Generations of Teelan Box Set

by G. E. Stills

  Her view of the sky blurred when liquid closed over the viewports. The craft sank deeper. Outside light dimmed and vanished altogether. At length, forward momentum ceased and upward motion began. After what seemed like a long, long time, the pod bobbed to the surface. She heard hissing and popping as intense heat dissipated from her craft to the surrounding liquid. Though it was light outside the pod, her view was obscured by the boiling steam surrounding her.

  Unnecessarily, Grant informed her, “We have landed.”

  Sarcasm filled her answer, “So I surmised.”

  A single jet shuddered to life and imparted forward motion briefly before it sputtered and died. “Complete propulsion failure. Restart not possible,” Grant reported. “We can only drift from here. Hopefully it was enough to guide the pod to shore.”

  “It should be.”

  For hours, she watched land grow closer. At last the craft ground to a halt when it beached a few yards from shore. The straps holding her, released and Gina climbed from her chair. Stepping to the controls, she electronically unlocked the escape hatch above her head. Climbing to the pod’s roof, she splayed her feet wide for balance and surveyed her surroundings.

  The shore in front of her and to each side as far as she could see, contained a heavy covering of blue and green foliage. The trees, bushes and vines appeared tropical in nature. Judging from the stifling heat and humidity that caressed her skin, her summation was correct.

  “Well, all ashore that is going ashore,” she said aloud. Climbing back into the craft she gazed down at herself, barefoot, wearing only panties and a nightshirt. “Hardly dressed to go hiking in the jungle am I?”

  She grabbed a survival pack, slung it onto her back and then climbed back onto the roof. Sitting, she slid down the side into chest deep water. She waded ashore and stood in the sand while rifling through the pack. The contents included a survival knife, a small ray-pistol, first aid kit and concentrated rations she estimated would last for about a week. In addition, there was a canteen like object that drew in humidity from the air and converted it to drinkable liquid. There were three more bags like this on board the pod.

  “Okay four weeks of food, so finding something to eat is not priority.” The sand was already becoming uncomfortable to stand on so she stepped into the water. “First order of business is something to wear on my feet.” She looked at the jungle in apprehension.

  “Grant, anything on life here? Especially the dangerous kind.”

  “Nothing. I’m sorry.”

  “Then help keep watch while I gather some leaves and vines to make shoes.”

  Fine sand squished through her toes as she headed across the beach toward what looked to be leaves of the right size to make shoe soles. She cut several off, along with vines and then looked up at the ominous clouds gathering overhead.

  “I think we will hold shoe making class inside today. Otherwise I’m pretty sure it will be a wet class.”

  Holding the vines over her head, she waded back out to the pod, climbed the built-in steps on the side and clambered back into the craft. After shutting the hatch, she sat down and went to work fashioning her shoes. Hours later, after many frustrating attempts she viewed the results. “Not high fashion, not even pretty, but they will protect my feet,” she mused.

  ****

  She took another bite from the tasteless ration stick and chased it with a swig of water. She frowned at it. These may sustain life, but they sure as hell wouldn’t qualify as fine cuisine.

  An earsplitting roar assaulted her ears. Something struck the side of the life pod and sent it tumbling over and over. Gina tossed around in the interior like a rag doll in a dryer. When the craft stopped rolling, it was upside down. Again, a tooth-rattling roar came from outside and something struck the side of the pod, sending it rolling once more. This time she managed to grab hold of a chair and controlled her tumble.

  The ship ceased its wild rotations with the hatch on top. Gina opened it and stormed out like an angry hornet defending its disturbed nest. The creature she faced was the most horrible sight she had seen in her entire young life. She estimated its head was thirty feet above the ground. Its open jaws revealed row upon row of sharp teeth. Two eyes, each half the size of her body, glared at her. The beast had green, tough looking hide. It had a long tail, two powerful looking legs and smaller arms midway up its torso with deadly appearing talons.

  She splayed her legs slightly to brace herself on the slopped hull. Brushing a lock of disheveled hair from her eyes, Gina glared at the animal. Anger and frustration took control. “You will not destroy my ship you damned ugly brute!” she screamed. “Ever since the Men-gar I’ve been spoiling for a fight. Something to take my aggressions out on. You’re fuckin’ it!”

  She pointed her digits at the beast. Flames streaked across the distance to explode in the creature’s face. It roared in surprise and pain. Its head darted forward with jaws opened wide. The creature’s putrid breath made her gag and sent her hair swirling. More fire burst from her fingers. This time flames reached deep in the beast’s open maw. The roar cut short when the creature’s jaws snapped shut to extinguish the fire in its mouth.

  “Take that, asshole. I may be little, but I have a vicious, deadly bite.”

  The beast took two steps back. She launched more fire. It screamed in anguish vanishing for a moment in a shroud of an intensely raging inferno. The acrid smell of burning flesh filled the air. With its entire body engulfed in flames, the creature voiced a final shriek of agony. It toppled to the side, creating a huge splash of muddy water that drenched her. The creature lay still.

  Gina remained stiffly erect for some time waiting for it to rise. She pulled her drenched hair back from her face. With one hand, she wiped the mud from her eyes. The sudden silence was eerie.

  “I think it’s dead, Gina.”

  “I guess that answers the question of life existing on this planet.”

  The pod shifted under her. She gazed down and saw the creature had ripped a huge gash in the side. The craft had come to rest in deeper water which poured into the gaping hole. She leaped back inside and in dismay, saw water already sloshed across the floor. Grabbing the four packs, she climbed out, slid down the side of the rapidly sinking ship and swam to shore.

  She sat in the sand breathing hard from exertion and the energy expended from expending her flame. The pod settled deeper and finally sank beneath the surface. “So much for my home.” Turning to the side, she glared at the dead animal. “Grant we need to find shelter.” She glanced up at the sinking sun. “Soon,” she added. “I don’t fancy sleeping here on the beach and having my slumber interrupted by one of those.” She pointed at the dead beast.

  “If you wake up before it eats you,” Grant teased.

  Gina was in no mood for her AI’s humor. “I’m assuming you’ll remain alert and warn me before something like that occurs. I’ll remind you that if I perish so do you.”

  “I’m aware of that and will remain vigilant while you sleep.”

  “Thank you,” she said sarcastically.

  She gathered the packs, two to an arm. “Something above the ground in the trees for tonight I think.”

  “I agree. I will help you search.”

  To add to her discomfort, the rain that had been threatening all day, began to fall in earnest. In no time, she was drenched. She settled into the branches of the selected tree surrounded by dripping leaves and soaked to the bone. Her nightshirt was a shambles after tumbling and rolling inside the pod. The rain tapered and quit shortly after dark.

  “While I’m trying to sleep I want you to access your archives and look for the methods of tanning and curing hide. I’m going to need clothes soon and that beast out there has a lot of hide I can use.”

  “I will do so. You need sleep. It has been a big day.”

  “Goodnight. Talk to you in the morning. Remem
ber to wake me if danger threatens.”

  “I will.”

  She spent a miserable night tossing and turning, trying to stay warm and get comfortable in her wet clothes.

  ****

  Gina shaded her eyes with one hand and surveyed first the lake, then the jungle behind her. She glanced down at herself. Her nightshirt was gone. The soft material supplied inner padding for her new bra top and wrap skirt. The top and skirt were made of leather formed from the hide of the beast. Her leaf shoes were gone. In their place were leather boots that rose to just below her knees. A leather belt not only held up her skirt, it provided for attachment of the holster and scabbard she had fashioned. Leather straps on the holster and scabbard tied around her thighs.

  “I almost look like a proper cave girl.” She laughed. “Except for weapons on my hips and that.” She focused on the crystal set into her navel. It was connected to neural receptors and recharged the energy ball located inside her just below her navel. The energy ball supplied the power for her invisibility and fire abilities. Unlike her mother Emma’s, her ball was not artificially implanted, but composed of living tissue. Her crystal was much smaller too.

  She gazed at the carcass just off shore from her. Scavenger fish were reducing it to bones quickly. She recalled her first steak carved from it. Grant analyzed the first small bite she took and pronounced it safe to eat and nourishing. Her next bites had been larger. It was a welcome change after the tasteless rations paste.

  Through careful packing, she managed to consolidate the four survival packs into two. One of the packs rested high on her back. On top of it was the rolled up hooded knee length parka that helped keep her dry during the frequent rains. The other pack rode on her butt with straps that tied around her waist.

  I’m going to be thankful the gravity on this planet is less than what I’m used to. It’s the only way I can lug this heavy load.

  Though it was early morning, it was already getting hot. Using her feet, she snuffed out the flames and covered her small fire pit. She picked up the staff she had fashioned from a branch and turned to the jungle.

  “I guess this is it. So you think we should head north?”

  “That is my recommendation,” Grant said.

  “That’s as good a direction as any. North it is,” she said aloud and hiked toward the heavy undergrowth, ever watchful for danger. Now that circumstance had forced her to live outside, she was aware of the many life forms. Birds called out. Insects buzzed and chirped. Although she had not seen any, logic told her that if there were predators the size of the beast she had killed, there must be herbivores just as large.

  Hours later, hot, sweaty and bone weary from forcing her way through the heavy undergrowth, she welcomed the afternoon rain. It dripped and trickled down on her from the leaves above. The rainfall increased and she stopped for a moment to don her parka. When the daylight began to fade, she started searching for a place among the branches to rest for the night.

  Just as the last of the light faded, she spotted a place among the branches that looked promising. Climbing up into the tree, she removed her packs, using one for a pillow. She curled her lower legs up under the parka and ate some of the paste rations washing it down with sips of water.

  “Keep watch. I’m going to sleep,” she ordered Grant.

  “Yes, Gina,” he answered.

  She drifted to sleep listening to the monotonous sound of rain hitting her parka.

  CHAPTER THREE

  During her jungle trek, cat-like creatures occasionally stalked her. When she spewed fire at them, they slunk away to hunt other less deadly prey after suffering injuries no worse than singed fur.

  The ground began to rise and the jungle gave way in places to large open meadows of waist high grass. The open spaces, though a welcome change from the heavy jungle growth, brought problems. In the distance, several times, she spotted more of the large fearsome beasts she had encountered. She had named them Tranos because they reminded her of Tyrannosaurus-Rex pictures she had seen in her youth. In addition, she saw herds of their prey. Large lumbering beasts easily sixty feet with long necks that held their heads thirty feet above the ground she estimated. These long necks permitted them to eat leaves from tall trees.

  There were a multitude of other animals she came across, most non-dangerous vegetarians, but she also encountered the predators that hunted them. For the most part, she was able to chase them away by casting fire at them. Twice she was forced to kill the more aggressive ones.

  The grass-filled meadow gave way to rocky cliffs. She stood facing them and not looking forward to the task of scaling them. “Grant, we need to start searching for a safe spot to spend the night. I’m exhausted.”

  “There, a cave,” he said a few minutes later. He caused her eyes to shift in the direction he indicated. “We can spend the night there.”

  A growl came from the interior when she approached the entrance. Moments later a large bear-like beast lumbered out of the cave and stood up on its hind legs. Easily ten feet tall with sharp claws, it dropped to all fours and charged. Fire snapped between her fingers and she cast it in its face. The beast halted its charge, stood once more and roared.

  Gina backed away a few paces and cast more fire. Rather than scaring it away, her flames seemed to enrage the animal further. She dodged to the side and it turned to face her. “Fine, don’t run away, I’ll kill you then, dammit.”

  This time when she cast flames they struck it and set it on fire. The fearsome animal became an inferno and roared in a mixture of agony and rage. She turned and fled when the fiery beast rushed for her again. Rounding a boulder-strewn outcrop, she found it to be a dead end. Spinning around, she faced the charging bear. More fire burst from her fingers. It halted, roared one last time and collapsed at her feet. Slowly the flames died out to leave a smoldering carcass.

  She smoothed her hand over her face feeling her singed eyebrows. “Now that was close. Too damn close.” Cautiously she skirted the dead animal. “I want your cave. You should have surrendered it to me. Now you’re dead and I’m still going to take it.”

  Quickly she searched the cave interior to make certain there were no additional occupants. She dropped to her knees at the entrance, ignoring the stench coming from inside and waited for her heavy breathing to subside. “A fire first, then sleep,” she spoke to herself. She gathered branches and tinder from a close by wooded area and returned to the cave. A spark from her finger set the tinder ablaze and in a short time, she had a small fire.

  ****

  Gina scratched another mark on the cave wall. There were a hundred and twenty-six just like it. I’ve been stranded here for four months. Each day blurred into the next, she wasn’t even certain how many of them had passed, maybe there were some she had failed to mark. Most days were the same. After breakfast, she bathed in a nearby stream, then she spent most of the day hunting using her pistol.

  “My fire ability has a tendency to char my kill, rendering it inedible.” As usual of late, she spoke out loud to break the monotonous silence. It was nice to hear a voice, even if it was her own. “I think maybe I’m going crazy.”

  “Not yet.” Grant chuckled. “So far you’ve only answered me and not yourself.”

  “Humph.”

  Following the narrow path, she padded up to the plain above her cave to hunt. The sun slowly crept up in the sky and with it came an increase in heat and humidity. Even wearing her scanty attire, sweat soon covered her as she waded through the waist high grass. Occasional stands of trees or rocky outcrops of boulders broke the otherwise vast and featureless plain. As she rounded one such outcrop of rocks, she saw a man in the distance running straight for her. He had not spotted her. He was looking over his shoulder at the five other men that appeared to be chasing him.

  Quickly she knelt in the grass and watched in silence. As they got closer, she saw the single man be
ing chased. He appeared to be well groomed and wearing some type of clothing. The ones chasing were shaggy and wild looking, with long flowing hair and beards. Their clothing looked to be made of animal hides. Their skin was deep tan while the man being pursued had dark-magenta colored skin.

  They drew closer still. Yes, the one being chased was certainly dressed different from the five pursuing him. One of the five raised a spear and cast it. It struck the pursued in the shoulder and he fell, vanishing in the tall grass a short distance from her.

  The group caught up and stood over him. One of them raised a spear, doubtless intent on killing the man rather than taking him captive. Don’t get involved, they haven’t spotted you. Besides why should I care? She schooled herself. Still…

  Gina stood a few paces from the savage looking men. “Stop,” she yelled.

  The five froze, taken by surprise and then turned to face her. They appraised her obvious female figure, while growling and grunting to each other. Spreading out, they approached. The evil smiles on their faces and the glint in their eyes told what fate they planned for her.

  That is not going to happen, she snarled.

  “Stop right there and don’t come closer.”

  They ignored her, took several paces nearer and spread apart to encircle her.

  All right, I guess you have to be shown, assholes.

  She raised her pistol and fired. A crimson beam of intense light struck one of the savages in the shoulder. He howled in pain and grabbed his shoulder. To her disappointment, instead of scaring them away, they charged. One of the savages cast a spear at her. Although the weapon had been thrown quickly, long years of training kicked in and she swatted it aside before it hit her.

  “All right, my turn,” she growled in anger.

  Dropping the pistol, fire snapped to life and burst from her fingers tips setting one after another ablaze. This time they halted, but it was too late. Five burning corpses fell to the ground. She gave thanks to good fortune that the grass was wet and the flames did not spread. Retrieving the pistol from the ground, she holstered it. After making certain the five were dead, she crept silently to the one they were pursuing.