Chapter 16
It took another two hours for the remaining rhino warriors to rejoin the group. Jason was happy to see Traveler was among the living. Tired as they all were, Jason wanted to continue on—at least until they made their way out of quadrant 2 and into quadrant 3. Dira was finishing up tending to the scalded feet of one of the rhino-beasts.
Morgan sat off by himself on a rock. He was having trouble securing the top of his battle suit over the now substantially larger growth on his neck.
“Come to gawk at the freak?” Morgan asked him without looking up.
“What did the test results say?” Jason responded.
“They came back inconclusive. Dira said something about her portable diagnostic device having limited capabilities.”
“Let me see it,” Jason said, gesturing towards Morgan’s neck. Reluctantly, Morgan pulled the field dressing away enough so Jason could peer beneath it. “Has anyone looked at this in the last hour or so?” Jason asked, trying to keep his face as expressionless as possible.
“No. I think Dira is heading over here next. Why? What’s wrong? What’s it doing now?” he asked, craning his head to do the impossible: see the back of his own neck.
“Stay calm. I was just wondering if—maybe it had grown—you know, a tad more.”
“Grown a tad? Holy mother of God, what the hell does that mean?”
Dira arrived and wedged herself in between Morgan and Jason. Seeing Morgan’s state of anxiety, she furrowed her brow at Jason as if to say What did you say to him?
She untaped the dressing and exposed the parasitic growth. Both Dira and Jason had to fight the urge to jump back. It was moving beneath the skin. Something dark—a complex shape. “I don’t get it” Dira said to herself. “His nanites should have extracted this abnormality from his body. That’s one of the things they do, remove foreign matter from the body.”
“Well? What is it? What are you looking at?” Morgan asked, closely watching Dira’s expression. “Did it grow a little?”
“You could say that,” Billy said, leaning in from above.
“Just back away, Billy,” Dira said, holding her hands out and gesturing for him to give more space. Ricket was now inspecting Morgan’s neck as well and started to poke at it with his finger. It moved.
“I can feel it moving. I can feel it moving all around there,” Morgan said nervously.
“And you say it’s grown over the last few hours?” Ricket asked, looking up at Dira.
“As much as two hundred percent. That’s in the last hour alone,” she replied. “Truth is, I think his nanites are leaving it alone because they don’t consider it a foreign body. From the few tests I’ve taken, the only DNA I’m seeing is Morgan’s. Not really sure how that’s possible.”
“It needs to come out,” Ricket said.
“I don’t have the proper instruments here to conduct that sort of surgery,” Dira replied with incredulity.
“I will do this myself. Please sterilize and provide an anesthetic to the localized area. I’ll prepare myself.” Ricket turned and hurried off toward his backpack.
Morgan looked up at Jason. “Shouldn’t the doc … Dira, be doing this, Captain? I mean,
is that robot equipped to be digging around in my neck?” Morgan asked, watching Ricket in the distance.
Jason was no fan of Morgan, but he certainly wouldn’t wish this parasitic growth on him or anyone. “Don’t underestimate Ricket. He brought my daughter back to life, didn’t he?”
“Yeah, only after shooting her in the first place,” Morgan replied shrugging his shoulders, which only seemed to agitate the parasite. The dark mass beneath his skin scurried from his lower neck to the middle of his shoulder and then back up again.
Dira had her medical pack open and had retrieved a small device. Being careful not to inject into the mass itself with the anesthetic, she began numbing the area around his neck and shoulder.
“Okay, let that take effect for a while. Just sit tight, Lieutenant, while Ricket gets prepared.”
Morgan nodded, but said nothing. Dira stood and gestured for Jason to follow her a few steps away. “I didn’t want to alarm Morgan, but his condition is worrisome.”
“Seems so,” Jason said. “But we’re going to cut that thing out of him and he’ll be done with it, right?”
“It’s not that simple, Captain. According to the scans, that organism not only shares his blood stream, but his nervous system as well. What’s interesting is I didn’t pick up any foreign DNA indicators.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that thing is more of a growth than an actual parasite. Still—something, perhaps an organism back in that pool, infected him. I don’t know. As of right now, with the amount of nerve clusters tied directly to Morgan’s brain stem, I don’t see how Ricket will be able to do anything without killing both him and that thing. I just wanted to mention that—if it were up to me—I’d let it stay along for the ride, so to speak. At least till we get back to Medical on The Lilly.”
“Noted,” Jason said. “Let’s just see what Ricket comes up with. Here he comes now.”
Ricket was back at Morgan’s side and poking at his neck again. “Umm, this is better. The effects of the narcotic has also effected the organism. It seems to be sleeping,” Ricket said.
“I thought you’d have a set of medical devices. Scalpels—that sort of thing,” Jason said with a furrowed brow. “What were you doing over there?”
“I was accessing The Lilly AI’s medical database. I now have the necessary programming to continue with the procedure. I can get started now, with your permission.” Ricket’s face was expressionless. Jason glanced over to Dira, who shrugged and shook her head.
“Do it,” Jason said, staring down at Ricket. “Just don’t kill him.”
Most of the team had huddled in close and were also watching Ricket. “Let’s give them some privacy; we’ll be moving out as soon as possible.”
Billy took the cue and marched twenty yards out into the open desert. “Let’s go everyone, over here. Give them some space to work.”
A folded-up tarp was placed on the ground. Ricket told Morgan to lie down on his side and to try not to move. Jason wasn’t exactly sure what he’d expected from Ricket. He didn’t have any medical devices, scalpels, or anything useful other than his partially mechanical hands. Once Morgan was situated and had become still, Ricket placed his right hand over the protruding mound on his neck. Ricket’s hand moved very slightly and then was still. Sitting, with his legs crossed Indian yoga-style, Ricket closed his eyes. Quietly, Jason and Dira also sat and continued to watch. An hour later Ricket’s eyes opened. Keeping his right hand on Morgan’s neck, Ricket gently slid his other hand beneath it. With his two hands cupped together, Ricket stood.
“The procedure is complete—neither organism has suffered any adverse effects,” Ricket said.
Jason looked over at Morgan’s prone body. The skin on his neck and shoulder was exposed and the mound was gone. Whatever Ricket was holding in his hands was awake and moving—to the extent that Ricket’s arms were being jostled about.
“Can we see it?” Jason asked, gesturing toward his cupped hands.
“Yes.” Ricket brought his hands down to the ground and slowly separated them, releasing what he held. The organism was black. Short fur covered its entire body, including its six stubby legs. Slightly larger than a hamster, the organism was fully conscious and didn’t seem to be nervous or afraid. Its small head was wide, with a protruding muzzle and ears that flopped down—dog-like. As much as they were looking at it, it was staring right back at them.
“What the f*ck is that?” Morgan asked, now up on his elbows.
“The short answer is this organism is ninety-eight point nine percent—you,” Ricket replied.
“Is it dangerous?” Jason asked, moving a little closer to inspect the creature.
“Does it bite? Or worse, will it infect or get inside someone else?” Dira asked, also coming closer.
“I believe it would have extruded itself fairly soon from Lieutenant Morgan’s body. It’s self-sustaining and not parasitic in nature. At least now that its incubation period is over.” Ricket looked at the creature with indifference.
“So it’s not dangerous?” Jason asked again.
“I do not believe so. It does not produce toxic poisons or infectious enzymes. And again, since it’s basically Lieutenant Morgan’s DNA, it should be safe.”
“It doesn’t look like me,” Morgan said, seeming somewhat confused.
Ricket shrugged.
“So what do we do with it?” Jason asked nobody in particular.
“I can terminate the creature if you wish,” Ricket replied.
Although the creature did not seem to understand the conversation, it was paying attention to who was talking and watching as each person spoke.
“Kill it? Why would you kill it?” Morgan protested. “Look at it. It’s not hurting anyone.”
“Should we feed it? Maybe—give it some water?” Jason asked, reaching a hand out to the tiny dog-like creature with six legs. The creature backed away from Jason’s hand, and then tentatively moved forward, as if to sniff his fingers. Dira retrieved a water bottle from her pack and poured some into the palm of her hand, holding it out in front of the creature’s face. Again, it stepped back and then came closer. A blue tongue lapped at the water. Jason broke off a small bite-sized piece from an energy bar and held it out for the creature. It sniffed it and then licked it several times before taking a bite. Seeming to like the taste, it finished chewing and looked up.
“I think it wants more,” Morgan said smiling. “Here, give it to me, let me feed the thing.” Jason handed Morgan the rest of the energy bar and they continued to watch him feed the creature.
“We need to get moving,” Jason said, getting back on his feet. “Morgan, if you’re going to keep that thing, make sure it doesn’t get in the way of your duties. Understood?”
Morgan watched it for several more seconds before answering, “Yes, sir. I guess it can stay in my pack,” but Jason was already heading off in the direction of the team.
* * *
The transition from quadrant 2 to quadrant 3 was dramatic. The jagged rocky landscape first changed to deep red soil, then to lush green grasslands atop gently rolling hills. Separated by the volcanic gorge, it was as if they’d entered a different world. Jason wondered if Serapins were among the wildlife. Perhaps this was a gentler, kinder type of environment. One could only hope. Jason heard the familiar melodic tone in his ear; he was being hailed via his NanoCom.
“Go for Captain,” Jason said. “XO, I wasn’t entirely sure we’d still have comms this far in.”
“Captain, we have a situation—”
That was all that Jason heard before the transmission dropped. He tried several times to reestablish contact, but had no success. Something’s not right, Jason thought to himself. Hopefully, Perkins would be able to handle the situation on his own. Jason had been testing the comms link every few miles up to this point. But now, not having communications with The Lilly had other implications. Undoubtedly he’d need to talk to Glenn—who exactly were they meeting at the portal? Had he arranged for a ship? This was far more serious than simply a lack of communications; this put the whole mission at stake.
Jason looked for Ricket. “I’ve lost comms with The Lilly. Any way you can boost the signal, or something that will open a channel again?”
Ricket listened, then appeared to be testing the comms himself. “Communications with The Lilly will be impossible this far into the habitat.”
“This is important, you can’t do anything?”
“Sorry, Captain, no.”
Irritated, Jason was about to push Ricket to try harder.
“Cap,” Billy said, diverting his attention. At that moment, all hopes of quadrant 3 being a kinder, more peaceful environment were squashed. The ground began to rumble and each member of the assault team turned this way and that to see what was happening. Traveler, easily the tallest in the group, pointed a meaty finger toward the distant horizon. Jason adjusted his HUD’s zoom optics. What he and the others were looking at defied comprehension.
There were two chariots, each drawn by a bright blue Serapin. Side by side, the chariots were racing across the plains and headed in their direction. As they drew closer, it soon became apparent who held the reins of each chariot: small Craing warriors clad in leather battle garments. Secured at the rear of each chariot, a long a spear reached into the air. Billy and Jason ordered the group into defensive positions simultaneously. The remaining three rhino warriors moved to the front of the group. Jason and the SEALs took up positions in a semi-circle behind them. Both Ricket and Dira kept back and stayed low to the ground.
“They’ve changed directions, Cap,” Billy yelled. It soon became apparent the charging Craing chariots were heading away from three other chariots in fast pursuit. Those other chariots, each drawn by two Serapins, were configured differently. Wider in size and carrying two Craing warriors instead of one, the figures wore black capes which fluttered in the wind behind them.
“What the hell!” Billy said. “Since when did the Craing grow a spine? And what are they doing here?”
“Something tells me they aren’t the same Craing we’re used to,” Jason replied.
“HAB 12, in all probability, is not experiencing the same time frame as the one we currently exist in. We could be viewing a period of time in their ancient past—even thousands of years ago,” Ricket interjected from the back of the group.
“I didn’t think this habitat was large enough to support that kind of civilization,” Dira said.
“When the Caldurians created these habitats, whatever or whoever was present within the confines of this specific area would have been duplicated—or, better put, their alternate dimensional counterparts would be represented here also,” Ricket replied.
“They appear to be all male warriors. Certainly they would have died off fairly quickly,” Jason interjected.
“Yes, an interesting observation. Obviously, we aren’t seeing the entirety of the habitat’s inhabitants.” Ricket was quiet a moment while he looked off toward the chariots speeding across the plains. “My sensors indicate that somewhere out there beyond the plains there are close to one thousand Craing life forms—males, females and young offspring.”
Excited yells and cheers rolled across the open planes as the black-caped Craing closed in on their slower counterparts. Jason shook his head, amazed. The speeds of the Serapin-drawn chariots were easily double, perhaps even triple the speeds of what Earth’s Egyptian horse-drawn chariots would have been capable of many centuries earlier. The pursuing warriors had the obvious advantage—not only having multiple fighters, but also a second Craing in their chariots who was able to throw spears—which evidently was now their intent. With arms pulled back, poised to throw, they moved in closer. Looking behind now almost as much as looking forward, the fleeing Craing warriors began to weave their single-driven chariots back and forth. But when each of the three black-caped Craing let their spears fly, their aim was true. Two spears entered the back of one, and a single spear pierced the back of the other. Both fell dead to the ground. Their chariots continued on for a while, then slowed, then came to a stop. The three pursuing chariots pulled alongside the two dead Craing. Two Craing stepped off their chariots. They were speaking to each other. They both unsheathed what looked to be a small sword.
“Are they going to do what I think they’re going to do?” Billy asked.
No one answered. There was no need to. In the distance, the two black-caped Craing warriors raised their swords over their heads and swung their weapons down in an arc across the exposed necks of the two dead Craing. Heads rolled free and were quickly fetched up and thrown into their empty chariots. The warriors walked over to the fidgety, unmanned teams of Serapins and brought them around and in close to the others. All the Serapins seemed to be getting agitated. One stood up and nearly upended the chariot behind it. The headless Craing bodies were deposited at the Serapin’s feet. In a flurry, jaws ripped and tore at the bodies, devouring everything in a matter of seconds.
“I could have gone all day without seeing that,” Billy said to no one in particular.
“Captain, the portal indicator just became active,” Rizzo said.
“I see it. Thirty miles away—straight ahead into quadrant 4,” Jason replied.
Ricket took several steps forward, watching as the black-caped victors in their chariots disappeared over the horizon. “Accessing that portal may be more difficult than we had anticipated.”