Martian Dragons

by Ian Woodhead

  “Oh, course. I could just move the mech closer to the hole!” He waited for the pilot to climb down and join the others before he figured out how to get inside. Ryan got on his knees and slid his fingers along the edge of the cockpit, feeling for some kind of catch or hidden depression on the surface. He heard Villas shouting over something but zoned out the background noise as he focussed on the more immediate task.

  Finally, the transparent cover slid back, allowing him to climb into the machine. “At last,” he muttered while he clambered towards a seat made for a creature twice his size. As soon as he settled in, the cover slid back into place.

  He saw Villas getting frantic now. Ryan had no idea what had upset the man this time. He had more important things to worry about, and right now that was figuring out how to move this damn bucket of bolts a little closer to that hole.

  As soon as he thought that, the machine responded and its two legs smoothly moved the Mech forward. Ryan chuckled. “Well, that was easy!” He looked up and watched the remaining member of their group drop into the mech. The Velicion slid off the body and joined the others. “Now, I wonder what has excited that idiot now?”

  Ryan yelped when several thin dark green wires burst through the side of the seat beside his head. He had no time to react before the wires shot towards him and burrowed into his temples.

  “Stop calling me a liar!” screamed Villas. “You have to believe me. I’ve seen the pictures from the ancient data disks. That’s the thing which slaughtered the first humans to land on Mars.”

  Ryan heard the man’s voice as clearly as he stood beside him. He moved his head and the machine moved with him. It had interfaced directly with his nervous system. The humans and the Danu all jumped back leaving the Velicion alone. The sauron slowly raised his blaster, pointing it at the mech.

  “The human is quite correct,” he replied. “This is of the same type of machine which first attacked the human explorers.” The sauron turned his head to face the others. “It is not of Velicion origin.”

  It is difficult for this war machine to comprehend that such an organism such as you can even exist. Primitive natural selection favours the strong and adaptable. The two co-existing in a bond as unshakable as mass to gravity. Your DNA analysis confirms your terrestrial origin, it also gives this war machine another piece of the puzzle which helps to form a picture more complete then earlier.

  “What, who are you?”

  I am this war machine. Built by the first race. One of many, we wait for the return of our masters. We serve to protect. We obey without question. We are the final line.

  It wasn’t the Velicions who built this base at all! The marauders did. Ryan grinned to himself. He now controlled probably the most destructive force in the system. He now had the capability to utterly destroy the enemy. “Can you disable the base’s defences, and show me the quickest route to the hanger bay?

  Are you going to abandon us?

  “Don’t worry. I will return. I promise. I also promise that you will serve to protect.” So he was going to try to turn these things against their former masters. Ryan saw it as just a slight twist to his promise. After all, they we still serving to protect, they would now be protecting the new masters of the Blueworld. Not that he was going to be around. When they took him back home, he'd explain to Todd that he'd given The cause a hanger full of mechs. As for controlling them, there was bound to be a manual override somewhere in these machines.

  The base defences are now off-line and a route to the main hanger is now secured. We will await your return, strange creature.

  He watched the corridor in front of his companions open out as the walls slid back. Ryan grinned to himself. His long journey would soon be at an end. The filaments left his flesh and vanished back into the sides of the seat. The canopy slid back and he climbed down.

  “Don't all state at me like that! Come on, time is running out.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  It took them less than two minutes to reach the hanger and another couple of minutes to leave the planet. Ryan sat in one of the chairs which extruded from the ship's bulkhead as soon as they had all boarded. He left the two Danu and Todd to actually fly the ship and do whatever spacecraft crew do while he laid his head back and closed his eyes. It made such a pleasant change not to have any responsibility or to be thinking that they could be facing death at any moment.

  “How are you holding up?”

  “I'm fine, Bernadette,” he replied, without opening his eyes. Somewhere behind him, Ryan heard the low tones of discourse coming from the sauron and Villas. He couldn't make out their words but neither of them sounded happy. Ryan found that a little weird considering for the first time since meeting them they were no longer in danger. He could also hear the sound of Bernadette breathing. How was that even possible?

  “Are you looking forward to going home?”

  He opened one eye. “Is this the moment where you beg me not to leave?”

  “It is your decision to do what you believe is the right avenue to take, Ryan. I cannot make that decision for you.”

  “Sure you could,” he replied. “Simply climb inside my head and flick a few switches. Before I knew it, I'd be your willing slave. Ready to do whatever you bid.”

  “I would never do that!” Bernadette took a deep breath. “To do so would be a gross violation.”

  Ryan looked across at Villas. “Right. So, so I tell him that or are you going to break the news that you've been messing around in his head?”

  “That's different. If I hadn't subtly altered his method of thinking he would have ended up killing all of you.”

  “Why does it not surprise me with the ease you are able to justify your immoral actions? No, don't even try to emulate my girlfriend's hurt face. It isn't going to work with me and furthermore…”

  Todd and the female Danu rushed out of the crew quarters.

  “We have a situation,” said Todd. "The Triumvirate are going to destroy the Martian base. The nukes are already in target. They are advising us to get to a safe distance.”

  “We have to stop them!” cried Bernadette. “We have two mech armies down there. Ifwe lose them, we'll lose the Blueworld.”

  Ryan didn't even bother asking how she knew of his plan.

  “How long before we're out of range?”

  Todd shrugged. “A few more minutes, I reckon. Ask the pilot.”

  Ryan left his friend arguing with the hologram and rushed into the crew quarters. As much as he desired to go home and leave this insanity, Ryan still understood the importance of ensuring the Martian base stayed intact. “Are we out of range?”

  The pilot turned to face him. “Our problems have just become worse. Observe the forward screen, Ryan.”

  He turned to the side just as the screen burst into life. The view showed the red planet's top crescent dominating the lower half of the screen. Considering this ship was supposed to be accelerating away from the planet at high speed, it didn't look like the planet was getting any smaller.

  “What am I looking at?”

  The Danu expanded a small portion of the upper right of the screen, increasing the magnification. As the view of the surface increased, Ryan spotted another ship lifting from the surface. “Is that the problem?”

  “ Oh fuck.”

  Ryan spun around. He hadn't heard the others entering. “You recognise it?”

  Bernadette nodded. “It's a Marauder Devastator. One of their most powerful warcraft.” She turned to the pilot. “Has it scanned us?”

  “Yes,” replied the pilot. “That ship is now on an intercept course. Once it has vaporized us, I suspect it will then head towards the remaining Triumvirate fleet.”

  “We have to get out of here! “ shouted Villas. “I've cheated death enough times already today. Why does the universe hate me?”

  “"Will you calm down?” growled the Velicion. “We are not going to die.”

  “I am afraid that the human is right this time. My ship i
s already accelerating away at maximum velocity and still the enemy warship is gaining on us.” The pilot stood up and faced Ryan. “I am sorry that is has come to this. You had best prepare for destruction. You had all best prepare to meet whichever deity you worship. Thankfully, we will not suffer.”

  “Does this ship have anything like escape pods?”

  “Of course!” The death mask dropped from Villas's face. “Sure it will have escape pods. Why didn't you mention little detail this earlier, you stupid freak? It's almost as if you want us all to die.”

  “The ship's escape pods are programmed to head for the nearest Triumvirate ship and as they are out of range and the marauder vessel would scan them and assign the pods for termination, it seemed prudent to stay silent.”

  Bernadette stepped forward. “There will be combat drones stored aboard that marauder ship.” She gazed steadily at the female Danu . “If you had full control of those devices, could you destroy the nukes without damaging the triumvirate vessels?”

  The Danu nodded.

  “You have all gone mad! I'm going to die surrounded by insane people.” Villas looked at Ryan. “Have you gone insane too? That's the only reason I can think of as to why you're grinning.”

  “Is it possible to reprogram the escape pods to go the other direction, towards the enemy vessel?”

  “You are thinking of converting them into missiles? It is an easy task but I fear, a wasted venture. No ordinance stored aboard my ship is strong enough to penetrate their armour.”

  “That isn't my intention. Set about reprogramming them I need them all ready as soon as possible. Todd. Can you take me to where there are stored?”

  “You're going to attempt to board that ship!”

  He smiled back at Bernadette. “There is no other option. It's either that or we all wait for that warship to murder us.”

  “Follow me.”

  Todd took Ryan into a separate chamber. “Villas is right, you know. This is insanity.” He pulled down a grey lever and several wall panels slid back. “Are you sure you want to do this?” The cavities contained coffin shaped capsules. Todd pulled open the lid of the nearest capsule.

  “Of course I don't want to do this.” He climbed into the capsule. “I also don't want to die.” Ryan paused. “That goes for you lot too.”

  “Even Villas?”

  Ryan grinned. “Yeah. Even Villas.” He laid down and fought away the sudden claustrophobia as Todd pulled the lid into place and sealed it. Within seconds, Ryan was blasted away from the Danu ship and accelerating towards the warship.

  The escape pods had limited controls, it didn't need navigation arrays or any way to defend itself but the escape pods did possess advanced proximity sensors as well as a basic AI. Thanks to Ryan's rather unique skill-set, the AI bent over backwards to help Ryan activate the warship's docking mechanism as well as to instruct the ship's weapons to avoid firing on Ryan.

  He felt the warship's docking lasers lock into the outer hull and his heart pounded hard against his chest as the lid slowly unsealed. He might have been able to hide the escape pod from the warship's computers but he had no control over the crew. If any of them were in the hanger bay then he was dead.

  The lid fell away and landed on the deck beside the capsule. “I should have brought a weapon,” he muttered. “Why didn't I bring a gun?” Ryan peered over the capsule's edge and found himself alone. The hanger was devoid of life. “What the hell?” Ryan quickly climbed out and placed his feet in the deck. He turned around, scanning the interior. Ryan believed that this hanger hadn't seen life, human or otherwise, for millennia.

  He crouched and ran his finger through the thick dust which covered everything but his capsule. “How could I have been so stupid?” Just like those mechs this ship had probably been in storage for countless aeons. He doubted the marauders were even aware it existed. “If that's the case, then who is flying this ship?” Computer, can you state life-form inventory and approximate location?

  “One life-form. Evolved bipedal mammal. Ship's main bridge.”

  “Is this life-form aware of me?”

  “Unknown.”

  “Life-form” he spat. Like Ryan didn't already know who was up there. “Computer, can you show me the quickest route to the main bridge?”

  A moment later a section of wall beside Ryan lit up and displayed a simple map. He memorized the route, nodded to himself then set off, still wishing that he had brought a weapon. Still, he did have the element of surprise and Ryan might yet find something on the way, even if he only found a metal pole. You could inflict a lot of damage with a metal pole and after the trauma of the last few hours, bashing someone's brains in with a blunt instrument might actually be rather therapeutic.

  “Attention. Intruder alert. Auto-repellent systems now active. Clean-up protocols now on standby.”

  Ryan went cold.He stopped dead and flattened his back against the full grey bulkhead. He held his breath and watched, terror-stricken as a three silver globes, each one the size of his head dropped from a hidden panel above his head. Razor-sharp flat hooks and round spikes covered their surfaces. The devices stopped in front of his face and rotated ninety degrees. Their AG fields kept those murderous looking objects perfectly steady. Beads of sweat dripped off his forehead. He watched their progression as they splashed into the deck by his feet. Ryan prayed that these things weren't sensitive enough to pick up the sound.

  They moved a little closer. Those hooks and spikes were almost touching his nose! Then without warning, all three devices raced down the corridor and vanished around the corner. He counted slowly to ten before breathing a sigh of relief. What had he done wrong? Ryan honestly believed the computer was on his side. “You traitorous bitch,” he growled.

  Ryan silently hurried along the corridor, following the direction the three globes took. He wasn't totally sure he would respond if they confronted him again. Ryan decided to cross that bridge when he come to it. Reaching the command deck and stopping that insane bastard from destroying his friends took precedent over everything including his safety.

  The alarms abruptly stopped. He stopped too, a metre before reaching the corridor junction. Ryan stated in utter confusion at the sight of a rectangular grey box which had just pushed out of the wall. The box opened. “Okay, just what the hell is going on?”

  The box contained a selection of hand weapons. Their large dimensions indicated that they hadn't been designed for human hands. That didn't stop him from picking one out.

  “Computer, why have you given me access to these weapons?”

  “My sensors detected that you were unarmed.”

  “But, I thought you were trying to kill me?” Before the computer had time to respond, Ryan jumped when an ear-piercing scream blasted down the corridor. Ryan pelted around the corner. The sounds of agonized moaning reached his ears and the noise increased in volume, the closer he got to the next open door.

  He activated the had weapon and sneaked a look into the room. “Oh no!” The Deck Commander lay in an ever widening lake of blood with the three spherical devices hovering above him. His torso, arms and legs were a bloodied mess. Those things really had done a number on him. It looked like he'd been attacked by a tiger.

  The dying man's eyes flicked away from the devices. His gaze met Ryan's. “Call them off,” he croaked. “Please, call off your dogs!”

  He screamed again when the devices started to move closer to his undamaged face. Those evil things were taking their time, like they were savouring the moment. Ryan ran inside. He aimed his hand weapon at one of the devices and squeezed the trigger.

  Nothing happened! The knives began to ocilate. They had almost reached the man's flesh. He fired again but the weapon still refused to respond. Ryan rushed forward. “Get away from him,” he shouted. “Go on. Shoo!”

  Amazingly, all three devices rise into the air and their spikes and hooks retracted into their bodies, leaving a mirror smooth surface. He tried to stay perfectly still when the t
hree globes floated towards him. They brushed past his hips then shot away, through the open doorway.

  Ryan over to the Deck Commander. He dropped to his knees and took the man's hand. His skin was freezing. “Hang on, there's bound to be a medkit somewhere. You stay with me while I go…” He tried to stand up but the man tightened his grip.

  “Forget it. I'm beyond saving. I'm not sure that I want to live, not after what I've done.” The Deck Commander pulled Ryan closer. “My time is running out. You need to promise me something.”

  “I promise. Look, let's just get you to…”

  “You're not fucking listening!” he growled. “He has my daughter. The Marshall Governor. The one who controls the marauders in this system. The bastard said he'd kill her slowly if I didn't do his bidding. I was weak.I can see that now.” The man broke off to cough, spraying blood over the back of Ryan's hand. “He wants you Ryan. You have to get out of here. You have to…”

  The Deck Commander's muscles locked. He arched his back then his body went limp. Ryan closed the man's eyes then stood up. “I'm sorry about your daughter,” he murmured. “We might have done something to help her if you had only listened.” Ryan scanned the interior, looking for something which looked like a comms console. Nothing he saw fitted the description. “This is unreal. would it be so difficult to label stuff? Computer. Can you scan the triumvirate ship's and detect whether the base is still being targeted? Also, there's a small Danu craft accelerating away from the red planet. Can you try to establish contact?”

  “The triumvirate fleet is preparing to launch missiles into the red planet's atmosphere. Contact with the Danu ship is being blocked. The missiles are now in launch sequence. This ship and the small Danu craft will be destroyed by the shockwaves.”

  “What!” he cried. “Are they insane? We need that base more than ever. The bastards are committing suicide.” He ran over to the doorway. “Computer. Is there anything on This ship which will stop those launches?”

  “Negative.”

  “Then find someone on that fleet who's willing to speak to me. They need to know what they're doing is wrong!”