“I hope he’s still alive,” she worried.
Richard gazed down at her. “Most likely he has a big smile on his face.”
“Yeah, until Ananda hears about it.”
***
Eventually, they found the two stuffed in a lab closet. Merek groaned as Adrian shook him to consciousness. Attached to the guard, the young woman lay dead, her neck broken. Dazed, Merek blinked as Richard had to pry open his hand and get him to release his grip on the girl.
Adrian leaned over to study the scene. “I assume it wasn’t you who broke her neck.” He stared at Merek.
“No. No,” the guard protested as he sat up, rubbing his forehead.
“Who sent her?” Adrian helped the muscular guard to a wobbly stand. “Did you find out anything?”
Merek shook a groggy head. “Coherent thinking wasn’t part of my skill set at the time.”
Helping him up on the other side, Richard muttered, “I know the feeling.”
Merek rubbed his hair with a large hand, then stared down and flexed it.
Adrian wiped his hands on a rag handed to him. “Get out of those clothes before we’re all drooling idiots.” He motioned Merek into a nearby refresher. Then he scrutinized the dead girl. His eyebrows narrowed. “That’s Lucy. She’s been nothing but a problem. She’s a troublemaker who’s tied into the Terran underground. Phew! Put on oxygen masks and space her clothes. Jack, find a sealed bodybag and get her into it. I’m already feeling uncomfortably amorous.”
Richard straightened up. “Don’t look at me.”
“Oh, shut up, Richard.”
The body bag arrived, along with an atomizer, which contained an antidote for the hormone. After being sprayed, everyone heaved a sigh of relief. Tensions lowered.
“How did that stuff get on my station?” asked Adrian.
“Obviously, it was smuggled in. You need tighter security.” Richard noticed the sour expression on Adrian’s face and figured it wasn’t what the man wanted to hear.
“This station was in good order until you arrived,” the station master retorted. “There better not be another bomb scare or alien invasion like the last time you visited. You bring problems every time I see you.”
“Admit it, Adrian. I make your dull life more exciting," said Richard as he watched the station master hurry away.
Chapter 25
Kidnapped
Carter straightened up with a weary groan. He stared at a series of rail guns mounted on the outward facing wall of the modules that ringed the perimeter of the station. “Every gun I’ve checked so far hasn’t worked properly. The electronics are damaged and will have to be repaired. Unfortunately, rail guns alone won’t be enough. We’ll need laser capability and heavier plating on the outer modules.”
Next to him, Adrian shifted uneasily. “I thought you were merely inspecting our system, not overhauling it.”
The whole group of Carter, Elise, Richard, Abbie and Adrian were on an inspection tour of the station’s defense system.
His finger wiggled, and a latch broke off in Carter’s hand. “This gun is faulty and could backfire. They haven’t been maintained properly.”
“We weren’t planning on using them any time soon,” Adrian protested. “Besides, most governments have higher priorities. They’re trying to repair the damages from the comet disaster, not spend funds on this station.”
“Waiting until you need a defense to fix it, is a good way to lose your station.” Carter brushed his hands together and bent backward with a groan. His hands massaged his back. “Old age is catching up with me.”
“They can’t have all worn out this fast.” Adrian bent over to peer closer at the gun under discussion.
Carter sniffed. “No, I suspect sabotage.”
Abbie nodded her head. “I would agree. This isn’t ordinary wear and tear.”
With a cough, Adrian said, “I hope you have the funding because all of our monies are already allocated.” Eyeing Carter, he added, “Are you sure you’re even capable of completing these projects you keep talking about?”
“He can handle the task.” Elise jumped in to support Carter. “It’s traveling back and forth from Alysia to the stations that wears a person out.” Elise brushed back her hair and rubbed an arm as she stared at Carter. “You’re remembering to keep up with your meds, aren’t you?” She thought about her mother and how that lapse had killed her.
“Yes, yes. John hounds me about my health at every opportunity. He draws an obscene pleasure from reminding me how old I’m becoming.”
“So is he,” she huffed, but a smile edged her lips.
Carter grinned. “A fact I remind him about whenever the occasion arises.”
Elise’s eyebrows knitted with concern. “You will take care. You’re essential to what we have to do.”
“I just need more rest,” her engineer grumped.
Abbie patted her brother’s arm. “We’ll put a team together to do most of the work. Carter, you just write up the schematics.”
Richard leaned in to rub his finger on the rail gun and squint at it. “You’ve already drawn up blueprints for a satellite array to ring Alysia, haven’t you?”
“Be careful how you touch that,” Carter growled as he glared at Richard.
Richard jerked his finger back.
Abbie said, “Jimbo and his crew are firing up the 3D printers and plan to manufacture the array soon. He’s offered to deliver several printers here.”
“Good.” Carter rubbed his hands together. “I plan Earth2 to protect half of Alysia, and the Alysian station to protect the other half.”
Brushing a hand through his hair, Adrian said, “As eager as I am to get 3D printers here, I’m leery about bringing a lot of strange Terrans on board. Right now, I control this station. I don’t want to bring in the problems your lot on Earth2 recently went through.”
“What if Jacob and I vetted everyone who came here?” Richard tossed a glance at Elise.
“And the money to do all this fancy stuff?” Adrian’s brow crinkled with doubt.
Elise noted the bottom-line weighed heavily in Adrian’s calculations.
“The funds will be there; you have my word,” Richard assured him.
Adrian glared at the damaged rail gun. “They can’t all be malfunctioning.”
Carter shrugged. “Every one of them I’ve inspected so far is inoperative. I would say to not worry about any strange new Terrans as you already have enough trouble on this station.”
***
Richard and Elise were taking a break in the community lounge to get a bite to eat while Abbie and Carter worked on weapon logistics over in the engineering section. Merek and Deuce ate nearby at a separate table to discuss privately tighter security arrangements.
Richard eyed the shipboard food on the table in front of him. “Trace claims to have been in contact with the fleet, and Commander Bradley says there has been no signs of the Fallen so far.”
Elise twisted in her chair. “How’s the fleet doing?”
Richard took a bite of a rollup filled with protein paste. His face scrunched up, and he hesitantly poked the other rollup on his plate, finally leaving it. He sighed. “Trace says there is a lot of unrest among the fleet, and the ships are running low on resources. Bradley has his hands full.”
“If we had the fleet here, we’d have a high orbit defense,” she reminded him.
“If we had your Terran fleet overhead, Alysians would be in a precarious position.” He heaved a sigh and picked up the roll. Closing his eyes, he put it in his mouth and hastily swallowed. She actually thought the protein roll tasty, but then it was all what you got used to, she supposed.
Loud voices shouted from across the room. “Who the hell do you think you’re talking to. I’m not taking that crap from you, punk.”
Two rough-dressed men with beards stood up, yelling. One threw a punch, and two more rose to join in. Merek leaped up, along with Deuce, to stop the developing brawl. Elise saw Deuce
lift and throw one of the instigators across the room, while Merek waded in to subdue the others.
Because she was watching the commotion, Elise didn’t notice two men sneaking up behind her until she felt a damp cloth cover her face and smelled the strong odor of chloroform.
Then everything went black.
***
Her first thought, when consciousness returned, was of her daughter. Who would raise Tempest if anything happens to me? Richard? She groaned. Tempest needs me.
“She’s awake,” a voice announced.
A whiff of an astringent snapped her eyes open. She was in a small dark room with a cluster of about ten people, all dark forms jostling about and jamming the area. One leaned forward. “We’ve rescued you, Commander.”
At first, she figured her addled brain had misheard the words.
A small bottle passed by her nose. This time the sharp smell cleared her head and caused her eyes to water.
“Whhhaat?”
A deep voice said, “We’ve rescued you from the Alysians. You’ll be okay now.”
Elise rubbed her forehead and slid up into a sitting position. She blinked and peered around. “Rescued?”
“They kept you tighter than an airlock in that place of his. But you knew we would rescue you one way or another. You just had to give us time.”
“Why?” She couldn’t think of why these Terrans, she did another scan of faces, yes, they appeared to be all Terrans, would think she was a prisoner.
A furrow appeared in the brow of the closest face. She ransacked her mind to come up with an identity, but nothing came to mind. Brown buzzcut, a prominent nose, and dodgy breath didn’t ignite any memories.
Then, a young man with flaming red hair and a freckled face pushed forward.
Dazz! A recollection of a bunch of motley kids rushed in, one with bright red hair.
The redhead said, “Captain, you’re the only one capable of activating the AI on the New Found Hope. And you’re the only one left available who can pilot her. Jazz did everything she could think of, but the ship stayed locked down. It needs your retina scan and biologics to function.”
She rolled her eyes. These great minds were missing a key fact. “Even if I could activate it, the ship is welded to the station.”
A hand emerged to push the kid back. “We can fix that. Shouldn’t be too hard.”
“Then what?” She still felt woozy, and none of their words were making sense.
“We get you on board, you take her out, and we attack Tygel.”
“Destroy Tygel!” Around her, voices echoed the sentiment. Yelling and shouting erupted until someone schussed them, saying, “Not so loud or they’ll hear us.”
“Ho, wait.” She tried to gather her thoughts and think of a reply, but her thoughts got drowned out by the words, destroy Tygel.
“Let her talk,” demanded the buzzcut.
Oh Fate, how much should she tell them?
“I need water first.”
After a few minutes, a cup of water materialized. Slowly, she sipped the cool liquid to give herself time to think. With the help of several hands, she rose to a stand.
“What is your name?” She slanted her head at their leader.
“Name’s Tylin. Off Pilgrim’s Pride.”
“Ah, Naomi’s ship. A good ship.”
“Are all of you off the Pride?” She scanned the crowd.
“No. We represent several ships,” answered a voice.
She steadied her feet under her and glared at the faces around her. “Were you the ones who disabled the rail guns?”
Tylin frowned at her response. “We didn’t want the station firing on your ship when we leave, Captain.”
Captain. Not wife. Not mother. The term sounded lonely and weighed with responsibility.
She tried logic first. “Wiping out Tygel will only bring on a war we can’t win.”
“We’ll have the ship. That’ll win it.”
“For years, we searched the galaxy and couldn’t find a habitable planet. Finally, we discovered Alysia, and now, you plan to lay waste to it because the indigenes species tries to protect their territory? Look, Terrans are woefully outnumbered on this planet. Recently, the Alysian spaceport contacted the fleet. They’re not doing well. Resources are low with no habitable planet in sight. Alysia is rare. In its fragile state, a war might devastate it.”
She paused. A thought came to her. “Why can’t we build our own habitat out in space? Who says it has to be on an inhospitable rocky planet? We can find a goldilocks zone where we can design and build a home just like we want. Maybe build it close enough to Alysia where we can trade with her.” The idea percolated through her thoughts, blocking out the cries around her. Genius.
The deep voice disagreed with her grand idea. “That would take years. We can take this planet right here, right now.”
“And then what?”
“We run the planet. Terrans in charge.” Several heads nodded at this idea.
“For how long? The New Found Hope doesn’t have an endless supply of weapons. Resources are also limited on Earth2. We’re dependent on the Alysians for fresh produce and metals even now. The only way to survive for more than a year is to learn to co-exist with the natives.”
A tall blond female stuck her face in. “Do you have any idea how poorly they treat women?”
Elise smoothed down her tunic top and said, “I do. I’ve worked at rescuing a number of them. But not all are treated badly. News flash here: I’m not a prisoner. Richard actually treats me quite well. I’m trying to co-exist and it’s working. Compromise is key.”
Her mind reviewed their relationship and realized Richard had treated her better than she deserved. She wasn’t the easiest person to live with.
All I want is a place to live and raise my family surrounded by love. Why is that so hard?
Dazz pushed forward. “Right now, we have no defense other than your ship.”
Here was her opening.
“What if I convince the Alysians to let you construct a defense system on Earth2–one that actually works? They want a network of satellites which will alert them and protect them from incoming asteroids or comets. The Alysians are thinking of setting up a series of lasers and rail guns to defend both stations and the planet.”
Tylin nodded. “That would also protect us in case of an Alysian attack. Do you think you can convince them to let us do that?”
“I certainly will try.” She dusted off her hands. “Take me back and let me talk to Richard. “Let’s see what I can negotiate.”
“You’re sure he’s not holding you prisoner down there?”
She sighed. “Being a wife and mother, sometimes it feels that way … but no, he lets me do what I want and listens to my ideas. So, let’s try out a few on him.”
They opened the panel, releasing her to seek out Adrian and Richard.
***
Once Elise returned, Richard felt a weight of worry lift. Her absence had upset him, so he was glad when she returned okay.
So now, he stood in front of a closed panel. He pushed the button in front of him that would announce them and heard the entrance chime.
Nothing. He turned to Deuce and said, “Finding Elise was a big relief. I was ready to tear this station apart. With, Abbie, and Carter going to talk to Adrian about the station’s defense, I thought you and I could talk to Joel.”
Next to him, Deuce muttered, “He has a reputation for being a recluse. Most people leave him alone because he acts so weird. Makes them nervous.”
Richard tried the chime again. “Joel. Joel, are you in there?” He turned to Deuce. “We have the right unit, don’t we?”
“This is the number Adrian gave me.”
“Joel!”
Through the door, they heard a muffled voice say, “Joel’s not here.”
Richard straightened and glanced at Deuce.
“Joel, let us in.”
“I’m not here.”
Rolling his e
yes, Deuce said, “I have an override.”
Richard heard muttering, a shuffling about, and the panel slid open.
A sandy blond scarecrow greeted them. Rail-thin with huge hazel eyes, the apparition waved them in. “I knew you’d come. I hoped you’d just go away if I didn’t answer. It was one of the probabilities but a weak one.” He heaved a sigh of disappointment.
Deuce lifted a brown cellulite bag. “I brought sandwiches. Adrian was afraid you hadn’t eaten lately, so we brought something.” The bag and several cans of drink floated toward Joel.
A wide grin lit their host’s face. “Neat trick. Telekinesis?”
“We all have our Talents.” Deuce flourished a hand. “You’re not the only one harboring a unique ability.”
Joel grabbed the bag out of the air and peered inside. “How did you know cheese was my favorite sandwich? Did you read my mind? I thought only we freaks on the Seeker’s crew could do that stuff.”
Deuce shrugged. “Adrian mentioned you liked cheese, and that you haven’t been to the commissary lately.”
A chagrinned expression flitted across Joel’s face. “Too many people. Crowds make me nervous.”
“Adrian said he’d gladly make special arrangements if you’d let him.”
Pulling a sandwich out, Joel took a bite. “Let me think about it.” His eyes closed as delight suffused his face. “This tastes good.”
“May we sit?”
Immediately, his eyes opened. “Oh, yeah. Sorry. I need to work on my manners. Because I’m not around people much, I forget.” Joel waved them to a seat. “Oh, and thank you for the sandwiches, by the way.”
Deuce smiled. “You’re more than welcome.”
Richard sat for moment, trying to figure out how to explain why he was there. So far, Deuce’s communication skills were proving unexpectedly successful. He didn’t want to mess up a building rapport.
Joel leaned forward. “You’re here to ask me about my visions, aren’t you?” He leaned back and opened a drink. “Many people visit here because of them, but rarely can I help.” He took a sip and closed his eyes again. “Delicious.”
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