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Carolina Terra: Carol of Earth
The Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle

“Ready, Carol?”

“Yep! Send me down, Dara,” Carol exclaimed, pulling her goggles down over her wide green eyes and flashing a thumbs-up at him. She moved her hands down to grip the handlebars of her motorcycle. It hummed briefly beneath her as she revved the engine lovingly. The blue-skinned Dara smiled lopsidedly, glancing over at her as he pressed a series of buttons at the controls of the spaceship. She could tell he was holding back from making fun of her for adoring her prized bike so much, so she stuck her tongue out at him playfully. Once he hit the final button, the floor of the ship creaked beneath Carol, swinging open suddenly, leaving her falling through the air, her curly blond hair whipping around her face. 

Dara had brought her here, to this planet, so she could find some rare parts to upgrade her bike. This planet, R29, was covered in vast jungles of man-eating plants, known for dragging down low-flying ships with their vines. Many a ship had been lost here. The only inhabitants were large nocturnal insect-like creatures. She had begged Dara for days to take her here, between his supply-runs. There weren’t many pilots crazy enough to come close to this gods-forsaken planet. She was lucky to know someone just crazy enough.

As the ground rushed towards her as she fell through the atmosphere, the plants took notice of her presence and started reaching up, as if to grab her. She smirked slightly, and flipped some switches on the console of her vehicle. As she did, the bike whirred laboriously, which made Carol swear under her breath. Sorry, baby she thought guiltily, making kissy noises at her bike, I guess I should have gotten new parts sooner, huh? She knew that if Dara had seen her she’d have been teased to no end. She gave the bike a final kick, and the whirring increased as two fans clanked out from either side and slowed her completely, so that she was hovering just above the ground. Janking the handlebars sharply to the left, she just narrowly missed a vine snapping at the bike. Then, she spurred the bike on, full speed, weaving through the towering plants and reaching vines, rising until she was above the trees, her bike chopping the air, her eyes searching for a fallen ship she could loot. 

As she spun recklessly above the jungle, gigantic trees passing quickly below, her mind began to wander, immediately growing bored of searching the landscape for technological ruins. She was thankful to Dara for bringing her here upon his starship. Dara was a long-time friend, they’d known each other since they were both young, when they’d both been children living on the planet Viridia. A few weeks ago she had met him again at a vehicle auction on a distant planet. They’d caught on like a wildfire to a forest, catching up and talking about old times. He’d become a self-employed supply pilot, and she, an unemployed wanderer. He was Viridian, which showed in his appearance. Blue skin, a black pair of horns curving from his forehead, four eyes, and sharp black teeth and nails. He wore dark clothes, and his ebony hair was cut short. It was strange seeing him again after all those years, like finding an old trinket among your belongings, forgotten memories surging to the surface.

She was jerked out of her reminiscent musings at the sight of a fallen ship, her smile broadening excitedly. Jerking the handles of her bike, she turned sharply towards the crashed ship. Zooming towards it, she noted the cracked metal and the plants peaking through, wrenching the ship slowly apart from the inside. She guessed that the plants had already gotten to anyone that may have been inside a long time ago, and shuddered involuntarily. 

As she came to hover above the ship, she searched for an entrance she could fit her bike through. The thought of leaving her prized bike alone on the surface of such a dangerous planet was too much to bear. Spotting a hole she could get through, she tentatively lowered her bike to it, keeping an eye out on all sides at the plants crawling slowly towards her. Creeping slowly into the ship, the narrow corridors barely fitting her and her bike, her hand reached out to flick a variety of switches on the bikes console, causing it to clunk loudly as the fans retracted, leaving her falling the short distance to the floor, wincing as the bike clunked sharply before the wheels found traction and she spun down the hallways. Some plants took notice of her through the walls of the ship, but could only force themselves through the cracks part-way, leaving her to explore as she pleased. 

If she could find one, a control hub or engine room would be ideal. Finding a map of the ship would be even better. She knew that big ships like this usually had one, if they weren’t fully automated. Judging from the living quarters she passed in the hallways, this had been quite a large supply ship. She had no idea what had brought it to this planet, but thinking about the fates of the crew made her shudder. If the plants didn’t get them, the nocturnal insectoid inhabitants would have. That’s why she made Dara bring her during the day. The days on this planet were much shorter than usual, as it was small and close to its sun. Carol could already feel herself sweating through her crimson jumpsuit. The atmosphere was poisonous to her, as a human, and she had to wear a helmet over her face. She could vaguely smell the strong, sweet scent of the plants that threatened to lure unsuspecting victims in, even through her mask. 

Speeding through the halls, she pulled to an abrupt stop as something caught her eye. Flicking a switch, she reversed slowly towards what she had seen. It was a large map plastered on the wall, and Carol's eyes shone as she looked at it. What luck! The ship was probably older than most, with a non-digital map, but that would only make the parts inside all the rarer. Pondering the map, she found the control room, kicking her bike back into gear and flicking a number of switches. Dara always complained about the unusual and old-fashioned switch system, that no one but Carol seemed to understand, but she liked it. It gave a sense of personal attachment, that she was the only one who could understand her bike. 

As she sped through the halls, repeating the image of the map in her head so she wouldn’t forget, she approached the control room. Slowing as she approached, she surveyed the double sliding doors. She frowned, knowing she would have to pry them open. As her gaze honed in, her heart dropped. Plastered on the door was the insignia of the Universal Collective of Worlds. It was a bit outdated, but she could recognize it anywhere. That insignia had haunted her worst nightmares since she was three years old. 

She sneered, shaking her head as if to banish the thoughts. Hopping off her bike, she moved to the back, opening a compartment. In it was a small crowbar, and she picked it up and went to work on the doors, her eyes avoiding the burning insignia. Her mind wandered as she worked. Her papa, a Viridion named Durovar Indiva, had found her wandering the cruel streets of Druvon. How an unaccompanied human infant had found her way to Druvon, he did not know, but he did know that he felt an obligation to get her home safely. He searched for her guardians as tirelessly as he could, asking whoever he knew on that planet to look out for other humans. There were no authorities on Druvon, at least, not any who weren’t corrupt. When, three Druvonian days later, it was broadcasted throughout the universe that Earth, the homeworld of the humans, had been destroyed, he realized that he would never find her family. He also couldn’t leave her with the universal authorities, as the UCW had been the ones who had instigated the attack in the first place. No one knew why. They broadcasted that they were looking for any human refugees, but Duro knew not to turn her over. The UCW was good at tying up loose ends. So he fled Druvon, with an infant in his arms. He knew that his searching for her human parents had probably thrown suspicion at their feet already, so they fled, moving from world to world as he raised her. As time passed and the UCW erased any trace of humanity, the Earth and its inhabitants faded from the memories of the inhabitants of the universe. They were too busy with their own affairs, anyways, to care about a third-rate world being blown up. 

Stolen novel; please report.

Duro was a jack of all trades, you could say, as he spent most of his life travelling the universe. He had picked up many skills and languages along the way. Not knowing what her name was before he had found her, he named her after what little he knew about her homeworld; Carolina Terra. Carol of Earth. She raised a hand to her face to wipe away a tear, smiling fondly. He had been a caring father that had raised her well.

She gave the door a final budge and it creaked open slowly, sliding unceremoniously on its track. Seeing the control room for herself, she could hardly hold back a gasp, although she could hardly expect less from the UCW. It was much grander than the cramped corridors. Leaving her bike standing in the doorway, she wandered inside. The roof stretched far above her head, looking as if it could rival the gargantuan trees of the jungle planet. It was supported by criss crossing beams, but parts of it had fallen in, leaving sunlight to filter in from the roof. Plants hung from the girders and creeped in through the holes. The controls themselves were pretty much intact, although partly covered in rubble. What really caught her attention, however, was a large object hanging precariously from the roof. 

Shi- she thought, looking up at the pulsating hive with dread, and then looking at the vast control system with longing. Her gaze flickered between the two for a couple moments, before she stepped forward quietly. Surely she could sneak in, grab what she needed, and sneak out before nightfall? At least, that’s what she hoped. Creeping up to a control panel, she quietly took a screwdriver from the belt at her waist and undid the panel, removing it to look excitedly at the wires inside. She winced as a screw bounced to the ground with a tak sound, but a quick glance up told her that no one had taken notice. 

Stuffing anything that caught her eye into the pouch hooked to her belt, she made her way around the room. The sleepy humming above her filled her with a nervous anxiety, and the reddening sunlight pouring in through the holes in the roof heralded the coming of night. Snatching anything of interest she could find, she hurried to the centre controls. Not a lot of time left. She surveyed the controls for a moment. Crouching before them, she carefully opened the panels. She reached her hand in and started stuffing parts in her bag, abandoning caution in lieu of quickness. Her pouch was getting fuller and fuller. In her haste, she accidentally pushed two open wires together. Suddenly, a blaring alarm went off throughout the ship. 

Wha- Carol thought, jumping out of her skin, before she was cut off by an aggressive humming getting louder and louder. If she had more time, she would have stopped to be impressed by how well the systems had held up. But the angry flying insects flooding out of their hive prevented that. 

Carol scrambled up, leaping toward where she had left her bike. She lifted her sleeve up to her elbow, revealing a mechanical arm piece with a variety of switches and buttons, and a somewhat cracked screen. As she ran, she flicked a few switches and smashed a command into the keyboard. She smiled as she heard her bike rev to life in the hall, programmed to follow the signal of her arm band. As the bike raged into the room, she leaped and grabbed hold of the handlebars, twisting herself to land in the seat, wincing as she slammed into it. The insectoids right at her heel, reaching out to her with their hair-covered, lanky limbs and threatening to tear her apart with their salivating mandibles. Soon as she hit the bike, she turned up the engine to full, spinning out of the room and into the hallways, insectoids tailing in hot pursuit. Eyes wide with excitement, she tapped some buttons on her arm band and Daras face popped onto the screen. 

“DARA!” Carol yelled in her excitement, “break out of orbit and come pick me up, QUICK!” Dara jumped, surprised. It looked like she had caught him in the middle of a relaxing cup of tea.

“Wha- Carol!?! WHAT ARE YOU BEING FOLLOWED BY, HOLY-” Carol ended the transmission before turning her attention away from the screen. Dara would be able to find her by tracing the transmission, but she had to escape this metal labyrinth first. Revving the engine, she spun wildly around a corner, smirking as she heard the sound of bugs smacking into a wall. She tried to remember the way she had come, but it was hopeless. She really had the memory of a goldfish. Swerving a corner, she saw a shaft of sunlight slicing through the hallway. The roof of the ship had fallen in, leaving an opening wide enough for the bike to get through. Smiling wildly, she flicked a variety of switches on the bike, leaning forward ever so slightly as she heard the familiar clunk of the fans being produced from the vehicle. 

It slowed her down, which made her concerned, and as she glanced over her shoulder she realized that she would have to move quickly. The insects were inches away from grabbing the bike. Janking the handlebars to the side, she narrowly made it through the hole, wincing as the metal of the fans scraped against the sides. 

Sorry, she thought guiltily, patting the side of her bike. Squinting at the sky, she smiled at a glint of light from above, approaching fast. She skipped around vines, weaving expertly through them. The vines snapped at the bugs, pulling them from the sky, much to her relief. Although she did feel sorry for them. They may have tried to kill her, but still… She shook her head, focusing on the ship coming towards her. Even though the plants had snapped most of the bugs up, there were still quite a few trailing her, and she blanched as she saw vines reaching in for the ship, which was coming in much too low. She poured on the speed, but her bike found it harder and harder to find purchase as the atmosphere got thinner, and it choked on the air. She closed her eyes tight as she saw vines approaching the ship, almost touching, and leaned forward just a bit more, full throttle. 

Her silent prayers paid off as the ship closed in around her, the hatch in the floor swinging closed just as she flew inside. On her tail was a bug, and it was cut so close that as Carol skidded inside, hitting the floor as she did, her bike tumbling over her, the hatch snapped shut on an alien arm, flopping lifelessly on the floor. 

As Carol lay on the floor, trying to catch her breath, Dara wrenched the ship upward sharply, snapping off the slight hold the vines had momentarily gained and speeding out of the atmosphere. Soon as they were free of the planet, he put his ship in auto-drive, and rushed over to Carol, who was currently fussing over her bike.

“Look at this dent!” she fretted as he approached. 

“You’re lucky you didn’t get a dent.” He said, panting from the excitement. “Find anything useful?” He scratched his horns, looking inquisitively at the pack hung at her side. 

“Oh!” she exclaimed, unhooking the bag and tearing it open, “some promising parts, that's for sure.” She nodded.

“Good,” Dara said, going back to his seat at the controls, “You’re staying on Aeriolos now right? I’ll drop you off at the main port.”

“Dara?”

    “Yes?”

    “Thanks for bringing me today.” 

They shared a friendly smile, both tired from the day's proceedings.

    “No problem.” Dara said reassuringly, turning back to the controls.

    Carol flopped down on the hotel bed, exhausted. Dara had dropped her off at the main ship-port on Aeriolos hours ago, but because of traffic, it had taken her hours to get back. Half of what she had found had been given to him as payment. He refused at first, but she insisted. She didn’t really need any of it anyways. The parts she did need were nestled comfortably in her bag. She had planned to meet up with some friends she had made in the short time she had been on this planet, but instead she had to send them a message saying she couldn’t make it. Carol sighed. What a long day. Raising her arm as she lay on her stomach, she began to type away on her arm band, pulling up a holographic image of a middle-aged Viridian, hair somewhat graying but eyes smiling friendly. 

    “Papa,” Carol said, “you’ll never guess what happened today!”

    Carol couldn’t remember anything about the Earth. When she was younger, she could slightly remember her parents' faces. At least, she assumed it was her parents. The woman had curly blonde hair like Carol, and the man had her dimples. Over time, the memory had faded, leaving her with blank, faceless slates. As she vented to the holographic image, she studied it’s details hard, committing them to memory. Maybe she had forgotten her Earthen roots. But she would never forget the man who raised her. Closing her eyes, the UCW logo leaped to the fore-front of her mind. She would never forget Duro. And she would also never forget the people who killed him. Who killed her entire race.

She wouldn’t let herself forget. 

Ever.

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