by Lesa Corryn
His pupils focused forward with enough intensity that they trembled. Slow, they moved so slow, following something to our left. The sweat from his palm moistened my chapped lips, but the cool relief could not ease the tension in my body.
Then a spark in his eye and his whole body heaved me backwards, whipping across the ground. My back struck rocks and sent a wave of pain through my body, but I didn't feel the same urge to throttle Flik. His eyes told me of a monster. I was at Flik's mercy.
His arms shook and his fingers slipped against my tunic with sweat, but he just dug them in deeper, not letting go, pulling onward. A thump. My back rode across a crisp metal step and I couldn't help but wrench at the shock. I twisted, contorted, my muscles finding life only because the searing gash in my back became more of a concern. My tunic felt wet, blood seeped through making the cloth thick and heavy.
“Dammit Flik,” I roared, “I ought to space you, you little wretch.”
Flik threw a door shut and bolted it down. Turning he rested his back on it and slid down to the floor, his head lolling against his chest.
“Flik?” Again the rage subsided about as fast as it came.
He was doused in blood, his grey tunic covered, his hands red and sticky. His bright blond locks seemed dull and matted tight against his head. His boots caked with dirt, scuffed and their soles worn. My body ached but I knew Flik hurt more. More than I could know. The guilt pulled at me, my stomach pressing hard against my waist. It felt like when I first left Earth Terra. Feeling the Gs, leaving the atmosphere. A sick feeling, like you would never find your stomach again, like your insides were crushed and the weight of the world was too much.
Flik's head rolled up from his chest, first gazing up at the ceiling before bouncing down to look at me. His head cocked to the side, he looked at me as if from the corner of his eye. The shadows formed by his brow, made the bright violet of his irises black. Never had I seen Flik like this. “So you want story? I give, but you no want hear it. That I sure.”
Chapter 7
Flik
“I on deck, supporting Sergeant Hawx with nav. Though first blaster hit came, I little use. Everything crazy. Captain just arrive to check internal com error, we not expecting attack. I stood back, watched others struggle to grasp fight. Commander join soon, say he left you with Lieutenant Pierce. First mad at you for doing bad again, but then I saw the ships.
“We heard reports, but never seen vids. The ships none like I ever seen. They small, fast, slick. They dart as if at one place then jump to another. Not sure they were ever there sometimes. How we fight this, I did not know. I just nav tech.
“Fighters left bay and off to attack. We watch vids from cam bots. Captain shouted orders, her face strong, but her eyes weak. Commander commanded deck crew. He ignore me. I not know what to do. Sergeant ignore me too. Better I out of way. Girl in tactician tunic ran on deck, asked for Lieutenant Pierce. Captain thought to call her. Intercom still work. I felt glad. Girl in tunic did not seem so. Her eyes caught the vids, jump from one screen to other. They shook wet, she ran from room. Captain didn't notice, too busy calling Lieutenant.
“But Sergeant Hawx caught her attention. Told her we lost half our fighters already. Then engineer told her hyper engine broke. Captain knew the Lieutenant's help would not be enough. We stood still as if time stop and the world outside moved in fast motion, sped up, I guess. No one had answer. I stepped forward. I'm still too young, I know now, but I felt old and wise. I such a fool.
“I told her my theory. The one I told you first day we met,” said Flik. He took a deep breath. His words had come out so fast as if he burned to get them off his chest. Now he stopped, his eyes falling to the floor. My mind turned back to the first day I entered Hera, when I first met Flik. He was too excitable for my tastes and his broken Galactic sent shivers up my spine every time he opened his mouth. I remember I questioned his competency as a nav tech, not believing a tiny little runt from Geneva could be at all useful in the fleet. Flik's reply seemed like a dictation from an archive article. He too had a map in his head. I, Hera's structure, he, the stars of Sector L-47.
I admitted fault in my judgment and Flik sought an opening, used me to bounce off his idea of the Agerian asteroid field. That's when he lost all the respect he gained from me. The Agerian field was one of the smallest asteroid fields in the Lactea galaxy. However, what it lacked in size it made up for with density. The field was thick with asteroids, with no room for a fleet ship to maneuver without some very fancy and well timed moves. Which means no one dared to explore. Many theorized the field was once a planet, destroyed by some ancient war, though no cultures belonging to the union could speak of such war. Despite this, that was the accepted theory. Flik's was completely unfathomable, but now feeling the burn of a sun on my face. It didn't seem that impossible anymore.
“Your theory that a whole system was inside the field,” I muttered.
“Yes,” whispered Flik.
“And she believed it,” I laughed, not considering the meaning behind my words.
“Yes.”
“So,” I said, my voice almost mocking, “that's why we went into the field.”
“Yes.”
The tent was quiet. It was a small survival tent composed of several metal panels. The metal was light and could easily be carried and assembled, but could withstand harsh weather conditions and even beam shots. The problem was words would bounce against the walls, making each one an annoying string of echoes. But Flik had fallen so silent, it barely touched my ears once. It was enough though to sink reality in.
“You're why we went in, you're why the ship was hit.” My mouth gaped and I felt the anger burn again, like charcoals that felt the breath of a steady breeze.
“Jek, please, what else there to do,” pleaded Flik. His eyes were wet and small streaks glistened against his cheeks.
“I don't know.” The words came out like choked whispers, I wanted to pull them back in even after I said them. But Flik was right, though I wanted to believe there must have been something better. I looked up again, his face nestled in the valley formed by his up-drawn knees, his hands laying limp at his sides. The weight in my stomach came back. “What next?”
So he continued.
“I know Captain is much seasoned veteran. This challenge did not seem to frighten at all but thrill her, a light sparking her eyes. Commander did not agree. I never thought Alladian could sweat, but he seem to prove wrong. Captain not listen, now I of use. Sergeant and me guided pilots best we could through field. We just need lose them, then turn and go back out. Life return to all crew except Commander who paced back and forth across deck. He made me nervous but I focus on field. But then worse thing came. We hit, they follow us.
“Captain turned to me, not Sergeant, me. I scared at first, worried she'd attack me. She is big woman. But she say, 'Are you sure there is planet out there?' I nod head, though not sure. I did not want answer no, fear she would hit then. Sergeant try to deny my theory. I let him. But captain made mind. She would press on. Sergeant not pay attention though, I tried to point out, to call, but too late. Aster hit.
“Everyone screen lit up. Space leak here. Busted reactor there. Casualties every where. Captain should have fallen, should have trembled, but she stood taller. I could not believe. She initiated evac. Told us all to leave, except veteran crew. Sergeant stay, his face pale. Not from fear I think. I left.
“Many evac pods near deck. Almost boarded, but then thought of you. I not know what happen. I look for you. I saw that you manage send a com link before hit. Told me where came from and I headed down to nearest evac pod. On way I found girl from before. She seemed frightened, but determined to find something. I guessed the Lieutenant. I learn later I wrong. I told her we find Lieutenant. She not want to go, but I pulled her with me.”
Flik took another breath and his eyes looked over to his left. I followed them and found a soldier about our age spread out on a mat. She was a muscular girl, her body th
ick and petite. Her jaw was square and her forehead large. It was the feathery blonde hair, the wisps falling across her face, that gave her some sign of femininity. She was wearing a burgundy tunic of a tactician, which is what made the blood hard to see. Her arm was wrapped tight with a bandage, but based on the stains, she lost a lot of blood before that.
“I found you coming out of lift, dragging Lieutenant. You faint and girl helped me pull both of you into pod. We got in too but girl try to leave. Ship getting hit bad, we did not have time. I do something bad.” Flik hesitated. “I need her stay, could not cost more lives. I grab one of beam guns and smack her across head.” I held back a laugh. I know it was inappropriate, but watching Flik mime the action was almost too much.
“I pull her in and pod launched. I guided pod far as I could. I grew tired, eyes heavy. Then pod pick up on planet. My heart jump. I locked destination. Field had grown light and pod could maneuver with not much problem. I fell asleep.
“When I woke, I found we on this planet. I saw purple sun and knew I would be able to see. Happy to remove goggles for once.” I saw Flik wince. I knew he wanted to make a Terran comment about our white light, but chose to continue. “But I found they gone. Also a pack was missing. Usually four packs for four seats in pod. Did not make sense one be missing. Then notice girl gone too. You two still unconscious. I stuff food tablet into each mouth, pouring water down to dissolve it. Seemed to work you two still alive when I got back.
“I did not trust girl on own. Something make her do this that not make sense. She confused me, so I follow, I did not think her safe. I latched door with my id and followed her steps in ground. She a large girl, much muscle, strange for tactician... But mean she have heavy steps, easy to track. That and her voice kept calling. I prefer not say who she call,” Flik said, his voice trailing. I preferred to ask why, but seeing as Flik had done so much for us, I chose to give him this luxury.
“She so loud, not smart for tactician. Her mind clouded over the one she called. I knew, I live in wild more than Terrans do. You not be loud in strange place. She learn soon enough too. I heard her scream and I follow. I pull beam gun out and kept to the trees. She had not made much progress before me. Fortunate for her.
“Monster had her. She too loud, drew his attention. It had pincered mouth and several legs and even more eyes. The mouth clamped on arm, her face white with fear. The legs poking into her as if testing what she is. I pull gun out. I good shot for nav tech. Shot much back at home. I aim for eyes. So many, so wet, so soft. I knew would hurt. The first shot hit and eyes lit like flames. Mouth release screeching. Ran away. I grab girl. She want to run though arm so red. Silly girl want to knock her out again but she gave in when noise heard in wood. More come I thought.
“We ran back. I take her in and bandage arm but she lost so much. She grow weak, but I knew could not stay. Blood trail very strong scent for hunters. They would find. Even if pod shell strong, if we could not leave for food and water we good as dead. I shot her with adrenaline and we hauled out survival kits and tent to clearing by water. Where we now. We then drag you two.
“By time we get here, shot wear out and she could not help get you in. But I heard rustling. They were about. I needed to get fast, but did not want to waste shot. I took my goggles back from her when she sleep in tent and put on you hoping one would wake.”
“What about Allouette? If she opened her eyes she might have damaged them.”
“Shame, Jek, don't call officer by first name even in survival case. She Bendalurian, even just by half. They can see UV light, not good as I, but can see.”
“So that's when I woke?”
“Yes, I much glad you did. Girl very annoying.” Flik sighed. The weight of the story now off his chest, he seemed ready to fall over and sleep. I let him.
Chapter 8
Tactics
The next morning, I headed back to the evac pod, equipped with Flik's goggles, to scavenge for any supplies he wasn't able to pick up. What I found was a scarred and brutalized piece of metal. The creature Flik spoke of must have followed the blood trail. Small holes dotted the pod and along the surface were scratches and even gashes that pierced through the shell. That, however, was not the most surprising sight. My eyes caught something else, something far stranger. Black burn marks from blaster beams left several scars along the pod's hull. Thick yellow blood sometimes accompanied the burns, but no bodies of the world's creature lay dead before me. The creatures hunted us, but something else hunted them.
I didn't know who or what. It could be other survivors from Hera. That was my hope at least. But perhaps there is also an intelligent race on this planet. This seemed most logical. Most soldiers on Hera avoid confrontations with an unknown native creature, but a race of this terra would know and understand the monster's abilities and habits. But as I entered the pod to look for supplies, my eye caught the blast pattern of a nearby burn. I wasn't a forensic tech, but I've done enough field training to recognize what a blast burn from a standard Union beamer looks like. If this was from a native, I wondered, how could an unknown race from an unknown system, be equipped with a Union gun? The answer was simple, it had to be a group from the Hera. Probably consisting of Melee and Ranger troops. Though my eyes still followed the burn mark as I walked out empty handed from the pod. My gut lurched and my arm tensed. Something was wrong, but for now the burn marks could not tell me anything.
I didn't look forward to breaking the news that soon we would need to head out and that there was no extra supplies. Whomever it was that fought off the creature also stripped the pod of all its resources. But the fact was that we needed to move. The girl and Allouette still had plenty of fresh blood marking our path to the tent. It wasn't nearly as much as the girl had left earlier, but enough to track. I expect the only reason we haven't been attacked yet, is because the nasty herd met the fiery point of a blaster back at the pod. Who knows how long that would keep them.
As I approached the clearing, yells surged from the camp. Not long, I thought. I sprinted forward. My body still ached, but a few days rest in the pod and tent healed many wounds. As I drew close, I slowed as only a few trees separated me from the camp. I didn't know what sets this creature off, but I'm sure surprising it would not do me much good. We each had a beam gun from our survival kits, but I doubted they could take down a monster we don't know. Especially by those who haven't had more than field training.
The view through the trees became clearer as I weaved my way through the undergrowth. I didn't see a monster or any creature in fact, but the screams continued and they became ever more clear.
“Gin, I thought I trained you better,” hollered the syrupy voice of Allouette. Her voice sharp and strong, though a whimper seemed to slide in now and then between words.
“You did, but I have my priorities, this isn't really your typical day at the office,” said a voice new to my ears. Her yells were not nearly as loud as Allouette's, but the anger was still present.
“You think just because you're not surrounded by computer modules and strategy maps means you can forget your military training, or even your common sense for that matter.”
“Ladies,” said a small voice. Poor Flik.
“Your antics could have gotten all of us killed,” growled Allouette.
“I was searching for survivors,” stammered the girl. I crawled closer. Everyone was out of the tent. Gin was a peculiar sight. Her right arm was bound with a thick wad of bandages and on her head, she wore an extra set of wave goggles from one of the kits. I recognized her now. I had seen her only a few times before, entering or leaving Allouette's office. She was Allouette's assistant, the top tactician cadet in my class. She looked much different then I remembered, but I guess during survival situations, none of us look our best.
Gin stood close to the water's edge, a river that ran near the clearing. Allouette wobbled towards her. Her leg held tight with cast wraps, balancing herself on a long stick. Flik stood between them, a little to the s
ide. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his hands balled up together in front of him.
“Bull shit,” exclaimed Allouette.
“Lieutenant, perhaps kinder approach,” muttered Flik. She ignored him.
“You were looking for Corporal Teshe, Meikr and every damn hostile creature within a five kilometer radius heard you.”
Teshe? My ears perked and my fingers curled tight into a fist. My arm strained, it ached at the sound of his name. Why, why was Teshe involved? What did he have to do with anything? Of all the people on the Hera, why was he the one this girl sought out?
“So,” Gin cried, “so what if I was?” She stumbled forward as if she carried a weight on her shoulders, one she was not used to carrying. “Shouldn't I be concerned about my child's father?”
My breath stopped.
“Oh don't give me that,” said Allouette with a dramatic roll of her eyes. “If you cared about that child, you wouldn't have gone gallivanting around an alien territory.” She stepped forward and looked Gin straight in the eyes, daring her to speak. “Do you even think that child has a chance? Do you think given your condition and your circumstances, that poor child even has a chance of surviving?”
“Maybe,” Gin mumbled.
“Foolish girl.” Allouette spat the words out as if they left a bad taste on her tongue. She pulled away shaking her head. “Why did I ever choose you to be my assistant?”
Allouette then turned her hardened gaze towards me. “Thurman you can come out from the trees now, we're done here.”
“When did you...” I started to ask as I stepped into the clearing. But she cut me off before I had a chance, making determined yet wobbly strides towards me.
“What do you have to report?” she asked. The report planned in my head seemed no longer as intriguing as the pregnant woman by the riverside.