This post started off as a one-off response to a writing prompt in the Freewriters Community. Then I wrote a part 2 (with the outcome literally determined by a coin toss).
But that naturally leads to a part 3, which is where this short series comes in. I felt that doing it in just one post really wouldn't give enough time to build up a bit of suspense 😀 Enjoy !
Image created by AI in NightCafe StudioGovernor Dafang was glad he'd thought to bring a flashlight with him. The tunnels they were passing through were dimly lit by some kind of phosphorescent algae, but the cold green light it gave off did little to cheer him. The warmer, homely glow of the flashlight helped ameliorate the effect.
As Helen guided them both through the labyrinth of tunnels and passageways deep beneath the surface of Meranda IV, it was clear she knew exactly where they were going. But their intermittent conversation seemed completely normal to him. Back at Meranda Base, it was as if she'd just been some kind of mouthpiece, but now she appeared to be back to her usual self.
Not tat she told him much. If he tried to probe her about the mysterious Spineders, her response was just to say "You'll see" with a smile.
Finally they reached their destination. A deep underground canyon, roofed over so it wasn't open to the pale sun above. The floor was rough but reasonably flat, and there were hints of caverns leading off at various points.
There was movement in the darkness. A shadowy form, emerging from beyond his visual range. A monstrosity, four times his height, all legs and teeth and spikes. He felt panic rising, an urge to be as far away from this awful thing as possible balanced by being frozen to the spot with fear.
Helen's touch on his arm calmed him.
"Meet a Spineder, governor. This is an adult in apex form. She has a name, but I can't even try to pronounce it, humans are built all wrong for that."
Shakily, Dafang turned his communicator so that the screen could send an image of the creature to those watching back in Meranda Base.
Then the Spineder moved. It reached out one of it's many legs and painstakingly drew in the sandy floor. With shock, Dafang realised it was writing. Actual words. In Imperial.
It had written Hello Governor Dafang
Helen grinned. "She likes you. The first message I got was to be told to go away and don't come back. You should be honoured, writing is hard for them."
She turned to the Spineder and the two, human and monstrosity seemed to exchange... something. The Spineder's eyes blinked in sequence, which was distinctly unsettling. It... she.... had far too many of them, and a blink was like a ripple effect across her head.
"I'll speak for her, if that's okay. Quicker and easier that way. There's something you need to see."
Taking Dafang's arm, Helen led him towards one of the entrances in the canyon wall. She led him into a dimly lit cave.
What he saw was a complete surprise. People. Hundreds of them, all sitting cross-legged on the floor, unmoving but clearly alive and breathing. He could feel the warmth of their body heat.
"But... these look like..."
"Yes," Helen finished for him. "Colonists. When the settlements were patterned, the people were saved, most of them. Sadly, some who won't fit in could not be saved."
Dafang shivered at that; he was glad and amazed to see these people, but had a bad feeling about the fate those who were described as not fitting in.
There was movement behind him. He turned to look, and saw a miniature Spineder, about the size of a grapefruit.
"One of the younger forms, she'll grow to apex size in a couple of centuries."
The Spineder scuttled up to him. Then bit him on the ankle. Pain speared through his foot, sharp and hot. He felt dizzy.
"I'm sorry, Governor. It's for the best..."
Helen's voice was the last thing he heard before the world went black.
Previous posts in this series;
