by TM Toombs
"Don't you fret now, girl." Rebecca patted her on the shoulder. "You just get back with that venom. I'm sure he's not the only one who’s gonna need it. Best you get going."
"Thank you, Ma’am." Hannah forced a smile and started for the door. Isaac was standing there, waiting for her.
"I'm not going to let you go by yourself, Hannah." He put his arm across the doorway. He was joined by Miriam and Ruth.
"We aren't either," Miriam looked defiant. "All of us have done everything together since we all landed here. That's not going to stop now. We might not be blood related, but we're still sisters."
Ruth nodded in agreement. "We'll have to tell Jacob. There's no way he'd ever forgive us if we left without him."
"We can use him. He's the best tracker we have," Isaac offered.
Hannah looked at her friends, one at a time. She couldn't describe the waves of emotions that were threatening to drown her. Finally, she found her voice. "We better hurry then. I'll meet you all in the square in an hour."
Isaac lowered his arm and allowed Hannah's friends to pass, then raised his arm again. Hannah looked at him, her eyebrows knitted together.
He leaned in and whispered so Sarah couldn't hear them, "I'm not letting you go back home alone. What if that thing is still hanging around?"
Her eyes grew wide as she swallowed her fears. "I hadn't thought about that. Do you have a weapon?"
"We'll stop by my parent's store and pick up a couple on our way." He lowered his arm again.
"I can never repay you or them." Her voice sounded small and frail to her own ears.
"No need." He winked at her. "We should get going. It's going to be dark soon and we still need to figure out which direction those things went."
They walked side by side in silence back into town to his family's mercantile. The store was busy as anxious people filed in and out, leaving with building supplies. Inside, Isaac found his father, Anath, standing behind the counter. In front of him, the crowd waited their turn three deep. He looked up, saw his oldest son and waved him over.
"I need you to go in the back and get all the home repair supplies you can find."
"No, Dad, I have something I have to do right now." Isaac marched over to the counter, defying his father for the first time in his life. Stunned, his father stopped what he was doing and gawked at his son.
"What is more important than helping our neighbors rebuild?" His dad swept his hand toward all the people waiting to have their orders filled. Several people nodded and murmured in agreement.
"Samuel Briskey has been injured by one of those things that attacked our homes. Now he's unconscious and only has two or three days to live. Rebecca needs venom from one of the beasts to cure him. Ruth, Miriam, Hannah and I are going to track one down, kill it if it isn't already dead, and bring back the venom." Isaac stood firmly in his spot, prepared for his father's usual molten lava temper.
For a moment no one spoke. Anath looked at the men in line, started to speak but, as one, they stepped back, eyes averted. Old Jim sighed. “We got our own families to protect right now.”
Anath stepped from behind the counter, grabbed his son by the shoulders, fear and pride at war in his expression as he looked him square in the eyes. "What supplies do you need to hunt this thing down, son?"
Isaac relaxed. "I just need a weapon. I'm taking Hannah back to her house so she can gather her supplies."
"Nonsense. Get everything you need here. She's going to be my daughter soon enough!" Anath looked over at Hannah and opened his arms wide. She ran to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He hugged her tightly before stepping back and taking her hands in his. "Isaac will take you into the warehouse and help you get everything you need. Then come find me so I can wish you a safe journey."
Hannah leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "I can not tell you how thankful I am for your help."
Isaac turned to the gathered crowd. "Does anyone know which direction the creatures were heading?"
Several men stated they thought one was headed north, towards the long valley. Others had seen two of them, as Hannah had, but now they were traveling on a parallel path, one in the air and one on the ground.
"I saw smoke coming from the direction they were headed," Old Jim offered. "There ain't any homesteads out that far. I'm betting that ship that was chasing 'em crashed. If I were to guess, I'd say that ship has better weapons than we do. You could use them to hunt the monsters down and kill them."
"Tech!" Anath spat. "Every last one of us came here to turn our backs on technology. It's heresy to run back to its vile and seductive embrace the moment things go south."
Isaac had heard his father’s rampages on technology for years and quickly reassured him, "We'll head for the ship, but just to check on the pilot and to find out what he and those things were doing here in the first place. Neither of them belong here."
Anath stroked his chin, nodded. “Agreed. Now go gather your supplies."
Isaac turned and headed to the warehouse, Hannah on his heels.
THE RANGER
Hannah set her pack down, leaning it against the fountain and took a seat on its wide rim. Behind her, the sun was beginning to sink below the horizon, casting the town's square in long shadows. She shivered as a cool breeze picked up. Isaac took off his jacket, sat down next to her and draped it over her shoulders.
"Better?"
"Yes, thank you." She pulled it closer around her.
"I really am sorry I left you back at your place. I had no idea things would turn out so bad. If I had known, I would have stayed and searched with you so you didn't have to go through that alone. I promise it won't ever happen again."
She nodded. "I don't really blame you. I was just taking it all out on you. For that, I'm sorry."
"Nah, don't be. I understand." He placed his arm around her shoulder. Hannah would have pulled away from him before this. She felt trapped and uncomfortable about having no choice in her future with him and no say in her mate for life. But now she leaned into him. They sat there in the fading daylight listening to the crickets begin their nightly serenade and watching the lightning bugs begin to flicker on the outskirts of town.
They heard a rustling behind them. Isaac jumped to his feet and spun, holding the knife he'd pulled from his belt.
"Easy, Isaac," hissed Ruth. "It's just us."
Isaac sheathed his knife and offered Jacob his hand as he, Ruth and Miriam rounded the fountain. Jacob grasped it firmly and gave it a quick pump. Hannah greeted each of the girls with a hug.
"I'm glad you decided not to leave without me," Jacob greeted his best friend.
"No way I'd take on a monster without you watching my back." Isaac slapped him on the shoulder. "You all packed and ready to go?"
"Packed? Yes. Ready to track a living nightmare? Not really. But where you lead, I'll always follow, boss-man."
"Actually," Isaac smirked, "I need you to lead, since you're the best tracker on New Goshen."
Jacob's shoulders sagged. "So that's why you invited me along."
"I really hate to interrupt, but the sunlight is fading fast and I would like to try to make it to the crashed ship tonight," Hannah cut in.
"Crashed ship?" Jacob looked from Hannah to Isaac. “I thought that was just crazy gossip.”
"Yeah, I'll explain on the way. It's in that direction." Isaac pointed towards the mouth of the long valley west of town.
Hannah retrieved her pack and slung it over her shoulder. With Jacob and Isaac in the lead, she and the girls followed the west road out of town. They passed half a dozen homes and farms before the road narrowed, turning into nothing more than an old game trail. They walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
After a little over an hour, the smell of charred vegetation filled the humid night air. An occasional flickering through the forest hinted at still burning trees and grass. Jacob stopped and turned, waiting for everyone to catch up. He dropped his pack when they gathered
around him.
"You all stay here, I'm going to go ahead and check it out to make sure it's safe," he whispered.
Isaac handed his bag to Hannah. "I'm coming with you. Hannah, I want you, Ruth and Miriam to take our packs and hide in the bushes until we come back for you, okay?"
"Not a chance." Hannah tossed back his pack. "My brother is the reason we're here. I'm not going to sit by and let others risk their lives for my family. I'm going."
Miriam sighed. "If Hannah is going, so am I."
"Well, I'm not going to hide in the bushes by myself." Ruth sounded nervous.
Isaac peered through the darkness at Jacob. "Looks like we're all going."
"Yep," Jacob picked his gear back up and shouldered it. "But can you ladies stay behind us at least? Not saying you couldn't defend yourselves, but I don't wanna hear it from my dad that I let anyone get hurt."
They headed toward the craft. Breaking through a thick line of trees and underbrush, they first spied what looked like landing gear that had been sheered off and embedded into a knot of Birch. Following a line of debris, they came upon a crumbled wing. Not far from that, the main body of the ship was buried three feet into the dirt. Small fires dotted the area, casting malformed shadows on the ship and the surrounding forest.
Jacob held up his hand and motioned for the others to stay put while he worked his way around to the cockpit. He disappeared around the front of the mangled craft as Hannah watched him closely. After what felt like forever, he appeared at the back of the craft and shrugged, his shadow perverted by the dancing flames.
"What y'all doin' nosin' round my ship?" asked a strange voice behind them.
They spun around, looking for the occupant of the ship. Off to Hannah's right, she detected a small movement. She leaned forward to get a better look then took a step towards it.
"Don't be getting any ideas, young lady," the voice warned. "Y'all just stand fast and put your hands up. I dunno if you're friend or foe."
Hannah raised her hands. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her friends raise theirs as well. She squinted, trying to pierce the darkness. All she could make out was an undefined shape moving slowly towards them. Her left temple began to throb. She rubbed at it without taking her eyes off the looming figure.
From the bushes, a tall being limped forward, in gunmetal grey, helmet to boot. It pointed something at them that she'd never seen before. The lights from the fires flickered and glowed on the being's armored suit.
Hannah cleared her throat. "We aren't here to hurt you. We're going after the creatures that attacked our people and injured my little brother. We, or I, was hoping you might have something that could make it easier to find it."
"And kill it," added Isaac.
"So, who are you all then?"
Isaac stepped forward. "Antitech colonists. I'm Isaac Graber, son of the mayor. This is Hannah, my wife-to-be. That's my best friend, Jacob back there. And Ruth and Miriam."
As Isaac named them, they each waved a hand and said hello.
Hannah asked, "Are you injured?" She pointed at the streaks of dark red oozing out of a puncture down the being's metal side.
"It's nice to meet y'all. And yes, my hyperbergeon suit took the brunt of the impact but something still managed to rip through to me." He stepped closer. "I'm System Ranger Christopher Atwell Beauchamp. And I could use your communications system to contact my base to let them know my status. It appears mine is no longer functioning properly."
"Um," Jacob started, "we don't use tech. So, no communications systems. Unless you can reach them by horse and wagon."
"Well, that's a fine mess, isn't it?" Beauchamp limped over to a fallen log and sat down heavily. "I ‘spose, once they notice I’m missing, they'll send a squad to look for me."
"Mr. Beauchamp," Hannah lowered her hands and moved closer, "were you chasing those things?"
Beauchamp pressed a button on his helmet and then lifted it off of his head, exposing a very human face and head. He had a fresh bruise above his right eye and his short hair glistened with sweat. He sat his helmet down on the log next to him and took a deep breath.
"Oh, that is some sweet, fresh air," he smiled then winced, moving his hand to his injured side.
He holstered his pistol and studied Hannah. "Yes, young lady. I was on the trail of a band of smugglers. I tracked them to this system but when I engaged them, they attacked me. I managed to take out their ship on the other side of your planet here. But the contraband they were smuggling escaped. That's what you saw in the sky."
"What," Miriam faltered, "what are they?"
"Nasty critters, ma'am," he shook his head. "I'm sorry y'all had to cross paths with them. They are as dangerous as sin. They were genetically created to be fighting animals for sick bastards to bet on."
He stopped and looked hard at Hannah. "How is your kin, Miss Hannah?"
"He'll die in a matter of days if we don't track one of them down and bring back some venom to our medicine woman." Hannah's eyes sparkled with unshed tears.
"I may have some equipment that can help," Beauchamp leaned forward and rested his elbows on his thighs. "But you'll have to set aside your antitech doctrine first."
INTO THE VALLEY
As Beauchamp rummaged through the wreckage of his ship with Isaac and Jacob, Ruth pulled Hannah to the side.
"Hannah," she leaned in close to Hannah's ear, "Mr. Beauchamp doesn't look well. He's lost a lot of blood."
"Are you sure?" Hannah breathed.
"Yes, it was one of the first lessons Rebecca taught me about caring for injured patients. Look how pale he is. And his breathing is irregular. I think if he strains himself too much, he'll bleed to death. As much as I want to help you track the monsters down, I think I should stay here and tend to him as best I can until we can get him to Rebecca."
Hannah studied the stranger who was helping the boys search the ship for supplies. "You're right. Stay here and care for him. If he's up to it, head back to the village at first light."
"Well," Beauchamp sighed and leaned heavily against the outer hull of his ship, "it looks like the scanner and my spare pistol are about the only useful things that survived my perfect landing. Sorry the recon drone was too damaged to be of any use. That would have come in handy."
"We can make do with the equipment you've loaned us, sir," Isaac turned the scanner over, looking down at it. "How do you use this thing?"
"It's pretty simple." Beauchamp held out his hand. "Here, let me show you how to work it."
As Beauchamp instructed Isaac and Jacob on the scanner, the girls cleared an area near one of the larger fires and prepared a quick meal. The smell of food soon drew the men over. They took up spots on the ground, encircling the dancing flame as Miriam tended to the cooking.
"Mr. Beauchamp?" Jacob sat across the fire from him. "Can you tell us more to help us track these creatures?"
"Well, first off, you can stop with the 'Mr. Beauchamp' stuff. Beau will be just fine." Beau smiled at him. "As for the Hazacks, I would treat it like a wounded animal. They would most likely be looking for a lair to hide in so they can rest and recover. At least one of them has probably killed or is looking to kill something to eat. If there are any caves around, I'd check those. And watch for blood or drag marks at the mouth of the cave."
"What would be the best way to kill them?"
"Hmm." Beau rubbed his chin. "Half a dozen guided missiles should eradicate the bastards. But since I don't have any, we'll have to use my handy, dandy Ranger issued pistol."
Beau unholstered his pistol and held it up. "I haven't tried shooting one of them with it, but I imagine it'll put a couple of holes in their spiny hides. I guess we'll see when we catch one or both of them, huh?"
Ruth elbowed Hannah. "Beau, as much as I appreciate you going with us, I think it would be better if you stayed here with Ruth."
Beau turned his attention to Hannah and Ruth. "For why? Do I smell or something?"
"No, no, nothing li
ke that," Hannah shook her head. "It's just that Ruth is terrified and she feels safer here with all your technology."
"Oh, she does, does she?" Beau chuckled. "I know what you two are doing and it's not going to work. This is my job; my mess and I have every intention on cleaning it up."
After a quick meal, Hannah and her friends bedded down for a couple hours of much needed rest.
* * *
Hours before the sun began to rise in the east, four of them had already neared the mouth of the long valley.
"Don't you feel even a little bit bad about leaving Beau and Ruth behind?" Isaac fell back to walk next to Hannah.
"No." Wearily, Hannah adjusted her shoulder straps for what seemed like the hundredth time since they left the crash site. "He wouldn't have made it this far."
"Hey, Jacob," Isaac called ahead. "Let's stop here and wait for sunup so we can get a good look at the valley. Then we can decide where to start looking. I can't get this scanner thing to pick up anything other than the four of us."
"Works for me." Jacob shrugged off his pack, dropped it to the ground then sat on it. He pulled a canteen of water from a side pocket and took a drink. Miriam dropped her pack next to Jacob’s and accepted the canteen when he handed it to her.
Isaac and Hannah joined them, pulling out their own canteens and sitting on their packs. After a few silent minutes, Hannah stretched out her legs and leaned back against a tree. Before long, she had fallen into an exhaustive asleep.
As dawn was breaking over the land, Isaac nudged Hannah. "It's nearly bright enough to get a clear view of the valley. We should figure out our plan of attack and get going."
Hannah rubbed her eyes and sat up. Isaac offered her his hand, helping her to her feet. Miriam and Jacob were already checking out one of the paths that crisscrossed the valley floor. Miriam waved to them. "Come quick!"
Hannah grabbed her pack and raced up to the other two, Isaac close behind her. They found Jacob leaning over a pool of blood the size of a dinner plate and drag marks that angled off towards the cliffs to their left. He looked up as Hannah and Isaac drew near.