Through the Never

by J. A. Culican

  “Are you seeing this?” I screamed into my mic as the gun died down.

  “We’ll get them. Get ready.” The shuttle lurched as it changed direction. Cern brought the shuttle directly between the oncoming creatures and the Endurance, swinging it sideways. I held down the trigger and the gun sprung to life again. This time I was prepared for the kick.

  As quickly as I cut down one creature, three more took its place. They flooded underneath the shuttle, surging toward the Endurance. Other shuttles raced through the sky, trying desperately to stay ahead of the creatures.

  “Swing me around again!” I screamed.

  As the shuttle turned to give me a view of the ship, my heart leaped into my throat. The creatures had already covered the distance between the Endurance and us. They slammed against the door, screaming in frustration.

  “Shoot!” screamed Cern, snapping me out of my shock. As the bullets pounded against the side of the ship, the creatures scattered into the shadows. Some scaled the side of the ship, their claws leaving long gouges as they scurried up.

  Picking my targets, I focused on one creature at a time. As it fell, I found a new target.

  One of the creatures scurried through the grass, zipping between its fallen brethren and making straight for our shuttle. The bullets threw up clods of dirt in its wake as I tried to aim for the fast creature.

  “Laure! The door!” Cern shouted through the mic. My gaze snapped up from the creature and back to the ship. The monsters were ripping at the large bay doors, their claws shredding off bits of metal with each swipe.

  Bullets tore through the dark, slamming into the ship. As the creatures were struck, they fell from the ship, piling up on the ground.

  There was a hole.

  It wasn’t large. Yet. Not large enough for the creatures to get through, but it was there. If I couldn’t keep the rest of them off the ship, they would get in eventually.

  Everything was happening too fast as I wrenched the heavy gun back and forth across the ship. The monsters scattered in the wake of the bullets, running farther up the ship’s hull or dropping to the ground and sprinting into the night.

  Suddenly, the shuttle rocked. I lost my hold on the gun and crashed to the floor. A large paw reached up through the door, three claws as big as knives digging into the floor. The creature pulled itself up. Its large triangular-shaped head filled the shuttle’s open doorway. Its face was cover in smooth, shiny mauve skin. Eyes as black as the depths of space stared intently at me. Its mouth opened as it growled, revealing sharp teeth as long as my hand. The shuttle tilted and swerved under the creature’s weight.

  The creature roared, its cry echoing through the ship. Even through the headset over my ears, it made my head pound. I could hear Cern yelling at me through the mic, but I couldn’t hear the words over the sound of my own heart and the fear that clogged my brain.

  As the creature swiped at me, I pressed myself against the wall, its claws passing by so close I could feel the air move over my skin.

  The shuttle dipped and swerved again as Cern desperately tried to keep it in the air. I had to do something. If I didn’t, the creature was going to bring the shuttle down.

  Without thinking, I let go of the railing. I slid across the floor toward the open doors, toward the snarling monster. At the last second, I grabbed ahold the gun turret. My feet slid out from under me and I landed hard on the floor.

  The creature was close. Too close. I could feel the heat of its breath as it roared again. Mustering all the strength I could manage, I screamed back at it, letting out a long powerful roar of my own. The creature blinked, tilting its head to the side in confusion.

  In that moment, I hauled myself up. The creature reared back, a seam splitting down the center of its chest. The seam ripped apart revealing a large black orb. The orb pulsed and moved like a liquid. Long black cables snaked out of the orb.

  One of the cables reared up and struck out at me. Pain flared in my neck, like lightning traveling up and down my spine. As darkness crept into the edges of my vision, the other cables struck. The stinging pain flared in my arms, legs, hands, and back. Like millions of needles striking all across my body at once.

  Suddenly, I wasn’t afraid. I could feel my body relax. I wasn’t afraid of the monster anymore. The blackness overwhelmed my vision, and I let myself fall into the abyss and away from the pain.

  The cables gently picked me up and pulled me into the creature. The orb began to churn and pulse, matching the thrum of my heart. As I was pulled into the orb, warmth washed over me.

  This was it…

  Chapter 4

  My eyes fluttered open. I lay in the dirt. The wreckage of the Endurance rose up in front of me. Movement in the dark sent my heart racing. All at once, the sounds of the battle rushed back to my ears. The sounds of the shuttles’ engines overhead. The resounding report of the rail guns. Screams. Roars.

  I tried to push myself up. Instead, I fell face first to the ground again, my arms useless. My whole body ached. More than that, it felt strange.

  What happened? The deep, growling voice echoed around me. I tried to jump and felt my body flop uselessly back down. My eyes darted around for the speaker, but I could not see him.

  As I opened my mouth to speak, a whimper came out. My breath came faster and faster. My body didn’t feel like my own. It didn’t feel right. What was wrong with it? My heart thundered in my ears, but beneath my own heartbeat I could hear another. Slowly, the two beats merged until they raced together, one indistinguishable from the other.

  It’s alright, the same voice said. This time it was clearer. I’ll protect you. A wave of calm washed over me.

  Where are you? I still looked around.

  Here. With you. The panic began to well again. What did that mean? Suddenly, I moved though I had not tried to. I was standing, but it didn’t feel right.

  Look down, the voice commanded.

  I did. My body was gone. Instead, I looked down to feet that were not my own. Legs covered in soft, shiny mauve skin that ended in paws with dagger-like claws. The panic surged up like a tidal wave.

  Where am I? I screamed, a fierce roar coming from my throat as I thought the words. Where is my body?

  I-I-I, the calm voice faltered. I don’t know, but you are here with me now. We are together. Can’t you feel it?

  I wasn’t alone. I could feel the creature there with me. Whispering through my mind. I could feel his strength. The creature shook, shaking dirt and dust off. I could feel the movement as though it were my own.

  How did this happen? I asked.

  The creature shook its head. I don’t know. Something like this has never happened before. One of the monsters stopped mid-stride in the field, staring directly at me…us.

  Run! I screamed.

  I could feel the creature begin to panic with me. Don’t worry. The creature tried to remain calm. Remember we are one. You look like me. I look like them.

  I nodded, feeling the beast’s head move as I did. Suddenly, the approaching monster snarled and broke into a sprint, aiming straight for us.

  Stand your ground, the creature growl. We have to stand our ground. The strongest are respected.

  I could feel my heart racing, but I set myself, staring straight at the monster. But the monster didn’t back down. It didn’t stop. Instead, it slammed full force into us. Its claws digging painfully into our flesh.

  Suddenly, I felt as if I were sinking. Being entirely enveloped. I could feel every twitch of the creature’s body as if it was my own. It felt like my own. I roared, loud and defiant. Our claws raked down the creature’s shoulder. The creature screamed and leaped back. We scrambled back too, slashing out again but only getting air.

  More of the monsters were coming to the fray.

  I don’t understand. The creature’s voice was fearful. They aren’t submitting.

  Then, we will make them submit. I was surprised by the ferocity in my own voice. I will not die.

  Ou
r tail whipped back and forth with a quick flick, the boney sharpened end threatening the other monsters. As one darted in our tail lashed out, piercing the monster’s hind leg. The creature screamed, cowering to the ground. While our attention was diverted, another lunged in, its claws raking down our side. We howled. Rage and pain, blending into one primal scream. We lashed out at another monster as it lunged forward, catching it on the side of its triangular head and sending it rolling to the ground.

  There’s too many. I could sense confusion. We can’t take on the whole pack.

  Where will we go? Will they follow us? The creature hissed and lashed out as another monster approached, warier than the others.

  I-I don’t know. Two of the monsters launched in from either side. We managed to dodge one as the other slammed into them, pinning them to the ground.

  Noooooo! I howled, teeth snapping viciously at the creature’s throat. I could taste the coppery blood as we found its tender neck. The monster squealed in sudden panic. The others around us screamed.

  Now! We released the dying beast and leaped up, sprinting through the darkness and across the plains. My heart raced as we ran blindly into the darkness.

  The wind whipped at our skin, the grass crunching under our feet. I took a deep breath of the air. It smelled so different. Like nothing I had ever smelled before. Dirt and dead leaves and rain. I sucked in another deep breath.

  A sense of confusion interrupted my discovery.

  Where did you come from? the creature asked tentatively. We slowed a bit, looking back to make sure they hadn’t been followed.

  My people came from Earth, if that’s what you’re asking.

  Earth? What’s that?

  It’s another planet that’s very far away. I explained. I honestly don’t know if it’s there anymore.

  I thought about the old news broadcasts from when the aliens had invaded Earth. The destruction. The death. The camps where the aliens held their human prisoners. The slaves the humans had become. The guerilla warriors who tried to fight back. The fighters who failed to reclaim their planet.

  Stop! The creature’s voice boomed so loudly in my brain it hurt. The creature softened. I could feel its presence wrap around me like a warm and protective cocoon. Slow down, it purred. What happened to your people?

  I sighed, trying to organize my thoughts so I wouldn’t overwhelm the creature. We met our creators. They were this ancient race of aliens called the Bipahits. They told us that we were not worthy. Even the thought made my heart feel heavy. That we were a…failure and that they would start over. They exterminated us. A few of us were lucky. Our ancestors were able to keep one spaceship secret. When it was ready, they sent our ancestors into space to escape the extermination. We have been running ever since.

  Don’t worry, it purred. I won’t let them get you. I let the creature’s consciousness envelop me and chase away the monsters of the past.

  Do you have a name? I asked, realizing I shouldn’t just keep calling it creature.

  Name? the creature asked curiously.

  Yeah. Like what others call you.

  I have never been called anything. Why would I be? the creature responded matter-of-factly. We just all Chroin.

  What? I laughed. Everyone has a name. How did the other Chroin address you?

  They didn’t. The creature paused, its head tilting thoughtfully to the side. Do you have a name?

  Laure.

  Laure. The creature thought about it. That’s nice.

  What should I call you? I asked.

  The creature shifted, rumbling softly as it thought. What do you think I should be called?

  Kuna.

  The creature let out a pleased rumble again as I said its name. I like the sound of that, it whispered.

  What has happened to us? I finally asked the question that had been burning through my mind.

  I’m not quite sure. The creature confided. When I saw you, I got this overwhelming urge to…connect. The statement sounded more like a question.

  Can we disconnect? I could feel the creature’s hurt. I just…this is a lot. My home just crashed. My species is in peril. My friends might be dead. We might have a planet after hundreds of years of searching. And I’m inside an alien creature’s body, connected to it through some…telepathic link. I just want to have my body back for a minute.

  My vision began to blur. For a moment, everything was too much. I could see through my own eyes and through Kuna’s eyes, making my vision overlap disorientingly. Everything was too bright. I saw my body being placed on the ground, black cables attached to my neck, back, arms, and legs. I both stared up at Kuna and looked down on myself.

  The world suddenly shifted. The double vision was gone in an instant as my world snapped back into place. I bent over and vomited into the dirt, my stomach rebelling against the onslaught of new sensations.

  Are you alright? The creature took a step closer, crouching down to me.

  I coughed and spat the last of the bile onto the ground. “I’m fine. Like I said. It’s just a lot of adjustment.”

  Slowly, I pushed myself up from the ground, stretching my arms and legs. My body felt odd. It felt too small. Too fragile. As I stretched, holes in my suit caught my eye. On the insides of my elbows. Behind my knees. My hands bore holes in the backs. The wounds were clean and bloodless, though they ached. I felt along the back of my neck, wincing as my fingers found the hole there too.

  The horizon was already lightening. I hadn’t realized that so much time had passed. The battle had seemed to happen so quickly, and it didn’t seem like we should be nearing dawn already.

  “What time is it?” I asked absently.

  Time? Kuna’s head turned to the side quizzically.

  “How far into the night are we? Is the sun coming up soon?” I looked out on the horizon. How long had we been out? A few minutes? A few hours?

  We weren’t unconscious for long. Kuna lay down next to me, resting his head on his front paws. Sunup won’t happen for a while.

  I frowned. “But it’s so light out.” The sky wasn’t incredibly bright, but it was starting to lighten. As I looked around, I realized the entire sky, not just the horizon, was lighter. I could see the plains better. I could make out the grass waving lazily in the breeze. I could see the trees that broke up the plains flatness, even ones far off in the distance.

  “I can see better.” I breathed, my eyes darting across the landscape and taking in the new details of the night.

  Couldn’t you see well at night before?

  “Not like this. This is almost like daylight. Everything is so bright.”

  How did you survive the night if you couldn’t see the dangers? Kuna asked quizzically.

  “We didn’t have anything to fear, really. Not until the aliens came, at least.” I plopped down next to Kuna, leaning against his massive shoulder. His skin was as soft as it looked. It felt like silk against my cheek. “Do you have a lot to fear at night?”

  There are always threats waiting in the dark, Kuna responded. We have to be vigilant. Though I wanted to argue with it, I couldn’t. The aliens had come to Earth from the dark depths of space. The monsters had come out of the night. Perhaps humans were just ill equipped.

  I ran my hand along the Kuna’s shoulder, feeling his silky skin. Though the skin was soft, the muscles underneath were hard and wiry.

  I frowned and looked at my hand again. I had noticed it before and had assumed it was just the odd lighting cast by the coming sunrise. My hands didn’t look right. In a sudden frenzy, I yanked at the straps to my vest, ripping them off. I unzipped the protective armored shirt underneath, silently cursing the layers of clothing. I tossed the vest and shirt into the grass and stared down at my skin.

  It was different.

  My finger’s flitted across the pale mauve skin that covered my arms. It was subtle, the mauve showing through from underneath my own skin, but it was there. It was the same mauve as the Kuna’s skin. There was no denying it.
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  “What has changed?” I asked Kuna, feeling the features of my face to make sure they were the same.

  Kuna regarded me for a moment, bringing his massive head closer to me.

  Your fur is different too. He snuffled my head a bit, blowing my hair around. I ripped her hair from its ponytail and pulled the short tresses in front of my eyes. Sure enough, my hair was a vibrant violet as well.

  My breath came in short gasps. I had changed. Though the changes were only cosmetic, I wondered what other changes had occurred that I hadn’t discovered yet.

  I like your new look, Kuna said with amusement. You look a lot more interesting now. You were pretty plain before.

  “Plain?” My brain spun.

  Yeah, your species isn’t very colorful. How can you ever expect to find a mate looking so drab?

  “A mate?” I sputtered. A mate. Cern. My heart ached. He had been in the shuttle when I had been yanked from it. What had happened to him? We had been so busy planetside that we hadn’t had a chance to talk…

  “We need to go back?” I jumped up, suddenly frantic.

  The wild ones will kill us, Kuna said. I knew it was true. The other monsters—the wild ones, as Kuna had called them—had turned on us. There had been so many and we hadn’t been able to fend them off before.

  “We have to go back,” I insisted. I knew it was stupid, but I had to find Cern. “There are people back there that I care about. We have to find them. We have to make sure they are alright. What we left back there is all that is left of my race. If the monsters—”

  Chroin, Kuna interjected. We are called the Chroin, even the wild ones. Though I can see why you might think we are monsters.

  “If the wild ones kill them, then my race will perish. Forever.” I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I wasn’t sure what I would find back at the crash. Would there even be anyone left?

  Kuna sighed. Then we will protect your people until our dying breath. He nuzzled me comfortingly.