Gunny nodded and pointed to his eyes and then at the corridor. “Stay frosty,” he told the group.
Josh nodded and yanked the door open. Part of the metal hatch was a spring-loaded scythe. As the door came open, the razor sharp weapon spun through the space where Josh was standing. He stood for an instant before the open door. Then his upper body fell one way and his legs fell another.
“Oh my God!” Doctor Carroll gasped. Gunny gritted his teeth, looking from Joshua’s remains to the corridor beyond.
“Dammit,” Gunny said softly. “We’ll finish the mission and stamp your name on it.”
The new leader, Gunny, studied the trap before stepping over the Ranger’s body.
“How can you care so little?” she asked, but Gunny didn’t hear her. Maybe he was ignoring her. The robot was more sympathetic.
“His mission is different from ours,” the robot suggested. “He is to keep you alive so you can recruit labor for the factory, including providing technical assistance in repairing what is wrong with the pods. He probably sees that he is failing in his mission as the layers surrounding you are stripped away.”
Doctor Carroll stopped and watched Lucas and Buck following the sergeant. Jed followed like a whipped dog, still handcuffed, but emotionally captive, too.
Doors lined a ten-foot wide corridor that ran one hundred and twenty-five feet to the bow. There were a few people who scurried into their rooms and shut the doors when the party appeared. She could hear others in the area. A third of the rooms appeared to be occupied.
The robot stopped when he reached the body of the Ranger. The only way through the door was for him to run over the man. He wouldn’t do it. Doctor Carroll stepped over him and into the corridor. She walked down it, listening for sounds of children. She tapped on a door behind which she could hear a family.
A dirty and rail thin woman tentatively opened the door. “We’re here to help,” Doctor Carroll told her, looking past to see that the children had open sores on their legs. “Buck, they need your help.”
The medic appeared, happy to be called away from opening doors in a place that smelled of disease and death.
“Let me take a look at those,” Buck said softly. “Rat bites?”
The mother nodded. Buck blinked rapidly to keep his eyes from watering. He rubbed salve on the wounds and bandaged them with the last of his bandages.
“Are you here because you have nowhere else to go?” he asked.
“Of course. Why else would someone live in this place?”
“I’m sorry. If we have anything to say about it, you won’t have to live like this for much longer.”
“Get off me!” Gunny called from down the corridor. Doctor Carroll leaned out, appalled by the sight of rats swarming over Lucas, Jed, and Gunny. The two slammed into the wall and rolled the rats off as they clubbed and stabbed them. Jed went down beneath a wave of diseased gray bodies.
She closed the door and waited for the noise in the hallway to die down.
Buck finished cleaning and binding the wounds on the children’s legs. When the doctor heard the men outside complaining about the rat bites, she opened the door. They were cleaning themselves up. Dozens of sewer denizens lay dead at their feet.
“There’s nothing down here except misery,” Lucas said.
“Where the hell were you two?” Gunny snarled.
“Helping out the locals. Winning friends and influencing people. Isn’t that something you gave Josh a hard time for not doing?” she shot back.
Gunny looked at Jed’s body. He and Lucas had killed the rats who killed Crak’s number two.
“A fitting end,” Gunny pondered. He looked at the hatch with the spring trap. “One more deck to check out and then I think I have a solution to complete our mission.”
He didn’t elaborate as he walked aft, stepping over the Ranger’s body. Again.
“If we don’t take him with us, the rats will eat him,” the doctor observed.
Gunny waved a hand over his head. No one knew what it meant, so Doctor Carroll removed the map and credits from his pockets before picking up half of their former leader, and Buck picked up the other half. When they reached the stairs, Gunny pointed to the third deck. “Throw him into the pool, but don’t get too close.”
Having already decided that they didn’t want to carry the body parts, they readily agreed. Gunny followed them up, pulling his pistol and having it ready, just in case.
Doctor Carroll threw the legs in first. They landed with a wet thud. Buck twirled in a semi-circle, holding Josh’s arms. He let go as the Ocean Slime erupted upward, wrapping itself around the two halves of the man. Doctor Carroll fell over backward in her rush away from the pool’s edge. Buck pulled her up by one arm as he ran back to the stairwell.
“We just fed Josh to some monster?”
Gunny locked eyes with the medic until Buck looked away. “Yes.” Gunny turned and descended two flights until he was below the waterline. The ship’s first deck.
This area was the width of the ship, about seventy-five feet, and maybe one hundred feet long. It had a foot of stinking, standing water, but shiny stuff sparkled from the darkness of the space. In the middle was a pylon with a circular hatch on top of it.
“What’s that?” Lucas said, pointing to the greatest concentration of sparkles.
“It’s not people. Our whole mission is people. There aren’t any down here, so let’s go.”
“But, I’d like to see what that stuff is,” Doctor Carroll insisted.
“No good can come from it,” Gunny said as he pointed back up the stairs. No one moved. He headed up. It was time to leave the Cruiseliner Hades 7.
Doctor Carroll stepped into the water, but instantly felt uncomfortable. She saw sparkles on the hatch she’d just passed through. Looking closely, she realized what they were. “They’re only salt crystals.”
Buck had already started up the steps. Lucas sighed and rolled his head in disappointment as he turned and waited for the robot to climb ahead of him.
The doctor turned one last time to look at the large space. She saw the water move, and pulled her laser pistol as tentacles flowed from the water toward her. She fired past them toward the body that appeared. The creature flailed and shot away from the hatch. The doctor backed to the stairs, before turning and hurrying upward to catch the others.
She only had two charges remaining for her laser pistol. She hoped that she wouldn’t need them. Failing that, she hoped two would be enough. Juneau was as the mayor had said, a dangerous place.
Chapter 5
Gunny stayed wide of the pool as he walked across the deck down the short stairs and across the gangplank, exhaling long and slow when he reached dry land. He gave the others space to get across. His lip curled of its own volition as he looked at the ship.
The five watched each other.
“That sucked,” Gunny said unnecessarily. The medic held a hand to the wound that would take weeks to fully heal, even with herbs and salves. Doctor Carroll watched the sergeant closely, realizing he was more angry than anything. The man wasn’t afraid of anything but failure.
His was a laser focus on the mission. Gunny’s next words proved her premise correct.
“You four need to go to the factory and figure out how to fix the pods. That means you, Doctor Carroll. Buck, Lucas, and Andy can start recruiting because I will guarantee their safety. I will personally hunt down Crak Snackpole, Snack Crakpole, Smack Suckhole, or whatever his stupid name is. It’ll die with him. You have my word. I have a couple rounds remaining for my pistol, but I only need one.”
Doctor Carroll couldn’t argue with him, and Lucas didn’t want to because he expected to take charge with Gunny out of the way. Buck wanted to stay by the robot and the doctor. He felt safer with those two, because they seemed to operate at a higher level than the warrior types.
But everyone had a role to play.
“What’s your next move, Doc?” Gunny asked.
�
�According to the map, the entrance to the factory is through the Office Facility or the Warehouse. If we had any captives, we were supposed to bring them to the Office, so we’ll go there, show them pictures of the dead warriors from the second deck, the gamblers from the fifth deck, the receptionist, and some of the people I was able to get a clear view of on the third deck.”
“Damn. That’s good work, Doctor Carroll.” Gunny looked at Lucas. “You protect her with your life because she is the key for all of us to get out of here with our pride and honor intact.”
“Pride and honor? You’re an idiot, Gunny. I can’t buy any new weapons with pride and honor, or feed myself, or get a beer.”
“When we complete this mission, we have eight shares to split five ways, but we have to complete it successfully. That means you have to recruit workers for the factory. If you come across as a slimy self-serving scumbag, you’ll fail. Can’t feed yourself with failure, either, so stand up and do the right thing without me watching over you.”
“Or what?”
Gunny didn’t hesitate. He feinted a jab at the mercenary’s face, ducked and rotated his hips, driving upward with his legs to increase the power of his uppercut. Gunny’s fist rocketed between Lucas’ elbows, catching the man on the chin, sending him airborne, to land on his heels, stumble and fall over.
“Or that and there’s plenty more where that came from if you don’t protect her. Do your job and you’ll get paid. Do it without honor, and you’ll have to deal with me.”
“As much as I’d love to recruit labor for the factory, I doubt I’m very persuasive. I won’t be much help as a trouble shooter for the pods, either. I think I might be most useful with you, Gunny.”
The sergeant considered the proposal. The doctor looked hurt.
“You know he’s right,” Gunny told her. She nodded and held out a hand that the robot shook. Gunny didn’t bother pressing anyone’s flesh. It wasn’t his way. He nodded to the others and headed for the Red Dog. He wanted to get his fifty credits back, even though they hadn’t recruited anyone.
Not yet, anyway.
***
The doctor took one last look at the map, oriented herself and headed for the office facility that she estimated was only two blocks away. Buck and Lucas fell in behind. Her silver suit glistened in the late afternoon sun. The air was getting cooler, but not by much. When the sun set much later at night, it wouldn’t stay dark for long.
After only a hundred yards, they came across an ad hoc blockade across the road. Two men stood there with large clubs. Doctor Carroll looked to Lucas, He removed his bow, strung it and with a quiver still packed with arrows, he was ready to remove any delays. He walked wide to give himself the best line of fire. Buck stayed behind the Scientist.
She strode boldly to the checkpoint. One of the men held out a hand. “You’ll have to pay the toll if you want to pass,” he said. She grabbed him by the front of his shirt and rammed her laser pistol under his chin.
An arrow appeared in the throat of the other man. He gurgled, staggered, and fell to the ground.
Doctor Carroll pulled backward, dragging the man over the barrier. He fell over it, and she let him fall to the ground, kicking him in the head after he hit.
He stayed still. She nudged his club away from his hand, then launched it to the side of the roadway.
Buck lifted one end of the barrier and walked it open, dropping it when there was room for them to pass.
“Entrepreneurs are a dying breed nowadays, don’t you think?” Doctor Carroll asked Lucas who was stringing his bow over his back when he joined them.
“Very much this, Doctor. I didn’t know you had it in you.”
“I really don’t like bullies,” she replied while walking away.
They made it the rest of the way without issue. The roads seemed to be abandoned, but if there were checkpoints that robbers were setting up around the city, then travel would be problematic. Maybe we can do something about that, too, she thought.
The office facility was a simple building, thirty feet by thirty feet square. It had a main room entered from a central door. There was a counter that kept people from walking directly into the room. The counter had a half door through which anyone going into the room would have to pass. There was a stove in the middle of the space used for heating. It was also used for cooking as evidenced by a pan of meat burning. There were two doors leading from the main room. There was a well-dressed woman and four bouncers standing around the stove. The bouncers were armed with billy clubs. “Can I help you?” the woman who was clearly in charge asked.
“I’m Doctor Carroll and we’re here on a mission to bring the factory up to full production capability. We’ve been working to remove some of the Traditionalist threat. If you would be so kind, we have a bunch of pictures for you to look at, see if any of them stand out.
The woman was intrigued. “My name is Jenna and the mayor is my husband.”
“Phineas Slog?” Doctor Carroll asked. “Then I suspect you know who we are.”
“I’ve heard some things,” she said warmly.
The doctor scrolled through the pictures, starting with the dead bodyguard types. Jenna didn’t recognize any of them. The bouncers each took turns looking. They’d seen some of the men around, but didn’t know who they were.
When Doctor Carroll showed the faces of the gamblers, two stood out. Jenna pointed at the faces for the bouncers to see.
“I’m guessing those two work at the factory,” the doctor said. The well-dressed woman nodded.
“Flag these two to be detained. Make sure the warehouse knows if they try to enter through there. Two of the men hurried past the newcomers and out the door.
Before the door could close, someone opened it, walked to the counter, and waved his badge.
“Hey, Packrat. Aren’t you late for your shift?” Jenna asked.
“No, ma’am. I’ve been reporting early for so long, you’d think that was my normal shift, but they were doing some maintenance on my milling machine, so I couldn’t come in until now.”
One of the bouncers opened the half door and let the man through. The woman opened a door on the far side of the room. Beyond was a stairway. Packrat headed through and waved as he started down.
“This is Buck and that’s Lucas,” Doctor Carroll introduced the men. Lucas remained by the door, assuming the role of bodyguard. His jaw was a painful reminder that he wasn’t meant to be in charge.
Not yet, anyway.
“Can I offer you something to drink?” Jenna asked.
“Something warm and maybe with a little kick?” the doctor wondered. “It’s been a rough day.”
“I expect. There was supposed to be eight of you?” Jenna didn’t look up as she added water to a kettle on the stove.
“We lost three good people today, but the other two have taken a personal interest in meeting a certain someone.”
Jenna looked at the group. “You’re going to assassinate Crak Snackpole?”
“I wouldn’t use those terms,” the doctor replied.
“No matter. He’s a blight on our town. I don’t know if anyone has ever seen him. He lives in the shadows. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wasn’t a person at all, but an idea.”
“That idea tortured a man to death. I think he’s very real.” The doctor shuddered at the memory of the corpse in the luxury suite, now lying in the master’s bed.
God’s speed, Gunny, she wished.
***
In the Red Dog Saloon, the robot bought another drink and let it sit on the bar. Gunny grabbed a mug of beer, took a seat near the bodyguard at the bottom of the steps, and took a long pull. He closed his eyes as he savored the best beer in all of Juneau.
He wondered if there were any other beers in Juneau. Probably not. It was good enough.
“What kind of shift do you work, buddy?” Gunny asked.
“Day on, stay on, my man,” the guard replied. I’ll be getting off pretty soon. Family will be expecti
ng me for dinner.”
“You live at Centennial Hall?” Gunny asked.
The man nodded. “Most of us do. This is a good job and soon enough, I’ll be able to afford my own place. If Juneau improves enough, jobs like this will be a thing of the past. There will be better jobs out there and better homes to be had.”
“I love me an optimist.” Gunny smiled. He saluted with his mug, taking another long drink.
“We are so close, I can taste it. I think that Traditionalist scum’s influence is waning. You said you lost three people today? Where?”
Gunny didn’t trust the man that much. “In and around the city. But the Traditionalist scum as you call them, lost more than twenty.”
“There’s only one scum that I’m talking about,” the guard replied. Muttley appeared at the top of the stairs and knocked on the railing. “Gotta go.”
The man headed up the stairs.
Gunny caught the bartender watching him. He tipped his beer in the bartender’s direction and held up a finger. One more.
The man nodded and drew a new mug full. The serving girl grabbed it as she passed and delivered it promptly. Gunny paid with some of the credits that Diego had recovered from the casino.
He finished his first beer and handed it to the girl before she left. Gunny leaned back in his chair to contemplate what he thought he knew about the Traditionalist leader. He nursed his second beer, waiting for the guard, but he remained at the top of the stairs.
No jaw jacking on the job, huh? Gunny thought. What did I say?
A lightbulb clicked and he headed toward the bar with half his beer remaining. He dropped the mug on the counter and shook his head. “They’re waiting for us at the capitol building. We better get there before the boss man gets mad. Come on, Andy, hurry up, we gotta go.”
The robot started to protest.
“Shut up! It’s time to go.”
As last time, Andy deposited his whisky with a table of guests, nodded, and rolled out.
Once outside, Gunny apologized to the robot. “Sorry I had to do that, but I have a hunch and we need to be in place right now if we’re going to get our shot. I need you to hide over here and be ready to blow the ass end off the Hades 7. That’s right, energize your railgun and be ready.”
Cruiseliner Hades 7: A Lost 77 Worlds Tale Page 5
