I watched them fold into the great hall in an orderly fashion, scanning their meek faces as they worriedly shuffled and glanced around for comfort or affirmation. Their meandering hesitance made me scowl down at them from the balcony position I shared with Malikus and my wife, Andrana. Malikus had gone through the change, the lucky bastard, his new form was beautiful.
“Be patient Corvas,” Malikus said, he must have read my face. “Your time will come.”
Andrana shook her head and looked away.
“Look at them, about to receive this gift and not a shred of excitement. They don’t deserve it.” I said with arms folded tightly over my chest.
“That is why you are standing up here.” Malikus smiled at Andranaand as he said that, he ran his hand down her back comfortingly. I suppose his words were not meant for her. She hated me and I knew it, I was Malikus’ golden boy. I was to rise into the position of High priest after successful piloting. She was to be the sacrifice, the trail of blood through blackness, for Mother to follow.
With my ego re-invigorated and jealousy satiated, for now, I turned my attention back to the acolytes on the ground floor. My hands had taken up positions wide apart on the bannister in front of me, peacocking through my importance. Some of them looked up at me, some had the nerve to make eye contact.
The acolytes followed their instructions cleanly, taking a seat at the far-reaching tables that scored through the centre of the hall. Those who had gone through the change entered, powerful beasts with untamed yellow eyes, their rancid flesh changed to meet the image of our God. Strength of five men. That was power. I looked at my own hands. I was a weakling and everyone around me was getting stronger.
I found Gina and gave her a rare smile. I thought about how gorgeous her new form would be, and I wondered what new name she’d be blessed with. While I gawked at Gina, the changed ones had set a brass drinking goblet beside each seated acolyte.
Next, as it was written, they opened up a small metal floor hatch situated behind each chair, pulling forth a thick metal band attached to a chain that was coiled inside the floor box. They clamped the throats of the acolytes so they were bound to the floor. The tension caused Gina and a few others to fall backwards on their seats. Yelps and yells could be heard. A peal of rising laughter bubbled up from the audience looking down.
Once the acolytes had found their balance, they awaited the call. It was humorous to watch how they struggled to stay at the table, the choking rings around their necks tugging at them, the tension in the coil unyielding.
The changed ones drew their blades and took position directly between two acolytes before them, ready to carry out what must be done. The horn bellowed, and all but the standing changed ones looked to the entrance of the hall. Lines of lobotomites wheeled in trolleys with huge brass serving platters. The lids were locked down with thick catches. The platters screamed and cried in their muffled voices. The audience applauded and I joined in, I was enthralled now, I couldn’t wait to watch.
For every four acolytes, one serving platter was placed, as it should be. The catches were flicked open by the thralls and the lids prised away to present the exhibits: Men and women from the surface, gagged and bound to the brass plates. Their bondages forced them into a fetal position. They represented the forbidden fruit, and those who succumbed to its temptation would be dispatched by the changed ones. I hoped they all gave into flesh, even Gina.
The meals squirmed with terror, a shock to their system that charged down their spine. The horn’s blast rolled through the hall. Tentatively the acolytes looked at each other, who’d be the first to imbibe? None dare bring it to their lips, my patience emptied through my body and puddled around my feet.
“Drink, cowards!” My voice raced around the hall. I twisted my head to absorb the warming approval of Malikus’ nods. I had pushed the dominoes and soon few turned to many, taking up the goblets and quaffing viscous black liquid. Some gagged, others vomited. Acolytes would lose their balance and come crashing backwards as they choked on the bind around their neck. The changed ones watched them as they staggered back to their seats.
After much moaning and wretched oral hacking, the hall steadied to an ominous chattering. The acolytes were shaking, drooling as they held back the bile.
I reached out to take Andrana’s hand, looking over her elegant beauty, wondering how she’d grow into her change. My fingers found her timid digits that retreated immediately.
Minutes turned to hours as we watched the acolytes writhe with great hunger, that flesh before them becoming unbearable. A gurgled roar that twisted upwards in a savage spiral drew our eyes to the middle table. An acolyte had given in. He reached out to grip the leg of a bound person and dragged her towards him. We all watched as the beastly acolyte tore the flesh from her inner thigh. Her scream couldn’t escape as he nuzzled into the gushing wound.
The changed one's blade came down like a guillotine, splaying the failed ferals skull in two. A simple kill. A kill that emitted a tidal wave of excess. They submitted to the flesh, hundreds of them falling into a savage orgy of a glutton.
Limbs were juggled between the revellers, organs dashed against the floor with curdling slaps. The long tables resembled rivers of blood, the ferals swam in them. Changed ones carved through them, erasing them dutifully.
I awoke on Jovik’s armchair. My body wasn’t willing anymore, I didn’t even remember deciding to take a nap. Every crack on my form felt like a burning poker. I leaned forward to break from my sleep’s irresistible embrace, fighting every urge to collapse backwards and sink back into her lap, her bosom only held nightmares.
Remsher took some reasoning with. He knows we must leave this planet and I was the one to make that happen. I sent him on a mission I wished I could complete myself. Leena needed to be retrieved and brought to the underground hangar where the Omedetha was waiting for us patiently. He wasn’t pleased I had tried to trick him with a job offer, but he understood. I hoped.
It was a risk. Remsher wouldn’t harm Leena. He was armed, strong, and in better condition than me. He could move freely. For the first time, I put our future in another person's hands. It made me feel sick.
“I can’t wait to see you.”
Who was that? I looked around the room, the feral’s festering corpse lay motionless in a pool of its puss coloured blood. I looked to the door, the window. My eyes found Jovik’s body, his chair was facing me from his computer desk. Draped over it. Eyes wide open.
Fixed on me.
“Jovik?” I leaned forward from the armchair. I must have beeen losing it, Jovik looked like ice.
“Who?” Jovik's lips moved. His eyes searched my face.
“Fuck me!” Like a demon my body sprang backwards, standing on the back of the armchair with my spine fused to the wall. My body had been drained of warmth, frigid fingers dug into the plaster. At least the terror numbed me from the pain of being awake.
“Can you wait to see me?”
“Mother?” This can’t be her, another dream, I’d wake up.
“Yes, child?”
“I’ll see you soon, Mother.” I wanted to appease her, I’d say anything. Why wasn’t I waking up?
“Can you wait?” Jovik’s voice was shredded as the sound crawled from his pale lips. “I have been watching you while you sleep.”
“I can’t wait,” I said.
Jovik’s head tilted forward and his body slumped down. Mother was waking. Rousing from a deep sleep, murmuring unintelligibly from the darkness. Time was running out. The snap was secured, and if Remsher remained on board I’d have a pilot who’ll be bringing Leena to the ship safely.
The missing puzzle pieces gnawed at innards. I needed Skarlet, getting her was possible. I needed a medical officer, a doctor who could run pre-jump injections, who was willing to climb aboard the Omedetha and take a trip to Yunar…that was improbable.
Now more relaxed, I sat and stared at Jovik's corpse while I considered my options. It didn’t take me long as there weren’t many. What was that doctor's name I saw on the news this morning? Toovool? Torvald? I looked through Jovik at his system. He had access to census information. Might not be up to date, worth a shot.
I had something, a little nibble, a place I could put my piece. It might end in checkmate but at least I played till the end. All things considered, I hadn’t expected my one-man rebellion to last as long as this. Surely the closing of that iron maiden door was the end for me and this was all a dream. My body shuddered as if to shake itself dry of that thought.
Pulling myself up I carefully made my way toward Jovik. I looked over him, he was in the way. Ever so slowly I took his stiff wrist in my fingers. I didn’t take my eyes from his face. My heartbeat drummed at my rib cage. I yanked hard on that arm and Jovik lurched at me like a zombie, collapsing on the floor as I stumbled back.
Not having used the older computer interfaces for such a time made the effort clumsy as I clicked through folders and executables. The keyboard was caked in food and dried blood. Disgusting, as was everything in this basement. I found the system I was looking for, after much bumbling.
I filtered out medical practitioners by name beginning with T.
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“Talbot, Teller, Thornton…Tolvuld, that’s the bastard.” I checked his block number and information. He was eight blocks west. I wasn’t about to hang from a rickety tram, the walk would be a good day. I didn’t have time to bring him back. Looks like I was taking the interface layer, they had rollers.
The interface layer was a faux maintenance zone for the citizens. I helped design many of them. Situated between the above and the below, it gave maintenance workers simple access to power and water routing. Gives them the impression they are in control. There were of course a couple of problems. One might be solved, accessing this zone was difficult, but that feral must have gotten in somehow. If a feral got in, then there could be more. It was my best chance though, I could open the manhole from the inside with no problem.
The rollers running beneath would still work I bet, although all the maintenance work would be conducted by the below now, soon they’ll be shut down to prevent any escape.
I made my way into the kitchen where the Feral had come from. Dirty pots and pans were strewn about the floor. The walls were grime laden and it stunk of mould. I was surprised Jovik survived as long as he did. The cabinet below the sink was teased open. I had a feeling this was the feral's entry point.
I took a breath and marched towards the cabinet door, pulling it open. Empty. A hole in the back wall confirmed my suspicion; this would lead to the underground system. Jovik had done well to score this basement, most of them were blocked up to deal with a rat infestation that had never happened. Nothing ever happened on this planet.
I ducked down to step into the cabinet, it was tight. Finding the hole with my feet I began to slide down the burrowed tunnel into the darkness. I dangled before dropping about four feet, crouching down to absorb the drop. It wasn’t a long fall but it still felt like hell.
In the darkness I placed my hand along the wall, tracing my fingers until they brushed over steel. I found the latch and wrenched open the box, activating the low-level light source. A strip of flickering light cast itself down the middle of the squared run. The tunnel flirted with the dim violet, giving me glimpses of its form.
I knew the way. The light raced as far as I could see. A guttural roar returned, I’d woken one up. They were blind and simple; as long as I was quiet and quick, I’d be safe. Longingly I looked back from where I had come from, perhaps I should go back. I crouched in place to stop myself from retreating, gripped by an intense terror that ordered me to curl up and let the ferals have their fill.
Just ten minutes, just a quick walk, there would be a runner in the transport box, I could skate down, they’d never catch me. I shivered as I rose to my aching feet, starting my slow pilgrimage down the lonely halls of the forgotten maintenance runs.
Limping down the seemingly infinite passageway while I waited for the door to come into sight, I kept my eyes fixated on the blackness where the weak light had been swallowed. The maintenance room wasn’t too far away. I pressed into the warm rusty door with my shoulder, it didn’t budge.
My body was crying sweat, the humidity down here was almost unbearable, I hadn’t noticed it at first, frog in water or something like that. I gave the door another shunt with my shoulder, it creaked but refused to yield. In a spit of silent rage and shook my middle finger at the door.
I plodded away from the door to the other side of the tunnel, almost tripping on one of the trenches that house the runner wheels. I charged towards the rusty plate. My body collided with it and I groaned in pain, but it gave way. I stumbled through the frame and tumbled into the darkness. The sensor lights awoke with a flicker to brighten the drab space.
I had landed on a pile of jackets which was a bit of fortune, the comfort that it offered me was wrenched away by the howl of a feral. I’d alerted it. I scurried to my feet and closed the door, bolting it shut and turning to inspect my quarry. The walls were decorated with treasures. Helmets, torches, a pneumatic hammer.
My main score was waiting for me in the corner, standing up against the wall. The runner. A slender metal plate with wheels that ran down the centre of its underbelly, at the front was a pedal and a small, but dense battery motor. It was made from some sort of alloy. I pulled the dust-covered runner from the wall and lay it down gently.
No belts to strap in, handles were on fast though. I held down my greasy thumb against the start-up button, it flashed red and fell away. That was machine talk for “go fuck yourself.” I ran my hand through my slicked hair with a grimace.
I’d need a charge point, this thing hadn’t been used in years by the looks of it. Capacitor boxes allowed for charging of these things, they connected to the mains and were found all along the walls of the tunnel. This didn’t please me, why I’d thought it’d work just like that, I don’t know.
Gear, that’s what I wanted now, I grabbed a torch. The pile of overalls and jackets on the floor were not the cleanest but they were cleaner than my putrid rags. I changed into the green and orange maintenance overalls. Too hot for the jacket.
As I walked to the door I paused. Yeah, I’d take that too. I grabbed the pneumatic hammer, giving it a wobble in my palm to feel the weight. I pushed the power button, well, look at that, it works. That green light winked at me. I had a new friend. The yellow rubber-clad hammer felt good in my hand. I set it to long barrel single strike and pushed the trigger button in to observe the steel pillar shoot out of the muzzle viciously before retracting. It wasn’t the best but it’d shatter a skull maybe.
The door groaned angrily as I pulled it slowly towards me. I leaned my head out and looked both ways. The lights hummed blissfully alongside a continuous water drip further down. My breath echoed as I exhaled. I dragged the courage out of my pits and stepped back into the tunnel, easing the lightweight runner through the door behind me, careful not to clang it against it.
The runner was a slender board with four wheels running down the centre, enough room for a man to sit on it and strap himself in to be shot down the rail. Usually, they were used to move small equipment and tools from block to block, technological gear was being siphoned in great quantities over the years so they had to share.
I worked the runner out of the door and laid it on the ground for a moment to catch my breath.
I could see rays of tangerine light stabbing through the stained glass grates in the ceiling. It created a deep orange pastel tinge to the dust floating through it as it married the dim violet light. I tucked the runner under my arm, it was heavy enough to make it more than an inconvenience, a cumbersome front-heavy thing as well, due to the battery pack.
With a runner under one arm, a pneumatic hammer in my other hand and a torch hanging out of my back pocket I trundled down into the known unknown. The skittering of small creatures and the rattles of larger ones pulled my head about frantically, I’d become sensitive to everything. All I could smell was my sweat and the tang of that dead feral’s blood.
I was revolting.
Something was sticking out of the wall but I couldn’t make it out. I set down the runner and took out my torch, scanning it and confirming it was the charging box I’d need. My head span left to right as I fumbled with the cable that unfurled from the runner’s battery. The capacitor hatch opened easily, a miracle, the light on the runner flashed to tell me it was charging. Time to wait.
I sat with my back against the wall beside my runner, playing with the hammer a little, falling in and out of consciousness. The moment I sat down my body demanded sleep, it was becoming irksome and right now, dangerous. I turned the torch on to have a look around.
Illuminated not five meters away in front of me was everything I had feared. A feral on all fours, it hadn’t seen me in the low light. My clammy hands clutched the hammer tightly. How the hell did it get so close without me seeing or hearing it? I kept the light on it but didn’t make a sound, it wasn’t moving, and I needed it to go away.
It growled low and moved forward. All I’d need to do is wait…never mind. I snapped to look at the runner. It was beeping with this most ridiculous noise, advising me that it had charged and let the feral know its meal was ready.
The wretch's eyes flared with infrared when they were captured by the light from my torch. It bore its teeth. I leaned over and dragged the runner between us. Its howl rang through the tunnel. I felt the weight of the abomination crash down onto the runner and then on me.
The feral bit and clawed at me as I grunted from behind the runner, its stench overpowering. The rancid low tide odour wriggled up my nose like a rotten eel. Its skeletal facial frame threatened to pierce from its almost translucent flesh, veins yellowed by its revolting blood struck down its cheeks from its temples, like arched lightning.
It wouldn’t stop until I was torn to shreds, and these things loved to savour their meals. The runner was pushed and jabbed into my face, it dug its claws into my thigh, I felt it rend the flesh, a cold prang of fear followed by burning pain.
I raised my hand and twisted it; unable to get it up high enough I screamed as I let the piston go. It struck somewhere at the feral's abdomen. The wretch recoiled and eased the pressure on my body. I shoved the runner towards the monster and leaned forward, punching the steel into its forehead. I felt its blood speckle my face as it flopped backwards, still writhing, it hadn’t quite done the job.
I stood up, edging towards the pathetic beast. I inspected its ghoulish features as it spasmed frantically on its back. I placed the hammer to its head, those eyes had dimmed to a reassured calmness as if it was thanking me. “Sleep tight.” I clicked the trigger. Nothing. The red light of regret flashed at me. The hammer had let me down. The feral lashed out at me with those sickles and I fell backwards. It was regaining composure and I hadn’t a thing to stop it. My kingdom for a sword.
The feral was on its belly now, and I was planning to get on mine. I dragged the runner to the middle of the tunnel and lined up the wheels. The feral’s howls spurred me on. I lay flat on my stomach. I couldn’t remember how fast these went and I didn’t want to be hurled backwards if I sat up. Here goes.
I pushed the small pedal with my palm. It blinked at me in orange, then green, but didn’t move. You have to be kidding me, first it lets the feral know I was here, then the bastard doesn’t have the decency to go.
I felt the feral's hand coil around my ankle. “C’mon you worthless, fucking, junk!” I shook my foot to get it off as I lay on my belly, more vulnerable than ever. In a fit of rage, I mashed my fist down onto the pedal, “Cunt!” The runner zipped forward about two meters. “Yes!” I slapped my palm down on the pedal and shot down the rail. The feral hitched a ride using my ankle, dragging itself behind me. “Piss!” I planted my heel into its face. “Off!” I repeated the process until it detached and tumbled away into the abyss.
In an odd moment of relief, I stroked the runner as if it was a good dog. “Sorry I called you a cunt.” Perhaps madness had finally set in, I was still waiting to wake up. This journey had already pushed me to my limit, I was on borrowed time and luck, which of course doesn’t exist.
Finding the block I needed was trivial, the overhead signs told me exactly what grid I was in and they all ran in order. At least something down here was reliable. I’d have to push my way out of a grate on a side street, the access boxes would be guarded, locked, and more comfortable.
I broke into another storage room, same thing, piles of overalls, hammers, torches, few sets of ladders. I found a hammer that worked and decided against testing it, thinking best to save every shot I had. I positioned the ladder beneath a grate and clambered up, keeping my left leg straight which had been dug into by that animal. The hammer made short work of the grate and I clambered onto the world above.
I felt the breeze caress my glossy face. The replicated apartments and grey-faced folks that mulled about made it seem as if I hadn’t moved an inch. An eternal mirror world of grim mundanity, sitting atop a mountain of festering scum, both were as evil as the other.
I approached the first man I saw.
“Excuse me.”
He turned to face me. “Yeah?”
“Doctor Torvuld, does he operate in this block?” He better, I didn’t exactly travel first class to see him. The man, who seemed less alive than the dreary concrete that entrapped him, just pointed into the distance.
“Thanks, pal,” I said.
I approached the short box that was the surgeon's office. Before I got there a woman burst out with her head in her hands, sobbing violently, quite disturbing, I hope this wasn’t anything to do with the Doctor’s bedside manner. I had slowed to a hobble by now, my eyes rolled back a few times before I caught them in their sockets, juggling them to stay awake and away from Mother.
The door opened again, and a blurry figure said something, sounded panicked, I couldn’t make it out. I couldn’t make anything out. “Doctor?” I said. I felt my arm gripped sharply, I wanted to struggle, but I gave in.
“Come…” I heard his voice. Then I heard hers.