The Andromedan Saga (Among the Stars Book 1)

by C. O. Amal

  “Lucy, wake up girl...” James said, his voice filled with emotion.

  “She will be alright James. Give her some time.” Samson said, soothing James.

  “It’s all my fault. I should have been the one to check the area, not her.” James cleared away the tears with the back of his hand.

  “It is you who give me courage when bad thing happened to Jenny and now you’re crying?” Samson asked.

  James stopped crying and stood up and left the scene.

  “Anyway, who would bury explosives on the ground?” Samson asked to Mason.

  “It must be those Xhilarians. They may be the one who implanted those machine to release that gas to attract the human monkeys.” Mason said.

  “It must be them.” Samson said thinking about something. “We need to get back to our base. Lucy needs immediate medical attention.”

  “I don’t think that’s easy.” Mason stood up from a fallen tree trunk. “Those wolfdogs are everywhere near the forest entrance. It’s actually fortunate that you guys escaped them in the first place.”

  “If we could reach near the forest entrance, we could somehow get inside one of the truck and drive away.” Samson said.

  “It may be possible.” Mason said.

  “Then let’s move fast. The soldiers will lead the way.” Samson said.

  Samson and Mason shared their plan to escape from the forest with everyone. Everyone agreed with the plan. Lucy is almost awaken now. Her face is burned out. All they can do about is to wait for the wounds to heal over time. Two researchers balanced Lucy in their hands. Everyone is ready to move on.

  “Ok everyone we will move now. We could reach our destination before the night falls, if we are quick.” Samson said.

  Everyone, one by one starts to move toward where they came from. Researchers are moving slowly because they are carrying Lucy in their arms. Suddenly Samson stopped moving. Everyone did the same. In front of Samson was Jenny in her cloths which she last wore. Even though she have turned in to a monkey hybrid her cloths are still clean. Samson approached Jenny. Jenny stopped moving and watched Samson with wonder.

  “Jenny, I looked all over for you. Where have you been all this time?” Samson asked.

  Jenny heard what Samson said but didn’t show any movement. Possibly she couldn’t process what Samson had said. Tears well up in Samson’s eye.

  “Jenny, come with us. I will make sure you’re safe, after all, I have made a promise to look after you.” Samson said crying.

  Jenny didn’t move for a moment. Then she walked away from Samson on her own way. Samson quickly went near Jenny and stopped her. But Jenny break away from his arms and ran away. Samson stood there on his knees and watched Jenny who has now disappeared behind jungle foliage and he cried. Sandy came near Samson and placed his hand on Samson’s shoulder to sooth him.

  “Let her go mate. Let her give some time, at least till our researchers find a cure to the plague. Come on we don’t want to waste time here. It is best if we are on our way.” Sandy said, soothing Samson.

  “I can’t leave her like this, I promised to look after her.” Samson stood up and said.

  “Well you have to...let her go.” Sandy finished.

  Samson said nothing back. Instead he start to walk. Everyone followed Samson and Sandy. James is also grieving for what happened to Lucy. James and Lucy have been together for almost two years. James has all the right to grieve.

  “Ok everyone move faster.” Sandy yelled.

  They passed the research building.

  “So David, how is it like living in the middle of the forest in a tree house?” Sandy asked.

  “First it was very difficult to adjust, but then everything turned out to be good. We didn’t have any other choice. It was live or die situation.” David said.

  “How was food?” Sandy asked.

  “It wasn’t bad. We ate all we got. Deer, rabbits, birds, you name it. The forest is a pretty good food reserve.” David said.

  “We noted that.” Sandy said smiling.

  Sandy and David walked in the front line behind Samson. Other soldiers and researchers followed them.

  “Samson, wait for us.” Sandy yelled at Samson who was walking at a greater speed. “He is really sad about leaving Jenny.” Sandy said to David.

  “What’s her story?” David asked.

  “Me and my team were got caught by those Xhilarians months ago and Samson, Jenny and others were able to saved us. During the rescue, one of the Xhilarians somehow caught Jenny and injected her with that pandemic and now she is one of the human monkeys as you have seen before.” Sandy said.

  “So you guys actually killed Xhilarians?” David asked.

  “We killed more than twenty Xhilarians.” Sandy said.

  “Wow. You guys must have some advance piece of weapons.” David said.

  “Yes we have. We have loads of weapons on our ship. All are very advanced.” Sandy said.

  Finally they reached near the magnificent lake. Everyone crawled their way through the thick jungle shrubs and entered into the Lake’s perimeter.

  “I used to come here often when things where normal.” David said.

  Sandy thought something for a moment. “It’s really an amazing scenery.”

  “Yes sure it is.” David said. “We have a saying about this lake that if you drink the water from this lake you will immediately heal from any diseases.”

  “That’s incredible. Why didn’t you guys tried this on those human monkeys?” Sandy asked playfully.

  David said nothing back instead he walked silently.

  “Everyone from now on pay extra attention. We are about to enter into forest entrance.” James announced.

  Everyone checked their weapons for a moment. Researchers took out their laser guns. They all exited the Lake’s protection and entered into the forest entrance. The very air is filled with smell of smoke from the fire fight happen hours ago. Everyone increased their pace toward the truck. The trucks have now came into eye sight. Everyone ran to the truck. Suddenly a shriek sound came from outside the forest. Everyone braced for a fight. Then they saw it. There are about fifty wolfdogs, all running towards them.

  Chapter 30

  Saxonvilla Space Research Center, Green Planet

  “Fire at will...” Samson and James yelled.

  Soldiers start to fire in all direction. Plasma bolts danced in mid-air. The first line of creatures quickly went down. Everyone slowly approached the truck which is intact. The crashed truck is still there but it is not in a condition to drive. Researchers quickly opened the back door and helped Lucy to get inside. Soldiers surrounded the truck and fired at the approaching creatures. One creature jumped above the truck and clawed at the soldiers standing around the truck. Two soldiers’ neck sliced open by the sharp claw of the wolfdog. Samson quickly shot down the creature on top of the truck. Remaining creatures rushed at the soldiers with a sharp roar.

  “Everyone get inside.” Samson yelled.

  Everyone quickly got inside the truck and closed all the doors. Some creatures got near the truck and start to smash at the truck using their head. The truck start to shake.

  “Hurry, start the engines and go.” One of the soldier from the back of the truck yelled.

  The driver started the engines and put it in reverse. Driver masterly turned the truck. The creature followed the truck and smashed it. The whole body of the truck vibrated.

  “Please god. Please save us.” One of the female researcher cried.

  The driver finally turned the truck toward the road and accelerated the truck. The truck rushed forward. The wolfdogs ran behind the truck. Some wolfdogs got near both sides of the truck and smashed the truck in sideways. The truck swayed sideways. Some of the soldiers fired to the sides from inside the truck. Plasma shots cut through the metal wall toward the creatures. Two of the creatures went down.

  Suddenly a sharp howl came from the right side of the truck. Driver take a quick glance through the si
de window. There are hundreds of creatures running toward the truck from the forest valley. Driver accelerated the truck to its maximum speed and the truck rushed through the road. They finally reached the Saxonvilla town. The creatures are still behind them. It’s like they are not going to let them go. Driver took a U turn and rushed the truck.

  Suddenly some of the creatures jumped from out of nowhere and all of them smashed the truck in mid-air. The truck lost control and fly in air and went upside down. The truck in fact rolled several times through the neighbourhood. Everyone screamed out loud. The truck stopped rolling when it collided with the wall of a house. Truck’s tires are still rolling but the truck is upside down. Creatures rushed forward and start to thrash at the fallen truck. Soldiers and researchers screamed in pain. The truck slide several feet due to the thrashing of the creatures.

  “Please god save us. Don’t turn back on us.” One of the soldier cried.

  More creatures joined the thrashing. One creature broke the front window and clawed at the unconscious driver. It dragged him outside only using its claw. The creature then pressed its sharp teeth against the driver’s head. His head exploded inside the creature’s mouth. The wolf dog slowly ate him. One of the soldier in the front seat cried out loud in pain and horror. Another wolfdog came in front of the truck and silenced him by slicing his head using its claw.

  The entire atmosphere filled with loud cry of humans and the sharp growl of the creatures. Suddenly sound of plasma cannons came from outside the truck. Everyone stopped crying and tuned their ear.

  Outside a heavily armoured truck is firing at the creatures using the double barrel plasma cannon. The plasma bolts cut down the creatures. Two more trucks came to the scene. All fired plasma bolts. Finally all the creatures went down. Then heavily armed men came out of the vehicles and approached the fallen truck. The trucks sides are bended inward all over. Somehow the men outside pry opened the backdoor. One by one they helped each person inside the truck to stand up and leaded them outside the crashed truck into the trucks waiting outside. Everyone sighed deeply relieved.

  “How did you found us?” Samson asked to the nearby soldier.

  “We heard gunfire and a loud crash of your vehicle. We immediately set up a team and got here.” The soldier replied.

  “Thanks for coming.” Samson said.

  “Don’t mention it. Nobody would know when we need help.” The soldier said and left to the front of the truck.

  Everyone got inside the trucks and the trucks rushed toward their base, Saxonvilla space research center. After fifteen minutes’ drive the trucks reached Saxonvilla space research center. Some soldiers are in front of the gate looking for any danger. Two armoured trucks are on both sides of the road. Their plasma cannons pointing in the distant horizon. The medical team is already ready and are standing by the front door. The trucks carrying survivors stopped in the yard of the facility. Everyone in the trucks got outside. Medics quickly reached near and everyone and examined them.

  Samson escaped with minor injuries but not all was fortunate as him. Some of the soldiers’ limbs are broken. Samson went near everyone and checked. He lost ten of his good men and two researchers. James walked toward Samson with a broken hand. He wore a thick plaster on his hands.

  “Samson, it’s good to see you all in one piece.” James said smiling.

  “I was a little lucky. Nothing more. How is Lucy?” Samson asked.

  “She is partially awaken. She may take more time to recover. She said her face is irritating. Medics said she will be alright in two weeks’ time.” James said in a low voice.

  “Some god is with her for sure. Otherwise some bad thing might have happened.” Samson said. “We need to find out more about that yellow gas. It may be related to the plague in some ways.” Samson stared at James more seriously.

  “I have already set up a team of medics for that. Now we have a very important matter to discuss.” James said.

  “What is it?” Samson asked.

  “Yesterday Michael’s team went to Rodovilla, a small town near the mountains. They haven’t returned yet. Something bad might have happened." James said with a deep sigh. “Come on we could discuss about this in the communication room.”

  Samson and James walked toward the communication room. At the time they reached there Thomas and Jasper were very busy on the computers.

  “Jasper show us Michael’s recording about yesterday’s mission.” James commanded.

  Jasper paused for a moment then he typed something in the command prompt on the computer. Quickly a voice message displayed on the screen.

  “Is anybody copy. Some aliens have took Michael and others with some sort of device. Aliens are all over here. Oh! My god! What should I do I am alone? They caught everyone else. I am behind a house. Please god I don’t want to die. Ahh…please help me...they caught me...”

  Chapter 31

  Unknown Location

  Michael woke with a sharp pain in his head. He looked around. He don’t know where he is, what he is doing here or why. It’s like his mind is completely empty. He found some of the other soldiers lying on the floor. Michael took a deep breath of relieve. But it was short lived. Something caught in his eyes. He looked more carefully where he is. He found metal rods welded together in front of him. His eye adjusted to the low light. He is appeared to be inside a cage. In a metal cage. He looked up. There was no roof. He could see the stars glimmering in the skies.

  “Guys wake up.” Michael wriggled the nearby soldier.

  “Where are we?” One of the female soldier woke and asked.

  “Wendy, you’re awake! I thought I would be alone. We are inside a cage.” Michael answered.

  “In a cage. What are we doing here?” Wendy asked.

  “I don’t know. I can’t remember anything. Do you remember anything, anything at all?” Michael asked.

  “No...Wait...I remember some blue light...and now here I am.” Wendy asked.

  “Blue light. May be, it could be those alien scums. Samson’s team reported about the creatures using some kind of blue light to control our mind. We may be inside their prison.” Michael said.

  “I don’t want to die Michael.” Wendy began to cry.

  “Hey calm down. Nobody is dying here. We need to find a way out of this cage.” Michael said soothing Wendy.

  “Where are we?” Another soldier woke up and said.

  Other remaining soldiers also woke up.

  “It’s good to see you guys again. We are inside a cage and I’m planning to get out of this cage somehow. If you guys have a better plan I am all ears.” Michael said.

  Suddenly the place was lit by lights connected on the big metal rods ascending from the ground. Michael and team glanced at what is happening outside. Then a human like alien came into view. Behind the creature was two other similar creatures and two wolfdogs. The leading creature stood before Michael and said something in an unknown language.

  “Hello pathetic humans. I see all of you are awake. Nice dreams I guess.” A device translated.

  “Let us go you alien scums. Our friends will come looking for us and they will make sure your all are dead unless you let us go.” Michael stormed.

  The device strapped to the creature’s waist translated Michael speech into the unknown language. The creature smiled and said something.

  “You idiots have caused us so much trouble. You killed one of our leading researcher. We brought you here for not to let you go but to do some naughty things.” The device translated.

  A chill crawl through Michael’s legs at the creature’s comment. All the people in the cage looked scared.

  The creature looked at one of the other creature who stood behind it and said something.

  “Begin!” The device translated.

  The creature stood behind came forward and opened the cage. It got inside the cage and captured one of the soldier and dragged him outside.

  “Please let us go...I don’t want to die...” The soldie
r screamed.

  The creature laid him on a table and bind the soldier’s arms and legs. The soldier began to shiver and wriggle. The creature said something.

  “Stay still human, we are trying to enjoy this. Don’t destroy that.” The device translated.

  The creature took one sharp surgical knife from the drawer on the table and showed it to the soldier.

  “Please show mercy...I don’t want to die...Please...” The soldier cried