by Simon Haynes
The engines started with a bellowing roar, agonisingly loud in the confines of the hangar. They spat and spluttered, and before long the cavernous area began to fill with haze. It thinned as hidden extractors sucked the fumes out, then thickened like magic as the engines spewed gouts of grey smoke. In seconds, Harriet could barely see her hand in front of her face, and she leapt up and hurried down the ramp at the double.
At the foot of the ramp she turned left, and hurried along the hull until she saw a small grey cylinder. True to his word, Boson had arranged the drone carrying the equipment she'd need. She opened the canister and took out a small metal box, heavy for the size. Then she ran across the hangar towards the exit, wincing as green laser beams sliced through the smoke, seeking her out. They shimmered like neon lights on a foggy day, but the turrets held their fire and she made it safely to the door. After a quick look around she slipped into the wide corridor, keeping her head down as she hurried towards the nearest door.
There were no plans for the space station on file, but Clunk had unearthed designs for similar structures, extrapolating the layout from exterior views. Walsh knew there was no point making for any of the server rooms, which would be heavily guarded and much too secure for her to access, but Clunk had identified a number of offices belonging to senior managers. In most organisations, these were the people with scant regard for security. Even if they'd bothered to lock their terminals down, their passwords were usually trivial and easily cracked.
Before long she reached the first office. The nameplate read 'Richard Witt, Level Five Manager', and Walsh glanced over her shoulder before putting her ear to the door. Next, she tried knocking, and when there was no reply she opened the door and slipped inside. Presumably, Dick Witt was helping the Backsights with their new art collection.
There was a terminal on the desk, the screen showing a login prompt. Harriet didn't waste time with the keyboard … she opened the metal case and inspected the contents. Inside were two items: another decrypter, and a hand grenade. There was a slip of paper taped to the hand grenade, and Harriet's eyebrows rose as she read the instructions:
Pull pin, throw into server room.
After considering her options, Harriet decided to go with the decrypter. She took out the device and inserted it into the side of the screen. Seconds later there was a muted beep, and the terminal gave her full access.
The filing system was immense, and the progress bar crawled as the data was sucked down. Occasionally, the bar would pause as the copy routine encountered files and directories above the manager's security clearance, but each time this happened the decrypter had an answer.
The bar was halfway across when Harriet heard footsteps in the corridor. She ducked behind the desk, holding her breath, but fortunately they kept going. Then she had an idea, and she opened her flightsuit and tore a large chunk off the T-shirt underneath. If anyone came in, she'd busy herself dusting the furniture with the makeshift rag. It might not be that convincing, but it could buy her a little time.
* * *
Olivia Backsight strode towards Bright's Hairpiece, her shoes clacking on the metal floor. The gigantic rock was three times her height, and there was a clang as she whacked it with her steel-tipped cane. "At last," she muttered. "At long, long last."
Rodney Backsight stood nearby, a puzzled expression on his face. "I really don't see the attraction."
Olivia pulled her cane away with an effort, and pointed the tip at Rodney. "You will, my boy. You will."
"But it's just a rock."
"Just a rock?" Olivia snorted. "This chunk of stone will keep our factories going for the next ten years."
Rodney paled. "Are you saying it's radioactive?"
"Don't be stupid."
"How's it going to power our factories, then?"
Olivia placed her hand on the asteroid, feeling the rough surface. "It's not the rock," she murmured. "It's the contents."
"What, more stone?"
Tired of explaining, Olivia raised her voice. "Okay, you can come in now."
The door opened and two workers entered. They were wearing dirt-streaked orange overalls, safety goggles and hearing protectors, and they were pushing the biggest electric saw Rodney had ever seen. The circular blade was as big as an airlock door, and the motor looked like it had come out of a truck.
Olivia gestured towards the rock, and while one of the men lined the saw up, the second man distributed sets of safety equipment. Obviously they were going to cut the rock up, but Rodney still couldn't see the need. After all, it was just a chunk of stone.
Screeeee!
The saw kicked into life with a howling wail, and Rodney clasped his hands over the hearing protectors, pressing them to the side of his head. Water gushed from the saw, and the noise rose to an unholy scream as the blade began to bite. Grit and muddy water flew as the saw chewed into the rock, cascading off the men and puddling on the floor.
After a few minutes the saw was withdrawn, and Rodney saw a steaming channel running halfway up the side of the huge asteroid. The men adjusted their position and started cutting again, until a big segment hung by a thread. The saw was switched off, and one of the men took up a mallet and a couple of steel wedges. He drove the first in deep, but the second was only half in when the segment came free with a loud crack.
The man leapt back, narrowly avoiding the falling wedge, and the floor shook as the huge chunk of rock crashed down. It shattered into hundreds of pieces, but Olivia wasn't interested in the segment. No, she was craning her scrawny neck to look inside the body of the meteorite.
Rodney raised his safety glasses for a closer look, but he still couldn't see what all the fuss was about. The boulder was shot through with veins, and the blade had left circular patterns where it had sliced through. Apart from that, it just looked like solid rock.
"What trickery is this?" demanded Olivia. "Where the hell are my stones?"
As far as Rodney could tell, they were scattered all over the floor. "You're standing on them," he said, trying to be helpful.
Olivia crouched, scooped up a handful of gravel and held it under his nose. "Not his kind of stone, you weasel-faced moron. My diamonds!"
"Diamonds?"
"Of course diamonds. Do you think I bought this putrid excuse for art out of the goodness of my heart?" Olivia gave him a look of pure scorn. "I don't know who your mother slept with, but you're obviously not my flesh and blood."
"B-but there aren't any diamonds. It's empty."
"No shit, genius. And why would that be?"
"They weren't put there in the first place?"
"I watched them seal the rock on Forzen. Try again."
Rodney's brow creased. "I know!" he said at last. "It's not the same asteroid!"
"Bingo. It's been swapped." Olivia's cane swished through the air, the tip coming to a halt directly above the rock. It held there a second, then snapped towards the meteorite, sticking to it with a loud plink! "It wasn't magnetic, either. Therefore, it was switched in flight. And who carried Bright's artworks?"
Rodney's eyes narrowed. "Spacejock."
"Right. Hal Spacejock." Olivia held her cane in both hands, and started to bend it. Her knuckles were white, and the strain made her arms shake. Her lips drew back in a snarl, but gradually the cane bent further and further until … snap!
Rodney flinched. The mood his gran was in, he half-expected her to stake the two workmen with the broken pieces of cane. Instead, she addressed them imperiously. "You two, I want this section cleared. Understood? Everyone out."
"Yes ma'am."
"Now!"
The workers departed at a run, and Olivia whipped round and held the sharp ends of her cane under Rodney's nose, the white splintered wood so close he could feel it. "Bring me Hal Spacejock. We're going to find out what he did with the real rock, and then we're going to kill him."
* * *
Hal was sitting at the flight console, sipping a cup of coffee. Despite his relaxed appearanc
e, his nerves were strung tight. It was twenty minutes since Harriet had vanished into the smoke, and he was beginning to wonder whether he'd ever see her again. Once the artworks were approved, Olivia Backsight would give Hal his marching orders, and if Walsh wasn't back in time he'd have to abandon her. Then his brow creased as another thought hit him. How was she going to get back aboard? Would Control buy another engine test?
Hal glanced at Clunk, who was sitting in the copilot's chair. The robot didn't look worried, but then again his face only had a limited range of expressions. For all Hal knew, Clunk was already in mourning. "So, about Harriet."
"Yes, Mr Spacejock?"
"How's she getting back aboard?"
Clunk turned to look at him, and Hal's heart sank at the new expression on the robot's face. Now Clunk did look like he was in mourning. "Back aboard, Mr Spacejock?"
"Of course back again." Hal's voice rose. "You think we're leaving her behind? Is that it?"
"Nobody said anything about a second distraction," protested Clunk.
"Give me strength," muttered Hal.
"Ms Walsh is highly resourceful. I'm sure she'll think of something."
"Yes, well —"
Hal got no further, because at that second the airlock door exploded inwards with a flash of light and a very loud bang. The force threw him off his chair, and he was still tumbling across the deck when several armed guards charged in. One of them disabled Clunk with a flash from an electronic gizmo, and as the robot sank to the floor, helpless, the intruders covered Hal with their weapons.
Hal saw their lips moving, but couldn't hear a word over the ringing in his ears. There was an acrid smell from the explosion, and his eyes were still recovering from the bright flash. Then, before he could fully recover, two men hauled him to his feet and dragged him out of the ship.
Chapter 32
The next few minutes passed in a blur. Hal's brain felt like it was running at half its usual speed, but he did manage to put two and two together. Obviously, Harriet had been caught, which is why Olivia had sent her thugs to pick Hal up. Now, presumably, he was going to be questioned.
Hal heard a woman's voice as he was dragged through the corridors, shouting and protesting from somewhere behind him. At first he thought it was Harriet, but then he realised Olivia's men had found Meri Ryder aboard the Volante and brought her along too. "Leave her alone," he muttered, every word an effort. Unfortunately, nobody heard him.
They were taken to a large room, where Bright's asteroid towered over a powerful-looking saw. There was a big segment missing from the asteroid, and the floor was littered with broken chunks of rock. Olivia and Rodney were standing nearby, and before them were two empty chairs.
Hal and Meri were pushed into the chairs, and Hal winced as his arms were tied firmly behind his back. He struggled, but the bonds were far too strong.
Once the two of them were secure, Olivia waved the guards away. "Get lost, all of you."
"Are you sure, ma'am?"
Olivia took one step towards them, and the guards fled. Then she turned to Hal. "Mr Spacejock, how nice of you to join us." Olivia leaned closer. "I'd just like to ask you one question, if that's all right with you."
"Where is she?" demanded Hal, whose only thoughts were of Harriet Walsh. "What have you done with her?"
Olivia was holding a length of broken cane, and she brought it down viciously across his knee. "I'm asking the questions, Spacejock. Tell me, where's my asteroid?"
Hal stared at her, then at the big rock. Suddenly, he realised this had nothing to do with Harriet. "Er … it's right over there."
Crack! Olivia hit him with the cane again. She wasn't particularly strong, but the blow sent agonising pains shooting up Hal's leg. "Don't mess with me, Spacejock. What have you done with the original?"
"That is the original," said Hal truthfully. "Why would I deliver anything else?"
"I will get the —" Crack! "— truth out of you —" Crack! "— one way or the other!"
"Keep hitting me all you want," said Hal, through gritted teeth. "That's Bright's rock, I swear."
Olivia tossed the cane aside, and held her hand out to Rodney. "Give me your knife."
Rodney obeyed, and as the flickering blade changed hands a nasty grin crossed his face. "Are you going to cut him, Gran?"
"No."
Hal breathed a sigh of relief. The old woman was angry, but not completely insane.
"I'm going to cut her," said Olivia, and she stood in front of Meri.
"No, please," cried Meri, her eyes wide with panic. "I'll — I'll tell you anything you want."
"Go on."
"My fees … I've been overcharging you for years."
"I know that already."
"And the exhibitions … I skim ten percent off the door takings."
"So what?" Olivia gestured with the knife. "Tell me where the rock is. The original rock."
"M-Max Bright's Hairpiece?" stammered Meri. "I-it's right there!"
"For the last time, that is NOT my rock!" shouted Olivia. "The original was packed with uncut diamonds. Do you understand? An absolute fortune in diamonds. Enough gems for enough weapons to arm half the galaxy!" She drew her hand back, the blade shimmering in readiness, and Hal realised she was really going to do it. Unless he stopped her, Meri would die. "Wait! I know where your rock is."
Olivia hesitated, the light from the atomic blade reflected in her wide, staring eyes. Then, slowly, she lowered the deadly knife. "Go on."
"We, er —"
Slowly, Olivia moved the blade until the tip was millimetres from Meri's nose. "I'm waiting."
"It, er —" Hal racked his brains, but nothing would come. What could he say? What could he do? If he didn't come up with a plausible explanation, Meri would be killed right before his eyes.
* * *
Transfer Complete.
Harriet mouthed silent thanks to the IT gods as she yanked the decrypter from the side of the terminal. Now all she had to do was get back to the ship, get Hal to fly her home, and hand the red-hot intel over to her boss. If there was anything incriminating in the files, Backsight would be finished and —
Then she frowned. Get back to the ship how, exactly? The cameras were still there, the gun turrets were still covering the hold, the lasers were still seeking targets but the smoke … that was long gone.
Walsh thought for a moment. Could she cut power to the hangar? No, whoever designed the security system would have thought of that. What about the Volante - could it pick her up somewhere else? Or maybe she could she hide aboard the station until she managed to sneak aboard another ship?
For the first time, she realised the magnitude of her problems. She was trapped, and if she didn't leave aboard the Volante, it was likely she'd never leave at all.
Walsh eyed the terminal on the desk. Could she manipulate the security system from there, disabling cameras and shutting down turrets? It was worth a shot.
She slotted the decrypter into the side of the terminal, entering the main menu. There were dozens of options, and she traversed screen after screen until she found what she was looking for - security options.
The screen changed, displaying images from dozens of cameras, and Walsh had only just managed to disable the hangar feed when she spotted a familiar figure in the middle of the screen. It was Hal Spacejock, sitting in a chair, and there was a young woman tied up alongside him. Walsh's eyes narrowed as she recognised Meri Ryder. What the hell was she doing there?
Harriet switched the feed to full frame, and as the rest of the scene came into focus she drew in a sharp breath, instantly forgetting her jealousy. Olivia Backsight was holding a knife to Ryder's neck, and from the determined expression on her face, she was about to strike.
* * *
"Time's up, Spacejock." Olivia gestured with the blade. "She's going to die."
"Gran, wait!" Rodney stepped forward, taking Olivia's wrist just as she was about to strike. They struggled for a second or two, but he wa
s much stronger. "I said wait!"
"Release me this instant, you idiot boy."
"No, you can't do it. Not here."
"Why the hell not? You're not scared of blood, are you?"
Rodney snorted. "No, it's not that." He nodded towards the camera in the corner of the room, the red eye watching them balefully. "You don't want the deed recorded, do you?"
Olivia hesitated, then lowered the blade. "You're right. Smart thinking." Then she handed him the knife. "Take her into the corridor and cut her throat."
"Me?" Rodney looked pleased. "Really?"
At that moment Hal decided Rodney was going to die. He didn't know when or how, he just knew he'd make sure of it. "You sick bastard," he muttered.
"We don't have to kill her, you know," said Olivia matter-of-factly. "Just tell me where my asteroid went, and we'll let you both go."
"I told you a hundred times, I never switched your bloody asteroid!"
"Off you go, Rodney. Make it quick."
"No, please!" cried Meri, as she was hauled to her feet. "Hal, stop him. Don't let him do it, please!"
Hal struggled with his bonds as Rodney dragged Meri towards the exit, but they were too tight. Hal threatened, he pleaded, he swore vengeance, but nothing he said made any difference. Meri's heels clattered on the floor as she struggled to get free, but there was nothing she could do. Seconds later, she was dragged through the open door.
Hal fixed Olivia with a killer stare. "You'll die for this," he growled, his eyes bright.
"I very much doubt it."
There was a shriek from the hallway, followed by the thud of a falling body. Hal groaned, letting his chin drop to his chest, and his insides churned as he thought of the innocent young woman who'd been killed over nothing. Worse, her blood was on his hands, even though he didn't know why.
* * *
It took Harriet a couple of minutes to work out Hal's location, and she was just making her way along the corridor to the room where he was being held when she heard his despairing shouts. She stood with her back to the wall, hiding in the corridor, and heard Meri's panicky screams getting closer and closer as Rodney dragged the young woman towards the doorway.
