Colonial Prime: Humanity by Kevin L. Nielsen

Author:Kevin L. Nielsen [Nielsen, Kevin L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Immortal Works LLC
Published: 2018-02-05T22:00:00+00:00

Nathan forced himself not to turn his brisk walk into a run, though his boots made loud echoes off the metal floor and corridor walls that worked in time with the much softer, muted thumps of Jaelyn’s footfalls. The boy – no, young man – walked alongside him, keeping close. Amara had been very specific in her instructions to remain close to her son until the aftereffects of the…of the transmission could be ascertained and contained. That meant he had to come along.

Despite the echoing retort of their steps, silence hung heavy between them. The air was thick with it, which was never a good sign aboard a ship. Even through the wash of conflicting emotions running through him, Nathan could feel the thick weight of the ship, the collective tension of its many occupants. It was…well, it only made Nathan want to break into a run all the more.

A pair of security personnel met him in front of the doors to the mess hall. Armed security personnel. Trepidation mingled with the other emotions within him and made his hands tingle as if circulation were returning after long disuse.

“Sir,” one of them said, “I don’t know how it happened. I mean, here, aboard our ship?”

“How what happened?” Nathan let some of his frustration slip into his voice, allowing it to snap a bit.

The man shifted his grip on his concussion rifle, knuckles immediately going white as his grip tightened.

What happened? Nathan felt his mouth go dry, though he was able to push down the surge of—was it anxiety or fear—that surged through him.

“It’ll be best if you just see for yourself, sir,” the other security officer said. He seemed a little more in control of himself than his companion, standing with the proper erect posture, holding his weapon in a firm, yet relaxed grip, and even snapping Nathan a quick salute as he spoke, which Nathan returned.

“Stay close, Jaelyn.” Nathan said, stepping around the two security officers and pushing into the room.

“Sir,” the calmer guard said, “maybe it might be best if he stays outside with one of us.”

“He stays with me.” Nathan didn’t slow as he replied to the guard over his shoulder.

The smell hit him first, before Nathan was even able to take in the sight before him. The mixed scent of viscera and blood, the smell of fear, rage, and pain. The smell of war. A hint of memory flickered through Nathan’s consciousness, but he pushed it back as he stepped deeper into the room.

Tables and chairs had been flung about or thrown into piles to act as barricades for those huddled behind. Various figures could be made out behind the barricades, peering out from gaps in the furniture. Blood stained the floor around bodies that, for a moment of distilled stillness and shock, Nathan thought were dead, until they moaned or stirred. Armed security personnel stood in the center of the room, weapons pointed outward at three such barriers. The musty smell of blood lay sharp and pungent in the air, like the perfume of the damned.

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