Pushing away from the worn terminal, Trevor stares at the ceiling, bitter sorrowful tears filling the brim of his eyes. A quivering hand with a cigarette wrapped between his index and middle fingers makes another journey to his arid lips. Gale force winds crash into the beacon house with a ferocity he has never seen before. Lightning illuminated the skies for split seconds before being swallowed by the oppressive darkness, followed by a deep rolling thunder. The storm was not the reason for the pit of hopelessness inside of his belly; Like blood being drained from a butchered animal turned upside down, he can feel all hope leave his soon-to-be cadaver.
"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday -This is emergency traffic from the last beacon tower of the planet Thagua six of the Ashima system. An organism has arisen from the Oceans causing a cataclysmic level event of all colonies. "
"Pause recording."
"Recording stopped." the computer confirmed.
the first and last words that came from the first settlement to fall to the claw and tooth of the monsters were 'The waves have eyes!',
The waves did indeed have eyes. Marveling at the hundreds of eyes within the waves.
Terrified to look at the angry ocean. Terrified to see the horned, bulbous heads that bobbed in the churning waters. Heavy tears carved ragged streams down his face as the weight of all the sorrow settles on his narrow shoulders.
"Why are they just waiting there?"
Trevor quickly used his sleeve to wipe the tears from his face, not wanting to turn to look at him. Hands still trembling as he tried to gain control over the cigarette that was now dangling from his mouth. "I made it clear. I needed to be alone." I heard, but I know better" Marvin placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "No one needs to be alone, not in times like this."
Changing the subject, Marvin asked, "why haven't they tried the shields or attack. They seem to be just. Waiting,"
"They stay in the water during storms," Trevor answered, his jaw tight with tension.
"So, the storm is the only thing that's keeping us alive now?".
Trevor took another slow drag, filling his lungs with the herbal smoke for a couple of seconds, then slowly exhaled, releasing the smoke through his flared nostrils. An understanding of why people of ancient earth wanted that last cigarette before facing the firing squad.
"They are waiting for the others; they like to attack in huge numbers. Every time I look out that fucking window," a shiver ran down his spine as he peered into the gloom. "It seems like a hundred more pairs of eyes are staring back at me."
Marvin joined him at the observation window. The rain came down in angry sheets; titanic waves slammed into the coastal shields, causing an eerie green hue in the night. Both men stood silent as the howl of the wind continued.
Was it the wind, or the chorus of the creatures? Trevor wondered, looking down at his watch.
For the first time, Trevor looked at Marvin. He noticed his eyes were red with grief and fear. Trevor imagined that he, himself of a reflection of the man standing in front of him. Trevor pulled him close and for a moment, they just held each other.
"Let me finish the call," reluctantly pulling away from his partner's grip.
"What's the point? When the storm breaks- in the next couple of hours…." sobs swallowed the rest of his words. Pulling him close, kissing him on the forehead; Trevor cupped his face with his hands, catching his tears.
"Don't say it, please don't say that don't give up hope," tears flowing again down his narrow face, gaunt with exhaustion.
"We have been sending the same message for the last six months… since…"
"I know!" his anger and frustration spilling over. Marvin recoiled from the flash eruption of emotion.
Trevor brought both his hands to his head, pulling at his thinning hair, taking a deep breath, trying to calm down.
"Don't you think I know this?" trying to pull his anger back in.
"It's the only chance we have, if we stop broadcasting anyone out there will give up and consider us a dead world." Looking back at his watch, fighting to keep his tears at bay.
"We are just so far from any other federation world; the closest outpost is a six-month voyage."
"We know. Our only chance is to get these messages out. In the hopes, it reaches a passing convoy, or better yet a drop team."
"Start recording."
"All planet-side survivors are now in the coastal city of Xolas. The creatures have overwhelmed all spaceports." Trevor paused, hands on his hips, looking down and the floor. He had to take a second to compose himself while taking a glance at Melvin, who was sitting down at the table with his hands clasped together between his knees.
"There are only sixty-five hundred of us left. We are requesting assistance and evacuation. The seasonal storm off the coast is the only thing that is keeping them at bay. We are gearing up for our last stand." Making a session of keystrokes, an image of the creature appeared on the screen.
"I am sending all updated information we have on the creatures; in the hopes, this will help you better prepare… Please don't give up on us."
"Send message."
"Message sent," the computer confirmed.
Trevor kneeled next to Marvin, wiping the tears from his tired face.
"Go try to get some sleep. I will keep watch,"
"I won't be able to sleep. I want to keep you company," a frail smile struggled to make it across his face, moving his hand to Marvin's thigh, giving him a squeeze.
Marvin unfolded his hands and cupped Trevor's face, smiling back at him. There was nothing else to be said between the two. Exhaustion took the two men within minutes, as the storm continued to rage.
"Wake up," terror had a firm grip on Marvin's arm as he glared out the window. "The storm is breaking up. They are testing the coastal shields."
"Damn it!" Trevor was instantly awake and bounded towards Marvin.
"how long were we out?"
"Just four hours, the sun is coming up,"
"I've made the call to Command and made them aware." The morning was gloomy with a thick fog that swirled around the beachhead, making it impossible to see the creatures.
"Are the shields holding up?"
"No major hits yet. Seems like they are probing us though,"
"One hundred percent, so far no breeches."
"Roger that,"
"Why aren't we bombarding them?"
"We decided to wait, in hopes that the shields vaporize as many of them it can before it fails. We are going to save our firepower until then."
"This is it, isn't it Trevor? I don't want to be ripped apart by those things," panic finally took him.
"I don't want to get eaten alive," Grasping at Trevor's shirt, eyes wide with a primal fear.
"We won't," Trevor calmly produced a gun from his holster.
"I promise you, I won't allow that to happen to us. We will go out together. On our terms."
"We will fight till our last shell," Trevor paused, steeling himself.
"We all agreed that once the time comes, we would rather atomize ourselves as a people than to be used as the main course of these bastards." Pointing out a window.
Thunder shook the beacon house again, then again and again. Trevor stood up.
That doesn't sound like thunder. The storm has clearly passed. Glancing over at Marvin, who had the same questions swirling through his head, Trevor figured. Marvin also stood up; both made their way to the window as purple-blue blossoms speckled over the dense fog.
"That's not thunder." For the first time in months, he sounded hopeful.
"Those sounds like sub-atmospheric reemergence booms."
"Incoming message,"
"Accept transmission!"
"Connection established,"
"This is Asukari, from the 13th company. We have heard your call. We will assist with the evacuation and protection of your sixty-five thousand souls."