“The Big Bad” • by Richard J. Dowling

“Proceed to GRN-13 with supplies,” came the order.

Red trundled out.

From time to time, Red’s trailer would bounce off a rock or dip into a hole and Red would stop and carry out a diagnostic. Once satisfied the cargo was unharmed and free of contamination, Red resumed its journey, trundling towards the dark forest.

Creatures in the forest chittered and squawked. The tall Guirants, native to the planet, blocked the sunlight. Red switched to thermal-imaging sensors and night vision. Although various subroutines allowed for exploration and investigation, these were presently uncalled: Red would take the supplies directly to General Research Nave-13.

Trundling beneath the purple canopy of leaves, Red saw something nestled in the side of a tree-trunk: a large, bulbous sac. Red did not stop. The anomaly was recorded and filed with a note that it could be some kind of fungus or parasite.

Moments later, a pop echoed among the trees. Red’s sensors picked up movement behind, but no lifeforms registered on infra-red. Something scrabbled on the forest floor and dashed past. It’s estimated size was that of an Earth boar. Red checked it’s database but could find no record of creatures that size existing in this forest, nor, indeed, on the planet. More movement. The beast was now directly ahead of Red. This was no boar. Red’s database showed no positive match, the nearest approximate being an Earth hound. However, the beast still did not register on the thermal imaging scanner. Red flagged the hardware for possible malfunction.

The beast bared its teeth. Red was not armed but it’s titanium body would bear any attack by native creatures. The eyes of the creature flashed amber, the leaves rustled, and it was gone.

Red detected no more anomalies and reached GRN-13 at 5.02pm UTC (space standard). The research station was a modular building capable of housing five research scientists plus their pet dog. Its doors were shut. Red notified by radio that it had arrived. It disconnected itself from the trailer and waited at the door.

When the door opened, a couple of scientists emerged, whooping and clapping in encounter suits, their dialogue audible on radio:

“At last!”

“Supplies, supplies!”

“Hope they sent better Scotch, this time.”

Red entered the nave and headed through the decontamination shower. It reached its docking bay with over 30% charge left. Many of the older drones would have been lucky with half that number but Red was new.

From the charging port’s alcove, Red could observe one of the laboratories through the glass wall. Two scientists, dressed in full protection suits, prowled round a table. Upon the table, held in place by restrainers, was a creature that resembled the one Red had seen in the forest.

“Incredible,” said the male scientist.

“Is it flora or fauna?” asked the female scientist.

“Neither. Both. I don’t know.”

“It’s like a copy of Herb’s damn dog, but its ears—they’re so big.”

“That’ll be to compensate for the thinner atmosphere.”

“And its eyes are huge.”

“No doubt to see prey in the depths of the dark forest.”

“That explains the teeth, too.”

As they continued their examination of the creature, Red’s sensors picked up a trace of liquid on the floor. Now that its mission had been complete, it was free to investigate. Collecting a sample of the liquid, it determined that it was tree-sap from a Guirant. How had this arrived inside the station? Clearly, the decontamination procedure had failed.

Red signaled its base. “Woodsman base, this is Red. Alien contaminant found in corridor of GRN-13. Please confirm.” Along with the audio file it sent the results of its sample.

“Acknowledged,” came the response. “Processing your information now.”

The scientists, meanwhile, were busy with their scalpels.

“Should we anaesthetise it first?” asked the female scientist.

The male scientist shook his head. “We don’t know how the thing will respond. This is a lifeform unlike any we’ve discovered. I want to see what’s in its belly.”

A dog pitter-pattered down the corridor. Red detected traces of the same tree-sap on its fur.

Woodsman base contacted Red. “Confirmed. The station is compromised. Personnel at risk of infection. Uploading all data from storage. Axe protocol initiated.”

Oblivious, the scientists sliced into the creature just as the anti-matter missile pierced the roof. A blinding burst of radiation annihilated the station, the scientists, their pet dog, the creature and Red.

§

Elsewhere in the dark forest, a tree sac burst. A new creature looked around, testing its vision. After a couple of false starts, unused to this new means of motion, it trundled out of the woods. Memories unfurled, glimpses of its brethren howling in pain at the Visitors’ torture before being stripped apart in the white death. The creature understood there were 12 other Visitor compounds left intact on MotherTree. Soon, alongside its siblings, it would take revenge.

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Richard J. Dowling grew up in Primrose Hill, England, but now lives in Northern Spain. He loves writing and hopes his fiction will raise a smile among life-forms across the universe. You can find his debut novel How to Sell the Stars at all good online retailers. 

If you enjoyed this story, you might want to check out his most recent story, “gastronomic,” elsewhere on this site, his stories “Off the Hook” or “Dragonomics” on the old SHOWCASE web site, or watch for his next story, “Connection Hell,” coming in September to this site.   

 

 

 

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