Aardvarks to Planet X (book 1 of the hexology in seven parts)
Chapter 23: Atoll of Doom

Marvin Cobb dipped the nose of his craft lower, and saw the sparks of the atmosphere dance over its outer surface. This was his first time on a planet. All the twenty-seven years of his life had been spent either in, or around the safe enclosed space of the colony ship Discovery. It was the third in the fleet to leave the home planet of Earth.

He had never looked up and seen a blue sky. That was a story passed down from his great grand father, through the generations in between. The only thing shared by these two relatives who had never met. To stand on the surface of a world. True Marvin had spent half his life on the outer surface of Discovery, either working on maintenance or flying the landers. Any good engineer could do that, but he was the first in the family to use the mass of an astral body to keep him down. The vast internal world of Discovery used the spin of its cylindrical surface, as a substitute for gravity.

This new world was both hope and sadly dismay, to the stable community sent out to spread the seed that was humanity. For although they had been sent to this planet generations ago, they had no way of knowing what they would replace. If it were a barren rock with just the necessary ingredients for life, then they could start the process of making it in to a new Earth. Spending yet more generations under cover, until one-day mankind could say it inhabited another world.

Sadly this was not to be though, for life had already taken root here. They could rejoice that the Earth left so long ago, was not the only world to bring forth such a precious bounty. But a different ecosystem had different forms of life, from the simple bacteria right up to the complex. Who knew what could mix, how these two diverse chains of evolution would affect one another?

It was no set back for the current generation. They were used to ship life. But now they would just pass on the burden of colonisation to another generation, on the next exoplanet they would set course for. But the ship would do that anyway. So instead of putting down roots, the mission now was to restock any depleted supplies, of which there were very little. The colony ships were made to be self-sufficient. Also they must catalogue the true residents of this world.

That wasn’t Marvin’s job as he was no biologist. This was a treasure hunt. He was after metal and other resources, so when he turned to Todd Mandrake and asked. “Anything on the scope?” His companion scowled and replied. “Not in this section bub.”

They had scoured the area all day with nothing to show for it, and would soon have to return to the colony for the night. “What’s that flash”, he looked out the cockpit window. It was the sun’s reflection on a body of water, as it dipped below the horizon. Marvin shuddered, the coming of night. Ship life meant constant access to light at the flick of a switch, but to have it taken with no chance to rekindle that fire until the dawn. They had torches, but they weren’t the same somehow.

There was a loud beeping noise, and Todd whooped with pleasure. “We’ve got a good one, right there.” And he pointed to the submerged crater before them. “What is that?” asked Marvin. “An atoll or an isthmus?” For indeed the area did display features of both. It was a ring of land around a lake, slap bang in the middle of two adjoining landmasses. “Both I guess, but something else too. There must be one huge ball of titanium down there. I recon it was an asteroid, which crashed in just the right spot to keep it intact, but throw up the crater.” “O.K. smarty pants geologist.” That was a term not much used these days, for geology was strictly theoretical now in living memory. “Want to mark it, and get back to base?” Marvin enquired. “No I think we’ve enough light to get some more readings.” So they circled round.

That was when all hell broke loose. The craft suddenly dropped like a brick, and then jumped up again. If the two pilots hadn’t been strapped in, they would be dead. Dashed on the controls. As it were, a barely conscious Marvin managed to grab the stick. Then he managed to level the craft. As it plunged into the murky depths, before he passed out again.

When he came round, it was to see Todd’s face anxiously staring down at him. “I thought I’d lost you there buddy. No don’t move; you may have an injury.” Todd turned back to the medical scanner sat next to him. He had a dent on his forehead that matched the control desk, but any blood had dried now. “How long have I been out?” Slurred Marvin through the haze around him. “Not much longer than me” came the hopeful reply. “But we’re sure in a pickle now.“He indicated the windscreen; it was pitch black.

“We must have gone in to the lake. But what could have gone wrong with the controls?” Marvin struggled to keep focusing; he found it hard to speculate. “I don’t know. Did you check the beacon?” He suddenly remembered the emergency signal. Todd looked grave. “Pal, what ever brought us down, fried the comms panel. We’re on our own.” The pilot struggled for some piece of memory, and then it bubbled up. “But what about the portable one?” Todd lifted the unit into Marvin’s view. “Jammed, it might work if we could get free of this field, for want of another name.”

Then came a beep, the device had done scanning. Marvin and Todd turned to its screen. “Well apart from the head ache you no doubt know about, you’re going to be alright”, and he helped him up. Todd dug out some rations and they devoured them.

Marvin jumped in surprise. Something had just emerged from the dark of the screen, and he soon had Todd searching the black for anything. “Look there”, and Todd laughed. “You got me there, it’s just some weed. That’s one for the biologists.” Then they turned back to the meal. But Marvin couldn’t help glancing now and then over Todd’s shoulder, at the occasional flash of the water plant.

Marvin looked at his watch. “No point trying to get out yet. It will be pitch black up there, and I don’t want to go stumbling about in that.” They both shuddered at the thought. Marvin was feeling much better now, although his head still pounded on his skull. “Let’s get some sleep and sort this in the morning.” Morning it had such an oppressive ring. Not in itself, but from the cold dark time before the sun’s rays would return once more.

The craft wasn’t designed for long-term occupation. So they just adjusted the seats as best they could, and settled down to sleep for a while. Marvin woke to the sound of Todd’s snoring, and he turned over towards the windscreen. Staring back were two yellow slits of eyes, strong with hate. With a start he was on his feet in an instant, and he grabbed the nearest object to hand, the portable mediscan. Like a caveman ready to fend off the unknown, Marvin’s race memory kicked in; and he shouted to Todd.

Roused from his slumbers, Todd saw Marvin stood erect first. Then following his line of sight, he too saw the eyes and fell off his chair into a tangle of arms and legs on the floor. But the next moment he too was up. “Do you think it’s dangerous?” Todd whispered to the other man. “That’s toughened plexi glass, should be alright.” But there was an underlying tone of uncertainty in Marvin’s voice. Then just as it had appeared the eyes blinked shut, and the two men were left alone panting from the shock.

“We had better keep a watch from now on” suggested Marvin, and Todd nodded. “I’ll take the fist couple of hours.” So an uneasy Marvin settled down again, while Todd paced back and forth ever watchful of the screen. “Wake up”, Todd was poking him in the ribs. “Was up?” slurred the half awake pilot. “Time for your watch, nothing to report but a sore back.” And he lay down in the reclined chair next to Marvin. Fully awake, Marvin slid off his chair and approached the screen. It was still murky out there.

They must be at some depth, but even so he expected some light from the surface, unless dawn was late. He checked his watch and the charts on the computer screen. Perhaps there was some sort of weed growing on the surface. That would explain it.

There was a sudden bang on the screen, and looking up Marvin saw those eyes again. But now it had arms holding a rock, which was currently banging on the screen. “Todd we’d better clear out.” He shook the recumbent figure awake again. They grabbed anything important. And with the portable emergency beacon under his arm, Marvin stepped through the door and it slid shut.

“Over ride command Marvin seven delta b, lock.” The bolts slid into place making it secure. “Do you really think it could get through?” asked Todd from down the corridor. “I don’t know, but the sooner we’re on dry land the better.” Marvin strode towards him. “Let’s get some water proof bags for these.”

Suited up they stood at the air lock door. “When we are out pull this cord, but not before.” Marvin tuned his helmet radio to the frequency of the control room. As the chamber they were in slowly filled not with the vacuum of space, but the liquid surrounding the craft. “What if it’s acidic?” Todd’s panicked voice suddenly cut in. “I guess it’s a chance we’ve got to take.” Marvin grabbed Todd by the shoulders, then he heard the noise he was waiting for. Through his earpiece came the scraping noise of a crack, as it flew across a sheet of glass. Followed by the whoosh of water.

The screen had finally given way, and this was just the distraction they needed. Marvin punched the hull door open button, and shoved his co pilot out. There was a sudden blur of movement as Todd pulled the cord, and the life raft inflated. It dragged the two men strait up, with their bags in tow.

Looking down Marvin saw his craft getting smaller, and also the figures emerging from the front. Then they burst through the surface. It was still twilight before the dawn, and in the adrenalin of the moment the suited figures heaved their bags over the side, and into the raft. But try as they might, they could not drag them selves in. The unwieldy suits were too heavy. “Kick like you life depended on it” howled Todd. Then they began to push the craft towards what they hoped was shore. Marvin was ever aware of those figures perusing them.

Then with a bump the little craft hit something, and filled with fresh hope Marvin’s feet touched solid ground. Grunting with strain they shoved the vital equipment up on to dry land. But yet again their suits were too cumbersome. Marvin ripped his helmet off, and regretted it instantly.

As water started to slop in, it weighed the suit down. But fear and terror pushed him on. So pulling off the rest, unclipping and unzipping he was finally free of the now useless suit. Marvin dragged himself up the slope, and then he raised his head shakily. Turning round he realised Todd was not there. Diving up he instantly saw his shipmate still struggling in the water, as Marvin dove for the edge. But before he could reach out slimy green arms came over Todd’s shoulder. And Marvin saw the horror in his buddy’s eyes, as he was pulled back down. Todd’s muted scream cut off, as he sank beneath the surface.

There was nothing Marvin could do. He knew that and it was only shock of this fact, which kept him prone on the ground. Oblivious to the fact that if these creatures could leave the confines of the water, he too would be powerless to stop himself being dragged to his watery grave.

Marvin rolled over and sobbed like a child. Finally the first rays of sunlight raced like spears over the land. And Marvin rose, muted and like an automaton to set up the beacon.

“If only he’d stayed in the water to help Todd from his suit.” “Then they would both be in the water when the fiends came.” A voice from the back of his mind replied; with the resolve to live and get back home. Marvin stood, and dragged the dingy away from the waters edge. If they could come out, he was sure he would be drowned now. But he was not taking any chances.

He opened the ration pack and consumed it, not out of hunger but from an animal instinct to survive. Then he loaded up what he could carry, along with the beacon. Marvin headed along the arm that stretched between the two coasts. He glanced occasionally across at its twin, for any signs on the water between. If any rescue party were to land, it would not be on this thin strip of land.

By mid morning he flopped down, glad to be free of the accursed lake. And he lay down in the shade of some new breed of tree. The exhausted pilot heard a low growl, and opening his eyes he came face to face with a slavering set of teeth, below two hatful eyes. “Go on do it”, he barked past caring. And Marvin closed his eyes, in preparation for the inevitable end.