by D. M. Pruden
“I’m sorry?” I say.
“Oh, I forgot to mention that everyone needs to put on an EVA suit. There should be an emergency one in that locker that will fit you, Doctor.” Chambers points to a door at the rear of the bridge. “I suppose I should tell Singh and his boys too.”
“Is there something wrong with the environmental controls?”
“It’s just a precaution in case we experience a hull breach.”
Once I am dressed in the ill-fitting spacesuit, I return to my seat and strap in. Chambers’ muffled voice attracts my attention, and I notice him tapping his helmet at ear level.
Realizing he wants me to activate my comm, I turn on the receiver. “It’s on.”
“Great,” he says. “I think we’re ready. Schmaltz, put all systems back online.”
My full weight settles into my chair as the gravity plating activates. I tighten my restraining harness and try to slow my breathing. I hope the men in the airlock weren’t injured when that happened and almost mentioned it to the captain before realizing that he didn’t care. I wonder what he has planned for their fate if we get clear of the minefield.
“Mikey, did you find us a route out of here?” Chambers asks.
“Cervantes fed me the coordinates of all the known mines. I’ve plotted a course that will miss those we’re aware of.”
“Why don’t you know where all of them are?” I say.
“We can only detect the activated ones,” says Chambers, “but the computer analyzed their pattern and gave us a predicted distribution for the rest.”
“How confident is the prediction?”
“I guess we’ll find out.”
“Oh-my-god!”
“Relax, Doctor. Those two ships are our mine sweepers. Schmaltz, let’s ease one of them into position off our bow; about five hundred metres should be a safe distance.”
I stare out the front window as one of pirate boarding craft moves ahead of Requiem. My fingers ache from gripping the arms of my chair. A stream of sweat runs down my brow and, predictably, my nose begins to itch. I want to raise my visor and scratch but don’t dare.
“What happens if that ship runs into a live mine?” I ask. “I mean, I realize it will blow up, but will we be at risk?”
Schmaltz says, “Why do you think you’re wearing a pressure suit?”
I am glad the helmet hides my blush. It was a stupid question that I should have figured out. If this was an emergency medical situation, I would be in control and on top of things, but as a passenger, waiting for them to run into a mine and kill us all is a real test of my faith in my new crew. It is apparent to me that I do not trust them a great deal.
I see the momentary flare from the small ship’s thrusters as Schmaltz eases it into motion. Then nothing happens. It isn’t until I notice the changing shadows on the side of the asteroid that I realize we are moving.
Silence hands over the bridge as Mikey’s practiced hands move across his control panel, correcting our course to take us through the maze along the path the computer plotted for us to follow.
A blinding flash fills the front window.
“Full stop,” orders the captain.
Moments later, something bangs into our ship. I hold my breath, waiting for another.
Cervantes says, “Some minor surface damage, but our hull is still intact, Captain.”
“Wow, that was a big blast,” says Chambers. “Is anything left of our mine sweeper?”
“Nothing.”
“How far did we make it through the field?”
“Only about a quarter of the way,” says Cervantes, “but we have another problem. Three vessels are approaching from astern. about twelve hundred and forty kilometres out and closing.”
“Shit, that took them less time than I expected.”
“They’ll be on us in twenty minutes if we don’t match them.”
“How much time until we clear the minefield?”
“That depends on how fast you want to go and how quickly we blow up the remaining ship.”
“Shit, shit, shit. Schmaltz, how long until the other one is ready?”
“I’m just moving it into position now, Captain.”
“Okay, Mikey, let’s try this again. A little faster this time, if you don’t mind.”
The second ship’s engine flare blooms, and we are once more on the move. After ten tense minutes with nothing exploding in front of us, Cervantes says, “We need to pick up the pace. Those pirates are closing in.”
“Damn it! How far to go?”
“Still one-third of the field remaining.”
“Yeah, but we only have to run into another mine, and we’re screwed,” says Chambers.
“What did you have in mind for those hull plates?” I ask.
“We were going to use them for the same—” Behind his helmet visor, his eyes widen with an epiphany.
“I’m really glad I hired you, Doc. Schmaltz, push two of the panels out ahead of our mine detector ship. Stagger everything by about five hundred metres.”
“Sweepers for the sweeper?” Schmaltz says.
Though I don’t see his face, I can tell by his tone that Chambers is grinning. “Mikey, as soon at those things are in position, I want you to push everything to the fastest speed the whole train can move.”
“That will depend on the jet pack ratings,” says the pilot.
“I’ll give them a head start with a longer burn,” says the engineer, “but we will likely lose them all before we get out of the field. If our pirate friends figure out what we’re up to, they can just detonate those mines attached to them.”
“That is a chance we need to take,” replies the captain.
“What’s the plan for when we get out of the minefield?” I say. “That other ship will still be on our tail.”
“Yes, but I have reserved a special surprise for them.”
A bright flash fills the front window.
“One down, two to go,” says Chambers.
“The bad guys are increasing their speed,” says Cervantes.
“Time to intercept?”
“Four minutes, thirteen seconds.”
“Time for us to get clear?”
“Five minutes, ten seconds.”
“Shit! Let’s push it harder boys.”
Less than a minute later, another explosion announces the loss of the second hull plate. Two more explosions follow far to the left of our path.
“Shrapnel set off two more mines,” says Cervantes.
Chambers unbuckles and moves to peer over the navigator’s shoulder.
“Damn! They’ve increased speed. We don’t even have two minutes before they’re on top of us.”
“What are we going to do, Captain?” asks Mikey.
He looks at the bridge crew as if at a loss for words, or at least reluctant to give voice to what the rest of us are thinking. He returns to his seat and inputs commands on his console.
A few seconds later, an object shoots past our window. I watch, fascinated, as the remaining hull panel closes in on the leading sweeper ship and eventually attaches to it.
“Schmaltz, push the whole train to maximum velocity,” says Chambers. “Mikey, stay as close on its tail as you can.”
Then he plugs his helmet jack into the communications channel.
“Attention, pursuing vessels: the object you are so keen to get your hands on is no longer on this ship. I have transported it aboard the vessel that is clearing our path through your minefield. If you don’t want to blow up your prize, I recommend you deactivate any mines ahead of it. Before you get trigger-happy, you should also be aware that I have attached the mine to it that you believed you stuck to us.”
I hold my breath as we await a reply from the pirates. The speakers remain resolutely silent, yet Chambers’ threat has an effect. We are running at breakneck speed and have not set off any more mines.
“Do you think they bought it?” I finally ask.
As if answering my question
, Cervantes announces that we have cleared the minefield.
“Mikey, change course and punch it. Get us the fuck out of here.” Chambers removes his helmet and inhales deeply. Following his lead, the rest of us also take off ours.
“The pirates have broken off to follow our sweeper ship,” says Cervantes. “One is still chasing us.”
“Okay, thanks,” says Chambers as he peels off his spacesuit.
“Aren’t you worried about our pursuers?” I ask.
“Nah, they aren’t rated to keep up with us at full burn. They will break off soon. Fuel is expensive.”
True to his prediction, the remaining pirate vessel turns back after a few more minutes.
Chapter 12
A couple of hours later, I am putting things away in the infirmary when the door opens. Chambers enters, holding a hand over his bleeding nose.
“What the hell happened to you?”
“I informed Singh about what I did with his container.”
I bid him to sit on the examining table.
“And all he did was punch you? I’m surprised you’re not here for me to remove a bullet.”
“He was pissed, I’ll give you that. But he couldn’t argue with the fact that I saved his sorry ass. If the pirates had caught us, they might have let some of us go, but not him.”
“Because he tried to cheat them?”
“As far as I am concerned, he owes me one. He doesn’t seem to see things my way.”
“So what happens now? Is your working relationship with the Jovian Collective damaged beyond repair? Are they going to hunt us down?”
“You read too many novels, Mel. Things don’t work like that. Admittedly, there is no love lost between us, but there was never much there before. Business is still business. He’ll get over this, and then our arrangement will be back to normal.”
“I’m not so sure you’ll be able to say the same about this nose.”
“Is it broken?”
“Nothing I can’t fix. It won’t look any prettier, though. I’m good, but I’m not that good.”
“Hardy-har-har. None of the ladies have complained about my rakish good looks yet.”
His flippant comment gives me pause. For the first time since meeting him, I allow myself to appreciate how attractive he is; well, except for the presently damaged nose. When I realize that I am staring, I abruptly turn to the cabinet to find him some painkillers.
“Too bad the pirates got their hands on that bioweapon, or whatever it is,” I say.
“What makes you think they did?”
I study his face for some indication that he is joking.
“Didn’t they?”
Puckishly, he raises his eyebrows.
My jaw drops open. “They didn’t!”
“Nope.”
“But Singh just rearranged your face because you told him the cargo was gone.”
“I said his container was no longer aboard.”
“You removed the containers from cryogenic suspension? Are you out of your fucking mind, Chambers?”
“Calm yourself, Mel. The temperature outside of the ship is a cool one hundred and eighty K.”
“You attached it to the hull?”
“Why do you think it took me so long to get back to the bridge?”
“What were you thinking?”
“Well, I’ll admit that several ideas ran through my head at the time. At first I was of the mind that we could score a big win by selling it back to the Collective.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Yeah,” he says, “but something you mentioned kept running through my head.”
“I say a lot of shit.”
“You said that somebody might get their hands on the stuff, and then who knew what would happen? You were right, of course. If it is a bioweapon, someone intended to use it. Creeps like the Jovian Collective or Roberts’ pirates don’t give a rat’s ass about who gets hurt with what they deal in, whether it be drugs or weapons.”
“You surprise me, Chambers. Despite your carefully cultivated reputation, a good man lurks under all your macho bravado.”
“I’ll deny it and maroon you on Callisto or Ganymede if anyone hears you say that, Destin.”
I smile. “Your secret is safe, Captain. What do you intend to do with the bioweapon?”
“Requiem’s run takes us past Saturn for a gravity boost. We’ll dump it into the planet’s atmosphere as we zip by. Nobody will be the wiser.”
I can think of no better plan.
Chapter 13
The balance of our journey was peacefully uneventful. Except for treating a few minor injuries and a hangover or two, I was blissfully bored. After our adventure among the asteroids, having not much to worry about has been a welcome change. It’s given me plenty of time to consider the course of my future.
For the most part, I didn’t see much of Chambers during that time; I spent my hours between my bunk, the infirmary, and the galley, and our paths rarely crossed. When we did happen upon each other, he was cordial, but the conversation never strayed beyond the banal. I began to wonder if he, too, was re-evaluating our proposed arrangement.
Requiem arrived at Ganymede Station as scheduled. I avoided the bridge during the landing, preferring to be in my quarters.
About an hour after setting down, there is a quiet knock on my door.
“Come in.”
The doorway opens to reveal Chambers. “I just wanted to tell you that our pirate guests have been turned over to the local authorities.”
Intending to tease him, I say, “Thank you for not spacing them.”
“I’m not an animal, Mel.”
I feel bad that he took my comment seriously. “I never thought you were.”
His smile returns. “We’ll be finished transferring cargo in six hours. You have time to check out the station—” His comment is cut short when he spots my possessions laid out neatly on the bed.
“Are you going somewhere, Doc?”
My cheeks warm. “I don’t know. Nothing about this job is what I expected. I don’t know if I’m the kind of person you need.”
“What are you saying? You were instrumental in getting us through our little scrape.”
“Thanks, but that’s not what I am talking about. You hired me to be the ship’s doctor, but it is clear that all you really need is somebody with basic first aid. You’re paying me a lot of money, and I’m not sure what for.”
He closes the door and sits on the edge of my bunk. Patting the mattress, he patronizingly bids me to join him. Swallowing my irritation, I comply.
“Mel, by now you should realize what my business is. I’m not looking for an employee so much as a partner. You, being a physician, well, that helps me justify harvesting the low-hanging fruit: trafficking the pharmaceuticals that the corporation obligingly supplies us with no questions asked.”
I eye him skeptically. “Okay.”
“The real reason I offered you the job is because I saw something special in you. You don’t accept the status quo; you want to make your mark on the world and prove you belong in it. You have goals and dreams and won’t let anything stand in your way. Am I wrong?”
I stare at the deck plating and consider his words. “You’re not.”
“Ha! I knew it!” He slaps his knee. “Mel, I took a risk on you because of what I saw back on Luna. What I witnessed on this run is that there is far more depth to you than I could possibly imagine. You think well on your feet and possess a critical eye. Plenty of times, you forced me to consider my actions. I like that; I need that.”
He looks at me like a small boy, pleading to be allowed to stay up past his bedtime.
“I won’t beg you, Mel. Together we make a good team and can come out of this association with a lot of money, but if you decide you don’t want to continue, I understand.”
He stands. “We’re departing Ganymede in forty-six hours. I hope you stay on with us. If not, I’ll pay for your return passage to Luna; no
hard feelings.” He extends his hand.
I rise and accept it. “Thanks, I’ll let you know.”
He tries to hide his disappointment with a half-hearted smile. With nothing left to say, he departs, leaving me to contemplate my future.
Epilogue
Chambers says nothing when I take my place in my launch seat a couple of days later. He regards me with a satisfied grin.
“Did you enjoy exploring the station, Doctor?”
“There are a lot of bars.” I return his smile.
“I hope you left some for us to check out together when we come here again.”
“Most of them will be restocked by then. You needn’t worry.”
“I never do,” he says.
“No, I don’t suppose you do.”
Parvinder Singh and his goons departed the ship yesterday. The way he and Chambers joked and slapped each other’s back as they said their goodbyes gave no indication of the undercurrent of distrust between the two men. The captain doesn’t appear to be worried, but my intuition tells me we’ve made a dangerous enemy.
With a final check completed, Requiem lifts in a cloud of dust. In twelve weeks we will arrive at Luna for another assignment. Hopefully, Chambers will be more selective about the next job he accepts.
If not, he’ll hear about it from his new business partner.
Preview of Armstrong Station
Something jostles her awake.
Reluctantly pulled up from the well of her dream, Chloe fights the compulsion to open her eyes. She blinks until focus returns and her initial panic passes.
She shifts uncomfortably in the leather recliner, questioning why she allowed herself to be persuaded to book second-tier seats. Nan appears unbothered by the prospect of making such a long transit in what she euphemistically refers to as “steerage.” Unaccustomed to downgrading her usual travel accommodations, Chloe again questions the decision to maintain anonymity at the cost of comfort.
Her friend snores softly, presumably lost in the kind of dreams that reward a generous soul each night. Loose strands of long blonde hair escape her ponytail and drape loosely over her chest, which rises and falls in a calming, steady pattern. Watching Nan sleep reassures her that all will be well.
