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“Jonas, is there something wrong with our bloody infantry today?”

Nice to see Admiral Beatty made it in.

May 11, 3056
Scorpion Expeditionary Party
Laredo
Circinus, Circinus Federation

Lucien turned his head at the faint sound of scuttling from back in the cavern.  The sounds stopped and he frowned, then he heard it again, very faint.

“Did you hear that?” he whispered.

“Hear what?” Walker asked as he nibbled on a piece of thick bread from his ration pack and scrolled through a book reader.

“It sounded like an insect.”

The old man snorted.  “There are always insects in caves, boy.”

Lucien shook his head and then he stood.  “I will be back,” he said.  Walker did not bother to reply as Lucien picked up one of the chemical light sticks and slowly made his way towards the rear  passage of the cavern.  He shook the stick and snapped it, activated the cold light carefully made his way back to the tube that descended down into the earth below.

CLICK-CLICK, he heard again faintly and he turn to the wall—and he froze as he saw a green and black scorpion perched up on a rock that jutted from the cavern wall; it was about the size of one of his hands, and it remained still as he stared at it.  Slowly the scorpion raised it claws, and then it lowered the sting; it ran down the wall and into the tube at Lucien’s feet—pausing half-way around to turn about and look at the Elemental once again, before continuing on into the darkness.

Lucien stared at the tube for a moment, and then he dropped the light stick down—and the scorpion sat there at the bottom, as if it were waiting for him to follow.

The elemental shook his head and he turned away, heading back in the main chamber where he squatted down next to Walker.  “There’s a scorpion in there,” he said quietly.

Walker looked up at the big man and he frowned.  “There are no scorpions on Circinus, boy, except us.  It may look like a scorpion, but trust me, there aren’t any on this world.”

“No, it was a scorpion.”

“Look boy, insects look a lot alike—there aren’t any scorpions here,” and with that, the old man turned over on his side and scrolled to the next page.

Lucien looked over at the rest of the sleeping Warriors and he shook his head.  He picked up a coil of rope and headed back towards the tube.

*****************************************************

Walker looked up and he sighed.  Damn it, boy!  He groaned softly as he got to his feet and he headed deeper into the cavern.  “Lucien, it wasn’t a scor-,” he started, but stopped as he realized Lucien wasn’t there.  And then he saw the rope looped around a stalagmite, the line descending into the tube, where a green glow-stick still shed light.  “Shit.”

*****************************************************

Jason sat up with a start as Walker touched his shoulder.  “We’ve got a problem—your bondsman has gone off exploring the cave.  Said he saw a scorpion and went after chasing it—he isn’t addicted to necrosia, is he?”

The Seeker didn’t answer, but he woke Amanda.  “Lucien has wandered off, Star Commander.  Keep watch until Walker and I return—if we are not back in an hour, come looking for us,” he ordered as he picked up a pack and buckled on his weapons belt.

“Get your gear, Walker, let us go find our lost scorpion.”

*****************************************************

The tube was slick, steep, and narrow, but with the aid of the rope, Jason slid safely down to the floor ten meters below.  A light stick sat on the floor and ahead of him Jason could see another . . . the cave widened out here, and moisture slowly dripped down from the ceiling and the tube.  He began to make his forward across the rocky ground, slowly placing his feet where he was certain the ground was solid.  Through the winding passage he kept going, Walker following close behind him—and then he saw Lucien . . . and what his bondsman had found.

The Elemental stood in front of a sealed airlock-style hatch, one ungloved hand resting upon the metal which bore a Cameron star.  And perched on one rock nearby, stood a scorpion.

“Holy shit . . . that is an Asian forest scorpion, Star Captain!  From Earth!  How the hell did it get out here?  There aren’t any scorpions on Circinus!” Walker sputtered softly.

Lucien turned around and he nodded.  “I told you I saw a scorpion, Walker.  Star Captain, I think we have found what you were looking for.”

“And a Falcon will lead the way,” Jason whispered.

There may be no updates until next week . . . I am going to be busy helping to set up the local polls in my community, and getting ready for the Election.  Not to mention that November 6th is my 44th birthday as well as Election Day.  Needless to say, this weekend is going to be hectic and so will the first part of next week.  I may have another snippet up before next Friday . . . but right now that doesn't seem likely.  So my apologies, and I will see you in a week.

MA

Have a good time. We'll be here salivating when you get back.