Binary Cycle - (Part 1: Disruption) by WJ Davies

its head like glassy obsidian: the better to see its prey.
    What was a Spindroth doing here, Cassidy wondered? It wasn’t Night yet: the alien hordes shouldn’t be passing through the valley this early.
    She tapped a series of buttons on the buggy’s control panel and a hatch opened behind the diver’s seat. A large turret emerged from the opening, a long shaft of dangerous steel. Keeping the vehicle steady, she reached behind her and pressed a button on the side of the turret which would activate the auto-fire mode.
    Nothing happened.
    Cassidy cursed herself for not doing a full systems-check when she picked up the buggy from her storage garage. She had no other weapons, so her choice was simple. She gauged the distance between herself and the alien following behind and then launched into action.
    In a single motion, she released the gas pedal, yanked the parking brake, and spun the wheel. The vehicle slid into a sideways drift across the gravel. Before the wheels stopped moving, Cassidy leapt over her seat into the back, grabbed the turret’s handle, and spun the gun toward the advancing Spindroth.
    She pulled the trigger, praying the plasma conduit worked better than the auto-fire function.
    Cassidy nearly cried out in relief as a blast of white hot energy erupted from the barrel of the turret, causing her to wince against the brightness. But the Spindroth, smart as their species were, was ready for her move and launched itself sideways, dodging the attack.
    As the vehicle skidded to a halt, Cassidy knew she only had one more shot before the Spindroth was upon her. The gun’s recharge time wouldn’t allow another failed attempt. 
    After a beat, a chime sounded, signifying the gun was fully charged, ready for another blast. Cassidy held her breath, ignored the throbbing pain in her shoulder, and aimed the turret at the moving target that was closing in on her. Ten meters, eight, five…
    She couldn’t miss.
    She was petrified.
    Cassidy pulled the trigger just as the creature coiled itself, preparing for a leaping attack. A jolt of energy sliced through the air, barely making contact with the Spindroth. Her shot nicked its side—not a direct hit, but enough to send it sprawling and stumbling past her vehicle and careening over the edge of the cliff.
    Without hesitation, Cassidy swung herself back into the driver’s seat, released the parking break, jammed her foot on the gas, and sped up the path as fast as the vehicle would allow. She only had to pause at the tall electrified gate, waiting for it to open and let her through, before driving onward and watching the mirror to make sure it closed behind her. This gate encircled the mountain, preventing any such attacks from occurring at the Tower itself. Even if she hadn’t killed this Spindroth, at least she knew it wouldn’t be able to chase after her.
    She was starting to feel dizzy from the venom, and desperately wanted to be home. She couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for the original settlers on Taran to have to face the Spindroth on a daily basis. Attacks in these parts, so close to the city, were rare now, but not unheard of. Cassidy was lucky to have escaped relatively unscathed. She would have to take a look at the gun’s auto-fire…
    ∞
    Cassidy reached the plateau at full speed, jammed her foot on the brakes, cranked the wheel, and drifted sideways to a full stop in front of the car hold. A dust cloud rose up and bellowed toward the entrance of her house at the bottom of the Tower. The dust cloud preceded her as she disembarked from the buggy and crunched across the gravel driveway. 
    Several service droids rushed past her and descended upon the vehicle for its post trip maintenance examination. They would be able to fix the turret quicker than she could.
    Cassidy approached the front door, lugging her carry-on pack.
    She decided she wouldn’t tell Skyia about the Spindroth attack. She’d covered her shoulder with a bandage and had