by T. A. Uner
“It would help if I knew what one was,” Fabian replied. Matilda barked her response.
A few Tocks later she had fully grown into her part as a “dancer.” The Wasps bobbed their heads up and down. If they didn’t have such fearsome appearances Fabian would’ve found it comical. She cast a quick glance in his direction and nodded. Before he had left his parent’s home the inexperienced shepherd would not have even the signal she had given him.
He prepared for battle, placing his left hand on his sword hilt. Lager, being the seasoned military pilot he was, stood ready. It was a comforting feeling to read your allies’ intentions without ever having to utter a word. Perhaps that was the sign of competence.
Lager lowered the volume of the music and one of the Wasps looked at him irritably before turning its attention back to Marella.
She expertly flaunted herself. Delicate motions of arms and slender fingers. Feathers of vibrant colors appearing in her palms like blossoming flowers, before disappearing into her cape.
“Come closer,” the lead Wasp said to Marella. She smiled and glided over toward him. Fabian readied himself. “Let me look at that; I think I’ve seen one of those before.” He pointed at one of the feathers.
“Of course,” Marella said before giggling, “but why limit yourself to just one…have them all!” She launched a pink feather at the Wasp’s face and it found its mark right inside its eye. It screamed as pus-colored blood ejected from the wound. She twirled around and launched three more feathers: green, yellow, red and blue. They expertly found their marks before Fabian and Lager charged the remaining two Wasps. They hurled their javelins. One bounced off an energy shield that had formed around Lager. The other weapon hit Fabian in the shoulder point blank. Instead of taking his arm off it felt more like being pricked by a thorn. Fabian drew his sword while the Cavalry Wasp urged his Blood Bull forward. The creature’s menacing glare grew closer as it threatened to run down Fabian, but he hurled his Ram staff at its muscular knees and tripped it.
The creature landed on the ground, tossing its rider. But the Wasp was unfazed. It drew its dirk and met Fabian head on. For a creature of its muscular bulk it moved quickly and threw its shoulder into Fabian, knocking him down. Then, less than a tick later, it had drawn its dagger and Fabian was struggling to keep it at bay. Matilda appeared in the corner of his eyesight and sunk her teeth into the Wasp’s shoulder. It grunted and smacked her in the muzzle, swatting her away like a circus flea. Fabian felt a surge of fire rise in his stomach. The Spirit Stone gave him the extra strength but the Wasp’s knee landed on his chest, causing Fabian to lose his grip. When the dagger made contact with his helm its blade shattered like glass. The Wasp eyed the splintered remains of his once-imposing dagger before Fabian gabbed the front of its harness and head-butted it. Then he stood up and hurled the Wasp against a small crag. It crashed to the ground and lay still.
When Fabian looked up Lager was dragging the body of his beaten opponent to the side of the road, while Marella was inspecting the corpses of her victims.
“What were those feathers laced with?” Fabian asked.
“Firebat poison.”
Lager was already busy stripping his victim of its clothing and gear, while in the background one Blood Bull lay dead on its side, smoke rising from its charred chest.
“Where are the other Blood Bulls?” Fabian asked as he picked up his staff from the ground.
“They’re gone,” Marella answered, “they’re actually quite clever beasts, they’re also trained to leave the scene of a battle if their riders have been killed or captured, that’s to prevent them from being captured by enemy troops.” She scanned the landscape, they’re probably on their way back to wherever they came from; we better get out of here and make it to those caverns before they bring back more Wasps.”
“You sure do know a lot about these brutes,” Lager said.
“It’s my job, Earthman,” she replied haughtily, “I wouldn’t be much use as a Stealer if I didn’t possess knowledge about my country’s enemies.”
“Let’s get the rest of those Wasp clothing and armor,” Fabian said as he checked Matilda for any injuries brought on by the rough treatment she had faced at the hands of the Wasp Cavalry trooper.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking, Ram?”
“Yes, Lager, I am, now, let’s go to work.”
Six
After setting fire to the Wasps’ corpses, two clocks elapsed before they found themselves inside a narrow gorge, approaching a dark cavern entrance at the end of a rocky corridor passage. They had tossed aside their Wasp disguises once they had reached the safety cover of the Gomorrah trenches.
“You know once we go in there, there’s no telling what’s inside,” Lager said.
“I think we’ve had this discussion before,” Fabian said, “there’s no other way but through; Rek’s Eastern military front could collapse any day.”
“I always knew you were a coward, Earthman,” Marella said venomously.
Both Fabian and Lager turned and gave Marella a suspicious look; her face had assumed an indifferent look, and Fabian swore he saw malice in her eyes. “Look missy, I know you like taking swipes at me, but doubting my courage was hitting below the belt.”
“Is something wrong?” Fabian said. “It’s not like you speak like that.”
Marella was silent.
“Marella? Please.”
“Please…what? I am fine, Reklander.”
Reklander? Not Hero Fabian? “Very well, let’s get this over with.”
The entrance of the cave got larger as they rode toward it. Fabian heard a shrill call of a bird, he didn’t know what type it was but it didn’t sound hospitable. When they reached the mouth of the entrance they dismounted and Fabian allowed Matilda out of her travel sack. “Looks like it’s gonna be a tight squeeze in there,” Lager said. He took out his utility light and attached it to his wrist before activating it. The light pierced the darkness and he shifted its direction in a circular arc to get a look at the cavern’s innards.
Lager looked at Fabian. “You ready, Ram?”
Fabian nodded and took one last of fresh air before lowering his visor. “I’ll lead the way.” But before he took his first step inside Marella brushed him aside, leaving her horse behind.
“Marella! Where are you going?” Fabian’s helm vision watched her disappear down the cavern’s passage. Matilda barked after her.
“If we stand here we’ll lose her, Ram.” They dragged their mounts inside the cavern and were swallowed up by its darkness.
II
Fabian felt fortunate that Lager’s light was bright enough to offer enough illumination inside the unknown innards of the caverns.
“Where in Rek’s name does she think she’s doing?” It was bad enough they had to chase after her, but now he had to drag her horse along with Starspeed.
“Something’s gotten into her that’s for sure.”
“But why now?”
Lager’s scanner beeped, he gazed upon its reading, his face illuminated by its screen. “She’s twenty-five meters ahead of us.”
Fabian didn’t understand Earth distances but allowed Lager to lead the way. When they reached Marella she was curled up in a ball and sobbing. “Marella?” Fabian said. He reached for his canteen and extended it to her, it was filled with fresh coffee Lager had brewed.
Marella’s head snapped back and she rubbed her eyes. “I apologize for my earlier behavior, Hero Fabian, but there is something strange present here that I cannot explain.” She guzzled down the coffee and smacked her lips. Lager handed her a handkerchief to wipe her tear-stained cheeks. “I believe I owe you an apology too, Commander McVick.”
“That’s alright. I was a bit worried there when you went all Mr. Hyde on us.”
“Mr. Hyde?”
“A fictional character from Earth’s literature. A malevolent creature that is the antithesis of its alter-ego Dr. Jekyll.”
“I see.”
“I think so.” Fabian helped her to her feet.
“I’ll help with your horse’s reins until you feel better.”
They continued. The tunnel widened and then branched out in two directions. Lager performed a wide-field scan and was able to get a reading of the caverns’ layout in order to plot a course through it. They took the left tunnel.
Fabian kept a close watch on Marella. He wasn’t fully convinced that she had overcome the symptoms of unrest that had plagued her. How did he know this? Lager would call it a ‘hunch.’
They snacked on some of Lager’s field rations. Something called astronaut ice cream. It had a dry yet sweet taste that melted on Fabian’s tongue. Matilda gulped her portion down with one bite. But a few tocks after he had raised his faceplate, Fabian began feeling lightheaded. He snapped it back into place and the unpleasant sensation subsided.
“What is it?” Lager asked. Marella stopped and turned around to look at Fabian, but she remained silent.
“When I lifted up my faceplate I started feeling lightheaded; then, when I secured it my senses returned to normal.”
“Any other side-effects?” Lager ran his scanner across Fabian’s forehead. “I’m no Medical officer but I am detecting mid-level concentrations of carbon monoxide.”
“What is that?”
“A toxic gas that can be harmful to humans if ingested at high-levels.” Lager scanned Marella. “She’s been affected too, but her poisoning is much worse than yours, Ram.”
Fabian had never heard of the term ‘carbon-monoxide’ or ‘gas’, then again Rek’s level of science was centuries behind Earth’s. At least from a technological standpoint. “So what can we do?”
“I can give Marella a capsule that can treat her poisoning, but it would still be best if we navigated through these caverns quickly, to prevent any further complications.”
Fabian nodded. “I think I’ll be alright, my helm seems to be protecting me, for now.”
Lager reached into his first aid kit and removed a sealed capsule. “Here, Marella, take this.”
The Stealer’s eyes widened and she hissed at Lager like a snow serpent. “No! You…you’re trying to poison me…aren’t you?”
“Not this again,” Lager complained. “Just a minute ago she was acting like her old self.”
Marella took one step back and drew a long dagger. “You come any closer with that ‘capsule’ Earth scum, and I’ll slice off your hand.”
Fabian stepped in before the situation deteriorated any further. “Marella, Lager is our friend, he wants to help you.”
“Not another word, from either of you…or…or I’ll…”
“You’ll what?” Lager said. The irascible expression on his face highlighted the lines on his forehead.
“This!” She removed something that looked like a small sphere and threw it towards Fabian and Lager. It landed on the rocky ground and exploded, emitting red fumes that flooded the entire corridor.
Lager covered his mouth and Fabian shielded Matilda from the odorless fumes that quickly dispersed within a few ticks. “Marella!” Fabian called out. But when the curtains of red fumes had subsided, Marella was gone.
III
“That girl is going to be the end of us.” Lager wiped off the red dust from the front of his field jacket before attaching an oxygen mask onto Matilda’s face. He then slipped one on and took out a third. “Here,” Lager said, handing it to Fabian, “if you start feeling all woozy then don’t hesitate to use this.
Fabian took the mask and placed it in his saddlebag. “What about the horses?”
Lager scanned Starspeed and the other two horses. “They should be fine for now, the carbon dioxide doesn’t seem to be affecting them as bad as it did Marella.
“We have to find her, before she hurts herself, or gets lost.”
“I’ve picked up a faint life form reading up ahead. It should be her; we shouldn’t lose any time since it’s along the plotted course.”
They resumed their trek. Fabian was too busy thinking about his friend’s disappearance to even feel any side-effects of the carbon monoxide. If she dies or gets lost I’ll never forgive myself, he thought.
They continued deeper into the caverns. At times the tunnels narrowed and sometimes they widened. But with Lager’s scanner they advanced without any incident.
“What’s she doing?” Fabian asked. Matilda looked up at him. He could hear her breathing coming through the oxygen mask’s valve.
“Well, if it is her,” Lager said in between breaths, “she’s staying put.”
“Maybe she’s hurt?”
Matilda barked. Her voice sounded strange through her mask.
“Only one way to find out.”
They pressed on. Matilda insisted on leading them, but Fabian got in front of her and warned her to remain behind the horses. His armor made him the logical choice to lead his band, also, he was their leader.
“Has she moved yet?”
Lager shook his head. “Nope. But I’ve detected something else nearby.” His eyes narrowed and assumed a cautious stance.
“Now what?” Fabian said.
Lager stopped walking and scanned the walls. “Ram, you’re not going to like this.”
“I already don’t like this, Lager.”
“Up ahead, I’m detecting something else.”
Fabian exhaled inside his helm and felt his hot breath tickle his face. Leadership. He had a feeling it would either elevate him to hero status, or, condemn him to an early grave.
Seven
“So what’s ahead of us Lager?” Fabian asked. He had been given a wrist light moments earlier, and was shining it around the cavern tunnel, but he couldn’t see anything but stone and dirt.
“There, just five meters ahead, Ram.” Lager pointed directly ahead. Fabian still couldn’t see what his friend’s device had detected but thrust his staff forward in an aggressive stance just in case things turned ugly. Lager placed a hand on Fabian’s wrist. “No need to walk into an unknown situation,” he said calmly. He pressed a button on his belt and a small metallic sphere appeared directly in front of them. Matilda barked at it before Fabian calmed her by rubbing her back.
“What’s that?”
“A probe, it’s going to find out what’s up there without us having to risk ourselves.”
“You make everything look so easy, Lager.”
Lager smiled beneath his oxygen mask. “I know, sometimes I just impress myself silly.”
The probe began emitting a thin green beam that illuminated its trajectory and soon it had moved off, toward whatever awaited it. Fabian could see its green light, reflecting off its metallic surface for a few ticks more, then, it was swallowed up by the darkness.
“Now let’s see what type of readings it brings back.” A few more ticks elapsed while Fabian waited patiently for the results. He couldn’t help but worry about Marella, where she was, and what she was doing. Was she alive? Hurt? Dead? Not knowing the answer was the unsettling part that chewed on his conscience like a hungry Ripper Beetle.
“It’s coming through now, Ram.”
Fabian snapped out of his reverie. “What?”
“The data Ram, the data!”
“Yes…of course…you’re right.”
“My, ohh my. The probe’s found some interesting data. Turns out to be a pretty nasty substance; it’s main component is corrosive acid.”
“Acid?”
Lager nodded. “Good thing we didn’t just tread in there all gung-ho like a bunch of overeager Marines. That stuff’s bad news.”
Fabian took a look at the screen of Lager’s scanner. He couldn’t comprehend the words or numbers flashing on it, but just looking at the readings made him confident they could get through this latest challenge unscathed. “Do they pose any threat to us?”
“I wonder how it got there.”
They navigated past the acid deposits, Lager taking scans to make sure they didn’t get too close. Fabian put Matilda into her travel sack, much to her displeasure, but he didn’t want her to risk getting burned by acid. “It won’t kill,” Lager said, his calm voice filtering through the mask’s mouth piece with a tinge of metallic accent.
“So what of Marella?”
“Nothing.”
Fabian didn’t like the sound of ‘nothing,’ but he kept his thoughts to himself. “We’ll continue pressing forward; that mechanism of yours is bound to find something.”
***
Lager’s scanner did not pick up Marella, but they did encounter more deposits of the strange acid. His curiosity aroused, Fabian decided to get a closer look at it. It was mucous-like with a turquoise hue lining various sections of the cavern’s interior. There was bubbling on its surface that reminded Fabian of a cauldron. Similar to the type of calk his father would brew back home to use for sealing cracks in their barn’s walls.
Soon the strange acid deposits lessened until the cavern returned to its former state, but that did not make Fabian content. “Let’s stop for a short bit.” Fabian removed Matilda from her sack and she seemed happy to be one with the ground again.
“Look, Ram. I know how you feel, but we can’t really expect to find Marella without even a faint life reading.”
“Listen Lager, I know you’re not fond of our Stealer, but she’s out there somewhere, and she’s a part of our band. I would think having been responsible for others you would understand my position.”
“Yes, I know how you feel. But, we’re pressed for time, and if we stay here we run the risk of complicating matters. Trust me, I don’t want to leave her here; but there comes a time when you have to cut your losses and move on.”
Fabian wasn’t ready to ‘cut his losses.’ “You go then, Commander, take Matilda and the horses. I’ll remain behind, and look for her.” Fabian’s head spun for a brief moment, but he quickly regained his senses.