When the Gods Aren't Gods by Chris Kennedy

Author:Chris Kennedy
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Galactic Empire, Space Exploration, Space Opera, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Alien Invasion, Space Marine, Science Fiction, Space Fleet, Exploration, Military
Publisher: Chris Kennedy Publishing
Published: 2014-04-22T23:00:00+00:00

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Chapter Twenty-Three

Inside the Great Pyramid of Cholula, Keppler-22 ‘b’, August 12, 2020

“All right, we’re not getting paid by the hour, ladies,” Master Chief advised. “Let’s see if we can’t go kill some snakes so we can get out of this shit hole.”

“I’ll lead,” Steropes said. He moved off in the direction they had originally been heading.

“And no one touches anything!” Ryan added. “If it doesn’t kill you, I will!”

“Sssorry,” Doug mumbled.

The 11 remaining soldiers and the chaplain followed Steropes and made it to the next corner, turning on their helmet lights as they went back into the dark. After another 150 yards the passageway ended, with a door on the right side of the wall. Steropes surveyed the door. He didn’t find any traps and put his hand on the latch to open it.

“Wait,” Al-Sabani warned. “Haatan warns us that we do not want to go into that room.”

“The jinni know what he be talking about, mon,” Sergeant Margaret Andrews added. The black woman shuddered. “I gotta bad feeling about it, too.”

“I’m not going back without killing Quetzalcoatl,” stated Steropes. “If you want to stay here, I’ll go alone.”

“Oh no, mon,” Sergeant Andrews said, “we not be letting you go by yourself. I just be saying that something inside that room be needing our killing. I feel it.”

“OK,” Master Chief said, “no sense highlighting ourselves. Turn off your lights.” He put a hand on Steropes and gently pushed him to the side. “We’ll take it from here.” He formed up the soldiers into two lines. One would go each way as they entered the room. “Ready?”

He eased the door open. The door led into a room that seemed to go on forever. A dim light suffused the room. There was just enough light to see movement, but not enough to identify it. In the distance, things were moving. Every once in a while, the things would stop and appear to bend over. Although the Terrans couldn’t see what was going on, they dialed up their suits’ audio sensors and could hear a variety of grunts and groans, as well as a wet slapping noise.

“Listen up, people,” Master Chief commed quietly, “Here’s how we’re going to do this. On the count of three, I want Bob to throw an illumination grenade as far as he can to the left, and Doug to throw one as far as he can to the right. Everyone else be ready with your primary weapons in case whatever is out there comes our way. Ready? One...two...three!”

The grenades flew out from the group and detonated. Although the room was too big for the two grenades to light up completely, the harsh glare of the burning magnesium and the suits’ augmentation made the room almost as bright as a few minutes prior to sunrise on Earth. It was more than bright enough for them to see the 50 or so half-eaten bodies on the floor, and the creatures that were pulling pieces of flesh from them.

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