“He only caught me the first time because I wasn’t expecting it. Not going to happen again,” he said grimly.
Kami’s eyes were wide and frightened, her thumb creeping towards her mouth. “Is that man coming to take me away?”
“No, baby.” Addie put a comforting arm around her shoulders. “I won’t let him.”
“Neither will I,” he added and saw her little body relax.
“Now stay here,” he repeated as he headed for the door.
He hesitated in the airlock, then retrieved his gun from the weapons locker and buckled it around his waist. He had no doubt about his ability to defeat Mingol, but a physical confrontation would only upset Addie and Kami. Perhaps the fact that he was armed would deter the man from making a foolish attempt to capture him once more.
He was standing outside waiting, one hand on the butt of his gun, when the rover pulled up. One of the shiny white vehicles owned by GenCon, it looked sleek and expensive. Mingol climbed down out of the rover, rage etched across his features despite his attempt to appear in control.
“Where is my wife?”
No other words could have infuriated him more. “She’s not your wife.”
“She’ll always be my wife,” Mingol sneered. “But fine, let her hide. I only want my daughter anyway.”
“You can’t have her.”
“No? I have a legal contract that says otherwise.”
He almost laughed. “Mingol, do you even know what jobs the government assigned us here?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care. Send out my daughter.”
“You should care. They put us in charge of enforcing the law on Mars. And I am the Territorial Judge. That means your legal contract has to come through me.”
For the first time, Mingol looked shaken, but he quickly recovered his composure.
“You’re just a fucking machine.”
“And you’re just a fucking human. Doesn’t mean much up here.”
Before Mingol could respond, another rover rumbled on to the plateau, also a shiny new GenCon vehicle. Fuck. Now what?
Mingol smiled triumphantly. “You’ll find out who’s important now.”
A huge man descended from the vehicle, surveying the surroundings suspiciously. His eyes flicked to Sam’s gun, but he didn’t comment, turning to assist a second person stepping down from the vehicle. Sam had to fight to keep his face impassive as his suspicions were confirmed. Serena Gatling, Managing Director of Martian operations for GenCon. The last time they met, he had considerably more backup. He could only hope his messages had gotten through.
“Ms. Gatling.”
“Judge.” She looked around the clearing, her nose wrinkling slightly. “I wish to speak to Dr. Montgomery.”
“I’m glad you’re here, Serena. I was worried my message wouldn’t reach you in time.” Mingol shot Sam a triumphant look as he approached the woman, but her bodyguard stepped between them and his smile faltered. “Serena?”
“I have business to attend to.” Dismissing Mingol, she turned back to Sam. “Dr. Montgomery?”
“I’m here.” Addie stepped up next to him, her face pale but composed.
Addie watched from inside as Derrick sneered at Sam, trying not to worry. She had to admit that the contrast between the two men reassured her. Sam stood tall and confident, at home in the harsh Martian environment, while Derrick looked completely out of place with his pasty complexion and his fancy suit.
When the second rover arrived, she started to panic. She was reaching for the gun Sam had given her when Kami squeaked.
“That’s Auntie Seena.”
A woman had descended from the second rover. Like all GenCon executives she looked cool and polished and, unlike Derrick, she didn’t look the least bit ridiculous in the Martian environment. She looked as if she was in complete control and a shiver raced up Addie’s spine as she recognized Serena Gatling.
“How do you know her, Kami?”
“She was on the ship. That man told me not to bother her, but she said she didn’t mind.” Kami smiled up at her. “She’s a nice lady.”
Those were not the words she would have used to describe the woman, but if she had been kind to Kami, maybe she wasn’t all bad.
“I’m going to go outside and see what she wants. You stay here, understand?”
“But I wanna see Auntie Seena,” Kami pouted.
“Not now. Stay here.”
Deciding the gun was pointless, she pulled on her breathing mask and coat and went to join the small gathering.
“Ah, Dr. Montgomery.” The woman’s voice was still low and pleasant, but her eyes were even colder in person. “I thought we should meet.”
“May I ask why?” She shot a quick glance at Derrick who was frowning impatiently.
“The progress you have made on solving the issue with the nanites is very promising,” Serena said.
“Thank you. I believe that it will be successful but it’s very early in the process.” Then the full impact of Serena’s statement hit her. “Wait a minute. I haven’t submitted my report yet. How do you know what I’ve achieved?”
“The same way I knew where to find you,” Derrick said impatiently. “We have been monitoring the lab equipment, including your computer.” Ignoring her outraged gasp, he turned to Serena. “I’m sure I can achieve results much sooner.”
Serena raised an eyebrow, looking faintly contemptuous. “And how do you propose to do that, Derrick?”
“By using this machine as a real test subject.” He threw a triumphant smile in Addie’s direction as he pointed at Sam.
“You are aware that there were very specific conditions attached to the Judge’s assistance?” Serena’s voice could have frozen boiling water and Derrick’s smile faltered.
“I don’t know the specifics.”
“Did you ask?” Without waiting for a response, she continued. “I have had several messages this morning from high-ranking members of the government. In case you have forgotten, they control this planet.”
“But…”
“We are bound by their rules.”
An unspoken for now seemed to follow her words and Addie shivered. Sam put a comforting hand on her back. Serena’s eyes followed the gesture, but she continued to address Derrick.
“In addition, I have an entire group of scientists threatening to quit because of your behavior.”
Derrick shrugged. “So we’ll replace them. You know there are hundreds of others who could take their place.”
“Perhaps on Earth,” Serena said dryly. “Aside from the fact that we have already picked the best candidates, it would take months to replace them, especially with the orbital distance between the planets increasing.”
“Fine,” he muttered. “I’ll get them straightened out.”
She regarded him thoughtfully. “I’m no longer convinced that you are the right man for the job.”
“What are you saying?”
“I am saying that the time has come for a change. Your services are no longer required.”
“You can’t do that! What’s going to happen to me?”
“That is not my concern.” She raised an eyebrow, her face as composed as ever. “I told you that you were playing a dangerous game, but you wouldn’t listen. Did you think I would be blinded by some type of… affection for you because we had a few brief encounters?” One corner of her mouth quirked up. “How foolish men are.”
“But you can’t abandon me!”
“I most certainly can. You were a useful addition to the program but you allowed your personal feelings to run away with you and that I cannot permit.”
“You need me to run this program.”
“Actually, I suspect Dr. Montgomery would run it just as well.”
“Her?” Derrick looked outraged. “She doesn’t have the stomach to get the results you want.”
Serena turned to her. “Do you want to take over the job of running the lab?”
She thought about her first mise
rable six months on Mars. Now she had Sam and Kami. It wasn’t a difficult decision.
“No, thank you. But I think Dr. Jenkins would be a good candidate for the position.”
“I will talk to him.” Serena’s eyes sharpened. “But you will continue your research?”
“I don’t know. I believe in this project but—”
“You believe in this project,” Derrick snarled. “Do you even know what it’s really about?”
“Derrick.” The icy warning in Serena’s voice would have stopped Addie in her tracks but Derrick was too angry to care.
“They plan to charge rich people millions of credits to live on Mars without any of these inconvenient restrictions.” He waved a hand at his breathing mask. “All the benefits of the fucking machines and none of the penalties.”
“That’s enough.” Serena’s words cracked like a whip across the clearing and finally penetrated Derrick’s bitterness. He looked as cowed as Addie had ever seen him.
“Is this true?” she asked in a quiet voice, even though she felt certain that Derrick was speaking the truth.
A faint line appeared on Serena’s brow before she lifted a shoulder. “It is true that there is a profit motive.”
Addie looked down at the ground, debating. Sam’s hand was a comforting warmth on her back as he waited for her to make a decision. She took a deep breath. “I’m willing to keep working on the project. I’m even willing to let you sell the results to people who can afford it. But if I succeed, anyone on Mars can get it for free.”
“Hm.” Serena studied her, her eyes leaving an icy trail behind. “And if you don’t succeed?”
“Then people will die. Believe me, I know the price.”
“Very well. I wish to be perfectly clear: I don’t intend to spend my time breathing down your neck, but I do expect results.”
“I understand.” She met the woman’s eyes squarely. “But I will be removing the monitoring from my computer.”
A flash of amusement crossed Serena’s face before she inclined her head.
“Understood. Is there anything else you need to continue your work?”
“No, thank you.”
“Very well. I will still expect weekly reports.”
Serena started to turn away but hesitated.
“I would also like you to bring Kamuela in once a month to have her health assessed.”
“I have no intention of letting you use my daughter as some kind of test subject,” she snapped.
To her shock, the faintest touch of pink tinted Serena’s high cheekbones.
“I simply wanted to ensure that she was prospering,” the woman said before her voice turned icy once more and all trace of emotion left her face. “But if you prefer to take the chance…” She shrugged.
Addie felt her own face color.
“Thank you. I promise we’ll be watching her closely.” An unexpected impulse compelled her to add, “Do you want to see her?”
A hint of something that could have been longing crossed the woman’s face before she shook her head. “Not under these circumstances. Perhaps another time.”
Serena started to return to the rover but paused to give Derrick a mocking smile.
“Dr. Mingol, I trust you understand that since you are no longer employed by GenCon, the Judge is quite free to administer whatever justice he sees fit.”
Rage twisted his features. “You think you’re just going to cast me aside?”
“I have no further use for you,” she said coolly.
Her bodyguard assisted her into the rover and the vehicle rumbled away just as Kami came flying out of the habitat. She started to dart after it, but Sam caught her and lifted her into his arms.
“I wanted to see Auntie Seena!” Kami protested.
“I’m sorry, baby. She was in a hurry. Maybe another time.”
“I don’t think so,” Derrick snarled.
She looked in his direction and froze. He was pointing a gun at the three of them.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Derrick, what are you doing?” Addie cried.
She tried to step in front of Sam, and he pulled her back against his side, angling his body to try and protect them both.
“Stop moving or I’ll shoot.”
The man’s voice had gone high-pitched and hysterical and Sam recognized the signs of a man who had lost all reason. If he hadn’t had Kami in his arms, he would have charged him, but he couldn’t take the risk. He started to lower her to the ground and Derrick fired. The bullet landed in the dust in front of them. He froze. Kami trembled in his arms, but she didn’t make a sound.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Blackie approaching. The shot had apparently attracted the horse’s attention. If they could just distract Mingol long enough…
“Derrick, please,” Addie begged. “At least let me send Kami inside.”
“Why should I?” Mingol giggled, the sound crawling down Sam’s back. “You’ve taken everything from me, you bitch. Now it’s my turn.”
“Then punish me. But she’s just an innocent child.” Addie started to step forward again and he hauled her back against his body.
“Innocent? Didn’t she go to Serena behind my back? Filling her head with all sorts of lies. Serena was supposed to be mine. We were going to rule this planet together. And you ruined it—all of you ruined it!”
Mingol’s hand shook but he didn’t hesitate to raise the gun. Sam watched in slow-motion horror as his finger tightened on the trigger. Blackie reared up behind him, one heavy metal hoof crashing down on his head. Sam saw the blood spray, saw the man crumple in a broken heap from the fatal blow, but it was too late. The gun went off.
A white-hot streak of pain seared his side as he whirled, trying to cover both Kami and Addie with his body as he took them to the ground.
“Addie! Kami!” he cried frantically. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” Addie’s voice shook. “Kami, are you okay, baby?”
The little girl didn’t respond, and he suddenly realized that the wetness soaking his side was far too much for the short gash along his ribs. He lifted up far enough to see the small, still figure, blood pooling at her side.
“Oh God, no!” Addie wailed, frantically checking Kami’s pulse. “She’s alive, Sam, but she’s losing so much blood. What are we going to do?”
He tried to force himself to think. Even at an all-out run, it would take more than an hour to reach the lab complex. J-817 was closer and he had paramedic training. If he could just stop the bleeding until he arrived… He tore off his shirt.
“Press that against the wound, hard. I’ll find something to tie it in place.”
As he headed for the habitat, J-817 galloped into the clearing and dismounted.
“I heard shots. What happened?”
“My daughter. She’s been shot. Can you help her?”
J-817 was already on his knees next to Kami, his face grim. “Get her inside.”
Sam picked her up as carefully as he could but even that slight movement renewed the bleeding. Addie kept her hand pressed against the wound, her face so pale he thought she’d pass out. They raced into the habitat and he led J-817 through to the lab, placing Kami’s fragile little body on the lab table. J-817 took a quick glance at the equipment.
“She needs blood. A lot of it. Can you provide it?”
“Of course, whatever she needs. Addie, can you set it up?”
“I should be the one to donate,” she protested, even as she moved over to the table.
“Begging your pardon, ma’am, but she’ll need more than you can give,” J-817 said quietly. “Just get S-756 ready, please.”
“Come on, angel. You know how to do this,” he urged.
“While she’s getting ready, go get my bag, S-756. You said there might be trouble, so I came prepared.”
The words had hardly left J-817’s mouth before Sam was racing outside. When he returned, Addie had the transfusion equipment ready for him.
Her face was still pale, but she seemed more composed as J-817 talked quietly to her, his deep voice calm. Sam took his place in the big chair next to the table, trying to remain composed for Addie’s sake even though terror chewed at his guts. Please God, let Kami be okay.
“Are you sure Sam’s a better candidate?” Addie asked again.
“Yes, ma’am. He can afford to lose a little blood. You’ll need your strength to take care of this little one.” J-817 kept up a low, soothing rumble as he set up an IV to administer a sedative to Kami, then started the transfusion from Sam.
When he probed the wound for the bullet, Addie swayed, and he reached out his free hand to clasp hers. “Don’t look, angel.”
“I want to help her and I can’t,” she whispered.
“I know. I would do anything to save her.”
Tears leaked from under her lashes and he tugged her down on his lap, seeking comfort from her presence as much as he wanted to comfort her. The two of them sat in silence, holding each other, as J-817 worked. He could feel the strain on his system as he continued to lose blood, but he ignored it, too focused on what the other cyborg was doing.
J-817 finally stepped back and looked at them, a smile wreathing his craggy features. “She’ll make it.”
“Oh, thank God.” Addie burst into tears and Sam felt his own eyes water.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. Even though she lost a lot of blood, the bullet didn’t penetrate any vital organs.” J-817 studied his face. “I’d like to keep giving her blood. Can you handle it?”
“Of course.”
“Hm. Where are your protein packs?”
“In the kitchen area. Above the cooker.”
“I’ll wash up and get you some. You look like you need the nourishment.”
“I’m fine,” he protested as the other male left the room.
“No, he’s right, Sam. You’re very pale.”
“I’ll be fine. You just concentrate on Kami.”
“I can worry about both of you,” she muttered, and for the first time in hours, a smile crossed his face.
“I’m sure you can, angel.”
When J-817 returned, they were laughing, still holding each other.
A Fistful 0f Cyborg (Cyborgs On Mars Book 2) Page 15
