EARTH DATE: Saturday 18th December 2077 03.15
Tiny white particles of ice and snow hurtled down through the grisly, bleak night sky striking the watery depths below. Turbulent clouds of silver and grey dominated the sky line threatening to engulf the land in a hail of icy daggers.
In the distance thunder crashed and streaks of sparkling, blue lightning illuminated the dense foggy sky. Tiny lights flickered as a scuffed and battered, silver passenger shuttle, more commonly referred to as a sky bus, emerged through a veil of icy fog, racing towards the relative safety of the Mackensie Dalton space port ahead.
The last night flight from Italy to England, stopping at various other stations along its eastern European route. Barely visible through the constant snow fall, not that it mattered much at this hour the air lanes around it were virtually empty, was finally on course over the English channel towards its terminating station.
Its glowing head lamps helped little against the barrage of heavy snow. A sudden blast of ferocious wind struck hard against the side of the sleek yet worn sky bus.
Inside the shuttle Angelica Sinclair tensed as she desperately clung to her seat, quietly cursing herself for endangering her young family like this. She hated dragging her two young sons through all this when she had fled her parents house in Italy in the middle of the night, but she’d been left with little choice, her hand had been forced.
She looked lovingly across at her baby boy, Bobby, sleeping peacefully in his hover pod. Due to the pods inbuilt self balancing device Bobby was blissfully unaware of the raging storm outside. Christ he would be six months tomorrow, where had the time gone, she wondered.
She glanced down at her older son, Aaron, snuggled up under her arm. His little body warm against the side of hers as he tried to snuggle deeper under her arm. The only sign of tension was the grip on his toy dog, clutched firmly in his pudgy little hands. She marvelled at his ability to sleep through anything.
As two air stewardesses made their way down the aisle past Angelica she was sure one of them made a comment about why a mother would risk her children by bringing them on a flight like this, as she looked around the tiny passenger shuttle she had to agree with them. Not only were the seats ripped and torn, a stale stink of sweat and sick hung heavy in the air but the other passengers were a dubious mix of drunk and other low life’s. She even thought she saw a couple of prostitutes sitting at the back.
As the two women caught her staring at them, they glared back fiercely, Angelica quickly turned back last thing she needed now was a confrontation.
Another knock out wave of powerful wind struck hard against the under belly of the bus sending it into an immediate vertical climb and eliciting a terrified scream from the passengers around her.
The crafts hover engines groaned as the pilot tried to compensate and bring the bus back level. The engines already struggling against the icy conditions as onboard heating systems battled desperately to stop ice forming over the shuttles wings and hover jets didn’t sound like they could take much more of this.
Mercifully the space port was already coming in to sight and Angelica finally allowed herself to relax a littler as she heard the noise of the bus extending its legs and coming into land. She winced again as she heard the struts screech across the tarmac but they were finally home.
A holographic image of a tanned, groomed human Captain beamed with pride. Dressed in the company’s sharp, white uniform, the captain stood for professionalism and class. As Angelica looked around at the rest of the passengers it seemed to have been wasted.
“This is your Captain speaking.” The hologram began, his voice drowned out by a chorus of yawns as the bleary eyed passengers rubbed their tired eyes.
The shuttle juddered as the disembarkation tube connected to the side of the craft, jolting Aaron awake. Angelica brushed his forehead comfortingly as he woke.
“It’s alright honey were just landing. Soon be home.”
“On behalf of myself and my crew.” The Captain continued. “May we wish you a safe and pleasant onward journey.”
The Captains words ringing in her head, she just wished it would be.
Loud repetitive Christmas music blared from the Space port’s tannoy system as Angelica and her children made their way out of the disembarkation tunnel and into the brightly lit lounge. Christmas decorations had been hung to make the lounge feel more festive but at this hour the passengers took very little notice. A holographic image of Santa Claus stood in one of the door ways of the closed shops wishing everyone a merry Christmas, ho ho, ho!
Here and there private vendors from all over the known galaxy tried to tempt people with their wares. The aroma of some rich, spicy coffee like beverage filled Angelica’s senses and she nearly stopped to buy a cup but looking at Aaron who was beginning to look tired and sullen she thought better of it and continued towards the terminal and home.
Angelica had kept their luggage to a minimal carry on bag, which she had draped over her shoulder to ease her escape but when her eyes saw the endless queue, her hopes of a quick getaway vanished. She sighed and looked at Aaron who just gazed with an expression of boredom. Angelica knew he’d be unbearable after spending the next hour in this queue.
Out of the corner of her eye she could see a Dabor, a small, rodent like alien trying to flog a bunch of various helium balloons. One of which had a Christmassy scene on it. She made a quick swerve to the balloon seller and bought it for Aaron who nearly burst with excitement. At least that should buy her sometime she sighed as they joined the slowly dwindling queue.
Finally out of the Space port, Angelica bent over Bobby’s hover pod to make sure he was alright. His long eyelashes fluttered on his cherub like cheeks but he didn’t wake. Angelica pressed a button on the pod’s control handle and it swerved slightly to the left towards the parking lot.
Angelica’s Unicom device bleeped and she unattached the hand held black device from her belt. She flipped it open and pressed a button, a flickering black and white image of her mother Angelica came to life.
Although twenty years older than her daughter the age gap seemed much less. Azuria had a grace and composure of that of a much younger woman. Her long black hair was still immaculately groomed despite the hour.
Despite feeling so tired she could fall asleep standing up, Angelica tried hard to put on a show of looking confident. “Hi mum!” She smiled back at the hologram.
Azuria did nothing to hide her concern. “I’m just calling to check you got there safely, darling?”
Underneath the concern Angelica could tell her mother was upset. “Why you decided to change your plans and get on the first red eye available is beyond me!” Azuria sighed. “They are always full of drunks and undesirables….”
As if to emphasise what Azuria was saying two boisterous scruffy Gnarlon males belligerently barged past Angelica. Their long unkempt black hair and sabre tooth like front teeth making them look fierce and more aggressive than what they probably were. Both were clearly drunk from the night before and started singing in Gnarlon.
Azuria raised an eyebrow and looked meaningfully at them.
“You must be careful and take good care of the children!” Azuria wittered. Angelica hated it when her mother tried telling her what to do, especially where her kids were concerned. She was a grown woman now and capable of making her own decisions. Azuria paused as if thinking for a moment and then her tone turned more apologetic. “I hope it wasn’t anything we said?” She asked looking small. “I hope your father hasn’t been upsetting you again?”
Angelica turned away from her mothers image, trying to mask the real feelings she knew her face would betray.
“No, no it’s fine mum!” Angelica sighed. Her mother would never understand, that’s if she even believed her. “I just wanted to get home!” A look of eager anticipation crossed her face. “I can’t wait to see the look on Lazarus’ face when we get in!”
The Lava Lounge night club stood strong and firm, silhouetted against the early morning sky. Its ancient, Victorian design cascaded eerie shadows over Ashforth city. Almost like strange, grotesque fingers trying to get a stranglehold on the city’s inhabitants.
A permanent fixture on an ever changing populace the building that housed Lazarus and Angelica’s majestic club had stood firm for centuries
The cold, wintry sky above Ashforth city was bustling with night time traffic as sky buses, air taxi’s and hover cars raced through the sky ferrying their passengers to their desired destinations. A yellow air taxi swooped down from the sky, it’s passengers got out and headed up the strong, stone steps, through the honey coloured, Roman like pillars, two solid oak doors hissed open allowing them entrance into the club. As they entered, music blared out as the party was already in full swing.
Either side of the pillars, two Bundarans, an ape like alien dressed in slick black tuxedoes stood guard, emphasising the strength of the clubs security.
Inside, the club was busy with partygoers revelling in the festive period. On the clubs raised T- shaped stage Serehna a cat like alien was performing a sultry rendition of “Santa Baby”.
The club looked like a scene ripped out of some twenties gangster movie, the men dressed in slick suit’s the ladies in flapper style dresses. The club itself emphasised this image itself with its art deco design and two long winding staircases that led up to Lazarus Sinclair’s office and the busy restaurant. Tantalising, aromatic smells from across the galaxy infused the air.
Lazarus Sinclair, a powerfully built male in his early thirties made his way up the staircase, leading to his office with a bottle of champagne and two glasses in hand.
He pressed his palm to the device on the outside of his office and the heavy wooden door hissed open.
Inside smooth, seductive music drifted out. He was rugged, well built and from his open shirt you could tell he frequently worked out. He smiled a wolfish grin as he entered.
The naked blonde sprawled across his strong, marble desk returned the smile. She looked expectantly at him as he placed the bottle and glasses on a side table. A holographic picture of himself and his wife Angelica holding their newborn baby, Bobby took pride of place on the table.
“Now where were we?” Lazarus murmured as he turned back to the stunning blonde, not even looking at the picture of his wife and child. As he turned the seductive notes of her intoxicating perfume enveloped him in an air of passion. She draped her slender arms around his neck and looked deeply into his eyes.
“About here!” She almost purred, drawing his heads closer towards her.
If any pangs of guilt entered his head they were soon forgotten as the pairs lips tenderly kissed. The office desks black leather top felt cool and luxuriant to her naked skin as Lazarus forced her back onto it. She wrapped her long tanned legs around his waist, pulling him in closer.
As if on cue the music began to gather pace as the blonde practically tore Lazarus shirt from him, exposing his defined muscular torso. She laughed with excitement as she ran her elegant, manicured fingers across his back, almost drawing blood.
The blonde’s eyes went wide with pleasure as she teased his cock out of his pants, it bulged thick and throbbing. It felt good in her hand but she ran her tongue along the shaft getting it even harder before allowing him to enter her.
The pair moved almost to the music, grunting and groaning with every thrust. As the music built to a crescendo Lazarus lashed out in pleasure, his bare foot connecting with the holographic picture. He took no notice as the picture clattered to the ground, he continued, lost in a world of ecstasy.
The wind howled around the open plan parking lot as Angelica and her young family made their way through thick snow, to where the rental car was supposed to be waiting. Her mothers image still flickered on the hand held holographic communicator.
“I trust Lazarus has arranged a car to pick you up?” her mother asked. Slightly irritated by her mothers constant concern Angelica snapped. “It’s supposed to be a surprise mum, he doesn’t even know I’m coming!”
Angelica sighed as her mothers face filled with concern again, she knew she was still worrying why she had left so abruptly. “I’ve ordered my own car, mum don’t worry!” Angelica smiled.
Just ahead Angelica could see the shabby rental she had managed to acquire at such late notice. The glowing neon sign flashing out against the dark night sky.
“I’m your mother I’m supposed to worry!” she could hear her mother continue as she fumbled in her pocket for the yellow piece of flimsi - plastic she had collected from the space ports reception.
“Are you sure there’s something your not telling me?” Azuria asked tenderly. Angelica ignored her as she checked the car’s registration against that on the plastic. She turned to look at Aaron who was slowly trudging along in the snow. His little cheeks and nose were red from where the cold, harsh winds had stung and his face was sullen.
“Aaron, will you come on!” she snapped with urgency and frustration. She looked at his little face about to cry.
“I’m tired!” he whined. “Why couldn’t we stay at Grand dad’s. I liked it there. It was nice and warm!”
“I know your tired!” Angelica replied more softly. “But the sooner we get in the car the sooner we can get warm!”
Aaron begrudgingly began to hasten his pace. Angelica couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. It wasn’t his fault she had decided to come home so quickly and he was too young to understand things, even if she explained it to him.
Angelica snapped out the card from the plastic and ran it down an inbuilt reader in the cars door. The door automatically hissed open and Angelica felt the warm air from inside hit her cold face.
She patiently waited as Aaron made a slow progress towards the car. She knew he was moving at such a slow pace to emphasise his obvious tiredness. He had a point to make and just like his father he was going to make it.
She sighed but knew it was useless to try and make him go any faster it would only result in him becoming even more irritable and probably even throw a paddy. She turned back to her mothers image that was still flickering on the communicator.
“I’m sorry mum, I’ve got to go now!” She bent down to help Aaron up onto the back seat.
“Ring me later and we’ll talk!” Azuria smiled back. “I really don’t like you leaving like this!” She sighed and then added almost pleadingly. “Promise me now!”
“Yes mum!” Angelica smiled as she pressed a button, terminating the call. Azuria’s image disappeared..
Angelica bent over Bobby’s hover pod and smiled at him as she carefully picked him up. She felt the warmth of his little body against hers. A rush of love washed over her. Bobby was always happy, such a good little boy quite different in nature to his strong willed brother.
As she placed him gently into the baby seat she had ordered, she didn’t notice the black hover van glide gently up behind them.
Angelica couldn’t help but look at her family proudly. Bobby was still fast asleep while Aaron had suddenly changed his mood as he found the games system in the back of the car and was busy getting it ready to play. She smiled.
The hover pod hissed as Angelica turned it off and held onto its handle as its anti -grav system shut off and it began to fall to the floor. It wasn’t heavy and Angelica carried it to the back of the car. Aaron’s little face lit up as the console powered on playing a merry little tune as it started.
The hover vans door hissed open and three muscular men dressed in black flak jackets and balaclava’s got out. The last one said something to the driver but was drowned out by the noise of a space shuttle engines from the port.
The last man to get out of the van signalled to the other two and they quickly raced towards Angelica who was completely oblivious to what was going on behind her.
The car boot gently hissed as it lifted up Angelica bent to place the hover pod into it when she was suddenly grabbed from behind.
She opened her mouth to scream but the noise was drowned out by the sound of a shuttle leaving the space port. He quickly covered her mouth with his hand so that she couldn’t scream again. His jacket sleeve was lose and she thought she saw a flash of a vaguely familiar tattoo. It looked like the butt of a dagger. Angelica felt the man’s hold tighten around her and wrestled frantically. The musky stench of his cologne assaulted her nostrils. Heavy, strong and somehow familiar. She had to get out of this, not just for her sake, her children were depending on her.
She slowly inched her hand behind her, down over his trousers. She could feel his bulge, throbbing at his pants. She could tell he was getting aroused by this. The sicko. She grabbed his crotch and dug her long, manicured fingers in hard.
The man groaned in agony. Angelica used this momentary distraction to her advantage and forced her way out of his hold. She quickly spun on her heel intending to deliver a windmill kick she hoped would send him flying.
The kick was quickly deflected by one of the other men, knocking her off balance. She hit the ground hard, the snow hardly cushioning the impact. The second guy towered over her, through his mask she could see the anger in his eyes.
The taller man brought his arm back as if to punch her. This was going to hurt. Angelica inhaled deeply waiting for the blow to come.
“Not like this!” The lead man growled, blocking the hit. She recognised the voice but couldn’t quite place it. Never mind. She glared back with a sudden new wave of determination. She wasn’t going out with a fight. They were her kids in the back of the car. She could still see them. Bobby fast asleep in his baby seat, Aaron deeply involved in his computer game.
She tried to get back on her feet but she suddenly started to feel woozy. Her feet felt numb, as though she couldn’t feel them. Her whole body was slowly starting to feel sluggish. Then she remembered the third guy. In all the confusion she had forgotten there was three of them.
She turned to see the third guy was putting something back into a pouch on his belt. Bastards, they’d drugged her. She tried to scream but her mouth felt hoarse and dry. She could taste a tangy, strange substance in her mouth.
Groggily she turned her head back to the guy she thought she recognised, everything was starting to blur, like an old photograph taken whilst moving. She knew him she was sure of it, but where from?
She tried desperately to wrack her brain, she could feel the cold white snow around her. It’s icy fingers stretching out to her. The lull of the drugs they had pumped into her threatening to consume her thoughts. She knew she knew him but her grip on the here and now was slipping. She’d failed her kids. She prayed these bastards wouldn’t touch them and that they would be safe and hoped that she would see them again.
Moments later wondering what had happened to his mummy little Aaron ventured bravely from the back seat of his car, tightly clutching his helium balloon as if it would protect him.
At the back of the car he found his mothers phone discarded on the floor, Bobby’s hover pod where she had left it but no trace of his mummy. He looked frantically around the car letting go of his balloon in his panic. As the balloon drifted up into the night sky he called out but he couldn’t find his mummy. She was just gone, but she wouldn’t just leave them, she was their mummy.
Beginning to get scared he called out for her but their was no reply only the savage howl of the wind he began to scream louder waking his brother Bobby, who started to cry.
Hearing his brothers wails Aaron tried to muster strength to comfort his brother, he ran his hand on Bobby’s little cheek like he’d seen his mummy do a thousand times before and said in as soothing a voice as he could. “Don’t cry Bobby, I’m here!”
Aaron looked up to the sky at his balloon disappearing fast into the savage winds of the wintry night sky. He wanted to cry but refused to let the tears come, realising it was up to him to look after his brother.
Still looking up as his balloon drifted higher into the cold winter sky Aaron suddenly heard his mothers Unicom device start to vibrate. The device still laid discarded on the floor and was already beginning to be buried under the snow.
Hoping it would be somebody he knew Aaron turned to go and get it when his brother reached out his little hands for him.
“It will be alright Bobby!” he said trying to sound reassuring. “I wont be gone long.”
His mothers communicator was still ringing by the time he reached it, he hesitantly picked it up, he wasn’t totally sure what to do with it but he’d seen his mother use it a hundred times before. Nervously he pressed what he thought was the correct button to answer it, expecting to see a holograph image of his Grandma or somebody appear.
He looked in bewilderment as a holographic image of a man on a hover bike suddenly appeared in front of him. He was wearing a bikers helmet but Aaron was sure he didn’t recognise him but his eyes looked scared, scaring Aaron even further.
“Ange is that you?” The man spoke quickly before Aaron had a chance to say anything. “I’m here, where the hell are you?”129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsmj2Amopd
