Crystal Lake

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                                       ACE's POV

Poor Marcel was having a reaction to the painkiller. It left him drooling and barely coherent. Paul apologized profusely to him several times but Marcel was completely oblivious to him. I had the unenviable task of keeping him upright in his seat as he kept falling asleep.

Paul was busy circling the lake in the darkness trying to find a good spot until he pointed out an area that seemed suitable enough to hold our weight and also provide us with a defensible area. We had Marcel strapped tightly in his seat with an extra belt to keep him restrained and upright. He was babbling nonsense and drooling out the side of his mouth. I could tell Paul was feeling guilty but I didn't say anything to save him the embarrassment.

It stood like a perfectly round island in the middle of the big lake with a strip of ground connecting it to the banks of the shore. There were moss covered spirals rising up from the water in various areas and the shadows of a growing forest far off by the shores to the western edge of our own position.

It was nighttime when we landed and the Exelon shuddered as it made landfall. Paul looked at me as if to ask if I felt the odd shake that he felt. But neither of us said anything.

Paul turned away from me as he unbuckled his seatbelt and  began going through the step by step shutdown procedures he had to go through. Verbally reading each aloud as he did them.

"Step 16- set fuel intake to manual. Step 17 - when led turns red throttle back until exhaust drops-" etc.

The engines had to idle for an hour under no load to cool down gradually. He began shutting down units and opening intake valves for ventilation. Then he got up from his seat as all the rest was just to wait.

"I'm going to make a pot of coffee. You want me to get you some?" Paul asked as he stretched his back and shook each leg to get his circulation going again.

"Yeah that would be great. And get some creamer in mine that tar pit goo you call coffee is thick enough to pave roads with." I said with a laugh.

"In another day or two you'll be begging me for some. I have the last 2 tins of coffee locked up in my room closet. I think we lost the rest during the purge."

I was too wound up and I couldn't get to sleep. The two cups of caffeine kept me awake. So I ended up watching the Tau Ceti sky exhibit its uniquely colorful sunrise while I bathed in its light.

All at once as the light changed position, a shiny  reflection hit my eyes

That was odd I wondered what could possibly make such a reflection out here?

Paul just arrived on bridge deck and set up his old seat.against the circular window where he could sit back and enjoy it. Curious I went up to the front and tried unsuccessfully to see what might be on the surrounding small islands.

I finally decided to get a look at our new base site so I took the elevator to the bottom floor and stepped outside for some of fresh air. I was about to walk to the waters edge when I noticed the ground was just a thin layer of dirt. Stooping  down I brushed the soil away and found a transparent hardened surface. Underneath it  I could see fish swimming beneath. I instinctively grabbed the metal door handle thinking it was a just layer of ice.

But it wasn't and it somehow withstood the weight of the Exelon landing on it. It also looked clear without any significant cracks and appeared to be about 12 inches thick.

I stood up and keyed my Comm.
"Paul there's something out here you should see the ground isn't normal. It isn't ground at all."

"I suspected as much."

"What do you mean by that? Are you keeping secrets from us Paul?"

"No there's something you need to see from my vantage point. It'll be obvious when you see it from up here. The daylight has revealed something."

So I went back upstairs I entered the room to find Paul in deep thought.
He was making a video and voicing over his recording on his personal log.

Stepping to the front window I saw what he was referring to. From this high up you could see the ruins of a large submerged city. Roadways that intersected and crossed around a large central building covered in overgrown green seaweed
and fish swimming through missing doors and windows.

"We've landed on top of a building and this area must have been high and dry at some point."

"But we are at Crystal Lake right?"

" Yes I'm sure of that."

Marcel awoke in his chair and was surprised that we had him restrained by belts.

" Hey guys what's all this about?" he asked as he fought to break free."

"You OK Marcel?"

I'm OK but what happened?"

We're at Crystal Lake and you were pretty doped up.. We had to restrain you for your own  safety."

"Well ? You guys gonna release me now?"

"Oh yeah! Sorry Marcel you were pretty bad off just an hour or two ago." I said as I began releasing the straps.

I walked back and waved him over. "You gotta check this out." I said.

Wobbly at first, Marcel stood up and stumbled a bit as he made his way over to the large bay window.

"WOW! What have we got here?"

"Looks like a snow globe of mythical Atlantis doesn't it?"

"It's beautiful and haunting."

"It too bad it's all at the bottom of the Lake Crystal."

"I've made a video of it to send home. This is going to make news worldwide. It's proof of a not just an alien life form but an advanced one also." Paul said.

"Should we investigate further?" Marcel asked.

"Hold on guys there's only 3 of us. We don't know if there are hostiles out there. As your main security right now I advise against it. We might have problems to deal with. "

"Ace is right. We stay down and work on prepping for building Fort Comfort until the boss arrives. We'll have time to explore later."

"I disagree. We should get a closer look. We would be the first to do it. We would be forever listed that way in the history books."

"Sorry I'm pulling rank. Nobody explores the ruins till he have more hands on board. Can't take the risk especially after the last fiasco. Besides we have a prisoner to watch right?" Paul said crossing his arms as he said so.

"We all agreed then?" I asked.

Marcel reluctantly nodded.

From one of the monitors the image of the Desotti prisoner could be seen trying to open the steel cage he was trapped in and yelling for help. He began pacing back and forth across the small front bars like a caged lion. He was still weak but fiesty in spirit.

"That reminds me Ace could you check on your prisoner?"

"Sure Paul."

As  I got to the lower deck I could here the Androsian  yelling obscenities at me. He had taken off his belt and was pointing at an amulet that was on the ground a few feet out of reach. It was shiny and sparkled in polished brass and gold.

"Is that what you want?" I asked as I approached.

Once again he pointed to it and made an open and close motion with his hand.

So I stopped down to pick it up when I suddenly felt a leathery belt swing around my neck and I was pulled back against the cell suddenly choking as the Androsian began pulling me tight against the bars with the belt around my neck.

Unable to pull free I began reaching for my pistol as my face turned purple and I knew I'd be losing consciousness soon.

Finding it I pulled it out of my holster with my right hand and began shooting around my  left side until it hit him and the belt went slack. Dropping to the ground I backed away from the the bars rubbing my neck and grasping for air. I saw where I'd hit him in the thigh. It was bloody and it looked like I'd hit a bone.

On all fours I found myself staring directly above the amulet. It was made of gold and obviously was a symbol of his status and wealth. I picked it up and slid a little further away.

"Well buddy I came here to check up on you. I was even going to be nice. But after that last stunt I think I'll just let you be hungry and thirsty for a while. As a matter of fact I'm gonna keep the little trinket you tried to entice me with. It's the least I deserve for almost getting killed."

Before leaving I set up a cool cup of water and some food  on a desk where the alien could see it but couldn't reach it. Then I turned off the lights outside of the cell except for a lamplight directly over the food.

"Enjoy the view buddy. We'll check on you tomorrow if you haven't bled to death by then."

Then I left.

As I left I could hear him cursing again. But this time it was enjoyable.

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