UNIVERSAL TURBULENT

XLVIII - SOMEWHERE ON THE GALAXY

There was very little to do. Some of the inmates reacted to this by engaging in what seemed like endless squabbles. Others, especially the less sociable types, became morose and withdrawn. A few, Herbert included, plotted and planned. Not that the activity did them much good, since the storage module was virtually escapeproof, a fact that the navcomp had verified by countless excursions, experiments, and observations. No, the only way to leave was to be summoned by the Hoon, and escorted out of the module by one of the blimplike Hoon agents.

Green lightening zigzagged across the grid, and the ground gave birth to a mountain. Herbert could do nothing, but wait.

* * *

The moment had finally arrived. By waiting till the prey entered one of the metal caves, then racing ahead, the Worgan had established an ambush. His quarry would pass directly below. He would drop, right himself in midair, and smother the biped's movement. There would be no opportunity for this victim to draw or use the pain thrower. It was a good plan, or so it seemed to Horth, and stood an excellent chance of success.

Jyro checked the compartment, confirmed that it was empty, and proceeded on his way. It had been a long day, and he was ready to eat and sleep.

"And in the seventh day I must rest", the prospector said to himself, "even if I don't know what day it truly is".

The human heard the oncoming robot a long time before he saw it. This particular device had a rather distinctive high-pitched whine. Like a motor operating at high rotation per minutes. What could it be? A new and as yet uncataloged member of the robotic ecostructure? His interest was piqued. The human entered the intersection.

Horth released his grip, fell, and flipped right side up. The Worgan raked the biped's back but failed to smother its movements. Unfortunately, especially if the pain thrower came into play, but far from disastrous. The animal had overcome greater odds in the past.

Jyro turned as he fell, landed on the flechette thrower, and threw his hands up and out.

Horth saw the biped collapse, rushed forward, and came to a halt. What was the object in the prey's hand? A pain spitter?

Jyro saw something shimmer and wondered what it was. The impulse to push the button stemmed from the fact that the spray paint was right there in his hand. The blue paint shot out, became a mist, and covered Horth's face. Jyro was horrified when two glaring eyes and a long, weasellike snout appeared. He dropped the paint, pushed with his feet, and felt for the weapon.

Horth shook the front portion of his body, sent droplets of blue paint flying in every direction, and crept forward. His belly slid along the ground, a growl built in his throat, and muscle gathered around his hindquarters.

Jyro found the flechette thrower, jerked the weapon out of its holster, and tried to bring it up. Horth saw the pain thrower appear, knew his time was short, and sprang into the air.

The flechette thrower thumped, a stream of darts hit the overhead, and Horth got in the way. The scream sounded like a woman in pain. Jyro released the trigger. Horth fell through the cold metal deck, through the ship's hull, and into the blackness beyond. Or did he?

Horth felt something pinch the back of his neck and opened his eyes. The ground swayed back and forth as the female carried her errant offspring back to the den from which it had so recently escaped. It would be safe there, while she returned to the hunt.

Jyro saw the disembodied head jerk as the flechettes tore through its soft abdominal flesh, heard a thump as the animal hit the deck, and watched the body fade into view.

The beast had light green shimmering skin, a long, supple body, and six muscular legs. Jyro noticed the animal's paws were equipped with suction cups in addition to the wicked looking claws. Now he knew what had been watching him and how the ambush had been laid.

The knowledge sent a shudder through the prospector's body. He made it to his knees, winced as the pain made itself known, and climbed to his feet. He reached back, confirmed that the back of his jumpsuit was wet, and took a look at his fingers. They were covered with blood. His blood, his life, leaking away. He felt a wave of nausea.

Jyro pushed the feeling away and forced himself to retrieve the spray paint. It, like the rest of his belongings, was irreplaceable.

The Thraki robot had arrived in time to witness the battle between the two legged and six legged biologicals. The outcome was to the machine's liking, since the creator had been bipedal, and the construct had an inborn preference for tool users. Servos whined as the robot entered the fetch and carry mode. An arm telescoped, and the can went with it.

Jyro stepped backward as the robot went through some sort of transformation and offered the can. "Where did you come from?"

"Where did you come from?" the robot echoed, storing the words for future reference.

Jyro felt a momentary sense is dizziness, knew he needed to reach his medical kit, but was reluctant to leave. This particular robot was not only different from all the rest, it had acknowledged his existence and proved that it could communicate. "I'm going home, would you like to come?"

The robot transformed itself into roamer mode and fed the sound back to its source. "I'm going home, would you like to come?"

"I'll take that as a yes", Jyro replied and he headed down the passageway. He was half a mile, and the wound hurt like hell.

The robot propelled itself through a pool of blood, experienced a momentary loss of traction, and made the necessary adjustment. "I'll take that as a yes. Where did you come from?"