Starbearer

by Rock Forsberg

  Fuu turned. ‘Oh, man…’

  ‘What’s happening?’

  George coughed hard. Sprinkles of red splattered on the snow. Fuu jumped down as George took a few unbalanced steps towards Evie and fell face-first into the ground. Snow rose in the air with his thump.

  ‘This can’t be!’ Fuu said.

  Above them, the grey clouded sky had turned black.

  Suddenly Fuu was taller than Naido. He scanned the mountains, and shouted, ‘It’s getting in!’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘Malicious code,’ Fuu said, still expanding before them.

  Naido touched Evie on the arm. ‘I think we should go.’

  ‘Go where?’

  ‘Computer, close,’ Naido said, but nothing happened.

  Far in the distance, something black was covering the mountain peaks like a swarm of ants. It was as if the mountains themselves were flattening.

  Fuu was now at least twenty metres tall, his three-metre feet stomping and shaking the ground. He peered down, and, in a massive voice, said, ‘I will fend them off!’ as he jumped over the ravine to the other side.

  Evie had to balance herself as the ground shook. Remembering what Gus had said, she grabbed the chip from the pedestal and shoved it into her jacket pocket.

  An avalanche rolled from up the mountain before them, but when it hit Fuu, he just jumped forward over the oncoming snow.

  ‘What do we do?’

  ‘No idea. We have to trust Fuu.’

  The ravine ate the avalanche, and Fuu was already far up the mountain. From every mountainside, black creatures were descending in masses. They weren’t just any creatures, but ones Evie had seen before.

  ‘They’re Remolans!’ she said.

  Naido shook his head. ‘No. It’s a simulation.’

  ‘It doesn’t mean we can’t die.’

  ‘Think so?’

  ‘No, I don’t,’ Evie said. ‘I know.’

  Fuu had almost reached the closest peak and met the descending black creatures. He flailed his massive arms from side-to-side, and sent black creatures flying left and right, and tumbling down. But there were too many of them.

  Evie looked at the closest peak behind them, and gasped. A wave of black creatures was flowing down towards them.

  ‘How can there be so many of them?’

  Far up on the mountainside over the ravine, giant Fuu battled the black demonic creatures, but they started grabbing hold of his limbs, ripping their claws into his clothes and his flesh, and in seconds, he fell down on his back. Head-first, he skidded dozens of metres down on the snowy slope before coming to a halt, and when he did, the aliens covered him.

  Evie yelped. The aliens from behind had just descended to their level.

  ‘Run!’ shouted Naido, and together they sprinted to the bridge.

  The bridge seemed wobbly under her feet, and she stopped. ‘I can’t do this!’

  ‘Come on!’ Naido shouted. ‘We don’t have much time.’

  Evie changed her mind as the demonic black creatures caught up with the tower and began to gnaw upon the beams that kept the bridge together. She ran as fast as she could.

  But she was too slow. The beam snapped, and the bridge fell—

  The aliens vanished along with the winter mountains. Around them, a grey presence room, and behind her, a woman.

  ‘What’s this?’ Evie said.

  She had a mean stare, and eyes that reflected experience. Her dark red hair was shaved at the sides, one of which was covered with a shiny metal plate. With a hoarse voice, she said, ‘Come with me if you want to live.’

  Evie had never seen the woman before.

  ‘Wolfe. Where did you come from?’ said Naido.

  At the same time, a corner of the now inactive presence room turned black.

  ‘I’ll tell you later,’ the woman said, and opened the door. ‘Come on, before it’s too late.’

  From the darkness in the corner of the room, black winged creatures emerged in a stream. Evie began to run. She slipped through, Naido right behind her. The woman, Wolfe, closed the door.

  ‘I really thought the Vereen were gone,’ she muttered. ‘But here they are, so we have to move. It won’t be long until they’re out of that room. Come on.’ She started running back towards the exit.

  Evie glanced at Naido. ‘Who is she?’

  ‘She’s a hunter. Daler owes his life to her.’

  Evie didn’t know what to make of it, other than that she was glad someone seemed to know what was happening. She ran.

  Doors beside them blasted open, people screamed, and more of the creatures emerged—they were lean, about the size of a cat, and had leathery, bat-like wings. One landed on a young man’s shoulder, and buried its sharp teeth into his neck, and he fell down, screaming.

  Naido pulled on Evie’s arm. ‘Come on!’

  Evie continued running through the corridor, with more and more of the creatures flapping through the door behind them. One flew past, and turned back to her, its sharp-looking claws pointed straight at her chest. She quickly moved out of the way and hit the creature from the side, sending it tumbling into the wall and down to the floor. But she had no time to look back.

  When she reached the lobby, Wolfe was already by the door. ‘Run out, everyone.’

  Others, including the young woman from behind the counter, poured through as Wolfe kept the door open. Most of the customers were men, some running out in their underwear, bathrobe, or with just a towel around their waist. Once it seemed everyone was out, Wolfe rammed the door shut, and repurposed a garbage can as a wedge under the door handle.

  One of the creatures had made it out and was circling them feverishly. The half-naked men cowered and yelped at its attacks.

  Wolfe pulled a pistol and took the creature down with one clean shot. It flapped to the floor, where it remained lifeless. ‘Listen to me, everyone! This ain’t over yet.’

  ‘What are they?’ asked a stubby bald human in a blue towel.

  ‘They’re your worst nightmare. Now get out of here!’

  The customers scattered in two different directions on the shopping street, towards the more well-lit areas, but Evie and Naido stayed.

  Wolfe slapped a small blinking device on the door and turned. ‘I’m truly sorry for the collateral, but these things shouldn’t exist, not anymore.’ She beckoned Evie and Naido to follow her, and together they ran through the crowds to the shopping mall.

  The BOOM! of an explosion blasted from behind them. But they continued running. The floor rumbled beneath them, and a wave of hot air pushed them forward.

  Evie glanced back, but all she could see were flames.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Henning stood in front of the navy strike force, in a planetary transport ship from the Pentafol building on the way towards the Thruneedle. Shortly after reporting their findings to the Central, the admiral had issued an order for a special operations team to take over. This meant that the navy would be sending armoured men through what seemed to be a portal to Remola.

  The pain in Henning’s shoulder had subsided underneath the bandage, healed by his natural ability of drawing E.

  The five men stood side-by-side, helmets in their left hands, multipurpose rifles in their right. They were the navy’s finest bio-enhanced marine corps; on short notice, they could be deployed anywhere in the universe to perform a surgical strike of high strategic importance. The men looked the part: tall and chunky, suited in chrystallium-enforced armour packed to the brink with technology for killing and survival.

  ‘What’s taking so long?’ Sofia asked. Their ship was waiting.

  The commanding marine officer, Captain Moore, nodded to himself and said, ‘The dock is full, but the port control is arranging to give us priority access.’

  ‘The visitors’ port was almost deserted yesterday,’ Sofia said. ‘That’s what—what’s his name? Quinn?—said, that they’re losing money every minute they don’t have visitors. He blamed
the navy. So how can it be full now?’

  ‘That’s what I’d like to know,’ Henning said.

  The obvious reason was that Quinn had disobeyed the orders and reopened the Thrulift for passengers.

  The ship juddered to a stop. ‘Move it,’ Captain Moore said, and led the stomping marines through the doorway.

  ‘You all right?’ asked Henning.

  ‘Yeah, yeah,’ Sofia said, and swiped her hair back.

  They thanked the pilot and followed the marines through the airlock to the Thrulift lobby.

  Reaching the lobby, Sofia gasped. ‘There are so many people!’

  All around the lobby, people of all five races lounged around, or queued for tickets, food or the ride. It was as if everyone was suddenly there. The blocking tape was gone, and there was nothing about maintenance on the information screens.

  The captain stepped up to Henning. ‘What’s going on here? The place should have been closed for civilians.’

  ‘I don’t know, but I have a good idea who does.’

  Just then he saw Quinn Delabre taking quick steps through the crowd and entering the sales booth from a side door. Henning started towards the man. ‘Follow me.’

  He dashed up the stairs, bumping into a huge Dresnean man who gave him a nasty look. With a quick apology, he continued pushing through the crowd, and past the queues until he reached the ticket counters. He opened the side door.

  Quinn Delabre just stood there, flustered.

  ‘Why is this place full of people?’ Henning asked.

  Quinn smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. ‘The anomaly moved away.’

  ‘But it’s not gone?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Where is it, then?’

  Quinn pointed out through the windows of the ticket counter. A large crowd, including Sofia and the marines, stood around a rope fence, which encircled a black floating portal.

  Henning shook his head. ‘Do you think it’s some sort of amusement? That thing could be dangerous—’

  Quinn winced. ‘It’s been quite popular—unlike most of the discs, it’s positioned like a show piece meant to be there—and it’s drawing people in!’

  Henning had seen that Quinn was a businessman and expected him to resume operations as soon as possible, whether the anomaly was there or not, but he hadn’t expected him to exploit it as a show piece. Businessmen—always in for a quick buck, whatever the consequences.

  ‘You have to close business for today,’ Henning said. ‘Tell them there’s a technical issue, or whatever is the best explanation, but you need to clear this joint.’

  ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’

  ‘And I don’t care. You’ve seen what that thing can do.’ Henning stepped closer to Quinn, who was almost a head shorter than him. He pulled down the zipper of his uniform and pushed his undershirt aside.

  ‘B-But,’ Quinn stammered. ‘How can you—’

  The skin on Henning’s shoulder was still rough, and the movement of the joint was rigid, but the flesh had grown back and his arm was functional. He zipped up his uniform and stepped so close to Quinn he could whisper, ‘You’re blinded by your ignorance. I’ve seen things that would make you cry for your mother. And unless we fix this thing, there’s going to be a lot to cry about—for you and for your family.’

  Quinn took a few quick breaths, staring up into Henning’s eyes with burning intensity, which Henning returned. Quinn looked away and sighed. ‘All right, I’ll make the arrangements.’

  Once the civilians had left the premises, Henning, Sofia, and Quinn walked to the side of the portal. It looked like a black disc, infinitely flat, so that it almost disappeared when it was viewed from the side. Henning reasoned that by standing at the side they’d be safer if something shot out—as had been the case last time.

  Sofia touched his arm. ‘Are you sure about this?’

  ‘No.’

  She winced.

  The marines donned their helmets and readied their weapons. Their black anti-reflective armour matched the portal in darkness. The captain opened the rope fence, and moved it aside, as the team stomped by the portal.

  Everyone held their breath.

  The first marine stepped forward, but stopped right at the edge. Standing still, he spoke with the captain through the suit’s internal comms. He nodded and stepped through.

  After a few moments, the captain said, ‘We have lost the connection to Corporal Leischer.’

  ‘That was to be expected,’ Henning said. According to their current understanding, none of their data transfer methods worked through the portal.

  Sofia looked nervous. ‘When will he return?’

  ‘Don’t know.’

  ‘Is he still alive?’

  ‘Don’t know.’

  There was no way to tell. They had to wait.

  A sudden clank from the portal caught everyone’s attention. Corporal Leischer stumbled through and fell on the floor, his armour broken at the hip. The nearest marine tried to help him up, but he rolled quickly onto his back and pointed his rifle back at the portal.

  ‘You’re not coming through!’ he bellowed through his suit’s external speakers, and fired multiple shots at the portal, into which they disappeared.

  Henning took Sofia further away from the portal to a spot where they could still see the marines. To his surprise, the bellowing, stomping and shooting marines did little to unnerve Sofia, who seemed surprisingly calm.

  He let go of her arm. ‘You good?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Wonder what happened inside?’

  ‘We should know soon.’

  The marines stood still, weapons at the ready and pointing towards the portal. Everything had quieted down. The portal stood still.

  The captain and the corporal approached Henning and Sofia, and took off their helmets. The captain said, ‘Tell them what you told me.’

  The corporal wiped his sweaty brow. ‘I went into some kind of corridor, and the things I saw through the window…’ he shook his head. ‘It was from another world. The surface extended a long way, and there was another planet rolling on it, and a massive number of cyborgs—’

  ‘Navy cyborgs?’ Henning asked.

  The marine shook his head. ‘Black, glistening aliens, with cyborg parts. Hundreds, maybe thousands of them. I opened the door, and they were there. They started shooting, and I shot back, but there were too many of them, they were like a tidal wave I couldn’t stop.’

  ‘Last time, shots came through,’ Sofia said. ‘Why not this time?’

  ‘Indeed,’ Henning said. ‘If they overpowered you, and you could pass through, why didn’t they follow you?’

  The marine shrugged. ‘I thought they would.’

  A sudden blast from the portal got everyone’s attention. The silence was gone, as the marines fired into the portal, from which some kind of creature, glistening black and shining metal, came through. The shots slowed it down momentarily, but more came through the portal. Then they fired back.

  One of the marines fell.

  ‘We have to get you to safety,’ the captain said. ‘Corporal Leischer, make sure they’re safe. I will call for reinforcements.’ He put on his helmet, readied his weapon and took measured steps towards the portal while firing at the incoming alien cyborgs.

  ‘Let’s go,’ the corporal said.

  Sofia didn’t move. ‘I want to see this.’

  Henning shared the curiosity; he recalled the inactive cyborg clone—of former navy cyborg corps Colonel Powell—Tredd and Rixon had brought back to FIST from the face of Grangar. It was one of millions of such clones that had ended up going into the Remola along with Grangar. And now these ones looked as if the metal had deformed around the aliens’ bodies, like a cross-breed of cyborg clones and Remolan creatures.

  The aliens marched forward like an unstoppable force, firing powerful purple-coloured shots. When the marines’ blue plasma bolts hit their gleaming skin, it seemed as if instead of hurting them, th
ey absorbed the energy. The hits to the metal parts seemed to slow them down, but only slightly, and more came through.

  The marines had it the opposite way: their matte black armour deflected the shots, but only for so long; the heavy barrage ripped through their armour—and in no time, their flesh.

  The exchange of shots took a few seconds. All the marines were down except for the captain, who was cowering behind the ticket counter.

  ‘Let’s get out of here,’ Henning said, as more aliens emerged from the portal. There were at least a dozen of them now.

  From behind the ticket counter a number of ball-bombs flew and clanked into the feet of the alien mob and detonated simultaneously with blue crackling light; a military grade electro-magnetic pulse.

  The blast confused and slowed down the aliens, giving an opening to the captain, who stepped from behind the counter and delivered a massive pre-loaded blast of concentrated energy to the mob. The explosion made Sofia yelp.

  ‘We must move now,’ Corporal Leischer said.

  She stepped to the side. ‘I want to see.’

  As the smoke cleared, the aliens were still standing. The remnants of their cyborg armour lay on the ground, but the aliens themselves seemed to have gained vigour.

  ‘How can they withstand that?’ Sofia said. ‘What are they?’

  So far it seemed as if they enjoyed the influx of energy from the weapons. Perhaps physical projectiles would do the trick. The captain was already firing metal rounds at them now, but those, too, seemed to bounce off their hides.

  ‘Did the plasma energy just make them more powerful?’ Henning wondered aloud.

  ‘Whatever it is, I have to take you to safety,’ Corporal Leischer said.

  Two of the aliens skittered towards Captain Moore, who was giving them the full killing power of his advanced marine cannon, to no avail. An alien caught up with him, and with a few swipes of its claws, broke his armour and beheaded him.

  The aliens turned to Sofia and Henning; his heart skipped a beat as he looked one in the eye. ‘Run!’

  They ran, along with Corporal Leischer, down a flight of stairs towards the secondary exit, and through a skybridge to the adjacent commercial building. But the skybridge was closed by heavy doors; they didn’t want anyone in, but as it was, they couldn’t get out either.