Phantasm 2: In the Shadow of Iniquity (three)

Scott dropped five of the twenty Shuruk. When the dust cleared to reveal the bodies of the dead it also revealed a second wave charging straight after the first, advancing under concealment even as the first wave had been killed, not allowing the defenders to see them until the dust had dispersed. Scott reacted instinctively and began firing again, picking off targets with unerring accuracy. But he couldn't select and fell enemies fast enough, none of them could, and already the Shuruk had halved the distance between them and the small group of anthropologists.

Something caught his eye as it glistened in the air towards them. More sparks joined it. He ceased firing and ducked to cover himself, burying his face. "Flash grenades," he shouted. "Everyone down, cover your eyes."

He couldn't tell if his warning was heard by many of the others, who probably still believed the illusion that the Shuruk couldn't attack until they were closer to them. A few seconds later and bright red flashed against his eyelids, so bright that it almost hurt him. He counted to ten and by then it had passed. Scott opened his eyes. The Shuruk were upon them now, only ten or fifteen metres away. He unleashed a volley of laser fire, no longer using the receptacle, trusting his judgement instead to shoot at the many alien warriors.

The Shuruk began to fall but there was still hardly a dent in their number as new waves continued to emerge behind the dead, taking their places and advancing further. Malcom spoke from beside him. "Scott, time for you to go."

"You'll be overrun if I leave now," objected Scott.

"We're going to be overrun anyway and you won't be any use to Laura if you're dead," replied Malcom. "Now, move."

He began to argue once more, then thought better of it and hurried to the ladder at the side of the structure. He broke into a run the second he touched the ground, moving around the structures, cutting through gaps. Halfway to the pit that led to the cavern his headset relayed an order from Malcom for the others to fall back. Scott halted and looked through his binoculars at the settlement.

The anthropologists were beginning to climb down from their positions as he had done, but the Shuruk were inside the settlement now and they attacked before anyone could escape. Energy whips slashed violently at their quarry. The whips seemed almost independent of their Shurukian masters, twirling in the air, slicing through flesh with practised ease. Not all the cuts from the whips were clean, not all cauterised the wounds, and even from the distance Scott could see crimson spray in all directions.

Scott fled to the cavern, removing his headset and letting it drop to the ground, leaving the anthropologists to their fate.

Laura was kneeling beside the channel of acid-water with Cameron and Willow when she heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Her hand moved instinctively to the staff at her side as she turned, then she relaxed when she realised it was Scott. Until she saw the look on his face.

"Bad news, I assume," said Laura.

"The settlement's already been overrun," said Scott, "and I don't think the Shuruk were far behind me. The resistance isn't going to last very long aboveground."

"Aye, they're scientists, not soldiers," said Cameron. "All they're ever gonna be doin is bringin about their early deaths."

"If you believe that why are you still here?" asked Willow.

"Cos I nae be ready to be doin anythin such as dyin just yet, lass," said Cameron, "and I'm nae ready to let ye lot go that easily either."

A group of ten Minarthans only a short distance away began to beat their sticks and gesture upwards to the platform far above them. Laura glanced in that direction as the Shuruk began to pour through the opening en mass.

"Look there," said Laura. "I guess that settles it. Let's just hope they didn't find the children."

The Minarthans continued to smash their sticks together. More noise was generated elsewhere as other groupings of the small grey aliens became aware of the threat, relaying it again. Suddenly those near them dashed away.

They were uncertain what they should do at first, then decided to follow the Minarthans. They started off on the path the Minarthans had taken, moving cautiously. With the Shuruk inside the perimeter they had to be careful. They caught sight of the Minarthans before they could vanish again and followed them along the straight-ways and curves of the roads and passages inside the rock-city. Visibility was becoming poor with the lateness of the day, creating shadows in the areas they moved past, adding to the tension they all felt.

Just as they were about to round another corner Laura thought she heard a sound. She signalled a halt and they pressed themselves flat against the rock-wall, unmoving. A contingent of Shuruk passed by them, marching where they had almost gone. She counted around twenty and the warriors were all of the Biological caste. Laura peered around the corner when they were gone to make sure there were no more of them. The Shuruk were likely to dispatch five, possibly six contingents to investigate the caverns. If the high number of warriors who had just moved by them was anything to go by then the Shuruk were likely to have pledged about half of their forces inside the cavern. A lot of warriors but not so many that the Minarthans would be completely overwhelmed. Imprisoning the Shuruk in the cavern by sealing the entrance suddenly seemed more appealing.