GAIA

GAIA Shorts

From the blackest pits of hell, they spewed forth unto an unsuspecting universe, carrying death and destruction. More than evil, more than powerful, they are merciless and cruel, killers of women and children, they are mass murderers, they are, Draggonne.

Love Birds

As she plummetedthrough the upper atmosphere of Zaxion V, space-fighter ace TanyaRoberts desperately hoped her 'Samhain Fire' would remain intactlong enough to deliver her beneath the planet's volatile clouds.

Fighting thecontrols to maintain a steady angle of decent, the young woman almostfailed to register her wingman's voice crackling over the comms. inher helmet.

"Tanya? Come in.Tanya!"

"Kind – of –busy," Tanya responded, as she continued to struggle against theincredible G-Forces tearing away at her almost-out-of-controlfighter.

Rookie pilot Troy Johnssmiled. Though the hostile 'Draggonne' had completely ambushedthem, there was still a chance they might both get through theencounter alive. "Look Tanya, I'm sorry, I just didn't seethat fourth fighter going round behind you. If I –"

"Skip it Johns!Just stay up there in orbit long enough to mark my landing, and comepick me up A.S.A.P!"

"Wilco."

Tanya flashed atiger's grin as she crashed through the heavy clouds at 15,000feet. Suddenly the planet's surface flooded her view. Violent greenseas and purplish land masses, it was a world of strange contrastsand reportedly, even stranger life-forms. Hurtling towards the groundat frightful speed, the 27 year old veteran forewent furtherconsideration and pulled her ejection lever.

***

Zaxion V wasdocumented as Class Gamma 3 planet; it could sustain human life, butfor no longer than 3 weeks without the necessary survival equipment.In effect, the water was drinkable, but the available food wasgenerally toxic, and the atmosphere was dangerously abrasive on humanlungs.

The good news wasthat there existed a human outpost in the southern hemisphere of theunpopular planet. The bad news, as Rookie Troy Johns viewed it fromhis vantage point, way up in orbit, was that Tanya's abandonedfighter had just exploded upon impact some four thousand miles duenorth-east.

Viewing his scanners, thetopographical readings of the vicinity of her likely landing weretroubling. She had ditched her fighter amid a colossal mountainrange, and If he couldn't find a safe place to land?

***

Tanya walkedquickly. She knew her wingman would be looking for a place where hecould land. A near plateau presented as the best option and so shejourneyed towards it.

The wretched airmade breathing a painful affair, made no more bearable by her currentexertions. Ignoring the protests of her biology, screaming to herthat she stop for rest, Tanya soon crested a rise in the ruddy rocksof her mountainous surrounds and reached the plateau. Troy wasalready there, waiting.

***

Troy had beensearching his scanners for signs of life frantically since landinghis 'Sentinel', but had become frustrated by the maniacalinterference of his environment. Briefly considering taking off intothe air again to make a searching sweep, he smiled his relief as theever beautiful form of his wing-leader came into view. Popping thecanopy, he rushed out to greet her, crushing her to him in a perhaps,over-joyous, hug.

"Tanya, I thought I'dgotten you killed!" he exclaimed, "I'm so sorry!"

Tanya smiled despiteherself, almost alarmed at Troy's heartfelt apology. "Well youfound me Blue-Eyes, now get me the hell out of here!"