章 11: Meeting A Rhino in Africa

Coming to the end of the instructions I had given Miss Martian, I failed to find a cave nearby so at a rock out cropping I dug a hole to help hide my human form.

All this traveling has made me hungry, but food is not plentiful in the African planes. Taking advantage of the cool dawn I make sure to mark the area to ward off predators and then return to my outcropping and shift back to human to get some sleep.

One of the reasons I was comfortable sleeping on the ground is because it makes an excellent warning system, vibrations travel a long way through the earth.

About the time I became aware of the vibrations I felt something soft hitting my cheek. Waking up and looking around groggily I see Morph on my shoulder using a tendril from his body to tap me awake.

"Thanks, little buddy, I hear it." With that said I feel a sense of pleasure coming from Morph as he felt he did good.

Taking note of the sun I figure it's about 10am, and on the horizon there is a dust cloud very reminiscent of a convoy in the desert.

"We better check this out Morph, hold on or whatever you do when I shift forms. Time to fly."

Shifting to a Peregrine Falcon I take to the air. I know they aren't indigenous to the area but if there are any ornithologists in this group, I'll just have to consider myself unlucky.

Thinking a little more I realize it won't really take an ornithologist to point out that a green falcon is suspicious, so I fly as high as I can and still see the figures on the ground.

Angling myself over the head of the convoy I hope it's just normal traffic that has nothing to do with me. We all know that comic book logic doesn't work that way.

Seeing 5 military troop transports I focus on the third one knowing that's usually where the commander of the group sits.

Lowering myself a bit I circle around and through the open top I see a man with a device in his hands that shows a map and a blinking light on it.

With a sinking feeling in my stomach that has nothing to do with my current form, I cuss myself for not thinking about the possibility of a tracker somewhere in my body.

It would have to be very small or organic enough that my body would change it with every shift for it to still be on me.

Seeing the soldier talking on the radio and the convoy stopping, I quickly traveled back to the outcropping then I changed back to my human form to think my way through this.

I didn't have to fight, but well, I wanted to. I could say it's because I didn't want Miss Martian to think this was a trap or have her get hurt somehow and have her uncle on my ass.

But that's all secondary thoughts next to just a plain old, I just want to see what I can do. I don't want to kill anyone for just following orders but all's fair in war when you're chasing me, and your leader is a dictating gold-digging psycho with dreams of ruling all mankind.

Standing up I move away from the rock outcropping and mentally place myself near the red wall in my mind and shift.

That's right, 30 foot long 5 Ft. round, pincer mouth with a lot of tongs Graboid. Getting a feel for the short spines that push me through the earth I shove my head into the ground and start moving.

It takes a minute or two to get the hang of it but it's a lot like swimming through the dirt with lots of hands pushing you along.

The weirdest thing to get used to was the loss of eyesight and the increase of hearing. The sounds of the trucks moving is almost defining. But I feel like I have a better understanding of the surroundings than I ever did with my eyes.

I 'see' every bug and scorpion hiding just under the surface of the sand, I feel where the ground is hard and where it is soft. The wind pushing the sand along to level out the area, it's all rather a beautiful thing.

Making a quick decision, I swim under the right side of the road the trucks are traveling on leaving just enough dirt that they won't fall until after I have passed and by the sound of wreckage behind me, I succeeded wonderfully.

Hearing all the soldiers bail out of the truck I can accurately tell the weight and even gender of them all. Then there were a couple loud thumps and to my hearing it had to be Mammoth and believe it or not someone bigger and much heavier.

Going way around them, I start to pick off stragglers by pulling them down into the ground with just their heads showing so they don't suffocate.

Seeing a female with no weapon I assume its Shimmer and give her the same treatment. Wanting to freak her out a bit I take my time as 3 of my tongue's slither around her pinning her hands against herself. I wave one tongue in front of her face just to hear her scream before pulling her down as I laugh evilly in my mind at her panicked look.

Then all of a sudden, the fun stopped. A head splitting boom traveled through the ground that made it impossible to think, all I could do is act and the Graboid instinct was to get out of the ground much like people hunch down when they hear a loud sound.

Popping up out of the ground I land and release the form I had as I roll around clutching my head in pain. After a few seconds I stood up and looked at the blood on my hands that was coming from my ears.

Knowing they would heal quickly I looked around to see what made that sound only to see a large Rhino standing on his back legs in a hole it looks like he punched out?

"Rhino, is that you? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be getting your ass kicked by a little spider all across New York?" I shouted trying to give myself time for the ringing to stop so I can think clearly

"Queen Bee pays better, and I like the room to run here. It helps me build momentum to hit things harder." Rhino replies as he starts to charge me. "Better get to growing strong baby Hulk, or I'm going to smash!!"

Seeing him lower his head and charge at me I shout, "You may have super strength for a human in a Rhino outfit, but I have the real thing!"

I shifted into a real Rhino and knowing I'm at peak Rhino's natural strength I charged at him to show him the true gift nature gave the Rhino species.

Slamming together poor Rhino learns what being hit by 8,000 pounds of muscle and a 4-inch-thick skull traveling at 30mph feels like.

Blasted back through the air into one of the troop carriers that just folds around him like a blanket, I'm sure that hit will be played time and time again in Rhino's nightmares that are sure to follow this encounter.

Hearing the shooting and feeling impacts on my armor only a few bullets make it beyond my skin, and I doubt they were intentional shots. These guys had 7.62 rounds not big game stuff, so I wasn't in too much danger.

Still, after a bit it started to hurt so I began charging the groups and smacking around the people I could reach. Spending extra time stomping on the weapons that were dropped.

Seeing an arm coming out of the twisted metal heap I put Rhino into I debate the usefulness of charging into the heap or letting him out and hitting him again.

As I am deciding Rhinos next bruises, I feel a large weight on my shoulders and strong legs clamp around my side. Heavy impacts from what I assume are fists rain down on my head and shoulders, well there is Mammoth.

{Let's see how 8,000 lbs. feel to you Woolly boy.} Thinking this I just drop and roll onto my back and wiggle back and forth driving my weight into him.

I then shift my weight to get off him but before I can get my feet under me Rhino slams into my side, and I feel a couple ribs give way. Rolling back the other way across poor Mammoth again, some opportunistic soldiers start shooting at my soft underbelly.

Feeling a few bullets make it through my tough skin I start to worry a bit. Getting to my feet I rush the group of soldiers to split them up again as I try to keep an eye out for Rhino and Mammoth.

My Rhino form isn't exactly made for 360 visuals, and I can't take the chance of turning into something that's more apt to be shot full of holes.

{Well, this does suck! I could make a run for it and I'm positive I can get out of here but that would leave a group of pissed off soldiers and a couple enhanced when Miss Martian shows up. With no me keeping them occupied as they make their surprise entry.}

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the positive feedback, looking forward to a long and satisfying journey together.