Marsiana 3-5
CHAPTER 5
Colonel McKinney and Sgt. Gallagher waited for Adams near the lander. Adams saw them too, and stood at a distance.
‘Sir, it's me, Adams,’ - he shouted loudly. ‘I see, Adams,’ Colonel McKinney said. ‘What happened?’ Adams stopped. His shoulders slumped. ‘Sir, Graham burned Conner. He’s got some parasites. I killed Graham. That's all, sir. You can put me on trial,’ Adams took a step forward, but Colonel stopped him with his gesture. ‘Do not come near Adams. Stay where you are,’ he commanded. Adams understood. His eyes filled with tears. ‘You too ... also think I'm infected? I'm like Conner and Graham,’ he asked in a trembling voice. Colonel did not answer. ‘You do not leave me here alone do you? After all, do not leave me? Adams kept asking desperately. ‘Keep him on sight,’ Colonel whispered Gallagher. ‘If he tried to approach shoot him. Got it?’ ‘Yes, Sir,’ Gallagher answered quietly, discreetly taking Adams on target. Adams pretended he noticed nothing. ‘You do not leave me here alone, Sir? After all do not leave me here?’ he was asking with a plea in his voice. ‘I'm healthy, Sir. Honestly healthy. Its Graham carried Conner, and he was sitting next to him. I did not even touch to Conner. Yes and to Graham too. And then I burned him ... Well I did it because I wanted that infection does not spread and penetrated into our module,’ Adams said quickly and as if in a fever. It seemed that Colonel McKinney, would believe him, and allowed to return to the ship. ‘You can even take my tests,’ Adams exclaimed, holding out his right hand, as if was about to donate blood for laboratory tests. ‘We're not leaving you here alone. Calm down,’ Colonel McKinney said. ‘But you must understand us after what we have seen to take you back to the ship we simply have no right. Even if I give this permission Captain Harper certainly not opens the gateway. He has got some instructions for such case.’ Colonel McKinney's voice sounded quite convincing and sincere. Adams was beginning to think that Colonel McKinney really sympathize with him and will not leave him on the Oberon. ‘What we have to do, Sir?’ he asked. ‘What to do?’ Colonel McKinney thought for a moment. ‘We’ll make a temporary shelter for you and fly back to the ship. You stay here and will wait for a doctor. Do you understand me, Adams?’ ‘Yes, yes, Sir. I agree,’ Adams exclaimed. ‘It’s all her fault. That witch! It is she infected Conner and then she disappeared.’ Colonel McKinney began to feel that Adams slightly haywire. ‘Witch? Do you mean Marsiana?’ ‘Yes, Sir. She is a witch,’ Adams eagerly cried out. ‘It was she who did it all. It’s she. She wants to destroy the expedition. First, infected Conner, then Graham ... Thank God, I managed to escape from this infection!’ Colonel McKinney was clear that Adams in any case should not be taken back on board the ship. ‘We’ll clear all with Marsiana. By the way where is she now?’ ‘I do not know, Sir. When we arrived Conner was alone. This witch was not there. She’s left him and gone. She didn’t connect with us. Devices also could not find her. I say she’s the witch,’ at this point Adams looked like a medieval religious fanatic. Gallagher stared at Adams as if seen him for the first time. Sir, what’s wrong with him?’ he asked quietly. ‘Nerves and scared…very scared. That’s why he talks that bull sheet.’ Colonel McKinney answered quietly too. Adams noticed as they were whispering and he felt a strong suspicion. It suddenly became clear that the ship he never see again as his own ears without the mirror. That he, Adams will die on this fucking planet. Colonel McKinney simply spoke his teeth. Adams suddenly swept crazy idea with. He decided at any way get inside the lander and return to the ship. Adams fired the first. Colonel McKinney was expecting from his subordinate anything like that so with lightning reaction used Gallagher as the shield in front of him. While he was burning and writhing in agony Colonel McKinney managed to hide aboard the lander. Adams realizing that his plan failed was cursing very badly and kept firing at the landing module. Plasma burned the body, but could not cause the serious damage to it. ‘Sir, I did not want! Excuse me, Sir!’ Adams cried out suddenly dropping his weapon. ‘Take me with you. Do not leave me here alone!’ Lander slowly pulled away from the surface and began to climb up. Adams began to howl like a wild animal fell to his knees and began to beat his fists and helmet on the ground. At this point it was scary to look at him. * * * At first Marsiana wanted to be close to Conner until help arrives. But then she suddenly felt that she was watching by someone. ‘I wonder who it could be,’ Marsiana said aloud peering into the gloom. In the distance she saw some glowing pillar. She decided to see what it is. ‘Steve I leave you for a moment,’ she said and without waiting for Conner’s answer went in the direction of illumination. About two minutes later she saw a number of glowing little pillars of light which were no longer half a meter in height. Marsiana went to one of it closer. She wanted to find out what it is. Marsiana has not yet felt danger otherwise she kept at a safe distance herself. Glowing pillar seemed multilayered and inside it was something dark. Marsiana put both hands on the light pillar and lightly pressed. Her hands went inside the light. The density of the glowing substance was like the water. Marsiana more thrust his hands into the pillar and something groped inside. This is something get warm and immediately became to approach to her. Marsiana withdrew her hands and stepped back one step. At her through the luminous surface was looking some creature. Very tiny with one eye a mouth and two limbs with one finger. The only creature’s eye stared at Marsiana. Marsiana was not moving. Then again put both hands into the luminous surface. The creature twitched and began to burn. Marsiana calmly waited until it completely disappeared and moved on to the next pillar of light. Here she has done the same thing. When she came to the last pillar the luminous surface began to change got pale and Marsiana saw herself. It was so unexpected that Marsiana gasped and even a little confused. ‘Who are you?’ she asked curiously looking at herself. Her copy looked like she as a two drops of water and even their suits looked in the same way. There were not any differences. ‘Marsiana,’ pseudo Marsiana said. ‘Ah-Ah,’ real Marsiana said slowly. ‘I’m somehow not surprised. You're my clone or something else?’ ‘I, Marsiana,’ second Marsiana said. ‘Good trick,’ Marsiana said approvingly. ‘But it does not help you.’ As Marsiana nor wished to destroy her copy, but she did not hesitate and burned down the creature so well copied her looks. After that the pillars’ glow diminished and they disappeared among the rocks. Marsiana thinking about what it all meant slowly walked back. Returning to the protective dome Marsiana found Conner no longer there. It became clear that she was late. A minute later she saw a bright flash of light and the headphones shouts and moans with. This is Sergeant Graham lit up Conner as well the rover. Realizing that with her friends had happened something bad Mariana rushed to help them. But to help as it turned out there was nobody. She found burning vehicle and a little away someone's charred corpse. Marsiana was not frightened or upset. The entire incident she took calmly and decided to find out who of the group of survived. Marsiana went toward the lander, hoping to learn about everything from Colonel McKinney. To use the connection she did not want to. Radio frequencies it somehow annoyed her. * * * When Adams calmed down and lifted his head up the lander become a bright star which quickly flew across the sky. Adams turned around and screamed beside him stood Marsiana. ‘You? You!’ he cried crawling away as he saw some kind of evil forces. ‘Me,’ Marsiana said. ‘What's happened here?’ ‘I think you know,’ ‘If I had known I would not ask you.’ ‘Conner got some sort of infection,’ Adams replied grimly looking away. At first he was glad to see Marsiana but then he felt not good himself. To stay on the Oberon in a company with witch Company is not the best prospect. ‘And,’ Marsiana closely looked at him. ‘These parasites ate him from the inside. They are thin, white worms. Graham burned him that the infection does not spread to the rest of the expedition members.’ ‘So it charred corpse of Graham I met near the rover?’ Marsiana asked realizing what the tragedy played out there. ‘Well yes,’ Adams answered not willingly. ‘I warned him so as not approached me. He did not listen.’ ‘Clear,’ Marsiana said calmly like Adams told her about minor trifles. This is "clear" caused Adams shuddered and curiously looked at her. ‘What is clear to you?’ he asked. ‘It’s you, you,’ he could not bring himself to finish his thought. ‘What me?’ Marsiana asked. ‘Infected Conner, you mean?’ ‘Do you want to say I’m wrong? Adams answered on her question with his own question. ‘Of course not although in part you are right. When I was producing oxygen for Conner accidentally awakened the local parasites. Under the influence of oxygen and high temperatures for them they quickly came to life and penetrated into the body of Conner. You shouldn’t worry everything will cool down now and again they fall into hibernation.’ ‘It has no sense,’ Adams said sadly said. ‘Why?’ ‘Because Colonel McKinney flew away and we are here and we’ll die here. That's why. None will take us back on the ship. For them we are infected by unknown extraterrestrial parasites,’ Adams sighed. ‘At least, I do.’ Marsiana quietly listened to him and said: ‘We are not alone. There is Sarah.’ ‘Android,’ Adams snorted. ‘Do not make me laugh. What good is a dummy android for?’ ‘Sara is not dumb android any more,’ Marsiana said pointedly. ‘She is now smart and she's got legs.’ ‘What? Legs.’ Adams did not believe her. How it could be?’ ‘So far I do not know. But she met someone here and that someone has changed her beyond recognition. Sarah is now able to move independently and her intelligence envied by any scientist.’ ‘You mean android changed by parasites. Those that got into Conner,’ in Adams's voice was heard undisguised sneer. ‘Adams does not talk nonsense. Did I mention the parasites? I said "someone." Did not you hear me?’ ‘Yeah I heard you. I heard. Although still do not understand. How she will help us.’ ‘She has the aircraft and you using it can get on the ship.’ ‘And you?’ Adams asked immediately. ‘Here stay?’ ‘Not at all. I'll fly back later.’ ‘On what? On ...’ Adams almost said "on a broom as a witch," but restrained in time himself. ‘At some other apparatus or she will come back for you? I mean, Sarah?’ ‘Do not worry about me. Think about yourself,’ Marsiana said. ‘I think but in make no good for me,’ Adams replied grimly. ‘Well, where is your intelligent robot? Where do we find it? On foot, we'll go not too far.’ ‘You do not need to look for her. Sarah finds us herself. She is close now.’ ‘Ah, well, if so, wait,’ Adams suddenly sat down and crossed his legs and put on it his weapon. ‘It much better for me to wait while I’m seating,’ he explained, but suddenly he jumped up and began hastily to shake off the dust. ‘Worms, parasites!’ he cried out in fright. ‘Why did not you remind me!’ he accused Marsiana. Marsiana looked at him curiously. ‘It’s interesting to know how’s your mom you let you go in Special Forces?’ she asked. ‘Just did it,’ Adams cried out continuing to spin on the spot. ‘She forgot ask your permission ... Now they got inside me!’ he almost wept with fear and despair. ‘Calm down, Adams. No one got inside you. In sub-zero temperatures, they are absolutely harmless.’ ‘Are you sure? How do you know? Oh, yeah, you're a witch. ... Oh, sorry, Marsiana just escaped.’ ‘I'm not offended.’ ‘Really?’ ‘Really.’ ‘Well, thank God. How long will we hang around here?’ ‘No, not too long,’ Marsiana answered shortly. ‘Adams you ask a lot of questions. You're distracting me. It is better to take your weapon and look around. I think someone can sneak up to us.’ ‘Do you think there is someone here who can do that?’ Adams squeezed his weapon and carefully looked around. ‘Thermal imager shows nothing,’ he said. ‘Your thermal imager for them is like a child's toy,’ Marsiana said. ‘Okay,’ Adams replied beginning to feel somewhat embarrassed by his panic. Marsiana whoever she may be is not afraid and he behaves like a coward. Well, Colonel departed, so bang your head on the ground now? Minutes passed. They waited but Sarah did not appear. * * * At an altitude of several kilometers above the surface of Oberon Colonel McKinney decided to drop the atomic bomb on the satellite. Of course, under the instruction was supposed to consult with Captain Harper, but after what had happened McKinney had no desire to consult with anyone, and most importantly, he was not sure that he was once again have an opportunity to implement his plan. He suddenly thought that Harper also has a secret plan about what to do with the crew members who visited Oberon. It is possible that when the Harper learns that his fighters were killed by parasites he just does not let them remain on board the ship. And it will be the right decision. McKinney would have done so himself. Allow him and pilot Thompson return to the ship carried a potential deadly threat to all remaining on the ship, and thus the whole world, when they return home. Parasites of Oberon could easily spread across the globe. Then it really would be the end of the world. ‘Thompson, prepare everything to drop the bomb,’ Colonel McKinney ordered. The blond Lieutenant first froze then he nodded. ‘Right now, Sir’ ‘Yes, right now.’ ‘In what sector do you want to drop the baby?’ Where we landed.’ ‘I understand. Gift for Adams,’ Thompson grinned. ‘It’s none of your business. Complete the order.’ ‘Okay,’ Thompson activated nuclear charge reset program and a few minutes later a bomb’s container separated from the lander. ‘What will be, Sir!’ Thompson said and shrugged. ‘What do you mean?’ Colonel McKinney did not understand him. ‘Now we’ll be a big boom, sir. Sir, we’ll not be punished for that? In fact we hadn’t order to drop the bomb.’ ‘You shouldn’t worry at any case. Keep an eye on instrument readings. ‘I watch, Sir. Video cameras mounted on the container works. Bomb explodes at an altitude of one kilometer,’ Thompson's brow suddenly furrowed. ‘Yes, Sir, but what about Marsiana? She knows about the coming explosion?’ ‘No,’ Colonel McKinney shook his head. ‘She did not connect with us. Most likely she died. And if not, it does not matter. We must do everything possible to stop the spread of parasites. Colonel McKinney’s words sounded convincing, and Lt. Thompson ceased to worry about the fate of the Marsiana. ‘How much time left to explosion?’ Colonel McKinney asked after a tense pause. ‘Sixty seven seconds, Sir. It’s not too long. Let them see our power.’ ‘They’ll see, Thompson, will see,’ Colonel McKinney with a tension was looking at the monitor. The stopwatch was counting the last seconds. Then a bright flash lit up all around. Thompson involuntarily closed her eyes, and Colonel McKinney stepped back from the monitor. ‘This is it. Explosion, Sir,’ Thompson exclaimed excitedly. ‘Mission completed!’ ‘Good, Lieutenant,’ Colonel McKinney with mixed feelings was looking at the sprawling over the surface of Oberon the giant fiery mushroom of a nuclear explosion. He was sure however abilities Marsiana possessed she did not fly away in an atomic hell. Rather she in some way transported to the other side of the satellite Oberon or even abandoned it. “She could grab the android’s device and go into orbit,” he thought. ‘It’s possible she even took Adams with her. Though there are not enough places for both of them. Well, God help her.” The glow from a nuclear explosion gradually faded. ‘Beautiful,’ Thompson said. ‘I took everything to the camera, Sir. We can watch it later or show to the scientists, when we get home.’ ‘Good. We’ll see,’ Colonel McKinney sat in the empty chair in front of the control panel. ‘Contact me with Captain Harper.’ ‘Yes, Sir,’ Thompson said willingly. At heart he was pleased that he was a witness of a real nuclear explosion. No one among his friends could boast of it. ‘Sir,’ he said scratching his nose. ‘I wonder what is going on there now.’ ‘On the surface,’ Colonel McKinney guessed. ‘Yes, down there.’ ‘We can ask Harper send there another android. Let’s he gather the information,’ Colonel McKinney said. ‘Probably there burning everything. Melts,’ Thompson said. ‘Not without it. What with communication? How long I have to wait?’ ‘Just a little. The ship is located in the shadow of the satellite. Now we’ll see her.’ ‘Good. We'll wait. We have nowhere to hurry. In fact, before the expedition delivered the job is done. We found out that on Oberon there is a life,’ Colonel McKinney paused. ‘And this life is hostile to man.’ ‘I would not agree with that, Sir,’ Thompson said. ‘Yes,’ Colonel McKinney surprised. ‘Sir, in the world, too, we can meet with a tiger or a rattlesnake, and decide that all other beings too hostile. We spent on Oberon very little time. Even didn’t spend a day. In my opinion too early to draw final conclusions,’ Thompson revived. ‘Sir we’ve got communication with the ship!’ On the screen appeared the face of Captain Harper. ‘How Are you, Aaron?’ Colonel McKinney asked. ‘Fine. We look forward for your returning. As I understand it, you dropped the parcel,’ Captain Harper referring the atomic bomb. ‘We had to do that,’ Colonel McKinney explained. ‘On Oberon inhabits the dangerous parasites that destroyed my men. We lost Conner, Graham and Adams.’ ‘I’m sorry for your losses Colonel. Marsiana with you?’ Harper asked. Colonel McKinney shook his head. ‘She disappeared. At the set time has not reached the connection. I had to fly without her.’ ‘Authorities may not like it,’ Harper noticed. ‘I don’t care about bosses. Let’s they fly here themselves and see what's going on here with their own eye. I also can sit in the office and give smart regulation. Here, everything looks different. Even from an orbit of Oberon,’ Colonel McKinney hinted Captain Harper that he shouldn’t judge on what he does not know. He, McKinney also can sit in orbit and to teach everybody what to do down there. But he is not a coward and flew with his men. ‘Sorry, Colonel,’ Captain Harper said in the surprisingly formal voice. Colonel McKinney from surprise in his turn even blinked then he grinned. ‘What’s up on the ship? Everything is quiet? How are my men?’ ‘All is well. We hadn’t any guests. Not from Oberon or from other places. Yes, and we would not let anyone inside. We are waiting for you in the airlock,’ Captain Harper disappears from the screen. Colonel McKinney rubbed his chin. Something in Harper’s appearance alarmed him. What exactly he had no idea. ‘Nothing surprise in the behavior of the Harper?’ he asked Lt. Thompson. Before answer to Colonel Thompson activated search program of lander craft followed by docking. Now they Colonel McKinney and he could sit back and watch the maneuvers of the spacecraft. Computers do everything themselves. ‘No, Sir. And frankly I did not look at Harper. There was no time. What's wrong with him?’ ‘Yeah I do not understand. Once he changed but I do not understand what it is.’ ‘Maybe he suffers very much for our group that’s why he hides the joy of meeting,’ Thompson suggested. ‘Maybe you're right,’ McKinney agreed thoughtfully. ‘I think so too. I do not think he has to cry out of joy when he saw you on the screen,’ Thompson laughed and checked reading s of computers. ‘In five minutes we can go out, Sir,’ he reported. ‘Okay. You also get ready,’ Colonel McKinney said. ‘What do you mean, Sir?’ Thompson surprised. ‘Everything is all right there. Captain Harper said so.’ Colonel McKinney said nothing. He was thinking about something with a tension.
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