Zoo

by Phil Price

  “Lemmots?”

  “The tastiest fish you’ll ever have. They come in from the ocean, looking for calmer waters. We are in luck. You are in for a treat.”

  “I thought I was already in for a treat when I woke up,” he said, testing the waters.

  “That can be your dessert,” she said, striding over to the wooden door.

  A flash of light lit the cabin, blinding both of them. “What the?” Kyra said, shielding her eyes from the blistering whiteness.

  Torben staggered out of bed, his sheet wrapped around his waist. He made it to the door, prising it open as a warm breeze flooded the wooden cabin. “Oh no!”

  “What,” she asked nervously.

  “Look,” he pointed at the horizon. A mushroom cloud was rising in the distance, turbulently heading towards the clouds. “Inside!” he commanded, slamming the door and barring it with a small cupboard. “Help me with the bed,” Torben said, Kyra obeying dumbly. They dragged it over to the window, covering the glass panes with the wooden frame.

  “What’s happening, Torben?”

  “That blast was nuclear. We only have a minute until the shockwave hits us. Is there a cellar?”

  Kyra was about to respond as the bed exploded across the room, showering them in snapped timber and glass. Before they could speak, the cabin was enveloped in searing flames, consuming everything in its path. He managed to get one last look at his beloved Kyra as her hair ignited. He closed his searing eyelids as the world around him turned red. Then black.

  Torben sat up in bed, the sheet damp with sweat. He sat there for a moment, panting and disorientated. After a few minutes, he pressed the intercom next to his bunk, his fingers shaking slightly. “Rex, how far are we from the safe zone?”

  “About two hours, skipper. Are you okay?”

  “Fine. I was just sleeping. I will take a shower and join you shortly.”

  “Okay. I’ll have some graff ready for you.”

  “Thank you, Rex. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Torben activated his pilot, Kyra’s voice crackling across the cosmos.

  “Torby, where are you?”

  “We’re not far from the safe zone. Once through, it’s a relatively short ride to Valkash. Are you there?”

  “Yes. We landed not long ago. I am in the lab, working on synthesizing medication for the Earthlings.”

  “Okay. Keep doing what you’re doing. Once I arrive I will come and find you.”

  “Please hurry. I have a really bad feeling that another war is about to erupt.”

  “Try not to think too much about that. As I said, keep busy, that will take your mind off other things.” He instantly felt guilty. The woman he loved had just lost her parents, a few short months after losing her partner. He needed to get to Kyra, not only because of the chance of impending danger, but also to keep her sane.

  “I will carry on. I must pay a visit to the humans in a short while, so I can understand all their requirements.”

  “You do that. I will call you back shortly. I love you.”

  “Love you too, Torby. Please hurry.” He ended the call, his whole body feeling empty as he headed for the shower cubicle. He stood there, hands planted against the walls of the enclosure, as steaming water pummelled his body. His mind, a whirling galaxy of thoughts.

  Twenty-Four

  Valkash

  The village was quiet, save for the occasional sounds of the birds inhabiting the trees next to the Talbot Inn. Streets around the pub were deserted, save for the four women that walked towards the glass dome that held them captive. “What do you think will happen next?” Caroline said to no one in particular.

  “Who knows,” replied Gemma, her eyes scanning the surrounding countryside.

  “Maybe they will send us all home?” Sarah added hopefully, her leather jacket slung over one shoulder as her boots scuffed the tarmac.

  “We can hope,” Katie said dryly. “However, I am pretty sure we are here for the long haul.” The ambled onwards until the dome came into view.

  “Look,” Caroline exclaimed. “Someone’s there.”

  They all looked expectantly as the glass doorway hissed open, a tall woman that they all recognised striding towards them purposefully. “Hello,” Kyra said evenly, switching her language to suit theirs. “I understand that you have requested medical supplies. My name is Officer Zakx, but you can call me Kyra.”

  “We have, Kyra” Gemma said coolly. We also asked for other things too. Food and drink, along with clothing.”

  The woman smiled. “I am aware of your request. Someone back at command is populating an inventory for you.”

  “Do you have any other news?” Sarah asked, noticing the backpack that the alien woman wore.

  “I’ve not heard anything regarding your new guardian. I have been back at home, visiting my parents.” Her voice faltered, tears stinging her eyes as her resolve crumbled.

  “What’s wrong?” Caroline asked as the strange woman bowed her head.

  “My parents. They have been killed.”

  “Oh no,” Caroline replied, leading the other woman towards a stone wall at the side of the road. The others followed, feeling a degree of empathy. They were women, after all, seeing the pain that the alien felt.

  “What happened?” Gemma asked.

  “I am not sure that I should share the information with you.”

  “Rubbish,” Katie said. “Who are we going to tell? We are prisoners here. The least you could do is fill us in.”

  Kyra wiped her eyes, the red lock of her hair shimmering in the artificial daylight. “Okay. When we left you, I headed back to my home planet. The captain of the ship and I have become very close. Torben is his name.”

  “I remember him,” Gemma said. “Dark hair, kinda serious looking.”

  “Yes. However, he is a good man. He only took the mission to bring you here because he was following orders. Anyway, we spent some time at my parents’ home before being called back on duty. We’re not sure how it all happened, but an orbital station was destroyed, followed by a nuclear blast near to my home. My parents,” she paused. “They did not survive.”

  “We are very sorry for your loss,” Caroline said, putting an arm around Kyra’s shoulder. “We have all lost loved ones. Both here and back at home.”

  “Thank you,” Kyra said, her tears receding, her composure regained.

  “Who did it?” Katie asked.

  “We do not know,” Kyra replied. “Before you came here, a war was raging. The Lomogs won through in the end, scattering the resistance. I have a bad feeling that this resistance is making a play to reignite the war.”

  “Are we safe here?” Gemma asked, a sinking feeling settling over her.

  “I hope so,” Kyra replied. “We are a long way from the two explosions. I am sure that things are being done to ensure Valkash is protected. Now, I have medication for you. Shall we walk back to the settlement and allocate it to your friends?”

  The women looked at Kyra, their defences melting slightly at the sight of the woman in front of them. She’s just a kid, Caroline thought. This whole mess is not her fault. “Good idea,” the Welsh woman replied. “We can go to the village hall. I will put the kettle on and make us all a cup of tea. Would you like that, Kyra?”

  “I would. Thank you, that is most kind of you all.”

  “Nonsense,” Katie said. “It’s the least we can offer. You’d be surprised what a cup of tea and a good chat can do to sort out the universe’s problems.” They all smiled; Kyra too before heading back towards the village.

  Inside the confines of the hall, Katie walked over to the kitchenette, filling the kettle with water before busying herself with the drinks. Kyra walked over to the stage, placing her pack on the polished wooden boards. A minute later, she had laid out a host of tablets in white plastic bottles. Each bottle was labelled in English, to Caroline’s surprise. “High blood pressure tablets. My mum takes these back home.”

  “There is an inven
tory here that should tell you which medicines treat which conditions. You humans have a different genetic makeup to us. However, we do suffer from similar ailments. Synthesising these medicines was relatively easy.”

  “Well, that’s something. I don’t suppose you could synthesise me a pot of Ben & Jerry’s Rocky Road?” Gemma chuckled, the joke lost on Kyra.

  “What is that?”

  “It’s ice cream, hun. It’s to die for. Maybe one day we can share a pot?”

  “Okay. I may hold you to that,” Kyra said warmly.

  The clinking of crockery signalled the arrival of the drinks. Katie laid the steel tray next to the medicines, pouring each woman a cup of strong tea. “There is milk and sugar, help yourselves ladies.”

  They all stood there, sipping their drinks, each of them lost in thought. Caroline looked at Kyra over the rim of her cup, the steam from the tea clouding her glasses. “Is there a way out of here, Kyra?”

  “I’m afraid not. Not unless the Lomogs decree it. I’m afraid that you’re stuck here.”

  “But what about the explosions? Surely you can see that something bad is happening.”

  “I know. I’m waiting for Torben to arrive. He will take me with him.”

  “Then take us too,” Gemma piped-up. “We have families back home. Families that need us.”

  “It is not my decision to make,” Kyra said, setting her cup back on the tray. “Believe me, you have my sympathy. But I am not authorised to make such a call. That is for the Lomogs to decide.” She moved away from the stage. “I must leave you now. I have work to do back at the laboratory. Do you have enough food?”

  “Yes,” Caroline said. “It gets dropped from the sky every few days or so. We are well-stocked.”

  “Good. Keep strong. Together you will all be okay, just don’t think too much about trying to escape. You saw what happened to the children.”

  The women stared at Kyra as she left the village hall, digesting the subtle warning. “She seems nice,” Sarah said. “She’s just obeying her orders.”

  “I know,” Caroline replied. “I just have a bad feeling that something is going to happen.”

  “So do I,” Katie said solemnly. “It looks like we’re caught in the middle of something. Like something from a tacky sci-fi movie. I don’t want to die out here. I want to go home.”

  Kyra sat down heavily at her workstation, feeling the pain of the women she’d just spoken to. This is not right. They should be with their families, she thought as her wrist started to vibrate. “Torben, where are you?”

  “We’re on our way to you. We’ve not long come through the void. Rex promises to be there within a day. He’s ramped up the ion drives. We are making good time.”

  “Good. That’s a relief.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Not really. My parents are dead. I’ve just come from the village, where we left the inhabitants. Two children are dead. They managed to enter the enclosure next to theirs. The gravity flattened both of them. Plus, I’ve just spoken to some of the humans there. They want to go home, Torby. And I agree with them. What we have done is wrong. So very wrong.”

  “But we were under orders. I know what you mean. But I can see no way to change what has been done. It looks like something is brewing. I can feel skirmishes ahead, maybe more so. I just hope all-out war is not on the horizon.”

  “Nor me. I have lost too much already. I cannot lose more.”

  “Try not to think about that. Just concentrate on the task at hand, my love.”

  “I will try. Just hurry up and get here. I really need you.”

  “I promise, Kyra. I will be there as soon as I can.” A few minutes later, Kyra was walking through the corridors that connected the enclosures. Another lab was situated a ten-minute walk from her own. She needed to stretch her legs and think about anything that wasn’t lost loved ones and impending wars.

  “Valkash,” Hameda stated as the small gathering peered at a holographic image of a planet that floated before them. “Forty percent ocean, sixty percent land. Most of the oceans lie in the southern hemisphere. The attraction that the Lomogs have built lies mainly further north. Over half of the planet’s surface has been terraformed to match the inhabitants that live in the enclosures.”

  “So, what is your plan of attack?” Ragyi asked expectantly.

  Hameda swiped her hand vertically across the planet, its northern pole coming into view. “There. Can you see the hole?” They nodded as one. “The Lomogs drilled a shaft in the planet’s crust, which I am reliably informed drops right down to its core. That is where we will strike. However, after the recent explosions, they will be on high alert. We cannot just fly down there and drop off the bomb. Their shields will be up, blocking our path.”

  “So, what do we do?” Ullar asked.

  “We can land close by. I have a contact on the ground who will allow us to land at a disused hanger, close to the pole. Weather will be a problem, as we can expect sub-zero temperatures and storms. Our pilot tells me that we have clothing for this environment. He has also shown me a small craft in the cargo hold. It is big enough for one passenger, along with the bomb. That is how we will hit them. The craft will drop into the shaft, detonating the warhead when it hits the planet’s core.”

  “Will the bomb explode on its own when it hits the target?” Ullar asked.

  “No. Someone will have to pilot the craft. They will need to detonate the bomb inside the shaft.”

  A silence fell over the group, the realisation of the task becoming apparent. “Who do you have in mind, Hameda?” Ragyi asked, his palms beginning to feel clammy.

  “Either you or Ullar. It will be an honour for one of you to give your life for the cause.”

  Ullar and Ragyi stared at their leader, then each other. “Can no one else pilot the craft?” Ullar asked, her legs trembling beneath her.

  “No. I only trust you two. You must decide and decide quickly, as we’ll be landing soon.”

  “I will do it,” Ragyi said, his voice almost faltering. “I would not expect Ullar to give her life just yet. I am ready for this task, Hameda.”

  Ullar walked over to him, embracing the man. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. My life has been meaningless until recently. I want to be remembered as the man who helped wrestle control back from our enemies.”

  “You are very brave, Ragyi, and noble too. Your sacrifice will not be in vain, I promise you that.”

  “I need to go to my quarters. I have loved ones that I need to leave messages with. I will set a delay on them, so they only transmit once I have completed my mission.”

  “Very well. Come to my quarters when you are finished, Ragyi. We can discuss our strategy, along with a few other details.”

  “Do you need me to come?” Ullar asked.

  “Not this time. Just the two of us.”

  “As you wish, Hameda,” Ullar said, slightly deflated.

  Twenty-Five

  Earth

  Hugh’s phone started ringing as he sat at his laptop. He swiped the screen, swinging his legs onto the corner of his desk. “Hi, Mum. How are you?”

  “I’m fine,” his mother replied in her soft Scottish brogue. “How are you bearing up? Any news? Are the boys okay?”

  “No news, Mum. I’m okay. The boys miss Gemma. They’ve been sleeping in our bed every night since she disappeared. I dropped them at school and nursery earlier. The school is half empty, Mum. Many of the children who attend are also missing.”

  “Poor little mites. Be strong for them, son. They need your resolve to get through this ordeal.”

  “I’m trying, Mum. But it’s hard. She’s been gone for nearly three weeks now. No-one is contacting me. It’s like she’s just been forgotten about.”

  “I’m sure the authorities are doing everything they can, son. Try not to lose heart. I am sure that you will hear something soon enough.” They chatted for a few more minutes, Hugh’s mother telling the young man all the goings on up
north, along with his father’s knee replacement, which had happened the week before.

  “Give Dad my love, Mum.”

  “I will. He sends his love too. To all of you. I’ll give you a ring in a couple of days. Bye for now, son. Love you.”

  “Love you too. Speak soon.” Hugh ended the call, looking at his laptop. A webpage detailing various alien abductions looked back at him. “People will think I’m crazy,” he muttered to the screen. “But I know something out of the ordinary has happened to you. This was no terrorist abduction. Someone, somewhere knows what went down.” He grabbed his jacket, heading out of the house towards the Talbot Inn. As he walked through the village, Hugh felt the onset of winter approaching, zipping his jacket up further to ward off the stiffening breeze. He turned right at the pub, noticing the newsagent across the road. It was closed, a notice adorning the front of the shop. God, this place is a ghost town, he thought as he plodded on towards the field where his wife was last seen. Ducking under the police tape, he made his way slowly around the field, not really sure what he was looking for. What happened here? Where did you all go? He skirted the field, tall hedgerows framing the large space on one side that gave way to the back gardens on the other side. As he walked on, something caught his eye that stopped him in his tracks. A gap in the expanse of greenery that drew Hugh towards the borders of the gardens. He moved closer to the hedge, disappearing from view as he pushed his way into the foliage. “Bingo,” he said as he looked across the neatly trimmed lawn towards the cottage. He took his smartphone out, snapping a few pictures of the building before ploughing back through the hedgerow into the field. Hugh set off, his stride more purposeful that it had been in a while as he made his way out of the field towards the village. A few left turns later, he was looking at the same cottage but from the front. He smiled as something else caught his eye, and he started walking up the cobblestoned driveway towards the front door. After pressing the bell, he waited impatiently as the first drops of rain started to fall from the leaden skies above. The inner door opened, an old lady stepping into the porch slowly. She opened the door, a gust of wind blowing past her into the cosy cottage.