The Trial of Extinction

by Stan C. Smith

  By the time she made her way over, hundreds of ring-tails had already gathered around the injured lemur, and she was only able to catch glimpses of what was happening.

  “Can you see anything?” Gideon asked as he and others came to a stop beside her. “Is he okay?”

  Infinity shook her head. “No idea.” She moved around the crowd but still couldn’t see.

  The mass of lemurs began moving back toward the village. Infinity glimpsed some of them carrying their injured companion. But then something else caught her eye, and she turned to look. It was another creature, larger than the forest-dwelling ring-tails and with a longer tail of solid brown rather than black and white. It was a city-dwelling lemur. The creature was walking toward Infinity, aiming something dark directly at her.

  She instinctively dropped to the ground, assuming the creature was about to shoot her. The lemur kept coming.

  “That must be one of the documenters of the hunt,” Desmond said loudly. “With a camera.”

  “Dammit!” Gideon said. “He’s already seen us.”

  Infinity saw Terry raise his weapon out of the corner of her eye. Before she could shout for him to stop, she heard a sharp snap as he fired, followed two seconds later by another snap as he fired again.

  The lemur dropped the camera and collapsed onto its back.

  "Well," said Terry, "he ain’t taking that camera back to the city.”

  Infinity jumped to her feet and yanked the gun from Terry’s hands. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  The Marine scowled at her, but then his features softened, and he shot an uncertain glance at the dead city dweller. “I figured it was a good use of my last two rounds.”

  Grayface stepped between Infinity and Terry, his gaze fixed on the fallen lemur. He barked and growled loudly. Infinity’s translator said, “You must leave this place now. Go quickly.”

  “They won’t know we’re here,” Terry said, his voice cracking. “We can just hide the body. They’ll assume he got lost or something.”

  Grayface turned to Terry. “The camera sends images to the city dwellers during the hunt. It is sending images now. The city dwellers already know you are here.”

  Terry’s face went pale. “Shit.”

  Desmond grabbed Grayface’s elbow. “We’re so sorry. What will the city dwellers do to you and your village?”

  Grayface replied, “Nothing they haven’t done many times before. You must go now. Go quickly.”

  Infinity heard something and snapped her head to the side. It was a chittering, mechanical sound, and it was getting louder with every passing second.

  12

  Pursuit

  April 11 - 3:23 PM

  Desmond tripped on something and face-planted in the mud and dead leaves. Pain shot through his face, and he scrambled back to his feet.

  Infinity had come to a stop and was looking back at him with a frown.

  “It’s these pants,” he muttered as he began picking up speed again. “They aren’t well designed for running.”

  “Just keep quiet,” she hissed. “We have no idea what tech they’re using to track us.”

  They ran in silence for about a hundred yards until they reached Gideon and the Marines, who had paused to wait for them. The humans formed a tight circle and stood gasping for air.

  “I’m sorry, guys,” Terry whispered. “I had no idea the camera had a live feed.”

  Infinity shook her head, turned away, and gazed back into the forest. Gideon and the other Marines eyed Terry impassively, showing neither contempt nor support.

  Desmond felt sorry for Terry. The guy couldn’t have been much older than twenty. “The outcome wouldn’t have been any different if you hadn’t shot the creature,” Desmond said. “They’d still know we’re here, and we’d still be running for our lives.”

  Terry nodded slightly but still looked distressed.

  “I still hear them,” Gideon said, his head cocked. “Getting closer. They must be tracking us somehow.”

  Desmond listened. Gideon was right—the chittering vehicles were catching up. The humans had run at least a mile through dense forest, and Desmond now felt completely lost. Grayface had said the city dwellers themselves were poor hunters, but maybe their vehicles could track by thermal signatures or even scents.

  “Well, we can’t keep running,” Infinity said.

  “We could climb the trees,” Gideon suggested.

  Infinity shook her head. “Been treed too many times. Doesn’t end well. Maybe a river or stream. Might lose them walking the stream bed or swimming.”

  Desmond nodded. “Okay, let’s keep going until we find one. If the terrain starts to slope, we head downhill.” Unfortunately, the ground they’d covered so far had been utterly flat, and there was no reason to think any particular direction would be different.

  Infinity didn't waste any more time discussing it—she nodded once and took off again. Desmond and the others followed.

  They ran for another quarter mile or so until they were stopped by a fence. The mesh was similar to that of the enclosure fence they’d climbed through yesterday, and this fence was just as tall. But the top was different, curved outward on both sides, apparently designed to stop climbers coming from either direction. The fence extended through the forest as far as Desmond could see in either direction.

  Vic put his hand on the mesh and pushed, testing its strength. “Must be the border of the ring-tails’ enclosure.”

  “Could be just what we need to slow them down,” Infinity said. She started jogging to the left alongside the fence. “This way. Look for an opening.”

  As Desmond started after her, he could already hear the vehicles catching up again.

  It didn’t take long to find a gap between the fence’s bottom edge and the ground. Although the fence had probably been an impressive barrier originally, the city dwellers obviously hadn’t maintained it.

  As the humans crawled under the fence one at a time, Desmond tried not to dwell on the fact that they were now trespassing into the territory of another species that might be far less friendly than the ring-tails.

  Desmond was the last one through, and the others had already taken off running by the time Infinity pulled him to his feet. The city dwellers’ vehicles now sounded so close that he expected them to come into view at any moment. Infinity whispered something he couldn’t make out and then took off after the others.

  As Desmond ran to catch up, he glanced back and saw them—three multi-legged vehicles, each with two black-clad riders sitting side-by-side. One of the vehicles was already at the fence, and several of its appendages were snapping back and forth in a blur. It was cutting its way through.

  “It’s no use!” he cried to Infinity. “They’re coming through the fence.”

  She glanced back and then turned to the others, who were about forty yards ahead. “Gideon! We have to split up.”

  Gideon turned and looked back. He said something to the four Marines, and they cut to the left while Gideon cut to the right. He then beckoned to Desmond and Infinity. “Come on!”

  They angled to the right, following him.

  Desmond looked back again. It was too late. The city dwellers had spotted them, and now one of the vehicles was barreling straight at them, its mechanical feet flinging leaves and dirt into the air.

  By the time Desmond and Infinity had caught up with Gideon, the machine was nearly upon them.

  The riders, or perhaps the vehicle itself, barked and whistled, activating Desmond’s translator. “Stop. Stop now.”

  Infinity kept running and shot Desmond a look. “They’re too fast. Get behind a tree and keep it between you and them.” She skidded to a stop and ducked behind a thick trunk.

  Desmond joined her behind the same tree. He peeked around the edge just in time to see the vehicle come to an abrupt stop not ten feet away. The two lemurs dismounted immediately, split up, and circled around the tree on either side. They both took up positions about five f
eet from Desmond and Infinity, crouching into the now-familiar fighting stance, with the fingers of one hand pressed against the ground. Desmond’s eyes were drawn to their legs. Their feet were bare, but their ankles were adorned with bands of various colors. One of the two wore a band of yellow with distinct blue markings.

  The lemur with the yellow band chattered rapidly, and Infinity’s translator said, “Do not fight. If you fight, we kill.”

  Desmond sensed Infinity tensing up to attack, and he put a hand on her arm. He spoke to the city dwellers. “We don’t want to fight, and we don’t want trouble. We just want to be left alone. Please, just let us go.”

  The device on his wrist began translating, and the lemurs briefly flicked their eyes from his face to the translator as it converted his words into what he hoped was an accurate translation.

  The now-riderless vehicle stepped into view. It turned and pointed its front end directly at Desmond and Infinity. Desmond wondered how many weapons it was pointing at them.

  The same lemur spoke again. “You come with us now.”

  An angry shout—distinctly human—came from the direction of the Marines, followed by frantic cursing. It sounded like they were under attack.

  “Goddammit!” Infinity growled. She launched herself at the nearest lemur and slammed a fist down onto the creature’s head. She then rolled on the ground with the lemur until the tree was between her and the vehicle. In the process, she somehow managed to get the lemur into a headlock and yank it around until its abdomen was facing Desmond.

  Her eyes met Desmond’s. “Now!”

  He dropped to his knees to ram his fist into the lemur’s throat, but then he heard a loud pop and felt something hit his side. The stuff was wet and sticky, and his arms were entangled in it. He tried to strike the immobilized lemur, but the substance tightened its grip every time he moved. In his peripheral vision he saw the second lemur rushing at him. The creature jump-kicked him in the shoulder, and he tumbled onto his side.

  He struggled even harder to free his arms, but it was no use. He watched helplessly as the lemur who had kicked him stepped casually over to Infinity and stared down at her and her struggling captive.

  She glared up at the creature and tightened her grip, grunting from the effort, threatening to break the lemur’s neck.

  The standing lemur barked at her, and her translator said, “Release now.”

  “Do what it says, Infinity,” Desmond sputtered. “They’ll kill you.”

  She continued glaring up at the lemur for several more seconds, her lip twitching, but then she relaxed her arms. Her captive rolled away and leapt to its feet.

  A split-second later, another pop came from the robot vehicle, and a yellow, softball-sized blob slammed into Infinity’s body. The blob splattered, and stringy goo ensnared her arms. She struggled to free herself, but as Desmond had already discovered, the tiniest threads of the stuff were too strong to break, and they became tighter by the second. Infinity was completely immobilized.

  The lemur she had released crouched with both hands on the ground and stared into her eyes. The creature cooed and whistled softly at her. Her translator said, “You are a fighter. We are glad you are a fighter.” The lemur continued looking at her, apparently waiting for a response.

  Suddenly the creature flopped onto its back, blood spewing from an opening in the side of its head. The other lemur screeched and spun around, looking about frantically.

  This time, Desmond heard the snap of a dart weapon. The second lemur’s legs began spasming before it even hit the ground. The creature landed with a thud and began floundering, its legs trembling against the dead leaves on the forest floor so rapidly that the sound reminded Desmond of a rattlesnake.

  “You two okay?”

  Desmond twisted around until he saw Gideon peering cautiously from behind a tree.

  The lemurs’ vehicle shifted position abruptly to face Gideon.

  A pop came from the robot, and a portion of the tree near Gideon’s head exploded.

  “Shit!” he cried as he pulled back behind the tree.

  The robot took a few steps forward and fired again, blasting more bark and wood from the tree. It moved another five feet closer and shot again, leaving a massive crater in the trunk.

  “I have nine darts left,” Gideon called out. “What’s that damn robot made of?”

  Desmond frowned at Infinity. He then looked at the vehicle. “Not sure. Looks like some kind of plastic. You’re not going to try to—”

  “Yes he is!” Infinity proclaimed. With her arms still stuck to her torso, she struggled to her knees and then to her feet. “Gideon, on my mark!” Before Desmond realized what she was doing, she charged the vehicle from behind and slid into it, kicking two of its three left legs out from under it. “Okay, now!” she cried as the massive machine staggered and almost fell on top of her.

  Desmond saw Gideon stepping out from behind the tree but didn’t wait to see what would happen next. He got to his feet and started running toward the vehicle. Infinity was on her back, kicking at its legs. Desmond slid in beside her and slammed into two of its right legs, causing it to stagger again.

  Desmond heard a thunk, and then two more, as Gideon’s projectiles struck the robot. Desmond and Infinity continued frantically kicking the vehicle’s legs, trying to keep it from regaining its stability.

  Another thunk, and then another.

  The vehicle collapsed onto its side. One of its flailing legs struck Desmond’s shin, sending pain shooting up his leg, and another almost caught him in the face as he and Infinity rolled out of the machine’s reach.

  Lemur vocalizations came from a speaker somewhere on the struggling vehicle. Desmond’s translator said, “You must not damage me. If you damage me, I will kill.”

  Thunk, thunk. Two more projectiles pelted the robot’s body as Gideon fired at it from only a few feet away.

  The vehicle fell silent. Four of its six legs became still. The last two were still moving pitifully, as if trying to walk in slow motion.

  Desmond stared up at Gideon. “I’d forgotten how crazy you are, man.”

  Gideon half-smiled. “Only when I need to be.” He lifted his weapon and eyed the magazine. “Only two darts left.”

  Infinity was struggling to free herself. “A little help here?”

  Gideon kneeled beside her and pulled at one of the sinewy strands of yellow goo. He pulled harder but couldn’t get it to break. “Hold on,” he said. He stepped over to the damaged vehicle, grabbed one of its legs, and inspected the clawed foot. “This looks sharp enough.” He stepped back over to Infinity and looked down at her with his mouth twisted, like he wasn’t sure how to move her. “Sorry about this,” he said. Then he grabbed her collar, dragged her over to the mechanical leg, and began using the claw to cut away the strands binding her arms.

  A few minutes later, most of the severed strands lay in a heap on the ground. Gideon then dragged Desmond into Infinity’s place for his turn.

  Infinity got to her feet and began picking off the remaining severed bits. “I don’t hear anything. If the other city dwellers had killed the Marines, they’d have come after us by now.”

  Desmond got to one knee, rubbing his shin where the vehicle had kicked him—it was definitely sore but didn’t seem to be broken. “Maybe the guys got away and the lemurs are still tracking them.”

  Gideon shook his head. “More likely the lemurs caught them and are now occupied with managing prisoners.”

  “Gideon’s right,” Infinity said. “Here’s the way I see it. We can run and hide, maybe survive a few more hours. Or we can help the rest of our team. We’ll probably get killed in the process. But we have to assume Kitty is still watching us, judging us. Maybe our actions will convince her we’re a worthy species.” She tapped her forehead where the camera was embedded. “You hear that, Kitty? If that’s not enough for you, then you and the rest of your fuzzy-ass kind can go to hell.”

  Desmond frowned at her. “I d
on’t think antagonizing Kitty could possibly—”

  “I don’t care! I’ve had it with this goddamn trial.” She turned and started walking in the direction they had last seen the Marines. “We’re wasting time. We need to get to the Marines before this place is crawling with more city dwellers.”

  Desmond and Gideon exchanged glances and then followed.

  “Hey,” Desmond said as he caught up to Infinity. “You okay?”

  She slid her hand into his and squeezed. “Exhausted. And really pissed. We shouldn’t even be here.”

  “At least we’re here together.”

  She glanced at him, and one edge of her mouth turned up slightly. “For the moment. We could be dead ten minutes from now. Just in case, you know how I feel, right?”

  He studied the side of her face. Underneath all the blood and grime, he could see several old scars, some of which she'd gotten before he met her. She was the only person he’d ever truly fallen in love with. And he knew she loved him, although she wasn’t much for actually saying the words. He formed a vision of the two of them lying on a beach in front of a red, setting sun and projected the image through his arm, into her hand, and up to her mind. He then spoke aloud. “Yeah, I do know,” he said, “and you know I feel the same.”

  Gideon was walking behind them, and he responded to the audible portion of their exchange with a grunt.

  A loud sequence of lemur vocalizations sounded several hundred yards ahead. Desmond paused to listen. “It’s coming from the speakers on one of the vehicles.”

  “They must be talking to the Marines,” Gideon said. “That means at least one of them must still be alive. Maybe we should split up—come at them from different directions.”

  Infinity shrugged. “It’s hard to say without knowing the situation. Let’s see if we can get close enough to make an assessment first.”

  They crept forward, trying to avoid stepping on sticks and dry leaves.

  Soon Desmond spotted one of the vehicles. Only one rider was sitting on it.

  The three humans circled around quietly until they could approach from behind a clump of trees.