Spaceman Long follows Chief Grey as the team marches carefully across the last subterranean lake via one of the narrow slivers that occasionally peaks high and then dips as low as a foot below the water. The water itself is extremely deep, measured by Rena tossing a rope with a stone tied to it, and not finding bottom beyond the drop off, which is about three feet out on each side.
Long has Chief Grey’s shotgun cradled firmly to her chest, ready to use to the best of her ability at a moment’s notice. She cherished his faith and guidance, both of which give her hope that she’ll live up to her duty. She could never imagine doing something as dangerous and knowledgeable as exploring a far away world when she was still living with her parents. They treated her better than Angelica, but they still sheltered her.
Grey and Angelica are protective, but more like mother bears; close by to fight, but not preventing her from experiencing the world herself. Now, she’s in a low-oxygen cave on an alien world exploring entirely new things as a marine. She is scared, nervous, and a little overwhelmed, but she is proud to be a part of it.
Mina asks from the rear, “How far are we planning on going Chief? This aquifer alone is huge.”
Tachibana replies from close to the front, “Hopefully, another stable zone exists on the far side. But, if we reach an hour fifteen, we turn back.”
Rena teases, “Ensign Hancock, request number seven hundred and ten; more than 3 hours air.”
Hancock scoffs, “What am I? The wishlist for Doc Lopez?”
All of the senior marines reply, “Yes.”
Hancock chuckles, “Noted.”
The marines press forward. They are deep under the roof of the cave, now, and a haze lays heavy in the air. Liquid drips around them, echoing long and deep from the size of the cave.
Moody stops and kneels, inspecting something on the path. The squad comes to a halt. Tachibana asks, “Moody? What is it?”
Moody picks up the object, saying, “Metal. Armor plate, looks like. And… a regulator? Helmet piece?” He hands the piece over to Chief Tachibana. She inspects it, rotating it over.
She remarks, “Could be. Cracked wide open if it was.”
Dumas asks, “Think it belonged to our pal back there?”
Tachibana passes it back to Grey, replying, “Him or one of his kind seems to be a fair thought to me.”
Grey inspects it, holding it at a better angle when he spots Long trying to peek. He says, handing it off to the young marine, “Same material, at least. Question is, why would they need it?”
There’s a pause. Long asks, “You… think this isn’t their world?”
Grey replies as he looks up, “Be pretty rough if most of your world was unlivable. Doesn’t make sense how a race could make it through the primitive stages to the point of breathing protection without succumbing to famine in these holes. And, something nagged at me from the moment we landed.” He looks at Fredericks, saying, “We joked earlier, but… what if this world suffered the same fate as Earth?”
Tachibana, surprised, replies, “WHAT!? Earth was destroyed by OUR rulers. You think…”
“I don’t think it was natural, whatever the case may be. I think the roaches invaded, lost a few, took what they came for, and bounced.”
Fredericks counters, “If that’s true, then where are the structures? Where are the bodies of the natives? Someone must’ve killed Roachie back there.”
Grey nods, “Could still be a stalagmite.”
Long murmurs, “Stalactite, Chief…”
Grey smirks at her, barely visible through his visor, and continues, “Or, a beastie like our iceteroid friends.”
Mina groans, shaking. “Don’t remind me, Chief.”
Rena teases, “Weenie just wanted to say hi to us.”
Tachibana states, realizing they’ve paused long enough, “Let’s keep moving. We can talk on the move.”
The marines continue forward, and Brown says, “So, Chief, let’s say the bugs did nuke this world clean, what were they after? Water and air useless to them?”
Grey scoffs, “Dunno why you all think I know anything. I’m just guessin’. But, I can tell you, one man can live on peanut butter when another man would die from it. More we imagine, the more we’re ready for.”
Long smiles. She admires Chief Grey for many reasons, but none more so than how his mind is always looking at angles, finding perspectives. Probably everyone would come to the same conclusions he did about this world, but he looked at each piece instantly as part of the puzzle. He uses his experience with other cultures –fighting them primarily- as well as the Grodurns, and creatively assumes a tactical perspective to every little thing. He’s not the most educated or refined person to ever live, by far, but on an unexplored frontier, he IS the expert. All she can hope for is to be half as capable of seeing the universe as clearly as Chief Grey does.
Moody states grimly and cynically, “Well, on the bright side, if the bugs already wiped out life on this world, at least we don’t have to feel bad about mining it. Nice of ‘em to leave us so much of what we need.”
Rena replies, “I just hope they’re gone-gone. Last thing we need is another fleet of bloodthirsty conquerors chasing us. And, how are there so many freakin’ intelligent races in this universe!? Huh!? This isn’t some sci-fi movie is it? Am I an actor and no one told me?”
Fisher scoffs, replying, “If it is, I want my agent. AND my lawyer.”
The marines share a chuckle before trekking in quiet for a bit. They soon cross over the first hour mark, meaning they have 15 minutes before they need to head back. If they can’t reach another flat zone like where their shuttle is now, they may have to risk cruising slowly through the cave to try to explore. Otherwise, they’ll need to think of a way to extend their air time.
Relief comes at the 1:05 mark though. Through the haze, the marines can see the path widening exponentially. Moody calls back, “We have a shoreline ahead.”
Tachibana sighs, replying, “Thank goodness. I’d hate to putter around here blind.”
Mina teases, “Seven-eleven, sir. Drones to scout for us.”
Hancock chuckles, replying, “Matter of fact, one of Lopez’s colleagues was testing a drone yesterday. Still working on making it ready for varying gravity and intrinisically safe, though.”
The young woman pouts, “Can’t we just NOT choose planets with flammable atmospheres?”
Grey retorts, “We don’t pick the planets, Marine. We just look for facemunchers.” She scoffs and giggles at him in reply.
The marines pick up the pace a little. Just because they found another wide spot doesn’t mean it can hold the shuttle, so they need to verify. They should have just enough time, and if it checks out, they can relax.
As the marines march, though, Long’s peripherals draw her attention to the right. There’s nothing, but she would swear she saw motion at the water's surface. There aren’t even any rings or ripples. Something that moved would have disturbed the surface, wouldn’t it? Should she tell Chief Grey? The marines got really tense when he simply threw a stone in the water. And, all of them will hear via the radio if she asks, ‘Did anyone see that?’
The teen grapples with these questions for a few feet. She’s not as experienced as anyone else, and she’s VERY nervous. It’s easier to believe she imagined it from her own tense nerves. After all, there was no sound or disruption of the water’s surface.
Then again, if Chief Grey is trying to teach her anything, it’s the lesson he just pointed out a little bit ago. ‘The more we imagine, the more we’re ready for.’ Right now, Long is imagining some kind of alien ninja, so in tune with this world, it knows how to see without being seen. It knows how to move silently. And, it knows how to not leave a trace on the water.
Long decides. She squeaks, “Um! Chief!”
Grey looks over his shoulder, asking, “What is it, Long?”
The teen never gets the chance. Mina yelps, before a deep thud comes from the rear and the marine grunts. As everyone starts to turn, scraping and splashing fills the air as Mina’s screams fill their helmets.
Grey roars over her, “CONTACT REAR!”
Just as suddenly, though, Mina is gone, though her screams still fill the radio. All of the marines whirl, weapons aimed for where Mina was pulled in.
Tachibana asks over Mina’s screams, “Did you see it!?”
“Not well! MINA! MINA WHERE ARE YOU! TALK TO US THING FOUR!”
Dumas and brown barely restrain Rena from diving in after her sister as she screams as well, “Mina! MINAAA! LET ME GO!”
Mina’s screams are starting to crackle, but she does manage to cry out, “P-PULLING –AHHH!- PULLING ME *crackle* ton *crackle*.”
Rena cries out, “TON!? She’s being pulled own! She’s being…!”
Tachibana snaps, “QUIET! WE CAN’T…!”
Long’s heart is racing. If she had said something sooner, Mina would have a chance. But…
A splash startles her, but this time, it’s Chief Grey jumping in. Tachibana snarls, “GREY!”
However, a rope is leading back to a surprised Rena. Everyone grabs onto it, but are quickly surprised to find Chief Grey pop back up to the surface like a fishing bobber. He grunts, “Grah… Bouyant!” He does his best to keep his head under the surface, searching for signs of Mina.
Something else catches Long’s eyes. It’s a glimmer. It wavers and moves, suddenly bobbing to the surface. It projects a beam of light towards the ceiling, and it bobs slowly about ¾ of the way to the far right wall.
This time, Long doesn’t hesitate. She yelps, “CHIEF! OVER THERE!” Everyone looks as Mina’s voice dissolves completely from the radio channel.
Grey says softly, “That’a girl, Mina. Get the dropship over here now!” He starts swimming towards the light.
Tachibana snarls, “Not without me, Grey! Moody, you’re in charge! Establish a landing zone and call in Charlie team as soon as you can.”
Rena barks, “I’m going too!”
Long doesn’t say anything. She simply jumps in to follow Grey before anyone can object. Hancock’s voice quickly says, “I should go too. First contact…”
Tachibana shouts, “Just shut up and go! Moody, Brown, Fisher, Dumas, hold this zone at ALL costs. Tell Bravo team our situation. We won’t have much air if we make it back.”
The four reply, “Yes Chief! Good luck!”
Grey has a head start, but everyone that follows him keeps pace well. It’s weird to Long being able to swim so easily with so much gear, but she can feel her suit bulging at the back a little. It’s undoubtedly because of air in their suits that they’re so buoyant.
Grey reaches the flashlight, momentarily using it to scan the water below him. This gives Long time to catch him. She retrieves her light, also scanning the aquifer floor. Even more foliage fills the floor of the body of water. Fortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any aquatic creatures living in the aquifer aside from whatever took Mina.
Grey says, “Nothing on the floor. Must be at the wall. Let’s move.” He starts swimming for the wall, and Long follows. Grey growls as he swims, “Oh, and Long.”
“Yes Chief?” she asks.
“Remind me to run you around the hangar until the brink of death for following me.”
“Ch-Chief?” squeaks Long.
Tachibana growls, “Shut up, Grey. You’re glad she’s here.”
Grey grunts. They reach the wall, and Grey whispers, “Listen.”
The five listen carefully. Hancock murmurs, “Sounds like… static?”
Grey nods. “Not far now. Mina, if you can hear us, we’re coming. Try to stay calm.”
Rena says desperately, “Chief! Tunnel!” She tries to dive, but the inherent buoyancy of their suits keeps her at the surface. She grunts in frustration, complaining, “Why… can’t I…!?”
Hancock says after briefly looking around, “The wall! Pull yourself down using the wall.”
Grey replies, “Nice thinking Rookie. Let’s move!”
The five scale down the wall into the water, which hugs firmer to them the deeper they go. Their suits hold for now, but Long wonders if they’d survive much deeper.
Fortunately, they reach the small inlet, which is plenty big enough for them, and they crawl along the roof.
The sounds they heard over the radio clear up. It sounds like distant scuffling and grunting, but Mina isn’t screaming. Rena whimpers, “M-Mina? Mina we’re coming! Hang on!”
The team moves as quickly as possible. Long’s heart is pounding. She dreads what could be happening to Mina. It’s all her fault.
Grey’s voice growls, “Calm your breathing, Long. You’re burning through your air. We’ll get her back. I promise.”
She knows deep down that his promise is impractical and impossible for him to actually keep of his own power. But, he sounds so confident. It helps ease her nerves a little. She focuses on steadying her breaths. She’s no good to Mina dead. She NEEDS to make up for her hesitation.
The five reach a mouth, and Grey searches the cavity ahead. It’s not nearly as large as the room they came from, but the water wraps around a central island or peninsula. Grey says quietly, “Tachi, you and Rena take left, Long, Hancock, right, and I’ll go up straight. Hit this thing with light right off. Got it?”
“Yes Chief!” reply the other four. He holds back while they crawl along the wall carefully. Hancock says softly, “It’ll be okay Long. We got this. Grey knows what he’s doing.”
“W-What if…”
“Can’t think like that. Let’s just get up there and go from there.”
“Okay…”
Grey shoves straight across, managing to grab the wall of the island before he surfaces. He readies his hybrid rifle and springs up, quickly climbing ashore.
Long and Hancock spring across to the island as well, and they climb ashore along with Tachibana and Rena.
The island is occupied primarily by what looks like an INTENTIONALLY cultivated garden. There are rows of the fruit-bearing plants staggered through stages of growth, as well as a few other plant species. A carefully tended path is maintained, and a small land bridge connects to another ‘landlocked’ body of water, like a lagoon. There are noises coming from the lagoon.
The marines storm closer, and Tachibana says sharply, “Look! Mina’s helmet!”
Rena cries out, “Mina! Say something! We’re here!”
There’s a faint, muffled cry and a splash to the left. The squad snaps their lights and weapons to that direction.
Mina winces from the light, but something has a hold of her. It looks like an octopus’s tentacle in a lot of ways. It’s wrapped around Mina’s mouth.
Long’s had a rough time on this particular mission, but she trusts her instincts without hesitation this time. She snaps the shotgun and her light to the right.
The thing she illuminates almost 15 feet away from Mina shrieks just as it looses something. A near ballistic projectile launches narrowly past the marines with a crunching noise, and the creature dives backwards into the lagoon. Mina cries out, still muffled as it pulls her. Rena cries, “MINA!”
Grey sprints past Long, yelling, “DON’T LET IT ESCAPE! SPREAD OUT!”
The marines sprint to corner the creature before it can scramble over the shoreline separating lagoon from the aquifer.
Startled, the creature backs itself to the far shoreline, submerging itself and holding Mina in front of it.
Rena snarls, “GIVE HER BACK YOU MONSTER!”
Long can tell Mina is very weak right now, most likely due to the low oxygen. It’s tentacle moves from her mouth to around her forehead and temples. Mina whimpers, “Ch-Chief… I-… I don’t want to die… please…”
“No one’s dying, Thing Four,” states Tachibana confidently.
Mina suddenly says coldly, “Leave this place.” A second later, she whines, “Th-That wasn’t me!”
Grey and Tachibana glance at each other. Grey asks towards Mina and the creature, “Was that you? You talked through my marine?”
Mina whimpers, “What? Chief, what are-…” She suddenly turns cold and more bland, “Leave this place. This marine is mine now.”
Rena snarls, “SHE’S NOT YOURS! I’LL KILL YOU!”
Tachibana yells, “Coulson! Calm down!”
Grey states, “Not an option, but let’s talk. What do you want?”
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
The creature responds through Mina, more angrily this time, “My marine has a duty to our people. I will NOT release her. LEAVE.”
Mina whines, “Chief, I-I’m not… That’s not me. I…”
Tachibana says calmly, “We know, Coulson. We’re not going anywhere.” She says sternly, “Look, she’s our sister. We cannot leave her. Talk to us. In fact, we’re going to shut off our lights. Just know we can still see in the dark.” She says to the squad, “Do it.” She shuts her flashlight off. The others join. With the room dark, only nightvision shows the green shapes of Mina, partially submerged, and the creature. Tachibana asks, “What duty do you want our sister to fulfill?”
Mina cries out, “It has more arr-…”
Grey cuts her off, “We know. But our new acquaintance isn’t going to attack because it’s the only way it lives. Isn’t that right, Acquaintance?”
There’s a pause before Mina hums in disapproval. She says coldly, “This one is a suitable host. Her body will bear my spawn and save our people. THAT is why I CANNOT release her.” Mina then cries, “WHAT!?”
Rena growls, “This again!? Listen! The last alien crap-stains-“ “ENOUGH!” barks Tachibana. She then says, “That won’t work. We’re not the same species as you. No matter how hard you try, you will fail.”
Mina growls, “Not true. My species is… symbiotic. We require hosts to carry our eggs. In exchange for hosts, we traded with the surface dwellers plants from the… aquifer floor. The deep water. The host need only have a suitable, warm body cavity to carry young. But, the surface dwellers have betrayed me. They no longer trade. They have abandoned me to die.” Another tentacle surprisingly gently curls around Mina’s torso, and Mina says softly, “But, now I have hope. Together, we will restore our people.”
Mina whimpers, “P-Please… D-Don’t… s-so-someone do something…”
Tachibana starts to explain, “The surface dwellers are all…” But, Chief Grey stops her. He asks, “How do you know the surface dwellers didn’t just get tired of being killed by your eggs?”
Mina snaps defensively, “Our symbiosis is NOT harmful! Hatchlings often hatch at night, and will seek out shelter before daybreak by finding aquifers. NEVER has a hatching harmed a host.”
Mina herself asks, “Chief! What are you doing!?”
“It’s okay, Thing Four. We’re staying calm and talking calmly. What do we call you?”
Mina says more calmly, “Call?... Our people don’t… use identifiers. We are often solitary, except for spawning. But, until this one arrived…” The creature surprisingly affectionately cuddles Mina, who winces uneasily.
Grey nods at Tachibana. She explains, “The surface dwellers of this world are completely wiped out. We believe they suffered some sort of nuclear attack. The surface is desolate.”
The creature rears back in surprise. Mina says, “That’s… How is that possible? The surface dwellers numbered MANY. Surely you missed some in their structures.”
Tachibana says tenderly, “There was nothing left. We thought it was a lifeless world when we landed.”
Mina’s tone hardens a little, “So, you came from the sky as well? The last surface dwellers that visited me made mention of some form of people from the sky. Then, some of them ventured down into my aquifer, destroying the plants with their metal tools. Were my nest not secluded, I would have lost everything.”
“So, you killed the other sky people?” asks Hancock. “Why not abduct them?”
The creature looks at him, answering through Mina, “The surface dwellers had not yet betrayed me, and the sky people were destroying my home. I do not WISH to take unwilling hosts, but I MUST spawn. It has been too long. Our people are sensitive to disease, and so, a balance MUST be maintained. I…”
The alien’s eyes avert in horror. “Am… I the last of my kind? This is the largest aquifer on this world, and I only barely survived. D-Did your people find more!? More like me!?”
Grey answers gently, “Afraid not. We just started searching, but this aquifer was the only one venting the air you’re breathing. Almost everywhere else is a completely different mix.”
“It’s true then… I am the last…” The alien’s tentacles snug a little around Mina’s abdomen.
The alien’s head sinks below the water, and it lies flat and motionless on the lagoon bottom. Mina looks down at it quietly. Still looking down at the alien, Mina says softly, “Maybe this is meant to be then. You were sent to finish me off; to send me to my people.”
Mina then says, “She’s… sad… b-but! Th-this isn’t right! I-… I don’t want… I…!” Her tone switches to solemn, “What is the purpose? There is nowhere for our spawn to go. You would carry doomed children for nothing.”
There’s a quiet pause. Chief Grey sighs and lowers his weapon. He says calmly, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I, for one, am glad we talked.”
Surprised, everyone looks at him. Grey looks at Tachibana, saying, “We’re not going to be like the Grodurns, right?” He looks at Mina, saying, “Alright, Cave Queen. Listen and listen well. If you’re unsurprised by us coming from the sky, then you must understand we have a LOT of technology.”
Mina says coldly, “What is the point of this conversation? Do what you came to do. Kill the monster and free your sister.”
Grey takes a seat on the ground, putting his boots in the lagoon. He says, “The POINT is both of us getting what we want. We won’t give you hosts, per se, BUT what if we could incubate your eggs? Would this satisfy you?”
The ‘Cave Queen’ stirs a little. She asks through Mina, “Why would you offer that? What do you want in trade?”
Grey replies, “I can’t officially negotiate on behalf of humanity. But, we DO probably owe you for damaging your garden with our lights.” He points over his shoulder. He then continues, “BUT, you’re obviously rather intelligent. You’ve survived two off-world invaders and survived isolated on a now-hostile world. And, you did so with what seemed to be a bow and arrow. Maybe you won’t be particularly useful to us, but you’re useless to us living alone on this dead and decaying world. We came for resources, which we can’t harvest if it’ll kill any sentients like you. Far as I can tell, though, you are the ruler of a society of one. So, we can offer you our lifestyle, relative safety, not ending your species, and maybe a new world to fill with your… uh… children.”
The Cave Queen’s head emerges from the water beside Mina. “Wh-… What are you saying?” says Mina’s voice. Mina then whines, “Chief… can’t someone else be her puppet? I’m cold.”
The alien looks up at her, and then at Chief Grey. Grey replies to the Cave Queen, “I’m offering for you to join our fleet. We’ll scavenge what we can and evacuate before our enemies catch up to us –which, is a fair reason for you to say ‘no’-, and we’ll use science to keep you from going extinct. It’ll take some getting used to, but friends, food, and safety for your children.”
Mina’s voice asks, “You would take me to the sky?”
Rena whispers, “You can’t be serious, Chief.”
“I am serious. And, you’re correct, Cave Queen. It’ll take a little time, but we’ll get you all set up on one of our ships, and you can live a comfortable life without having to worry so much about starving to death.”
Rena scoffs, “A little less…”
Grey retorts, “We’re getting there.”
The Cave Queen accuses through Mina, “What if this is a trick?” Her tendrils snug around Mina, and she continues, “This could all be a lie. If… If I release this one, you’ll leave.”
Grey chuckles, replying, “You’re right. Which is why I’ll stay in exchange. I’ll be collateral until our scientists can whip something up. Of course, I’ll need food and water run to me, so it’ll be best if we camp out in the main aquifer where you snatched Mina. You can keep an arrow on me or whatever, as long as you agree. Also, you’ll talk through me. Sound reasonable?”
Tachibana growls, “Grey, this is too risky. If she decides to kill you, we won’t have time to…”
“I know that. But, I’ll be fine.”
Hancock suddenly says, “I’ll stay too.” He looks at Grey, saying, “Easiest way to shift Someone’s priority.”
Grey chuckles, replying, “Fine.”
Just before Long blurts out the same thing, Grey snarls, “Don’t even think about it, Long. AT BEST, you can be a supply runner.”
Long pauses. But, she smiles and sighs. “Chief, if you’ll be camping on the shuttle, there’s no reason I can’t stay. R-Respectfully, of course, Chief.”
“You’re doing so many laps when we get back…” grumbles Grey quietly.
Tachibana asks, “So, Cave Queen? Do you agree?”
The Cave Queen replies through Mina, “I do not see other options. But… If what you do say is true,…” The alien looks up in thought. She looks at the squad again, saying, “I will agree. I beg you not to betray my trust.”
Grey replies kindly, “Same to you.”
Mina’s voice says softly, “Do not be alarmed. I will now approach.” Mina whines, “What’s that mean!? You agreed! Let go…” Mina halts as the cave Queen ascends out of the water.
Long’s grip tightens on the shotgun, but Grey never flinches, which cues her to stay calm. Hancock, Rena, and Tachibana take a step back.
The Cave Queen is certainly a majestic sight to behold. Though her skin and tentacles –numbering fourteen in total- seem soft and flexible like an octopus, she rises from the water with ten of her tentacles supporting her at distinct, jointed angles like crab’s legs. The two holding Mina come out at roughly ‘shoulder’ level, as well as two more holding the curious weapon she uses with a projectile at the ready. It looks like two shell-like boards with a round case that she holds with one arm and a handle at the back of the two boards. How it works makes no sense, as it seems more akin to an overly-complex nutcracker than a projectile launcher.
The Cave Queen’s torso is also something to behold. She has a gravidly distended belly faintly glowing light yellow and purple from the eggs within and the transluscence of her skin. Her ‘upper torso’ is also broad, but not because of any humanoid features. She is, however, oddly attractive to look at. Her most ‘humanoid’ traits are her head and neck. Her face has two eyes, a slightly protruded nose, a mouth, and a hair-shaped fleshy fin or other appendage hanging down her head, which could easily be mistaken for hair at a quick glance in a dark place the way it hangs past her upper torso. Her eyes are black with white-looking pupils, and her mouth doesn’t have teeth like a human, but more like one broad ‘tooth’ per jaw that has two points that overlap her bottom ‘lip’ and three points on her bottom ‘tooth’.
Standing as she is, even with her tentacles bent, she stands almost twelve feet tall, with each tentacle having a full reach of almost 15 feet. And, while her head is proportionately larger than a human’s with her slightly larger upper torso, her lower abdomen, full to near-bursting as it is, is nearly the size of a large beach ball.
The alien slowly walks closer, cautiously easing an equally-stunned Mina to the shore.
She releases Mina, hesitating momentarily the last couple of inches on Mina’s waist. Rena runs to her sister, saying desperately, “Mina! Are you okay!?” She hugs Mina.
Mina replies softly, hugging Rena, “I’m… tired. And cold…”
“We’ll warm you up. Where’s her helmet!?”
Hancock, having jogged to pick it up, returns it to her. Mina says solemnly, “Will it matter? What if I get sick? We haven’t discovered space penecilin yet.”
Grey puts a hand on her shoulder, saying, “I think you’ll be okay. She said she’s highly susceptible to disease, right? We might be risking her more. Regardless, you’re going straight to medical for antibiotics and monitoring.”
Tachibana says warmly, “Good job with the flashlight, Coulson. We might’ve been too late without it.”
Mina sighs, putting her helmet back on. Grey asks the Cave Queen, “Can you give us a hand getting back? It’ll be faster that way, I suspect.”
However, she stares curiously at him. Confused, Grey asks, “Do you understand me?”
The Cave Queen chatters something in a soft, delicate voice. She gently touches her forehead with a tentacle. She then points at Grey’s head.
Hancock remarks, “It must’ve been two-way. She needed the connection to speak, but also to understand. I wonder if she’s somehow linking with her subject’s Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area of the brain.”
“Like telepathy?” asks Long curiously.
Hancock replies, “I don’t know. Might be much more simplistic, and possibly more specific.”
Tachibana growls, “Let’s talk at the shuttle. Air time?”
Grey nods. He demonstrates his goal, pointing at the Cave Queen, and then grabbing Hancock and pulling him a short distance, pointing the way they came. She cocks her head, looking.
Mina softly whimpers, “Lemme guess. I’m going to need to…”
The Queen chatters softly again, crawling past them. She crosses her garden island quickly, descending into the water. Rena grumbles, “Great. She’s going to grab the others. Great work Chief.”
Grey smirks when she stops and looks at them, clearly waiting patiently. He asks, “You were saying?”
Rena retorts, “For an alien hunter, Chief, you sure get along with them.”
Grey replies, “She could’ve grabbed and killed us all at any time, but instead took one hostage. Temporarily, most likely. I’ve never wanted to kill the innocent. She’s scared.”
The Queen chatters softly again, seemingly confused why they’re pausing. Grey starts toward her, saying, “We’re coming. We’re coming.” He adds, “She’s also obviously crazy strong to drag Mina here so quickly. Imagine if she’s willing to help us physically in some way.”
The six ease themselves into the water, and the Cave Queen gently takes their hands. She whisks them through the aquifer in only a moment, helping them up onto shore.
Fisher, Dumas, Moody, Fredericks, Brown, and the rookies, Pazna, Pratt, and French, all approach as the second shuttle is easing down next to the first. Brown asks, “Mina! You oka-…” They start to aim, but Grey orders, “Stay those weapons, Marines. There was a misunderstanding. She’s interested in an alliance.”
Mina grumbles, “Speak for yourself Chief.”
Lieutenant Kane jogs up, asking, “Alpha team! Everything okay?”
Tachibana salutes, followed by the others, as she replies, “Sir! The contact behind us startled our team and tried to take Mina Coulson. We’ve worked it out, though. Mina needs to be taken back to medical for possible infection."
Kane sighs. “You okay, Coulson?”
Mina nods, “Yes, sir. Mostly. Almost became an alien squid’s broodmother, but great otherwise.”
“Charlie shuttle will take you back. Head aboard.” She nods, and Rena goes with her.
Kane then asks as he studies the towering form behind the three, “You were able to communicate?”
Grey nudges Hancock, and the young Ensign explains, “Uh, yes, Lieutenant! We think it’s similar to a practical telepathy of some kind. She has to be in contact, but she can speak and comprehend through whoever she is holding by the head.”
Kane replies, “Interesting. And, you’re sure she’s friendly?”
“Yes sir. She only took Mina instead of harming any of us. And, she insists,… what she was planning to do is not physically harmful.”
“What’d you negotiate?”
Tachibana replies, “A home on our ship and a way to incubate her eggs. She’s apparently parasitic; her eggs need to be laid in a host. But, she wasn’t too concerned about us being offworlders.”
“How did she word it?”
Everyone looks at each other. Long squeaks, “Um, she said she needed a warm body cavity, Sir.”
He nods, “Very well. Anything else?”
Grey replies, “I’m staying here as collateral until we can get an incubator to show her we can do so.”
“That’s rather bold, Chief. That could take time.”
Grey shrugs, “I don’t imagine that much. Eggs shouldn’t need external nutrients, right? And if they do, it should be fine to add them to the fluid.”
Kane studies the Cave Queen a moment. He asks, “So, do you plan to communicate further?”
Grey nods. “Yep. I have my suspicions that her environment is fairly sterile, and the air mixture down here doesn’t appear to be toxic. Low oxygen, but I don’t intend to fight her.”
Kane bows politely to her, which surprises and confuses her. Kane says gently, “Please express that I’m pleased to meet her. I’ll escort Coulson back and get something started for the deal you made. Chief Grey, I authorize ONLY you to remove your helmet. I suspect you might be right, but better safe than sorry. We’ll analyze the air content as soon as we can get another team down here.”
“I was hoping to use the shuttle, Sir. Let her rest in comfort and air conditioning for once.”
“Give me an hour or so to send analysis team, Chief. If she’s like the Grodurns, our air could be better, but it could also be the opposite.”
Grey nods, “Sounds good, Sir.” He takes his helmet off, holding his breath for a moment and relaxing. He breathes normally, and says, “Alright, Cave Queen.” He taps his temple gently.
She’s surprised at first, but reaches cautiously. She glances at each of the humans around her cautiously, ensuring not to startle them. Her tendril gently wraps around Grey’s head. He asks, “Okay, so you can understand us now, right?” He says in a cautious tone, “Yes.”
Grey chuckles, remarking, “That’s interesting. I can’t even tell she’s doing it. I just hear my own voice say things.”
Kane says, “A pleasure to meet you, Cave Queen. Chief Grey informed me of the agreement. As long as you’re passive, you’re welcome in our presence. I’m going to get the incubators started.”
The Cave Queen replies through Grey, making his voice uncharacteristically tender, “Thank you. I do not fully understand, but I trust your people. I MUST.”
Kane replies, “No, you must’nt. I’m glad we’re working together, but you’re right to be cautious. Please excuse me for now, though. I need to get Coulson back to the fleet.” Kane bows again, and he quickly jogs toward Charlie shuttle.
Grey asks, “What is a ‘Chief Grey’?” Realizing it’s her asking, Tachibana giggles, replying, “It’s one of the names for the man you’re communicating through. He’s Chief Grey, I’m Chief Tachibana. This is Spaceman Long, and that’s Ensign Hancock.”
“Are you not of the same species?”
“We are. But we have individual names. With how many other humans we talk to, we have to distinguish which one we’re talking to for clarity.”
Grey adds, “Humans are what we are, our species.” His voice then says, “I see.”
Hancock asks, “Do you mind that we refer to you as ‘Cave Queen’? We could give you a name as well.”
Grey says, “These words mean very little to my kind. But, if it aids your communication, I will respond to Cave Queen.”
Fisher asks, “So, uh… New friend?”
Tachibana replies, “Right! These boys. Fisher, Dumas, Brown, Fredericks, Moody, Pazna, Pratt, and French. Squad, meet the Cave Queen. Last of her species and probably last on this planet.”
The alien looks down. Grey gently elbows her, and Tachibana looks up, quickly saying, “S-Sorry. I didn’t mean it like… yeah, sorry.”
Dumas remarks dryly, “Looks, uh… like she might not be the last long, huh?”
Grey chuckles, replying, “That’s the goal, marine. Say, she needs a nice warm host to lay them in. Wanna offer your rear to the cause?”
Dumas retorts, “What!? No!”
Long watches in awe as the Cave Queen gingerly touches her swollen abdomen. The teen asks, “C-Can I feel, um, C-Cave Queen?”
The alien looks at her, surprised. The others glance at her, and then the tall alien. Grey says softly, “If… you wish…”
Long cautiously approaches, and the towering alien eases herself down to rest on the ground. Long kneels in front of her, gently touching her gloved hand to the swollen mass. Though her gloves dull the sensation some, the Queen’s abdomen is surprisingly soft, like a velvety leather. And, even the slightest pressure causes the eggs within to shift a little. Long says tenderly, “You’re so soft… and, your eggs are too…”
The Queen says tenderly through Grey, “Thank you.” One of her tentacles gently touches Long’s hand. Grey’s voice says, “You… humans wear an outer shell that is removable, but… It hides your warmth and softness.”
Hancock replies warmly, “That’s kinda the point. To protect our squishy bodies as much as we can.”
Tachibana asks, “What happens after this clutch is laid? Was there a male to visit you?”
The Queen looks at Tachibana, surprised. “Visit?” asks Grey’s voice. “No. Our males bond to us for life.” She gestures at something on her backside. It looks little more than a large skin tag, but on closer inspection, does seem to have some of the features of the Cave Queen, including black and white spots that could be eyes.
Long has read that angler fish are similar in this regard. Because of restricted resources, such as food primarily, males are much smaller and tend to permanently fuse to the female as a sort of parasitic symbiote. This ensures the pair doesn’t have to hunt for a mate, and the male’s minimal size prevents a high metabolism requiring food.
Tachibana jokes dryly, “Huh. My kind of man.”
Grey retorts, “I’m telling your husband you said that.”
“What? He knows.”
Grey then says more solemnly, “I produce spawn continuously, but without a host, I have had to discard many.”
There’s a quiet pause, and Long says tenderly, “I’m sorry that happened. It must hurt doing so. BUT! Lieutenant Kane is very kind and smart, and he’ll get the smartest people we have to help you.”
“I hope you are right,… Spaceman Long.”
Long giggles, replying, “You can just call me Long. Or, Jessica, if you want. Jessica is the name friends call me.”
Fisher’s voice asks only over the radio, “Shouldn’t Long be careful? If… this thing took Mina for… uh… yeah; isn’t it risky for Long to be too friendly?”
Tachibana says softly, “He’s not wrong, Long.”
Long says audibly to everyone, “Chief Grey was right. If she really wanted to hurt us, she could have.”
Grey says softly, “I understand your mistrust of me, truly. But, I was afraid of discarding more children without even a chance. If even one more of my daughters survives, I will be forever grateful to you, humans.”
There’s another awkward pause, and Tachibana groans, “Fine. Way to make me feel guilty. Let’s… just hope this plan works.”
The squad rests as they await the analysis team. True to the agreement, the water queen is quite passive and friendly, letting the marines probe her about the aquifer and life before her world died. She knows the aquifer is devoid of other creatures, as well as where the source of the vent is. She demonstrates her weapon, which launches the arrow-like projectile by pulling the two flat-ish pieces back through the barrel-shaped piece, crushing down on the back of the arrow, which somehow launches it with surprising force. She’s not quite sure how it actually works, only that it requires a special hard-leafed plant that grows in the deepest parts of the aquifer. She offers to retrieve some if the humans prove their trustworthiness.
As for the planet, she knows the surface dwelling race and animals were quite numerous. And, though her own people were once predatory night-kidnappers, her people shifted to voluntary hosts to prevent extinction, as the surface dwellers began killing the hosts to stop the reproduction of the Cave Queen’s species. Some of those Queens pleaded and begged with the surface dwellers, offering riches from the depths only the Queens could obtain. The surface dwellers reluctantly agreed, and the Queens stayed true to their vow. During a war, the Cave Queens earned a stronger favor by defending the society that had thus-far been working with them.
The current Cave Queen has virtually no concept of time, not knowing her own age, the length of time since the last interstellar visitors came, or the length of time a host would be carrying her spawn. She becomes tired when Bravo team reports the sun is at about a 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM position, though this planet’s days seem to be a fair bit longer, estimated around 48 hours. The air analysis approves the human air quality safe for her breathing, so the marines invite her to sleep in the shuttle. She’s wary at first, but finds the warm air quite comfortable. They quickly discover that she needs some moisture, though, and the marines take turns misting her occasionally.
When asked for clarification for needs of the incubators, the Cave Queen believes it only to be warm and moist, though she doesn’t know if attempts to lay in a suitable non-biological environment have been attempted.
Long enjoys the Cave Queen’s company. She has surprisingly many stories to tell, and everything about her is new and fascinating. She reveals that, even though a male is attached to her, she identifies herself still as singular, and the plural ‘our people’ was because they would have been Mina’s children and people as well, in her eyes. Though, Cave Queens aren’t very social with each other or the surface dwellers, they are inherently grateful to their hosts, and this Cave Queen seems saddened as the fate of the surface dwellers once again sinks in.
Rena reports back once Mina is confirmed safe, though medical keeps Mina behind for further monitoring. While Rena is bitter at first, even she begins asking curious questions of the Cave Queen. The Queen is happy to share, though Grey jokes occasionally about the tones his voice produces as a result.
Kane eventually reveals a plan in progress, and the science teams are constructing them, but it’ll take a couple of days. The marines make ready for the wait, though they’ve been fortunate that they can stay in the shuttle most of time.
Long wonders if there are more aliens they’re going to meet like the Cave Queen. But, for that, only time will tell.
***