Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Questions from cadet Spike's testimony

Note: the witness has disagreements against the accused

Testimony will be evaluated only as an informant.

Defense attorney

The lunar year 2435

-Wow, was this thing really going to change? Do you mean like a xenoform? Like in the movies?

Spike, oblivious of fear, began to speak like a chatterbox.

I thought only of N'Tirlay. Rays! Was it for that smitten boy that Angel had run at the first opportunity? For he wouldn't last even a week in the mines.

-What curse is a xenoform? I asked grudgingly, still watching Angel's breathing normalize.

It was my impression, but did the boy look offended? Rays! Had I really complained about a teenager? Now there were two!

-Which is! - Spike complained in disgust. - You can even say that Predator did not have good reviews in cinema. But it is a classic. You know that scene where he advances when no one waits and ...

I rolled my eyes impatiently.

"You didn't have to put up with that, did you?"

I didn't even know what an unfortunate xenoform was, but was starting to take an interest in their diet. What were my chances of getting rid of the kid?

-Predator? Forget the damn and unfortunate detail that I have no idea what you call a predator here on this planet. Where I came from, that is a combination of organic material in the pre-larval stage. And this material is going to be transformed, or at least it was becoming resistant to all types of weapons we have. Was I clear?

Patience and control.

Where had my patience gone?

And it wasn't jealous! Ah, nothing like that. He was a skinny kid with few muscles. And he didn't stop for a moment with the questions that ran over.

Fuck!

Other things caught my attention more. Angel remained unsteady supported by me and the feeling was one of pure satisfaction as she stared at Spike with sour expressions.

It was worse than that. Damn boy! It would have been very easy at that moment to kiss the girl and appease the lust that surrounded me. And I couldn't. It was hell how my body seemed to react to her, muscles that I swore had absolute control reacted to of their own free will.

-Ah, we don't need to argue about it! Spike's eyes widened, nudging the dead creature with the toe of his shoe. - I can be nice as long as you don't have preferences for a carnivorous diet. In extreme situations, cannibalism between species ...

Amazing!

A living copy of Bash with his scientific explanations was in front of me. And for the first time, I was able to notice a cut on Angel's bleeding arm.

Had that bitten Angel?

-I ... I'm still alive, Spike. - Angel's voice was still low. - Thanks for asking.

Great. This is my Caílin.

-Come on, Angie ...

Angel didn't even notice my relief of the effects that left me frustrated and I could only thank him. Well, a small, hot, and nice body could spark many ideas. Even more so being her. The girl in an attempt to stay upright rubbed pleasantly against me. And I tried to hide the tight and tight pants.

She was not that innocent. All I saw were pleading eyes that sought me without noticing the unfortunate detail.

-No ... I'm not going to become one of those things, am I? She asked, trembling. - I'm not going, am I? for God's sake, say I'm not going!

Tempting eyes.

I suddenly found myself imagining things. Watch them glow blue! The temptation of temptations! It wasn't going to be in front of that kid for sure. I was going to complain that she didn't have to show off like that.

Did the boy have any intimacy with her? That was the question that filled my head.

-You shouldn't have run then! - I managed to respond without containing the anger.

Damn, was I jealous of that pathetic kid?

Angel took a deep breath and sighed more easily.

I needed to remember to check her physical condition as soon as we got to the ship. Ravenack could not be trusted. Anyway, I was learning pretty quickly that trusting the Confederacy in relation to the K'Aldriants could also be a mistake.

At no time had the girl looked sick? But now everything changed.

-You scared me! - Angel complained quietly. - If you hadn't scared me, I wouldn't have run. Could you at least be a little more sympathetic?

sympathetic? Nice?

Did she complain about my bad mood after the miserable shower and the night at the motel? My displeasure was evident in the heavy expressions on my face. I was no different than any man there.

-Perhaps. I replied, shaking my head, wanting to send Spike away.

Small hands touched my chest making me swallow hard. Small, provocative, warm hands... I imagined ...

I cleared my throat even more awkwardly:

-Of course, you won't. It just needs reinforcement in DNA immunization and ...

That and perhaps another application of hormones. I did not intend to take any chances that Ravenack would achieve what he sought so much.

"Can you do anything other than yell at me and keep giving orders like a tyrant?" - Angel turned to stare at me for a few moments in silence. - Did you really mean my house? I know you, don't I? Why don't I remember? You knew me.

Now, did the blockade begin to fail?

-I'm Zorack. - I commented cautiously. The words were missing. At that moment, was not prepared to answer the questions she would inevitably ask. - I am the captain of the Spartackus, Confederation ship ...

-Wow! Spike let out a scream that reminded me of his unfortunate existence there. - Are you serious? Like the Enterprise? Is there a spaceship around here?

I shook my head as ran my hands through my hair, still tense.

I could give vague explanations there. But the green eyes attracted me, making me want to give up everything. Restrain the desire to shake the girl by the arms, letting me go with frustration. Why complicate everything? It was certainly a lot easier if she didn't know. And I didn't want to.

I desperately wanted Angel to remember everything.

Primitive instincts. Since when had I shown those kinds of instincts? I was very prone to growl there furiously in front of a kid who didn't even know if he was a rival. Where had the sex-only story gone?

" Curse! You always thought about yourself so normal. Emotions are just weaknesses."

It was absurd, but the emotions seemed to have aroused and loudly complained that the girl was mine. It was a mouth with delicate, inviting lips that took my breath away. What would I feel like to experience ...

- I need ... - Angel stirred my conflicting thoughts. - I need to go home. See if Ana and her husband ...

I closed my mouth shut and looked away without the courage to speak. She spoke naturally of the adoptive family. How was I going to explain that they were probably dead? I had shot two creatures there in her home. All my field of vision had registered was the image of a dead male body with drained blood. If there was a chance that Ana was still alive?

Ravenack always sent out reconnaissance troops that made no distinction or selection with food. If she had survived, she would have been a hostess. It wasn't something I intended to tell Angel right now.

-The city was in pandemonium. The hospital is full of sick people looking for doctors. - I started to explain.

As soon as the inhabitants discovered the bodies with distorted expressions and abandoned by K'Aldriants through the streets and alleys, there would be no turning back. Nothing was going to save that planet now. Was it a matter of hours?

Days?

Maybe even a week?

The virus would not reach other continents naturally. It would be introduced at strategic points on the planet to ensure the greatest dissemination. Soon new creatures would walk on the surface. And they were not at all friendly, as were the K'aldriants and the species that lived in the toxic atmosphere of N'Tirlay. It would be no more than hours for them to adapt to the atmosphere of the Blue Planet.

A new citadel would be born in the Earth's Sun system. Soon the appearance of the planet would be different and not at all friendly. How much time left for them to contaminate ocean water?

-Fairly. - Angel insisted. That's why I need to know if Ana and her husband are ... Damn? how was I going to explain the truth to Angel?

- And how do you think Ana and her old husband got these things inside the house? - Spike grunted shrugging as he took the backpack and rummaged through the drawers. - Think more or less of the zombie apocalypse. My guess is that they are dead by now if they were lucky. Damn it! Do you think I can still talk to my old man? We need to get food, water ... I don't know what else.

Angel looked at Spike dumbly and stood there without speaking.

Curse! Nosy boy with a loose tongue.

Of course, anyone could have noticed that.

I think it was at that moment that Angel was able to understand that it was serious. I was on the alert waiting for an unexpected reaction from her. Lose control. I had seen a lot of people lose control for a lot less. All I saw was the girl suddenly inhaling hard.

Curse? Since when had she started to choke out of nowhere? Was it the effect of the air over there?

-Breathe, slowly! I ordered energetically and with murderous eyes at Spike.

-Do you think they're dead? - Angel has never before seemed to show so much difficulty in speaking.

I was going to answer any excuse to deny that.

My mind in connection with it can pick up the annoyance with furious and beating heartbeats again when she brought her small hand to her chest with the characteristic sound of forced squeaking. Had they experimented with the girl to find out how to kill those creatures?

Or was it the effect of the hybridization process?

None of us had any parameters to make an assessment. Angel was unique. There was no one who could guarantee that the combination of genomes would be stable with puberty. K'Aldriants were undergoing a transformation process at this age.

-Angel, I ... - I didn't know what to say.

Something about her, perhaps her distress compelled me not to speak lies. At least that truth the girl deserved. I closed my eyes, refusing to be moved by her emotions.

The feeling of losing everything ... Watching your world collapse in seconds ... They were sensations that I hated and yet knew.

"Are they dead?" She repeated the question slowly.

-And what did you think ...- Spike started with his amazing sensitivity.

-You'll lose more than that if you don't keep your mouth shut! - I warned him seriously and frowning. Want the girl has another damn crisis?

Angel's eyes went from Spike to me and stayed there lifeless with understanding very slowly bringing the new reality.

-You mean ... do you mean I'm alone? The voice shook, followed by a quick, forced gasp.

I looked at Spike, making it clear that the kid was at risk with new comments. My hands touched Angel's face firmly.

-Let's be home before you know it! - I promised to hope at least I was telling the truth You are not alone! Not at all.

Only none of this really happened.

-But ... but ...- She didn't get to complete; the sparkling eyes looked at me in a silent plea.

-Angel. - My voice was safe and confident. Personally, I didn't feel so confident, just that I needed to make sure that she could handle everything that was going to happen.

- You are not alone. No longer. You have my word that everything will be fine. As soon as we get to Spartackus.

- What about me? Spike asked melodramatically in the face of her sudden silence.

-Do I have any chance of serving as food for some of those xenoforms that you love so much? - I asked with dismay as I hugged Angel quietly. - I think serving you as an appetizer for dinner will cause me terrible indigestion

I also wondered if I would be able to conjure up another portal. The most important thing was to ensure shelter among panicked people who would start to bring more danger to us.

Testimony of the technology officer; Scarllet by Miriane

Narrative of the facts that occurred during the first phase of the invasion of planet Earth.

The earth year 2025

Zorack stopped, catching his breath and without reaction as the perplexed eyes looked at what his ship should be. What part did Bash not understand well?

It was enough to activate the ship's camouflage system. It served any vehicle that humans used on that planet.

He scratched his head wordlessly at the disbelieving looks of his companions.

A boat?

Had Bash decided to turn the ship into a damn boat out of the water? In ... in the middle of the desert?

Still, Spartakus' vision was a blessing from Heaven in a world like this.

Zorack left the portal, followed by Spike, assuring himself that he was in complete control of the situation.

It was the captain. His orders were always carried out. Just control ... and maybe discipline. Naturally, he could deal with two local natives.

With the bad luck of the last few days ...

It was clear that the girl was burning with fever. The immune system defended the organism in contact with the virus of those creatures. He wouldn't need the infirmary's cryogenic machine to know that her white blood cell count would be on fire.

And as for the unfortunate chip implanted in her arm ... she would need food. He doubted that Angel was tolerant of their eating habits. Anthropoentomophagy had been providential so that they could survive and replace the need for an organism after the food had become scarce.

It was an excellent nutritional source, rich in proteins, amino acids, minerals, and had a high energy value. Pets significantly increased the demand for water and agricultural land, and there was no longer that in Édrin.

K'Aldriants fed on something else.

Blood ... He hated it all. A good big piece of cooked or roasted seasoned meat would be enough and a damn drink! It wasn't too much to ask for a tiring and hellish day. Ah, hell. Perhaps dehydrated and made into flour he could convince Angel to feed on the supplements.

He himself felt hungry, imagining the protein mixture made from soy and beetle larvae without much courage. What were the chances of getting an excellent meal in that place?

-Where ... -Spike stopped, breathing hard. - You don't have a ship? You know, um ... Ah! It is no Enterprise or Millennium Falcon. This is an old bathtub. It's a boat!

Zorack turned in amazement, rolling his eyes. Damn Bash. Spartackus was certainly not a miserable boat.

-Like?!

Spike's eyes widened after rubbing them, doubting what he saw ahead. It was definitely not a ship that would have waited.

-Oh, we're going to die! - the boy groaned disconsolately. - An old boat and ...

-It is considered one of the fastest ships in the Confederation. In hyperspace, it has a speed of 4,815.74 +/- 265.48 light-years / hour. A statistically calculated minimum speed is 4,550.26 light-years / hour. - Zorack defended the ship indignantly. - It's a big, spacious ship. What else could you want? The camouflage system presented some problems. Just details, hellish kid.

Spike still doubted.

-We are not talking about the deep blue of the sea. - The boy gestured impatiently. - We are talking about a great nothing without air or light and minus 272 degrees centigrade. This contraption looks like a damn period ship. How do they breathe?

Zorack was grinding the answers.

- Believe me. It is very different from the deep blue of the sea. You were going to suffocate with the foul smell that reminds you of molten metal and fuel. The captain's anger was growing at alarming levels.

Who was the unfortunate boy? Probably Angel's mate. The idea displeased him a lot. There was no other explanation.

- That bathtub wouldn't take off in a million years, Captain.

-This contraption has all the necessary equipment to maintain our lives. - Zorack exploded with a terrible bad mood walking hard.

Except for spare parts for regulators!

He grunted like an animal wounded in his pride. And with any luck, maybe could get them out of there if the temporal probability generator worked, as a last resort there was always a way to appeal. A space-time distortion device was kept in his cabin, which should certainly not be in a Confederate captain's cabin. Only it was always necessary to have an alternative escape plan.

-Wait!

Zorack closed his ears to new complaints. Fury burned in his body. He spent time with a native arguing when all he felt was the desire to give in to instincts. Was it the girl? He studied the worried red-faced face.

-Iron. - his voice was icy. - Disable the protection and shield sensors so that we can enter.

Discipline failed terribly. He shouted angrily as he stopped near the gleaming surface of the ship. He would not be held responsible for his actions if he spoke of security and quarantine protocols with wounded Angel.

-IRON!

Iron was the ship's artificial intelligence that could control everything. Or almost everything. Zorack cursed, even more, when he heard static and noise over the communicator.

-Open the damn door, Scarllet. - Roared furiously. - It is a direct order from your captain and superior. There will be more trouble than you can imagine if you don't open the damn door. Now!

Scarllet knew that when she opened the hatches so that the captain could advance through the depressurization chamber. Even so, she made a slight protest and was silenced by glacial glances while Max took the first steps.

-How ... how was she hurt? Scarllet crossed her arms petulantly when asked.

Max shook his head in resignation. Scarllet was not going to make Zorack's life any easier with the little arsonist back in contact with them. The man stared at her. What did it matter now? All he wanted was the automatic doctor in the ward to find out the state of the girl. Spike's exclamations of astonishment continued indifferently. Regardless of the questions that never ended with Scarlet.

-There are security protocols required by the Confederation. Max! MAX!

-Come on, sweetie! Give him a break. The girl ... - Max tried to reason calmly.

-Try to tell me another one I don't know yet, Lieutenant. - The captain barked. - You have obligations on this ship that include fixing the damn temporal probability generator to get us out of this end of the world. And don't be bothering me.

-And how do you expect me to work miracles without pieces ...- Scarllet returned the outraged provocation.

And yet Zorack had not stopped on the way to hear more comments. The infirmary displayed a variety of equipment entirely different from the rest of the Spartackus. Zorack placed the girl carefully on a large table that was projected from the wall with a deep sigh, as he smoothed her head gently. The fingers impatiently began to play several controls at the same time activating the artificial life support.

All machines began to show signs of life, flashing lights, and activating examination equipment. A huge hologram appeared in front of him, showing spots that required care on the weakened body like the injured arm. The implant is a clot. A minor, mild traumatic brain injury showed him more problems than he would have imagined before because of the bio-organic implant that should be neutralized.

He removed a glass tube and the immunization gun from a drawer, paying no attention to anything. Scarllet stopped him by the arm.

-Wait! Did you bring a native contaminated by the invader to the ship? You lost all sense. How can ...

Contaminated? Zorack averted his pale face.

-I do not. Not a native, but one of us. The girl has a damn implant on her body with alien technology. It can die if the clot is not removed and furthermore ...

The life support systems started to flash until another glass plate came out on the table, taking over the patient's entire body. The video monitors seemed to come to life by sounding warning alerts. Zorack began to read the first results anxiously.

-I can't believe you did that! - Scarllet revolted.

-It would have been done by any crew member on this ship. - The captain assured, knowing with some remorse that it was not quite the truth.

"And didn't the fact that this native was the Council's designated companion affect your judgment, Zorack?" Not even the fact that she was before ...

- You better shut up. - The warning left no doubt. No complaints were going to work. - I don't have to discuss my personal life here with you or explain my decisions.

-Seriously?

He pressed two or three buttons and sighed with relief. The taut muscles were beginning to relax. A long panel lit up and began to scan. It showed a kaleidoscopic view of lights, showing Angel's upper chest and head. He continued to press the buttons mechanically and the image changed.

He could see the blood pumping through the veins and capillaries of the small body, the lungs working and the heart beating. It was not what mattered. Scarlet's wrath was total.

-You're looking for an immune response in her body.

-Exactly leukocytes. Cellular barriers! Cells considered as the first line of defense, which are neutrophils, macrophages, and NK lymphocytes, responsible for encompassing the pathogen and promoting its destruction. I will also inject memory cells, preventing infections by the same microorganism from occurring or, if they do, from being milder.

Zorack was beginning to pick up the surgical protective gloves when preparing the immunization equipment.

-I don't believe you risked us all. - She walked away shocked.

I wanted to shout there that he couldn't have had the courage to do that to her. The words stuck in his throat. For two years that smitten and pathetic girl lying there on the stretcher was a ghost in her life. Nothing caught Zorack's attention if it weren't for that girl. Generally, Zorack was a cool, controlled man. The strong personality highlighted a character of principles shaped by their society. He was a fan of rules and regulations.

Only in moments of intimacy did she see a more relentless Zorack dominating arrogant and vindictive. Slavery had inevitably left a mark on his temper. Scarllet in all those years had never seen any trace of emotion in his companion that would overcome rational and impartial thinking.

Only now ... Did he care about that native? There was genuine distress in the eyes that darted over the monitors, following the care that the automatic doctor began to initiate, while the girl remained unconscious.

"She was exposed to the virus but has antibodies like all of Édrin's survivors." Zorack breathed a sigh of relief as he assessed the first readings.

-You feel something for that native. -Her comment was low and it wasn't a question. - Are you going to deny to me that you don't feel anything for her? Your damn way with her ...

Zorack looked up at her in shock after administering the immunization. It was an absurd comment. She was part of his people. I would have fought for anyone there. Well, maybe in other circumstances.

Liar! You wouldn't even bother!

He shook his head, refusing to hear his conscience. It was totally unacceptable. would never feel anything for a creature so primitive that it displayed itself without any modesty. The short clothes weren't sexy at all, either.

Curse. He had never before seen so much living skin uncovered from clothes or felt the heat ... He cursed, giving himself over to tiredness and hunger. Just rest. It was just an effect of the planet's atmosphere.

-I'm tired, Scarllet. - The words didn't lie. - I am awake more than eighteen hours and hungry. All I want is to get some rest. And for a change, Bash miscalculated. We won't have 76 hours. The virus has already penetrated the troposphere. In the stratosphere, we would still have some more time because of the ozone layer.

-Is that really it? she asked with visible doubt.

-It's over, Scarllet. Our relationship ended. I always knew ...

- Is it just over? You love this unfortunate girl, don't you? Not even with Klaus .. ..

- Shut up! he shouted angrily.

I saw Scarllet start to retreat before running away in shock. Zorack took a deep breath. He hated the heat. A little rest and good nutrition were enough. A good meal of roasted locusts. Maybe even a fermented rice drink with crickets. It was everything a man could wish for after a tiring day. And thinking about a good steak was ... It was the alternative to what he expected from an excellent meal with fresh meat and a good alcoholic drink.

Still, he sat next to Angel miserably tired.

-Iron. - Her voice called the artificial intelligence that commanded the Spartackus. - Guide the automatic doctor to neutralize the implant in her body. The technology that K'Aldriants use on these implants wipes out anyone. This will help to take care of the damn clot before it causes a stroke.

- Sir, in extreme conditions ...

Zorack was no longer listening. It was not the first time he had seen it. Only this time I didn't intend to lose the battle. He had learned a lot since then.

-Just obey. I know exactly what I'm doing. Prepare the equipment for another blood transfusion. The girl needs blood. Your organism ...

Tired, he leaned his head against the examination table forgotten about the meal. I hadn't arrived before. I had never imagined the possibility of experimenting with it.

He closed his eyes miserably without wanting to remember.

Klaus had died like this.

After they had put the damn implant on his arm ...

-Come on, react, hellish creature. I know it took me a while. But I am demanding your promise. You will resist and fight it. It will come back to me. React, Angel.