by Nick Pond
“I need to seriously get out of … HERE! I can’t stay! I have a daughter!” One of the men screamed, who was nearest to the port-hole.
No one could really be bothered to comfort him, as they were focused on keeping their own thoughts together, or in Zara’s case her blood fluids. She tried to groan, but her consciousness was going fast, as she began to felt a sense of comfort with the room disappearing into a comforting glowing light. It was too easy for anyone to just let go now, and embrace the light ahead with love. But a voice in her head interjected. It’s not your time! Zara was definitely not one for giving in so easy. Suddenly the room began re-emerging into its physical three dimensional shapes, as the colors began dispersing from the glowing light as it once again painted her reality and present.
“You Sir!” She suddenly shouted, “Shut the hell up! Everyone listen to me... If you want to stay alive that is...”
Suddenly the pod fell silent and everyone looked round gob smacked at her sudden burst of energy. She checked the missing chunks from her leg, and the tourniquet put on earlier had done its job in stopping the blood, but her clothes and loose rags were drenched in blood. She tried to pull herself up, but was faced with an overwhelming shooting pain, in which she responded to with a massive grunt as she clenched her eyes shut.
“Shit! One step at a time...” She said as she retreated back to the floor.
“I saw something!” A voice shouted from the window, this was the panicking man again.
“What?” Zara demanded.
“I don’t know... Like a movement...”
“You! Go take a look!” Zara ordered to another escapee in the pod.
The tall lanky panicked man was then joined by a much shorter and fat guy who had no hair. He then takes a look.
“Dunno? Space? Stars? Where am I looking?”
“There! Up there!”
“Na.. I don’t see nothing…”
The Space Shark was in the immediate center of the remaining pieces of wreckage from the destroyed ship. Her two babies were in there, and as she investigated through trying to reunite with them she was having no luck. Her movements were much softer and gentle than usual, as she carefully took bits of debris in her mouth, and spat it away; as she resumed searching. It has been going on a while, and like any animal losing a young, the loss of an infant began to dawn on the animal. The interpretation of this emotion from the animal never ends well for anyone unfortunate enough to be in her vicinity. Her bites and movements are starting to get tense, and she is getting angry.
“Eye spy with my little eye... Something beginning with…. D!” Keagan shouted who was smiling, and seemed out of place with everyone else, it was as if Keagan was in a pub or somewhere. (He represented more of the annoying drinkers – the type that don’t know you but suddenly think you are their new best friend and decide to pour out their life story. He was one of them, apart from he wasn’t drunk. Or inside a pub... He was inside a capsule waiting out death)
“Shut the hell up! Can I just kill him! He’s not going to do anything to save us!” One of the smaller mobsters shouted.
“NO!” The leader shouted, “He’s living for a tiny bit longer…”
“Come on you bunch of idiots! D! I said letter D!” Keagan said, with a more forceful tone than the previous statement as no one was playing ball to his game, “its death! Death! Ha! It’s all around us! And it’s come knocking for us!”
“He’s getting hysterical! Just kill him! He’s no good!”
The whole pod jolted, and all the lights went out.
The pod occupants shouted, as they held on, very confused to what was going on. Keagan took another swig of piss as the lights flicked back on. But then there was another tug.
“Nice knowing you boys!” Keagan shouted, which frighteningly sounded more enthusiastic than scared – as if he might be enjoying himself!
This time with more force, people were thrown about, and Keagan ended up being thrown against the wall. After regaining a breath, he intently presses his eyes up against the port-hole. It was pitch black, no stars, nothing just entire black. But then he realized he could see a lighter shade of shapes which then outlined a row of giant triangular teeth. With no hesitation, and whilst the others were panicking at the situation, Keagan tugged the red emergency box for a space suit. He spent his whole life seeing these boxes everywhere, never a thought in a world to ever needing to use one – but they were very easy as the unfolding suit did most the work, as it engulfed and caged the body inside its protection. Everyone looked round at Keagan, mortified that they did not do this. And before they could think to react, teeth began to penetrate through the metal, instantly releasing the oxygen, and the shark began to chew through the capsule turning it into a mesh of metal. As Keagan witnessed the room disappear away right before his eyes, he turned round, and yanked the hatch door wheel. At first it was stuck, but after a few forceful pulls he managed to turn it, and in the last split second Keagan had pushed himself away from the capsule and all that was ahead of him was the deep vast open space. It was the most surreal experience he ever came across, and he didn’t like it. The space plasma carried him a distance, before he came to a stop as the resistance halted him from proceeding any further. He turned to survey the situation, and the Space Shark was still attacking the capsule, or what’s left of it. Keagan had turned off any electrical contained inside the suit, and remained motionless. This was an attempt to not get the attention of the shark. Although his heart beat and brain waves can be an indicator, his size in comparison to the shark meant that all the other waves of energy that travel space is much louder, and is offering him stealth to the animal. He then said to himself:
“Eye spy with my little eye..”
Zara noticed one of the men fiddling with one of the keypads on the mini computer screen. He had been doing this a while, and looking very concentrated on his sweaty forehead. Drips off sweat also ran down his black with gray highlights hair. This guy was called Doug and he looked around in his forties.
“What are you doing?” Asked Zara, as she could no longer keep her curiosity contained.
“There’s another escape pod that made it! I’m trying to establish communication!”
“What? How?”
“Good ol radio waves! I just picked up a distress call from the other pod... They all do it, its formality! In order to alert nearby space crafts of their positions,” Smiled Doug, as he felt very positive that they could be rescued.
But Zara was more alarmed at the information.
“No! No! You can’t! Oh my god!! No one knows anything about these sharks! I’ve been studying them for four years!!! They follow signals to find their prey! We’ll be a beacon to them creatures! You got to switch it off!” Zara shouted.
She couldn’t get up to intercept, but Doug look very confused.
“And if we don’t use it! We may not be found at all!” He shouted, “You might as well toss a coin, and pick an outcome with a chance! If we don’t have the signal we may never be found at all!”
Zara was silent – she didn’t know what to say. He did have a point. They would be invisible to any search teams that may come there way... All she can do is hope and pray.
Keagan gazed out his space helmet, very relaxed as more and more stars became available to view from the more he stared. The scale and size of space, in comparison to his tiny body, or even a planet would still be insignificant to the enormity of it. But the very microscopic elements that come together are the vital ingredients to make life function. Even for this future generation; the vastness and secrets of space is so far out their reach. Then Keagan had been seeing a small black dot for ages; but has now noticed it is getting bigger. The more he focused the larger he realized it was getting. Trying to fathom what it is, a string of fear kicked in. Looking down, and seeing the same as up, left and everywhere; he definitely confirmed the round shape was coming his way. Then significantly he saw a spike coming out the top and smaller similar shap
es coming out both sides. It was a fish. He gazed for a longer period; when he realized the dorsal fin was slanted to one side, and the pectoral fins were acting more like sweeping oars than fish like swimming. Much to his surprise, he felt his suit vibrate and heard a sound like a loud fog horn; almost singing. Keagan was taken back; as it’s impossible for sound to travel through space. Anyhow, Keagan was mesmerized with the beauty of the animal, as he realized it was the most gigantic creature he had ever seen – it was a Space Whale. Her skin all toned in a dark shade of blue, with her huge opening mouth, and her blowhole projecting some weird cloud of gas. She swam over him, and he watched as she passed over the top, showing her underbelly bearing her grooves and sparkling lights of different colors from the rainbow. Again; Keagan’s thoughts repeated she is huge! He had never seen anything like it. Her back tail swung down behind him, and once Keagan engaged with it, he realized where it would swoop down next, and how he would grab it. At least he may get a ride to somewhere, as opposed to being stuck and doing nothing.
“Aha! I knew it! Like a fly to a massive pile of horse poo! You’ve comeback!” The Ruler of Playa De Sontos cheered, as Zipper was brought in by the two interrogators, “I knew you’d come running back!”
“My god! You’re still ugly! Have you tried making friends without kidnapping them against their freewill?” Zipper said.
“Come on lets get a quick selfie! Like the good old days!”
“Maybe stick to kidnapping then...”
Suddenly the big office got even more crowded, when some more men came in; who were wearing very gray and boring suits.
“Erm... Ruler? Can we have a quick word outside...? Please... It’s urgent...”
The Ruler knew his aids wouldn’t interrupt him unless it was something very important; he was a good judgment of that. Or at least he thought it was…
They are gathered outside the room. One aid is looking down holding his index finger and thumb in order to nurse his nose, whilst looking in utter shock and disappointment. The aid who was holding it more together mentioned but in a more whisper, “Ruler... Did you... Ermm.. Did you describe the queen, our royal family, as purring down the telephone earlier? It’s leaked out!”
“What on earth are you going on about boy?”
“Ruler.. It’s disrespectful to our royal family to be described in a non-conventional manner... And this isn’t the first time... The public are getting a bit... Shall we say...?”
Suddenly the second aid interrupted, “The public want to hang you! They are in complete despair! Our city has gone mad!”
“What? What’s going on?”
“They are looting and burning buildings! It’s a full scale riot!”
“Well... What’s happened to our armed forces?”
“I’m talking about the armed forces! We are even beginning to think we might evacuate all government officials off Playa De Sontos... Until at least things have calmed down a bit…”
“I better go and pack…” The Ruler said who then went back into the next room.
“I want to thank you all for your time... But a pressing matter has come up which requires me to take an exit. We will do this again... I’ll be in touch,” said the leader, who started to pack his stationary items back into a black briefcase.
“But... You’re leaving it like this? We haven’t even decided on anything! What could be so much more important than invading sharks from space?!” Zipper spat out, offended that is even being contemplated.
“I’ve got to go! Like I said I’ll be in touch,” Said the ruler, who gave no opportunity for an answer as he marched out.
Zipper looked round at the other guys in the room; in utter shock.
Everyone inside the capsule – including Zara was now very restless with nothing happening, and being confined inside a small space. There’s got to be something better than this... She thought, as she lost awareness to the difference between passing seconds or hours. The burning pains in her mid-section kept flaring enough to make her grunt; she knew she wasn’t in good condition. She looked round at the other passengers, and they were all draped on the floor, pondering and hopeless with the outcome of their fate. Zara was getting to the end of her tether with the passenger that tends to panic with every mild threat imposed to them – he was going to get killed, or maybe get everyone killed.
“Listen you sir! What’s your name?” Quizzed Zara.
“Mr. Willon, mam,”
“You’re being an absolute bell end! Man up!”
“What?”
“You’re letting the team down! If your going to carry on acting like a sissy girl, then you may get us all killed! So buck the fuck up!” Zara shouted.
Suddenly the room was shaking for a few moments, and everyone bolted upright in response. The panicked man was trying his best to hold in the depth of his animal instinct to go flight instead of fight – but similar to a pressure valve filling up with no way of release – there was going to be a point of explosion; he suddenly let out a loudest and highest pitched scream known to mankind, to which then Zara retaliated by managing to reach and hit him round the face. Everyone would agree that Mr. Willon was being a tit!
Zipper is fuming to learn that no rescue operation has been set for any possible survivors from the “Dub Starz” incident. He’s still in the office room with the two previous interrogators, Jake and Chris – however their role as interrogators has somewhat demoted now.
“Well! I don’t know about you two idiots, but I’ve got a rescue mission to put together,” Zipper said, as he started to proceed for the door.
“Wait! Zipper! We don’t know what’s going on... But...”
Jake the good cop interrogator contributed, “You see… What happens now? Everyone’s sodded off, and now we don’t know what to do…”
“We are always told what to do! Otherwise... Well... There’s no purpose!” Chris added.
Zipper stopped and looked at them, “Well you either take your chances here by your own freewill... Or…”
They both looked hopeful at the olive branch being extended for another option.
“Well! Or?” One asked, mainly as a prompt from his impatience.
“Well... We came off to a bad start! And I still think you’re both an absolute pair of morons... But... I could use the help...”
They both jumped with joy, and embraced each other.
“Can’t wait to get my hands on them Space Shark son of a bitches!”
“Too much fun! Stop it! Like I said, we are leaving ASAP! Follow me boys! My old facility is the other side of Playa De Sontos, out in the baron desert!”
Chapter 3: Fight and flight!
The scientists of Playa De Sontos have advanced knowledge on the subject of the different planes of reality available, and data which supported all the calculations for the existence of all the parallel universes, which do pass energy from each other in the form of gravity. They are one step from having scientific proof to supporting that everything in this reality, has unlimited other versions of themselves playing out in every variety of actions one contributes to life and the different outcomes of decisions even being lived by your alternate versions of yourself. Somewhere, there is a Keagan existing who acts on common sense as opposed to stupidity... A Keagan who doesn’t order his ship and everyone on it to a journey of impending doom, going on the hunch that he might make a bit of money… But being somewhat old-fashioned we will stick with a linear narrative contained in only one reality…
Playa De Sontos was in a state of despair. From a distance, with its skyline featuring towers, domes and various tall buildings, each yellow illuminating light was sparkling against the blackened sky. But in between them buildings, on the concrete roads; were masses of people all behaving chaotic; as parked space ships and rovers were set on fire, flames engulfed many buildings, and toxic black smoke was billowing from everywhere. People were screaming, many injured, but order has been lost. The General from the defense division, surrounded by a
handful of uniformed troops holding a 5 barreled laser-gun, had them in a huddle whilst one soldier scratched his head squinting at a map.
“This definitely isn’t right...” Said the soldier, as he further investigated the co-ordinates, “According to this we should have turned down Bakers Lane,”
“Enough!” The general shouted, “Just follow me! Anyone non-uniformed just shoot! There’s more of them than us, but aggressive will keep em back; will give the illusion there’s more of us! Now give me that map you dick-head!”
It was going to be a trip down memory lane for Zipper; returning to his confidential secret military base for the days he worked for the government. Inside this bunker, which is located underground out in the barren rocky wild, was one of the first pro to-type space crafts which are able to pass through the solar system wall and out into deep space. Zipper contributed from the start to this project, and brought it forward by miles, but by witnessing the darkest and corrupt behavior from the government; he felt sick to his stomach and could no longer pursue working for them. But for now, Zipper and the two interrogators were now outside on the street, in the heart of Playa De Sontos, walking out on the most horrific sights as a mob of people were smashing their way into buildings, fighting, and just turned into rampaging animals.