by Ben Hammott
“Stop! It’s gone!” ordered Colbert. He walked to the edge of the road and peered at the quadbike that had overturned, its rear wheels spun slowly with the idling engine. There was a smell of leaking fuel in the air. “Upright the quad and check it’s still drivable.” As Sullivan and Mason set to the task, he walked back to the patrol car, giving O’Dell’s body a solemn glance when he passed by.
“Did you get it?” enquired Kathryn when Colbert reached the car.
Colbert shook his head. “It moves too damn fast, but I’m going after it on the Quad if it’s not been damaged.” He switched his gaze to the deputy. “I’ll take Sullivan, Mason will come with you. Continue tracking down the kids, and we’ll join you when we’ve taken care of the spore alien.”
“Other than a few dents and losing a bit of fuel, the quad’s fine,” informed Mason joining them.
After Colbert had informed Mason of the plan, he climbed on the back of the quad, and Sullivan steered it through the forest in the direction the Xtro had headed.
As soon as Mason was back aboard, Rickmeyer maneuvered around the pool of blood formed below O’Dell’s hanging body and sped along the road.
Sensing whatever the humans had done to it were starting to take effect, the Propagator thought it imperative it returned to the vehicle carrying the part of its homeworld. It needed to reach a concentrated area of human inhabitation for the spores to be most effective in multiplying their numbers if they were to make this planet their new home. Picking out the sound of a distant engine from the forest sounds, it headed on an intercept course.
CHAPTER 56
Richard’s Final Battle
“Oh, oh,” muttered Parker, staring into the side mirror. “We have a problem.”
Noticing Parker had seen something in the mirror, he focused on the reflection of the Propagator running towards them in the one on his side and sighed. “Why can’t these bloody aliens leave me alone?”
Parker pressed the gas pedal to the floor. “Why is it coming after us when there are miles of forest around here for it to hide in.”
“It wants something,” replied Richard pondering the situation. “Perhaps the meteorite is drawing it to us?”
“Then let’s get rid of the damn thing!”
“Not going to happen.” Richard glanced at the speedometer reading fifty-eight miles an hour. “Can’t this thing go any faster?”
“It’s a truck, not a Ferrari. I press any harder on the pedal, and my foot will go through the floor.”
Richard gazed at the approaching monster’s reflection. “Give me your gun and keep the truck steady. I have an idea.”
Parker handed over his weapon and watched Richard open the door.
After gazing worryingly along the truck and the tarmac speeding by, Richard climbed out. When Boris went to follow, Parker grabbed his arm. “Best you stay here until we know what your crazy friend is up to.”
Worried for his friend, Boris watched Richard’s reflection in the mirror.
Releasing the ties holding the canvas side in place, Richard pulled the flap aside and tumbled inside. Groaning when his knee banged into something hard, he fell to the floor. Rubbing his knee and cursing the ammo boxes responsible, he froze at the scraping sounds. Adjusting position, he peered around the meteorite and observed the Propagator climbing into the back of the truck. Pulling out Parker’s pistol, he aimed it at the Xtro’s scary face.
Sensing a human nearby, the Propagator focused on the scent and saw Richard pointing a weapon at it. It jumped onto the meteorite as a bullet whizzed by, creasing the side of its head, and swiped a claw at the gun, sending it skidding across the floor out of the human’s reach. Stretching over the edge of the meteorite, it looked down menacingly at its prey.
Richard kicked out and landed a hard blow to its head. As it staggered back, Richard grabbed the tarp and slung it over the creature. His eyes searched for the weapon but noticed something extremely more destructive. While the Propagator scrambled to be free of the covering, Richard snatched up an ammo box and threw it at the alien to slow it down. Stunned by the blow, the creature toppled off the meteorite. Richard opened a crate and pulled out a thermite grenade. After frantically studying it to work out how it was activated, he cautiously moved around the meteorite.
The tarp the creature managed to free itself from fluttered out the back of the truck when it was thrown aside. Climbing unsteadily upright, it sought out the human. Pulling out the safety pin, Richard rushed at the creature, shoved the grenade into its mass, and released it. Dodging the creature’s tendrils, his back slammed against the meteorite, which he quickly used as a perch, lifting his legs and kicking them out at the alien. Reeling from the blow, the Propagator stumbled over the tailgate and fell.
The screech of tires moved Richard to the tailgate in time to witness a patrol car striking the Propagator with enough force to send it rolling along the road with a flailing of limbs. Peering into the vehicle and recognizing its occupants, Richard grinned at them.
Mason leaned forward between the front seats to make sure his eyes weren’t deceiving him. “Richard! What is it with that man that he just keeps on attracting aliens to him?”
“What does it matter? Get out there and help him while it's down,” ordered Kathryn.
“In my experience, when it comes to aliens, he needs little help.” Mason reached for the door handle.
As soon as its tumble ended, the Propagator righted itself and rose up on its tentacles. Hurt and angry, it screeched at Richard. It only managed one step before it burst into a bright white flame, lighting up the shocked faces in the patrol car and forcing Mason to quickly pull his foot back inside and yank the door shut.
The burning spores drifting from the thermite-consumed Propagator turned to ash and disintegrated. Richard continued to stare at the smoldering black patch of melted tarmac as the truck continued along the road. He switched his gaze to the patrol car as Mason, Kathryn, and the deputy climbed out to look at the smoldering Xtro before glancing at him. Richard smiled and waved at them before turning away. Running a hand over his precious lump of space rock when he passed, Richard returned to the cab.
Mason contacted Colbert to update him on the latest developments. “The spore-carrying alien has been destroyed, and I’m sure it won’t come as much of a surprise when I tell you Richard was responsible. He used thermite to kill it.”
“What is it with that man that he just keeps on attracting aliens to him?” replied Colbert.
“I know. My words exactly,” responded Mason. “We’ll carry on catching up with the kids.”
“Affirmative. We’ll head back to the road and join you.”
They climbed back into the patrol car and pulled away.
“Colbert. We have located the kids truck. If you head west, you’ll intercept them as the road curves around for about three miles.”
“Understood Control. Heading west.”
“Kathryn, good news for once. Greg has awoken, and although in some pain, he is expected to make a full recovery. Claire and Wayne have had the plant hybrids removed successfully and are also expected to recover.”
“Great news. Thanks for letting me know.”
“One other thing. Greg has no recollection of being under the Xtro’s influence or what they forced him to do. The last thing he remembers is the Xtro coming out of the meteorite.”
“Hopefully, the loss of memory is a fortunate side-effect of being their host, as with what the kids have done, ignorance will definitely be bliss when they are back to normal.”
“You have to get them back here first, and I doubt capturing them will be an easy task from the way they have been acting lately.”
“We’ll do our best to get them to the airbase unharmed.”
“We have teams waiting to relieve them of the horrors they are carrying. Good luck, because if they can’t be subdued the way you would like, you know the alternative.”
“I do.” Kathryn gazed at Richard’s t
ruck as they passed.
“Is it dead?” asked Parker as Richard entered the cab and shut the door.
Richard nodded and glancing at the patrol car overtaking and speeding off along the road, noticed Kathryn’s concerned expression. “It is. Nothing left of it but a burnt smudge on the road.”
“Yeah, I saw the bright light. I had better let Control know.” Parker picked up the radio mic. “Parker to Control. We have just been attacked by the spore-carrying Xtro. Richard killed it with a thermite grenade.”
Blightburn was quick to reply. “What about the spores it carried?”
Richard took the mic. “All have been incinerated.”
“This is extremely important, Richard. Are you certain every single spore was destroyed?”
“I am. Ask those in the sheriff’s patrol car if you want conformation as they witnessed its destruction.”
Parker leaned toward the mic. “I also saw it burn ma’am; I doubt anything could have survived.”
“Looks like I saved your asses again,” bragged Richard.
“It does,” admitted Blightburn. “Thank you, I guess.”
“I would say you are welcome, but I’d be lying. Just make sure you hold up your end of the bargain and get me and my meteorite safely to England.”
“All the arrangements have been made. Bon voyage, Richard.” Blightburn ended the call.
Richard placed the mic in its holder and looked at Boris. “Well, my hairy friend, that’s that sorted. Now I just need to work out what to do with you. Even if it was something I was considering, getting you out of the country and into England won’t be easy.”
Boris chattered his response.
“No, I’m not going to adopt you.”
“I might have a solution,” said Parker. “As I mentioned before, I worked at a zoo once. They might take him. It’s a nice place, and they have chimps, including some females.”
More chattering.
“Of course they’ll be pretty and will like you,” assured Richard. “A handsome fellow like you, how could they not?”
“And the zoo is only a short detour from the port where you’ll be boarding your cruise liner,” added Parker.
Boris took another bite of his apple before asking a follow-up question.
Richard nodded. “Yeah, we can take a look first to see if you like it and the female chimps.”
Boris placed a hand on Richard’s arm and chattered.
Richard scratched Boris’ head. “Yeah, I’ll visit often,” he lied.
Richard gazed ahead at the road, and as his thoughts turned to the meteorite, which he hoped would salvage his career and damaged reputation, it would likely be an uphill battle. He sighed and hoped never to see another alien entity for as long as he lived.
CHAPTER 57
The End
Driving as fast as he dared through the forest, Sullivan weaved through the trees. He glanced at the red light that had lit up on the fuel gauge. “We had better reach the kids soon, or we’ll be out of gas.”
Colbert peered over Sullivan’s shoulder at the gauge. They were on reserve fuel. “Shouldn’t be far now.”
“Colbert, the drone is above you, and we have the kids’ truck in view. Veer northeast ten degrees, and at your present speed, you’ll intercept them.”
“Affirmative Control. What’s the ETA on the patrol car?”
“Approximately two minutes. Reinforcements are also on their way. ETA, seven minutes.”
“Understood.”
Two minutes later, they glimpsed the road ahead and then caught sight of the kids truck.
Sullivan turned the bike to follow the road along a raised ridge sparse with trees. “How are we going to handle this?”
Colbert peered down at the truck and glimpsed the girl in the front passenger seat. As if sensing she was being watched, she turned her head to look up at him. Colbert found it hard to believe the cute little girl had killed anyone.
“We have company.” Jacob glanced at Emily and then ducking, looked out at what she had seen before sitting upright.
“It’s nothing we didn’t expect.” He rapped a knuckle on the back wall of the cab to let the others know.
Continuing to watch the girl, Colbert raised the tranquilizer rifle and aimed at her arm. He held off pulling the trigger when she smiled at him, placed a teddy bear bag against the window, and waved its furry arm at him. This was going to be hard. He was about to alter his aim when movement from the back of the truck claimed his attention. Four kids climbed onto the rear of the vehicle and looked straight at them. The truck edged nearer to their side of the road, and one at a time, the kids jumped off. Two boys scampered up the short bank while a boy and a girl leaped into the boughs of an overhanging tree.
Colbert leaned toward Sullivan’s ear. “They are coming!”
“What, the kids?”
“Yep. Three boys and a girl.”
“Christ almighty. What do we do?”
“Take them down with as little force as necessary. Killing them is not something I want on my conscience.”
“I’m open to suggestions, but with the fuel about gone, we’ll be walking in a moment.”
Colbert glanced down at the vehicle. They would never outrun the kids on foot if the aliens had enhanced them as it seemed they had. “Get us on that truck.”
Sullivan throttled forward to avoid the boy leaping at him and glanced down at the truck. “You sure about this?”
“Do it!”
Opening the throttle to full, Sullivan pulled the quad ahead of the truck. Colbert glanced behind at the kids chasing them; innocence turned deadly by the alien parasites controlling them. He almost toppled to the side when Sullivan yanked the handlebars to the left, sending them flying off the ridge. Sullivan had judged the encounter between quadbike and truck perfectly. They landed on the roof, smashed through the plywood construction, and bounced on, striking the flatbed. Both were thrown off and landed painfully in the truck with the quad coming to a rest with its front poking out its splintered side. The idling engine spluttered and died as the two men climbed to their feet.
“Well, that worked out better than expected,” commented Sullivan, rubbing his rump. “What’s next?”
Colbert handed Sullivan a syringe. “I’ll take the boy, and you handle the girl, but we need to hurry before the others return.”
Both men climbed through the holes caused by their forced entry and made their way along the side of the truck toward the cab.
Jacob glanced at the two men's’ reflection in the wing mirrors. “Em, can you handle this?”
Emily nodded eagerly. “Of course.” Placing her bag on the seat beside her, she wound down the window and leaned out.
Sullivan halted when the girl appeared.
“Hi, mister. It’s playtime.” She grabbed hold of the top of the door and swung through the window, landing feet first on the cab roof. Surprised by the girl’s agility, Sullivan was slow to react. Emily jumped onto his shoulders and pressed her small fingers into his eyes. Holding on with one hand, Sullivan reached for the girl with the other and tried to yank her free, but her legs wrapped tighter around his neck. Feeling his eyeballs were about to pop from the pressure of the little girl’s fingers, Sullivan took the syringe from his pocket, pulled the needle’s safety cap free with his teeth and aimed it at one of the girl’s legs, almost stabbing himself in the neck when she released her hold and maneuvered down his body.
Feeling his pistol being slid from its holster and the consequences if he failed to keep the girl from using it on him, he let go of the truck. Emily sprung off his back, somersaulted and twisted while airborne. She landed on her feet with the gun aimed at Sullivan.
Sullivan’s connection with the road was less proficient. Forward momentum from the truck’s speed brought to a sudden halt when his feet hit the tarmac, spilled him to the ground. He grunted as more bruises were added to his collection when he tumbled along the road, narrowly missing the truck’s rear whee
l when it sped by. Shadows on the tarmac tilted his gaze skyward in time to observe the four kids leaping from the ridgeline to return to the truck.
Tommy glanced down at Sullivan as he passed overhead and flinched when something stuck him. He glanced at the dart sticking from his arm and then groaned when the distraction spoiled his landing. He struck the side of the truck and fell on top of Sullivan.
Emily released the pressure on the trigger when Tommy spoiled the shot and hearing a car behind her, spun to face the new threat.
As soon as the patrol car had rounded the curve in the road, its occupants saw the kids truck ahead. The deputy increased speed to catch up with them. They noticed the quadbike protruding out the side, Colbert, and Sullivan moving along the sides toward the cab, and witnessed Emily attack Sullivan.
Kathryn leaned out of the window and aimed at Emily. She halted firing when Sullivan fell and switched her focus to the four children that dived from the high bank and pointed the rifle at one. As the boy fell onto Sullivan, she refocused on the small girl who turned and aimed a gun at them. Both fired at the same time.
Rickmeyer spun the wheel at the sight of the weapon aimed in his direction. The bullet punched a hole through the screen, whizzed past Mason’s ear and exited through the back window.
After Emily dodged the tranquilizer dart, she turned and ran for the truck when the patrol car straightened up and headed for her.
Although winded by the boy landing on him, Sullivan had the wits about him to notice the sedative seeping through the boy hadn’t yet affected him. He grabbed the stiff-fingered hand Tommy stabbed at his throat before it made contact and stared into the boy’s emotionless eyes: he was not in control of his actions. As he pushed the boy to the side, a tranquilizer dart entered the boy’s neck and pumped a second dose into his bloodstream. Tommy’s eyes glazed over before he went limp. Sullivan caught him to prevent his head from striking the ground and holding the boy, climbed to his feet. He glanced at the cute girl running past and shielded his body with the boy he assumed she wouldn’t risk harming when she aimed the gun at him. Smiling as if it was all a game, she shrugged and sprinted past.