When the morning arrived, he was still very much awake. Jeff still remained missing, and their time was growing short. Zarcon estimated that they only had a day to find their friend and the materials they needed to complete their jamming device, before their pursuers found out where they were.
Their immediate leader decided to set out by himself, just in case the Tolarions showed up before the Republic did. The two lingworts were shown how to use the weapons onboard the spacecraft to protect themselves. There were shields to protect the ship from attack, but unfortunately they wouldn’t last forever. He approached the amphibians by the door, threw on a back pack, and grabbed a laser pistol.
“Listen to me,” he said, his blue compound eyes staring at them. “If I cannot find Commander Walker, and I do not return within two hours, you must abandon the ship immediately. They’ll give up
searching if no one is on the ship. There is a black button at the top of the helm panel marked ‘self destruct.’ Press it, and type in the code 623990456 and then get out of there. You will have about sixty seconds to run clear from the ship.”
“Can’t we go with you?” Milgic pleaded.
“Absolutely not!” their leader stated. “If our enemies catch up with us, we’ll need this ship to get away, and I’ll need the two of you to get it started before I get in if necessary. At least if I find Jeff we’ll have a better chance. Besides, there is nothing you can do to help but stay here.”
“Very well,” Dormiton agreed. “You are right, as always. Can we at least go swimming in the river?”
“Yes,” Zarcon said. “As long as you go no further. And only one of you at a time.”
“We won’t,” Milgic sneered. “Only one at a time. I understand.”
“And you better carry guns. Just because we’re hidden doesn’t mean we’re safe.”
“Yes, Sir,” Dormiton responded, hesitant to pick up the gun. Milgic followed his actions accordingly.
Zarcon opened the main door of the Rigil Four, and peered outside. “It appears there aren’t any enemy forces at the moment,” he said. “You are free to swim, but be careful. Remember, only one of you at a time should go in. The other should keep watch. I’ll be back in a little while.”
The insect jumped from the craft unto the sand. He found several footprints around the ship, but only one set were human. He decided that those were his friend’s, and proceeded to follow them. His two other companions watched from the ship until he was out of distance, and also jumped out.
“Shouldn’t we follow him?” the inquisitive Milgic suggested.
“You heard what he said,” Dormiton answered. “He needs somebody to watch the ship.”
“You don’t really believe that, do you?” As usual, he was a little too curious for his own good.
“Why should I doubt his word?”
“He’s probably just saying that so we won’t be in his way.”
“He said to stay here, so we’re staying here!”
“All right,” Milgic snapped. “I’ll go swimming first. You keep a lookout.”
“Be careful,” Dormiton warned. “That water has a bit of a
current.”
“I’ll be all right,” his companion hissed, and jumped into the river. The fury of the river started to carry Milgic away.
“I warned you!” Dormiton yelled, placing the laser in his shoulder holster. He shut the main door hatch and ran after his friend, following the embankment.
After he chased him for almost a mile, he came upon a fallen tree which was in the river. He found the frightened Milgic hanging onto it, gripping tightly. “Stay there!” he yelled, and inched out carefully on the log. Dormiton held his hand out to him, and helped him climb up out of the embankment. “See what I told you! You should start listening before you get us both killed. Let’s get back to the ship.”
During the lingworts’ escapade with the river, Zarcon had reached the waterfall from where Jeff fell earlier. Through his compound eyes he saw the lake and the jungle below. They allowed him to see 360º, like a dragonfly, and enabled him to see many more colors than humans. This also allowed him to detect if he was being followed. He saw the damaged spaceship below, but no sign of Jeff.
He took some rope from his pack to climb down the cliff; tightened it around his waist, and anchored the grappling hook between some rocks. He estimated that the cliff was at least eighty to one hundred feet and was very steep. Below it were several points he could touch down without falling into the river. The water was very turbulent at the bottom, and Zarcon couldn’t swim at all. He carefully lowered himself, keeping his clawed feet firmly on the rocks. He used two arms to do the lowering, and two to hold onto the rocks, a task impossible for a human. There wasn’t any wind to interfere with the climb, so it went rather smoothly.
When he reached the bottom, he found some rocks to firmly walk on. He jumped to the river edge away from the waterfall. He couldn’t see the derelict spacecraft that he saw earlier, but he knew the direction it was in. The lake seemed to span for miles as he gazed out at the water. He knew that something must have happened to his friend because he was nowhere in sight and there weren’t any tracks. He didn’t want to travel too far, having left the two lingworts alone. He decided to venture towards the wreckage, and hoped it would lead him
to his friend. Perhaps Jeff found the vessel and decided to investigate
it, but this would not explain why he didn’t return. There was a
possibility that these lizard creatures either captured or killed him, but
he hoped this was not the case. He tied some vines to a tree in an “x”
fashion to use as a marker, just in case he got lost.
Proceeding into the jungle, he heard several wild animals. He wasn’t scared of them, however, because on his home planet there were much more dangerous creatures stalking the jungles. His friends thought he was a native Belorion, but actually he was from Zacharas, a planet much warmer than this one. On summer days, the surface temperature reached one hundred and thirty degrees, and uninhabitable for a human. In fact, this world was actually quite cool for him.
After traveling another mile, he stopped and dropped his pack to the ground. He opened it, and took out a device about the size of a human palm. This was an electro-metal sensor or EMS for short. It was similar to a metal detector, except for the fact it could also detect electrical impulses up to twenty miles away. He turned it on, and noticed he was getting a faint signal to the north, which was the direction of the wreckage and decided to head in that direction.
He threw his pack back on and kept his laser pistol on his belt within reach, in case he was attacked. He walked in steady strides, using his two top arms to guide his way through the thick vines. The farther he traveled north, the stronger the signal became. He continued to follow the river embankment to keep from getting lost. He realized that his time was growing short, and opened communication with the Rigil Four, using a hand held radio he also brought with him.
“Zarcon to Rigil Four,” he said, without an answer. “Zarcon to Rigil Four.” After about ten seconds of silence, there was a faint transmission.
“Dormiton speaking,” his friend answered. “We had a little trouble learning how to use the radio.”
“I’m investigating the wreck of another spaceship out here. I haven’t found Jeff yet. How are things there?”
“Okay so far,” he answered. “There is no sign of our enemies yet.”
“Good,” Zarcon said. “Stay there and continue to monitor. I’ll be out of your range shortly, so give me some time, maybe about four more hours. If I’m not back by then, you know what to do. The Republic is due here anytime.”
“Yes, Sir,” the amphibian answered. “Do you think that they have captured him?”
“Not likely. I see nothing to prove that, and I’ve been traveling a good three miles so far. If I see anything, I’ll let you know. Zarcon out.”
Zarcon put away his radio and continued to
wards the craft. The sun was high in the sky by this time and the air became quite muggy, even for a cooler planet such as this one. He stepped on brush that was at least a foot high, which also harbored an alligator that scurried quick into the water when he approached. It startled him, but he wasn’t frightened by it. The insect turned, drew his laser to shoot, and put it away after realizing what it was.
The signal on his EMS was rather erratic by the time he reached the wreck. He stepped out into the clearing, inspecting the damage. It wasn’t far from the water and if it was indeed a crash, they just missed a softer landing on the lake by a matter of ten feet. He examined the broken hull of the craft and tried to determine its point of origin. He wished there was a way he could tap into the computer of the Rigil Four. At least then he would have a better chance at deciding what it was and where it came from. There were hieroglyphics on it, but he was unable to decipher what they said. He never saw this type before, and it was nothing like the Republic or Tolarion symbols he had seen in the past. They were totally alien to him; he recognized the typical Republic or Tolarion symbols.
He found what was left of the main console; a fragmented piece of metal with melted buttons and a broken viewing screen. Much to his surprise, the distress signal was activated, and still working. There was no way to tell when it was activated, how long it had been going, or what message they left for the rescue party.
There were no bodies present, so he assumed that it crashed a least a year or two prior to their arrival. The metal wasn’t rusted, however, indicating that it was from a rather advanced society. They created a metal that wouldn’t burn, break, or rust under severe conditions. There were several fresh footprints around the wreckage which belonged to their reptilian visitors and other animals. He decided it was the only clue he had to find Jeff, so he followed them.
It was getting close to noon by the time he reached the halfway point around the lake. The footprints didn’t stray far from it, and indicated the creatures stayed close to the water. He only had one hour left before he needed to return, and no way of telling the others of his whereabouts. He realized that finding Jeff this way would take days, but he also knew if he approached by air, they would be in plain view and in even more danger from Riona’s men. He needed to help his other friends get out of there before Riona came regardless of what happened to his human friend.
He headed back at running speed, feeling defeated he couldn’t help as far as his friend was concerned. “Jeff could be out there,’ he thought. ‘Dying at the mercy of those creatures, or already captured by Riona or the Tolarions.’ He wished there was something else he could do.
By the time he reached the Rigil Four, his friends barricaded themselves behind the main door. It hadn’t been opened since the incident on the river. Zarcon entered and dropped his pack and laser. “Did you find him” Dormiton asked.
“No,” the insect sighed, who was just as disappointed as they were.
“He’s dead,” Milgic cried.
“Let’s not get worried,” Zarcon said. “We have enough to worry about. Riona will be getting here soon, and we need to be ready for him. Milgic, I want you to set up some torches outside in case our reptilian friends come back tonight. Dormiton come with me. We have to find the cobalt we came here for, and set up some traps for Riona and our friends.”
The lingworts nodded and followed their orders. Zarcon grabbed a handful of hand held explosives about the size of an orange, and headed out the main door with Dormiton. Milgic followed them and pressed the button to shut the door hatch. The insect placed the bombs in a circular pattern in the jungle surrounding the Rigil Four. The bombs could be triggered by pressure that was applied to them such as a foot stepping on them, or anyone trying to move them after they were activated.
He knew the first thing Riona would do was to try to tap into their thoughts. Zarcon had developed a tolerance for this to some degree, and could block out some of the thought transmissions, but not all of them. Minor things, such as planting explosives could be blocked out by thinking about where his friend might have gone. In their present situation, this could work to their advantage.
By the time the two planted the bombs and found the cobalt, their friend Milgic had set up and lit the torches. They found various berries and fruits to dine on for dinner. It was just before nightfall, and Zarcon told Milgic to keep the first watch. He sat at the open main door, and held his laser gun tight. He was scared, but he knew this instrument of destruction would save him.
As it grew darker, he heard the growling sounds throughout the jungle that became closer. He shouted to Zarcon, who worked on the
casing to his jamming device. He jumped up, as Dormiton followed him quickly.
“They’re out there!” he stated.
“The light hurts their eyes. As long as those torches are going they won’t bother us.”
“How can you be so sure?” Milgic asked.
“Because I am,” explained Zarcon. “They appear to be afraid of the light. Stay out here with him, Dormiton, I’ve got to get the casing done. If any of those creatures attack, climb back in the ship and start shooting.”
Zarcon went back to finish his task. He melted the cobalt down, shaped it, and formed a crude casing around the wiring in the dimensional tracker device. He was just putting on the finishing touches; and all he needed to do was to test it. That would have to wait, however, until they got off the planet.
The trio found it tough to sleep, as the growling continued through most of the night. Zarcon stayed awake to monitor the scanners and keep watch. It was two days since their arrival and there was still no sign of Riona. He began to wonder if the same thing that happened to Belor happened to Riona as well. Riona seldom let his enemies get the best of him. He fought battles with Balta and the Tolarions for years and never let them get the best of him. They were clever adversaries, even by his standards, and even without his mental power. Balta and Riona were both tyrannical dictators at their best, moving from planet to planet, defying anything that got in their way. The humanoid wasn’t any different than a Tolarion; the only difference was Riona used the Republic to do his dirty work.
Zarcon wanted no part in it. He was a being of ‘true peace' like his friend Dormiton told him earlier. Unlike his amphibian friend, however, he knew peace would not come without a fight. He summoned the computer for an explanation of what had happened to Belor. The machine responded immediately. “Belor in tact, no life forms indicated,” it answered.
“Explain,” stated Zarcon.
“Sensors indicate no life readings, other than microscopic life forms.”
“Is the planet emitting any radioactivity or electromagnetic impulses?”
“Affirmative, radioactivity is at extremely high level.”
Obviously, the base on Belor suffered some kind of attack. The
planet was there, all right, but the dome city and force field were destroyed by an explosion, probably from the death ray itself. He hoped the ray gun was destroyed as well, but had a feeling that Riona was somehow behind this. He decided as a last alternative he would find Jeff using the ship’s computer.
“Are there any homo sapiens life forms on this planet?” he asked.
“Affirmative. Sensors indicate one homo-sapien life form located three point nine miles from this craft.”
“Is it living?”
“Affirmative. Sensors indicate breathing pattern irregular, loss of blood, structural damage in bone in lower right leg, structural damage in bone in left arm.”
It was clear to Zarcon Jeff was injured, and possibly dying and hiding. He decided in the morning they would abandon the ship and set out together to find him. If they destroyed the ship at least they could find a place to hide until Riona left. He noticed a faint reading on his scanners coming from beyond their current star system. He guessed that Riona discovered their whereabouts, and was on his way to Zebula. It would take him at least a day to reach them, which gave them little time to fin
d their friend and escape. Zarcon had finished the jamming device in time, and he tried to get some sleep, but it wasn’t easy. He lay awake, and thought what to do about Jeff.
“I shouldn’t have let him go alone,’ he thought. Then he thought that wouldn’t have mattered anyway, Jeff being as determined as he was. While pondering the situation, he heard scratching at the door. He peered out the viewing screen, and saw the torches had gone out. This led him to believe their visitors knocked them over and were proceeding to claw their way in. He grabbed his laser gun quick as one began to pound on the door. Another beast through his weight into it, and the lingworts awoke. “What are we going to do,” yelled Dormiton, as a hand reached in, prying the door open at its crack.
Zarcon fired his laser at the hand, burning it severely. The creature screamed in pain as another hand reached its way through, and began to pry the door again. Zarcon fired again, hitting the creature square in the chest. “Open the main door hatch,” he yelled in haste, as the lingworts looked at him as if he was insane. Dormiton tried, but it was jammed.
“It’s jammed!” he yelled, as another creature reached in and grabbed Zarcon’s leg.
“Help me!” he yelled to his friends, who each grabbed a laser.
Dormiton fired, and hit the creature in the arm. The blast of the laser threw him clear across the ship and against the wall. Zarcon stumbled to his feet, as his leg bled from the claws which ripped into him. Another reptile threw his entire body weight against the door, denting it. Zarcon limped to the door, stuck the laser gun through the crack, and fired erratically in all different directions. They heard the screams grow louder and then three minutes later there wasn’t a sound.
“Are they gone?” Dormtion asked, as he lifted himself off the floor.
“For the moment,” Zarcon said as he examined the damage to the door. “We’ll have to stay alert, however. They probably will come back, once they’re no longer fearful of us. I can’t understand why none of the explosives worked.”
Dimension Lapse (Dimension Lapse Series Book 1) Page 8