Ray turned, holding her shaking hands out in front of her. Her brain still fizzing.
Aymes stood between the Dianian line and the CDSE soldiers like some sort of mythical figure. Feet apart she gripped her side arm with two hands, leaning into the weapon with elbows bent, another shocker already protruding from the muzzle. The weapon painted a red dot in the center of the Pritchard’s forehead. Pritchard crossed his eyes trying to see the laser spot and let the loudhailer slip from his wrist. Smart enough to hold still in the face of professional of Aymes’ caliber.
“Anybody else feel like being a fucking idiot?” Aymes inquired casually, eyes never leaving his.
The V of marines fanning silently out behind Aymes advanced on Pritchard and the two downed men, their weapons gliding smoothly through the air as they slid forward on soft knees. Jonah appeared behind Aymes’ left shoulder, looking outward and covering her flank, his brow creasing as he took in the scene.
Jonah and Ray locked eyes and Ray felt the shock of recognition as he saw her. Jonah flicked his eyes back over his shoulder and a marine slid in to cover Jonah’s place. He slung his assault rifle and strode towards Ray, grabbing her under her arms and lifting her easily up off the ground.
“Are you hurt?”
Ray pushed him back and nodded her head, embarrassed to be picked up so easily.
“I’m fine,” she signed, looking backwards over her shoulder at her combatant, still unconscious, a large wet patch staining the crotch of his CDSE jump suit.
“You’re certainly doing better than him,” Jonah commented blandly. Ray surprised herself by smiling at the morbid joke, she still felt shaky, but she hadn’t backed down or frozen in fear. Nettle arrived at Ray’s shoulder, sharing Ray’s assessment of her efforts. “Bad ass,” she signed. “Took that motherfucker down and you didn’t piss yourself like he did either.”
Ray nodded and grinned a toothy grin back at Nettle, her cheeks prickled, and her mouth suddenly felt overly thick and tasted gross. Too late to react she stared helplessly as a copious jet of vomit erupted from her mouth, jetting straight onto Nettle’s feet. The force made an indent in the dust, spraying sideways and up Nettle’s leg. Nettle’s face flinched sideways but she held her ground. She opened one eye cautiously, making sure there was not going to be a second wave. Ray stared slack jawed at the wet, chunky patch on the ground. A lump of meat from the meal she had shared with Bones earlier sat grotesquely in the center.
“Shit,” Ray signed.
Nettle nodded, “you almost looked cool there for a second.”
Ray wiped her mouth and looked around for Sparks. Jonah still stood there waiting for Ray to get a grip on herself.
Despite the loss of diaphragm control Ray couldn’t shake the feeling of pride. She hadn’t run away from the men with guns today and she wouldn’t run away from Jonah now. Ray looked back up into Jonah’s face, the tiniest trace of a smile in the corners of his eyes.
She shrugged and grinned back hoping she didn’t have puke on her teeth.
Aymes’ calm, firm voice broke through their shared moment.
“Fielding,” she directed at Jonah. “Get those men out of here. Cheng, Pham sort that leg wound.”
Ray got Jonah’s attention, “I’m not going anywhere without my mother, she’s in there,” Ray pointed at the Medbay door
Aymes, eyes still trained on Pritchard frowned deeply and moved the laser spot into the corner of his eye making him wince.
“Pritchard, why don’t you drag your little troop of boy scouts back to base before I’m forced to put holes in them. I think you’ve demonstrated your uselessness enough for today.”
Pritchard gazed at his downed men now starting to stir, the first one clutching feebly at the shocker still embedded in his neck. Pritchard turned and stared at Ray. The look he gave her was one of pure hatred. His lips curled back away from his teeth and Ray could see his fingers flexing. The moment was broken by one of the black-clad men staggering to his feet and attempting regather his weapon. The marine closest slid forward and stepped on the rifle barrel. The marine shook his head menacing the man away from the weapon and backing him against the wall with his hands raised once more.
“Get them out of here,” Aymes calmly ordered, before holstering her sidearm and turning to the front row of Dianians. Her eyes settled on Nettle. “You,” she commanded pointing. “Explain to me what the fuck is going on here. Someone get Prudence,” she threw over her shoulder.
As the line of CDSE soldiers exited, under marine guard, Pritchard’s eyes never left Ray. Ray stared back defiantly.
“Maybe next time,” she signed, relishing the fact that he wouldn’t understand.
Pritchard’s lips curled further away from his teeth and his eyes flash with barely suppressed rage. Ray smirked at him, enjoying the victory and the chance to wield the power for once.
Jonah turned Ray’s shoulders, so she couldn’t hold Pritchard’s vengeful gaze. “Best not bait that one,” he said looking over Ray’s shoulder at the retreating men. “He’s a sick son-of-a-bitch. Best to stay off his radar if you can.”
“Bit late for that,” Ray thought to herself. It was abundantly clear that she was all over Pritchard’s radar. The big question was why? And he was the third person in as many days that seemed to recognize her from somewhere.
Bone’s words from before she fell, echoed in Ray’s memory. Something happened to her out there in the Darklands. Ray’s wretched gut sank further. She had a growing feeling that she was involved somehow in something deeper and her Mother was a part of it. Nettle and Sparks were right, Ray needed answers. She needed information and she needed a way in with CDSE, the marines or both, and Jonah was her only option. She looked up at Jonah and found him looking back his eyes still filled with concern. Perhaps this would be easier than she thought.
CHAPTER 20
Ray sat with Nettle and Sparks in Director Pfeffer’s office. One quarter of a small annex in the CDSE compound. Aymes had taken control of the situation at the Medbay in efficient fashion. After a short delay, while Prudence was fetched to translate, Nettle delivered an award-winning performance explaining how the evil CDSE men had thrown Ray and Sparks out of the Medbay and wouldn’t allow them to see their poor sick mother. Aymes had cut her off half way through and pointed at Ray,
“Is this true?” She asked Ray
Ray nodded.
“Does she need to be in the Medbay?”
Ray and Sparks hesitated for a moment then Prudence translated for Ray. “Bones has had a stroke of some sort but is stable now. She hasn’t woken yet but there is nothing to do except wait which she could easily do at home.”
Aymes nodded curtly. “Do that then.” She directed and accompanied a handful of marines plus Ray, Nettle, and Sparks into the Medbay.
They found the CDSE medical staff cowering wide eyed against the far wall. Aymes didn’t need to convince them to leave. The gunshot and shouting had clearly done that. They were out the door and gone before Aymes had finished her second sentence. Aymes requisitioned Dane and Gift to get Bones home and then ordered Nettle, Ray, and Sparks to come with her.
The three of them sat along one side of Pfeffer’s desk. Aymes stood at ease against the wall while Prudence fidgeted nervously beside them. Pfeffer arrived wearing her understanding and caring smile. Ray had seen Pfeffer wearing that smile while smashing people’s lives apart for the past two weeks, so she wasn’t fooled for a second. Pfeffer looked at each of them in turn and then looked up at Jager and Aymes.
“A disgraceful business,” she began. “I am extremely perturbed that matters have come to this.” She paused to read her notes, “I am informed that the wounded Dianian is in a satisfactory condition and is likely to recover well.” She looked at Ray directly, “You can rest assured she will receive the best medical care and rehabilitation that CDSE can offer. I am grateful to you Master Sergeant Aymes for interceding when you did. From the reports, it appears likely that there would have
been further injuries to Dianians and security staff if the protest had been permitted to continue.”
Nettle jumped up, her chair clattering over backwards. She started signing furiously. Prudence made to step forward but Pfeffer lifted her hand off the desk raising one manicured finger, freezing Prudence in her place.
“Now, I am not saying that the security staff acted entirely appropriately. There will be an enquiry to be sure. However, as I explained last week, properly trained CDSE medical staff have been appointed to run the hospital now and their job is to make the best decision possible for the good of the patient.” Pfeffer smiled patronizingly and waited until Nettle ran out of steam and sat slowly down, still clearly furious.
“I know that you have all done a wonderful job operating under the guidance of Earth based physicians up until now. Nobody wants to diminish your contribution. Frankly, however, I am at a loss to explain why a relatively common medical event such as this had such a violent and disappointing outcome.”
Pfeffer cocked her head slightly, her jet-black bob curling under her smile. Her forehead creased with a concerned frown and looked directly at Ray, unblinking. “Can you explain that to me Ray? What happened to make you all so upset?” Pfeffer held Ray’s stare like a challenge.
Ray’s mind whirled, desperately trying to think ahead of Pfeffer. She had no doubt that Pfeffer had been informed about the memory block implant. Was she trying to find out what Ray knew, or did she suspect that Ray already knew and was she trying to unsettle her? Sparks kicked Ray’s foot gently, camouflaging the movement by adjusting his weight on the chair. He glanced at Prudence who stepped forward.
“Ray was just upset because Bones has never been sick before,” She translated for Sparks. “She wanted to stay with her and was upset when the doctor asked her to leave. People here love Bones. She is an important person. I guess they didn’t like the idea that Ray was being told she couldn’t stay with her mother.” He finished lamely.
Pfeffer’s head turned smoothly as if it operated independently of her unnaturally still torso. She smiled at Sparks letting her gaze roam around his face as the seconds ticked by. Just before the tension became unbearable she tilted her head again.
“I suppose that must be it. Is that correct Ray? Were you upset that the medical staff wanted to clear the room?”
Pfeffer nodded her head and Ray found herself nodding along with her, unable to think clearly.
“Yes…Yes…It’s understandable. You have had a very stressful day indeed.” Pfeffer sat back and clasped her hands neatly across her lap, expertly shifting the conversation to include the whole room.
“We are in a period of transition. Change is always difficult, and people may feel disenfranchised, afraid, and sometimes angry. You must appreciate that there will be tension during these next few months and we must all be cautious. We must be cautious and vigilant lest misunderstandings cause the kind of disasters we witnessed today.”
Pfeffer took a choreographed pause to look at each person in turn.
“There are too few of us and we are too far from home to allow tension to escalate. The potential for disaster is too high. We simply must find a way to work with each other. After all, there is only one small Atlas … If things go bad,” Pfeffer’s head swiveled back to look directly at Ray, “there is nowhere for any of us to hide.”
Ray couldn’t help her eyelid twitching. Pfeffer had dropped her smile and looked at her with the dead eyed stare of a great reptile. Ray lifted her hands to say something but Pfeffer suddenly stood, her magnanimous smile reappearing.
“I have spoken with the doctor and, considering the unfortunate events of today, she has consented for your mother to stay at home for now. Her case is under review, however, and the medical staff, pending the results of that review, may feel that it is more appropriate for her to return to the hospital.
If and when she regains consciousness your mother will have the right to dictate how her treatment progresses. Until then, the decision rests with the medical team.
Now, Ray. Your new technical team is due to leave on Thursday, correct? The work your team will do is time critical therefore I can only delay your departure by a few days. Report at 0700 Monday. Take the weekend to spend with your mother and I strongly suggest you speak with your…friends over the weekend, to decompress the tension lest we have further disasters. “
Ray could sense Nettle boiling next to her and felt her twitch; possibly the result of another well-timed kick from Sparks who was stony faced and nodding at Director Pfeffer.
Pfeffer looked at Jager and Aymes,
“Is there anything further that the UN would like to add?
Jager responded, “I suggest a marine presence within Atlas and a temporary ban on public meetings, I do not feel that a curfew is necessary at this stage.” He looked to Aymes and Pfeffer.
“Is that an order Sir?” Aymes queried
“It is Master Sergeant. Maintain a protective presence in the city. I’m sure you know what to do.”
Aymes nodded curtly, “Yes Sir.”
Pfeffer clasped her hands together to close the meeting, she was all smiles and kind eyes once again.
“Well that’s that then. Thank you for your time everybody, I do hope your Mother’s condition improves.”
She extended her hand indicating the door. Sparks moved first, the small gathering filing out after him. Jager, bringing up the rear, closed the door behind him. In the corridor, Jager’s ice blue eyes passed over the three Dianians as if they were invisible. As if lost in thought he gestured for Aymes to follow then appeared to change his mind. His predatory gaze shifted to Ray, considering her for a moment.
“Min-654… I suggest you keep your head down. The guard will show you out.” He twitched his head for Aymes to follow and strode away down the corridor.
Ray became aware that her shoulders were so tense that the muscles in her back were starting to ache. She forced herself to relax and shook her hands to get the blood circulating properly again. Nettle stared after Jager, gritting her teeth, lips peeled.
“I’d love to rip that cocksucker’s oily nut sack off.” She signed. Her hands making sharp hacking motions, emphasizing how she might accomplish the task.
Sparks grinned and put his hand affectionately on Nettle’s shoulder.
“I’m glad you’re on my team. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Come on, let’s go check on Bones. And we need to talk. Ray - get Dane and Gift over.”
Ray nodded, and they followed the waiting CDSE guard towards the exit.
The five of them sat around Bones’ bed. In the last hour, she had begun to stir. Opening her eyes occasionally and moving her fingers. She had groaned a couple of times as if dreaming. Good signs, Ray thought.
Dane had made tea and handed cups around the small gathering. Sparks had filled Dane and Gift in on the situation with the memory implant. The mood was somber, everybody well aware of their relative powerlessness.
“The worst thing,” Gift was saying, “Is that we can’t even find out how to disable it. They have cut us off completely from Earth ComNet.”
“We could use my hidden one,” Sparks suggested. “But, as I said to Ray and Nettle, as soon as I use it they will most likely detect and locate it. We may need it for something more critical. At least we know that, for now, Mum is not in danger. As long as we keep her from trying to remember. Is there anybody who might know more about implants like this?”
Ray shook her head. “It’s not something we have ever done here. Even authorized implants.”
“Who did Stone’s speech implant?” Nettle asked the group.
“Not one of us. That’s for sure,” Ray replied. “I assume one of the CDSE surgeons.”
The group fell still for a while watching Bones sleep and sipping their tea.
Dane broke the stillness, “I wonder if Rose could find out. She’s sleeping with a guard at the moment. They must have access to ComPorts.” Dane’s eyes had gone dul
l as they always did when he talked about Rose.
“Would she help do you think?” Nettle asked Dane.
Dane shrugged. “Who knows? She doesn’t seem particularly interested in anybody but herself these days.”
“It would be risky to tell her everything,” Sparks offered, frowning, “We don’t really know where her allegiance lies. Could we get her to help without clueing her in?”
Ray thought for a minute, “We could probably pretend we were interested in speech implants like Stone’s, but I don’t know if that would help us. His implant is recording only. It records his thoughts and transmits them to the external speech synthesizer. Mum has both a recorder and a stimulator implant. The recorder detects when she is trying to recall the blocked memory and signals to the stimulator to cause the fear response. It’s the stimulator that’s the dangerous bit.”
“How are they powered?” Gift queried. “Turn the power off-disable the implant.”
“Most likely glucose bio-fuel-cells,” Ray explained. “They generate electricity from glucose in blood. You would have to physically get in there and remove them. We can’t do that without CT guidance and a surgical robot. We would kill her if we tried to do it here.”
“Electromagnetic pulse?” Gift offered.
“I thought of that,” Ray replied, “but the results would be unpredictable and risky. It could make the thing stimulate on max power forever and she would be dead in minutes. Besides, how would we generate an EMP big enough?”
Gift slumped back defeated. “Even if we find out what to do, we probably still need access to the Medbay and possibly an experienced surgeon.”
Ray nodded, “It seems to me that she must have had the implant put in during whatever happened all those years ago, when she was injured. That means there is some sort of facility out there in the Darklands. Perhaps we have to go out there. Failing that there will most likely be up to date medical facilities on whatever transports they are using to bring the new Life2 inhabitants. I’m sure they will not be risking their health by having bad medical facilities.”
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