OtherWorldly

3. Strength in Numbers

3. Strength in Numbers

"Dad, what are we doing out here?"

"You know what we're doing, we're going to look for help and supplies."

"You think there will be real Enforcers out there?"

"Yeah, most likely."

"Oh man the is so cool!" Alex said, punching the air. "I finally get to go on a mission!"

Langdon laughed.

"More like an errand than a mission."

"I guess so. Think we're gonna get to shoot some aliens?"

"Hmm, I don't know, I hope not. We don't really need that."

"Speak for yourself dad. I just want to get into some action!" He yelled, shooting at invisible enemies with a finger gun.

The two if them trekked over the cracked ground. They had been walking for hours and they were tired, thirsty, hungry and hot. But finally they were getting close. Hopefully all this work would eventually pay off.

"Dad, once we get off this planet and get back home, are you going to go off with the Enforcers again?"

"Nope, no more going off into space for me. I'm just a consultant now."

"So you and mom are going to be home most of the time?"

"Yeah, mostly."

"Good because I was starting to hate Mrs. Johnson. Worst...babysitter...ever."

"Well you won't have to ever seen her again if you don't want to."

"Awesome."

"Yep. Well I think we're almost there now."

Langdon glanced at the map on his tablet. The bright red icon highlighting the location of the drop ship was coming from a few feet ahead of their current position, just on the other side of a short hill.

"Just over this thing and we're there," Langdon said, pointing the rocky outcropping.

Alex nodded.

"Let's do it."

Robert hit the hill first and he started to run up it, fogging up his helmet visor with his labored breath. He was beyond tired and couldn't shake the urge to lay down and take a nap. But they had been working so long, spent so many hours in the ship and even more hours walking to this outpost, that right then he just wanted to get all of this over with. Alex came up beside him, chugging along just as fast as his old man, groaning with the effort.

This was it.

Finally the two of them arrived at the top of the hill and they were given and incredible view out over the alien countryside. Langdon stopped running and gazed out at where they had come.

The landscape on the other side of the mountain was just as barren as the side they had just left. There was nothing but rocks and stones and dirt and dust, all orange and bleak and uninviting. But sitting out amongst the monotony was a single silver ship, a pinpoint of humanity sitting isolated in the oceans of blankness. Langdon stared at the ship in delight. Finally they had found her.

"There she is," Langdon said, doubling over and resting his hands on his knees. "We made it."

"Well what are we waiting for? Let's get down there!"

Without another word, Alex shot off like a rocket down the hill towards the tiny Enforcer's ship, sending dust flying in his wake.

"Wait up!" Langdon shouted, chasing after him. "We need to take this easy..."