Then the train began to slow as it entered the spaceport. I shuddered when I saw the high fence. Tabitha led the way. We had been given a map to show us which ship we had to board. It became clear that what had seemed to be the perfect maze of buildings was in fact perfectly ordered. The safest route for us to take had been marked out.

Still, at all times we had to keep our eyes focused on any camera or one of the many droids busily lifting boxes from one location to another. At times, it was a matter of patience, otherwise speed but at all times stealth.

Then with one last burst of speed, we reached the warehouse that was our destination and darted inside. It was obvious even in the dim light that the ship was not at all what we were expecting. It was small but worse again it looked like an automated delivery class ship. There was no space for a crew only cargo. We looked at each other in despair before Tabitha started muttering.

“It’s okay follow me. I think I know what we can do.”

I followed close behind.

She went over to the cargo.

“Come on. Help me open one of these!”

He was right. I didn’t like it. And neither did Tabitha. But damn it, it was the best one that I had heard. It was beautiful in its simplicity if somewhat lacking in details.

His name was Nebus. He was much older than the others. The arrows of time etched across his face.

Speaking excitedly, he continued, “You share his genetic makeup and even look like him.”

“So, what?” I thought he was going for a dig but I was wrong.

“You will be granted access to his city in the Adonis habitat, you see. You could bring Tabitha too. You could cut off the head of the snake when it least expected it.”

I felt a knot building in my stomach and replied, “It would never work.”

Then I heard Tabitha say softly.

“It just might. We can do it, babe.”

With that, I knew there would be no turning back. All I had to do was look into her eyes and see her steely determination. For the next few days, the plan of action was determined.

The Adonis habitat consisted of a giant multi-layered spherical structure. It lay on the outer rim of habitats outside the orbit of the Moon. To get there alive, we would have to hop from habitat to habitat to avoid detection.

It took days to get the carnage back under control. All the time I feared the return of the monster or one of his comrades. That fear was etched on the faces of everyone else too in the flickering of their eyes or the way they would shake uncontrollably staring into the night of the sky. An intricate warning system of lookouts had been created, but some had been found falling asleep.

At least the smell of rotting flesh had abated replaced by the smell of the local plant life. Tabitha was now sharing my tent. Each night, I would gaze into those beautiful dark eyes and kiss her goodnight. Our bodies pressed close.

At times, avid conversations would break out over what to do next. Then they would peter out. Or they did, until that faithful day.

We were all sitting by a campfire in a large circle. A man full of nervous excitement walked across to me and Tabitha.

“Would you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Cut off the serpent’s head when it least expected it?”

“What are you on about?” Tabitha asked, her eyes wide open.

“We have come up with a plan. But I’m not sure you are going to like it.”