Final Days: Escape

by Jasper T. Scott

  Not that it mattered. He hurried inside, leaving the door open behind him for a quick escape.

  Aisle upon aisle of control stations and empty chairs lined the floor. Glowing keyboards sat on the desks, each key marked with a symbol he didn’t recognize. Holographic screens floated above the stations. They showed familiar scenes from the colony: the sections of Eden gleaming silver in the sun amidst undulating crimson fields of grass; the Saints’ residences, soaring high beyond those pieces of Eden from the center of camp; people tilling the earth, walking down rows of growing vegetation; the water treatment plant; the lake...

  Andrew paused, glancing from one station to the next, then at the glowing keyboards. Suddenly the enormity of this task hit him. He had to find some way to use these alien controls to find the information he was looking for. How hard can it be to find a map? he wondered, walking down the aisles once more and glancing quickly from side to side, checking all of the holographic screens.

  When he came to the end, he saw row upon row of illuminated glass tubes, each of them occupied by alien creatures. “What the hell?” Andrew muttered as he stepped up to the nearest tube. The glass was frosted. He placed a palm against it, and quickly recoiled from the glass as it froze his hand. These were cryo tubes. Andrew wondered if the specimens preserved within were trophies of some kind. Maybe Hound fancied himself a big-game hunter, and that’s what he did with his spare time.

  Andrew walked on, moving fast down the rows of illuminated cryo tubes. Finally he came to another control station, this one U-shaped, with walls of glowing monitors around it. A single chair sat reclining in front of those screens, but it was empty. Andrew hurried over to it. This was where Val had said they’d found Hound.

  Glancing up, he saw a variety of video feeds from around the camp. But there was one that stood out: what looked like a satellite map. Andrew picked out a familiar red field with a lake, surrounded by black forests and high mountains.

  There were other valleys visible around it. One of them, the valley directly above theirs, looked much drier, with a minor body of water in the middle, fewer forests and wide-open fields. It was larger, and it lay open at one end. Andrew recognized the brown dome-shaped dwellings that he and Kendra had seen in the neighboring valley.

  His gaze tracked to the valley on the left side of the Eden colony. He thought of that as west. Two more craters pocked the landscape in that direction. One of them was predominately black, possibly from the color of the soil or rocks, and there looked to be a settlement of equally dark structures built in neat grid patterns on the ground. The other valley snaked along beside it between high ridges. It opened up to a long, skinny body of water with unusual spires of rock jutting from the center of it. Broad rivers fed into that body of water from all sides, forming a lush, marshy wetland. Here the grass was green, not red, and the trees were more like a jungle from Earth. An entirely different ecosystem appeared to be thriving just over the west ridge. There were no signs of alien settlements, but he couldn’t be sure what was there, because the edge of the map intersected the rest of the crater.

  Andrew frowned, his gaze tracking lower to the south. Nothing but an empty desert, as far as he could see. And to the east—

  Water. Just as he’d predicted. It was either another, larger lake, or an ocean.

  Andrew scanned the controls on the desk beneath the walls of monitors, wondering if he could figure out how to zoom out that map, or at least scroll it around to gain a better vantage point.

  Before he could do anything, he heard a soft whisper of footsteps approaching. He spun toward the sound.

  And saw an utterly alien creature with big piercing blue eyes, skinny limbs, and pale blue skin. It was hairless, and wearing some type of clinging green jumpsuit. A broad mouth with fat, rubbery lips grinned in a toothless smile, and fins flared out from its neck.

  “What—”

  “Did you have a good look, Andrew?” it asked him in perfect English.

  Andrew blinked and gaped at the creature, too shocked to react. And then it reached behind its back and produced something resembling a small silver flute.

  Andrew reacted on instinct, his rifle snapping up and spraying the creature with a roar of bullets.

  He released the trigger, and the fading sounds of gunshots echoed around the converted cave. Sparks sputtered from a dozen different holes in the creature’s chest. Bright green fluid leaked out in thin, snaking rivulets as it sank to its knees, mouth gaping open. The silver flute fell from webbed, fan-like hands.

  “Who are you?” he demanded.

  A stuttering reply answered him: “You know-ow-ow-ow wh-who-who...”

  And then it fell on its face with a heavy thud that seemed out of place. Andrew ran over to it and rolled it over, grunting with the effort that it took. This thing was heavy. Once he had the creature on its back, he saw that the bullet holes ended in gleaming metal underneath, not bones or alien flesh. He remembered seeing sparks shooting from the creature’s chest, and that was when he finally understood. This was Lewis Hound, or something like him. Another android, but this one had been disguised as an alien species.

  Andrew glanced back at the holographic map at the top of the U-shaped control station, burning the features of it into his memory. As he inspected the disabled android, he spied the flute-like device lying on the floor beside it and snatched it up, being careful to mind the buttons and switches on the sides of it.

  He ran, sprinting for the exit and the long stairwell to the surface. He had to escape before Hound sent another, even deadlier model of android after him.

  ELEVEN

  Kendra

  The day was almost finished, and Kendra had a sinking feeling that Andrew wasn’t going to make it back. She hated the unknown, and wished like hell there had been a way for the pair of them to make the trip together. He was her rock during this tumultuous time, and if she lost him…

  She pressed the thought from her mind, hating that she was spiraling like this when the team needed her the most. With Val and Tony joining the Saints, her sister a husk of her former self, and Andrew gone, Kendra could feel their group drifting apart, tearing at the seams.

  Evan was a constant in her life, but she still wasn’t willing to share any information with those outside their circle. She did feel good with him at her side, though, because he was someone she felt she could trust if the house of cards toppled over.

  Then there was Eric Keller. She had a hard time forgetting his brazen attitude, the look on his skinny face when they’d first landed on the oil rig, how he’d wanted to shove them out of Eden without a second thought. But, the worst of it was… the man had been right with his caution. If they hadn’t entered, Morris never would have taken over.

  She wiped the sweat from her brow, hearing the nightly work-ending alarm carry across the entire colony. As much as she wanted to find out if Andrew was okay, she couldn’t very well go see the doctor now. Eyes were following her. She felt them with every step.

  The crops were sprouting everywhere: potatoes, yams, carrots. It would be months before most of it came to fruition, but Kendra was confident they had enough food growing to really make a difference. Already the drones were assisting a group of fifty colonists, preparing a third immense field for crops across camp. Kendra wasn’t planning on being there to eat the food, regardless.

  A makeshift shed had been erected, using the strange black-barked trees outside camp, and all that remained of the old one Keller had burned down was a black char spot in the grass. She set her tablet and hoe in the proper spot, and smiled at Evan as he did the same. Keller nodded to her as she walked past him, rolling up an irrigation hose on an industrial-sized reel.

  “May I have a moment, Ms. Baker?” Lewis Hound’s voice raised her hackles, and she slowed, letting him catch up to her.

  “I have a feeling you won’t take no for an answer,” she told him.

  He reached for her arm, stopping her. The others gave them a wide berth, and
he dragged her away from the path leading to the mess hall, where the entire camp of non-Saints was heading.

  Lewis Hound spoke in a low voice, full of tension. “Must we play these games? Your sister is a good girl, Kendra. She obeys without question.”

  “You’ll find I’m nothing like Carrie,” she replied.

  “I can see that. Did she speak to you?”

  “She’s my sister. We talk about a lot of things. You’ll have to be more specific.” Kendra could tell she was getting under his skin, or whatever that material was covering his metallic body. It was impossible to tell by looking at him that he wasn’t a human. She had so many questions for him.

  “There’s no need to fight. We can end this, Kendra. You and I. I’d been considering making your sister a leader when everything washes out, but you have some real backbone. I see you working in those fields day in and day out, without a word of complaint. You’re a trooper. Smart. Beautiful.” He moved a hand to her face, and she slapped it away, flinching at the contact.

  “Don’t touch me.” She spoke through clenched teeth, and he only smiled more.

  “See? Work with me. We’ll stop the reverend together. Deal?”

  “What’s the catch?” she asked, knowing full well that there were concessions in any negotiation. His tactics were clear, and she was struggling to play along.

  “Nothing you can’t handle. We’ll have to kill a couple of people, but only because they’re too much trouble. I was hoping this feud would take care of my problem, but it's all moving too slowly. I have other things to do, and want to be done here,” Lewis said, his smile faltering.

  Her stomach clenched. Kill a couple of people. “Who?” She had a good idea.

  He grinned again. “Andrew Miller, Eric Keller, and the good Reverend Mary incarnate.”

  She stepped further from him. “You’re sick.”

  “They’re thorns in my side. Keller knows too much, and you saw him. He’s only working with you now because he has no one else. The moment things change, he’ll be the same vengeful man again. And Miller… he’s unstable. He’ll be your downfall, mark my words,” Hound said as she walked away from him as quickly as she could. “Think on it!”

  She wanted to call him out, to bash her hands into the man’s chest, but it would accomplish nothing. Tears threatened to burst from her eyes, and she willed them to stop. She couldn’t let him win. He was full of it, probably only saying any of that to unsettle her—as if she needed help in that department.

  Kendra arrived at the mess hall, stopping in the entrance to compose herself. She took three deep breaths and walked inside, to see Roland sitting with Carrie and Keller. How much should she tell them?

  “Are you okay?” Carrie asked as she took a seat.

  “I’m fine. I’m just worried about Andrew… being sick and all.” She glanced at Keller.

  “He’ll be good. Probably his stomach revolting at this disgusting slop we’re forced to eat every day,” Eric said loudly enough for everyone to hear. People at other tables around them chorused their agreement.

  Roland was making eye contact, and she wanted a minute to speak with him privately. “Does anyone else wish there was some damned rain at this point?” he asked. “It’s too hot out there. Even working with water, I’m almost dehydrated every day.”

  Kendra felt the tension behind the water-cooler discussion over the weather, but took part, eventually leaving the table to find a spoonful of oats from an older woman in a hair net. Kendra smiled at her, but Natasha didn’t return the friendly gesture. The overall mood around camp was terrible. Even if they did manage to mount a revolt, she didn’t think their side would have the energy to resist.

  Her sister was gone from the table by the time she returned with the sad tray of dinner, and she ate it in four bites, her stomach wanting more.

  Roland nodded toward the exit. “Looks like Carrie wants your attention.”

  Carrie’s eyes were wide, her mouth pursed in a straight line. “I better see what this is about.” Kendra rose and the others followed. The sun was setting outside, and she peered toward the direction of Eden Six.

  “I knew we should have gotten the stash of weapons first,” Roland whispered in her ear.

  “What is it?” Kendra asked her sister.

  “Valeria. She’s at Eden Six, banging on the doors. She wants to see her father,” Carrie said.

  “Damn it.” Kendra started forward, resisting the urge to make a full-on sprint to Hartford’s section. Andrew wasn’t inside—at least, she didn’t think he was—and this could blow everything up.

  The trip was short, and before arriving she spotted Val at the entrance of Eden Six, shouting for Tom to open up. As expected, Reverend Morris stood behind her, arms crossed, a sardonic grin on her face. Eve and Arthur flanked her, each with guns in their grips.

  “Val, he’s sick. What are you doing here?” Kendra asked as calmly as she could. Tony was here too, hanging a short distance back. He looked scared.

  Val turned to Kendra, eyes red. “I want to see my father. I don’t believe you. He’s not sick, is he? You did something to him.”

  “Me?” Kendra asked.

  “That’s right. Dad! I need to see you!” Val called, palms slapping on the exterior of the Eden station.

  Kendra jogged to Val, pulling her into a hug. “Stop it, Val. Your dad’s going to be fine.”

  Tom took the chance to exit the medical bay, standing on the deck outside the doorway. He sealed it closed again, and a quick glance from him told Kendra that Andrew hadn’t returned yet. “Your dad is recovering. He’s sick, but might be dangerous to others. I don’t think it's contagious, but since we are a small close-quarters colony, we can’t take any chances.”

  “I need to see him.” Val’s voice was a fraction of its volume now, the bluster gone. Her shoulders relaxed as she melted into Kendra’s embrace. Kendra stroked the girl’s hair, softly telling her that everything would be okay.

  “I think we do have the right to see Mr. Miller, don’t you, Arthur?” Morris asked, suddenly directly behind them. “After all, John is missing, and he was assigned to guard this section last night. I, for one, would like to see for myself that Miller is still here.”

  Arthur frowned, the 9MM looking far too comfortable in his grip. “As you said, Mary. I agree. Bring out Miller.” He lifted his arm, aiming at the doctor.

  Kendra’s heart hammered in her chest, and she let Val go.

  “This isn’t a good idea,” Tom said, his hands up at his chest.

  The sun dipped below the treeline and the distant mountain ridges, and everything grew darker in the blink of an eye. Where was Andrew? Kendra couldn’t hear anything but her own breath for a moment, and the next she thought she heard something click behind the Eden station. Tom had told them about the rear entrance that none of the other stations had. It was for quarantine purposes, but Morris wouldn’t have been aware of it.

  “It’s fine,” Kendra said, hoping to hell that was Andrew. “Let’s bring them in.”

  Tom’s jaw dropped, but he nodded along. Obviously he hadn’t heard the other door close, which meant it might not have happened. He unlocked the door, and Arthur went in first, gun raised. Morris ushered Val inside, and Kendra followed them, moving for the patient room Andrew had escaped from. She held her breath as Hartford’s shoes clicked against the hard floor.

  He opened Andrew’s door, and everyone went totally silent.

  “What are you all looking at?” Andrew asked. He was in a fresh jumpsuit, and Kendra glanced at the floor where a filthy one sat in a heap. His skin was red, sweaty, which made the deception even better.

  “Dad!” Valeria shouted, and he stepped toward his daughter, before the reverend stopped her short.

  “Close the door. He’s in quarantine, remember?” Morris left, Arthur lingering for a moment, staring at the doctor, then at Kendra.

  A few seconds later, they were alone on the ramp as Eden Six’s main entrance slid shu
t.

  TWELVE

  Andrew

  Andrew lay flat on his back in a trampled patch of prickly red grass underneath a rover. He turned a socket wrench to reassemble the undercarriage after servicing the suspension and repairing a leak in one of the coolant lines. Was this the same rover that Val had hidden in when Carrie and Keller went searching for Hound’s underground control center?

  Andrew grimaced, blinking sweat out of his eyes at the memory of the place he’d found beneath that pond on the other side of the lake. He’d barely made it back from the lair alive, and Hound had caught him on the way out. That amphibian alien had turned out to be yet another avatar for whatever the hell Hound was.

  The question was, if Hound knew that he’d sneaked out and broken into his hideout, then why hadn’t he done something about it? Andrew kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, but so far the guy had stayed locked in Eden Five, and hadn’t said a word to anyone about the incident.

  Maybe it wouldn’t change things. Maybe Hound didn’t care that Andrew had broken in. His mind wandered from there to Val. She’d been acting normal enough when he’d seen her at Eden Six, but there’d been a glassy look in her eyes that he didn’t like. Roland was right. Morris was drugging them. Andrew gritted his teeth, thinking about the guns he’d hidden at the edge of camp: John’s M4 carbine and the revolver Kendra had left for him.

  Last night he’d told Kendra and Roland what he’d seen on the map in Hound’s place, just in case something happened to him. He’d mentioned that the valley to the west was their only real option for an escape. Kendra had asked him when they were going to make the trip, but he didn’t have an answer for her yet. He couldn’t imagine leaving while Val was still an unwitting member of Morris’ cult.

  Andrew finished his repairs to the rover and lowered his arms, staring sightlessly up at the underside of the vehicle. Would Val even want to go with him and Kendra now that she was under Morris’ influence? Or would he have to drag her away, kicking and screaming?