Reluctant Symbiosis

By Earl T. Roske

Couldn't any mission be simple?

 

Lt Derinzinski could count the number of people he trusted on one hand. None of them included the butterflies of Novjaro. When one of the two-meter-tall butterflies interferes with Derinzinski's mission, he trusts them even less.

 

Then the mission goes sideways.

 

The team is in trouble. They're tens of kilometers from help. Unless you count the butterfly, which Derinzinski definitely did not.

 

Yet, the butterfly persists.

 

Shadowed by the butterfly, Derinzinski fights to correct a wrong, while battling inner demons that have been released from the darkest recesses of his mind.

 

What exactly does the butterfly want?

 

Derinzinski doesn't want to find out. But he may not have any choice.

 

Follow Lt Derinzinski as he battles an alien world and his own haunted memories. Read Reluctant Symbiosis now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Earl T. Roske
• Release date: May 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393584216

Earl T. Roske

Earl T. Roske is a San Francisco Bay area writer. He lives with his wife, daughter, a silly poodle, and two neurotic cats.

Book preview

Other titles by Earl T. Roske:

Season of War on Abira

Midwinter at Bhisho

Wintertide at Knynsa (coming soon)

Spring at Nongoma (coming soon)

Summer at Xawela (coming soon)

Autumn at Gauteng (coming soon)

Dewey Tyler, Orphan Corps

Secrets on Wenshen

Orphan Corps Shepherds: Lost Sheep

Diversion in Raziel

Reckoning in Samael

Liberated in Ikenga

Stories of the Orphan Corps

Rescue on Gimhae

Deceit on Panchala

Standoff on Oulu

Counter Offensive on Arda

Defiance on Vargo

Last Wave Series

Last Wave

Last Dance (coming soon)

Other Works:

Tale of the Music-Thief

Ofendra (short story collection)

01

Lt Derinzinski had been enjoying the long journey out from the colony, heading for the yet unseen ocean. They were going to be the first humans on Novjaro to see the big body of water. It should have been something more like a vacation. But, Lt Derinzinski was military. He knew no mission ever went according to plan.

Where is it? He leaned out the window, looking for the two-meter-long butterfly. In his opinion, the Novjarian butterflies were worse than the meter-long black beetles that ate them. At least the beetles couldn’t get inside your brain.

Ahead, sir. SSgt Dimka was pointing forward.

Pfc Sograhn turned the wheel sharply. The Mid-weight Multi-Terrain Service vehicle swerved right. The hydrologist, buckled in next to Lt Derinzinski in the backseat, yelped in surprise.

Sorry, ma’am, Pfc Sograhn said. He steadied the vehicle. The butterfly keeps getting in the way.

Ahead of them, Lt Derinzinski could clearly see the butterfly in question. It was thirty meters away and turning back in their direction. It doesn’t look familiar. Dimka? What’s your opinion?

No, sir, SSgt Dimka said. Wing pattern is completely different.

The Earth colony had encountered three other butterfly clans. Each had a distinct pattern to their wings. Within that distinct pattern, there were individual markings unique to each butterfly. A new pattern meant a new clan. Great. More butterflies. The fun had wholly gone out of the mission.

Sograhn? What are you doing? Lt Derinzinski leaned as far forward as the restraints would allow.

Slowing down, sir.

I can see that. Why are you slowing down?

Pfc Sograhn took one hand off the wheel long enough to point at the butterfly now ten meters away. It, too, was slowing on its approach. Don’t want to hit or get hit, sir.

It’s playing chicken with you, Pfc. Lt Derinzinski gave Pfc Sograhn a big-brotherly smack to the back of the head. Step on it.

Yes, sir.

The MMTS surged forward, pushing Lt Derinzinski back into his seat. He wasn’t surprised that Sograhn was concerned for the safety of the butterfly. Most of the colony was accepting and trusting of them. Lt Derinzinski didn’t trust anything that could look inside your brain and pull things out. He wasn’t afraid of them like a few people were, he just didn’t trust them.

How you holding up, Dr. Simmons? Even scientists could have irrational fears. Dr. Annie Simmons was one of those who were afraid of the butterflies. So Lt Derinzinski wasn’t sure if the pale look was from the butterfly or Sograhn’s driving. You alright?

Dr. Simmons nodded. She had one hand on an overhead strap. Her other hand looked as if it was trying to puncture the plastic seat covering with her fingernails.

The vehicle swerved again. Sorry, sir!

Drive straight, Sograhn. Lt Derinzinski was digging through the outer pockets of his pack as he spoke. It’ll move. One way or the other.

He was sure SSgt Dimka didn’t like the sound of that. She’d paired with a butterfly less than a year ago. Her opinion was also different from his. But he was in charge.

From his pack, Derinzinski pulled out a comp-tab and tapped it awake. His body swayed against the restraints as he waited for the tablet to come online. On the screen, he pulled up the survey map. They’d scanned Novjaro in the days before landing on the planet. The ship developed difficulties entering the atmosphere. A blowout damaged their ability to communicate with the satellite launched before entry. So, they had a map; they just didn’t know their exact position on the map.

As Pfc Sograhn continued to drive, starting to swerve and then correcting his course, Lt Derinzinski examined the terrain around him. He was looking for landmarks. Anything that would allow him to reorient himself and determine their approximate location.

The area around them was low, rolling hills, bracketed with distant mountains. The MMTS rolled through a sea of bushes of varying colors and sizes. They were high enough off the ground to see over them. Walking would have been different. And difficult.

The monotony of the bushes was broken up by occasional stands of low trees whose thick leaves hung like skinned snakes. Along the way, they’d had to divert from their course five times. Each time searching for fording points across creeks and natural slopes near drop-offs. But they’d always come back on course. This didn’t feel like the right course.

Compass, Dimka.

The compasses from Earth worked on Novjaro even though they were still working on calibrating them. The magnetic fields hadn’t been fully mapped, either. That was something the satellite was supposed to do, too. But the compass still pointed. So they could use the compass to keep on a heading. Or, they could use it to verify they’d left the correct heading.

Stop turning right, Lt Derinzinski said. He handed the compass back to SSgt Dimka and shoved his comp-pad back into his pack. He’d seen enough. It’s pushing us off course.

Why would it do that? Dr. Simmons looked even paler. Hopefully, she knew to lean out the window before she puked.

I’ve no idea, doctor. Maybe it’s bored and wants to play a game. Who knows what they think.

The vehicle swerved right again. It tilted, riding up on the two left wheels for a brief moment. Lt Derinzinski felt his heartbeat elevate as he grabbed the crash cage overhead.

Sograhn!

Sorry, sir. Pfc Sograhn eased off the turn. The vehicle righted itself. He then began easing the wheel counterclockwise, turning them left. It nearly hit us that time.

Sir, SSgt Dimka said. She’d been quiet since the butterfly had started getting in the way of their forward motion. Maybe it’s trying to tell us something?

Like what? ‘Go back. You’re not wanted here’? Lt Derinzinski knew his words were chilled with sarcasm, but he wasn’t inclined to filter,