by Simon Haynes
Then, as the two of them appeared beside her, Harriet raised her gun and shot Rodney in the back. He toppled over and landed with a thud on the ground, and Walsh jammed her hand over Meri's mouth to shut her up. "I'm here to rescue you," she whispered urgently. "Nod if you understand."
Meri did so, and Walsh took her hand away. "Is he dead?" asked Meri, looking down at Rodney with sick fascination.
"No, just stunned."
"Good." Meri drew her foot back and kicked Rodney in the ribs, driving the point of her shoe in with a loud crack. "Live with that, you sadistic little prick."
Walsh risked a glance through the doorway, and saw Olivia pacing up and down in front of Hal. She was waving a broken cane, and as Harriet watched, the old woman slashed it across Hal's shoulders. "Tell me where my asteroid went!" she yelled, raising the cane for another blow. Walsh winced as the cane came down, but on the bright side it didn't look like Hal's life was in danger. Yet.
"Meri," whispered Harriet. "Can you find your way to the Volante?"
The other woman nodded. "I think so."
"Okay. I turned off security in the hangar, and the cargo hold was still open when I left. I need you to go aboard and find Clunk. I've got a feeling we're going to need his help."
"Go and fetch Clunk. Got it." Meri looked at her. "And you? What are you going to do?"
Harriet brandished her gun. "I'm going to rescue Hal."
* * *
Racked with pain and still reeling from Meri's death, Hal realised he was barely holding together. His wrists were raw from his struggles against the bonds, and his shoulders and legs stung from the caning. If he could only get free …
Olivia was panting as she brought the cane down again and again, but she was tiring quickly and each blow was weaker than the last. Then, she stopped.
"Who the hell … are you?" she demanded, between ragged breaths.
Hal was about to reply, then realised Olivia wasn't talking to him.
"I'm Peace Force Trainee Harriet Walsh," said a calm voice, "and you're under arrest."
Slowly, Hal raised his head, and the emotion almost choked him as he saw his beautiful, confident Harriet Walsh covering Olivia Backsight with her gun. Then he remembered Meri, and his head dropped again as he realised the rescue was too late.
"Hal, are you all right?"
"They killed Meri," said Hal, his voice a dry croak. "It was my fault."
"Hal, Meri's okay," said Harriet urgently. "I got there just in time."
Hal felt a powerful surge of relief, and he struggled to sit up. "But … Rodney?"
"Out cold. I'm guessing several broken ribs, too."
"That little prick is going to have more than a few broken bones when I've finished with him," growled Hal. "Quick, untie me. We have to get out of here before any more of these clowns turn up."
Harriet bent to obey, narrowly avoiding the chunk of rock which whistled past her head. Nearby, Olivia Backsight swore and reached for another missile. Harriet abandoned Hal and advanced on the old woman, gun at the ready. "Put your hands up."
"Or what?"
"Or I'll shoot you."
Olivia backed towards the asteroid, slowly raising her hands. Then, moving quickly despite her age, she darted behind it.
"Give me strength," muttered Walsh, and went to follow.
"Be careful," called Hal. "She's a tricky one."
Harriet stood with her back to the asteroid, her gun at shoulder height. She hadn't expected much of a threat from the old woman, but the stray piece of rock would have knocked half her brains out, and next time she might not be so lucky. Harriet realised she could have laid Olivia out with a stunner blast, only shooting an unarmed old lady didn't seem to fit the Peace Force credo.
Slowly, she moved around the bulk of the rock. As she did so, she felt a curious drag on her arm, as though someone had grabbed hold of her gun and was pulling it behind her back. She struggled against the force but it was too strong, and seconds later the weapon was stuck firmly to the rock, pinning her hand underneath. She tried to free it with both hands, but the force was too strong and she had no leverage. "Er, Hal?" she called.
"Yeah?"
"Is this rock magnetic or something?"
"Very."
"Crap," muttered Walsh. She looked up, and her heart skipped a beat as she saw Olivia just a pace or two away, the broken cane gripped in one hand. "Keep your distance," said Walsh, her voice steady. She raised her free hand to fend off the cane, but Olivia was too quick. In a flash, the splintered end was pressed to Harriet's neck, right over the jugular.
"Mr Spacejock?" said Olivia calmly.
"What is it?"
"Tell me where the original rock went. If not, Ms Walsh here is going to die."
Chapter 33
Clunk came online with a start, system warnings screaming in his ears. According to his logs he was underwater, and he sat up with a start, struggling to clear the deadly fluid from his vents.
"Oh good. I was hoping that would work."
Clunk shook his head, spraying droplets around the flight deck, then paused to take stock of the situation. Meri Ryder was standing over him with an empty jug in her hand, and it didn't take a detective to work out where she'd emptied the contents. "Are you insane?" demanded Clunk. "You threw water over me?"
"It works for humans," said Meri.
"I'm not human!"
"It worked, didn't it? Now get up. Hal needs your help."
Clunk stood up in a hurry. "What is it? What happened?" He looked closer at Meri. "You look very pale. Have you been crying?"
"There's no time to explain. You have to save Hal."
"And I will. Just tell me where he is."
"There's no —"
"Yes there is," said Clunk. "Speak as fast as you can."
Meri obeyed, running the words together as she filled Clunk in. When she was finished, she looked at him expectantly. "Well? Are you going to save him?"
"Of course." Clunk turned to the console. "Navcom, bring up a plan of the orbiter."
"There is no plan of the orbiter."
"I mean that mockup I created earlier."
"Complying."
A diagram appeared on the main screen, complete with a legend. Clunk indicated the hangar, then asked Meri to show him where Hal was. She examined the screen for a moment or two, then pointed.
"I see. Very interesting."
"You're not doing much rescuing," said Meri accusingly.
"Before one can fire the cannon, one must aim the cannon."
Meri looked hopeful. "You have a cannon?"
"It's a figure of speech," said Clunk, with an airy gesture. Then, ignoring Meri's urging, he spent several minutes studying the screen. "I think I see the answer."
"About time," snapped Meri. "What are you going to do? Flood the station with toxic gas? Hack those gun turrets to fire on the enemy? Cover yourself in weapons and storm the space station?"
"No, my plan is a little more direct. Please … will you take a seat?"
Meri looked at him like he was deranged. "That's your plan? We're leaving?"
"Take a seat this instant!" bellowed Clunk, his patience finally wearing out.
Meri sat down in a hurry, fastening her seatbelt without being asked.
Once she was ready, Clunk started the engines and casually pulled the throttles back to full reverse thrust. The Volante was firmly attached to the Orbiter, and the hull shook as the ship struggled to break free. Then, just when it seemed nothing would happen, the Volante's powerful engines overcame the resistance and the ship hurtled backwards … with the Orbiter's docking section still attached.
* * *
Hal closed his eyes, scarcely able to believe what was happening. When he opened them again, Harriet Walsh was walking towards him with the point of Olivia's cane pressed firmly against her neck. Olivia had Harriet's gun in her free hand, and Hal realised the old woman must have levered it free with the cane. Great, they were in twice as much troubl
e now. Then, just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, he heard footsteps. Dreading what he might see, Hal glanced towards the sound and groaned. It was Rodney Backsight, with blood on his lips and murder in his eyes.
As Rodney got closer he raised his hand, which was clutching the deadly knife. Hal realised this was the end, and he was still bracing himself for the touch of the blade when Olivia's voice rang out.
"Rodney, stop!"
Rodney ignored her, advancing on Hal with vengeance burning in his eyes.
"Rodney, nobody else knows where my asteroid is. You can kill him after he's told me."
Still Rodney kept coming, one hand clutched to his shattered ribs, the other holding the knife.
Olivia raised the gun. "Rodney, I swear I'll shoot you."
One step, another, and Rodney finally stopped. He was less than an arms length from Hal, the knife well within range, but while the fire still burned in his eyes, Olivia's hold over him was too strong. Slowly, he lowered the blade, until it was millimetres from Hal's knee. "One cut," said Rodney, his voice hoarse. "Let me do it, Gran."
"No. Not yet." Olivia gestured at Harriet. "Tie her up in the other chair. Quick, now."
Moments later, Harriet was secure.
"Now, Spacejock," said Olivia. "Let's start again. Unless you tell me where my asteroid went, Rodney is going to use his blade on this pretty young woman."
Hal shrugged. "So what? I never liked cops."
"Rodney, cut one of her fingers off."
"Wait," said Hal. "Remember the camera!"
"I'm glad there's a camera," hissed Rodney. "I'll keep the footage as a souvenir."
Hal gazed at the blade in Rodney's hand, staring at it in fascination. Slowly, it descended, getting closer and closer to Harriet's arm until he could see the blue light illuminating her skin. Then, in desperation, Hal threw himself forwards, straightening his legs and driving himself up with a massive thrust. His shoulder caught Rodney in the chest, knocking him backwards, and in that instant Olivia raised the gun and fired. Hal felt an immense blow on the side of his head, and he went down like a rag doll, still attached to the heavy chair. The floor came up to meet him, and as he lay there, fighting to remain conscious, he saw Olivia press the gun to the back of Harriet's neck. Even from this distance, Hal could see the red glow above the grip, indicating the weapon wasn't set to stun - it was set to kill.
Olivia's finger tightened on the trigger, and Hal screamed at her to stop, again and again. Or at least, he tried to, but his lungs were curiously empty and he couldn't draw breath. Time slowed, and Hal realised it was over. Harriet was about to die, he was already dying, and nothing was going to save them.
The world tilted crazily, floor and ceiling and walls all changing places, getting confused, and Hal realised he was on the point of passing out. A body flew past, arms outstretched, and with a shock he realised it was Olivia Backsight. She grabbed onto Rodney, and the pair of them danced a weird tango as the floor bucked and heaved beneath them. They moved one way, then the other, and then Hal saw something which made his blood run cold. Harriet's chair was on its back, angled away from him, her legs still and lifeless. Had … had Olivia shot her? Or had the chair fallen over in the upheaval?
Then Hal noticed something else. As the floor tilted this way and that, the big rock had started to move. It was rolling directly towards him, crushing stone chips underneath like so many empty skulls. The floor tilted again, altering the rock's course, and Hal now realised it was heading directly for Harriet. Just before it reached her, the floor angled the other way, and the rock described a neat loop before hurtling across the room in the opposite direction.
Ahead of it, still stumbling around in each others arms, were Rodney and Olivia Backsight. They barely had time for one terrified look at the oncoming boulder before the rock gathered them up and crushed them again the far wall, stretching the metal into a deep, concave dish.
Then, all was still.
* * *
Clunk studied the viewscreen, concern etched on his face. The Volante's powerful engines had torn the giant space station into half a dozen chunks, each of them now spinning away in a different direction. As a consequence, any reinforcements which Mr Spacejock might have faced were now safely trapped in the other sections, unable to reach him.
Clunk examined each piece of the station in turn, and he was relieved to see there weren't any leaks. The safety doors had sealed each section as expected, and now all he had to do was dock the ship and find Mr Spacejock.
* * *
Hal rolled onto his side, then got to his knees with the chair still attached. Slowly, inch by inch, struggling all the way, he crawled to Harriet's chair. As he got closer his heart hammered in his chest, and he dreaded what he might find. Knocked out … or dead?
Harriet's eyes were open, and there was a streak of blood on the side of her face. Hal gasped at the sight, his fists clenching in despair, and he was about to turn away when Harriet gave him a weak smile. "Hal Spacejock, you look a right mess."
Before he could free himself and untie her, hold her in his arms, or even tell her how much he loved her, Hal passed out.
Chapter 34
When Hal opened his eyes he discovered he was lying in a hospital bed. Clunk was sitting nearby, and when he realised Hal was awake his face creased into a warm smile. "Mr Spacejock! How are you feeling?"
"Not too bad," said Hal. The words came out as a croaky whisper, and he realised his throat hurt. Then he felt something else - a warm hand holding his own. He glanced round and saw Harriet Walsh sitting in a chair alongside his bed. Her eyes were closed and she was fast asleep.
"Is she okay?" he asked Clunk.
"Just tired," said the robot. "Tired, and worried."
Hal squeezed Harriet's hand, and she opened her eyes. For a minute they were unfocussed, and then she saw Hal and smiled. "Welcome back, deputy. How are you feeling?"
"He's lucky he was only shot in the head," said Clunk seriously.
Hal blinked. "Er … come again?"
"Olivia Backsight used Harriet's weapon, correct?"
Hal nodded, and immediately wished he hadn't.
"There you go, then. The safety mechanism saved you."
"It didn't save anything," said Hal with feeling. "I copped the full blast."
"Yes, but it was non-lethal. The weapon's sensors detected it was aiming at your skull, and automatically reduced the power to minimum."
"I'd hardly call that a safety mechanism."
"Would you rather get shot at full power?"
"Er, no. Definitely not."
"There you go, then." Clunk got up. "I saw a coffee machine down the hall. I'll leave you two in peace."
"Wait," said Hal. "Before you go …"
"Yes?"
"Tell me what happened to the diamonds. Was that the original rock or not?"
Clunk looked uncomfortable. "No, I lost that in an asteroid field."
"Seriously?"
"It broke free during emergency manoeuvres, and it wasn't possible to retrieve it. The Navcom and I located a substitute. It was a close match, except for the strong magnetic field."
"Fair enough." Hal gestured at the door. "Off you go, then. And don't do anything I wouldn't."
"That gives me quite a lot of latitude," remarked Clunk.
"How about you?" Hal asked Harriet, once the robot had left. "Are you all right?"
She nodded. "Just a few bumps and bruises."
"What happened after I passed out?"
"I had to wait hours for backup, and I didn't know if you were going to …" Harriet's voice tailed off. "I mean … you might have …"
"Hey, I pulled through," said Hal. "And you … they'll give you a medal for this, right?"
"A promotion, I think. They're not big on medals." Harriet swallowed. "Hal, I —"
"Getting promoted. That's what you always wanted, isn't it?"
"Well yes, but —"
"You'll be a captain before you
know it, and one day you'll be running the whole Peace Force."
"I think that's a long way off."
Hal smiled. "You've got your foot on the first rung."
"I-I'm not sure I want it any more. When you were shot I —"
There was a knock at the door, and Harriet frowned as Meri Ryder looked in.
"Hello, you!" said Meri brightly, giving Hal a beaming smile while completely ignoring Harriet. "How's my brave pilot doing?"
"He's doing fine," said Harriet. "Shouldn't you be off organising an art show or something?"
"Oh no, not me. I'm out of the art business for good."
"Really?" said Hal. "What are you planning next?"
"House removals." Meri hesitated. "I have a couple of jobs lined up already, if you're interested."
Hal smiled weakly. "I don't think the Volante's hold is big enough."
"No, silly. You move the contents, not the houses."
"Wouldn't it be cheaper to sell up and buy new gear?"
"Not at the executive end of the market. Antiques, valuables … there's good money to be made."
"I'll think about it."
"Good." Meri laid her hand on Hal's arm. "I'd really like to work with you again, Hal. We make a great team."
Hal smiled at her, and she kissed him on the cheek before leaving. Then Hal caught the expression on Harriet's face, and he gave her an apologetic grin. "She's just being friendly."
"So I noticed," said Harriet shortly.
Hal squeezed her hand. "It's you I care about. You know that."
Harriet looked down at him, and he could see the conflict in her eyes. In that instant Hal knew she would return to the Volante if he asked her to, and she would travel the galaxy with him once more. But give it six months, a year tops, and she'd hate him for luring her away. Harriet's heart, and her future, lay with the Peace Force.
"This doesn't have to be goodbye," she said, in a low voice.
"Of course not. We'll meet again, and you'll have plenty more chances to arrest me."
"If I earn myself a couple of promotions I'll be able to score a desk job, and then I can start thinking about a family."
