Subterranean Read Online Free

sense of urgency, shaking off the spell of shock and awe the city had placed him under.
    He hoped their leader was going to be a bit more empathetic of him.
     
     
    The King of Troglodytes
    The door that led to the leader’s chambers, based on the directions Rolan had given him, was guarded by two guards wielding rifles. Flynn stopped short of them and pulled a mask of confidence over himself, addressing one of them with a loud voice.
    “I’m here to see Tural.”
    One of the guards first seemed frightened, but the other calmed him, and then nodded before muttering something into a console next to the door. A few presses of some buttons later and the locks disengaged with a snap. The depressurizing steam warmed Flynn’s face when he crossed the threshold and entered the room where an alien was seated at a desk.
    “Ah, our visitor from outer space! How are the stars, my friend? What have they been up to?” He stood up and bellowed out with a laugh, slamming his fist down.
    Flynn was nervous, unsure of what to say to the burly leader, but came up with something that caused a chuckle. “Well, you know what they say about riding a shooting star…”
    The alien certainly had no idea of what he was referencing and was probably just laughing at the way he said it, but it was a welcomed offering nonetheless. After a brief pause of silence, where he took stock of Tural’s domineering aura prettied up behind a misleading smile that he saw straight through, Flynn quickly got to the heart of the matter.
    “I’ve come for assistance. My planet was attacked by an alien species and we are on the brink of destruction. I was sent, along with several other ships, to seek help from other species.”
    Tural stroked his chin, groaning in thought. “An alien species, you say? Well, we have not seen many visitors for a while now and we have yet to achieve a space-capable vessel for travel.” He placed his hands on the desk, his eyes fixed upon Flynn. “What is it you expect from us, my friend?”
    Flynn sat down in one of the chairs and looked to the ground in thought. “Could you contact one of your allies?”
    “The only allies we have here are each other, friend.” Tural crossed his arms. “Like I said, it has been a long time since we have seen another species.”
    “Can you at least send out a message for me? Someone friendly must be nearby.”
    “That is out of the question.” Tural’s voice turned to immovable stone.
    Flynn stopped short of asking why, barely, settling instead for a simple, “Okay.” He got the feeling that questioning him further would not have turned out well.
    Another short pause followed as the Subterranean leader awaited further dialogue from Flynn, but he quickly grew impatient with the silence. “I am sorry, my friend, but there is nothing we can offer you other than our hospitality, which you are welcome to by all means; it is dangerous on the surface.”
    Tural was probably right; based on what he’d been told, it was unlikely the Subterraneans could offer any substantial help to Earth, something that Flynn logically concluded but emotionally refused to accept. Still, he wasn’t going to surrender himself to despair; there had to be a way. He just needed to find it. Thoughts racing, he quickly determined what alternatives were left.
    When he stood up, he was almost as surprised as Tural when he blurted out, “How can I help your people, then?”
    The leader of the Subterranean race took a step back in shock, but quickly recovered. “Help us? You are overwhelmed with problems and you want to help us?” He grinned on one side of his face. “Well, that is a kind offer, friend, but what about your planet? Earth, was it?”
    “The best thing I can do for my planet now is to show you that we are a good species that can be trusted, should your people ever encounter mine again in the future.”
    “Based on what you have informed me, there might not be a future for your