Each deafening blast from our pulse rifles destroyed major sections of the roof around it but produced no damage to the tentacle itself. The tentacle had lowered itself a foot or two below the level of the ceiling, exposing an opening about four feet in diameter.Īll three of us began to unload our weapons on the mechanical intruder above us. The three of us tried to protect ourselves the best we could as dust and wooden debris flew in every direction. Within a few seconds the tentacle had made it through the roof and punched its way through the plaster ceiling. The building shook and the noise became even higher pitched as the tentacle above us drilled its way through the roof of the gas station. My eyes shot left and right expecting something to pop through the ceiling at any second. Then a loud screeching noise that grew in volume and frequency could be heard above us. We pointed our weapons at the ceiling above us and Uncle Joe yelled. The three of us fell back, away from the counter and looked toward the ceiling with panic. Within a few seconds we heard a loud thud on the roof above us as the tentacle had reached the roof of the gas station. The apparatus took on the mechanical movements of a giant octopus tentacle and employed a slight swimming motion as it moved toward the station. It extended straight into the air about ten feet and then started to lean over toward the gas station. I will now appropriate my property.”Īfter his last words an apparatus began to extend from the top of the Barghest. Likewise, in a few seconds the only one you will be able to repeat this information to, will be your god. But I will rather enjoy watching your panic and terror as I describe to you the manner in which I will end your life. “You may be thinking that it would have been much quicker for me to just collect my property and forgo all of the theater and introductions. Without the communicator we could hear Kurse as his voice boomed from the military vehicle outside.

Mentored by Uncle Joe, Scott learns to cope with the circumstances in his life and comes to the realization of what is really most important.

Throughout the mission, Scott's eyes are opened to the covert activities and governmental conspiracies that are hidden in plain sight all around him. Scott and Uncle Joe end up in a tactical, science fiction adventure as they confront Commander Manson Kurse, the supreme leader of the Lancaster Science and Research Facility. When Dozer, a cross breed of an android and a cybernetic organism, fails to wake up one morning, Scott and Uncle Joe embark on a secret mission to save him. When Scott was eight years old, he received a unique dog named Dozer as a gift from a family friend. Scott Hrdinsky and his Uncle Joe live on a quiet farm in rural America in the not too distant future. 'Footprints' is a story that twists you around and around and deposits you in the most unexpected place.

Footprints by John A. Autero