“A good question. My reasons for creating them was at first because of my love for the vanishing Great Cats on Earth and a desire to preserve a near extinct species of Great Cat of Eraut. Dangerous they are, but they are majestic and beautiful animals. I admit my own pride was also mixed up in their creation. I also did it because I could. Not always a wise reason for scientific exploration, I admit. But truly, I wanted to preserve both what is endangered on Earth and extinct on Eraut. Some, perhaps you, might think their creation was a mistake. But the driving force of Nature requires both predators and prey in an ecosystem. We have also created gentler animals. Soon, I will have a program created to allow their release into the wild too. Some survive the harsh Martian environment, most don't. Harbeasts are one of our many experiments that are very hardy survivors. If we're to have a planet full of viable life, then it takes all kinds.”
“I wonder if that balance of predator and prey is true for higher beings as well?” Asked Genevieve thoughtfully. She didn't seem angry, which I was happy for. I thought Fairchild was doing a Great Work in this universe, flawed though it might be. He seemed to welcome her questions.
“I once wondered that as well, but as beings of higher intelligence, nothing will ever convince me that animalistic behavior will ever be justified. Animals don't kill out of cruelty, ambition or personal gain. Man and Woman, no matter our species, are separated from them by reason, civilization, and culture. And love, if we choose to express it. There were others who helped me with this research who have long since passed away.” He paused for a moment as if in a brief prayer. “I see myself as the keeper of the flame.” His expression brightened.
“Have you and your crew noticed the plant life out here?” Diamond's face broke out in that easy and friendly smile. Genevieve smiled slightly herself.
“We did notice.”
“I'm impressed with the work being done here,” said Diamond. “Who knows? One day it may be as beautiful as Earth.”
“And that was our original dream. I may not live to see it but one day this planet will truly be teeming with Martian life from Earth and Eraut. That is my ultimate goal, and the goal of my brother and the old rebel scientist who fled the Mothership so long ago.” One of his assistants came into the office.
“Dr. Fairchild. One of the young escaped harbeasts out near the water garden is giving birth. One cub has already been born.” The assistant then left. Dr. Fairchild rose from his seat. Color rose in his face. He looks good. I thought. His purpose was renewed.
“Well, it seems my work is never done. I'd like to make sure the mother and cubs are safe and arrange to have her taken back to one of the labs for examination, with the new cubs. If you'll all excuse me,” he said. He made a call by comlink at his desk and directed Thomas to have two large security mechs armed with tranquilizer guns to meet him at the arena.
“Of course,” said Genevieve. He turned back at the door before leaving.
“I'd like to establish an open policy here at. . .Triskelion. Anyone who wants to tour this place is welcome,” he said and then he left. Thomas escorted us out of the office and to a large foyer stacked with metal furniture, boxes of tools, crates and other supplies and tables.
“Bob, who was Lafayette?” Asked Diamond.
“The monster behind a long and sordid story. I'll tell you guys all about it at home,” I said. Thomas spoke up.
“Lafayette presented himself as one thing but turned out to be something else. Even I was fooled by him for awhile. I ended up working here because I was in desperate straits. I needed the money.”
“Well, we've all been in situations like that,” said Diamond. “I want to hear this story, Bob. Don't forget.”
“How can I?” I said, feeling the weight of my experience crashing down on me. I was dead tired.
“It might be a veritable jungle the next time we come back here,” said Diamond. He looked at me.
“You look terrible. Let's get you back to base and get some food and drink in you.”
“I have some cloned mutton, ice water and a case of cold beer at the base,” said Genevieve.
”Yum,” I said. Suddenly, someone who was missing came to my mind.
“Where's Will?”
“Will is safely secured back at the hideout. He powered himelf down right before we left to find you. We didn't want to take any chances having him wandering around with us out here in the desert. Especially after what happened last time,” said Diamond.
“Makes sense.” That made me glad. My mind was settled.
As we made our way outside of the center, near the Stealth Cat, I saw ships flying overhead. I could only guess that it was the unit Suttu had dispatched to oversee the organization and security of Triskelion. I shivered against the evening air. My work, however accidentally accomplished, was done.
. . .
Genevieve and Diamond bundled me in several blankets in the back of the old Stealth Cat, placing my weapons at my feet.
“Where are Tulos and Rychik?” I asked, shifting around in my blankets to settle into a comfortable position.
“Tulos is still at the temple near Ophir. As for Rychik, I don't know. Only that he said he had some business to attend to,” she said. “You know how it is.”
“We haven't seen him since that night we all celebrated our victory at Europa,” said Diamond. Oh yes. We were victorious. I hadn't dared to even think of it, I was so consumed with surviving after the crash. Now, I could finally continue to savor our victory at Europa.
“Well, if you happen to see Tulos, as I'll be going back to Earth soon, tell him to beware.”
“Of what?”
“Not what, who. Please tell Tulos that it is possible not everyone at Noctis Labyrinthus is what they seem. He must be careful.” The corners of Genevieve's eyes crinkled with concern.
“I wish I could contact him now, but I guess because of the journey he's on, he has to shut out the outside world for a time. When I see him, I'll relay the message,” she said.
“I'm confident Tulos can take care of himself,” I said quickly. “But, if there's any way you can have a message sent to Sworda and mark it private-”
“I'll do just that.” And I said nothing more on that subject, or of Rychik. I did wonder where he was, however. I also wondered about the untied, loose strings. Like the bone marrow manufacturing aspect of Triskelion I was sure would be shut down. Or that was my hope. But that didn't mean it wouldn't rise elsewhere. Furat was gone. There was Patrick, whom I said a silent prayer over, who'd risked his life helping me. I would have done anything to help aid in his escape. But it was over now. There was nothing I could do about it.
I resolved to honor him in some way if I got home.
But there were so many other things to think about, things unfinished. Like my dreams, and my body, which was changing.
And my family. How would they feel, what would they see once I came back? Would they be elated? Angry and resentful of my unexplained absence? I did at least have good news to tell The Boss.
Genevieve had the roof window of the speeder down so that we could see the sky. It would be a while before we left the safe confines of the biosphere.
Nevermind all that now. You've just escaped with your life, Bob. Then I remembered something.
“Genevieve!”
“Yes, Bob?”
“I want to go by the rocky hill again. Would that be all right? I need to see something. It's personal.” Both she and Diamond looked back at me and then at each other.
“Sure.”
When we eventually arrived there, passing out of the biosphere, just as I'd thought, I found the first two harbeasts who'd tried to make me their family dinner, in their lair. I could make out the sounds of the cubs playing and mewling.
“Careful,” I warned as Genevieve piloted the speeder above the hill tops.
“Why are we here? Didn't they try to eat you?” Asked Diamond.
“Yes, they did. All the same, I want to see them. E
specially her.” They looked at me strangely. I heard growls and grunts, blended with the mewling of the cubs. I looked down and there, at the mouth of the cave two of the cubs were playing with their father. The mother was busy grooming a third one. Nightflame paused her grooming and stood up when she saw me in the speeder. Then she let out a loud roar, her eyes bright as flame. Firemane did the same and underneath the majestic din of roaring harbeasts were the more frail sounds of the cubs. It was all a joyful sound to me. My heart lept, this time, not in fear of the beasts but in joy. I think it was a sign of communion from one warrior to another. Perhaps Nightflame recognized me as a one-time ally, if not exactly a friend. That was enough for me.
There seemed to be the intelligence of the snagar but the valor and courage of the lion. A fine combination of qualities for animalkind on Mars.
“It never occurred to me that they developed family units,” said Genevieve.
She and Diamond, though perhaps not understanding, were tolerent of my need for this visit to the hills.
Then I laughed. Not derisive, nor in nervousness, but I laughed from joy and happiness. It was my saving sense of humor, naivete, and my love of life, no matter how mundane, that always sustained me, that saved me. I was no superhero. A war hero? Perhaps. But I was truly an ordinary man and in that, I took great pride.
As I lay back I listened to the sound of the warm sands shifting in the wind, the distant sound of the chirr and whir of insects, the sounds of a planet awakening to life and the sounds of the young night. Stars twinkled in the violet black Martian sky, and the milky moons traversed across the horizon like delicate moths. I laughed heartily because I was alive, reveling in the miracle of life. I had once again survived nature's red teeth and claws and lived to tell about it. I then lay down in my blankets and drifted off into deep, blessed sleep.
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Also, check out the short story prequel to this series:
The Prototype
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Look for the upcoming fourth novel
in the Mission space opera series Fall, 2015:
Blackguard Conspiracy
Pick up the first novel in the series:
Mission: Flight To Mars
Mission: Harbeasts of Mars
By V. A. Jeffrey
Artwork by
Streetlight Graphics
An Epistle Publishing book
Copyright © 2014
All rights reserved.
Mission series:
Flight to Mars
Lights of Langrenus
Attack on Europa
Harbeasts of Mars
Also by V. A. Jeffrey:
The Red World series:
Edge of Darkness
Schisms
Cryptic Tongues
Rise of the Red King
Short stories:
The Prototype
Keeping Strange Time (collection)
Rainfall
Dust and Bones
The Candy Shop
Edge of Darkness
3 Fables
Fairy Tales and Fables
Memory Lane
Poetry:
When The Sky Is Gray
Half Light
City Life
October Fog
Table of Contents
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Mission: Harbeasts of Mars Page 15