The Andromedan Saga (Among the Stars Book 1)

by C. O. Amal

  “These creatures are nothing like anything we have seen. They said they are going to exterminate all of the human race. These creatures are sort of colonists but they don’t like humans. Probably they have found our planet by now. We have to warn them.” Thomas said.

  “They said this to you?” Samson asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Where are others?” Samson asked.

  “We don’t know. We woke up in this cage.” Thomas said.

  “And Thomas, I am sorry to tell you that your assistant Jenny became exposed to this plague and have turned into one of the human apes. She lost her human instincts now. Now it’s only basic instinct for survival. One of the human like creature injected her with the virus…I…I couldn’t stop him. But finally I shot him down.” Samson said with a deep sigh.

  “I am sorry to hear that.” Graham said. “That means we have to find the cure to this disease soon.”

  “Yes we should. There is boxes of this virus vials there. We could take it as a starting point.” Samson said.

  “Sergeant I found others inside cages in the far corner of the field.” A soldier came forward and said. By the time he finished all others followed him toward Samson.

  “It’s good to see you all.” Samson said. Everyone smiled

  Everyone walked toward their trucks. Samson take Jenny’s hand in his. Jenny followed Samson without any resistant. She is like an ape now. All human instinct gone. Like a circus monkey following its master.

  Before them are thousands of human monkey hybrids all walking to and fro with only one instinct. The instinct to survive.

  Chapter 21

  Planet Green’s Orbit, Two months later

  The ship Victoria has reached Planet Green’s orbit. All crew are awake. Everyone is looking through the windows.

  “Everyone brace yourself we are going to land in any minute now.” Captain’s voice echoed through the ship.

  “Deploy emergency satellites to Planet’s orbit.” Captain said.

  “Satellites deploying in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, satellites released and are in perfect orbit.” One of the pilot said.

  Emergency satellites are designed to enhance communication and for defence applications. They could launch small plasma missiles and shoot plasma bolts if necessary.

  “Find the last known location of the ship Skylark.” Captain said.

  “Found it. They are in sector 50. Do you want me to move the ship to that location?” One of the pilot asked.

  “Yes, please proceed.” Captain said.

  Sergeant Lucy and James came to the control room.

  “When will we land?” James asked.

  “We will land soon. We are moving to the last known location of the ship Skylark.” Captain Miller said.

  “Did we detected any threats when we were in sleep?” Lucy asked.

  “None so far.” Captain said.

  “Did they contacted us?” James asked.

  “They contacted earth and said about some intelligent life forms going to invade earth. Earth is well prepared for a war. They all are ready to tackle the biohazard if the enemies somehow released it. Our star fleet are already searching our solar system for any threats.” Captain said.

  “Captain, we have reached our destination.” One of the pilot said.

  The Skylark is parked in a place surrounded by mountain ranges.

  “Land in a perfect place.” Captain said. “James, Lucy, You may need to prepare your team. We will land in any seconds now.”

  James and Lucy moved to the ship’s hangar. Everyone was already there. Hangar is filled with vehicles of all sort for this mission. Fuel tanks lay in a corner.

  “Soldiers, be ready for anything unexpected. We will land in any moment now. According to the earlier team’s records the only effective weapon against our enemies is the plasma gun. So everyone take out your plasma guns.” James said.

  “Researchers you also need to be prepared. All the equipment are inside the vehicles. It is advised that you all keep a laser gun with you, we can’t afford to take any chances. We all need to be prepared for a war if it came to that. Always remember your training.” Lucy said.

  “So are you ready?” James asked

  All nodded in agreement.

  The ship landed with a heavy thud. Hangar’s door burst opened. First soldiers came out pointing the plasma guns. Then the researchers followed. When they made sure the perimeter is safe they signalled the drivers to start the engines of the vehicles. Five heavy duty trucks rolled out of the hangar. Soldiers and researchers got inside the trucks and the trucks rushed in the direction of the Skylark. They halted the trucks in front of the Skylark’s Hangar door. The door suddenly burst opened. Before the soldiers were Samson and his team pointing their plasma guns.

  Sergeant James got outside the truck and walked toward Samson.

  “Samson, Is that you?” James asked.

  “Yes, Sergeant James. Come inside we have lot to talk about.” Samson said.

  ####

  Book Two: Battle for Planet Green

  Chapter 22

  Military Medical Research Center, Green Planet, 2074 A.D.

  The Humvee stopped in front of the medical research center. Two men in military uniform got outside and quickly paced inside the facility. They stopped moving when they reached beside a medical practitioner who was looking at something through the microscope. The medical practitioner shifted his gaze toward the two men.

  “General Mason. It's good to see you. What brings you here?” The Medical practitioner asked.

  “It’s good to see you too doctor. We need you to analyse something for us.” Mason handed him a vial of blue liquid. “Doctor, we are under attack and the enemy has released this biological weapon against us. It was in gas form. Our researchers liquefied it.”

  “Who is attacking us?” Doctor asked.

  “We think they have come through the B Twelve black hole at the center of our galaxy. They are presumably Xhilarians from the xhilaria universe.” Mason answered.

  “I will look at it as soon as possible,” Doctor said.

  “Doctor, we don't have time for that. We need you to look at it now.” Mason said.

  “Ok then, whatever you say…” Doctor opened the vial and took a small drop from it. He carefully aligned the sample in the microscope.

  “Looks like it is a virus,” Doctor said.

  “We need more than that doctor. Possibly we need an antidote against it.” Mason said.

  “Well, we can't develop a vaccine until we study it thoroughly. We need to know about the victims.” Doctor said.

  “Well as far as we know this virus causes an instant mutation to us,” Mason said.

  “Meaning?” Doctor asked.

  “Our people are turning into monkeys for short,” Mason said with a deep sigh.

  “What? Are you really serious?” Doctor asked confused.

  “We are dead serious doctor. Our people are really turning into monkeys. We don't know what to do. We really need to make the antidote quick. About my entire platoon has fell under this disease.” Mason said with a deep breath. “Doctor, I can’t abandon my people.”

  “I will begin evaluation now.” Doctor finally said. A worry is on his face.

  Doctor looked at the sample again. “Looks like this virus is dying!” Doctor said surprised.

  “What? What does that mean?” Mason asked.

  “It means it can’t survive very long in our atmosphere. It has a very low lifetime in gaseous form. The liquid seemed to be changing into gaseous form quickly.” Doctor said.

  “That means they may be going to invade our planet after all of us have turned into monkeys.” Mason said himself.

  “If that’s the case we need to do something quick.” Doctor said.

  “Your right. What is the status of project Gamma leaf?” Mason asked.

  “We still haven’t tested it yet. It is in test mode now. We had scheduled it for testing tomorrow.” Doctor said.
<
br />   “Well, we don’t have time for testing it now,” Mason said with a deep sigh. “We need to activate project Gamma Leaf doctor. Are you up for it?” Mason asked.

  “I am ready for it. I don’t want to become a monkey.” Doctor said with a little panic in his face.

  “You have to know that this project is still under development. There may be some side effects.” Doctor said.

  “I am well aware of that doctor. We can’t let that Xhilarians invade us. We have to make a move. You know how pathetic our weapons are. This is our only chance of survival against them.” Mason said. “Activate project Gamma Leaf now.”

  Doctor moved near his computer and typed in some commands. Quickly a blueprint of some sort of spaceship appeared on the monitor. The monitor then prompted a window to enter a security key.

  “Do you want me to continue?” Doctor asked.

  “Please proceed, I am afraid that we may not be here to see it in action.” Mason said.

  Doctor entered the security key and a new window prompted asking whether to continue or not. Doctor clicked the continue button. Suddenly the monitor became blue in colour and a message showed indicating that the project Gamma Leaf is in effect.

  Suddenly a gunfire erupted from outside. Doctor, Mason and the soldier with Mason looked toward the front door with panic. A scream of a soldier came from outside.

  “What is happening outside?” Doctor asked.

  “Presumably extermination!” Mason said.

  “How long will the Project Gamma Leaf to become fully functional?” Mason asked.

  “It may take about two months.” Doctor said with panic.

  Suddenly the front door burst into pieces and a large creature emerged from the doorway. The creature seemed to be a hybrid of wolf and dog. It is lot bigger than both. The creature stared at the men in front of it. Some kind of liquid oozed down from its mouth, possibly due to the joy of finding a day’s meal. Then two more creatures emerged from behind the first creature.

  The creatures growled. And then all three of them jumped on to the men in front of it. Doctor, Mason and the soldier screamed with pain.

  Part 5: Race for the Cure

  Chapter 23

  Saxonvilla Space Research Center, Green Planet, 2075 A.D.

  Samson and James paced around the facility. Soldiers have surrounded the building and are searching the perimeter for dangers. They searched all the documents inside the research center for any information regarding their enemies. They have no further information from what Jasper have given them. Researchers are doing their best to develop an antidote against the monkey disease. It is what the researchers call the disease now, Monkey Disease! Researchers are nowhere near a promising cure. All the human monkeys they saved are now wandering there and there without any real purpose including Jenny, the new addition to the monkey family.

  Samson tried his best to keep Jenny beside him, but she managed to get away. The master slave relation is no more. The human monkeys sleep less and wander around most of the day and eat whatever greenery they saw including grass. But they like fruits much, because of that they often stick around forest areas.

  Samson and his team so far detected none of the enemy activity after the last encounter. They haven't received any messages regarding enemy activity from earth too.

  Thomson, Jasper and Thomas are agreed to watch over the skies from this facility. They have took place in the communication room where numerous computers are arranged in a circular fashion. They are doing their best to uncover the mysteries behind the enemies.

  A part of James’ soldiers moved farther into the once populated land in search for survivors and enemy activity. The wolfdogs haven’t come in their way since the last encounter. They may have retreated or may be plotting a major attack. James and Samson have discussed all the possibilities with the fellow soldiers in case of an emergency.

  After all the things their enemies have said, they couldn't afford to take any chances anymore. The fate of earth and the Milky Way galaxy now depends on the fate of the Green planet. Earth’s military is sweep searching the entire solar system now. They haven’t stopped since the last enemy encounter on planet green. They are mainly checking near all black holes if the enemies could actually come through black holes. Samson have given all information he had about the enemies to earth. Earth’s fate rests with a handful of soldiers on green planet but they are provided with advanced weapons which haven’t touched by any other humans on planet earth.

  The team who went deeper into the Green Planet’s once populated areas is leaded by Sergeant Michael. Michael is very well trained combat specialist who have particular skill in tracking down enemies even with very little biological evidence.

  Samson looked at the stacks of documents in front of him again. There is nothing useful in there. All are about black hole travels and the possibilities of what will be waiting on the other side of the black hole. Samson curiously looked at a diagram depicting black hole travel. It is interesting to see it in an image. He put the image back and stood up from his chair. He took a deep sigh and then walked toward Sergeant James.

  “James, I don’t see anything useful in that pile of garbage.” Samson said.

  “Well. We really have to dig deep here. Especially since what those things said to you. We can’t let them get away.” James said.

  “I know. It’s just...I can’t find the right word to say this...but I really am feeling desperate after what happened to Jenny. I can’t forgot her image. Her touch… I am heart broken.” Samson said with a deep breath.

  “You can’t let emotions get into this. You’re a well-trained combat specialist. A good soldier. You have your duty… Try to do your duty, time will wash away her image from you. Besides the doctors are working their best to find a cure. We will be able to make her well again. At least that’s what I think.” James said.

  “Ok. Thanks. I will try to forget her.” Samson said.

  “Please do that. Oh! I forgot the main things. The researchers want us to search a forest here. They have found a peculiar behaviour shown by these human monkeys. These once people beings are following some pattern to live. They want us to dig deeper on that. We will leave tomorrow first thing in the morning. So ready your team. Five researchers will be coming with us leaded by Sergeant Lucy.” James said.

  “Ok. I will prepare my team.” Samson said and left James.

  Corporal Sandy and team were practicing when Samson reached the yard of the facility. They have made this facility a human camp. This facility have all the thing they needed, for now it’s enough. Samson walked near Sandy.

  “Sandy, we will have to search in a forest tomorrow. So I want you to prepare your team. We will need the best for this job. Those wolfdogs may be in the forest we have to be extra careful at this.” Samson said.

  “I will prepare my team now.” Sandy said.

  Sandy called out for his team and twenty men came forward.

  “People we have a mission tomorrow. I want you to prepare your guns and be ready for anything.” Sandy said.

  The soldiers nodded and left the scene.

  “What are we going to search in the forest?” Sandy asked.

  “Researchers said that the human monkeys are showing some peculiar behaviour and they want us to check on that in the forest. Supposedly the monkeys are gathering in the forest.” Samson said.

  “I see.” Sandy said.

  “So are you guys ready for it?” Samson asked.

  “We are ready for anything.” Sandy said smiling.

  “Then I have to leave you for now. See you tomorrow. I have some research to do.” Samson said and he slowly paced inside the building to the communication room.

  At the time Samson reached the communication room Thomson, Thomas and Jasper were doing some serious things on the computers.

  “Did you guys have any luck on our enemies?” Samson asked.

  “We are doing all we can to reveal the enemies. But the enemies have vani
shed into thin air. We have no luck. But we detected some movement near a forest. It could be the wolfdogs or the human like creatures or it could be survivors.” Jasper said.

  “Where exactly is this?” Samson asked.

  “It is near Saxonvilla forest range.” Jasper said.