Timeline: Past
Point of View: Claudia & Lisa
Location: Red Planet
Claudia and Lisa followed the children into the trees, and they were lead to a group of larger buzzsaws. Claudia tried to identify the leader of this pack, but beyond their size and gear, she couldn’t see any unique discernible features amongst them. Their skin was all the same deep shade of red, their eyes all the same scatter plot of black dots, their teeth all the same spinning razor blades (which, she thought herself lucky to have not yet been wounded by those devastating blades). They all stood on four of their appendages like horses, while their upper two arms held weapons.
Look again at what weapons they’re wielding.
Claudia did so. Several held long metal hammers, and most held the axe-type weapons that seemed most common amongst these creatures. Beyond these, she saw a couple of them wielding what seemed like long chain whips. These creatures seemed to stand taller and more relaxed.
Yes, now look at who they’re protecting.
Between them stood a buzzsaw with no weapons at all. It reminded Claudia of the earlier battle back at the pylon, of the buzzsaw that stood behind the pack observing, waiting for her to display her new abilities.
Exactly. They seem to have a hierarchy amongst them. I bet this one without weapons is some kind of right hand to the true leader of these creatures. Those with the chains are likely highly skilled in battle. Watch them closely. Also, did you notice the skin?
Claudia didn’t understand at first what her essence wanted her to look at. She looked closer at the skin of the creatures, tried to see whatever was there that her mind might be trying to call to attention. She looked across the unarmed buzzsaw back to the ones with the axes and hammers. It stuck out like a sore thumb once she saw it, then. It was faint, barely visible in the dull light of the red planet, but it was a feature reminiscent of humanity, too. The unarmed buzzsaw had wrinkles that the others did not. It was an elder creature.
It would seem their cultures value the elderly. Not too much different than humans.
Intelligence and society must naturally lend itself to valuing the experienced.
For these creatures and humans, at least. There are more creatures yet to be discovered on this planet.
They had reached the gathering of creatures (she’d counted fourteen adults), and Claudia had to calm herself with deep breathing to maintain her composure. She could hear the twisting teeth at her sides as the creatures stepped aside to allow access to the eldest one at the front of the pack. That is, the weaker creatures stepped aside. The creatures holding the chain-whips did not step aside, instead turning their bodies to suggest approaching their leader but still making clear their presence, ready to protect their leader at all costs. She could feel the warmth of their bodies emanating off of them, and was concerned she was visibly shaking in fear.
They stood in this way for some time, Claudia trying to maintain her strong facade, unsure of what to do next. If they decided to attack, she didn’t believe she’d be able to take all of them at once. She could command Lisa to self-destruct. Yes, that seemed like a viable option if this turned to that. But could she protect herself from the blast, get away in time?
Then, unexpectedly, the creature spoke in a recognizable yet barbaric use of the English language. It’s voice had a robotic, unnatural tone to it. She saw that it had a tongue as it slapped out of its mouth against its teeth to form harsh-sounding words. It was a thin, flapping little worm that floated from the gaping darkness beyond its teeth. “You… Fight… Well… We… Stop… Fight… You… Follow… We…” it said. The language cut harshly through the air as its sickening tongue slapped at its teeth. The gaps between words seemed a necessity, as the creature translated its thoughts into oral movements that were unnatural for it.
“Holy shit it can speak,” Lisa said from her back, mimicking the same thoughts Claudia was having. How? She found herself thinking over and over, her mind short circuiting. It took much effort to get her mind to move on, to consider what it was saying. Its grammar was wrong, but its meaning clear. It wanted her and Lisa to follow, presumably back to the village.
“Know… Little…. Words… Creature… Before… Teach…. We.”
This creature must be one of those researching us, trying to find those of us with certain abilities.
Yes. I would wager that only a few of these know how to speak. However, what happened of the humans that taught it? Lisa said everyone else was dead. Clearly the researchers stole the knowledge and murdered the humans they had taken it from. Don’t allow yourself to be blind-sided here. Don’t be quick to trust these creatures. They have an angle we’re not yet seeing.
Of course, I’m not an idiot. But what could they want, if they already know our abilities aren’t what they need?
Claudia didn’t wait for herself to answer. “Are there others like us back where you live?”
“Only… You…. Remain...” As it said this, it’s hands indicated toward both her and Lisa, its hands only having three long digits. They were slender, with many segments to allow for bending. Claudia considered the words it had spoken, and a brief shiver ran down her spine. She wasn’t sure why (she’d expected this answer after all) but the words coming from the creature's barbed mouth were haunting all the same. It was the finality of the statement that was alarming. There was no more mystery about whether more humans remained back at the village. Yet... It could be lying.
“We… Need… You… We… Need… Leave… Planet… Dying… We…Need...” The creature paused for a long time, seeming to consider the right word. “Help… You.”
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
It wants to help us, or wants help from us?
I would assume the latter. It needs something, and it thinks this approach will help reach its objectives. These are not peaceful creatures.
Planet dying. Do you think Ctaolthost was lying? Do you think it’s dying, and not Tegrex?
Possibly. Or it means that they, the buzzsaws, are dying on this planet.
“Why do you need to leave this planet?” Claudia asked.
“You… Follow.. We.” It said again, it’s long digits indicating they move back toward the village.
I don’t think we’ll get answers here.
“Okay,” Claudia said, “We’ll follow.”
“Claudia I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Lisa said, but Claudia reached back to touch Lisa's hand and the woman fell silent.
“Good… Follow…” The creature said and turned. One chain-wielder fell in behind the creature while the other then beckoned them forward.
Claudia didn’t like having so many of the creatures following them so close behind. How quickly could the creatures kill them both, without them noticing the imminent threat? She suddenly felt as though she were making a terrible mistake, that they were walking directly into a trap, that the creatures had tricked them both (or Claudia, at least) into walking toward their death. Was there still time to escape?
You’re stronger than you think you are. They know this now, too. Follow them back to the village and let’s see what they want. If it comes to fighting, we will fight.
Claudia calmed herself again. She forced herself to remember her earlier plan. Yes, this was okay. This would work. Yes, this would work out just fine.
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Halfway through the walk back to the village, Lisa approached Claudia and whispered softly in her ear. Claudia wasn’t sure how well the creature’s could hear, but the Lisa’s voice was low enough that she wasn’t overly worried. Yet she’d be careful about what she’d say, wouldn't reveal anything to Lisa just yet.
“Claudia, are you really sure about this?”
At their sides, the children buzzsaws were running through the trees. Claudia imagined a child’s soft laughter, but these children made no sounds. As they bounced between the thick red spires of trees, chasing each other ahead then stopping to let the group catch up, it seemed more and more clear to her that they were indeed playing. She had a hard time reconciling this silliness with the barbarism of the creatures. Yet, weren’t humans, too, barbaric to other creatures? Children grew up on farms watching their parents butcher cows and pigs for money. Her gut felt heavy with the thought of it, of humans as nothing more than cows or pigs to these creatures.
“I’m not, but I have a plan,” Claudia said.
"What is it?”
“Not now, just trust me.”
“Why can’t you tell me?” Lisa asked. There wasn’t anger in her tone, but a sort of pleading, a woman on the edge of losing her sanity.
Claudia turned to face her, looking her in her eyes. “We will not die here. I will protect you. Don’t be scared.”
Lisa’s eyes seemed to consider the words, then firmed, eyebrows furrowed. “Then just tell me this. They killed Brett. They killed many others. You haven’t forgotten this?”
Claudia didn’t like this new tone. Was it the tone, though, or the fact that Lisa was questioning her? The creatures ahead of them made slicing sounds, sounds that Claudia had come to think of as their own native language. They hadn’t turned to look at them, but Claudia was still concerned they were talking about them, maybe about their conversation. “Keep your voice down. Of course I haven’t forgotten.”
“Good,” Lisa said, “I was worried you’d try to become their allies.”
“Of course not. But trust me.”
“Fine,” Lisa said, and she grew silent. She was obedient. That was all that mattered.
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When they reached the village, they were lead back through the mounds, deeper than they’d been before. They zigzagged their way through, creatures disappearing into their homes as they passed. The pathway to wherever they were going wasn’t efficient, and Claudia wondered if this was intentional, or simply a record of how their species had progressed. Humanity hadn’t valued efficiency until they’d scaled into globalism. Perhaps it was the same for these creatures, and these homes were centuries old.
Claudia found herself curious about the history of progress for these creatures. Humanity had remained relatively simple and stagnant until the invention of certain technologies, such as agriculture and eventually the industrial revolution. The number of creatures on this planet also seemed limited, which didn't seem to lend itself well to complex development of varied organisms. How did evolution occur? Were these creatures relatively new, or much, much older a species compared to humans? Would there ever be a way to know?
Finally they reached a clearing amongst the mounds of red dirt, and the spear-wielding creatures stepped aside as the lesser creatures took their leave along the path. The elder buzzsaw stepped forward, its stature lumbering over them both despite its advanced age.
“You… Wait… You… Sleep…” It said, and its lanky digits indicated towards a mound on the far end of the clearing.
“How long should we wait in there?” Claudia asked, her senses again considering a trap. She wondered what was inside that mound waiting for them. The creature shook its head, and Claudia realized the stupidity of her question. Time was relative, and they each considered time based on their own species' conformed standards. How could it communicate time in a way she could understand?
Yet, it still spoke. It pointed up above. “Dark… Then… Light… We… Come…”
Claudia looked up at the red star above, halfway through its arc in the sky. One cycle, then, it seemed. They wanted them to sleep inside the mound, and they’d return the next day. She shook her head. “No,” she said, “Light now, before dark, we speak.” As the words left her mouth she noticed that her speech had begun changing. How quick humans were able to adapt, as she changed her speech patterns to replicate how the creature spoke.
The creature was silent for a time, its spinning teeth slowing as it seemed to consider its words. “We… Try… Light…”
Claudia nodded her head, indicating agreement, then realized that this, too, was a human signal. Before she could speak, however, the creature turned to leave. It seemed to understand, and of course it did. It was basically a human expert, having researched the “magnets” for who knew how long? How long had Ctaolthost opened the connection between planets?
The spear-wielding creature did not leave. It stood stoically, waiting for them to move into the mound. Claudia looked at Lisa, who then cocked her head, clearly uncertain about stepping back into one of those buildings. Claudia took the initiative, turned, and walked toward the mound. Once inside, the spear-wielding buzzsaw stood next to the opening of the door, not following them inside.
Claudia walked cautiously down the dark hallway, listening to Lisa’s footsteps behind her. They reached the door. She slid it aside and was blinded by the flames lighting the room inside. It was a simple and small room, not like the prison where she’d found Lisa. There were several platforms for beds, and a basin full of red water, but nothing else.
“Now tell me,” Lisa said, “What is your grand plan.”
Claudia considered for a second if the buzzsaws could be listening in on their conversation, but thought better of it. This wasn’t some action movie with unrealistically expensive high-tech gadgets. There were no hidden microphones. She looked at Lisa and said, “When we get as many of them together as we can, we’re going to kill them all at once. Hopefully all of their leaders. We won't waste time with an endless stream of small fights. We’re going to do this all at once.”
Lisa looked at her confused at first, then understanding without having to ask.
A smile grew across Claudia’s face.