REDEMPTION

— by Jeff Karamales

Chapter 30
Trouble Brewing
 

Sofiya leaned back in the padded chair of the operations dome and sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose for several long moments before shifting forward and picking up the small over-the-ear wire that had a thin microphone boom and activated the application on her Personal Business Juxtapositioner that would record her words spoken in her native Ukrainian.

“Addendum, personal log, Sofiya Talova, Captain of the Abeona Colony, Bastien. We have passed our three-month anniversary since our official First Day, though back on Earth it will be a little under four. Despite the slightly longer day cycle, all of us have had little difficulty in adjusting. Personally I feel that this is due to not only the work that is required in maintaining the colony itself, but also in that there is still much for all of us to learn and discover about our new home.

“In retrospect I believe that we were well prepared for greater difficulties upon arrival, but finding so much of the previous colony’s supplies still intact has taken some of the edge off the need to prepare for difficult times, especially with the coming of winter not far off. I must give credit to our Felis companions in the management of their livestock and rapid learning of what creatures and plants were edible. At least until they discovered the creature that was ultimately their demise.

“From the samples that were returned to Earth and Stockholm, plus the research that we have been able to perform here, although very limited, indicates that a natural substance of what the original colonists were calling a ‘slink’ mutated a common, latent virus that almost all felines carry. Apparently even Furs that had come in contact with unaltered cats could easily become carriers and not aware of it.

“The virus itself is FPV; Feline Panleukopenia Virus. On Earth, this would lead to various respiratory issues, though if detected early enough it is easily treatable with basic antibiotics. Unfortunately, here on Bastien, the secretion that is found throughout the meat and body fluids of the slink reacted with this virus and turned it into a most retched and virulent plague. Due to its nature as a respiratory disease, and the close proximity of the colonists, it was able to spread rapidly but with far more detrimental effects.

“What should have been a simple ailment became something not unlike some of the most vile diseases known on Earth, easily rivaling Yellow Fever, Hanta Virus, Ebola and Smallpox. Within hours all of the Felis were infected, and shortly after that they began dying. While objectively the deaths of the Felis were fairly quick, seeing the recordings and perusing the medical logs made me weep with what those brave people went through.

“The fevers that all of them had were high enough to cause hallucinations and dangerously delirious states. But what was the worst, by far, was that each slowly died with the build-up of mucus discharge and essential liquefying of their lungs accompanied by severe hemorrhages. At least the early cases. I cannot fault Doctors de Chevalier for assisting the euthanasia of the last ones to succumb to this dreadful sickness, though the worse part for all involved was watching the children die first.”

The vixen paused in the recording of her log to wipe at her eyes and compose herself, sipping at a cup of hot tea before resuming her audio journal.

“Despite Suzette and Etienne de Chevalier having also consumed the flesh of the slink, I have ordered that this animal is off limits to the colonists I have been given command of. I shudder to think what such a pestilence would do to the people that have very much become like a very large, extended family to me. No one is allowed to either consume, or even touch, one of these creatures. I am hoping that the AHCP and TCC scientists can determine if there is some form of medicine that can be utilized with the ones sent back on the James Cook and the pathology samples. At least our field tests have determined that Bastien is safe for human colonization.

“On a much happier note, come the end of winter here at Abeona and the beginning of spring, we will be seeing a marked increase in our population as four of our number have learned that they are pregnant. Needless to say, this is rather happy news for many of us, and we eagerly await the birth of these children.

“As such, with the pending increase in our colony population, the crops that we have brought are thriving under the expert care of Emanuella Diaz, and Nan Pi-lei Quang has discovered several different fish and plants along the coast line that have proven to be not only viable foodstuffs, but are rather tasty. There is a small portion of the beach that has been found where small crustaceans that are very much like a cross between shrimp and lobsters congregate, and these little creatures have become one of the staples of our diets.

“The only true concern for the colony at the moment is the steady disappearance of some of Emanuella’s chickens, though there are no signs of any predators that are getting in through the fences. The only other possibility that has been formulated is that they are falling prey to a sort of raptor-like bird that has determined it is partial to the chickens that we have brought with us. The creature believed to be responsible has been labeled as a ‘Vawk’ by Matthew Sykes, a cross between a hawk and a vulture. While not large, it was odd seeing one for the first time as it has a slender body, though boasts two sets of wings and long tail feathers similar to a child’s kite. To me it resembles something more along the lines of a dragonfly, though the head is certainly vulture-like, but with a beak that is turned sideways. They are certainly large enough to carry away a hen, though certainly not one of the larger animals that we are raising, though lambs and kids from our population of goats and sheep may be in danger.

“Finally, I have authorized extended scouting forays. The survey teams are excited about this development, particularly Toshiro Kawa, as he is very interested in several geological features that the original Felis colonists were not able to investigate. He seems to be under the impression that there is something of value there, but as to what, he is reluctant to say, apparently not wanting to cause undue anticipation with the other Vulps. I must admit that I am also curious as to what he believes he has found. I am tempted to join the expedition as I have not had a chance to venture far from the new colony site, and am anxious to see our new world. Hector Alejandro de la Vega has proven to be a most competent first officer, and I trust him to oversee the colony operations for the week that we would be gone.

This is Sofiya Talova. End of entry.”

***

As was becoming their normal routine, Sofiya found her family lounging on a blanket on what was being called ‘The Commons’, the central area in the middle of the colony compound near the fire pit that was set every few days for all of the Furs to gather around and socialize, with supper waiting. As the red fox joined Richard, Mandy and Elena, enjoying warm hugs from all of them, she could tell by the smells coming from the different containers that Myao Shin was in charge of the kitchens as there was a distinct Oriental flair to the food. The three cooks for the colony traded off who would lead the kitchen in a rotation that helped keep their efforts not only a pleasant surprise, but gave each one a bit of a rest. Cooking for so many was a challenge and the arrangement seemed to be working well.

“Mmmm! This is precisely what I am needing!” Sofiya told the fennec vixen that handed her a plate that contained different grilled vegetables from the colony gardens and meats from local game that had been retested for safety. She then accepted a cup of what Rupert Campbell had made in an attempt to brew beer, though the resulting malt beverage was more akin to a cider in taste.

“That’s because you don’t know how to take a break and eat regular meals,” Amanda chided. “I’m supposed to be your admin assistant, but you aren’t giving me enough to do, and still doing too much yourself.”

Sofiya smiled as she popped a roll of stuffed bok choy into her mouth, the leafy vegetable being one of the plants that seemed to love the soil of Bastien and was filled with a mélange of ingredients that blended well together. “This is probably true,” the red fox agreed. “That is why I am thinking that in a few days we will saddle a few of the horses we are having and accompany Toshiro on his explorations.”

“Can we?” Amanda exclaimed, her eyes growing large and bright accompanied by a wide grin.

Richard nodded. “You know, that’s not a bad idea. It would be fun to get away from the colony for a little while.”

Elena nudged the silver fox with a playful shove. “You are just wanting an excuse to put on the present we all were getting for you so you can play at being a cowboy!”

“I know he can rope me up anytime!” Mandy said with a sly grin as she doled out the rest of the plates before filling her own.

The quartet of foxes paused in their supper to look over at the two kits Abrielle and Jean Michele who were yipping in delighted laughter as they chased the strange creature the de Chevalier foxes had adopted as a pet. The Bastien animal was as clever as any Terrestrial primate, exhibiting fairly substantial problem solving skills and because of the animal’s ability to get into mischief, driven by almost insatiable curiosity, the original colonists called them tree imps with this one bearing the name Marceau after the French comedian from the preceding century. As soon as one of the kits drew close the imp would dash back, engage in grooming of the kit that had the effect of tickling either Abrielle or Jean Michele and dart off again and the chase was back on.

The family group waved to Daniel Holt and Maria Paccini, the fennec vixen starting to show the children she carried and looking extremely content as she held her mate’s paw-like hand with her other gently caressing her slightly swollen belly. As far as Daniel was concerned, he was positively beaming and used Maria’s condition as a reason to dote on her more than normal. The pair stopped and looked back at the kits playing and smiled before slipping into their dome for the evening.

As the orange ball of Epsilon Eridani slipped beneath the western horizon, any of the Vulps that were outside couldn’t help but look up as the vibrant stars and new constellations of their home came out, including the swath of rainbow-hued cometary debris that the original Felis colonists had named Angel's Breath filled the sky. The phenomenon was much further south than when they had landed and spent their first night staring up at the celestial marvel. While many observed the luminous cloud with wonder and fascination, the solar charged security lamps around the compound began to glow with the deepening twilight.

“I don’t know about the three of you, but after today, I’m pretty beat,” Richard informed the trio of vixens before yawning. “I think I’ll head to the dome a little early tonight.”

“You may be turning in, but you will not be getting much rest. At least, not yet,” Elena said as she pounced on the silver fox. She settled on the male’s lap, her arms wrapping around his neck and nuzzling his cheek. “We have all been too busy, and your vixens are wanting some happy time,” she added in a throaty whisper.

“Too right, we are!” Mandy agreed, pasting herself along Richard’s back and laying her arms over his while she nuzzled the other cheek.

“A little help here?” the silver fox asked Sofiya, though he failed to hide the smile that split his muzzle.

“No. No help,” the red fox answered with a smirk, her eyes warm and heavily lidded. “Besides, this was being my idea.” She joined the other two vixens. “Tonight I wish us to be one big pile of happy foxes.”

***

The shrill scream that ripped through the night caused Furs throughout the compound to wake up with their hearts pounding, eyes wide in fear, though a few were up and moving without conscious thought. Richard was one of the first to gain his feet and leapt for the door of the dome with a hasty, “Stay here!” thrown over his shoulder at the warm nest his vixens had been providing. The silver fox didn’t even hesitate to catch his gun belt as he darted past the operations dome, his three-limbed run a little awkward, though still faster than if he’d still been human and sprinting.

Other voices were calling out, most with questions, a few declaring that the screams had come from the direction of the latrines. With eyes well-adjusted to the dark, the faint illumination that the security lamps provided was more than enough to enable Richard to see a flailing form being pulled on the turf towards the darker tree line while his ears told him that he wasn’t alone and that there were at least three others with him.

As he drew closer, the silver fox saw the Asian red fox vixen, Nan Pi-lei trying to kick whatever had a hold of her lower leg while her clawed fingers scrabbled in the ground for purchase, her voice ragged as she wept in pain and terror. Only getting close enough to see that something roughly the size of a large dog had her ankle in pincer-like mandibles and a glistening body of overlapping plates like a terrestrial insect, Richard flung the holster of his pistol away, bringing the firearm back to draw a bead in the center of the creature’s mass.

Training and experience in the Marines had taught him to use the ubiquitous ‘double tap’, and without hesitation sent two heavy rounds into the beast, the .357 caliber slugs punching through the chitin plates with gouts of ichor following the damage done to its shell. It was enough to make the creature release the vixen and rear up. As it did so, its flat head whipped around at the Fur with balefully glowing purple eyes while a high pitched screech erupted from it. The piercing screech caused Richard to wince as it rang in his ears more painfully than the barks from the revolver had.

That was all the vital target the smoky colored Vulps needed and bracing with his other paw-like hand put the next round down the beast’s open mandibles. As that heavy hollow point round hit something vital, the thing dropped like a puppet that suddenly had its string cut.

Pausing only long enough to ensure the huge bug-like monster was dead, Richard darted to Nan to try and assess her injuries but was nudged aside by Valerie Muir and Etienne de Chevalier. He let them work and stepped over the creature, the revolver that his vixens had gotten him as a present at the ready, though the leaking of thick, slightly luminescent body fluids that the silver fox could only assume was blood gave him hope that there was no life left in the weird looking thing.

“We need to get Riva’s opinion, but it looks like we’re going to need to do surgery to remedy this,” Valerie said, the fennec physician observed as she put an antiseptic wrap around the torn flesh of Nan’s lower leg.

“I will carry her,” Etienne said as he scooped the small red fox vixen up, Nan a little delirious from the encounter. “If you wish to prepare the operating theater, I’ll be along shortly.”

Valerie nodded and got up, slinging her medical pack onto her back and running on all fours back to the medical dome.

“Nan?” Matthew Sykes whispered worriedly as he appeared out of the darkness. “Oh, God! Nan!” He took the vixens fingers in his, the look on his face clearly anguished and might have been a nuisance had Sofiya not put her arm over the red fox’s shoulders in a comforting gesture.

“Richard, Hector. You are knowing what is needing to be done,” the blond vixen said over her shoulder as she turned Matthew away so Etienne could get the Fur to their modest facilities. “I want a report within the hour.”

As she helped the distraught male that had finally become a good friend to all of them, the silver and grey foxes nodded, Richard noting that she was also armed with one of the semiautomatics from the colony’s armory.

“Madre de Dios!” Hector muttered as he regarded the creature with a hand light.

“Ja,” Kurt agreed, joining the other two Vulps. “This is an ugly thing.”

Richard nodded and knelt down, though out of range should the thing somehow still be alive and able to strike. “Looks like some kind of arthropod. You know, a scorpion, or centipede. Ten pairs of legs. Those front ones, though…I can’t tell if they’re for digging or catching prey.” Moving a little, Richard was able to determine that the glowing eyes was reflected ambient light, a sign that the thing was either a subterranean dweller or nocturnal hunter. “I think the question that I really want to know is if these are solitary creatures, or if they have hives.” He stood and shivered at the way the creature seemed to still be looking at him. “Hector, I think we want to get Daniel in on this.”

— NEXT CHAPTER —

Unless otherwise noted, all material © Ted R. Blasingame. All rights reserved.