Andy had been trudging for about three hours when the air began to gently vibrate. He looked around for the cause and saw a small winged craft approaching from the distant hills. Hills that did not seem to get any closer.

He watched as it deployed landing struts before descending slowly. Andy braced himself for the coming encounter.

“Take me to your leader,” he mumbled.

Moments later, a short ramp deployed and two figures descended to the desert. They were at least humanoid. He heard one of them call loudly, “Andy. Thank God that you are safe.”

This acknowledgement of his name puzzled him. He had never seen them before.

“You know me?” he said as they approached.

“Of course we know you.”

Andy saw that they were dressed as he. Only the golden hair and young faces were different.

“I’m Tom and this is James. Come on. Within the hour you will fry.”

They grabbed his arms and dragged him towards the craft where he was deposited upon a leather chair. He glanced around at the simplistic control room as the door closed.

“Where is your medic centre?” he asked.

Tom glanced at him.

“This is a scout craft as you well know. You been drinking from that wine lake?”

Andy coughed.

“I may have indulged.”

James shook his head as Tom pulled the joystick back to gain height.

“Where exactly is this place?” Andy asked.

“The Antigas colony of course. What’s wrong with you?”

“I really don’t know,” Andy replied. “Everything seems garbled.”

“Probably the wine,” Tom commented.

Andy glanced at the view screen and he saw the hills passing underneath. Then he saw an astonishing sight. Just ahead, lay a huge domed city, the dome parting as the craft descended.

He watched as they settled down gently and the drive system was deactivated.

“Can I get up now?”

“You had better follow us to the medic centre,” James told him. “You need looking at.”

They led Andy into what looked like a large dentists. Sitting upon the reclining chair, he saw a robotic figure approaching. With a harsh voice, the machine asked, “What seems to be the trouble?”

“He was lost in the desert. Probably drank that wine too.”

“I see,” the machine replied. Andy saw the arms extend and a syringe appear. Before he could react, the needle jabbed his left arm.

“Ouch, that hurt.”

“It was meant to,” the machine replied. “Next time be more careful.
I have ill patients to attend to. Now get out of here.”

Andy left the chair and followed his colleagues into the main thoroughfare. The city was fairly buzzing with activity. Moving pavements made getting around an easy and relaxing affair.

“I have to get home,” he muttered.

“State block six,” Tom said. He pointed to one of the descending paths and said, “Just mention your address. It will stop there. We will see you later.”

As they walked towards one of the transport systems, Andy stepped onto the descending path and garbled, “State room six please.”

The path moved down at a rather sedate pace. He gazed at a huge area below filled with shops, offices and cafes. The whole place looked quite organised. If a little futuristic.

The path glided over this panorama and swung to the left before approaching a block of apartments. Then it gently stopped and he stepped off. Before him was a plain door with a number six upon the door.

He checked his pockets for a key but could not find one.

“Oh that’s just rich,” he complained. “Locked out.”

A fine electronic voice replied, “Identity confirmed.”

The door slid open and he entered what looked like a shoebox. The ceiling was around six foot and the length around fifteen. It was dominated by a single dark bed that he scrambled onto.

The door slid shut and he gazed upward. There was no sign of a cooker, loo or entertainment.

“How does one get fed around here?”

The same pleasant voice replied, “The cafe Andy. Would you like the news?”

“I would not mind. Might explain where I am.”

“You need information Andy.”

He was about to answer when a screen appeared above his eyes as if from nowhere. He stared at the advanced hologram in some shock.

“Eh, current location?”

“State room six, Antigas colony.”

“How long have I been stationed here?”

“Three years twenty-four days.”

“I need to know my profession?”

“Infantry group four.”

“I’m a soldier?”

The electronic voice replied at once.

“Yes. Last action, area two.”

“And where is that when it’s at home?”

“The desert region Andy. Are you well?”

“I seem to be losing my mind.”

A warm light illuminated him and the voice said,”Carrying out
evaluation. You are well.”

“That,” Andy said. “Is a matter of opinion?”

“Your next duty roster begins in four hours. You must sleep.”

“Not before you tell me what happened to Norwich.”

There was a pause.

“Norwich, quadrant 0, was destroyed in the solar year 365, 210.”

“I know I’m not on Earth,” Andy muttered. “I need a map.”

Upon the hologram a diagram of the solar system appeared. At the far edge a dot flashed.

“That I presume is Antigas?”

“Correct. Antigas, quadrant four.”

“At least we made it to the stars.”

The voice reminded him that sleep was required.

“Turn off the light then.”

He was plunged into darkness and rolled over to sleep. His feverish mind replayed the taxi journey one more time, and then he knew no more.
--
Andy experienced one of those twilight sleeps when you close your eyes for seconds only. The blaring light woke him up.

“Time already?”

“You must leave now,” the voice replied.

He heard the door open and scrambled out. He found himself in the company of Tom and James.

“I need some breakfast,” Andy complained.

“We are off to get some now,” James told him. “Feeling better now?”

“I think so.”

They took a pathway to a cafe where a robotic servant served food tablets. Andy was rather shocked but was soon informed these would provide more than enough nourishment.

“What is today’s agenda?” Andy asked.

“We have to patrol area one today. The mountainous region,” Tom replied.

After a short liquid drink that tasted of sugar, they left the cafe and soon arrived at the landing bay where the scout ship remained.
After boarding, Andy sat quietly as the craft lifted off and swung towards their target.

“Check out the weapons will you?” James asked.

Andy looked around. He had no idea where they were.

“That wall there,” Tom pointed. “Get a grip will you.”

He walked over and touched a panel, which promptly slid back. Inside he saw three large weapons that looked fairly lethal.

He pulled one out and casually looked it over.

“Seem fine to me.”

“Great. We are coming into land,” James replied.

After touchdown, they walked down the ramp and weapons ready they walked off.

Andy saw mountain tops towering on his left and a sheer drop to an inland sea to his right. The weapon vibrated reassuringly though he kept his fingers off the trigger.

“We have to be careful,” James advised. “Creepos may be near.”

Andy felt foolish for asking the obvious.

“What are Creepos?”

His companions looked puzzled.

“Don’t worry Andy. You’ll spot them easily enough.”

They followed the open track further as the heat slowly rose. He
scanned the dark volcanic ground and noticed that a few peaks were
smoking. A heavy scent of sulphur filled the air.

This was certainly no place to be.

They had reached a large rocky outcrop when a boulder was dislodged, and rumbled towards them.

“Look out!” Tom screamed as it hurtled down.

Andy threw himself aside as the boulder bounced off the track and plunged towards the waiting sea. Almost at once, a dark mountainous shape reared into view and a thick tentacle waived in their direction.

James and Tom opened up at once as Andy scrambled to his knees. He aimed at the hideous spiderlike creature and pulled the trigger but nothing happened.

As laser bolts struck, the creature lumbered on and James yelled, “We need your weapon to work mate.”

Andy tried again but it was useless.

“The damn thing’s jammed.”

“Fall back,” Tom called out and his colleagues turned to run. As Andy followed, a hairy tentacle swiped him sideways and tossed him into thin air and over the edge.

He screamed as the weapon fell from his grip and the sea approached at breakneck speed. He closed his eyes as the impact came, plunging him painfully deep.

When the descent stopped, he clawed his way to the surface and reached it just in time. Gasping deeply he trod water as he looked around in surprise.

The volcanic mountains had gone. Around him, lush foliage grew in thick profusion. He completed a circle, convincing himself this was a small lake. He was about to swim to the bank when a loud overhead shrill caught his attention.

Looking up he saw the horrifying sight of a pterosaur swooping towards him. The brown creature, with huge frail wings, swooped down with beak wide open.

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Ta..Other things on mind...