The Vampires of Antyllus Page 8

  "As you can all see," he said loudly, and then reverted to Ismay, "I am Richard Wilmington, and like you, I am a SUB. I am the chief administrator here at New Roanoke, what you might call the mayor of the city.

  "Let's start with a little information about your new home. I noted some of you grasped the significance of the name, New Roanoke. A little background might help.

  "The first explorers from Earth to set foot here knew this was a one-way trip for them. They were placed on the planet's surface with rudimentary supplies for shelter, defense, and communication, then the ship returned to earth for additional logistics and personnel. Upon the ship's return, the original settlers were gone, vanished. Most of their equipment and their shelters were found in ruins but there was no sign of the people. To this day, their fate is a complete mystery.”

  The audience, being subs, did not mummer among themselves, but they did exchanges glances.

  "Now,” Mr. Wilmington transmitted loudly, to regain everyone’s attention. “They are legend, as are the settlers of the original colony in Virginia on the east coast of the United States. In 1590, that colony also vanished entirely and without a trace…thus the name.

  "You were, no doubt, all startled at the appearance of this Antyllus of ours; the dark skies, the vast fields of blue moss and the blue trees, the black and orange bushes. It is all the result of the light from this system's sun. Elpis 229A is a red dwarf, which is the most plentiful type star in the universe. Its sunlight leans heavily toward the red end of the spectrum, as the name implies. It is not as bright a star as our sun, and the red light refracts differently in the atmosphere, thus giving us the impression of eternal twilight.

  "Vegetation needs more photosynthetic pigments to capture radiation in a wider range of wavelengths, which give them their dark appearance. These plants reflect little of the light that strikes them; they absorb most everything causing them to look black, gray, shades of blue, and purple.

  "I watched as you entered the reception hall here and I could see you've notice the lower gravity. It is only eighty percent that of earth, but far greater than that of Earth's Moon. As SUBs, the lower gravity presents no obstacle you cannot overcome, but the bio's will struggle with it. Eventually, they will lose muscle and strength, unless they vigorously exercise.”

  At this point, Mr. Wilmington paused, and smiled broadly. Kathy thought that odd.

  "Of course, you've been told about the atmosphere and some of you think that is the only reason you're here, to carry the water, as it were, outside the facility. Let me assure you that, as on the Moon, and as will quickly become apparent on Earth, we SUBs have a wide variety of rolls to fill and are indispensable members of the New Roanoke community.

  "We've briefly discussed the flora, now just a bit about fauna—yes, there are significant life forms on the planet. You'll find everything from bacterium and one-celled creatures to behemoths larger than elephants. And yes, most everything is dangerous. And don't let size fool you. There is a very large, horrible looking, creature out there the size of a Clydesdale, vicious looking with massive teeth and claws and makes a sound like hell on a Saturday night. However, it is as gentle as a lamb, quite friendly really, and likes to play. And this makes it dangerous, it does not know its own strength, so I'd advise against a game of cricket with it. On the other hand, there is an insect that resembles a lady bug, it's four centimeters long and a beautiful azure blue in color with black spots. When its wings are deployed, they present an explosion of colors from across the rainbow. Its bite will stop a human heart in three minutes. There is another insect that looks like a very large centipede. If it wraps around you, it can and will crush even your titanium skeletons."

  A voice over Ismay, from somewhere in the room asked, "What about the rumors we've heard of intelligent humanoid life here?"

  Mr. Wilmington paused a moment. "I was wondering if one of you would bring up that myth. I'm sure that few have not heard the persistent rumors of a civilized, intelligent, people living in these hazardous environs. I am pleased to put this tall tale to rest. Those creatures are not civilized and their intelligence is in question."

  A general murmur over Ismay began.

  "Please," Mr. Wilmington went on, "Steady yourselves. Thank you. The discovery of life outside our world was a tremendous shock even to those of us in the know on Earth. Imagine if you will, our absolute astonishment at the discovery of advanced organisms. So, I can empathize with the state of your shock to learn of the existence of an anthropoid life form."

  Another voice rang out over Ismay asking, "So, there are people here?"

  "No!" Wilmington shot back, the urgency in his voice caused all the murmuring to cease. "There are no people here! The creatures are anthropoids which means they are human-like, they resemble human beings. They are not humans, let's us be clear about that. You will encounter some here in New Roanoke who attribute human qualities to them, much as humans do a beloved pet kitten or puppy. These creatures are not human, nor are they pets.

  "When first encountered, an attempt was made to establish communication with them, perhaps learn how they survive in this terrible place. But their curiosity about us was quickly replaced with hostility and violence. Their attacks have become so frequent that we only venture outside the compound now with armed escorts. And by the way, those cute little kittens have added human flesh to their menu.

  "When they killed their first SUBs and realized we could not be eaten, they decided that our parts made lovely accessories for both their homes and their wardrobe. In short, they are the worst kind of savages."

  "Mr. Wilmington," someone asked, the conversation still in Ismay, "do they have a language?"

  Another person shouted, this time aloud, "Does anyone here speak their language?"

  A cacophony of questions, both aloud and over Ismay, bombarded Mr. Wilmington.

  "What do we know of their culture?"

  "What's the state of their technology?"

  "What kind of weapons do they possess?"

  "Ladies and gentlemen, please!" Wilmington shouted and held up both his hands. "Once you are all connected to our Advanced Virtual Acumen Computer you'll be able to access our complete files on the Umarraw, as they call themselves. Let us establish that connection right now."

  Kathy then heard a high-pitched tone, followed by several clicks. Then there came a deep male voice. "Greetings, I am Indra."

  Mr. Wilmington then asked aloud, "Who did not just hear Indra, our AVAC, introduce himself?" A small number of hands went up. "Will you people please join me up here and we will head over to the Cybernetic Maintenance Bay and get that little problem remedied. As the rest of you file out through the rear, you'll see several individuals standing under signs. Please report to the appropriate individual.

  "Thank you all…and one last word. This is your home now, for the rest of your lives. It will be best if you simply file away your memories of the old world and don't dwell upon them. Rather, concentrate your energies toward the success of this new world, this Antyllus."

  As they exited the reception center, Kathy saw several of the trams lined up. There were several SUBs standing in a line, above and behind them were holographicly projected signs. On the far left stood a woman in uniform with a sign that read 'Military'. Other signs read bionics, hydroponics, cybernetics, astrophysics, xenoanthropology, and several more.

  Kathy was surprised at the number of SUBs in military uniform that reported to the trams of the various academic persuasions; she had no idea that so many military SUBs were scientists. Her biggest surprise came when she saw both Mitch and Cassie report to xenoanthropology.

  From the reception center, Kathy and the remaining military SUBs were taken to a section of New Roanoke dedicated for their use. Here they were assigned billets. Sergeant Mitchel was assigned to the Senior NCO quarters, and Major Selina to the Bachelor Officer Quarters. There was not much difference in the two billets. They each possessed a living area, storage room, small offic
e, and a bedroom. The bedroom was actually camouflage. SUBs don't sleep. The bed was in reality a quick recharge station. As long as they retained twenty percent charge or more, they were able to recharge in their own rooms in but a few minutes or hours, depending on their requirements. Below twenty percent meant a trip to the CMB and the better part of twenty-four hours in a recharge chamber.

  There was neither a kitchenette nor bathroom in this billet, as SUBs required neither.

  Kathy stood looking at her luggage neatly placed at the foot of her bed. She glanced around at the billet. It dawned on her that she'd not turned on the light; she had simply adjusted her vision in order to see.

  Kathy had just started to open her luggage when over Ismay she heard Indra's voice again, "Major Selina, you have an appointment to meet with your new commanding officer in one hour and twenty-eight minutes. I will send you a map to his offices now." It appeared in her mind and she saved it.

  "Thanks," she responded, but she felt sure her response was not heard. From her luggage, she removed a small cardboard box. From inside, she removed a carefully wrapped, Spode china, teacup and saucer which she gently set on her table.

  Kathy noticed on the far wall a large window covered by a curtain. She went over and pulled it back. Out the thick window she had a great view. Inside the fence, the ground was covered in large, low, blue ferns, and a grass that was eggplant purple. Here and there were small copses of trees that sort of resembled palms. Their trunks were gray and their huge leafy tops dark blue. She could see the airstrip and in the distance the fence, and beyond it a clear-cut area about five hundred meters wide that circumnavigated the wall. Kathy recognized this cleared area as a kill zone. Stretching out from the kill zone, she could see the hills and triple canopy forest that seemed to cover the entire planet.

  It was overcast and starting to rain. The sky was dark, the blue and black forest foreboding.

  Out in the distance, Kathy saw movement. She zoomed in to see a large flying creature resembling a pterodactyl making lazy circles in the sky. It was looking down for prey when below it, the top of the forest began to undulate then the branches of several trees seemed to explode, and a tentacle burst out from the roof of the forest in a spray of blue and black leaves. The tentacle grabbed the flying thing and pulled it down into the forest. It clawed and flapped its wings to no avail.

  The attack happened so fast, Kathy had no time to react. She just stood there, mute.

  Her integral communications device, or COMde, sounded an incoming call. Her COMde was a part of her now, contained inside her cranium. It was in reality a redundancy, designed to provide all SUBs with the ability to communicate should Ismay go down.

  She noted that the call came from Dave. "Hello, Sergeant. Can I assume that you're in the Cybernetic Maintenance Bay getting checked out?"

  "Yes, ma'am, as ordered. I'm just checking in with my officer, like a good NCO. Everything all right there, ma'am?"

  "I'm in my new billet, a few flowers and some pictures, and this place will be just like home."

  "Ma'am, this is home."

  "Yeah. Say, how about that Indra? Not that I've meet to many AVAC's, but that was the first male version. What a voice, huh? For that matter, what a name. Who picks out these names?"

  "Now that you mention Indra…I tried to contact Mitch and Cassie over Ismay. Indra stopped my call, and informed me that they were not available at this time. I tried to contact you and got the same result. That's when I tried the COMde which, of course, is independent of Ismay. I take it you are available at this time?"

  "Yeah…that's odd." As she spoke these words, she turned around and her eyes fell on the large horizontal mirror on the wall. She'd seen these mirrors in every room in New Roanoke she'd been in so far. She slowly turned and again looked out the large window. "Dave?"

  "Yes, ma'am?"

  "From where you're standing can you see a mirror?"

  "No, I'm in the hall between my bedroom and the living room. But I have mirrors in both rooms."

  "Good…stay in the hall. I suspect Indra can see us through the mirrors in our billets. I know our lips are not moving as we speak but I have a funny feeling if he sees us, he'll know were talking."

  "So…you don't trust him either?"

  "Trust is earned, not granted. And so far, he ain't earned it."

  "Ma'am, I have to report to my commander once the CMB is through with me. Should I say something?"

  "I have to report to my commander as well, and I advise you to say nothing. Besides, what would you say? The major and I don't trust, or don't like the AVAC? That's just our guts talking—no, Dave, we might just be overreacting or experiencing some sort of really big jet lag or culture shock. So, let's just both of us slow down and take the arctic route, okay?"

  "Yes, ma'am—one other thing. As you were speaking I looked up the name 'Indra' in the library banks here. Indra is an ancient Persian arch demon. The disparaged version of the Hindi god Indra. He hates the truth and motivates men to fight."

  "Well…we shouldn't read too much into that, it's—"

  "Ma'am, AVAC's select their own names. He picked it for himself."

  ○O○

  Staff Sergeant Mitch O'Connell and his wife, Sergeant First Class Cassie O'Connell, entered into the office of Doctor Helen Bristol, an African-American woman about forty-five years old. She was the head of the department of xenoanthropology at New Roanoke. She was quite attractive when not angry—but she was angry today.

  Dr. Bristol sat far back in her chair, slouching, and chewing on the end of a pencil. Her quaint, antique eye glasses were on the end of her nose.

  Mitch and Cassie approached her desk, stood to attention, and as Cassie was the senior NCO, she started to salute and report. "Ma'am, Sergeants Cas—"

  She was interrupted when Dr. Bristol threw her pencil down onto her desk, sat up rather quickly, and adjusted her lab coat.

  "Don't salute me!" she snapped back harshly. "I am not one of your generals."

  "Ah…no, ma'am."

  "Don't call me ma'am, either. I am Doctor Bristol to you two. You've been assigned to me and I want you to know I fought your assignment here tooth and nail."

  "Is it you just don't like SUBs?" Mitch asked.

  "Don't be ridiculous." Her voice was now softer. "I've been screaming for more help ever since…well, I got you. I had very little with which to argue as you both seem qualified, on paper anyway. But I don't like spies, and if I catch you—"

  "Wait a minute, Doctor," it was Cassie's turn to interrupt, "I don't know what it is you think we've been instructed to do, but to ease your mind—none of the SUBs that just came in, as far as I know, have any instructions whatsoever. Spying or not. The only instruction we've received is to report to you."

  Dr. Bristol leaned over her desk and looked hard into Cassie's eyes. "Are you a scientist or a soldier?"

  "That's an odd question; I don't see the two as exclusive."

  "I do. Answer the question."

  Cassie looked at Mitch who returned her glance. "Well, Doctor, that's difficult." Mitch rubbed his chin. "As soldiers, we follow our orders within the confines of the law. On the flight out, we were uploaded with the information necessary to perform as anthropologist and xenoanthropologist then ordered to do so. So, if our orders are to be scientists then we are scientists."

  "Uploaded … you were programmed?"

  "We were educated," Cassie exclaimed, as her anger began to rise.

  "What if you were uploaded with instructions to report on my findings or my actions?"

  "We are not computers," Cassie fired back. "Inside, we are just as human as you. I assume that if you were told to do something you object to, you would refuse to do it. But right now…Doctor, if I were asked to do something that pissed you off, I'd jump at the opportunity."

  Doctor Bristol sat back down behind her desk. She looked at Mitch and Cassie a moment then shook her head and gestured with her left hand. "Sit down, both of you." Mitch
and Cassie sat in two chairs near the desk.

  The doctor adjusted her holographic monitor a moment, stopping to read something Mitch and Cassie could not see. Then she looked up at Cassie.

  "You two are married?"

  "Yes," Cassie responded dryly, "eight months ago, our time, eight years, eleven-and-a-half months ago actual elapsed time. Ours was the first—"

  "Wedding on the Moon, yes I see that, and the first wedding between SUBs. Interesting."

  "How's that?" Mitch asked, himself becoming a tad upset.

  "I mean so many firsts. You are among the SUBs who defended the Moon base, and so the first to be recognized with decorations from two governments and the IIEA. You were the first SUBs to fall in love—"

  "No,” Cassie interrupted, “there was another couple before us."

  "First SUBs to marry, and the first wedding on the Moon. Like I said, interesting."

  Mitch stood up and offered his hand to Cassie. "Well, Doctor, seeing that you don't want us, I'm sure work can be found for us somewhere. Sorry to have bothered you. Let's go, honey."

  "Just a moment." Doctor Bristol was still examining her monitor. "This is a very thorough education you've been provided. Do you actually retain it?"

  "Every word, like reading the books right now, instantly."

  "Really?"

  Mitch made a sound like clearing his throat, which of course he never had to do, and began to recite, "The happy ending is a misrepresentation; for the world, as we know it, as we have seen it, yields but one ending: death, disintegration, dismemberment, and the crucifixion of our heart with the passing of the forms that we have loved. Joseph Campbell, the famous American mythologist, 1904 to 1987, from his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces."