CHAPTER 3

Planet Sonja, Code LV-117

Location: Ark of Rebirth, West Gate

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," said Private Mason, his armored arms held out in disbelief, the pulse rifle draped over his shoulder. "For you to possibly think that AC/DC is anywhere near the level of KERG. AC/DC is like, what, million years old?"

Greenhorns fresh off the boat.

Lieutenant Rainer listened impatiently to the conversation taking place a little ways behind him; trying desperately to keep his focus toward the long whining road stretched out before them. The bullshit banter had been going on for nearly thirty-straight minutes and was leading nowhere.

Dwarfing everything around it, the Ark towered above them like an oversized sports arena. They stood twenty meters from the large solid-steel door that hung to the massive concrete barrier leading to the domed roof high above. A layer of fog filled the rocky desert landscape with a thick haze, obscuring much of what Rainer could see in the distance. The setting sun was playing tricks with his helmets polarized lens. No matter what vision mode he shifted through, nothing seemed to make it more visible. Fuck it, Rainer thought, I'll just go with thermal.

He, and two of the new recruits were on guard duty just outside the west gate. They'd been out for almost ten hours, far longer than what was necessary—but Rainer wanted them to learn the ropes. He no doubt knew of their training, probably well capable of taking care of themselves, he just liked breaking in the new guys.

"C'mon," Willis scoffed. "Are you trying to tell me that KERG is seriously a better band? Half their shit is techno."

"Yeah…but good. What did AC/DC ever do that was good?"

Willis paused, as if disgusted with Mason's last remark. "They practically invented rock 'n' roll, dumbass!"

Rainer had finally grew tired of the chitchat. He turned around and stared at the two Knights. They stood dressed in full body armor, from head to toe; their gold polarized stares turning toward him. The armor was a faded off-white, with red trimming running the lengths of its individual plates. Adorn on the shoulders were golden crosses. If Rainer hadn't known better, he might of thought they were two futuristic gladiators about to fight it out in a coliseum.

"You two finished?" said Rainer. The lens coving his face wasn't enough to hide his displeasure.

The two of them quickly came to attention, standing straight. "Yes, sir." They both said, their voices suddenly shaky. Mason pulled the rifle from his shoulders, cradling it in his arms as though ready to shoot.

"Now focus your attention. I can't afford to get myself killed because of you two's bullshit. We have a job to do; so let's do it." Rainer paused for dramatic affect, smiling behind his mask. "Besides, we all know AC/DC is the king."

Willis relaxed and started to laugh. "See, even the lieutenant thinks you're full'a shit."

Mason spoke under his breath. "Shut up."

Rainer still grinning, turned his gaze back to the rock-strewn path. He'd been doing this for too long, but the satisfaction of teasing greenhorns from time to time never got old. He looked toward the distant hills, the ones still visible in the shroud of fog and fading light.

The planet had become a mess of its former self. Not that Rainer could remember, he'd forgotten much of what it used to be—but it certainly had to be better than what it was now. From what he'd been told, about five years ago everything changed for the worst. Father, the head of his own monastery, had predicted a great flood was coming that would bring countless deaths. He promised those seeking salvation, that if they came to the Ark they would be saved.

No one listened. Rainer couldn't blame the people. For some holy man to go spurting religious rhetoric was nothing new. The only difference was that no one had been right, until Father.

Once the creatures arrived people changed. Father provided a safe haven for millions of those who had turned their back on him, allowing them inside if they renewed a faith in him; a belief that the monsters were gods. The man was a saint.

Rainer couldn't imagine how many people would have died had Father not done something. The planet-wide population ranged somewhere in the forty million about ten years ago. Now maybe two million people were inside the Ark. Insiders had placed the outside population at somewhere around five-hundred thousand. Rainer doubted that static. He almost never saw Outsiders anymore. Each year there seemed to be fewer of them making the trek. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen one.

What was that?

Rainer squinted. Three glowing dots seemed to be emerging from the distant fog. Thermal imagining made them easily visible, their warm body signatures showing up orange against the cooler blue surroundings. Rainer used the Nero-implants in the suits core to magnify his vision. It quickly shifted, blurred, then came back into focus.

Three distinct human shapes ran in a full sprint toward them. In the corner of Rainer's heads-up-display was a number, placing them at about one hundred meters away. With the magnification it looked as though they were no more than ten.

Outsiders.

"What you see'n lieutenant?" Willis asked, noticing Rainer's attention focus on something other than the new recruits.

"Outsiders, coming up road." Rainer looked over his shoulder. "Get your weapons ready. I don't know if they're a danger or not."

The two greenhorns fanned out and took a knee, hefting their rifles to the ready. Rainer turned his attention back to the new arrivals, still far away, still running hard.

Why are they running? Rainer wondered. It was a legitimate notion; outsiders needed as much energy as they could muster if they were hoping to make the long voyage to the Ark. Some had been known to travel on foot all the way from the opposite end of the planet. They had to be running for a very good reason.

"Rainer," one of the Knights shouted. "Switch to night vision, look twenty meters behind them."

His vision mode switched and the landscape changed from blue to florescent green. Behind the Outsiders, two dark-shelled creatures chased after them, crawling on all four, lunging eagerly with whipping skeletal tails. Fading light gleamed off their elongated skulls, refracting across Rainer's night vision. I should have known. Damn gods don't show up on thermal.

"What you want to do, lieutenant?" Mason asked nervously.

Rainer thought for a minute. He could cut down the people, save them from a horrible death at the hands of the gods. It was the way of things. On the other hand, he could destroy Mother's creation, saving the Outsiders for greater things. Though they often did not believe in the faith, they could be persuaded; the gods on the other hand were far less cooperative. Plus, there were millions of the creatures, what difference would Mother feel if a few more died today?

"Lieutenant?"

Rainer shook the thoughts, refocusing his attention on the Outsiders. The three figures grew closer. "Cut them down."

"Yes, sir."

Rainer lifted his rifle taking aim. Before he could get a bead on the creatures, one leapt through the air, landing on the closest Outsider. It wasted little time, tearing into the man with its claws and teeth, tossing bits of ragged human flesh. Rainer didn't want to shoot, the man was still alive underneath, any acid could fall onto him if the rounds hit their mark.

Rainer watched the new recruits open fire on the alien drone still pursuing the humans. Not a single round missed, each one tore into the hard exoskeleton, spilling acid blood onto the ground. It boiled into the dusty earth, popping bits of steam from its bubbles.

Impressive, Rainer thought. Greenhorns got some aim.

The last creature alive bit with its second mouth through the skull of the dying man and leapt off, crushing the body. It charged in a full sprint toward the two remaining men. Blinding speed, kicked up soil around it.

Rainer lifted his rifle, took aim and fired off a controlled burst. Reverberation shook the rifle in his hands as it recoiled, spewing shells out the side. Each round rang true, hitting their mark square in its long curving head. Shrieking, the beasts skull exploded into a brutal display of greenish-yellow matter. Its body fell to the dirt and slid a few meters, kicking up dust. Rainer had seen the beasts move fast, but never that fast. He quickly scanned the horizon for more targets.

Nothing.

He lowered his gun and watched the Outsiders approaching. They must have thought that they were still being pursued, running in full sprint. Mason lowered his pulse rifle and lifted a hand signaling for them to slow down. If they'd seen the gesture it didn't show. They reached Rainer gasping for air, both stumbling to a stop, hunching over with their hands on their knees trying desperately to catch their breath.

"You guys alright?" Said Rainer with a concerned voice.

The two men said nothing, still trying to breath in the thick air.

Rainer signaled with a nod for his Knights to help them inside the holding area.

Willis and Mason helped the men to their feet, throwing their arms over their shoulders. They carried them toward the solid-steel door that led to the holding area, stepping out of the light and into a dimly lit room.

The holding area was ten by ten meters with solid reinforced concrete barriers with two-foot steel plating; a multitude of pipes ran its length. There was a single camera mounted on the ceiling; back in the far left corner. They set the Outsiders onto a nearby bench that stuck out from one of the walls.

Rainer stepped in shortly after and let the door remain cracked open. He eyed the two Outsiders while his Knights got them water. They drank it down quickly; the older one drinking so fast it ran down his chin in grimy rivulets. His skin was darker than his younger companion, worn and battered from sun exposure. Clothing they wore was tattered and patched. They'd probably been white at one point, but now looked as though covered in silt. Rainer figured the two smelled as bad as they looked and had never been happier to be wearing a helmet.

"What you two still doing outside?" Rainer finally asked, figuring they'd had enough time to compose themselves.

The older man with the darker tan gasped once more for air. "Trying to get here," he said.

"It's been almost five years. What took you so long?"

The older one seemed to be the leader, fielding the questions. He must have been forty or so; his weathered face looked swollen. The young must have been half that age. He sat there quiet, finishing another glass of water. "It's not exactly easy to get here." The old man breathed in deep. "You know how many of those—things—are out there?"

Rainer gripped the rifle with one hand. "Please don't call them that." He turning away from them as he set the rifle down, leaning it against a wall. "Do you know the rules of this place?" Rainer asked, standing again to face the Outsiders. He hoping they did; he'd started to get tired of reciting them.

"Yes." Said the eldest.

"So you know that you'll have to commit yourself to Mother before you come inside?"

The old man's eyes scanned those of the other Knights, unable to see their cold hearted stare looking down upon him. The Knights looked menacing in their armor, faceless warriors defending the Ark of Rebirth.

"I'll do anything for Mother." the younger man said, his elder partner glaring at his younger companion as if discussed. Rainer caught it, quickly assessing his disproval. Another non-believer, Rainer thought.

Rainer pointed to Willis who'd already taken the liberty of grabbing one of the hand-scanners. The device wrapped around his armored glove; metal skeletal finger stretch across Willis's, matching his own. Little green lights blinked along the lengths. "Scan him." Rainer said.

Willis stepped toward the young man and signaled for him to stand. The younger Outsider stood and put his arms out. Waving the scanner over his midsection, it beeped a few times. He waved it across again with the same results. The Knight lowered it and told him to sit back down. He did.

"He's clean." Willis called and stepped back.

Rainer turned his attention back to the old man. He sat there wide-eyed. "You?" Rainer said, pointing an armored glove toward him. "Do you believe?"

"I— " The old man paused, looking as though he was going to stand.

"Please, remain seated." Rainer said, holding an arm out. He'd been doing this for so long that he sensed the situation had the potential of getting out of hand. He wanted to stop it before that happened.

Relaxing back into the seat, the elder looked toward Rainer. "What…what will happen to me if I commit myself to…to Mother?"

"You'll be allowed inside." Rainer hoped he sound convincing. Dealing with non-believers was a tricky matter. If he didn't word things right, he'd lose them. Their belief in a god, a holy spirit, was hard to break. He didn't understand why they held onto it so strongly; the will to live seemingly less important.

"I—I can't." the elder said, his lips quivered as though he was going to sob. "I can't."

"No!" said the younger man, stretching an arm out and grabbing his fathers. "Just say it, Dad. Just say you believe."

Rainer looked toward the young man, then back to the older. "Listen to your son. You don't have to go back outside."

The elder turned his head toward his sons their gaze meeting, Tears welling up in their eyes. The old man turned away, his face grief stricken. "I'm sorry, son."

"No." the younger cried. "I can't go on without you."

"Throw him out." Rainer felt a tinge of regret as the words fluttered from his mouth. It never got easy to deal with, but he had a job to do. Father had made it clear that no one was allowed inside unless they believed. If they didn't, problems could arise. Control could be lost. And the Ark could fall. That simply wasn't an option.

"No," the younger Outsider jumped to his feet, "Please, he can change." Mason stepped in, pushing him back.

Willis stepped toward the old man, grabbing his wrist and helping him to his feet. He put up no fight, gazing up at his former saviors. He smiled as a tear ran down his cheek.

Rainer looked down at the floor, not wanting to watch as he was taken back out. Why couldn't he have just lied? It would have made things much simpler. Countless others had, and no problems ever occurred. Why was it some people simply couldn't let it go?

Rainer glanced back up and toward the door. He watched Willis leading the man back outside, the fading light streaking back through the cracked opening.

"Please, for the love of god!" The words slipped out of the young mans mouth before he had a chance to recant what he and said. Everyone inside the hold froze.

Damnit! Rainer thought. Fucking kid couldn't keep his mouth shut. Rainer wished he could forget the boy's last remark. He glanced up at the security camera mounted in the corner, then back at the young man. Rainer tilted his head to one side and held him arms out to the side. He hoped the kid understood the gesture. Rainer had no choice. "Mason, take him outside." Rainer waved for his Knight.

Mason grabbed the boy's shoulders from behind, his grip solid. But he didn't start dragging him to the door immediately. Instead he looked toward Rainer. "Sir?"

Rainer understood. Mason didn't want to do it, apart of him hoping Rainer had issued the wrong command. He felt the same as the new recruit, but it was simply out of his hands. If he didn't throw them both out now, there would be hell to pay; setting a bad example for the new recruits. "I don't want to have to tell you again, private."

Mason scowled and pushed the boy toward the door. He fought back as best he could against Mason clutches. It did nothing, he was too powerful.

"Please," he screamed toward Rainer as the Knight dragged him away. "Please save us!"

Rainer again turned his back to them and stared at the wall in some feeble attempt to save face. There was nothing he could do, or was there? He wanted to let them stay, wanted them to lie. Why? Why care? This wasn't the first time he'd had to do this. It was the first time in awhile. That was it! That was why he felt so bad about throwing them out. Yeah, keep telling yourself that, Rainer. Maybe that will make you feel better.

"He has one inside him!"

The knights stopped in their tracks, holding the two Outsiders firmly, just inside the entryway.

"He has one inside him." The young man repeated again.

Rainer looked over his shoulders toward them before turning around. The two Knights standing there again like gladiators, holding their pray tight. Sunlight reflected back into Rainer's eyes off their golden lenses.

Rainer waved a hand at Willis. "Scan the older one."

The Knight let the old man go, and brought the scanner up to the elders chest. The beeping stopped and became a single drawn-out sound.

Mason brought his hand to his helmet. "Sir," The Knight said. "Father McKay wants to speak with you as soon as possible. It's urgent."

Rainer eyed the two Outsiders and then turned his gaze toward his Knights. "You know what to do."