Helium Fall Page 8

  "Uh, I was lost in thought about the ladies and getting the bots back?"

  "Whatever! Speaking of diggers, let's talk about them over dinner. I saw some footage of the digger camp one of bots recorded. It may give us some good information as to how we can shut them down."

  "Hopefully without getting ourselves blown up!"

  "Yes, there is that. Let's go clean up and eat." After cleaning up and removing the day's dirt, they met in the galley.

  "So what's it going to be tonight, Sam?"

  "I'm not currently thinking about chicken, if that's what you're asking. I'm leaning towards roast beef, mashed potatoes, and some corn. Maybe a salad and chocolate cream pie for desert. What's on your mind?"

  "I'm not thinking chicken, either. I want something of the southern persuasion. Pulled pork sandwich, potato salad, some baked beans, and a big piece of chocolate cream pie. Yeah, I borrowed it from you, sounded good."

  As they ate Grant showed Sam the footage of the digger camp taken by the bot and still photos of perimeter sensors.

  "Those look like the same motion sensors we saw with the drone. I think we can take them down fairly easily. It should be a cake walk from there on out. We can use one of the rifles to shoot the sensor to take it out of commission and the drone won't know where we are or where to look."

  "Good plan, Sam but what if shooting the sensor sets off the drone and it chooses to go free range and hunt us down?"

  "Well, do you have a better idea?"

  "Ok, so we shoot the sensor and see how it reacts. We take our big guns with us, just in case."

  "Okay Grant, sounds like a plan to me. You do know we never stick to our plans, right?"

  "Right, but we plan."

  "Right."

  They headed off to bed and for the first time since their crash landing they had restful sleep.

  Chapter Nine

  The next morning Sam was up before Grant. He fixed himself some coffee and a ham and cheese omelet. He was about halfway done eating when Grant made his way to the galley.

  "What are you doing up so early?"

  “Don't sound so surprised. You know it's happened before."

  "Yes Sam, once, in college and I think you stayed up all night just to make it look like you were up early."

  "Well, it may or may not have happened," Sam said with a wry smile.

  "Some breakfast and a good cup of coffee then gather our equipment and go digger hunting." Sam liked the idea of hunting the diggers, it sounded more like a sport than a survival situation.

  "I have an idea. We can use one of the maintenance bots as a decoy after we take out the sensor. If the drone does come out it will attack the first thing it finds moving."

  "Not a bad idea, we can haul it closer to their camp with the rover and it might just end up saving our lives. Nice work, Sam."

  "Thanks buddy!"

  They had loaded the rover and were prepared for what lay ahead and were patiently waiting for Tayana and her people. "Grant do you think they stood us up?"

  "I'm not sure what's going on but we have to get things moving soon. After last night we know we have to stick to a tight schedule or we could end up dead from the gas combination. If push comes to shove we have the safety of the rover this time and we can make it back to camp without passing out.”

  They waited another twenty minutes before Grant decided they needed to go ahead and scout out the area. Sam fired up the rover and they began their trek to the digger camp. "We need to be very careful Sam, we don't know how sensitive the sensors are and we do not want to lose the rover to one of the missiles."

  "Agreed, we know the camp is about two miles ahead of us and I think we should stop half a mile short and load the equipment on the bot. It can carry the weight easier than we can and it is silent."

  "Another good idea, Sam, keep 'em coming." Close to their destination, Sam began to slow the rover and look for a good hiding spot. The forest to their left looked like the best option where there were large rocks to obscure the rover from view.

  "Over there, Sam."

  "I see it." Sam maneuvered the rover into a large group of bushes near the large rocks, the trees made the perfect blind to hide under.

  "Okay Sam, according to Tayana and our own estimates, the Diggers should be about half a mile or less straight ahead. Let's leave the equipment here for now and do some reconnaissance. We need to know what we're dealing with."

  "True, we've never seen the diggers, but we have seen the drone and we know what it can do." They gathered binoculars and a wide angle field scope, then took off to find the camp and the sensors.

  After trekking about a quarter of a mile Grant suddenly stopped Sam with his arm. "Sam, there is a sensor twenty yards ahead to our right, stay low and let's find some better cover." Without a word Sam obliged and slowly made his way to a rock large enough to hide behind. He took out the rifle and took aim.

  "Whoa Sam, we are not shooting the sensor now, we don't have any other weapons and we are sitting ducks if the sensor sees us."

  "Keep your knickers on Grant, I'm using the scope to judge the distance and see where the best place to shoot this thing will be."

  "Sorry, I know how you can be with weapons and I wasn't sure what your intentions were."

  "No problem, you haven't sucked all the joy out of it yet." Sam said it with a chuckle, Grant understood he had jumped the gun and felt bad for not trusting him.

  "Sam, let's move to higher ground and scout out the area better."

  "A step ahead of ya, Grant." They moved up a small incline to a large set of boulders nestled among dense bushes and several trees.

  "Great cover, Sam. Now we can see who the diggers are and what they're up to." Both of them thoroughly scouted the mining camp for equipment, structures, and personnel. "Sam, do you not see what I'm not seeing?"

  "Yep, I'm seeing a whole lot of equipment, one building, and nothing else. What gives?" The mining camp was void of life. The structure was about thirty yards away from the mining camp. It was a square building with no features, other than the array of antennas on top. "There aren't any doors or windows on the building, Grant."

  "I saw it. Do you think their mining operation is automated?"

  "Most likely. It would be a good idea. I'd probably do the same thing." Sam gave it some thought in the brief time they were there. "One building to automate the equipment and one drone to protect the building and the equipment, genius!"

  "I wonder what happened to Tayana and her people?" Grant was as much concerned as perplexed. They had agreed to meet in the morning so they would have time to do what they had to do to get the drone subdued and return to camp before nightfall.

  "I think they chickened out. Left us to do their dirty work so they could stay safe and unharmed. Sort of leaving a bad taste in my mouth." Sam was less concerned and more ticked off they hadn't kept their word.

  "Well Sam, I think it's time for some fireworks."

  "Yeah buddy! Let's get this party a hoppin'."

  "We’re in a very secure area surrounded by boulders and covered by thick bushes and trees. If the drone does go free range it will have a difficult time finding us. So, I'm going to watch the structure to see what happens and you're going to shoot the sensor we saw on the way here."

  "Let me know when you're ready and I'll take out the sensor."

  "Don't you think we need to get the bigger guns, just in case?"

  "Um, yes, that's a lifesaving idea Sam." After the quick trip to the rover and a much slower return with the big guns they situated themselves. They were good with their view of the area.

  "Fire away, Sam!" Grant focused his binoculars on the building and Sam cracked off his first shot. With a muzzled bang and a quick flash the first bullet was away and a direct hit. The sensor exploded and pieces went flying everywhere.

  "Cool!" Sam appreciated a good explosion and this one did not disappoint. "I guess it had some sort of flammable liquid in it judging by the way it blew chu
nks all over the place."

  "Excellent shot! We have movement. The top of the building is opening. Crap, here comes the drone. It's a lot bigger than I thought it was."

  "It's carrying missiles Grant and most likely more than one." Just then a missile launched from the drone to the location of the sensor sending dirt and rocks everywhere.

  "Tell me I was not chasing one of those when we got shot down. What the hell was I thinking? I'm lucky to be alive!"

  With thick sarcasm Sam responded, "Lucky indeed, good thing it missed or I'd be standing under a waterfall being bathed by the village beauties."

  Grant gave him a scornful look and turned to look at the building again. He noticed a small bot racing out of a side opening in the building with another sensor. It took it past where the other sensor had been located making the perimeter larger and putting the pair neatly inside of it. "Uh, Sam we have a small problem. A bot from the building just placed another sensor extending the perimeter about twenty-five yards. We are now trapped inside."

  "Uh Grant, we have a huge problem, DUCK!"

  The drone fired a missile directly at their location. Sam could see it coming and had just enough time to warn Grant and jump behind a large boulder that was securely anchored into the ground.

  Grant was not so lucky. Though he was fairly protected, he was still in the line of fire while peering around the boulder. He grasped his head as he was launched into the air along with rocks, bushes, and copious amounts of soil. The drone had traced the origin of the bullet by its trail and fired on Sam's location. Grant felt a searing pain and his heart was racing. He was thrown about forty feet into a small patch of bushes and rocks. He saw rivulets of blood running down his arm, his shirt was ripped to pieces, and his leg was bleeding. The rest of his clothing was torn and he was disoriented. He could feel himself beginning to pass out. Everything began to shimmer and a shadow came over him. Then the face of Tayana appeared. "Am I dreaming again? I had this dream a couple nights ago. You are so beautiful." He looked deeply into her eyes and for a fleeting moment the pain went away. Tayana motioned to others as he was slipped in and out of consciousness. Where was Sam, what was happening, who was grabbing him? His eyes fluttered and all was dark.

  "We have to get him to the village quickly, he is seriously injured and we need to stop the bleeding." Sam was spared Grant's fate having seen the missile coming and having a split second more to prepare then take cover.

  He ran to Grant and Tayana, "We need to get him to the rover, there's medical equipment on board and we can get the bleeding stopped. We can take him to the shuttle, there is a full medical lab there and everything we need."

  With a stern voice Tayana said, "No, you do not understand. Those bushes when broken release a toxin and it is now all over him. We have the cure in the village, but we must move quickly."

  Sam didn't hesitate. He directed the villagers to the rover. Once inside Tayana wrapped a local plant around Grant's arm and leg while Sam administered some antibiotics and pain medications. "We don't need him suffering and we need his body to fight as hard as it can, these will help with both. You can ride along and keep him secure. This is going to be a quick ride." Sam fired up the rover and gunned it. He was racing against the clock with little time to spare. "Hold on Tayana, this is going to be a little bumpy. Make sure he stays fastened in."

  Tayana had no intentions of letting him loose. She was deeply concerned and afraid for Grant's life. The bush produced a toxin similar to the toxin of a box jelly fish but with different side effects. Thankfully it was not quite as powerful, but still life threatening. Grant was beginning to shake and sweat as the toxin began making its way through his body. Tayana held his hand and spoke comforting words to him knowing he was not hearing them. It gave her as much comfort as it was supposed to give him.

  Chapter Ten

  The two mile trek went by in a flash. The village quickly came into view. Sam drove full throttle the entire trip back. "We're getting close to the village, is there somewhere I can get the rover close to where we need to be?"

  "There is a trail on the north side. It will take you past the tops of the waterfalls to the far side of the village. We need to take Grant there for healing."

  "Guide me please; I have no idea where I'm going." Sam was more concerned than ever. Grant was shaking violently and sweat rolled off of him like he was out lying in the hot noon sun.

  "To the right Sam, it's there, by the large tree."

  Sam located the tree, turned the rover, and slowed down to maneuver through the trees and across the waterfalls. The water was not as deep as expected, even though the rover would have no trouble had it been, and the rover breezed through them with haste. He took note of the beauty surrounding him. The falls were as beautiful from the top as they were from below. The sunshine filtering through the trees gave everything an ether world effect. Sam was amused at his thought and vowed to return to the falls when he had a free moment.

  "Left here Sam, then down to the large pink pod."

  "Left, large pink pod, got it!" Sam made his way to the pod.

  They were greeted by several villagers; two he assumed were their healers. One looked much older with long grey hair and a full flowing beard swaying in the breeze. The other was a younger looking female with the same grey hair.

  Tayana jumped out of the rover and began conversing with the healers, instructing them as to what had happened and what they needed to do. The villagers with Sam's help pulled Grant from the rover and moved him into the pod. The inside was much the same as the other pods. This one had dried herbs and plants hanging everywhere, and shelves with bottles of every color of liquid Sam could imagine whose purposes were known only by the healers, and most likely Tayana. They lay Grant on a soft bed and began administering poultices and creams all over his body. The younger healer began removing his torn clothing and wiping dried blood from his face and body. Grant looked pretty beat up and Sam felt bad he had not warned him faster about the missile. He knew there was nothing he could do for Grant but watch and hope the healers had the knowledge to bring him back to health. Grant began to violently convulse and had to be strapped to the bed. The healers asked Sam to please wait outside and he obliged them. Grant had to pull through, he was the brains of the two and Sam knew he couldn't complete the mission alone.

  The mission would be a bust and he would be out of a job. His best friend was lying in a flower pod surrounded by waterfalls, poisoned by an exploding plant on an alien world and was being attended to by aliens the size of fifteen year olds. How much more weird could things get?

  Sam shook his head in disbelief as he paced outside the medical pod. He had left the rover doors open and walked over to close them. Grant's blood was everywhere and it brought a tear to his eye. The shock from the explosion and the pain Grant must have suffered almost overwhelmed him, he couldn't lose him, and he was the closest thing he had to family. Sam began cleaning up the blood and removing other items from the rover when he heard Tayana calling for him. "Sam, Sam…"

  "Over here by the rover. Is he going to be all right?"

  "Sam, he is resting now. The healers have administered the antidote and are keeping a close eye on him. We should know something as early as tomorrow evening."

  "He has to pull through this, he has to!"

  "He is in the best hands Sam. The healers have done this before and are most certain he will be well again. Let's leave them for now and check back in later. For now we need to let nature take its course and believe for him to be well."

  "All right, I am going to have to trust in the healer’s knowledge and in you. He is like my brother and I cannot lose him."

  Tayana felt the same fear Sam was feeling and hugged him, much to his surprise. She believed it was what he needed to help him feel better. It was awkward at first but Sam made the right adjustment, they both smiled, and felt better about the situation.

  “Thank you Tayana, I was thinking I could use a hug right about now."
>
  "I must have needed it too; it has made me feel better."

  "I'm going to finish cleaning the rover then go back to our camp and clean up."

  "It will be night in a few hours, you are welcome to bathe in the falls and stay here for the night. We have extra pods and you are welcome to one.”

  Sam was tired, worried, and could not refuse Tayana's hospitality. He graciously accepted her invitation.

  "You may also join us for dinner. Bathing and a change of clothing would be appropriate, would you like some assistance?"

  "Uh, sure, assistance with what?" Sam's mind went directly to the shower scene from yesterday and he definitely wanted to do it again, but he wasn't sure what she had meant and didn't want to be a complete pervert.

  "With cleaning the rover and bathing. We are very open about our sexuality Sam and I'm pretty sure you enjoyed yourself yesterday."

  Sam almost blushed, how did she know about the shower in the falls? Oh yeah, she can read minds. "Sure, I would like some, assistance."

  With a knowing smile Tayana headed into the village. Sam returned to cleaning the rover, his mind replaying the whole day. The morning was slow as they had waited for the villagers for almost an hour before taking off to locate the mining camp. Hiding the rover, looking for the camp, and scouting the camp took a good amount of time as well. Then there was the explosion, Grant was blasted with poison, and rushed to the village. Thankfully Tayana and the villagers arrived just in time to help Grant to safety. The race to the village and the time until now seemed to happen in a flash. With only a few hours of daylight left Sam had to get moving to get the rover clean and enjoy his bath. He smiled as his assistants arrived with huge smiles, looking, and smelling amazing beyond what his senses could handle. "You ladies look amazing, and what is that scent, it is quite intoxicating. It's Kyera and Dyanta, right?"

  "Hello again Sam!" Kyera's eyes twinkled as she spoke and the soft breeze gently rustled through her long black hair heightening his awareness of her beauty and what was to come. "We have been charged with assisting you with whatever you need and we do so willingly." Her giggle was seconded by Dyanta's and they happily climbed into the rover to help Sam clean. "