Chapter 2 No.2

"Let me take a look at it." Rob looked paler than usual. She hoped no predators hunted by blood scent in the lunar ocean.

"Is it bad?" Rob asked through clenched teeth.

"It cut right into your shin bone, but it would have been worse if the flesh of your calf lacerated. I think you'll pull through, Rob." Christy gave him a reassuring smile and opened the small first aid kit in her belt pouch. Christy smeared liquid skin on his torn leg and wrapped the laceration.

They ate nutrition bars and peered into the brine for the creatures. Rob speculated aloud that perhaps most had lost interest in them, save for the two they just fought.

Christy hoped their assault caused the pair to lose interest. In the newfound calm Christy reached for her slate, but stuffed a hand into an empty pouch. She swore and shook her head.

Rob never carried one. His pouch was lined with containers for sample collection. They had no way to pilot the sea rover remotely. Based on her best estimate, there were three miles separating them from the vehicle.

After nearly a half hour's recuperation, Rob urged Christy to continue. The pair swam in spurts from one hiding spot to the next, and then paused to check for signs of pursuit. While it proved slow going, neither wanted to invite another skirmish. The trek continued in this manner for hours. Their method took them round about which added to the distance. Rob seemed near the point of collapse.

"We need to rest, Rob."

"I know Christy. I'm tired too. I just don't know if I can sleep knowing those things could be out there, still searching for us."

"This alcove is as good a place as any. I'll sleep for an hour while you look out, then we'll trade." Christy settled in without waiting for response. She didn't know if sleep would come, but the chances of Rob resting got better if he thought she could use the break.

Rob's eyes grew heavy. His implants remained ever open like a bug eyed specter, but his natural eyes underneath drooped in a series of slow blinks. He roused Christy and nodded off as she stood sentinel.

Eerie silence surrounded their sanctuary. Small fish grazed on local vegetation, but none made a sound. Christy strained her hearing for that high pitched call. She should have been glad not to hear it, but it would have reassured to hear it faintly and grow ever less audible. Her partner slept heavily and she let him rest well beyond the hour promised. It would not do to carry on their trek with Rob's strength ebbing. Robert Mullen was the fighter after all. If protection could be had in the strange ocean it would be under his guard. She woke him at last when a faint whimper escaped his throat. A nightmare would not rejuvenate.

"Christy... Thank God. It must have been a dream."

"Don't worry Rob, it's been quiet. Here, we'll finish our rations now. Next break we have will be back at the sea rover."

They shared a meager breakfast and resolved to make a straight shot for safety. Hours had passed since their skirmish, without any sign of further pursuit. Time was critical to warn the outpost against an invasion of the locals, if invasion had not already occurred. Christy dismissed the dark thought, without time for ominous consideration.

The pair stroked with a brisk pace. They passed familiar landmarks and grew more confident of safe return with every moment. The rock shaped like a turtle, a narrow canyon, and a mossy plain of vegetation indicated they were close to sea rover.

An hour passed and Rob whooped in delight. The pair swam aboard the sea rover and punched in the base's location. Christy patched a comm link through to the base.

"Christy, Rob? We thought you two were dead! Your tracking signals went offline nearly a month ago, " the comm operator said.

"It's been a wild ride. How about you guys fix us a warm meal, and we'll catch up in twenty minutes, " Christy replied.

"You got it! I can't wait to spread the news that you guys are alright. I..." the comm officer screamed, and static cut into the channel.

"They are under attack!" Rob punched keys on the console and grabbed the controls. The sea rover sped toward its base. Two blue green mottled creatures clung to its underside as it sped away.

The sea rover entered visual range of the base, only there was a massive semi-transparent creature covering the settlement. Tentacles thrashed the coral walls, men and women ducked into buildings, desperate to avoid the beast. Christy and Rob swam out and toward the colony to attempt to sneak in unnoticed.

"You belong with us, " the sound shrilled, oddly paced, and inhuman.

Tail fin flashed from above. Four glowing eyes locked on the weary explorers. "We have not finished with you, " a second alien voice said.

Rob and Christy exchanged quick glances and grasped for rocks off the seabed. The welt on one's head and dark scab on its partner's abdomen confirmed these two had followed them to the base.

Rob launched himself toward the nearest and screamed to preempt his assault. He hammered the wounded trunk of the creature with his stone filled fist, spurting its blood into the water.

The Enceladan shrilled in pain and wrapped Rob between pincers.

The other Enceladan dove down on Christy and she swung her rock fisted hand in a wide haymaker, connecting with a bulbous eye. She smashed against the seabed even as it wailed agony and pulled a thick lid closed.

Before the fight continued, a dozen ropey limbs grasped Rob, Christy, and the Enceladans with electrifying jolts and a constricting grip.