Page 34 of The Space Traveller's Lover

THE HAUNTING PAST

Remember this. I’ll always be here for you—always!

The vast army of guardian and soldier robots has taken over every single island in the Mariana archipelago.

Their full-scale advance is relentless, but they slow down so the residents can take their essential possessions, move into their underground shelters, or enter the coastal caves.

On Tinian, a large group of people have found refuge in Diablo’s cave.

They walked doggedly through the narrow passages to get as far from the entrance as possible.

Now that they have claimed their space in the scattered open areas, in between the winding tunnels, they gather in close-knit groups and comfort each other.

They are tired and hungry, albeit relieved that they have finally reached a safe place.

Some cry, and some shout words of encouragement.

Mothers cuddle their children close to their bosoms. The families lay down their makeshift beds and share their food rations, preparing for a well-earned rest.

There’s enough room to make their encampment, even though they have to share it with a multitude of animals that stubbornly fight for their patch, their ear-piercing squeaks and obstinate howls adding to the chattering of the human commotion .

Most birds have found shelter high within the wall ledges, but the farm animals and pets have taken their place among their owners as if that was quite their entitlement.

As they settle down in their hard-fought quarters, tiredness finally prevails. Gradually, the tumultuous noise subsides as the torchlights dim and eventually fade out. The whole place succumbs to an eerily quiet darkness as if shrouded by a ghostly cloud.

John Sanders and Captain Walker take this chance to make their way cautiously back towards the entrance.

They tread carefully among the slumbering mass, guided by the tenuous light of their dimmed torches, their path perilously narrowing as they advance.

Once they reach the rock-strewn ledges surrounding the wide internal sea lake, they hasten their pace into the narrow side-corridor.

At the opening edge of the rugged walls, they get on their knees and stretch their necks so they can get an unobstructed view of the outside.

The thick dust cloud, blowing in the warm wind, hurts their eyes and sticks to their sweaty skin. But they soon forget their discomfort as they watch in utter bewilderment the unrecognizable landscape.

They use their binoculars to scour the coastline, following the endless lines of flying machinery and constantly moving robots, their glowing lights making it look as if a giant swarm of fireflies have come to invade their island.

Far away, on the horizon, even the ocean surface is awash with light, the dividing line looking like a freshly open wound, bleeding into a turbulent black river.

“We’d better return to the back aisles,” Walker suggests.

Sanders nods as he starts slowly retreating while insistently looking back, trying not to miss any details up to the last minute.

As the curved, jagged walls start blocking his field of view, Sanders notices a bright glow breaking through the darkened sky.

Judging from the way it’s getting brighter and brighter, he reckons it must be flying very swiftly directly towards them.

His next thought is soon confirmed as he focuses the image with his binoculars.

Walker joins him, his arms trembling as he tries in vain to stay in focus.

“Friend or foe?” the captain asks hesitantly.

“It looks like that same kind of alien aircraft,” John Sanders reckons, still holding his binoculars tightly against his face .

Walker steps back on the narrow ledge, dislodging some loose rocks into the water as he briskly speeds up. Sanders soon turns his attention behind his back, thinking his friend has fallen into the water, but he is relieved to see Walker clumsily running away.

“There’s no point in fleeing, Walker. Let’s wait for them here. Whatever it is, it’ll be better for us to handle them upfront, far away from our people,” Sanders shouts, trying to sound as convincing as possible.

“You’re right. You’re right. Whatever it is,” Walker replies in an embarrassed tone as he stops dead in his tracks. He turns around, starting to walk in an overconfident stride as he retraces his steps, trying to hide any signs of nervousness.

Sanders nods as Walker slowly approaches him, showing his approval of his friend’s newly found bravery.

But as Walker’s demeanour becomes even more boastful, pulling up his belt and inspecting his gun, John has to try hard to stop himself from laughing.

At least for a moment, his old friend has managed to make him forget about their predicaments with his overtly confident act.

Both men put their arms on each other’s shoulders as Walker says with added impetus, “Let’s do it, John! Let’s show them! I’ll be damned if … oh God!”

Walker crouches abruptly, taking John Sanders with him as a dense white mist pours over their heads and spreads everywhere. As they hear a sudden splashing thump, they realise that the flying object has landed at the back of the lake.

As the mist dissipates, they recognise the arrowhead-like features of the alien aircraft, bobbing over the rippling waters.

They stay motionless, warily on guard as they watch the sleek craft moving towards the side, barely touching the rugged edge with its pointed nose.

But their sweeping fear turns into unexpected joy as the top half of the alien craft gradually rises.

“Mr Walker, Sanders!” Sam excitedly shouts as he jumps out onto the rocky path. “I’m okay. I’m back.”

As they run into one another and embrace in a long enthusiastic hug, Sam swallows hard to contain himself from breaking the news about the catastrophe .

“So pleased to see you, boy!” Sanders cheers but soon frowns when he sees the burn marks on Sam’s face. “What happened to you?”

“I’m okay, Sanders!” Sam tries to look unconcerned while quickly changing the subject. “How’s everything here? How is my family?”

“Your family is okay, Sam!” Mr Walker butts in. “Even the Lobarts are okay. They were moved into the hospital’s basement.”

“But I’m afraid the robots are still destroying everything …” John Sanders adds in a sullen voice.

“I need to see my family now. We need to talk … and soon,” Sam says as he stares intently at Walker.

“Then I’ll go and get them for you. They’re far inside, but I know exactly where,” Walker replies, pointing out in the distance.

Suddenly, Walker realises that Shaillah is quietly watching them by the lake’s shore.

“Hey, why is she still here? Is she causing more trouble? We’ve had enough!” Walker yells nervously.

“She saved my life, Walker.” Sam tries to calm down an impatient Walker.

“Well, I’m sure she brings a message from the evil visitors, doesn’t she?” Walker snaps, his voice quivering as he tries to contain his anxiety.

Shaillah starts walking towards them; her firm but graceful pace makes it look like she’s hardly touching the ground.

“I think … I think … I’d better go and get Martha and Bill. I’ll be quick!” Walker drawls as he starts running towards the side passages, managing to avoid Shaillah’s path altogether.

Sanders nervously awaits her approach, trying to anticipate her next move.

But her blank expression and hypnotic gaze are impossible to read.

Sanders feels the building tension on his skin; his heart’s beating faster, sweat running down his cold forehead.

As he fears, she makes a beeline towards him.

And as he keeps looking at her, despite her piercing, focused stare, he’s surprised and then proud of his inner strength.

“John Sanders! Good that you stayed put inside the caves. Good that you followed my orders,” she says with a satisfied grin, standing short of two metres in front of him. But then her stare turns sombre as she adds, “Others didn’t. And they weren’t so lucky. ”

“Ah, those were the voices endlessly repeating inside my head. I felt compelled to obey. Wait! What do you mean they weren’t s-so lucky?” Sanders stutters, attempting in vain to remain calm. He looks back at Sam, but Sam looks away, purposely avoiding Sanders’s uneasy gaze.

Sanders looks back at Shaillah as she speaks in a regretful but cautionary tone.

“The explosion happened because the ARA submarines fired at the soldier robots—the completely wrong thing to do! The impact energy bounced back, instantly obliterating the submarines, liquifying metal and ripping giant rocks out of the seafloor. The ensuing fireballs, ash and dust clouds are now spreading, engulfing the cities. Unfortunately, nothing remains of the ARA headquarters … or LA.”

“The ARA headquarters … the city … gone,” Sanders gasps. His eyes nearly pop out of their sockets while his jaw drops in a sudden spasm as he struggles to believe what he’s hearing.

“The super-heated cloud of rubble and ashes soon will engulf the entire continent. The high temperatures are causing fires everywhere. The only safe place for humans and any living creature is underground,” she coldly continues.

“What have you done? Why? Are we all going to die when it gets here?” Sanders yells in anger and despair.

He snaps, trying to grab her shoulders in his blind irate state, but his arms are hit by a sudden bolt of electricity, violently pushing him backwards.

As Sanders clings to the rugged walls, Sam puts his body against Sanders’ back to help him keep his balance. Shaken, Sanders manages to stand upright while nervously looking back at Shaillah.

“Several times, I warned not to attack us. Know this. Resistance is futile.” She keeps talking, unperturbed, her intense gaze focusing on Sanders.

Suddenly, her hardened expression softens when she hears the distant echo of a familiar sound. She turns around, looking for the source of the insistent, high-pitched barks until she sees the shape of her beloved Blazer coming into view out of one of the cavities.

“Blazer, Blazer, my dear boy,” she shouts as she runs towards the dog.

But her cherished pet freezes, baring his teeth and growling at her .

“Blazer, it’s me. Come here.” She crouches and waves her hands in a friendly, welcoming gesture. But the dog digs his back legs harder on the rocky ground, barking at her even more furiously.

As she is about to calm her dog down, a pair of dirty boots partly covered by ripped trousers suddenly stand between her and Blazer.

Sam rushes towards Stella and hugs her tightly. “So good to see you, brother!” Stella says while keeping a wary gaze on Shaillah.

Then, Stella picks Blazer up and squeezing him firmly against her chest, she blurts out: “He doesn’t know you anymore, you weird creature!”

Shaillah stands up slowly, not taking her eyes off Stella.

“Don’t do anything to my sister, please,” Sam pleads, standing in front of Stella.

Shaillah looks directly at Sam, but her gaze seems to have gone right through him.

All the while, she isn’t thinking about Stella or Blazer either.

She’s trying to confront and dispel her unwelcome haunting thoughts.

A sudden sadness disrupts her mind, and she cannot fully understand why.

She thought she had transited totally into a new body, a new identity, but here she is, pining for an embrace with her adored pet dog.

The past stays in the past , she repeatedly says to herself, trying to erase the irritating pining feeling.

Building up her inner strength, she manages to discard those useless thoughts and return to her cold calculating self.

Feeling more confident and revitalised, she comes out of her brief impasse and focuses her attention back on an imploring Sam. She doesn’t even feel sorry for her best friend now.

“Time is running out. I have to go,” she finally says as she walks briskly past Sam and Stella. She doesn’t even turn her head when Blazer starts whining.

Then she stops and looks back at John Sanders, hurrying her words as she watches Sam’s parents approaching in the distance.

“The devastation will never get here. We’re making sure of that.

The guardian robots will bring all provisions you’ll need to survive until we finish the reconstruction.

Don’t do anything stupid, okay? They’ll be here to help. ”

Sanders nods his head as if fully hypnotised while Shaillah resumes her march towards her awaiting scouting aircraft.

“Erin! Erin! Please wait! ”

She hears Sam running behind her, shouting her name louder and louder, but she doesn’t slow down. As she puts one foot on her aircraft, she bluntly turns around to face him. Still, her blank expression doesn’t deter him from running towards her.

“Now what?” she snaps as if she is reluctant to even talk to him.

He stops in front of her, staring at her with a grateful smile. “You came back. You saved me. You care about me!”

“Don’t be melodramatic, Sam. I had to do it—no big deal. But now I must go.” Shaillah looks at him impassively, as if she couldn’t care less about how he felt. “Your parents are here. Please send my regards to them.”

“Okay, I hear you … I suppose you have a new life, and our childhood dreams are over—”

“You know nothing about my dreams.”

“That much is clear,” Sam replies sullenly, bowing his head as if completely giving up. But then, he boldly looks back at her. “Remember this: I’ll always be here for you—always!” he firmly declares.

Shaillah jumps into the craft’s shiny hull and never looks back. Still, as she takes off, Sam’s emotional, heartfelt vow keeps ringing in her ears.