Both of them were scared and both were aroused but the fear was greater. Evelyn’s breasts had come loose and her nipples were hard and erect, pressing against Adamarus’ rib cage. Adamarus was also erect and pressing against her leg. Their entire bodies seemed to be pulsating.
Adamarus closed his eyes. Their situation was ridiculous.
“I don’t want to die,” Evelyn said then asked, “Will it hurt?”
When the capsule came apart, it would be quick, but he knew before that happened they would literally cook as the temperature rose. “It will be quick,” was all he said.
Sooner than before the vibration started up again.
They stared at each other.
Then the hissing sand blasting sound came.
Her lips trembled, a tear rolled from her eye. “Adamarus…do you think that it’s possible…” her voice caught, “to…to be in love with two people at the same time?” she asked.
He took a long time to respond. Finally, “I guess it must be.”
“I love you,” she blurted and kissed him …and he kissed her back.
“I love you too,” he heard himself say.
The hissing grew louder and louder until it became a roar. Soon there was an indistinct burning smell accompanied by a noticeable rise in the temperature.
Evelyn broke away with a sharp intake of breath. There was terror in her eyes. “Can you smell that?” Evelyn asked above the noise, her voice shaking.
Adamarus could…a new metallic scent not there before. It was getting hot—both of them were starting to sweat. He noticed that there was smoke in the air. Some new level had been reached. “You always smell the burning,” he said as calmly as he could.
But it was getting very hot.
The sphere was jarred and they were both thrown upward, stretching the webbing, which then slammed them back down upon the padding. Adamarus’ weight had tossed him higher and brought him down faster causing Evelyn to flip and fall partially on top of Adamarus. As the roar grew into a deafening screech, they held each other tightly, both now soaked in sweat, both knowing this was it.
“I don’t want to die,” Evelyn repeated, her voice trembling.
He pulled her closer, “Shhhh, everything’s all right…there’s nothing to fear.”
And for a moment she was taken away to a time when she was so small and someone held her and said something very much like that…long, long ago.
Again the sphere lurched and spun and Adamarus and Evelyn were propelled up and then slammed back down again. Then they were kissing again—frantically this time as the sphere lurched back and forth and began to fall apart.
There was a loud boom and they both jerked their heads toward the sound. To the left, a large section of the sphere had buckled inward, tearing several of the padded reinforcements away. The padding was starting to burn.
“Ohhhhh…” Evelyn keened.
Adamarus placed his hand on her cheek, “It’s okay, it’s okay.” They looked at each other.
She said, “We’re going to die now,” and suddenly she reached down and took him.
---
It sounded like an explosion and her entire massive frame quivered.
“Damn it,” shouted Captain Turnage, “Lt. Swanson, back her out. We’re not going to find anything this close in…nothing we can save anyway.”
“Aye, sir,” replied the first officer.
The old tug boat, Lucky Wager, took two more hits as her thrusters began to turn her.
Hundreds of ships of all types had rushed to help though really, and sadly, there was not much that could be done…besides collect dead bodies.
Lt. Swanson looked out at the wreckage spiraling downwards toward Amular. He tried to ignore the half-dozen lifeless bodies he could see. Miles below, hundreds of fire balls trailing smoke burned up as they entered the atmosphere. In the distance, a flare of light caught his attention. One of the many large fireballs seemed to pause then, in the blink of an eye spun as if its center of gravity was well outside itself then shot upward. It was fairly large. He zoomed in, then, “Captain, I think that’s a marshmallow that just bounced at eight o’clock.”
Turnage tuned and looked. A marshmallow was a EDC whose external foam had triggered to protect the capsule. The foam was normally white making them look like the soft treats. However, “This one looks like a very burdened marshmallow, Lt. It’s obviously bounced quite a few times,” the Captain said. And it was quickly arching, preparing for another entry. “If there’s anyone still alive in it, Lt., they are some lucky sons of bitches. Prepare for intercept.”
“Aye, Captain.”
Several more clangs rang out as more wreckage hit the old ship as she raced back into the debris field.
---
A deafening clang and scraping.
Adamarus awoke to a hoarse rasping sound. Then he was gasping for air, each breath filled with agony. The pain was everywhere and so bad that it seemed to pass through him and over him like cold water too horrific to acknowledge. He had trouble opening his eyes. When he finally managed it, he heard the croaking sound again.
“Adamarus.”
Another deafening clang and scraping sound. Everything shuddered and the spinning walls barely visible through the debris and smoke slowed then came to a stop.
He tried to look around but it was too painful to move. Smoke, ashes and half-burned debris swirled around him as scattered fires and eruptions of electrical sparks lit the capsule interior. Through the flotsam and smoke, a black form materialized. He could not imagine what this thing could be and then he saw a red gash in it open.
“Adamarus.”
Above the red gash, a single eye emerged from the charred blackness. “Oh…” he cried out. He reached out to the carbonized form and screamed as the charred flesh of his arms cracked and broke away and he watched in horror as the black chunks floated away. He was just like the horrible apparition before him…just like…who? Her?
He shuttered in pain again as something grabbed both his outstretched hands. Looking up, he saw that the thing that was Evelyn was holding both his charred red blistered hands. He looked at what had been her face. Closer he could see that there were areas of color between the carbonized areas…dark red, white pulp, blisters. Her once beautiful hair was all gone…burned away. The red slit moved again. The horrible croaking sound came again.
“We didn’t die. I’m so sorry. So sorry.”
He just stared at the black thing before him, confused and speechless as a darkness encroached from the edges of his vision.
That one ungodly eye and terrible red slit pulled in closer. The red slit opened and moved…the tortured sound reached him, “Adamarus…listen…listen to me. Open your eyes and listen to my voice. It…it never happened. It was just a dream. Never happened. Do you hear me, Adamarus…it never happened…that’s all…never…hap …”
Adamarus was so confused. He had no idea what she was talking about. He no longer had any idea where or who he was as the darkness closed in and swallowed him. Then, seemingly forever, he floated in thoughtless pain and horror.
---
Captain Turnage touched the control panel, “Turnage here.”
A disembodied voice said, “Sir, we’re about to gain access.”
“Understood, out,” he broke the connection then looked up and raised his voice, “Lt. Swanson.”
Swanson nodded back and walked quickly from the bridge. He slid down the main ladder three decks then rushed astern.
The crew of The Lucky Wager had secured the EDC to its side and cut away what remained of the scorched foam. Then they’d rigged and sealed the extending air lock to it. With all the debris flying around, they had suited up and kept the ship’s air lock sealed.
Suited up, Swanson quickly passed through the air lock. The 20-foot extension lock was in zero-gee. The flame from the cutting torch reflected off the off-white sides of the square segmented tunnel. As he pulled himself forward, he could see that they just
about had the circular hole completed. Finally, the melted metal cuts met and they attached suction grips to the cutaway and pulled it free.
The two workers entered followed by Swanson.
“Holy shit!” came over the radio.
Swanson turned on his suit’s lights. Ashes and burnt debris floated within but near the center floated two blackened forms.
The workers rushed forward to check them.
Swanson, assuming they’d found two dead bodies, backed up and exited the capsule. He didn’t want to see this. He activated his radio and contacted the Captain. “Sir…we’ve got…”
He was interrupted by an explanation over the radio from one of the workers, “Shit! This one’s alive!”
“So is this one! I think this one’s a female.”
Swanson quickly changed his report, “Captain, we need medics down here asap! We have two and we’ll need to get them to Bellows as fast as possible.”
Bellows was the orbital hospital rushing toward Anderson to help.
EmerFreeze could not be used on burn victims—luckily they had a couple of BurnFreeze injectors that hadn’t yet expired. The two were rushed to sickbay where blood and other samples were taken. Then the BurnFreeze, which froze only the exterior, was administered. The samples were given to Doctor Willis who first performed a DNA match to get the victim’s identities.
As soon as it was determined that one of the victims was Admiral Maximus, Captain Turnage notified Naval Command…who in turn notified the Loud.
Ten minutes later, the seven-mile form of a Loud Umbrella Ship rippled into existence next to The Lucky Wager. Five avatars boarded the tug and were led to sick bay. One of them was an avatar that Bugs had connected to and taken over.
The medical staff were administering IVs, pain medication and taking more fluid samples. After taking one look at their catastrophic injuries, Bugs informed the Captain that the Loud would need to take over their treatment.
Bugs went to Adamarus, reached out to take his hand then changed his mind. “Adamarus, my friend, we will take care of you.”
No acknowledgement came from the burnt figure.
Then, both of the victims were transferred to the alien ship.
---
The Resort Moon Serena-7…
Grace and Nero were finishing their lunch. They’d found a nice outdoor café. Scattered throughout were wind chimes clanking and tinkling but the real treat was all the exotic birds, some were perched on tree limbs, some in cages. Their singing and the sounds of the wind chimes seemed magical. Grace intended to bring Adamarus back here when he arrived.
Nero needed to report back to the Menace—the ship was scheduled to depart Serena-7 that afternoon. Adamarus would be joining Grace in a week to start their two-year vacation.
Nero took the last bite of his sandwich and wiped his mouth as he looked at one of the colorful birds. “Mother, what will you do with yourself until Father gets here?” There was no answer and he turned to look at her.
Grace was rising from her chair, her face was white, her eyes wide. Nero turned in his chair to see what she was looking at. On the video screen mounted on the wall was a breaking news report. It showed The Anderson Shipyards. Several large holes could clearly be seen in its side and it was surrounded by debris. Even more shocking was that Amular could be seen in the distance behind it—an impossible sight—it was obvious that the station was no longer above the North Pole.
“Oh my God,” Nero uttered.
Grace was shaking her head, “No…no…no…”
Just then Nero’s PDA buzzed. He grabbed it as they both ran from the café.
---
The Menace was redeployed and rushing Nero and Grace back to Amular. Nero guided his mother into his ready-room and they both sat. On the tach-com screen was Bug’s avatar.
“They have found both Adamarus and Evelyn Eden—both are alive.” Bugs said.
Grace cried out, collapsing into tears.
Bugs continued, “Both will make full recoveries from their injuries.”
Grace looked up, “Injuries?”
“Yes, both suffered grave injuries but again, both will make full recoveries.”
Grace broke down again and Nero placed a hand on her shoulder.
“However,” Bugs continued, “their recovery will take…time. Most likely a year or more. Both have second and third-degree burns over ninety-five percent of their bodies but, do not worry. We’ve taken them aboard one of our ships and we will be repairing them. Eventually…there will be no scarring or disfigurement but again, their recovery will take a long time. In addition, you won’t be able to visit Adamarus for a while. At some point, we hope we’ll be able to transfer them to a human hospital.”
Bugs answered their questions—no they were in no pain then it told them he’d meet them when they arrived at Amular.
“I must now contact Ms. Eden’s husband, Brandon, who is out at Hideaway. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact me...at any time…for any reason.”
---
Bugs kept his promise and met them when they arrived and again told them that neither Adamarus nor Evelyn could have visitors nor even speak. Both were in induced comas and slowly being repaired.
One of the Loud Umbrella Ships had fetched Brandon Eden from Hideaway. He was told the same thing.
Over the months, everyone begged the Loud for details on their condition. Finally, Bugs relented.
“Both lost a hundred percent of their skin. Adamarus has lost both hands and one ear. Evelyn lost one hand, one eye and both ears,” the avatar told Grace, Nero and Brandon. All three were going into shock so Bugs continued quickly, “All the missing parts—their skin, hands, ears, eyes—are being grown from stem cells and should be ready for reconnection in about eight months.”
The three looked at the five-foot robot, completely speechless. None had had any idea how catastrophic the injuries were.
Bugs continued, “I was able to speak to both before we put them under. Adamarus has no memory of the final moments. This memory loss was almost certainly caused by severe trauma. Being with Evelyn, he undoubtedly viewed himself as her protector and, not being able to save her or himself and watching her burn alive was too much for him. These memories may or may not return…we have no control over that. And, perhaps, it would be better if they never returned.”
---
Eighteen months later, Hillcrest General Hospital…
Adamarus and Evelyn were moved to Hillcrest Hospital for the last six months of their recovery. At that time, their skin was still a little discolored and looked like the skin of newborn babies but on the day they were released, they looked almost completely normal.
Grace, Nero and Brandon were there with them the entire time. At the Loud’s request, Adamarus and Evelyn were not allowed to see or talk to each other. Everyone thought this strange but the Loud said that for psychological reasons, it would be better.
On the day both were released—Adamarus with Grace and Nero, Evelyn with Brandon—the two finally met again in the hallway.
“Adamarus,” Evelyn said.
“Evelyn,” Adamarus replied, “you’re certainly looking a lot better than the last time I saw you.”
Everyone laughed.
Evelyn shook her head, “Oh…as I recall, that was a really bad hair day.” She hesitated, then asked, “You still don’t remember those final moments?”
“No,” Adamarus said.
“Well, I guarantee you,” she looked down, “it’s for the better.”
They hugged then Adamarus, Grace and Nero went home. Evelyn and Brandon caught an Umbrella ship back to Hideaway.
---
The events on Amular and at the Anderson Shipyards deeply shocked and concerned everyone. That included the Loud. The impact of learning that the alien ship was on its way, plus Dr. Radford’s claim that the Loud were conning Amular and enslaving the humans forcing them to fight their war seemed to ironically be overshadow
ed by the attacks.
Besides the attacks on the first day, which included the destruction of the Loud Lander, killing two of the Loud and destroying half the city of Rockford, and the massive damage to the Anderson Shipyards still out of control and floating away from Amular, ten facilities related to the defensive buildup had been attacked. The total death toll stood at 1,984 with many thousands more injured.
Increased security at potential targets stemmed the violence and the last two attacks by the Radford Revolution were stopped. However, after years, the demands for the Loud to leave and threats of further attacks were still coming. Panic and demonstrations still swept the planet and the government was under tremendous pressure for decades.
Despite the government’s best efforts, Radford and the people responsible for the attacks continued to elude capture.
Security was increased everywhere. The inner-circle met and discussed various options. However, beyond that, there was nothing more anyone could do.
Nero occasionally talked to his parents who were finally on vacation and out of harm’s way.
Eventually, the off-world ships, settlements and facilities resigned themselves to focusing on the work at hand, trusting those back on Amular to deal with the horrific problems.
Chapter Seven – The Prodigy
“Our universe, which supports intelligent life, depends on many values being incredibly exact. Some like the value of Alpha, if it were off by even as little as four percent, our universe would not support intelligent life. It is amazing that all of these values just happen to be exactly the way they need to be and we are left with only three possibilities. First, that the universe was designed by some external intelligence (i.e. God) who fine-tuned all these values. Second, a universe that supports life is a fluke that probably hasn’t happened before and probably never will again. Lastly, once these values were not so exacting, but now this balance is decaying, and these values have been pushed to the edge and are about to fail.”
The Loud Named Bugs
Opening Speech, 23rd Amular Symposium on Quantum Physics
Source: The Archive
T-Minus 106 Years
Countdown Amageddon (The Spiral Slayers Book 2) Page 20