by JN Chaney
There, hanging far above the horizon, two suns rose steadily beneath thin clouds. One was deeply yellow, while the other had a touch of red in it. John didn’t know what to say.
“Looks like we really are on another planet,” muttered Hatcher.
“Hot damn,” said Short.
John cleared his throat, then turned so his back was to the light. “We can gawk at everything later, once this mission’s done. Form up!”
“Yes, sir!” said several of the Blacks.
In a matter of seconds, the squad convened before him, standing in formation. “First things first,” barked John. “I need those repeaters in place. Brooks, you hear that?”
“Yes, sir!” she snapped. Brooks was John’s second-in-command as well as the resident techie. “Got three left, after dropping one at the gate room and two in the hall.”
“Right, better get to it,” said John. He watched as Brooks took off to plant the repeaters. “Next, I want eyes up. Hughes, you hear me?”
“Loud and clear, boss,” said Hughes, glancing at Short. “Ready, spotter?”
She gave him a nod. “Good to go.”
The two of them left the gaggle, heading to the base of the cliff, preparing to climb.
“Everyone else, we’ve got three CHUs to set. I want them up within the hour,” said John.
“We can do it in half,” said Hatcher.
“Alright, let’s go. Dismissed!” barked John.
The Blacks dispersed, and John jogged toward the Containerized Housing Unit equipment, along with several others. They unlatched the first CHU and began assembling it. The process didn’t take long, since it was mostly automated. The oxygen tanks and seals still had to be physically set up, however.
The CHUs were a huge priority, given the Variant in the air. John’s team wouldn’t be able to migrate back and forth through the portal every day like they’d been doing, so an oxygenated shelter had to be erected to allow for certain activities. John could survive here indefinitely, but most of his squad had to wear breathers so they didn’t suffocate on Variant. They had to eat and sleep, after all, and while it might be possible to do both of those things with the devices over their mouths and noses, it certainly wasn’t safe.
According to Captain Thistle, John’s superior back in Central, the Science Division was in the process of working on an injection or a pill to give them the ability to breathe Variant for a temporary amount of time without suffocating. Unfortunately, they’d heard nothing about it so far, which probably meant it was a failure. Still, if the labs ever managed to manufacture them, there would be no need to worry about filtration systems or breathers. It would extend their ability to explore, and it would make John’s job a lot easier.
“Tech Shop. Huck,” radioed Brooks.
John tapped the side of his ear, pressing the embedded communications device beneath his skin. “Tech Shop, go for Huck.”
“The repeater is functional. You should be able to reach the gate room now. Over.”
“Good work. Over.” Using his pad, he switched frequencies. “Huck. Zapper.”
A short burst of static. “Zapper copies,” said Mickey, responding to his call sign. “Everything alright?”
“Fine. Just checking the signal,” said John.
“Roger that,” said Mickey.
John tapped the pad again, then put it away.
“Huck. Door Nail,” radioed Hughes. “I’m in position.”
John turned and craned his neck, spotting Hughes above the rock wall. Thanks to his exceptional eyes—a product of his genetically engineered genes—he could see further than any regular human. He gave Hughes a short wave, and the sniper returned it. “Look for any signs of movement Track anything larger than a finger. Over.”
“Whose finger?” asked Hughes.
John flipped him off.
Hughes grinned. “Say no more.”
******
Once the team had the CHUs erected, John ordered them to start combing the local forest. “Make sure your pads are in constant scan mode so we can chart the area,” he told them. “I want a square kilometer fully detailed within the hour. You hear me?”
“Yes, sir,” said the Blacks.
As they began their sweep, they made certain to stay within line of sight of each other. The Blacks did this sort of thing constantly back home. Given the nature of their missions—to seek out and destroy any and all threats, particularly razorback nests—it was prudent to have procedures in place when exploring new and potentially dangerous areas. They’d spent close to three years going into caves, forests, and more than a few abandoned old-world buildings, all without a single casualty. By now, they knew how to get the job done.
John monitored his pad, watching it slowly fill with detail as his team progressed. With every step his people took, a little more of the map revealed itself. It wouldn’t be long before they had most of the surrounding area, giving him a fair read on the land.
They found the vale in the middle of the woods in under an hour. Hughes spotted it in the distance, using his scope, and radioed John to let him know. The team proceeded carefully, never dropping their guard.
At the center of the field within the woods, they found a building. Another dome, like the two others near the cave, only it was double their size and mostly unfinished. John checked upstairs and found some rags on the floor, almost as though someone had been staying here at some point. Probably not for a while, though.
Before they could explore further, a call came in from Mickey at the gate room. “The portal’s set to come on in ten minutes, sir. You want me to patch you through once it’s ready?”
“Sure thing, Mick,” said John. The signal clarity was clearer now, a sign Brooks had placed a few more repeaters. No need to head back, unless he had to. He could speak to Mei right here.
Too bad he wouldn’t have much news, not about the real mission. Sure, they’d found a few buildings, but nothing to point them in the direction of their missing friend. For all John knew, Terry could be long gone…or worse.
He shook his head. Better not to think like that, he reminded himself. Gotta stay positive.
The call came in a few minutes later, and Mickey patched him through to Mei. “John?” she asked, almost immediately. “Are you receiving me?”
The sound of her voice made him relax. “I’m here. I’ve got you loud and clear.”
“Hey, goof. Have you found anything? Did you make it outside?”
“We did,” he said. “Spotted a couple of buildings, too. Haven’t been used in a while, though.”
“Buildings? What kind?”
“Houses, maybe. I’m not sure,” he admitted. “Don’t worry. I’ll have one of my guys take some pictures.”
There was a short pause. “Is the site secure?” she asked.
“We’re still working on it, but so far so good. Got most of the local area mapped and logged.”
“What’s the next step?”
“Sensors for movement. We’ll place a few around the cave entrance, a dozen along the outer ridge, and then a bunch more in the surrounding woods.”
“I want pictures of everything you find,” said Mei.
“I’ve already got someone scanning the two near the cave. I’ll send them during the next transmission,” said John.
“Well, it sounds like you’ve got it under control over there,” she said.
“Hey, this is what I do,” he said with a big grin.
She laughed. “Just be careful, and keep your eyes open. Let me know if you find anything strange.”
John glanced up at the two suns. “Strange, huh?” he said, still smiling. “Hold on a sec. I’m gonna send you a picture.”
CHAPTER 2
S.O.F.T. Mission Report
Play Audio File 16
Recorded: February 5, 2351
FINN: Sensors are in place around the camp. If anything bigger than a gopher passes by, we’ll see them.
CURIE: How do you know what s
ize a gopher is? They’ve been extinct for two hundred years.
FINN: Hey, give me a little credit, would you? I went to the same school you did.
CURIE: There’s no way you got that out of a book. You always skipped the reading, then copied Terry’s homework.
FINN: Okay, fine. I saw them in an old movie. Happy now?
CURIE: I knew it.
FINN: Anyway, the sensors are in place, and my team’s working in shifts to keep watch. If there’s anything out there, we’ll know pretty soon.
CURIE: I should think there is.
FINN: Why’s that?
CURIE: Those buildings you found were built by someone. Same with the technology in the gate room. If intelligent beings once existed on that planet, there must also be lower lifeforms around. You have to have animals before you have people.
FINN: What if they wiped out everything? What if they killed their whole world and that’s why nobody’s here?
CURIE: Even after Variant struck Earth, life kept going. It changed and it evolved, but somehow it just wouldn’t die. Never underestimate adaptability.
FINN: So, you think there’s something still out there?
CURIE: Almost certainly.
End Audio File
Somewhere on Kant
February 5, 2351
A cold drop of water touched Terry’s nose as he and Ludo walked along the road to Capeside.
He stopped, glancing skyward, and noticed a small gray cloud. In the distance, several more had appeared, floating high above the horizon. “Looks like rain,” he said.
Ludo nodded his agreement. “Keep moving. We’ll look for shelter on the way.”
A moment later, a drop of water grazed Terry’s neck, and soon another on his forehead. It wasn’t long before a shower arrived, dousing the two men completely. Terry didn’t mind, once it started. After so many days in the countryside, he needed the bath.
But Ludo spotted something in the woods, near the edge of the road. A small dome building with a faded red door, large cracks running through the wood, and weeds sticking out of the roof.
The old building was empty, not a soul to be found. Terry closed his eyes and listened for any sign of movement, but there was only the rain falling everywhere, beating the ground like drums.
Ludo collapsed against the wall, near the open door. “The storm will last a while. We must wait.”
“How long?” asked Terry, joining him.
“All night,” he said, closing his eyes. “Rest until morning. This storm will go for hours. No use walking through it.”
Terry sighed, wiping the rainwater from his cheeks and forehead, pulling his long hair behind his head. He eased his back against the wall, feeling the soft, aged planks behind him. The scent of the rain consumed the little house, blending with the dank smell of rotting wood and filling his lungs. He closed his eyes and took it all in, instantly transitioning into his other state, the place he drew his strength. The world slowed, and instead of a storm, the rain came down like cannonballs, thudding and stomping into the dirt. He ignored them, concentrating on the body of the house, searching and exploring with all of his combined senses. He could hear the rain hitting the roof, falling through the cracks, dripping into the rafters overhead. An air current passed through the cracked door, touching his face, cooling him. A rodent, hidden in one of the walls, scurried down a plank and through a burrowed out hole.
Terry lingered there a while, absorbing the building, taking in the sounds and smells of the architecture as well as the natural world surrounding it. Somehow, it relaxed him, slowing his pulse and calming his mind. He felt the tug of sleep, allowing himself to drift, and soon the melodies of the rain and the voice of the building faded, and he fell away.
When he opened his eyes, the air tasted cleaner, thinner. The thick moisture of the storm had gone. A beam of light pierced a nearby crack in the wall, hitting him in the eye. The new dawn had arrived, fulfilling the promise of time.
Ludo stood on the other side of the round room, sorting through debris. He hoisted a tattered cloth bag above his head, examining it. Spotting several holes, he tossed it to his side and continued rummaging.
“You’re always awake before me,” muttered Terry.
“You sleep longer than most,” said Ludo. “More than a single period.”
When Terry had first met Ludo, it took him a while to get used to the term period. It was about double the length of an hour. For the longest time, he had to do the calculations in his head, but now it came second nature to him.
“I used to get less than one, but now I like to sleep in,” said Ludo. He slapped his chest. “I’m getting old and lazy.”
Terry knew Ludo was an early riser, but couldn’t imagine getting less than two hours of sleep every night. “You’re as young as ever.”
Ludo laughed, bending and pushing a crate out of the way. He retrieved another bag, this one in decent condition. After briefly examining it, he placed the strap across his shoulder and neck, twisting it to sit on his back. “How long do your people need to rest?”
“Several periods,” explained Terry.
“Truly?” asked Ludo.
“Three to four periods is typical,” said Terry. “I only need about two.”
“So much,” said Ludo, gawking. “But you do not sleep this long. I have seen it.”
“I used to, a long time ago,” he explained, and it was true. Before his exposure to Variant, he was weaker and needed more rest. After the gas chamber and eventual visit to the surface, something had changed in him, and he’d found a well of energy he never knew existed. When Terry arrived on Kant, he felt even more energized than before. Something about the purity of the Variant, he guessed. These days, he could only sleep, at best, about four hours or two periods. Anything more was useless.
When Ludo had finished scavenging, he and Terry left the abandoned dome behind and made their way toward the west to Capeside. With any luck, they would find Talo, Ludo’s son, and proceed to the border soon afterward.
They could do with one tiny victory. Was it so much to ask?
******
Capeside lay on the edge of where the Thirsty River met the Living Sea. Ludo had explained the village had existed here for nearly a hundred years. After discovering a rich supply of fish along the coast and river, a tribe of wandering hunters had founded the settlement, quickly growing into one of the more dominant trading outposts in the region. Capeside now contained a large harbor for ships to dock and rest, providing a means of travel to distant lands, such as Tharosa and Lexine. Ludo had never been to either of those places, but he’d heard tales from traveling merchants and soldiers during his time living at the Temple of the Eye.
Tharosa, he had learned, was far to the northeast, covered in snow and ice. It was said the people there lived in great castles carved into mountainsides, and from there they mined beautiful jewels and precious metals. Their traders often came to Capeside with trunks of intricately designed rings and necklaces, selling to the wealthiest of local families. Many of the statues in Ludo’s old temple had been built by Tharosian artisans, in fact.
As for Lexine, he’d explained, far less was known, though the rumors spoke of vast deserts and devices capable of carrying a dozen passengers high into the sky. “I do not believe such things, though,” said Ludo. “One can only fly with the mind, not with any machine.”
But Terry knew better. He’d read about how humanity built airplanes and blimps, rocket ships and space shuttles. If his people could do it, so could Ludo’s, though they might be different in design. Still, the more Ludo told him of the great, wide world, the more fascinated he became. He wanted to see these places, to explore their cultures. Perhaps he could, someday, when all of this was over.
They reached the top of a hill overlooking Capeside sometime in the afternoon. From here, Terry could see throngs of people moving through the narrow streets, talking and laughing. Hundreds of buildings dotted the landscape, more than he’d exp
ected, while dozens of tents took up a large portion of the docks, near several anchored vessels. Terry had never seen ships before, except in his childhood textbooks. These were different from the pictures, but not by much. They appeared to be made of wood, mostly in the same shape, and used wind sails to move.
Very few trees stood near the village. Instead, far-stretching fields of different crops lay adjacent to the river. A large herd of animals gathered near the gates, their shepherds talking together. Birds cawed and cooed overhead, lightly touching down on the stone walls before gliding into the air again.
The whole scene was unlike any Terry had ever seen, like something from a storybook. Had his own people lived this way before the Jolt? Were they sailors, shepherds, ranchers, and fishermen? The great civilizations of Earth evolved from humble beginnings much like this. Did any of them predict the end result? Did any foresee the cost of progress? How lucky they would have been to live like this forever, never building cities of metal and glass, never playing God with portals, genes, and children.
But there was no looking back, not to his home. Not anymore. Only this world with its strange new people…its civilizations.
“Almost there,” said Ludo, pulling him from his thoughts. “Talo is waiting for us.”
Terry nodded. “Right.”
Ludo took the cloth he’d found in the abandoned shack the night before and handed it to Terry. “Put this on.”
Terry looked at him, confused. “On what?”
“Your head. Cover what you can.”
Terry opened his mouth to ask why, but stopped, finally understanding. He looked quite different from Ludo and the other people of this world. No doubt, many would stare and ask questions. They couldn’t have anyone growing suspicious. Their previous captor, the Lord of Three Waters, had told Terry as much during his stay in the prison. “You will fetch a good price,” he had said. “Exotic slaves always do.”
Terry glanced at Ludo’s long ears and flattened nose. “Okay,” he finally said, placing the bag over his neck and scalp.
Ludo frowned. “I am sorry, my friend.”