I Monstrum

Chapter 13 -The Great Oneness

      Once again I can't see. That one is... dangerous. He has blinded me once again. I hope my vision returns like it did before. I think I hurt one of his appendages. He travels differently now. He is different than the others. He has a hard shell.

      They are going in the right direction. Away from my hatchlings. That's good. When my sight returns, I must continue my pursuit.

      I am so alone. If only I could be a part of the great oneness... again. Then, I would have help. The great oneness would help me to decide what I should do. Should I pursue these invading strangers? Or should I return to my hatchlings? I don't know... I am so lost without the great oneness... I know that these invaders are the only ones left... If they don't leave my tunnels I will destroy them.

      The great oneness is so far away. It was so long ago, but I will never forget. There is no way... no way to return. I am separated from them all. I am on this lonely rock. They are far away, on another much larger, round rock of rocks.

      I was heavier there. I could run on the surface, jump only a short distance. On the surface of this lonely rock, when I jump, I travel a great distance. Then I have to turn around and return. It's of no use, travelling on the surface here. That's why I stay here in these tunnels... all alone.

      Soon, my hatchlings will be old enough to have a oneness with me. This will be good. I like that. I want that. They are too young though and they don't have any experience. So, the oneness that they will have with me... will not be a great one. Still, I will be able to teach them.

      I wish that they could know the great oneness, but that will never be. These invaders look just like the ones of so long ago. The ones who brought me here when I was much younger. Why did they capture me and take me out from the great oneness? I can never return. Do these ones know what they have done? Do they know? I don't know. The great oneness would know.

      I... can see something. A blur... it's a light! They must be not too far ahead. I still can't see very well. It's not clear yet. I need to wait until my vision is completely restored. Just a little while longer...

***

      Frank Lucas began to run. It was getting too cold inside his suit. The power from his last battery pack was nearly completely drained. His suit was insulated, but that was almost nothing against the coldness of space in the tunnels of this asteroid. The only thing that could continue to keep him alive for a little while longer was if he ran. So run, he did fast and blind. He didn't know how much further the exit from tunnel was, he guessed it was only about a half kilometer further. Could he make it? What if he did? Would they be waiting for him on the surface? Why would they? Surely, in view of the tragedy, they must have assumed that he didn't survive. What they would naturally think is by now he must certainly be dead. His air would have run out long ago. He would not expect anyone to be waiting for him. What kept him pushing himself forward? The fact that he did not want to die alone in a tunnel, on an asteroid in the absolute darkness. He would rather die on the surface where he could at least see.

       Wait a minute. What was that? The absolute darkness was not so absolute after all. His helmet was steaming up and starting to get frosty. All he could see was a hazy light ahead. So of course, he continued to run toward it.

***

      "Okay! Everyone get ready! Something is coming fast toward us"

      Steve raised his weapon, but quickly lowered it when he saw it was a person running toward him.

      "Hey! What's the hurry?"