Tempest reached out to grab a cable.
“No, no,” Elise hastily pinned the chubby hands to the child’s chest. “That’s not a play toy.”
The child’s face scrunched up as she jerked her hands from her mother’s grip in protest.
“Move faster,” Richard urged. Ian pushed Carter and John into the tunnel and pulled the panel shut behind them. The conduit darkened until Elise could barely see.
As she moved forward, noise from the corridor grew louder, but after they passed a monitor station, it grew less. She held a running battle, dodging pipes and wires, until she came to a closed panel.
“Stop.” Behind her, Richard squeezed past. “Now this will be the tricky part.” He tapped a keypad that opened a panel.
“Ah, ah, ah.” Tempest wrinkled her nose and sneezed.
Richard slid open the panel and a foul stench poured in. “You can’t be serious!” Elise exclaimed, waving her hand in front of her face. Overwhelmed by the smell, she could barely catch her breath.
“Lovely,” Carter murmured. Behind them, Ian and John could be heard choking on the noxious fumes.
Before them, large vats of algae sloshed about.
Richard explained, “Algae provides food, fuel, and oxygen for the station and augments critical operational functions.”
She wasn’t in the mood for a lecture on the benefits of the green, slimy, ooze floating before her. She was well-acquainted with the stuff. Unfortunately, the shuddering of the station had splashed puddles onto the floor, making their escape route extremely slippery.
For more stability, Elise shifted Tempest onto her hip and gripped the child with her right arm while reaching out with her left hand to grasp the rim of the first tub. She slid forward. In spite of the vat’s support, her feet slipped, and she skated uneasily over the warm, wet floor.
The awful smell caused her eyes to water, which made it difficult to see. Behind her, she could hear gasps as the others coped with the slick floor and rancid stench.
When Tempest began squirming in her arms, Richard leaned forward. “Here, let me take her."
She rotated to give Richard his daughter. As she handed her off, Tempest gave a sharp jerk, crying out, causing Elise to lose traction and fall hard.
“Ack!” She landed on her rear, her feet splayed out as the slimy, green and brown substance splashed all over. “Oh, yuck,” she exclaimed.
“Sorry, Elise,” Richard murmured. His lips quivered at the ends as he tried to keep a serious look on his face, but managed only partial success. He covered a laugh with a cough.
From the floor, she glared at him, then realized the ridiculous sight she must present. She raised her hand for a lift.
“Not so loud,” Ian admonished.
As if realizing her predicament, Richard shifted Tempest and extended his hand. “Here, let me help you up.”
“Let me take the kid.” John put out his arms.
Carter offered support for both of them. At the same time, Ian reached for her other arm to help lift her.
With their help, Elise clutched a vat and pulled herself up, green gunk dripping from her black pants and gray top. She didn’t dare use fingers covered in algae to brush back the hair that tangled before her eyes. Trying to get it out of her eyes, she blew it off her face with the result that it flopped back to drip more noxious ooze onto her cheeks.
Leaning in, John whispered, “Elise, you make quite a sight.” He had a very irritating smirk on his face.
Once Ian had her standing, he wiped his hands down his slacks and wrinkled his nose. “Phew,” he sniffed.
Richard grabbed a clean diaper and rubbed gunk off his hands and arms while breathing in short, quick breaths.
Carter gazed at the ceiling, not looking at her, a neutral expression plastered on his face. Then he began shaking with suppressed laughter.
At her scowl, Richard patted her arm. “Don’t worry, dear. We’ll fix it. We’re almost through this section.” He handed her a clean diaper to wipe off the muck.
From John’s arms, Tempest wiggled around and reached out a chubby hand to her. “Mama,” she babbled, sounding worried. “Mama. Mama.”
“Hey, did you hear what she said?” Richard exclaimed. “She said, ‘Mama!’”
Dripping green slime, she paused a moment to contemplate her daughter’s genius. After a deep breath, she asked, “How do we get out of here? It stinks, but there’s a battle going on outside, and it’s too dangerous for us to go there. Still, I don’t want to spend a moment more than necessary in this awful place.”
The round vats with their connecting pipes sat in a large circular configuration. Her group bunched up, finally having the room to congregate, and gazed at one another, hoping to find a solution to their dilemma.
Richard rubbed his forehead. “Do you know of a way we can we get off the station safely--even if we have to make a run for it?”
Elise grabbed his arm. “My ship. I can pilot it. How close is the corridor that leads to my ship?”
Closing his eyes, John contemplated the layout. “Not far. I’d say two corridors over.It shouldn't take long. My lab is inside the ship.”
Richard frowned. “Isn’t the ship welded to the station?”
“The ship is, her shuttles aren’t,” Elise responded.
Ian smiled. “It might work.”
John nodded in agreement.
“And I can get back to my lab and Beth.” John handed Tempest back to Elise.
She felt a twinge of guilt over leaving Angel to fight Stratton. “What about the Enjelise? We can’t just leave him,” she said.
Richard answered, “We need him to distract any of Stratton’s men who might notice us leaving. I’m confident that given time, Angel and Jacob can take back the station.”
John added, “An underground group is organizing to support Jacob and put him back in control. More might join the fight if they thought they would have a winning chance. Angel can provide just the catalyst they need to take back the station.”
Thinking it over, she remembered the power Angel had wielded at the tech shop and had to agree.
Clapping his hands, Richard declared, “Okay, I’ll go out first and make sure the course is clear. Carter, you follow me. Elise, you keep Tempest and follow Carter and John, while Ian protects our flank.
They all nodded. It was a plan, albeit dangerous. But, at least it offered a way out.
Chapter 18
A Run for It
After Richard cracked open an exit from the algae vats, pops of gunfire, loud shouts, and the hum of blasters poured in. The smell of ozone, sweat, and smoke permeated the outside corridor. They were sneaking out of the vats just as a gang of men rounded the corner and halted several feet in front of them. Richard’s team froze, hoping for invisibility.
In her arms Tempest burbled another new word.“Bye, bye,”
Up ahead, the newcomers spun about, pointing blasters, stun guns, brooms, and kitchen knives at them.
“Hold your fire!” A young man shaded his eyes and stared at her. “Commander, is that you? They messaged me you were on board.”
“Who’s that?” Elise strained to identify the voice.
A single young man, his face smudged and blackened, separated from the group and strode toward her. “It’s me, Tommie Blakey. You remember me?”
She squinted as the face came closer. “What happened to your ears?” she asked as recognition set in. “And when did you get so tall?”
He stopped, embarrassed. “I had the ears fixed.” The topic under discussion assumed a bright pink color. “And I’ve been growing a lot lately.”
“Oh.” She paused. “Hello, Tommie. Good to see you again. What’s happening out there?”
Waving his group nearer, he said, “Administrator Monroe is trying to take back control of the station. A call went out for all able-bodied persons to join him. We’re going to take back the station. So, Commander, you should leave. It’s too dangerous for you to stay
here. We’ll get her back. You go.”
“We’re headed for my ship now.”
Tommie frowned. “The ship is welded to the station.”
She smiled. “But the shuttles aren’t.”
Understanding lit his face. “Actually, only one is left in the bay, but that’s all you’ll need. We maintain it for emergencies. I’ll inform my team that you’re on the way, so they will let you in.”
“Will you help us get there safely?”
“Sure.” He pointed at two guys. “Freddie and Joe, go check to see if the coast is clear. Make a path.”
The two ran back to the juncture of the corridor.
“Come on.” Richard stepped forward and they trailed behind as all ears listened for sounds of intruders.
The two stationers stuck their heads into the main corridor, then glanced back. “Looks good. It’s now or never,” whispered one as he waved their group forward.
Richard eased out into the main corridor; the others followed. Tommie slipped in beside her, while John took the other side. Carter and Ian covered the rear. The stationers scouted ahead.
Nearby, another loud explosion shook the station.
“Cripes!” Tommie yelped. “That was close.”
A swarm of uniformed guards burst out from a nearby panel as the station shuddered again and bright light spilled out into the corridor. Confusion reigned. Surprised, everyone hesitated, creating a frozen tableau.
Until…
“That’s her with the kid,” a voice yelled. “Stop them.” People began shouting. Elise watched a uniformed arm rise, and a blaster aim directly at her. Everything moved in slow motion. Richard leaped in front of her as the shot flared. He jerked and grabbed his chest. The smell of cooked meat and the noise of sizzling skin filled her senses. Smoke wisped out from his chest.
“Ahhh…” he screamed.
Ian moved to catch him as he began to collapse. At the same time, Carter surged forward and caught his other side. “Run!” they both yelled. They lifted Richard’s limp body by the arms, dragged him forward, and everybody ran.
Next to her, Tommie pointed into an adjoining corridor. “That leads to the ship. Go. We’ll defend here.” He stationed his gang out front as her group exited the station and ran into a corridor that led to the ship’s ramp.
Down the corridor and up the ramp they stumbled, still hauling Richard. At the end of the ramp, they faced the ship’s main hatch… locked tight.
“Most likely somebody changed the security locks,” Carter wailed. He jerked a look back down the ramp and bit on a nail. “We’re trapped.”
She passed Tempest to Ian and searched around for the hidden Captain’s pad. Slapping her hand over it, the hatch slid open and a gust of stale air puffed out. “No one keeps me out of my ship,” she said between clenched teeth.
“Thank God,” John cheered as he ushered them through.
Another shudder of the station caused the ship to creak and groan in response.
Her group piled inside. “Follow me to the shuttlebay,” she ordered, leading them down the main corridor.
John stopped abruptly. “I have to return to my lab.”
Irritated at John’s response, she snapped, “No. Richard is badly wounded and going into shock. He needs you to take care of him, or there’s a good chance he’ll die.”
His brow crinkled at her words. “I came here with you, so I could return to my lab. My research is important. I can’t constantly get side-tracked because people around you get hurt, and you expect me to drop everything and cure them.”
“I don’t ask you to save anyone because of me, John. I ask you to help them because that’s what doctors do. They take care of people and make them better.”
They glared at each other.
“Let him stop at the lab,” Ian said, eyeing Richard. He put a hand on her arm. “We’ll need medicine we don’t currently have in order to deaden the pain and stop any infection.” He stared at John. “But I expect you to get the medicine and return. Don’t make me come after you.”
Richard fluttered a hand. “Don’t worry about me,” he gasped. “Just get everyone onto the shuttle.” But a grimace wracked his face as they shifted him forward.
She couldn’t bear watching him suffer. “Fine, go.” She pushed at John. “But there will be consequences if you don’t come back. He could die, and I’ll blame you.”
John paused at her words, cast a glance at Ian, and peeled off. The rest of the group headed toward the shuttlebay. She took back a fidgeting Tempest while Ian and Carter were burdened with a slumping Richard who fought to maintain consciousness, but lost the fight and collapsed.They moved to either side of him to drag him along.
Due to Richard’s cumbersome weight, the going proved slow but totally exhausted, they finally reached the shuttlebay entrance. A contingent of stationers stood posted out front and raised their weapons.
Ian lifted his, but this was a battle he couldn’t win.
Tempest broke into a wail that rattled Elise’s thoughts.
“Commander, it’s me, Chrissy.” A young blonde girl stepped forward. “Put down your weapons.”
“Chrissy? Hold your fire, Ian,” Elise ordered. “Shush, Tempest, shush.” She jiggled her daughter and tried to think clearly.
With a quick glance at the child, Chrissy said, “Tommie messaged us that the Alysian liaison was wounded, so I put a portable medical unit in the shuttle. It’s not much but it’ll help. Also, tell me when you’re ready to launch, and I’ll open the bay doors. You’ll have to hurry. They know you’re headed here, and they’ll try to stop you.”
Carter and Ian crossed hands to form a seat to carry Richard towards the shuttle. He awakened and flopped about as they loaded him onto their arms, collapsing against Ian with a moan and grabbing the man’s neck to hang on.
Arriving at the shuttlebay entrance inside the ship, John gasped, “Wait for me. I’ve got the medical supplies you’ll need.”
Ian muttered to Carter, “Well there’s good news at last. Now, let’s get Richard on board quick.” He and Carter stumbled across the shuttlebay’s floor and up the shuttle’s steps, lugging their charge as John dragged heavy medical bags behind them. At the bottom of the steps, Elise waited for John, holding a fussy Tempest in her arms.
Chrissy touched Tempest’s cheek. “Is that your little girl?” She peered in at Tempest who stopped crying and sneezed, then reached out to pat at Chrissy’s face.
Elise smiled. “Yes, her name’s Tempest.”
Chrissy nodded as John joined them. “I remember when you were pregnant” She patted Elise on her arm. “She’s real cute. Take good care of her.”
Elise put her foot on the first step and turned. “Always. And you take care, too.”
“Count on it.” The young girl waved as Elise staggered up the rest of the steps behind John, totally exhausted. “Good luck,” the girl shouted after her.
After settling Richard with John, Ian entered the cockpit to collect Tempest. Free of the child, Elise ran her hands over the controls and plugged into the console. Sitting in the pilot’s seat, she began activating the instrument panels, and quickly leaned forward into the windshield to give Chrissy a thumb’s up.
In no time, the shuttlebay ports opened, revealing the deep dark of beyond, and the glowing planet of Alysia in the distance.
Carter slid in next to her. “John’s working on Richard, and Ian’s taking care of the kid, so, you've got a co-pilot.”
“Warn everyone to grab a hold because we’re blasting out of here now,” she yelled.
With the doors now wide open, they escaped full throttle out into space, heading for Alysia.
Chapter 19
Escape
It was like she’d never left the bridge. The shuttle’s controls were far simpler than her ship’s, making piloting easy. Together, she and Carter plotted the course and set the autopilot to begin their gradual downward spiral. Below them, Alysia’s gravity well drew them home.
She became aware of drying algae that covered her clothes and hair. It cracked and floated in small puffs, causing a rank odor to permeate the cockpit.
Ignoring the cloud of floating particles and burgeoning stink, she slanted a glance over at Carter and slouched into her seat. “Why didn’t you create a clone of Elise instead of an android?”
With a tap on his screen, Carter finalized the next portion of their itinerary, programed that into the autopilot, and glanced over at her. A chuckle issued from him. “Clones and replicants are the good doctor Luttrell’s area of expertise, not mine. I’m an engineer, not a biochemist.”
He twisted to face her and scrubbed at his arm. “I spent years perfecting robots: getting the facial expressions exactly right, developing synthetic skin that felt real, programming a logic tree that enabled them to act as close to human behavior as possible.” He loosened his strap and arched his back. “Robots never age, they never get cranky, they do what you ask… and never talk back or disappoint.”
“But they are incapable of love, no matter how expertly you program them.”
“Yeah, eventually I figured that part out.” His voice quavered. He rubbed his forehead, brushing aside dark bangs. “I couldn’t have you and I missed her… So I thought…”
She fiddled with her console to give him time to recover. Finally, he slumped into his chair and stared at her.
She met his gaze. “Is Elija creating military robots for a war?”
His eyes narrowed in thought. “I left him a schematic in exchange for a ride back to the space station. I suspect that’s his intention since he suggested to Elliott Stratton that I could assemble robots modeled as soldiers.”
Thinking it over, she said, “Elija will disassemble and repurpose your creation to make what he wants.”
“He threatened he would, and I didn’t want to hang around to watch it happen.”
She tapped a forefinger to her lips. “Possessing a robot army would provide leverage for the Terrans.”
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