His name is Ginke of Nest Kielra-Gynse, and he will change the universe. He was a Scincian born without a tongue, but he never faltered in fighting that uphill battle. Even being teased and ignored, Ginke always loved his people and their world.
His love motivated him to be welcomed by his people the way he welcomed them. One day, he met Dr. Cajo Tehinjhm, and the doctor helped Ginke get a tongue. The addition changed Ginke’s life.
Now, the Birnsteins invade Scincia, Ginke’s home. Most Scincians stood against the invaders, but some allied with the Birnsteins. In response, Ginke joined the military to help fight against the Birnsteins and bring unity back to Scincia.
***
When Joe woke, he immediately put his helmet on to check the HUD. He saw the sun had risen in the area on the surface, but he’d received no updates from Command. Joe picked up no general walkie traffic either.
Joe got up and looked over at the Scincian computer. An empty grid overlaid Scincia, showing that the Birnstein’s jammer was still working. After a heavy sigh, Joe removed his helmet and sat back down.
Hoàng stirred shortly after Joe. Hoàng checked his helmet for any changes, too, and when he looked at Joe, Joe nodded to confirm what Hoàng had seen. When Mulloy and Beck woke, they looked between Joe and Hoàng for an update.
“Anything, sir?” asked Mulloy.
“No,” said Joe.
“What do we do now?” asked Beck
Joe shook his head and looked down at his helmet to think, but Ginke distracted him.
“Morning,” said the Scincian as he crawled into the room. “Did you all sleep well?”
“Fine,” said Mulloy. “I could use something to eat, though.”
“I could grab some more--,” started Ginke.
“No!” said Mulloy quickly as he held up a hand. “I think I’ll just break into my own rations this time.”
“Thank you, though,” added Hoàng.
“Understood,” said Ginke before he made his way to the computer.
“Still nothing,” said Joe as he got up and came to Ginke’s side. “The jammer is still up.”
“Yes,” said Ginke as he looked over the monitor. “The Birnsteins have done this in the past, but never this long. I wonder if the Humans are still giving them trouble on the surface.”
“We can’t stay here,” said Joe. “We need to find a way to contact Command. Maybe we can find a gap in the jammer if we return to the surface.”
“There’s a small Human base to the northwest we could go to, sir,” said Hoàng.
“Was,” said Ginke.
“Was?” asked Joe.
“Yes. They cleared out shortly before you all arrived. But a Scincian outpost is still nearby. They would know where the Humans went. I can show you the way.”
“What about--,” started Joe.
“Me,” said Terri as he entered the room. “I can continue to monitor things here. When the jammer comes down, I’ll let Queen Ilza know what’s happening.”
“Yes, my thought, too,” said Ginke.
Soon, Joe and the others finished breakfast, geared up, and followed Ginke through the tunnels back to the surface.
Ginke cautiously moved the rock at the base of the tree at the end of the tunnel and stuck his head out. Ginke flicked his tongue several times in a few different directions. Joe activated his eye and moved close to Ginke to scan the area. Joe didn’t see anything after flipping through a series of different views.
“Clear,” said Ginke as he stepped out into the forest.
“Let’s go,” said Joe as he followed Ginke out.
Ginke led Joe and the other three through the forest for a few hours. Even with everyone keeping their auto-rifles up and scanning the area for potential enemies, they made good time. With Ginke guiding them, Joe and the others were led around some natural obstacles that would’ve slowed the Humans down otherwise.
Throughout the journey, Joe activated his eye. He frequently scanned the area for any hidden threats, but nothing was around. It seemed so different from the previous night. No ships flew overhead with their engines raging, weapons firing, and the forest exploding. Joe looked at Ginke to see him always flicking his tongue, tasting the air for any enemies lurking around, too.
After hiking for another hour, though, Ginke stopped and held up his arm.
“Something…,” said Ginke as he looked around and flicked his tongue several times.
Joe immediately activated his eye again, but he still didn’t see anything, even after focusing to extend his range.
“I don’t see anything,” said Joe.
“I’m not picking up anything either,” said Hoàng.
“Hmm,” said Ginke as he continued to look around the area while flicking his tongue.
“Let’s rest for a bit,” said Joe.
They all sat on a rock or next to a tree, but everyone remained alert. Joe saw Ginke kneel down next to a bush where he continued to flick his tongue in the air. Joe walked over and knelt down next to Ginke.
“I’m not seeing anything,” said Joe quietly.
“Hmm,” whispered Ginke again. “I taste something peculiar in the air. Unnatural and…metallic? It’s out of place. There’s something nearby.”
Joe stood up. He activated his eye again and filtered through several different fields. He settled on one that differentiated organic and inorganic material. Joe’s vision was flooded by all the life of the forest.
“Where’s it coming from?” asked Joe.
“The north,” said Ginke while nodding to his right.
Joe looked in that direction and strained his eye to see as far as it could. Joe’s vision was still overloaded by all the different organic life he saw, but at the end of Joe’s vision, he picked up four different clusters of inorganic material wrapped around organic beings. Joe grunted as he relaxed his eye and shut it off.
“Joe?” asked Ginke.
“You’re right. I do see something,” said Joe. Joe then looked back at the others. “Five more minutes, and then we’re heading north.”
“Sir,” acknowledged the others.
“Joe?” said Ginke again.
“I see some armored beings to the north,” whispered Joe as he looked down and fiddled with his auto-rifle. “I can’t tell who they are, but they’re our best bet right now.”
Five minutes later, Joe and the others started north to continue their trek. Joe kept his attention on the readings ahead, and Ginke stayed close and continuously flicked his tongue. Hoàng and the others followed and scanned the area around them with their auto-rifles held ready.
Joe soon saw Birnsteins under the armor ahead. Joe counted eight of them. He looked over at Ginke, and Ginke nodded to confirm he also knew.
“I’ve got something,” said Beck when her HUD picked up the Birnsteins a minute later.
“Hold,” said Joe as his HUD also picked up the targets. “I see them, too.”
“Eight of them,” said Hoàng.
“Damn birds,” mumbled Mulloy.
“Stay low and quiet,” said Joe, raising his auto-rifle and starting forward. “Let’s take a closer look.”
The Birnsteins soon came into view in a small ravine. Joe and the others took cover behind trees and bushes that overlooked the enemy. Most of the Birnsteins were in a large circle with their helmets off and auto-rifles hanging loosely at their sides as they relaxed. Two Birnsteins kneeled around some instruments in the center. Those two appeared to be civilians while the others were clearly military.
“What are they doing?” asked Beck.
“Quiet,” mumbled Hoàng.
Joe took a closer look at the two Birnsteins and the instruments in the center. The Birnsteins looked down at the monitors and chirped quietly to each other. The instrument that sat higher than the other one had a dome with a section of earth and several small green plants inside. After one of the Birnsteins tapped a monitor, a black gas filled the dome and turned the green plants into black slime as they appeared to melt.
With horror, Joe’s eyes became wide and his jaw dropped. He recognized what was happening inside the dome as the soil also became dark and slimy a moment later. It had been a couple years since Joe had seen this, but he would never forget what he saw when he left Pturllel. The two Birnsteins chirped happily at each other as they watched the readings on the monitors.
“What’s that?” asked Beck.
“We need to get down there,” said Joe.
“Sir?” said Hoàng.
“I know what they’re doing, and we need to stop them. Hoàng, Beck, both of you head to the left and target the Birnsteins there. Mulloy, you’re with me, and we’ll take the Birnsteins to the right. Ginke, wait here until we give the all-clear.”
“No,” said Ginke. “I can fight, too.”
Ginke drew a small auto-pistol from his belt and nodded at Joe.
“Okay, you go with Mulloy to the right. You’re responsible for taking out the Birnstein in the middle there,” said Joe while motioning to the enemy soldier.
“Affirmative!”
“Wait for my signal,” continued Joe, “and whatever you do, do not hit those instruments. We’re dead if you do.”
“What?” said Beck, but Joe already started to the right. The others soon started for their targets as well.
Joe watched his HUD as the others finished getting into position. Everyone marked their targets to confirm they were ready. Joe clicked his mic once to let the others know to be ready for his signal.
One of the civilian Birnsteins stood up and chirped at the others.
“Call in the shuttle,” said the Birnstein. “We’ll rendezvous with them in fifteen minutes.”
The translator in Joe’s helmet translated what the Birnstein had said, and Joe watched a soldier nod and reach for his helmet. To stop him, Joe simply stood up and shouted.
“Hey!”