t seen her since we left Eden three years ago,” he added more to himself.

  Flashing the photo at Pierce, the stocky sergeant cracked a smile. “She looks like an angel Emerson.” Pierce dropped his helmet to the ground settling down next to him. “Reminds me of my niece. Course she’s closa ta twenty than your little darlin. Married some buffoon who don’t treat her right.” The sergeant’s eyes seemed to lose focus, staring off into some half dream only he could know. “I tried ta help her. Tried ta git her outta that mess. Sista wouldn’t allow it.”

  A hitched laugh massaged Pierces throat. “I rememba her sayin, ‘Avery. You got no business tellin my daughta how ta live ya hear? She ain’t yours, she won’t neva be.’ Called me a drunk fool. Drunk with power seein I gave my life ta the Corps and not found some sweet thang and had kin of my own. That’s when I knew she won’t neva understand. She neva forgave me for leavin when I did. Didn’t want me temptin her girl away from home.

  “Left Earth for good shortly afta. Nothin left there for me but that angel of a girl that my sista wouldn’t let me see. I shoulda stayed. Shoulda made sure she got away from that man. Shoulda found her someone that had pride in himself an wanted ta be betta than what he was.” The sergeant leveled a stare on him. “Someone like you Emerson. Ya see, I missed my chance. Got only nothin but regret. I believed that there wasn’t nothin I could do, an that’s exactly what happened.”

  Emerson sat in silence a moment thinking about what Pierce had said. The man looked tired all of a sudden. Not the gruff gunnery sergeant he’d served with for three years now. He opened his mouth to thank him when what sounded like a gunshot rang out. “That sounded like it came from the south,” Emerson said jumping to his feet.

  “Mayhaps,” Pierce seemed to agree before a flurry of shots followed. Pierce appeared to be listening to the air and said, “I’s think it be eastin. Either way can’t be that far.” Turning he called, “Andrews, Aeschelman! Youins take a coupla boys an check south an east. Recon five klicks and report.” Pressing a finger to his earbud the sergeant said, “Speight what’s your twenty ova?”

  “We’re near the end of the landing field; I’d say ten klicks, hard to say with the haze. Secured a flatbed for the infirmed but it moves like a sow over.”

  “Roga, status of the complex ova?”

  “Like a tomb. Power’s out but Rochelle thinks he can get that restored. Mejia and Patrick are completing a sweep for hostiles or survivors. Over.”

  “Good, we’s checkin on shots fired. Help Doc with the wounded and send ’em back. Keep as many rifles as you can with you and hold position here ’till we’s get back.”

  Picking up his helmet Pierce tiredly placed it on his head. “Daniels,” he called, “make sure Doc has whateva she needs ’till Speight gets here.” Checking the breech on his rifle he looked at Emerson. “C’mon, we’s splittin the difference.”

  ***

  Jeff dropped his pack on the small plateau he’d just climbed to. Wiping his forehead, he leaned against a large boulder taking a pull from his canteen. The two kilometer hike had quickly turned into a five kilometer climb that wound its way through the craggy terrain. The heat and thin air of the moon wasn’t helping matters. Looking out on the small valley below, the smoke screen he had set down had finally dissipated. The fire from the fuel dump however was burning as strongly as ever and continued to leave a haze over the ground. A quick glance at his watch told him almost an hour had passed since he left his razor behind. And looking up the slope he guessed he had easily another twenty meters to go before he reached the top. His arms and legs ached from the strain of the climb, and his flight suit had several tears from the sometimes sharp stone.

  Stuffing the canteen back into the pack he hefted its weight upon his shoulders once more. He didn’t relish the thought of continuing the trek, but getting stuck on an unprotected ledge when night fell was even less appealing. Just put one foot in front of the other, he told himself. It’s just like climbing a tree. A hard, grey, hot, and painfully sharp tree. The going was slow, for every two steps forward he found himself taking a step back. It was terrain more fitting to mountain goats than downed pilots who haven’t made planet fall in years. With much huffing and puffing, he finally pulled himself to the top wheezing for breath. His head throbbed from the heat, his mouth already drying out in the hot desert air.

  Rolling onto his back, he panted from the exertion and lied to himself, “God…I swear…if you get me out of this…I’ll never smoke another cigarette again.” Even as he said the words he was craving the unhealthy treat and reminding himself to punch RJ for getting him hooked in the first place. Struggling to remove the pack, he dug inside for the canteen greedily drinking the contents in sharp contrast to his better judgement. With great pains he forced himself to stop short of draining the container. By the feel of it there was maybe a cup left. It didn’t matter at the moment, it only mattered that his throat was relieved of the dust and grime he’d breathed in during the arduous ascent.

  Summoning his strength, Jeff hauled himself to his feet. Below him lay a modestly deep gully the sides of which were thankfully not quite as steep as what he’d just climbed. A smile lit up his face and he laughed to himself at the sight of Alan limping across the cracked surface of the small valley. Licking his lips, he tucked them and blew a sharp loud whistle.

  The shrill call stopped Alan in his tracks. He shielded his eyes and looked to be scanning the ridgeline before spotting him. “About Goddamned time you showed up!” Alan cried, “I was beginning to think I was the only person down here.”

  “Good thing you’re not by the looks of you,” Jeff called back with a laugh. “And I thought climbing this hill was a chore. You look like death warmed over from here.”

  “No thanks to you for not getting that fucking toad off my tail when I asked.”

  Jeff looked for a good place to climb down. Although the slope wasn’t as steep, it was particularly gravelly and didn’t make for sure footing. “You can whine about it in your report Teak. I was flying blind up there.” Slipping, he barely caught himself from tumbling down the grade.

  Alan laughed. “Try that line on Spanky or Mako.”

  Jeff looked down at him to fire back when a glint of light caught his eye. He never would have spotted the creature if it weren’t for dumb luck, it blended almost seamlessly into background. But he recognized the reflection of a rifle scope and instantly shouted, “Teak Duck!”

  Alan didn’t have time to move before an energy bolt jumped across the valley. Luckily for him it was trained on Jeff. The air sizzled and a small crack of thunder followed it. The bolt struck the ground near Jeff’s feat starting a small landslide that dragged him with it to the ravines floor. As if he weren’t sore enough already, the tumbling fall felt to be adding bruises to his
bruises.

  Rolling to the bottom of the embankment Jeff’s head throbbed harder than ever. The world spun before his eyes and he felt he may vomit at any moment. Something tugged at his leg and he was hauled over onto his stomach. He could smell the dust being kicked up around him; feel the grit under his ear. His wavering vision couldn’t focus, but something was moving towards him and moving fast. Ear-shattering pops followed magnifying his headache. The last thing he remembered was vomiting before he blacked out.

  Jeff didn’t know how long he’d lay there. His head still swam and a God-awful rancid stench assaulted him. A wet rag had been placed over his eyes and his pack had been rolled into a makeshift pillow for him. Gingerly he reached up pulling the damp cloth from his face and in a raspy voice whispered, “Teak?”

  A hand pressed gently into his shoulder and an unfamiliar voice said, “Easy Lieutenant Commander. According to your friend you took a nasty spill.” Squinting against the light he tried to focus on the man leaning over him. His vision was blurry, but the form was obviously a marine. “Gunnery Sergeant Pierce,” the man called softly, “he’s coming around.”

  The sound of shuffling boots followed and a new silhouette filled his vision coalescing into the visage of the grizzled sergeant. “You had me worried there for a moment Lieutenant Commanda,” Pierce drawled. “Lieutenant Jacobs here wasn’t much use in lettin us know exactly what happened. Babbled ’bout you bein dead and wastin that Drac bastard ova there smellin up the joint.”

  “Teak,” Jeff said getting his wits about him.

  He tried to sit up but Pierce pressed him back to the ground. “He’s all right Lieutenant Commanda,” the sergeant reassured him. “Gave him some painkillas for his knee.”

  “Good,” Jeff breathed, “good.”

  “Youins look like ya went through hell. Can’t say I’s surprised what with what we’s went through. How’s ya feelin?”

  “Thirsty. And Like my Dad drug me out behind the tool shed.”

  Pierce uttered a raspy laugh. Helping him to a sitting position the sergeant propped him against a nearby boulder. The water from his canteen soothed his throat and Pierce had to hold it back saying, “Not too much there Sir. Don’t wanna ova do it.”

  Jeff coughed choking on the water. Catching his breath, he asked, “What’s our situation?”

  “You’re seein it. ’Less you know if anyone’s still upstairs. If not we’s FUBAR.”

  “That sounds about right,” Jeff said sarcastically. “Last I know about the boats is the Sable is destroyed and Pegasus was crippled in the ambush. Can’t say anything about the Wasp. If she survived I’m sure she’s long gone by now.” Looking about he noticed the sun had sunk considerably. The fact it was setting in the east was a little disorienting as well. Long shadows crept along the ravine extending from the higher terrain down wind. The ground began taking on an ashen look and the glow of Gliese 876 C cast an eerie aura in the sky.

  “How far’s your camp from here?” Jeff asked. “We should get moving if we’re going to beat nightfall.”

  “We’s ain’t goin nowhere’s Sir. Your man ain’t in no condition ta be walkin in the dark. Specially seein as them painkillas knocked him out good. You’re lookin a bit wobbly too for that matta. We’s dug in pretty good right here. I’s got a coupla boys up top watchin and three more ta watch the flanks. Ain’t nothin sneakin up on us.”

  “I’m sure Captain Butler is going to be wondering…”

  “The capn’s got other priorities right now,” Pierce said soberly. “The base’s power is out but we’ve got people workin on that. In the meantime, Corporal Speight’s holdin position ’bout five klicks to our west. She’s got four more rifles with her ’case somethin goes down. Don’t get no reception outside seven or eight klicks ’less you got line-o-sight so we’s usin her as a relay. Somethin ’bout the rocks here is screwin with the radios.”

  “Well, that explains some things,” Jeff groaned in defeat. Leaning his head back against the rock he blew out an exasperated breath. “I don’t suppose you smoke Sergeant?”

  Pierce barked a hearty laugh. “No Sir. But I’s know someone who do.”

  CHAPTER 20:

  NEXT STEPS

  Blowing out a grey cloud Jeff sighed, “You’re a lifesaver Emerson.” Leaning his head back he allowed his eyes to drift admiring the heavens. “Would you look at that sky. A view like that can almost make you forget about the terrible things we do for a living.” The last sliver of sunlight was just now sinking below the horizon and night, or what passed for it anyway, was quickly encroaching. True dark never seemed to veil Euphrates as the glow of the nearby gas giant draped the moon in a haunting twilight. Gliese 876 C dominated the night sky and looked far less foreboding from the surface than it did in orbit. Occasional streaks flickered overhead, remnants of the pitched battle that had played out earlier. In a way it was a fitting testament to the souls who lost their lives today. The briefest flash of life before fading away, and near insignificant against the celestial backdrop.

  “Almost feels like home,” Emerson said joining him. “Lose that big ass planet and I’d say we were on an overnight drill. This place reminds me of the Jeshimon Waste.”

  “Where’s that?” Jeff asked unfamiliar with the name.

  “Eden Sir. About one-hundred klicks north of Paradise. Spent a lot of time there as a kid. My dad was a geologist. He’d drag me out there every chance he got. Mom wasn’t a fan, always worried I’d get hurt when he’d take me spelunking. Looking for gem stones or studying the fossil layers.”

  “You live there your whole life?”

  Emerson laughed. “Outside my three years in the corps.” The private took a drag of his cigarette blowing a pair of streams from his nostrils. “What about you Sir, if you don’t mind my asking? Earth? Prokuon?”

  “Earth,” Jeff said thinking of home himself now.

  “Thought you sounded like an Earther. You’ve got that old world way of talking same as the gunny.”

  Jeff smiled saying, “I believe Sergeant Pierce would take offense at that and claim I’m a yankee.”

  “I didn’t mean it that way Sir. Can’t really explain it either. The gunny has that thick drawl true. But there’s something similar to your cadence. It’s more musical or…I really can’t say. Just something you grow up learning to pick out.”

  “Like a sommelier finding the subtle differences in a fine wine,” Jeff analogized.

  Before the two men, small rodent like creatures began to emerge from holes or under rocks. Scurrying about the cracked surface, similar to their earthly counterparts, they began their habitual nocturnal rituals. The wind had died to a wane breeze and the moon itself seemed to settle down for a long slumber. Stifling a yawn Jeff felt ready for a good long rest himself.

  “I won’t keep you up Lieutenant Commander,” Emerson said snuffing out his cigarette and standing. “Should probably be getting off to relieve Andrews anyway.”

  “What’s the watch rotation?”

  “For you it’s the back of your eyelids Sir.”

  “Come on Emerson. Just because I’m a pilot doesn’t mean I don’t know my way around a rifle.”

  Emerson laughed. “You can talk to the gunny. But I guarantee he’ll say something like officas ain’t s’posed ta be sittin no watch,” in a fair approximation of the gunnery sergeant. “What with Captain Butler’s condition I doubt he’s going to take any chances.”

  “What about Captain Butler’s condition?” Jeff asked in surprise.

  “Forget about it Sir. It’s not my place to say.”

  “Out with it Emerson, I don’t like being in the dark,” Jeff said.

  “I think it would be better if the gunny—”

  Jeff cut him off asking, “Do I have to make it an order?”

  Sighing, Emerson cast a glance over his shoulder before hunkering down laying his rifle across his knees. “He’s bad Lieutenant Commander, real bad. Nasty wound in his side. Doc patched him up but she did
n’t look to optimistic.”

  “Shit,” Jeff whispered.

  “Yeah, shit is right. Gunny didn’t want to tell you, what with your weakened condition. Didn’t want to drop the burden of you possibly being the ranking officer until he had to.”

  “Is he always so protective?”

  “He’s kind of like a father to most of us,” Emerson said with a smile. “But don’t worry about it. Captain Butler is a tough one and even though Doc’s no surgeon, she’s the best Goddamned corpsman I’ve ever seen. She’ll pull him through. Get some rest Sir.”

  Emerson shouldered his rifle and took a few strides before Jeff stopped him calling, “Emerson.” The private turned back and Jeff tossed him the pack of cigarettes he’d left on the ground beside him. “Thanks.”

  Emerson turned the pack over in his hand a moment before tossing it back. “Keep ’em,” he said, “I’ve got another pack.”

  Jeff thanked the marine again allowing him to return to his duties before begrudgingly doing his best to find a comfortable position on the rough ground. It didn’t take long for him to find sleep. Nevertheless, he felt as if he’d just closed his eyes when the crackling sound of a Drac weapon awoke him. Eyes popping open, he jumped to his feet, or at least tried to. He was tripped up and thrashed momentarily at a perceived attacker that turned out to be a blanket someone thought to drape over him.

  “It’s okay Sir,” Private Emerson was on his knees at Jeff’s side as if he’d never left. “They’re just testing out that toy you guys bagged yesterday.”

  Jeff slumped back feeling his heart pounding in his chest. “What time is it?” he asked absently rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

  “Nineteen twenty-two GMT. Probably closer to zero six hundred here.”

  Blearily looking out on the ravine Jeff noticed the sun was just peeking over the ridgeline. A smoking crater smoldered on the far slope. He recognized Sergeant Pierce’s form standing before the rent earth next to another marine and looked to be examining the bulky Drac weapon. A few meters to their right stood a large cargo truck onto which another pair of marines struggled to deposit its former owner. Their body language told him its foul stench hadn’t abated.