Plain of Sorrows

Author: Milady Dragon

Disclaimer: same as always…too bad

Rating: PG-13, because if John Danziger doesn't curse it just isn't natural…

Author's notes: still liking these reviews. Thanks to all!


Chapter Three

Danziger should have known the majority of the group would've supported Devon.

Damn.

The only person who'd voted against going through the gorge had been Morgan Martin, which felt really weird since John and Morgan never agreed on anything. At least the ground didn't open up and swallow them up, because only an apocalypse of Earth-shattering proportions should have met with such a circumstance.

Danziger couldn't say why traveling down that passageway made him so nervous. Devon was right, not that he'd ever admit it: he was overreacting. But there was something disturbing him about it, and he couldn't figure it out. He wasn't the sort to give in to histrionics, and he would've been lying if he said it didn't bother him more than a little. And he'd seen too much strange shit to let a skull get to him…even if it was something totally alien and had been put there deliberately by the Terrians. Alonzo knew the diggers better than John did, though, and while the mechanic knew there was a reason for them doing ithe had to trust Solace's judgment. The pilot would have admitted if the Terrians had contacted him.

As predicted, getting the Trans Rover down the gorge proved disgustingly easy. John had half-hoped that he'd been wrong, that the large vehicle wouldn't make it. He never would have thought he'd be the one to wish some sort of disaster to happen, and he had to give himself a stern talking-to about this descent into pessimism. Descent, hell…it was a full-blown nosedive…

"What's going on?"

He'd gotten so deep in his own thoughts that Devon's question made him stumble in mid-stride. "Jeez, Adair! Don't do that!" How'd she manage to catch up with him? He'd deliberately put as much distance between himself and the crew just to avoid conversation.

She matched her stride to his, her eyes straight ahead. "Something's still bothering you. Want to talk about it?"

Danziger snorted. "If I'd wanted to talk, I would've brought it up myself."

Devon was silent for a few minutes, just walking beside him. "I know you think this is a bad idea –"

"That's the mother of all understatements!"

"I know you're not happy, but even you know we can't afford not to take this shortcut. We've lost so much time, with having to hunker down for the winter—"

"I do know that!" he snapped. "I also know that walking headlong into something we don't understand is the quick way to not make it to New Pacifica at all." Danziger sighed. "We don't know what we're dealing with. I'll say it again: the Terrians never do anything without a good reason. They put that skull where they did, and we just don't know why."

"Alonzo did try to contact the Terrians, John. They didn't answer."

"I think that should tell us something, don't you?"

"Yes." She put a hand on his arm, bringing him to a halt. "It tells me that they don't have a problem with us going this way."

Danziger stared deeply into her blue eyes, widened with concern for him. He wondered if she thought he was finally losing it. Maybe he was. "Just keep telling yourself that, Adair. You might be able to convince me…eventually." He shrugged her hand off, and then took off again.

She didn't follow him; not right away. He didn't know whether to be glad, or disappointed.

Being so far ahead of the group meant that he reached the end of the gorge first. It also meant he was once again alone with the current object of his obsession: the skull. It looked so forlorn there, perched upon its post like a sentry waiting for the secret password. Danziger stepped up to it, the small hairs on the back of his neck standing up. Yep, that thing was definitely creeping him out. The overly large eye sockets stared at him, as if trying to tell him something. Too bad you can't talk, he thought morosely. I'll bet you'd have a hell of a lot to say.

John sighed. He turned to watch the others, as they moved toward him from farther down the gorge. They'd be getting their first look at their "greeter," and he could promise there wouldn't be many of them who wouldn't be a bit disturbed by it…especially Morgan Martin.

As much was he wanted to hear the bureaucrat's reaction, Danziger needed to keep moving. He met the empty black holes where the eyes should have been and shuddered. He'd once heard that the eyes were the windows into the soul. He really, truly hoped that wasn't true in this case...

John turned away, facing the open plain just beyond the walls of the gorge. He let his feet lead him down into the waving grass; it was taller than he thought, the feather-like tips brushing his waist lightly. He was a little concerned about the vehicles – but then, when wasn't he? – but thought they should be able to navigate the grassland as long as there was nothing hidden within it.

The wind whipped his hair into his eyes, yet he did nothing to tame it. After the confines of the gorge, the strong breeze felt heavenly. Danziger slipped on his shades to cut the sunlight, then took his first steps onto the plain. So far, so good…

However, the farther he moved away from the mountains, the stranger he felt. It was an odd foreboding, as if he were expecting someone – or something – to pop out from under the tall grass and yell "Boo!" Danziger slowed, his eyes darting back and forth, looking for a danger that his instinct was telling him was there, yet he could see nothing.

"Get ahold of yourself," he muttered darkly, coming to a complete halt. Despite the warmth of the sun, gooseflesh formed on his arms.

Danziger wanted nothing more than to turn back. The foreboding grew so strong he imagined he could smell it on the wind. He'd never been particularly sensitive like this; while he'd always trusted his instincts, this was absolutely ridiculous. He was actually starting to sweat.

Well, John Danziger had never been one to let his fears rule him, and he wasn't about to start now. He cursed himself soundly then started walking again, pushing the long grass out of his path. He wasn't about to show anyone – especially Devon Adair – that he was an overly melodramatic coward. There was nothing there

And then, suddenly, there was.

John stopped dead in his tracks, his heart threatening to leap from his chest and into his throat to strangle him. He couldn't breathe.

The creature had literally appeared before his disbelieving eyes. She – and it was a female, judging from the figure under the pale green dress – was looking at him sadly, her huge green eyes shining with unshed tears. Copper-colored fur covered every inch of her exposed body, and a mane-like tail of white hair fell from a pronounced widows' peak down her back. She had a slightly protuberant nose and mouth, almost like an animal's muzzle. Large, pointed ears twitched in his direction.

To John's disbelieving eyes, she resembled nothing more than a bi-pedal cat.

She stood there, regarding him, not moving. Like a statue.

Danziger had to clear his throat twice before he could say anything, and when he did it sounded really, really lame. "Umm… hi there."

She didn't react. She simply stood there, looking up at him, her feline eyes glittering. She was a little taller than True, and Danziger had to wonder if she was a child or an adult. He couldn't tell.

"So you live here?" He didn't want to scare her off, wanted the others to get here so they could see what he was. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was gibbering, as if it had information he didn't. Obviously that part of him had processed the notion that it was just unnatural for the breeze not to even move her dress; nor did she even seen to be breathing.

The cat-creature still didn't answer. She did manage to look even sadder than before, then she shook her head as if in denial. Her mouth opened as if she wanted to speak.

Then, just as suddenly as she appeared, she vanished.

For quite possibly the first time in his life, John Danziger fainted.