Episode 25: Mad Hatter

Nightfall loomed!

The blood red moon high in the sky brought dread upon Jack Ramse and his band of survivors. Since relocating to this strange world, they had run into some pretty strange things. Aliens. Dinosaurs. Now to top it all off Vampires. Even an Immortal Roman soldier was now standing in wait fearlessly for the slaughter at hand. Fires were built around the parameter as a show of defense. With so little kindling or torch able resources many of the useless cargo container supplies became perfect fuel to stoke the flames. Who needed too many wicker bowl chairs anyway.

Armed with an ion rifle Colonel Jack Ramse prowled about near the Roman while Cameron Scott stood near the cows in their energy pen, he too bearing an alien rifle. All of their members were on edge but ready for battle. Tonight, might prove fatal. Yet, they were defending their territory. That included a terrified young woman cursed by the undead. One they felt needed to remain among them.

Hearing all of the history lessons of late made Jack doubt everything he had ever believed. This giant Roman twelve feet away had met Jesus Christ himself. Made immortal due to his love. Still, the Roman made him uneasy just as much as the Vampire legion they expected to arrive at any moment. Immortality meant he would outlive everyone here. Well, with so many changes to their bodies it really was hard to decide that fate. The odds were on Sophia Ridge, her mother dead but not Madigan, and Malcolm Brand due to his apple appetite they might survive a good long time. Even Elle Franklin who had a healing power might prolong the inevitable. The rest, not so lucky. Thus far at least!

Were they prepared enough? Were they strong enough? Jack even though stronger than most men had his limits. He could still die a cruel death if caught off guard. At least he knew Ruby, James, and Greta would be safe locked in the Ganthorian craft. If it came down to it they could isolate indoors at night to save themselves and only come out during the daylight hours. Worst case scenario they could even move the cattle and Greta’s horse Quiver up into Noah’s Ark, it would just smell the place to high heaven. Biblical indeed!

Patience! As if they had an alternative.

Within the Ganthorian ship Colonel Ruby Goddard sat in the thick shielded bridge looking out. Her thoughts confused. Sitting alone by choice she had to clear her head. News recently gave her reason to debate her future. Lowering her gaze to her belly she lifted her tank top up enough to rub her abs. There goes the six-pack!

“Two souls. Am I really pregnant? Dammit, Jack!”

As her fingers caressed along her flesh a tender glow emitted beneath her fingertips, eyes bulging at the sight. Her nerves were shot. Fear was never her enemy but nonetheless she closed her eyes and tried to comprehend the situation.

“Everything okay up here?”

“Greta?” Ruby jumped releasing her belly and tugging her tank back into place, “So far it looks peaceful.”

Easing forward over a console Ruby tried to mask her reaction. The cowgirl from Kansas didn’t need to know her and Jack’s suspicions. Not at a time like this. Besides, all Ruby needed to do was to have James confirm or deny her fears. Of course, that meant an awkward encounter. Her doctor was only 15 years old. Okay, maybe it would be smarter having their medic Elle look at her. James could just run the blood tests and maybe find a way to utilize a sonogram. If that were possible. Guidance systems and power on the Ganthorian Hilton was limited.

“I hope my cows survive the night. I dunno what I’d do without them.”

“You survive like the rest of us Greta. Let’s just hope for the best.”

“I know. I’d pray but after hearing that Antonio fella I’m not sure what to believe.”

“Antonaeus.” Ruby corrected her! “I agree though. Could James be right about Sabbath being the reincarnation of Eve? She and her sister supposedly share a soul. So weird.”

“Kinda like you having two souls?” Greta winked!

“No comment.” A scowl held its ground.

“Ya’ll know you can talk to me Ruby.” Greta expressed her concern. After only knowing one another for a very short time Ruby was always there for her, Greta could not deny repaying that kindness.

“Another day. Let’s survive the night.”

“No sleep tonight!”

“I suppose we sleep during the day like the vamps out there. If not, we’re going to be zombies.”

“What are zombies?”

“Well, vampires that eat more than just blood. Brains mostly, I’ve read. Zombies also relates to we humans who suffer insomnia due to stress.”

“Insumniah the disease that makes us zombies?”

“Pretty much the diagnosis.”

A shrug ended the topic.

Outside the troops were restless.

Cameron Scott paced about the grounds near Sabbath’s shipping container prison. Stepping closer he listened with ear to metal to hear if the woman was stirring within.

“You okay in there, Sabbath?” He whispered!

A thump was heard on the side of the container next to him making him jump, followed by a loud hissing sound erupting through the echo within. The woman was obviously struggling with her dark side, her hunger needing sustenance. That and the fact that mother had taken over her thoughts.

While Cameron worried for the girl, Madigan Ridge filtered to his side as if directed by a breeze. Garnering his notice he shivered at her presence. Gun lowered he sighed at the General’s wife and looked at her with a pathetic expression.

“I shall check on Sabbath.” Before his eyes Madigan phased through the steel cargo container and entered into darkness. In the shadows Sabbath’s white flesh glowed in her crouched posture. Blood red eyes pierced the murkiness at the ghost with interest.

“Release me.” Mother’s words erupted through Sabbath’s vocal cords.

“We cannot. Your mind tricks cannot control me.”

“Your friends shall join you as ghosts in the desert. My legion comes for you.”

“We are prepared. Do your worst.”

“So, I shall. So, I shall.”

Sabbath gasped as mother vacated her persona. “Seek shelter. All of you. They are near.”

“Remain calm, Sabbath. You are among friends.”

“I have no friends. I am a predator.”

“Of this we hope to change. All we ask is patience.”

Sabbath Black hissed looking wildly about as if hearing her brethren approach. Concerned Madigan took her leave. The girl was left whimpering at the knowledge at hand. “They are here.”

Antonaeus Gaicazar unsheathed his heavenly blade, once shattered until within his grasp once again. Recalling its shards to rejoin and become one it was now a force to be reckoned with.

“Stand ready! I hear their leathery wings upon the night.” He looked to the sky as if direct contact. As an immortal his senses were acute in ways a normal man could barely comprehend. There was no such thing as night blindness to this warrior. Eyes sharp thanks to the ankh upon his pupil he could see their arrival clear as day.

Madigan confirmed his assumption reciting to Jack the revelation of hearing Sabbath’s warning. In response Jack moved about stealthily within the radius of a large bonfire for protection. Giving him an edge that he hoped they might fear. Further items were thrown onto the blaze to build its breath.

A deafening thud upon metal forced Jack and Cameron to look up. Atop Sabbath’s prison stood a large bat like beast that went to town trying to rip open the container, its strength formidable. While screeching a flash of light arched through the night as Elle Franklin cast an energized hydraulic spear. Well, aimed, it pierced the creatures back exiting through its chest. Reeling in pain it took flight.

“Head’s up.”

Sophia Ridge paced a running leap into the sky after it. Her limbs mighty, she launched the eighteen feet needed to capture it in its stagger of agonized flight. Her slightest touch created a maddening scream as hunger claimed the creature in her own vampire like feeding. Her flesh a billion starving cells the bat began to deteriorate and absorb into her flesh. In a flare up her body produced light showing off her deadliness to his brood. Elle was allowed to reclaim her spear as Sophia yanked it free and tossed it to the desert floor.

As Jack and Cameron watched her with respect, they charged up their Ion guns and stood back-to-back for protection, expecting other bats to circle close. Elle stalking about near them snatched up her spear while her eyes lit up in preparation to fire her own round about lasers. Conserved all day long in sunbathing she was quite full of herself.

Suddenly, a loud obnoxious voice called out into the night.

“Ello! Ello! Ello!”

“Roof of the Ganthorian Hilton.” Jack’s advanced eyesight zeroed in on the location of a lunatic. “Nobody fires on our home.”

Atop the hull stood the mad magician Carrington Primross acting as if a Ringmaster at a circus. His top hat within hand whipped about as he surveyed the landscape around them.

“Come one, come all, to the Greatest slaughter of them all. I do hope you have all tidied up your fleshly homes. Our dinner is expecting important guests.”

“The Mother.” Gaicazar sneered!

“Would she risk coming here?” Jack squinted about.

Pacing about sword in ready the Roman growled. “Perhaps! We shall know soon enough.” In its final hisses the vampire Sophia Ridge had begun devouring dropped from the sky bringing her weight into a crashing cloud of soil and ash. She merely stood up and clenched her fist in victory before turning her attention toward Primross up above.

Jack gathering her thoughts by reaction alone charged to her side. “Not yet! Let him come to us. Keep our formation tight.”

“You’re the boss, Big Daddy.” She grinned! “Vamps need salt. Rather bland taste.”

Sneering at her playfulness amid adversity he scanned about them, trying not to solely watch Primross like he obviously wanted them to do. The magician aimed to be a distraction, his maniacal laughter entirely too annoying.

As Jack weighed the situation his translator collar emitted a hologram from inside, “Jack? James has a plan if things get too bad out there. Let me know if you need back up.”