Starhoppers

17 - Relics of the Bygones

I spent the early hours of the following morning leaning against the stone wall beside the campfire, anxiety building in my gut as I watched Ralph and Ezra pace around the camp. Ellie sat beside me, picking absently at her nails as she stared into the flames. Albright tinkered with Bit a few feet away, the droid staring curiously at us as the man worked.

I desperately wished to speak to the girl, to apologize for something I wanted to believe wasn't my fault to begin with, but I couldn't find the strength to open my mouth.

"How are you holding up?" Albright asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

"I'm feeling much better, actually. Almost like I don't have a hole in my arm... almost."

Albright flashed an empathetic smile. "Does the wound still sting?"

"Only when I move it," I nodded, narrowing my eyes. "Why? Is that a bad thing?"

"Pain can be a good thing, once paralysis is on the table. You were a mess that day, Zach. Your wound came rather close to your captain's. We had no idea whether or not the paralysis could be transmitted through blood."

I winced at the man's blunt words, glancing at Ellie. Her expression remained unchanged. "Is... is that something I'll have to worry about?"

"I would guess not. If you can still feel your arm now, I'm afraid you're just going to have to suffer through the pain like the rest of us would. You're young - you'll heal. I know it."

"I sure hope so," I replied, smiling at the man. "Thanks."

"I don't suppose you could help us forget what we saw out there," Ellie finally spoke. "I... I can still smell it."

Albright sighed. "I've been trying to find that cure for years. I'm sorry."

I groaned, rubbing at my chin. "You know, I believed your story, but..."

"Nothing could have prepared you for what found us that day," Albright nodded. "I understand."

"That big one..." I trailed off as I reluctantly recalled the mental images of the creature, its writhing form towering high above me, droplets of melted flesh pattering around me like rain. "Was it in charge of the others?"

"In a sense, sure. I mentioned it to you the other day. This parasite... all forms of the creature share the same mind. Each puddle of goop controls all of the others, as they're one and the same. Essentially... if you alert one of them, you alert all of them."

"Jesus," I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. "How does that even work?"

"No clue," Albright shrugged. "Perhaps it's some type of pheromone... though I can't imagine how well that'd travel over the God-awful smell."

I hummed in agreement as Albright continued. "That massive spider-like form the parasite took is one I've never seen before. But the fact of the matter is that the form the parasite chooses to take is irrelevant. Even a single droplet from the thing could wipe out an entire ecosystem if left unrestrained."

I glanced at Ezra and Ralph as their voices sounded louder out in the clearing. The men drifted gradually towards us now, their eyes still on one another as they spoke. Albright sighed as he followed my gaze. "You kids want anything to eat?" he asked warily, pushing himself to his feet with a soft grunt. "I can find you something."

"I don't think I'm very hungry..." Ellie murmured, her gaze unmoving.

Albright's eyes turned towards me as I held up a hand. "I'm alright," I shook my head. "Thanks."

Albright nodded to Ezra and Ralph as they stepped before us, their conversation halting. "If you say so."

"Alright," Ezra started, sighing as he crossed his arms against his chest. "I think we have a plan."