by J. N. Chaney
FINN: Seems like it. Why?
THISTLE: Central’s worried about their prolonged isolation. They’ve been there for months now.
FINN: There’s nothing to worry about. Besides, I’m keeping things lively.
THISTLE: Good to hear, Finn. But make sure you report anything out of the ordinary. We need to keep our people safe.
End Audio File
Unknown Location
April 15, 2350
Terry bent to the left and cracked his spine as soon as he woke up. Several clicks followed as he stretched the rest of his body.
The soft hue of morning light had hit him through the window, waking him. He reached into his pack and grabbed a piece of fruit for breakfast. He noted there were only three left after this. He’d have to go foraging today.
After Terry swallowed the last of the fruit, he headed downstairs and set about exploring. Since he had come from the east and found nothing, he decided to start north and work his way to the west. He’d heard birds chirping in the night, which meant a viable source of protein. He’d look for them later, once he had a chance to scout the area.
He searched for an hour before discovering a nest of tiny rodent-like creatures, which he’d previously named beavermites. The animals were scrawny and yellow, their eyes pure white. Using two large teeth, which together were the size equivalent of one of their heads, they carved nests inside their chosen trees, sucking moisture and nutrients out of the bark. Terry had actually tried to eat one a few years back, unsuccessfully. Aside from there being almost no meat on the bones, it actually made him sick. For nearly two days, he couldn’t stop vomiting.
Terry kept walking, eventually happening upon a field overgrown with grass and tangled weeds and littered with strange trees unlike any others he’d found in the forest so far. A quick examination showed them to have fruit on their branches but quite different from the kind in his pack. The fruit—yellow with a coat of blue fuzz—grew twice as thick, and upon examination had a smell resembling strawberries.
With his bone knife, he split one in half to reveal a juicy interior. He debated eating it, then shrugged and did it anyway. As the juice hit his lips and tongue, its powerful flavor overtook him, and he smiled. Delicious.
This single tree alone had over a dozen pieces of fruit. As he scanned the field, he spotted at least twenty other trees, each exactly like this one. Had he somehow stumbled upon the remnants of an orchard? Was he truly so lucky? In all his time on this planet, he’d never found food as plentiful as this.
A cloud passed overhead and Terry looked to see the twin suns descending from their zenith, marking the afternoon’s approach. He had several hours’ worth of light left, and he still had things to do.
******
Ortego Reconstruction Outpost
April 15, 2350
The flippy tent was crowded with parts and supplies. Mei sat on the table swinging her short legs while Zoe fiddled with the controls, trying to power on little Mortimer. Two of the other robots, Jefferson and Stanley, were already outside moving debris from the pit and making good time.
“Looks like the system stopped cooling,” said Zoe. She had Mortimer’s back panel open. “Give me a sec.” She got to her feet and retrieved a new unit from the nearby bin.
Mei was surprised at how adept Zoe was at handling the flippies. A few problems arose now and again, but for the most part she handled her new role well. It must’ve been a nice change of pace after decoding and cataloguing Ortego Disks for so many months, but Zoe never complained one way or the other, making it difficult to tell if she actually enjoyed the change. Regardless, Mei was relieved to see her adapting so well.
Travis was a different story. Both he and Bart were exceptionally gifted engineers, but they preferred working alone. Mei understood their perspective, but the reality simply didn’t allow for any alternative. Luckily, both men seemed to understand what was at stake. They dealt with the situation like professionals, albeit reluctantly.
“Here we go,” said Zoe, hitting the power switch and shutting the panel. Her voice had a hint of uncertainty in it. The flippy hummed as the system rebooted, its eyes turning blue once the process was complete. “Diagnostic check,” said Zoe, glancing at the pad in her hand. “Looks like Morty’s back to normal. Let’s try some exercises.” She tapped the screen, and the flippy raised its tentacles, then dropped them to the side.
“Can he get to work now?” asked Mei.
“Looks like it.” Zoe typed a command, and Mortimer waddled out of the tent to join his two brothers.
“Great job,” said Mei. The sooner the flippies did their work, the better. It wouldn’t be much longer before they cleared enough rubble to access the basement level. In fact, if the scan she performed an hour ago was any indication, they were nearly there already. A few days, in fact, if things went smoothly.
Zoe approached Mei and leaned against the side of the table she was sitting on. “So you really think we’ll find anything underneath all those rocks?”
“I’m hoping,” said Mei.
“I have to be honest,” she said. “I don’t get it.”
“Don’t get what?”
Zoe hesitated but went on. “It’s no big secret what happened to you and your boyfriend,” she said, catching Mei a little off guard. None of her staff had referred to John in such a way since he arrived, although it wasn’t like she’d been keeping their relationship a secret. But still, she didn’t expect it. “You and him…those other kids. We all know the story.”
Not the full story, thought Mei. She and her friends had left out the part about Alex’s homicidal breakdown. “What’s your point, Zoe?”
“Why would you want to come back here? Why go through all the political hoops? I know it wasn’t easy for you to convince your boss.” She beamed a knowing smile at Mei. “You could have given them the idea and stepped aside. Why’d you ask to come here?”
Mei briefly considered admitting the truth. It would be so easy. I’m here to find out what happened to Terry. I need answers. But she couldn’t risk it. If anyone reported her true motives, they might shut the project down. The board had already indicated their concern over whether or not Mei could remain impartial due to her experiences on the surface. Ultimately, they allowed it, but only because it was her project, and she knew more about this place than anyone. If they discovered what she was really after, they’d call her objectivity into question. Maybe they’d assign someone new to oversee the team. Zoe and the others might be allowed to stay. But not Mei. She’d be recalled immediately, made to work a meager lab job until some undisclosed time had passed. She couldn’t bear the thought. “Honestly? You really want to know?”
Zoe’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, of course.”
Mei leaned towards her. “I don’t trust anyone else.”
“Huh?”
Mei grinned. “The work’s too important to let some idiot handle it. This is the place where Variant came from, right? And it was brought here because of a machine. We shut it down, but all it did was thin the gas, not get rid of it. If we can find more information about how they built the portal, we might be able to find a way to clean the rest of the air.” It was the same pitch she’d originally given her superiors before including the part about the coils. It was a good lie, the kind with a sliver of truth in it.
“So you’re here because you don’t trust anyone else?” asked Zoe.
“Precisely,” nodded Mei. “People are stupid. They would’ve turned this mission into a salvage operation just like the board’s trying to do now with the coil. None of them have their priorities right.”
“You might have a point with people being idiots,” said Zoe. “I get what you’re saying.”
“Good,” said Mei and was thankful for it. No one needed to know what she was really doing here. Not the board or her team…not even John. There was no reason to tell any of them. “I believe in what we’re doing here. If I didn’t, I ne
ver would’ve come.”
“I’m glad to be here, too,” said Zoe.
“I couldn’t ask for a better team,” she said, smiling, and it really was the truth.
******
Unknown
April 16, 2350
Terry spent the bulk of his morning exploring the orchard he’d previously discovered in the woods. Afterwards, once he’d collected more than enough fruit to last him the week, he returned to the glade. From there, he set off to scout the eastern woods, taking note of the position of the suns. It was slightly before noon, which gave him plenty of time to explore.
After an hour or so of hiking, he came upon a small pond. The water was so thick with mud and grime, it was difficult to see more than a few centimeters. Clumps of blue weeds littered the surface, occasionally moving when a small breeze blew through the trees. There might be one of those animals in there, suggested Janice. She was of course referencing the Mudsnakes, annoying vermin Terry had taken to avoiding. The last thing he needed was an infestation migrating into his new camp. He’d better find out now in case he had to get rid of them.
He snagged some rocks and tossed one into the pond.
Plop.
He circled to the other side, throwing the rest, one at a time.
Plop. Plop. Plop.
Half a dozen ripples grew until they merged with the surrounding earth. A small knot of weeds rustled in the water, shaking generously. From between the stalks, a thin set of blue eyes emerged, surrounded by black, slimy skin. The animal stared at him, blinking. Terry met its gaze and watched as it slowly submerged.
He was afraid of this. Mudsnakes were the worst kind of pests. They slept underwater during the day only to spend their nights scavenging on land. He’d chosen his last camp because it was next to a running stream too small for a mudsnake to swim through. Did he have to worry now about his new camp and his food supply? The pond was a good long walk from the dome, but was it far enough? He didn’t know if he should take the risk or try exterminating them while he still had some daylight.
Not now, suggested Janice. We still have to explore. Come back later.
Right. He could wait. Return with some proper tools.
Let’s go! Time’s wasting, said Janice.
Terry nodded his agreement. The day was fading, and he still had plenty of ground to cover. Who knew what he’d discover? He might get lucky and run into another orchard. Maybe this whole area had once been a massive farm. Wouldn’t that be something? He’d never have to worry about food again.
A short walk later, he found the edge of the woods. As he entered yet another clearing, he came face to face with a ridge no larger than a dozen meters. He followed it around, and it only grew in size. In the far distance, he spotted several small domes resting adjacent to the rockface. They almost looked strategic. But why here?
He ran to them, then stopped when he saw what they were guarding—a large artificial cave with flattened stone walls inside. As he approached, he could see a set of descending stairs.
Looks dangerous, said Janice. We should leave.
“I wanna check it out,” he said, peering into the cave.
Fine, but be careful, she said.
The air inside the cave was thick and full of dust. The deeper he went, the colder it grew. Like every other structure he’d found on this world, this one felt like a tomb. After a few minutes when the light had gone completely out, his hybrid eyes adjusted, allowing him to see clearly. To his surprise, the stairs went on and on, deep into the cavern. A hundred meters, perhaps, but he kept going.
Where are we going? Asked Janice.
He shrugged. “Nowhere.” The echo of his voice surprised him.
Monsters live in caves, she said. Big monsters with shiny claws and scary faces. You remember. They’ll kill us both.
An image of a razorback flashed in his mind. He froze instantly. The animal’s body had been covered in silver quills, which fluttered and moved depending on what it was doing. He imagined those empty eyes staring at him, seemingly devoid of thought. A creature bred on instinct. He remembered the fight in the tunnel, back when Roland was killed by one of the monsters. Terry had tried to stop it, but he was too late.
What if there’s one down here? Asked Janice.
“There won’t be,” he said, softly.
You don’t know.
He found the base of the stairs and discovered a vast opening. What he’d assumed was a cave appeared to be a tunnel, expertly carved, stretching far into the earth. From what he could tell, it went on for at least a kilometer before curving to the north. Dozens of other paths branched off to unknown areas.
Scary, said Janice. What do you think this is?
“I don’t know,” he muttered. “Could be anything.”
We should go. It’s getting late.
He nodded. He’d return later when he had more time to explore. Besides, his stomach was growling.
Terry left the cave and entered the light of the two setting suns. He had about forty five minutes before nightfall. Plenty of time to get home, back to his shack in the glade.
Marching briskly through the woods, he found the abandoned dome with several minutes to spare. Upstairs, he took out several pieces of the fruit he’d found at the orchard and ate them freely. Since his arrival on this planet, his belly had never been full, but today would be different. With so much food in the orchard, he could afford to live a little, even if only for a day.
Afterwards, he took his knife and carved a map into the wall near where he slept. He marked the glade, the orchard, the pond, and the ridge. He also included the cave and the two domes outside, lingering on them for longer than he cared to admit. What was the point of this place? Had it been a mine of some kind? He’d never seen any machinery or carts, nor did the walls look like they’d been worked. In fact, they seemed more like the walls of the city back home, designed like the inside of a building. Did people once live down there?
He went to the other side of the room and carved the opening of the cave on the wall. He followed it with some stairs and the first major tunnel. Staring at it, he could not help but contemplate how deep the passages stretched. There must be something there, he knew.
A secret in the dark.
Chapter 4
Ortego Outpost File Logs
Play Audio File 289
Recorded: April 17, 2350
THISTLE: Anything to report, Lieutenant? How’d the run go?
FINN: I spotted a few tracks to the north, about four kilometers out. Could be rabs, but I doubt it.
THISTLE: Any signs of a nest?
FINN: Not as far as I can tell. There’s no buildings or caves. It’s all just leveled plains.
THISTLE: And the tracks? What are they?
FINN: If I had to guess, I’d say we’re dealing with a heard of kits. They like to migrate this way during the early summer.
THISTLE: Kits?
FINN: Kitoboras, sir. They’re like goats, but uglier. I think these are the ones we usually see near Salamander Outpost.
THISTLE: Kits, eh? First time I’ve heard the nickname. Cost of working behind a desk, I guess. You miss out on the field slang.
FINN: Anytime you wanna suit up and join the squad, we’re always glad to have you, sir. As far as I’m concerned, it’s still your detachment.
THISTLE: Nice try, but you’re not pawning your responsibilities off on me. Besides, Central has other plans for my corpse.
FINN: You’re not that old, sir.
THISTLE: Enjoy the outdoors while you can, Johnny. Before you know it, you’ll be stuck in an office, same as me. You’ll hate every second of it, and it’ll take everything you’ve got not to scream or punch the idiot secretary they give you.
FINN: Aw, don’t punch Jerry. He makes good coffee.
THISTLE: Unless you want another promotion, I’d stow the sarcasm. I can make you a paper pusher this time tomorrow.
FI
NN: Whoa! Boss, you win. Let’s not do anything drastic.
End Audio File
Unknown
April 17, 2350
Terry planned on spending most of the day exploring the tunnel. He packed several pieces of fruit, knowing he had a long task ahead of him. As he hiked there, he contemplated which passageway he’d search first. There were so many, he recalled, going out in every direction. He didn’t know where to start.
When he arrived, he descended into the cavern below, following the main path about fifty meters. From there, he was able to get a clearer view of the various branching passages. He couldn’t tell how deep each one went, but some appeared to be fairly small, opening into larger chambers or connecting with other paths. He saw himself spending days or even weeks exploring these ruins. He decided to follow the first tunnel from the entrance and each subsequent one he encountered afterwards. It wouldn’t be long before he had the entire facility explored.
Terry followed the first path to a room filled with a slew of crates and bags. He had seen similar storage containers in the domes, but usually their contents had rotted beyond recognition. He didn’t expect to find anything different here, but it was worth checking. Many of the crates were already lodged open and apparently empty, but he spotted a few still closed, with thick metal lids sealed firmly across their tops. Terry tried to pry one open, but found it unusually difficult. After several futile pulls on the lid, he opted for the more aggressive approach and kicked it, knocking the box on its side.
The crate’s top came undone and its guts spilled onto the floor. Several metallic objects crashed against each other, echoing loudly. He ran to examine them. The objects were heavier than they looked, each one of a different shape and design. One appeared to have vents on its side, with buttons on the other. It looked like some kind of computer, but he couldn’t be sure. He’d never found anything like this in any of the domes, nor did he expect to. As far as he could tell, this civilization had never progressed beyond the bronze age, or so he’d previously believed. Maybe it’s time to revise that theory, he thought.