The Colony Ship Eschaton: The entire ten book series, page 142
“We are now departing Habitat Five: Tropical, I am taking you to your destination,” the voice of Theta Four stated.
They traveled in silence as the transport vehicle moved away from Tropical and slid through the transportation system’s tubes. The ride was very smooth but they could tell they were moving. After some time the vehicle came to a halt. Then it reversed direction and there were a series of loud clanking noises. The portal door opened, and brilliant light shined in.
“You are at your destination. Please depart from the transport vehicle,” The Voice said in its typical tones. It was no longer imitating Theta Four.
“That is the demon!” Asa screamed.
Brodie stood and looked out at the strange landscape before him. “This is not Antioch. What is the meaning of this?” There were sandy and dirty small hills stretching out as far as he could see.
“Depart the vehicle, or aversive stimulation will be applied,” The Voice said.
Kedar, Asa, and Seorim rushed to step out. Brodie and Adeela followed more hesitantly.
The portal door slammed shut with a fatalistic clang.
“You are now in Habitat Four: Desert. The other team will be arriving shortly. Then the game can begin,” The Voice stated. “The trail will lead you to the arena.”
21 wrong turn on way to tropical
Jamie, Michael, Levi and Gideon were standing in the portal room. The doors all looked more like hatches on spacecraft than they did typical doors, especially since the permalloy barriers had been built which prevented the doors from being opened from within a transport vehicle. The stairway leading up and down reminded them of the people who had died on an upper level in the recent explosion. Jamie and Michael also recalled finding the bodies at the bottom of the stairs. Michael fingered the BTR in his pocket wondering which person had previously had that identification chip.
The automacube carrying Roxanne rolled into the room. “Everyone please listen. I again advise that you reconsider. This action is not well planned out, and previous sojourns to Tropical have turned out badly,” Roxanne stated.
“The talking machine is correct,” Levi replied. “Our past trips have turned out badly. Deborah died, and then her body was sent here. We failed to avenge her death, and others died after that. This time we will succeed.” The cold and hard determination in Levi’s voice was unshakable.
“Levi is correct,” Gideon added. His own fierceness matched that of Levi.
“May I come along to offer my assistance?” Roxanne asked.
“Roxanne, you are essential to the people here,” Michael said. “They need you.”
“But I am assigned to you and Jamie. I am to protect you on your mission and help you to be successful,” Roxanne stated.
“You have already accomplished that mission and more,” Jamie said. “We are going with our friends. You must stay here.”
Regina raced into the room. “Wait! I cannot believe you are going to Tropical. Please wait and speak with Hulda when she comes back, or wait for Lorna. She does not even know.” Regina silky dark hair hung unbound which was unusual for her. “Remember how badly my solo adventure turned out?”
Michael reached over and grabbed Jamie’s hand. “We are not going alone. Besides, we have the Willie Wackers and those will give us an edge on any potential threat.” Michael patted the Willie Wacker weapon in its holster on his belt.
“Regina, you are needed to work with Roxanne. Please take good care of the AI. You know the interface between Roxanne and the automacubes better than anyone. Roxanne is essential, and you are essential to Roxanne,” Jamie said. “And like Michael said, we have the Willie Wackers. And we took care of that Sinclair, so we must accompany Levi and Gideon to help handle this situation.”
“Talking machine?” Levi asked.
The display lit up in the gray color and the voice of Theta Four replied, “How may I help you? Do you require transportation?”
“Yes, we wish to go to that Tropical place,” Gideon stated.
“I will prepare the transport vehicle. Please wait…” the voice of Theta Four replied.
“Please unseal the barrier for portal four. The transport vehicle is prepared to take you where you need to go,” the voice of Theta Four stated.
Gideon opened the barrier and the door to the transport vehicle could now open. As it did the well lit interior of the transport vehicle was revealed with its two rows of seats facing each other. Levi and Gideon marched in. They set their permalloy swords across their laps and sat down. Jamie and Michael followed and sat on the other side of the vehicle looking at the two, now former, legionnaires.
“Is everyone prepared to depart?” the voice of Theta Four said.
“Yes, take us to Tropical,” Levi commanded.
The door to the transport vehicle closed, the vehicle started to move in its gentle and smooth way.
“So Michael, I brought one of the protected fusion packs, a molecular saw, and some other gear,” Jamie said as she patted her backpack.
“I brought some food supplies, several of John’s fungus bricks, and some water containers,” Michael stated. “I do feel odd about going against the Rectora and Rector, but….” He did not finish his thought.
“Levi? Last time you and I came here, we were successful, but the price was very high. Last time you and Gideon came, you were both injured. What is our plan this time?” Jamie asked.
“I am going to storm up to that stockade wall and demand answers. If they stone me, or cut me down, so be it,” Levi answered.
“And I am at your side,” Gideon stated. He grabbed Levi’s shoulder and squeezed.
“With the Willie Wackers we can punch holes in that wooden stockade easily. How about we start by asking them for information?” Jamie suggested. “Then if they want to fight, we can blow open the stockade and enter?”
“We must find that Brodie and those men from the Clan of Tobit. They are responsible,” Levi said, his tones were adamant.
The rest of the way they traveled in silence.
The transport vehicle stopped, then slowly backed into place and there were metallic sounding connecting noises.
“You are at your destination,” the voice sounding like Theta Four stated. “Please use caution when exiting the vehicle.”
The door opened and brilliant light poured in. Far brighter than the sky tube above Antioch, and different too from what they remembered of Tropical. There was sand in front of them, but it was not sand like in tropical, but a much more dry and dusty sand.
Levi and Gideon marched out onto the sand and into the dry heat, blinking their eyes and shielding them with their hands against the brightness. Jamie and Michael followed, wondering what had happened in Tropical. Just as they stepped out of the transport, the portal door slammed shut. They could hear the sound of the transport vehicle uncoupling and departing.
“Theta Four? What is happening?” Michael asked.
He was standing near the permalloy wall, but it was not a place he had ever seen before. A display on the permalloy wall lit up and a dull green color filled the display.
“Theta Four is nonfunctional,” The Voice replied in its usual tones, shedding its masquerade. “Welcome to Habitat Four: Desert. This is where the new game will be played.”
They looked about. There was no stockade wall. There was a lot of dry sand and dirt, in small rolling hills about twice as high as a person. Scattered about were an occasional small yellowish, or brownish plant. A few birds flew high overhead under the very bright sky tube.
“I told you to take us to Tropical!” Levi screamed. “I need to find Brodie and get some answers!”
“Yes, finding answers is part of this game. Yes, you will encounter the test subject called Brodie. He and the others are on the opposing team.”
A cold shill ran down Jamie’s back, even though the habitat was far hotter than Coastal Plains.
“So you have tricked us again, and we will now play your stupid games?” Jamie said with contempt. “What this time? Swim in water? Search for lost parts? Or just scamper around for your amusement?”
“This is a study of group dynamics, cohesion, and loyalty. Interaction with the opposing group will take place in the arena. You are Group A. Your opponents are Group B. The designations were assigned randomly. Group B is proceeding to the arena as we speak.”
“I am not playing some disgusting game again!” Jamie yelled. She pushed every button, control, and every flat surface around the portal door, but nothing worked. She looked for somewhere to jack the fusion pack into, but there were no ports. She even tried placing the BTR against the door repeatedly and in various places, but nothing happened.
“If you do not follow the trail to the arena, aversive stimulus will be applied,” The Voice stated. “The opposing team, including the test subject Brodie is heading for the arena. Proceed with five second. Five, four, three,”
With resignation, Jamie turned around and saw that Michael was standing there with a puzzled look on his face. Levi and Gideon were enraged, but were walking down the trail away from the portal. Jamie and Michael followed them.
22 Arena
This portal station in Habitat Four: Desert was not concentrated, but stretched around the corner of the habitat. Each portal doors was completely exposed to the wilds of the habitat with the individual portal doors separated by a good distance. A small rocky trail connected the portal doors to each other, forming a rough triangle. The permalloy walls extended high into the sky where they arched to meet the sky tube.
Both groups had arrived at opposite ends of the portal station, and followed their perspective separate trails toward the corner of the habitat. The small hillocks were covered by ankle deep sand, but the gravelly trail wound between the hills making its way toward the corner and was fairly easy to walk upon.
There were some larger plants, about chest high with long thin needle-like spikes sticking out from them. At one point, a hare darted away quickly through the sands. The air in this habitat was very dry and moved with more force than in either Coastal Plains or in Tropical. This desert habitat reminded Jamie and Michael of journeys outside of Dome 17, minus the radiation of course. And around Dome 17 there were no living plants or animals at all. The barrenness of this desert was a cornucopia of life compared to the sterile and dead Earth around Dome 17. Nonetheless, both Jamie and Michael were reminded of where they had originated.
Each team arrived at the arena. There was a hexagonal area about sixty paces wide in the corner of the habitat. It was surrounded by a wall of permalloy with a canted and terraced top, there were two arched entryways. Inside that wall, the ground, was completely flat and open, covered with tightly-packed, sandy dirt.
Brodie drew out his sword and stood defiantly at one of the entrances
Michael and Jamie drew out the Willie Wackers and took aim from the other entrance.
“Jamie, my fusion pack is drained. The Willie Wacker has no power.” Michael was astonished.
“Mine too,” Jamie said, yet she squeezed the trigger several times while aiming at Brodie. Nothing happened.
The Voice’s words echoed over the people. “This arena is the location for the game. The setting is not familiar to either team, so neither team has that advantage. The objective of this game is survival. Historically each team have had previous encounters with baboons, yet had different solutions to that game. This game will help determine which strategy is best for survival.”
Brodie stared so hard at Levi and Gideon, and they met his stare with such intensity, that none of them heard anything The Voice was saying. Adeela stood next to Brodie and drew her sword as well.
Michael was trying to somehow rejuvenate the fusion pack and get the Willie Wacker functional again. He was clearly frustrated by the failure of the fusion pack.
Jamie responded to The Voice, “Yes, we encountered baboons. What of it?”
“The various test subjects’ encounters with the baboon troop were revealing. This game will place test subject troops against each other. This game will decide which team wins,” The Voice replied.
“So we are just animals?” Jamie asked. “Nothing else? We are humans!”
“Two of you carry Basic Temporary Recognition chips. Those have had unofficial modifications and are therefore considered invalid. Otherwise you would have been processed at the Replacement Crew Adjustment Center. You are test subjects, not humans. Group A’s unauthorized technological weapon advantage has been nullified to make this game more competitive.
“We are not animals!” Jamie cried out. “We are humans!”
“You are test subjects, useful for planning refinement and advancement of the species. It is important to know the positive societal aspects because of new outside influences which have recently developed,” The Voice replied. “The game shall begin.”
Jamie put her Willie Wacker back in the holster. She saw Michael do the same. She pulled out the double edged dagger she carried as she looked across the arena and saw Asa lift his club, and Kedar ready his spear. Seorim was trying to hide behind them. Brodie and Adeela looked deadly ready for combat.
Two nearly simultaneous sliding sounds told Jamie that Levi and Gideon had draw their swords. Michael’s came out next.
“Brodie!” Levi cried out in challenge.
“Legionnaire!” Brodie replied making the word sound like a supreme insult.
23 melee begins
Levi and Gideon rushed ahead into the arena and were met by Brodie and Adeela.
“You killed my mother!” Brodie stated in a cold and calculated manner as he kept his eyes on Levi.
“Deborah,” was all Levi said in reply.
Adeela was watching to follow Brodie’s lead in the armed combat. Her eyes were alert for any advantage. She mostly watched the movements of Levi and Gideon who were trained fighters. She had given a quick assessment to Michael and Jamie and judged them to be amateurs at fighting. She would deal with them after the genuine threats were eliminated. Her sword blade never wavered as she kept it steady in front of her.
Levi and Brodie closed with each other in a flurry of slashes and dodges and thrusts. Gideon leaped in and tried for a strike against Brodie, but Adeela’s counter-thrust struck hard against Gideon's permalloy armor and would have been a serious wound without it. Gideon was forced to dance backward quickly.
“Arguuuh!” Asa screamed as he charged forward at Jamie with his club. He was swinging it wildly around his head. Jamie and Michael backed up as he charged. Their blades were held before them, but the ferocity of the charge set them back. Kedar rushed in with the spear toward them as well, and Michael was pricked in the shoulder by Kedar’s spear point. It did slash the Dome 17 radiation absorbent materials, but the spear did not penetrate his skin, although the force of the blow was painful.
Jamie defended with her dagger, but the length of the spear kept her away from any meaningful attempts at stabbing Kedar. Asa came rushing back, again flailing the club, and Kedar retreated looking for another opening. They circled each other in deadly intent.
The noise of the combat rose and fell with each exchange. Sometimes the yelling became blended into raw noise so loud that none of the words were understandable to any but the one who yelled. The next moment it was just the panting of the combatants. Levi swung and barely missed Brodie’s chest with the blade and Brodie stumbled a bit as he dodged. Adeela struck Levi a direct thrust to his flank as his arm was extended in his sword swing, but again, the permalloy armor blunted what would have been a mortal injury.
Adeela and Brodie withdrew a bit from the fight, and she drew up close to him. “They have very tough armor,” Adeela stated. “But the arms and legs are just clothing.”
Gideon advanced and swung his sword in a mighty sweep at Brodie. He leaped out of the way, but as he did he slashed downward with his own blade, slipping past Gideon’s and sliced a straight grove across Gideon’s calf. Blood ran freely.
“Gideon!” Levi yelled as he tried to engage Brodie, only to just miss yet again.
Adeela feigned a thrust with her sword toward the wounded Gideon and as he turned to avoid the sword point, she pivoted and kicked the leg which had just been sliced open. Gideon’s knee shattered under the impact. He hobbled back a bit as Levi stepped in to physically protect Gideon. Levi thrust upward with the permalloy blade and caught the edge of Adeela’s sword which snapped into pieces. She threw the hilt at Gideon as he retreated on his steady leg dragging the other behind.
Brodie saw Adeela’s sword break and swung his own sword toward Levi. The strike connected and slashed Levi’s arm deeply. Levi cried out in pain as the bones of the arm were exposed. He jumped over to Gideon’s side, and held tightly to the sword with his uninjured hand.
