Martian Dragons

by Ian Woodhead

  “What's going on here?”

  The guard to his left laughed. “You really don't know?”

  His companion gripped Ryan's arm a little tighter. “Of course he doesn't, he's a bluelander. A spoilt, soft babyman who probably still lives with mummy.” The guard sneered at Ryan. “Go on, tell me I'm not wrong here, bluelander. So, you wanted to join our cause? I bet you have no idea what is happening here, do you?”

  Ryan wasn't all that sure what a bluelander could be, but he did have an idea. After all, the babyman bit did kind of fit the description of most Earth civilians.

  “Look at that face, Garth. He really has no idea!”

  The guard on the left chuckled. “Shame he won't live long enough to find out.” He caught up with the other three as they walked through a security door and into a wide corridor, hewn from the Martian rock.

  “Are you going to kill us?” asked Ryan.

  The left guard stopped. “Of course we’re not going to kill you. We're not savages. Besides, I don't think the Danu would allow us, not after the trick you have just pulled. No, we're going to do what our commander ordered us to do. Throw you in the brig.”

  The guard on the right leaned in close. “Why bother killing you when the marauders are likely to do just that when they arrive.” He grinned. To be honest, you haven’t chosen the best moment to join our cause. You see, we're evacuating the planet. Four marauder battleships and a dreadnought carrier group are about to reach orbit.”

  “And you're leaving us behind?” gasped Ryan.

  The guard on the right nodded happily. “You catch on quick. Bluelander babyman. Perhaps you'll be able impress the real aliens with your pointless talent? It may keep them amused before they rip off your skin and eat your insides.”

  Chapter Four

  Meet The Natives

  The blaring sound of that alarm which threatened to shake Ryan's bones from out of his body shut off, leaving him shaking like a leaf. He slowly lifted his head from the floor of this cramped and filthy cell and crawled over to the other occupant, lying on the other end of the cell, while doing his best not to throw up.

  “Hey, are you okay?” he asked. Ryan had no idea what the other guy's name was. The alarms started just seconds after the two guards had thrown him in here. He could still see their mocking glares while Ryan gripped the metal bars and screamed at them to come back.

  The other guy, another human, lifted himself up onto all fours and wearily nodded twice. “I hate it when that happens. You can't hear the noise up on the decks, you know. The loudness is for our benefit alone.” He kneeled up and turned his head, staring at Ryan. He frowned. “I thought I knew every human currently on the base, that is, until you and your pal arrived.” He slowly got to his feet and wobbled.

  Ryan rushed over, grabbed hold of him and guided the man over to the stone bench at the back of the cell. He looked about ten years older than him, with long greasy black, curly hair which grew over his eyes. The man kept brushing it back only for the hair to fall back down a couple of seconds later.

  “Are you going to be alright?”

  “You are so considerate, my new friend. An attribute not usually felt around here, for the obvious reasons.” He groaned again. “You know, I think I'll be glad when the aliens get here. At least I'll never have to put up with that alarm again.” He stretched his arms out and yawned. When he'd finished the man looked back at Ryan. “I knew there was something different about you as soon as those bastards dragged you and your pal down here. The translator mech doesn’t quite do your rather musical accent justice. At first, I thought you might be from the mining colony as I know for a fact that you are not beltborn. Then, I changed my mind. Even miners are able to adjust to the gravity difference. You two do not do this. I found this a little strange. It’s almost like you haven’t been into space before.” The man then chuckled. “Now, after much observation, I think differently. “You two are bluelanders!”

  Ryan nodded. “I take it that's what you called humans born on Earth? If so, then yes. I'm a bluelander. I'm Ryan by the way.”

  “An actual bluelander? This is extraordinary! Oh, your name is Ryan? Sorry. I am Villas.” He jumped up and enthusiastically shook his hand. “I can't believe it, an actual bluelander. At least I can now go to my grave knowing that I now know that you people really do exist. Of course, we did know that you did exist but as you people never bothered to help us in our struggle, we all believed that you were a myth. I discontinuity, I know but that is how it works up here. Our lives are full of discontinuities.”

  Ryan wasn’t too sure what that meant so he focused on what he did know. “Are they really going to evacuate this place and leave us down here?”

  Villas shrugged. “Yes. This is another discontinuity. It's how it works, I'm afraid. Look, don't look so worried, my new friend. The Marauders don't always kill and eat the prisoners. They hardly ever kill us. The Danu and the Velicions? Well,” he grinned and tapped the side of his nose. “We all know what those things like to do to them.” He opened his mouth, then shut it again. “Oh, no, you don’t. You are a bluelander. Well, you will soon find out.” Villas walked past Ryan and walked over to the bars. “Time is short, why don't you tell me what you did on planet-side?” He turned around. “No, wait, let me guess. I'm generally good at guessing.” Villas pushed his forefinger into the side of his mouth and imitated a low-pitched hum. He stopped, blink twice and grinned. “I bet you were some kind of soldier?” He pointed to the ceiling with that wet forefinger. “No, don't interrupt me. It's all in the pose, you see. Even in the lower gravity, it still shows. The way you carry yourself. You're a man who knows how to make a bed, polish his boots and murder other soldiers. Am I right or am I right? I am right. I know I am. It is one of my many gifts.”

  Villas sat back down on the bench. Looking really pleased with himself. Ryan wasn't sure whether he liked this man at all. Then again, considering the fate waiting for all of them, he didn't think he really mattered. Ryan walked back over to the bars and tried to see if he could see Todd.

  From what his limited view, it looked as though this area contained another five cells. Two cells to his left and three opposite. Where was Todd? He was about to shout his name when Villas slapped him on the back of the shoulder.

  “I should not even be in here, you know. I'm an innocent man.” He squeezed in beside him and the wall, blocking his view. “I'm a cook, you see. The best cook on this planet too.”

  Somebody laughed. The sound came from the far cell on the opposite.

  “Yes, I am a great cook. It's one of my many gifts.”

  The laughter started up again. “You could burn water!” yelled the voice.

  “Shut your hole, Barnaby, what do you know?”

  “I do know not to eat anything that you cooked.”

  The little man didn't look like he was going to move away from those bars so Ryan decided to sit on that bench. This whole situation had given him a mild headache as well as tiring him out. “Okay, so you're a cook. Why are you in here?”

  “He poisoned the whole crew of a cargo lifter.” shouted the voice.

  “It was an accident!” Villas shouted back.

  “No it wasn't you...”

  Ryan made out the voice of somebody else, a deep booming voice. The other voice started up again, yelling out that Villas ought to eat some of his own food, when Ryan heard the sound of flesh slapping against flesh.

  “Go on, Villas, it is appropriate to speak now.” said the deep voice. “Please continue with your tale. The stories that we can tell in the time allowed are all that we have left to look forward to now.”

  “It was an accident,” murmured Villas. I had no idea that there were any Velicion on board and I certainly wouldn't intentionally want to hurt any of them. They are such beautiful creatures.” He sighed heavily.

  “Wait, you said you were on a cargo freighter? I can the impression that there is a war on? Isn't there a chance of the enemy blowing you away
?”

  “Oh my, you really are a bluelander! Space is a big place, and those freighter captains are a wily bunch. Most trade is conducted in the belt. An area where no large ship would dare enter for fear of a chance collision.” The man stopped talking. “You look so confused, my friend.”

  Ryan nodded. “Until today, I had no idea any of this even existed.”

  “Well, now you do.” Villas turned his head. “Oh, I can see your friend.”

  He walked back over to the bars and saw Todd looking right at him.

  “I'm sorry I got you into this, Ryan. I honestly thought I was doing the right thing.”

  “It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong.”

  Todd coughed into his hand. “I not sure that's true. You see, I knew about your specific talent from years ago. Do you remember how you had no problem in using any weapon, back in training camp? Even the holy instructors were shocked at the ease you could master a weapon.”

  “Sure I remember. What has that got to do with anything?”

  “Unbeknown to you or the instructors, one of the weapons you fired once belonged to a Danu soldier.”

  “So, it is true?” gasped Villas. “You really can fire their guns?”

  “What about Velicion weapons?” asked the deep voice. “Can he fire ours as well?”

  It took a few moments for the revelation to sink in and what it meant for his relationship with that man over there, gazing back at him through the bars.

  “So, the Velicions are those lizard people, right?” How could he possibly sound so calm? His blood had already reached boiling point after he had finally woken up to the revelation that Todd had been manipulating him from the very start. If there weren't two sets of bars separating him from Todd, Ryan would have killed the bastard.

  “That is right,” said Villas, “Perhaps I can offer some valuable advice? It is not wise to call them lizard people though, my friend. They do tend to get a bit upset, you see.” A big grin stretched across his face. “I must say, I am a bit jealous of you right now. All this is new for you. How exciting. Allow me to give you some history then. They were the first of the Terrestrials. The first sentient life-form to evolve on the homeworld. The original Bluelander. After the apocalypse, the Danu then appeared and then we arrived on the scene. I so wish I could be here in a few more million years to find out what comes after us.”

  Ryan had to tune out his voice. It was the only thing he could do to stop himself from lashing out in pure frustration and fury and to make matters even worse, the source of all this anger stood opposite him, looking like it was him who had lost everything precious to his existence. “You murdered my Bernice, you heartless bastard.”

  “Please, man. Don't go down this path. I had no idea that was going to happen. I thought that.” Todd shook his head then looked at his feet. “Never mind. What does it matter? We're all going to die soon anyway.”

  “No!” yelled Ryan. “You can't get out of it like that. Tell me why you did it. Explain why she had to die?”

  “For crying out loud, Ryan. What will it take to convince you that the events were out of my control?” He put up his hands. “Okay, you got me. Maybe I hadn't been entirely truthful during the years we had known each other but I had no other choice, Ryan. I had to protect you. If you knew how important you were to the cause then maybe you would understand.”

  Ryan turned around and walked back to the bench. He didn't want to hear anymore of Todd's lies. He had enough of those to last him a lifetime, however long that was going to be. Villas stayed by the bars for a few more seconds before joining Ryan on the bench.

  “It hurts so much when you lose someone you love so dearly. Trust me, my friend. I know these things.”

  “You don't know shit,” he snapped back. “Please, just go sit somewhere else and stop talking.”

  “You are. I mean, you were a soldier. Your instructors must have taught you how to face death and how to deal with the sudden loss. Why is this any different? We are at war, my friend. Best to bury your grief. It will not help in this situation.”

  “This is not my war.”

  “That is where you are wrong. I now understand why some of the others call bluelanders babymen. It is because you are. None of you bluelander are even aware of the war. Am I right, or am I right?”

  Ryan sighed heavily. “Go on.”

  “It is simple. The Marauders want to destroy all lifeforms that originated from the homeworld. The Danu and the Velicions are the only ones with the technology that is capable of stopping them. If you knew the utter contempt these aliens have for the Terrestrials, especially the oldest race then you might understand. If it is true what your friend said about your unique ability then you might even hold the key to turning this conflict around and perhaps this is why your friend went to such extreme lengths to keep you safe.”

  “I said, leave me alone.”

  He patted Ryan's knee. “Clearly, I'm not getting through. I don't suppose it matters much anyway. They will be here shortly. Are you a believer? I'm guessing that you are. You see...”

  “Don't bother. You know these things, right?”

  Villas nodded. “Exactly. So would it not be best to at least allow your friend to continue with his explanation? If you can not make peace with his intent then at least you should try to understand his reasoning?”

  Ryan stood up. He walked back towards the front of the cell, not entirely sure how that little man had persuaded him to go through with this. Ryan wrapped his fingers around the bars, noting that Todd was already there. Had the man even moved? They were no longer alone. Villas joined Ryan, and he saw Todd's cellmate for the first time, another human male who desperately needed a shave. He glared at the cook then gave Ryan a dismissive smirk before vanishing into the darkness. The cell next to Todd contained the two voices that he heard earlier. One more human male, who looked to be in worse condition that the man in the next cell and the huge lizard man. That thing looked strong enough to bend the bars and escape. It had to be twice the mass of the human next to it and the body structure suggested that this Velicion did not munch on plants. No wonder that human looked so scared. Ryan didn't think he would be too happy at the prospect of being locked up with a talking Tyrannosaur either.

  “Ryan. I really am sorry for what has transpired. I wanted to meet with you alone do you not remember?”

  He did remember. In fact, a Todd made it very clear that he wanted nobody else there. With everything that had happened to him, that minor detail had slipped his mind.

  “I didn't really expect that Marauder needleship to crash into my restaurant either. What what our Danu pilot said, He tried to wing his craft before it entered low orbit. The targeting computer did register two hits but it didn't look like the needleship had taken any damage. That is, until it failed to pull up.”

  Villas repeatedly tapped Ryan on the shoulder. “I'm sorry to disturb you but I think they are here,” he hissed, pointing to the outer cell door. “The Marauders. They are in the base!”

  “How do you know?” asked Ryan. “No alarms have gone off.”

  Villas sank to the ground. “Trust me on this. I know these things.” The little man lifted his head and gazed at Ryan. “ And I was lying about them earlier,” he said. “They hate humans just as much as the other two Terrestrials. The only difference with us compared with the Danu and the Velicions is that they don't ever subject us to torture. They have no need, they simply tear pieces from our screaming bodies and eat us alive.”

  He spun around and grabbed the bars again. “Todd. So how do we get out of this place?” It took him a couple of moments to respond.

  “I honestly have no idea.”

  “That is not what I wanted to hear. Are you serious?”

  “I thought that once the Danu saw your ability, everything would be alright. I never expected them to be evacuating the base, nor did I think they would throw us in here!”

  “So now what do we do?”

  “We will d
ie down here. That is certain,” growled the Velicion. “We will take some of them with us. That too is certain.” He turned to the human next to him.” Do not worry. Although I find you irritating, you are not the enemy so the Marauders will not eat you alive. The death will be painless as I shall kill you myself.”

  Chapter Five

  A Linchpin Decision

  The human male looked nothing like she had imagined. Faylar Unit-Twelve-C had always imagined the reincarnation of the legendary Danu warrior Taylish to look more Danu than human. She mentally chuckled to herself. Of course she expected that. Which Danu wouldn't believe that the nearest they had to any kind of deity would more resemble their species as opposed to the human savages.

  It brought her no pleasure to find the established mental image of the warrior who would bring the three races salvation irrevocably changed but Faylar could learn to live with it. That slight smile had yet to leave her face. Perhaps she might have drawn a tiny amount of satisfaction to find that her old Wordmasters had got it wrong. Of course, one hundred and thirty thousand years ago, when her essence had a body born from a Danu female instead of this annoying collection of cloned cells, the human species were nothing but another upright tribal primate, struggling to stay alive upon the large, southern landmass. Not one Danu honestly believed that the species would become anything more than a clever animal.

  She remembered the tales of the exploits of the last of the Danu warriors, about how he fought the Velicion hordes and also how that warrior became the great diplomat who finally managed to bring the two races together after thousands of years of fighting. Of course, there were some voices who spoke of an alternate tale of how Taylish could only bring the races together because they faced a threat which could destroy them all. Faylar Unit-Twelve-C chose to believe the former, mainly due that everybody knew that the Marauders only became a threat long after the races became one. By the time they made contact with their bitter enemy, the two races had long since left their homeworld. It is ironic to know that if the original Terrestrials had never come into conflict then the humans would have not had had the opportunity to become the dominant planetary species for it had always been their intention to return. Unfortunately, the war lasted much longer than any race had even thought possible.