“Looked like,” Reece corrected. “Looked. That temple’s ancient. Whoever built it hasn’t done any looking in a long time.”
“Then why do I suddenly feel like a thousand eyes just turned our way?” Razak said as a sharp wind buffeted the cargo hold. Razak shivered.
“Just as they look at you, you will look upon them,” Aleksi hissed. “You will see them soon.”
“One more word,” Commander Blake growled. “Just one more word, give me a reason. I promise, I’ll shoot you somewhere that does permanent damage.”
“It’s just your mind playing tricks,” Nori said to Razak. “There’s no one watching. My guess is that temple is upwards of a hundred thousand years old. The rock looks to be granite, one of the most durable substances on the planet. Scientists back at home predict if every last human was wiped out tomorrow, the presidents’ faces carved into the granite on Mount Rushmore would be the last indication humans ever existed. Even they’d be gone after a few hundred thousand years.”
“I saw this thing once that said the Hoover dam would be the longest lasting thing.”
“No,” Nori replied. “The Hoover dam might last tens of thousands of years, beyond most manmade structures, but concrete will never come close to the lifespan of mountains, especially ones made of granite. If humans stopped existing tomorrow, even cities would vanish within a thousand years. Everything, glass, steel, brick, would be broken down into their elemental states and become scattered to the four winds. Whatever this place is, it’s old enough to make the span of advanced civilization in our time look like the blink of an eye. This could be the last remaining evidence of the civilization that built it. They could have gone extinct over a hundred thousand years ago, everything else turned to dust long ago.”
“When people back home find out about this, dinosaurs are gonna seem pretty workaday,” Scarlet said. “We’re looking at evidence of intelligent life, prehistoric, pre-prehistoric, even pre-pre that. This is huge.”
“The religious people are gonna freak,” Fang added.
“I’m still more interested in what they looked like,” Razak said. “Why am I the only one focussed on that? Whatever or whoever made this would probably look like something out of a nightmare to us.”
“The video transmission we picked up in space was fuzzy, you couldn’t see much,” Reece said, “but I thought they looked kinda like fish. The image only flashed up quickly. It was hard to tell.”
“You have a fricking video?” Razak said, his eyes widening as he stared at Reece in dismay. “I thought we only had a signal, like audio? What the… how are we only hearing about this now?”
“I asked the information be held until we had confirmation something was down here,” Commander Blake said, shaking his head at Reece. “The signal could have been coming through the star portal. There was no use getting worked up until we knew for sure what we were dealing with.”
“Well, we know now don’t we?” Razak said, bristling with incredulity. “We definitely know about the religion crushing fish people now.”
“Take a chill, Raz,” Molotov said, placing a meaty paw on the man’s shoulder. “They’re long gone, it’s just a signal, brother.”
“Even if it is, it’s just… aliens man, these are basically aliens.”
“If this is the last remaining piece of evidence of a civilization that passed into extinction,” Nori speculated. “My best guess is we’re looking at an ark, a structure built to stand the test of time, like the underground seed vaults in Norway, or the knowledge vaults deep underground in salt mines across China and America. We’ll only know for sure once we get inside.”
“Get inside!” Razak said, his voice rising in pitch. “You can’t be serious. Let’s just take some pictures and leave. You’ve seen Aliens, right, with the facehuggers?”
“Caution is always wise,” Nori said, “but if there is anything unpleasant inside, it’s not going to be metabolically active. It won’t be searching for food. Any advanced lifeforms would have starved long ago. Whatever’s in there isn’t going to be alive and roaming around in any meaningful way. There might be nasty things in containers, but nothing that can hurt us unless we’re careless.”
“That happened in Aliens, in the prequels, vases with nasty stuff in. Prometheus, anyone? That’s the exact plot of the movie. It’s happening, someone, please, back me up here.”
“Don’t worry, Razak,” Commander Blake said. “You don’t have to go. I needed someone to stay back and guard the jet anyway. You’ve made the choice easy. Thank you.”
“Oh, hell no. No way, sir. You can’t leave me with him,” Razak said, motioning towards Aleksi, who was grinning abysmally. “Look at him, I mean seriously, the guy’s full nuts. He freaks me out with all that wrath of God stuff. I’ll take facehuggers and fish people over him any day.”
“Relax, you won’t be alone. Molotov will be keeping you company. Enough, shut it!” Commander Blake said, holding up a hand to silence Molotov, who was revving up to speak. “We don’t have enough seats on the fuel tank and we need people back here to guard the jet. We can’t all go. We’ll rotate the frontline if there are follow up trips.”
“About the fuel tank…” Reece began.
“Don’t give me your problems, Reece. Dump the excess water. We’ll still have two reserve cells remaining, more than enough to get home three times over.”
“Sure, I know, but to be on the ultra-safe side…”
“No buts. I don’t need backchat, I need action. Step to the beat, people. The sooner we do this, the sooner we leave. Reece, dump the water and bring the fuel tank round back. We need to get to the target before our decoy loses power. Begin your prep people, mittens, hats and guns. Scarlet, Fang, get Aroon’s horse programmed to Molotov and buttoned up. We’re leaving in fifteen.”
Fracture
R ealizing arguing with Commander Blake was a losing battle, Reece made for the cockpit to dump the excess water and uncouple the fuel tank. He passed Molotov, who was elbowing off Schweighofer. Reece eased into the galley, narrowly avoiding being clubbed by Molotov’s mallet-like elbow as he tore away from Schweighofer’s pawing hands.
“I can’t believe you’d say that. It’s what I deserve?” Molotov said, continuing to evade Schweighofer’s attempts at reconciliation. “So what, you think I was disrespecting the memory of Fox and Roo? That’s so messed up. That’s so wrong, I can’t... just… I can’t believe you’d say that. Damn girl! That’s cold.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” Schweighofer said, her look becoming thunderous. “And don’t you dare accuse me of that. I meant about stepping up, about taking Aroon’s horse. I’ve never seen you shirk responsibility. Don’t create some delusion. That’s in your head, not mine.”
“Delusion? No, that’s exactly what you said. It’s what you deserve, that’s what you said. Your words, not mine.”
“No, I said, you probably deserved it. And if you’d cool off and step back, you’d probably agree.”
“Oh, probably, like that changes everything. Probably, let’s all use probably as a defense. Easy as that. So, I have to stay here babysitting Mr, so insane he’s one thought away from thinking Kleenex boxes would make great winter shoes, as you all go off and open some extinct civilization’s time capsule, whilst I have to sit here worrying? For what? Come on, tell me? How’s that what I deserve?”
“I can’t talk to you when you’re like this, there’s no getting through,” Schweighofer said, expelling an exasperated sigh, then striding towards the loading ramp, metal panelling clanking underfoot as she stormed. “So much for someone who usually oozes charm. I guess that’s the problem, it’s all oozed out. I hate it when you’re like this.”
“When I’m like this, what about when you’re like this? That’s it princess, keep on walking, perhaps there’s an ice castle out there to match that frozen heart. Sometimes I don’t get you, I really don’t.”
“You’re the one being a massive di
ck!” Schweighofer yelled back at him. “And don’t you dare say what I think you’re about to.”
“Only because you know it’s true, sweetheart,” Molotov shouted back. “Yeah, you know it.”
“Uh, oh, ice berg dead ahead,” Fang quipped.
Schweighofer had stopped walking. She was turning slowly to face Molotov, her face distorted with incredulous fury. Molotov took a step back and grimaced, as though he’d just watched a YouTube video of someone doing something incredibly stupid and wounding themselves incredibly badly.
“Smell ice can ya?” Scarlet chuckled to Fang, her laughter faltering under the scrutiny of Schweighofer’s burning glower. “Right, understood, not getting involved,” she said, returning her attention to the datapad linked to the warhorse.
Schweighofer closed her eyes and exhaled. She splayed her fingers and tamped down the air around her, as though using a Zen technique to dispel her rage. She then calmly headed outside in the manner of a person strolling into the joyful bounties of a summer meadow in full bloom. Mid cargo hold, Scarlet noticed another heated conversation brewing between Commander Blake and Razak.
“We all have to take turns staying back,” Commander Blake was saying, his demeanour suggesting he was applying considerable effort to remain calm. “There’s not enough seats, what exactly are you struggling to understand?”
“There are six free seats in the fuel tank and four warhorses. That’s ten seats,” Razak said, holding his fingers up to demonstrate the number ten. “And, oh, that’s right, there are ten of us. We can all go. It’s basic math, sir. And you say what am I struggling to understand?”
“No, there are eleven of us,” Commander Blake said, motioning to Aleksi. “There’s no way I’m leaving him here alone. We’re a long way from home and this jet’s our only means of getting back. We can’t exactly phone triple A if we get a flat. So, I, no we, need two people and two war horses guarding this jet at all times. It’s as important as it gets, Razak. I can’t overstate the importance of the safety of this jet. This isn’t a lesser assignment.”
“He’s tied up, what’s he gonna do? We’ll only be a few hours. Come on, don’t be ridiculous. He’s…”
Commander Blake’s hand shot from his waist and clamped around Razak’s throat. Razak froze, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Enough!” The Commander roared. “I swear to god, Razak, all you’re being is oil on flames. Do I need to continue running the reasoning behind my orders past you for approval? Is that how this works now?”
Razak gave a slight shake of the head, his eyes heavy with resentment.
“Look,” Commander Blake said, releasing his grip and shaking his hand, crease lines furrowing his brow, “I’m s… just do what I say, Razak. Can you just follow orders? Will you let me do my job to get you all home in one piece? Can you help me do that?”
“Copy, sir, orders received loud and clear,” Razak said, mechanically standing to attention then falling out and trudging in the direction of Molotov and Hadley.
A wave of pained anguish crossed Commander Blake’s face. He rubbed his forehead harshly and his chest deflated in a silent sigh. After a moment, he manipulated the hand he’d throttled Razak with and turned to Scarlet, who looked away and hastened her work on the warhorse.
“How’s it coming, have you patched the uplink to Molotov’s nanos?” Commander Blake asked.
“If you give me…” Scarlet said, typing fast, “three more seconds and it’ll be… just about… link complete. It needs a test though.”
“Thank you. Molotov?” The Commander called across the hold. Molotov lifted his chin affirmatively. “Get over here and test the connection. If you’re happy, send the horse outside and set it to sentry.”
Molotov nodded. He gave Razak a consolatory thump on the arm and headed over. Commander Blake went to join Nori, who was examining the screens displaying images of the mysterious temple. Some of the drones were investigating the golden inlays on and around the great door, one of which looked suspiciously like a map of the solar system.
“Man,” Fang whispered to Scarlet when the Commander was out of earshot. “Have you ever seen him lose it like that? He just strangled Raz!”
“Once or twice, but never with the good guys,” Scarlet replied, closing the panel on the warhorse and pressing an electric screwdriver to the top right corner. “I feel like… it’s hard to explain… like there’s this edginess suddenly. It’s like this place is getting inside my head, you don’t feel it? Molo and Schweighofer arguing. They never do that. He normally dotes on her like a bear protecting honey. Her giving him crap also? Like, she doesn’t do that.”
“Ach, we’re all feeling it,” Fang brushed off. “We just lost two friends and haven’t had a chance to decompress. Normally we get to go home to mourn in peace, toast farewell under the sunset with a bucket of the strongest drink we can find. Everyone’s just fried. We’ll be home soon. It’ll ease off, you’ll see.”
“I hope so,” Scarlet said, securing the final screw. “And hell yeah to that drink. How about we have a quiet one when we get back. We can go back to that place in the Maldives.”
“Hell yeah!” Fang said, smiling warmly and closing her eyes. “I can already feel the sand and waves on my feet. Mmmmm, yeah, that’s nice.”
“Mine’s a triple moonshine strong enough to put hair on my teeth,” Molotov said, slapping a hand down on the warhorse’s metal hide. “This puppy good to go?”
“Should be, take her for a spin and let’s see,” Scarlet replied.
As per his training, Molotov concentrated on using the microscopic nano implants in his brain to communicate with the machine, which whirred as he tested each leg in turn. He then instructed the machine to lurch up and bounce to a two-legged standing position, pistons hissing. Molotov marched the robot towards the loading ramp, beyond which Schweighofer was walking circles in the snow, kicking it up as she went. He instructed the machine to walk around her and get down on one knee. The nanos attached to his optic nerves fed his visual cortex with an image of Schweighofer, who raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. She kicked the metallic giant in the shin and stormed away, her huffing breaths clouding the air.
“Aohhh, she’s pissed,” Molotov moaned, holding a hand to his heart. “Can you tell her I’m sorry when she’s cooled down, can you tell her that? I hate it when we get into it like this.”
There was a swelling engine whine and the fuel tank hovered out behind the starjet. Reece set the vehicle down, the four thrusters mounted to its corners blasting blue flames that flared off the snow, scattering particles that caused Schweighofer to shield her face. The simple action focussed Becca’s attention to Schweighofer’s gloves. Scanning the cargo hold, Becca quickly realized everyone’s suits had gloves except hers, which was a non-combat version built for tourism purposes back on the Jura island, designed to protect the wearer in the unlikely event they found themselves face to face with a dinosaur. It could survive a few chomping bites, but wasn’t designed to protect the wearer from environmental extremes.
“Gloves huh, well this could be a problem.”
She also noticed, unlike her own footwear, which were steel toed hiking boots, the squad had boots that sealed at the ankles, making their suits airtight. They also had inbuilt helmets. The helmets were comprised of three sections, two shoulder mounted plates and one covering the upper spine. Once engaged, the sections slid into place around the wearer’s head.
“A helmet’s off the cards, but maybe I can rustle up some gloves,” she said, turning her hands thoughtfully. “Socks?”
She headed for the galley and rifled through the lockers. It was mostly sleeping bags, food and survival gear, packed neatly in boxes that slid in and out on runners. She was about to give up when she stumbled upon a welding torch and a protective face-shield, stuffed with flame-retardant gloves. She snatched up the gloves and pulled them on. They were loose fitting and her fingers didn’t articulate too well, but they were better than nothing.
She headed back to the cargo hold, where Commander Blake was assigning seating detail. He instructed Nori to join Reece up front in the cab. He then directed Schweighofer, Becca and Hadley to the rear compartments. Finally, he gave orders for Fang and Scarlet to follow on their warhorses.
“Outbound team, comms are live,” Commander Blake called, clambering into the compartment with Schweighofer. Once inside, he reached up and grabbed the handle to the gull-wing door and turned to Razak and Molotov, who were looking on from the loading ramp. “Any problems, call it in. We’ll cut short and come back immediately. You two good?”
Molotov nodded. Razak shrugged in a glum sort of way and stared at his feet.
“Molotov, you’re in charge. Stay frosty. You two’ll be up front and center if there’s another trip, I promise,” the Commander said, pausing a moment to try and catch Razak’s eye. “Okay then, see you both soon,” he finished, pulling the overhead door closed.
Molotov and Razak trudged into the gloomy interior of the jet, untouched by the fiery light of the setting sun.
Reece took flight and swung the fuel tank round to face the mountains across the ice, the onboard heaters beginning to spread pleasant warmth through the craft. Snowdevils twirled across the ice as they flew, accompanied by lumpy shadows cast by slow moving clouds. Reece flew at quarter speed, so Fang and Scarlet’s warhorses could keep pace. To the left, geysers sporadically spouted hundreds of feet into the air and to the right, ominous black clouds were gathering at the peaks of the mountains they’d crossed whilst descending from orbit.
“Looks like we have incoming weather,” Reece said to Nori. “If those clouds roll in visibility could get sketchy.”
“I started dropping a bread trail of beacons the moment we left,” Nori replied.
Reece flicked his monitor to the rear-view camera, where strobing orange capsules marked a path across the ice towards the dwindling starjet.
“I see them.”
All too soon, their ticket off-world was too small to make out and Reece began to feel the full weight of their isolation, insignificant specks in an unforgiving world of ice and rock. As they flew, he marvelled at the inner strength Becca must have been forced to summon in order to survive on Jurassic Earth alone. He wasn’t sure he’d have been able to muster the same willpower had the roles been reversed, in fact, he knew it, recent weeks had proved that.
Jurassic Earth Trilogy Box Set Page 45