It took a great deal of time and work, but I eventually got the pod suspended on four metal rollers. I laid some more out in front. I had a pile of them to go at. It was easier now.
I rolled the pod up to the door. The approach had a slight incline. Not a problem as the rollers were taller and I could position a roller on both sides of the door.
I began pushing the pod out of the door. Almost there. No. The pod was at the wrong angle. I needed to straighten its approach and try again. Taking the metal bar again, I slowly winched the pod to the side. That did it. I started to push forwards. Almost there, I thought.
I grabbed a couple more rollers and was placing them outside when a bony hand made a grab for me. An immortal. I retreated, clambered over the pod and fell back in the room. The immortal stretched her legs over the pod in the doorway and approached. I’d been so close.
It said, “The police have been notified and are on their way.”
I needed only minutes. I gripped the metal bar tight in both hands and brought the full force of my body swinging down on the immortal. She caught it in one hand and effortlessly swiped it away from me.
I backed away as she picked up pace towards me. Somehow I managed to dart to the side of her. I leaped over the pod and out of the door. I could hear her behind me. Around the side. The ladder. I began to climb the ladder. I felt cold now. Steady, I told myself, You’re doing it.
There was a clanging noise below. I looked down. The immortal was following me up. I reached the top and ran to the far end - looking out over the edge. The pod was visible, sat halfway out of the building. If I jumped from here, the fall would kill me. Maybe I’d have enough strength left, after hitting the ground, to hit launch. At least get the others rescued. Would it launch successfully from inside the doorway? I didn’t know.
The face of the immortal emerged from the ladder. I had to get back down. Would the immortal be faster than me, whilst descending?
I could hear the sound of a transport pulling in. The police would be here now. I’d have to get down as fast as possible and run. That was my only chance. I was a good runner - built for endurance.
Maybe, out of the city I would find some hope. The immortal walked towards me, briskly, and I circled the roof before making a run for the ladder. She swung her arm outwards and I felt a pinch on the side of my hand. Instinctively, I kicked her away and pulled my hand back. She let go. She didn’t have a good grip. I climbed down the ladder as fast as I could, and that felt painfully slow. The immortal’s face looked down at me as she paused. Then she began to follow. I jumped the last metre to the ground, and, rushing past the corner of the building, I caught the attention of the police. Two immortal police had walked up to the doorway and were waiting when I appeared. They lurched towards me, and I turned and ran.
I’d never ran like this before. This world was heavy and with every step my legs were pushed hard against the ground. I had to pace myself. I had to leave the city. I didn’t know how far the police would follow me, but on every street corner more and more immortals would join the chase. The streets rippled with their twisted flesh as they yanked their bodies along in my wake. If only I could lead these rats into a mountain.
There was a bridge ahead. Beyond that, I could make out a residential area. Beyond that, I could see green hills on the horizon. Could I run that far? On my home planet, a run like that would be little challenge.
The bridge was straight, about two hundred metres long, though I could be off with that estimate. It spanned a fast flowing river. I’d only got part way along it, when the far end became filled with immortals. Could they have laid an ambush? I looked back. The immortals chasing me had reached the bridge. The only option was to swim.
I ran to the side of the bridge and climbed over and down. At one point, I was climbing along the underside of the bridge. At another point, I lost my grip and hit the water hard. I lay back in the water and let the flow carry me along. Some immortals looked on at me, from the bridge, but none followed.
Chapter 7
I stayed in the cream coloured water, terrified of land - my body tossed around in the current. I was used to water - it was my home. I floated high on the surface, tipping to-and-fro. It was a welcome break from the terror and strain of the day.
I looked up at the yellow sky and thought of getting home. The obstacles seemed so vast now, and I knew there would be more horrors to come. This cool river could be the nicest place that I’d ever rest my head again.
I rested for hours, carried by the river.
When I was being chased I should have tried circling back to the pod and hit launch. That would have been my only real chance. I hadn’t been thinking.
As it was, I’d got this far by telling myself that, maybe, I’d find some old spacecraft capable of getting me off this place. Just fantasies. This wouldn’t happen. I looked out at countryside in the million to one chance that I’d find a spacecraft, somewhere out here, and it was set up and working after all these years, I still wouldn’t be able to use it. Not without one of their mind implants. The reality of the situation bore down on me. It was hopeless.
I could see some massive biodomes on the horizon. More remnants of the dead civilisation.
What would an alien make of this world? Would they see it as a civilisation of robots wearing organic clothing? Would they realise it was once a human world? Could they comprehend how humans gradually and willingly brought this upon themselves? I couldn’t.
After soaking in the sun for hours, my body ran up against some rocks by the side of the river. There was an old building on the other side. Industrial. It seemed long out of use.
It was the wild people who found me. They’d seen me floating down the river and watched me drift ashore. They emerged cautiously from the woods.
Biologically they seemed like traditional humans, free from enhancements, but they looked rough. Clad in leather and furs, despite the sweltering heat. Faces half covered by their leather hoods. There were three of them, all men, and only the oldest spoke to me. Their caution was the only thing that stopped me running up and hugging them on sight. The realisation that I wasn’t alone.
“You came from the city?” the man bellowed.
I nodded. “Yes, I came from the city. I didn’t know there was anyone left.”
“The normals didn’t take you?”
“The normals, you call them? They took my friends.”
“Stay away from the cities. If they decide they want you, they will take you. They will always find you.”
“Always?”
“Always. Are they after you? You can’t be here if they are. You’ll bring them here, and we don’t want them.”
I was in no state to lie, “I think they’re after me. Do you know what they’ll do to me?”
He looked at me as if I was from another planet, which I was, “They’ll normalise you.”
“Do you know any way off this planet? Anywhere that I could find-”
I stopped and gave up. It was clear they didn’t understand what I was talking about. As far as they knew, this was the only world there was, and hiding from the normals is how it’s always been.
They were weary of me and, despite my best efforts, they refused to offer any help. Before they left, they told me that, if I followed them to their village, they would kill me.
They left, backing away into the woods until they disappeared. Then I was alone again. I would head in another direction. I would head back to the city.
Chapter 8
I’d no idea how far I’d travelled. I watched the hills go by as I floated down river, but I wasn’t making notes. I walked along the grassy river bank. As unlikely as it seemed, I knew my only chance was the pod.
Immortals weren’t my only concern. I needed to find the pod. Had I remembered any landmarks? Yes, there was a large cylindrical tower next to the cluster of hangars and the building with the pod. I’d recognise that if I saw it. How far into the city would it be it
? Cetus Park was huge.
To walk within the city, without being dragged off, I’d have to stop the immortals recognising me. If they thought I was someone else, maybe they’d leave me alone. It seemed likely they’d use some sort of facial recognition for identification. I couldn’t change my face. Would they object to me hiding it? What about my clothes? Would they recognise them? If only I’d thought of this when I met the wild people. Perhaps I could have traded my clothes for furs.
My clothes were still soaked from the river, but they'd dry fast enough in the sun. I took my shirt off and wrapped it around my head, punctured two holes for my eyes. Then I turned my brown jacket inside out. The lining was green. I didn’t have a mirror but I hoped this would do the trick.
I felt more confident now. I had a plan - an objective. I’d test my disguise on the first immortal I came across. I must have looked ridiculous.
It took the rest of the day to walk back to the edge of Cetus Park. It was dark now. First things first, I needed an immortal. Stood on the edge of a residential area, I spotted one. She was tending to some flowers. I stood in front of her, to gauge her reaction. I was ready to run. If I had to run, I’d run back to the river. It had proven an adequate escape route and I was confidant in water.
The immortal continued tending to her plants.
“Hello,” I said.
She stopped and looked at me. After a pause she said, “Hello, I’m Sandra Furrow, I’m sorry, I’m afraid I’m not available right now.” Then she returned to her plants.
I stepped closer. Within arms reach. I posed myself ready to jump back.
Nothing.
Could this plan work?
I made my way to the road. There was still a long walk ahead of me. I didn’t know how long, but it could take hours to find it. I had to keep an eye out for that cylindrical building.
Immortals were as active at night as they were in the day. That was half the point of autopilot. To make use of sleeping bodies and deaden the nerves so the brain wouldn’t care. It seemed an unattractive idea to me, but I suppose you’d have to be there - part of the culture.
I kept to largely deserted roads, where I could, and remained ever vigilant when an immortal came close. As I got nearer the centre I found that caution got harder. At one point I turned a corner to find myself amongst a group of immortals, walking around me. I was completely vulnerable. But at least it reassured me that my disguise worked.
I was confident I could see the top of the cylindrical building in the distant. My little guide, lit up in the sky.
As I got closer, I saw it wasn’t quite cylindrical. It was shaped like the letter ‘C’ and had a courtyard in the middle. It had taken me hours, but I was back where I started. I circled round, trying to find the road leading to the hangars. Here it was. I’d run down this road in panic earlier today. How brave I was, coming back. I saw the sign by the hangars. How did I manage to forget about it.
‘Authorised Access Only’
If I set a foot closer I’d be a target again. I got my bearings - I knew where the pod would be. This was assuming they hadn’t taken it apart already.
Run in, activate the pod, run towards river. That was the plan. Was there anyone around. The hangars were dark buildings, poorly lit and concealed in each other's shadow. I thought I saw some movement in the distance. It’s to be expected. I’d be sure to find some immortals around here.
Taking a few deep breaths, I prepared myself. Was there enough space for the pod to operate? We’d have to see.
Time to make my move. I ran as fast as I could. There was no sound but my footsteps. Perhaps nobody was watching. I ran through the gap between two hangars; the building would be somewhere behind here.
My forearm tighten and I squealed in pain. An immortal had been standing in the shadow and snatched me with an opportunistic swipe. She gripped my arm and brought me to my knees. The strength of this skeletal lady was like iron. She led me along as I screamed, struggling to get to my feet. She wrenched my arm, uncaringly, at an angle.
“The police have been notified and are on their way.”
I screamed and kicked to little effect. I complained that she was hurting me - it did nothing. She took me to the roadside and waited for the transport to roll up. The wait was only two minutes. Two police officers approached. One removed the shirt from around my head. Then, each taking hold of a wrist, they dragged me into the transport. The transport drove away. Thin bony bodies sat either side of me. The bulge of their internal enhancements running over their withered muscles. this was all they were really.
My mind turned to Florina and her fate. Trapped in a body she couldn’t control. Hayden’s probably the same now. I’ll be next. The terrible ways things can turn out. The rest of my life - maybe hundreds of years - it could be spent like this. I looked at the officers - their glazed over eyes. All the things that could have gone differently. The things that would have set my life on another path. Why did I land here. We could have waited in orbit, until rescued.
It was the other two really, they wanted to see the planet, but I made no objections. Florina had never set a foot off Ruk.
Chapter 9
My heart lifted as the transport stopped outside the hotel. Were they letting me go? They escorted me into the lift and we waited as the lift took us up. Was this some strange process they do every time they arrest someone? Did they take Florina to her room before they stuck those enhancements in her?
The lift came to a halt and I was escorted down the hall. However, rather than taking me to my room, they turned past an immortal, which was stood sentry, and took me into Hayden’s room.
He was sat on his bed and stood up with surprise when I entered. The relief brought laughter and tears to my face. He was himself, unenhanced, and there were two other people with him.
“You took your time,” said Hayden, with a smile, “They said we couldn’t leave without you. This is the rescue party. I filled them in on what happened to Florina and the kid we saw. Hopefully, the immortals will let us leave now.”
“It’s that simple?”
He nodded, “This is Jenny and Leon.”
They greeted me. Their shiny orange skin suggested they were both from the border planets.
Leon said, “We’ve heard about what you’ve been through. Let’s just get to our ship without creating any more fuss.”
They both looked worried. This wouldn’t have been what they expected, when sent to rescue us. The sooner we got off this planet the less reason they would have to resent us.
The police now stood by the door.
I asked one if we could go to their ship. The officer turned and led us out. I hadn’t collected my things from my room, but I’d become so nervous about triggering a negative reaction that I decided to leave it all.
We all left the hotel, I glanced helplessly at Florina as she manned the hotel reception desk. We followed the officer into a transport from there we were all taken back to the hangars. How could I have missed it? A ship stood not far from the building where I left the pod. I could probably go and trigger it now. Not that there seemed like much point. I didn’t want to risk a reaction.
We boarded the ship and the officer followed.
“You’re not planning on coming with us?” Jenny asked?
It didn’t answer.
I said, “Let’s get on board and worry about that later. Is the ship ready to leave?”
They nodded as we all made our way to the flight deck.
“We’re going to leave now,” I said to the immortal officer.
“You are not cleared to leave, yet.”
“What now?”
“Take off. We can take him,” I said.
Could we? What made me think that? It was fear. Leon pressed at a console, closing the door to the ship. The officer grabbed Hayden and made his way towards the doorway, watching it close. He then turned back towards us. Then another officer appeared behind him. He must have come aboard after us.
“Two of them?!” Leon shouted.
I slammed the metal door to the flight deck and bolted it. The two immortals and Hayden were on the other side.
“What now?”
The officers started hammering on the door. It wouldn’t hold forever.
Leon tapped at some controls. “We can fly into space, then open the bay door. Flush them out.”
“Hayden’s out there.”
“We can’t save him.”
“You’re right.” I said, “It’s better than the alternative.”
Cold as that might sound, at the time I felt as if I was saying it out of kindness. I could have let Leon make all the tough choices and stayed silent, but I didn’t want him to bear the responsibility of such a decision on his own.
“We can’t fly,” Leon said, hitting his hand on the console.
“Why?” asked Jenny.
“They must have managed to get the door open. We can’t take off unless it’s sealed.”
Dents were appearing on the doorway to the flight deck. Loud clanging sounds as they hit against it.
“Any other ideas,” I said.
Jenny spoke up, “Blow the generator.”
“What?” cried Leon.
“Decouple the cooler. They won’t be able to stop it. When the reactor blows the EMG pulse will knock out all their enhancements. We can then worry about what to do next.”
“The blast will kill us.” Leon said.
“Maybe, but the blast won’t be that big, it depends how far away they take us. Honestly, I’d prefer death to the alternative.” she indicated towards the door.
He hit a few buttons, looking unsure of himself, then said, “Ok, it’s done.”
I asked how long it would take to blow and he shrugged.
The ship started making some strange croaking sounds.
We just sat and waited. It wouldn’t be long before the immortals burst through that door and dragged us away. Then we’d still have nothing to do but wait. Maybe we’d be lucky this time.
Chapter 10
The moment came quickly. Minutes of hammering at the door, then they all burst through. A small army of immortals to drag us away. We held no resistance, Still they yanked at our arms hard. Hayden was still here, with us. They took us all, in separate transports, to the Police headquarters.