Inhuman by David Simpson

Author:David Simpson [Simpson, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction - Adventure
ISBN: 1499223358
Amazon: B00HYLX4R4
Publisher: Post-Human Media
Published: 2014-04-27T04:00:00+00:00

6

Rich’s eyes suddenly squinted, near disbelief narrowing them as he saw a globe of red-hot material the size of a large island hurtling toward them. “Oh my God. That’s closing in fast.”

“I doubt even that could do much damage to this ship,” Aldous observed.

“Maybe you’re right,” Rich replied, “but I’d rather not be in a ship that collides with liquid-hot magma the size of Hawaii, hurtling through space.” He turned to Aldous as the ship began its sharp, 180-degree turn and sped away from the impending collision. “I’m weird that way.”

Aldous pouted his bottom lip slightly as he considered Rich’s logic. “Seems sound.”

Rich smiled, overly enthusiastically. “Thanks!”

“Where are we headed?” Aldous asked, persevering as he continued to ignore Rich’s attempts to goad him into an angry response.

“Away from here,” Rich replied.

Aldous sat down and folded his arms. “Obviously. Anything less vague to report?”

“Nope,” Rich replied. “Everybody’s dead. We’re in every-man-for-himself mode, Chief.”

Aldous’s patience finally showed its first crack and his expression became scrutinizing. “You’re Richard Borges, isn’t that right?”

Rich turned to the former chief of the governing council, his expression both perplexed and vexed. He sensed that he’d finally broken through the chief’s patience.

“Yessss,” he replied as though he were speaking to an insane person. “Me Richard. You Jane. N’est-ce pas?”

Aldous tilted his head. “One of James Keats’s favored assistants?”

Rich’s eyes lit with fury as the insult instantly registered with him. “Favored co-workers, yes.”

Aldous’s expression became one of incomprehension. “How ever did he tolerate your unyielding insolence?”

Rich smiled as he unstrapped himself from his seat. “You know, Chief, rather than answer your question, I’m just going to beat the living tar out of you.”

Rich got to his feet and began to approach Aldous.

Aldous’s face paled. “What?”

“You heard me,” Rich said, his smile remaining fixed. “You’re not the chief anymore. You’re nothing. You’re not an authority, and you don’t have the luxury of tolerating anything or anyone anymore. And I just lost my family and I’m a little on the pissed-off side as you might expect. Plus, you insulted me, so I’m going to beat the living daylights out of you to make myself feel better. Comprende or no?”

Rich’s hands were balled into tight fists, and Aldous could see his companion wasn’t bluffing. He reminded himself that, in their current situation, normal ethics didn’t apply. He held up his hands in surrender.

“Richard, I’m sorry. You are completely right, and I was completely wrong. I apologize for being rude. I should’ve taken your feelings into deeper consideration.”

Rich was stunned by the totality of Aldous’s retreat and his own victory, so much so that he was flummoxed for a moment. Rich was an average-sized man at best, as was Aldous, so to see the chief cowering instantly was unexpected. He suspected a trick and replied dubiously, “Uh, you know, you’re saying you’re sorry, but I don’t really feel like you’re sorry. You know?”

“Richard,” Aldous quickly retorted before Rich could move in and attack him, “I am sincere. My only excuse is that, like you, I’m worried about my family.

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