Flux Runners

by William Joseph Roberts

  “Chief! Wait,” Rachel called out.

  Doug sprinted to where the figure lay sprawled on the hard-concrete floor. Doug grabbed the figure by the arm as he arose, helping him to his feet.

  “What? Hey, let me go. Get your grubby dick beaters off of me,” Chief argued.

  “Are you really John Thomas? I mean, the John Thomas,” Rachel asked excitedly asked, rolling herself forward.

  The Chief's eyes grew wide at the sight of his jacket in Doug's hand. “That is my property you thieving bastard! Hell, it's really my only property. Give it back!”

  “So, you're the elusive Chief that’s been busting our balls all of these years,” Doug asked.

  “Did you really drag that pirate ship through Saturn's rings during the Titan station rebellion? How did you survive the core failure during the Oort cloud mission?” Rachel pushed Doug to the side so she could see the Chief.

  “Shit, you're one of those crazy chicks, aren’t you?” The Chief panicked, flailing about as he attempted to break free from Rachel’s grip.

  “Rachel, calm yourself,” Doug said.

  “But Cap, what about a first-hand account of the Demios run, or the infiltration mission that the Chief and crew of the Eagle did into Phosphor station,” she excitedly said.

  “Rachel, enough!”

  “But Cap,” she whimpered.

  “Enough,” he said with an exasperated huff.

  “You wait,” he warned, then turned back to the Chief. “May I buy you a drink, Chief? Or should I call you, Commander Thomas?”

  A look of disbelieving confusion contorted the Chief's face. “Why in the hell would you wanna do that?”

  Doug smiled a knowing smile. “Seems to me that's the least that I could do for you, considering the number of times that you've saved our asses.”

  The Chief licked his lips at the thought. “Tell ya what. Keep the crazy lady away from me and you've got yourself a deal.”

  Doug turned back to Rachel. “Hey, Cheezy. You know I love ya, but go away for now and fuck off.”

  cHAPTER 53

  Sarin star system

  Unknown Alien Space Station

  September 18th, 2176 / Morning (Dragon time)

  “I

  f I were a betting man, I'd bet that from the sound of that hum, there must be enough electromagnetic radiation in this room to be a health hazard to the people in it,” Trae blandly said.

  Blue phosphorescent lights wavered back and forth at a slow rhythmic pace throughout the compartment.

  “But isn’t that the point of a decontamination chamber? Kill anything that might be on you before you can enter a station,” Big Willy said.

  “Oh, shoot,” Janey sputtered, frustratedly. She dug into the depths of her field medics satchel bag, its edges worn and stained from years of fieldwork. “I hadn't even thought about that possibility. If anyone notices any signs of radiation poisoning, notify me and get back to the ship immediately so that I can treat you.”

  Trae turned to the doctor with a questioning look. “Why would we need treatment for radiation?”

  “We have no idea about this station or any other species that may be here,” Janey said. “Didn't you say that there were at least fifteen different designs of ships that you counted docked at the starport?”

  “Yeah, so?”

  “Well there ya go, that's fifteen different alien species from fifteen different alien worlds and fifteen possible risks that we know nothing about,” Janey pointed out.

  Jets of steam like air burst into the room from ports mounted along the arched bulkheads of the chamber. Air hissed through airlock seals as the inner hatchway door released and opened into a long hallway like area.

  Big Willy stepped cautiously through the open portal. “Damn, this reminds me of being put through a police lineup,” he said, pointing at the mirrored wall to his right that ran the full length of the room.

  “Fuck it, I'm done. I need out of here.” Andy rushed into the long chamber, pushing past Big Willy. He rushed to the opposite doorway at the opposite end of the room, looking for a release.

  The rest of the crew fell into line behind Big Willy in single file and stopped then habitually turned to face the mirrored wall. Denise stretched her foot through the doorway, carefully tapping at the floor of the long chamber.

  Willy leaned forward to look past the others toward Denise. “What in the hell are you doing?”

  “Something just doesn't smell right about this place,” Denise fussed. “I don't trust it. Like...it feels like there should be some sort of booby trap or something in this room and I'm going to be the one lucky enough to roll a fumble and set the damned thing off.”

  “Really?” Trae said, shaking his head.

  “But what if this is just some sort of elaborate trap that the aliens use to capture unsuspecting food,” Denise said.

  “Let's go already, Andy,” Fergus shouted down the line. “What the hell man, you haven't figured out how to open the freaking door yet?”

  “Did she just say that this was a trap?” Andy frantically dug at the edges of the door.

  “Seriously,” Denise said. “This doesn't scream trap to any of the rest of you?”

  Willy clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. “Just get in here already!”

  “Fine!” Denise stepped through the portal and the hatchway slammed shut behind her. Locking mechanisms engaged with the sound of metallic clanks and bumps.

  “See? No one ever listens to me,” Denise said. “What the hell did I tell all of y'all? Now we'll be bagged, tagged and anally probed.”

  “But why would they trap us? They've seemed friendly enough so far,” Jenny said.

  Amanda buried her head into Janey's bosom like a scared child.

  Trae burst out into uncontrollable laughter, rubbing his temples. He started to clap as he fought to catch his breath. “Oh my God...this is so freaking amazing...truly amazing,” he said between gasps and chortles.

  Casraownan started at the large man. His whiskers twitched with what looked like anxious uncertainty.

  “Oh, hell no,” Andy declared. “Ain't no one gonna be probing me with anything, dammit!” He pounded on the door.

  “Shut up! Everyone just shut the fuck up,” Willy bellowed. “And you,” he pointed with a thick, meaty finger down the chamber toward Denise. “You especially, keep your mouth shut or so help me I'll help them with the probe by sticking my boot up your ass!”

  “What the hell? That's my line,” Jenny fussed.

  Big Willy glared at the linguist and jabbed his meaty finger in her general direction. “Don't you even start with me!”

  The long, mirrored wall suddenly went transparent. Two of the blue-tinted possum like aliens looked back at the crew. One held up the golden record and pointing excitedly at the disk. The other tapped away at the controls of a large control console, its lips moving in silent conversation.

  Casraownan knelt down and curiously watched the blue creatures. His head tilted slightly to the side as he intently watched their every action.

  “Aw hell, that ain't good,” Denise said. “He looks way too happy for this to be a good thing for any of us.”

  Willy's eyes flared with anger. “That's it! Let me out of this thing,” he roared. He pounded his massive fists against the transparent wall.

  Trae fell to the floor, uncontrollably convulsing with laughter.

  Andy began to pry at a cover panel next to the door with a plier-like multi-tool.

  Jenny huddled in close with Janey and Amanda.

  “Well, I guess there's no going back now,” Denise said, then began to casually strip off her clothing.

  The two possum-like aliens stared back through the transparent wall. Their brows furrowed with what looked like an expression of disbelief at the chaos inside the chamber. The blue-tinted creature holding the golden disk glanced at the other and shrugged. It flipped open a small yellow access cover that sat on the top of the control console and concea
led a large red button. Its lips moved as it spoke to the other possum-like creature, then reaching forward it pressed the large red button. A yellowish blue mist hissed into the long, mirrored chamber. The actions of the crew slowed as they each drunkenly slumped to the floor as they succumbed to the effects of the tinted gas.

  cHAPTER 54

  Unknown

  A manda opened her eyes to near darkness. A light blue hue emanated along the edge of the nearly square ceiling. The cold permeated her body from the smooth plastic surface that she lay upon.

  “Um...hello?” She sat up slowly, careful to otherwise be as silent as a mouse. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “Okay…, there must be an explanation for this,” she whispered to herself. “We were in a hallway with a mirrored window, and now I'm here.” She hiccupped a breath as she fought back a panic attack, forcing herself to take slow, deep breaths. “I can do this...I can do this,” she told herself.

  Carefully, she slid one foot from the cold surface to the floor where she tapped the tip of her boot, testing the distance from where she sat. She slid her hand along the edge of the bed-like shelf, tapping it with her fingernail. The distinctive tap, tap, tap of plastic returned to her ears. Slowly, she slid down from her perch and began to shuffle about in the dark dimness of the room. She felt about for anything like a light switch or door handle.

  “Oh, that feels different,” she said as she groped about. “That feels like it might be a button,” she mumbled, then pressed the detented area. Light flashed across a large part of the wall as the room filled with the glow of blue incandescence. The image of what looked like a massive warehouse with bins overflowing with tentacled things appeared on the screen.

  “Come on down to the Ryloprime discount Grig house. You’ll find Griglings of all sizes fresh from the Rylosian badlands to pick from,” said an unseen announcer.

  The image shifted to that of a large flesh-colored worm-like creature with tall eye stalks. Six tentacle appendages extended from beneath a heavy robe type garment. Amanda watched with fascination as the creature tossed what she thought was a Grigling into a bin full of other lethargically slithering forms.

  “Fresh Griglings caught daily! With only the choicest cuts of grig fat from the previous day's catch. All customers that purchase twenty or more Carnacks earn the chance to spin the wheel for a free choice cut of the day's special!”

  The image shifted to another worm-like creature dressed in a long flowing cape that sparkled as it spun a large game show-style wheel.

  “Come on down to warehouse row in Ryloprime right now for the freshest catch in thirty parsecs.”

  The salesman ripped the head off of a Grigling with its rows of needle-like teeth and spit the stripped piece of flesh to the ground.

  “Trust me, you'll love it, and thank me later!”

  The figure winked and gave what looked like the tentacle alien equivalent of a thumbs up, then turned up and sucked the juicy innards from the neck stump of the Griglings tiny, limp body.

  The image shifted to an aerial view of a packed stadium. The crowd cheered and chanted.

  “There it is! The score that we've been waiting for all season, Chip! Twenty-two Sarlcs in one charge through the midfield defenses. Flox Deb has completely decimated the opposition this season and left none of the opposing team's defensive line standing.”

  “So true Gleb, So true,” Chip, the other announcer agreed. “None of the visiting team look to even be breathing at this point. There are twelve skects left on the clock. There's still a chance, but I highly doubt they could pull it off!”

  “That's exactly it, Chip,” the odd, orange and blue salamander-like figure said with a laugh as it appeared on the screen.

  “Oh, it looks like the officials have made a ruling. Wait. What’s this? Yes,” Chip, the redish salamander-like creature said excitedly. “This just in from the officials. Yes indeed, it is official. Flox Deb has slaughtered the entire santarian team single-handedly, Gleb! This match is officially over!

  “Maybe not Chip. Flox Deb does not look happy. What's this? Oh no, he's...he's turned on his own teammates, Chip. Flox Deb is not finished, ladies and gentlemen! He has turned on his own team and...Ohhhh!”

  Both announcers cringed at the image on their screen. The display shifted, pushing the announcers into a corner of the screen while the main camera view zoomed in on a massive gray creature in a blue and yellow uniform with thick black horns that curled backward from the front of its head. It kicked the crushed corpse of one teammate out from underfoot then captured two others. It easily lifted the two smaller team members and smashed them into one another. Orange ichor splattered the massive being and oozed to the blue manicured field.

  “That had to hurt, Chip.”

  “Indeed Gleb, indeed,” Chip agreed. “But not as much as the spear through the officials head. That is not going to go well with the gaming commission.

  Golden blue Warning lights flashed as alarm klaxons exploded throughout the stadium.

  It looks like...yes, Gleb. They have issued an evacuation order for the stadium and the containment squad has been activated.”

  “The producer is urging us to go to break ladies and gentlemen. We will be right back with the results and the takedown of Flox Deb, after these words from our sponsors.”

  Amanda wiped a tear from her cheek. “What the hell is wrong with the universe?” She turned away from the screen and easily spotted the door on the far wall. She pressed a glowing blue button mounted in the frame of the doorway. It slid open to reveal a corridor in painted in shades of white. The five burning stars of the system were clearly visible through the clear paneled wall of the curving corridor.

  “Hey! Watch where you're going,” a robotic voice squelched from the floor.

  Amanda glanced down, looking for the source of the voice. “Oh my God! What...what the hell is that!” She quickly stepped back into the doorway as a squat, fleshy creature turned toward her. It had a soft and generally triangular in shape. Three tentacles protruded from the corner of each pastey pink lobe. Jagged mandibles surrounded by smaller manipulating tentacles dominated the squarish side that faced her. Six beady black dots that must have been eyes protruded slightly from either side of the mandibles.

  “I said to watch where you're going,” the robotic voice said. It whipped a tentacle in her direction, striking her on the side of the calf.

  She stared in befuddled disbelief as the creature continued down the corridor. Another alien, roughly four-foot-tall with a fish-like mouth, hummed a tune as it approached. Its eyes were large dark orbs and its ears looked more like a fish fins than ears. It smiled wide, showing off a mouthful of thick squarish teeth.

  “Good morning. How are you?” It nodded. “I don’t believe that I have encountered your species before.”

  Amanda stared, unblinking, then nodded back. “Um...good...I suppose.”

  The alien stopped. Its smiled turned to a look of concern. “Are you in need of assistance? You do not look well,” it said.

  “I'm...I'm not quite sure yet,” Amanda stammered. “I arrived with friends, but I just woke up in this room.”

  “Ahhhh,” the alien said with a gurgled. “Your companions maybe be at the bar, just down the corridor and to the left,” it said, pointing in the direction it had come from. “You can’t miss it. Just look for the compartment with all of the noise and lights.”

  “Um...thank you for your help,” Amanda said.

  Its large, fin-like ears perked up as it smiled an inhuman smile. Its large square teeth protruding from its retracted fish-like lips.

  “It was my pleasure.” The alien bowed slightly. “My name is Kissack, should you again require my assistance.”

  Amanda slowly backed away, with a curt nod she turned and quickly went in the direction that the alien had pointed. Turning the corner at the end of the corridor, she stood before a doorway to another world. A menagerie of creatures filled the room; dri
nking, socializing, and chattering within the large, semi dark room. Flashing artificial light of video screens sickeningly illuminated portions of the room.

  “You must be looking for your friends,” a soft voice said from behind her.

  Amanda turned to find a tall, slender, and unmistakably female being standing behind her. She was dressed in transparent strips of silk-like material that attached to the collar and belt that she wore. She was a purplish pink-hued humanoid with a triangular nose and prominent cheek ridges that continued to the edges of her nose.

  “It's alright,” the alien assured her. “No one is going to hurt you here. Are you looking for others like yourself?”

  “Yes...yes, I suppose...” Amanda reluctantly stuttered.

  The alien female smiled widely. “Please, follow me. I'll show you where they are.” She continued into the establishment, her silken strips floating about her as she walked. They passed by dozens of alien creatures gathered about the bar who were occupied by the overwhelming number of video screens displaying strange sporting events. She led Amanda around the massive bar that took up the center of the room to the farthest corner of the compartment.

  Andy twisted and pulled at something behind Denise's left ear with his trusty multi-tool. “I will return shortly with a complimentary house special to commemorate your first visit to the Vespa. Please enjoy your stay,” the alien female said.

  “Can't you go any faster?” Denise complained.

  “I just can't quite get at it,” Andy said.

  “Well then either get it or quit already. It freaking hurts.”

  “Hang on,” Andy said with a quick twist. “I've got it! Hold on. I just have to get it out of you, now.” He placed his knee against Denise's shoulder and pulled.

  “You Goddamn asshole!”

  “Almost there!”

  An audible sucking pop overshadowed the noise of the bar as the implant pulled free. Andy flew backward and sprawled onto the floor.