Zoo

by Phil Price

  “Looks like clothing,” Katie responded, the colour draining from her face.

  “Stay here all of you,” the alien commanded. “I will take a closer look.” He left them, his feet dragging across the ground as he plodded towards the doorway. 2104 placed a hand on the pulsing control panel, the glass door sliding open silently. He stepped onto the metal walkway, his feet clanking, shattering the silence within. The four women edged forward until they were only a few feet behind him. On the other side of the glass, the creature pulled a lump of distorted flesh from the undergrowth, raising its head as it quickly gulped it down greedily.

  “OH MY GOD!” Caroline screamed, just able to make out the shape of a ruined head with blonde hair before it was consumed by the reptilian creature in front of them. The women clung to each other as 2104 spoke into the device strapped to his wrist in a language they did not understand, or notice, as the horrific scene played out in front of them.

  “Go back to the village,” the alien said. “Gather everyone and see who is missing.”

  “What do you think happened?” Katie said, tears streaking her face.

  “It’s possible that someone from the village gained access to the walkway, although I cannot comprehend how they did it. Once inside, they must have accessed the next enclosure. If they did that, the atmosphere would have crushed them instantly.”

  “Oh god!” Caroline said, clinging to Sarah who was swaying in her arms.

  “Go, now. I will be along shortly. The maintenance and rescue crews are heading our way. You do not want to see what they discover. Go to the village and perform a headcount.”

  The women headed off, their strides unsteady as the realisation of what may have happened suddenly sunk in. A minute later they came across Pete and Martin, who were chatting next to a stone wall. Both men instantly saw the expressions heading towards them. “What’s wrong?” Pete said.

  “Come back to the village with us. We need to round everyone up immediately. Someone may have gained access to the enclosure next to us.”

  “What? Are you serious?” Martin said, his voice edged with concern.

  “Deadly serious. Come on. We need to do a roll-call.”

  Kimberley folded to the floor, Martin barely able to catch her as the woman’s head bounced off the wooden tiles. A few shocked exclamations rang out across the room as the man held his limp wife in his arms, tears falling from his face. 2104 stood over him before turning to the villagers. “Everyone must proceed to their homes immediately.”

  “You bastard. You’ve kidnapped us, and now two little boys are dead!” a man spat from the rear of the hall.

  Others joined in. “Murderer!” a young woman hollered.

  “Bastards!”

  “Monsters!”

  “Please. Go to your homes,” the alien persisted. “Our teams will find out what happened. No one is to leave their homes until I say so.” Reluctantly, the villagers filed out, curses echoing through the emptying hall. 2104 looked at the four women in front of him, trying not to look at the man sat below him. “We will take a look at the imagery. We will find out what happened.”

  “What happened is that two boys have been killed!” Gemma replied, her voice edged with fury. “Two little boys who you’ve snatched from their homes. Now they are dead. Their blood is on your hands.”

  Martin looked up, his face streaked with tears, his eyes red-rimmed. “I’m going to fucking kill you. You’ve killed my sons.” The alien tried to respond, realising quickly that his words were futile. He walked away, head bowed.

  “We need to get out of here,” Caroline said. “This situation is fucked up beyond belief. I am so sorry, Martin. Really I am.”

  “Get out!” he hissed. “All of you. Leave us.”

  The four women complied without argument, leaving the grieving man cradling his wife’s head as more tears fell. Outside, the women stood in their own collective silence. Caroline walked off towards the outskirts of the village. “Where are you going?” Gemma asked.

  “I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore. I just feel numb.” The others stood awhile, not knowing what to do. After a few minutes, they said their goodbyes, heading towards their respective homes, utterly broken.

  “It has been confirmed by the footage. The humans entered the walkway as you exited. They must have been hiding close by.”

  2104 looked at the floor, his arms swaying gently. “How do we stop this happening again?”

  “We? There is no we, 2104. You have been relieved of your post,” the figure said in front of him. Ash looked up at his superior, blanching at the look of fury on his dark face. He stood there, under a bright light that shone down from the ceiling, making the meeting all the more intimidating for Ash. He thought of his family, wishing that he was with them. Safe with them. Happy with them. “You will be sent back to your station. From there, your superiors will decide on your next assignment. Believe me, it will not be a good one. Now, leave. You have already created a huge mess. A mess that I have to clean up.” Ash turned and walked towards the door, a feeling of utter dejection washing over him. As the doors opened, he turned left towards his quarters, wondering where he would be banished to, more thoughts of his loved ones bringing tears to his eyes.

  Twenty-One

  Biflux

  “Destroyed? How?” Kyra asked, rubbing the last vestiges of sleep from her eyes.

  “They do not know yet. They are not ruling anything out though. I really hope it is not the stirrings of another crazed faction.” Trevik looked at his daughter, a feeling of unease settling over him. Outside the wind was stiffening, the trees swaying and protesting against the coming storm. White-caps could be seen by the shore, the waters becoming choppy and angry.

  “I must tell Torben.”

  “Okay. I have a few things to take care of. Elsor will be down shortly.”

  “I will come back in a bit, Father.” She walked forward, embracing him. Trevik closed his eyes, enjoying the moment. Moments that were too scant for his liking.

  Kyra walked down the pathway to the cabin, steam from the mugs of graff lost on the breeze. A minute later she was battling the wooden door, finally latching it shut as the gale pummelled the rough planks. Torben lay on the bunk, his upper body exposed. Kyra looked at the man in front of her, a look of sadness on her face. “What’s wrong? Your wrist pilot has been buzzing.”

  “An orbital has been destroyed,” Kyra replied as she walked over to the bunk. She placed both mugs on a small wooden table, clicking her device onto her arm.

  “Oh no, where?”

  “Between here and Valkash. Completely destroyed. No survivors.”

  “Do they know how it happened?”

  “Not yet. Orbitals have been known to malfunction, their reactors going critical. I don’t know, it just seems a bit too much of a coincidence that it was destroyed just after the war has ended.”

  “I know what you mean. I feel truly sorry for the loss of life, but I am hoping that it was a malfunction, not an act of aggression.”

  “Me too,” she said as she landed next to him, grabbing her wrist pilot. She cuddled next to him as an image appeared before their eyes. A holographic image of a man appeared, his bald head and dark glasses floating in front of Kyra.

  “Medical Officer Zakx. You are to report to command immediately. We have a medical emergency on Valkash. Two human children have been killed. Also, the humans need medical supplies for certain conditions and ailments that they have. The file is attached to this message. When you report to your station, please visit my lab. Most of the items listed we are synthesizing as I speak. You must go to Valkash, administer the medication and find out the causes of the fatalities. Chief Medical Officer Bromax, out.”

  The image fizzled out, the wind outside the only sound they could hear. After a moment, Torben turned to Kyra. “Looks like our time together is coming to an end.”

  “I know. And I do not like it. I wish I could get out of this, Torby. But yo
u know I can’t.”

  He kissed her, wrapping an arm around her body, pulling the woman into him. “I know. And I know that I will soon be given a new assignment. It just seems like time is against us.”

  “When will I see you again?”

  “Soon, hopefully. I’ve just found you. I do not want you to vanish into the cosmos.”

  “That is not going to happen. I have grown very close to you, Torben, in a very short space of time. My feelings are growing stronger, which surprises me.”

  “Mine too, Kyra. I think I’m falling in love with you.”

  She hugged him, burying her face into his dark hair. “I thought I would be the one to say it first. I love you too, Torby. And as soon as I am back from Valkash, we can continue what we have started.”

  He kissed Kyra, rolling on top of her, her legs opening to accommodate him. “Tell me again.”

  “I love you.”

  The graff started cooling on the cupboard next to the bunk, the wind howled outside as they shut out the universe around them. Capturing every last moment of their time together.

  As the sun climbed higher into the turquoise sky, Kyra and Torben entered the kitchen. Elsor looked up from her tablet, smiling a tired smile. “Hello.”

  “Hello, Mother. I take it you’ve heard the news?”

  “Yes. It’s truly awful. All those poor souls lost in the void of space.

  “It is very troubling news,” Torben added as he sat down at the island.

  “I’ve received new orders, Mother. I am to leave immediately. There is a medical emergency on Valkash. I am to fly back to Lundell, where I will be transported back to Valkash.”

  “How long will you be gone?”

  Kyra looked at Torben, a glint of steel in her expression. “Not long, Mother. I have something to keep me on Biflux now.”

  Torben smiled, his face lighting up, despite the troubling new situation that had befallen their time together. “Sounds good to me. I’ve also received a new order. I will accompany Kyra back to Lundell, where I await further instructions.”

  “You young people, flying here and there. I know it must be exciting. I’ve never really strayed too far from my home. Which in a way, I like. But one day, just one day, I will ask Trevik to take me on a journey across the stars.”

  “You will, Mother,” Kyra added, walking over and embracing the older woman. “But not just yet. I plan to be back soon. I miss you and Father. I want to spend some quality time with you. The snows are due soon. I want to be here as the year passes.”

  “Will you both be here?”

  They looked at each other, smiling in unison. “I’m sure we will be, Mother.”

  Torben looked at Elsor. “I will make sure I am. I promise.”

  The craft levelled out, heading back to Walvak. Kyra deftly handled the controls, the ship barely making a ripple as it scooted along. “My Mother really likes you.”

  “Really?” How do you know?”

  “A woman knows such things. I can just tell by the way she talks to you and looks at you. She thinks you are a good man, who makes her daughter happy.”

  “I think she is really nice too. Your Father also, although at first I thought I was a dead man.”

  “Father is lovely. But all fathers are protective of their daughters. I am sure it’s the same all over the universe.”

  They lapsed into silence, happy to take in the view around them. The lake on their right gave way to a large forest that stretched all the way to the ocean on the horizon. To the left, craggy snow-capped peaks dominated the northern landscape, a few settlements clinging to their slopes. Kyra dipped the controls, the craft dropping through low-slung clouds as they neared the spaceport. “Requesting permission to land,” she said as the port grew ever closer.

  “Craft 91045, you are cleared for landing in bay forty-six.”

  “Thank you,” she replied, following the outside edge of the huge terminal. Other small craft were hovering about their respective docking bays, a large freighter rising out of the bay next to theirs. As the ships came to a stop, the twin ion drives of the freighter kicked in, bathing them in a white glow as the hulk powered its way into orbit.

  “I still love to see that,” he said, pointing. “I will never grow tired of watching spacecraft take off,” Torben said, watching the freighter disappear into the blue sky, its wake shimmering in the sunlight.

  “Boys and their toys eh,” she replied, nudging him gently as the ship dropped vertically into the confines of the docking bay. They unclipped their harnesses, walking out of the cockpit, down a metal ramp and into the hangar with their respective bags slung over their shoulders.

  “Shall I walk you to where you need to be?”

  “I’d like that,” she replied, linking his arm with hers. The bay was largely empty, save for a few crates stacked neatly against the grey walls. The terminal was a hive of activity. Species of all shapes, colours and sizes made their way to their destinations. Many were sat outside the various cantinas that littered Lomax Spaceport.

  Torben looked over at his beloved Sars Club as they ambled past, wondering if his red-headed friend was propping up the bar. “I could murder a cold one. But I can wait a while longer,” he said, feeling the dryness in his throat.

  “We can meet there when we both get back. I could help you knock a few back.” He smiled, mentally adding that to his ‘to do’ list. A few minutes later they came to a large glass doorway, the whiteness inside the laboratory in stark contrast to the spaceport.

  “I guess this is where we part,” Torben said, already feeling a sadness washing over him.

  “Promise me you will take care, wherever you’re heading.”

  “I promise. And you take care too.” They dropped their bags, embracing fiercely. The noise around them seemed to shrink away as they kissed, longingly yet tenderly. As they broke away, Torben saw tears in the woman’s eyes. They seemed to sparkle against the light, the red lock of her hair shimmering as she nervously brushed it behind her ear.

  “I love you, Kyra. Remember that always.”

  “I love you too, Torben. I will be telling you that again. Very soon.” They came together again, almost feeling physical pain when they broke the embrace. “Bye for now,” she said, blowing him a kiss.

  “Take care,” was all he could summon, his voice breaking slightly as he watched her head through the glass doors and out of sight. Torben stood for a few moments before hoisting his pack over his shoulder. He made his way to his command post, walking into the main office.

  “Captain Fraken,” a voice said, as a large male walked over to Torben.

  “Commander Spelk,” he replied. “What news?”

  “Not good I’m afraid. One of the enclosures on Valkash developed a fault. A release of gas from the cooling systems killed all of the inhabitants. We need a fresh batch. Your ship is being readied in bay six. Rex is already on board, making preparations. You are to leave at once.”

  “Where am I heading?”

  “I’ll send you the details as you make your way over to bay six. It’s a relatively short hop, within our own galaxy. If you make good time, you should be back in six days or so.”

  “Thank you, Commander. I will update you once we are underway.”

  “Safe travels, Fraken,” he said in a clipped tone, turning on his heels before walking further into his command post. As Torben headed over to bay six, his thoughts returned to Kyra. I miss you already. Hopefully, you will be back before me. Then we can return to Kiton and continue what we’ve started.

  Twenty-Two

  Lundell

  “Be back at the ship in thirty minutes, Kyra,” the captain said in a friendly tone.

  “Okay, Telion. I just have to grab a few things from the lab. I take it all supplies are on board?”

  “They sure are,” he responded positively. “We just need you on board too.” She smiled evenly at him. Kyra had travelled with Telion before, liking his friendly manner. He was not so muc
h a captain, rather one of the crew, such was his way. She thought of Torben. I hope you are safe my love. I’ll be back with you very soon, Kyra thought, as she headed out of the docking bay towards the laboratory.

  Thirty minutes later, Plateau126 broke the atmosphere of Lundell, heading into the inky blackness of space. Kyra lay on her bunk as the ion drives ramped up a notch, propelling the ship towards the safe zone at a speed that she could barely comprehend. She clicked on her wrist pilot, reading the accounts from Valkash. How awful, she thought, her eyes fixed on the words in front of her, describing the painful and instant deaths the humans had endured. She read on, a cold feeling settling over her as images of broken remains filled her vision. Scrolling down, Kyra looked at the medicine that was required. She had her supplies on the ship, knowing with a degree of certainty that replicas could be easily constructed in the labs next to the enclosures. Once her work was done, the laboratory crews on Valkash would be able to keep the inhabitants of the enclosure fully-stocked with medication for the rest of their somber lives. She sat up, rotating her legs off the bunk before standing up. Stretching her back, she padded over to the window, which was a rarity on most craft that ventured into deep space. “So beautiful,” she said as she peered into the vacuum of space. She could make out distant stars, almost making out the shape of the galaxy around her. Far off, the galactic core was clearly visible, dotted with millions of tiny pin-pricks of light. How many stars are out there? she thought as the ship sped along effortlessly. Closer to the ship, a large asteroid ambled past slowly, rotating. Smaller asteroids and space debris were being pulled along by it, locked in an eternal dance by their host. Her eyes moved back to the galactic core, revelling in the sight it gave off. Light poured out from the nebulas, the super-massive hole spinning at impossible speeds, its beacon shooting out into space like a lone sentinel. She tore her eyes away from the vista, peeling her clothes off as she headed for the bathroom. A minute later, warm water pulsed against her torso, with Kyra welcoming the bombardment. She suddenly felt tired, the rigours of the past few days catching up with her. Her white towel was hung carefully a few minutes later as she headed for the bunk, its soft sheets helping to send her into the welcoming oblivion of sleep.