Rick needed to be careful. He tended to underestimate people. That inclination had almost done him in when it came to Robert. Who would have ever guessed that the nice intern would outshine him so quickly? Nice and successful, a combination that Rick had never encountered in another person. What a shame, Robert, that this didn’t help you much in the end.
“It is my honor to give the floor to Senator Rick Ballantine. He has an important announcement to make. Please don’t interrupt him. When he is finished, we will attempt to answer all of your questions.”
The FM had said “honor,” not “pleasure.” It was evident that she didn’t like Ballantine. That was a mistake, Rick thought. She didn’t have to like him, but she shouldn’t be overt about it. Ballantine didn’t forget things, otherwise he wouldn’t have made it up the ladder to Senator.
“Dear friends,” Ballantine began.
A clever introduction, Rick thought. He is lowering himself to our level. It’s almost as if he’s kneeling in front of us.
Ballantine dropped to his knees! Rick couldn’t help feeling excited. The man really does have a knack for this.
“I will make this as quick as possible. I don’t really have words for what I have to tell you.”
Out with it! He knew how to prolong the tension marvelously.
“About two hours ago, all contact with Earth fell silent. No, it’s not a technical problem. Earth is no longer transmitting anything. There are absolutely no transmissions coming from Earth itself, except for the automatic radio beacon signals. We don’t know what happened. It looks as if Earth has been frozen, all at once.”
Chaos broke out in the room after these words. Everyone started talking, shouting, crying, all at the same time. Three individuals in uniform lined up in front of the counter, Spaceliner 1’s security personnel. A siren went off. Rick covered his ears.
It worked. The ear-piercing sound made the people fall silent. They were now frozen, as if Earth had infected them as well. Rick patted his cheeks. They were cold although he was sweating. He looked around. Where was Terran? For the first time in his life, Rick urgently needed to speak with another person. Get a grip, he chided himself. That just makes you look weak. It was telling that Terran, of all people, was no longer around.
Something was going on behind the counter. After handing the FM the microphone, the Senator vanished behind the door.
“Before we get to the questions, I have to make one more legal announcement. Since our President cannot execute his governmental authority over this ship at this time, Senator Rick Ballantine, as a member of Congress, will temporarily take over this function per constitutional mandate. He is now our commanding leader. The ship’s commander will remain in office, but under his direct authority. In the name of all our officers, I would like to express our gratitude to Senator Ballantine for expressing such courage in this difficult time.”
Constitutional mandate? In which constitution did that exist? When a ship lost contact with its country of origin, was its President virtually deposed? They had worked this out nicely, though. As long as nobody protested...
The first question came from a middle-aged woman. She looked like a teacher. “Are we going back to try to help the people on Earth?”
The FM provided the answer. “We can’t go back. Our ship is now on course for Mars. We can decide whether to return to Earth once we get there.”
“Does this mean that our parents, friends, and relatives are all dead?” asked a young woman who couldn’t have been older than eighteen.
“We don’t know. Earth isn’t responding. We don’t have any instruments on board with which we could closely examine the planet. This ship was built to travel to Mars, nothing else.”
“What does this mean for our salaries?” The stout man who asked this could have been a construction worker or a cook. He had stuck his thumbs under his suspenders.
“Until we know otherwise, we assume that the company will continue to draft your earnings into your accounts on Earth.”
“But how am I supposed to pay for anything up here if I can’t access my account?”
“One question per person, please. We will set up a new system here on board for financial exchanges. Until that time, our merchants have been instructed to sell their goods on credit. However, all products will be distributed at their normal quantities only. We have enough supplies on board. We were stocked for a journey that was expected to take at least three years.”
A gaunt woman with a hooked nose spoke up. “Are there any clues about the cause?” she asked.
She must be one of the scientists, Rick thought.
“None, Professor.”
Bingo. I was right!
“We checked the archived data for radiation spikes or other phenomena during the moments shortly before the communication lapse, but we didn’t find anything. Nuclear war is out of the question. We would’ve noticed something ahead of time if there’d been a worldwide epidemic. We aren’t imaginative enough to come up with other scenarios, and they wouldn’t be anything but speculation, even if we could.”
Another young woman spoke up. “How likely is it that Earth will report in again?”
“We all agree that a comprehensive disruption like this won’t be remedied quickly. Some grave catastrophe definitely must have happened.”
One of the three security guards reached for the microphone and asked, “To what extent will this incident impact our plans for the Mars settlement?”
“The short-term plans all remain fully intact. However, for the long term, we will have to take into consideration that we won’t be receiving additional supplies from Earth. There won’t be any new settlers—”
A scream from the audience interrupted the FM. “My husband, my husband!” could be heard.
“—or any replacement provisions,” the FM continued. “But that isn’t a serious problem, since we have all the technical capabilities to make use of Mars’s resources. This challenge will make us stronger because we are out of alternatives. We have to survive. We owe that much to Earth. The colony on Mars was always intended to be a survival possibility for the human race.
“The emergency that we had wanted to slowly prepare for is now suddenly upon us. This places an enormous responsibility on us, and I want each of you to be fully aware of this. But, for now, we have to devote ourselves to the day-to-day problems of this journey. Anyone who needs help can turn to our counseling team at any time. The support crew would be glad to answer any other questions by ship-wide email.
“I wish all of you a good trip, from the bottom of my heart.”
Sol 70, Mars surface
Ewa woke up on a real, soft bed. She felt wonderfully refreshed. She hadn’t slept anywhere this comfortable since leaving Earth. How long ago had that been?
Her body was covered by a white blanket. Ewa lifted it. She was naked underneath. How had she gotten here? She remembered the ladder and the airlock, but nothing after that.
“Did you bring me here, Friday?” she asked.
‘No, Ewa. Your subconscious shut down, but your body was completely exhausted. There was nothing I could do from my end. Besides, I promised that I wouldn’t do anything without your permission.’
Ewa chuckled. She didn’t believe Friday’s last sentence.
“Ewa Kowalska?” she heard the ship’s comp call.
“I’m still here.”
“I instructed the emergency robot from sickbay to bring you here and provide care. Your skin has large patches of damage. You should avoid any strenuous physical activities over the next few days. The bandages need to be changed once a day.”
“Thank you, ship.”
“No need to thank me. I have only responded according to my programming.”
“I understand, but I want to thank you anyway. This is what polite humans do.”
“Ewa Kowalska?”
“Yes?”
“I have verified your identity. There are no passengers on Spaceliner 1 with you
r name.”
“Oh, there must be an error somewhere.” How could she prove the existence of this error to the comp?
“An error is impossible. I could read the passenger list for Spaceliner 1 out loud to you.”
“I boarded the ship under a false name.”
“That isn’t possible. The passenger list is DNA-coded. I have run a DNA match on you, and you were never on Spaceliner 1.”
“Now what?”
“The emergency protocol is still in place. You are severely injured. I have to provide you with every assistance within my power. However, after your recuperation, you will have to leave the ship immediately.”
Ewa stared at the ceiling above her. She was clearly no longer in the sickbay. Was this one of the cabins that each of the passengers aboard Spaceliner I had at their disposal? The people probably had no idea how good they had it.
“How long will my recuperation take?” she asked.
“Based on your injuries, my medical archive estimates a minimum of three weeks if no general infections develop, which is always a possibility.”
Well, she would be safe for at least three weeks. She had time to consider what would come after that.
“Friday,” she said, “can’t you figure out a way to hack into the ship’s computer system?”
‘You should be careful what you say, Ewa. The ship can hear you. Why don’t you start writing in your journal again, so you won’t forget your experiences? Besides, you overestimate my abilities. All I can do is compel you to do what lies within your own capabilities, even when you don’t want to. In other words, I can tap into your potential, the good as well as the bad. But I can’t make you suddenly leap ten meters into the air—or hack into a secure software system. Although, I know one or two ways to reach that goal when standard programs are involved.’
“Standard programs such as a ship’s comp system, for example?”
‘For example.’
5/30/2042, Spaceliner 1
Earth still hadn’t reappeared. Rick had spent the whole night at the receiver for his bugs. It didn’t matter that he was tired. The conversations he eavesdropped on had delivered him so many new bits of information that he could hardly keep track of them. But he had indexed everything on his memory chip so that he could take almost twenty of his fellow crew members by surprise with their most intimate secrets. A shock like they had experienced yesterday seemed to be an efficient way to loosen tongues.
He had to find a way to set up a private meeting with the Senator. Today was the day. Today he would move closer to his goals if he played his cards right.
Right after breakfast, he pulled Terran aside. The other man was avoiding his usual jokes this morning. Who was he mourning for back there? Yesterday, he had borne his misery quite resolutely.
“Tell me... The Senator and his aunt, are they as close as they seem?”
“Well, she raised him, but she treats him like her puppy more often than not.”
“What would you suggest as the best way for me to have a few words in private with the Senator?”
“What do you want from him?”
“You’ll be kept in the loop, scout’s honor. But just spit it out! You know his routine.”
“Hmm,” Terran hesitated. “He goes to the fitness room almost every day. It’s important to him. I bet he’ll be there today, too.”
“But when?”
“That changes, day to day. He doesn’t want anyone to catch him there and talk his ear off.”
“Then I’ll have to spend the whole day watching for him. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to handle the shift on your own. I’m going to call in sick.”
“This must be really important to you.”
Yes, Rick thought as he nodded. You’ll know why as soon as Ballantine makes me his new assistant.
“I’m sorry Maggie, but I have a splitting headache, and when I stand up, I feel dizzy.”
“You aren’t the first one of the day,” the FM replied. “Should I send the doctor your way?”
“No, I think I just need a little peace and quiet.”
“Understood. There isn’t much going on today anyway. The entire ship has a hangover. Sleep it off.”
“I might try a little exercise to see if it helps.”
It was good when bosses showed so much sympathy. Rick pulled a towel out of his closet. He had already put on his athletic suit, so now he was ready to float to the fitness room.
Today must be his lucky day. He didn’t have to wait even thirty minutes for the Senator to show up. He was wearing dark glasses, which were probably sensible considering the glaring, blue lights used around the ship. They still looked a little odd though. Rick let him float past, acting as if he was reading something. After waiting ten minutes, he also entered the fitness room. The Senator was in the middle of weight training. The fitness room was relatively busy. Three women were sitting on various devices and chatting. Rick decided to stretch out under a sun lamp for a burst of vitamin D. His health was vital to him.
He watched the other Rick. The man wasn’t especially attractive, and he was sweating profusely. Every time he pushed the bar forward, he made a grunting sound. Nonetheless—or maybe because of that—the three women kept shooting him admiring glances. Women are so transparent, he thought. All a man needed to have was power and money. The world was bad but predictable. That suited him just fine.
The Senator stood up, glancing around. The two treadmills were free, but only one exercise bike. Please, not the bike, Rick pleaded silently, and the Senator fulfilled his wish. That was the signal. Rick stood up and took a meandering route to the second treadmill. It looked as if he had just happened to be heading there, too. He positioned himself over the running area and strapped himself in place. The pressure with which the strap pressed him into the padding was adjustable.
Rick set the treadmill to a comfortable speed and pushed the start button. The exercise almost felt like actual walking under Earth’s normal gravity. He couldn’t really run, though. As soon as both his legs left the surface, the machine’s framework would mercilessly press him downward because he wasn’t strong enough to jump repeatedly. He looked to the side. The Senator was running. The man really could do anything.
This was his chance. “Good morning, Senator,” he said quietly.
The man next to him didn’t answer. Rick studied him. The Senator was staring obstinately straight ahead, acting as if he hadn’t heard anything. He obviously wanted to be left in peace, but Rick didn’t have time for that. He would now lay his cards out on the table—of course without revealing that his information came from the bug he had planted.
“Does your aunt know that you’re gay?” he asked at the same volume level as before. “I will increase my volume for my next question.”
The Senator whipped his head toward Rick, but didn’t stop running. “What do you want?” he hissed.
“Your aunt seems to be a conservative old lady. Would she enjoy learning what her nephew is ‘up to’ with other men?”
“Leave my aunt out of this. You’ve got some nerve. I will have you arrested. You’re tangling with the wrong person here.”
“Senator, I will have to be very specific about this, although I hardly know how to put it into words. You are fucking a black man, and I can prove it.”
The Senator stopped his treadmill. “You...” Ballantine noticed that, without the sound of his running, everyone in the room could hear him. He pressed the start button once more. “Who are people more likely to believe? You or me?” he finally asked.
“I fished a used condom out of your toilet, my good man. It should be easy enough to verify who wore it and who the man was who was being pleasured with it.”
The Senator snapped his head to the front, his face flushing.
Rick knew exactly what he was thinking about. He was weighing which was worse, the scandal or the blackmailer. Rick had to be careful not to push his luck.
“I understand,” Rick said. �
��I don’t have anything against gays. To each his own. I sometimes envy people like you. Women are so complicated. I had just hoped you might meet me halfway on one or two things.”
The Senator turned back toward him. Now he had him. “And what do you want?”
“I would like to be your assistant.”
“How do you mean that?”
“If you become a quasi-president in the future, I want to be your chief of staff. You set the direction, and I’ll take care of the little stuff. That way you’ll have more time to take care of your personal happiness. I’ll lighten your load.”
Ballantine’s face twitched.
Rick knew he had to be careful to not apply too much pressure.
“And you’ll hand the evidence over to me?”
“My dear Senator, you don’t actually think I would do that, do you? I will give you my loyalty, and I swear to never attack your position. It’s a win-win situation.”
The Senator sighed. “I’ll think about it. Now let me finish working out in peace.”
“Of course, Mr. Ballantine. Did you know that we have the same first name? What an amazing omen!”
“Get out of here!” the Senator hissed, and sighed again, louder than he had the first time.
Sol 71, Mars surface
Today was the first day that Ewa got out of bed. She had slightly overestimated the company and its love for its passengers. There was only one cabin as spacious as the one she was in. It was probably the captain’s quarters. The others she had glanced inside were significantly smaller. Practically every room was filled to the ceiling with various provisions. Someone had worked hard to maximize the use of all available space in this ship.
Mars Nation: The Complete Trilogy Page 35
