Layers of scaffolding and machinery zoomed by. Pressure stung my eyes as I reeled my hand back in from the arm controls and swiped through the navigation panel to figure out how to fire anti-grav thrusters.
The shiny, rippling exo-tent, which pressurized the construction zone, tore like a wet napkin when I hit it full speed. Europa’s gravity didn’t pull hard, but the weight of the mech was enough. What little was left of the air inside rushed out, then an emergency shutter closed off the lowest level and sealed with the tent. I only hoped no workers were stuck inside, exposed.
“C’mon, where is it?” I strained to say. My velocity was picking up, and if I didn’t find the thrusters soon, even Europa’s thin atmosphere would be enough to boil my insides on my fall. Nerves already had my hand sweating. I peered down and saw that the ring of com relays wrapping the station were my first concern. I was heading right toward the structure.
I found a full systems readout that allowed me to check the status of each system. I looked down at the structure, then back at the screen. “There we go!” I was directed to a switch on my right-hand side that keyed the throttle. My stomach leaped as the thrusters burned, and I came within mere meters of slamming into the station.
“Malcolm, what is going on down there?” Rin questioned in my ear while I was busy catching my breath.
“I’m working,” I panted. I tested the throttle to get a handle on how much juice to give. The fuel meter read half empty, so I didn’t have long to go. Not to mention, I saw activity at all the shipyard stations floating around Martelle Station, where defense ships would soon mobilize once everyone figured out what I was up to.
I ascended to the lower portion of the station below the regular arrangement of small dwelling unit viewports. It was a half-sphere filled with vast translucencies and wrapped at the base by the com’s relay ring. I’d been in space plenty of times, but never where there was so little black. On one side, there was Europa, on the other Jupiter, like a great one-eyed giant ready to devour me. It was so massive that even though it was thousands upon thousands of kilometers away, I felt like I could reach out and touch it.
I used the thrusters to spin toward the black of space and searched for a yellow moon, which in the darkness of space was tougher than I’d hoped. We were on the back side of Jupiter, so every moon was just a blotch of blackness where stars didn’t shine.
“I’m going to need more to go on than yellow, Basaam,” I said.
“Help him,” Rin threatened.
“Io…. It’s uh…” Basaam paused to think. “Look for the biggest moon without signs of life on it. It is, at this point, far too hostile to be worth colonizing without a substantial concentration of resources, which, of course, I feel would be worth it. the volcanic activity could allow us to—”
“Would you stop talking?” I interrupted.
I scanned Jupiter’s vast archipelago, picked the best moon I could find without artificial lights twinkling near its surface, then jetted back toward the station. Drones blinked overhead, pouring out of the station to search for me. I scoured the translucencies, facing what I hoped was Io, only to find that the interiors were all unique. Some had the appearance of sterile white labs, others were filled with plants, and still others merely revealed typical open office dividers.
“All right, Basaam, give me something to look for inside,” I said.
“It’s the Departure Ark studies lab,” he said.
“Great. Is there a sign on the outside of the station?”
“There’s a three-story reinforced testing lab where we’re able to test fusion core outputs through combustion chambers. You won’t notice, but the station’s enclosure has a thin seam that allows it to fall off and flush the core out into space in case of emergency.”
“Anything else in there?”
“Models for burner caps, reaction chambers, ICH couplers…”
“All right, I get it,” I interrupted. “Ship guts and all of that. Will anybody else be working?”
“I have no idea! I’ve been here. But I’m not the only engineer on the project, and I’d imagine Venta Co. won’t delay the project too long while I’m missing.”
I drifted around the station in orbit, looking into each of the transparencies. I was never one for the techy side of things, preferring a man’s instinct over all the new toys. It didn’t, however, take a rocket scientist to find the lab Basaam was talking about.
I located a lofty space with a solid, metal-plated sphere suspended in the center and a catwalk around it. A dozen different control stations surrounded it, and a few engineers were inside working. More labs surrounded the cylindrical atrium, all for testing some other part of what would become a tremendous Departure Ark. Maybe they flew off toward nothing, but research for the companies vying to win Departure Ark contracts had inspired many spacefaring advancements. Contemporary Impulse drives were said to be the result of a patent used in a Red Wing Company Departure Ark decades ago.
“Is your office the one with all of the little models?” I asked. To the right of the testing labs was a series of offices. Naturally, only essential people like Basaam would get space-views. The one furthest from the testing areas where it would be quietest had its main lights dimmed. Shelves inside bore models of Departure Arks, and not like the figurine Aria had. Even from out in space, I could see the level of detail on the meter-long models.
“Yes…” Basaam said, voice trailing off like he was ashamed.
“Don’t hate me, then,” I said.
I ignored whatever he said next and drove the mech forward toward the floor-to-ceiling viewport of his office. The glass was silica-fused and specially reinforced considering the moon-based station had to be built to withstand a stray meteor or two, not to mention radiation. I grumbled a few curses as I searched for where to activate the mechs on-board fusion torch, and held it to the viewport.
It would take way longer than I could spare to cut through, but I heated it until the outer layer began to warp. Then I backed away, threw as much power into the mech’s thrusters as possible, aimed for the lounge section of his office, and gunned it with the mech’s fusion-torch-arm held out ahead. I’m pretty sure I closed my eyes as I smashed through the dense glass.
A few of the models and his other knick-knacks were sucked out into space by the sudden change in pressure. His desk and the console attached to it slid across the floor, but not before the emergency blast shutters installed over that portion of Martelle Station sealed.
The mech crashed into the wall, leaving its imprint in the bent metal but not breaking through. I signaled the cockpit to open and tumbled out onto the polished white tile floor. My adrenaline was waning, and every part of my body ached from the impact. Flashing red lights and a wailing klaxon made my brain feel like it was going to explode.
“I swear, Aria, this time you do owe me,” I grumbled as I slid against the sparking wall to gather myself. One of the mech’s arms fell off, and a fire sparked in the cockpit before being squelched by automated fire suppression systems. The faint sounds of screaming echoed from out in the hall where Basaam’s employees fled.
“Malcolm, are you in?” Rin asked.
“I hope so,” I said. “The whole station is going to know where I am now.”
“Good,” Rin said. “You can access the data on Basaam’s console. As soon as you find it, I’ll give you instructions on how to transmit it to the Cora.”
I crawled a short bit on my hands and knees then got to my feet. The room was a mess, furniture overturned, shelving torn off. I nearly stepped on a digital picture frame, which showed Basaam smiling and kissing a woman. I’m not sure why, but I picked it up and placed it on his desk before coming around to face his computer console. Part one of my mission was complete: locate the data. Now, once I had it, I could start negotiating.
I switched the console on and a holographic screen knifed up, prompting me to enter his password. “Basaam, I’m going to need to know how to log in,” I sai
d.
“There is a password and a vocal confirmation,” Basaam said.
“Everyone out!” the voice of a security officer echoed from the laboratory entrance. They were here fast, and judging by the patter of clanking footsteps, they arrived in force. I scanned the room. The air recyclers were top-of-the-line, as was everything else; little more than thin rifts at the corners of the walls and ceiling. Drones couldn’t get through, and I couldn’t get out, not even into space, thanks to blast shutters. They could drain the oxygen, but they had no idea the construction mech was busted, and I couldn’t hide in it. One door in, one way out.
“What are you waiting for?” I asked as I limped over to the door and ensured it was locked.
Basaam swallowed audibly. “HELENA6713,” he said.
I returned to the console and typed it in, received confirmation, then an automated voice requested vocal authorization. I removed the com-link from my ear and placed it on the table. Then I leaned close to it.
“Basaam, I’m going to hold the com-link up to the speaker bar, and you do what you need to do,” I said.
“That… that might not work.” His voice was distant without the device directly in my ear.
“Or it might. Pervenio tech is way better.”
“I can’t…” he started.
“You’ll do it, or I’ll splatter her brains right now!” Rin shouted in the background.
“It’s everything I’ve worked for!” Basaam protested.
“Do it, now,” Rin said.
“Malcolm Graves, we have you surrounded!” an officer shouted, now just outside Basaam’s office. “Lower your weapons and come out, or we have the authorization to use lethal force.”
I picked up the comlink and held it to my lips. “Basaam, listen to me,” I whispered. “I know this goes against every fiber in your being. I know they probably have a gun to the head of someone you love, just like me.”
“You don’t understand,” Basaam sniveled.
“I do… more than anybody. You’ll hate yourself more for losing them than letting Venta Co. down, I promise you that. Now I’m going to put this com-link up to the speaker, and you’re going to get me in. Then you’re going to go back, blow a kiss to whoever it is they have, and play along until this is all over. You do that, and I swear I’ll do my best to get you out of this mess too.”
I didn’t wait to hear a response. I stared at the photo of the poor scientist and that woman—I’m guessing Helena—as I held the com-link up to his console’s speaker bar. My sore arm started to shake by the time I finally heard his faint voice.
For a second, I was worried this wouldn’t work, and it would all have been for nothing, then he repeated himself louder, and the screen unlocked. I exhaled through my teeth, returned my com-link to my ear, and went to type. Again, I caught a glimpse of Basaam’s picture out of the corner of my eye and stopped. It had automatically shifted to one with him and Madame Venta at a celebration for the legal occupancy of Martelle Station.
“Are you ready for instructions?” Rin asked, irritation creeping into her tone. “The files are encrypted and far beyond our skills, so all you need to do is follow instructions to transmit them to us. Basaam will decrypt them on our end.”
My gaze darted between the picture and the screen. I was used to improvising, but this was a new level for me. I knew I couldn’t transmit the data and be left behind, but I hadn’t figured out how to avoid it and get off until now. Basaam wasn’t the only one who was friends with a paramount member of the Earthborn corporatocracy.
I reached out for the thin console bar that projected the screen. The back popped off with a switch, and inside was some circuitry and the tiny, thumb-sized hard-drive holding petabytes worth of data. I’ve heard people say that back on Pre-Meteorite Earth all that data might have fit the whole world’s information and required an entire building filled with servers. Now it was the key to everything.
“Malcolm, do you read me?” Rin asked.
“Loud and clear,” I said.
“Then what’s the issue?”
“All coms from this level are being jammed.” I tapped on a key repeatedly for good measure, loud enough for her to hear. “I won’t be able to transmit anything, so if you want this data, I’m going to have to steal a ship and meet you, but I’ll need help on your end.”
“You’re lying.”
The truth was, I might not have been. That was the smart move considering whose lab I’d broken into, and Madame Venta was many things, but dumb wasn’t one of them. “If you want this data so badly, you can either trust I’ll get it to you or don’t, and they’ll bury it deeper than the Darien Lowers,” I said.
“Malcolm Graves, this is your last warning!” the officer outside shouted. I heard the clatter of them preparing a fusion cutter to break into the office. There was too much sensitive material around the lab for them to risk blowing the door.
“We sent you in so we didn’t need to get involved,” Rin said. “Finish the job.”
“I am.” I took a step back and looked through Basaam’s drawers, hoping he had a weapon. He didn’t. “Scientists,” I grumbled under my breath before kicking the desk over with my synthetic foot to provide myself some cover. “Now, I’m going to need you to contact someone so they don’t kill me.”
“Do you think I’m lying about what I’ll do to Aria, Collector?” Rin said.
“It doesn’t matter anymore.” I drew a deep breath. “Kale, I know you can hear me. You made me risk my daughter in coming here. Now it’s your turn. How much are you willing to risk for a chance to even yourselves with Earth? If you aren’t, then ignore me. Otherwise, I’m a man of my word.”
They must have silenced the feed because I didn’t hear any arguing until Kale said, “What do you need?”
The loud whir of a fusion cutter powering on filled the room. Pulse rifles clicked into position outside, and the officers moved into formation to take me by force.
“I need you to open the Cora’s wide coms and use my hand terminal to link me to Luxarn Pervenio,” I said. “Anything from Martelle Station’s network is blocked, but this line won’t be until they jam the entire Jovian system.”
“Absolutely not!” Rin snapped. “So you can tell them exactly where we are?”
“You forget who you have on that ship,” I said. “Don’t be fools. You said I was your collector now, so let me do my damn job to keep her safe!”
This time, they didn’t bother muting me while they argued.
“There’s no time for arguing!” I said, instantly regretting the rift between them I’d help nurture. Sparks flew out from one corner of the door. “They’re breaking in. These are the split-second choices leaders make, kid. Unless Rin makes all of them.”
Nobody answered. I craned my neck to see the door and how close the officers were to breaking in. Luckily, in a lab testing fusion reactors, every wall and door was specially reinforced. I had a minute, maybe two, until I was swarmed.
I looked down and noticed my right-hand twitching, subconsciously itching for a pulse pistol no doubt. I rarely found myself in precarious positions without one… not that I’d been any good at shooting ever since Titan.
“C’mon, kid,” I whispered to myself. “Don’t be her puppet. C’mon.”
“Luxarn Pervenio here,” the familiar voice of my long-time employer suddenly spoke into my ear. My heart skipped a beat it took me by such surprise.
“Sir, it’s me,” I said, breathless.
“Graves? Is that really you?”
“As sure as Zhaff is your son,” I replied. I knew I had to tell him something only I would know to ensure that it was me. Considering we weren’t long-time friends keen on sharing secrets over a glass of whiskey, that was the best I could think of.
“By Earth. Trass took you and threatened me, and the reports I’m getting from Europa… what the hell is going on?”
“They captured me, and I broke out,” I said. “But I need to get back in wi
th Kale, and what I’m stealing from Venta Co. is the best way. Please, sir, I need you to get them to back off. I told Kale I’m out of the game with you if they have the credits to pay me. If I can just earn his trust, I’ll be in a position to end this from the inside. They’ll never leave him alone.”
“Graves.” He sighed. “As glad as I am to hear you’re alive, you must understand what position you’re putting me in.”
“C’mon, sir. It’s a chance to get me in with them and to screw Venta over at the same time.”
“Haven’t you heard? We’re one entity now.”
“Only in name,” I said. “Get Venta to pull away.”
“Then what?”
“Then I steal a ship, get the hell out of here, and bring Kale what he wants. The first chance I get on Titan after I earn his trust as a mercenary, I put him down. You were right, sir. Zhaff deserves that much at least.”
“About that. Malcolm… I… Zhaff…”
“Sir, you’re breaking up. They must be jamming all outward communications now. If you’re getting this, I won’t let you down. Just clear me a path.”
His response was an unintelligible mess of interference. I cursed under my breath and yanked the com-link out of my ear. It was all but useless. I craned my neck to see the door, only to find that the fusion cutters were done. The door toppled forward, and the officers outside rolled smoke bombs in, filling the room with heavy smog. Laser sights slashed in.
I grabbed a long shard of one of Basaam’s models and held it to my chest. If I was going to go down, it wouldn’t be without a fight.
A cluster of footsteps neared. My grip tightened. Then I heard the bang of a pulse pistol being fired and someone screamed. Another rang out, and another. The shots were short and succinct, and the confusion amongst the Venta Co. men meant it wasn’t coming from one of them.
Titan's Fury: A Science Fiction Thriller (Children of Titan Book 4) Page 7
