SHU'KAN Read online

  ‘Doctor, I want you to start a work up on this thing immediately. Glean as much information as you can from it before we return to Earth. Whatever you need, you have full authorization. Just don’t kill it.’

  ‘Aye, Sir.’

  The Doctor was half listening as he looked at the creature. It was temporarily chained to the bulkhead as a crew busily welded a holding cell for it. ‘You really caught one,’ he said in amazement. ‘I don’t believe it.’

  ‘Believe it. Seaman Brannon was killed slowing this thing down. He shot and wounded it giving us enough time to stop it.’

  ‘We’ll be in orbit for a few more days,’ he continued. ‘We found a Hiver’s ship too. We can’t leave without gathering as much intelligence as possible from it. –Keep me apprised.’

  He walked away leaving the Doctor to his work. He was tired and just wanted to sleep. But there were pressing matters to attend to. Once he issued orders for an intelligence team to investigate the wreckage, he had to write a letter to Seaman Brannon’s family. It’d been a few years since his last one, and he had a sinking feeling that he’d be busy writing more soon enough. He also had to deal with Seaman Martin as to why he was in Engineering. When it hits, it hits, he thought glumly.

  Admiral Cook had just forwarded his letter for Seaman Brannon’s parents to operations for transmittal when his com chimed. ‘This is the Admiral, go ahead,’ he responded.

  ‘Sir, security has Seaman Martin waiting in the interrogation room. They’re ready for you.’

  ‘Thanks. Signal to them that I’m in route.’

  A few minutes later he tapped the door pad to the interrogation room. –Never thought he’d see one of his crew in here. –Nice to know he was breaking the mold.

  ‘-ten, hut!’ His two security guards snapped to attention.

  ‘At ease, Seaman Martin, I think you know why you’re here. I have to admit, you did a pretty good job trying to sweep the place. You want to tell me why you were sending that data?’

  Seaman Martin looked like he wanted to puke. If his goal was denial, he was already doing a lousy job at it.

  ‘Sir, I just- I mean, I needed the money. My parents- They are in a bad way right now, being after the Hiver attack and all. My Pop ain’t got no work. I couldn’t turn down the money. –Said all I had to do was pull some information from the ships data files. –Didn’t see no harm in it. –Just stupid Hiver information anyway. Who cares about them?’

  He fidgeted with his fingers clearly nervous. Admiral Cook almost felt sorry for the kid. He was young. –Newly enlisted. ‘Who paid you to do this?’

  ‘I don’t know his name, Sir. He contacted me on while on shore leave. Said he would take care of my parents if I just got him what I wanted. –Even paid them some credits up front! Enough to help them keep the house!’

  Admiral Cook paced the room thinking. This kid was clearly a pawn. He’d reviewed the data that’d been hacked. Though it was technical on the Hivers physical anatomy, and included some of their ship capabilities he’d stored for tactical use, there wasn’t really much there. –Nothing classified anyway. The only reason he could see that someone might want it is because the only other place it was stored was on Earth Fleet’s servers. –And they definitely weren’t getting it from there. But why did someone need data on Hiver physiology? It was a question he’d ponder later. Right now, he had a Soldier that would have to be punished. –No matter how he personally felt. Discipline had to be enforced. ‘Seaman, though you felt your actions were innocent, you committed an act of espionage. You’ll have to face the music. Effectively immediately, you’re confined to quarters unless under escort. Once we make space dock, you’ll be remanded to Earth Fleet security for courts martial. Do you understand?’

  ‘Yes, Sir.’ Seaman Martin was fighting hard to keep his emotions in check. ‘I understand.’

  Admiral Cook moved to leave then paused. ‘Earth Fleet finally traced the signal to its destination. We’ll follow that lead.’ He paused again, and then was sure of his decision. ‘I’ll make a couple calls for you. –Make the court martial a little lenient. You just made a stupid mistake. I just hope you learn from it.’

  Seaman Martin was visibly crying now with his head hung low. Yeah. Kid deserves another chance, he thought. He left sincerely hoping everything worked out.

  Lieutenant Stone was bored. They’d been held prisoner for almost three weeks. Aside from meals, nothing was said to them or required of them the entire time. He suspected that would change soon.

  For the last week, they heard construction outside their room. The noise was deafening. He tried shouting for help, but was threatened to be shot if he didn’t shut up.

  Passing the time was difficult, but they managed by sharing stories and information. The more he got to know Shi’la, the more he was sure he liked her. She was intelligent, strong, and in many ways as stubborn as him. If she was human, they’d be a perfect match.

  He stood and stretched. He was going stir crazy. ‘You want to play a game?’ he asked. Shi’la was lying on her bed staring at the ceiling.

  ‘I guess,’ she sighed. ‘-Lieutenant…’

  ‘-Michael,’ he corrected. He’d been trying to get her to stop calling him Lieutenant for several days now.

  ‘Ok … Michael; will we ever be released from here?’ She rolled over in frustration.

  ‘I have a feeling we’re going to find out soon. There hasn’t been any construction today. That has to mean something.’

  ‘What if they just kill us?’ she said sitting up.

  ‘I don’t think that’s part of their plan. If it was they’d done it already. We already know they want you to assist with researching the virus. Sooner or later, they’ll expect you to do it.’

  ‘Well, I won’t!’ she said angrily. ‘They have no right to detain us!’

  ‘Listen’ –he sat beside her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder- ‘you have to at least give the illusion of helping them. It will give us time to either call for help or figure out a way to escape.’

  She sat up and nodded. He hoped she was at least a little mollified.

  He set the pieces on the chess board. They were given the game the first week they were captured. To kill time, he taught her how to play. Within a couple days, she’d mastered it. Now, she beat him soundly every time they played.

  ‘My biggest concern is my family thinking I’m dead,’ she said. ‘How do you remain so calm about it?’

  He thought for a moment then shrugged before answering. ‘Both my parents were killed when the Hiver’s attacked. I made my peace with that a long time ago.’

  ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.’

  ‘It’s ok. I don’t dwell on it.’

  They played in silence for a while. Again, she quickly gained the tactical advantage.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ he said. ‘I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.’

  He looked at her and she returned his gaze. He was noticing her admirable qualities more and more. He was about to make a move when he noticed her hands were dry and cracked. ‘What’s wrong with your hands?’

  She looked away embarrassed. ‘It’s nothing.’

  He reached out to her. ‘What do you mean nothing? Your skin looks awful.’

  ‘You don’t understand,’ she said pulling her hands away. ‘It’s … It’s the Time of Shedding.’ She stood and paced a moment before continuing. ‘By this time tomorrow, I’ll need to shed to expose my new skin.’

  ‘What’s so bad about that?’

  ‘It explains why I’ve felt so weak lately.’ She sat again not wanting to explain further but knew she had little choice. ‘Within our society, every Shu’kan must be assisted with the Time of Shedding. The old skin becomes toxic to the body and sickens us to where we’re too weak to remove it ourselves. If it’s not removed in time, we’ll die.’

  Stone was dumbfounded. ‘So, you mean –that is you’ll die? –Like really die?’

  ‘Yes!’ she
said in frustration.

  ‘Then we’ve got to get one of your people here to help you!’ He paced the floor trying to think. ‘Tomorrow, I’ll tell them what’s going on. If they want you alive, then they’ll have to cooperate.’

  Shi’la didn’t feel comforted. Her mood suddenly worsened. Judging from the look of her hands tomorrow may be too late. It was going to be a long night.

  The next morning, she woke feeling ill. The Time of Shedding was affecting her immensely.

  The door to their prison opened at the usual time, but Wilson didn’t bring food. He stepped inside and beckoned for them to exit. He waved his heat pistol to let them know he was still in charge.

  ‘Outside,’ he barked.

  They walked through the door, while Shi’la worked hard to hide her illness.

  They were in a large warehouse that stretched at least two hundred feet long. All around them was a welded wire cage that covered half the floor space. Across the top, the cage was covered with the same steel mesh. Half a dozen tables were scattered throughout the space and covered with scientific equipment and instruments. In another corner, multiple holo screens were set up as workstations. Each of them glowed ready to be used.

  ‘Well lieutenant, I see you’re no worse for the wear.’

  Stone looked to see who was talking to him. To his right, a single cage door stood open with Brianna just inside the entrance.

  ‘Don’t worry about any escape attempts,’ she continued, ‘I assure you this cage will keep you put. I also have guards posted here with you around the clock and several others throughout the facility.’

  She walked over to him. –Heels clicking loudly on the concrete floor. She stopped a short distance from them and looked Shi’la over.

  ‘Not looking so good, Shu’kan. You need a bowel of hot soup or something?’

  He looked at Shi’la. She was right. She wasn’t looking good.

  ‘We have a problem,’ he replied for her. ‘It seems the Shu’kan have this thing called the Time of Shedding.’

  ‘The time of what?’

  ‘The Time of Shedding,’ he said again. ‘She’ll shed her entire skin in less than twenty-four hours.’

  ‘So!?’

  ‘You don’t understand….’

  ‘Michael, no!’ Shi’la interrupted. Her anger at being held prisoner was beginning to cloud her judgment. ‘Don’t tell them.’

  ‘Sorry, kiddo. I’m not letting this happen.’

  ‘Out with it!’ Brianna yelled.

  Stone exhaled. ‘She’ll die from a toxic reaction to her shedding skin if someone doesn’t assist her.’

  Brianna stood silently clenching her fists. Her anger was evident. She started pacing slowly clearly thinking of what to do.

  ‘She needs another Shu’kan to help her,’ he finished.

  ‘No. We don’t have time to cater to this female!’ She paused to be sure he was paying attention. ‘You will assist her!’

  ‘What!?’ he objected. ‘This is serious. She will die! I have no training for this! I’m not even medically qualified!’

  ‘You will assist her!’ she replied firmly. ‘If she dies, you will die with her!’

  Brianna turned and walked out of the cage. She yelled over her shoulder as she continued to walk away.

  ‘See that she’s familiarized with the lab equipment then put them to work. For your sake, Lieutenant, I hope she lives!’

  Stone was nervously sweating even though the room was a comfortable temperature. Shi’la was lying on her bed sweating as well, but it was from her fever. The day had not gone well. Wilson insisted that she continue to work even as she was visibly getting worse. As the day progressed, three different scientists were permitted to speak to her. Each of them wore badges that indicated they were Earth Fleet personnel at the Iceland Research Facility. Clearly their captors were not overly concerned if they knew their location or not. –Which meant, that whatever conspiracy they were part of, involved someone highly placed in Earth Fleet. By the time they were allowed to quit, he had to assist her back to their quarters.

  He sat down gently beside her and took her hand. Her skin was no longer dry. It was turning thick as rubber and almost floated on her. –As if there was a layer of water just under her skin. He looked at her hand and marveled at how far he’d come. Just weeks ago he almost had a nervous breakdown at the sight of her. Now he was holding her hand. It was still strange to see and feel four fingers instead of five. He rubbed the tip of her thumb feeling the barely visible claw at the end. Her skin slid back and forth in a fluid motion making him a little queasy. Its usual dark color had lightened somewhat, but he couldn’t tell if it was from fluid buildup or not. Her entire arm was cracked and seeping.

  ‘Michael, it’s time,’ she whispered.

  He hadn’t noticed that she’d opened her eyes.

  ‘I still don’t know if I can do this,’ he said. ‘What if something goes wrong?’

  ‘-If we don’t do this, it won’t matter anyway.’

  He placed another cool cloth on her head. He didn’t know if it helped or not, but he felt he had to do something.

  ‘I know this is going to be difficult for you, but we have no choice. I’m going to die. The toxicity level is rising. Soon I’ll be unconscious. Once I do, you’ll have to begin cutting. You’ll have about an hour to remove my skin. If you don’t, I won’t wake up.’

  ‘I understand.’ He looked at her deep brown eyes. She seemed just as scared as he did. ‘This is your first time, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes. My parents should be assisting me. Only when a female takes a mate do they assist each other.’

  They looked at each other awkwardly for a moment. -Neither of them wanting to be the first to speak. He finally broke the silence.

  ‘Well, I may not be your mate, but I’m great at origami.’ He forced a laugh to lighten her mood.

  ‘I don’t get the humor,’ she smiled weakly, ‘but I appreciate the attempt.’ She closed her eyes for a moment then opened them again. ‘Now, remove the rest of my clothing.’

  He kneeled beside the bed and took a deep breath. He pulled the tray of surgical tools she’d asked for closer and grabbed the scissors. He began cutting the blouse that covered her torso. She was too weak to even lift her arms. He finished making the cut down the center and moved to cut up the sleeves. He forced himself to swallow then pulled the material free from her body. He tried hard to focus on the task at hand and not allow his curiosity to get the best of him. Next, he began to cut the loose jeans she was wearing down each side of her hips. He pulled the top piece free then rolled her on her side to remove the loose pieces under her. He looked up at her. Her eyes were almost closed again.

  ‘As soon as I’m unconscious, begin,’ she whispered. In less than a minute, she was unresponsive.

  He stood and rubbed both hand through his hair. Jesus, I’m not ready for this!

  He walked to the bathroom and scrubbed his hands and forearms up to his elbows. He then grabbed all the towels. Taking a deep breath, he knew he couldn’t stall any longer. If he didn’t act, she’d die.

  Everything moved in slow motion as Tr’al fell. The cliff face was inches from her face, and oddly she could make out every detail. Even her hearing seemed muted.

  Her arm was bleeding. She must have hit it on the ledge. Suddenly, she felt something brush her hands so she grabbed at it desperately. She managed to gain hold and felt her body slam into the rock face. Her hearing came back in an ascending rush and the waterfall resumed its steady dull roar.

  ‘Tr’al! Oh my God, don’t let go! We’re coming!’ Matheus screamed.

  She forced herself to breathe. Her face was pressed against the cold hard rock while dirt trickled in her eyes. Each time she exhaled, tiny clouds of dust formed in the air. She could smell the pungent odor of the dirt. Slowly, she forced her eyes open and looked up trying to see through the dust burning her eyes. She was holding onto a tree root. Her fingers were already going numb with the
effort. She started to cry. She was going to die.

  ‘Matheus! Li’el! Hurry! I can’t hold on much longer!’ She sobbed in terror. The reality was setting in.

  ‘Tr’al! –Look at me!’

  She looked up to see Matheus peering over the ledge with Li’el behind him.

  ‘I’m coming! Just hold on!’

  Matheus pulled his climbing rope from his pack. He quickly knotted it around a tree and wrapped it twice around his waist knotting it tightly. ‘You might have to help,’ he told Li’el. ‘I may not have the strength to pull us both back up, ok?’

  Li’el nodded in agreement.

  Matheus threw the slack over the side then pulled the rope tight from the tree. He lowered himself over the ledge and began working his way to Tr’al.

  Tr’al’s fingers were beginning to give. She could no longer feel them. She was crying uncontrollably.

  ‘Tr’al, look at me! –Look at me!’

  She looked up. Matheus was right above her.

  ‘Pull yourself up, and grab my hand!’

  ‘I can’t,’ she wailed, ‘I can’t feel my fingers!’

  ‘Listen,’ he edged a little closer to her. He was out of slack. There was going no further. ‘You have to reach. I’m out of rope! Pull yourself up!’

  Tr’al pulled. She barely moved, but she moved.

  ‘That’s it! –Keep coming!’

  She pulled with everything she had and finally got her arms to bend.

  ‘Now, reach up with one hand and grab mine!’

  She took a deep breath then let go a hand to reach up. Her grip slipped. She screamed as she fell. Her body jerked as she felt Matheus grab her wrist. He roared in pain as his arm stretched, but he held on to her. They were now dangling from the cliff by the rope. It cut into his waist as it tightened from the added weight.