by Mark Tufo
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I told him.
Tallow was beside me now. “Its body doesn’t look right.” Besides the thick hairs that had poked through most of its clothing, the chest was abnormally large and irregularly shaped; it could not be attributed to my shots.
“Excuse me,” Lendor said as he leaned down to the body, a knife in hand. He cut away its shirt, revealing two, small, misshapen arms that were tucked close to the body. They were wet and covered in a thick slime and pinned close like a newly hatched bird’s might be. There was more than one gasp as most of the squad saw the deformation.
“What is going on here?” Tallow asked.
“They’re turning into them,” Lendor replied.
“No time to gawk.” My headset was displaying multiple incoming.
“He doesn’t look so good,” Tallow said, staring closely.
“Would you?” I asked.
He shook his head.
“They’re going to surround us.” Lendor was looking at the same convergence as I was.
It wasn’t going to be that difficult; our squad wasn’t big enough to truly challenge them for supremacy on this ship. We would have been better off staying out in space and blasting them apart piece by piece, but that avenue was now blocked.
“Cedar, we’re in a bit of a bind. Give them something else to think about,” I said.
“You get yourself killed in there, sis, I am going to track you down and knock some sense into you. Hunker down.”
“You heard the woman.” We fanned out to keep an eye on the doors leading into the room we were in. The hull rang like a bell as the fighters and the shuttle gave an all-out barrage. There was a momentary pause to the Others, but they did not stay frozen for long, nor did they retreat. There was a distant explosion; a few seconds later the deck under our feet rippled with the concussion.
The first of the warped Others ran through the door. His speed seemed otherworldly, and if he hadn’t been coming straight for me, I’m not sure if I would have been able to track him fast enough. I put two in his chest, sending him sliding back to the door he had just exited, his body impeding the next one out. It was Lendor’s shot that took off its head. There was a moment where the body had not realized it had been decapitated and stood like a sentinel—a monument to all those who had been beheaded. Then, as he was falling, he was pushed over by the next soldier trying to come in. This one was shot by a multitude of rifles.
I thought their strategy was going to be throwing enough bodies at us that we would be overrun. The door was nearly blocked with the dead of those trying. I felt like we could hold out forever; that all changed when a canister no larger than a tin of food was tossed in over the dead. I ducked my head and covered up just as a deafening explosion rang out. Even though my face and eyes were hidden, a brilliant light still managed to shine through…and then there was nothingness. I could not hear, or more importantly, I could not move. I could not help thinking that I was dead; the only thing that made me question that was the incessant ringing in my ears and the savage pain that stabbed at the back of my head. I felt hands wrap around the lower part of my legs. I could not even manage to turn my head as I was dragged along, my face scraping against the cold, metallic surface.
As the noises in my head began to subside, I could hear a sort of guttural speech, mixed with words I could understand. I was still reeling inside from whatever the weapon had done to me, but I knew enough to realize I had been captured. Blood coated my entire face as I was dragged through the remnants of someone or something; I was not sure as I could not see anything else besides the floor in front of me. I’d now wished I’d left the protective device upon my head, luckily the comm units were built into the suits and not my long gone helmet.
“Winter!” Cedar screamed. “Answer me!” She sounded panicked and right now she had every reason to be. I wanted to answer, but just getting my chest to take in air seemed about the best I could muster.
“Answer me, dammit!” she screamed, and I felt the ship shudder as she let her frustration out on it.
“Winter…” A voice no louder than a whisper heard from across a fogged meadow.
It could have been Tallow.
“Do not speak!” boomed out and was followed by the solid strike of a boot on a body. There was a sucking in of air and wheezing and still, I didn’t know who it was. Though I couldn’t move, my heart seemed to be making up for it as it fluttered wildly, struggling against the invisible bonds that had been placed upon me. Iron chains would have been preferable.
“Do you think Lokken would mind if we ate a couple of them before we brought them to her?” one of the voices asked.
I was disgusted almost to the point past revulsion. They looked Human enough to realize that this was wrong.
“We are not them yet!”
For a second, I thought I had a champion that would maybe not fight for us but might at least fight for his humanity. That didn’t last long.
“First to Lokken, then we feast.”
As I was pulled from the room, I heard the distinctive sounds of teeth gnashing and the loud slurping of liquids. A single tear was able to escape my eye as I mourned for whoever had fallen victim to the cannibals.
“You’re going to wear her face away if you keep dragging her like that.”
“I care not. They have damaged our ship and killed countless of our crew.”
“You may not care, but Lokken wants them in reasonably good shape so she can interrogate them.”
I was dragged a few more feet before the other muttered some swears. He bent down and turned me over. We were staring face to face.
“Well, aren’t you a pretty one? And all that blood; it looks like you’re basting in it. I am going to drain you dry.” He smiled as he licked his lips. Then he opened his mouth wide; there was a squelching noise within. I watched as his throat began to move like a gulping fish out of water. That was when the true horror started; a gray, pointed protrusion pushed past his lips. What looked like venom dripped from the tip of the single fang. I desperately tried to turn as he dragged it lightly across my face.
“Sogell, what are you doing?” someone asked from behind. The appendage quickly reeled back into his mouth; he was still sneering.
“We’ll continue this later,” he said as he hefted me onto his shoulder. I caught a quick glimpse of the room; there were at least two of my squad dead. Other than that, I don’t know who lived. My vision was once again obscured as my face was buried into Sogell’s back; black spiny hairs abraded against me, scraping more than one wound open. The ship still rattled as it was attacked and Cedar continued to try and hail me, though I had the feeling she had an idea of what was going on, as she would be able to hear the Others speaking.
“Winter, I don’t know what’s wrong, why you can’t speak, but your vitals still show as good. Elevated heart rate, but other than that, fine. I will keep monitoring you and I will get you out of there.”
I silently thanked her. I may have managed a grunt in reply.
“Where does Lokken want the meat bags?” Sogell asked. “The dining hall?” He laughed at his quip.
“Prisoner containment,” was the reply.
“Looks like you’re in for some tenderizing before we eat.” Sogell laughed. He walked for a little while longer before he lifted me off his shoulder and tossed me unceremoniously onto the floor. I had a flash of panic as the air was forced from my lungs and I could not get enough in to sate my desire. With some difficulty, I was able to roll from my side onto my back. I was staring up at an illuminated ceiling. I shut my eyes as I willed my slumbering limbs to work. I could feel my fingers curl and uncurl, though I could not lift my arms or my neck to actually see it happen.
“It’s awfully quiet, Winter. What’s going on?”
“Trying,” rasped out of my throat. If I hadn’t known I’d said it, I would not have believed that to be my voice.
Once she heard me speak, she rapid-fired more than a doze
n questions. I had to tune her out as I was desperately attempting to not be so helpless. When I was finally able to lift my head and look around, I was alone in a small cell. It was another five minutes until I was finally able to sit up.
“Cedar.” My throat was so dry it came out more as a croak.
“It’s so good to hear you. Are you all right?”
“I’m alive,” I managed as I put a hand against the wall, doing my best to get my legs under me. “They attacked with some sort of paralysis bomb. Lost at least two people; I don’t know who.” That came out more as a sob. “I’m alone in a cell. Someone named Lokken, I think it’s their commander, is coming down to talk…to interrogate me. I need to get out of here. I need to find Tallow and Lendor and the rest.” I couldn’t bring myself to add the last part: if they’re alive.
“I know you can hear me in there.” Cedar must have opened up the channel. “I will tear this ship apart if you do not let all of the prisoners go.”
She repeated that message two more times before someone responded; it was a distinctly female voice, though it had a strange resonance to it.
“Have you not already done enough? Unprovoked you have shot missiles at us, doing irreparable damage. And now that our ship is crippled you still fire upon us and send landing teams—to do what? Perhaps finish what you have started?”
“You will let the prisoners go or…”
“Or you will what? You have already proved you will destroy us whether we have the prisoners or not. I think you will be less likely to do so if we still have what you want. I will meet with you, and you alone, but only if you cease fire immediately. If not, be careful where you shoot, as the holding cells are on the outer perimeter and the most likely to suffer damage.”
Cedar growled out a “Fine, open up your hangar and I’ll be there within fifteen minutes, but I’m going to let you know now, I have my fighter packed with enough explosives to break that part of the ship apart and if this is some sort of trick I’ll do just that, taking as many of you with me as I can. And if you hurt anyone, well, let’s just say none of us will have to worry about how this negotiation goes.”
I knew that first part was not true; I could only hope Lokken thought it was. The second part, was as certain as the sun rising.
“That will be completely unnecessary. I would just like to talk with the person in charge of so callously attacking us.”
“All the same, I don’t think I’ll be off-loading my package anytime soon.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” I told her.
“Don’t you worry about a thing. I’m going to get you all out of there,” she said back on our private channel.
The front of my cell was clear. I placed my hand up against the see-through barrier; I could feel a slight tingle from the power that passed through it. I gave it a slight punch; it had absolutely no give to it. I thought about kicking it but refrained. “Hello, is anyone else around?” I yelled, hoping to hear a response. “Tallow? Lendor? Leddings?” I was angry at myself; I’d led my team into a trap and now had no idea how to help them…or whether they were beyond help.
“That’s a useless way to think. How about getting yourself out of this jam instead,” I said, trying to use anger to disrupt the anxiety welling within.
I could hear voices approaching, though I could not, as of yet, see who they belonged to.
“Who is the leader of this rabble?” the woman that had been speaking to Cedar asked. That meant at least one other person was alive, as she was not speaking to me. “Get up!” She was yelling now. I was waiting desperately to hear a voice, any voice, but selfishly, I wanted to hear the one of the man I loved. All I got in response was a grunt.
“Pull them from their cells. Beat an answer out if you need to!”
“Me,” I said hoarsely. Then with more force, “I am the leader.”
The woman was in front of my cell in a moment.
“You? You’re the leader? I don’t believe you.”
“Honestly, I don’t care what you believe.” I was still fighting through the effects of the charge I had received.
“Get her out.”
Two guards came to my force field. I noted that they did not press anything that I could see to deactivate it; either someone else had done it out of my view or they wore something that allowed them access. Or perhaps they had some sort of biometrics coded to their uniqueness. That was possible; maybe not likely. Chances were on occasion they had to use these cells on their own kind, then what good would it do if they could walk out at any time.
The men ushered me out but did not touch me. Not sure what they were worried about; that I could walk under my own power was still iffy.
“Tell her to stop,” Lokken said.
“Let me see the rest of the prisoners.”
“You’re in no position to make demands.”
“And yet I have.”
Lokken nodded her chin to one of the guards, who punched something into a large device that wrapped around his left forearm. I turned just as the doorway turned from a smoked brown color to opaque and finally clear. I walked past one, got a thumbs up from Staff Sergeant Detter, the next held Leddings, who was on the floor but breathing. Kolder was sitting on a cot holding his head in his hands. He looked up to see me but said nothing. My heart leapt as I got to the next one. Lendor was pacing the room like a caged animal.
“You are all right!” he said, coming to the barrier.
“I am. We’ll be getting out of here soon.”
“Good to hear. Does she know it yet?” he asked, pointing to Lokken behind me.
“She will soon.”
“Enough.” Lokken roughly shoved me.
“Are there any more?” I tried to keep the tremor out of my voice.
“This is all that survived your malicious attack.”
I turned slowly just as a guard was whispering in her ear.
“Oh yes, there is one who is in surgery now. You see? Because we are not barbarians, we will even treat those that would attack us.”
“You will take me to him, and please feel free to stop with the self-righteousness. Our kind have been fighting for seemingly ever. You can pretend with the indignation, but the truth is more obvious. If you had been given the chance, you would have attacked first. The nature of war does not dictate that an enemy must announce his intentions; it should always be assumed that bloodshed will follow confrontation.”
“What is to prevent me from spilling your blood right now then?” she sneered.
“I would imagine it’s the threat of your ship being slowly torn apart by the barrage it’s receiving. There’s that, and what makes you think you could kill me?”
“I was beginning to like you; I may have to change my perspective. Those with delusions of grandeur rarely survive.”
“They’re only delusions if they’re not true.”
“Perhaps it would be for the best if you remained silent as we travel to the infirmary; we can hope that the attack being waged on us does not interfere with the sensitive electronic equipment as our prisoner is being operated on. I could not help but notice your expression as you looked upon the captured; you’re looking for someone, someone special, I would wager. I do hope he’s the one we’re going to see. For your sake, I mean.”
I was angry I had tipped her off; it would do no good to attempt to dissuade her to the importance of who I was looking for now. I decided to keep silent.
“Ah, the first intelligent thing you’ve said today,” she said in response to my quietude.
I did my utmost to quell my feelings as we arrived at a window that overlooked the infirmary. Down below, housed in a clear tube and being administered to by no fewer than three machines, was Tallow. The desire to run down there to comfort him, to make sure he was all right, to sweep him up in my arms and make a run for it, was nearly unbearable. All of that warred within me, yet I shrugged as though disappointed. I turned to Lokken.
“I would like to kno
w when he is out.”
“So he is not the one. I would like to say I’m sorry, but that would be a lie. He will be fine. He had a concussion, a broken rib, and a laceration on his liver. Should only be another hour before he goes into recovery. Again, that is if your cohort doesn’t destroy something vital. Come. We are running out of time.” She spoke something too silently for me to hear as we traveled down toward the hangar.
We watched from behind a viewing port as Cedar’s ship landed; the area was repressurized and Lokken, myself, and a dozen guards entered.
“So much for alone,” Cedar said. “Lieutenant, it is good to see you.”
“Same, Captain.” We kept our speech as formal as possible as to not give Lokken anything to work with.
“And the rest?” Cedar asked with concern.
“There have been some casualties,” I told her.
Cedar wanted to ask me a dozen questions but wisely said nothing.
“Come, come. It would appear we have a family reunion taking place; I do not think it would be uncalled for if you two hugged.”
“Commander Lokken, I was under the impression we would be meeting alone,” Cedar said, ignoring the other’s jibe.
“This is my ship; I will do as I please. And under no circumstances will I make deals with a terrorist. Take her prisoner as well.” She motioned for her guards.
“Hold up there, spidey,” Cedar said. “I realize that you didn’t heed any of my words, but remember the part where I said I would be bringing a package aboard?”
“We all know that blowing yourself up is not a terrific bargaining chip,” Lokken said.
“Blow myself up? Oh, certainly not, but do you wish to see what I have?”
“I have no time for these games. Grab her!”
“Yes, Frost, grab her,” Cedar said.
Lokken gasped as Frost’s fangs brushed against the commander’s neck.
“Captain, feel free to grab a weapon,” Cedar said.
“You cannot work them,” the guard said as I walked over and grabbed his rifle.
