by Jake Macklem
Looking at the Susaderm, Cam squeezed the trigger without a thought. Whizzing through the air, the dart struck the animal in the neck. The creature squealed a trilling sound, and took a single step, then fell to the ground. Cam waited a moment, studying the area for any sign of more creatures. Reassured, he stood up and picked up the recorder. “Let’s go see what we got,” he said as he walked toward the Susaderm. Please let it still be alive; the techs said the darts were tailored for oxygen breathers.
The deep breaths of the creature made a slight whistling sound through its trunk as its midsection rose and fell. Each breath was long and slow. The powerful legs hinted that it could run, but the squat build indicated that it did not like to. It reminded Cam of herd animals on Earth. He focused the recorder on different features of the beast while he spoke about them. “Look at that, it doesn’t have any eyes. It’ll have to rely on its other senses to know what’s going on around it. Like its sense of smell… I mean, with a nose like that it probably smells pretty good, right?” Zooming in on the skin protrusions on its legs and trunk he continued, “I’m guessing those little appendages are very sensitive to the movement of other creatures, and it's probably how it tracks those insects in the ground. But see these teeth? It’s got both cutters and crushers, and that red paste in its gums looks like pulp from the grass. It eats the plants and the crawlies. And its body can handle chewing on this grass, which grows sharp like knives. Strange little thing isn’t it?”
Cam quickly went about taking a blood and tissue sample, though he made sure not to harm the beast. He marked it in his log as Life Form Class B. He scooped up the remains of one of the dead insects and marked it in his log as Life Form Class C. After returning everything to its proper place in his backpack, he spoke to the camera. “I think it would be real fun exploring our new home together, learning about all the new alien life forms that live around us. I miss you lots, Calvin. If I come across any other animals, I’ll be sure to bring you along with the camera. I love you.”
Now to find that platinum deposit.
Picking up his rifle, he swapped his tranq magazine out for real bullets and ventured deeper into the strange grove. He paused just before he lost sight of the waking Susaderm. It slowly stood, groggy and clumsy. It should be safe until it recovers, and that shouldn’t be too long.
Nothing else in the valley was like this mound. It shouldn’t be here, not with the regular flooding I think goes on. Following the scarred ground, Cam came to what he feared he would find.
Damn it.
Overgrown with trees that wrapped around it was a crashed combat vehicle. He could see from here that it had been grounded for a while. Rifle at the ready, he walked toward to cockpit and examined the fighter. Modified Warthog. No marking or insignias. It’s been in a fight, though. He scanned the area for any sign of life. Settler or Pirates. Damn it. He took a few steps up the side of the craft. Please let there be a body. He looked: there was no body.
Cockpit has been practically disassembled. Damn it. Lifting his rifle, ready to fire, Cam moved to the closest tree. I don’t know how long this thing has been here. Since the last flood anyhow. I don’t know if anyone survived. Cam sighed. Except for the someone who stripped the ship after it crashed. Damn it.
Taking a knee, he kept the rifle resting in his left elbow as he pulled his canteen and took a sip of clean water. No way to know if they’re even alive. It’s not like it’s a nice place, with the heat and the iron, heavy metal poisoning would be inevitable. No one could survive here very long without the proper equipment. They’re probably dead. He took another sip. Yeah, probably dead.
Cam nodded as he replaced his canteen and stood up. I’m just gonna head to the pickup point. He started walking back, and slowly came to a stop. Damn it!
He started surveying the ground—grooves ran through the soil, about three inches deep. The Susaderm. A few grooves just scratched the surface of the ground, several of them, a few sixty or seventy centimeters apart. He followed those; the distance between them never changed. Definitely drag marks. He continued to follow them, a heavy guilt pressing against his heart. I’m sorry, Gwen. I gotta check. Whoever it is killed a Susaderm. With the right gear—and a lot of luck—a survivor might have a chance.
Exiting the woods, he lost the trail in the tall grass. The last time they were here was a while ago. Grass has had time to regrow. He studied the landscape to the right. The horizon rose and he saw the faint blur of shade along his sightline. Other, brighter colors stood out in splotches among the sweeping red. Another small wood at the base of the mountains, and the vegetation is more vibrant. Probably a water source nearby. He looked to his left. Near a similar rise in the terrain, the scarlet waves began to break upon grey, stony ground. More mountains in the distance, but nothing between here and there. He scanned the continuing plain of red grass in front of him. That’s just death. “To the right it is.”
Cam guessed the two mountains were one long ago, but the force of the rushing water had worn a path between them. Over time the path widened and deepened, creating a recessed valley on the plain. The natural channel created a welcome breeze, offering brief moments of comfort and sending waves through the grass, creating a sound that reminded Cam of distant glass breaking. More of the hemp-like trees grew in this area than Cam had seen anywhere else. A few sixty meters from the edge of the wood was a glistening yellow river. It would have appeared on detailed pictures of the survey area, but his report had not included them. For a moment he wondered why again. Why was the Survey so incomplete? When I get home, that will get explained that to me.
If someone was gonna make a go of it, this would be the place. Kneeling at the edge, he pulled out his scanner and stuck the wand in the water while watching the red and black flowers float on their lilypad-like leaf. The petals spread from a bulbous base, and the pistols were vividly colored and looked to be fuzzy. The wand beeped as it concluded its scan. Oxygen-rich and slightly acidic. It’ll keep you alive but should be filtered. Standing, he returned the scanner.
“I’m sorry!”
Cam snapped his eyes toward the woods, rifle on his shoulder, aiming over the scope. A woman that speaks Sol. Isn’t Gwen just gonna love that. Moving forward, he never lowered his weapon. He quickly closed the distance to the tree and heard rushed movement coming from within the woods, getting closer. He knelt into a firing position against a tree and peered through his scope. She’s moving fast. Maybe being chased. Oh hell, what if there’s two of them?
She tore across the ground, moving with surprising agility. Cam tried to keep her in his scope, but the woman’s unpredictable motions made it too difficult. She’s scared… like she’s seen a ghost. He quickly redirected his aim, scanning for whatever it was she was running from. Peeking over the scope so he could see a larger area, he scanned the woods behind her. The steady breeze rustled the grass and tree branches, yet no shadow moved out of place; there were no creatures or sounds of danger. From what Cam could see, she was the only disturbance.
There’s nothin’ there. He looked at the woman as she fell to the ground. What’s got you so scared? Standing up, he rested the rifle in the nook of his elbow and started slowly walking toward the woman. “What are you running from?” he said when they were about twenty paces apart.
She was naked except for the dirt that covered her red-stained skin. Around one and a half meters tall, she was well-muscled but malnourished. Cam felt the warmth of his cheeks as he blushed, noticing her profile. Gwen would be so jealous. Her hair was filthy and matted, but red underneath that. She had numerous small cuts and bruises, some fresh and some close to healed. She looked up with pale green eyes squinting. A shadow covered her face. “Things I can’t run away from.” Her eyes, wide and haunted, bore into his.
“That… ship out in the field, that… Uh, yours?” Cam asked.
“The Warthog? Nah, I stole it.” Red sat back on her knees staring at Cam.
“Oh, did you now?” This makes things
easier. Maybe there’s a reward. Cam flipped the safety off his rifle.
“Mission demanded it. Had to escape… Warn command.”
“You a soldier?” Damn it.
“Lt. Commander Ace Hart. STAR. Sol military.” The young woman started to stand up. “You’re not Sol military.”
“Not anymore. Discharged going on four years now. You really a STAR?” Strategic and Tactical Aerospace Rangers were elite soldiers. “You don’t look like much to me.”
Her eyes focused on Cam… “Are you a pirate?”
Never been called a pirate before. “No ma’am, I have all my appendages and have no bias to the letter R.”
Ace smiled. “You’re funny.”
“Well, thank—” Cam suddenly stepped back, catching his falling gun with one hand and grabbing at his throat with the other, eyes wide, his cry of pain choked off by the sudden loss of air. What the hell!
Ace, within arm’s reach, turned and sprinted away, putting twenty meters between them before Cam could move.
She punched me in the throat! She’s so fast. How does she move like that?... Bringing up his rifle he lined up his shot. Damn it! He ejected the magazine and unchambered the round, letting it fall to the ground. He slammed the tranq mag into place and slid the bolt to chamber a dart. Over thirty meters away, she dodged between trees. Cam forced himself to slowly breathe in through his nose, raised the rifle to his shoulder, and squeezed the trigger. The dart pierced a tree behind her as she flashed past. He coughed, clearing his throat, and took another shot, missing again.
Cam’s eyes narrowed. I don’t miss, Red. Ever. Looking through the scope he lined up his shot. If I miss, she’s over the ridge and I never see her again. He blinked the sweat out of his eye. This is not why I’m here. This could make me miss my pickup. He looked over the scope. I don’t know her. I don’t owe her anything. In a moment she’ll be gone. Ace raced up the ridge. Damn it. Cam lowered his gaze, lining his shot up in the scope, not where she was, but where she was going to be. He squeezed the trigger.
Ace fell to the ground, sliding to a stop. Cam rubbed his throat as he walked toward her. If she hit me much harder, she would have crushed my windpipe. A STAR. What should I expect? I’m lucky to be alive. Kneeling next to her, he checked her pulse. She’s alive. He set his rifle down and pulled out the scanner. Using the wand, he took a reading of the young woman. Oh, you poor girl.
Cam stood up. On the other side of the ridge was a collection of fallen trees, an opening at its base was half-covered with a sheet of metal from the crashed ship. Another sheet lay on the ground. He looked down at Ace. You’ve been here a while.
Scooping Ace up in his arms, Cam stared at her face trying to avoid her nakedness. “If you ever meet Gwen, this never happened.” He carried her down to the hut below.
10: Ace
The woman was on her back, a look of shock on her face. The man was on his side, his expression calm. Blood pooled under their bodies. The streetlight had burned out and the shadows crawling out of the alley reached toward the crimson stain.
Clutching her stuffed bunny, the little redheaded girl buried her face into the warmth of the toy, looking between its fuzzy ears at the couple, then up at the man holding the gun. A shadow covered most of his face, but his eyes burned beneath the brim of his cap. “They didn’t pay me enough to reload,” he said.
Howling laughter erupted behind him from two more men. “That’s cold, man.” One of them stepped forward. “Let’s go get a drink.” Together the three walked away, still laughing.
The little girl looked back at the dead bodies.
I still don’t know who they are. Ace realized she was dreaming. She had this dream often.
The sharp click-clack of heels echoed through the ally. Turning, she saw two women approaching, both stopping when they saw the carnage.
“Go get Mick,” Shonda barked at Glitter, who stood looking wide-eyed at the scene.
She never was real bright.
“Snap out of it, hussy, and go get Mick!” Shonda watched Glitter nod her understanding, turn, and wiggle down the alley as fast as her eight-inch high heels and form-fitted skirt would allow.
Looking back over the chaos, Shonda walked forward. Barely in her forties, she was like a fine wine, aged to perfection. Her black curls and ringlets fell along one side of her face and her smoky eye makeup was applied with practiced precision. Her piercing blue eyes fell on the little girl. “Get out of here kid.”
The girl, five or six years old, held her ground and tightened her grip on the stuffed bunny in her arms.
“Come on kid, scram. You shouldn’t be here.” Shonda knelt and picked up the woman’s purse, then started patting down the dead man. “You know these people? They your parents?”
The little girl stared at the woman, watching her every move.
What a piece of work. No wonder I never liked you.
Shonda looked at a piece of paper she found, then to the kid, then at the dead people in the ally. Her eyes widened and stared at Ace. “What the shank you still doing here kid!” Lifting her hand, she rushed toward her, Ace did not move. Shonda slapped her hard across the face. “Shank off!”
Ace’s face squished tight in rage as she turned, under her crinkled brow her green eyes were lit with fury. Shonda’s face went slack and she stepped back from the little girl.
“Aren’t you just the prettiest angel I ever saw.” Mick smiled as he knelt next to her.
He was the biggest man she had ever seen; his shoulders as wide as she was tall. His left arm was metal, reflecting the light and changing colors with the nearby flashing neon. She reached out and touched it.
It was so warm.
He had white hair at his temples, the rest was black, slicked back and shiny. He wore a white tank top that clung to his body like a second skin, his muscles flexing under it with every movement. “What’s your name?”
Ace smiled at him and shrugged.
“Wait right there, okay?”
She nodded as Mick winked at her and stood up. He started talking but the words faded into a distant hum in the background. She looked around at the bodies.
Maybe they’re my parents. That would suck.
Stepping into the pool of blood, Ace squatted down and closed the dead woman’s eyes.
The hum of conversation grew louder. Shonda spun Ace around and snarled, “Look you little hussy, you start running or I’ll kill you myself.”
“Shonda!” Mick’s voice rumbled louder than the city. “You got a set coming up. Go get ready.”
Shonda’s face curled in bitter resentment. “Mick,” she stood and faced him, shouting, “this is dangerous!”
“Go get ready, Shonda.”
She licked her teeth and clicked her tongue. “You’re going to get us all killed.” She walked away. “Or worse—arrested.”
Mick watched for a moment then smiled and turned to face the little girl. Kneeling again, he looked her in the eye. “Been a bad day, huh, kid?”
Squeezing her bunny, she nodded.
“The police are coming, be here soon. You shouldn’t be. System ain’t kind to orphans. This moment, right now, is the beginning of your life. It’s a hard one and nothing is gonna change that. But me, I think you’re lucky. You’re just a kid and you’re free. Nothing you ever do will be easy, but everything you do will be your choice. You’ll live and die by your choices, but they’ll all be yours. First one is right now, Ace.” He stood up and stepped back for the little girl, his smile gone.
He pointed down the alley and she followed with her eyes. Neon lit the night, a garish mix of reds, blues, yellows, and greens. People rushed by and every one of them was talking. The din of conversation, laughter, yelling, and excitement blended together in a chorus of humanity. Vehicles roared by, some honked, some blared music, and the wail of sirens was getting louder. “That’s the Verse. It’s hard and dangerous. You’ll have to make the most of your opportunities. The only thing fair about it is tha
t it’s equally unfair to everybody.”
The little girl looked up at the giant of a man and blinked.
Wow, Mick. Did you really think I was going to understand that? I’m like five!
&
Ace did not understand why she could not roll over. Her arms, her legs—nothing seemed to move. Fear spread through her stomach. Memories washed over her as the mission played in her mind’s eye. Her escape, the dog fight to get off the planet, the death of her team. Then Smith’s Warthog, the cruiser crashing—then her crash. The maelstrom of memories cascaded around her, making it hard to breathe.
She swallowed. The moon was harder to remember. The crash… the Tree-knocker… building the hut. That took over a month. I needed to keep active and not think about how shanked I was. She had started collecting water. Things had looked promising. I started thinking I would make it. Having hope I would be able to hold out. Then the acid worms ate most of the Tree-knocker, her food source quickly reduced to a festering mass of oily black mucus stretched over a rubber frame. Fortunately, the lily pads started to bloom and they were filling. The lily leaf was thick and meaty and tasted good. Like a cucumber with a metal aftertaste with a texture like firm avocado. The petals from the flower made a sweet tea and the stem was pliable at first, but once dried stayed in the position and was quite hard. Ace had used them as lashing while creating the upper level of the hut and roof. She needed more than she could eat, but the lily pads grew fast, like all the plants on the moon. She would pick dozens at a time. She finished securing the roof and started on a defensive spear-wall—just in case another Tree-knocker came calling.