Shadows from the Badlands

"Between the defenses I have erected, and our own arms, we should be able to weather the attack," Dash'r paused, trying to collect his thoughts, "Yet these zerg behave differently then others my kind have encountered, I expect more attack soon, in greater numbers."

Michael was still checking the charge of his armor and weapons, and distractedly asked "Different how?" in the distance his sensors were already registering the sounds of approaching zerg, too many for the limited tracking to count them all.

"On every other world they have claimed, nothing remains, here there is life, untouched and unspoiled, my own home world is unrecognizable." The sadness was palpable in Dash'rs voice, and Michael cast a searching gaze at the large alien. He didn't have that strong of a connection to earth, nor the planet of his birth, but at the same time he wondered what it must feel like to have lost the center of his heritage.

He didn't know how to respond, not wanting to come off as crass and uncaring for once. He settled on discussing the present situation, "I figure they'll be passing that ridge," he gestured back towards where his own sip had crashed, "in less then 4 minutes, is that the only direction they're coming from?"

"No, I'll be at the ridge thinning their numbers. Good luck, Michael." Dash'r faded from view. Knowing where to look, Michael's sensors were still capable of detecting him, but only barely, as an indistinct heat source moving rapidly up the hill. Michael hoped whatever method he used to attain invisibility was as effective against the zerg.

The minutes ticked by. Michael could no longer make out Dash'rs presence atop the hill. When the first zerg crested the hill he gasped. The large creature looked to at one point been one of the colonists, but it's legs and arms had been twisted and deformed, and now resembled nothing more then a four legged spider many feet tall. Around it's legs scurried many smaller varieties, making an almost yelping noise. He readied his shot gun, the range was still to long, but he'd have an even chance of doing damage to them half way down the hill.

As the former colonist began lumbering down the hill, Dash'r faded into existence momentarily, and a glowing sword was visible coming from his arm. It swung in an arch, severing an arm and a leg from the monstrosity. Another wide glowing arch and the sword had been planted in the torso of the creature, and ripped out, almost severing the body in half. Around Michael, long before he would be able to open fire, the half buried constructs began emitting powerful blasts of energy, taking out the smaller zerg in one hit. Michael focused on the on coming wave, it was not being cut down enough by the cannons or Dash'r. As they came into range of his shot gun, he fired single rounds. The spread of the shots would stagger several of the tightly packed zerg, slowing them long enough for the cannons beside him to track in and finish the job. He was vaguely aware of the swirling glowing blade dancing it's way across the crest of the hill.

It wasn't enough. Michael was soon forced back, almost to the door of the ship, firing single bursts into the mouths of the zerg from less then five feet, just before they would leap at him. Around him the cannons were overwhelmed, the metal being clawed apart and strewn across the battlefield. One of the cannons closer to the ship had a zerg get lodged in the emitter, and the backlash of power tore open a gash in the side of the crystalline ship. He was so focused on aiming and killing the zerg that were upon him, fighting amidst the rubble that he did not notice that on the crest of the hill, additional zerg had stopped pouring into the area

He noticed one of the smaller zerg leap at him too late. Firing a round into it's open mouth was not enough as it's momentum carried it into him, catching the barrel of his weapon and ripping it from his fingers. Another sought to take advantage of his misfortune and razed a spiked claw, ready to impale him. As the claw came down a swirl of energy tore through it, severing it, and another impaled it through the side, Dash'r had made it down the hill as fast as he could, picking of stragglers. Now, amidst the ruins of his hastily assembled defenses and ship, he dispatched the few remaining zerg that were attempting to claw there way on board.

Michael shoved the carcass off of himself, and groped for his weapon. The mere ten minutes of the attack had felt like hours, and he knees sagged. Glancing over at Dash'r, he didn't look much better. A series of thing cuts line the aliens arm, and he was covered in gore. The dark cloth he wore was saturated and dripping. The alien appeared winded, yet held on to the peaceful calm that Michael was beginning to associate with him.

"Is that all?" Was Michael's glib response to the attack, a poorly feigned attempt to hide his weariness and shock at his near death experience.

"For now."

Michael grimaced, and glanced around at the field of carcasses and rubble. "I don't suppose you have any more of those fancy cannons? And I'm guessing that your ship is even less likely to be able to fly now?"

"No, ll of the probes I had for use in deploying the photon cannons were destroyed in the explosion, and without them, I will be unable to call on more, or finish the repairs."

Michael cursed under his breathe, and sagged a little more. The adrenaline fading from his body causing his weariness to become more and more irresistible. "I don't suppose you have any ideas on how to get off this rock then? 'Cuz I'm almost out of ammo, and if you have no more of those fancy cannons, we're fucked if they attack again."

"I don't believe they will attack again for some time," Dash'r said, his own weariness becoming more apparent in his mental voice, "Something about this planet has changed them, and inhibits their numbers. When it became apparent that I would crash on this world, I deliberately tried for this area. I detected something from orbit. I believe it may be what affects the zerg. We should rest, and then attempt to find it. As for your supplies, when the attack began, I set my ship manufacturing more for you. At least some of them should have been completed."

Michael perked up at this. The very reason for his being here likely, was the zerg, and the possibility of alien technology. "Resting sounds good, and more ammo, ammo is good too." Unbidden, Michael's thoughts returned to his activities from before the attack, brought on by thoughts of resting with Dash'r. The alien stumbled as it crossed the threshold into the ship, having picked up on the visual in Michael's mind. He glanced back at the human who's blush was hidden behind a helmet. Michael stuttered out sheepishly "Sorry, don't know if humans are even capable of controlling their thoughts."

Dash'r simply stared for a moment, before again turning and fading into the shadows of the ships interior. He could hear the fading whisper in his mind, "Think nothing of it. Get some rest Michael, we will have ample warning if the zerg return."

Michael stared after him. He wished that it would have gotten a bigger reaction, either in a positive or a negative from the alien. He doubted anything would come of it, but the simple uncertainty made the thought continuously enter his mind as he made his way back into the darkened ship. After many wrong turns and tripping over debris he found his way back to what he was thinking of as his room. The half eaten pack of food littered the floor, having been scattered by the explosion. He settled down to rest, using only his armors internal padding for comfort. He hoped that things would be clearer and less confusing in the morning.