Maria and the space-dragons investigate #1 – August 2024 instalment

Chapter 8 – Through the Gate – Lah Shah

            The Gate consisted of several structures linked by microwave signals that floated a thousand kilometres apart in an area of the system beyond Ascends’ moon. It didn’t look impressive to humans, an ever-changing configuration of satellites, but Lah-Shah could feel the changing energy signals as a tapping on his spine. It felt faintly pleasant.

            He shifted the shuttle into neutral, holding a position approximately in the centre of the gate array, and waited. The stars disappeared, replaced by black. Stars reappeared. Different stars.

            A gas giant, red-yellow, with murky black bands, took up a considerable portion of the view screen.

            They’d arrived.

            “Shuttle IGASS-45-2 Welcome to Pandora System, transmitting your course now.”

            Maria joined Lah-Shah in the cock-pit as they entered geostationary orbit around the twin planets.

“Wow.”

“Insightful as ever.”

“Hahahaha. My brain is still fried. I can’t believe I missed the jump.”

“You’ve jumped before. And it’s not that interesting. Stars. Black. More stars.”

“But they’re different stars, Lah-Shah! It’s so…” she struggled to find the words…”cool.”

“How very 20^th century.”

“I’ve been watching historical dramas.”

“Strap in, we’ve got a landing time and place.”

“Already.”

“Not much traffic in this system. I’ve seen a couple of frieghters going between the planets and some signal bounce, but they’re in code. While you’re on the ground, I decode them.”

“Right. Talking of. What do I do?”

“You make contact with the local authorities. Make something up, use those storytelling skills you humans love so much.”

“That seems like a weak plan. Where were the teams last heard from? Where’s their ship? Did they make any contacts on the ground?”

“I’m dropping you as close to their last known destination as I can. I’ll look for their ship up here, you see what you can find on the surface.”

“They couldn’t have taken it down to the planet?”

Lah-Shah waggled his ears, “No, a full team on an official survey and oversight mission has a space-only vessel with landing shuttles.”

“We don’t.”

“We’re not here officially. I’m delivering a research student with an interest in xenobiology, just a taxi service. I might stay in system and get so extra passengers while I wait for you to finish whatever nonsense you’re doing.”

He slid a pad towards Maria, “All the clearance codes are in there. Don’t make trouble. Look around. Gather information. Come back and we head out of the system. We can report back to the Elder and dran’ll advise us on the next step.”

“Or hear me out, we could investigate and make our own decisions.”

“Don’t push it, Maria. If things go bad, you’ll be on your own down there until I can get to you. Just keep your head down, gather information and come back. If the team is in trouble, we’ll come back with a strike teal and arrest warrants.”

---

Planetside – Maria

Maria took their mask off after the life support confirmed the atmosphere was safe. They looked around, breathing in the hot, wet air. An official in a ratty blue overall and a name tag reading ‘Collins’ waited with a battered pad. They stood on a gravel landing field, in front of an old shipping container, cut up and shunted together with big windows. It looked like they’d put this place together in a hurry for some official visit. There were even a few ragged bits of bunting hanging over the door, although plants had started to climb the walls.

            The official coughed as she looked around. His stylus tapped on his pad in time with his foot, which was tapping on the gravel.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to keep you. Never been off planet before, this is rather exciting. My pad.” Maria leaned down to hand over their own tablet. Maria smiled, face aching from the falseness.

“Yes. This way.” Collins gritted out. He led Maria into the building as he looked over the files on the tablet, transferring them to his. “Are you with those others?” He passed Maria’s pad back to them.

He vaguely behind them, at a shuttle about a hundred metres away from the building. Maria turned to look. It was an IGASS lander, Maria recognised the model. Weeds had started to grow around the struts and over the hull. No one had been here in a while.

“No,” she turned away with a shrug, “I’m an independent scholar. I don’t want to work for IGASS.” Her nose wrinkled with distaste. The act had started. The place was almost definitely bugged.

“You came in on an IGASS shuttle.” Collins sounded sceptical to Maria.

“It was the only one heading this way. I had to grab what I could after the Institute authorised the project.”

“Which Institute?” Collins was looking over the details, checking her story against the docs.

“Andorran Research Institute. My supervisor is Dr Michaela Preach, in the Xeno Department.”

“I see. We haven’t had anyone from ARI before. Wouldn’t have thought our little system would interest anyone there?”

“It the only system, other than the Home System, that’s purely a human system. It’s fascinating. There are so many questions. How have humans adapted to a purely alien environment? Even in mixed systems, humans have domed environments if they can’t adapt.”

“We do really well here.” Collins puffed up with pride, “First independent human settlement since Contact.” He looked back at the pad in his hand. He tapped a few more times on his pad, as Maria continued to smile inanely. Maria started zoning out in the hot atmosphere.

Footsteps interrupted their daze. Lots of footsteps. Crunching on gravel. Maria turned slightly towards the sound, glancing over her shoulder through the window. She looked back at the official. He still had his head bent over the pad. Maria took the chance and turned for a clearer look, meandering over to the window.

Leaning against the rough metal sill, Maria watched a large group of uniformed people cross the landing field from a hanger several hundred metres away. The roof of the hanger was open, a contingent of shuttles leaving the planet. Maria saw her face wrinkle in the glass.

‘Why do they need to leave from a hanger, not the field?’

“Your pad.” Collins spoke directly behind her.

Maria jumped out of her skin. They put their hand to their chest and turned, trying to smile.

“Oh, thanks. All good?”

“Your documents are in order.”

“Thanks. Do you know if there’s a shuttle to town. And a hostel? I’d rather not camp, if at all possible.” Maria waved at a pile of equipment out on the landing field, left there when they arrived.

Collins snorted. “We’ve got a hostel in town, for the staff,” he waved at the uniformed people who stood waiting outside another hanger by the road, “but not a shuttle service. We don’t get tourists here. Yet.”

“I’m sure it’ll be a popular place when it’s a little more settled.”

“The only other human-only system in the galaxy,” Collins nodded, “people will be flocking in. Eventually.”

“It’s a little wild still?” Maria sighed, “So, how do people get to town? Can I walk?”

“Ten miles on an unpaved jungle road. With wild aliens and carnivorous plants. It’s ten miles as the crow flies, but fifteen by road. I’d stick to the road, although it’s only marginally safer.”

“Thank you.” Maria pushed the door open and started to shoulder their pack and a couple of holdalls. “That way, is it?”

Maria pointed at the road behind the building, where the uniformed people still waited outside a hanger.

“You’re really going to walk?” Collins had followed them outside.

“Why not? It’s only a couple of hours, and I can start some field work while I do it.” Maria smiled and tilted her head at the immigration official.

“Did you hear what I said about the wildlife? It’s feisty. The vegetation is feistier.”

“Precisely, that’s just the sort of detail I need. Which of the plants should I particularly keep an eye out for?”

Collins blinked, stunned by this obvious madness.

“Well…that’s…there are some orange grasses that grow ten meters high and can wrap around anything in seconds. I wouldn’t go playing in the jungle if I were you.”

“Oh, but that’s what I’m here for. Xenobiology and anthropology.”

“Yes, yes, I know, but it’s dangerous. Look, I’m almost done. It’s shift change, I’ll get you a lift into town and find you a guide. You’re not safe to be left unsupervised.” Collins laughed nervously.

“Very kind of you Mr Collins.”

“Not at all Doctor.”

“Not Doctor yet. It’s Mx Simmons for the moment.”

“Mx? Miss?” He seemed put out by the use of a gender-neutral title, or couldn’t tell which he was supposed to use. Maria realised that a planetary system developed by human supremacist would probably  not be too friendly to non-binary people. Bigotry was rarely singular.

“My accent. Miss Simmons. Mary, to my friends.” Maria laughed hoping he hadn’t caught the difference.

‘I really need to be better at lying, or I’ll be caught before I find anything.’ Maria grumbled internally, inner monologue agreeing wholeheartedly.

“Do you have many friends?”

“Some, but I’ve been so busy for the last few years, working on my thesis, I don’t really have a lot of time.”

“You’re very well educated. And so young.”

‘What has the boss put on those records?’ Maria wondered, not having seen the documents before handing them over, other than to check her character’s name, research institute and specialism. It was probably not there wisest move.

“Not so young. Good genetics.” Maria threw out another fishing line. Some things had to be checked.

“With your genetics, education, and intelligence, you should have lots of children. For the improvement of the species.” Collins practically barked the comment. “Ever since Contact, those retards on the Moon colony have been prominent in Human – IGASS diplomacy, it’s disgusting. We need to show the weird species that they don’t represent humanity.”

‘Well, that bait worked’. Maria blinked at the man and hoped her face was blank. She really didn’t want to show Collins how much his little speech had hurt. However, if it was a common attitude on Aurox, they’d better get used to it, and practice some stock response phrases. They were bound to come up with some. Eventually. Probably on the trip to town.

“Which way to the transport?” Maria spoke after what might have been eons but was probably only a minute.

Chapter 9 – Maria – Planteside

The aurochs screamed.

Maria gasped as they watched Collins and a man dressed in orange and brown fatigues pull a great bovine creature out of the hanger by chains attached to a nose ring. If the aurochs were anything like the Earthly bovine, then the nose would be incredibly sensitive. The horns were blunted, the ridges of saw marks visible still.

The men continued to pull the aurochs out on to the road, swearing at it while belting the creatures hide with flat wooden bats.

“Now Miss, don’t you worry, he’s under control.” He bashed the creature’s hide, “Move it, you bastard. Sarcozi, guide the car out, would you?”

The soldier, Sarcozi, pulled a lever on the hanger wall. A motor started inside the hanger. The reins on the auroch’s back pulled tight. It screamed again. A slow purring grew louder inside the hanger until a vehicle appeared. It looked something like a tank and something like a lorry, overgrown perhaps. It rolled forward on metal tracks. The purring decreased as the gargantuan tanker exited the hanger.

The aurochs squealed, pushing against the road, trying to run, in a lumbering six-legged gait, thrashing its head against the chains.

Collins yanked hard on the chains, bringing the aurochs to its knees – at least to four of its knees. The back legs remained steady. The vehicle rolled to a stop directly behind the aurochs.

Maria couldn’t decide if they were impressed or horrified. The beast was three metres high at the shoulders; with its horns it must have been formidable. And yet the humans on the planet forced it into harness. How? Another mystery on this planet.

“Well, Inspector Collins, this is quite impressive. You can’t need such a large transport just for yourself.”

“Not just myself. Got a squad of prison guards on board. You’re lucky, no prisoners today, and no cargo. That stuff only comes down from Rocky Horror every three rotations.”

“Rocky Horror?” Maria felt her face crumple in confusion. ‘The other planet?’ they thought.

Sarcozi laughed, “The other planet, you know, the one we mine.” The man rolled his eyes, as though it was obvious to everyone. “By the time the prisoners get back from a three-rotation stint, they can barely walk sometimes.”

Maria considered this, and the man in front of them. He was shorter than her, squat even. He had a strong accent, not Earthly, but definitely human. Probably one of the allowed settlements on an IGASS planet.

“Prisoners are sent on work details to the other planet? But isn’t, what did you call it? Rocky Horror? Uninhabitable? Isn’t it illegal?”

Sarcozi waved his hands, indicating that it was a sore subject, or possibly a delicate one.

“Not slave labour, Miss Simmons,” Collins barked, “They are being punished; it’s entirely legal to give prisoners labour duties during their confinement.”

“But the atmosphere…” Maria stopped themselves, aware that they were heading into dangerous territory, risking blowing her cover.

“Is perfectly safe for short periods of time.” Collins interrupted, “Now, if you’ll follow Sarcozi, he’ll help you aboard.”

Stunned, Maria followed the man silently, struggling with her bags, along the side of the transport. A door opened in the wagon’s side, dropping down to form a ramp. Rough metal bars had been welded into place as steps ad handholds.

A head stuck out of the dimly lit interior.

“New recruit?”

Maria looked from the unknown man to Sarcozi, “You asking me or him?”

The soldiers both laughed.

“Weirdos. I’m a scientist, not a soldier.” Maria felt her nose wrinkle at the suggestion.

“Another scientist? Thought we’d dealt with…”

“Miss Simmons I here to research the vegetation on Aurox, aren’t you?” Collins answered for her, “She works for ARI, not IGASS.”

“Oh, right.” The soldier nodded, “Major Cartwright, at your service. Allow me to assist you, miss.”

The demeanour change was instant. Clouds seemed to clear from Cartwright’s face, as he leaned out to help Maria aboard. Sarcozi followed behind, trapping Maria between two potentially hostile soldiers. It made her skin itch.

Dropping their bags in to storage nets strung along the wall above, Maria gratefully sank on to the bench and stretched out their aching limbs. They leaned back against the metal siding, enjoying the cool and dark space. They closed their eyes, nodding slightly.

“What you a doctor of?”

A voice, far too close, made Maria jump, smacking her head against her rucksack hanging in the nets above. They looked around and saw a short woman, with impressive curves and cropped read hair that blended nicely with the fatigues she wore, and bright blue eyes that looked Maria over unflinchingly.

“I’m not yet. This is a research trip for my doctorate in xenobiology.”

“Oh. You’ve come to look at our weird plants?”

Maria laughed, “Something like that.”

“Cool, I’m Sargeant Sarah McLintock. Why’d you choose xenobiology?”

“Oh, I’m Maria Simmons.” They reached out to shake hands, “It’s a bit complicated.”

McLintock looked at their hand and tentatively shook it, holding it slightly too long. “What’s complicated?”

Sarah had to raise her voice as the vehicle rattled over the rough road.

“How I got to xenobiology.”

“So? How did you get there?”

“My great-greats were Lunatics, so when I was a kid I spent a lot of time learning about the Moon colony and the meeting with IGASS. Then I got interested in the human polyspora on to new planets, because wow, that’s been incredible. That lead me to xenobiology, because how have we adapted to new planets so quickly.”

“You’re not, like Touched, are you?” McLintock asked, tapping the skull twice.

Maria flinched back twice, then settled herself, “What? No, we dealt with that generations ago. All normal now.” They smiled tentatively and forced a laugh. They’d forgotten how much Lunatic-hate there was. They shouldn’t really have been surprised, here of all places, this was a human-supremacy colony, after all.

“Good. Good. We had a band of weirdos and aliens here a couple of months ago, but they were shown the door. We don’t want them here and we don’t need them.” The sergeant spoke with venom on her tongue.

“What were they here for? I saw an abandoned shuttle on the runway back there. I know IGASS has resources, but can anyone justify abandoning all that equipment?”

“Apparently, they can. They’re probably too afraid to  come back for it.” McLintock laughed, “We did a number on them.”

“Sergeant, that’s operational security you’re happily breaching with your new friend.” Major Cartwright shouted across the cabin.

“Yes, Sir.” McLintock saluted. She turned back to Maria, “So, Simmons, where are you staying?”

“Collins says there’s a hostel in town. My supervisor couldn’t arrange anything before my shuttle left, so I’m winging things a bit.”

“The hostel’s a dump. We send new recruits there for a couple of weeks to see if they’ll survive the job.” McLintock laughed. “Most of us have built places in town, except the lazy buggers, like Flinders.” She vaguely waved at a man slouched at the far end of the transport.

The light didn’t stretch that far, so Maria couldn’t make out any features on the man, except an outline of bulky shoulders and long, skinny legs. Maria looked back at McLintock, blinking to process the information they’d been provided with.

“You build your own accommodation?”

“Nah, the prisoners do the hard work, as part of their punishment work. Anyway, I’ve got space if you want to crash at mine for a while?”

Maria couldn’t stop their mouth from dropping open, stunned by the offer. It was unexpected, and convenient. It was worrying, too, no one was this friendly, or helpful.

“Come on,” McLintock urged, “it’ll be fun. I’m in the middle of the jungle, well, almost. It’ll be interesting to hear about your work. This place, and the other planet, are wild still.”

“Really? Is there much vegetation on Rocky Horror? It looked inhospitable when my shuttle passed.”

McLintock leaned forward, “There’s these rock things that move.”

“They don’t move.” A soldier across the way and a few seats down, interrupted, “They’re not alive, the winds just strong enough to move things about a bit.”

“I’ve seen them move, Corporal.”

“No, you haven’t.” The soldier said, a drawl of disbelief in his voice, “The fumes just mess with your head.”

“I always wear my mask, and I marked the positions of the living rocks. I took position readings for a month. They definitely moved, and against the wind.” McLIntock leaned back, folding her arms over her chest, and looking smug.

“Do you have any records? This could be important information. Can you get samples?”

“I don’t think I’ll be allowed to bring samples back, but I’ve got a file on my pad somewhere. When I find it, I’ll tap it to you. It’s not the best planet, even compared to this orange sauna. It’s too hot, too dry, and the wind never stops blowing. But the rocks have some really important minerals and metals we can use. It’s barely breathable for humans.”

“How do you mine it, if the air isn’t safe? Do the prisoners have hazard suits?”

“We have permits for the prisoners.” Major Cartwright interrupted.

“Collins told her that.” Sarcozi added.

“Ah, yes, so he did.” Maria tapped their head, “Long journey, I’m getting tired and forgetting things.”

“It happens.” McLintock laughed, patting Maria’s shoulder.

Maria barely flinched at the unexpected touch.

“It does,” the major agreed, “Some days I get home and I can’t remember my children’s names.”

“There are children on Aurox?” Maria didn’t have to fain surprise. They couldn’t imagine this planet with apparently carnivorous plant being safe for children.

“No, no, not yet, but soon, I hope. For now, my family are on Tulane, in the Vaga system.”

“I think I’ve heard of it, isn’t that where IGASS has one of its assembly centres?”

The major curled his lip in disgust, “Yes, it’s a mixed planet. As soon as things stabilise here, I’m bringing them here and away from those weirdos.”

Maria debated the best response, before responding with a politic reply,

“I can see why you’d want to have your family with you.”

“I don’t like the children growing up around those aliens. Humans should stay with humans.” Major Cartwright harrumphed.

“Are there definitely no sentients indigenous to this system?” Maria decided to move from a subject that could out them if they were pushed too far. There was only so much bigotry they could bite their tongue on.

“Definitely, nothing but dumb beasts.” Major Cartwright affirmed.

“Well, that will make my research easier. I looked but there doesn’t seem to be any data on the biology in this system, beyond the initial surveys.”

“No, the last research group wouldn’t have published anything just yet,” McLintock mused, “Although they might not have much to publish. They left most of their equipment behind when they left.”

“Really? How unusual! Most researchers wouldn’t want to leave their data behind.”

“They left quickly.” Major Cartwright reaffirmed, leaning forward, “Their equipment has been stored in their shuttle. They can come and get it if they want it.” He grinned in a way Maria could only describe as evil.