CHAPTER 13
Marante
“Run!” yelled Marante.
The frightening taps of the scorpion’s feet made him want to sprint faster, but that would mean passing up Rina and Shiro and leaving them behind. He glanced back. The insect was zigzagging up and down the walls, avoiding boulders, speeding through the tunnel with remarkable agility. It banged one of its massive claws on the stone ceiling and the tunnel shook, almost making them fall.
“Follow me!” shouted Marante, studying the scanner and turning left into the cave.
Without warning, the scanner shut off.
A malfunction? thought Marante. I had just calibrated it.
He tapped each of the tiny orbs, hoping one of them would revive the picture, but none responded. Without the map, they were lost. They passed another tunnel and Marante wondered if that was their escape. The beast was catching up. Suddenly, Marante straightened his legs, skidding to a stop. The tunnel ended in a wide, open cavern scattered with dark brown boulders. He just missed barreling into Rina.
“Where are we?” she asked, frantically looking about.
“I do not know,” he said.
The scorpion stood at the cave entrance with its two large pincers raised in the air. Five pairs of red eyes were staring at them from beneath a lateritious hard shell. Directly next to its perpendicular mouth, two smaller claws clicked away, ready to reel in its prey. The four scurried to the back wall.
From there Marante caught sight of the segmented tail. The caudal appendage looped high over its body and ended with a three-foot long curved stinger. A formidable weapon.
Kalin fired a shot. The monster jumped in the air and bashed into a bulge of protruding rock. Its body flipped and crashed to the floor upside down. The creature whined and screeched, wildly thrashing its legs attempting to right itself.
“What happened to the scanner?” asked Kalin, keeping his Barra pointed at the beast. “Did she touch it?”
Another shriek pierced the air. The upright tail of a black scorpion was visible behind the red one.
“I’m done!” said Kalin.
With one push of his legs, he jumped onto an eight-foot high boulder and took aim. Two blasts punctured the outer shell of the red scorpion, sending it sliding along the soil where it bashed into the wall. It came to its legs and wobbled, high-pitched squeals flooding the cavern as blood spurted in all directions. Marante saw the tail of the other insect backing away. The red scorpion rose up, ready to attack, but staggered, then crumpled to the ground dead.
“Where did the other one go?” asked Rina.
“Who knows and who cares,” said Shiro. “I just want out of here.”
The scanner blinked on and Marante quickly did a calibration.
“Were you implying I had something to do with the scanner breaking?” asked Rina.
“Yes, I was,” said Kalin blatantly. “I don’t trust liars.”
“What reason would I have to lie to you?” she said. “We don’t know why we were brought down here. What can’t you understand about that?”
“I tell you what, doll, you tell me who you’re working for and I’ll let up.”
Rina’s mouth dropped open in shock. “You think I’m working for Vorkis?” Marante sensed her overwhelming anger. “Why would I be working for the man who’s trying to destroy my world? He’s killed more than half the population; whole generations of people are gone and you think I want to support him? What is wrong with you?”
“He has an insider,” Kalin said calmly, “and you stink of him.” He stepped closer to peer into her eyes. “Or is that the stench of an incapable wench?”
“Think what you want,” she said. “Obviously, you’ve made up your mind and won’t listen to reason. But hear this,” she pointed her finger in his face, “I am not working for Vorkis. I did not touch the scanner. But I will do everything possible to save this planet with or without you. Can you understand that? Or should I spell it out?”
“My lady,” Marante interjected, “please, ignore him. We must remain calm if we are to save your world.”
“Tell that to the annoying tongue blister,” she said, pointing at Kalin.
“You’re the one hindering this mission,” said Kalin, “and you need to come straight if you want to save your world.”
It is enough, Kalin. Your suspicions are impeding the mission.
Will you relax? She’s going to break soon.
Marante dismissed Kalin’s thought. “An outside power source is interfering with the scanner’s operation and I cannot decipher the source.”
“Like I said, I’ll save it with or without you,” she said. “I think you need to reevaluate your objectives. Are you here to save us? Or yourself?”
He shook his head. “This isn’t about me, doll. It’s about you not telling the truth.”
Rina made a heavy sigh. “You’re the most unreasonable, immature man I’ve ever met. You wouldn’t know the truth if it bit you in the nates.”
“All you have to do is be honest, Rina,” he said, slinging his Barra over his back, “and you just might survive this.”
“I’m not stupid. Anyone connected with Vorkis is dead in your eyes. Obviously you care more about yourself than—”
“We don’t have time for this!” Kalin interrupted. “Marante, fix the scanner.”
“If I could, I would have by now,” said Marante, sensing Kalin’s urgency to find the answers and his disappointment in losing the battle with Rina. He did not appreciate her perceptiveness.
“Are you saying there’s nothing in that fat head of yours to fix the scanner?”
Marante saw his own nose balloon out, glowing like a red sun. “Now you listen to me, you oversized fur ball. It is interference, not physical damage. And why,” he added, pointing to the scorpion, “do you always attract the ones with legs?”
Kalin’s lips pressed into a coy smile and he addressed Shiro, turning his back on Rina. “Marante’s afraid of pheladons, or what you Earth-humans call spiders. When we were on Earth some years ago, we decided to sleep under the stars. In the middle of the night, he woke up with a big hairy one crawling across his forehead. He made a girly scream and jumped around smacking his head trying to get it off. To this day, it’s still the funniest thing I’ve ever seen him do.”
“The incident was not funny,” said Marante, recalling the loathsome experience. “I was panicked and you should be more sympathetic.”
“Yeah, cute. I hate spiders too,” said Shiro. “But can we get out of here? I don’t want to be trapped again if the other one comes back.”
Shiro was visibly shaking. Streams of sweat lined his brow and his dark hair was wet with perspiration. He began pacing, rubbing his brow, unable to control his fear. Marante knew this type of terror. The Hake beast on Arna was his most dreadful experience ever. He would never forget being in the creature’s mouth, watching Kalin battle it. A shiver overcame him. Unfortunately, because of the Ison glands just beneath his skin, he could still feel the slimy, warm saliva of the monster although it had been over ten years.
“Be still, my friend,” said Marante. “Kalin and I have Barras and we will protect you. Try to stay calm. Everything will be fine.”
Shiro gazed at Rina, his lips trembling over his large teeth. “You know how much I hate this.”
“I know,” she replied. “I hate this, too, but Marante’s right. We’ll be fine. Just try to stay calm.”
Shiro nodded and sat on a boulder with his hands on his knees, struggling to control his breathing. Rina sat with him and held his hand, consoling him. Marante observed the two. She was Shiro’s strength, though he did not realize how strong he could be. His condition was deceiving him.
“Are the scorpions indigenous too?” asked Kalin.
“Yes and no,” said Marante. “According to the previous scans, when the upper continents separated, a large mass of crust, approximately six hundred miles square, broke off and sank into the planet.”
“Pangea,??
? said Rina.
Marante eyed her strangely. “What?”
“Pangea is the single continent that separated into the world we know today.”
Marante regarded her knowledge of the planet, though some facts were inaccurate, she truly loved her profession. He continued, “Yes, the insects on this descending island took refuge in the deep caves. Over time, they adjusted to the pressure and, as all life does, they survived because according to the data, there is a vast area abundant in water and plant life not too far from here. Phosphorus crystals have allowed the plants to exist. The prodigious land mass eventually became a part of this core, and we are standing in that piece.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” asked Kalin.
“Because, we were running, berk.”
“I’m not a moron, bubble head.”
“Yes, you are, twit.”
“Are there any dinosaurs?” asked Rina. She seemed excited. “They’re large animals who once lived on the surface.”
“I have only detected their petrified remains,” said Marante, “nothing else.”
“That’s just great,” said Shiro, shaking his head in disgust. “Now all we have to worry about is giant, man-eating roaches.”
“Can we leave,” asked Rina, “before someone has a coronary?” Her eyes flicked to Shiro.
“Okay,” said Kalin. “Shiro, we’re leaving. Stay close. Marante, can you at least guess the way to the Command Center?”
Marante wanted to knock the patronizing tone right out of his mouth. At times, Kalin was like an irritating skin rash and he wished he had brought Vecton glue to seal his lips shut. The wavering screen on the scanner made it difficult to assess the images.
“I believe we must go right at the next tunnel, then take a left. The signals are intermittent. If we die, it was the scanner’s fault and not mine.”
Rina walked to Marante and took his arm in hers. “I’m not worried,” she said.
Her warmth was inviting and her aqua-green eyes subdued any disappointment.
“You’re the smartest, coolest alien dude I’ve ever met,” she said. “Let’s go.”
Marante felt Kalin’s stare on Rina. Being a telepathic empath had its downfalls. There were many times the thoughts of people made him nauseous and he would have cast them from his mind. The best example was Ilya. His stomach knotted up recollecting her foul memory. Kalin was inspecting Rina in his usual, disgusting way.
Watch what you think, he said in his mind. She is a lady and does not deserve your disrespect.
Stay out of my head, replied Kalin.
This mission calls for us to remain connected telepathically and I do not want to see your vile pictures in my mind. Besides, I thought you were angry with her. You are so feeble when it comes to women.
Kalin didn’t retort; he just grinned and slid into the space between the beast and the rock face. It was no more than two feet wide. Rina was next, then Shiro, and he took up the rear guard. He watched Kalin for any signs, not wanting to enter his mind. Kalin was being the naughty little boy craving the new toy.
As they passed the dead insect, icy chills sent shivers through Marante. Several appendages were twitching as he backed along the wall. He hoped the sharp black bristles jetting from the legs would not render him in two. And how he wished his nose was his only olfactory organ! What these humans smelled with their tiny noses was nothing compared to a whole body receptor. The smooth Seerdon cloth allowed his Ison glands to assimilate the touch of others, absorb oxygen and, unfortunately, odors, many of which he was able to filter out. But the overpowering ones such as this dreadful stink of feces was making both his stomachs nauseous.
“Hurry up, Rina,” said Shiro.
“Quit pushing me,” she said. “I can only go as fast as Kalin.”
Kalin deliberately slowed and Shiro repeatedly tapped her shoulder, desiring a faster pace.
You are not being nice, Marante said to Kalin.
This is no time for nice, said Kalin. I want answers now and I’m doing all I can to not choke her, so leave me alone.
Kalin’s hatred was clogging his reasoning. He would undoubtedly kill her at the least provocation, and then regret his action for eternity. He had to protect Rina from Kalin, and protect Kalin from himself—a difficult task requiring shrewd thinking. They stepped into the tunnel and Rina turned to Shiro.
“You can relax now,” she said, glancing at Kalin. “We’re good.”
Behind them, lying flat on the earthen floor across the tunnel was the scorpion’s segmented tail and stinger. The thought of the three-foot long, umber-colored stinger penetrating a man was unnerving. Marante took a few steps back, adding more distance from the creature. Too many times, he’d seen unconscious monsters come to life and scare the wits out of him. A soft whistle echoed. It was Kalin signaling them to follow. They cautiously inched along the wall of the shadowy tunnel.
“Why is this place so dark?” asked Shiro, his voice quivering.
“Perhaps Vorkis was limited in his supply of Vitra Crystals,” said Marante, sensing Shiro’s anxiety. “This complex is enormous.”
Shiro’s illness kept him from showing his true worth. Marante decided to use his empathic abilities to help him, just as he had helped Kalin with accepting the deaths of his family and people. Shiro would need all his strength to endure this mission.
“Shiro,” he said quietly. “Would you mind if I kept my hand on your shoulder? It will help me to not lose track of you.”
“Yeah, no problem.”
Marante placed his hand on Shiro’s shoulder and began the slow healing.
“What the—” said Rina. “Is it raining in here?”
“I have been feeling it too,” said Marante. “It must be condensation.”
The quiet trickles of water droplets surrounded them.
“Why is it warm?” she asked.
“The rock surrounding this place is hotter than the sun’s surface,” said Shiro. “I would think the water here is warm.”
“No, this is sticky—”
A shrill split the air. The four leapt out of the way just as the black scorpion jumped down from the ceiling, snapping its claws and hissing. Shiro froze in horror. Marante clutched his arm and pulled him to a run; Rina and Kalin were close behind.
“This one is faster!” yelled Marante.
Shiro would not be able to keep up the speed.
Do something, Kalin!
“Take them!” shouted Kalin.
The three ran down the tunnel and then Marante yanked Rina and Shiro to a stop. He would not leave his friend in danger.
“What’s he doing?” asked Rina.
“Observe,” said Marante proudly. “A Saleran has the strength of a thousand men.”
With one swift kick, Kalin sent an embedded boulder flying out of the ground towards the creature. It jumped to the side and the stone hit the dirt with a boom, crashing into the cave wall. The scorpion banged its tail on the ceiling several times. Jagged stones tumbled from above, missing Kalin, who bolted down the passageway. The monster raced after him. Marante readied his Barra. He noticed a whitish membrane covering the entire beast. It was beginning to molt.
“Run, Kalin!” yelled Rina.
He winked and threw her a kiss, then flipped his body forward in mid-air and shot several laser blasts from upside down before landing on his feet again. The insect shrieked and stumbled to the ground. Three legs were missing. A smoldering hole opened its thorax.
Just then, the tunnel started to shake. Rocks and debris began falling. Marante pulled Shiro to the wall and they huddled. Kalin dove towards them through clouds of dust. The rumbling ceased.
A pile of stones covered the scorpion except for its face and a bent claw. Marante and Shiro stood up, dusting themselves off. Several smaller boulders tumbled away and Marante watched Kalin lift himself off Rina. He rechecked the scanner. It was still malfunctioning. Kalin hauled Rina to her feet.
“Thanks, Kalin,” she s
aid, brushing off her red shirt.
“No, problem,” he said, ogling her with a smile. “And thank you.”
“Pig,” was all she said before walking away. Kalin frowned.
This one will be your challenge, said Marante, laughing in his mind and sending the telepathic impulse to Kalin.
I’m not interested in her, replied Kalin. I just want her body.
Hmm..., said Marante. You really are swine.
Kalin scowled at him.
“See, you had nothing to worry about,” she said to Shiro, straightening his glasses. The left lens had cracked. “I’ll bet your OCD is kicking in big time.”
“OCD?” asked Marante.
“Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder,” she said. “Shiro hates anything out of place, although he’s gotten better with medicine.”
“Ah, yes,” said Marante. “So that is the name of your condition.”
“Shut up, Rina,” Shiro said, annoyed. “Those were the ugliest bugs I’ve ever seen.”
Marante noticed Shiro repeatedly brushing off his clothes. The psychological stress of not being clean seemed agonizing. Rina, on the other hand, didn’t care. She accepted their situation with grace. Shiro cleared his throat and swiped at the sweat rolling down his face. Marante patted Shiro on the back. A light was coming from a nearby tunnel.
“You will be all right, my friend,” said Marante, keeping focused on the light. “You are braver than you think.”
“Shiro, come here,” Rina said, studying the scorpion’s mouth. “The carapace has to be at least eight inches thick.”
Kalin was checking his Barra. “Is she always a scientist?” he asked glancing at Shiro.
Marante peered into Rina’s mind and realized how intelligent she was for an Earth-human. Then her hostility took him aback. In the past, women literally threw themselves at this masculine Prince of Salera, giving him whatever he pleased, yet this Earth-human from a primitive world harbored such an indignant animosity towards him she was contemplating assorted ways to clip off his manliness.
Oh dear, thought Marante. My lady, he said in her mind, please continue your patience with Kalin. He can be very pugnacious at times but I assure you, his intentions are good and with his guidance, your world can be saved.
Startled by the voice in her head, she answered, Do you always read people’s minds?
Not always, but this mission requires it.
I see, she said, nodding her head. Listen, I understand the pain he’s carrying is enormous and how he bears it is beyond my comprehension; it would drive me insane. However, his snide remarks and accusations are getting on my nerves. He needs to trust me and I know retaliating against him will only worsen the situation, but regardless of how he feels, my only concern is this planet and the people who live on it. Now, if it means putting up with his rudeness, I will, but after this is over, I’m going to kick-box him into the next century.
After the mission is complete, he answered, I will help you.
A wide smile covered Rina’s face as she shook her head in silent laughter.
I commend you for understanding his emotional state and not lashing back, he said. Be patient, my lady. You will see his greatness soon.
Yeah...If I don’t maim him first.
She was reaching her wit’s end and Kalin would eventually feel the full brunt of her frustration.
Shiro’s voice caught his attention: “...All the time. Say, how come your laser blast didn’t dissolve the bug like the Oridians?”
“Because of its size,” said Kalin.
“This is so cool,” said Rina, examining the beast.
She was standing between the mouth and claw when the large pincer began sliding along the dirt, pushing her towards its open mouth.
“Whoa!” she said.
Marante aimed his Barra, but she waved for him to stop. “Wait! I don’t want bug snot all over me.”
She leaned back on the claw and jumped up, stepping onto an eye of the creature, then flipped backwards over the pincer. Before she landed on her feet, several laser blasts hit the insect and it exploded into chunks of gelatinous muck.
Rina was drenched in red blood. Thick pieces of brownish-red meat oozed down her body. Slimy green entrails draped across her head and shoulders. Marante rushed to her.
“My lady,” he said, ready to help but not wanting to touch her. “Are you all right?”
She stared straight ahead with a blank look on her face, stuttering indecipherable words. She slowly raised her hands. They were dripping with yellow guano.
“I...I...need a shower.”
Marante sensed a flood of hatred rise up in Rina and he wished he had brought a satchel of Sarvin Crystals.
“I was free,” she angrily said to Marante, trembling. “Why didn’t you wait?”
“I did not shoot, my lady,” he said, pointing. “Kalin did.”
Kalin was staring at Rina when suddenly he broke into a full-blown belly laugh, leaning against the cave wall, holding his stomach. Rina’s nostrils flared as she watched him. Marante sensed her anger had risen to an almost uncontrollable level. He stepped back and noticed a plate-sized clump of moist red flesh clinging to the front of her shirt. Marante turned to Kalin.
She could have been hurt.
You saw it was molting; its shell was pliable. No harm done.
Your impudence was not called for. She will not tolerate this behavior.
I can take any woman anytime, Kalin replied, chuckling.
Not this one.
She hopped onto a wide, flat boulder in front of Kalin, eye level to him. Kalin stood straight and cleared his throat. His vain attempts to stifle his laughter increased her anger. A small pool of blood and mire was forming at her feet. A hideous odor emanated from her.
Kalin pinched his nose. “You stink.”
“Why?” she demanded coldly.
“Because I had to kill it, buttercup,” he said, releasing his nose. “Fess up, squirt, or this is just the beginning.”
Rina took the wad of meat off her shirt and rammed it into Kalin’s face with both hands, slamming him against the wall.
“I’ve already fessed up, you stupid prump,” she said, mashing in the sarcous. “How’s it feel to be smothered in bug snot?”
Kalin grabbed her wrists and shoved her away, making her stumble back, though she kept her stance on the rock. He began spitting and peeling off slimy chunks of flesh.
“You little—”
Before he could finish his sentence, Rina’s foot kicked his jaw. He was flung around and, with a loud grunt, bashed into the wall. He moaned, sliding to his knees, then fell onto all fours, shaking his head, trying to clear his senses. Rina jumped off the boulder and stomped away down the tunnel.
“Uh, my lady,” Marante said courteously; he wanted to keep all his teeth. “The lighted tunnel on your left—please, if you may.”
She glared back at him and he humbly bowed his head.
This woman is beyond angry, he thought, peeking at her. She is deadly.
Rina began trotting at a fast pace. Marante sensed her rage and her attempts to calm down. She veered into the illuminated tunnel, out of sight.
Marante sneered at Kalin. “She should have hit you harder.”
“She’s starting to piss me off,” Kalin said, rubbing his jaw as he stood up. He wiped his face with his white sleeve. “Did I get it all?”
“I am not telling you,” said Marante as he turned away.
Rina’s voice echoed through the tunnel. “Ugh, guys...you’re not going to believe this.”