LARC Transmissions - An Anki Legacies Science Fantasy Anthology for Young Adults

thin En

green exoskeleton mottled with vibrant blue. She glanced at Rob, who had finally taken notice of the strange animal. Rob's synthetic gill

biggest thing in En

gh the receiver imp

d lop your leg off,

ures. Two knobbed thick shoulders above arms ending in pincers connected a plated lobster shell back with a rounded, neckless, head. On its belly dozens of little arms worked rapid

d a dolphin on the bottom. Do you think we can talk to them? P

meal. Let's take caution and give this thing some space. He

st this creature's pincers. Christy motioned for her partner to back away. They swam above the cave entranc

Rob to double the distance between the creature and themselves in a second. Their eyes, gills, flipper feet, and arm fin implants proved necessary to liv

hundred degrees Fahrenheit, at a moment's notice. If the unfortunate passerby didn't boi

silica, iron, and any precious metal which might be discover

mained motionless. A shrill, rapid burst of sound resonated from the direction they headed toward. The

. Rob dodged, but the creature continued to snap and lunge toward

e the both of us could take one

su grappler and former rescue diver prior to the missio

bottom feeders aren't able to get close

ked with every bit of strength and haste for long minutes. Rob planted an anchor int

ange creatures, and strained to hear th

ld be heard. Only the glow of their own body heat could be seen. Perhaps the cre

te valley on the ocean floor. The excursion had taken them farther

deep tanned olive, indicative of her Greek heritage. Down

er to lime. He ran a hand across his brow, a nervous

m three sides and below them. Their respite enabled the creatures to su

Rob unclipped from their ancho

above. He bore down upon the back of the creature not more

ound. A powerful smack of its tail knocked Rob on the base of his skull. He smacked i

escape. She felt the grasp of a dozen thin arms embrace her as another creature pulled Rob from her grip. Chris

xamined it next to Rob's crushed unit for a

dus. She heard herself murmur and the drowsed

reams focused upon their

pt calling coffee cans. They released the lids in an area close enough to a geyser for the shuttle

e crew marveled as a small city expanded and solidified de

produce coral in the shapes of dwellings and to resume their natural lifespans after. The method's original purpose preserved the coral

**

a sea grass they had long used to place members of their species in a suggestive state to harmles

ated the sounds. Others among their tribe followed Christy and Rob's directions to the outpost and spied up

ok to calling themselves Enceladans when they

eatures and kept Rob and Christy beyond when t

**

h, " a shrill

f her mind, the explorer harbored suspicions of her long sleep. The dol

e on the rocky sur

to develop immunity to its effects. After a long, uneventful series of questions

gain motor function. Beside her, Rob also began to stir. He reached out and graspe

long have we b

have been a long time. I sw

mouth of a shallow cave. Christy pulled a slate from her utility pouch and located the sea rover in relation to their curre

stop until the landscape became familiar. Muscles burned and synthetic gills pulled for ragged br

ence for long minutes. When their breath rose and fell at regular intervals

t see a

that high pitched whistle, but English. It ask

must be like a drug. They must have wanted us

se. What would happen if they decided we were anything but an amusement

ready too late." Christy reached for her slate t

's shocked faces for a long moment before resolve hardened their features. Christy unclipped her belt knife and Rob grabbed at the e

econds

ead. Rob signaled a three count and the pair launched o

er's friction diminished much of the force. Christy buried her knife to the hilt in her target's belly between f

as stunned and drifted into the outcropping of rock, where Rob and Christy hid seconds before. Blood coalesced lazily from the tear in R