The Fourth World: Authors Definitive Edition

  “Go!” said Zack. “Go. If she gets mad at you over this, I’ll stand by you. I don’t think she can beat us both up.”

  “Don’t bet on that,” said Fintan, and turned his saucer away to head back towards the dig and Nizhoni.

  Stay safe Nizhoni. I’m coming.

  Chapter 37. Fallout

  He dove down to hug the landscape and pushed the saucer as fast as it would go. There was still nothing on the display. He came within range of the dig camp and put his scanners on maximum magnification.

  There was nothing there. No bugs, no Nizhoni. Nothing.

  Where are you Nizhoni? His hands moved in a blur as he reprogrammed the scanners, trying to squeeze as much power out of them as he could.

  Suddenly, the scanners blanked out. He screamed inside, thinking he had damaged them, but before he knew what was happening there was an intense flash of bright light from outside. His visual scanners dimmed to protect his eyes but they didn’t hide the huge fireball that erupted over the dig site. He watched in awe as the superheated air climbed into the sky, sucking dust up into a mushroom cloud.

  Nuclear weapon. Someone is nuking the dig site. He fought back panic, but the interior sensors showed no radiation – either the saucer was shielded, or he was at a safe distance. Choking back the fear, he knew that he had to focus on finding Nizhoni.

  There was another flash, and another. Two more mushroom clouds climbed into the sky. One of them was close and the shockwave hit Fintan’s saucer slamming him backwards.

  He ignored the pain in his back as he fought to regain control. His best option was to gain as much altitude as possible and to be above the blasts and shockwaves.

  As he climbed he watched the hellish scene below. The first cloud had bloated and swelled, and through it he could see a firestorm as the rocks of the surface melted. The other clouds were growing slowly, reminding Fintan of a TV show he had once seen where scientists demonstrated how plants grew using time-lapse photography.

  His sensors came back online and pinged. They showed two objects, climbing into orbit, and moving fast. One of them was giving off Nizhoni’s transponder signal. If the other was one of the bugs, why was she chasing it? There was only one way to find out, so he pushed the saucer as fast as he could in a pursuit course. He had to get there whether it killed him or not.

  They were moving more slowly as they reached the upper levels of the Martian atmosphere. Fintan’s ship was shaking like crazy – he was clearly pushing it harder than he should, but he didn’t care. He was gaining on them.

  Finally they came within visual range. He magnified and gasped when he saw that the two ships were both bugs. The lead bug was slowing and looked to be trying to open a wormhole outside the atmosphere. The trailing bug was giving off Nizhoni’s transponder signal.

  He zoomed in on it and saw that it had her saucer in gripped with its legs. It looked like a giant grub or worm, and as it flew it was trying to tear her saucer apart to get at what was inside.

  No thought Fintan. And then “NO!” he screamed at the darkness.

  Calm down Fintan. You can’t help her if you panic. Calm down. There’s a solution to this.

  The transponder was still active, which meant that the pilot’s core was still active. She was still alive in there.

  The lead ship had succeeded in opening the wormhole; Fintan could see the bright point in the sky ahead of it, which then stretched into a hole. In only a few seconds, both ships would enter the wormhole, traveling to an unknown destination. She would be lost.

  He was flying in Red Leader’s ship, which meant that he still had the override codes for hers. That gave him an option – he could use the emergency eject command for her saucer which would send the pilot’s pod away from the ship. The bug was trying to get at her, with only the shell of the saucer protecting her. If he ejected her pod, she would be defenseless and it would tear her apart. If he did nothing, she’d be taken away, and probably killed anyway.

  He knew what he must do. She would have ejected from her ship if she could, and there was still a chance that the systems were still active. She might be unconscious and unable to eject.

  There were only a few seconds before the lead bug would reach the open wormhole. He had to work quickly.

  Chapter 38. Falling Down.

  The plan is in motion now.

  Is it really our only chance?

  Only History will answer that question.

  There was only one thing that was going to work. He would have to eject her pod, and then somehow destroy both bugs. A plan crystallized in his mind – but he had no time to think it through – he had to act.

  With a push of a button he beamed the codes over to Nizhoni’s saucer. A green light showed acknowledgement, but he did not have time to check if she was clear before he unleashed a full volley of fire on the bug holding her saucer.

  As the saucer was shooting, he was frantically programming an intercept course for the lead bug. He would have to ram it – it was his only hope. With satisfaction, he saw Nizhoni’s pod eject from her saucer and spiral down towards the red surface of Mars.

  He felt like a spectator, watching the scene unfold on his monitors. His ship, on an intercept course for the lead bug, was tracking and shooting at the trailing bug, preventing it from intercepting Nizhoni’s escape pod.

  An instant before his ship collided with the lead bug, there was a sickening thump in his stomach as his escape pod accelerated away, but he was glad for the speed because when his ship collided with the lead bug, it exploded instantly, blowing the bug to pieces, and the debris was sucked into the wormhole.

  The wormhole expanded and then began to collapse. He could see the arcs of lightning reaching out to touch his pod and the other bug.

  It felt like a giant hand, stretching and writhing as it was sucked towards the hole, had grabbed his pod. Suddenly a huge white flash and explosion blinded Fintan and rocked his escape pod. There was a feeling of weightlessness as it was thrown free of the wormhole by the blast. However the shockwave hit, and Fintan was thrown from his control pedestal.

  He had an odd sense of slow motion as he fell, and he put his hands up to break his fall. There was a sickening cracking sound as his head hit something. He wasn’t sure what it was. Something wet was trickling down his neck. Blood.

  He felt oddly relaxed. Everything was distant now. The sound of the shipboard alarms were now muffled and soothing.

  “Boom,” Tricnollak had said. “Really big boom.”

  More shuddering and rocking and somewhere deep in his mind he realized that he had entered the atmosphere.

  I’m blacking out

  He smiled to himself, surprised at how analytical this was, under the circumstances. Probably concussion. Must stay awake.

  He hit atmosphere hard. He was beginning to feel hot, and worried that the pod didn’t have atmospheric heat shields. He could burn up and die here.

  His mind was blurring, the dizziness making him queasy.

  I’m falling he thought. I’m falling. Is there someone out there that can help me? Help me Help me Help me.

  Then everything went black.

  ***

  His eyes opened to see a white, tiled, ceiling.

  Where am I?

  He tried to move, but couldn’t. He drifted back down into darkness again.

  Nizhoni? Nizhoni are you there?

  He opened his eyes and turned his head. People were all around him, but they were blurred. He couldn’t see. They were talking to him. This was oddly familiar.

  There was a girl sitting near him. The blurriness resolved and she came into focus.

  “Nizhoni,” he croaked.

  He felt a hand on his. It was cool and dry to the touch.

  “Nizhoni,” he repeated and looked at the girl. He blinked several times, trying to clear his vision.

  It wasn’t Nizhoni. It was Ayako, and she was crying.

  ***

  “Fintan,” she said
. “Can you hear me?”

  “Nizhoni,” he repeated. “Nizhoni?”

  “Fintan, I’m sorry. I’m so very sorry.”

  “Nizhoni,” was all he could say. “Where?”

  She put her head down, crying more. His head was clearing now. He blinked again and squeezed her hand.

  “Ayako,” he said. “What’s happening?”

  “We’re back on Earth,” she said. “Nizhoni’s gone Fintan. She died saving us.”

  “No, I saw her eject.”

  “They found the wreckage of her ship in orbit. You destroyed whatever it was that attacked us and killed her. Together you saved us.”

  “No,” said Fintan weakly. He felt strength gathering in his voice. He shook his head to clear the tears. “No!”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  Someone else was coming into the room. Fintan turned to see Trichallik and Mister Smith. Zack was standing in the doorway.

  “Please leave us Miss Katsuragi,” said Trichallik. “We need to speak with Fintan in private.”

  Ayako nodded, and squeezed Fintan’s hand. She got up and ran into Zack’s arms, burying her head in his chest. He led her out and quietly closed the door.

  “Fintan,” said Trichallik. “I am sorry for your loss. I know that you and she were very close. You must understand that her sacrifice was not in vain. She saved much more than just the children from the squadron. She might have even saved all of us.”

  “Did you find her escape pod?”

  “You destroyed a wormhole. It’s a miracle you survived,” said Smith. “No pod other than yours made it to the surface. Hers was broken up and burned in the atmosphere.”

  “I can’t believe she’s gone,” said Fintan. “She can’t be!”

  “Fintan,” continued Trichallik. “I know this is hard, but what we have to say is important. You must tell nobody what happened up there. Most of the squadron doesn’t know. Zack only knows a little – he doesn’t know what attacked, and you must keep the secret. Otherwise her sacrifice could be in vain.”

  “Why?”

  “We call them hunters. They are semi intelligent creatures that scour the galaxy looking for civilizations. When they find signs of a civilization, they return to their masters who come here and destroy them. You see there are many civilizations in the galaxy, and many of them believe that the best way to avoid future conflict with other races is to destroy them before they reach the stars. Before they become a threat. The hunters come from one of them. They destroyed my world in the same way.”

  “Why keep it a secret?”

  “Some of my people will want to leave this place, and leave you to the hunters if they think Earth has been discovered. We want to help you, but we’re not going to fight a war for you. That you must do yourselves, and you are not yet ready.”

  “And you?”

  “I am here for you and your people, as was my mate. He died to buy Nizhoni and you time to escape. I know your loss of her is great, but you are young, and you only knew her for a few short months. Tricnollak and I were life mates for hundreds of years. His absence is an emptiness in my soul.”

  A wave of grief shook over Fintan’s body again. He began to sob.

  She’s gone.

  ***

  He must have fallen asleep then, because when he opened his eyes, Trichallik and Smith were gone. Ayako and Zack were sitting at the base of his bed again.

  “Good morning sleepyhead,” said Zack, trying to inject some cheer into his voice, but not succeeding.

  Ayako reached out and held onto Fintan’s hand.

  He rubbed his eyes and looked at them. Ayako’s eyes were puffy and red, and Zack looked tired and empty.

  “It wasn’t a dream was it?” asked Fintan. “She’s really gone, isn’t she?”

  Ayako nodded and lowered her head.

  “Fintan,” said Zack. “I’m sorry if this is insensitive, but what really happened out there?”

  He remembered what Trichallik had said. “I’m sorry,” said Fintan. “I don’t really remember that much.”

  “What attacked us Fintan?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Fintan?”

  “Zack, I can’t talk about it, okay?”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “Of course it matters it-”

  Ayako had put her hand over his mouth. “Now isn’t the right time Zack. Give him some space, okay?”

  Zack nodded and also placed his hand on Fintan’s. “Sorry.”

  ***

  After a few days, Fintan checked himself out of hospital and returned to the Red Squadron dome. He felt empty as he entered. The crowds at dinner just made him feel lonelier.

  He returned to his sleeping dome, and Zack was there.

  “How are you doing?”

  “Not good,” said Fintan. “Seeing everyone reminds me not of her sacrifice to save us, but of the fact that she’s gone.”

  Zack nodded. “Sorry.”

  “What is worst is that I feel selfish in thinking that I would prefer her to be here instead of everyone else.”

  “I understand. It’s hard to let go.”

  “You don’t understand!” yelled Fintan. “Nobody understands! She just can’t be gone. She can’t! I can feel her,” he pointed at his chest. “I can feel her right here, stronger than ever.”

  His body shuddered again as grief overcame him again. His foot brushed against something. He picked it up and looked at it. It was the Christmas singing alien that Nizhoni had kicked across the room a lifetime ago.

  “Everything just reminds me that she isn’t here anymore,” he said, putting it down. He put his head under the covers. “Just leave me Zack. I want to be alone.”

  ***

  Time passed in a blur. He couldn’t eat or sleep. He forgot all about classes and about Zack’s comings and goings.

  I can’t stay here anymore he thought. I have to leave this place.

  He knew how. He made his way out of the dome, and into the city. He followed the streets to the terminus for the train that went to the edge wall. He rode it, alone, in silence, lost in his thoughts.

  Every so often he would look outside and see something interesting and turn to talk to Nizhoni, but she wasn’t there. She would never be there again, but no matter how many times he reminded himself of this fact, he’d make the same mistake again and again.

  The train reached the end of the line and he walked towards the building. When he reached the door, he realized that Nizhoni had never told him the combination. It didn’t matter. The door was open.

  He entered and made his way to the hangar.

  Bob was waiting for him there. “I was wondering when you’d show up,” he said.

  Fintan embraced the big man, who didn’t return the hug.

  “What happened to Benally’s daughter?” said Bob.

  “I can’t tell you.”

  “I’m the one who had to go back and tell him,” said Bob, his voice beginning to crack. “I’m the one who had to watch him break down and cry for hours at the loss of his beloved daughter. I’m the one who had to hold his wife and Nanabah and tell them that she’s never coming home again.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “They wanted to know where you were, and why you didn’t protect her.”

  “I tried. But I couldn’t.”

  “What happened out there?”

  “I can’t tell you,” repeated Fintan. “I’m sorry, Bob. Please forgive me.”

  Bob drew himself up to his full height. “My name is Standing Bear.” He walked out of the room without a backwards look.

  There were several saucers still there, so Fintan got into one of them and took off. He climbed as high as he could, before realizing he didn’t know where to go. He clearly wasn’t welcome back in the Navajo nation anymore, and he didn’t want to go back to school.

  He hated it, but there was only one place left for him. He laid in a cours
e for Ireland.

  For home.

  ***

  Do you think he can keep the secret?

  Yes.

  So how much time do you think we have?

  Four years. Maybe more, maybe less.

  You think they’ll come?

  Yes. They will, and we will need to be ready.

  The lives that were lost. Was it worth it?

  Yes. Simon and Red Two did what they had to do and Tricnollak knew what he was doing. It was a good sacrifice.

  But what about Nizhoni?

  END

  TO BE CONTINUED IN

  “THE MILLION YEAR JOURNEY.”

  Afterword

  The story of ‘The Legend of the Locust’ is a very personal story for me. It’s one that has been bouncing around my head, thematically, for years, before I started writing it down. And once I started writing it -- it ended up being vastly different from what I originally anticipated.

  I wanted to write a story about mankind’s first encounter with another species, following the historical themes around what happened when cultures met in our history, and what happened when a strong culture was in proximity to a weak one.

  The plight of the peoples of the Americas is a classic example -- when the European settlers arrived, they were all but wiped out by a combination of factors. Similarly, the plight of the Irish, being a small country right next door to a superpower made for a very interesting theme.

  I had no idea how I was going to write it.

  In the Spring of 2007, I was in Las Vegas for a conference, and in some spare time took a drive to Rachel, Nevada, the closest town (if you could call it a town) to Area 51, and hub of all the interest in the base. I stopped in the “Little Ale’Inn” and had a coffee and several great conversations. Some with avionics enthusiasts who were there to spot the latest, greatest aircraft being tested. Some with folks who were UFO enthusiasts who wanted to get as close as they could to where they believed aliens were among us.

  I didn’t know what to think.

  When I was a child, I was obsessed with Science Fiction, being a nut for Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica in particular. I remember one day spotting something bizarre in the skies above my home town of Drogheda, Ireland. Something that I can’t explain even to this day. When I tried to talk to others about it, I was dismissed and laughed at as having an overactive imagination.