Dying Planet

by C. O. Amal

  Suddenly creatures began to pummel at the door from the tunnel. Eric and team quickly rushed outside and they closed the bunker door. And before them lay guns and ammunition. There is a heap of magazines in a corner. Eric, Ruben and Ron smiled.

  “Now, let’s get out of here.” Lilly said smiling.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 15

  Tongdo

  Eric and Ruben went near the exit door and they peeked outside through the already opened door. The weapon store room immediately exits to a wide room, and the wide room has an exit door which leads to the street. Eric and Ruben could see infected wandering in the street, from this weapon storage room. Ruben quickly walked towards the guns and Eric closed the door and he dead bolted it.

  Ruben started loading an assault rifle with a fresh magazine. His waist band already got filled with the extra magazines. Lilly took a small revolver in her hand.

  “Do you know how to use that?” Eric asked Lily.

  “I know a little.” Lilly said.

  Eric nodded. Eric quickly took an assault rifle and he placed extra magazines in his waist band. Lilly hurriedly pocketed extra magazines for the revolver. Ron already got armed to the teeth.

  “Ruben, do you need grenades?” Ron asked.

  “Yeah. I could use some.” Ruben said.

  Ron showed a pile of small round devices.

  “These are grenades?” Ruben asked with curiousness.

  “Yeah. Flash grenades.” Ron took one in his hand and he showed it to Ruben. “Press this red switch and throw. In three seconds it will blow.” Ron pointed at the small red switch on the top of the grenade. The red switch is inside a small depression presumably for stopping accidental arming.

  Ruben filled his pants pockets with flash grenades. Eric also took a few flash grenades.

  “Will this be enough to get out of here?” Lilly asked.

  “We have to run before they gather. If my memory is right, ship yard is twenty or thirty blocks away.” Ron said.

  “Okay. We will exit in five seconds. Lilly, always keep an eye on Juny. Juny, stay with Lilly.” Ruben said.

  Everyone nodded. Ruben quickly began the count.

  “One, two, three, four, five, run.”

  Eric opened the door and they all rushed outside. Suddenly creatures in front of the armory building rushed inside.

  Pop! Pop! Pop!

  Ruben pulled the trigger and all the five approached creatures went down. They quickly exited the building. Then they stood there on the street looking in all directions.

  “Ship yard is in the south.” Lilly said. They quickly ran towards the south.

  Suddenly a series of screeches and moans came from nearby. Eric and team didn’t stop anywhere. They kept a moderate pace. Eric is in the back of the line and he took a quickly glance at his rear. Then he saw it. From behind the armory building came a horde of creatures.

  Pop! Pop! Pop!

  Eric pulled the trigger at the nearby creatures. The creatures are running with their maximum speed.

  “Run fast ...” Eric shouted.

  Suddenly a group of creatures rushed at the survivors from the front. Ruben and Ron trained their rifles and pulled the trigger.

  Pop! Pop! Pop!

  A jet of bullets sprayed from the rifles and the creatures one by one fell down. Some of the creatures immediately regained their footing and they rushed again. Ruben changed his magazine fluently and again pulled the trigger.

  Pop! Pop! Pop!

  Suddenly a creature rushed at Lilly from a house on the left side of the street.

  “Ahh ...” Juny screamed on seeing the monster.

  The gun shook in Lilly’s hands and Lilly struggled to align the gun. The creature swayed when it approached.

  Pop!

  Eric quickly shot down that creature. Suddenly a sharp shriek came from the direction of the armory and a horde of hundreds of creatures rushed at the survivors.

  “Run ...” Eric shouted.

  They all broke into a sprint. They ran and ran. Ruben and Ron pulled the trigger several times at the creatures that arose from nearby buildings. They passed many good looking buildings. The moans and shrieks of the creatures filled the very air. The city looks devoid of other survivors. Front doors of most of the buildings are broken.

  Before long they saw the ship yard in a distance. They increased their speed. Then they saw it. Through the hole on the fence came about fifty creatures from outside the city. The gun fire must have drawn all the nearby creatures.

  Pop! Pop! Pop!

  Eric, Ruben and Ron emptied their magazine at the creatures and they loaded a new magazine. They ran towards the ship yard.

  “Shit, where is our flying saucer?” Eric asked in disbelief.

  Their flying saucer is nowhere to be seen, but the other flying saucer is still there.

  “Get inside that one.” Ron shouted. They quickly ran towards the other flying saucer.

  The vegetable carts are upside down and the vegetables are scattered on the ground.

  Pop! Pop! Pop!

  Eric fired at a few newly arrived creatures. Before long Ruben and team got inside the flying saucer. Eric entered as the last man. Ron immediately pressed a switch on the side of the flying saucer wall and suddenly the ramp began to close. A few moments later the ramp fully closed and the creatures began to pound on the ramp from outside.

  “Now what?” Eric shouted with worry and impatience.

  “Don’t worry.” Ron said. “This ship has an autopilot system.”

  Eric and Ruben breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Then, get us out of here ...” Eric said. “I don’t want to be here any longer.”

  Lilly and Ruben nodded. Ron quickly ran towards the control room. Eric followed Ron. The control room is empty. The pilot must have got outside when they moved the vegetables outside. And he must have lost his life like all the other soldiers of this flying saucer.

  “Veronica, switch to autopilot.” Ron said.

  “Veronica?” Eric asked.

  “The autopilot in all our ships is named as Veronica.” Ron said.

  “Switching to autopilot mode ... Autopilot mode activated. Where do you want to go? ...”

  “Dojai.” Ron said.

  “Plotting course to Dojai ...”

  Suddenly a blue map appeared on the small control panel. Then with loud thud the flying saucer rose from the ground. Then with a swoosh, the flying saucer started gliding through the sky, leaving Tongdo to the monster horde.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 16

  Dojai

  The flying saucer landed in the Dojai ship yard. Ruben and team exited the flying saucer and they are welcomed by a big crowd. Suddenly Emma came out of nowhere and she hugged Eric.

  “I thought you were dead.” Emma began to cry.

  “Don’t worry, honey. I am alright.” Eric said.

  Ron and Ruben walked towards the soldier’s office.

  “Danny ...” Ron called.

  A soldier came from inside the soldier’s office and he looked at Ron and Ruben.

  “I thought ...” Danny said.

  “You thought we were dead?” Ron stormed at Danny. Then with a fluent movement Ron punched Danny in his face.

  “Ahh ...” Danny fell down.

  Quickly other soldiers came forward and they stopped Ron from further damaging Danny.

  “I am sorry, Ron. When I saw those infected, I thought everyone was dead. When I came to the cargo area I saw those creatures everywhere. And I heard gun shots and screams. Then I thought ...” Danny said.

  “Then you thought everything ended. You’re a soldier, Danny. There would have been survivors. And you left just like that?” Ron asked.

  “I am sorry ... I got panicked ...” Danny said.

  “God damn it, Danny. Then, why are you in the army?” Ron asked.

  Danny tilted down his head and he just stood there.

  “How did they got inside?” A tall sold
ier asked.

  “It was those Zang Zom’s men. They are well active. We need to do something about it, before he comes up with another plague.” Ron said.

  Quickly more soldiers gathered around Ron. Then all soldiers wanted to know how the Zang Zom’s men got inside.

  “I don’t have much details. According to Lilly, they came in flying saucers and they brought down the wall. We think that everyone inside the city is dead. Most houses were broken.” Ron said.

  “We need to kill that bitch.” A soldier said.

  “We will kill that bitch.” Ron said. “I am thinking about bringing down Zeekom once again. Are you guys with me?”

  All soldiers nodded.

  “So, what’s the plan?” A soldier asked.

  “I am thinking about guerrilla tactics.” Ron said. “They must be in the underground part of Zeekom. I am thinking about bringing down the fences and let his creations kill him.

  Soldiers nodded. They quickly further discussed about the mission. And they planned everything. A few minutes later soldiers thinned out from the soldier’s office.

  “Ruben, we will go in the morning. Go and refresh yourself. You need rest.” Ron said.

  Ruben nodded and he went outside. Ruben slowly started his walk towards Zorin’s place.

  * * *

  “So you are now a teacher?” Eric asked Emma.

  “Yeah. Toddlers are very naughty, but, I like this job.” Emma said while serving the freshly cooked chicken on a plate in front of Eric.

  “You too sit down. You look like hungry.” Eric said.

  “Don’t worry about me, Eric. I ate earlier today. And I can take in no more.” Emma massaged her belly.

  Eric eyed Emma. “You’re not telling me something. What is it?” Eric asked.

  “Is that obvious?” Emma asked raising her brow.

  “Yeah. I know you well.”

  “Well, I think ... I think I am pregnant.”

  “What? That’s just a great news. We need to celebrate this.” Eric said while swallowing a chicken piece. His face got brightened up with joy.

  “It’s just a thought, Eric.” Emma said. “I don’t have the tools to test it.”

  Eric nodded. “But, you could eat a little more, right?”

  Emma smiled.

  Eric quickly finished his food. “I need to get back to work.” Eric said.

  “No need for that, Eric.” Ruben came inside the dining room.

  “Ruben, sit down. I will get something for you.” Emma disappeared behind the kitchen.

  “Ron gave us the day off. We need to be ready in the morning. We are going to destroy that Zeekom tomorrow.” Ruben said.

  Eric nodded. Emma quickly came back with more food. She quickly served Ruben with fried chicken. A moment later Zorin came inside, and Emma and Zorin got busy talking. Eric for a moment stared at Emma.

  “You have a nice wife, Eric.” Ruben said.

  “Thanks.” Eric said. Ruben quickly finished his food. They spent rest of the day talking with Zorin and Emma.

  Before long morning came. Eric and Ruben dressed for the mission and they left the apartment early in the morning. At the time they reached the ship yard, Ron was standing near a flying saucer with five other soldiers. Ron nodded at Ruben and Eric, and Eric and Ruben stood near the soldiers.

  “When are we leaving?” Eric asked.

  “Now. We filled the ship with magazines for the rifles and there are flash grenades too. We need to teach Zang Zom’s men a lesson for what they have done to Tongdo. They should never get back to their feet again.” Ron said.

  Everyone nodded.

  “Then let’s do this.” Ruben said. And everyone slowly entered inside the flying saucer.

  As soon as everyone is inside, the ramp slowly closed. A moment later the flying saucer flew up and then with a swoosh it flew away from Dojai.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 17

  Zeekom

  The flying saucer landed on top of a cliff in a hilly area. The ramp slowly opened and Eric, Ruben, Ron and the soldiers exited the flying saucer. Everyone is armed to the teeth. Eric went near the edges of the cliff and peered at the wasteland in front of him. Then he saw a series of buildings far away, presumably in the middle of the wasteland.

  “Is that it?” Eric asked.

  Ron and Ruben came near Eric.

  “Yes. That’s the city of Zeekom.” Ron said.

  Eric stared at the city. The city is surrounded by a huge metal fence. Then they saw hundreds of infected people walking aimlessly here and there, just outside the city.

  “Remember, the main city is under the ground and destroying the fence won’t damage them fully. We need to blow up the ground.” Ron said.

  Ruben and Eric nodded. Eric tightened his grip on his assault rifle.

  “Then, let’s do this.” Ruben said.

  The place where this flying saucer had landed is an elevated ground and there are no signs of nearby infected. Two soldiers stood near the flying saucer and rest of the soldiers and Eric and team slowly started their walk. They walked along the edges of the cliff, looking for a way into the wasteland. Before long they found an inclined rocky path. They quickly started climbing down.

  “We will go in the north direction of the city. North is free of infected.” Ron said.

  Others nodded.

  The city and the wasteland are dead silent. The sky is devoid of birds and there are no signs of plant life anywhere near the city. The city is still a few miles away, but they could see the form of the city clearly. Large boulders are scattered on the wasteland. They passed small craters and they moved forward. The ground in fact showed all signs of a war that took place long ago. A few minutes later they began to see parts of crumbled buildings.

  “This city was very big.” Ron said. “During the war, most buildings crumbled to the foundation.”

  Eric and Ruben nodded.

  “So, it hasn’t been long since the war took place?” Eric asked.

  “It has been about ten years.” Ron said.

  Eric nodded. A few more minutes later the city fully came into view.

  “Okay, guys. Now keep silence. We don’t want to attract those infected. Once we cut that fence we will plant explosives on the ground. Then retreat back to this wasteland.” Ron said.

  “Okay. Ruben and Eric said in unison. Other soldiers nodded.

  They passed many crumbled buildings and finally they reached near the fence. There are no sentries nearby and the city is fully silent. Suddenly, a swoosh came from deep inside the city. The city is in fact huge. But most buildings are in ruin. And a thick layer of dust covered everywhere. Windows of the buildings are broken and most buildings miss some of the parts like roof or a wall. A moment later the swoosh got louder. Then they saw it. Two flying saucers are slowly moving away from the city in the south direction.

  Ruben and team stood in silence. When the flying saucers disappeared in the horizon, they focused their eyes on the fence. Eric quickly unstrapped his back pack and he took a wire cutter from it. Then he slowly started working on the fence. While Eric slowly cuts the metal net, Ruben, Ron and other soldiers walked along the fence and they examined the inside of the city. Everyone inside the city must be underground.

  “It’s actually a surprise knowing that these guys have ships.” Ron said.

  “They may have stolen it from somewhere.” Ruben said.

  “Maybe. There was a military base not far from here. They may have taken control over that base.” Ron said.

  “I never expected this planet to reduce to this degree.” Ruben said. “So, there are no other human settlements in this planet apart from Dojai, Tongdo and this Zeekom?”

  “There may be small packets of survivors throughout the planet. We once saved hundreds of people from a crumbled city. They were eating raw leaves when we got to them. Like that people may be surviving this apocalypse somewhere. At this time we don’t have much personal to save every one of those people.
” Ron said.

  Ruben nodded.

  “Guys. It’s ready.” Eric whispered.

  Ruben and Ron rushed towards Eric. Then they found his handy work. He cut out a huge piece of metal net. The three other soldiers also came near Eric.

  “Eric, you keep the trigger in your hands. And you try to plant explosives near this fence. We will go deeper into the city and we will plant explosive there. Wait for us here.” Ron said.

  Eric nodded. Then just like that, Ron, Ruben and the three soldiers quickly moved deeper into the city. Eric quickly started taking out small handheld explosives in his hand. Each explosive is in black colour and there is a green LED glowing in one corner of the cube shaped explosives. Eric moved along the fence and he placed explosives on the ground near the foundation of buildings.

  Suddenly shouts came from where Ruben and team had went. Eric quickly became alerted. Someone is shouting at Ruben and team. Eric took a quick glance around him. No one is nearby. He quickly strapped on his back pack and he trained his assault rifle at a distance. Then he slowly moved forward to where Ruben and team had went. Before long he found the source of the shouts. Nearby a huge multi-story building a group of armed men are standing and they are shouting commands at Ruben and team. Some men are removing the guns from Ruben, Ron and the soldiers.

  Eric felt his head getting heavy. He has to do something. Then the men led Ruben and team deeper inside the multi-story building. A few minutes later all the men moved away from the open. Eric looked around. Panic slowly began to surge through him. He is now alone. Can he do this alone? He needs to save them too. When the armed men completely disappeared from sight, Eric mustered the courage and he slowly started his walk towards the entrance of the multi-story building.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 18

  Zeekom

  The armed men led Ruben and team deeper inside the building. The inside of the building is very dark and the air smells like dust. A few minutes later they started climbing down a long staircase. Ruben and Ron looked everywhere for a way out. A few minutes later they stopped climbing down and they reached a wide room lighted with electric bulbs.