The sloshing between each word sounded like the creature had a mouth full of slimy balls. Mencari tried to stifle his expression of disgust.
Noticing Mencari and the others, the scientists soured further. “They’ve finally arrived. Take them to the huddle room. We will be with you shortly.” He gestured dismissively.
Satori allowed the lab door to close. “Don’t let them scare you. They’re all softies under those rusted exteriors. The huddle room’s through there.” She pointed at the door at the far end. “Just wait in there. I’m going to go clean up.”
“Thank you for the help,” Mencari called after her.
“Anytime!” she said with a smile, heading back to the main corridor.
Like Satori said, the door opened as they approached. Lights slowly warmed as they entered. The red carpet and overstuffed chairs looked inviting, so different from the rest of the dome. The sizable room had rows of chairs at the far end, and a screen against a wall. It reminded Mencari of a movie theater, but he guessed the setup wasn’t for entertainment.
Two scientists trudged in, followed by a sulking third. They didn’t bother to introduce themselves, or ask their new crew their names.
“Be seated,” one said, with a flippant motion to the rows of chairs. Mencari and the others did as they were told. With a callous flip of a switch, the lights dimmed and a canned presentation played on the screen before them.
“Welcome to the Forax Dome, one of K’pec’s leading tissue research centers. Through careful study, and our own evolution, much has been learned in the five years since our founding. From the humble beginnings of studying a single cluster of alien skin cells, we mutated our way to discoveries empowering us to train entire masses to reshape, and dynamically move through simple manipulations. From there we were able to graft new tissue to recently deceased organisms. This revolutionized our testing, allowing us to test synthetic tissues and cell responses through a functional nervous system without harming a living creature. We are currently using the fibers to create replacement limbs or artificial compensatory tools for creatures in life-changing accidents or with serious deformations from birth. Sentient being trials begin soon! Within ten years, all species might have limb and organ replacement possible. You play a key role in keeping our work flowing smoothly. We’re glad you’re here. Welcome again to the Forax Dome!”
As the lights came back up, the slobbery scientist from before added, “Your job is to keep these facilities clean and functional for us. Under no circumstances are you to enter the bio-storage facility. The delicate organisms and proto-cells could be irrevocably damaged if the environment fluctuates in any way. Is this clear?”
Mencari and the others nodded.
He concluded sternly, “Avoid contact with any of the scientists, including ourselves. Your function is not social in nature, and we don’t have time to waste beyond our research.”
The second asked, rhetorically, “Any questions?”
Without waiting, the slobbery scientist headed for the door. Over his shoulder he slurred, “Good. Dismissed.”
* * * * *
“That’s what Reddic meant,” Cogeni said, still stunned.
“They’re as friendly as your mother,” Nikko quipped.
Cogeni’s face crumpled.
“I shouldn’t have said that,” Nikko said.
“You’re not wrong,” Cogeni said, his tone heavy.
They retraced their path, following the curved hall back to the maintenance quarters. Tyne greeted them as they entered. “You survived.”
“You warned us,” Mencari said playfully.
“How are you feeling?” Nikko said.
“I’m fine thanks. So how did it go?”
Mencari said, “The work they’re doing here sounds impressive.”
Tyne’s tone grew sarcastic. “Sounds great, doesn’t it.”
Reddic entered from an adjoining room, having overheard their conversation. “Don’t be fooled. They just have a good cover story.”
“So what’s the plan?” Mencari said.
Reddic pulled out a small device and projected a list. “We have a number of things—some of which we’ll do together. Tonight we clean the vents, tomorrow during the day you’ll be cleaning the off-schedule labs.”
“What are those?” Nikko asked.
“There’s a few different labs,” Reddic said. “Because there are strict policies for work areas being sterilized, they rotate between where they’re working to allow us to clean. They call it ‘off-schedule’ when a lab is in cleaning mode.”
Tyne added, “We also need to recalibrate some of the lab instruments and manage any of the supply ships that come in. There’s also the power grid repairs and the usual review of equipment in the lesser-used areas.”
“When do we collect information?” Cogeni said.
“Find opportunities while you work. With everything we do, there are chances to collect information: what comes in, who they’ve been talking with, copies of notes and things.… If there’s specific items of interest, we’ll let you know.”
Reddic said, “For now, get some sleep. We’re working just after midnight on those vents.”
* * * * *
“Come on, it’s 0050. We should get moving, takes a bit to get suited up,” Reddic said gently, trying to wake the others.
With a groan, Mencari forced himself up. He wasn’t sure what was worse, not getting any sleep, or getting some then having to get up right away.
Reddic led them to the maintenance area where they donned special biohazard suits. After grabbing their tools, they entered the hallway, headed to the access port to the vents. No sooner had Mencari stepped out, something big hit him, sending him to the ground. A woman cried out as he rolled with his attacker across the ground.
Through the microphone in his helmet he heard Nikko ask, “Are you okay?”
He groaned in response. Looking through his visor he saw Satori sitting up, stunned. “Miss Anokata?”
Still panting, and again in a sweaty jogging suit, she bobbed her head. “Sorry, didn’t see you coming out.” She rubbed her head. “And, please, call me Satori.”
“You’re up late.” Mencari pushed to his feet.
“A lot on my mind. Running helps clear the headspace.”
“Are you hurt?” Tyne asked.
“Tyne, is that you in there?” she said, also getting up. “It’s so hard to tell through those tiny windows over your face.”
“It’s me!”
“Your new crew told me you were missing. I’m so relieved to hear you’re okay.”
“Thanks for your concern. Just a misunderstanding. I’m fine.”
Satori smiled. “Good. Well, I won’t keep you. Looks like you’re off to do some serious work. I’ll try to not plow into you again.”
“Have a good night, Satori,” Mencari said.
She turned toward him, and spent a moment looking at his face. “You too, Rygill. Thank you!”
He hesitated bewildered, then smiled. It still took him a moment to respond to his alien name. They continued on their respective ways. After a few meters, Tyne waved his hand before a panel. Unable to verify his identity, it bleeped, requesting a confirmation code. As he entered the code, a second tone rang out followed by a section of the wall pulling in with a hiss. He pressed inward on the panel then shoved it up into the ceiling, revealing a small room. The group clumsily entered the cramped space with Tyne the last to enter. Grabbing a handle, he pulled the panel down and pushed it back into place.
“This is the staging room,” he said. “The adjoining section will scan for any contaminates from the vents, and automatically sterilize our suits to prevent outside exposure. After that is the final equipment room, with everything we need before entering the vents. Check your suits, make sure they’re sealed, then go through that doorway.”
Mencari was the first to continue to the next room. As he lumbered in, he felt a great heat fill the suit. Not unbearable, but notic
eable, like standing in bright sun on a summer day. Through his visor window he saw a shower rain down on his suit, before a green light appeared and a door opened the opposite way he came in.
He entered the final equipment room. There sat a stack of large devices that reminded him of industrial vacuum cleaners.
One by one the others joined him. Tyne entered last. “Go ahead and grab a unit. We’re using the long pole to move the suction unit up and down the sections of vent. It will pick up anything that’s there.”
After entering another code, Tyne activated the spiral opening into the vents. Mencari wasn’t sure what to expect originally. These vents were huge, big enough to fit even Cerna with room to spare. Two tracks of tiny, inset lights ran across the ceiling, providing illumination. Despite past cleanings, dark stains ran along the floor like a permanent river of sludge.
“In your pouches you’ll find a set of test tubes. Collect samples, then clean the area with the sterilizer,” Tyne said.
They began their work. Deeper in, a slick coating of gray ooze covered every connecting vent. Small blobs of green matter speckled the gray every few feet. Every few yards there was a mass of large, purple blobs mixing with the green and gray.
Tyne approached one of the globs and demonstrated how to collect samples. After tucking away the vial in his utility belt, he swept the sterilizer across the surface. “We need to clean the whole length. There can be a few different organisms here. Try to get a sample of each one.”
The task could have taken hours for any one person. The four of them finished with amazing efficiency. They backtracked through the sanitizer to the inner chamber. Tyne collected the test tubes from everyone and placed them in a special container on his utility belt. Then they headed back to the maintenance closet and packed away their gear.
“Good work. Let’s rest up.”
* * * * *
With the new day came more cleaning responsibilities. Reddic suggested they split up to cover more ground. Tyne paired up with Cogeni, and Reddic with Nikko. Last, Tyne turned to Mencari. “Wait to hear from Xel. He’ll contact you when he gets close. Follow his directions, and everything will go well. Then come back and wait here for us.”
Reddic grabbed a box from Tyne’s utility belt and handed it to Mencari. “Put these in your utility belt, and give them to Xel.”
“Dargoh and I will take the presentation room,” Tyne said. Cogeni nodded, affirming.
“Then we’ll get the off-schedule labs,” Reddic said to Nikko.
As they headed out, Reddic peered back into the room. “If you need us, use the communicator. Or use the map to locate where we are.”
Mencari’s didn’t have to wait long before his communicator began to flash. A message showed Xel was entering the atmosphere and would land soon. Pressing the insignia on his uniform, he said, “I’m headed to the bay.”
He darted through the corridors and entered in time to see a larger ship land. It looked similar to the transport that brought them there not even a day earlier. But this one had a bulkier midsection and loading door.
A loud whir accompanied Kiyanna zipping in on her hoverbike. She set down as the lower hatch to the craft opened and Xel walked out.
“Back again?” she said.
“Tired of seeing me?” Xel said.
“Just not like you to be here so often.”
“You’re right. First time I’ve been here back-to-back. Playing chauffer to the new staff wasn’t on my planner.”
Xel looked to Mencari. “Ready for some lifting?” He tapped a device on his wrist. A loud thunk echoed throughout the bay, and the massive cargo door began to open.
“Looks like a big shipment. What are you bringing today?” Kiyanna asked.
“Same as always. Whatever’s been requested by the scientists.”
Mencari approached a big crate and strained to move it.
“Lift with your legs!” Xel said.
Mencari quickly adjusted. Xel looked back to Kiyanna.
“You know, if you’re just going to stand there, you can help.”
She smiled roguishly. “That’s not what I get paid for, sir. But you two have fun with that.” She flipped a mock salute, then headed into the main facility.
As the door closed, Xel inquired, “So how’s it going?”
“Good so far,” Mencari said.
After moving the box into the storage area, Mencari pulled out the container from his utility belt. “Reddic wanted me to give these to you.”
Without a word Xel stowed them in his own belt, and led Mencari back to the ship. Xel said, pointing to a much larger crate, “This one’s gonna go to the main storage locker.” Mencari blew a puff of air as he stared forebodingly at it.
Mencari fondly recalled the antigravity device Egra constructed back on Allia’s world, how it made it possible for the old woman to move even Seigie with ease. How he wished he had one of those now. The temptation to use his abilities was squelched by his need to maintain his cover.
The two grunted as they struggled with the heavy crate. “So what’s in these?”
“Chemicals mostly, some organic matter too. Now and then we pick up new devices: some pretty high-tech stuff here. For the most part, I just pick up the crates from the places I’m told to get them.”
“They could ship smaller ones,” Mencari complained.
“Less talking, more action,” Xel said. For a moment, Naijen’s voice rang in Mencari’s ears.
CHAPTER 8:
Transfiguration
“I’ve been thinking about that video we saw—about the work being done here,” Mencari said to Tyne.
“What of it?”
“Let’s just say, I know from more than a few cases the unintended side effects of genetic manipulation.”
His mind filled with thoughts of his allies like Seigie, Katen, Anrik, and even the captured Nukari beast Decreta. “I wonder about the long-term implications of the work they’re doing. Seems to me that’s one thing that gets frequently ignored.”
“I couldn’t tell you, but I get what you’re say—”
“Afternoon Tyne … Rygill!” Satori said as they entered the hall from the presentation room. Mencari nearly looked around for another person before realizing she was talking to him—his alias.
“Afternoon,” Tyne returned.
Mencari looked at her, curious. “How many times have we run into you now? I literally haven’t seen anyone else.”
“Keeping healthy and sane is kind of a priority for me. I have to get out, go for a run, otherwise I go crazy.” She smiled devilishly. “Say, want to see something? Here, follow me.”
She led them toward to the lab, then to a back area.
“I’ve never been back here,” Tyne said, surprised.
“You’re not supposed to come back here. Not without an escort at least.” She opened a panel and revealed a small cage with warm lights showering down on a feathered creature. “Here, see?”
It didn’t move. In fact, it didn’t even appear to be breathing.
“Is it dead?” Mencari asked. “Is it one of those experiments done on deceased things?”
“No,” Satori said amused. “It’s just sleeping—look at its wings.”
Tiny feathered appendages fluttered in brief fits as the creature dreamt.
“What about them?” Tyne said.
She looked back startled, then guffawed. “Oh, how would you know? It didn’t have any. Wings. They were lost in an accident. I gave it its wings back—grew and reattached them.”
Tyne pressed his face to the glass to look more closely. “Really?”
“We were able to regrow new ones, and graft them back on,” she said, still glowing. “We’re able to create all kinds of things.”
The lab entrance hissed open, and a sloshing voice croaked, “What are they doing here?”
Satori waved dismissively at the scientists that entered. “Oh, calm down. I was excited and no one was around. #3601 has its wings bac
k.”
The scientist pushed through the others to see. “You did it?”
“Yes. And it’s … perfect.” Mencari didn’t miss the magical delight in her voice.
“Well, regardless, the help shouldn’t be here.”
“What’s the big deal, I’m here. Isn’t the protocol ‘always with one of us present’?”
The scientist retorted with slobbering scorn, “If you actually read the protocol, you’d have known it also needs to be planned and announced to all of us ahead of time.”
Satori huffed and rolled her eyes. “Honestly … fine, follow me, please.”
She led them back to the corridor. “I’m really sorry. They’re just incorrigible!”
Tyne laughed. “We know how they operate. Congratulations on your work. You must be proud.”
“It’s a big step. I just hope it holds. There’ve been a few … side effects before. Anyway, I should get back.”
“Thanks for showing us,” Mencari said.
“My pleasure, Rygill,” she said with a smile, then disappeared back into the lab.
Their communicators blared in a way Mencari hadn’t heard before. Tyne ripped a device from his utility belt, and gasped. After a few selections, a projection of the facility appeared showing Cogeni, Nikko, and Reddic’s location, along with opening a communication channel. “What’s going on?” he said, as the location indicators moved erratically around the bay.
“A creature shipment arrived…. One got out!” Reddic sounded panicked and out of breath.
“On our way!” Tyne said, dashing madly down the corridor with Mencari in tow. They made one stop at a storage closet where he pulled out a few rifles. “They’re loaded with tranquilizers. You know how to use a gun?” He didn’t wait for an answer.
In the final sprint to the bay, heavy feet pounded from an adjoining corridor. Kiyanna merged into their path.
“Creature’s out!” Tyne said.
“I heard—GO!” she yelled.
D'mok Revival: The Nukari Invasion Anthology Page 79