Through the Never

by J. A. Culican

  “Trying to help!” one of the men scoffed. “How is an alien like you trying to help?”

  “I am not an alien.” I ground my teeth together. “I am a human. Just like you.”

  The men laughed. “You were human.”

  I took a deep breath and looked around. “How about this. Why don’t I get the laser cutter for you? Then you can get back to your doors and I can get back to my job.”

  When the colonist didn’t respond, I pulled the key ring out of my jacket pocket and moved toward the locker. The sound of the tow straps snapping taut made me flinch.

  Don’t go far, Kuna growled. I turned to see him straining against the straps. For a moment, I considered unlatching the harness. I quickly dismissed the thought. Kuna might push them over the edge into a full confrontation.

  As I approached the locker, quick footsteps behind me made me whirl around. The colonist had followed close to the wall, their eyes locked on Kuna as they darted past. As much as I didn’t want them near me, the laser cutter would need at least two people to lift it and I couldn’t carry it to them all by myself.

  “That beast is rabid. Someone should put him down,” one of the men muttered.

  “Or maybe he just knows when people don’t like him,” I shot back. “He wants to help us and the only thing he’s received for his efforts is hate.”

  “He’s an alien. The only thing they are going to do is wipe the rest of us out. His kind attacked us last night.”

  I jammed the key into the lock angrily. “They did, but there is a difference,” I managed through clenched teeth.

  “Listen to you. The damn thing brainwashed you!” another man accused.

  “I haven’t been brainwashed.” Even as I rounded on the man I wasn’t entirely sure my words were true. Could I have been brainwashed? Was I just Kuna’s puppet? “I am not an alien, but I happen to be able to understand them now. There is a difference between that one”—I pointed a finger at Kuna—“and the ones that attacked us last night.”

  “They are trying to kill us! Look at him! He’s trying to get to us right now!” the man shouted angrily, gesturing to Kuna. “He should be put down!”

  “If you even touch him, I will put you down,” I snarled.

  “Are you siding with an alien?” the man asked, taking a step forward.

  I stared at him defiantly. “Against you? Yes.”

  Without warning, the man swung his fist up, slamming it into the side of my face. My world shifted and went fuzzy as I fell to my knees. Kuna let out a long, deafening roar that rattled the room. As his cry died down, I could hear my own voice rising to answer his. The men stared back at me in horror and shock.

  Suddenly, they all lunged for me. I swung wildly, my fists and feet connecting with flesh. A chin. A stomach. A knee. But there were too many of them.

  A hand grabbed my arm before I could follow through with another swing. Another arm locked around my throat, cutting off my air.

  Laure! To my ears, Kuna’s cry came out as another thunderous roar. Over the scuffling of the fight, I could hear his claws scratching at the floor as he desperately dragged the immobile vehicle forward with him.

  I wedged my chin under the arm around my neck and clamped down with my teeth. The man let out a shrill shriek of pain, his arm loosening just enough for me to wriggle free.

  I kicked out, my foot connecting squarely with his knee. He went down, clutching his wounds, but the others leaped forward again.

  One of the men launched himself forward, tackling me to the ground. I managed to knee the man in the gut, but he quickly pinned me to the floor. I screamed out in frustration and fear. The man’s face was contorted in a vicious snarl as he looked down at me.

  One of the other men pulled his foot back, ready to deliver a hard kick to my ribs. In a flash, Kuna’s paw swiped the man right off his feet, sending him tumbling across the floor. With another swift slash, Kuna knocked away the man holding me down. The man gasped and spluttered as Kuna brought his paw down again. The man was pinned to the floor, Kuna’s long claws arching over his shoulder. With one last pull, Kuna dragged himself forward the last few feet, the vehicle’s tires squealing as they dragged across the floor. Kuna leaned in close, roaring in the man’s face.

  “Stop!” I was barely able to choke out the word. The other men had frozen in place as I pulled myself to my feet.

  He hurt you. Kuna’s voice snarled in my mind. He was going to kill you.

  Thunderous footsteps echoed through the hangar and I jumped closer to Kuna, desperate for his protection.

  Dozens of colonists flooded in through the open bay doors. The colonists pulled up short as they laid eyes on Kuna and quickly put their rifles up.

  “No! No! No!” I jumped between Kuna and the guns, unsure if my presence would make a difference. “Don’t shoot! Kuna let him go! Get back!” I shouted desperately.

  I chanced a glance back at Kuna. He still held the man down. “Now!” I barked. Slowly Kuna pulled his paw away, taking a few steps back and sitting back on his haunches.

  “That girl is dangerous!” one of the men yelled. “She and that monster tried to kill us.”

  “Bullshit!” I screamed as I spun on him. “You attacked us! If you had just let us do our job, this wouldn’t have happened.”

  “Stop it!” A stern voice cut through the argument. “Both of you!” Lieutenant Commander Parsons pushed his way to the front of the crowd. When the commander walked over the man on the floor and knelt down next to him, my heart sank.

  I need you to run. I was whispering internally, even though no one else could hear my thoughts.

  Never, Kuna growled.

  Listen to me. I slowly moved closer to Kuna until I was leaning against him. The commander won’t allow me to be hurt, but I don’t know if the same is true for you. I need you to run. Please.

  You were hurt already. Kuna was silent for a long moment. Finally, he said, I’ll go, but at the first sign that you’re in danger, I’ll come back and then I won’t stand down.

  Alright.

  My hand slowly inched across my waist to the hand-held cutter clipped to my belt. The mini laser couldn’t cut through a door, but it would make short work of the harness straps. My eyes flitted across the harness. I would only have one chance. One cut. I had to make it count.

  The commander patted the injured man on the shoulder and motioned for a pair of medics to take him away. With that, the commander stood and turned to me. He took a few steps forward but did not come close enough for the intimate discussion like he had with my attackers.

  “They said that…Kuna was acting aggressively toward them. They were frightened for themselves and others.”

  “That is an outright lie!” I shouted.

  “Until we can figure out more, I think the best course of action,” the commander said, holding his hands up in a placating gesture, “is to separate you from the other colonists.”

  “Separate me? How?”

  The commander shook his head. “We can find you accommodations. That way others won’t feel threatened by you and you won’t feel threatened by others.”

  “Ok, I’ll go with you. And peacefully,” I said. “But only if you let Kuna walk away. He’ll stay away from the ship and the colonists.”

  The commander thought for another moment, then turned to the colonist behind him. “Move out of the way. Let the beast through.”

  I pulled the laser cutter from my pocket and clicked it on, the beam of white-hot energy sprouting from the top.

  Walk slowly. Don’t look at them. Just walk out. I pulled the harness away from Kuna’s skin before cutting it.

  Be safe. Kuna nuzzled my head as I ran my hand along his flank. If they try to hurt you, I will come.

  I gave him one last pat and he moved toward the door. The colonists had moved to either side of the room, giving him a wide berth. As he passed by, a few guns raised and my chest tightened as I waited for the shots to be fired. Once outside the doors,
Kuna turned back to me one last time before sprinting off across the prairie.

  Chapter 6

  “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  I had been sitting in a small room all day. A few people had come to talk to me, mostly commanders from different cycles. They had asked me questions about the Chroin. Mostly questions that I didn’t have the answers to. When I couldn’t give them answers, they assumed I was being difficult.

  “I wanted to see how you were doing.” Cern leaned against the wall by the door, his arms crossed in front of his chest. He was trying to look relaxed, but I could see the way he tensed when I looked at him.

  “What does it matter to you?” I asked vehemently. “I’m an alien. Why should you care?”

  “I’m trying to care—”

  I cut him off will a wave of my hand. “If it’s that hard to try, then don’t bother.”

  “This isn’t exactly charted territory, Laure.”

  I caught sight of my reflection in a small mirror on the wall. It was disturbing to know that it was my own. That the black eyes nestled in a face of mauve-tinged skin surrounded by violet hair was mine. I could see why the others were disturbed by my appearance. I was disturbed by my appearance, but it didn’t make it hurt less. “Do you really want to know how I’m doing?” I whipped around and leveled my gaze at him.

  Reluctantly, Cern nodded.

  “Awful,” I said. “In the last twenty-four hours, I have lost everything.”

  “We have all lost a lot,” Cern agreed.

  “No, not like me. We lost a home together. We started a journey together. But you abandoned me. When I needed you most, you turned your back on me. You and everyone else I know.” I pulled at the collar of my shirt, revealing the bruising around my neck. “I was attacked and yet here I sit.” I gestured around the room. “I am the prisoner while those who attacked me are still walking around.”

  “It’s just not that simple.” Cern shook his head. “And I’m sorry.”

  “Where were you when I needed you?” I screamed, all of the anger suddenly boiling over. “Where were you when I was afraid? When I came back confused and scared? When I needed someone to tell me that everything would be alright?”

  Cern looked down at the floor.

  I huffed and turned my back on him.

  Cern sighed heavily. “You just have to give people some time to adjust. They’ll come around.”

  “Will you come around?” I rounded on him again, and I didn’t miss how he flinched at my quick movement.

  “I don’t know,” he said slowly. “They are only keeping you here for your own protection, Laure. People are afraid. The commanders are trying to keep you and everyone else safe.”

  I let out a harsh laugh. “If you won’t come around, how can I hope that anyone else will?”

  Cern shook his head. “Listen, I have to get going. Guard duty starts soon.” He pushed himself off the wall. I sat in silence, my heart torn. I didn’t want him to go, but I never wanted to see him again either.

  Small pops reverberated through the walls and I spun to face the window. “What was that?”

  Cern’s eyes were wide as he shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  More of the pops filled the air and I could hear the steady hum of the shuttles’ engines. “They’re back, aren’t they?”

  Cern shook his head. “I have to go.” With that, he threw open the door and ran off down the hall.

  Kuna? I reached out, probing the world with my mind.

  Yes?

  What’s happening outside? I hear gunfire. I felt more relieved than I cared to admit when Kuna responded quickly. I had been isolated from my people, but I would never be alone.

  The wild have returned. There are many more of them this time. Kuna’s voice sounded hollow.

  More? My mouth suddenly felt dry and my stomach dropped. How many more?

  I don’t know, Kuna replied.

  Where are you? I asked hurriedly, panic taking hold of me as I scrambled to gather my few possessions from the small room.

  I’m watching the ship from a distance, Kuna replied.

  Come and get me now. We have to help. I stepped up to the door and twisted the knob. It was unlocked. I had been “highly advised” not the leave the room. It was implied that there would be consequences if I did.

  Why? These people don’t like us, Kuna asked. Despite his argumentative words, I could feel him moving closer.

  Because... I thought for a moment as I peeked out into the hallway. Empty. These are my people. Whether they want me to be or not. If we didn’t help them, then we truly would be the monsters they think we are.

  I’ll meet you outside the ship. Don’t stray far. Kuna’s voice was strained.

  I felt the ship shudder beneath my feet. The whine of the rail gun had never gone away. My feet pounded against the floor in time with my racing heart.

  “Hey!” I rushed past someone in the hall. It didn’t matter if they saw me. Everyone would know I was missing from my room soon enough.

  I reached a side hatch. The door was meant to allow access to the ship’s hull for maintenance in space, not as an actual entry and exit. It was small, more like a regular door than the giant bay doors. I grabbed the lever and wrenched it with all my might. With a faint pop, the pressure released and the door swung outward.

  Sound exploded around me as I stepped outside. The screams of the Chroin. The steady rattle of the rail guns. The hum of the shuttles’ engines. Shouts. Cries.

  I pressed myself against the ship and glanced around for Kuna. The Chroin were everywhere. They swarmed over the ship and dashed across the prairie. One stopped midstride, taking notice of me.

  Kuna! I spun to run alongside the ship as the beast darted toward me. There was no way I could outrun it.

  Kuna!

  A scream split the air, quickly followed by a hard thud as Kuna slammed into the other Chroin. They tumbled to the ground in a mass of claws and teeth. Kuna quickly pinned the beast to the ground, tearing at its throat. Instantly, he turned to me, his chest opening up and the cables reaching for me. Without thinking, I sprinted toward him and safety.

  The transition was faster this time. After closing my eyes and taking a deep breath for a second, I was looking through Kuna’s eyes.

  What do we do? he asked, his head whipping back and forth.

  There was so much going on. The shuttles were circling overhead, as the rail guns fired upon the Chroin below. The Chroin were climbing over the ship, testing to find weak spots that they could rip open.

  Protect the bay doors. If they tear those down, they will be able to get inside the ship. We won’t be able to stop them if they get inside. Together we lunged forward, sprinting to the large doors, where half a dozen Chroin clawed at the seam in the metal.

  We didn’t slow as we approached. Instead, we slammed into one of the beasts, sending it tumbling across the dirt. We swiped at another wild as it lunged in, our claws racking down its side.

  Together we let out a long, deafening roar.

  Seven of the wild stalked around us as the others scattered into the darkness. The first one lunged in, swiping at our chest. I could feel the air move across Kuna’s skin, my skin, as the claws barely missed. Another Chroin launched itself with a yawl, landing on our back. Its claws dug in as it held on. With a quick shake, we threw the creature to the ground, its claws tearing skin as it fell. Before it could recover, we pounced, ripping open its belly with our teeth.

  Without waiting, we vaulted forward, swiping at another wild and forcing it back. One of the wild took a few timid steps forward before we spun on it, our claws catching across its face.

  We cried out again. Another long, vicious roar. A cry of defiance. A few of the smaller Chroin turned and ran.

  Three remained. Their eyes locked on us. Their muscles tensed as they stalked back and forth looking for any sign of weakness.

  Our lips peeled back from our teeth, revealing the razor-sharp fangs. />
  Suddenly, the wilds’ postures relaxed. We tensed, anticipating a faint. Instead, the Chroin turned and ran.

  What’s happening? I asked and looked out over the prairie to see the rest of the wild retreating as well.

  They’re regrouping, Kuna said. The rail guns on the shuttles fell silent and the wild raced back into the darkness. I kept one eye on the shuttles, though. There was no way the shuttle pilots could tell the difference between Kuna and me and the other Chroin. Nor would they care.

  Just as a few of the closest shuttles turned toward us, a sound reached our ears. Our head swung around wildly, looking for the source. The tatta-tat-tat growing more frequent with each second.

  There! Kuna looked up at the top of the ship. The first few wild crested the height of the ship, their claws skittering and digging into the metal. The creatures raced down the ship’s side in leaps and bounds.

  The first launched itself into the air. Its claws raked down the side of one of the shuttles, leaving behind long shiny scratches before the creature fell to the ground. The Chroin twisted in midair, tumbling and landing on the ground relatively unscathed.

  More of the creatures were launching themselves at the shuttles. Their bodies slammed into the shuttles as the pilots struggled to keep them up in the air.

  We have to stop them. Without the shuttles, the Endurance will be all but defenseless. I had barely thought the words before Kuna launched himself onto the ship’s side and began scaling the hull. Our claws dug into the metal with each step.

  We swiped at a Chroin as it passed by. The creature managed to dodge, but lost its footing and slid down the side of the ship. We slashed at another, our paw connecting with the creature and sending it tumbling to the ground. For every creature we tripped, several more made it past.

  This isn’t working, I thought in frustration. There are too many.

  A wild launched itself from the ship and slammed into one of the shuttles. The pilot desperately tried to keep the small craft in the air, but the ship dipped and slammed into the ground.

  My heart sank. One shuttle was down. Another shuttle was swerving around wildly under the weight of a Chroin that had managed to hold on. All around, the rail guns were falling silent. Without the fire, more of the wild were making it across the ship and adding their might to the onslaught.