The Red Leopards of Zaxon B (Galaxies Collide Book 2) (25 page)

His eyelids flickered, a dull throbbing pain sweeping through his temple as the young man drew breath. His mind felt very light, drugged and floating through space, the stars seeming to flow past him on either side as he stared up at the cosmos. The blackness of space was all embracing, almost flowing through his veins as the bright stars sparkled through his unconscious mind, the emptiness seeming warm and caressing to his skin as his body floated and flowed without hindrance.

He stared into the deep darkness, smiling to himself as several shooting stars sped across the dark heavens above, the burning wakes so distant yet crystal clear in the vast expanse above. In the far distance, a multi coloured nebula seemed to glisten as the intense light source above his head shone brightly towards it. Small craft flew across the heavens, his mind considering what the beings on board would be like, their many appearances or languages. Another fleeting smile as he imagined discussing with them their history and customs, expanding his knowledge and joyfully exploring friendships through many language barriers.

The light seemed to draw nearer, the stars slowly disappearing as the deep white glow filled his closed eyelids, his mind slowly struggling to comprehend what was happening, the swimming and swirling of his conscious understanding beginning to fill his thoughts of home, of pressing his uniform in time for work, the drive to the car park and staff bus to the busy airport terminal. He could strangely see himself sitting on the bus, his headphones firmly placed in each ear as he listened to the historical lectures he would study…another deeper smile as he considered what music to play, perhaps a day off from studying.

Suddenly the vision twisted dramatically, initially curling at the edges then spinning away from him, far from his grasp as the light got brighter, the image fading, a low seemingly tainted and accented voice breaking through the white mist that formed across his closed eyelids, ‘He can hear you now…the suppressant liquid is working…he will feel no pain.’

The tone that replied was distorted, a mechanical or electronic grind to the words that seemed to echo slightly, ‘Good…open his eyes…he needs to observe where he is…’

Sam shook his confined head slightly, the scratch to his face irritating as the needles were slowly inserted into his eyelids, the flaps gradually pulled open as a foul, almost overpowering aroma filled his nostrils. He attempted to lift his hands to push the scratching and irritation away, his muscles relaxing further as more drugs were pumped into his bloodstream from the manacles around his wrists, his body sinking back once more as the relaxants swam into his brain, his pupils dilating further as the subdued lights of the room moved in and out of focus.

The walls and ceiling were shining, metallic black almost mirrored, he surmised as he lay there…strapped or attached to some sort of table. He grinned as he saw the blurred silhouetted reflection of his body in the roof, the numerous wires and tubes stretching across his frame, their many colours amusing his drugged mind as he attempted to count them, a gurgle of amusement in his throat as he continually lost count, then started pointlessly again.

The distorted tone seemed annoyed, ‘He is too drugged…control the dosage properly or you will die!’ The voice hissed in anger, a fetid smell of rotten exhaled breath filling the room as Sam giggled further.

The other voice seemed distant, yet compliant, ‘Yes Sir…I will reduce the level of suppressants, but he will feel some pain…’

The distortion seemed to hesitate, then relish the statement, ‘Good…reduce the dosage further, this human needs to know what is happening…’

Sam felt the surge of drugs through his veins, his mind clearing rapidly then a surge of almost unimaginable torturous pain sweeping through his arms and legs as he screamed involuntarily, tears pouring from his eyes as his sight began to focus. The intense light seared through his pupils as they contracted dramatically, his retina stinging in pain due to his constricted and open eyelids.

The distorted voice continued with seeming pleasure, seeing the retrained figure struggle in intense agony, a whining filling the room as Sam’s senses were overwhelmed by the pain. The voice spoke slowly, ‘So human…you have failed in your adventure and have joined us, your life now even more worthless than before…’

Sam clenched his teeth through the horrifying agony, all his nerves and mind filled with the intense sensation from his leg and arms, a voice broken,  ‘Where the hell am I? Please stop the pain…please…it is too much!’

The tall figure indicated to his subordinate reluctantly, ‘A little suppressant…just a little.’

Sam’s eyes were painfully dry, his vision fixed on the reflective ceiling above as the drugs coursed through his blood, his sobbing lowering slightly as the pain subsided a little. Spittle came from his clenched teeth as he stared upwards in confusion, ‘What is happening? Where am I?’

The distorted voice continued in a hiss, ‘You are on the dark star, our space station in far outer orbit over the planet Zaxon B. You are perfectly safe, the enemy…your
allies
cannot get to you here…’ The voice seemed to grin, ‘Now tell me where you are from…’

Sam grimaced, his eyes becoming red with the dryness as he stared upwards, the distorted silhouette on the ceiling mirroring his actions as he struggled briefly against his bonds, a defeated whimper coming from his lips, ‘I come from earth, near Heathrow…it’s an airport in West London. Why are you doing this? What have I done to you?’

The voice rose in relish at its prisoner’s confusion, ‘It is very simple young one…you have become involved in something that did not concern you...foolish race, allying yourselves in minutes with a lost empire. Your people have become involved…and now they will perish as a consequence. We will liquidate them and their futile existence…’

Sam interrupted in anger, the pain rising again as he winced, ‘You will never beat us…humans are resilient and brave. I study history…we always overcome evil. Humans are determined and …you won’t even land on our planet! You have no idea what you are dealing with…the power…’

The tall figure stepped forward, the voice lowering as a gloved hand struck his chest with immense power, stunning the retrained figure, the breath knocked from him, ‘Silence!’ The body stepped back continuing above the strained breathing and coughing, ‘Your species is physically and mentally weak…weaker than we ever could have imagined.’ A smile again, ‘I admire your determination and loyalty, you are very resistant…we have learnt a lot from your body and mind. But your resistance will not last long…you understand us now because of the alterations we have made to your mind, installing translators and sensors. Soon you will fight with us.’

Sam was struggling to see, his eyes drying further and blood seeping down his cheeks as the figure indicated, drops falling onto his pupils to keep him staring upwards, the drugs soothing his pain as he gritted his teeth in hatred once more, fighting the distortion of his mind, ‘You will have to land first…you will never do that…earth is well defended!’

A deep strained laugh filled the room, the distorted voice continuing, ‘But we are already on your planet…your human resources are too weak to see. We have reconnaissance and military forces already in place…’

Sam forced a sarcastic laugh, hatred filling his chest and mind, ‘That will never have happened…our satellites and radar will have spotted you…you lie!’

Brief mocking laughter, then the continuing voice, ‘You are so naïve…you have experienced natural disasters…strange occurrences, all beyond your weak human comprehensions.’ The figure stepped forward further, Sam’s pupils dilating as the shadow appeared above him blocking the intense light.  His eyes slowly accustomed to the shadow, a white helmet with red glowing eyes staring down at him from above as his breath caught, his heart beginning to pound in his chest. The voice came again, more a taunting whisper, ‘You know what a Tsunami is? How many your planet have suffered recently?’

Tears filled Sam’s eyes as he nodded once, slightly in fear and apprehension, the stale and fetid breath filling his nostrils as the helmeted head moved closer, ‘That was a sign of our cloaked military ships covering their landings in your oceans…they are now waiting for the command to attack…thousands of our mechanised troops just lying in wait…’

The restrained prisoner’s gasp filled the room, his voice broken as his chest sucked for air, his ribcage heaving, ‘Thousands of people died…’

The voice became more determined, ‘It is of no consequence…your fellow humans are weak and dispensable…’

The restrained prisoner shook his head slightly, his upper body shaking in disbelief and shock, ‘No…that cannot be true…you lie!’ His raised voice echoed desperately across the room, ‘You Lie!’

The head ducked back, the bright light filling Sam’s eyes again, the pain in his retina intense as he moaned and whimpered, the voice seeming to taunt him again as alloy steps resounded across the room, ‘Our allies are almost human anyway…the Silaks are converted humans and Trevakians…all changed to fight for us in rooms like this…just as you will.’ The tone became more determined, ‘But you will be different, we are making troops to now be superior to the Trevakian special soldiers…the Leopards and Panthers…you will be one of those. You will…’

Sam screamed desperately across the room, flying spittle flashing in the bright light, ‘Never! I will never serve or fight for you! I am human…I will never change!’

The figure indicated to his subordinate, a brief laugh before the voice continued, ‘In a moment we will inject micro-organisms and restraining controllers into your ‘
human
’ brain, you will then only know us as your masters…’The voice hesitated, seeming to show some compassion, ‘We are impressed with your learning and knowledge and have decided not to extinguish this…it is intriguing and an intricate part of you…but you will still serve us and probably eventually die for your new masters. You will revel in the death of our enemies, be urged to end their lives…you will serve us well. The glorious Morgon Empire.’

Sam winced, closing his eyes as the retraining bench slowly began to rise, pain sweeping through his muscles as he struggled pointlessly against the restraints, more drugs sweeping through his system as his eyes glazed beneath the lowering lids. The gravelled voice continued, ‘Now you will see what you have become…a soldier in our army, and one that will tear human and Trevakian flesh apart as we do…’ An armoured hand extended, pointing at the mirrored wall ahead of the prisoner as a low frustrated whine filled the room.

The prisoner glared at the darkened shadow in hatred, his lips pursed in agonising determination, ‘You will never overcome earth…even if you do land, every inch of ground you step upon will be consumed with hatred!’

A hoarse laugh filled the chamber, the arm outstretched as the disfigured voice continued, ‘Perhaps you should glance across your new frame before passing judgement…it is us that will dispense more hatred than your pathetic humans can ever imagine…’

Sam eyes flickered, following the pointing hand and staring at the vision before him, his open eyes straining as he looked across the figure he vaguely recognised. His limbs were now gone, replaced by alloy mechanical equivalents, a fighting machine with contorted human central organs. The mechanical arms and legs spiked and high powered, his head shaking in fear as he took in the corrupted sight, the black torso body armour emblazoned with a white skull image. His shape of his head was distorted, metal and electronic devices seared against his skull to translate and control his thoughts. On either side of him, two figures stood confidently, one tall, a white helmet and camouflaged armour covering the muscular frame, the hand lowering from a point. The second figure was shorter, rubber like overalls covering a bent almost contorted body, high powered alloy goggles melted and merged with the scarred and burnt facial and temple skin. His head was adorned with metal, high precision instruments and needles embed through a skull to turn the body into a transformation doctor.

Tears dripped from the prisoner’s eyes as the tall figure stepped away, the voice contorted in a sneer of hatred, ‘Welcome to your new unit…the name chosen from your historical learnings…from your very own mind.’ The figure slowly turned as the doors swept open before it, eyes glowing red in satisfaction, ‘You are now a member of the Silak Black Death Battalion.’ The figure indicated to Sam, ‘Inject him with the final solutions…I want him…and the others ready before daylight.’ The silhouette stepped through the opening into the darkness beyond, the doors on either side closing swiftly as Sam wept uncontrollably, his chest shaking beneath the armour as liquid swirled into his veins.

In the corridor, the Morgon commander turned to the right, his alloy boots cracking against the metal grooved floor. Lining the outer rim of the black star space station, the conversion rooms extended all around the ship, their occupants coming to terms with their new existences. On the right wall, numerous black armoured troops’ boots slammed together, the crack echoing across the wall, the converted Silaks lining the inner corridor as they saluted formally.

The Morgon commander ran a forked tongue across his scaled lips, his helmet eyes glowing in satisfaction as he marched forward…Warships were no longer needed with these and their own high powered troops…the final slaughter of the remaining defenders on the planet below would soon begin.