The wastes stretched for endless miles across the polluted landscape, clouds of toxic contaminants so thick the only illumination came from the green lightning that spread like electric veins through the sky.

  The Sunsword entered the atmosphere on auto pilot and descended into the gloom. Visibility was zero as the craft dropped from orbit towards the devastated terrain below.

  This area of the planet had been abandoned for many centuries, other than as a waste disposal plot or for the occasional high security prison colony. No plants grew in the Forgotten Wastes. There were occasional sightings of hyper-mutated creatures spawning from the noxious radiation pools, but none had ever been captured or documented. Myths spread about a transfigured race of semi-human Morlocks lurking in the poisonous caves and broken buildings of the Wastes, but these had likewise never been verified.

  This left a huge area of the world that was uninhabited, untraveled, and shrouded from satellites. The perfect place for the super secret base of the organization known as Ourobouros.

  It had taken the Sunsword months to undertake the return journey from the outskirts of Mars. They had spent the time training and planning for the encounter to come.

  The ship broke out of the ashen cloud cover and dropped speed, homing in on a large crater likely from some ancient missile strike. A discreet hatch opened near the base of the crater and the Sunsword disappeared inside.

  The crew were huddled in the cockpit, watching the large screens that displayed the tunnel their ship floated through.

  Lowell was sitting in the pilot’s seat, the craft now under manual control. Socketed next to them was the robot Ignasius. Gondo stood behind Lowell, hands placed on the top of the pilot’s chair. Rockman similarly stood behind Ignasius, with his hands awkwardly placed around the top of his frame.

  They traveled through the cave for a long time, weaving through turns, ascents and descents. Occasionally the Sunsword would emerge from the tunnel into a large underground chasm. The outer speakers picked up eerie creaks and burbles from the atmosphere as the craft hurriedly submerged into the parallel cave entrance.

  The depth monitor marked them deep below the planet’s surface. Eventually they began to pick up activity from their scanners. They rounded a turn and light finally shone from the passage ahead.

  A familiar voice came over the comms. “Look who it is! Finally. We’ve been waiting for you,” Jasper said. “I’ll guide you to your dock.”

  The base was built into the side of one of the huge subterranean caverns they had been traversing. This far below there was no worry of the radiation that blanketed the surface. The compound had a series of docks that jutted out from the cavern walls. Throughout the face of the chasm peeked metal buildings, fronted by expansive windows. The core of the base burrowed itself deep inside the rock.

  Lowell granted control of the Sunsword to the docking team and released the controls as the the ship glided up to their berth, softly landing upon the docking platform.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  The rampway descended and the crew were greeted by Gondo’s old friend Jasper. The two embraced, laughing and exchanging hellos. Jasper have a sidelong glance at Rockman, who was mimicking their pleasantries.

  “What in blazes…” Jasper said, shocked.

  Ignasius glided up between them.

  “Long story, don’t worry he’s a friendly. Nice to see you not covered in blood for a change Jasp!” he said as he moved past them.

  Jasper was obviously intrigued, but moved on to deliver a perfect high five to Lowell.

  “I’m sure you are all weary from your journey. If you follow the lights on the floor they’ll lead you to clean bunks, showers and a hot meal,” she said. “We’ll debrief in the morning.”

  The beleaguered crew began to follow the series of dim lights that then appeared across the dock, leading inward.

  “Gondo, a word first please,” Jasper said. Gondo held back as the others chatted and proceeded into the base.

  “I just wanted to make you aware, you’ve got a man on your trail. Well, not a man really. More like a maniacal cyborg with a Texas accent, a mustache and insatiable lust for your blood,” she said.

  “Burt,” Gondo said. “Dammit, I thought I’d slain the fool. Last I saw him he was in pieces, screaming down a ventilator shaft.”

  “I’m sorry to say that he survived. Some of him, anyways. I ran into him near the Soft Watch a few months ago,” Jasper said. “He caught me inside a dampener shield, grilled me about your whereabouts till I fed him some false info. Somehow he was able to outfit himself with decent hardware. Probably one of Kruger’s dogs now. Anyways, I just wanted you to know.”

  Gondo nodded his appreciation. “I’ll be cautious. He’s weak but he’s tricky. Thanks for the heads up.”

  Jasper slapped an arm around his shoulders. “I bet it’s been a while since you tasted any real bourbon. Come with me, we can catch up over a glass.”

  The two wandered into the base as the dock lights dimmed behind them.

  …

  “He’s weak but he’s tricky. Thanks for the heads up.”

  The creature that used to be named Burt Albermarle clung between two cracks in the cavern walls, picking up the chatter from across the chasm. What used to be an ear was now an audio scanner.

  Metal claws from its 4 arms and 4 legs dug into the rock, supporting the bulky upper body. It had found this place several weeks ago and had been observing the compound since. Luckily Burt was loaded with high end power cells, and didn’t need to eat. Hell, he couldn’t eat. What he wouldn’t do for a chocolate croissant and a frothy latte right now.

  “Weak. He calls me weak. I’ll show him weak,” Burt drawled from the speaker box linked to his brain.

  He’d combed the city for any sign of his nemesis, eventually camping out near the Watch and scanning for anyone linked to Gondo. During his encounter with Jasper he had beamed a rare barely detectable radiation into her bones. He’d been able to follow it like a hound through the Forgotten Wastes. All the way to this base.

  The time was now. He activated a cloaking shield and his hover jets and propelled himself across the chasm. One way or another, this thing ended tonight.