Saanvi said, “Let it play out, Spruck.”
He and Natalie scrambled up the ladder following them, feeling the faux gravity fade until they were floating with the three in front of them.
The bots pushed Saanvi through the prep room and out into the airlock.
“STOP!” screamed Natalie.
The airlock door slammed shut. The seals hissed tight. Saanvi looked back through the portal window. Natalie reached out to grab Killer’s hand, but too late. He pushed the purge button and Saanvi was sucked out into space.
Spruck and Natalie screamed in rage together and tried to attack the bots.
Jada’s voice came over through their ears again. “Fail!”
The airlock prep room became the test room again. The three were still alone, still wearing their gear. It had been a ruse. As the lights came up, they were gently lowered to the floor. They removed their headgear, all of them feeling the material, touching themselves, trying to be certain that this was real.
Saanvi let her breath go and held out her hands. They were shaking. Natalie pulled her into a hug and Spruck joined, sandwiching her.
The door opened. Klaus stood there alone. “The captain wishes for your presence in the mess.”
Spruck said, “Finally, some food.”
As they stepped through the door the ship shook, and the dull sound of an explosion echoed down the hallway. Klaus looked around trying to zero in on the source of the blast. Red lights began to flash.
A robotic voice said, “Battle Stations. Battle Stations.”
Spruck crossed his arms. “Seriously?” He tugged at his clothes to remove the rest of the virtual reality garment.
Another explosion, this time knocking panels off the ceiling and causing electrical shorts. The three humans and the robot stumbled.
Klaus turned to them. “My battle station is to repel boarders at the aft airlock. You will join me.”
Saanvi and Natalie looked skeptical but followed the robot toward the ladder. Spruck held his ground. “Nope. I call bullshit!” He crossed his arms again. “Not going.”
An electrical short from a light above showered him with sparks, some of which were hot. Spruck patted his hair. “OK, OK, following.”
When they got to the prep room, there were armored humans already on the other side of the door inside the airlock. Their helmets bore the insignia of the Soul Police Dept. They were using some kind of cutting torch to get through.
Klaus punched a code into a locker, popping it open to reveal emergency breathers and a line of lance-like fending shockers. He passed out the breathers, then one each of the lances to the three humans. The pirates, Boyce and Jyme, floated in, took in the situation, and grabbed breathers and lances for themselves.
Jyme yelled, “Hold on to something. Air’s gonna blast out of here.”
There was already some wind blowing as the ship’s atmosphere shot through the molten slice in the inner door. Behind them, the ladder hatch automatically sealed itself, locking them in with the intruders.
Spruck looked at Natalie holding the lance. The device was basically a long cattle prod that could deliver a deadly jolt of electricity. Natalie shrugged at Spruck, glanced at Boyce and Jyme, then Klaus. A look at Saanvi found the doctor holding the lance and testing the trigger. When active, an LED light glowed on the handle, indicating deadly voltage at the tip. She looked at the pirates, turned her lance toward them, and—
Jada looked down at the three prisoners laying comfortably in the long-haul suspended animation units. Their faces gave no indication of the perilous stakes that their minds were experiencing. None knew that all of their exploits for the past 24 hours were manufactured in virtual reality. Upon their capture, they’d been drugged while still on The Belle and transported to and isolated in these chambers. They had no clue that they’d ever left their ship.
Schafer stood next to Jada. Her new body guard/man servant T892, stood a few paces back over her shoulder.
Jada sighed. “I were seriously hopin' the doc here be a joiner. Always needin’ medical pros.”
Schafer said, “Hm. Shame.” He reached for a button that appeared to be an aftermarket attachment on Saanvi’s hyperpod and looked at Jada with a question mark. The button was emblazoned with a skull and crossbones.
Jada held his arm. “Wait. There be a few more games we can play. We ain’t hurt one her crew yet.”
“OK. Do that while they’re under, or out here in real life?”
“Let’s see this one play out.” She looked up at the screen, which like a movie, showed the police assault and the defenders. Boyce was floating out cold or dead. Jyme had turned his lance on Saanvi, but hadn’t touched her with it. The police were almost through the door. Spruck and Natalie mumbled something to each other.
Jada spoke in clear English to the monitor. “Pause. Rewind five-seconds and increase volume on subjects one and two.”
The image jumped back to just before the mumble. Spruck could be heard saying, “Issabullshit test. Fight the cops.”
Natalie said, “That’s easy.”
The door slid open. As the remaining gas in the room shot out everyone struggled not to get blown into space. Spruck held onto a handle while jamming his lance at an incoming cop.
While the battle continued, Jada said, “Lower volume.” Then to T892, “What you make o that?”
T said, “Even if they do not realize that it is a virtual experience, they suspect that this is not real. I would venture that they think the police are actors.”
“No, I be meanin' they’s actions. What you makin’ o them?”
Schafer turned and looked at the bot, as curious about its answer as Jada.
T892 smiled in a weird robotic way. “To be clear, I am not a subject of your test. You already have my absolute loyalty.” He pointed at the screen. “The doctor is in conflict. Even guessing that this is a test, she finds it difficult to separate her desire for freedom from playing along. The other two can be manipulated into becoming team players. It is my supposition that a reward based system of training will achieve for you two new crew members. As long as they cooperate, the doctor will as well. It need not be stated, but I will for emphasis, that if they breach their contract, you will put them outside.”
Jada said, “So you wouldn’t be killin’ the doctor?”
“Killing the doctor will result in a loss of trust with the other two. They will no longer be manipulatable. Instead, you will have to watch your back.” The robot paused. “Making my job more complex.”
Jada shoved Schafer’s shoulder. “Huh? What I say? Smart guy, this one.”
Schafer offered a nod of acknowledgement.
Jada said, “OK. Wake ‘em up.”
THE FLOATING ISLAND
SCHAFER OBSERVED THE pleasure bots, Silvio and Candy helping the three new recruits out of the hyperpods and over to lounge-like recovery chairs. The Caucasian male human was muttering curses, only to be outdone by the woman of African descent. The Indian doctor raised her head and made eye contact with him. Schafer kept his face neutral.
Saanvi smelled the air and said, “This is real.”
Schafer nodded. “Yes.”
The domestic robot, Pat487 entered the room pushing a cart with three bowls of sorbet and three buckets. She handed each of the three a bowl, followed by a spoon.
Schafer said, “Though you haven’t been asleep for long, we find that it still requires a bit of recovery time to come out of a pod. Lemon sorbet, believe it or not, seems to stimulate the senses in a very effective way, decreasing the wait for you to come fully back online, to use an old euphemism.”
Spruck scowled and ate a spoonful. His demeanor instantly got brighter. “Real lemon?”
“Don’t be stupid.”
Spruck forced himself to bring back the scowl. He ate a few more bites, then swallowed hard, looking around with concern.
Pat487 was ready with a bucket and held it under his chin as he vomited.
Schafer cringed. “Also a common side-effect.”
Saanvi glanced away from Spruck and set her sorbet aside. “What about our other friends? The other ship?”
“Already asked and answered while you were in virtual reality.”
Natalie said, “Honey, you haven’t answered shit in this reality. Why are you doing this to us?”
Schafer folded his hands behind his back and stood straighter. “To repeat, it’s a standard procedure for us.”
“Standard?” asked Saanvi.
“To determine the suitability of captives for conversion. Your ship was the prize. The question then becomes, what to do with its occupants. We have found that killing people who are in the way, is… both wasteful and potentially leaves more questions that need following. It is our experience that captives almost universally prefer another chance. We offer them, in this case you, the opportunity to become productive members of the team. The bargain is simple; you join up with a smile on your face, don’t make trouble, and a potentially better life than the one you were living becomes available to you. Yes, it requires being a freebooter, but at least two of you strike us as the types who might be up for such an occupation. You, doctor, are an exception. You fall outside the range of personality we generally find supportive. Nevertheless, we presume that you are supportive of your friends. The alternative is also straightforward, and simply requires that you step outside.” He paused to look each in the eyes. “Vomiting aside, the sorbet helps doesn’t it? Now, Silvio and Candy here, will see to you getting back on your feet, and servicing any other needs.”
Spruck looked at Candy with interest.
Candy shot Schafer a look but said nothing. She turned back to Spruck and whispered, “Put it back in your pants.”
Spruck was startled. He didn’t realize he’d been so obvious. He was equally startled that his mind had even entertained the idea.
Schafer felt a small jolt of pleasure in the robot’s irritation and continued, “Once your stomachs are up for it, this domestic, Pat487, will feed you some additional sustenance. I encourage you to drink plenty of water.” He turned for the door. “We are closing in on home and will be docking in a little more than an hour. When you feel refreshed, I invite you to come to the conning deck and observe our final approach. I assure you it will be worth it.”
Like all celestial bodies too small to be made round by the massing effect of gravity, the asteroid known as The Island, was the shape of an almost round spud. It was unremarkable as rocks go. Like its brethren, its surface was congenitally irregular and pockmarked from collisions with smaller bodies. Iron dense and grayish black, it would be un-notable but for one thing; like a rolling boulder appearing in an archeological adventure movie, The Island was turning like relentless clockwork while being propelled by a man-made device. An observer of this oncoming rock would be hard pressed not to want to turn and rocket away. On its back side was the engine of this elegant movement; a propulsion device that was minuscule in proportion to its charge. Like a fruit fly with its tiny beating wings pushing a balloon through the sky, the drive unit was compact but powerful and relied on electromagnetics. A track, which wrapped the roundest circumference of the rock, allowed for a rocket to hover over it like a levitating bullet train. The drive unit floating above the magnetized track had a repelling force, causing the asteroid to spin away from it at a constant speed. Simultaneously, the engine kept itself close enough that it not only applied this force but also pushed the big rock forward.
Like many a smaller moon relying on the Corey Effect, the spinning asteroid was mined out along the same path as the track, creating a living space beneath the surface. As the asteroid spun, centrifugal force made it so the passengers could walk on what, in a cutaway, would look like the ceiling. From their perspective, walking inside, everything was right side up. The asteroid was also mined out from side to side, creating a vast landing zone in the center. Ships would fly in one end and out the other.
Three-thousand kilometers away on the Innocent, Jada scanned the distant space in front of her ship, trying to spot the station. It was a game she played with herself each time they came home. There were plenty of ways to spot it using the radio spectrum or infrared, but she liked to test her eyes. The Island was mostly black to the naked eye, the narrow maglev track being the only object that reflected much light. The trick was to look at the stars and wait for one or two to wink out of sight as the rock passed in front.
“There!” she said to Chico, pointing with the excitement of a young girl.
The helmsman had his ship locked onto the object and had long before communicated his approach to gain a landing clearance. “As always, boss, eyes of an eagle.”
Jada smiled in a coquettish way, “You know I be lovin' it when you suck up, Cheeks.”
“Yes, Cap’n.”
Schafer entered and point out the window. “There it is.”
Jada frowned at him spotting it so quickly. “What up with the fresh meat?”
“They’re getting adjusted.” He jerked his thumb at T892 who stood in the back. “Despite what your new sage says, I think we should space the doc before we land. She’s just going to be trouble. Pablo’s not going to want to bother with her. The other two fit the profile and will be easy to persuade either way.”
“I ain’t spacin' the doc. Pablo’d be just as pissed about that. Least not ’til he get to decide his self. Think of her as a gift. A doctor, great, a troublemaker he can be fuckin' with, great. Win win.”
Schafer shrugged. “You’re the boss.”
“Exactly right.”
As Chico lined up the approach to the landing tunnel, the ship locked onto a series of invisible guiding beacons and rotated to match the spin of The Island.
Jada turned away. “Ugh, this part always be makin’ me feel sick.”
The door opened to reveal Boyce and Jyme escorting Spruck, Natalie and Saanvi.
Jada said, “Ah, the new recruits.” She pointed at Spruck. “Yo be the pilot of our new ship?”
Spruck blinked. “Uh, if you mean the Princess Belle, then yes.”
“Perfect. Yo and me, we’s gonna have fun.”
Spruck kept Jada in his peripheral vision as he buckled into his pilot’s chair in The Belle.
She looked around the cockpit. “Kinda mid-last century. Yo build this rod yoself?”
“I won it in a wager, but I’ve done most of the upgrades. So what exactly are we doing?”
She patted the armrest. “Putting this here ugly bitch to the test.”
Spruck closed his eyes and silently apologized to his ship for the insult. “How’s that?”
“Yo is gonna fly in the dock, then out without gettin' noticed.”
Spruck turned to look at her full on. “I’m what?”
“Yo is gonna go all stealth and shit and fly our asses through that hole in the rock. Go in one side, out the other.”
Spruck frowned in consternation. “What kind of defenses are we talking about? Do they know we’re coming?”
“Enough to be blowin' a squadron of ships apart in seconds, and no.”
“OK. What kind of detectors have they got?”
“Yo know, never thought about it. Guess we find out.”
Spruck looked out the windshield at the asteroid. The Belle was docked on the bottom of The Innocent, and as such was spinning at the same rate as the rock so that the hole they’d be aiming for appeared to be stationary. The entrance bristled with defensive weapons. “Um, don’t take this expression the wrong way, Captain, but that’s nuts.”
“Listen, Shaggy, first of all, that ain’t an expression. Second, if we hadn’t gotten the drop on yo by hittin' this thing with a tracker jammer before it all be disapearin', yo wouldn’t be sitting here right now. My ship didn’t have squat on yo when you be goin' dark. Tracker jammer done the work.” She pointed to The Innocent above. “She got nearly everything The Island got. Plus, I knew I be lookin' fo you. They don’t.”
“Nearl
y?”
“Nearly. This here be called proof of concept. Best way.”
“Seems a bit dramatic if you ask me.”
“I didn'. Now do as I say.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Don’t ma’am me.” She waved her hand over her figure. “This look like a ma’am to yo?”
“No, Captain. You’re very, uh, young looking, Ma’…Captain.”
“Put yo helmet on and fly, dipshit. And don’t be detachin’ fore you do yo disappearin’ act.”
Spruck slipped the helmet over his head.
Jada said, “Don’t need to be said what be happenin’ if you fuck up.”
Spruck wanted to point out that she’d more or less said it, and he also wanted to ask her if she liked to play Russian Roulette—since this was what that basically was—but he kept his mouth shut. With the flight helmet on, he thought about shifting the ship into stealth mode.
Outside the Innocent, the parasite on its belly mostly disappeared. The Belle’s cloaking system visually mimicked its surroundings. In this case, the top of the ship came to look like the belly of its host. Not until it broke away from the dock and dropped several meters did it match the absence of light that was the majority of space.
Spruck said, “So we can’t be dark the whole time. To maneuver, I’ve got to open the engine cowls a few times.”
“Meanin'?”
“I’m only truly stealthy when I’m silent and coasting. Like those old submarine movies.”
“What old submarine movies?”
Spruck tried to think up another analogy, but couldn’t. “Just that we will pop up on a few different kinds of sensors a few times. With your own ship coming in for a landing, we probably won’t be noticed.”
The Belle’s engine cowling hinged open briefly. The engines fired and the blurry black ship lurched forward, fully disappearing as it pulled away from the Innocent’s belly.
Pirates of Saturn (The Saturn Series Book 2) Page 15
