The REAL conclusion to Kyp the Granger - Part 2. It's even more exciting!
Chapter Eleven
Passing Go
The shots were farther from them, now that they were loading the science shuttle on the far side of the main bay. This smaller bay opened at the top, part of a smaller launch platform. With the main bay and fighting between them and the alien advance, they had only been assigned two soldiers to guard them. Roslyn also noticed that they had a repeater with two turrets, but that wouldn't be much help if the low-pitched roars they were hearing were Tyrants.
"Faster!" Richard called, perspiring heavily. The two of them had been loading his shuttle with the remains of the lab and all possible test results. There were just a few crates left. With just a minute or two of evacuation left, he hit the controls to open the bay doors.
Snow began to drop in sheets as the white sky grew from a slice to a grand oval. Coming out of the shuttle for another load, Roslyn heard, then saw one of the Remdann shuttles pass overhead, removing another few squads of troops.
"We gotta go!" pressed Richard again, dropping his last load off and making for the repeater.
"I'll be right there, but Wetz left a dossier in his room. It has all of his research notes!"
"Can't believe that stiff didn't use a computer for that, he should have known - don't go, it's too far."
Roslyn was out of sight anyway.
A dragoon pounced through the door, knocking one of the marines over. The other marine fell back to a position behind the turrets, dropping his shotgun for a 'painsaw'. A few feet from the carnage, Richard saw himself presented with a win-win opportunity.
Having decapitated the human, the dragoon looked over at the other one. It hesitated, knowing that it would have to practically walk past the turrets in the confinement to get to the other soldier.
Richard toed the switch on the repeater. A small hum died, and the turrets drooped.
"Are you out of your mind?!?" called the soldier. It didn't matter, the alien was already on him, gorging his vitals out.
With the dragoon locked into a corner, Richard switched the repeater back on. Both turrets homed in and started firing away. Caught by surprise, it didn't have time to escape, and died in a hail of bullets.
With a look of satisfaction, Richard noted the large transport lifting off from the adjacent bay, laboring skywards. That meant that only one shuttle's worth of troopers were left in the main hold, about to abandon the base and retreat. They just had to wait for the shuttle to return for them.
Richard walked into the cargo bay and hit the 'close' control just as Roslyn was rounding the corner.
"What does he expect me to do, fly in?" Roslyn thought as she hurried toward the shuttle. Nearing the shuttle hatch, she threw the package in just ahead of herself. It slid across the cargo hold floor, past Richard's feet. He kept looking at her as the hatch closed. As she was about to duck in, a hand reached out and pushed her back. It was such a strange thing to happen that she didn't register it at first. Then the hatch was closed.
"Richard? What - open the door, it closed on me." She heard footsteps walking away from her, toward the cockpit.
Stepping over the turrets, she walked around to the bow and waved at him through the glass-bubble viewport.
"Let me in! What's the matter with you?"
He looked at her, and shook his head. Only then did the full realization hit her. He was leaving her here, to fulfill some cruel, perverted dream of his or something. Frozen on the spot, she realized that she was alone, in a cave full of aliens, again, and that her life was over, again.
"I don't expect you to understand any of this, but you'll thank me someday." a voice said from an intercom. Richard put down a headset and sat down to the controls. Roslyn sat down on a crate, limply, mind turned to mush. She didn't understand anything anymore.
Gases shot from the nozzles of the shuttle, and it slowly lifted itself out of the bay. A dollop of snow floated down and covered her head, but she didn't notice. By remote control, the landing bay doors began to close, the oval of sky becoming a slice, and then a thread. Then she was left in darkness, hearing only random shots and alien screaming from the rest of the facility.
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Jake had volunteered to accompany the last shuttle down to retrieve the remaining troops. As it neared the large bay doors, they were met with a memorable sight. The remains of the base were being overrun. A Tyrant was smashing it's way through the defense grid, and countless dretches were taking advantage to skip past turrets and annihilate the remaining soldiers.
"A sad day," said Marty, standing next to him, leaning with him out the open hatch that had been meant to pick up any survivors. They saw two Remdann soldiers hiding from the fray behind a stack of crates. Somehow, the Tyrant was able to climb the stack unsteadily and drop down onto them. Jake shuddered.
With nothing but smoke streaming from the reactor room, and no more audible gunshots, Marty turned to the pilot.
"No survivors, John. And even if there were, it'd be suicide to drop in and get them. Let's call it a day." Marty returned to sit opposite Jake, and the shuttle began reverse thrusting, heading back for space, just feet above the landing pad.
Amazed at how a person could issue such an order, Jake turned away from him and kept gazing down into the bay. John, the pilot, must had activated the huge doors, because the bay began to close slowly.
It was then that Jake saw a girl in civilian garb walking into the bay. She wasn't hurrying or even noticing the hordes of aliens that had rushed past. She looked up at the sky, and then he knew that it was Roslyn.
"No way! It's Roslyn! We have to go back!"
"What?" said Marty, alarmed, and turned to lean out for a look. The bay doors closed over her, and John hit the switch on the shuttle hatch as well.
"I didn't see anyone." said Marty.
"Would I lie to you? That was Roslyn!" Jake was freaking out. He would not run away from her again. History was repeating itself.
"Look," said Marty, "even if that was her, I'm not risking this shuttle and those aboard for someone you think you saw - "
A fist slammed into his head, showing him stars.
"The fuck you won't! John! Turn back! We need - "
Jake felt the cold end of a service pistol touch the back of his head.
"Step away from the Pilot, soldier." ordered Marty. Jake turned to find him standing somewhat shakily aiming his weapon at him.
"If you ever disobey an order again, OR hit your Mec-1, I will shoot you dead. Is that clear soldier?"
Jake experienced a moment of uncertainty, then said through gritted teeth, "Yes, sir."
"Now sit down," ordered Marty, holstering his sidearm. Jake sat down, and strapped in. He wished he were dead.
"Jake," said Marty, trying to reach through to him, "I made sure that that Carrie girl got out with Richard. She's on his shuttle, probably already at the rendezvous point. I even provided them with escort."
"You sure?" Jake was still convinced that his vision had been real.
"I give you my word. Just.....don't do that again."
Jake said nothing, just stared off into the space that they were entering.
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Mnoth was returning to consciousness. The blur of his vision was clearing up, and his whole body had that 'new body' feel. He had turned a slick black color, his armor feeling both lighter and tougher at once. He felt so good, he just had to howl. Opening his mouth to do so, he choked on a new organ that seemed to occupy the back of it.
Barbs, - said the Overmind. To shoot one, just imagine that hot saliva has hit the back of your tongue.
Mnoth tried to envision that. No! No! Face that way! - cried the Overmind.
Oh, sorry, - said Mnoth. I'll just use them when I need them. Do they explode like grenades?
I'll have to see it to believe it - said the Overmind. Now hurry, the humans are retreating!
Mnoth dropped down off the platform and raced up the ramp. There weren't many humans left, just about twenty or so, and some of them had acquired large, noisy armor that told you where they were from half a mile away.
Stupid Humans.
Mnoth could pounce farther and take more hits than ever before. He quickly passed the slow dretches and marauders and attacked from the humans' flanks. Seeing two lightly armored targets, he pounced at them, taking them by surprise. One flew across the floor and didn't get up, but the other regained its balance and hit him with a rifle butt.
Mnoth barely felt it, and went for the human's neck between its armor. The thing struggled for a few seconds then went limp.
Licking his chops, Mnoth thought to himself. Thank you for helping to test drive our all-new Advanced Dragoon. Your feedback was appreciated.
Mnoth faced down to lick some more 'feedback' off of his foreleg, and continued onwards.
He came to a room that was unnoticed by his allies, containing three humans and a battlesuit. A repeater powered an armory and a tesla, all of which were poorly placed and snipeable.
Good a time as any, - thought Mnoth, and fired a barb through the doorway. It landed at the feet of the unarmored humans and exploded, killing both of them.
Whaddaya know? - said Mnoth to himself. The battlesuit walked up to the armory and inspected the dead pair, and looked around for the perpetrator. It was holding a mass-driver.
Mnoth loosed another barb at it. It landed in the same place, exploding and knocking the battlesuit up into the air.
Now that's just not right. Mnoth didn't have much time to think, because the battlesuit reacted quickly. A shot hit Mnoth's leg, chipping the heavy armor down to the flesh. A second shot found its way between armor plates, and stung badly.
Mnoth didn't hang around to see how many more shots would hit, and pounced away down the hall. The suit gave chase, hitting him more times. Mnoth's blood squirted out of holes, leaving a trail for the human soldier.
Not now! - thought Mnoth - Not right after evolving! Not now!
He reached the end of the hall and entered the only door. It was a dead end room.
NO! Mnoth couldn't believe his luck had run out. Surely the battlesuit would be able to finish him before he could kill it. He was already panting and bleeding in several places.
The battlesuit reached the door, and it had reloaded whilst approaching. Another shot hit Mnoth's shoulder, and he ducked behind a large crate. The human laughed, taunting him through his onboard speaker system. Mnoth was sure it was over, but he would not die hiding. With his remaining strength, he dodged out from behind the box and prepared a pounce.
The battlesuit roared and jumped forward - wait, that's not right, Mnoth realized.
It regained its balance, but was knocked forward again. A third hit threw it to the floor on it's face at his feet. Mnoth had just enough strength left to spear his long foreleg down through the electrical system (mounted on the back) and into the human occupant.
Pulling his leg out, he exhaled with relief. A great shadow filled the room - Mnoth's saviour. It was a Tyrant, and it stood in the doorway, not even sweating.
Thanks, I think. said Mnoth, embarrassed.
You think? - spoke the Tyrant, still in the doorway.
Mnoth recognized that voice. It was the heavier tones of a Tyrant, but the acidity and lethality of -
Sigig?!? Mnoth was awestruck.
Indeed. You threatened me with death many times, made me put up with that ingrate, and then left me to die. And now I, I am your master.
Mnoth was in disbelief. But how?
I was in a coma, but the Overmind revived me. That package you dropped me on helped out too....I thought you'd like to know that.
Mnoth kept stammering.
Remember how you said I could tell my story, and see if I would be believed? Sigig started stepping towards Mnoth.
Well I did. And the Overmind knows everything now. It knows about you, me, the girl, the six years of forest, the failure on Ventas - everything. And it promoted ME. It also said it wouldn't notice if you were to go...missing.
Mnoth had been threatened with doom so many times recently, he wasn't too shaken by this.
Well go ahead if you must - I'm sick of the suspense. Just know that you wouldn't have made it off of that planet without me, would not have lived to be a Tyrant. You owe me everything.
Sigig raised a large claw over Mnoth's head. Mnoth closed his eyes, all of them. He only left a tap.
Of course I do! I'd never hurt you, we've got history! Come on mate, the Overmind has something to show you.
Mnoth limped out of the room, Sigig walking next to him.
So the humans are beaten?
Yes, roared Sigig with self-satisfaction. I'm to blame for that.
Mnoth rolled his eyes. Sigig went on.
With the infestation eradicated, the Overmind has authorized the construction of Pod-Launchers. That's right, we're going back to Homeworld! I don't have to tell you what a rare treat that is.
So the Overmind was able to contact the Hive? From this far out?
I didn't think it would work, either, - said Sigig, as they reached the ramp.
Once at the bottom, Sigig stopped.
That's not what the Overmind had to show me, is it? - asked Mnoth.
No, that is up there. I'll be down here if you need me.
Mnoth pounced up onto the platform. Before the Overmind, there was a small ring of aliens surrounding a crumpled form. On the left was Vesh, to the right was Kyp, and in the center - was Roslyn.
Her eyes were closed and she wasn't moving; she just laid there on the creep, in front of the glowing Overmind.
For me? - asked Mnoth, trying not to hope.
For the Hivemind. - replied the Overmind. Mnoth looked at it flatly.
Surely the Hivemind doesn't see something interesting in her?
Apparently, they do. Don't worry, I hear they have something special cooking up for her. She gets packed in an asteroid and she returns with us. The most you'll probably get is to watch. Be grateful.
Very well, - said Mnoth. He took a moment to think about it. He had won. He had joined the order of Black Dragoons. His nemesis would come to a slimy end, and his 'friends' had even survived and thrived. But for the postscript, this story was having a happy ending.
To his right, Kyp sighed longingly.
She was nice to me. Maybe the Hivemind will let me keep her....
Mnoth scoffed. Some things never changed.
He turned back to look at the girl who slept in the ring of aliens.
This concludes Part 2. Sigig has become
a tyrant, Kyp will be allowed to make a
hovel, and who knows what will happen to
Roslyn? Stick around for the final part,
Part 3.
On a separate note, thanks for bearing with
my inconsistent writing and for all the
feedback. You've been great! Expect me to
begin Part 3 in a week or two.
