Antiquity's Gate: Sanctuary

by RF Hurteau

  "And…this thing…flies?" Ripley asked, dubiously.

  "Of course, she does, son! Blimey, how do you think I got here? She flies all right, and Tobias and I have got her all fixed up and ready to high-tail it out of here if we need to. He’s been sneaking in and out of here with everything I needed to get her repaired after the crash. You and your friends can come too. It'll be tight, but I think we'll all fit. Once we get back to Pravacordia and tell them what's happened here, I'm certain they'll be willing to render assistance to the rest of your people. Well, mildly certain. Come on. Have a look inside."

  With a good deal of hesitation, Ripley ducked inside the hatch that Ambrose pulled open for him. He had to steady himself once inside, as the ceiling was low and the floor was uneven. He braced himself against the wall and moved toward the cockpit. Ambrose shimmied past him and sat in the pilot's chair. He reached out and began flipping switches and pulling levers, so fast that Ripley had a hard time following. Something deep in Pluto's innards roared to life with a stutter of protest, followed by a series of thuds, like boulders being tossed around in a giant tin can.

  "Purrs like a kitten," Ambrose said fondly, patting the controls.

  Ripley was trying to make sense of some of the knobs and levers. He pointed to a red button on the steering column, hidden beneath a hinged glass cover. "What's that do?" he asked, fascinated.

  "Don't touch that one!" Ambrose warned. "That's for emergencies only. It activates—"

  "Ambrose! Ripley!" Tobias' desperate cry was muffled by Pluto's hull, but it still sent chills down Ripley's spine. They hurried back onto the platform and saw Tobias on his knees at the base of the steps, gasping and panting.

  "I got back as fast as I could!" he managed between deep, panicky breaths. Ambrose helped him to his feet and led him back into the warmth of the utility room.

  Ripley felt an icy foreboding that had nothing to do with the cold. "Where are Felix and Willow?" he asked, looking around. "What happened?"

  "When we got to their apartment, there were guards outside. We hid, but Felix refused to leave. We heard a lot of arguing. Felix said it was Willow and Nero."

  "Nero? That's Willow's father," Ripley said quickly. "Are you sure?"

  Tobias shook his head. "That's what Felix said. When a guard came out of the room, dragging Willow by the arm, Felix lost it. I tried to stop him, but he charged in. He actually did a fair amount of damage before they were able to subdue him. And by subdue what I mean is they knocked him out cold." Tobias moaned. "What are we going to do?"

  "First," said Ambrose sternly, "we're going to remain calm."

  Ripley's hands were balled into fists at his sides, and he looked grim. "Nero had to have known about this plan all along; he's on the Elder Council. He must have intended to force Willow to evacuate with them."

  "What about Felix?" Ambrose asked. "Would they take him, too?"

  Tobias was wringing his hands. "They hate Halfsies, maybe more than they hate Humans. Felix is only going to stay alive as long as he can prove he's useful." His voice shrank to a whisper. "He could lead them right to us. We were so close!"

  "No," said Ripley, shaking his head, “Felix wouldn't betray us. He wouldn't risk the lives of everyone in Sanctuary to save himself. He wouldn't bring them here." He began moving toward the door.

  "What are you doing?" cried Tobias.

  "I have to save him," Ripley said, not stopping.

  "How?" Ambrose asked. "You can't just march up there and demand they let him go."

  "I'm not sure," said Ripley. "I'm making it up as I go."

  He shut the door behind him, grateful he was still wearing the blanket-cloak as he hurried through the darkness. He glanced upward as he went, and was surprised to see Ambrose's breach. It appeared like a deep blue blotch amidst the black of the dome. With a jolt, he realized what he was seeing. Twilight.

  It only took a moment to find the hatch that they'd come out of, and he flung it wide, not bothering to close it behind him. He climbed back through the interior of the bulkhead and out into the tunnel system. He had nearly reached the end of the tunnel when he heard voices. Ripley froze, chancing a peek around the corner. They were still a way off, but Ripley could make out the stocky profile of Captain Lub. He was speaking to Willow's father, who was flanked on either side by a guard. The one on his left was holding Willow, the one on his right had a hand around a short rope that bound Felix's hands.

  How had they gotten here so fast? Ripley wondered. He refused to believe Felix would have told them anything.

  "He didn't finish it,” Lub was complaining angrily, waving a crumpled piece of paper in Nero’s face. Ripley felt sick. It was their map. The one he’d insisted they draw. "If we had more people, we could find it quicker."

  "No," said Willow's father. "The evacuations are proceeding on schedule. We'll find out what he was doing down here, and then we're leaving."

  "Please, father! You don't have to do this. Felix was trying to protect me, he was trying to find a place to hide. That's all. Just let us go, please. I don't want to leave Sanctuary with you. I want to be with Felix."

  Her father's face was hard, his features full of disdain. "You aren't staying in Sanctuary. This time tomorrow, there won't be a Sanctuary."

  "What?" she said, a look of confusion mixing with the fear on her face. "What do you mean?"

  "They're planning to blow it all up," Felix replied miserably. "They're going to go back through Antiquity's Gate and they're going to blow up Sanctuary once they're gone."

  Captain Lub backhanded Felix, snapping his head back. "How do you know about that?" he growled.

  "So, it's true?" asked Willow in horror. "You're running away and you're going to just kill all these people? Father, why? How could you?"

  Nero sighed. "You're young, Willow. You don't understand now, but you will, in time. I'm willing to overlook your poor judgement in the past, but it's time to face reality now. This is the way it's going to be." He moved in front of Felix, grabbing him by the chin. "Look at me,” Nero said in a deep, commanding tone. "This is your fault, you know. You turned her against me, against her own people. Now, I want to know what you know, and what you're planning. If you cooperate, I might be inclined to kill you quickly." Felix didn't respond. His face was a mask, emotionless. "Tell me!" Nero shouted, inches from Felix's unflinching face. He let go and whirled on Lub and the other engineers. "Find me that breach!" he bellowed.

  “The breach doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is getting out of here,” argued Lub.

  “What matters is finding out what this filthy half-breed was up to. What matters is what I say matters. Do I make myself clear?”

  Ripley had seen enough. He raced back to the bulkhead and slipped inside, ignoring the pain. He reached the utility room and threw open the door.

  "Death to the Theran invaders!" cried Tobias, hurling his tea kettle in Ripley's direction. Ripley ducked instinctively, but there was no need. The kettle hit the wall some five feet away and fell to the floor, a pool of steaming water forming beneath it. "Ripley!" Tobias gasped, running up to him. "I'm so sorry! I thought you were an Elf!" His eyes widened. "I could have killed you!"

  Ripley eyed the kettle warily. "I don't think you were much of a threat. But there's no time for that. They're practically right outside. They have Felix and Willow with them."

  Ambrose looked grave. "How many are there?"

  "Six. Three guards, Nero, and two engineers. Tobias, you said there's a plan to stop the explosions. Can you set it in motion now? In case—in case we don't make it out of this?"

  Tobias frowned, pacing. "It's just not possible. My countermeasures will open the vents to prevent the pressure from building up. But if the Elves aren't gone when I activate them, they won't have a hard time reversing what I've done." He shook his head. "No. The only way to save Sanctuary is to stay alive!"

  "Alright," said Ripley, taking a deep breath. "Plan B. Can you turn off the lights in the Tube tunnels? That w
ould buy us some time."

  Tobias nodded enthusiastically. "I think I can!"

  "Good. Do it, and then meet us on the platform." He looked at Ambrose. "I think you should finish telling me about that red button, Ambrose. I have an idea."

  * * *

  Ripley stood motionless at the door to the utility room, staring up at the hole in the dome. He could hear the distant moan of the wind, but down here, nothing stirred.

  It wasn't a very good plan, but it was the only one he had. Tobias and Ambrose were in position. All they could do now was wait.

  They didn’t have to wait long. Felix's voice rang out from the darkness. "Run, Ripley! They've found it!"

  There was a sickening thud, and Willow cried out. "Stop it!" she shouted. "Leave him alone!"

  Ripley waited just long enough to see them emerge from the bulkhead hatch, one of the guards half-dragging, half-carrying Felix. He heard them gasping and cursing, unprepared for the freezing temperatures. He backed up, leaving the door open, so that the lights would draw them in. He moved into the meeting room, through the next door, up the passage, down the steps, and out onto the platform. He was breathing heavily, and each breath made his ribcage feel like fire. Sweat poured down his sides despite the cold. But he couldn't rest yet. Not until Felix and Willow were safe.

  He picked up a short piece of metal pipe. It was cold and heavy. He glanced at Tobias, who looked sick to his stomach. "Ready?" he mouthed silently. Tobias nodded. Both of them pulled the tinted goggles Ambrose had given them down over their eyes. Tobias held a pipe just like Ripley's in one hand, and he had his other hand poised over a small switch.

  Ripley measured time in heartbeats as he heard the Elves coming down the hall. Their footfalls echoed as they drew closer. Now they were on the stairs. A heartbeat later they appeared on the platform. Ripley allowed himself a moment to take in their positions.

  "Lights!" he cried, and Tobias flipped his switch, putting out the platform lights.

  "Enough with these games!" Nero shouted, furious. But before he could say another word, Ripley was yelling again.

  "Now, Ambrose!"

  Pluto roared to life, and the floodlights on her nose came on, blinding the unsuspecting Elves. The guard next to Felix let go of the rope, his hands flying up to shield his eyes. Ripley and Tobias moved in from either side. Ripley brought his pipe down hard on the guard's head, and he crumpled to the ground. Tobias gave a little yelp as he took out the one next to Willow. He grabbed her arm and drew her out of the floodlight's glare, then helped Ripley pull Felix, who was dazed and staggering, away as well.

  It was at that moment that Pluto stalled. Her lights flickered, then went out. Once more, they were all plunged into darkness. Lub was shouting commands for the guards, who he had not yet realized were unconscious, and Nero was eerily silent. Ripley tore off his goggles. "Felix!" he whispered, using his multitool to cut the rope away from Felix's wrists, “Felix, are you okay? I can't carry you. You have to move!"

  "Ugh," groaned Felix. "No fair, I carried you."

  "Get him to the ship,” Ripley said to Willow. "Hurry."

  "The what?" asked Willow.

  "I'll show you. Follow me," said Tobias.

  Just then, he heard Ambrose shout, and Pluto's lights and engine came back on. Lub cursed as he was blinded again, and he and his engineers blundered out of the path of the light. Ripley looked around, but Nero was nowhere to be found. Tobias and the others had just disappeared inside Ambrose's ship. Ripley started that way, and Willow turned back toward him. "Ripley, behind you!"

  Ripley turned—Captain Lub had stumbled out of the light and was baring down on him, face full of fury. Ripley would never make it to the ship before Lub reached him. There was an unfamiliar sound behind him, a steady stream of Tat! Tat! Tat! Tat! and Ripley looked up in time to watch the huge glass skylights in the station's ceiling shattering above Lub and the engineers. The bullets from Pluto's guns sheered right through a metal column, and the unsupported ceiling twisted and buckled. In moments, Lub, the engineers, and the guards had disappeared, buried beneath a pile of heavy debris.

  Willow ran to Ripley and squeezed him tightly. "Ow!" he whimpered, “Too tight!"

  "Oops, sorry!" she said, releasing him and glancing toward the twisted hunks of metal near the stairwell. "Is my father—?"

  Ripley shook his head. "He got away."

  She nodded, her eyes cold. "Too bad,” she said, bitterly. Now that it was over, and his friends were safe, the adrenaline that had fueled Ripley started to ebb. He walked slowly beside Willow and sat down gratefully when they reached the ship.

  They all huddled there, Ambrose in the pilot's chair fiddling with the radio. "I can pick up their transmissions here," he explained. Felix leaned against the hull with his eyes closed, and Willow sat beside him, squeezing his hand tightly and listening to Tobias explain everything he'd told Ripley and Felix before.

  When he finished, she just sat for a time, shaking her head in disbelief. "I'm so sorry,” she said at last, tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. I swear I had no idea."

  "I suspect many had no idea until the last minute,” Tobias said. "Especially someone like you, a known Human sympathizer. The Council would have viewed you as a liability. "

  "I've got something!" Ambrose exclaimed suddenly. “Everyone quiet!"

  The voices on the radio were fuzzy, but they could make out enough. Nero had rejoined the evacuees. “Commence shut down,” they heard him say.

  "I guess we're up!" said Tobias, almost cheerfully. "Time to save Sanctuary!" Everyone rose and, picking their way between the debris, went back to the utility room.

  Tobias walked over to the wall where a square metal box opened to reveal a small terminal nesting in the midst of a sea of wires. "We're really quite lucky that everything runs through this station," he said as he worked. "I was able to access everything I need from here." He stopped talking then. He had his back to them, but his body language betrayed his panic before they heard him say, barely above a whisper, "Oh, no." He shook his head as if to clear it and tried again. "No. No. No!" he cried out, frustrated. He plunged his hand into the wiring and tore one free.

  "What's wrong?" Ripley asked, worried. "What are you doing?" He glanced around the room and saw his concern mirrored in the eyes of his companions.

  "It won't work!" Tobias shouted, waving the wire wildly in the air. He began laughing, a high-pitched, hysterical laugh. "When we fired Pluto's guns, we must have severed it. Months of planning, shot to pieces. Literally!"

  "What does it do?" Willow asked, trying to calm him down. "We can fix it. We can get power from somewhere else."

  But Tobias was shaking his head. "This is a hard line to the geothermal venting system. It can't be accessed remotely. I didn't realize, but it must have run through the station's ceilings."

  Ripley understood now. "If we can't access the vents, we can't stop the pressure from building up."

  "And if we can't stop the pressure, we can't stop the explosions,” Ambrose finished. He slammed both hands on the table. "Damn it! This is my fault!"

  Ripley was quiet, the gears in his mind cranking. "If we can get up to the ceiling, we can find it and fix it."

  Tobias shook his head furiously. "No good. That could take hours." He glanced at the monitor. "By my calculations, we've got minutes."

  "How many minutes?" asked Felix.

  "Maybe forty, forty-five minutes, at best. You have to remember that the system that powers Sanctuary is massive, and it runs continuously. It won't take long for it to build up the pressure necessary—"

  "Yeah, I know, I know. Kaboom."

  Ripley began pacing back and forth. "The whole system is connected, though. It loops through every dome, and all of the condensers have to let out into the same pipes, right? So theoretically, if we can relieve the pressure here, in this dome—"

  "The entire system could vent out through D6!" exclaimed Tobias. "Yes! I think that could work!"

 
; "Well, what are we waiting for?" asked Felix. "Let’s do this thing!"

  They hurried back to the ship, and Ambrose fired up the engine. "Get us to the base of those condensers,” said Ripley, pointing at the towering tubes in the distance. In less than a minute, Ripley and Tobias were hopping out again. They moved to the base of the condensers and began walking briskly around them, looking for the control terminal.

  Please let it be intact, Ripley pleaded silently. Please let it be intact.

  His heart sank as the terminal came into view. He could see immediately that it was completely destroyed. The geothermal system vented deep inside the earth. If they couldn't access it via the terminal, they couldn't access it at all. He pounded on it, but the display was shattered, rendering it useless.

  "Now what?" Tobias asked him.

  "I'm thinking!" Ripley shouted. He looked up toward the top of the dome where the condensers disappeared outside. "There have to be secondary vents, for emergencies, like a system failure. They'd be outside the dome. But we have a ship." He looked back at Pluto. "Ambrose can get me to the vents. I can open them manually."

  "Are you crazy? That's suicide! The amount of pressure in these tubes is—is—astronomical! Assuming you can open the vent, you'll be blasted with super-heated vapor. Boiled alive!"

  "Do you see another option?"

  Tobias looked at him, silent for a moment. "We could just…fly away?" he suggested weakly.

  Ripley shook his head. "I can't let all those innocent people die. Not if there's a chance to save them. And the longer we stand here talking, the less of a chance we have. So, let's go."

  They boarded Pluto and Ripley knelt down beside Felix. "Take us out through the breach, Ambrose," he called over his shoulder. "We need to get to the top of the condenser tubes."

  "Roger that," came Ambrose's reply, and Ripley felt the strange sensation of the ship rising straight up from the ground.

  "So, what's the plan?" Felix asked, apprehension evident on his face. Ripley shifted uncomfortably as the little aircraft changed direction.