Fire and Ice

“What the hell was that!” raged Crane as his eyes flicked furtively over the screen searching the forest for any signs of movement. His face flushed with a mixture of anger and frustration as he stood to his feet and raced from the control room, speeding down the metal corridors to the open hatchway which led outside. He stood for a moment in the doorway, his chest rising and falling from the sudden exertion, his lungs exploding as air was forced from them and he cast his gaze over the dense undergrowth of the surrounding forest. He grasped tightly at his communicator, pulling it from his belt and almost screamed down the small box-like object resting in the palm of his hand. “Rhayran! Rhayran! Report, come in man…report!”. The jungle around him seemed to be moving as he shouted down the device in his hand and he glanced behind him at the remnants of his crew and spoke again into the device, “Come in…Rhayran…Nev…can anyone here me?”, a buzz of static erupted from the communicator, “report!” he shouted desperately before turning to the nearest soldier. “You man!” he barked, “take a team and set up perimeter points at twenty feet intervals! Establish localised defence positions and trooper…” he stared intently at the soldier, “assume hostile intent”. The soldier saluted curtly and turned on his heels and fled into the interior of the ship leaving the captain alone in the clearing. Captain Crane looked back into the jungle and stared wistfully at the nightmare vision of Eden before him as he listened to the sound of activity behind him, “what is happening?” he whispered to himself as he stared wistfully into the trees.

The jungle was ablaze with gunfire as leaves and branches were illuminated by heavy concentration of light broadcast from the soldier’s weapons. Cadet Darby looked around the small copse and her eyes fell upon the bodies of her fallen comrades before gazing into the foliage. She could see no sign of their assailant through the darkness, but could still hear that ominous voice echoing in her head, “feed me…hungry…” she shivered at the pressure of the words and her finger tightened once again on the trigger sending a sudden sharp light into the foliage and lighting up the trees. She felt a sudden warmth of security as the gun recoiled in her hands and the light from the nozzle sparked another point of the jungle. She could feel the panic rise through her body and rest in the pit of her stomach as she edged back toward the sanctuary of the resting craft and her thoughts drifted back to the attack. They were…they were searching the craft and found…nothing. No bodies and nothing of any real information, or at least nothing they didn’t already know. Her foot touched an inanimate object on the forest floor and she glanced down at the bloodied corpse of her colleague. Cadet Korgan, lay face up staring at the canopy high above their heads in a silent parody of a scream. A large burn mark razed the centre of his chest and ate away at the blue uniform.

“Hold your fire!” the words were clear and defining and Cadet Darby glanced around at their source. She hadn’t recognised the voice and looked around her small platoon, scanning the faces of her colleagues. She wavered, unsure what to do. Lieutenant Nez lay on his side panting heavily, his hand pressing down against his side where a large crimson patch was slowly spreading across the material of his uniform while Lieutenant Rhayran lay face down in the soil where he had landed early in the ensuing firefight. She gripped her own weapon close to her bulging chest and panted heavily, her fear mixed with the exhilaration of the battle and briefly wondered when their party had been joined by the other reconnaissance team led by Nez, in the confusion she hadn’t even noticed the swelling of their ranks, her only thought was the hidden enemy in the forest. “Hold your fire!” commanded the voice again. Her eyes flicked to the jungle where the plants were beginning to shift as something was beginning to press its way through the trees…

“Officer Sorenson” said Crane softly as he sat solemnly on the bridge of the command ship. “Any word from the exploration teams yet?” he asked.

“No sir” said Sorenson softly, “all communications with both parties have ceased, last contact with Lieutenant Nez was close to the crash site ten minutes before contact was lost with the main party” he stabbed at the buttons on the console and stared as the tiny lights played over the desk. “All networks are being blocked sir” he continued, “outside interference has limited radio communications both on the planetary surface and off-world” he said hesitantly turning to look at his commanding officer, “sir, we also have word from engineering that thick vines have infiltrated the engine systems causing a severe shortage in power in the units”

“Then we are alone…” mused Crane, “I need to know what’s happening out there trooper” he stated simply as he stood and strode purposely across the floor of the ship. His footsteps echoed on the metallic surface as he walked and he peered at the scanner array before him. “Launch a tracker probe…lock onto the final co-ordinates of the exploration party”

“Sir” said Sorenson softly as his fingers depressed a small blue button at the top of the console. “Tracker launched…”

A small panel toward the front of the ship slid quietly open and from the dark depths of the internal chamber a flattened oval machine thrust its way from the craft. A small circular orb at the front of the device spun and shone in the darkness for a moment before flying off slowly into the evening air.

“Checking systems…” confirmed Sorenson as he stared at the image broadcast on the front scanner. Crane settled into his command chair once again and rested his hand on his chin as he watched the images of the jungle flash on the screen before him.

“Step forward!” called Cadet Darby into the darkness.

“Hold your fire!” came the voice again as the undergrowth parted to reveal the figure of a priest. His robes were cut and torn and his face was pitted and marked from his relentless trek through the woods. “Stand down” he spoke loudly as his gaze wandered warily across the group of survivors.

“Father” said Darby softly as she lowered her weapon and breathed heavily with obvious relief. He strode across the area confidently, casting his eyes over the fallen soldiers as he walked. “I am sorry for the delay” commented Darby as he stopped before her.

“Where is your commanding officer?” he demanded as he looked over her slender frame. Her eyes glanced toward the prone body of Rhayran, then to the injured form of Nez who was struggling to stem the tide of blood from his side. “I take it your Captain still at the ship?” he asked and smiled as she nodded sagely. “Then I assume you must take temporary command of this unit…”

“I cannot do that” she stammered through widening eyes, “I have no experience, this is my first posting”, she glanced at her injured superior lying in the dirt and felt her shoulders sag with the growing expectancy.

The holy man grasped her shoulders and brought his head close to hers, “then you must seize your opportunity” he smiled as he whispered in her ear. The jungle seemed to move around them and he glanced into the darkness, “we had better move out Cadet” he said eventually, “collect the injured…leave the dead” his smile faded as he spoke.

“We can’t” Darby protested.

“There is nothing we can do for the dead cadet” he said softly, “but we can at least save the others” he looked mournfully around the copse at the bodies, “life is for the living Cadet, and while there is life…” his words trailed off as he stared into the distance. “Come on” he ploughed forward into the jungle and Darby stared after him for a moment, before she turned to her four comrades and snapped at them.

“You heard the man…collect the wounded and move out” She looked into the trees at the retreating figure and ran desperately toward him, there was no way she was letting this man out of her sight. “I am sorry Father” she began as she caught the figure thrusting a path through the trees ahead of the trailing party.

“For what, my Child?” he enquired.

“The time it took us the rescue you…your loss”

“Forgive me…but I am not the man you think I am” he said cryptically. “My name is Reverend Aston James and I was sent here on presumably the same rescue mission as your expedition” he looked at her as he waited for her response.

“I assumed…”

“We all act under our own instructions, we all have our own path to forge” he stated briefly as they pushed through the thicken. “What do you know of our organisation?”

“Not much” Darby admitted, “only the basics…you’re a religious movement built on a principality of ethics and ideals”

Father Aston James laughed at her words and stroked his bald head, “religious zealots! Isn’t that what you call us?” he exclaimed, “typical blinkered military mentality!” he continued to push through the trees as he spoke, “H.O.S.T is an adjudicator force designed by Earth council to assist the local populace without becoming embroiled in local politics. We simply observe…evaluate and advise, unlike the military are goals are non-intrusive and non-political.” He paused and looked at her through the darkness, his eyes probing her in the dwindling light “I am sorry my Child” he apologised eventually, “but we are not the primitive book bashing cult that many in the military seem to think we are. A lot of us have come from military backgrounds and have taken up the order as a penance for our sins” she could see the priest held a degree of sadness in his eyes as he spoke, “I have seen more death than you could ever imagine and have brought death by my own hand…” his words trailed off as he looked into the distance, “what’s your name” he asked suddenly.

“Cadet Darby” she replied automatically.

“No…your real name”

“Joanne” Cadet Darby replied, a slight grin spreading across her face. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had asked her name and despite her training she found herself drawn to this man.

“The attack…” started Father James changing the subject suddenly. Cadet Darby had almost forgotten completely about the attack and swallowed guiltily as she glanced back at the trail of troopers behind her struggling valiantly with the small injured party. “Did you notice the wounds in your troopers?” he asked before continuing without looking over his shoulder as they ran through the trees. “All of the wounds were caused by gunfire…your gunfire” he said softly, “there was no returning fire, your troops were killed and injured by your own hands” Joanne hadn’t realised before now, but she could not recall any returning fire during the melee. A slight hum broke the revere between them as a small oval machine separated the branches of the forest and Father James stopped dead in his tracks and spread his arms out wide before the floating device, “it seems my dear that we have company”

The ship seemed sterile and clean compared to the dirty forest and Cadet Darby stood and watched for a moment as Captain Everton Crane and Father Aston James exchanged formalities before striding away down the corridor for the conference room at the end of the passage. She turned and glanced toward the medical bay, where through the open door Lieutenant Nev lay on the table with the doctor leaning over him tending his wounds. She bit into her lip and sighed as she felt a sudden and unexplained feeling of anxiety swell in her body as she watched her commanding office being examined.

The air in the conference room was tense as the two men stood facing each other either side of a large wooden table. Various officers sat awkwardly around the table, listening to the exchange or rather argument between the men.

“This is a military expedition!” roared Crane as he leant over the table, “we have orders to retrieve any injured personnel from your organisation and evaluate the area”

“This is not a rescue mission Commander…”

“Captain”

“Captain…this is an adjudicator issue”

“Earth council has taken that out of your hands Father” snapped Crane, his face turning a deep crimson as he spoke, “this is now out of your hands”

“On the contrary, I believe you need my help as much as I need yours”

Captain Crane snorted his derision at the statement, “We need no assistance from the clergy” he scoffed.

“You need all the help you can get…this planet…”

“We know all about this planet…military intelligence…”

“Ha!” exclaimed Father James, “that sir is a contradiction in terms” he laughed, then fell silent, closing his eyes and bowing his head in reverence. There hung a silence between them which bore an almost physical presence for a moment before Father James spoke softly. “I am sorry Captain…that was uncalled for”

“Quite…” said Crane softly as he straightened his uniform.

“May I suggest we pool our resources and put aside any differences we may hold until after we are safely away from this world”

“Agreed” stated Crane reluctantly as he sat slowly, “we have geographical evidence from the planet…” he turned to Sorenson who was sitting in a nearby chair and nodded.

Sorenson jumped to attention and stabbed at the screen before him, “Err…yes…high levels of localised activity causing rapid signs of excessive growth” he stammered and peered at the information which danced across the monitor, “high concentrations of seismic activity emanating from both polar regions” he began as the information touched his eyes, “we have readings of a severe planetary shift along the axis causing a possible geographical and climate shift in the stability of the planet”

“Cause?” asked Reverend James

“No definitive clarity” replied Crane as he interjected into the conversation, “but we do have evidence of a local myth involving a demon called Gonosz…loose translation means fire and ice. We had believed this was the reason why your organisation had been called in” he said looking at Father James.

“We had a message concerning fire and ice” agreed James, “…and while many of the order did push for an exorcism of the planet as a precursory I do not feel any necessity, after reviewing the preliminary findings from Father Brown’s mission I believe this is simply local colour…nothing more” he paused slightly, his finger raised in the air, “but I cannot completely dismiss the possibility. There are stranger things in heaven and hell” he said cryptically.

“Possible causes?” asked Crane.

It was Sorenson who answered as he continued to stare at the screen, “further report sir…” he commented.

“Proceed”

“Geological findings from polar regions indicate activity in the Northern sector caused by normal class A-type volcanic activity” he said turning toward the two men, “while the Southern section denotes a high volcanic activity of an icy definition”

“Ice volcanoes?”

“Yes sir” replied Sorenson.

“There we have a probable cause to the planet’s changing atmosphere” said Crane looking around the room at the expectant faces. “With volcanic activity on both polar regions, the shift in the planet could denote a probable cause to the change of the planet”

“You’re wrong” said Father James softly, “It’s not just the planet…its everything”. Captain Crane frowned at the statement and leant forward, placing his head on the back of his hands as he thought hard about the words which hung in the room and pierced Father James with an icy stare.

“Are you feeling alright sir?” asked Cadet Darby as she turned from her position in the corridor and toward the door of the medical room. Lieutenant Nev stood framed in the doorway, his chest heaving with exertion as he leant on the wall.

“Is it hot?” he asked frowning gazing into the corridor. He rubbed at his eyes as he spoke and struggled to peer at the woman before him.

“Sir” said Cadet Darby as she took a step toward him.

“I’m fine” he snapped moving to block her view of the medical bay and waved her back, “just a bit…the attack” he struggled with his words as his hand wandered to his ribs and wrapped across the front of his body covering the spread of crimson against the blue of his uniform. Cadet Darby cocked her head and frowned as she watched his movements, and followed the flow of the red stain pushing across his body from his fingertips. She couldn’t be sure, but the fresh blood didn’t seem to be coming from his wounds, more from his hands…she dismissed the thought from her mind. “Dismissed Cadet” he panted between breaths. She wavered unsure what to do for a moment, “I said dismissed!” he snapped. He snarled through clenched teeth and wiped at his brow with the back of his hand…why was it so hot? He staggered under the heat of the ship as he glanced at the back of his hand and watched as the follicles of the pores in his skin excited and hair forced itself through the surface and onto his hand before his eyes. He turned his hands slowly and stared in bewilderment at his elongated dirty fingernails and frowned at the traces of blood beneath the surface of his nails. He could feel the anger rise through his body as his bones shifted beneath his skin and his vision followed the body of Cadet Darby as she walked slowly down the corridor and his eyes straying to her shapely buttocks as her tight blue uniform clung to their rotund form.

He could feel the lust swell in his loins as she swayed down the corridor, her hips swinging in time with her body movements and her ginger hair, tied tightly in a pony-tail swung as it cascaded down her back. His body tensed and an intense sexual sensation swept over him as he wiped spots of saliva from his mouth, trailing small slivers of spit down his chin. He smiled cruelly, revealing rows of sharp pointed teeth and ran his tongue over his lips. Sharp talon-like nails dug deep into the metal of the ship as he lurched after the figure of Cadet Darby…