“You’ll be fine,” Dex replied. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll set everything to automatic. Keep an eye on the displays, that’s all. Leave the controls alone, and with any luck, we’ll be back before you know it.”
“And if you aren’t?” Cricklade asked. “If you get captured or killed by the Gloabons, what then?”
“Hail the fleet,” Dex said. “If all else fails, go to the escape pods and abandon the ship. The pods will be picked up by the fleet within minutes.”
As one, the crew gasped. “Abandon The Skull?” Stimps cried. “Never. I’d rather engage the autodestruct and blow it to hell.”
“Do you know how to access the autodestruct sequence?” Dex asked. “Anyone?”
Except for Zeb, they all shook their heads firmly.
“Good. Excellent.” Dex drew his bolt pistol from its holster and checked it over. “Zeb, you’re with me. We can zing from here. I’ll run it from the captain’s console.”
Zeb turned to Nailsea. “When we give you the signal, you can zing us back from this console. I’ve opened the panel already. All you have to do is press this icon to activate the personal transporter system.”
Nailsea nodded. “The purple one. Got it.”
“No! The yellow one. The one helpfully labeled Activate personal transporter system.”
“Ah! Yes. That makes perfect sense. It’s obvious really.”
“Right,” Zeb said slowly. “I’ll set tactical systems to automatic and override the helm and engine controls from here.” Shielding his control panel with one hand, he typed in his personal authorization code and engaged all the automatic modes he could think of. “Done.” He made his way to Dex’s side. “I’m ready, but are you sure about this? You do know I was joking about the loot and the gizzards, right? I mean, I’m not exactly sure what gizzards are. I suppose it’s something I must’ve heard somewhere. You know, one of those words that people keep using but no one really understands, like existential and internecine.”
Dex raised a warning finger. “Zeb, you’re rambling. Am I going to have to tweak your modules? Because I’m warning you, I have a multi-tool in my pocket, and I’m not afraid to use it.”
Zeb visibly shuddered. “No. I’m all right. Just nervous, I suppose. Probably because I have absolutely no idea why we’re doing this.”
“I thought it was obvious,” Dex replied. “We’ll take a look at this high profile passenger they’re carrying, and then we’ll…improvise. We’ll take it from there.”
“Oh, that plan,” Zeb said. “Right, well, that explains everything. Should be fine.” He sighed. “Come on, we may as well get on with it.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Dex tapped one of the consoles on the captain’s chair. “Here we go.” He hit the final button in the sequence, and as the peculiar tingling of the zinger swept through his body, he gripped his bolt gun tight.
CHAPTER 24
Earth. GIT.
The Special Operations man accompanying them in the limousine had introduced himself to Brent, Maisie, Vince, and Doctor Cooper as Sergeant Kenny, but for the duration of their journey, that introduction had been the limit of his conversation. Now, as the car drew to a halt by the main GIT building, the sergeant leaped from his seat, slinging his rifle over his shoulder as he hurried around to open the car door. Brent climbed out slowly, taking his time, smiling at the flash of irritation in Kenny’s eyes. “Wait a minute, Sarge, this isn’t my stop. I distinctly asked to be dropped off at the Ritzadello Club. Don’t you know it’s jazz night? I’d really hate to miss the main event.”
“This way, sir.” Kenny’s voice was clipped and curt as he stepped closer to the building’s impressive glass-fronted entrance and extended his arm, his body language turning the gesture into an unspoken threat.
Brent studied the lethal bulk of Kenny’s assault rifle and knew that he should keep quiet and comply. The hell with that, he thought, and he gave the sergeant a stern side-eye. “What, no VIP treatment this time around? No special lounge, no kind words?”
Kenny didn’t blink. “Sir, I have orders to escort you into this reception area. We’d prefer it if you’d make your way inside on foot, but other options are available.”
Behind Brent, Maisie, Vince, and Doctor Cooper were climbing from the car. “Come on, Brent, let’s go inside,” Maisie said. “I’m sure Mr. Halbrook will explain everything in a minute.”
“All right,” Brent replied. “Just having a chat with Sergeant Kenny. It’s always good to make friends with the guard dogs. That way, they remember you the next time.”
The sergeant’s lip curled up at one corner. “Sir, I will remember you for a considerable period of time, of that, you may be assured.”
“You see, it’s working already.” Brent winked at Kenny. “Who’s a good boy?”
Kenny’s only response was to bare his teeth and flex his fingers against the sling of his rifle, so Brent headed for the door; he’d had enough fun for one night.
As the others followed him inside, Brent scanned the bleak reception area. This was a place built for business rather than relaxation, and the bright overhead lights cast a cold, clinical glare over every pristine surface. The only other person present was an androgynous receptionist standing behind a desk, her cropped blonde hair sculpted with mathematical precision, her cheekbones perfectly defined. Her flawless skin glowed with health and vigor, and the overall effect suggested that she’d just emerged from the salon of an expensive beautician, having earlier skied down from her home on a pine-clad mountain. Is she a robot? Brent wondered. But when she turned her pale blue eyes on him, he knew that she was human.
“Hello, Mr. Bolster,” she said with a smile. “I’m Rachel. Mr. Halbrook will see you shortly. Please, take a seat. Is there anything I can get for you while you wait?”
Brent ran through his stock of quips, but since Maisie was right behind him, he skipped over the hackneyed double entendres and settled on, “Nice to meet you, Rachel, but please, don’t call me, Shortly.”
Maisie tutted, but Rachel’s impish grin dimpled her silky cheeks. “My goodness, no one’s ever said that to me before. I’ll tell you what, I’ll bring you all some drinks, and we’ll see if I can guess what you’d like.”
“Why not?” Brent opened his arms wide in an expansive gesture. “Ten credits says you get it wrong.”
Rachel arched her eyebrows. “I’ll take that bet. Of course, you could lie about your preference, but somehow, I don’t think you’re the type.” Her lips formed the merest suggestion of a pout, then she turned smoothly on her heel and walked away. A panel in the wall slid open as she approached, revealing an artfully concealed doorway, and as soon as she’d passed through, the panel glided silently shut, leaving no trace of a seam.
Brent turned to the others. “So refreshing to find such courtesy and deference among the young.”
“Oh please,” Maisie said, adopting a mocking tone and adding, “No one’s ever said that to me before.” She rolled her eyes. “That’s probably because she only climbed out of her cocoon this afternoon.”
Brent raised his left eyebrow. “Jealous?”
“In your dreams.” Maisie dropped into a chair, patting the seat beside her. “Vince, come and sit by me. I need someone intelligent to talk with.”
Vince beamed, hurrying to join her. “Sure, Maisie. Hey, I wonder what’s happened to Rawlgeeb. Why did they insist on taking him separately?”
“I keep asking myself the same thing,” Doctor Cooper said, sitting down to face Vince across a low coffee table. “I know how this place works, and there’s something going on that they’re not telling us.”
Brent sat down beside Cooper. “There’s always something going on beneath the surface. There’s always somebody pulling the strings to feather their own nest. That’s just the way the world works. It’s always been the same.”
“Wait, don’t tell me,” Maisie began, “it’s Bolster’s first law, right?”
Brent looked tho
ughtful. “The second, actually. That is, it’s more of an amendment–an addendum, if you will–to the underlying principle that I call, Look beneath the surface, and all you’ll find is another surface.”
Vince frowned. “I’m not sure that makes sense. Also, how do you feather a nest with string?”
“They say brain cells fire on some kind of electricity,” Brent replied. “I guess you forgot to pay the bill.”
“Look out,” Maisie said. “Here comes the sole member of the Brent Bolster fan club.”
Brent watched Rachel walk across the room and wondered if he could use the word sashay in mixed company. Rachel moved like a leopard, every step placed with perfect grace and precision, her hips swaying just enough beneath her tight skirt to suggest an athletic build honed by years of dedication to the gym. She carried a silver tray, laying it down on the coffee table before standing back to gauge their reactions.
“I have a double ristretto for you, Mr. Bolster,” she said with a smile. “It’s the strongest blend we have, so I hope it will suffice. There’s a black coffee for you, Mr. Claybourne, and a chamomile tea for you, Doctor Cooper. That was cheating a little, I suppose, since you work here, but I was quite pleased that I managed to rustle up some English Breakfast tea for you, Miss. Richmond.”
Maisie was the only one not to return Rachel’s smile. “It’s Ms. Richmond,” she said frostily. “And no, I hate English Breakfast tea. Can’t stand the stuff. I prefer an infusion of…hibiscus, lavender, ginseng, and lemon grass.”
Rachel dipped her chin. “Really? Well, I’m sorry, Ms. Richmond, but we don’t have that drink on hand. I’ll be sure to remember for the future. Meanwhile, it seems that I owe you ten credits, Mr. Bolster. I’m afraid I don’t carry cash at work, so I’ll have to make an alternative arrangement.”
“Please, forget all about it,” Brent said. “And the drinks are fine, thank you. Thank you very much.”
Rachel’s smile returned as she looked around the group. “Enjoy. If there’s anything you need, anything at all, please let me know.” She performed a slight bow from the waist then strode back to her post behind the desk.
Brent folded his arms and gave Maisie a reproachful look.
“What?” Maisie snapped, glaring back at him. “Did I upset your plastic pal? You needn’t worry–I’m sure she’s still within her warranty period. I expect I can find a paperclip somewhere around here, then you can poke it in her ear and set her back to the factory defaults.”
Vince shifted uneasily in his seat. “That’s not very nice, Maisie. I’m sure Rachel isn’t actually a robot. She’s every bit as human as you.”
“Maybe, but has anyone told her?” Maisie sat back in her chair, eyes burning beneath brooding eyebrows.
“If you think Rachel is confusing, wait until you see her tawny owl,” Doctor Cooper said with a nervous smile.
Confusion clouded Vince’s expression, and Brent put him out of his misery: “It’s all right, Vince, tawny owl is a bird, not a euphemism. And anyway, I’m sure Rachel’s a natural blonde.”
“What?” Vince’s eyes widened in alarm. “I have no idea what you’re inferring, Brent. I was just wondering why you’d have an owl in an office.”
“It’s the way it looks at you,” Cooper went on dreamily. “It’s most unnerving.” He chewed briefly on his lower lip. “You know, the other day, I caught it reading the newspapers and sort of hooting to itself.”
“How could an owl turn the pages of a newspaper?” Vince asked.
“Very dexterous,” Cooper replied darkly. “This one is, at any rate. I tell myself they must’ve trained it as part of a research program into animal behavior.”
“Does that help?” Maisie asked doubtfully.
“Not really,” Cooper replied. “In fact, it probably makes matters worse. But hey, I got dragged into my workplace by a bunch of heavily armed guards because I was helping a wildly irrational private investigator meet an alien assassin. So what’s the point in worrying about an owl with an interest in current affairs? No point at all.” He folded his arms and sat back, staring into space.
“It’s the waiting that’s getting to everyone,” Brent said, pausing to drain his cup of coffee. “We need something to occupy our minds.” He thought for a second. There had to be something they could do. Halbrook had no right to keep them cooped up, and though he hated to admit it, he couldn’t help but wonder whether Rawlgeeb was all right. I should’ve got him a new handset, he told himself. It’s like he’s dropped off the face of the Earth. But how could he even think about finding Rawlgeeb when they were all trapped inside one of the most secure research facilities in the world?
An idea struck him, and Brent smiled. “I know, Doc, why don’t you show us around? You must have access, right?”
Cooper blinked rapidly as if waking from a dream. “I don’t think Mr. Halbrook would like that.”
“Come on, Doc,” Brent cajoled. “I’m not talking about anything illicit or underhand. You could take us to your little lair or whatever you call it. It would be nice to see where you work, that’s all.”
“You want to see around my lab?” Cooper shook his head. “It’s nothing special. Just a regular lab. Nothing to write home about.”
Brent turned to Vince. “Can you believe this guy? Here he is, one of the top scientific brains in the country, if not the world, and he doesn’t like to get boastful about it. It’s incredible, isn’t it?”
Vince nodded. “Now that you mention it, I would like to see what a first class lab looks like. That would be pretty cool.”
“What are you up to, Brent?” Maisie asked.
Bent held up his hands. “Just showing an interest in my fellow man. I thought you’d be in favor of that kind of thing.”
“Generally, I am,” Maisie replied, “and if it were anyone other than you suggesting the idea, I’d be all for it.” She narrowed her eyes. “But you’re cooking up some hare-brained scheme–I can practically smell it.”
“No, that’s my cologne,” Brent shot back. “I’m told it’s the subtle combination of synthetic musk oil and rosemary that gives it that top note of stewed rabbit.”
Maisie regarded him in silence for a second. “There’s no point talking to you when you’re like this, and since you’re like this pretty much all the time, I’ll save my breath.” She smiled at Doctor Cooper. “If you want to show us around, that would be nice, but please, don’t let Brent persuade you to do anything you’re not happy with, all right?”
“He does have a way of talking people around,” Cooper said, casting a shy smile at Maisie. “Still, if you’d like to see the place, I can’t see the harm in it. And it might be a long time before Mr. Halbrook comes looking for us. He’s like that. If you’re not top of his priority list, you may as well not exist. He’s very…what’s the word?”
“Rude?” Brent offered. “Arrogant? Dismissive? Self-important?”
“I was going to say goal-oriented,” Cooper replied. “But it amounts to the same thing.”
“That settles it.” Brent stood, offering Cooper his hand. “Let’s go, Doc. It would be our privilege to take a peek behind the curtain and see where the real work gets done.”
Cooper took Brent’s hand and stood, his face aglow. “All right. Let’s go.” He hesitated. “You must stay close to me though. And you mustn’t touch anything. Not a thing. Is that understood?”
“Of course,” Brent replied. “We wouldn’t have it any other way. I wouldn’t even dream of wandering off and causing untold mayhem. The very idea is preposterous. Outlandish. Unthinkable.”
“Well, that’s all right then,” Cooper said, clearly unconvinced. “Just remember–this is a secure facility. Every door is alarmed, and the place is teeming with armed guards. I’m not talking about the relatively restrained Special Ops troops we met earlier. I’m talking about people who wanted to be soldiers but failed the mental stability assessment. They have a tendency to shoot first, then release the dogs, then try out
their cattle prods, and then ask questions.”
“They sound sweet,” Brent drawled. “Kind of like an aunt I had in Florida back before it disappeared.”
“Florida did not disappear,” Maisie chipped in. “It’s still there, it’s underwater, that’s all.”
Brent waved her interjection aside. “Listen, are we heading for this grand tour or not?”
“Is there something I can help you with?”
Startled, Brent spun on his heel. “Hell’s teeth, Rachel! You didn’t ought to sneak up on a guy like that.”
Rachel smiled. “Sorry, Mr. Bolster. It looked like you were about to go somewhere, and my instructions are that you should all stay right here and wait for Mr. Halbrook.” She turned her blue eyes on each of them in turn. “Did I not make myself clear?”
“Perfectly clear,” Maisie said, standing and pulling herself up to her full height. “But we don’t have to do a damned thing you say. We’re free to leave if we want, but as it happens, Doctor Cooper has kindly offered to take us on a tour of his laboratory, and as his officially invited guests, that’s what we intend to do. Isn’t that right, Doctor?”
Cooper paled, but after swallowing a few times, he managed to say, “Yes, that’s correct. They’re my guests.”
“The Doctor is working with us at Mr. Halbrook’s request,” Maisie stated firmly. “So we’re going to visit his lab, and if Mr. Halbrook needs us, he’ll know where to find us. In the meantime, perhaps you could get back to your busy schedule of staring into space.”
“Pardon me?” Rachel’s hand flew to her chest. “Ms. Richmond, I have no idea why you’re speaking to me in this fashion. I can see that you’re upset, but perhaps, if you tell me what the problem is, I can take steps to resolve it.”
“I am not upset,” Maisie snapped. “We’re busy people, so back off and let us get on with our work.” She took Cooper’s arm. “Come along, Doctor. We have a great deal to discuss, and we don’t want the staff eavesdropping on such important and highly confidential matters.”
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