Cataline Downfall Read online

  Cataline Downfall

  Shane Ward

  Cataline Downfall

  Copyright 2011

  By Books to Go Now

  For information on the cover illustration and design, contact [email protected]

  First eBook Edition –May 2011

  Printed in the United States of America

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without momentary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.

  If you are interested in purchasing more works of this nature, please stop by

  www.bookstogonow.com

  Acknowledgements:

  Shane Ward would like to thank Ernst van Rijn and Anna Karwowska for their superb work in beta-reading the story before submission and he would also like to thank the staff at BooksToGoNow for finalizing this story.

  The Cataline Downfall

  Our world bathed inside a nebula of blue rich gas that encased the entire solar system. Every cycle, another nebula would collide with ours to create a rare and dazzling display that many of our people would wait an entire lifetime to see. When it did occur; our world was bathed in a harmony of god-like art. Our world was paradise, filled with fields of rich green pasture and plants that lit up the night sky as well as offer a stunning display for all to see during the day.

  We’re a race that’s passionate about all things: life, technology and exploration. But when my family talked about the old days, they explained a terrible secret that our race holds about the population of this galaxy.

  In the past, an alien race visited our planet thousands of years ago and started a colony. We didn’t know them at the time, but as soon as first contact was established, our exotic forms and strong telepathic scent caused the entire colony to descend on us with devastating results. Soon ships arrived and began invading our world. Almost all of our people were raped, mutilated and tortured for not giving themselves up. In the end, mass suicides were the only way to escape. That was before a mysterious ‘thing’ arrived and took the invading aliens away. The unidentified thing that helped rid our planet from the invading aliens spent many weeks developing the first shield generator and once it was activated, they left.

  We never knew who this alien race was, or their motives. But after that incident, we evolved from our scars and turned into a race so powerful we roamed the stars hidden from view.

  Unfortunately, as time ticked on, the inner workings of the government went bad. My father used to hide in his office and mutter about the bad times and things that went wrong. Investigations, gangs and the swapping of power were commonplace on our world and it all tracked back to the government.

  But our prophet, the great Yoyua-Ocini foresaw the troubles ahead. She would often sit in the city square throughout the years and make prophecies on every major event during our history. She was a saint and a highly religious figure, but no one would believe her prophecy on the end of our race. She told about the creatures from space descending on our world and killing or enslaving our race. The story was so crazy it was almost as mad as the tale about a female who dropped from the sky, who was part Cataline and part alien. They called her Jasmine, if that was correct. We all saw the artist’s paintings of her and talked about it for years. There was no real proof in that case, so no one believed that tale.

  Still, I was too young to understand the fundamentals of such things. I was interested in playing with my friend, How-Li, who would tease me all hours of the day. He would often call me Little-Bo, even though he knew that my name was Ellie-Soma, but my appearance always seemed to fall on his good side. He would play, pick and torment me in a playful manner, but he would always defend me when I needed it.

  Now, when I am at the age to understand, he looks at me with more than just playful interests.

  Still, as we played in the fields, memories of the past slowly sank into my mind as we rolled down the lush green hill that was outside our city.

  Once I reached the bottom, I looked into the sky and saw the rapid movements of transports that glided in the sky, like Septore Wings performing a mating dance. They swirled too and fro, gaining entry and exit from the huge shield that protected us from the dangers that lurked in the depths of space. It was a marvellous sight. But for some reason, the frantic movement of the vessels seemed to be out of panic and I knew that our peaceful life had come to an end.

  The shimmering pink glow of the shield was not as powerful. It used to be so pink that the grass on the ground would have a strange reflective tint. But that tint had vanished many years ago, allowing the natural glow of the plants to dominate the landscape.

  My friend muttered some words, but I was too caught in my own dreaming to notice his idle ramblings. Did he say something about me? Did he say something about himself? I think not, as a dark object loomed in the sky and I knew he was not talking about us, but the object.

  I felt panicked hands on my tender blue skin and the ruffling of my delicate fin-like clothing that grew and tracked itself up and down my arms and across my body.

  A flash from the sky diverted my attention and uproar from the city was heard at that precise moment. I knew the creatures from the old history tales were coming, and I needed to get home.

  “Ellie-Soma, we must go back to the city, the creature is upon us,” How-Li said, trying to hide his fear and look strong.

  I watched as the wind took root of the nearby Acadel tree and its green and pink leaves were pulled from side to side. How-Li grabbed my hand and drew me out of my trance-like state.

  “Ellie-Soma, we must go, our parents will be worried about us. They asked me to look after you. I want you to be safe. Let’s go!”

  I immediately followed his lead and we headed back to the city. I didn’t realize that we wandered so far from the city limits. The city looked so close, but it was so far.

  *

  Organic structures spiralled into the sky like crystal hands, slowly merging with the sky in its awe-inspiring view. I continued to watch as aircrafts weaved in and out of the buildings, like birds that knew how to fly from pure spirit. The sunlight reflected on the transparent membranes, sparkling like diamonds, a pleasure to the eye. I was always amazed by such beauty.

  The scattered farms that grew a variety of juicy fruit and succulent vegetables marked the city limits. I often took my friend into the lush green fields and picked the ripe fruits that grew in a careful environment. We were not allowed to venture in such places, but no one saw us.

  But as we walked towards the city gates, I knew the panic was only beginning.

  “How fast can you run?” How-Li asked.

  “I can run just as fast as you. Why?”

  “We need go to your home as fast as possible. Your family has a shuttle waiting just in case of emergencies.”

  I felt a rush of regret. I could not leave my friend on this planet to die; but then again, I might be heading for my own doom. Then suddenly, as I looked up, the sky had changed. What once used to be a pink dazzling sky was now blue. I was hypnotized at the shear beauty of this simple color that basked behind the white fluffy clouds. I w
as used to the shimmering pink. I grew up with it. But now everything had changed and I wondered what other people must be thinking at this precise moment.

  While I stared at the beautiful sky, I soon realized that I was not alone. I glanced towards the street. Everybody, from all professions looked towards the sky, as if they were waiting for the arrival of some great maker.

  Then it happened. An incinerating fireball roared down from the sky with such fury that I felt our maker had descended with hatred upon us.

  The heat took my breath away and I watched helplessly as vehicles were tossed into the sky and people flew around like charred rubble. One person landed on top of me, their blood dripping all over my skin. I felt violated, but a tugging hand on my arm diverted my attention.

  My friend continued to pull me away from the dead person. It could have been me killed by the fireball and tossed into the air. I believed that the great prophet was on my side. Guiding me through this disaster and as I crawled out from the mangled bodies I heard his voice.

  “Ellie-Soma, are you all right? They’ve begun the attack,” How-Li wailed. “Why are they doing this?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t know what’s happening. I must go home. My family will tell me what’s happening.”

  It was difficult to get home. People scattered in all directions and destruction continued to rain down relentlessly. Horrid shadows began to hover over the city, devouring the daylight and increasing the fear the inhabitants were experiencing. Then, before I realized where I had absent-mindedly walked to, the onslaught stopped.

  I thought the attack ended. Perhaps our military had halted them. But the eerie silence was bizarre and deadly.

  Then, after a few moments of calm, I was right. This was only the beginning. I stared into the sky and witnessed the deployment of horrid-looking beasts that dropped out from their monstrous ships. Covered in hair and shaped like mutilated creatures, they plunged from the sky. Using some kind of gravity device that allowed them to float to the surface, they scattered in all directions. Their smell was revolting and it dissolved the sweet-scented air. I felt tainted by just breathing.

  Trapped beside a crystal structure, I came face to face with this creature that snarled with sadistic pleasure.

  My friend surprised me by pummelling the creature to death with a piece of rubble he found on the ground. He was very efficient and with great urgency, he grabbed my hand and we escaped the carnage, rape and mutilation.

  It was near home that I discovered our building was damaged. An entire section had been ripped off, as if a ship had crashed into the side and tore off several floors. I ran inside, yelling for my family. I went up to my floor and discovered the area was a wreck, but luckily my family was safe.

  Strong, burly men surrounded the area and I overheard an important conversation.

  “It’s too late, the shield has failed.”

  “Is there anything you can do? We need that barrier up!”

  “I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do. The reactor that powers the shield has finally expired.” I watched as my father placed his head on his hands. “I wish I had more time to fix it. I only needed a few more months.”

  The burly businessman got up. “We know you did your best. With all the delays our government imposed, including the funding delay, this day was inevitable. We should have listened to the prophet and made preparations.”

  “How did this happen? I thought you lot had control of this. You knew how important that reactor was for our species. Now the Krainers are running amuck.”

  “It’s a government mistake. Unfortunately, it’s been the death of us.”

  My father stood tall. “We have one option left. Our race must carry on. We need to devise a plan to create a wormhole and send all the children we can through it.”

  The burly man got up and stared at my father and I tiptoed closer to the open door. I watched intensely.

  “I knew this day would come.” My father said. “I had devised a plan to send out our children to an unknown place in space. Years ago, a small probe marked ‘NASA’ was located near our home world. Analysis on the metals and organic tissue showed that this alien race was unhindered by our telepathic scent and our children would be safe. It’s a risk, I know, but it’s less of a risk then leaving them here at the mercy of those beasts.”

  “But how many children can we send through?”

  “It’s not a matter of how many, but how many we can save. We cannot put a limit on this. We must find our biggest ship and create this thing.” My father rustled some documents and the sound of roaring engines and explosions rattled closer to our home.

  Catching me by surprise, he rushed over to the door, grabbed hold of my arm and we left for the transport. Now was the time for us to make a move. I still couldn’t believe this was happening. Once I was running through the open green fields outside our city taking in the fresh clean air and marvelling at the spectacular skyline, and now we were running for our lives in the course of a few hours. How did this happen?

  *

  Fate always had a cruel side. I watched through the transport window as hordes of escape vessels took to the sky. Ships rolled, banked and strafed in all the hellfire brought forth from above and all I could do was sit there and hold tight. My heart raced and sweat dripped off my forehead. How-Li walked towards me as the transport vibrated slightly below his feet. He held my hand tight and sat down beside me. We prayed the plan would be successful and then I heard my father asking a question.

  “Ellie-Soma, you can fly a transport vessel can you? All the lessons I taught you, do you still remember them?”

  I stared at my father and felt frightened. Just what was he saying? He’s not coming with us through the anomaly? It was the only question I could think of and I had to ask it. “Why father? Are you not coming?”

  “Of course I’m coming. But if anything happens I need you to fly the transport through the anomaly.” My father looked so big and real sitting at the front while I looked through the window towards the burning city below. I knew what was happening below my feet. I wept for my home and all my friends who would now be taken away and used in horrendous ways.

  *

  Our starship came into view. It was a dazzling display of lights, like some undersea creature made from jelly and bustling with illumination. It hovered in space with tentacles stretched forth attacking the approaching alien fleet. Huge whips would slash at the hulls and use its material to repair itself, as hundreds of transports made way for it. They dissolved in the skin and our people moved inside the ship like free spirits, desperate to get away.

  But time was short. Rubble and destroyed ships floated in space like mines intent on wiping out anything that moved. It was an obstacle course; one I hoped the pilot was good enough to maneuver through. I didn’t want to die; I was still young and hadn’t even born any children.

  Children were the next step in a Cataline’s lifecycle and it always gave them meaning, something that expanded their love. There was no greater gift than having children and watching your legacy grow. I’d always wanted children and to this day I always thought How-Li would be my companion, no, my mate. He was a strong and well-built, someone I could rely on. As I gazed deep into his eyes, the transport violently shook from side to side.

  Panicked cries and calls for help screamed throughout the control deck and I tried to fight my way through the fallen people. We should have been alone in this transport but spotting a few people on a rooftop, my father could not resist the urge to help. He was always a good man and to this day never caused me to doubt him. But I still feared for my life; the transport was struck and it looked like we would not make it.

  A call suddenly echoed through the ship. “This is the starship Lifeline Six; we’ve detected your vessel. We’ll transport over as many people as possible. Get ready.”

  I stood, taking in the
information but I didn’t have the time to process it before a wash of light came over me, like a tube filling with water. I’d never been transported before and I believe it was an experience that only a few had encountered. I wasn’t much of a scientist and this was out of my area of expertise.

  Next thing I knew, I was standing in a room of this shimmering ship, the Lifeline. I looked around and realized that I was the first to be transported over. I did panic a little, my father or mother had yet to be transported, but as I looked around, they appeared. Then I noticed that my own friend had not been transported. I saw him on the communication screen, scampering around the cluttered transport. He looked worried and bumped into other people. Debris flew in all directions and I watched my friend’s strong resolve slowly dissolved into hopelessness. He knew his time had come and I knew this too. I felt the wet tears stream down my face and watched him slowly come towards the monitor. He uttered a few words that were incompressible behind the noise of destruction. I watched his lips move. I cried to the officers to do something, but as I looked back towards the screen, all went silent. He touched the screen on his end and I did the same. Before I knew it, the image died.

  My feet buckled under the tremendous sorrow that welled up inside me. I just lost my best friend… No mate… I never had the time to explain my true feelings… I was too young… How could this happen? I rubbed my eyes; tears streaming down my face. The overwhelming urge to cry was so powerful I kneeled down on the floor and let the sorrow out like a tidal wave in a storm. I didn’t care about anyone. I was in…agony.

  *

  I was eventually allocated my own quarters. I didn’t know why at the time; perhaps it was my family’s way of giving me peace before we embarked on our huge journey. I did know that we were being chased. Once we had picked up all the civilians we could take, this vessel went into slipstream. I overheard my father saying that this ship would need to stay at slipstream for a very long time in order to reach the coordinates as quickly as possible, but we were still being followed. Unfortunately, the time required to create the anomaly was several hours. They guessed the Krainers could catch us sooner. I didn’t care. My best friend had died and all hope had gone with it. My own world, my dreams shattered as I stared through the window at the passing stars and dust. How did this happen? Are we all that’s left?