by Ben Hammott
“I'm sure that will be enough.” Haax coaxed the ship forward until its nose nudged the ice in the center of the holes and just below the smiley face Jack had made. He applied power to the engine and steadily increased thrust.
All eyes stared at the block of ice barring their escape.
A crack echoed through the hangar bay. The thin columns of ice holding the block in place cracked under the strain. The block dropped until it met ice again, and slowly the powerful engine pushed it back. The shuttle passed through the hangar doorway and into the ice tunnel. The large block gained momentum, moving faster and faster. The ice surrounding the ship sped by. Suddenly, the ice dropped from view and daylight flooded the tunnel. As the ice block splashed into the sea the shuttle shot out of the hole and soared into the sky. Windborne ice and snow battered the windscreen.
Finally, they were free.
All except Haax cheered.
Jack gazed at the ice shelf the impossibly large berg had broken away from. The remaining side of the ice rift was now a high cliff of ice stretching for miles in both directions. Eventually it would also be pushed farther out into the ocean and break off, and in time melt and disappear as if it had never existed. When the craft grew nearer to the cliff, Jack noticed something― a small blot of red. He pointed it out to Haax. “I think someone's on the ice.”
Haax swooped in for a closer look and pressed a button on the console. An image of the red-clad figure appeared on part of the screen in close up.
“It's Scott,” called out Jane. “He's stuck on the ice.”
Jack turned to the pilot. “What do you think, Haax? Can we rescue him?”
Haax nodded. “All I seem to do is rescue you humans. Someone needs to go in the back and help him aboard.”
“I'll go,” volunteered Theo. He unbuckled his harness and left the cockpit.
Haax swept the scout ship over to the shore, and in a smooth motion, turned the ship so the back faced the cliff. He switched on the rear monitor and used it to line the rear door up with the climber. He opened the back door, extended the ramp and moved nearer to the ice cliff until the ramp was directly below Scott.
Theo was buffeted by the wind when he stepped through the opening. He cupped hands to his mouth and shouted. “Scott, are you okay?”
Scott gripped the ice to prevent the gusting wind from dragging him off. He glanced up at the sheer cliff. He still had over halfway to go and doubted he'd be able to make the climb in this wind. He was more than a little surprised to hear someone call out his name. Though he thought he must have imagined the voice, he twisted his head. He was even more surprised to see a space ship hovering in the air and Theo leaning casually against the door frame, grinning.
Theo waved. “Hi, Scott, you've not chosen the best weather to go climbing,” he shouted.
Too astonished to talk, Scott nodded dumbly.
“Well, are you coming aboard?” Theo stepped forward with one hand gripping the door frame and the other extended out to his friend.
Scott looked at the hand and at the ramp below him. He released one precarious grip on the ice wall, grabbed Theo's hand and leapt onto the ramp. He swayed and was nearly cast over the side by a gust of wind. When Theo yanked him into the ship he stumbled to the floor. Theo closed the door and looked at Scott.
Scott gazed around the cargo bay. “Is this a…”
“It sure is.” Theo helped Scott to his feet. “The others are in the cockpit.”
Stunned, Scott followed Theo.
Going Home
AS THE CRAFT SWOOPED down toward the base camp, legs swung out and it gently landed on the ice. A few moments later the rear door opened and its passengers disembarked down the ramp.
Still pulling on his cold weather coat, Pike ran out of the cabin. “Is that a spaceship?” he asked, in disbelief.
“Only a small one,” replied Jack, nonchalantly.
“The mother ship we found under the ice was much more impressive,” said Jane.
“Yeah, it was huge,” said Theo, “and full of alien monsters.”
Pike was stunned and envious. “You lot are so lucky.”
“To be alive, yes, we are,” said Jane, “but not all of us survived.”
Pike noticed Henry, Max and Eli were missing. “They're dead!”
Jane nodded.
Pike was astonished again when a small strange figure walked out of the spacecraft. “Is that an alien?”
“Only a small one,” answered Jack with a smile. “The others were much bigger and a lot more vicious.”
“But don't worry, he's friendly. He saved our lives,” Jane said.
Pike noticed Jack shivering. “Let's go inside where it's warm, and you can tell me all about it.”
Jack turned to Haax. “Are you coming inside?”
“No, I will leave. I have spent enough time on this planet.”
“Where will you go?” Jane asked.
Haax shrugged and gazed up at the sky. “With the scout ship I can go anywhere. I have the whole universe to choose from. This is a good opportunity for one of you humans to come and see some of the galaxy. It is a huge and wondrous place with sights you could not imagine or believe.” Haax looked at Lucy, who also shivered even though she wore her cold weather gear. “What about you, Lucy? There is so much to see and many new species to meet, and most are not as vicious as those you met on the ship. It will be interesting and fun.”
Lucy looked doubtful.
“What else will you do? After what you have witnessed aboard the spaceship, Earth will seem far too small now. Come on, come with me. Let me take you away from this cold planet to ones much more hospitable. I'll bring you back if you don't like it. Stay here and how long will it be before you regret not coming?”
Lucy stared at Haax. There was something in his eyes, an insistent stare. He knew. She shivered. She couldn't stand much more of this cold. “Okay, Haax. I will come with you.”
“But you can't,” Jane argued, surprised she would even contemplate such a thing. “How could you possibly survive in space and on strange planets?”
“She will be fine,” said Haax. “You could not possibly imagine how advanced our technology is, and there are many planets out there not too dissimilar to Earth's atmosphere.”
“Why shouldn't I go?” said Lucy. “It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. Just think of all I can learn. Now we know there are other species out there, and not all are friendly, Earth might need a few space friends in the future. I've made up my mind. I'm going.”
Jane could tell Lucy was adamant in her decision. “Well, for the record, Lucy, I think you're crazy, but if you're sure it's want you want…”
“It is.”
Jane gave Lucy a hug. “You be careful out there, up there.”
Lucy smiled. “I will.” She said goodbyes to the rest of the team and climbed aboard the ship.
As Richard turned away and headed for the cabin, a purr came from beneath his jacket.
Haax stared at the slight lump in Richard's jacket. “Richard, I think you have something you want to give me.”
Richard stopped and turned. He stared at the small alien. “No, Haax, I have nothing I want to give you, except my thanks for saving us and to wish you a good journey.”
Haax rested a hand casually on the butt of the pistol sticking from its holster. “Is that really how you want to play it? What you have taken does not belong here. Give it to me and we will part as friends, because I assure you, I will not be leaving without it. Alternatively, if you do want to keep it, you can come with me.”
The astonished group looked between Richard and Haax.
Jane smiled when she wondered if Richard did go with Haax how long it would be before he annoyed him and was flushed from an air lock into space. “You should go, Richard.”
“I'm not going anywhere with him,” stated Richard.
Jane glared at him. “Then whatever you've taken, give it back.”
Richard glanced at Jane, the
alien and his hand resting on the weapon, and sighed sadly. When he unzipped his coat, the cute alien stirred from the cold and opened its eyes when Richard lifted him out.
All were astonished by the sight of the small creature.
Richard approached Haax, lifted Lucifer to his face and looked into its large eyes. “Well, my friend, it's time for us to part, so be careful out there.”
The small creature purred and nuzzled Richard's cheek.
Richard handed him to Haax. “I'd like to take a photo, if that's okay?”
Haax nodded and held the small creature in his arms.
Richard took a couple of photos of Lucifer, making sure to include Haax and the shuttle craft in the frame. “Take good care of him.”
“I will.” Haax said his goodbyes and climbed aboard the ship.
They all stood back and watched the small spacecraft lift effortlessly off the ice and zoom into the sky until the clouds obscured its view.
Richard continued to take photographs until it disappeared.
“I'm surprised Lucy chose to go with Haax,” said Jack.
“I admire her,” said Theo. “If I didn't have a family, I might have considered joining them.”
“As she said, it's an ideal opportunity for her to set up friendly relations with an alien species,” Jane glanced up into the sky. “I've a feeling that in the future, Earth will need all the space friends she can get.”
“I can't stand it any longer,” said Pike. “You've got to tell me what happened in the rift and about the spaceship and the alien monsters and everything.”
“Cook us a hot meal and we'll tell you everything,” said Jane.
“But first I need a beer,” added Jack.
“It's a deal. I'll soon have something cooking.”
*****
The small craft entered space, a speck of dust in the universe.
Haax glanced at Lucy as she sat in the co-pilot's seat after removing her cold weather clothing. “As pleasing as that particular form is to my appreciative eyes, you can drop the disguise now.”
Lucy looked at him with a knowing gaze. “I thought you knew.”
“Not straight away, though. Don't get me wrong, your mimicry ability is the best I've ever seen― not that I've seen many, so there could be a lot better out there somewhere and you are crap at it― but it impressed me.”
“You certainly know how to flatter a girl.”
“Except you are not a girl― female maybe, but no girl.”
Lucy smiled. “Point taken. So…if you knew I was me, why did you agree to bring me along and what gave me away?”
“I couldn't let you stay on Earth, not with all those vulnerable unsuspecting humans for you to feed on, could I? What gave you away was your smell. I have a very sensitive nose. You don't smell like the others.”
“Smell is something I'm unable to copy.” Mimic studied Haax. “You're quite a clever little chap.”
Haax grinned. “My lack of modesty prevents me from arguing with you.”
“So, Haax, what's your plan? You know I could kill you in a blink of an eye.”
“A fact I'm totally aware of. I'm also aware you don't know how to pilot this ship.”
The Mimic glanced at the controls. “I could learn.”
Haax shook his head. “I dare say you could, but that won't do you any good. While you were disrobing, I set the controls to only accept my commands. If, for any reason― including the one where you kill me in a no doubt excruciatingly painful manner that's most enjoyable to you and feast on my small but tasty carcass― the computer fails to detect my life signs, or I fail to type in a code at regular intervals, it will navigate to the nearest sun and not stop until it's destroyed. Kill me and you kill yourself.”
Mimic pondered what she'd just heard for a few moments and then smiled. “I say again, clever.”
“It will probably come as no surprise, but it's not something I'll ever tire of hearing.”
“Due to this devious clever trait of yours, I assume you have a purpose, other than saving the human race, for my presence aboard this ship.”
“I do, but it depends a lot on you.”
Mimic raised Lucy's well-trimmed eyebrows.
“Unlike you, I have visited many planets and met many species. I can tell you, for beings like us and your exceptional form-changing talent, there are a lot of opportunities out there for us to exploit and profit from.”
“Illegal opportunities,” said Mimic.
“Best kind,” said Haax. “I know you probably come from a vicious world where only the strongest and most cunning survive, but for us to work together, you must stop this murderous habit of yours. It won't do you any good. Look at me. I'm captain of my own spaceship.”
“Stolen spaceship,” Mimic reminded.
“Salvaged is the term I prefer. Anyway, my meaning is that I didn't murder anyone to get it. You go around killing, slashing and feasting on raw flesh all the time, and you're not going to last long. It also gets you nothing.”
“Except a full belly.”
“But you can get that without killing. You wouldn't believe all the delicious food available out there. None of it will squirm and try to bite or claw you when you're eating it. You'll love it.”
“I'm not sure it's me, but I'm willing to give it a try.”
Haax beamed. “That's great. You won't regret it.”
“For your sake, I'd better not.”
“It's always doom and gloom with you. You really should lighten up and try to have some fun.”
“It will be hard, but I will try.”
“But first things, first― let's change your appearance to something more suitable, and I don't mean some ferocious monster with claws and huge gnashing teeth. Do something less aggressive and easy on my eyes.”
Mimic looked at Haax for a few moments before changing form into a sexy female of the same species as Haax. “How's this?”
Haax eyed the sexy female appreciatively. “Wow! Great choice. It's as if you read my mind.”
“Not a particularly difficult thing to do,” said Mimic.
Haax stared at her small breasts. “However, there are a couple of improvements I would make.”
Mimic sighed. Her breasts expanded. “Is that better?”
Haax smiled. “Better? They're perfect.” He pressed buttons and turned dials on the control panel. “You ready to hear my plan?”
“I'm all ears.”
Haax glanced at Mimic and burst out laughing.
She had grown huge ears.
“That is soooooo funny.” He wiped the tears from his eyes. “I admit I had my doubts, but now, I think we're going to get on just fine.”
As her ears shrunk to their normal size, Haax reached out a hand and laid it on Mimic's leg.
She slapped it. “They'll be none of that!”
Haax grinned. “You say that now, but you wait until you get to know me.”
“Waiting is something I'm particularly good at.”
Haax laughed and glanced back at Lucifer curled on a chair asleep. “We will see. No female can resist Haax's charms for long.”
Haax pulled a lever. The small spacecraft accelerated to an amazing speed and in an instant, was gone.
LUCY AWOKE TO PITCH blackness.
She scrambled about for her torch, found it, switched it on and shut her eyes to block out the stark light blinding her. She placed a hand over the beam to dull it and opened her eyes to let them slowly adjust. Her eyes followed the light she directed around the room. She was in one of the crew's cabins, but had no memory of how she got here.
Pain shot through her skull when she climbed to her feet. She tenderly felt the lump on her head. A glance at her fingers revealed them absent of blood. The torch beam settled on the door as she wondered how long she'd been unconscious. She shivered. Her cold weather clothes were gone. She wondered who would've done such a thing.
When she approached the door, she staggered to the side. It felt like the f
loor had moved. The memory of a similar sensation appeared in her thoughts. She had been aboard a cruise ship at the time. She reached the door and pressed the button and was surprised when it failed to slide open. She pressed it repeatedly, but still the door remained closed.
Panic started to make itself known.
She pounded a fist on the door. It sounded loud within the confines of the cabin and she hoped it was the same outside. She wondered where the others were. Certain they would be worried and frantically searching for her, she banged on the door again and shouted, “Is anyone there? I'm locked in and can't get out!”
Moments passed without any sign she'd been heard.
She knocked harder and shouted louder. “Help me! Please help me someone!”
No one came.
She began to cry.
A noise outside in the corridor gave her hope. She placed an ear against the door. “Is someone there?”
The Hunter followed the sound.
It paused outside the room the noise had emanated from. It pressed the button, but the door didn't open. It stared at the door when something spoke from inside.
It scraped its claws down the door.
A metallic squeal filled the room. Lucy backed away from the door.
Something outside screeched.
Lucy shook with terror and screamed.
*****
Jane and Jack exited the main hut and glanced at the blue sky. The blizzard had lasted three more days before it subsided. Jane had contacted NASA to add to the information Scott had already told them. Already finding it hard to believe a monster existed, NASA at first found the discovery of an entombed spaceship just as hard to comprehend. It was the team's photographs and video footage that had finally convinced them it was real.
NASA had wasted no time in making preparations for a salvage attempt. Because the ship was so large, they knew they'd be unable to save it, but in the limited time available they were set upon salvaging as much of its technology as possible before it slipped into the ocean. NASA, the Navy and the Army had joined forces to this end. A taskforce was already on its way.