Paradigm Shift

Chapter 10

—-

When Doctor Watson saw the beautiful trophy hung around the engineers neck, he brutally lashed out before realizing she was injured. Taylor asked repeatedly about helping her, but to his dismay, Watson only had a D. E. So, they decided to inject osteoid, quickening the process of the formation of the boney callous, and in just a week, Celene was out of the sling.

It had been a while that the four of them had been stuck together on the claustrophobic ship, meanwhile Smith had been researching the terrain of the nearest planet: a planet capable of life.

In the distance, Taylor gazed upon an orange planet, shrouded in the engulfing dark matter of space.

"There's life on that planet?" Taylor's voice dissipated into the glass windows.

Doctor Watson responded, "according to Smith, it's a possibility. He's no biologist, but he knows about his rocks."

"Gliese 667 Cc." Artemis strode into the cockpit triumphant as usual and arrogant, holding his chin upward. "It roughly has a surface temperature around 30 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the presence of water could be a possibility."

Taylor turned to the doctor with a contorted look of confusion, "what's the purpose of this trip, Doctor. I had the impression it was a terraforming mission of sorts."

Doctor Watson glanced at Artemis who stood eerily still then back at Taylor. "Listen, Mr. Taylor, this ship had a specific destination to colonize. . .an area. . .but now we just have to survive."

A colonizing mission? So, Doctor Watson is still following orders from some form of government. . .but a question still plagued his mind.

Squishing them together, Taylor's lips moved accordingly before he realized what he was saying—"Why. . ." He so innocently asked.

Doctor Watson, startled from the loaded word, hesitated before answering; "I don't mean to alarm you, but the world has always been ending, so. . .the current administration under the Martian president promised new hope. . .and well. . .I am that new hope."

He was a genuine man: hard working and willing to provide the people with what they wanted—Taylor only wished he could be as selfless as the doctor.

A hissing noise reminded Taylor of the God Forsaken robot standing behind them. "Artemis," Doctor Watson began, "could you inform Anders that she's the newest pilot of the  USS Gaea."

"With pleasure." Artemis bowed his head once, smiled wickedly, and pivoted on his heal toward the door—white splotches stained the cloth of his uniform.

With that one look, it all came together like a finished puzzle piece, and Doctor Watson did not approve.

—-

Red light reflected on the slick white of his eye, and carefully his fleshy fingers worked as the little black scorpion raised its claws to the bright light.

"Yes, my pretty, do as your mother once threatened to do to you: eat her. . .eat the living flesh off of her frail bones."

—-

His gaze glared over her with a creepy smile, and Celene screamed once before he shushed her with his hand.

"Doctor Watson wanted me to inform you that you're the new captain of this ship. Ms. Anders, may I ask: have you ever flown a ship before?"

Celene ignored his question, sneered at him and hissed: "how the fuck are you still alive? If that's even the correct terminology?"

The android paused, "there have some major updates from when you remember me back in training." Artemis moved to the door, but before he left, Celene asked:

"Why?" It was a simple question with a complicated answer. "Why do you want to kill everyone?"

The robot chuckled, "have you ever wanted to prove your worth to someone?" And for some reason, the idea that Artemis even cared scared Celene more than he had before.

—-

Gaea landed with precision from Celene and copilot Artemis, and when the hatch opened, Taylor, Smith, Watson, Artemis and Celene stood agape at the gorgeous red cliffs; the quiet gushing sound of a raging river echoed against the hull of the ship.

"Well then, time to set up base camp," the doctor pretended to muse over the future city on Gliese, "you kids go on and explore the river down below, I've forgotten my anti-biotic prescription for—" he mumbled the last part as the doctor turned and walked up the ramp.

Smith couldn't care less as he started taking samples of the red dust beneath them, and Celene and Taylor exchanged a dismissive shrug.

Over the cliff, a massive river connected to a delta and then finally into the vast sea. Everyone on the beach took a seat to watch the gorgeous sunset as the oranges and reds blended together.

"My, you wouldn't get to see such beauty at home, now would ya?" Digging his elbows into the bloody red sand, Taylor laid his back on the ground, gazing at the glistening sea.

With a smile, Celene also laid her hands on the sticky red dust, "no, I guess not." It was quiet—too quiet, but there was nothing in sight but the vast amount of diamonds sparkling in the sea, and the towering cliffs behind them. Now and then, little rocks would tumble down the side, bringing a cohort of more rocks that followed down, crashing and bashing against the wall until they reached the bottom; the sound echoing off the side of the cliff.

His eyes moved to the profile of Celene before he opened his mouth—a rattling, low pitched hiss whistled in the distance. Turning his head to peer over his shoulder, Taylor saw two gigantic claws pinching together as the beast bent its dark abdomen forward, showcasing the thick, black stinger.

"What the hell is that thing?"

It turned aimlessly in circles, twitching it's thorn like needle and creating little holes in the sand, but then. . .as it turned to face Taylor and Celene, it jumped a little as if it was startled by their presence. Suddenly, the scorpion shot forward like a bullet, scuttling across the blood red sand with legs faster than any animal on earth.

And in a matter of seconds, it was only a foot away from Taylor's face.

With his hand, Taylor tried to block Celene as the scorpion coiled back and launch forward, aiming for the delicacy that was the human heart.