Survivors: Forgotten Worlds, #3

Chapter 1

Shipwrecked

Jake White stifled a groan as he fought the blood from his eyes, desperate to regain his vision.  He could hear the great beast that had dragged him here nearby, snarling its defiance at the raging storm outside, the storm that had brought down their ship.

As he lay still, trying to clear his senses, something was poking painfully into his side.  It was the big blaster, but the sharp edge pressing into his ribs told him the recoil pad had been lost.  He dare not fire it without the pad; it would rip his shoulder off.  Alas, he wasn’t about to get a choice.

As Jake shifted his weight slightly, a groan of pain was forced past his lips.  With lightning speed, the beast turned and leaped at him.  Rolling onto his back, he braced the damaged blaster against the stone floor and fired.  Those deadly jaws were scant inches away when the point-blank blast hit the creature, hurling it through the cave mouth and out into the night.

With a groan Jake leaned his back against the cave wall.  The ground had absorbed the blaster’s recoil, saving his punctured shoulder further harm.  Shaking off the encroaching darkness, he began to take inventory of his injuries.  The beast had hit him from behind and carried him off, leaving a lot of bruises and a couple of puncture wounds.  He’d need medical attention, but he could function.

This a fine mess for a spoiled starship security guy to find himself in, goddamn primitive planets anyway.  He continued to mutter against his fate as he cut the sleeve from his tunic and used it to bandage the puncture wound on his upper arm.  He was inspecting the wound on his thigh when he heard the low growl from the cave mouth.

Well, crap!  Jake groaned as he twisted around to brace the blaster for another shot.  This wasn’t the same animal, but there had been dozens of them.  It didn’t matter which one it was.  As the snarling grew louder the four glowing eyes told him he had two visitors.  Aiming the blaster as best he could, he pulled the trigger.  Both animals were hurled away, but the mouth of the cave partially collapsed.

The next flash of lightning gave him a clear picture of how precarious the situation was.  If he fired the blaster again it would bring the entire hillside down on him.  Just as that realization sunk in, he heard the rocks at the cave mouth being pulled aside. 

Another groan escaped his lips as he groped for, and found, the projectile weapon on his belt.  The blaster fell aside as his other hand grasped the flashlight.  Steadying his hands as best he could, Jake flicked on the light and took aim at the crumbled entrance.

Don’t shoot, it’s only me.  A woman’s face appeared in the light, then she wriggled inside and came to him.  Hey, Jake, how’s it going?

It’s been better.  Twenty, how did you find me?

I could find you anywhere, handsome.

Stop it, woman, you’ll get me killed.

Jake?

You’ve been flirting with me for weeks, and as much as I enjoy it, I’m married, you’re married, and ...

I’m SUVI? She was indeed a SUVI, survivor of unknown viral infection, one of twenty survivors out of six thousand plus humans infected.  SUVI; no longer human, but part human and part something else.

Yes, you’re SUVI, but that’s a plus, not a minus.  Twenty, I’ll admit it, you scare the hell out of me.

Oh?  She continued to poke and prod gently at his injuries, adjusting his bandaging job, plus adding a few of her own from the pack at her side.  I grabbed a first aid kit as I left the ship.  There you go, all patched up.  So, tell me why I scare you.

I can’t read you.  Jeannie has taught me pretty well, and I can read most of the SUVI, but not you, you’re different.

She settled down beside him, took the pistol from his hand and fired at the opening.  There was a yowl of pain outside then silence.  And that’s bad because?

He sighed, and then groaned as he tried to shift to look into her eyes.  It’s bad because I can’t read you, I can’t tell if you’re playing or not.  If you are, then all well and good, every guy’s ego swells when a gorgeous woman flirts with him, and I’m no different.

So you think I’m attractive?

Stop it, woman, you know damn well I do.  If you’re not just playing, then I’m well and truly screwed.

I don’t understand.  What are you saying here?

Twenty, I’m saying if you’re serious I doubt I’ll be able to resist you, but it’ll destroy me utterly.  I’ll lose Carla, I’ll lose the respect of the captain, my friends, all the credibility I’ve carefully built up with my fellow officers as well as the crew and passengers.  Right now, I’m utterly tormented.

To his great surprise she sidled closer and laid her head on his shoulder.  I hadn’t thought about any of that, Jake, and I’m sorry for it.  Let me tell you a story now.  Half of me once had a husband and a good marriage, but that actually ended over thirty years ago; I, personally, never have, and I don’t now.  Eamon and I decided that too much has changed, and he released me.

Okay.

Now, about you and me.  You know I’m super intuitive, even more so than Eighteen.  Since I first met you, I’ve known there was something special about you, that you hold something important for me.  I guess I started flirting with you to get your attention.

It worked.

Her sweet rich laughter echoed through the cavern, bringing a sloppy grin to his face.  All right, Jake, I’ve been set free, but you haven’t.  So, a little light flirting is all you get.

Promise?

Well, not forever, you’re not that handsome.

This time it was his laughter that rang through the cavern, but his cracked ribs changed the laugh into a racking cough.  Oh gods, Jake, I’m sorry.

Sure you are.

I am, silly human.  Jake, you’re a vital part of the Reacher’s success and survival.  The captain depends on you, and I owe her much.  The crew and passengers look to you to keep order.  No, no, don’t try to deny it.  We have something important for each other, you and I, but we’ll keep it light and friendly.

He could see the desire as well as the determination in her eyes now and knew that, although she didn’t want it this way, she would make it happen and he sighed with relief.  For the greater good?

Yes, Jake, for the greater good.  So, you do understand SUVI.

I’m getting there.  Now, back to the situation at hand.  Put that magic SUVI brain to work and figure out how we’re going to get out of here and back to the ship.

Not to worry, it’s getting light out.

And that’s good because?

These creatures are nocturnal.  With any luck, there won’t be a lot of daylighters to contend with.

What about the storm?

It won’t let up for a day or two.  Hungry?

Yeah, I am.  He watched in amazement as she pulled a couple of ration bars from the pack at her side.  So, you stopped to pack a picnic before you came looking for me?

She chuckled at that.  Actually, I packed this bag before we left the Reacher.  Something just told me the Explorer would run into trouble.  You were hell bent on going along because things on the Reacher were boring lately.

That’s why you insisted on coming along?  Because I did?

Because I knew you’d get into trouble, I knew you’d be hurt, but I didn’t know the outcome.  Yes, I came for you.  Happy now?

Now I’m really scared.  Again, her laughter brought a smile to his face.

THE HISS OF BLASTER fire was lost in the shrieks of the wind that buffeted the small ship.  Commander Amanda Drake, her weapon running low on charge, turned to the open hatch, and shouted.  Engineering, report.

We’re all patched up, Commander, replied a voice from inside.  Ship is functional.

The man beside Amanda was using projectile weapons now, moving at impossible speeds as he fought off the attacking predators.  Get back inside, Commander.  We need to get out of here.

No, Thirteen, we’ve still got people out there.

SUVI 13 dropped another attacking beast as he replied.  We can’t help them if we’re dead.  The ship will soon be blown into that ravine if we don’t move.  Our people will have to survive on their own until we can come back for them.

He was right, and she knew it.  She had to save the rest of her crew and hope against hope those left behind could survive until she returned for them.  Against every instinct she had, Amanda Drake turned and leaped back aboard her small spaceship.  Thirteen, get in here and seal her up.

With a leap he was back inside slamming down the hatch.  Hatch sealed. 

Even as he spoke the screams of the raging storm outside were muffled, but the sounds of huge claws scraping against the hull were clear.  Three, take her up to low orbit.

Aye, Commander, bird rising.  It was a shaky lift off, and the ship struggled until she rose above the violence of the winds.  There was a collective sigh of relief as the flight smoothed out and they escaped the storm.

Morthel, how many did we leave behind?  Morthel was Earalithian, one of only eleven known to survive, of the trillions in the vast empire they once ruled.  Small of stature, with two thumbs on each hand, they were a clever and tenacious people.

The Earalithian woman at the sensor panel looked up with a sad expression.  We left five people on the planet, Commander.  Mr. Sacumbtu and two of his men were retrieving one of Lilly’s crates.  Jake went to defend them as the beasts attacked.  One animal carried Jake off, and SUVI 20 went after him.  None of these people made it back before the storm hit.

Where the hell did that storm come from anyway?

I have no idea, Commander.  It was only showing as gently rising winds on sensors.  I warned everyone of the winds, but a moment later it changed horribly.

The small woman was trembling, for in a distant past her colony had been devastated by an event that knocked the planet out of orbit, causing a similar storm.  Amanda reached out to gently grip Morthel by the shoulders.  Easy now, girl, easy.  This is a different place and time.  Look, we’re already well out of the storm’s way.  As soon as it passes, we’ll go back for our people.

I wouldn’t advise that, Commander.

Three?

We’ve patched her up enough to get us home, but I wouldn’t take her back into that atmosphere until we’ve had a chance to make full repairs.

Can you do that here?

No, Commander.  We need to get back to the Reacher for that.

Dammit anyway.  Lilly, you on comms?

I am, Commander.  Lilly Peters, the ship’s botanist, looked pale as a ghost, her hands were trembling, but she was holding it together.

Can you raise any of our people?

No.

The Reacher?

I’ll try now.  She turned away, but the commander’s hand fell gently on her shoulder. 

You’re doing great, Lilly, hang in there a little longer.  Tommy, can you give Lilly something to settle her nerves.

Tommy Mason, the newly assigned medic, handed them each a pill and water container.  I think we all could use one of these right about now.  He grinned as he passed them around.  It’s gentle, but it will help steady you.

Lilly gave him a weak smile and swallowed the pill before turning back to the communications panel.  Explorer One calling the Reacher, come in Reacher.  No reply.  This is Explorer One calling Reacher, Reacher, do you copy?

The response was faint, but they heard it.  Reacher here, Explorer.

We’ve suffered damage and need immediate repairs, Reacher.  Are you near?

This is the captain; we’re still several hours away, can you land safely to await our arrival?

Negative, Captain.  Ship was storm damaged, barely reached space.  We have injured as well.

Amanda ...

Commander Drake leaned closer and spoke.  I’m fine, Jeannie, but my poor ship took a pounding, and we had to leave people on the surface.

We’re coming, Mandy, all possible speed. Reacher out. 

Amanda sighed and sank into a seat.  Her bonded companion, Captain Suvi-jean Sorenson, the former SUVI 5, would waste no time or effort to get to her.  Okay, she’s on her way, folks.  Tommy, how bad are our injuries?

Well, our engineer has a broken arm, so Three took over his job; Alec is in bad shape from a nasty bite.  That beast tore him up bad.  The rest are bumps, bruises, and sprains.

I see you’re limping.

That would be the knee sprain I spoke of, he grinned.  Now, how about I take a look at that bump on your head?

Sure, why not?  Three, can we hold this orbit?  Will she hold together?

Yes to both questions, but I wouldn’t want to try a long jump in her right now.

Understood.  Settle back and rest, people.  We’ll sit tight and wait for the Reacher to get here.  I expect Jeannie will want to send Recovery One down to look for our people.  I’d like to be well rested and ready to accompany that rescue mission, same for the rest of you.  That’s our crew down there and it’s our job to get them back.

Commander.

Yes, Morthel?

I just got a quick look through a gap in the clouds, it was there and gone.

So, what did you see?

SUVI 20 has found Jake, no animals close.

Now that is good news.  Anything on Mr. Sacumbtu?

Sorry, Commander.  I’ll keep trying.  Amanda nodded, then with a deep sigh, she leaned back and closer her eyes.

Chapter 2

Survival

Jake awoke with a start , disoriented.  There was that rattle of stone again.  Shaking his head to clear the cobwebs, he managed to focus on the entrance to the cave.  The rattle of stone on stone came again.  It was SUVI 20 clearing away some of the debris from the entrance.

Making a bigger hole to let the critters in?

No, Jake, I’m making a bigger hole, so I can get you out.  You’re far too beat up to crawl through the way I got in.  I need to open this enough for you to get out before the whole damn thing falls down on us.

Outside the storm still raged with howling winds and driving rain.  Not in a big hurry to go out in that.

She sighed and stopped working for a moment.  I know, me neither, but this place is really unstable.  We need to find a better shelter.

There’s another option.

SUVI 20 raised an eyebrow at him.  I’m listening.

I can feel a cold draft on my back.  Maybe this cave comes out someplace else, maybe it has another entrance.

With a liquid grace she moved through the dim light toward him.  Stepping past him she stood still, silently searching for the draft.  There it was, just a hint of cold air, but