Planetside

by Michael Mammay

  More than thirty heat signatures surrounded the opening of the mine when I reached it.

  “Raise your visor, sir.”

  I complied, and the remnants of the thermal view left purple spots in front of my eyes, leaving me blind for a minute. “I’m going to hold you to your word as an officer, Mallot. Everyone else goes.”

  “Yes, sir.” His voice came from thirty or forty meters away. “Once we’re clear of the area. I’m actually counting on your people to tell the incoming ships not to bomb us.”

  I grunted. “Yeah, that would be a shitty way to die. What now?”

  In answer to my question, a group of Cappans came forward. One of them unclipped my rifle, another took the grenade off of my armor. He slammed his rifle butt into my back just under the bottom of my vest and I crumpled to my knees with a groan. They hauled me halfway back to my feet and started dragging me until my feet caught up and I started walking. One of them prodded me painfully in the back at random intervals for the first half kilometer.

  Only footsteps and a few stumbles broke the silence, except for the occasional ship flying over in the distance. They set a brisk pace, and my legs burned with the effort, already worn down from our long run. Even so, my mind had plenty of time to churn. I never considered trying to escape, but the others . . . I hoped they got clear. And I hoped they didn’t do something stupid and try to come after me. Mallot wanted me alive, and I kind of supported that part of the plan. I needed to get close enough to talk to him.

  I picked up my pace a little trying to get up toward the front, where I assumed Mallot walked. The Cappans didn’t stop me until I reached a point with only four or five of them left in front of me and then one of them barred my way.

  “Captain Mallot,” I called.

  Lights flashed in my eyes and I crashed to the ground. It took me a moment to realize that one of the Cappans had slammed his rifle into the side of my head. My helmet had absorbed most of the blow, but the force of the impact still left me stunned. I guess they didn’t want me to talk.

  Two of them grabbed me under each of my arms, making me cry out in pain from my shoulder injury. They dragged me, screaming, for at least fifty meters before I finally thrashed enough to force them to drop me. I lay there for a moment, not sure if I could still move.

  One of them kicked at me, its boot glancing off my hip. Apparently I could move, because I instinctively curled into a protective ball to protect my face and my groin as more kicks rained down. The whole time I thought, Why go through the trouble of calling me out only to let the Cappans kill me?

  “Sir!” Mallot yelled loudly enough that it startled everyone. At least the Cappans stopped kicking me. “You need to get up.”

  “I—”

  “Don’t talk. Get up and walk, or I won’t be able to help you with the Cappans.”

  I pushed myself slowly to my feet, frustrated and in pain. I forced the negative thoughts down and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other.

  At one point we went underground and walked through a tunnel for half an hour or so before we stopped and they tossed me in a small cell with a stone floor and rough-hewn walls. After maybe an hour they pulled me back out and we started moving again, going above ground, then entering another tunnel after a kilometer or so. We stopped and started several times, nobody explaining anything or even speaking to me. What I did know was that anyone trying to follow us would have a tough time of it, even with air assets. We spent as much time underground as we did above.

  I couldn’t keep a perfect measurement, but I figured we had to have traveled twenty kilometers by the time we crested a low hill and finally stopped for good. Several generators whirred to our front, and I could barely make out the silhouette of a low, domed building. Two Cappans guided me inside and I winced as the one on my left grabbed my arm.

  The building smelled like chemical disinfectant, and the darkness grew thicker inside until the door thunked shut and someone cut on blinding white lights. I scrunched my eyes but let in as much light as I could stand so they’d adjust. I wanted to take advantage of the first few moments to gain whatever information I could. You never knew what might prove helpful.

  The large oval room had six beds, three on each side leaving an open space in the middle, all with fancy medical machines clustered around them. It gave the impression of a field hospital with much better equipment. A small portable X-ray unit sat against the wall beside a mobile scanner unit. The same kind of unit they didn’t have in the spaceside hospital. We had to be in the building that showed a high-power signature on our scans. It made sense now. We were back near Karikov’s base. It gave me hope that Stirling’s people might find me, but only the slightest bit. They’d be reeling from the battle, and even if they recovered quickly they weren’t designed for rescue operations. That would have been Karikov’s job.

  I didn’t think he’d be coming to save me anytime soon.

  Four Cappans stood in the room with two humans: Mallot and someone I didn’t recognize. Mallot’s pupils nearly filled his eyes, oval, like a Cappan’s. I hoped he remained more lucid than the last man I met with eyes like that. Our interactions so far made him seem rational, but I wasn’t ready to commit.

  “So what now?” I asked.

  “Sir, this is our medical facility. Where we get our treatments,” said Mallot.

  “Great. It’s a nice rig. I approve. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.” Two of the Cappans stepped forward before I even moved.

  Mallot gave me a flat smile that didn’t show his teeth. “People said you had a sense of humor, sir.”

  “Yeah. I’m a riot. So let’s cut to the bottom line. Why am I here?” I desperately wanted to sit down, but I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get back up again.

  “Simple. We need your help, sir.”

  “I’m not . . . wait, what?” I almost took a step backward. I had mentally prepared for several possibilities. That wasn’t one of them.

  “We wouldn’t ask, but we’re pretty desperate,” said Mallot. “Colonel Karikov is . . . no longer an option. And as much as I’d like to take charge, I recognize that I don’t have the skill set required for the level of operations we need to conduct.”

  I stared at him. “So you lured me down to the planet so that you could kidnap me, in hopes that I’d take over as your leader?”

  “No, sir. We didn’t lure you down to the planet. We took advantage of an opportunity.”

  “And you let the Cappans beat the shit out of me. That’s how you convince me?”

  He stared at me for a moment before speaking. “That . . . was unfortunate. But it’s a loose partnership. I’m not really in charge.”

  “You’re not . . .” I paused. If he wasn’t in charge, who was? The Cappans? “You’re going to have to forgive me, Mallot, but you understand how ridiculous this all sounds, right?”

  He took an aggressive step toward me, his nostrils flaring. “It’s not ridiculous at all, sir. You just don’t see it yet.”

  “Sure, sure,” I said, holding my hands up. Never piss off a potentially dangerous guy with a gun. It’s a rule that’s served me well.

  “Don’t patronize me, sir.”

  I paused, considering my next move. I didn’t know where the line was, and I had a feeling if I crossed it I might not survive the experience. “Okay. I’ll be straight with you, Captain. I have no idea what you’re talking about. What will I see?”

  “You’ll see the truth.”

  “The truth is a funny thing. Whose truth?”

  He clenched his fists, but didn’t come any closer. “The truth, sir! The only truth.”

  One of the Cappans raised a weapon at me. I’m not an expert at Cappan body language, but it gave the impression that it wouldn’t hesitate to use it.

  “Okay. Okay. How am I going to see it? Because I don’t see it now.”

  Mallot smiled. “Once you get the treatment, everything becomes clear.”

  “What treatment?”<
br />
  He shook his head.

  “What, I don’t get to know?”

  “It will help you with your cybernetic appendage, sir. I’ve got two robot legs, and I’m functioning. It’s revolutionary. We’re better than other humans.”

  Two robot legs. That explained the ridiculous speed. It shouldn’t have been possible, but it matched what Karikov had said. “I don’t want the treatment.”

  “I’m afraid it’s not optional, sir.” He locked his creepy gaze with mine and held it there for several seconds. “Look, sir. You’ve got a few hours. Why don’t you try to get some rest? It’s going to be hard on your body.”

  I didn’t drop my stare. I’m not sure if I meant to intimidate him or try to read him, but I failed either way. “Yeah. Sure.”

  “You want a painkiller for that arm? I’m sure we’ve got something here.”

  “No, I’m good.” I walked over to one of the beds and tested the mattress. Too much had happened too quickly. I needed time to think.

  “Suit yourself. But sir?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Please don’t try anything stupid. As much as I might want you to join us, the Cappans will shoot you.” He glanced over to the guards.

  I swung my legs up onto the bed. “Thanks for the warning.” I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to collect my thoughts. “Mallot.”

  “Yes, sir?” He hadn’t moved.

  “What is it that you need me to do? Why do you need me?” I didn’t figure I’d get a straight answer, but it didn’t hurt to ask.

  “Can’t tell you that yet, sir. We’ve got big plans, though. We need a strategic thinker.”

  I nodded. “Sure. When you say ‘we,’ do you mean you and the other humans, or do you mean the Cappans?”

  “We’re together, sir. We see the truth.”

  “The truth . . .”

  “You’ll see, sir. Rest now. You’re going to need it.”

  “Okay.” I closed my eyes and my mind spun. However unlikely it seemed that I’d help them, Mallot definitely believed it. That made me nervous.

  I didn’t sleep.

  It may have been an hour, it may have been two. The lights came up and new voices brought me quickly to awareness. One of them was female. I knew that voice.

  “Why aren’t my follow-ups here?”

  “We have a new patient, ma’am,” said Mallot. “I knew that would take some time, so I scheduled the others for later.”

  “You need to let me know these things before I come, Captain. This isn’t a simple procedure, and it’s not easy for me to get down here when things are exploding all over the place. Luckily I have everything I need, and I brought Doctor Kwan, who can assist.”

  “Hello, Doctor Elliot,” I said. I got some satisfaction as she stopped dead and almost dropped her medical bag. The other doctor stopped as well. Mallot kept walking toward me.

  “What’s he doing here?” Elliot’s voice rose.

  “He’s the patient,” said Mallot, oblivious to Elliot’s angry glare.

  “No, he’s not.” Elliot regained her composure quickly, and set her bag on a square polymer table.

  “Ma’am—” Mallot tried to protest, but Elliot cut him off.

  “No. I only work on volunteers.” She looked at me. “Have you changed your mind since we talked spaceside?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “Fuck no.”

  “I didn’t think so. What’s the meaning of this, Mallot?”

  “We need him,” said Mallot.

  “That’s not how it works,” said Elliot. “I’m a doctor. Patients have rights.”

  Mallot faced her, leaving his back to me. I thought about making a move, but my aching shoulder and the two Cappans on the other side of the room with rifles made me think better. The other two and the human had disappeared.

  “It works that way now,” he said. “There’s no choice. Colonel Karikov isn’t stable anymore.”

  “I’m aware of Colonel Karikov’s condition,” said Elliot. “That doesn’t change anything.”

  “It changes everything!” Mallot stepped forward. His hand hovered a bit too near his sidearm for comfort.

  “Not to me. I’m not treating him. So unless you’ve got some medical training I don’t know about, that’s that.” Elliot turned to grab her bag.

  Mallot drew his pistol. The small pulse weapon screamed, the sound strangely dull inside the facility.

  Doctor Kwan looked down for a moment at the fist-sized smoking hole in his chest before he crumpled to the ground.

  “Shit!” I started to jump down from the bed and one of the Cappans leveled a rifle at me. I raised my good arm and froze.

  “What did you do?” yelled Elliot. She rushed over to Kwan, heedless that the second Cappan followed her with its weapon. She felt at Kwan’s neck for a pulse, then looked back over her shoulder at Mallot. “You killed him!”

  Mallot bounced from one foot to another, his weapon halfway raised and swinging slightly from side to side. “I didn’t want to do it,” he said softly.

  “You shot him.” Elliot stood and stormed toward him. She stopped quickly when he pointed his weapon at her chest.

  “You made me!”

  I glanced toward the Cappans, who still had their weapons raised. “Let’s take it easy,” I said, as calmly as I could manage. Elliot probably hadn’t seen someone shot in cold blood before. I had. It didn’t make it okay, but it lessened the impact and I recovered my wits quicker.

  Mallot stepped back so that he could cover Elliot and me at the same time, keeping his weapon trained somewhere between us. Thankfully Elliot stopped going toward him. She stood, her eyes glazing over, her hands shaking.

  “This is your fault too, sir,” said Mallot.

  “Sure. We’ve all got some responsibility.” He had the gun. I wasn’t going to argue. “What do we do now?”

  “Now you get the treatment,” said Mallot.

  I nodded. “Okay. But I’m not sure Doctor Elliot is up for it right now.” Her whole body trembled, and she appeared like she might collapse.

  “She has to be!” shouted Mallot.

  “Okay,” I said quickly, my voice level despite my pounding heart. “Let me talk to her. There’s no rush. Give me a minute.”

  Mallot pointed his pistol at me and took a step back as I walked over to Elliot.

  “Elliot.” I put one hand on each of her shoulders to steady her and to stop her from shaking. “Hey. It’s me, Butler. Everything is fine.”

  “Doctor Kwan . . .”

  “Doctor Kwan is gone. There’s nothing we can do about that. Focus. Look at me.”

  She raised her eyes to mine.

  “Can we get the Cappans out of here? I need to get her calmed down,” I said to Mallot, without losing eye contact with Elliot.

  “Don’t try anything, sir.” He lowered his voice, but it still held menace.

  “I won’t. But if you want this done, we need a doctor. You’re going to have to work with me here.”

  After a long moment, the two Cappans headed for the door. I had no idea what I was going to do with an unstable superhuman pointing a gun at me, but whatever I did would go easier without two armed Cappans.

  “Thanks,” I said. “Doctor Elliot. I need you to focus. Can you hear me?”

  She nodded.

  “Good. I need you to perform the procedure on me. The one that helps amputees.” I didn’t dare turn to look at Mallot. “Can you do that?”

  “It will help your shoulder heal, too,” she said softly.

  “Great. That’s great. What do we need to get started?”

  She gathered herself. “Okay. I can’t do it alone. Mallot, you’re going to have to help.”

  “Ma’am—”

  “Look, do you want this done or not?” Elliot’s voice bristled with authority. She was back.

  Mallot paused, then gestured with his weapon. “Okay. Sir, over there, on the bed.”

  I looked back to Elliot.

  �
��Go,” she said, and started walking to her bag. “Mallot, we’re going to need heavy-duty straps to hold him down. They’re in the cabinet on the back wall.”

  Mallot didn’t hesitate this time. I paused before climbing onto the bed. He had his back to me, but I had twelve or thirteen meters to cover and a bad shoulder. It might be my best chance.

  A pulse weapon whined behind me and Mallot spun, slamming into the cabinet with a crash, then fell to one knee. The pistol skittered out of his hand and across the polished floor. I took three sprinting steps and dove for the weapon, knowing even before I hit how bad it would hurt.

  But you had to be alive to feel pain.

  My fingers clasped around the stock of the pulse weapon and I rolled up into a sitting position, my bad arm tucked into my side.

  Mallot pushed at the floor with his hand, struggling to get up. His other arm hung limply, his shoulder charred and burned.

  Elliot held a pulse weapon in shaking hands, still pointed in his general direction.

  I stood. “You okay?”

  Elliot nodded.

  “You can lower your weapon.” I pointed Mallot’s weapon at him. He’d barely made it to his feet, so I risked a glance in Elliot’s direction. She had her weapon pointed at the floor.

  Mallot stumbled, and almost went back to a knee. He looked up at me with his strange eyes, almost pleading. “This doesn’t change anything, sir. They won’t stop, even without me. They’re ruthless. They’ll never stop, not until all of you are dead.”

  “Won’t stop what? What are they planning?”

  He shook his head.

  “What are they going to do?”

  He got all the way to his feet and met my eyes. He wasn’t going to tell me.

  I shot him in the face.

  “Ah!” Elliot shouted. “What did you do that for? He was wounded!”

  Mallot crumpled to the floor, what little remained of his head smoking.

  “No choice,” I said.

  “What do you mean?” Elliot started quickly toward Mallot’s corpse, then stopped.

  “Exactly what I said. Come on, we need to move. The Cappans will have heard the shots. They’ll be here any second.” I glanced over at my armor in the corner. We didn’t have much chance, but I’d go down fighting.