Mayhem in the Air

Mayhem in the Air

Elements of Untethered Realms #2

Edited by Cherie Reich and Catherine Stine

Featuring stories from Cathrina Constantine, River Fairchild, Julie Flanders, Gwen Gardner, Misha Gerrick, Graeme Ing, M. Pax, Christine Rains, Cherie Reich, and Catherine Stine.

Copyright 2015

First Edition

All rights reserved. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

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 authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously.

Summary: From Amazon bestselling and popular science fiction and fantasy authors comes Mayhem in the Air, a supernatural anthology of ten thrilling tales. Meet hot robots, hungry winds and the goddess of chaos. Explore alien planets, purgatorial realms, and a shocking place where people bury the living with their dead. Mayhem in the Air is the second, long-awaited story collection from the dynamic and inventive Untethered Realms group.

Cover Designed by edhgraphics | Erin Dameron-Hill | edhgraphics.blogspot.com

An Untethered Realms Anthology | untetheredrealms.com

Table of Contents

The Silent Wind by Christine Rains

A Tangled Weave by River Fairchild

Cardinal Sin by Julie Flanders

Paper Lanterns by Cherie Reich

Mass Transit by Graeme Ing

A Strange Penitence by Catherine Stine

The Ark by Cathrina Constantine

Saving Scrooge by Gwen Gardner

Chaos. Hope. Love. by Misha Gerrick

Corrosive by M. Pax

Elements of Untethered Realms

Authors of Mayhem in the Air

About Untethered Realms

The wind didn’t howl. Hank tapped the side of his helmet. Even with all the dust flying around, nothing clogged the sensors. Everything was in working order.

Except it was too quiet.

What’s the news, Hank?

He flinched at the sudden intrusion of Niko’s voice. Letting out a long and slow breath, Hank closed his eyes and tapped a button on his wristpad, switching the helmet’s display from a physical visual to a digital map of the terrain. When he opened his eyes, the soft green glow of the planet’s surface filled the display.

Still no visual. The storm hasn’t let up.

The storm that doesn’t exist. No change at all? Niko’s exasperation came through clipped. The captain had lost some of his patience over their long journey.

None. Wind, dust, no precipitation. There’s no way we can make camp here. Hank trudged forward to higher ground. The wind provided little resistance. Rocks and lichen crunched under his boots. If the map was wrong, he could step off the edge of a cliff. And then what? Niko would send Vedette down to the surface. Then Sergio. But probably not Bryleigh. The captain liked her warming his bed too much.

This was Hank’s job as first mate. It was a matter of security. He’d have to figure it out. One foot in front of the other.

Damn. There’s nowhere else on Shugem to land the ship. We can’t shuttle everything down. We can’t wait the storm out much longer, Niko grumbled. Storm or not, we have to land within the next few days.

I know, I know. Hank didn’t need to be reminded of their situation. They’d spent two hundred fucking years in cryo to reach a planet that did not welcome them. This mission was his life. They must ready Shugem for colonists. There would be nothing beyond it whether he managed to complete the mission or not.

Hank stood on the remains of a once great mountain range. The dusty gales pushed against him in silence. He slowly turned and surveyed the landscape. There had been little to no geological activity in this area for several centuries. A forest extended its arms to the east and west. Below, a grassy plain and a large lake full of fish. The perfect place to set the ship down and make camp to prepare for the coming vessels packed with thousands of frozen colonists.

The only spot on the whole damn planet.

There was no choice. Hank nodded once. The impossible windstorm would have to end sooner or later.

I’m heading to the shuttle. Once I’m back, we’ll make preparations to land as planned.

Good. Niko ended the transmission.

Good or not, it didn’t matter. Shugem would have new residents whether she welcomed them or tried to spit them out. And if a little dust was all she could produce to deter them, then the old girl had a few things to learn.

I almost didn’t believe it, but here it is. Sergio ran a hand over his shaved head and sighed.

Here it is, and now so are we. If we had any readings, we could guess when the storm would settle down, but there’s nothing to work with. Niko slumped back in his chair. The storm wasn’t visible from orbit and only two kilometers in width and length. Tiny compared to other weather systems swirling around Shugem.

Then we’ll just get our asses out there and investigate the old-fashioned way. Vedette flashed them a grin and rubbed her hands together. As second mate and communications expert, she had a way with words.

More work for them when they should be prepping for the arrival of the other ships. Hank rolled his shoulders as he stood. No sense wasting time. Come on. Let’s get suited up. He motioned to Vedette. You can claim the prize as the first woman to step foot on Shugem.

Yeah, whatever. Just get me out of this shoebox. Vedette snorted, scrunching her pug nose, and followed him to the door. She moved with more grace than she spoke.

Bryleigh hurried after them. Wait! We need specimens. We already have samples of the soil and water, but get new ones. Plant life too. And if you can, a fish from the lake. The doctor tapped her wristpad and nearly bumped into Hank as he stopped in the corridor. Oh. Sorry. Maybe a few fish. Live if you can. The dust too. Maybe I can tell from which region it’s coming from so we can figure out this storm.

Is that all? Vedette rolled her eyes. Hank nudged her before she could make any further comments.

Uh, yes. That should do for now. Bryleigh smiled with dazzling and sincere perfection.

She was bright, young, and way too pretty for her own good. Oblivious to how the others treated her too.

We’ll get everything. Hank nodded and gave her a brief smile. He ushered Vedette the rest of the way to the airlock and slammed the door closed behind them.

Eager to get me alone? She winked and laughed. Fiery and athletic as she might be, it would be too much like fucking his cousin. She flirted, he ignored it, and it was much more amusing to everyone else.

Try not to scratch Bryleigh’s eyes out before the mission is done. We need her. Every single one of us is vital to this team. Hank unbuckled his boots and slid them off.

Vedette groaned as she rid herself of her boots. Don’t lecture me like I’m a child. I know her value just like Niko knows the value of what’s between her legs. I’m not the one fucking the captain. Which is against the rules, by the way. She yanked her suit off its hook. And I’d have no problem with it if it didn’t distract Niko so much. He’s less of an officer because he pays attention more to her ass than his job. Fuck, you’re the one pushing this mission forward. You’re much more the captain than he is.

Hank’s jaw hardened, ready to snap at her to have some respect for their commander. She spoke the truth, though. He grabbed his suit and slid his legs through as he breathed out his frustration. He still does his job. And she does hers. The less conflict between the five of us, the smoother everything will go. There will be enough politics, fighting, and fucking going on when the other ships arrive.

Don’t I know it. Vedette pulled up her suit and zipped it. She sighed and leaned against the wall. So what do we need?

Hank directed her to load sample containers of various sizes into two packs while he finished dressing. They then helped each other with their helmets, checked to make sure everything was in working order, and headed out into the storm.

Even with someone outside with him, the dust shrouded them so he felt alone. Hank could hear her footsteps, but it was as if a ghost were following him.

They collected soil, dust, and plant samples before making their way to the lake. He stepped into the shallows and pulled out the biggest of the containers. It wouldn’t take long to catch something. The water was so full of fish, yet it was strange nothing roamed the land.

I’m going deeper. Maybe we can catch something for dinner. We haven’t had fresh food in ages. Vedette splashed past him. Ages meant since their last dinner before cryo. Hank waited in the shallows and licked his lips. A freshly prepared meal would raise all their spirits.

Holy hell. Hank, get out here. Now!

The urgency in her voice kicked him into action. Was she trapped? Had an alien lifeform nabbed her? Running, he dove into the lake and followed the blip on his screen to where she was standing thirty feet below the surface. Fish swam around them, unconcerned with their guests.

Are you compromised? No angry beasts attacked. The scene was remarkably serene except for their heavy breathing.

No! Change to a physical view.

What? There wasn’t a single threatening thing on the scanners. He would kick her ass himself if she was putting him on.

Just do it, Vedette snapped.

Pursing his lips, Hank closed his eyes and tapped his wristpad. This was no place to fool around. Changing from the digital map would not tell them anything new. He opened his eyes ready for murky water but was met with the opposite.

He sucked in a breath as he tilted his head back. The sky. Cloudless, bright, and blue. It was clear through the water. The most pristine lake he’d ever seen. It was like a child’s rendering with a rainbow of colors and friendly fish.

The storm, he murmured.

It doesn’t extend over the lake, Vedette said quietly. It stays on land.

But why? Hank didn’t expect her to reply. He didn’t have an answer himself. The storm was an anomaly, but this defied all reason.

It must be alien made. They’re hiding something out there. Sergio bobbed his head as he kicked back in his chair with his feet propped up on the edge of the table.

You’re being ridiculous. Vedette scoffed as she toyed with the tail of the fish on her plate. None of them were chefs, but it had been the best meal Hank had in his adult life.

It might not be so silly. Bryleigh smiled when Sergio pointed at her and gave her the thumbs-up. It’s not natural. No weather system is creating the storm. It’s too low to be refreshed by the upper atmosphere, and it’s all wind and dust. Nothing appears to be making it. Our scanners would’ve picked up any alien generators by now. And we can pick up lifeforms as small as a flea one hundred meters underground.

Who says our scanners can pick up their stuff? They might be way more advanced than we are. Sergio spread his arms and looked for everyone to agree. His callused hands showed he worked hard on the ship, but clearly his mechanical duties left him too much time to think.

Niko downed the rest of his coffee and shook his head. There are no aliens. No life existed on the planet until we seeded it centuries ago.

But who’s to say they didn’t arrive between that point and now? Sergio wasn’t letting it go.

Several mouths opened to refute him but froze as Niko stood. Picking up his dishes, his cup rattled on his empty plate. We don’t know anything for certain, so let’s not argue about it. More tests will give us the answers we need.

That wouldn’t be the end of it, but it was the end for now. No intelligent alien life existed. That had been ascertained again and again. And thinking aliens had claimed this planet would only make them nervous and afraid. When people got that way, they made mistakes.

No one would make a mistake here. Not while Hank was on the job.

Hank retired to his bunk and dreamed of blue skies. He woke with an ache in his heart that he chased away with morning stretches and push-ups.

Vedette met him in the corridor on his way to the mess. Her head was freshly shaved, and she had a new look of determination in her dark eyes. I have a theory.

He didn’t ask about what. It was the one thing on all their minds.

They entered the mess to find Sergio already at the table with a freshly brewed pot of coffee. It was thick, full of nutrients, and smelled like a warm blanket on a cold day. The three of them traded good mornings, and each sat with their mugs in hand.

Okay, here it is. The storm has no atmospheric origin. It appears to be centered in this valley and along the lower mountains. This island is the biggest on Shugem, and the area where we landed is also the lowest spot on the island. There’re traces of metal in the storm. What if it is geologically caused? Too much iron below the surface causing it to be charged and interact with the magnetics of the planet’s atmosphere or the mountains? Vedette raised her brows and looked from Hank to Sergio.

Hank sipped his coffee. It’s worth testing. How would we nullify it?

Drilling might work. If it’s centered here, we can find the core and break it. That should disrupt the storm so it’s just a little dust flying about instead of a total brownout or rather a fucked up unnatural mess. Sergio nodded and slapped Vedette’s shoulder. Good idea.

Vedette grinned and toasted them with her mug. So what we need to do is scan the ground itself. Find out what we have around here. Map out the exact size of the storm with the shuttle—

Niko whistled as he entered the mess and went straight for the coffee. What are we mapping now?

The storm, Vedette replied. And—

Let’s wait until Bryleigh is here. That way we won’t have to go over it all again. Niko poured himself a mug and gulped it. He moaned his appreciation and slid into the chair at the head of the table. Vedette scowled at him.

She not awake yet? Usually she’s the first here. Sergio glanced at Niko.

She’s probably in the lab. Niko stood and pressed the comm by the door to call Bryleigh. When there was no response, he did it a second time.

I’ll go see what she’s doing. Hank volunteered. It’d give him a chance to talk with her without Vedette’s smart-ass remarks or Niko’s ogling.

With mug in hand, Hank walked to the lab as he numbered the questions in his head. Ones only Bryleigh with her biology and geology smarts could answer. Vedette’s theory was good, but only Bryleigh could say for certain.

He opened the door to the lab and stepped in. His mug fell to the floor with a metallic twang.

Slapping the comm by the door, he didn’t move another inch. Get down here. Now!

Coffee and bile tickled his throat and threatened to eject. There was nothing left of Bryleigh’s face.

Hank stumbled back and leaned against the opposite wall in the corridor. He could still see her on the floor. He’d never be able to rid his mind of that grotesque image.

Raw meat. That’s what it looked like. Her head, neck, and upper chest glistened with blood. No skin or tissue. A few bloody strings of muscle. How could that happen? Nothing she worked with in the lab could produce such an accident…

Acid.

Except Bryleigh wouldn’t douse herself in it.

That only meant…

Hank! What is it? Vedette tore down the corridor with her gun drawn. He pointed to the lab, and she peered inside. Screeching and dropping her weapon, she covered her face.

Right behind her, Sergio took one look and barely turned in time to vomit on the floor.

Niko rammed into Sergio and pushed Vedette aside. No. No, no, no, no. He sucked back a sob, which transformed into a bellow. He spun and grabbed Vedette by the shoulders, shaking her and slamming her against the door frame. You did this! You were always jealous of her. Murdering bitch!

Vedette kneed him in the groin and kicked him as he fell to the floor. Bastard. I didn’t kill her.

Hank darted between them, pushing Vedette into the corridor. Stop it. Don’t go making accusations you have no evidence to support.

I don’t need proof. Everyone knows she hated Bryleigh. Niko groaned from the floor and glanced back at the dead woman. His tears dripped from his cheeks and soaked his shirt.

Then Niko lunged for the gun. Hank kicked it behind him, out of reach of both Niko and Vedette.

I didn’t do it! Vedette shrieked and smacked the wall with the flat of her hand.

You did hate her. Sergio coughed, stomach spasming as if he might throw up again.

It doesn’t matter how she felt. It doesn’t mean Vedette murdered her. Who says she was murdered at all? There was no other way, but Hank wanted to diffuse the situation before they all ran for weapons. He couldn’t stop them then. It could’ve been a lab accident. We’ll go through Bryleigh’s logs and see what sort of tests she was doing. We’ll do this properly. Together.

And then maybe he’d be able to figure out who was responsible. As much as he wanted to believe Vedette, she had a temper and was the most likely suspect. Yet maybe Bryleigh and Niko had a lover’s spat. Love made people do crazy things. Hell, two hundred years in cryo made some folks go insane.

But first, let’s cover her up and show some respect to our fallen crewmate. Hank stepped over Niko and looked everywhere but down at the body. Snatching a lab coat from a hook, he laid it over Bryleigh.

Everyone seemed to