The Andromedan Saga (Among the Stars Book 1)

by C. O. Amal

  “Dually noted.” Lucy said.

  “Then let’s find our way out of this place.” Samson said.

  Everyone walked toward the edge of the lake and some of the soldier slowly pushed away the shrubs and vines from their path. They moved out of the lake's surrounding.

  “We have to be careful now. Those wolfdogs may come back.” James said to the soldiers.

  Sandy leaded the soldiers and aligned them in position. Everyone is extra alerted. Researchers took out their laser guns and moved along with the soldiers. They slowly moved deep into the forest. Then they saw it. A large building in the middle of the forest. The walls of the building is covered with greenery and vines thrive along the wall.

  “What in the god’s name is that?” Lucy asked.

  “It must have been a research facility or may be a forest outpost.” James said.

  “Let’s take look inside.” Samson suggested.

  “Ok. Soldiers, surround the building and watch out for any dangers. We will look inside the building.” James said.

  Soldiers nodded and they quickly took positions around the building. James, Lucy, Samson and the researchers got inside the building through a decayed door. Rain water is sweeping through the walls. There is green growth in the wooden door. The door is already wide open. It must have left this way when the plague ravaged the land. Vines are all over the building. Some plants are growing in the chairs and sofa surfaces. They carefully cleared each room. There is nothing unusual here. The photos on the wall have changed its colour over the course of time. Finally they reached the end of the building. The room before them is huge. Computers are around the room. It must have supported ten staffs. Decaying papers are on the floor. Computers are wet by the water dipping through the hole on the roof through which a vine has grown in to the room. There is small vines everywhere on the wall.

  “Looks like there is no information here too.” Lucy said.

  “Let’s get back to the forest then.” James said.

  They are about to leave. That’s when Samson spotted a hidden doorway through the book shelf on the wall. Samson pushed away the shelf and looked carefully. The hidden doorway is made of steel and it looks like the door needed a key to enter. Samson turned back.

  “Stand back. Let me handle this.” James said.

  "James came forward with his plasma gun. He aimed the gun to the lock of the door. James pressed the trigger. A wide hole appeared on the door and the door opened with a loud shriek. They got inside. Researchers carefully analysed the room. Looks like the whole room is made of steel. There is a personal computer on the far corner and documents are littered around the room.

  Lucy took one paper from the floor and red.

  “Looks like this is some kind of research facility. This is some report on the project they were working at the time.” Lucy handed the paper to James.

  “Project Omega Leaf! What kind of project is this?” James asked confused.

  “I don't know. There is blue print of some sort of ship here.” Lucy said looking at the table.

  “Is there any account about the monkey disease?” Samson asked.

  “Not in these documents.” One of the researcher said.

  They looked at all the documents. But there is nothing useful in here. A moment later everyone stood up.

  “Let’s get back to our way. There is nothing about the disease. All this junk is about some kind of military project. Project Omega Leaf.” James said.

  “Your right. Let’s get outside the building and search for the human monkeys.” Samson said.

  Everyone slowly went outside the building.

  Chapter 27

  Saxonvilla Forest, Green Planet

  No sign of human monkeys. Soldiers and researchers walked through the forest. Everyone is tired due to the long journey through the forest. The forest support wide variety of animals and plants. Monkeys are jumping through the trees. Every animal is very busy. None of the animals pay attention to the fellow humans walking through the forest.

  “Can we stop for a minute? I am really tired.” Lucy said.

  “We can’t stop now. We have to find those human monkeys fast. There is still high probability for those wolfdogs to return back for us.” Samson said.

  “But Lucy’s right. We all are tired.” Sandy said.

  “Ok then, we will rest for a few minutes here. But not long. We have to be ready for continuing our journey.” James said.

  Everyone gathered under a large tree. Some of the researchers and soldiers take out water and food from their back pack. Samson and James walked into the distance away from their friends.

  “We haven’t seen any human monkeys so far. Do you really sure that we have detected heavy movement here?” Samson asked.

  “I saw it myself. Heat signature indicated heavy movements here.” James said.

  “Ok. They all are tired after the fight with wolfdogs. I don’t think they could reach the destination fast.” Samson adjusted his hair with his hand.

  “We all are tired. Let’s wait a few more minutes till they refresh.” James said with a deep sigh.

  “So, the human monkeys really went through the forest as a pack?” Samson asked.

  “Yes they did.” James shook his head. “Thermal images clearly verified that.”

  They watched the beauty of the forest a little longer. Then Samson and James walked toward the soldiers and researchers.

  “Ok everybody. It’s time to move.” James said.

  Everyone nodded and stood up. They took their back packs and starts to move deep into the forest. The forest is filled with shrubs and vines. They carefully moved through the thick jungle fauna. Still no sign of human monkeys. There are many normal monkeys in the forest.

  Finally they reached a grassland. Miles of land is covered in grass. Soldiers carefully motioned others to follow. Researchers nodded at the soldiers and moved behind them.

  “So how big is this forest?” Samson asked James.

  “It is wide about hundred acres big.” James answered.

  “That’s very large.” Samson said.

  “This grassland is wonderful.” Lucy commented.

  Researchers recorded about fifty species of birds now. They are all watching the colourful birds with hungry eyes. They couldn’t believe what they are seeing themselves. There are wide variety of animals in this grasslands alone. In a distant a fox leaded its children to the forest. Deer and Rabbits are freely roaming the grass lands. The humans now entered into another part of the forest. Now the forest is filled with trees of varying sizes. Then the soldiers spotted a muddy path. Everyone followed the path to deep inside the jungle.

  “There are foot prints of animals here. Possibly the human monkeys.” One of the researcher announced.

  Everyone stared at the muddy path. There is in fact many foot prints similar to monkeys’ foot. Soldiers looked at the distant forest through the scope on their guns. No creatures on sight.

  “Ok everyone, look for the footprints. We will now follow the track.” Lucy said.

  Everyone moved through the visible track. Since the yesterday’s rain the tracks are good and are clearly visible on the mud. Sun is in its highest glory now. Sunlight is sweeping in through the tiny holes in the forest canopy. Everyone watched the amazing scenery created in the forest by the sunlight itself. There is a small water stream flowing through the forest which supposedly nourishes the entire forest.

  “There are foot prints all over here.” One soldier called out.

  Samson, James, Lucy and Sandy examined the foot prints. Looks like the foot prints ends near the stream.

  “Looks like we need to cross the stream into that part of the forest.” James said pointing to the part of the forest on the other side of the stream.

  “Ok everyone, slowly cross the stream.” Lucy announced.

  Everyone slowly begins to cross the small water body. Tiny fishes are swimming through the water as a pack in high speed. When soldiers put foot on
the water all fishes gathered around the boot and swam in a circular path. An amazing scenery put forward by nature. In a distance a black panther passed them looking at the human travellers.

  “This forest indeed have many varieties of species.” Lucy said.

  “We could see that.” James said playfully.

  “So James, did you happen to bring any protein bars? I am dying to taste one.” Lucy said with a smile.

  “Let me look at...” James looked inside his pant pockets. “...Yes I have one here. Here you go. Help yourself.” James handed Lucy a protein bar.

  Lucy unwrapped the protein bar and put one piece in her mouth.

  “...Oh! This taste good.” Lucy ate while closing her eyes. But she didn’t get a response.

  Lucy stopped moving and opened her eyes. Looks like everyone have stopped moving. Everyone except Lucy is looking in the same direction with astonishment. Lucy finally turned her head and looked in the direction everyone is looking at. The site in front of her made her drop the protein bar in her hands. Lucy looked at with mesmerised eyes with her mouth open. In front of her is a human survivor possibly a Green planet’s resident, an Andromedan like Jasper. He looks old with large beard. The man also looked back at the soldiers and researchers with his own excitement.

  “Hay everyone. I am Mason. General Mason. And you’re looking at one of the few fortunate survivors.” Mason broke the long silence.

  “It’s good to see you Mason. I am James.” James said by putting forwarding his hand.

  “It’s nice to meet you. I am sure you may have many questions and I have many things to say.” Mason said while accepting James’ hand in his.

  Chapter 28

  Saxonvilla Forest, Green Planet

  “So Mason, how exactly you have escaped from the wolfdogs?” James asked sitting in a tree trunk beside Mason’s camp.

  “It’s a long story.” Mason said.

  “We have nothing but time.” James said.

  “Well last year when those things came for the first time I was discussing about activating project Omega Leaf in our military medical research center. Those wolfdogs, as you called, came for us. Our doctor died there. He was our leading researcher and the only one capable of activating project Omega Leaf. Nevertheless he manage to activate the Omega Leaf but we lost communication with the research vessel, probably a malfunction in the ship.” Mason took a deep breath. “Those creatures were right in front of me eating the doctor’s mutilated body. For a moment I lost in emotion. Then I took the gun from its holster and shoot the creature right in its eye. The creature stumbled and fell down. I managed to escape from the room to the military bunker right below the first room. Those remaining creatures followed me, but somehow I escaped.”

  “So how did you met Kane and David?” This time it was Sandy.

  “I met Kane right outside the research facility. He was also escaping from the creatures. We both manage to hide from those hellish creatures and decides to come to this forest since this forest lays near and also there is a research facility in the middle of this forest from where the Project Omega Leaf can be monitored.” Mason said.

  “We have seen that building in the middle of this forest. We have also seen documents regarding your project Omega Leaf. What exactly is Project Omega Leaf?” James asked confused.

  “Why say more? It’s a dead end now.” Mason said. Sadness filled his eyes. He tilted down his head.

  “Well we all are curious to know about this project.” James said.

  “Well, project Omega Leaf was supposed to be our final line defence. It is actually a research vessel with about thousand advanced Nano robots.” Mason said.

  James laughed at Mason’s statement.

  “Nano robots? Are you really joking? How much damage could they do against the big creatures? They must be really small right?” James said mocking.

  “Well your wrong. What’s in a name? The Nano robots isn’t small as you think as their name suggest. Each robot’s brain is composed of millions of tiny Nano robots. Hence the name. We generally called each unit as a Nano robot. These robots could repair themselves in seconds. Their body is made of carbon fibre along with some secret formulae. The robots really was high tech. They have plasma cannons right inside their hands and other our advanced weapons are placed inside them. If those robots have still here we may have already won the war. Our robots are really designed to tackle situations like this. But something really happened inside the ship.” Mason said still there is sadness left in his eyes.

  “So what about David?” Samson asked.

  “What about him?” Mason asked.

  “Well how did you met him?” Samson asked.

  “Oh! He was already in this spot. Kane and I searched the building inside this forest. The building was already empty when we got there. Staffs must have gone to look after their families after they heard about the invasion. I tried to get into the master room to control the Project Omega, but it was locked and also all computers were down possibly due to some hacker. We decides to go deep into the forest to live here and wait for some sort of help to arrive. We found David here. He was building tree houses at the time we reached here. We became friends and started to live together so far.” Mason finished. “So what brings you here in the middle of nowhere?”

  “We are on search for those human monkeys. We believe they have come here. Our satellites detected their unusual activity. Those monkeys are travelling as a pack. We believe some secret is behind their journey which may help us derive a cure to this monkey disease.” Lucy said.

  “Oh yes, those once human beings. We have seen them. They were somehow attracted to some kind of gaseous material. It was night at the time we found them. Some kind of fluorescent material was all over the place where they stood. They all walked around in an odd manner.” Kane said.

  “Where were this exactly?” James asked.

  “The place is couple of clicks away from this place. We were afraid whether the gaseous material is relate to the plague. So we didn’t approached those poor beings.” Mason said.

  “Can you show the place?” Lucy asked.

  “Yes of Course. Come.” Mason stood up and led them away from the camp.

  Everyone patiently followed Mason, Kane and David. Mason climbed a small hill and stood on top of the ridge. Everyone did the same. Then they saw it. Thousands of human monkeys are roaming before them. Researchers opened their mouth in disbelief. Samson and James pushed back the soldiers and came to the front line to watch the commotion. They saw it too. Lucy start to go near them but Mason quickly hold her back.

  “It may not be safe for you there. Watch there.” Mason pointed at the middle of the monkey crowd.

  There is in fact some sort of gas in yellow colour. It is emerging from the ground. Lucy took a face mask from her back pocket and wore it.

  “You can let me go now.” Lucy said to Mason.

  Mason loosened his grip on Lucy’s hand.

  “Whatever you say mam.” Mason said with a grin.

  Lucy smiled at the comment and she climbed down the small hill. The monkeys are everywhere. She slowly approached the middle of the crowd and watch for the gas. She saw it. It is actually emerging from ground. She took a device from her pant pocket and placed the device inside the gas. The gas enveloped her hand. The device with a click came to life and displayed a whole set of data about the gas. This gas is some sort of pheromone. That explains why the creatures are walking in a pack. They travelled here attracted to this pheromone. Looks like the gas is harmless. Lucy slowly dig away the soil using her hand and searched for where exactly the gas is coming from. Her hand met something made of metal. She cleared more soil and looked closely. Some kind of machine is buried here.

  Suddenly a red light beeped in the machine. She glanced at James and Samson frightened.

  Boom!

  The machine exploded. Lucy was thrown away by the force of explosion. She hit a tree and landed unconscious on the ground.


  “No!” James cried out loud.

  Part 6: The Mysterious Gas

  Chapter 29

  Saxonvilla Forest, Green Planet

  “Oh Lucy!” James cried out loud.

  Samson and other soldiers rushed toward Lucy. Lucy’s face is burned out completely. Samson looked for a pulse. Fortunately there is a slight pulse in her body. Samson and the fellow soldiers lifted Lucy in their hands and moved her to Mason’s camp. Researchers took out medicines from their back pack. One researcher took an ointment from his bag and pasted it on Lucy’s face. It is really lucky that she escaped the explosion when nearly ten human monkeys dead.