Taylor leapt out from cover before the body of the creature had landed and fired his launcher from the hip. At the close proximity he couldn’t see where the shot had struck, and it blinded them as it exploded. The blast threw the Major off his feet, and he landed hard on the store floor. Items crashed around the shop as the merchandise was tossed to the wind, along with Taylor’s weapon that was thrown from his hands.
The shock of falling briefly disorientated him. The wind had been taken out of him and pain surged down his back to the wound in his leg. He was thankful for his armour softening the blow, but it was little relief at the time. For a few seconds he lay flat. He didn’t have the willpower or energy to get to his feet. Each battle he fought seemed to wear his body and mind down a little further, and he wondered how much more he could take.
“Sir, you okay?” asked Silva.
Taylor did not respond. He was still stunned.
“Major?”
The Sergeant appeared above him, looking down with first concern and then a smile. He reached out his hand to help Taylor stand up. The Major gladly accepted and was hoisted back upright. He patted the Sergeant on the shoulder, and a puff of dust burst from it. Taylor grinned at the Sergeant, amazed that they still lived. He caught a glimmer of movement, and the smile quickly turned to fear; a change the Sergeant immediately responded to.
Silva turned quickly on the spot and lifted his rifle to the hip. A humanoid-shaped creature bore down on them at great speed. It was extremely thin at the waist but had strong and broad shoulders. They immediately recognised the thing as an enemy from the blue blood dripping down its face and into its clothing. The beast wore some kind of snug compression suit, but it was covered in dust and blood.
Not waiting another second, Silva let out a burst with his rifle. The shots ripped through the beast’s abdomen, but it didn’t stop coming at them. The thing rushed at them like a raging bull. It took hold of Silva’s rifle and ripped it from his hands. The two men reached for their sidearms, but the monster smashed the Sergeant vigorously with the rifle, launching him two metres across the room.
Just as the Major got a grip on his pistol and drew it, the beast quickly turned and gave a fast back handed strike to his face. The fist felt like iron crashing into his jaw. The pistol flew from his hands as he twisted and crashed to the floor face first. He put out his hands to break his fall, but he still landed hard.
He knew his life depended on it, so he twisted onto his back and reached for his combat knife. The monster rushed towards him and leapt onto him. He had little time to think or act. Mitch thrust the blade into the beast’s stomach. It let out a screech, but he couldn’t tell if it was in fear or anger.
Taylor tried to pull the knife out for a second strike, but it was firmly encased by the beast’s flesh. Warm blue blood trickled onto his hand. On his back, and without a weapon, he realised how helpless he was and accepted that he’d finally met his end. The beast struck him with a hammer fist, breaking his nose with a single strike. Blood burst across his face, and his vision blurred slightly. His head twisted to the side from the force as he caught sight of a large iron wrench.
The Major knew it was his last opportunity to save his life, and that of the Sergeant who was unconscious across the floor. He wriggled slightly from the beast’s grip and quickly grasped the wrench. As he swung it, the creature lifted its arm in defence. The wrench struck its arm like metal on metal. It smashed the arm down slightly, and Taylor didn’t hesitate to strike again.
The second hit from the large wrench caused a sickened crunch to emanate from the beast’s arm and forced it down. He hit a third time against the creature’s face with all the strength he had. The force sent sharp pains all through his arm and body, but the stunned the creature was sent tumbling over beside him.
The wounded and bloody Major scampered to get on top of the alien before it could recover. He raised the wrench to strike. The beast lifted its wounded arm as if to protect its face, and he recognised fear in its narrow eyes. The creature’s skin was a dark glimmering blue, almost black. It was so similar to a human, and yet still so far apart. It had a broad jawline and wide eyes. The nose was flat against the face but with a very narrow bridge.
Taylor stopped briefly to see the beast’s emotion before crashing the wrench down onto its face. The strike was met with a deadening crunch. Mitch lifted and struck again, and a third time. He had little idea about the constitution of their enemy, but it was clearly stronger than theirs. He threw down the wrench and looked down at the result of his labour.
The alien lay lifelessly beneath him, its face mangled and disfigured. Blood ran down the wrench and the Major’s arm, mixing with his own and the layer of dirt. He put the end of the tool onto the floor and used it to support his weight to stand up. Taylor stared at the creature. He was intrigued and also concerned to be sure it was dead.
He staggered over to Silva. The Sergeant lay partially propped up against a chest of drawers, but he showed no signs of life. Taylor checked his pulse and sighed in relief at feeling the life still pulsing through the Sergeant. Taylor knelt down and picked up his weapon, hauling himself into a seated position on the table beside Silva.
Taylor knew he could do nothing but wait. He had no means of transport and couldn’t carry the Sergeant, nor leave him there. He rested back against the wall and propped up his splinted leg on the table top. Mitch laid the launcher to rest across his thighs and rested his head back. He wished for sleep, but the pain would not let him.
Chandra looked through the glass into the room where Sergeant Eleanor Parker was resting and recovering. She had not met the Sergeant before, but she was well aware of her importance to Taylor. The Major had been willing to disobey the orders of his commanders in order to save the Sergeant. She knew that relationships amongst troops were not allowed, but she also appreciated that it had led Taylor and his troops to their assistance.
She wondered if she would still be alive if it were not for Major Taylor. It humbled her to know that he had led to the saving of so many lives. This made her compelled to do what she could for Parker. Still using a crutch, she could do little to help Taylor himself, so this was the least she could do.
Parker’s head turned. Her hair was loose and spread across the pillow. Her blue-grey eyes were piercing. She appeared to recognise the Major, but they had never met before. She didn’t move another bone in her body, but her eyes invited Chandra in. The Major stepped through the doors into her room.
Eleanor lay in her regulation marine shirt and boxers. Across the room lay a clean and pressed battledress uniform and it was obviously newly issued. Beside it on the counter lay a battered set of armour and a well worn but impeccably clean rifle.
“The Major was able to find me a new uniform, but the rest had to be sourced from the field, Ma’am,” said Eli.
Chandra nodded, but she knew that meant they had come from dead or severely wounded marines.
“We have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, Sergeant.”
Eli studied her rank pips and name patch. It was clear that she knew of the Major. Chandra looked uneasy at addressing the Sergeant, and she could see it.
“Ma’am, you wouldn’t be here if Taylor was alright. You have your own people to take care of. What has happened to the Major?”
Chandra stubbornly nodded and sighed.
“I don’t have a lot of news right now. Taylor headed out with three of his marines on a scouting mission earlier today, but he has been out of contact and has yet to return.”