Chapter Thirteen

 

The robots were engulfed in the landslide, their metal body parts shrieking in protest to the pummeling they were receiving. There was an explosion, then another, that shifted the new mound of rocks. Corree knew the robots were destroyed. She raced down the slope and climbed over the pile. It was half blocking the entrance to the cave, but she was shocked to see there was another pile of rocks blocking the entrance.

Tanna? Breka? Mendee, Kollin?

Corree? came a weak response. Is that you, Corree?

That was Tanna, she was sure of it. Yes! Are you inside the cave?

Yes….

I’ll get you out! she promised.

They were weak, most likely not from injuries, but from hunger and thirst. She had to get inside the cave somehow. Did the robots seal them in, or had Tanna and the rest built a wall to keep out the metal soldiers? Corree began pulling rocks from the top of the pile and throwing them behind her. She soon tired and sat back panting. Again, she thought of a mutation that might help. That is if she still had the strength after she mutated. Riss. He had been powerfully built in order to live in this harsh environment. Corree changed rapidly into the mountain form Riss’s family had mutated to. Her shoulders widened, and the muscles thickened. Even as she changed, Corree was tossing rocks aside. Despite changing into something more powerful than she normally was, she knew the strength wouldn’t last long. She was tired and hadn’t eaten for quite a while. Most likely her family had gone without for an even greater time.

Did you block the cave or did the robots? she asked.

We did most.

Back away. I’m going to try and push the wall in.

Near the top. Not…as much rock.

She had to hurry. Scrambling up to the top of the entrance, Corree jerked out rocks and let them crash down behind her. She pulled out rocks until her arms ached and her fingers bled. Suddenly, Corree felt cool air brushing her cheek. It was coming from the cave. She was almost through! Now was the time to push. She did, but nothing gave. Corree continued pushing, but slipped off the rocks. Leverage—something for leverage. Looking around, she saw something sticking out from the bottom of the avalanche pile. One of the robot’s limbs. That would do, Corree thought.

Sliding down the pile, she jerked the arm out from under the debris and climbed back up. She jammed the smaller end in a likely weak point and pushed down on her end. There was slight movement, a rock rattled down the pile, then another. Suddenly, like a broken dam across a swollen stream, the rocks crashed inward, echoing inside the cave. Corree tumbled with it. She banged against an inner wall.

“Tanna!” Corree called out.

“Here,” came the weak call.

Corree let her eyes adjust to the darker light. Huddled in a corner were Joshee, Mendee, Breka, Kollin, and Mora. Corree wasn’t sure if they were awake or even alive. Tanna was in front of them, a spear held out menacingly.

“It’s me, Tanna,” Corree said soothingly.

He blinked and straightened up. “Corree?”

She changed back to her normal self. “Yes. How many robots did you have after you?”

“We had four, but I think a couple of them got caught in the river.”

She nodded. “I got the two outside the cave. There was no sign of any in the river.”

“Is that really you, Corree?” Joshee asked in a weak voice.

“Yes. I finally made it back.” She paused as Joshee shook the others awake. The members of her family struggled to their feet and embraced her. Corree hoped this reunion was a permanent one. “I need to go find food for everybody. After you have eaten, we can head back home.” She looked toward the back of the cave. “Where’s Breedon and his group?”

“After the pod took off, Breedon tried to take over and make us all go back to their part of the forest. We didn’t want to leave in case the pod brought you back. So they left without us.”

Corree gazed at her family that had stood by her through everything. “Thank you.”

“There’s more of the robots,” Tanna told her. “We don’t know where they all went.”

“I got one at the pod.”

“They sent a whole bunch. Most of them went into the mountains,” Breka told her.

“What do you mean by a whole bunch?” Corree asked.

“About fifteen came out when it landed. One stayed in front of the pod, and nine headed into the mountains.”

“How did you get here? If they were going into the mountains, all you had to do was wait for them to leave.” Corree was wondering at Tanna’s math.

“Five came into the forest,” Tanna explained. “When Kollin dropped a squash fruit on top of one, they started blasting at us with their laser guns.”

“We tried to out-run them, but they just spread out and covered our territory. It was like they knew where we were no matter how hard we camouflaged ourselves or how fast we traveled,” Breka interjected. “We did drop a tree limb on one and that broke something so it couldn’t walk anymore. It finally quit moving. I think it died. But the others began shooting into the trees. They were killing everything.”

That explained the destruction she had found, Corree thought.

“So we thought if we led them into the river, maybe they’d slip and…I dunno, maybe they’d break something,” Joshee added. “One did fall in. At first it didn’t seem to do anything to it, but then it began acting funny.”

“Sort of jerking around, walking strange?” Corree asked.

“Making funny noises,” Mora said with a nod.

“We threw rocks on it and it died,” Kollin said.

“Yes, that is what I did with the other two, except it was more than a few rocks.”

The group stood just inside the cave. “I’ll say,” Tanna breathed. “But after we killed the one by the river, the others were more careful and didn’t fall in.”

“But where were they all going?” Corree thought. The robots had to have been sent because of her, but they would have just continued into the forest if they thought they knew where she was. Most had gone in the opposite direction. The Ologrians?

“I bet they were after the Ologrians,” Joshee declared.

“The Ologrians will have to take care of themselves,” Corree said. “You have to have something to eat and drink. How long were you in the cave?”

“Not sure,” Tanna answered. “Hard to tell time in there.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ll hunt for something here and bring it to you. I’ll be right back.” Corree stopped before she had gone three paces. “Tanna, do you still have the stones I gave you?”

He held out his pouch, but didn’t unhook it from his belt.

“Pass them out. I think it would be good for each of you to have one. They seem to increase our abilities somehow and they might give you some strength.” There were enough for all, but the youngest members of the family. “You can share them,” she told Breka and Kollin.

“The sun will rise soon,” Tanna pointed out.

“I know. If I’m lucky I’ll get something and be back before it rises above the mountain.” Saying no more, Corree ran out of the cave. She mutated back into the mountain cat and loped up the slope. Her heightened senses in this form could more quickly find prey. She felt the day getting warmer, and the sun rising faster than she wanted by the time she sniffed something that would be big enough to feed her family.

Stalking up a steep incline, her belly to the ground, Corree spied the creature. It was long and sinuous, but its torso was bigger around then her own. Muscular back legs ended in six razor sharp claws each. The front legs had claws as well, but the limbs were puny compared to the rest of its body. The creature was like a cross between a tree lizard and a snake, and it was settling in for a day of sun on a narrow ledge above her. The eyes searched, but Corree knew that its long, questing tongue was the real detector. It could pick up the scent of potential prey and predators just by sticking its tongue out.

Corree pondered how she might get the creature. From what Riss had told her they were nasty. Sharp teeth could tear her throat out and the whipping tail could knock her from the mountainside with little effort. He had also told her he had seen one of the mountain snakes catch a young cat. The cat had fought fiercely, but had ultimately become lunch. Corree thought if she was something similar to the snake, maybe she’d have the advantage. Laying her weapons down, Corree thought about the tough-skinned creature she had become on Alogol and felt the fur disappear into her skin. Hard, knobby hide rippled into place. Her jaw elongated, teeth erupted, lengthened. It was cold up here in the mountains, and she felt sluggish. Corree reversed the inner changes, but wondered if the mountain snake was affected by the cold, too. Perhaps that was why it spent much of its day laying in the sun.

She crept around boulders and mounds of dirt, approaching closer and closer to the lounging lizard. Her questing tongue wasn’t as sensitive as her prey’s, but she could tell it was confused. It kept trying to figure out what she was. Despite its suspicion, it moved slowly. The sun hadn’t been out long enough for its metabolism to speed up. It moved its head from side to side, tongue darting in and out. She was upwind of the creature, and it still couldn’t figure her out. With lightning speed, she darted in and grabbed the lizard by the neck. Its tongue darted out and slapped her across the snout. The sticky substance burned, but she ignored the pain. Her body pinned the tail down and she clamped her jaws harder around the neck, suffocating it.

The snake bucked, trying to dislodge her, but Corree hung on tight. Finally the struggles slowed and then ceased. She had won the battle. With a slash of her own razor-sharp teeth, she blooded it, then dragged it down the hill toward her family. They were startled into silence by her appearance, but stared eagerly at the dinner she dropped in front of them. While she mutated back to a cross between one of Riss’s people and her own forest form, Tanna butchered it. Corree helped him before going back upslope to get her weapons.

“What in the world was that thing you mutated into?” he asked.

“Something from Alogol—with a few modifications.”

“Apparently it worked. Someone from the mountain tribe told me it was almost impossible to kill one of these things.”

“That’s why I figured I had a better chance going against it if I was more like it.”

“I wish I could mutate like that,” Tanna said with a sigh. “Maybe I could have done something about those robots.”

“There are no mutations that can do anything against the robots. At least none that I know of. We have to defeat them by using our brains. I plan on seeing if Greelon and The Head have some ideas on how to keep them away after I get you back to the forest. I need to talk to them about Jeron, too.”

“Jeron?”

Corree explained as they sliced strips of meat from the carcass. It tasted wonderful, and she felt the energy from the fresh meat flow through her body. Everyone was able to eat all they wanted. She sliced up the rest of the meat and laid it out on several smooth boulders at the cave’s entrance to dry during the day while they napped. She and Tanna took turns standing guard. It was a much happier group that traveled out of the mountains the next night. They reached the river without incident, and Corree saw the pod sitting silent and unattended. Apparently there were no other robots inside.

The family dashed into the forest with happy abandon, climbing up to the canopy and gliding down with whoops of joy. Corree didn’t think they would be enticed away very soon. She sat contemplating on a limb, wishing she could talk to Jeron. He would have reminded her of her lessons on the space ship.

Your trip to Alogol scared the bejeebers out of them. You have the Federation in a real uproar, is what he would have said. She also realized that Brekal was right. Eventually the Federation scientists would come up with a robot that could withstand the elements on Mendel. There had to be a way to discourage that.

Corree remembered a conversation they had on the way to Mendel. “Have you ever wondered what you will be doing in the next five years?” Jeron had asked in a low voice.

“No.”

“In your case, I think you’ll be able to do anything. You’re a good leader.” That had made her feel better, even though she only saw a solitary life for herself after the others grew up and started their own families. She pushed the dismal thought from her mind.

When Corree told Tanna and the others her plans, they clamored to go along.

“No. You still need to build up your strength.”

Tanna pulled her aside and pointed up. She climbed with him until they were out of earshot of the others. “Corree, there are nine robots out there. I know I wasn’t effective against the last two, but I don’t think you need to be out there alone. At least let me go with you.”

She shook her head. “No, Tanna, you need to take care of the family just like you’ve been doing for the last sun cycle.”

“We need to be together. We’re a family.”

“Yes, you are a family. You don’t need me, Tanna.

“Corree, we’ll always be a family, you included. Just because you were kidnapped and taken away doesn’t mean anything. Joshee told me he didn’t want you to go away again without us. We’re coming with you.” Tanna crossed his arms over his chest.

Corree knew she wouldn’t be able to sway him so she just nodded. The next thing she knew, he had thrown his arms around her. He almost suffocated her with his bear hug.

“We need to make sure we have plenty of food. I can’t guarantee that we’ll be able to hunt much,” she pondered aloud.

“We’ve got that dried lizard meat and we can gather fruit and other stuff, unless you want to leave at sunset.”

“No, I think we need a night to get ready and a day of rest.”

By the time they were ready to leave, they were well armed and well stocked with food for several days.

They passed near the pod that continued lifeless and still. No robots had approached it while they were preparing for their journey.

The trek to the desert took longer than it had when she and Riss made their journey. It wasn’t just because they were a large group. Corree was nervous about the robots that had gone ahead through the mountains. She couldn’t assume the elements would take care of all of them. She, Tanna, and Mora took turns scouting ahead. All of the family members took turns on guard duty during sleep periods.

It was during one of these rest periods that Joshee woke her. “Corree!” he hissed in her ear.

She awoke immediately. “What?” she whispered back. He pulled her to the back of the cave. He pointed to a narrow hole she recognized as an outlet for the underground people.

“I think there’s someone watching us,” he hissed. “I thought I heard a scraping sound.”

She motioned for Joshee to stay behind her. Corree felt her cave mutations kicking back in. There was someone just inside; someone a little smaller than she was. Her eyes adjusted, and she saw slight movement. She knew who was watching. Esteya! Her friend among the cave people.

“You must leave now,” Esteya whispered in her cave speech.

“We can’t,” Corree whispered back. “It’s sun high.”

Corree was closer now. She slid through the tiny gap and touched fingertips with Esteya in the greeting she had learned the last time. “Why do we have to leave now?”

“Because they told our people you were dangerous and must be captured or killed.”

“Who’s they?” Corree asked, but almost immediately received an image of three robots. She was startled they had gone into the caves, but it made sense. The cave people were the first Mendelians and they were very loyal to the Federation. If her math was correct, that left about six more.

“You came to warn us.”

“Yes. Father and the others are preparing to come and get all of you. I don’t think there is much time.”

“Through this exit?” Corree asked.

“Yes.”

“Will the robots be with them?”

Esteya shook her head. “They walk funny and make strange noises. They have just told the elders what to do and are waiting in the room.”

Corree saw a picture of the room of gems. It seemed a travesty for the Federation robots to be there, but she could imagine the Federation wanting the stones from the wall. There was a glimmer of an idea. “Esteya, would you take me to….?” She used the mental picture of the room as she had remembered it when she left. “After I close this exit.”

“How will you do that?”

“My family will push those boulders against the entrance. Will you take me to the room? I think I could find it myself, but it would be quicker if you did. You could hide and no one would ever know you helped me.”

There was very little hesitation. “Yes, but what are you going to do?”

“Not sure, but I want to get rid of those robots.”

Esteya made a mental shudder. It was clear she detested the metal men. “How will you do that?”

Corree wasn’t sure, but she thought she might be able to fight them in the near dark. “I will tell you more when I get there. Wait for me here.” She slipped back through the crack and almost trod on Joshee. “We have to wake the others,” she hissed.

“What’s going on?” he replied.

“Can’t explain everything, but there are robots with Esteya’s people.”

“Why didn’t they kill them?”

“Long story, but the underground people believe the Federation is great and will do anything they say.”

Joshee snorted, but didn’t say anything as he followed Corree back to where the group was huddled in sleep. Tanna’s head popped up before she ever touched him. His eyes showed he knew something was wrong. They woke everyone else, and she explained what she had learned from Esteya. When she told them her plans, they protested. “Look, not only do we need to get rid of all the robots, I need to try and find a way to convince the underground people that the Federation isn’t the all-powerful, good and sweet bunch they claim they are. If I can’t get them to see that, I need to figure out some way to keep them from being able to harm the rest of us.” She remembered the group that had come to attack them when the Ologrians had first landed. She remembered Riss, dead in her arms. There was no way of knowing just who had thrown the spear that killed Riss, but that the underground people had shown no remorse or pity at what happened showed Corree how dangerous they could be. “It’s important,” she said. “I need you to move these boulders and block up that entrance. It will delay them.”

“How are you going to get out?” Kollin cried.

“There are other exits. I know of one more and I suspect there may be others. As soon as the sun dips below the tops of the mountains, head toward the desert. I’ll catch up with you.”

Tanna looked dubious.

“I’ll be all right,” she insisted.

“I know you will, Corree,” Joshee said.

She gave Joshee a quick hug. “Thanks.” She headed back to Esteya. “Don’t waste time getting this entrance blocked up. If you get enough rocks here, they shouldn’t be able to get through for a long time.”

As she slipped into the underground network, she could hear the scraping of a boulder being pushed. Corree was satisfied they would be all right.

Esteya? When she turned the corridor of the narrow tunnel, the girl was waiting, wringing her hands. “Esteya, if you are so worried, why did you come to warn us?”

“Because you have done nothing you need to die for.”

Now Corree knew the Federation would rather she be dead than captured. Why? Jeron had hinted that. They were afraid of her and her abilities. Was that why the robots tried to kill her family? They were afraid they had the same abilities? Did they? If they had been exposed to the same things she and Riss had been, could they adapt like she had? Corree shook her head. Now was not the time to think about that.

“Thank you, Esteya. I don’t believe I have either. I wish everyone could understand.”

“Understand what?”

“Just how the Federation is using us.”

“We exist because of them.”

“Of course we do, but they created us to serve them. We were created to gather this planet for things to give to a people who have glutted their own world.” She was using some of Jeron’s words and knew Esteya would be confused. She was right.

“What does glut mean?”

“It means to take things without thought of how it will affect the place you are taking it from.”

“What if good things are given in return?”

“What things?” Corree said with disdain in her voice. “We had to be created so we could live here. What could they send us that would not die or decay before we could enjoy it?”

“Don’t know,” Esteya answered. “We were promised. The leaders told us we were promised.”

“And what did they say you had to do to get these things?”

“The leaders have said that the next Federation ship is going to bring tools to dig into the earth so that we can get…I am not sure what the words are, but the leaders said they were very important to the Federation.”

“Driphidian, mentrose, and wixdel?”

“Yes.”

Corree thought of something else. “How do the leaders know what the Federation wants?”

“Before it was through the dreams.”

“Is it still that way?”

“No, I think the robots brought something that lets the leaders talk to people from the Federation planet. The leader said it was very far away.”

That didn’t surprise Corree. A communications device could make instructions much easier to give and the directions much clearer. That would also account for Esteya knowing the correct names for the fuel mineral ores. Such a device would probably last longer underground.

“The next part of their plan,” Corree murmured.

“Plan?”

“To take what they want from our planet.” Corree knew the Federation would probably want the emotion gems, too.

“But they promised.…”

“I know,” Corree cut her off. She didn’t think she could persuade any one of these people if she couldn’t get Esteya to understand. “Esteya, there is really nothing they could give any of us that would be of use.”

“Warm things to wear.”

“Esteya, the robots walk funny and look funny because they are on our planet. The air, the water, everything on Mendel hurts the materials that the robots are made of.” She thought of the space station jump suit she had worn until Jeron died. Could some things last longer than others? “I’ll have to admit there may be some things they could send that would not decay as fast.” She wondered what materials the Ologrians used.

“I…I don’t know,” Esteya stammered. “But why would they make promises like that if they aren’t sure?” Her voice trailed off. “That means, you’re right.”

“I wish I wasn’t.”

“So the robots will die?”

“They aren’t really alive. They are machines that can think for themselves and follow orders. Take me to them, please, Esteya.”

The girl was lost in thought. “That’s why they don’t act like they feel anything in the cavern.”

“Esteya, please help me. I could find the cavern again on my own, but I don’t want to fight with your people. I might run into them if I go the way I know.”

“You probably would,” Esteya confirmed. “What are you going to do to the robots?”

“I’m not sure. I should think of something, though, by the time I get there.” I hope.

“Corree.…”

“Just help me, Esteya.”

She nodded. “Follow me.”