Persephone Station

by Stina Leicht

  “Not entirely. I’ll explain if you’ll let me continue?” Rosie removed the tea leaves and poured the tea into three cups.

  “All right,” Angel said. “Go on.”

  As they served, Rosie’s steps were quiet on the concrete floor, and their movements were precise and elegant. “Surveys found ample evidence of previous civilizations, but no living indigenous inhabitants. Needless to say, I had little faith in the reports. No one could pinpoint reasons for such an advanced civilization dying out. It was a mystery, and I was completely drawn in.

  “A year passed before we discovered an area the map drones were unable to document in spite of repeated attempts. Satellite data indicated rich mineral deposits. Since samples couldn’t be collected remotely, Cardinal Flores decided a team should be sent.”

  Angel blew on the hot tea before taking a sip.

  “The containment wall didn’t exist then, nor did the city of Brynner for that matter—only a small monastery. But the Church had plans for expansion. Now, there were resources that could be sold. If a corporate lease was possible, it would counterbalance certain financial losses,” Rosie said.

  They returned to the delicate metal chair behind the table and laid their hands across the glass surface, spreading their fingers wide as if stretching. “I was young. Nineteen. And already exhibiting symptoms. I would die soon. Slowly and unpleasantly. No one was going to be able to stop it. Not even God. The expedition was to be my last adventure.”

  “What happened?”

  “We exited the ship a couple of miles from the site. The forest was too thick for anything useful to be done—even visual confirmation,” Rosie said. “We hiked into the woods and camped in a spot we thought was safe. That night we were attacked by a Great Tanners bear. The pilot and the medic were killed at once. The team leader was badly mauled.”

  “Couldn’t someone have just shot it?”

  “Have you seen a Great Tanners bear?” Jess asked.

  Angel shook her head.

  “The Mother Church had abandoned her more militant tendencies,” Rosie said. “In any case, we weren’t expecting to meet with hostiles. We weren’t even planning to hunt or forage—merely observe. We brought a few rifles and pistols. Unfortunately, small guns aren’t much good against an enraged beast two and a half meters tall and weighing fifteen hundred pounds.”

  “Oh,” Angel said.

  “It ate our rations, and shredded the tents and spare environment suits,” Rosie said. “We attempted the hike back to the ship, but an early snowstorm hit. We got lost. And we would’ve frozen to death if the Emissaries hadn’t taken us in.”

  “Who?”

  Rosie looked to Jess as if for confirmation.

  Jess said, “If she and her friends are going to risk their lives for us, they should know who they fight for. It is only reasonable.”

  Reluctantly, Rosie nodded. “The best translation for what the people of Ogenth call themselves is ‘the Emissaries.’ They are what remains of the indigenous people who lived on this planet before the Church purchased it.”

  Angel turned to Jess. “You’re an alien?”

  “It is we who are the aliens,” Rosie said. “And we would never have found them, but they decided not to leave us to die. They saved us. Vissia Corsini and myself.”

  “Wait. What?” Angel asked.

  Rosie nodded. “She, too, was once a monk.”

  Having seen Vissia on various mediacasts in her role as Serrao-Orlov spokesperson, it was difficult to imagine. She was infamous for her ruthless negotiation skills and brutal tactics during union talks. There were many words Angel would have used to describe her. Charitable or religious weren’t on the list.

  “It may have been the stress on my system. Or it may have simply been time,” Rosie said. “In any case, the thing I’d dreaded my whole life happened. I began to die during my recovery from exposure. The Emissaries offered a cure. And I jumped at the chance. As a result of that cure, they extended my life. I owe them everything. I must protect them. And that is why I’m sending you.”

  “Why didn’t you just stay in Ogenth?” Angel asked.

  “The Church kept sending people into the Outback. It was decided that it may be time to orchestrate a quiet relationship with the cardinal. I volunteered to help, of course. Vissia did as well, although for other reasons. And I have been negotiating in secret with whomever has decided they own this planet ever since.”

  Angel turned to Jess. “Why hide? This planet is yours. The PSE should’ve been informed at once. You could be full members of the URW.”

  Jess said, “All we have ever wanted was to be left alone. And can you say we would’ve had that if word had gotten out that we could extend human life?”

  “Oh.”

  “Neither of us wanted to repay the Emissaries’ kindness by betraying them,” Rosie said. They paused and then frowned. “At least… not initially. Nonetheless, they are family.”

  “We need you to protect us,” Jess said. “Everything has changed since Vissia took over Serrao-Orlov.”

  “How?” Angel asked.

  “Before, we negotiated with the corporation. We gave them certain advancements. In exchange, they paid us a percentage of the profits.”

  I should’ve known, Angel thought.

  For decades, Serrao-Orlov had been at the top of the technology curve. When Angel had done a background check on the company, that had struck her as odd. A small mining corporation had expanded into biotechnology, high-yield agriculture, and electronics. That kind of rapid growth and expansion was rare, particularly when it came without the standard fits and starts from the inexperienced.

  “But Vissia is greedy. She wants everything. All of our knowledge, not merely what we are willing to give,” Jess said. “She has threatened to kill us if we don’t hand it over.”

  “How do we hide from Serrao-Orlov and fight their mercenaries at the same time?” Angel asked.

  “You don’t,” Rosie said. “But you will be hiding from the corporate police force, which amounts to the same thing in your case. Don’t worry. Vissia won’t go public. She wants control of the Emissaries and their technology. Knowledge of their existence means an appeal to the Planetary Membership Board. You know what happens after that.”

  Angel said, “But she knows that the Emissaries want to stay hidden. Where’s the threat? Why is she doing any of this?”

  Rosie looked to Jess. “Certain circumstances have changed. In addition, a PSE agent arrived several days ago. If we can convince the Council to trust her—”

  “That remains a question,” Jess said.

  “Hiding is no longer a protection. They have to see that,” Rosie said.

  “Three Council members agree,” Jess said. “My vote makes four. However, there are five votes remaining.”

  “I believe it can be done,” Rosie said. “Provided Ogenth survives long enough.” They turned to Angel. “And that is why we need you.”

  Angel paused. “All right. Say we go. What’s to keep Serrao-Orlov from finding us before we get there?”

  “As a precaution, your ship’s navigation transponder will be altered,” Rosie said, continuing, “We can’t have your navigation systems or your personal terminals hooked directly into the Allnet. Nothing that will reveal your location to nosy neighbors.”

  “We’ll be off the grid?” Angel asked. Deep concern tugged at the corners of her mouth.

  “Your Allnet access will be returned after you land. All hand terminal mapping systems will be spoofed as will the ship’s,” Rosie said. “Standard procedure.”

  “How long will we have to remain in Ogenth?” Angel asked.

  “However long it takes for the Council to decide it’s time to come forward,” Rosie said. “And for me to expose Vissia. She had Theodella killed.”

  “Any idea what kind of opposition we’ll be facing?” Angel asked.

  “Not now,” Rosie said. “But I’m watching Vissia’s movements. I’ll send you in
formation as I get it. And more help will be on the way. Just as soon as I can get them there.”

  Angel nodded. Two words sprang to mind at once. Overwhelming odds. “I’m in. But my crew gets one more chance to back out.”

  Rosie said, “I thought you might say that.”

  “It’s a suicide mission,” Angel said.

  Looking away, Rosie said, “You will be armed very well.”

  “One more thing,” Angel said.

  “Go ahead,” Rosie said.

  Angel said, “There’s a health factor. My team needs access to their medications.”

  “Easily done,” Rosie said.

  “And I want a regen pod,” Angel said.

  Rosie paused. “I don’t have access to one.”

  “A cryo box then,” Angel said.

  “That’s a big ask,” Rosie said.

  “So, no chance of return? How am I going to sell that?” Angel asked. “As it is, their odds of a bad wake are high.”

  Rosie frowned. “I’ll see what I can do. But that will take more time than we have right now.”

  “Sukyi’s meds are nonnegotiable. If I don’t see a shipment within a few days, I’ll consider our contract void.”

  “Get me the list,” Rosie said. “I can send it with Jess in a day or so.”

  “Your word?”

  “My word.”

  “I officially accept the contract,” Angel said. “But I’m not speaking for the others.”

  Rosie said, “Your odds of survival go down dramatically with each rejection.”

  Angel got to her feet and headed to the door. “I know.”

  “I’ll wait here,” Rosie said.

  Returning to the docking area, Angel saw that the supplies were almost completely loaded. She motioned for her crew to gather. “Time for a quick conference.”

  “Angel, you should never play poker,” Enid said.

  “Why not?” Sukyi asked.

  “This is where she tells us it’s a black hole tour,” Enid said, speaking to the others but watching Angel’s face.

  Settling on Kurosawa’s ramp, Angel sighed. “It’s a black hole tour.”

  “A what?” Sukyi asked.

  “Suicide mission,” Lou said. She stared at the concrete floor and bit her lip.

  “Regen pods?” Enid asked.

  “Rosie is going to try to get a cryo tank, but there’s no guarantee,” Angel said. “Could be a one-way ride.”

  “Not like my ticket hasn’t been punched for the last time, anyway,” Enid muttered.

  There was an awkward silence.

  “There appear to be a great deal of munitions,” Enid said. “Checked the manifest. That load will make a mighty big hole in someone’s day. Mind telling us whose?”

  “Vissia Corsini’s,” Angel said.

  “I’m in,” Enid said without hesitation.

  Angel asked, “Don’t you want to know the rest?”

  Enid shrugged. Angel took that as a sign to continue. She followed up with most of what Rosie had told her.

  “Still in,” Enid said.

  “You know you’re signing up to get yourself killed, right?” Sukyi asked.

  Enid just smiled and went back to work.

  “What Enid said.” Lou got to her feet. “Flying while not being shot at isn’t as much fun.” She winked and retreated to the cockpit.

  Sukyi watched Lou go. “There’s definitely something wrong with that woman.”

  “Well, Sukyi,” Angel said. “That leaves you. What are your thoughts?”

  “There are four of us and who knows how many of them,” Sukyi said. “This is not a job anyone with simple mathematical skills, common sense, and a concept of personal mortality would accept.”

  “So, you’re in,” Angel said.

  Sukyi shrugged. “I was never terribly good at statistics.”

  Angel hugged her. “Thanks.”

  “Don’t get maudlin on me. I’m not doing it for you,” Sukyi spoke into Angel’s shoulder as she returned the hug. “Rosie has a lien on Sergeant Todd. Or did you forget?”

  “Right,” Angel said. “You’re signing up to kill yourself for a junk heap older than your mom.”

  “He’s all mine, though.” Giving her one last squeeze, Sukyi stepped back. Her face grew serious. “One question.”

  “Let’s have it,” Angel said.

  “Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but I have,” Sukyi said. “You’re not Gorin anymore.”

  Angel winced. Her cheeks heated as she swallowed an angry retort.

  “Sorry,” Sukyi said. “But I had to say it.”

  Taking a deep breath, Angel silently counted to ten before continuing, “You’re right. I’m not. But that doesn’t change a damned thing. Not for me.”

  “They turned their backs on you,” Sukyi said. “And here you are. Still trying to prove yourself worthy to be one of them. I don’t understand.”

  You should be aware of your surroundings and the dangers to your training partner at all times.

  Sukyi deserves to know. Angel resigned herself. “Ever heard of Ulysses Mather?”

  “The diplomat’s son that spaced an entire peace delegation near the end of the Second Secession War? Of course. Everyone has heard of him,” Sukyi said. “Wait. You were there?”

  “It was my first assignment. I was to guard a diplomat’s son. He wouldn’t be involved in the talks. A plumb contract. High profile. Good pay. Not dangerous—since he was merely playing tourist.” Angel stared at her hands as she prepared to tell Sukyi about the worst day in her life. “I went through the usual checks. Mather’s father sent a standard report. Ulysses had some radical connections. Normal rebellious teen shit. However, his father wasn’t entirely honest about the reason he was putting a guard on his son. Ulysses was suicidal and had been for some time. The father wanted it kept out of the news. I should’ve pressed harder, but I didn’t.”

  Sukyi blinked.

  “One of his anarchist friends put it together for him,” Angel said. “But they miscalculated. The friend insisted Ulysses’s intent was to kill only himself, not the delegation.”

  “He could’ve walked out an airlock without taking half a station with him,” Sukyi said. “The ‘friend’ is full of shit.”

  “Nonetheless, Ulysses visited his father then went to the bathroom. I stayed in the hallway. The explosion damaged the station’s environment seal. You know the rest. It was a real mess. The URW leaders wanted to blame someone. It was the Gorin No Gakkō or me.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Sukyi said. “I didn’t know.”

  Angel looked up at her friend. “I didn’t tell you.” She breathed in again and let the air out of her cheeks. “I have to do this.”

  Sukyi put out a gloved hand. “Let’s go, then.”

  With a nod, Angel let Sukyi pull her to her feet. Rosie waited inside the office doorway. Their arms were folded over their chest. The question was obvious on their face.

  Angel heard rather than saw the others stop what they were doing and gather around her. On the right, she felt Sukyi’s arm settle on top of her shoulders, and on the left, Lou looped her elbow through Angel’s.

  “This is a terrible job, and we don’t even get dental,” Sukyi said.

  Lou said, “But we’re going anyway.”

  “We’re going anyway,” Enid said.

  Angel wrapped her arms around her crew while her vision blurred. I love these women so much. Please, God or whoever is out there, let me keep them safe. It was a stupid prayer, she knew, but it was worth a try.

  “All right. Next satellite is scheduled to pass overhead in an hour,” Rosie said. “There’s a lot to do. I need everyone’s hand terminals, please.”

  While Rosie dealt with uploading the necessary software to various devices, Angel, Sukyi, Enid, and Lou finished the last of the prep.

  “How about you? Are you going or staying?” Sukyi asked Jess, dropping yet another crate on Kurosawa’s deck with a grunt.

  “I�
�ll return to Ogenth in a day or two,” Jess said. She shoved the heavy box up against a wall where it would be secured once the magnetic locks were activated. “We’re hoping for more volunteers.”

  With the cargo onboard and the navigation programmed, Rosie invited them into the office. Rosie began typing. The sound of their fingers hitting the glass surface was small and quiet. Angel relaxed into soft black ceba-leather cushions, stared at the artistic photos of various city scenes hung on the otherwise unadorned walls, and tried to control her imagination.

  It was funny that no matter how many times they pulled you back from the big black, death didn’t get any less scary. Or painful. In any case, chances were her next trip to the empty would be the last. Same with the others. It was an unsettling thought—this knowledge that she was leading her crew into a situation where there was a near-zero chance of a retrieval unit waiting on the other side.

  It was different while they were in Brynner. Even though there weren’t any facilities for revivification, at least none they had access to, medical professionals were nearby. A great deal could be done—so much so that the line between gone and savable was fuzzy. However, once they exited the city—

  The Emissaries saved Rosie and Vissia. Perhaps they’ll do the same for us. She made up her mind to find out about that as soon as possible.

  What kind of people are desperate enough to hide on the other side of the wall? And then it occurred to her that that was the key word: desperate.

  Rosie returned their terminals. “All done. Time to go. You should enter the tree line just after the satellite has passed its visual range. There won’t be another for twenty-two minutes. That will be enough time for you to be in the thickest part of the forest.”

  Angel was last to retrieve her terminal. She considered saying something. Instead, she gave Rosie the look, and Rosie nodded, indicating they had an understanding.

  Rosie handed her a small box. “Give this to Kirby for me.”