120 Seconds: A Shadow Order Novella (The Shadow Order) by Michael Robertson

Author:Michael Robertson [Robertson, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Phalanx Press
Published: 2017-05-03T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Four days ago. Five dead.

The way the creatures had turned into rocks had burned as an image in Reyes’ mind. No matter how much she tried to think about anything else, she kept returning to the fact they had another level of defence against the Commandos. They seemed unbeatable.

Reyes looked at the shuttle’s clock. It sat amongst a host of dials. Many of them were dead now the power had gone out. But the clock and the thermometer ran on the battery backup like the radio. They always needed to know the time so they could co-ordinate with their team. They also needed to make sure they didn’t cross over into a temperature that could be detrimental to their survival.

About forty-five minutes had passed since the four Commandos had their heads ripped from their bodies. The creatures—although bloodthirsty in their pursuit of them—paid little attention to the shuttle now the doors had been closed. They seemed supremely confident they had the upper hand. The Commandos would come to them sooner or later. Regardless of what the WO had said, they were smart.

Most of the team had taken seats on the benches, all of them removing their flak vests as the temperature rose inside the small metal vessel. The hot sun shone directly down on it, turning it into a sauna.

Reyes remained by the window, dazzled by the fierce glare responsible for boiling them all. It felt even hotter through the small square of glass and sweat turned her uniform damp. If she could strip off, she would have.

One or two of the creatures had left the cove, but there still remained at least thirty, if not more, of the horrible freaks. They stomped around outside, stalking the place as their heads swung from side to side.

To look at the creatures, it would have been easy to assume their thick and powerful jaws were their weapons. Sharp teeth and a wide bite, it seemed like the deadliest attack they had. Then Reyes had seen what their hands could do. The power it must take to pull a human in two. A shudder snapped through her. They couldn’t beat them.

Henry lay as the closest dead Commando to the ship. The sand and heat had combined to cauterise the wound covering his neck. The planet’s natural conditions had quickly sealed his body. At least Reyes didn’t have to watch him belch blood for any longer. A lump rose in her throat; too many of them had already died. When she swallowed it down, the dry pinch of thirst made her oesophagus itch.

A look over at McTavish, who sat closest to the water vats, and Reyes nodded at one of the large containers. “Can you pass me a cup, please?”

Before McTavish could respond, the WO cut in. “I’ve already told you, we need to ration the water.” When he stood up, he stumbled because of the pressure he put on his leg. Rousseau jumped up to try to help him, but he levelled a glare at her that forced her back a couple of steps and into her seat again.

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