by M. R. Forbes
That didn’t mean they were safe, or that the creatures weren’t nearby. The upside to the narrow corridors was that they would keep the trife from attacking in force. They would mostly have to engage one at a time, two at most if they squeezed in beside one another or used the ceiling to cling to and climb across. The downside was that the closer they got to the nest, the more likely it became that they would run into the biggest and strongest of the demons. The concept of survival of the fittest wasn't a new one, and it was still in effect here. Only the best specimens had an opportunity to participate in the chaotic sexual orgy that passed as the creatures’ reproductive method.
Hayden figured the ship’s reactor would be near the stern, so he headed toward the bow instead. He didn’t know if the armory was located there. He had no idea where to find it, but it was better to start further from the nest and work their way back. He figured the search might take hours and he knew there was a chance the armored soldier had seen them board the vessel. There was a risk the helicopter would return and hit the old ship with a weapon similar to what they had used against the Kiev, but it was a risk they had to take. It was difficult to get very far in this world without being armed.
“Once we find the armory, then what?” Rhonna whispered. She hadn’t ventured more than a meter or two from his side since they had left the bridge, and more often than not she had put her hand on his shoulder, making sure he couldn’t move without her knowing.
“I’ve been thinking about that,” he replied. “I’m assuming if the soldiers are still after us, they’ll want to set up a defensive perimeter and watch for us to try to get off the island. If they come in through a tunnel, they’ll probably try to funnel us into the same tunnel and ambush us there. Unless we find some seriously heavy ordnance down here, we aren’t going to get out that way.”
“So how do we get out?”
“Are there any smaller boats on the island?”
“Not for a long time. But maybe you don’t need to go west? There’s another island to the south. Maybe we can cross that way, and then cut back? They can’t cover the entire east coast.”
“If there aren’t any boats here, there probably aren’t any boats there, either. And I’m not much of a swimmer.”
Rhonna was silent, her expression grim.
“We’ll think of something,” Hayden said. “One thing at a time. Let’s find the armory first.”
“How do you know this ship has an armory?”
“I don’t. I’m assuming if it was a military vessel, it must have carried weapons.”
They made their way down the ladder, to the next deck. The hatch was open. Another decaying corpse was face down on the other side.
“Why do you think someone would do this to us?” she asked, looking down at the body.
“What do you mean?” Hayden asked.
“I’ve always wondered. Why attack Earth? Why send these creatures down to kill us? What did we ever do to anyone else?”
“My wife’s theory is that the aliens who sent the trife were trying to stop us from traveling beyond our solar system. The trife arrived around the same time they built the generation ships.”
“That would mean they were spying on us. How else would they know what we were up to?”
“They must have been capturing our broadcasts or transmission frequencies or something. Natalia thinks they may have been visiting Earth in secret. Maybe even planting tech to allow them to keep an eye on us. In some ways, it’s a bit of a stretch, but we have no idea what kind of technology they possess.”
“Meaning they could be here right now?”
“I don’t think we can rule it out. For all we know, they’ve been watching us since they unleashed the virus and the trife.”
“Well, if they are watching us, this is for them.” Rhonna lifted her middle fingers, waving them in the air and smiling. The smile faded a moment later. “But you and Nathan said we did make it into space. If your wife is right, that would mean they failed.”
“It would. Natalia thinks that’s why they haven’t been back, and why they haven’t attacked Proxima. They wanted to stop us, and when it didn’t work, they decided to leave us alone. It’s one of our arguments for the Centurions to come back and help us fight the trife. They’re convinced if they expend the resources reclaiming Earth, the enemy will show up and fuck it up again. The problem is, they’ve been searching the galaxy for signs of other life for over a century, and they haven’t come across anything.”
“That makes your wife’s theory seem more right.”
“It seems that way. The problem is Proxima doesn’t have much to gain by helping Earth recover. If they’re wrong, so what? They keep looking and never find anything, but at least they’re safe. If they’re right, they need all of their resources to defend themselves.”
“Which means we’re on our own.”
“I don’t know. I’ve learned not to think too far ahead. Everything we work for can come crashing down around us in an instant. If the ones who sent the trife ever came back, Proxima could end up just like Earth or worse, despite all of their efforts. What I do know is that every instinct I have is telling me there’s something not right about the circumstances surrounding Nathan’s wife’s death, and whatever is on the data chip it’s going to be big for both planets. I think maybe Bennett felt the same way, and that’s why he got me involved.”
They were silent again, crossing the long corridor toward the bow. Hayden stopped at each of the doorways along the way, opening them to look inside. They found more bodies in a barracks area, dead near their beds. A couple of them still had guns in hands, but when he pried the weapons away, he discovered they were out of ammunition.
They found a galley and mess, where a pile of garbage was still rotting in the corner, and another couple of people had died. They found a pantry, still stocked with dozens of cans of food. Hayden managed to tear a few of them open, and they dined on centuries-old vegetable soup. It didn’t have much flavor, but he knew from experience it wouldn’t kill them.
They moved on from there, spending another two hours traversing the bow of the ship. They discovered more evidence of the survivors who had tried to live on the vessel. They even found a few more guns with empty magazines.
There was no sign of the armory.
Chapter 12
Hayden and Rhonna did the only thing they could do. They headed from the bow of the ship back toward the stern, moving aft between ladders and sweeping each deck one at a time. They discovered more bodies, more garbage, and other remains of the group of survivors that had once lived on the vessel. They found more guns with empty magazines, the rounds depleted in what seemed to have been a brave but ultimately futile effort to keep the trife from overrunning them. They continued searching, Hayden growing more frustrated with each minute that passed and left them empty-handed. He had told Natalia he would be back in three days. He knew he wasn’t going to make that timeline.
Now, he just wanted a chance to make it back.
He pushed open yet another door into yet another cabin. He stopped at the threshold, quickly scanning it. They were on the port side of the vessel, on the outer bulkhead. The cabin had a line of portholes along the opposite wall, which revealed that it was early morning. The sun was casting its light through the windows and over the furniture that filled the room. A desk. A couch. A small bed in the corner. There was a body on the bed, a skeleton in a sun-faded Navy uniform. The corpse’s left hand was hanging out over the edge of the mattress. A pistol was on the floor beside him.
Hayden walked over to him and knelt down. The skull had a hole in it. The pillow was stained. The trife hadn't killed this man. He had taken his own life. He had shot himself in the head. Had he been the last one standing?
Hayden picked up the sidearm. He released the magazine, sliding it out. There was a single round at the top. He found another bullet in the chamber. Two were better than none, but would the weapon still fire after all of this time?
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He would find out if he had to.
“Sun’s coming up,” he said, turning back to Rhonna. She was watching him explore the room from the doorway.
“What does that mean?”
“We made it through the night. The Liberators didn’t come back and blow the shit out of us, so I think it’s safe to assume they didn’t think we’d be stupid enough to come in here.”
She smiled. “They don’t know us very well, do they?”
Hayden returned the grin. “I guess not. Come on.”
Rhonna moved aside so he could take the lead down the passageway, still heading aft along the port side of the hull. They had gone down a few more doorways when Hayden pulled to a stop.
“Do you hear that?” he asked. It sounded like a voice.
Were there other people on board?
“I hear it,” Rhonna said.
Hayden held up the pistol, even more glad to have it despite the limited number of rounds. He crept forward in the direction of the sound, moving as quietly as he could. They covered another pair of doorways, reaching the one producing the noise. It was muffled from outside. Impossible to make out.
Hayden grabbed the doorknob and turned it slowly, leading with his shoulder and keeping his sidearm ready. He heard the faint click of the catch, and shoved the door in, twisting and aiming his gun.
A corpse was on the floor in the corner, blankets thrown over its legs. A pile of garbage rested nearby. There was an old radio on a small dresser, its plug leading to the bulkhead. The voice was coming out of it, the reception a little choppy.
“…have seen the signs of the future. The path forward…all humankind. All demonkind…know the will of the Others. We have seen it written in the stars...eagle carries the star…carries out the will and purifies…”
“That’s Tinker,” Rhonna said behind him. “Crazy son of a bitch.”
“…the cleansing is drawing near…enlist in the future. Enroll in salvation…it is the will and where there is a will, there is a way.”
Hayden walked over to the radio, putting his hand on it to act as an antenna and clearing up some of the choppiness. Tinker’s voice was aged and soft, as though he couldn’t quite get enough air and was forcing every word out. Lonnie had told him the man often spoke of the will of the others and cleansing, whatever those things meant to him.
“I have dreamt of demons filling the world. I have dreamt of fire from the sky. I have dreamt of the end of our nightmares, the cleansing breath of the future. I have been reborn to the mission. I have been renewed to salvation. Those who refuse will not be spared. Those who do not believe will not be saved. Join the Liberators. Free our world from the terrors that hunt it. Free your souls and your minds from the endless cycle of pain and death. The time of the cleansing is coming, and I promise that only Edenrise will be saved. Only—”
“He can do this for hours, Sheriff,” Rhonna said. “On and on in circles. It gets annoying after a while.”
“How many people do you think he’s convinced to go to Edenrise?”
“Probably a lot. I can’t argue that he gives them hope of finding something better. But Margie always said he was full of shit. She said he’s probably some polygamous pedophile who kills the men who come and rapes the women so he can rape their babies.”
“That’s a twisted way of looking at things.”
“That’s Margie for you.”
“The General metes out justice for the unbelievers. The General is coming, divine in silver and light. Deny him not, or face your fate. The time of the cleansing is drawing near. A new dawn in the civilization of humankind. Join us at Edenrise or face your fate. The will of the others is undeniable. Their power is unmistakable. You will—”
“That’s the first time he mentioned the General,” Rhonna said. “At least that I’ve heard.”
“It sounds like our armored soldier.”
“Yeah, it does.”
Hayden took his hand off the radio and hit the switch to cut the power. “Do you have any idea what it all means?”
“No. We used to laugh at his rants. We always thought he was delusional.” She paused, looking more concerned. “But the armored soldier is real. Maybe Edenrise is real too?”
“I’m not sure if he wants to save humankind from the trife, or if he intends to do something with both. His Liberators are working with the Trust on Proxima. There’s something to that, but I don’t know what yet.” He started back toward the door.
“One thing at a time, right Sheriff?” Rhonna said.
“Exactly.”
Hayden stepped out into the passageway, turning right to continue down the corridor.
Two dark shapes were crouched halfway down, watching him.
Chapter 13
Rhonna turned back toward the door. Hayden reached for her arm. She froze immediately, pressing herself against the bulkhead beside the door frame.
“What is it?” she whispered.
“Trife,” he replied. “They must have heard the radio.”
The two creatures were staring at him, but they weren’t moving. He had a feeling they were willing to leave him alone as long as he didn’t try to get closer to the nest.
He still hadn’t found the armory. That wasn’t an option.
He reached across his body to pass the gun to Rhonna. “Don’t shoot unless it looks like I’m in trouble.”
“What does that look like?” she asked, taking the gun.
“If I shout, I’m in trouble.”
“Pozz.”
He flexed his arms in a light stretch and then started walking toward the trife. Normally, he wouldn’t consider two of the creatures to be a problem, but he had to remember his right hand was damaged. He could throw it from the elbow like a club, but it wouldn’t have the same strength behind it.
The trife hissed at him, spreading apart as far as they could in the narrow corridor. They seemed surprised that he was coming toward them instead of moving away, and one of them backed up a step.
“Sheriff,” Rhonna said in a tight whisper. Her tone of voice caused him to pause and look back.
Another pair of trife had entered the passageway at the other end, boxing them in.
“Sneaky,” Hayden said. They hadn’t been willing to let them leave after all.
He growled at them, faking two steps forward. The motion caused the trife behind him to charge, and he froze and spun, sprinting back toward them to cut them off before they reached Rhonna. She whirled in their direction, raising the pistol.
“Don’t—” Hayden started to say, trying to tell her not to shoot.
Too late. The gunshots echoed loudly in the tight confines, the two rounds hitting one of the trife and bringing it down. He caught up to the other, punching it hard in the side of the head. It’s brittle skull shattered under the blow, its light body thrown against the bulkhead and collapsing. Hayden kicked back without looking, certain the other trife had chased him, connecting with some part of its torso.
He felt hollow bones crack, and then a pair of claws slash across his shoulder. They skidded against the bodysuit without making it through, and he swung his dead hand at the trife, cracking it in the face.
It hissed and lashed back at him, and he caught its arm in his other hand, crushing it easily and swinging it into the one beside him. The two creatures hit the bulkhead together, scrambling over one another to reach him.
Hayden didn’t give them the chance. He hit one of them in the chest, the other in the head. They both stopped moving.
He turned back to Rhonna. “I said not to shoot unless I was in trouble.”
“That wasn’t trouble?”
“The trifes’ strength is in their numbers. Their bones aren’t dense, and their bodies are easy to break. But make a loud noise, and a lot more of them are going to come running.”
“Sorry.”
“What’s done is done. We can’t linger here. Come on.”
He headed along the corridor, still moving aft
.
“We’re still going toward them,” Rhonna said.
“Pozz.”
He led her to the end of the corridor. He could hear tapping now. Clawed feet on hard metal. Enough to be concerned. They were toward the stern, probably somewhere over the reactor buried at the bottom of the hull. He saw a hatch leading to a ladder a few meters away and rushed to it.
He looked down when he reached it, his eyes falling on a mass of trife crawling up toward them like a spreading black ooze. He grabbed the hatch and shoved it closed, sealing and locking it.
“Not that way,” he said, turning back to Rhonna. She was already moving in the other direction, searching for another path.
They started crossing the ship to the starboard side. They were almost halfway when the first of the trife emerged from the end of the passageway, coming around the corner and hissing when it saw them. There was another intersection up ahead, or they could run back the way they had come.
But they already knew the armory wasn’t behind them. If they couldn’t survive in here, they weren’t going to last out there. Not without any weapons.
The trife charged. Hayden charged too. He shouted as he closed on the intersection, going slightly past so Rhonna could make the turn.
“If there are any metal doors, go in there,” he said over his shoulder.
The trife reached him. He swung his metal fist, cracking it across the head and killing it instantly. Another was right behind it, and another after that. He grabbed the side of its face, shoving it hard into the next one. They both fell back, knocking a third down with them. Hayden glanced down the corridor.
Rhonna was gone.
He started backing up, following her down the passageway. He didn’t see the door she had ducked into, not yet. He kept facing the trife, hand up and ready to defend. They approached a little more cautiously after seeing the damage he had caused. He was sure another group had broken off and would be trying to get around his flank.
The lead trife decided it was ready to try its luck. It lunged at Nathan. He caught it in midair and flung into the bulkhead. Three more spread apart and charged, one on the ceiling and the other two along the floor. He shifted direction, barreling through them, forcing them to stop and turn around.
