by Thomas Fay
‘You first,’ he said.
I stepped out onto the most secure level of the Dyson Alpha star port. A pair of heavily armoured guards stood directly in front of us. Their force-shielded body armour was so thick it made them appear like insects. Giant mutated alien cockroaches, to be precise.
‘Halt! This is a restricted area,’ one of them said. ‘State the nature of your business.’
‘We’re here to arrange the release of a prisoner,’ Lars said.
‘Under whose authority?’
‘Mine.’
Before I could react, Lars raised his weapon to a firing position. Gone was the low-powered laser handgun he had threatened me with the other day. Instead, he held a compact neutronium disintegrator. He fired twice. Two singularities materialised and enveloped the guards. They disintegrated into fiery molecular dust.
‘Move! Quick and quiet,’ Lars said.
I hadn’t seen a neutronium disintegrator since my covert ops days in the Sol system. It was banned in all the colonised star systems. A cold shiver flowed down my spine as I realised just how dangerous Lars Marvik really was.
‘Where did you get that weapon?’ I asked.
‘This?’ Lars asked, holding it up. ‘My Kadmian Raider friends have access to some serious hardware. You should see what they outfitted my ship with.’
‘I’ll pass.’
Lars smiled.
‘You’re not getting squeamish on me now, are you?’
‘Let’s get Roger D and get out of here.’
We reached a reinforced beryllium security door. Lars disintegrated it along with the two guards on the other side. We reached the holding cells.
‘Which one?’ I asked.
‘5-A.’
I released the locking mechanism. A dishevelled and bruised Roger D blinked as the door swung open.
‘Marvik. I should have known,’ he said.
17.
Lars Marvik aimed the neutronium disintegrator at me. I stared at the illegal weapon. It was hardly the first time someone had pointed a powerful weapon at me. I just hadn’t expected it to happen again so soon after I’d resigned from the Space Navy.
‘Now, the money,’ he said.
‘It’s on the docking level. We need to get out of here,’ I said.
‘You first.’
I cast a sideways glance at Roger D as we rushed back towards the turbo-lifts. I felt a strange buzzing sensation at the base of my skull. I caught the faintest flicker of movement in one of the side corridors.
Selize, I cast the thought out.
John? Are you alright?
Get everyone back! Marvik has a neutronium disintegrator. He’s already killed four guards.
We can help you.
No, not yet. We need to get him away from the star port.
Are you sure, John?
Yes. I want him, his ship and whoever he’s working with in custody. It’s the only way to put an end to him once and for all.
Be careful.
Always.
We took the turbo-lift back down to the docking level. Reaching the secure storage lockers, I opened locker 505-E and withdrew the metallic case.
‘Open it,’ Lars demanded.
I pressed my thumb against the activation pad and spoke my name. The case clicked open. The bars of centurium shimmered with an ethereal quality.
‘Leave it and back away,’ Lars said.
I did as instructed.
‘You’ve got the money; now tell me where Dayna is,’ Roger D said.
Lars smiled.
‘Your little Centaurian friend is on a prison ship on her way to the Sirius system. Without her telepathic abilities her kind won’t be able to save her.’
‘Bring her back now or I’ll tear you to pieces!’ Roger D shouted.
Lars’s smile widened.
‘You can try and save her but without the Helios Ark you’ll never reach her in time. Consider it payback for all the times you’ve interfered in my operations.’
Lars scooped up the case, waved a mock salute with his weapon and disappeared down the corridor. I was about to follow him when I felt Roger D holding me back.
‘We need to get Dayna,’ Roger D said.
I cast a final glance after Marvik. Then I nodded.
‘You’re right of course,’ I said. I pulled out my port-to-ship coms device.
‘What are you doing?’ Roger D asked. ‘We need to go!’
‘I want to make sure he was telling the truth about where Dayna is.’
I activated my port-to-ship coms device.
‘Mason? Can you hear me?’
‘Loud and clear, sir. Were you successful in freeing Roger D?’
‘Yes, he’s here now. We need you to pick us up at dock 22-A.’
‘Sir, that is not an advisable course of action. The star-port authorities are searching for this ship.’
‘I’ll take care of that. Just come pick us up.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘One more thing; I need you to locate a manifest for an outgoing prison ship. It would have departed here within the last eight hours.’
‘For whom am I searching, sir?’
‘Dayna but she would be listed under a different name. Just check the prisoners that were loaded onto the ship here—any females, unassigned.’
‘Understood, sir. We’ll be there shortly.’
The communicator switched off.
Selize?
Are you alright, John?
Yes but Marvik got away with the centurium. Selize, I’m sorry. This was my plan and now four guards are dead.
It’s alright, John. They knew the risks and Marvik was far more dangerous than we expected. Is Roger D safe?
Yes, he’s here with me.
And Dayna?
I took a deep breath.
Marvik put her on a prison ship. We need to hurry if we’re going to catch it before it jumps to Sirius.
What can I do?
We need the Helios Ark. Have the authorities dropped the charges against Roger D?
Leave it to me.
There was a moment of silence in my mind.
Alright, you can bring the ship back.
You’re amazing.
I know. Be careful.
‘You’re no longer a wanted man,’ I said.
‘That’s a relief,’ Roger D said. ‘How did you manage to hide the Helios Ark from Marvik?’ Roger D asked.
Instead of replying, I pointed through the viewing pane. Outside, Chiron shone with the reflected light of Alpha Centauri’s stars.
‘Mason hid the ship on the dark side of Chiron in a retrograde orbit,’ I said.
‘Nice work,’ Roger D said.
‘Thanks.’
Turning around, we were confronted by four heavy-set men. Their faces showed signs of solar exposure while the way their grey one-pieces bulged with muscles at the chest and shoulders attested to time spent in high-gravity environments. In the 0.8 standard gravity of the Dyson Alpha star port they would be fast and very strong.
I discreetly thumbed the port-to-ship coms device on.
‘You two are coming with us,’ the man closest to us said.
18.
We were escorted down the corridor, our journey attracting curious looks from several passers-by. I could only imagine what they thought, seeing Roger D and me surrounded by four man-mountains. These guys were seriously huge. It was a miracle two of them could actually fit next to each other in the corridor.
‘Mind telling me where you’re taking us?’ I asked.
‘Keep quiet,’ one of the man-mountains grumbled.
‘You do realise this is illegal detention of persons?’
The man-mountains in front of us stopped, causing me to run into the back of the one in front of me. I almost dropped the port-to-ship coms device clutched in my hand.
‘In there.’
We were ushered through an airlock into a large docking bay. Storage modules were stacked on top of each ot
her on both sides, while a shimmering force field curtain prevented everything from being sucked out into the vacuum of space. A Nemesis-class long-range trader occupied the landing pad in the centre. It was the pinnacle of free-merchant vessels. Powered by twin class D engines, it was fast. It was also heavily shielded and had three oversized cargo holds, making it the ideal choice for the wealthiest of free-merchant families. A young man dressed in expensive tailored garments of the finest silk with gold embroidery stood in front of the ship. I recognised him from our encounter in the docking corridor.
‘Wasn’t hard to find you,’ the man said. ‘You always were predictable.’
Roger D took a deep breath.
‘What do you want?’ he asked. ‘This really isn’t a good time.’
The man stepped forwards, waving the four man-mountains back to the airlock. As his pale-green eyes appraised us, I once again got the sense that he looked familiar. I just couldn’t tell where I’d seen him before.
‘Father is unwell,’ the man said.
‘Father?’ I asked, surprised.
Roger D took another deep breath.
‘John, allow me to introduce my younger brother, Callan.’
That explained the resemblance.
‘You know I’m never going back,’ Roger D said.
‘Father knows that.’
‘Then why are you here?’
‘The blockade is over. The UEP has conceded limited protectorate status. It’s only a matter of time before Icarus gains full freedom from UEP influence.’
Roger D scoffed.
‘You’re naïve if you think the UEP will ever allow that to happen. They’ve already set a dangerous precedent. Helios will surely attempt to follow Icarus’s example. Then you’ll see how limited the status really is.’
‘Laugh all you want. Our dream is within reach.’
‘Your dream. It was never mine.’
‘Yes, I know. Is that why you ran away with your inheritance? I understand you spent it all on a trading vessel—a Cygnus-class with an overpowered engine. You could have commanded a fleet of free-merchant ships.’
I guessed that explained where Roger D had obtained the funds for the class E engine. I was surprised he’d left Icarus though. The wealthiest free-merchant families rivalled the ruling families of Earth, both in terms of affluence and influence. I cast a glance at the man-mountains. They stood, two abreast, near the airlock. I’d need powered body armour to get past them. And a squad of space marines. They were that big.
‘Callan, I really don’t have time for this—the woman I love has been imprisoned and is on a ship heading for Sirius. I need to go. Now.’
‘Damn it, Roger! Don’t you see this life is not what you were meant for? These Centaurians have you under their spell; you’re not thinking straight. It’s time you came back to Icarus and took your place at the head of the family. We need you; Father needs you.’
Roger D shook his head.
‘Tell Father I’m sorry but my life is here now. And right now, I need to go and save the woman I love.’
Roger D turned to leave, motioning for me to follow him. For a moment, I thought we were going to walk out without incident. That moment lasted until two of the man-mountains moved to block our path. I really hoped the port-to-ship coms device was still transmitting; otherwise this was going to go very wrong, very quickly.
‘The only place you’re going is back to Icarus. Perhaps once you’re home, you’ll see reason,’ Callan D said. ‘Take them.’
As one, the man-mountains moved forwards. Roger D and I took a step back. Just as I was contemplating making a run for it, the airlock behind them slid open. Mason Turk stood in the corridor. Two of the man-mountains turned. The other two grabbed us.
‘Mason! A little help here,’ Roger D shouted.
The four men had been trained in high-gravity environments. They were fast and strong in the lower gravity of the Dyson Alpha star port. But Mason Turk was an android. As strong and as fast as they were, they were no match for him. He easily overpowered all four of them, knocking them unconscious within seconds of stepping into the docking bay.
‘Are you alright, sir?’ Mason asked.
‘I am now,’ Roger D replied. ‘Did you find Dayna?’
‘I believe so, sir. There was only one female prisoner loaded here that was not assigned.’
‘That’s her,’ I said.
Roger D nodded. Then his gaze fell on his younger brother who had watched the brief struggle with a certain detachment.
‘Give me a moment.’
Mason and I waited near the airlock as Roger D approached his brother.
‘I guess that explains what happened to our missing Turk model,’ Callan D said.
‘Tell Father I’m sorry. But my life is here now.’
Callan D looked about to say something but, seeing the look on Roger D’s face, decided against it.
‘Go then, if you must. I hope someday you’ll come back to Icarus.’
‘Goodbye, little brother,’ Roger D said.
Callan D held out his arm.
‘May your travels be prosperous.’
Roger D grasped his brother’s arm above the elbow.
‘And may you return safely from your journeys.’
19.
The three of us raced back along the corridor to dock 22-A. Reaching the airlock, we waited as it cycled open.
‘How’s the ship?’ Roger D asked.
‘The ion drive and graviton flux generator have both been repaired, sir. There is still some cosmetic damage to the main deck and a few pieces of hull plating have not set properly,’ Mason Turk said.
‘Could be worse. How fast can we push her?’
‘With the hull plates still setting, the star-port technicians recommend not exceeding one per cent of light speed, sir.’
Roger D grunted.
‘We’ll see about that.’
The airlock opened and I followed Roger D and Mason through.
Stepping inside the Helios Ark, the world suddenly spun around me. Selize’s face flashed before my eyes against a backdrop of shimmering stars. A sharp stabbing pain exploded at the base of my skull. Clutching the sides of my head, I let out an involuntary groan.
‘John!’
Roger D’s voice echoed inside my head, adding to the feeling of disorientation. Up was down, down was up. I was inside the Helios Ark but I was also somewhere else, aboard another ship, silhouetted against a field of distant stars.
‘John, can you hear me?’
The ship spun around me, faster and faster. I ran into something hard. Blinking, I realised I was lying on the deck. A pair of hands turned me over. Selize’s crystalline cat’s eyes stared down at me. Their luminous surface shimmered with the refracted light of a million stars. My vision swam with incandescent points of light appearing and disappearing at random. Suddenly the pain was gone, my vision cleared and I found myself looking at Mason Turk’s pale android features.
‘Are you alright, sir?’ the android asked.
‘I …’
The android helped me to sit up.
‘What happened?’ Roger D asked.
‘I don’t know,’ I lied. ‘Lack of sleep probably.’
‘I need you focused, John. What we’re about to do is going to be very difficult and very dangerous.’
I stood up. Facing Roger D, I said, ‘You can count on me.’
‘Good to hear. Let’s go.’
We moved through the ship, reaching the main deck. Jeni Nix looked up from her acceleration couch as we entered.
‘Took you long enough,’ she said, eyeing me warily.
‘Unexpected detour with Callan,’ Roger D said, as he took the command seat. I slid into the acceleration couch with the engineering console while Mason Turk took the pilot’s seat.
‘As in your brother, Callan D?’
‘Yes. Now drop it, we don’t have time for this. That prison ship has a serious head start on us. If we don’t g
et to it before it jumps to Sirius, then Dayna will be lost forever. That is not something we’re going to let happen.’
The Helios Ark disengaged from the Dyson Alpha star port. Its manoeuvring thrusters fired a steady burst, pushing the ship towards the UEP gateway. As the automated gate control message echoed throughout the main deck, I cast a glance at Roger D. His eyes were focused straight ahead and he gripped the sides of his acceleration couch so hard his knuckles were turning white. I realised he would do anything to get Dayna back. I also realised that I would do anything I could to help him.
****
The modified class E engine was at twenty-five per cent output and rising as the Helios Ark raced through the darkness of deep space. A dense ion trail blazed for kilometres behind us. We had left the space docks of Epsilon Centauri behind us, travelling through another UEP gateway to Omicron Alpha. Emerging in high orbit around the heavily populated Centaurian world, we had barely managed to take a breath before Mason Turk had ignited the ion drive. Three standard hours later, we were in an isolated region of space, surrounded by an emerald-green particle field.
‘Sir, our current acceleration is putting excessive strain on the new hull plates. I recommend we reduce thrust to avoid compromising the ship’s integrity,’ Mason advised in his toneless synthetic voice.
‘She’ll hold. We need to get to that prison ship before it reaches the Sirius gate,’ Roger D said.
A sudden shudder ran through the ship. It was followed by the sound of metal groaning under extreme force. It sounded like the ship was about to break apart.
‘Maybe we should reduce our acceleration,’ I said.
‘No! We need to get to her before that ship jumps. We don’t have clearance for Sirius.’
‘If the ship falls apart around us then we won’t be of any use to her.’
