Fractured Earth Saga 1: Apocalypse Orphan

by Tim Allen

  Wolf walked around the satellite, examining the damage it had sustained. He glanced up as Syn walked in from the next room wearing a French maid’s outfit and carrying a glass of water. With a pleasant smile, she handed him the glass and asked, “Will there be anything else, Commander?”

  Wolf eyed Syn’s long legs, raised his eyes to look her in the face, and hoarsely answered, “No.”

  Syn turned and walked away, her hips swaying provocatively. She stopped at the door and glanced back at Wolf with a flirtatious smile. “Do you need my help with the satellite?”

  Wolf shook his head and tried to turn away from her, but his body resisted. He felt like a piece of steel twisting slowly in a fire. As he heard the door click shut, he muttered, “She’s going to drive me crazy.”

  * * *

  It took eighteen hours to repair the Russian satellite. Wolf worked on it nonstop and then redeployed it. Syn’s new power source was a small, remolded plutonium module taken from the maintenance bay. Its power would drastically increase the old satellite’s broadcasting capability. Wolf dubbed the satellite Laika after the Soviet space dog, the first animal to orbit the earth. It performed flawlessly and began broadcasting long-range radio waves, repeating the message, “Is anyone out there?”

  Wolf cleaned himself up and grabbed a quick bite to eat. He decided to rest for a short time and instead slept for hours. When he awoke, he went to check on Nala. It had been three days since her surgery. As he entered the medical lab, Syn was bent over the bed, checking the woman’s vitals. Her candy striper’s uniform seemed much shorter than he remembered it being before, and it exposed her posterior to Wolf’s view. More startling was the fact that Syn was wearing a pink thong he assumed was copied from a skimpy outfit in an adult novelty shop on ancient Earth.

  Syn stood up straight and Wolf saw that her outfit was white with light pink stripes and a waist-tight, snug-fitting camisole that emphasized her breasts and enhanced her perfect physique. It was tied under her breasts seductively. Her arms were bare, but the outfit covered her shoulders with small lace ruffles at the top that ran over her shoulders, exposing a considerable amount of cleavage. The skirt had a white apron trimmed with pink lace, and it stopped just at her upper thighs. Her legs were clad in white, mid-thigh-length sheer stockings with a white bow at the top of each thigh. She wore stiletto shoes that made her calves and thighs look irresistible. Wolf stared at her in silence for a full minute and then asked, “Is there any change?”

  Syn gave Wolf a seductive smile. “No. I am keeping her sedated, Commander. I didn’t think it would be wise to have her wake up in space. Are we ready to land?” Aware of Wolf’s frozen stare, she said, “Commander? Wolf? Are you all right?”

  Wolf closed his mouth and forced his eyes from Syn’s body to her face. In a hoarse voice, he said, “Prepare the ship, Syn. We need to land. I’ll be in the shower.” He turned and left the room. Several minutes later, he entered the shower fully clothed and said out loud, “I wonder if Syn knows what she is doing.”

  * * *

  Three days later, Nala woke up. She looked around the unfamiliar room, gawking at the alien items as lights blinked from the walls and sounds of chimes, clicks, and ticks bombarded her, making her whip her head around in apprehension. Then, an oddly dressed woman entered the room. Nala’s mouth dropped open as Syn said, “Good morning, Nala. I’m Syn. Wolf asked me to look after you while he went hunting.”

  Nala forced a timid smile and asked, “Where…where am I?”

  Syn placed a hand on the woman’s forehead. She didn’t need to do this since her infrared detectors told her Nala had a slight fever, but it was not a cause for concern at present.

  “You are on Wolf’s boat. You were seriously injured in the storm, and he brought you here to care for you.”

  “What did you do to me?” Nala asked. She looked down at her body dressed in the gown and then stared at the small incision in her abdomen.

  “How much do you know about the human body?”

  “Very little, I’m afraid.”

  “Well, Nala, inside your body is an organ that cleans your blood. Yours was damaged severely. I repaired it. It will be several more days before you can return to your home. Do you understand?”

  “Yes. May I have something to eat, please?”

  Syn nodded as she finished checking the woman’s wounds. Then, she left the room. She returned a few minutes later carrying a plate of food and dressed in a chef’s outfit.

  Nala looked at her with a frown and asked, “Weren’t you wearing something else?”

  “I spilled some food on myself,” Chef Syn assured her with a human-sounding laugh.

  Nala relaxed and said, “You are beautiful.”

  “Thank you, Nala. You are beautiful as well.”

  Chef Syn sat by Nala on the bed and said, “Now we have soup with some apple juice. You need to eat it all. Maybe tomorrow we will let you have meat to eat.”

  Nala sipped the broth and drank the apple juice. She looked at the juice curiously and asked, “What is this? It’s delicious.”

  “It is apple juice.”

  “I have never tasted this before.”

  “Are there no apples left on this planet?” Syn wondered aloud. She scanned Earth One searching for apples and found none.

  “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?” Nala asked with a flash of jealousy.

  Syn looked away. “Yes. But there are complications.”

  Nala looked at Syn thoughtfully. Controlling her inexplicable jealousy, she murmured in a wistful voice, “Child, love has no complications. Give it time…it will come. He is worth loving.”

  * * *

  Wolf approached the ship carrying a small animal that resembled a pig. He had seen several of them hanging in Haakon’s larder. He had already skinned the animal and announced, “Syn, deactivate the force field and lower the ramp.” The ramp lowered and Wolf boarded the ship, showing Syn what he had caught.

  “There’s not much game left since the storms. I was careful to hide from Haakon’s neighbors who were foraging for food. Until Nala is strong enough to walk, I don’t want to see them.”

  “No explanations needed, my love,” Syn replied.

  “What did you say?”

  “I said no explanations needed, Wolf. Nala is up and talking. She has been asking about you. Give me that animal. I will prepare it for your dinner. Wash up before you go to her. You smell awful.”

  “I will, Syn.”

  After showering, Wolf put on a NASA jumpsuit and went to the medical unit. Nurse Syn still wore the candy striper outfit. He walked over to Nala and said, “Hi, young lady. You had us scared.”

  “Wolf, I hear I owe my life to you,” Nala said, her face lighting up like the sun.

  “Who told you that? Syn did all the work. She’s the miracle worker. I just carried you here.”

  Nala blushed and turned away from Wolf. “I remember. You washed me. We were both naked. Jesu help me,” Nala cried in a weak voice, ashamed.

  “I did not take advantage of you, Nala. I had to wash our bodies. We were covered with mud. Syn couldn’t operate until I cleaned you up. I only rinsed you and then covered you. Syn cleaned you further after she stabilized you. You are my friend—I would never take advantage of you.”

  “It’s just hard for me to know another man has seen me. I will get over it. Thank you for everything. How long must we remain here before I can return to my family?”

  Wolf gave Syn a questioning look and she replied, “Nala should remain here for at least several more days, Commander.”

  “Then I can go home?” Nala seemed delighted by the prospect of seeing her children.

  “I will carry you home myself,” Wolf promised.

  Nurse Syn had monitored the coloring in Nala’s skin when her face flushed as she reacted with embarrassment. She noted the woman’s tearful reaction and how it had affected Wolf. She plugged the information into her data banks and ran an analysis on th
e other Syn’s skin, changing the color and hue to make it as appealing as Nala’s skin was. Syn’s twin then practiced crying in the seclusion of the science lab, mimicking Nala’s eyes and the tears that streamed from them. She practiced until she mastered the emotion, and then she whispered, “I’ve got you now, my Wolf.”

  Part 4

  The Silver Knight

  Chapter 13

  Over the next three days, Syn and Nala spent hours in deep conversation. Nala’s lovely smile and gentle disposition appealed to Syn, and the two women grew fond of each other. Syn inquired about the things her creator’s mother had never explained to human Cynthia. Her mother had been a domineering, pushy, unloving woman who couldn’t wait to get her daughter into private school and out of her life. Career was the only thing that mattered to her mother, and the lack of love Cynthia experienced as a child remained a depressing constant into adulthood. Syn was not just Dr. Cynthia Mason’s creation but also her confidant.

  “I can’t believe I was so naïve. There is so much to learn.” Syn looked away with a frown, but then gave Nala a smile that lit up the room and added, “At least I can be with Wolf. It will all be worth it!”

  Nala looked at the beautiful woman and again felt inexplicable jealousy. She forced a smile and said, “Love won’t be denied. It is inescapable and unstoppable when it is true.”

  On the fourth day around noon, Syn decided that Nala was strong enough to return to her family. She handed the woman her clothing, which she had washed and repaired, and she helped Nala dress. Then she gave Nala a shot of antibiotics to help her heal and prevent infection of her surgical wound. Syn also injected her with a sedative that put her to sleep.

  A few minutes later, Wolf came to the medical bay and gently lifted Nala into his arms. Syn opened the cargo bay and lowered the ramp. Wolf stepped out, carrying Nala like a small child.

  “Be careful, Wolf. I’ll be waiting for you,” Syn said. Her eyes glistened with tears as she mimicked perfectly the vulnerable emotion she had learned from Nala.

  Wolf frowned and asked, “Are you okay, Syn? I can take her later if you would like.”

  Syn sniffled and wiped her eyes. Then, she gave Wolf a dazzling smile and replied, “No, go on. Nala misses her family, and I’m sure they are worried. I will be all right, Wolf. I have chores you would interfere with anyway.”

  “I’ll be back in a day or two,” Wolf promised, and then he headed off into the forest, carrying Nala in his arms.

  He was a few miles from Haakon’s camp when he looked down at Nala, who was still asleep, and marveled at her beauty. A chill ran through his body. At that moment, Nala opened her eyes and Wolf looked away, ashamed that he found his friend’s wife desirable. She yawned and stretched in Wolf’s strong arms.

  “I drifted off to sleep, and I didn’t get to say goodbye to Syn. How long was I asleep?”

  “Not long, Nala. We will reach your valley in a few minutes. If you feel strong enough, I will let you walk. Remember, for the next week, don’t do any strenuous chores or heavy lifting. The surgery Syn performed can become undone if you aren’t careful. Do you understand?”

  “Yes. Syn already explained it to me. She is a beautiful woman, Wolf. You two make a lovely couple,” Nala said with a shadow of regret in her eyes.

  “There are complications with a relationship between us. Right now, it is impossible.”

  “You sound just like her,” Nala laughed. “I will tell you what I told her—love doesn’t care about complications or reasons not to exist. Nothing is stronger than its power. Love overcomes all obstacles. No army or nation can conquer it. If it is meant to be, it will be.” She looked away, confused by her own words.

  Wolf lowered Nala to her feet and took her hand as she wobbled.

  “Can you walk?”

  “Yes, I was just a little dizzy.”

  Still holding Nala’s hand, Wolf resumed the journey, leading her towards a column of smoke on the horizon. A leisurely fifteen-minute walk placed them at the clearing, where men were cutting wood and building shelters.

  “Haakon!” Nala cried as she caught sight of her husband.

  “No running!” Wolf admonished, putting a hand on her shoulder for a moment and then letting her go.

  Haakon looked up, shading his eyes with a hand, and the other men stared, amazed, as Wolf and Nala approached. Haakon broke into a run, shouting, “Nala! Oh, my Nala, you have returned to me!” He reached to grab her and was about to lift her off her feet when Wolf stepped between them. “Haakon, you must be gentle with her. Nala can be injured if you are too rough right now.”

  Haakon froze, staring at Wolf in disbelief as the giant blocked his path to his wife. He felt an intense, irrational anger flare up at this stranger ordering him around, but he forced a begrudging smile, wiped his dirty hands on his shirt, and carefully embraced his wife, kissing her on the lips. Tears welled in his eyes as his irritation turned to gratitude, and he extended his hand to Wolf.

  “Thank you for saving my wife.” Haakon’s voice choked with emotion. “I am grateful beyond words. All I have shall be yours,” he declared and then frowned at his own words.

  “Haakon, your family showed me kindness. It’s the least I could do.”

  The rest of Haakon’s family gathered around, and after much hugging and laughter, they led Nala to a partially built shelter so she could lie down. She offered to help cook, but after a stern look from Wolf, she sighed and went to rest. Leesa had latched onto Wolf’s arm and was rubbing his chest and shoulders as he tried to disengage from her.

  “Leesa, that’s enough. Let him be for now,” Haakon frowned. Obediently, Leesa let go of Wolf, but she kept her smoldering gaze glued to him throughout the day.

  Thirty-eight survivors from the surrounding area had gathered in Haakon’s camp. After much discussion, they had agreed to build a community here instead of going their separate ways. In the aftermath of the storm, roving bands of looters were attacking hapless villagers, pilfering food and other valuables, and leaving them destitute. Haakon’s neighbors agreed to band together, realizing there was security in numbers.

  The area they had chosen as a settlement was close to water, and the surrounding forest was intact, teeming with wildlife in the aftermath of the storm. Ten men in the group were capable of fighting, including Haakon and his oldest son. The group included six women around Nala’s age; six teenage girls, including Leesa and Brithee; seven children, including Reon; and eight older men and women well past their prime. The construction progress was slow, and the crude tools they used made Wolf want to cry with frustration. He had all the equipment on the ship to make suitable homes for these people—dwellings that might even withstand the gale-force winds of the yearly storms. He weighed the pros and cons of offering meaningful help versus letting them rebuild their haphazard structures, and he decided to rethink the matter after his meeting with the ruling monarch of this devastated land.

  Wolf’s felt a vibration on his wrist and glanced down at his watch, noticing the words Commander, beware! flashing in red. He had been sitting on the ground, talking to a man named Donnel, who stood nearby. Suddenly, the man lurched forward and collapsed on the ground with a five-foot spear impaled in his back. He was dead before he hit the ground. Ragged men poured into the clearing from the woods, howling like crazed animals as they attacked the settlement. The attacking army included men of various races, and the only common bond they appeared to share were the tattered clothes they wore. Haakon’s few men fought bravely, but they were outnumbered four to one. Wolf watched in shock until he heard Leesa scream. One of the attackers had wrestled her to the ground and was ripping off her dress, laughing as he muttered vile threats. Nala came running from the woods, holding Reon in one arm, and the look of fury on her face snapped Wolf from his shocked hesitation. She was charging for the ruffian who had pinned her daughter down, screaming that she would kill him. Several of the older villagers grabbed Nala and restrained her. She fought and kicked to
break free, shouting at them to let her go, and then she turned pleading eyes to Wolf.

  Rage boiled up in Wolf as he jumped to his feet and leapt ten yards in a single bound. He grabbed Leesa’s attacker by the top of his head with one hand, shouting, “Never treat a woman like that!” The ruffian’s head twisted around as Wolf snapped his neck.

  Still holding the man by the top of his head, Wolf flung his lifeless body into a knot of onrushing ruffians, toppling them in a grotesque parody of bowling. He charged into the melee, swinging his fists. Every blow that landed broke bones. The men screamed as Wolf smashed into them. He jumped to Haakon’s aid as a looter tripped him and swung an ax at his neck. Wolf stopped the blade by placing his arm in its path—the ax head made contact with a loud crack and the handle broke. He then landed an uppercut that ripped the man’s head from his shoulders.

  Haakon stared at Wolf, astounded, as the giant waded into another group of attackers. He had drawn his Bowie knife and jumped among the men, who were forcing the elderly against downed trees that had been set on fire in an attempt to roast them alive. With a powerful thrust of the knife, he decapitated one man and wounded two others. He cut and slashed until both of the wounded men were reduced to bloody mounds of flesh.

  Wolf had slaughtered more than a dozen ruffians before their leader saw the havoc he was causing. Dressed in polished silver armor, his arms crossed, the knight barked orders. His remaining men lined up in a defensive front as Haakon’s neighbors who had survived the initial attack fled into the forest. Trulane had watched Wolf battle and was in awe. He ran to Wolf’s side, saying, “I will stand with you.” He saw Haakon laying on the ground and yelled, “Father, get mother and the others into the forest. We will hold them off!”

  With a look of horror, Haakon struggled to his feet, holding a hand over his eyes to block out the gruesome carnage Wolf had caused. He rushed over to Leesa and picked her up from the ground, carrying her to Nala, who had somehow broken loose and was running towards them. He intercepted Nala, pushing Leesa into her arms, and led his family into the woods as Leesa shouted in rage and shame, “Kill them, Wolf! Kill them all!”