Chapter 11: Into the Fire

Tendril rose from his position and moved with astonishing speed towards the Earth Corps. In response, the Trappeur made a violent turn to evade the charging monster. In the passenger compartment, Sandra and Bombardier were buffeted around, kept in place only by the restraining harnesses. Loose equipment flew from overhead racks and crashed upon the floor.

"Terra Scout, engage!" Herc yelled into the radio as one of Tendril's pillar-sized legs impacted near the Trappeur.

From his seat on the Terra Scout, Bright aimed the vehicle's laser cutter at Tendril and fired a beam capable of slicing a boulder into fragments at his target. As if struck by a bolt of lightning, Tendril staggered, the strike site marked by a smoldering wound.

"Got him."

Tendril roared and turned his attention to the Terra Scout, charging towards it. Liquidator swerved to avoid the pillar-like legs charging at him, narrowly missing the Trappeur.

"Earth Corps- we are leaving!" Herc shouted over the suit links.

The two vehicles sped into the murk as Tendril pursued them. In the driver's compartment of the Trappeur, Herc and Auger had their eyes glued to the rangefinder. Before them stood an entrance to another cavern that was conveniently shorter than the monster.

"Punch it, Auger!" Herc ordered.

The Trappeur's engine roared as the vehicle raced towards the portal, while the Terra Scout closely followed. Within minutes, both vehicles were inside the cavern.

"We made it. That thing isn't dumb enough-"

Before Auger could finish, the sound of Tendril colliding with a rock wall echoed throughout the caverns.

"He is."

As if on cue, a large vine-like tentacle approached the Earth Corps. Suddenly, a beam of laser light cut through the tentacle, causing Tendril to bellow in pain and end his attack.

"Good thinking, Derek!" Auger announced over the suit links.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Auger." Bright snarked back.

In the Trappeur, Sandra and Bombardier sighed in relief as the realization of their escaping the monster sat in. Juste then, Herc's voice came over the intercom.

"Earth Corps, move out."

The team proceeded into the dun-hued depths of the Earth, wondering if there was any further ancient evil that lay within in that fiery abyss where nightmares begin.