Sharks from Mars Book 2: The Battle for Earth

By Patrick J Russell

Just when everyone thought the world was free of the deadliest invasive species ever known… they return. Humanity finds itself fighting for its very survival as monsters from Mars devastate the planet once again. An infestation of global proportions by nearly indestructible creatures is the greatest challenge mankind has ever faced. Captain Kate Murphy leads the way in the battle for Earth. A 24th century action-packed adventure. Book 2 of the trilogy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9780359421701

Book preview

Sharks from Mars

Book 2: The Battle for Earth

By Patrick J. Russell

Published by Patrick J. Russell

Copyright Year: 2019

Copyright Notice: By Patrick J. Russell.

All rights reserved.

The above information forms this copyright notice: © 2019 By Patrick J. Russell.

ISBN 978-0-359-41946-3

Printed in the United States of America

February 2019

First Edition

Cover photo courtesy of NASA. The Blue Marble is an image of planet Earth taken on December 7, 1972, by the crew of the Apollo 17 spacecraft. The image has the official NASA designation AS17-148-22727.

Dedication

This book is a result of me being held against my will and forced to watch countless hours of television. After days of abuse, I cried out: The bastards have done everything except sharks from Mars! Blame or appreciation for the existence of this book can only go to Sylvia. Thank you for all the cruel and unusual punishment that made Sharks from Mars possible.

Chapter One

A blimp floats above fluffy white clouds. The slow-moving airship is ideal for sky tourists who want nothing more than to spend a tranquil day in the craft’s gondola or passenger cabin. Dual propellers at the rear of the gondola push the ship onward and upward. The passenger cabin’s walls and floor, designed for optimum viewing, are constructed of reinforced glass.

The gliding bus usually filled with day trippers, carries only two fares today. A woman and a man look out over cotton ball clouds below. They pursue a different kind of recreation than the usual gaze and daze crowd that frequented these flights. The brightly clad duo are members of a more adventurous tribe known to surf the skies. They are high-altitude bodysurfers; skydivers without parachutes. The woman and man, both in their twenties, sit near the rear of the craft with their backs to the cockpit. They are silent as they take in the spectacular view.

The quietude is broken when the man finally speaks, I can’t believe you talked me into this. The man’s tone is a reluctant one, despite the spectacular view.

The woman smirks and chides, I can’t believe your such a big baby. You’ve been to Mars and back, and soon you’ll be mining helium-3 on the moon.

A big baby… I could plummet to my death, the man said with a degree of seriousness one would expect from someone who was about to plummet to their death.

Well, sure, with that attitude, I suppose anything is possible, the young woman agrees smiling.

Jeez, thanks, the man replied as he peered out for the spot far below where he would certainly die. Puffy white clouds obstruct the view to his final resting place.

I can see it, Johnny, I can see your death, the woman said as she touched her forehead with the tips of her fingers in a way that suggested clairvoyance.

The young woman altered her voice and spoke in a heavy, haunting manner, Yes, you, Johnny Deluca, will die today. You will curl yourself into a ball while in midair thus nullifying the aerodynamic features of your high-altitude bodysurfing suit. Splat… that is you, Johnny Deluca, ruining an otherwise perfect day with your propensity to assume the fetal position and achieve terminal velocity. The woman laughs.

Yes, that’s very funny Murphy, you’ll feel bad when something happens to me. And, you will miss me when I’m gone, Johnny Deluca said while watching his friend who was still laughing.

A voice from the intercom, We are over the jump sight, prepare to surf.

Murphy pressed a touchscreen and answers, Thanks, Nick.

I think you’re going to have to push me, Johnny Deluca said as he looked out over the clouds again.

No, problem, Murphy replied in a nonplused manner that suggested she had no misgivings whatsoever in pushing her friend out of the high-altitude recreational platform at twenty-five thousand feet.

Kate puts on a helmet and adjusts an oxygen mask inside the protective wear. Airflow begins. She hands Johnny his helmet. They will be able to communicate with one another on two-way radios within the headgear. The silent engines are cut to minimum thrust and the dual propellers turn slowly.

Can we circle around again? Johnny asked.

No, we’re lucky we didn’t have to share with a bunch of tourists and jumpers. Nick is doing me a favor, Murphy said.

Yeah, about that… Deluca fidgets as he glances toward the cockpit.

Kate ignores him and instead presses the touchscreen again, We’re out of here. Have a wonderful day, Nick.

You too, baby doll. Enjoy the rush, the blimp pilot responded.

Murphy pressed the touchscreen again, this time activating the door at the rear of the blimp’s gondola. An automated voice speaks, Please prepare yourself, the jump door is opening. Enjoy the surf, a door slides open. The opening is just big enough for one person to step through at a time. Propellers leisurely turn a safe distance from the exit. The wind howls and threatens to suck the occupants out of the craft. Each of them grasps handholds near the open door.

Ladies first, Deluca said as he motioned to the door with his free hand.

Yes, exactly, Murphy smiled and waved a hand toward the opening recommending Johnny go first.

No, no, I insist… Johnny began to say just before Kate kicked him in the shin. Ouch! Johnny Deluca yelled out as he let loose of the safety-handle to reach for his shin. It was then, when his longtime friend and workmate pushed him from the floating airship.

When Johnny opened his eyes, it was to the sight of clouds below. He was falling toward the clouds fast. Deluca looked around for Murphy. Damn her, he thought. She had tricked him. Yes, of course he could see her laughing it up now from the safety of the blimp with her old friend Nick. Johnny, as always, assumed the worst. Anxiety was turning to panic just as Kate raced past him.

Woohoo, Murphy shouted as she bodysurfed around a plummeting Deluca.

Johnny screamed as he plunged into clouds. Layers of suspended water vapor and ice crystals conspire to obstruct Deluca’s vision. It was for the best, he thought, it would save him the effort in keeping his eyelids clamped shut. To his dismay, Johnny emerged from the cloud cover far too soon for his liking. Another scream escaped Johnny’s mouth as he flailed frantically at the sky.

A soft voice from his helmet’s receiver advised, Remember Johnny, flying squirrel, not thrashing bird. Murphy’s voice calmed Deluca enough for him to focus.

Despite assuming the proper position, that of a flying squirrel with upper and lower extremities outstretched, Johnny felt he was more falling through clouds than surfing the sky. It was important, he was told to maintain the position for the optimal surfing experience. Imitating a flying squirrel assured the suit’s webbed features under the arms and between the legs made the sky-surfer aerodynamic.

Johnny considered these things and relaxed, or at least tried to appear to enjoy the endeavor. He could not continue the freefall screaming all the way to the ground, or could he? It was just then he caught sight of Murphy who floated aloft next to him.

Kate taunts Johnny and he pursues her. The two friends soar into the sky on updrafts and dive through the strata of clouds as the chase continues. Johnny was enjoying the surf. He looked over to Kate and wished the moment could last forever.

Kate Murphy, the eternal master of casual, floats belly-up. She was always too cool for school, Johnny thought as she blew him a kiss. Kate waved and then pulled her knees and arms in. Murphy shouted, Cannonball, as she dropped like a stone. Kate disappears into the clouds.

Murphy, no! Johnny yelled as he watched his friend plunge to Earth.

Empty sky and roaring wind. Deluca dives headfirst like a spear after his rock-like friend. The race was on. Murphy comes into view. The sound of the wind is deafening as Johnny cuts through sky. Deluca readjusts his angle of descent, so he can decelerate. He swoops down next to Kate who has given up imitating a falling rock for a flying squirrel.

Kate and Johnny fly high above the ground. Rolling green hills turn to mountains just east of the sky-surfers. A big blue ocean dominates the day. California coastline stretches on for as far as the eye can see.

Minutes later, much closer to the ground, landing wings deploy from the high-altitude suits. The wings act as breaks so a surfer could safely land as opposed to collide with the ground. Murphy smoothly appears to step out of the sky and onto terra firma with ease. Deluca touches down feetfirst only to stumble and then tumble. Finally, he came to a full stop in a heap in the hot sand of the day.

That was awesome… except for the landing, Deluca said smiling from ear to ear.

Who needs to know how to land, when you can fly? Murphy asked rhetorically.

Chapter Two

SAN DIEGO RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Approximately three dozen people are in attendance in an auditorium. It is an anxious crowd with many furrowed brows aimed at the front of the room. There are heated exchanges in