|
the thick fog which surrounded them, giant arthropod
monsters waited. Vaguely insectiod (or occasionally aracnid,
crustacean, and myriapod), they had eviscerating hooks,
decapitating pincers, barbed impaling stalks, bad breath, and bug
eyes. And that was the males. The females also had armor-
piercing ovipositors not unlike scorpion tails.
Arriving at the gate area, Karen and Drew assumed a
defensive parameter while Madge and Tar worked at dilating the
gate.
Originally armed with vorpal swords, Karen and Drew were
prepared to face the Jabberwock itself. However, when the
rattling chitin and pungent presence encircled them, they
reconsidered. Karen conjured a full-auto, belt-fed shotgun. Erika Sawajiri
used plastic ball bugshot for the spectacular effect it had
against exoskeletons. (Losing much of their energy penetrating
the shell, the balls shredded internal organs as they ricochetted
around inside.) Drew muscled a small rotary-barrel cannon which
used conventional warloads.
Tar and Madge had succeeded in tagging the gate with a dayglo
border, but attempts to tease it open were in vain.
When the fog shifted it revealed the massed and closing
terrors, most dripping slime or venom. Without hesitat
|
