QM 5 Part Two
Dr. Lewis’ ranch
Jackson Hole, Anna Lewis, and Zev Stal are all seated outside, enjoying the cool, clear, late evening air. A soft wind, most likely originating somewhere out over the Atlantic, carries with it the sounds and smells of the dark forest which surrounds them - the faint smell of honeysuckle and wild roses intermingling to ride the breeze past those seated upon the front porch. The denizens of the night forest are beginning to make their presence known as their various calls and chitter ride the wind alongside the plesant evening smells.
Crickets and tree frogs are playing their usual evening symphony accompanied by several, distant coyotes who choose to join in with their familiar yelping. Two feline hunters, most likely bobcats, have crossed paths - their distant brawling filling the nearby forest.
There was of course the larger than normal owl, dubbed George by Dr. Lewis, in his favorite location, the huge pine located just on the edge of the ranches’ compound. This was the same tree which the Vole had used to launch its attack not so long ago. The owl had not seen fit to grace the tree with its presence .. until just recently. Apparently he was just overcoming his fear of the pine.
There must have been no less than a million stars dotting the moonless heavens above them this evening. They talk without taking their eyes off of the bright and not so bright stars above them.
“Can you see your home from here, Zev,” Anna quietly asks.
“Not from here ... it’s on the far side of this galaxy, Doc.”
“Woah boy, that’s a looooong way,” Jackson quietly says.
“It sure is, Mr. Hole,” Zev says softly a tinge of sadness apparent in his voice.
“Miss your folks, huh?”
“Yes I do ... an awful lot really. But,” Zev’s voice strengthens, “no one forced me into this. I volunteered because I wanted to, because I felt it was the right thing for me to do. I miss em all right, but this is what I feel like I ought to be doing.”
“I’ll tell you son, you’ve already helped us out a whole lot, and we do appreciate everything that you’ve done, Zev ... Even though we may not tell ya near enough.”
“I’ll second that, Jackson,” Anna quickly adds.
“I know it’s rough being away from home like this, son, but at least you’re not entirely cut off any more ... Anna told me about your ship.”
“Ye'ah, you don’t know how good seeing that made me feel.”
“Look at that,” Anna softly exclaims. Jackson and Zev follow the dim outline of her pointing arm. Just northeast of the ranch, possibly out over the ocean, a streaking object paints a brilliant, orange/red trail across the heavens.
“I’ve never seen a meteor that large before,” Dr. Lewis says excitedly. “It must have come in from the East.”
“Ye'ah, it kinda looks that way, Doc. We get em all the time back home. New Quantum’s so big that it just kind of sucks em in.” Zev eyes the streaking object. “Still,” he pauses with a scratch to his chin, “the glow from that one looks a bit different somehow. It’s curious that it hasn’t disappeared yet ... but then your atmosphere isn’t as dense as ours is back home..... I suppooose that that could account for the difference,” he says thoughtfully.
The light display continues for some minutes and then abruptly ends.
“I guess that’s it for the show tonight.”
“It kind of looks that way, Jackson,” Anna says.
Zev feels his head drop toward his chest, he quickly jerks it upright. “I’m feeling awfully tired,” he says quietly. “If you both’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to head for my room if I can make it... I’ll see you both in the morning.” Zev stands and slowly heads into the house.
“Good night, Zev.”
“Catch you tomorrow, son.”
Zev falls onto his bed meer seconds after entering his room. “Don’t worry about the way you’re feeling, my host, it’s only natural. I’ve conducted a more detailed scan of your young bod and find that for a full recovery you do require a little more rest than I had at first contemplated. I made a boo boo on my calculations so I guess you can spank my virtual rear end. Never fear however, I shall double check my findings whilst you snooze. I fully expect that by the morning you shall be running at one hundred percent.”
Seconds later Zev is enjoying a deep, and quiet sleep.
************************
Fort McCallum, located One hundred miles West of Neon City
“Lieutenant, I’m getting an intermittent return on radar, Sir.”
“Give me a time frame, Sergeant.”
“Off and on now for maybe, fifteen minutes. The last time that I saw anything was about five minutes ago, Sir.”
“Very well, Sergeant. I’ll make a note of it in the log. If you see that return anymore, you let me know ASAP.”
“Will do, Sir.”
***************************
The cargo pod, fifteen minutes earlier
Maintaining a careful check upon the decent parameters of his ship, Thivius constantly glances from left to right across the control panel before him, as his ship's hull glows brightly, strewing burning flakes in its wake ... but that is normal and to be expected during this phase of atmospheric insertion so the young officer is able to disregard that and bring all of his concentration to bear upon the panel before him. All Thivius can hope for is that if anyone notices their re-entry it will simply appear as some sort of meteor entering Number Three’s atmosphere. Thivius checks the ship’s ECM and nods to himself .. the system’s bar graph is well within parameters. He just hopes that it successfully masks their decent course.....
Ten minutes later their bumpy, glowing ride begins to calm as the ship’s braking engines come on-line. The smallish pod shudders against its forward momentum as its braking thrusters struggle to slow its speed, the hull’s coolant layer acting as a huge heat sink, sucking the energy of re-entry into and then out of the ship’s exhaust ports. Within a matter of three to five short minutes, the ship’s hull is once again “cool” and black against the nighttime sky.
Thivius checks the fuel within his ship’s magnetic tanks ... “Almost exhausted,” he thinks. “If we try to turn for the illuminated area we may not make it .. and if we land elsewhere ...” The wavering sound of the panel’s warning buzzer makes his decision an easy one. With only two minutes of fuel left they have no choice but to try and land well north of the illuminated area. If they try and push it any further .. they drop from the sky like a rock.
A mountainous region flicks into view upon the pod’s scanners with a moderately sized pocket of fresh water nestled close by .. ninety seconds away. The lieutenant slowly shakes his head while mumbling to himself. “Gee, a whole thirty seconds to spot a landing area and then set this ship down in one piece. What more could I ask for?”
Ripping its way through the atmosphere at just below the threshold of sound the smallish ship banks, the darkness surrounding it making the forward view through its plastisteel panels useless.
Thivius’ mouth is as dry as cotton now. He stares wide-eyed at the glowing view screen on the pilot’s control console before him, beads of sweat tracing a path down his wrinkled, leatherlike face. The ship’s forward optics paint the terrain below with an eerie glow, illuminating the pilot’s small chamber with a ghostlike, greenish glow, turning the lieutenant’s normally yellow skin a pale green in color.
He is now oblivious to everything within his ship save his view screen. He watches the line separating the large oceanic body from that of the land mass flash by underneath. He breaths a thin sigh of relief .. at least they shall not crash in that rolling tomb. The relatively clear, flat land near the ocean quickly gives way to a large, high and very dense forest. “Perhaps a crash landing in that rolling water would be preferable to one in the forest that we now pass over,” he thinks nervously. Thivius can only hope that once they reach the small pocket of fresh water there will be some place large and clear enough to set his ship down in on piece. But if the vegetation around the water is as dense as it is here, they shall find themselves in deep gulstaad ... Thivias worriedly checks their fuel .. Not good he concludes. Not good at all; for with only forty five to sixty seconds of the ship's precious fuel left it is too late to hunt for another landing area.. and with that knowledge comes a sense of forced relief; for Thivius can now relax, resigned to their on rushing fate. They were now committed, it is either the area surrounding the lake or nothing at all.
Thivius once again checks their fuel .. thirty seconds left .. He sees nothing below them save dense forest ... Twenty seconds left ... He swears that he can almost smell the gulstaad up ahead .. about twenty seconds ahead .. to be exact.
“Everyone, make sure that your restraints are activated,” he says, trying to make his voice sound as confident as possible.
Gulstaad! Gulstaad! Gulstaad! His whole future was nothing but one big pile of the stuff. When he had graduated from the academy he had never figured that he was going to end up like this.
Ten seconds left ... His flight suit is soaked with sweat. The final warning buzzer sounds - their fuel all but exhausted. Thankfully the on rushing forest has given way to the hoped for pocket of fresh water and the relatively clear land surrounding it. With little time and even less fuel for a gradual deceleration Thivius slams the ship's reverse thrusters to full, throwing everyone violently forward into the restraint fields which hold them securely within their seats. Bone jarring vibrations rip their way throughout the ship as its thrusters fight to destroy their forward velocity. Landing thrusters .. out of the question .. too little fuel and too much forward momentum for them ..... he fearfully admits to himself. With no options left Thivius dives toward the planet's surface.
**********************
Dr. Lewis’ ranch
The whine of straining engines fills the air blanketing the ranch compound.
WHAM! BAM! KRUNCH! SCRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAP!
The sounds of metal grating against soil and rock and of large trees being torn from the Earth race through the forest, ripping their way past the couple enjoying what once was a quiet evening.
“What the hell was that,” shouts Jackson as both he an Anna jump to their feet.
“I dunno,” Anna gasps. “Something must have just gone down over by the lake!”
“I ain’t ever heard plane engines that sounded like that, Doc!”
“I haven’t either, Jackson. From the sound of it, whatever it was must have started sliding as soon as it hit the ground. Go get the men,” Anna snaps. “Make sure that at least a couple of them take their rifles. We don’t want to run into any surprises out there,” Anna says as memories of the Vole prowl her mind. “I’ll go get, Zev.”
“Will do, Doc!” The older man sprints toward the ranch’s cabins, many of which already have their lights on.
Ten minutes later a small group has gathered in front of the main house.
“Where’s Zev,” asks Jackson.
Anna shakes her head. “I couldn’t wake him, Jackson.”
“You gotta be kiddin me!”
“Nope. I shook him and yelled but I couldn’t wake him up to save my life. We’ll just have to get down there and check things out ourselves.
Listen up everyone,” Anna shouts. “From the sound of it something .. we don't know what .. but something must have just crashed over by the lake. When we get there if any of you smell fuel give a shout and we’ll make sure that we steer clear of the plane .. or whatever,” she says softly to herself. “You guys know that the brush down there is going to be thick so it’ll be awfully tough for us to find anyone that might have been thrown clear of the crash. If you see anything, anything at all out of the ordinary you let me know pronto. Are there any questions? ..... All right then, pile in and let’s get going.”
.......................................
Twenty minutes later at the lake
At first glance everything around the lake seemed normal, just as in years past. William Jefferson, the driver of the first truck, sweeps his powerful hand held spotlight left and right down the hill toward the lake.
“Nothing,” he shouts. “I’ve got nothing from up here, Doc ..... Wait a second, take a look over there! Do ya see it!?”
Dr. Lewis and the others stare at the beam’s end point.
“You see it, Doc!?”
Anna’s eyes widen in amazement; for she does indeed see what her friend is talking about. From their location, even with the aid of the spotlight, it appears indistinct but it does look as if something had scraped the ground clean. “Follow us down, Jackson. I believe that we’ve got something on the right side of the lake,” Anna says quietly as she fights the excitement/fear building within her.
“We’re right behind you, Doc.”
The two trucks bump their way down the hill toward the lake’s right shore. Jarring minutes later both trucks skid to a stop, everyone piling out .. silently staring straight ahead into the darkness .. at a relatively shallow swath of perhaps thirty yards in width cut through the vegetation. Within headlight range both bushes and trees have all been either destroyed outright or literally ripped from the ground and shoved to the sides of the newly cleared path.
“During my time in the Marines I saw a crash site or two,” Jefferson quietly says. “You know, searching for possible survivors.” The black man slowly shakes his head. “But I never seen anything that looked like this.”
“You don’t think that a plane crashed here .. do you William,” Anna fearfully asked.
“No I don’t, Doc. You see any kind of wreckage around here,” the blackman asks as he sweeps his spotlight slowly from right to left.
Dr. Lewis sweeps her hand held torch back and forth as well. “No, I don’t,” she says cautiously. “Shouldn’t there be something here?” she asks .. the puzzlement within her voice obvious.
“If a plane crashed here, yeah, I’d say so... Whatever did this didn’t break up or even explode... It looks like it hit and just kept on slidin... Kinda strange if you ask me, Doc,” says Jefferson as he glares cautiously into the nearby blackness.
“You think this could be one of them thar UFOs, Doc?”
“Iiiii don’t know about that, Wallen. Lets not jump to any conclusions until we at least take a look at whatever’s up ahead. Who brought their rifles along?”
Jimmy Bungalo and Herald Flyerman quickly speak up.
“Just to be on the safe side I’d like one of you in each truck,” Anna says.
“What’da ya think we’re gonna find out there, Doc,” asks Bungalo nervously. “I just seen The Thing on TBS. Ya think it could be somethin like that .. some kinda vegetable man tryin to take over the Earth.”
Anna finds herself thankful, at least for the moment, that it’s as dark as it is; for she’d hate to have Jimmy see her smile. Pausing momentarily Anna regains control of the laughter which threatens to make its way into her voice. “Ahhh let’s not let our imaginations run away with us, Jimmy. Just settle down and try to stay calm, we’ll see what’s out there in a few minutes.”
“Yes Ma’am,” the young man sheepishly replies.
“Jimmy, you ride with Jackson ... Herald, you’re with us.”
“Ok, Doc, I’m with ya.”
“Listen up.” The quiet mumbles running between the two trucks quickly subside. “We’re looking for anyone that may have been thrown clear, so keep your eyes and ears open ... Jackson, you take the left side .. we’ll take the right.”
“All right guys, you heard Doc Lewis. Let’s load em up and get moving.”
As both trucks slowly crunch their way over broken rock and curious grooves cut into the forest floor, those within each vehicle quickly realize that whatever had uprooted all of the trees, shoving both them and practically anything else along the path they were following aside, apparently easily so, had to have weighed a great deal.
Fleeting images, illuminated only briefly by the flicking beams of the headlights of the slowly advancing trucks give everyone only the quickest of glimpses of what lies ahead... Oh so slowly the yards creep by, the bank of dirt and toppled trees on either side remaining unchanged ..... except for the dancing shadows .. those seemed to change .. to grow more menacing with each passing minute.
“William, stop the truck,” Anna quitely urges. “Turn the engine off.”
Quickly noticing that the headlights to his right are falling behind Jackson Hole immediately slams his truck into reverse, heading toward his friend’s truck.
Skid.
“What’s wrong, William,” he quietly asks.
“Nothing, Jackson," replies the ex Marine with the shake of his head. "Shut your truck off and listen.”
Click. The older man's eyes sweep the surrounding darkness .. his ears trying desperately to hear anything out of the ordinary. The unnatural silence of the surrounding forest brings the hair upon the back of everyone’s neck to attention... Things were definitely not as they should have been this early morning.
The faintest of noises issues from the darkness ahead of them.
“Ya hear that,” quietly asks William Jefferson.
“Everyone, shut up and listen,” comes a quiet voice from the darkness.
Pop hisssssss.
“There it is again.”
Roughly fifteen seconds later everyone hears the weak but distinctive sound once more.
Dr. Lewis begins counting the seconds ..... “Thousand one ..... thousand fifteen.”
Pop hisssssss.
She counts again ..... “Thousand one ..... Thousand fifteen.”
Pop hisssssss.
“Those sounds are not natural, they're just too regular, William.”
“It sounds like something’s venting pressure up ahead there.”
“Yea, maybe someone had beans for supper again, he he he,” nervously laughs Jimmy Bungalo .. trying to relieve his growing tension.
“Put a sock in it, Bungalo,” says a voice from the darkness.
Pop hisssssss.
“Possibly, William,” says Anna with a bit of annoyance at the untimely interruption. “If that’s the case, whatever’s up ahead could still in one piece.”
Pop hisssssss.
Dr. Lewis tries to swallow but finds that her mouth is as dry as cotton. “All right,” she says quietly, “let’s see what’s down there.” The sounds from the darkness almost disappear as the two trucks begin their careful advance. Bouncing slowly ahead on the relatively “smooth” ground .. their headlights show nothing but the blackness ahead.
Pop hisssssss.
Dr. Lewis lowers her voice. “Did you hear that, William?”
“Sure did,” came the quiet reply... the sound from the darkness now clearly audible over the engine noise. “I think we’re close, Doc.”
“I agree," replies Anna quietly, her voice tinged with tension and fear. "It must be just up ahead now.”
Pop hisssssss.
A ghost of an image appears barely within headlight range. As William Jefferson brings his truck to a stop he moves his head forward, just above the steering wheel to try and get a better look. “Whatcha think, Doc?”
“Iii don’t know, William," Anna says with a slow shake of her head. "I can’t see an awful lot of the object from this distance."
“Whatdaya think? That fat thing part of the engine,” he asks.
Anna smiles nervously. “From my old Star Trek days I’d say yes; but then we'd need Scotty to be certain of that.”
“It’s too bad Quantum Man ain’t here,” Jefferson says. “I bet he’d probably know all about that thing.”
“I believe that I'd agree with that, William.”
Pop hisssssss.
“Did you see that,” the black man excitedly asked. “Somethin just got blown out of that thing!”
“Yes .. It’s definitely venting something all right.” Dr Lewis shook her head in frustration, tempering her desire to move closer with caution. "Since we have no idea what the composition of that mist might be I believe that we should err on the side of caution and keep our distance.”
“Ya really think it could be dangerous?”
“Mr. Spock had a great line from the old Star Trek series, William. He told someone, where there is not enough knowledge, there is always danger ... or something to that effect. Anyway, I believe that that’s sound advice here. Let’s move in just a little closer .. say fifteen maybe twenty yards and then stop.”
Both trucks slowly ease forward and then quietly crunch to a stop.
Pop hisssssss.
With his hand held spotlight at shoulder height William Jefferson steps cautiously out of his truck .. allowing his spot to play over the unknown in areas which the headlights were unable to follow. He silently wishes that they were thirty, maybe forty yards closer; for the weak lighting revealed little detail. But he was no fool .. where they were was just fine with him... The ghostly images of rock, dirt, and trees piled high, covered the forward one third of the ship, he guessed; for he had no frame of reference, no previous knowledge to draw upon to determine just how large the thing really was. But he was certain that the final impact must have been a jarring one to jack the ship's stern skyward the way it had. If there were anyone on board .....
Jefferson quietly eyed the cylindrical shape, perhaps forty yards of it above the ground. Its rear end was flared dramatically on three sides, leaving the bottom more or less even with the ship’s underbelly and appeared to be basically intact and seamless with no apparent exits. Both Jefferson and Dr. Lewis assume that the ship’s hatch, if indeed it had one, could be buried beneath the rock and dirt from the crash.
...........................................
Inside of the cargo pod
Lieutenant Thivius had been lucky, it was as simple as that; for even with the reverse thrusters firing full bore, he had barely manged to wrestle the pod into a relatively shallow descent angle two to three miles above the ground; for according to his ships glide path indicator, if his efforts at leveling his ship's descent angle had continued a mere one to two hundred feet lower, the ship within which he and his passengers now sit would have surely distigrated upon impact with this alien world.
Only now, forty five minutes after impact, were the pod’s passengers regaining consciousness. Thivius hurt all over .. particularly when he moved. During his four years at the Academy he had gone through only one crash sim .. he now knew that his instructors had lied to him; for the real thing was nothing like their simulations.
A shaky hand managed to deactivate his restraints. With a deep, painful breath he ever so slooooowly stood. After heavily bracing himself against the cabin’s wall he gingerly walked back to check on his passengers.
“Is everyone .. ok back here,” he asks softly trying as best he could to minimize his own pain.
Mr. and Mrs. Muglow slowly swivel their heads to check on their children ... they both gratefully noded in relief; for everyone seemed to be ok. “I believe so ... Lieutenant,” they quietly answer.
Thivius smiled and weakly nodded. “Good .. I suppose that we all made it safely then,” he quietly says as he gingerly collapsed into a nearby seat. “I just wish that I had some sort of intelligence ... on Number Three to give you... Unfortunately, you know as much about this place .. and system as I.”
Gentle, quiet Hisssssssss.
Thivius smiles. "This aerosol should give us .. all some pain relief within minutes....."
Felist Muglow gently swiveled her head about upon her thin neck. "Leiutenant, that mist of yours is quite a blessing .. I feel much better. Thank you. Hmm. Now that's interesting."
“What’s that, Mrs. Muglow?”
“It seems as if we’ve attracted some attention,” she says with a nod toward the view screen.
Thivius slowly turns to face the ghostly flicker of the ship’s view screen, but try as he might, he couldn't see who or what was on the other side of the lights outside of his ship ... four of which seem to be fixed, the fifth moving in an erratic manner ... as if it were under some type of intelligent control... or worse, some sort of automated, cold thinking, robotic control ... and if that were the case, just as he had seen happen on several vids at the Academy, their lives could well be over within minutes.
Thivius lowered his voice to a whisper. “Everyone, stay in your seats and be absolutely quiet. All we can do now is wait and hope that whoever, or whatever is out there will leave and give us a chance to get out of here.” Fighting his inner fears, the lieutenant's eyes lock upon the flickering view screen before them ..... His mind raced through the possibilities, each seemingly worse than the one before ..He could only hope that they would be lucky enough to have landed upon a world not yet controlled by the cold, calculating intellect of the type which ruled Valius Three ... for if they had, they would have been far better off taken prisoner by those upon the Cetopin.
Thivius could almost swear that he could see some sort of movement just behind the light sources, but what they were, he could not say; for the indistinct, flickering images, combined with the screens static, made identification impossible. Of one thing he was certain, whoever they were, they were going to have to be considered a threat to everyone on board the pod until he was otherwise certain.
Thivius intently studied the screen before him but was eventually forced to shake his head in frustration; for while he was certain that there had been some sort of technological development upon this world, he had no way of knowing how much or more importantly, how dangerous those wielding that technology could be. There would be weapons, of that he was certain ... there always were, he thought with the sad shake of his head. They were all going to have to exercize extreme caution here.
.........................................
Outside of the pod
The ear piercing screeching from the small ship's venting had driven the members of Doctor Lewis's party to the ground, sending them writhing in the dirt, as worms in hot ash, against the assult upon their hearing. With their hands firmly clamped over their ears in a vain attempt to block the screeching ... they have no choice but to endure the pain and hope the now intense venting ends soon .....
Blessed silence abruptly envelops the area; Doctor Lewis silently counting the seconds... She stops after twenty have passed, assuming that the last, intense blast may have been the final one ... she hopes; for the blood upon her jaw is a bad sign, one which she can only hope doesn't portend the loss of hearing in the future. Everyone lies still within the once again calm night, carefully uncovering their still ringing ears .. slowly they force themselves off of the ground to lean unsteadily against the nearest truck. They gently massage their ears, trying to gain some relief from the awful ringing within them.....
Minutes later.
“How’s everyone feeling,” Anna asks through the ringing within her ears. “Does everyone hear me?”
Everyone slowly nods.
“Good. I have absolutely no idea what’s going on here. But I believe that it would be in everyone’s best interest that we give this thing some space for awhile. Let’s head back to the ranch and take another look at this ship when the Sun’s up.”
“Ya ain’t gotta tell me twice, Doc,” says an agreeable Jackson Hole between exagerated jaw stretches.
Seconds later the trucks roar away into the night.
.....................................
Inside the pod
The buzzer announcing the completion of coolant venting quietly sounds within the pilot’s chamber. Minutes later everyone in the cabin quietly watches as the alien light sources turn, change color and speed away into the distance.
Thirty minutes pass .. forty five minutes ..... Thivius stands and faces the Muglow family. “It’s been an hour now since we last saw any alien light sources outside. Therefore I believe that we can safely assume that they're gone for now, but for safety’s sake I believe that we shall have to assume that whoever or whatever was out there will almost certainly return. If we’re going to make it out of here in one piece I believe that we had better do it now while we have the chance.”
The youngest of the Muglow’s children, Zeferene, is visibly shaking and grabs her mother’s leg for support. Thivius didn’t know, or care for that matter, what planet the Muglows had originated from. What he did know was that he hated the slavery which his people forced upon other races. That little girl and others like her deserved to grow up free. The young girl’s mother retracts her short claws, picks her daughter up and cradles the precious bundle tightly against her body.
Felist and Harvistad Muglow stand at least six and a half feet tall, their skin appearing to be made of countless, smooth, overlaping, scale-like structures. Each member of the family wears clothing consisting of several, loose fitting, brightly colored layers worn pancho-like and held tightly against their waist using a multicolored rope tied with intricate knot work.
The hair upon each of the adult’s head emerges from different areas of their scalp to be sweep backwards, ponytail-like down their back where it is tied and wrapped tightly together using the same knots and multicolored rope as that found about their waist. Unlike the adults, all five children have a full head of flowing, blond hair.
The adult’s faces are wide and dominated by eyes which are quite large and dark .. each having to scrunch their face up, bringing their eyebrows down and cheeks upwards to blink. Their noses are short and quite thin, their ears appearing “Spock-like” in both size and shape. Their mouths are wide, surrounded by thin lips and populated mostly by flat, grinding teeth.
The faces of each of the Muglow children have very little resemblance to that of their parents. With the exception of their large eyes and patches of brightly colored facial hair, their features are more or less normal, in the human sense of the word. Thivius assumes that in due course time shall work its changes upon the youngsters.
Thivius dispenses what few provisions they have to the Muglows while desperately wishing for weapons .. something which, right about now, he would have gladly given six months pay for. A quick inspeciton of the pod’s interior reveals a three foot section of spare fueling pipe - a poor replacement for a hand laser with several spare energy clips to be sure, but in their absence he would just have to make do with what he had. Besides, there was no use crying over spilled reet now.
“We only have a single pair of night vision glasses,” Thivius announces as he removes the bulky headset from a nearby compartment. “Since I’m going to be in the lead I’ll be wearing these. I want the rest of you to link up using this rope. Mrs. Muglow you're behind me. Mr. Muglow I want you bring up the rear and we’ll keep the children in the middle," ..... Thivius checks every knot, pronouncing them secure.
“Atmospherics are within limits. So, is everyone ready,” Thivius asks as his eyes play over the family behind him. Everyone nods.
“Good. Folks, I have no idea what’s waiting for us out there ..”
“It doesn’t really matter does it, Lieutenant,” asks the scared but determined Felist Muglow.
Thivius shakes his head while forcing a half smile upon his face. “No ma’am, it doesn’t, Mrs. Muglow. Like it or not, we’re stuck with whatever’s out there. Can each of you stay directly behind the person in front of you, children?”
The little ones all nod in unison.
“Good,” says a smiling Thivius with a gentle rub to Zeferene’s head. “If we can do that our trail should be a little less obvious. Hang on, kids.” Click. The cabin is plunged into a blackness the likes of which the Muglows had never seen before. “Stay calm kids, we should be outside in a moment.”
A single touch to his headset paints everything with a glow of green and gold. The outer hatch swings smoothly upwards untill a low grating sound signals its final resting position .. halfway to the top. With a massive heave the young officer pushes against the hatch .. to no effect. The panel sticks, never to move again.
“Damn,” he quietly curses.
“What’s the matter, Lieutenant?”
“It’s the hatch, Mrs. Muglow" Bang! "The damn thing is stuck halfway open.” Thivius lets a disgusted breath escape. “An open hatch is going to let whoever was out here earlier know that there was someone in this ship. "I'm afraid that we’re going to have company far to early to suit me,” Thivius proclaims. “We’ve gotta get outta here .. have to cover as much ground as possible.”
The small group cautiously makes its way up the ladder toward the darkness of their new home. A cool breeze and star filled sky greet them as they step upon their ship’s decking.
Everyone, children included, know that speed of departure is essential now .. no one moves as they stare transfixed by the beauty of the sky above their new home. Everyone takes deep breaths, savoring the cool and wonderfully varied scents carried upon the air currents, the likes of which none has ever experienced before.
Thivius easily spies the greenish/gold pocket of fresh water to their left. Then, straight ahead, perhaps three, maybe four miles away, the terrain turns rocky and begins to rise. At the top of that rocky portion is an area of dense vegetation which is to be their first destination... Thivius can only hope that it proves to be a safe one.
The distant roar of a prowling feline tears the Muglow’s attention from the sky.
“What was that,” gasps a startled Felist Muglow.
“Most likely some sort of nocturnal predator, Mrs. Muglow. You can relax, it’s some distance to our left .. we’re safely downwind.” Thivius turns his attention to the rest of his party. “It won’t be able to scent us, so we should be ok .. at least for now ... All right everyone, listen up,” he says, trying to hide his own fear. “We can’t stay here any longer, we’ve got to get moving. I want each of you to stay alert, there’s no telling what we might run into out here.” The small group begins their trek toward the rocks and darkened forest ahead.
....................................
Several hours later we return
to the ranch.
A liberal application of adrenalin combined with a residual ear/headache has made it all but impossible for anyone to get any sleep. Even the liberal application of Fioricet is unable to overcome the events of the last few hours.
Dr. Lewis waits until eight o’clock, an unusually late hour to rise at the ranch, before she rings each cabin’s alarm bell. Everyone finally manages to stumble into the dining cabin around eight thirty.
Dr. Lewis smiles wearily. “I see that everyone looks about the way I feel this morning.”
“No kiddin, Doc,” says an unusually subdued Bill Gold. “I got a feeling this is gonna be one, long day.”
“Have you seen Stal anywhere, Jackson,” asks Bob Penny.
“Ah, I’ve got him off checking some of the land west of here, Bob. I expect he’ll be back sometime today.”
“I hear that,” says Penny. “No one’s run a survey of that part of the ranch in a year or two ...” His mind quickly returns to a more pressing subject. “What I wanna know is what in the world are we gonna do about that thing out there,” he asks quietly.
Anna exhales deeply while rubbing her lips with her forfinger. “To tell ya the truth, I’m not really certain at this point, Bob. Someone could have been thrown clear so we definitely need to get back out there.”
“Huh, if you ask me I think we should’ve stuck around out there last night.”
“Well, well, ya grown a bigger pair, Vic?”
“Naw. Mine are large enough, Bob.”
“Ya could have fooled me last night. You were just as anxious to get outta there as the rest of us.”
Laughter rolls through the dining cabin as a red faced Vic Mateer slumps into his chair.
“Do ya really think that we’re gonna find anyone alive out there, Doc,” asks Bob Penny.
Anna thoughtfully shakes her head. “Most likely not, but we must be certain.”
“I’ll tell you what, Doc, John and I aren’t real hungry, so if it’s OK with you, we’ll take a couple of the four wheelers and see what we can find out there. As soon as you guys are finished here you can come on over to the lake in the trucks.”
“Are you both sure about this,” Anna asks .. obviously concerned.
Both men nod.
“All right then. I want you to take a couple of rifles and radios with you. You make certain that you keep in touch and let us know if you find anything. All right?”
“Will do. Come on, John. We’ll see you in awhile, Doc.”
“You two be careful.” Minutes later the sound of two four wheelers disappear into the distance.
“Is everyone in?”
A unanamous nod of heads seals the deal. They would return, armed and ready, as soon as breakfast was over.
Thirty minutes later.
Jackson Hole grabs Anna by the arm, holding her behind as the dining cabin empties.
“What are you gonna do about, Zev,” he worriedly asks.
“I don’t know,” she says with a shake of her head. “The last time that I tried I couldn’t wake him. We just can’t afford to wait any longer. I’ll have to leave him a note about what’s going on. I don't know why, but something tells me that we might need his help with this one.”
Minutes later the ranch compound is deserted .. the familiar voice of Bob Penny breaking through the squelch imposed silence of the radio which Dr. Lewis is carrying.
“Doc Lewis, Doc Lewis, this is Bob Penny. You there?”
“We’re on our way, Bob. Go ahead.”
“John and I got somethin out here. Could be some sort of a hatch on the top of this thing .. It looks like it’s about halfway open ... There could have been something inside this thing after all,” he says somberly. “I’m gonna take a look ..... hold it, Doc. I think John’s found somethin .......” he excitedly says.
“Bob. Do you hear me?” Anna asks, the silence within the cab of the truck deafening.
“Bob Penny, Are you there,” Anna asks frantically.
“Sorry, Doc. John found what looks to be some kinda tracks leading away from this thing. They look like they’re a headin North, toward the forest. John said it looks like it could be anywhere from six to nine, ah ..... people, I guess. We’re going after em. Out.”
“Dammit, Bob! Stay where you are! We’ll be there in a few minutes.” Anna gives the radio's silent speaker a smart pop as she shakes her head in frustration. “Bob Penny and John Copper have to be two of the most stubborn men I know. Step on it, William! There’s no telling what those two are gonna get themselves into.”
*******************
The crash site
Smashing and slashing through waist high grass both four wheelers roar toward the forest and their quarry who appear to have tried to travel in single file as best they could -- their efforts at concealment proving fruitless; for John Copper is a hunter from way back.
You name the beast and Copper had been after it at one time or another. Rumor has it, one flatly denied by him, that several years back he even participated in hunts for naked women around Las Vegas.
Anyhoo, a few years back he had tracked a big elk for a week over just about every type of terrain that you could imagine. And finally he had the big un, as he called it, in his scope, ready to squeeze off a round. But for some reason, after going through everything that he had to get the shot, he just couldn’t bring himself to take it. Instead, he simply watched the huge animal for maybe ten minutes until it disappeared around a rocky hill. Nowadays he did most of his hunting with a camera, although recently he had brought in several nice deer steaks to Esparanza.
The two four wheelers roar through the grass and small seedlings straight for the forest. Whoever was leaving this trail must have wanted to get into the forest reeeal bad; for neither man had seen sign one of cut backs, false trails, or any other attempts to conceal their track. There was only the single, more or less straight line heading directly for the trees.
John Copper snapped his hand upward bringing his partner's small ride to a sliding halt by his side. Copper removed a pair of powerful binoculars from his pack and slowly scanned the rocky terrain above.....
The movement above them was slight, but more than enough to draw Copper’s trained, hunter’s eyes. “I’ve got em, Bob! Looks like there could be seven, maybe eight of em up there. Looks like they’ve gone about as far as they can git. Here, take a look.” He hands the binoculars to his partner. “They’re over there where the hill turns really rocky and shoots straight up.”
Bob Penny takes the binoculars following Copper’s pointing arm. Sure enough, there they were .. the whole danged, blasted bunch of em.
“I see em, John, there in that little cut up there! It looks like they’re pretty much stuck to me. Guess they figure if they stay right there we won’t see em.”
“Let’s get a movin, Bob. I want a closer look at whatever came out of that thing back by the lake.”
“They at least seem ta be walking on two legs.”
“Yeah,” asks a skeptical John Copper. “Well don’t forget, bigfoot do that too, Bob,” he says matter of factly.
“Doc Lewis, this is Bob Penny over.”
“Go ahead, Bob.”
“We found em,” reports Penny proudly. “They’re stuck about five miles past the lake on the lower level of Kilpers Mountain. The face up there is too steep for em to get into the trees ... We got em cornered, Doc ... We’re goin on up to get a better look see.”
“Be careful, Bob. We should be there in about twenty minutes or so.”
“Will do, Doc.”
“Let’s go get em, John.” ..... "I'm with ya, Bob!" The roar of the two small engines fill the surrounding forest.
.....................................
Kilpers Mountain
The smallish group can see and quite clearly hear what is approaching from below. Everyone, with the exception of the youngest, knows that they have been spotted, that they have no place to go .. that their plan of disappearing into the forest has failed. What weapons the two that were approaching carry, no one knew. But of one thing Thivius was certain, they would most certainly be carrying weapons, and they would be proficient in their use.
The young lieutenant had an empty feeling growing deep within the pit of his stomach; for he had completely failed the Muglows during their escape, witness the lack of supplies and weapons, and now here. Instead of getting them to safety, he had led them into a dead end. He let out a deep sigh, sat down and dejectedly shook his head. All they could do now was wait as the roar from the approaching mechanical things grew louder. Whatever they were, they were going be at their position within minutes. Thivius ground his teeth tightly together and angrily jerked his head downward. “Gulstaad! I've really messed things up this time!"
The two men on the four wheelers brought their vehicles to a sliding, grinding halt upon the incline, their eyes open wide in shock. Instinctively the two men reach for their rifles, leveling them at the small group. Click .. both safeties were removed ... Not long ago they had both come close to being killed by that monster back at the ranch, and now this. No one in their right mind could blame the two for being scared and cautious.
“What the hell!? What are those things, John,” asks Bob Penny nervously.
Copper shakes his head slowly. “I got no idea, Bob. Take a look at the claws on those two.”
“Ya think they could be related to that thing back at the ranch,” asks Penny.
“I dunno. One thing’s for certain though, I ain’t gettin close enough to find out.”
“They all seem like they’re kinda tryin ta hide behind that “guy” with the wrinkled face. Sorta looks like it’s got some kinda uniform on, don’t it?”
“It do. It looks like it’s holding some kind of pipe too,” Copper observes.
...................................
The small group was terrified .. the children clinging tightly to their mother’s legs. All they had ever wanted to do was to get into the forest .. disappear and live a free life. Their great desire had now seemingly been crushed; for things had taken a terrible turn. Lieutenant Thivius took a position in front of the family .. but he had no illusions. The pipe which he held was next to useless against the weapons aimed at them.
Felist Muglow hadn’t been this terrified since the day that their family had been taken from their home world. In her terror, she believed that she had all of her children wrapped tightly about her .. she had made a terrible mistake; for her youngest, Zeferene, squirmed out of her mother’s grasp running just as fast as her short legs would allow along the dangerous slope.
A flash of movement from within the group brings Copper's years of hunting experience to the fore. One of them was making a run for it.
*********************
The ranch of Dr. Lewis
“It’s time to wake up, Zev,” drones QI for what must have been the tenth time. “I believe that you’ve slept enough for now.”
The youngman’s eyes flicker open. He takes a deep breath, stretching his arms and legs. At last, he feels like his old self ... a nice hot shower and he’ll be ready to start the new day.
“How are you feeling this morning, Zev?”
“Great, QI,” Zev says with enthusiasm as he rolls easily out of bed and heads toward the shower. Completely ignoring the cold water he grasps the hot water tap and turns it full on.
Twenty minutes later he is finished, dried, and dressed. He sees the note taped precisely to his door. He smiles to himself. The work of Doc Lewis no doubt .. his smile quickly fades.
“Do you scan what I’ve just read, QI?”
“Indeed I have, Zev.”
“Does her description sound like an off world ship to you?”
“Judging by the brief account given by Dr. Lewis, I am forced to agree with your assessment ...” QI pauses momentarily and then continues with as much tact as possible. “I realize that you like the people here at the ranch and have even begun to consider them your friends, but you must not loose sight of the fact that they are the product of a primitive, violent culture. As such, I believe that we can assume that the appearance of the ship’s occupants will most likely prove to be a shock to them. I fear that they may not handle the situation very well,” QI ominously warns. “If they behave as I suspect that they will, I would say that the probability is high that someone will be hurt or possibly killed during their encounter. It is therefore imperative that you find them as soon as possible ... My scans indicate that the house and ranch are deserted.”
Zev disappears within a flash of energy to return a second or two later dressed in his “super hero” uniform. He hated the term, “super hero.” Early on the media had labeled him as such and unfortunately, the odious phrase had stuck and there was seemingly nothing that he could do about it now.
“You’ve got to move, Zev,” QI urges.
Zev flashes from the house and into the air.
“We were correct in our assessment of the note, Zev. The ship is indeed of alien origin but has no lifesigns on board at the present time. Our target location is approximately five miles beyond the lake. Enhancing optics now.”
Details of the distant terrain jump instantly into view.
“The group that you are looking for .....”
“I see them,” Zev quietly says .. his attention focused upon the events unfolding upon the distant mountain.
“NOOOOOOOOO!!” he screams. KABLAU!
The blast from the rifle’s muzzle echoes throughout the valley, ripping its way through the cabs of the two four by fours which slowly chur and crunch their way up the steep grade.
The little girl's legs feel weak .. feel like rubber. She sways momentarily and then collapses in a heap upon the ground. A piercing scream jerks the heads of both men around. One of the two taller members of the group, apparently the female, was screaming for all she was worth as she raced as fast as she could for the small, bloody heap upon the ground.
The two badly shaken men stare at the scene before them as great streaks of clear fluid pour from the female’s eyes.
“Bob ..... I ..... I think she’s cryin” John Copper haltingly says. He feels his bodies’ strength slip away .. his rifle clatters against the rocks at his feet.
John Copper stares horrified, unmoving at the wailing female clutching .. her child .. he at last realizes. “What have I done,” he laments quietly.
THE END OF PART TWO
Coming soon, the conclusion of Episode 5.
