by Art Collins
“Okay, but make it quick,” Dr. Henderson replied. “Adams, you go with him.”
After Adams had put his coat back on and picked up his M240, Dr. Watanabe said, “I thought Zenda told us that machine gun bullets were useless against Malum.”
The SEAL tried to be polite when he answered, “No offense to Zenda, but she also said we didn’t have to worry about Malum until tomorrow morning. Anyway, I’d like to see just how well that alien stands up to this baby’s ammo.”
Adams and Dr. Watanabe hadn’t been gone for more than a few minutes when the sound of muffled machine gun fire erupted outside. Jumping to his feet and grabbing his coat and M240, Flint yelled, “Open the hatch!”
The five seconds that it took for the hatch to be lowered seemed like an eternity to Flint. His adrenaline was flowing as he tore out of the transport pod with his weapon raised. However, his heart almost stopped when he caught sight of Malum dragging Adams and Dr. Watanabe into one of the tunnel entrances. The scientist wasn’t moving, and even though Adams was bloody and had dropped his gun, he was still fighting.
Dr. Henderson was frantic as she saw Flint dash toward the tunnel entrance. “No! Don’t go in there!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.
Even if he had heard her, and he hadn’t, Flint wouldn’t have stopped. Navy SEALs didn’t leave any of their own behind, whether they were dead or alive.
Another burst of machine gun fire was heard soon after Flint raced into the tunnel; then another; then another. After the fourth volley, there was dead silence. When ten minutes had passed, Dr. Henderson turned to Zenda and reluctantly, but decisively said, “Let’s lock up for the night.”
“What if he comes back?” Professor Eberstark asked.
Dr. Henderson was somber when she replied, “Listen, I know that some of you may think I’m heartless to shut the hatch while Flint’s still out there, but he’s either dead, or he’s still after Malum. If he somehow manages to survive, he’ll be back banging on the door, with or without Dr. Watanabe and Adams. There’re only seven of us humans left, and we need to figure out with Zenda what we’re going to do when morning comes. Okay, I’m open to any and all ideas.”
Even though no one felt very hungry, Major McColl insisted they break out the C-Rations, saying, “Whatever we decide to do, we’re going to need as much energy as we can muster. Taking on that monster isn’t going to be easy, and it’s nothing we should try to do on an empty stomach, so eat up.”
Since Malum could easily thwart any attempt Zenda would make to send an SOS transmission, or to escape in the Chinook or transport pod, the group discussed whether it was better to just stay locked in the pod and wait him out.
After listing the pros and cons of what Meatloaf called the “sit and wait” option, Zenda unhappily said, “Even if your people send help, they will never find you down here. As I told you before, Malum can shut down the transport pod’s computers that operate the panels you passed through when we brought you here. Eventually your food will run out. No, my friends, I am sorry to say that time is not on your side. Escape is possible only if you destroy Malum.”
It was near midnight when the plan finally came together. Step one of the plan involved a necessary but very risky move on the part of Major McColl. Trusting Zenda’s judgment that Malum would not strike again before morning, the pilot made a quick dash back to the Chinook in order to lower its rear door. Fortunately, he made it back safely.
When Major McColl returned, Dr. Henderson agreed to review the plan one last time in the morning before proceeding with step two. Her final words were, “Okay, let’s all get some sleep. I’d say tomorrow’s going to be a big day, but you already know that.”
Archibald and Willow took their sleeping bags to the most private part of the transport pod they could find and laid them out. After Zenda turned down the lights so that only a green glow of the instrument control panel could be seen, Archibald leaned over and kissed Willow.
“I’ve wanted to do than since I left you in New York,” he said.
“I’ve wanted you to do that since you left me in New York,” she answered, kissing him back. Withdrawing her head a few inches, she then whispered, “Do you think we can move these sleeping bags really close together?”
“You bet,” he whispered back.
Overcome by exhaustion and the events of the day, it wasn’t more than ten minutes before the two teenagers fell asleep. Before nodding off, Willow yawned and said, “Be careful tomorrow.”
Plan B
Sadly, Flint didn’t return to the transport pod during the night, and it was just past nine o’clock the next morning when Dr. Henderson called the group together and said, “Well, Zenda, you predicted that Malum wouldn’t attack at night, and he didn’t. So, tell me, when do you think he’ll make his next move?”
“That depends on what we do,” Zenda answered. “Should we review what we agreed upon last night?”
“I think that would be in order,” the Mission Commander replied. Then she turned to Major McColl and said, “Before you say it, I know we all need to get started on our C-Rations.”
As all the humans ate their breakfast, Dr. Henderson outlined the dangerous plan that she thought just might work. With the first step of the plan having been successfully accomplished the night before, step two involved drawing Malum out of the tunnels.
It wouldn’t be out of character for Zenda to try to convince her adversary to spare the remaining Earthlings’ lives now that he’d demonstrated his superiority by killing six of them. She knew her pleadings for mercy would be futile, but that wasn’t the point because the meeting was simply a diversionary tactic.
Dr. Henderson had been shown how to raise, lower, and lock the transport pod’s hatch, and she would secure the hatch after Zenda had departed for her meeting with Malum. Positioning herself far away from the Chinook, and at a point where Malum’s view of the transport pod’s hatch would be blocked, Zenda would then call out his name.
Zenda would be carrying a transmitter that, once activated, would set off a buzzer back in the transport pod. Once Malum arrived, she would begin to beg. She would also activate the transmitter, signaling that step three of the plan should commence.
After the buzzer sounded, Dr. Henderson would lower the transport pod’s hatch. Deciding on which three people would then exit and sprint to the Chinook had been a particularly contentious issue the night before because there was a very real chance that some, or all of them, might not survive!
One of the three leaving the transport pod was, as Meatloaf had said, “the bait” that would distract Malum while the other two attempted to drive the blue feather home and say the magic words. Even though there was risk to all three, the bait’s life was in greatest danger.
Professor Eberstark had argued that since he was the oldest and had the shortest time to live, he should play the role of bait. While there was some logic to his argument, the old professor was turned down because he couldn’t move fast enough. Major McColl had also volunteered to play that role, but he was rejected because he was the only one left who could fly the chopper.
“I played that role once before,” Meatloaf finally said, “and I played it pretty well. So I’m your bait, like it or not.”
With the bait decision made, it didn’t take long to agree that Archibald and Jockabeb would be the other two accompanying Meatloaf. Archibald was given the blue feather, and his brother was asked to repeat “Nito, Vito, Samu” one more time, so everyone could hear the words that would hopefully end Malum’s life and save everyone else’s.
Once Meatloaf and the two brothers were aboard the chopper, the last and most critical step in the plan would begin to unfold. Meatloaf would position himself in the cockpit where he could see Malum approach. It was also a cramped space that would restrict the alien’s mobility once it attacked. Archibald and Jockabeb would hide under blankets in the main cabin and wait for Meatloaf’s signal.
“Well, that’s about it,” Dr. Hen
derson concluded. “It’s not too late to change our minds. What does everyone think?”
When Jockabeb reached for his coat, saying, “What are we waiting for?” everyone gave the Mission Commander a thumbs-up sign.
Round Three
Archibald, Jockabeb, and Meatloaf were dressed in their cold weather gear when the transport pod’s hatch was opened. Peering out and seeing no sign of Malum, Zenda looked back inside and said, “A good start, at least.”
Minutes later, Zenda took up her position just as planned. Soon after, she’d called out Malum’s name.
It wasn’t long before the alien from Lues walked out of a tunnel and confidently made his way toward her. However, before Malum reached his archenemy, he circled the transport pod, as if suspecting a trap.
Zenda was standing against the wall so that Malum would not be able to see the chopper unless he turned around. She pressed the button on her transmitter the moment he arrived in front of her. Per the plan, Zenda then began to plead her case as to why it wasn’t necessary to kill more humans, finally begging for the carnage to stop.
Once the buzzer sounded back in the transport pod, Dr. Henderson opened the hatch. Meatloaf and the boys moved quickly and quietly as they made their way to the back of the Chinook. When the boys were safely on board the chopper, Meatloaf walked to a spot where he could see Zenda and Malum. With a trap of his own ready to be sprung, he raised his one arm and waved.
Watching the Comis pacifist grovel and beg for his mercy gave the heartless Lues great pleasure. That all changed when she looked up and appeared startled. Swinging his dark head around, Malum saw one of the humans standing by himself next to his flying machine.
As the powerful alien turned to give chase, the human bait dashed inside the chopper and yelled, “Get ready.”
Hunched over in the cockpit, Meatloaf watched the deadly creature move with surprising speed. The closer the deadly alien from Lues came, the more terrifying it looked.
Archibald had already slipped off his mittens and was clutching the blue feather tightly in his hand as he lay motionless under his blanket. On the other side of the cabin, Jockabeb was well hidden and doing his best not to shake.
Malum entered the chopper’s cabin thinking how easy it would be to enslave the stupid Earthlings after enough of them had been killed to destroy their will to resist. Looking around and seeing no sign of humans he would soon dismember, the alien killer moved toward the cockpit, already drooling at the thought of how good his next victim would taste.
The alien and the three humans had no idea that a second otherworldly being had just entered the Chinook. This one had floated in right behind Malum and had hovered undetected as the Lues walked forward.
Meatloaf had already shifted his position so the pilot’s seat was between him and the alien that would arrive momentarily. While he thought he was prepared for what he was about to see, he recoiled once Malum’s horrifying head came into view. Then quickly collecting himself, he yelled, “Come and get me, you sorry sack of dung.”
Hearing what he knew would be the pitiful Earthling’s final words, Malum slowly opened his drooling jaws and smiled. Once the deadly tongue emerged, the alien’s giant head shot forward with lightning-fast speed.
“Now, Archibald!” Meatloaf bellowed as he felt a searing pain in his throat.
Knowing that seconds would decide whether he lived or died, Archibald raced into the cockpit and dove onto Malum’s back, peeling back the scaly protective flap as he landed. Before the startled alien could react, Archibald rammed the blue feather quill deep into the exposed gray flesh. The moment he did, Malum’s taught body went limp.
When Jockabeb yelled, “Nito, Vito, Samu,” nothing happened. Smiling up in the darkness, the Spirit of Simtu nodded its head. It was then and only then that Malum’s immobilized body began to glow—greenish-yellow at first, and then reddish-orange.
Archibald and Jockabeb then backed away, fully expecting a bright explosion similar to those that had destroyed most of the other evil creatures. This time, however, was different.
As the Spirit of Simtu withdrew to the rear of the Chinook’s cabin and slowly drifted out the door, Malum’s glowing body floated up and followed. Once outside, the Lues oppressor who’d dreamt of dominating the universe burst into flames. The Spirit of Simtu had thought it would be a fitting end for the creature that so loved the cold.
When there was only ashes left of what had once been the invincible Lues, the wispy spirit dissolved, but didn’t leave. No, the Spirit of Simtu would not return to the world beyond until his twin brother’s young friends were safely home.
Back in the chopper, the boys were at Meatloaf’s side. The one-armed man who’d made the ultimate sacrifice knew death was close at hand when he looked up at Archibald and said in barely a whisper, “We won. I can’t get Willow home safely, so you need to do that for me.” Then he closed his eyes and died.
The last blue feather strikes Malum
Malum in flames
While it had been a very costly victory for sure, both Round Three and the life-and-death match went decisively to the humans!
Leaving Checkpoint Zulu
Back in the transport pod, Archibald and Jockabeb took turns telling the others about what had happened to Meatloaf and Malum. While the humans and Zenda were happy that Malum was no longer a threat, they mourned the loss of their seventh comrade.
“How quickly can you have the chopper ready to leave?” Dr. Henderson asked Major McColl.
“Assuming the weather up top is good enough to fly, half an hour,” he answered. “I want to get out of this place as much as anyone, but I think we need to make one sweep though the tunnels to see if we can find my crew, the SEALs, and Dr. Watanabe.”
“I know the tunnel system better than you do,” Zenda said, “so let me conduct the search while you prepare for departure. I can also check outside weather conditions from the transport pod.”
“Fine by me,” Major McColl replied. Then he looked at the boys and said, “You two come with me. We have body bags stowed on board. We’ll unpack one for Meatloaf and one for what’s left of Lynch. We may need more bags depending on what Zenda finds.”
While Zenda searched the tunnel system, Major McColl and the boys carried out their grim task. The others transferred the remaining C-Rations and sleeping bags back to the chopper.
Spirit of Simtu
Forty-five minutes later, Zenda arrived at the back door of the Chinook. “First, the good news,” she began. “The conditions outside have improved enough so you should have no problems leaving.”
Shaking her head, Zenda then delivered the bad news. “I am sorry to say that I wasn’t able to find any trace of your colleagues inside the tunnels. My guess is that Malum disposed of their bodies in places we’ll never find.”
Professor Eberstark, who’d been the quietest since arriving at Checkpoint Zulu, then shocked everyone when he announced, “I don’t plan on making the trip back to Thule. If Zenda will permit me, I intend to leave with her when she returns to her home.”
Seeing the looks of disbelief on his colleagues’ faces, he explained his decision, saying, “I’m an old man who probably doesn’t have that much more time to live. My whole life has been devoted to studying and researching the universe, but obviously I’ve never been able to leave Earth. Now I have a chance to do so. Besides, I may be able to help Zenda convince the Lues to abandon any plans to come back to Earth. What do you say, Zenda?”
“I would be honored, Professor Eberstark,” Zenda replied, bowing her head.
“Are you sure?” Dr. Henderson asked, obviously stunned by what she’d just heard.
When her colleague nodded his head, she simply said, “Well then, I wish you luck.”
Zenda informed the group that it wouldn’t take long to prepare the transport pod to depart. Then looking at Major McColl, she reviewed how the Chinook would leave. “When we’re all ready, I will take control of your helicopter the same w
ay Malum and I did when we brought you here.
“After I have guided your craft up through the shaft and navigated it to a safe altitude, I will return control to you. At that time, you will be able to re-establish radio contact with others. The professor and I will leave shortly after that, so please keep your craft away from the entrance when I give control back to you. I trust all that is clear, and I am sure that all will go well.”
Zenda then walked up to the five humans she would be leaving soon and, one by one, placed her palm on theirs. When she came to Dr. Henderson, she said, “I know this has been difficult for you, but it was the only way for my father to resolve the conflict with the Lues and save your planet. I hope you understand.”
“I do understand,” the Mission Commander answered. “You came in peace. Now you will leave in friendship. Thank you, Zenda.”
The Chinook’s two propeller blades began to rotate thirty minutes later. Jockabeb was seated to the right of Major McColl in the cockpit, and Dr. Henderson was in back with Archibald and Willow. As the large helicopter lifted off the icy surface, Willow took Archibald’s hand and said into her microphone, “I have never been so happy to leave any place in my life!”
Zenda was back in the transport pod controlling the Chinook and tracking its progress on the computer screen in front of her. Professor Eberstark stood at her side. When the large white panels at the top of the shaft were opened so the chopper could rise above ground, she looked up and asked, “Do you have any regrets, professor?”
His response was immediate and unequivocal when he replied, “Not a one.”
Moments later when Zenda had transferred control of the helicopter back to Major McColl, she said, “Well, professor, now it’s our turn.”