Radioactive Evolution

by Richard Hummel

  Nothing we have seen is deadlier than the worm we killed, and not a single group is larger than the rat horde to cause us concern. Together, they would pose a problem, but clearly, they have no love for each other.

  Scarlet flew to a neighboring lake, but it was completely devoid of the mayhem just a few miles away. Thanking their good fortune, they returned to the battle royale.

  “Head over toward the group of humans. I want to help them. If they want any help, that is.”

  The cluster of humans stuck together, whether from a conscious decision or a base instinct to congregate with their kind, Jared couldn’t say. When he got closer, he noticed many of them were wounded. Some had blood streaming from their ears and nose. Several of them bore signs of burns, their skin a vibrant pink.

  “Oh no, Scarlet! They must’ve been in the radius of the bomb blast.”

  Jared, there is no way we could have known.

  No, I know, but we must find a way to help them.

  While Jared contemplated a way to help the group of survivors, a group of rats charged across the beach. No one reacted until the rats came within a few dozen yards, and Jared wondered if they couldn’t see very far. When the humans saw the rats, several stepped forward, picking up pieces of debris from the ground to use as weapons.

  The rats didn’t hesitate and surged into the group.

  “Go, Scarlet! Drop me close by and take care of the rats furthest from the group. I don’t want to scare them any more than they already are.”

  As soon as she landed, Jared gingerly dropped from her back and drew his phase pistol. Limping and taking care not to exert too much pressure on his injured leg, Jared sighted down the barrel at the attacking rats. One by one he picked them off, the rats’ attention shifting to him. They didn’t get within twenty feet as Jared expertly exterminated them, leaving a dozen smoking corpses.

  Jared holstered his pistol and very slowly hobbled toward the group of humans. He held both of his hands in front of him and called out, “Hello? Can you understand me? Are you okay?”

  No one responded, but he could see several people writhing on the ground in pain where the rats had scratched and bit. Silence greeted him as he neared the group. The forty or so humans stood in a compact circle, their bodies pressed so close they could barely move. When he got within ten feet, the two defenders left holding the makeshift weapons stepped in front of the group and brandished the crude weapons at him.

  He backed up, keeping his hands out in front of him. “I don’t want to hurt you—please lower your weapons. Can any of you speak? I can help with your injuries.” Jared paused, waiting for someone to acknowledge him. Trying a different tactic, Jared fished some bandages from his bag and held them up for everyone to see.

  “Heal?” Still nothing. Sighing in frustration, Jared said, “If you understand me, nod your head?”

  A woman behind the line of defenders placed a hand on the shoulder of the two defenders and stepped forward. She nodded her head in exaggerated movements, showing she understood him. She turned back to the group and met each of their eyes in a silent exchange they each seemed to accept.

  Scarlet, this is creeping me out. Why aren’t they talking? Are they mute?

  I think they might be using telepathy. I thought I heard something when she turned around, but I was unprepared. It vaguely sounded like our language, but it was halted. Broken.

  The woman who stood facing him was beautiful, in an otherworldly sense. She stood at six feet tall, perfect figure, with long raven hair that glistened in the sun. He couldn’t guess her age, or really any of them for that matter. Their skin was flawless, and they all had a look of agelessness to them. If Jared looked past the disfiguration, she was a very attractive woman.

  Ahem. Startled, Jared looked over at Scarlet whose eyes bored into him. You let your thoughts bleed out there.

  Jared’s cheeks flushed red, and he dropped his gaze.

  Sorry.

  Clearing his thoughts, Jared focused and addressed the woman again.

  “You understand the words I’m saying?”

  She nodded.

  Jared smiled and said, “My name is Jared, and this is Scarlet.” He pointed behind him at Scarlet who lowered her head in greeting. The woman’s eyes widened briefly, and she squinted in Scarlet’s direction, then cocked her head again. When Jared really focused on her eyes and the eyes of the group, he noticed they were all a murky white.

  “Can you see her?” Jared motioned to Scarlet again, and the woman shook her head.

  “Scarlet is my friend and companion. She will not harm you, but I’ll warn you now, she’s intimidating,” Jared cautioned. He motioned for Scarlet to come forward. As soon as she was within range of their sight, they all dropped into a crouch and hissed, bearing teeth sharpened to points. Their faces contorted into rage, and their eyes narrowed as they advanced on her with their crude weapons.

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Jared interposed himself between Scarlet and the group of humans. “She is my friend! Back off!” To emphasize his point, Jared brandished his pistol and fired a round at their feet. “Back. Up,” he repeated.

  They stopped advancing but held their defensive positions.

  Scarlet, take a few steps back please.

  Scarlet did as Jared asked, and the posture of the group changed from outright hostility to looks of trepidation, since they could no longer see her.

  “Look, I’ve asked her to give us some space, okay? Scarlet is my companion, that makes us a family. She won’t harm any of you. In fact, none of you would be free right now if not for her. If anyone tries to harm her, I will kill you.” Jared spoke in a deadly calm voice, clearly intimating the dire consequences should anyone not abide by his wishes. “You don’t have to like it, but you will respect it. Do you understand?”

  Most of the group nodded their heads, but a few refused to acknowledge him and let their disagreement show on their face.

  Scarlet, keep an eye on the few who refused to agree. I don’t like the way they are looking in your direction. He didn’t want to risk another confrontation like the Daggers, but if these people refused to heed his warning, it was entirely their fault.

  “Can you speak?” He motioned to his throat and mimed projecting sound from his mouth.

  Cocking her head to one side, she opened her mouth, showcasing rows of needle-like teeth. It was an uncanny sight to behold, and definitely put a damper on her whole alien, exotic beauty vibe.

  Forming her mouth into various shapes, the woman tried to push sound out. At least, Jared thought she tried, but it only resulted in a hacking noise and then a fit of coughing. The woman looked up at him and shook her head.

  “It’s okay. We will find another way. Look, I know you don’t know me or trust me, but I can lead you all someplace safe. These creatures that came after you are smaller than most of the ones that left the lake. Whatever held you captive also held them captive, and now their predatory instincts are driving them to kill anything in their way. Either way, I’ll stay and protect you, but I can’t promise you’ll all survive if we stay. It’d be easier if you come with me. I’ll take you to a place where you can rest and recover.”

  She huddled together with the group and they exchanged silent words, nods, and other body language Jared couldn’t decipher.

  Scarlet, are you getting any of this?

  I think they are discussing whether to go with us, but the words they are using are...disjointed. It is really hard to follow along.

  Jared waited for the group to finish conversing and turned his attention outward.

  “We’ve got incoming. We need to go now!” The same badger-like creatures he’d seen face off against the crocodiles bounded down the beach toward them. They pounced on any poor creature in their wake, sinking their fangs into them and eviscerating them with their sharp two-pronged tails.

&nb
sp; He pointed down the beach, but then realized that the group couldn’t see far enough.

  “There’s a bunch of creatures coming toward us, and they’re killing everything in their path. From the looks of it, they already killed a group of massive crocodiles. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to face off against anything that can do that. Especially not in such an exposed location.”

  A look of alarm passed their features, but just as many frowned in suspicion. Jared realized it’d be a convenient tale to get them to go with him, so he clarified.

  “Look, I’m not lying to you. You don’t have to trust me, but I promise if you stay, some of you will die. Either choice requires a bit of faith. If, after I lead you to safety, you want to strike out on your own, I won’t stop you. You have my word, for whatever that’s worth from a stranger.”

  Again, the group hesitated, clearly uncertain what to do in the situation.

  “Choose now!” yelled Jared.

  Quickly turning back to the group, the woman turned to face him once more and motioned for him to lead.

  “As fast as you can, please follow me. I know you are still unfamiliar with walking again, but try to move as quickly as you can. Please help those that have injuries. I’m recovering from one myself, so I won’t be much help there.”

  Jared hobbled away as fast as his injured leg allowed. Scarlet brought up the rear in case the creatures caught up to them.

  “Keep going,” Jared said, dropping back to help where he could. “Scarlet will guard the rear in case they catch up to us. It looks like we avoided that group of creatures, but we’re still visible from the water, and to any creatures that already ventured out this way.”

  The pace quickened as the...waterfolk plodded forward. The word used in the journal he’d read weeks earlier made a lot more sense now. Granted, Jeff hadn’t seen any of these mutations, but it fit even more after those changes.

  Scarlet was the last to crest a small hill obscuring them from the strange creatures frolicking on the beach. She gave Jared the all clear, and he heaved a sigh of relief, a tension he’d not noticed lifting from between his shoulders.

  “We can slow down now. They’re unable to see us from the beach and there shouldn’t be any more dangers between us and safety.”

  Jared heard exhales from the waterfolk.

  Jared drew up short. He hadn’t heard any of them breathe since they’d left the water. They hadn’t cried out when attacked by the rats. Even now, they weren’t panting from the fast clip they maintained.

  Scrutinizing them, Jared realized no one had their mouths open. It’s possible they were all really good at regulating their breathing through their nose, but Jared suspected that was not the case. They could barely stand, their muscles so atrophied from their time in the water.

  To make vocal sounds, air needed to pass through the vocal cords creating a vibration and then the throat, tongue, and lips formed the approximation of speech. If they used their gills for oxygen, then it stood to reason they’d used their lungs little in the time they’d spent beneath the water.

  Scarlet, I think these people need to learn how to speak again. I heard some of them exhaling after the exertion of the fast walk, and I only noticed it because it was the first time I’d heard it.

  If that stash of boosters approximates unused resources, it is possible they have been underwater for almost a decade, shortly after Igor distributed them. You would know better, given that you grew up in a colony. Is it normal to have that many boosters for a long-standing colony?

  “No, it’s not. We rationed them back home. Sometimes getting so close to the three years that people died. Like my mother.”

  I am sorry Jared. I did not mean to—

  It’s okay, Scarlet. Truly, it is. I’ve come to accept everything. The only feelings I get when I think of it is righteous anger at those responsible.

  If these people really did spend a decade enslaved to that thing… My own experience pales next to what they went through. The torture and sheer helplessness these people endured boggles my mind.

  It will take a lot of time for them to recover, if they ever do.

  A few moments later, Scarlet spoke again. It is possible you found your army.

  Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Jared held up a hand. If they kept any of the memories over the past who-knows-how-many years, they might unravel hearing the truth of the world. They’d go from one prison into another, where the expectation is slave labor to the rich and powerful. That’s not a reality I’d want to force on anyone, let alone people that might’ve spent years as prisoners in their own minds.

  The human mind is an impressive creation, and its resilience is astounding. I would not put it past any of them to want to make the next step in human evolution. Also, they can revert their bodies back to a more…human form.

  I didn’t think about that, I suppose you’re right. I’d want to rid myself of any reminders from the experience. Heck, I’d want to avoid water for the rest of my life. What I don’t get is how a non-human entity controlled them. If this really is one giant science experiment, we need to figure out who is responsible for it.

  We may never know, but I agree. We should spend some time trying to find out. Clearly whatever controlled all these creatures is dead, so it should be safe to resume exploration of the tunnels. You can try to figure out what happened and find out what manner of creature controlled them.

  Let’s get everyone settled in the barn, and then we can talk about venturing out again. I’m still a bit leery about going back in the tunnels after what happened. What if some part of the creature lives on and those vines are still down there?

  I understand. Part of me wants to just leave the area, but I also know the things you found are too valuable to leave behind.

  A short time later, Jared brought the group to a halt and asked everyone to sit down and recover strength before they walked the rest of the way. While they waited, Jared had time to reflect on their situation, and as much as he wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, he decided to exercise caution.

  Hey, Scarlet. I feel really bad for these people, but at the same time, I don’t want to rely on the goodwill of having saved them as a reason to trust them. We’ve had too many brushes with death and close calls lately, and if whatever kept them prisoner somehow transferred its consciousness, or retains some foothold in their minds, I don’t want to risk anything with them.

  Agreed. We will bring them to the barn and assess each of them there. I can hunt and bring back food to help them recover faster. We will learn their whole story in time.

  Sounds like a plan to me, Jared said, rising to his feet.

  “All right, let’s keep moving, everyone. We should be well-enough ahead of the creatures, but no sense taking risks.”

  Jared dropped back a few paces to walk beside the appointed representative of the waterfolk. He told her about their destination and plans to help them recover strength. She nodded in response but remained impassive.

  The attitude almost offended him, but after what they’d been through, she had every right to distrust anyone but her own people. She had an allure about her that intrigued him. The gills, sharp teeth, and webbed hands and feet were strange, but it didn’t diminish her beauty. Her very presence invoked a feeling of strength and determination. It was obvious why she led the people here.

  Every time he glanced her way, a blush crept up his cheeks. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen a naked woman before, but for some reason his pulse started racing when he looked at her.

  Jared felt several pairs of suspicious eyes on him, several directing openly hostile looks his way. Sensing he’d overstepped their comfort level, Jared resumed his position at the head of the group. Jared cast furtive glance over his shoulder and found the woman staring at him, the corners of her lips curled into a smile.

  She reall
y is beautiful, thought Jared, quickly checking to make sure his mental barrier was in place, so Scarlet didn’t tease him.

  A few minutes later they crested a small hill, the barn looming in the distance.

  Scarlet, can you please fly ahead and make sure the coast is clear?

  A few minutes later, Scarlet reported the all clear, and Jared led the group to the building where he opened the giant doors and motioned for them to step inside.

  “Please make yourself comfortable here, but please stay away from the loft,” Jared said and pointed to the ladder. “I have some dangerous equipment up there and it’s safer for everyone if you stay away.”

  The few waterfolk that clearly didn’t trust him narrowed their eyes.

  Shrugging, Jared climbed up and packed everything back into the crate he’d taken from the bunker. They didn’t have to trust him if they didn’t want to. He planned to help them regardless.

  Aside from the two or three directing malevolent gazes in his direction, everyone else appeared at ease, clustered together in silence. Several people found empty stalls along the wall and collapsed in exhaustion.

  The gear put away, Jared settled back to rest, but a light tapping on the ladder drew his attention and he peeked over the edge. The waterfolk leader stood at the base, trying to get his attention.

  “Do you need something?”

  The woman nodded her head and motioned for Jared to come closer.

  Securing his pack in the crate, Jared slid down the ladder, careful not to land hard on his injured leg.

  The move startled her, and she stumbled back.

  Jared’s quick reflexes kicked in and he reached out, catching her hand before she fell backward. The momentary brush of her fingers on his sent shivers up his spine. Her skin was smooth, silky, and cool to the touch. Another blush lit his cheeks on fire, and Jared looked down to hide his face.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Jared apologized.