Chapter 7. „The Mind is their master, and the Mastermind is here!"
Disclaimer: The title line and all Roughnecks characters belong to Sony and Co. The others are mine.
"Goss, scan the area! Diz, do you see anything?"
"Yes Rico, there's something moving down there." – she pointed to the cliff's end.
"Goss?"
"According to the map, the outpost should be down there."
"I suggest we should take a glance down then. Roughnecks, get your lizard lines and let's move out! Don't break the radio silence! Use hand signals if needed!"
The squad went to the edge of the cliff. As they looked down they saw some ruins – this was the base, once called Cassiopeia Outpost. Yet nothing resembled to an outpost. Only the main part was standing. The other parts were either ruined and tunneled by the Bugs or weren't built at all. Rico clenched his teeth and swallowed down his anger and sorrow. If only I could get my hands on those who are responsible for this! If my best friend died down there together with other innocent troopers, I'ld raise my voice against the Sky Marshall himself! – he thought while climbing down the steap wall of the crater. Dizzy noticed his anger as she glanced over at him. Rico's eyes were dark and had a strange fire in them.
Higgins was recording the scene with his camera while climbing. This was not a good idea, since he could only hold his lizard line with one hand. But he was that way, always. Suddenly he lost his balance and the camera almost fell out of his hand. He cought it, only to realize that he let go of the lizard line.
"Help!" – he screamed falling down. Luckily for him T'phai, who was climbing next to him grabbed his leg and stopped him from his horrifying fate.
When they reached the ground Rico walked up to Higgins. Doc was examining the reporter.
"Bob,after almost 3 years of fighting, I thought you had learned to be careful!"
"S…Sorry Johnny."
"Is he OK Doc?"
"Yes."
"Move out then! And this time, be more careful Higgins!"
"Yes Sir!" – Bob said and with camera ready, started off to the Cassiopeia Outpost.
In the tunnels:
Carl realized he was in complete blackness. He tried to figure out if his eyes were open or closed, but he couldn't. Gravity pinned him to the ground.
Maybe I'm dead already. – he thought. Just then pain hit him so hard like never ever before. It felt like he was stomped like an insect. Every molecule in his body was aching, except his head.
Strange. Did I loose my special abilities? Or is this post-traumatic syndrome?
He tried to move but his body refused, or wait a second, his right arm refused, 'cos he felt that his left hand and fingers ripped around something metallic.
Of course, my Morita! – he forced his eyes open. Just then pain hit him again and he fell back to darkness.
A few seconds passed, but for Carl it felt like an eternity. He heard a screach. Then he realised his head was aching now. Something was there, telepathically. He realised it was the Brain Bug, the Mastermind of the Moon. He forced his 6th sense to concentrate on this „path". Soon he felt others there too, human beings. A face of a young girl appeared in front of him. She was crying for help. Carl realised it was Amy Bredston. The Bugs picked her to be the first one „interrogated" by the Brain.
Carl's eyes immediately opened up, burning with fury. Despite of the great pain he, forced himself to sit up. This was when dizziness hit him. He glanced down his right arm: there was a huge pile of blood under it. He realised his oxygen was running out fast. With no time left to waste, he reached to the toolkit attached to his belt. He took out the Foam Sealent and sprayed the whole can on his right arm. The foam stuffed the hole just enough to last for a half an hour. He still felt his blood flowing down his arm in the powersiut. He grabbed his Morita and, with the help of the weapon, stood up. He was very weak and dizzy, but forced himself to run down the tunnel.
He suddently tripped and stumbled down into a cave.
The surprised Arachnid Warriors opened up their circle. Carl then saw the Mastermind, holding Amy in it's jaws with his sting ready at Amy's head. It was just about to rip her helmet open and suck out her brain. Amy was trying to get free, but she was almost paralyzed by the psychic presence of the Brain.
Let her go! She's not what you want! Why don't you come and get me instead? – asked Carl mentally from the Bug. The disgusting creature dropped Amy and turned it's head to Jenkins, who was unsteadily standing in the circle of Warriors.
"Carl?" – asked Amy, who couldn't believe her own eyes. Jenkins wasn't responding. He started to walk slowly up to the Brain. The Warriors jumped at him, but just as the troopers thought it was his doom, the Arachnids froze in their moves and then fell to the ground with their nerve cases exploding. Green Arachnid blood splattered on the walls, even on Carl.
But he didn't seem to care about it. He stopped a few meters away from the Brain, which tried to move backwards, but was too big and slow to turn around without the help of his minions.
Now you wanna get away! But don't think you can. You were wrong, it was your last fight not mine!
With that mental message Carl blew up the Mastermind.
The greenish light flashing out of Jenkins blinded the others for a split second. When they opened their eyes finally, the Brain was gone, as well as the other Bugs and green goo covered everything, including them.
"Now will somebody tell me what that scene was?" – asked Sparco.
"It was a telepathic-telekinetic fight between Jenkins and the Brain Bug." – Dr. da Ponte answered.
The others slowly approached Carl's motionless body lying on the ground. Amy fell to her knees next to him, tears were running down her cheeks.
"He's dead." – she whispered.
"Not yet, but he's dying. He lost a lot of blood, he doesn't have enough oxygen and he gave in all his strength to save us. Sparco, hand me your Decon Filter, we must give him oxygen!" – when Dr. da Ponte was ready with this, she stood up, so did Amy. Helen looked into the young girl's eyes, sighted and anounced:
"We must take him back to the Cassiopeia, so I could save him!"
Lt. Twynce agreed, and Sparco and Peterson grabbed Jenkins. They started off back to the outpost.
