Jason peered once more into the nothing of darkness and recalled the scene at the elevator. Whatever danger was downstairs could peep out upstairs and someone had guns. I just hope it was not the guns from the armory, he thought. He moved forward and without looking at the rest said, “Now is the time to be quiet. Stay low and follow me.”
“Aye, aye, oh Capitan,” Santa said.
Jason leaped on him like an enraged lion, his muscular, strong frame making light work of the much weaker posture of Santa and soon he was all over him.
Santa cried out for help, but the speed and precision of the attack neutralized the other men to mere dumbstruck witnesses.
The scuffle was over in a flash, and Jason effortlessly pinned down Santa with his bodyweight, an elbow forcing Santa’s jaw sideways. White saliva formed in the corner of his mouth as he lowered his chin right next to the Santa’s ear.
“Listen…dude…do not fuck with me, never ever fuck with me, okay? Next time when I tell you to be quiet, you stay quiet. Understood?”
Rapid shots of breath dampened his hands and Jason toyed with the impulse thought of adding more force and snapping Santa’s neck. But he knew the fat idiot might still be useful in some way, so he controlled all impulses to inflict extreme bodily harm and slowly withdrew.
Santa nodded and sat upright while rubbing his neck.
“This goes for all of you.”
Both Noah and Charlie nodded in eager agreement. Neither of them wanted to be the alpha male anyway, so were only too happy to comply.
Jason took a deep cold breath and waited for his heart rate to normalize. Everyone held back in anticipation for Santa to find his feet. His face was drained from color and he stumbled once when his shaking knees buckled underneath the stress of the moment. Santa desperately tried to avoid the cold gaze from Jason and his hand twitched nervously by his side.
“Okay,” said Jason after a while as he slowly regained control of his emotions again.
“Let’s move.”
He was thankful that the constant red flash of light was a thing of the past and no longer irritated his eyes. Jason scanned the open hall once more before continuing at a rapid pace. For the first time everyone was silent and only the soft tap of leather against solid steel echoed within the open environment. He was always drawn to openness. As a boy he loved the outdoors and played hours on end in the corn field adjacent to the orphanage that gave him shelter and food. In the field he was free; a stark contrast to the vocation he chose. But then again he never had a choice.
“What the hell...?”
There was real concern in Charlie’s voice. The type of concern that will keep a man awake at night and it took Jason only a second to spot the cause.
“Stop,” he whispered the advance to a halt. One of the side glass walls had an object forced through it that dangled like a broken log through a house window after a hurricane. Only this was not a log and the branches were not wood.
Noah was first to break the stunned atmosphere. “What the hell is that?” he asked and followed the slow cautious movements of the team.
“Not what,” Santa said. “Who…”
“It’s one of the peace keepers,” Jason said, puzzled, not because of a dead body, but rather at one burning question: What on earth can propel a human body through three inches of solid glass?
Miki Callahan
Doctor Miki Callahan was every science geek’s dream girl. The youngest to ever graduate with a PhD in Chemistry from the prestigious Kyoto University in Japan, the twenty-nine year old had the ability to both produce groundbreaking new formulas and also walk any fashion runway around the world. In fact it was destined in the meaning of her name: "Priceless Beauty”.
As the only daughter of an Irish diplomat father and Japanese pianist mother, she possessed a genius mixture of passion and discipline, attributes she found very useful in her chosen profession. All of this was bottled in a short delicate frame, formed by years of practicing competitive Jujutsu. Besides her shoulder length black hair it was always the windows to her soul that struck the final cord with men. Large, sea-blue eyes saw the world from behind a striking Eastern looking face and many young men fell in love with her on first glance.
When she entered the secure level four laboratory for the fifth time after a short personal break, the same blue eyes looked through the protective mask bloodshot and tired. She had been going straight for ten hours, the last five alone.
It was an easy decision to send the rest of the team off to their loved ones, since the order came unscheduled. Although Orion was caught in the constant darkness of space, it still practiced to work a perceptual day. According to the mainframe’s calendar and clock, they were already well into Friday night. The team was relieved at the much needed break while Miki on the other hand had no family on Orion and also had no extracurricular obligations.
Her only living blood was a younger brother she never saw, a drifter backpacking somewhere in Europe or Asia. She did not mind a bit. The abandonment suited her and gave her time to reflect and concentrate. Life on Orion was tough enough in the small quarters, and besides her morning Jujutsu routine, the open science hall provided her the solitude she needed to keep going.
She waited a moment for a small light to turn green before a last sliding door opened the world she loved most. The oval room was the fourth and last in a row of separate laboratories inside the main science building. Each laboratory was clearly numbered with this one being the most secure, mainly due to the hazardous materials inspected inside its glass walls.
Outside, the dangerous interior was a paradise for the chemists, physicists and engineers: an entire section of the space station cornered off for them that sported state-of-the-art equipment, the latest technological gadgets, a large resting area, recreation room, cafeteria and even small sleeping quarters for those working late. Sometimes this level was fondly referred to as “The Science Mall” by the scientist of Orion, and Miki had to admit that it was just that.
Aside from top brass, only a select few were allowed into the mall. Three security passes, including a double retinal scan, fingerprint scan and voice control activation was necessary to enter the main science building. To access a designated laboratory, a level clearance access card was needed. In short, without the correct clearance, nothing got in and nothing got out of the airtight, sound-proof facility. That was why the rest of Orion’s colorful inhabitants called it Science Knox.
“Okay, let’s get a tune going,” she mumbled and pointed a small remote control to similar size box. “Something old and classic,” she mused and did a delightful head-bang when she heard The Dead come Calling by her favorite Heavy Metal band.
Miki grinned and felt her body sway to the beat “Now we can work,” she said and smiled the moment the lead singer’s voice began singing: Now say your prayers my little child...
Miki moved over towards the table, stretched her aching body from underneath the full body protective suit and picked up the solid black rock. It was almost round apart for a hairline crack in the surface. She took a moment to investigate it again. The solid, smooth black outer wall gave it an egg like attribute.
At first glance, it almost looked impenetrable, but one hard knock was enough to brittle the smooth surface. All preliminary tests were conducted on the outside crust, trying to establish the type of mineral, but the rock was hundred percent alien. Zero fragments were from any mineral, metal or alloy known to man. The inside was a different prospect and looked intriguing, with a world of wonders. Small green, microscopic lines formed a maze of mystery. It resembled a human artery system and housed an unknown gas.
“Time for the gas,” she whispered before switching off the music and pressing a small button on her left chest.
“Doctor Miki Callahan continuing test 7896 on subject 530,” she said with a formal, but tired voice. It was important to document all tests since most metals would eventually find its way in a life pod headed to earth, and it wa
s imperative that the intended recipients knew exactly what they were dealing with.
Don’t want to send them something that goes Kaboom! Miki thought and continued.
“Initiating separation of green substance into test vacuum,” she said knowing full well the substance was a gas. It was Captain Hendricks who summoned her to the Science room. True to his nature, the orders were fast and strict, issued within full Orion protocol.
“Miki, we require a full analysis on this,” he said and pointed to the rock inside a sealed container. “And I mean everything; especially the gas subsistence inside,” he finished.
She knew and respected Captain Hendricks, and he had been the chief catalyst in her recruitment. The proud man was always in control, but at that moment, standing before her, he looked anxious and concern ran deep grooves above his brow.
“We will captain, but may I ask how you were informed about the gas?”
Captain Hendricks hesitated a moment “I dropped it and an outer piece broke off. It released a clear green gas.”
“Captain, did you or anyone inhale or...”
“No! I was alone,” he snapped. “Please get on with it and don’t mention it again.”
“But captain if—”
For the first time since she’d met him did she see his face turn red. “Doctor Callahan! Do as ordered! And do not mention this discussion with anyone! Do your job and send me the results,” he shouted and scurried off out the door towards the control room.
That was more than twelve hours ago and the initial report on the outer crust was sent to the Captain, even though she knew that was not what he desired. With steady hands she placed the rock inside the round vacuum, closed it all down and strolled over to a computer on the opposite table. The vacuum was hi-tech, rigged with everything from camera to remote cutting tool, all hooked up to a super computer. A few clicks later she saw an enhanced image of the rock with the green veins and guided the laser cutting tool with a joystick and an artist hand. It took several painstaking minutes for Miki to cut the beam into the veins before it slowly released the clear, visible green gas.
“Gotcha,” she smiled. Pearls of sweat formed on her brow from underneath the mask. The process went perfect and for at least the next hour a computer armed with her personally developed software program would determine the origin, type and density of the gas, running through a maze of possible variables. It would also test toxicity, flammability and a host of other important factors to consider.
“End of subtraction, computer scan commence,” she said and made her way out of the laboratory. After her suit was sprayed with antiseptics and blasted with compressed air to ensure that no alien particles escaped, she entered the open plan hall and headed over to the deserted cafeteria. Moments later, Miki Callahan took the last sip of coffee, snuggled herself deep in to the sofa and closed her eyes. Just before she drifted away she thought of Captain Hendricks and his never-before seen temper tantrum, the strange rock, the green gas and her favorite band.
I’m the shadow hiding under your bed,
Clawing my way into your head…
Jason Clark
“What in the name of Zeus’s butthole happened here?” Santa asked and navigated first past the debris of broken glass, metal and pieces of electronic equipment to end up near the dead Peace Keeper. Electric flares flew sporadic and out of rhythm from the main control switchboards. The rest of the team followed with cautious steps, all developing their own opinions for what had transpired here.
Moments earlier, they entered the control room armed with only the knowledge of a dead Peace Keeper thrown through what was supposed to be impenetrable glass. But the day was far from done in curveballs and shocks. To their horror the heart of Orion was the resting place for two more bodies—both general officers. Only one departed soul’s cause of death was clear: a single gunshot right between his eyes.
For Jason the control room was evidence of one major tussle and looked like the aftermath of some cheap sci-fi action movie. Only this was real, and with enough bullet holes and three dead guys to prove the authenticity. Even more concerning was the fact that the slugs were planted in the glass and through the equipment from various angles, almost as if the defenders were surrounded, or worse, were shooting at one another. Something big happened here and it most certainly was no tea party.
Santa whistled softly through his teeth and moved over to the dead body of the keeper; “What do you think happened here boss?”
Jason ignored the question at first, locked deep in his own thoughts. Eventually he answered with a short “I don’t know,” before Santa could open his mouth again. He knelt down next to the keeper and the smell of decomposing, rotten flesh flared up into his nostrils. Between the overwhelming stench and the burst of nauseating vomit forming in the pit of his stomach, he found the rapid decay of a corpse in this cold environment very strange—practically impossible. At first glance the man appeared to be torn to shreds, probably from the thick glass, but it was on closer inspection that Jason felt his heart race and climb up into his throat.
There is no way!
The wounds on the poor soul were not inflicted by glass; there were clear bite marks, animalistic in nature.
The bear-like scratches on the elevator door, he wondered. Is there a connection?
“No way,” said Santa and stretched his hand out towards Jason. “Look at this boss? It is Jelly.”
“What is?” asked Jason and grabbed Santa’s outstretched hand.
“The blood, it’s a kind of jelly. Shouldn’t it be a dry or warm liquid or something?”
“Boss!” Charlie shouted from behind, “this dude with the headshot has jelly for blood as well. What the hell is this?”
“And the third?” asked Jason.
Charlie replied by shaking his head. “Na, he is face down, and I am not touching that!”
Jason studied the strange jelly-like substance intently. Initially, he thought it was one of Santa’s tricks and gathered a second sample for himself. Unfortunately, the fat idiot was right. The blood was a sticky jelly-like substance, unlike anything he had seen before.
Could it be the cold air? He wondered but being an experienced hunter of many animals in the cold mountains of Alaska; he put the argument quickly to rest.
I have never seen anything like this.
“Boss, why jelly?” Santa asked and for the first time there was no joke or laughter in his voice; only deep concern.
Jason let out an irritated sigh. “I don’t know and I’m not waiting to find out,” he mumbled and started to fiddle over the mutilated body of the security keeper.
It took some pretty abominable investigating and picking but eventually he got hold of the access card. Before he stood up and left, Jason searched the body in the hope of finding some sort of weapon. Something or someone caused the slug fest, he reasoned. When he found nothing, he stood up and sighed. Although the mystery of the death intrigued every part of him, he was not going to hang about and play detective. He would love to know how he died, where the rest were, why the massive fire fight from all angles, the state of the body and especially who or what was capable of throwing a fully grown man through three-inch thick solid glass, but this was not his primary concern. This was not the time to hang around and suffer the same potential fate. They came here for one thing, and by the looks of it, they would need those weapons, and soon.
Jason motioned at Santa and the two men heaved open the large magnetic steel door that protected the cargo of the armory. The interior of the small steel room was dark, but as soon as the door was fully extended it gave one soft click sound. A dim light from the emergency generator sprung to life and inside silhouettes of almost empty disappointment greeted them.
“Damn it!” Jason cursed as he entered. Between the solid steel shelves, there were a few boxes of ammunition for assault rifles and a couple for hand held weapons, all which he grabbed and shoved into his backpack. As the search gained momentum, he saw a
few more items, but mostly non-essentials.
“Get some of those smoke grenades,” he ordered Santa. For the next couple of minutes the men picked off everything they could carry like looters. Apart from the ammunition and smoke grenades they managed to gather one backpack, with basic medical supplies and two electrical stun guns, the type used for crowd control.
In the meantime, Charlie and Noah walked past the opening of the armory, “Yo!” Charlie called out. “Jason, Boss…Guys, we found a security camera.”
Jason took no notice and examined the room once more just in case they missed something important. Disappointed he turned and waved to Santa to move out. Once they were out, the large magnetic door slammed shut, sealing the armory with a soft click.
Jason cleared the captain’s table and placed everything on the white plastic surface for final inspection. While engaged in the process, his mentor’s voice echoed from years past, repeating the four pillars of survival: stay hydrated, always eat when you can, sleep when you can, and make sure your equipment is in working condition. His back flash was interrupted by the shrill shriek of Charlie’s voice.
“Damnit, this thing does not work!”
“Wait, let me try something,” said Noah and placed his camera next to the security monitor. “See, it seems like the screen took a bullet here on the side, but the memory card is still intact. So let’s just take it out, plug it into my camera and hope for the best.”
Both men waited in anticipation for the camera screen to come to life. It started first with only a static white noise but gradually the image on the screen began to move. They watched the control room from the angle opposite of the armory and everything seemed peaceful enough. There were two general officers and two Peace Keepers all doing what they were supposed to do, which was basically nothing. Military life on the placid Orion had been reduced to random routine equipment checks.
“Dude, this is a couple of hours ago?” Charlie said.
“I’ll forward it a bit,” said Noah said and pushed a button on his camera.