In the Arctic by Art Collins

we didn’t have to worry about Malum until tomorrow morning. Anyway, I’d like to see just how well that alien stands up to this baby’s ammo.”
    Adams and Dr. Watanabe hadn’t been gone for more than a few minutes when the sound of muffled machine gun fire erupted outside. Jumping to his feet and grabbing his coat and M240, Flint yelled, “Open the hatch!”
    The five seconds that it took for the hatch to be lowered seemed like an eternity to Flint. His adrenalinewas flowing as he tore out of the transport pod with his weapon raised. However, his heart almost stopped when he caught sight of Malum dragging Adams and Dr. Watanabe into one of the tunnel entrances. The scientist wasn’t moving, and even though Adams was bloody and had dropped his gun, he was still fighting.
    Dr. Henderson was frantic as she saw Flint dash toward the tunnel entrance. “No! Don’t go in there!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.
    Even if he had heard her, and he hadn’t, Flint wouldn’t have stopped. Navy SEALs didn’t leave any of their own behind, whether they were dead or alive.
    Another burst of machine gun fire was heard soon after Flint raced into the tunnel; then another; then another. After the fourth volley, there was dead silence. When ten minutes had passed, Dr. Henderson turned to Zenda and reluctantly, but decisively said, “Let’s lock up for the night.”
    “What if he comes back?” Professor Eberstark asked.
    Dr. Henderson was somber when she replied, “Listen, I know that some of you may think I’m heartless to shut the hatch while Flint’s still out there, but he’s either dead, or he’s still after Malum. If he somehow manages to survive, he’ll be back banging on the door, with or without Dr. Watanabe and Adams. There’re only seven of us humans left, and we need to figure out with Zenda what we’re going to do when morning comes. Okay, I’m open to any and all ideas.”
    Even though no one felt very hungry, Major McColl insisted they break out the C-Rations, saying, “Whatever we decide to do, we’re going to need as much energy as we can muster. Taking on that monster isn’t going to be easy, and it’s nothing we should try to do on an empty stomach, so eat up.”
    Since Malum could easily thwart any attempt Zenda would make to send an SOS transmission, or to escape in the Chinook or transport pod, the group discussed whether it was better to just stay locked in the pod and wait him out.
    After listing the pros and cons of what Meatloaf called the “sit and wait” option, Zenda unhappily said, “Even if your people send help, they will never find you down here. As I told you before, Malum can shut down the transport pod’s computers that operate the panels you passed through when we brought you here. Eventually your food will run out. No, my friends, I am sorry to say that time is not on your side. Escape is possible only if you destroy Malum.”
    It was near midnight when the plan finally came together. Step one of the plan involved a necessary but very risky move on the part of Major McColl. Trusting Zenda’s judgment that Malum would not strike again before morning, the pilot made a quick dash back to the Chinook in order to lower its rear door. Fortunately, he made it back safely.
    When Major McColl returned, Dr. Henderson agreed to review the plan one last time in the morningbefore proceeding with step two. Her final words were, “Okay, let’s all get some sleep. I’d say tomorrow’s going to be a big day, but you already know that.”
    Archibald and Willow took their sleeping bags to the most private part of the transport pod they could find and laid them out. After Zenda turned down the lights so that only a green glow of the instrument control panel could be seen, Archibald leaned over and kissed Willow.
    “I’ve wanted to do than since I left you in New York,” he said.
    “I’ve wanted you to do that since you left me in New York,” she answered, kissing him