Chapter Twenty-Two – Where Have All the Placktoids Gone?
Deprived of the strong beam of light from the torch, the baby aliens had little energy to resist as Carrie, Dave and Belinda quickly scooped them into the hole in the floor. Belinda and Dave hefted the door over and it slammed shut with a satisfying clang. Carrie thought of the paperclips rustling in the dark, and shivered.
The four stepped up the pace of their search, hastily glancing through each door Carrie opened before running to the next one. The ship was large and soon the humans were sweating and panting, though Gavin seemed to cover the ground with ease.
But wherever they looked, there was not a sign of the placktoids.
“Maybe they left in a matter transporter,” said Carrie, as they rounded a corner and found themselves in the corridor leading to the entrance bay.
“That might be a possibility, if such a thing existed,” said Gavin. “However, as far as I am aware, this instrument has not yet been invented, therefore—”
Carrie held up her hand, palm outward. “I get it. There are no matter transporters.”
“No,” replied Gavin. “No. If the placktoids had invented a method for transporting matter, they could name any price for it. Sadly, I believe the truth to be far more alarming. You are all fatigued. Please rest for a moment.”
They had returned to the entrance bay. Inside the large area stacked with black boxes, the mound of oootoon still protruded through the hatchway.
“We have searched most of the ship,” said Gavin, as they entered. “Its layout has been altered from the original design but there is, as far as I am aware, no section we have not explored that is large enough to contain the ship’s crew. I think we can safely conclude they are not on board. Yet, as we found, the shuttle ships are in their docks, and we saw none depart while the ship was being attacked. The placktoids did not fly down to the planet surface.”
“So where have they gone?” asked Dave.
“There is only one method by which the placktoids could leave, and if my deduction is correct, when it is considered along with evidence of the development of biological reproduction and growth, it is most damning.” Gavin lowered his abdomen to the ground.
“What is your deduction, then?” asked Carrie.
The insect’s inner jaws retracted and protruded twice before he said, “I believe the placktoids created a gateway.”
“Oh,” said Carrie, “you mean the spiral of green mist? Seems sensible to me, in the circumstances. I mean, that’s how we tried to leave, right? Before the oootoon surrounded the ship. It isn’t that bad, is it?”
“Of course it’s bad,” said Belinda. “Why do you think Earth isn’t overrun with aliens? It isn’t just anyone who can create gateways. The Transgalactic Council must grant permission, which it very rarely does.”
“If there were free passage to any planet via gateways,” said Gavin, “it would be extremely disruptive. Millions might suddenly flock to other worlds, or criminals might turn up, steal or murder, and disappear again. There are endless appalling scenarios that could occur. Gateway technology is highly confidential and its usage limited to essential needs only.”
“And now the placktoids have it,” said Carrie.
“Apparently so. They are acting illegally and subversively. If word of this gets back to the Transgalactic Council, they will be disbarred from all treaty agreements and subject to the strictest sanctions. Placktoid colonies on other worlds will be immediately arrested and confined indefinitely. The placktoids know this of course. Employing gateway technology is tantamount to declaring war on the entire galaxy.”
The spaceship lurched, and Carrie grabbed the wall for support. “But if word doesn’t get back to the Transgalactic Council, what then?”
“Then the placktoids are free to travel wherever they want and to increase their numbers at an astronomical rate, raising an army of their kind. We must leave this ship and alert the Transgalactic Council.”
“Then we have to persuade the oootoon to let us go,” said Dave.
“We’ll never do it,” said Belinda. “There’s no communicating with that thing. It’s barely intelligent.”
Carrie tutted. She went to the bulge of oootoon, took out her translator and switched it on. A babble of voices filled her mind. Ruin the placktoids. Catch them, crush them. More hostages. They’ll never hurt us now. Wheeee, we’re flying. I miss home. The placktoids attacked us. Revenge! Let’s see how they like it. Carrie turned off the translator. Maybe Belinda was partially right. The oootoon surrounding the ship seemed impossible to communicate with, though it wasn’t unintelligent. There were just too many personalities within it who were focused on harming the placktoids. A few might be listening, but not enough to influence the majority.
Gavin, Dave and Belinda had joined her.
“I told you,” said Belinda. “It’s a complete waste of time. We’re doomed.”
Carrie strode to the far end of the bay and found a pile of boxes to slump down behind. She could not stand being around Belinda a moment longer. Smug, doom-mongering, arrogant, b—
“How are you doing?”
Dave had come up behind her.
“That woman,” she exclaimed.
He grimaced and sat down beside her. “I have to admit she’s been getting to me, too.”
“What are we going to do? We’ve got to get out of here. I have to get back to Toodles and Rogue. I’m new in the area. I don’t know anyone there, and no one knows me or that I’ve got pets. If I don’t get back who knows what’ll happen to them.”
Dave rested his elbows on his knees. “Yeah, there are a few people who might miss me.” He smiled. “I had no idea your housewarming party would turn out quite like this.”
Carrie hung her head. “I’m sorry I got you into all this.”
“Don’t apologise. It’s been kinda fun, in a strange way.”
“You’re too nice, you know? Anyway, in case we don’t manage to find a way out of this, I wanted to say, it’s been good to know you. We only met yesterday, though it feels like a lifetime ago, but you’ve been a great friend.”
“I’m glad I met you as well, Carrie.”
“And I forgive you for stealing from me.”
“I keep telling you, I have a condition.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Carrie stood. “Maybe we should move away from these boxes. The way the ship keeps lurching, we stand a good chance of one of them falling on us.”
Dave also got to his feet. “I wonder what’s in them?”
“I wondered that, too. Probably more baby paperclips, ready for shipping to another planet.”
“But if they can use gateways, the placktoids don’t need to ship anything.”
Carrie frowned. “That’s right. What can these be for, then? They must be containers for something.”
“Let’s have a look.” He peered at the nearest box. “Maybe we can get one open.”
“Are you sure we should try? What if a load of...I don’t know...alien pens come flying out and start poking us in the eyes?”
“But they need light for energy. It’s pretty dark in here.”
Carrie nodded and ran her fingers along the edges of the box Dave was examining. It was as high as her chest and about the same width. Aside from two handles on its lid, the box seemed smooth and featureless. There didn’t seem to be a way to open it. But then Carrie had an idea. If the placktoids used magnetism to hold doors closed, might they not do the same with their containers? She pulled out the magnetic field neutraliser and ran it along the nearest edge. As the instrument passed over it, there was a small click. Dave’s eyebrows lifted.
Looking closely at the matte black edge, Carrie could make out a fine crack. She pushed her fingernails into it, forcing it wider. As the side came free Dave leapt back. It banged to floor exactly where he had been standing, yellow liquid gushing out and over his shoes and trousers.
“Not again,” he groaned.
It was oootoon. The box had been full to the brim with oootoon.