Internal Damage

By Lucas B. Gerke

About the Book
Romance can be absolutely beautiful and devastating. Especially in modern dating culture and how relationships are represented in movies and television. Rather than highlighting the unrealistic images we all chase from those stories, Collateral Damage highlights the chaos and damage real relationships cause, and how those moments make you who you are and take you to where you need to be. Through poet Care’s heart wrenching prose, anyone who has ever felt like they were an afterthought, an extra in someone else’s story, can find solace in knowing they are not alone. These tough moments we all must face. But they are not our endings.

About the Author
Care was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, and currently resides there with her beautiful Labrador puppy, Gemini. She has an intense passion for music and the arts and began writing at eight. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University in 2017 with a degree in Political Science & double minor in Entrepreneurship & Music Business, Care went on to work in Nashville's music industry while also further exploring her career as a writer.
After starting Collateral Damage in 2018, Care traveled extensively across the country, meeting incredible people, hiking through mountains, and letting the book guide her towards the person she wished to be when she wrote the last page.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Company
• Release date: Jul 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798888127674

Book preview

Europa

Moon of Jupiter—One of the four Galilean Satellite moons

Most recent of Jupiter’s moons colonized by the Solar System Colonization Project

#

Time on Europa

1 Europan day = 84 hours

Years are counted in Jupiter (Jovian) years

1 Jovian year = 12 Earth years

#

Habitat WA-1

First habitat built in Europa’s western hemisphere approximately five Jovian years ago

Amanda Talbot

Monday, Interplanetary Jovian Calendar 62.216

44:40 Europa Western Time

Well, today’s the day. I’ve been waiting for this for weeks, and it’s finally here. Habitat WA-1 is getting burgers. Real burgers. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the ad. They finally made a shipping route to us from the dairy farm at EC-3, and my favorite diner just added real beef patties to their menu. This is way more exciting than college graduation. I wonder if they have carryout. I could grab some for Marina on my way back since she’s staying home. I don’t feel bad dragging Lawson and Erin with me, though. Lawson’s grumbling that I made him come along, of course, but I let him bring his friends, right? What’s he have to complain about?

Oh fine. I guess at this point Skunk and Amy are basically family now, too. They’ve been around since Lawson was in high school. We pretty much have the whole gang together, and it’s a beautiful day. I don’t know if they turned up the sunlight enhancers on the habitat’s dome, but, well, I don’t know. It’s just a nice day, I guess. Climate control or not.

Yo, Amanda, Skunk says. What you drinkin’?

I shrug. I don’t know. Whatever’s on tap I guess. Let’s see if he makes a pass at me today …

Now ain’t that some shit? Language, Skunk. I was gonna order the same damn thing.

I’m sure he’s excited he can actually legally order beer now, not that it stopped him before. He and Amy drank like fiends in high school. Only difference is, I’m pretty sure Amy actually stopped at some point.

We make our way across a pedestrian bridge with lunchtime traffic zooming beneath us and maybe it’s in my head but I swear I can smell them grilling. I can see it from here and I’m pretty sure my feet speed up on their own, more than likely prompted by the bear growl my stomach just made.

I think I like this place so much because of the view. You can see so much of the habitat from here, how the terraced tiers get lower as they reach the center, the crisscrossing pedestrian bridges, the bustle, the daytime traffic. It’s the only habitat I’ve ever known so, who knows, maybe the other ones are nicer. But we’re here now. And ready to order.

###

I was so scared they’d be out. We waited in line forever. But we got a table and we got our drinks. Just waiting for the main event now.

I wonder what actual ham tastes like, Erin says, her leg bouncing in anticipation.

It’s not actually ham, Amy chimes in, looking bored as usual. It’s beef. They’re shipping us cows. Apparently we haven’t earned pigs yet.

Erin knows she’s not lying, but still squints at her skeptically. "Then why’s it called a hamburger?"

No idea, Amy says before taking a sip of her drink.

Dude, Skunk says after completely downing his beer before I’ve even touched mine. At least we didn’t have to go most of our lives without chicken. My folks told me this place didn’t get a bird farm till Mom was ’bout to have me. God, his hair looks ridiculous. I wonder if he meant for that platinum strip down the middle to be so reflective. I swear it almost hurts to look at. Oh well. I still remember when it used to be Amy whose hair was changing colors all the time.

You know, I say, apparently Callisto has about as many cows on it as Earth and Mars now.

I think someone says something, but …

The diner shakes, knocking my beer off the table. I don’t even hear the glass shatter when it hits the floor, but I feel it pelting my leg. What was that? Was that an explosion? The waitstaff begins to panic and I see Erin across the table staring past me, eyes wide. She saw something. Something bad. I barely have time to register the reality of the situation when a second impact rattles what feels like the entire habitat. Amy falls out of her chair. Looks like she banged her knee pretty bad on the way down, too.

I hear Skunk say, Dude, what the fuck … and I finally get the sense to look behind me through the diner’s entrance.

Oh my God.

It really was an explosion. Two of them, actually. We’d been hearing about the war in the news but there’s no way Ganymede’s contractors would be ordered to attack a civilian habitat. Or maybe I’m just hoping that’s not what just happened. Oh God, please tell me that’s not what just happened.

Amanda! Lawson’s voice breaks in through the muffled haze and reality snaps back in. Yeah, I guess it probably looked kind of weird to see me standing perfectly still while most of the waitstaff and patrons are leaving the building at a full sprint.

We need to go. Now. I say it without even thinking. I mean, isn’t this just like any other disaster you do drills for in school? Stay away from anything that could fall on your head. Only in this case, hiding under a table won’t save us from explosions. And they all listen to me. My siblings, I get. I’m sort of the woman of the house, after all, but Skunk and Amy? Guess they’re probably just scared. Hell, I’m scared, too. Or at least I’m assuming I am. My heart’s beating against my ribs like a drumroll right now. Guess that’s adrenaline doing its job. Let’s hope it helps me get us somewhere safe quicker.

We run out with the final wave of people leaving. I hold Erin’s hand. You’d think she were a lot younger. Pretty sure in Earth years she’s like fifteen or something but her grip on my hand is iron right now. I better not trip.

Where are we going? I hear Amy yell over the expected pandemonium in the streets.

Jeez, where are we going? I don’t even know. Ugh, who let me lead? Okay, think. What’s the smartest play here?

We keep running and the streets are flooding with panic. How did this happen so fast? I was waiting for my burger, my real meat burger! It’s literally the whole reason we went today and now we’re running who knows where, and away from what? I swear I just sipped my drink thirty seconds ago. How did this happen so fast!

As I’m trying to figure out which direction is anywhere close to safe, a third explosion completely collapses the northern end of the dome above the habitat. Or is that west? I have no idea where we are. Jesus, the whole thing collapsed! How many people lived under that section? Hundreds? More?

I must have stopped moving. I only notice because Skunk is suddenly in my face.

Yo! What are we even doing right now? he asks.

Good question. Um, what are we doing right now? Three bombs so far. They’re big ones, too. They’re honestly still pretty far off but who knows where the next one will drop. We can’t go back north. Or west. Or whatever it is, we can’t go back there!

I grab Skunk’s shoulders. Skunk, your parents live a few blocks away, right? I’ve never actually been there.

I can tell he hadn’t thought about that. I kind of wish I hadn’t said anything. I see his eyes start bugging out and I can tell he’s about to freak.

Hey! Hey! I need him to keep his head on his shoulders, like I’m trying my best to do. We can use the bridge to get there, right?

He swipes his head to the side to knock his hair out of his eyes.

Um, he sniffs. Yeah.

Okay. Phew.

Erin tugs my arm. Wait, Amanda! What about Dad! Oh no. She’s starting to hyperventilate and I can feel her trembling through her grip on me. What about Dad and Marina! They’re at home!

Erin. It’s getting kind of blurry. Oh no, why am I crying? We can’t help them right now. Skunk’s family is the closest. We can’t be selfish, okay? Besides, Habitat Security is in the same direction.

I’m looking at Lawson, hoping he can help me.

I’ll call them to make sure they’re okay, he says, and pulls out his phone. It seems like enough to at least get Erin to keep moving with us.

Poor Erin. She and Mari have always been so fragile. Marina. God, I hope she’s okay.

Skunk begins to lead the way. He texts his parents to see if they’re all right but there’s no reply. He would just text. Call them, you idiot!

I hear screaming. It sounds like it’s coming from the plaza on the terrace below us. We get to the bridge and hear the loud pulsing bursts of rail guns.

Run! We need to move. Run, Skunk! Everyone run! Go! Go! Go!

Who is shooting? Is it Habitat Security? Did Ganymede send troops, too? No, that wouldn’t make any sense. They’re bombing the place. They wouldn’t bomb their own troops. Then who the hell is shooting!

A man from the diner grabs on to the pedestrian bridge’s handrail. Holy shit! he screams while pointing across at another pedestrian bridge parallel to ours.

What … what is it? What on Earth is that thing!

Lawson Talbot

Monday, IJC 62.216 45:08 EWT

Come on, Dad, answer the goddamn phone. I know he doesn’t always have it on him and whatever’s happening has got to be all over the news right now so he’s probably watching it. I know they’re probably fine, but I only actually watched the second and third bombs drop. I’m not sure where the first one landed. Why aren’t sirens going off? How could we have had no warning!

Wait. Did I just hear gunfire? No way. Dad was right. I wanted so bad to join up just to avenge Mom and he talked me out of it. Now the war’s here and I don’t want to be anywhere near it. The screaming is worse than I thought it’d be. But wait, were they screaming before the rail guns fired at them? Maybe they were just scared. Who knows, maybe I would be too if I had to stare down the rails of a Ganymede soldier.

Dad picks up the phone. Thank God.

Dad, I whisper. There’s enough going on. I don’t want Erin to panic any more than she probably already is.

Lawson, he says. He’s breathing heavily. Probably running somewhere safe. Law, where are you? Are your sisters … are your sisters okay?

Yeah, we’re heading to Habitat Security then meeting with up Skunk’s parents. What about you guys?

Lawson … His voice cracks and trails off for a second. What’s going on? I haven’t heard him cry like this since … Go to Habitat Security. You and Amanda keep Erin safe. Please.

Dad. Don’t tell me. Dad, don’t do this. Do what? What am I thinking? I’m being dramatic. Overthinking. My mind always goes to the worst-case scenario, but who can blame me after that officer came to our door to tell us about Mom? I’ll tell you which station we’re at and you and Marina can meet us there.

God, you’re so grown up. We can’t meet you. His breathing is ragged. He’s not tired from running. He’s dying. My dad is fucking dying. Suddenly I can’t breathe.

Was it the bombs? I ask. He’s hurt. I know that, but come on. I don’t know what dying sounds like. He’s my dad! He’s tough as hell. No. No way. He can make it. What about Marina?

Son … it wasn’t the bombs.

Okay. He’s been shot. Oh fuck, he’s been shot. Okay. He’s able to speak. It couldn’t have hit anything vital. He wouldn’t be … It’s a goddamn rail gun. If it doesn’t take a limb, it takes a life. I know how this goes.

There’s panic on the pedestrian bridge across from ours. I immediately realize the weight of Dad’s words. It wasn’t the bombs.

Something climbs up the side of the bridge and tackles a bald guy in a suit. The glare off the white metal of the non-paved parts of the bridge make it hard to see at first. It’s shaped like one of the big apes I’ve seen at the zoo. Moves like one, too, but other than that, it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. It’s a literal fucking monster. What the hell? Is it wearing armor? … What? It’s covered in metal. I don’t see skin or fur but it doesn’t look like it’s wearing a suit or anything. Wait, if that’s metal, how is it bending like that? It’s not a bot but it’s not an animal either. What am I looking at?

The thing pins the guy down with one hand. It’s huge. The other hand grows these massive claws. It drags them across him widthwise. It cuts him open in four spots: throat, chest, stomach, and his thighs. It drools on the guy and sniffs him. He’s spouting blood everywhere. What. Am. I. Looking at!

Someone screams next to me. It’s our waitress from the diner. When did she get here? Well, I guess she was probably running with us the whole time. Speaking of us … where are they? Oh shit! I don’t see them!

Dad? Did he get attacked by one of these? Where’s Marina?

His only response is a sob. A wail. A scream. I wish I didn’t know why. I really, really wish I didn’t know what that meant.

I love you, son. I love you so much. Tell the girls.

Why am I still looking at this thing? It’s just running down the bridge slicing people open. It’s crushing their skulls and ripping them apart with its teeth. This is the last conversation I will ever have with my dad and I’m having it while watching this. This horrible thing. This fucking nightmare. Is this what I’ll think of whenever I think of my dad? Why can’t I take my eyes off of heads falling off the bridge to the terrace below, where I see people climbing over crashed cars to find shelter? The couple holding hands as one is cut in half? Oh God, no, please don’t hurt those kids.

I … I love you too, Dad.

Did he hang up? Did he at least hear me? Was I so caught up in this disgusting thing in front of me I didn’t get to say goodbye to my father one last time!

The waitress keeps screaming next to me but her screams are different this time. This sounds fucked up, but thank God. I needed something to pull me away from that.

###

Another one’s next to me.

It has four hoofed legs. It’s not quite as tall as me until you count the … Are those … antlers? Whoa! They’re moving! And they’re stabbing her! I have no idea what this thing is. She seemed nice! Her name was Sarah and she was in college just like me. Wait. What do I mean was? She’s still alive and she’s right there. What can I do? What can I do? It’s dragging her away in its teeth. It doesn’t even seem to know I’m here, but God look what its horns are doing to her!

Something pulls me back. No!

No, Lawson! It’s Amanda. Wait, why is she pulling me away? We have to help her!

Amanda, wait! We have to! It’s gonna kill her! She keeps dragging me back. I’m kicking and trying to get over to Sarah.

We can’t! Amanda says. Rail guns are barely working on some of them. I’m not about to let you die here. Move!

Sarah can’t scream anymore but she keeps looking at me. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

Lawson! Amanda turns me around. We have to go!

She’s right. She’s absolutely right. We do have to go.

Fuck! is all I can think to say. What else do you say? This whole situation is fucked. Hell, we’re probably fucked.

I can’t even feel my legs but I’m running harder and faster than I’ve ever run before. It doesn’t even seem hard. It’s like my legs are running all by themselves and I’m just along for the ride.

It’s coming. I hear it behind us. This rapid clopping and plodding on the pavement. Has it been chasing us since it killed our waitress? How long have we been running since? Was that a few seconds ago or, like, ten minutes? Wow, I can’t tell at all. What is even going on right now!

Move! Move! a Habitat Security officer yells in front of us.

He aims his rail rifle right at me so I run to the side. I really hope he’s not aiming at me.

Rail guns are louder than I thought they’d be. He keeps firing. Him and the three or so officers with him. It keeps running. Its antlers bend forward and go through one of them. It lifts its head and starts thrashing him around like a toy. A few shots through its head slop everything above its neck into a mess that’s mostly black liquid. It finally stops moving. What are these things made of? Most of those shots went right through it. I can’t help but look at the thing. Were its wounds closing back up? Its skin, if you can call it that, looks like it’s moving. It’s almost mesmerizing. It’s like a dark leopard or tiger pattern that keeps moving around.

Inside! Get inside! the officer says.

Okay. Yeah. Yeah that makes sense. Go inside. We’re all okay. Thank God. We’re all okay.

The station lights flicker as we hear another explosion.

Hey. Amanda kneels in front of me. When did I sit down? Wow, I’m really having trouble breathing. You gotta stay with us, Law. We have to stay together, okay?

Talking takes too much breath right now. I just nod. God, even that’s kind of tiring. My body aches.

Are Dad and Marina okay? Erin walks up and asks me.

What am I supposed to say?

I try to figure out my breathing and I just nod.

I can’t tell her. I just can’t. But she needs to know. But I just can’t right now. We need to get out of here before I tell her. Today started off so normal. How could this happen?

Officer Quentin Koble

Monday, IJC 62.216 45:35 EWT

What are they? I’m asking myself this while I keep my rail rifle at constant charge. I don’t really have time to think about it. They’re attacking civilians. Oh sure, I’d love to know where they came from or who’s dropping those bombs and how we had no warning whatsoever, but only every other bar I sink into these things actually seems to hurt them and they’re still killing people.

One runs at me. It looks like some kind of dog but shiny and lacking any fur. Damn, it’s fast. I take off a leg with my first shot, but I swear I see it regrowing the thing as it scrambles, dragging its face on the ground and running at me with its three remaining legs. They’re all dark in color and sort of metallic but I swear their eyes have life and intelligence.

Well, my second shot goes through its head. The thing is small enough that there’s really not much head left at all. It’s not moving and there are more of them, but I better keep an eye on it just in case. I have to keep shooting. No other choice.

A lot of civilians are avoiding the station. They’re just running right past. I try to flag them down but most don’t listen. They’re going to get killed if they stay out here! I wish we’d had time to grab some repulsion shields. If one gets close, there’s nothing between us and them, and seeing what they can do to people, that’s a rather disturbing thought.

I see a small group running toward us. Good. They seem to … wait. They’re being chased. Do they realize they’re being chased? This one looks more like a deer but I can’t get a clear shot with these people in the way!

Move! Move! I yell as I aim right at it. If they get out of the way, I should at least be able to slow it down.

They run to the either side of me. Perfect. I open fire.

Shit! It’s still coming. And fast.

It doesn’t lower its head at all, but its antlers seem to bend down and curve up at the end. Jameson gets gored next to me. Can’t think about it. I have to put this thing down or we’re all dead.

We pump rounds into its face while it thrashes him around until it drops. Two of those people who ran up are just standing there.

Inside! Get inside! I yell for them to move before another one shows up.

It’s clear for the meantime, but I can hear other officers down below still shooting. Another bomb comes through. I actually see the ship fly overhead this time. Definitely military. It doesn’t look spaceworthy though. How did it get past our boys in the sky? I can’t think about it right now.

Koble! Bryant yells to me from the other side of the station doors. Now might be our only chance! Swap out with Gussman on the inside. Now!

I have plenty of ammo and my rifle battery isn’t even low but I’m not going to argue. Maybe that’s selfish, but there might be people inside that need medical attention. Gussman never even renewed any of his certifications. It’s a miracle he’s still on the force.

He passes me as I get inside. Not too many injuries, really. I run to the armory real quick and grab a fresh battery and more magazines to pack into my loader. No time for breaks. I’d love to take a breather but we still don’t understand the situation. That could get me killed.

I scan the room, double-check med packs, keep an eye on the outside. We seem to be holding them off. If this is some kind of new weapon from the Ganymede military, it’s an odd choice. They’re not outfitted with any ranged weapons. Nonetheless, they’re clearly still effective. There are so many dead out there.

A girl walks up to me, probably barely more than two Jovian years old, close to my age. She’s got long auburn hair that goes nearly to her waist.

Excuse me. She sounds remarkably well composed given the situation. Thank you for giving us shelter here. Do you have any idea what’s going on out there?

I sigh. I really wish I could help you more, miss. Currently, I probably know just as much as you. We got radio chatter about creature attacks on the lower levels and less than an hour later, we started seeing them. The bombs started falling shortly after. We had no idea this was coming.

The TV is on the emergency channel. It’s providing about as much comfort and information as I’m giving this young woman in front of me.

So they’re being dropped? She nervously grabs her hair into a ball at the base of her neck. Is it military craft? Don’t we have atmospheric defenses?

I flick my rail rifle’s safety on. We do. But they’re not dropping them from orbit. The payloads would be bigger and I saw these bombers flying overhead. These are aircraft, not spacecraft. They’d have had to bring them past atmo with a carrier. There’s no way that could have slipped past. I haven’t heard of any stealth technology of theirs that could get something that big into our atmosphere without our knowledge. The military is to inform Habitat Security in any habitat they think an extraterrestrial threat might be present.

She shakes her head. I can’t believe it.

Sit tight. I try out my best smile. We’ll get this figured out. We’re getting evacuation orders and there should be shuttles not far from here. We’ll be escorting you. You’ll be safe, miss. I promise.

She gives a weak nod. Right.

I glance over at the group she came in with. A skinny kid with tattoos and hair, dark and buzzed on the sides with a longer white strip down the middle, is talking to a girl who must be this one’s younger sister. Same hair and eyes.

You know all of them or did you guys happen to bump into each other on the way here? I ask her.

Those two are my siblings. She points at the two sitting against the wall. Wouldn’t have guessed it for the dark-haired boy. The other two are good friends of ours.

I would ask her if they saw anything I don’t already know about, but I figure she pretty much already answered that. But, I will say, they’re in better shape than some of the people who found their way here. They’re shaken, for certain. The tattooed guy is trying to comfort the younger sister. The younger brother is staring at nothing, zoning out. Likely in shock, which isn’t the least bit surprising. The dark-haired girl with the hazel eyes seems like she’s seen worse though.

I see another one coming. It’s outside, looks almost like a monkey or a lemur. Is it …

The glass on the window isn’t enough to hold it back. The other officers are at the front doors. We didn’t think they’d try getting in from the sides!

Before I know it it’s on top of the young man with tattoos. I switch my rifle’s safety off to continuous charge and take aim. He’s thrashing around and screaming to his friends, but if he turns the right way … Got it. I pull the trigger and most of its body becomes a black smear on the back wall. This one was small. I don’t think it injured him. The young woman I was talking to runs over to him and helps him onto a chair. I should go double-check to make sure it’s down.

Its tail is wiggling around, but the rest of it is still. It’s so small but it broke through that glass. We’re not safe in here.

Bryant runs in. We gotta get these people out of here, now! he shouts. Some shuttles are supposed to rendezvous with us. Let’s go. Come on, people! Everybody on your feet! We gotta get you out of here.

Good call. I’m glad our emergency evac responders were on the ball. We’ve never had to evacuate a quarter, let alone the entire habitat. This isn’t contained at all. There’s no way anyone can be considered safe while they’re under this dome.

Amanda Talbot

Monday, IJC 62.216 45:55 EWT

I’m staying as close as I can to Officer Koble and Officer Bryant. They’re shooting everything that comes near us and it seems to be working. I keep my eyes forward. I can see Erin and Lawson. Good. Just keep looking at them, Amanda. You don’t need to see anything else. These officers know what they’re doing. God, Marina must be so scared right now. Keep her safe, Dad. I know you’ll do your best.

Bombs are still going off but I think I see the shuttle ahead. Phew. I have no idea where we’re headed once we board that thing, but I’m just glad it wasn’t up to me where to go.

All of the officers start shooting at something. I mean all of them. At the same thing. It looks like a … a bear. And it’s not slowing down. We have seconds before it hits our group. Just stay away from them! I dive forward without thinking. Law’s bigger than me but that doesn’t stop me at all from tackling both him and Erin to the ground. Wow. I didn’t even know I could move that fast!

The black shiny metal bear monster crashes into the shuttle and flips it. Okay, not good. Um, we have a backup plan, right?

Before dropping it bucks its head and flails its arms out. People in our group are going airborne and flipping and spinning, some of them in pieces. Amy! I see her twirl through the air and smack down on the street. I see the creature hit the ground shortly after so I run over to her.

I didn’t get hit so I know Erin and Lawson didn’t either. Its claws were huge! Please, Amy. Please be okay.

I call out her name several times but she’s just slumped in the street on her side. I slide down and lift her to a sitting position. She actually looks at me and doesn’t look too badly hurt!

Amy! Thank God!

I guess, she says dryly. Is she in shock? Skunk’s still pretty shaken from when that thing was on top of him.

I shake her shoulders to see if she has any sense. She looks pissed at that. Okay good. She’s still herself.

It’s okay, Lawson says. They got it.

It’s dead? she asks.

Yes, I tell her. I try to smile, but it’s probably more to reassure myself than her.

She chuckles. Ha, what a bitch. Yup. She’s definitely still with us.

I help her up. Some people are crawling into the flipped-over shuttle. Honestly, not a terrible idea. The big ones would have trouble getting in there. I see Officer Koble get inside and I see the two parallel rails on his rifle poking out from the emergency hatch on the thing’s roof, more like a window now that it’s flipped on its side. He knows what he’s doing.

Come on, Amy. Let’s get inside. I motion for the others to follow us.

We all hunker down inside the thing. Gotta be honest, this seemed like a way better idea before I actually did it. What can we even do from in here?

Most of the security officers stay outside or stand up on seats to point their rail guns out of the windows on top. The explosions keep happening. The shooting keeps happening. We have to do something.

I crawl my way over to Officer Koble, sure to keep my head down. I’m not even entirely sure why. Nothing’s shooting at us, but every so often my head seems to randomly duck on its own.

What do we do? We can’t stay here. I probably sound pretty desperate, but … well you know what? I kinda am.

I know that, but we’re hiding inside our escape plan right now! He fires off two more rounds. As far as I can tell, they only have one bomber, maybe two. Can’t be sure but I haven’t seen more than one at a time up there. They’re relying on dropping the bridges, upper levels, and parts of the dome on top of us so the explosives don’t have to do all the work. He presses a button and a mechanical arm pulls out the clip in his gun, rotates, and puts a new one in. If we can make it to this quarter’s power station, it could buy us some time.

Sounds great … How does that help us?

What’s in the power station? I ask.

They’re built to withstand the dome collapsing on top of them. The security stations are too but these buildings don’t have as many windows.

Good enough for me.

How far is it?

A few blocks. It’s lower though. We’ll have to go down some terraces. That’s where the first reports of these things came in so there’s a chance there will be more of them down there.

Well, you got any better ideas? Oof. I didn’t mean to sound so sassy.

He looks down and then slowly turns his head to me. No. Not really.

He gets up and heads to Officer Bryant outside. Be careful out there, Koble.

I check on everyone. Lawson seems okay. Erin’s fine. Amy, well, honestly it’s hard to tell. She has blood on her pants and she’s holding her arm. Hope it’s not broken. Skunk is hyperventilating but hey, he’s breathing. There’s a mother with her kid. Looks like a preteen. About Marina’s age. There’s a blonde woman who looks close to my age and a man in a suit that I’m sure was a lot nicer an hour ago. Everyone looks more or less okay.

There are a lot of dead things outside. Some human and others …

I crawl over to the emergency exit in the back. One of those things is dead on the ground just outside of the bus. This one looks …

Its skin is still a dark gray, almost black. It’s shiny, seems metallic. It’s got swirling patterns that look like they’re shifting around. But it looks like a person in most other ways. It’s shaped just like a human being. I thought I was confused before. It’s just as dead as the others but why? Why does it look so much like a person?

Amanda? Erin asks. What are we going to do?

There’s a power station nearby. I think we’re taking shelter there.

Okay. Her eyes dart around a bit. It’s okay, Erin. I won’t let them hurt you.

We get the okay from Officer Koble. We’re heading out. Skunk takes some convincing but we get ourselves moving.

We move more or less in the same formation as we did on the way here, just smaller. We see plenty of them and fend them off. The ones that get the closest are either the large ape creatures or the swarms of smaller ones that look like rats. But I can’t stop thinking about that one that I saw lying on the ground. These things don’t seem like machines. There was a creature that looked like it could have been one of us. Gunned down for trying to rip us apart like all the others. I just can’t wrap my head around it.

Ew. What just got on my arm? It’s cold, black, gooey, and … vibrating? I wipe it off of my sleeve. It’s thick. It almost sticks together. I see a collapsed dog or maybe it’s more like a wolf. Well, at least it’s shaped like one of those two things. Its head wound is bleeding this stuff. God, how close did it have to get for it to splatter onto me? I need to stop zoning out. Maybe I’m just trying not to think about what’s happening around me.

We start heading down steps that will take us to the next terrace below. The grass in this area is covered in blood and that black stuff. I see a bloody soccer ball wobble as another bomb drops.

We keep going until a swarm of the rats converges on Officer Bryant. They seem so organized. They form a straight line, triple file until a few get to him. They climb up his body, tearing at his skin. One of the officers panics and shoots Bryant’s arm off with his rail gun. The group of us starts running, losing any semblance of organization or formation. Oh no. We have to keep together!

The man in the suit runs off and I see another humanlike creature tackle him to the ground. It grabs his throat. I swear I can hear the crunch from over here as blood squirts out of his mouth. How are these things so strong? It turns its head. It’s looking right at me. I’m looking right back but not by choice. Its eyes have no emotion whatsoever but they’re … not dead.

My heel slips off the edge of a step. No! I should have been paying attention! The world spins. I feel the hard concrete stairs bouncing me down to the bottom terrace. Ow.

I roll my head to the side. An officer is approaching me. He asks if I’m okay. The bluish-purple tint of the sky filtered through the dome ceiling seems less vibrant now. I guess the bombings are destroying the sunlight enhancers. I can see the real Europa sky through