Once Upon a Saturn Moon

by Edward Antrobus

Alvin did have one ace up his sleeve. Sam left too early. He didn't know that the Prometheus security feeds had been patched into the Atlas that afternoon. Alvin switched to those. The first view showed the main hall. He found Sandra. She wasn't with Simmons at all but rather talking to Cynthia.

  He switched to the outside cameras. Two were dead already. He found Sam as he aimed at a third, fortunately not the one Alvin was using. Without days of spying on the new ship, he would undoubtedly miss a few.

  But Alvin saw the pattern in his movements. He was heading for the Prometheus habitat. With a gun. And taking surveillance out so he wouldn't be seen.

  Alvin grabbed the microphone so hard he nearly yanked the cord from the radio. "Prometheus, this is Atlas. You are in danger. Do you copy?" Silence. "Prometheus, this is Atlas. Do you copy?"

  Alvin's first thought was that Sam had shot out the antenna. But they were so close, the Prometheus would have been able to pick him up without one. Alvin wondered if the radio itself was sabotaged but realized he was wasting time. He had to get to the Prometheus and warn the others. Sandra was in trouble.

  He climbed down the two levels to the air lock. The helmet was smashed. He checked inside but the suit radio had been torn out. He keyed into the camera feeds from the wrist computer on his suit. Sam was almost to the Prometheus. Alvin had two options. He could rush to the Prometheus, possibly freezing to death if breathing in the poisonous atmosphere didn't kill him first. The other was to sit and watch as Sandra and the others died.

  He didn't hesitate. He climbed into the suit and attached the ruined helmet. He turned up the heater as far as it would go and opened the oxygen valve wide. His tank would only last a few minutes, but he only needed five. He entered the air lock and waited as it sucked the air out and replaced it with Titan's atmosphere. All of the alarms on his suit blared in his ears. The outer door opened and Alvin made a dash for the Prometheus. He skipped along the smooth ground, not for the first time glad they had raked all of the loose rock away.

  Alvin's quarry beat him inside. He punched at the controls to open the air lock. His nose felt numb and breathing was already difficult, his air wanting to rush out the hole in the broken face plate rather than traveling to his lungs.

  The door opened and Alvin hit the button to close the outer door. Cool oxygen filled the chamber and he took several gasping breaths. After the minutes of not enough oxygen, he felt dizzy on normal atmosphere. He wanted to sit down but he couldn't afford to waste any time.

  The inner door opened and he staggered into the habitat. Inside, Alvin had the advantage of knowing the layout of this habitat, Alvin was sure. NASA had needed a different design to accommodate so many people. It would take Sam a few minutes to find the hall. Alvin had been there only hours before.

  Alvin reached the hall; no sign of him yet. "Danger," he croaked, his voice barely a whisper. Nobody heard him. Alvin took off the broken helmet and threw it into the room. That got people's attention. They turned towards him but Alvin saw the alien appear at the far entrance. Alvin pointed and said, "Gun." He wasn't sure if they could actually hear him but Simmons turned just as Sam fired.

  Tom had apparently heard him as well. He was standing next to Cynthia and Sandra and pushed them down. A burn hole appeared on the back of his suit with charred, black skin showing underneath.

  Sandra screamed, and Alvin watched Sam point the weapon in her direction. He steadied his aim when a shot rang out. Sam ducked out of the way, as the plastic doorway over his head splintered. Alvin hoped that the Marines had weapons that wouldn't penetrate the outer shell of the habitat.

  Alvin looked for the source of the gunshot and found Simmons standing over Sandra and the ambassador with his side arm. Simmons glanced back at him and nodded. Alvin nodded back. The other marines had taken up positions behind whatever they could for shelter and taking shots in their attacker's direction.

  Sam returned their fire. Neither seemed to be able to advance on the other. Sam had seen Alvin, but he was protected by his own doorway on the far end. He was safe for the moment.

  How many shots did that rifle have? It was some sort of energy weapon, but Alvin guessed that its power supply would have to run out eventually. Would that be before or after the humans' ammunition ran out?

  Alvin looked down the hallway. The air sizzled over his head and molten plastic showered down. He covered his head with his arms until it was clear.

  He had to put a stop to this. He bounced down the corridor until he circled back around to Sam's location.

  He saw Sam's back. If Alvin had a gun, he would have shot him in the back like Sam had done to Tom. He looked around but couldn't find any sort of weapon.

  Oh well, if he had taken down the huge Simmons earlier, he could do some damage to a man who had been raised on one-sixth gravity.

  He rushed at him. The bouncing run landed just shy of the alien. Alvin's arms flailed as he came up short. Sam turned at the sound. Alvin pushed himself up as Sam brought his weapon to bear.

  Alvin jumped again and this time connected. The gun clattered to the ground a few feet away. Sam rolled to reach for it, but Alvin grabbed at his arms.

  He heard footsteps and saw half the room rushing at them. A stray thought flitted through his mind. "At least this time, it's not me they are after."

  Sam took advantage of his distraction and kicked. A knee connected with Alvin's gut and he doubled over. As he fell, Sam swung his leg up and kicked him right in the face.

  Alvin tried to open his eyes, but one was swollen shut. Every inch of his face hurt. He groaned.

  "Alvin, you're awake," Sandra shouted. She kissed him but every nerve felt like fire and he cried out. "Oh my god. I'm so sorry," she said. She reached over and hit a button on the wall. "Doctor Jacobs, Alvin is awake. He's in pain."

  Alvin was confused. The adrenaline junkie who had been flying on homemade wings and talked like a surfer was the ship's doctor?

  "Did you get him," Alvin managed to croak. Even talking hurt.

  "No," she said. "He escaped. Tom is dead. So are three of the marines. A few injuries. But you saved us."

  "I was only trying to protect you. But I couldn't do that. Simmons saved you."

  "Will you stop obsessing over him?" She took his hand and looked him in the eye. "I have no interest in him and he only did what he was trained to do. You risked your life to warn us in a broken suit and then did what none of those soldiers were able to do. You are the hero."

  Jacobs entered the medical bay. "Glad you decided to join us, dude." He smiled at Alvin. Alvin tried to return the gesture but winced. Jacobs turned to Sandra. "Could you give us a minute so I can examine our patient?"

  "Of course," Sandra said and got up.

  "She can stay," Alvin said. "I ain't got anything she hasn't seen." He laughed and shut his eyes as a fresh wave of pain washed over him.

  Jacobs checked his vitals and shined a light in his eyes. "You took a pretty good beating and you're lucky to be alive. Heck, you're lucky you lived long enough to get your butt kicked by that crazy alien. I saw your helmet. What were you thinking?"

  "Only of her," Alvin admitted.

  "Well, you're a crazy dude. Whole place is talking about it. You got our respect, man," Jacobs said. "Anyway, you're going to be stuck here for a couple days and going to be in a fair amount of pain for a week or two after that. I'll give you something for that. I'll check in on you after dinner."

  Alvin grunted and Jacobs left. There was a knock on the doorway and Lana stuck her head in. "Alvin, I'm glad you're alive. Sandra, could you give us a minute?"

  Sandra looked at Alvin and he nodded. She stood and kissed him lightly on the top of his head. "I'll be right outside if you need me. Jerry's relieved me of my duties until you're feeling better."

  Lana plopped down on the chair that Sandra had been occupying. "Lana, I'm sorry about Tom," Alvin said.

  She shook her head. "No, you did the best you could. Better. This is on Sam for tricking us and
attacking us. Tom died a hero."

  "Back to calling him Sam?"

  Lana gripped the arm rest of her seat, flexing the thin plastic. "He murdered my husband in cold blood. He's forfeited the right to decide what we call him."

  Alvin murmured his agreement. Lana continued. "I just wanted to make sure you weren't doing something like trying to blame yourself for his death. If only we hadn't fought so much on this trip. Last thing I said to him was call him a fool. Now, that's the last thing I'm ever going to have said to him." She started crying.

  Alvin reached out to her and touched her hand. "Tom knew you loved him. Last thing he ever said to me was that. We will find Sam and whoever helped him. Tom's death will be avenged."

  Lana straightened and wiped away her tears. "Don't do anything stupid. There's been enough killing already. We are a science mission. Let the soldiers do the war making."

  Alvin gritted his teeth and sucked in his breath from the pain. "I'll let them try. But I'm not leaving this ball of ice and rock until Sam is dead."

  Marsil

  Marsil stuck her head inside Salaris's tent. "Wake up. We need to get going. We are close."

  Salaris rubbed her eyes. "We only went to sleep a few hours ago. The Saarkaaks really are monsters."

  Marsil smiled. "Stim drinks are ready. This tent comes down in ten whether you're out or not." She left and took the steaming mug that Graaf handed her. She worked the straw through the beverage hole in her respirator and took a sip.

  Behind her, Salaris climbed out of her tent. "These humans had better be worth it," she grumbled.

  Marsil started to take down the tent while Salaris drank her stim. She was just finishing up when the air crackled above her and at the rock just past their camp grew a large black spot. "Barakaaks," she shouted. "Take cover."

  They scrambled behind the rock. Marsil drew her laser rifle and poked her head out. Another shot scorched the rock inches from her head. She ducked back down.

  She looked at Salaris. "How are you with a laser rifle?"

  "I've never used one before." Salaris shook her head. "I was going to be a priestess. I wasn't a Lun."

  Marsil's features hardened. Salaris seemed to realize what she said. "That's not how I meant it."

  She bit her lip and then breathed out. "I know. But we need to draw his fire and Graaf couldn't hit this rock standing next to it."

  "Hey," he complained. "I'm not that bad."

  "Well we need a plan. We can't stay here forever." She peeked over the rock another shot blasted their cover.

  "Come out to all of you," their attacker said. "Come out so I can tell you all. I'm going to kill every last Saarkaak for what you did to my fiancé."

  Confusion washed over Salaris's face. She stood up. "Donoon, is that you? It's me."

  Marsil grabbed her arm and pulled her down. "What are you thinking? He will kill you."

  The shooting stopped. "Salaris, you're alive? I'm not too late to save you from these fiends?"

  Salaris pulled her arm free from Marsil and stood. "Donoon, it is you. It's been so long. I'm in no danger, these are my friends." She ran to Donoon.

  Marsil looked at Graaf who simply shrugged his shoulders. They stood and watched the two lovers embrace.

  Donoon spotted them and pulled Salaris behind him. "Get back my love. I'll protect you from them." He raised his rifle.

  Salaris grabbed the rifle and pulled it down. "No, these are my friends. They saved me. Who told you that the Saarkaaks had me?"

  Marsil and Graaf slowly approached. They held their hands out to show Donoon that they wouldn't attack.

  "When I reported to Vaamick, I wanted to see you. But you were gone. He told me that you had been captured and they were mutilating your body."

  "He lied to you. He did those things to me." Salaris pulled up her sleeve and showed him the scars. "Kaarg did this to me. On Vaamick's orders."

  "I can't believe it." Donoon shook his head. "No wait, I can. Love and family mean nothing to him. But why?"

  Salaris told him about the human ship and Vaamick's plan. How she had disagreed and he imprisoned and tortured her for it.

  "We have to get to the humans and warn them before it's too late," Salaris told him. "Do you know where their camp is?"

  He shook his head. "I do. But it is already too late. Vaamick used me. I shot their leader last night. I didn't want to, but Vaamick said the Saarkaaks had captured you and the only way to defeat them was by taking the humans' technology."

  "So that's it, then?" Marsil asked. "We've trekked all this way to find that we're too late?" Her shoulders slumped.

  "I'm afraid so. Vaamick's army is already marching for them."

  "Then we aren't too late," Salaris insisted. "We can still warn them."

  "The humans won't stand a chance against Vaamick," Donoon said. "Oh, Salaris. You don't know about the weapons that Vaamick has created during this war. The humans can do little more than throw little metal rocks. They didn't bring anything that could actually make a difference."

  "What about our forces?" Graaf asked. "Could they draw out the Barakaak army?"

  "But we don't have a radio," Marsil reminded him. "The battle would be over by the time we got word out to Jeef. If he even believed us."

  Graaf looked at Donoon. "Do you have a radio?"

  "Yes, I do. That's how I know that our army has already set to march. But it's only tuned to Barakaak frequencies. And I don't know the Saarkaak encryption codes."

  "I know them," Marsil said.

  "Okay." Donoon nodded. "But what about the frequency?"

  "Leave that to me," Graaf said. "We'll just need to unpack one of these tents."

  Marsil paced outside. He had to be done by now. She strode over to the tent they shared and opened the flap. "How is it going? Done yet?"

  "The answer is the same it was a few minutes ago." He looked up from the parts spread out on the floor before him. "I'm working as fast as I can. I don't get faster when you interrupt me."

  "I know, I know. But we are running out of time." Her eyes pleaded with him. "We are between the Barakaaks and their target. There are only four of us. We don't stand a chance if they catch us out here."

  "I really am going as fast as I can," he said. He arched his back. "When we left, I wasn't expecting to be doing electronics hacking on the surface. If we were at my lab, I'd be done already. But now I'm working with tools that weren't really meant for the job they are doing."

  Marsil sighed. "Okay. Do your best. I guess I'll wait outside."

  She left the tent and resumed her pacing. She glanced at Salaris's tent. She and Donoon had been in there getting reacquainted. Marsil shook her head. According to Salaris, they had been apart for almost half of her life. How did they even know if they still loved each other? They both had to have changed so much in that time. Marsil still had trouble being in crowds, but she wasn't the shy young woman she had been when General Keer had sent her to the science lab to get some results from Graaf's predecessor. She had changed. Surely, Salaris had too.

  And how could Salaris still love him after what he had admitted? She had objected immediately to Vaamick's plan. Tortured and nearly died because of it. Yet Donoon spent years implementing it.

  Marsil shook her head again. There had to be more than what he was saying. He wanted to kill Vaamick. Turn them all over was more like it. Well, she would beat him at that game. They were still going to the human settlement once Graaf got the radio working. Instead of letting him hide while she tried to communicate with them, she would turn him in. He killed their people and deserved their justice.

  That would make a great opening to forming an alliance with a civilization that obviously had resources that their moon did not.

  Graaf came out. "It's done." He handed the device to her. She looked it over. "I know it doesn't look pretty, but it will work. Although I imagine that Jeef will be rather surprised when you start speaking out of his personal communicator."

  She chuc
kled. "Well, at least he won't have the option of not taking the call." She walked over to Salaris's tent and knocked on a support pole near their door. "You two get out here. The radio is ready and I'm going to need you for this."

  She waited as they exited. Donoon looked angry. Salaris followed him out, tears streaked her face.

  "What's wrong with you two?" Marsil asked, but she already knew.

  "She doesn't get it," Donoon said. "I'm trying to keep her safe. All I've ever done is try to keep her safe. But she's not willing to admit to what needs to be done." He reached out and stroked Salaris's cheek.

  She flinched away from it. "You are a good man, Donoon. You don't have to do this."

  Marsil pulled the younger woman towards her. "We will figure something out." She glared at Donoon while Salaris was distracted.

  Donoon opened his mouth, but Salaris interrupted him. "The radio is ready. None of us are exactly on good terms with Jeef anymore, so we will need to give him something. Donoon, you will have to give up some info on the Barakaak troop movements as a peace offering."

  "What? I won't do that," he said. He clenched his fists. Marsil glared at him and put her hand on her stun baton. He exhaled. "I can't do that. Those are my brothers. I won't give information that will get them killed."

  "What did you think we were doing? We are trying to get the Saarkaak army to come out here to stop them from killing the humans. People are going to die. The question is only who?"

  He crossed his arms. "I won't do it."

  Salaris took a step forward. "Please, Donoon. More people will die if you don't."

  "People will die if I do," Donoon pleaded with her. "Lomis is probably marching on the humans right now. Do you want her to be killed?"

  Salaris paled. "I hadn't thought about that." She turned towards Marsil. "Is there any other way we can do this? Lomis is my friend. She was one of the people who helped me escape."

  Marsil shook her head. "The only way to distract the Barakaaks from attacking the humans is for the Saarkaaks to attack. Even if I found another way to get Jeef to act, that would still happen. As a general, you have to make tough decisions about who is going to die. I've sent men to their death before."