by Cheri Lasota
She glanced sideways at him. “Time enough for that later, I should imagine...”
He wiped a hand down his face, and tried to think of anything else. “If the wait doesn’t kill me, you mean.”
With a wide grin, she tilted her head toward the slider. “Speaking of that, shall we check to see if lover-boy has worked his magic as yet?”
He groaned but leaned over until he could see through the lab window. Tavian was pulling Reina into a maintenance closet, his mouth locked with hers, and his hands firmly gripping her ample hips. With a faint click, the slider closed behind them.
“We’re clear.” Solomon pulled Dextra toward the slider, desperately wishing he could grab something untoward on her but refraining while in his official capacity as savior of the SS Challenge. It was a rough life.
Solomon glanced at the slider down the passageway. “Let’s quickly stop into Compartment 7F. We’ll be able to pick up some protein bars before heading on to the Astro Lab.”
“Sounds good to me,” Dextra murmured. “I’m starving after that fight in the Olympia vivarium.”
“Tavian was right. You are impressive,” Solomon said, and he meant it. She smiled at him as he typed in the override code for the compartment. As the slider opened, five stern-faced Janus Security Corporation employees in standard grey uniforms greeted him. Not only that, but he spotted two Janus Corp guards unconscious or dead on the floor and a third tied up and gagged.
Solomon’s mind raced with possible outcomes to this situation as they all stared openly at him with suspicion. He had no idea if they were loyal to Challenge Command or had their own agenda.
He thought it best not to make a scene by bolting down the passageway with Dextra in tow, but neither did he step into the compartment.
“The infamous Chief Solomon Reach, I presume?” said a black-haired woman who seemed vaguely familiar. Then she trained her piercing, exotic eyes toward Dextra. “Hmm... and the daughter of XO Justice, I imagine.”
Solomon waited. The JCorpers had them outnumbered. By the look of their stun guns and Lewies, they were outgunned too.
Janus himself, who Solomon always thought looked a bit like an older Kasen Vokos due to his Greek ancestry, pushed forward, cane in hand. “Reach, you’re just the man we wanted to see, actually.” He’d met Janus many times already, usually via holographic videoconferencing or occasionally in person.
The woman frowned at Janus, but eventually the crease in her forehead eased. She put two hands on the back of a nearby chair. “Have a seat, Chief and... Dextra, isn’t it?”
“I have no time for a chat,” Solomon said. “What do you want?”
“Let’s put it this way,” Janus said, his smile maddeningly enigmatic, “we may be in a position to be mutually beneficial to each other.”
Solomon glanced at the others’ faces. One was a man wearing spectacles, and his dark coloring made Solomon think he was some kind of islander. Perhaps the Caribbean or thereabouts? Behind him stood a man Solomon already knew: the SS Challenge’s Contract Manager, Marcel LeClerc, a Frenchman with a thin aristocratic nose, Old World Charm oozing out of every pore, and an agenda that usually didn’t coincide with anyone else’s. He’d be curious to know how this guy would view Challenge Command’s betrayal of the Reachers. Would he find it beneficial to his own end game or a detriment?
Lastly, a woman stood apart from the others. Her short blonde hair and pale Scandinavian coloring made her stand out from the others. Or perhaps it was her ice-cold expression and thin-pressed lips. Whatever it was, more than anyone else, Solomon knew instinctively she was not to be underestimated.
Realizing he had little choice but to see where this would lead, Solomon finally stepped into the compartment. He couldn’t bloody well stand out in the corridor all day in any case.
“Beneficial? And how’s that, Janus?” Solomon asked, when he and Dextra made it in and he closed the slider behind her.
Finally LeClerc waved them over to the table. “Have a seat, Solomon. We have much to discuss.” He pulled a chair out for Dextra. “I am called Marcel LeClerc. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Dextra sat at the proffered chair while LeClerc sat next to her and took up her hand. “Enchanté, mademoiselle.”
As each member of the JCorp crew sat, they introduced themselves in turn.
“Peter Cobb here,” said the man with glasses, his Jamaican accent pleasing to hear. “Do mostly IT but starting to expand.”
“Katya Ulyanov.” The blonde woman’s voice was sharp with impatience.
“And I’m Angel Flores.” The dark-haired woman with stunning Asian-Hispanic features sat back in her chair and steepled her fingers as she studied Solomon.
“And they are?” Solomon asked, pointing to the various bodies on the ground.
“Not important.” Janus’s voice was gruff as he waved a hand at them dismissively. “Founder loyalists.”
Solomon couldn’t hide his surprise, but in his mind, this was the evidence he needed to be able to trust these people.
“Not all Founders are corrupt,” Dextra said, glaring at Janus.
“That remains to be seen,” Janus replied, his tone gruff. “The deal is simple, Solomon: we need your override codes so we can move freely about the ship and release some of our crewmen who are trapped in various locations due to the lockdown.”
“I see.” Solomon thought through that enlightening information. Could they be Founder loyalists as well? Were they attempting to acquire the access codes for some other nefarious purpose? “Why do you need further access? What is your end game?”
A flash of anger crossed Angel’s face. “We have recently learned some of our crew are to be kicked off the ship along with large numbers of your crew. We assume you are aware of this.”
Solomon nodded. So it wasn’t just Reachers that Challenge Command was planning to oust.
“We find this...”
“...Unacceptable,” Janus finished.
“So you are aware, then, of Challenge Command’s betrayal,” Solomon said, taking this as confirmation Janus Corp was more or less on his side.
Janus nodded. “Our goal is to protect our valuable assets.”
“And what about the Reach Corp crew? Where do they fit into your agenda?”
“We are no fools.” Angel leaned forward and laid her hands flat on the table. “We know the Reachers are irreplaceable on this ship and as future citizens of New Eden. We want you to remain on-board. We’ll need your intelligence and expertise in the months ahead.”
“Well, that’s the first I’ve ever heard anyone utter those words,” Solomon said.
“Challenge Command has gone too far, and we aim to level the playing field before they really get out of hand.”
Solomon mulled that over and locked eyes with Angel. “So we agree on what exactly?”
“Give us unfettered ship access, and we’ll protect your crew.”
“And what exactly will you do with this access?”
“We want to free up several key players in our organization—some of which are just now prepping for cryo sleep—so we can begin readying for any eventuality.”
Solomon raised an eyebrow.
“Any eventuality?” Dextra asked.
“Ms. Justice,” LeClerc said with a patient smile, “with three thousand people waiting in the wings to take over the Reacher spots, we may not be able to put an end to this without a fight.”
“That’s not acceptable,” Dextra countered. “We have obligations and procedures—”
“All of which Challenge Command has flatly ignored,” Solomon finished.
Dextra glared at him.
“You’ve seen it with your own eyes,” he said gently, willing her to understand sometimes you had to fight fire with fire, as much as he detested the idea. He was no warrior. He had no interest in fighting. And yet, how many times had Challenge Command pursued him? How many times was he forced to defend himself and his crew?
Solomon looked at each
of the Janus Security Corporation crew members in turn, and then he settled his gaze on Angel: “I accept your offer with three caveats.”
“And those are?” Angel asked, suspicion lacing her voice.
“I request that one of your JCorp guards accompany me to the Astro Lab.”
“For what purpose?”
“Protection.”
Angel paused, considering. “Done. The second?”
“Several of my crew are down in the Engineering Sector guarding...” He hesitated. Should he tell them he’d tied up Mads in the Cav Room? They’d eventually find out, and it’d probably be better if they heard it from him.
“Yes?” Angel prompted.
“The Cav Drive and... Director Graversen.”
Angel crossed her legs. “How do you mean?”
“Graversen and I aren’t exactly seeing eye to eye currently. He has been... neutralized.”
“Dead?”
“No, just tied up and pissed off.” Smiles crossed the faces of everyone in the room. It seemed no one was a particular friend of Solomon’s old mentor. His own admiration was fading fast. “The Cav Drive is a critical element needing protection. While we control it, we control when we leave this godforsaken solar system.”
“We had already planned to place security in the Engineering Sector for that exact reason,” Angel assured him. “What is your last requirement?”
“I want you to send someone down to the Shuttle Sector to ensure Shuttle Bay 2 is operational with the bay hatch open.”
The JCorpers glanced at each other, but did not immediately agree. Solomon crossed his arms and waited.
“Why?” Janus asked.
“It’s best I don’t reveal the details of my plan. What I can tell you is my end game: the SS Challenge will be launching within a couple of hours. Ready your crew and ensure all are safely aboard as soon as possible.”
Murmurs among the JCorpers erupted.
Cobb shook his head. “That’s not enough time. We have too many—”
“This is non-negotiable,” Solomon interrupted. “It’s the only way I can guarantee the Reachers’ safety and avoid a bloodbath.”
Janus and Angel whispered to each other, their gazes serious.
“I think we need to be aware of your movements for a variety of security reasons,” Janus finally countered.
“It’s not up for debate.”
Janus didn’t nod his acquiescence, but he also didn’t push further for information. Angel whispered once more in his ear.
He glanced up at Solomon. “All right. We have a deal.”
“Also, it’s best only one of you holds the codes, and that individual should keep them in a heavily encrypted file. Agreed?”
Angel nodded. “I’ll keep them.”
“Fine. I will need to input them manually. I don’t trust file transfer.” Solomon stood and walked toward Angel. Peter gave up his seat so Solomon could sit next to her. She keyed through several screens on her DOT unit, and Solomon made sure she opened up an encrypted file. Afterward, she held out her arm toward him, and he began to input the codes along with their corresponding compartment numbers.
“Ensure you include the code for the cryo chamber,” she added.
“Done.” Solomon pulled back and released her arm.
“Where are your Reachers now?” Janus asked.
“You’ll find the majority of them on Watch Deck 16. Please take precaution and don’t attempt to engage with Challenge Command or their cronies for as long as possible. I’d like us all to get out of this without any blood being spilled.”
“That’s our preference as well,” LeClerc assured him. “We’ll station guards around them inconspicuously to alleviate suspicion. The original launch time table set forth by Challenge Command is still days away, yes?”
“I overheard the board say that they would need to push up their time table by half a day. But they still have to take the time to switch out the crews, so that gives us some time.”
“Let’s get to it,” Angel said.
Everyone began to rise from the table.
Solomon shook LeClerc’s hand. “Thank you. What have you heard about what’s happening elsewhere on the ship or even on the ground.”
“Nothing good. Sporadic fights between Reachers and Founders are erupting ship-wide. The news is spreading about you. Challenge Command has been trying to track your whereabouts—we heard the chatter on the security feeds—but it’s a lot of video footage to look at. You’ve been busy.”
“And Earth?” Solomon almost didn’t want to know.
“Wild reports of even more nukes dropping, but I don’t know how accurate those are. And the Solix Sky LiftPort has been overrun with all the panicked people who were tipped off about the SS Challenge’s final flight.”
“Damn it.”
“The Paradisi Penitence, no?”
“I’ll have to wait to entertain those thoughts when this is all over—one way or another. We all have a job to do today, so we better get to it.”
“Katya, brief Lance Barrow on his new assignment,” Angel said. “Tell him he’s on protection detail for Chief Reach until we contact him further or when he releases him from duty.”
Katya nodded once and sent off a message via her DOT. She glanced up at Solomon. “Chief Reach, wait here for Barrow.”
LeClerc pulled Solomon aside as they waited. “How in the hell are you going to get this ship launched under the noses of Challenge Command?”
“As I said, that information is need to know. Let’s just say, you probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
LeClerc stroked his chin and leaned his head back slightly. “You never fail to surprise me, Chief. One of these days, I’m going to buy you a drink and weasel all your secrets out of you.”
“Secrets? Oh, no, LeClerc, I’m merely an engineer. We don’t generally do secrets. Today is rather... unusual.”
“Regardless, I’m impressed you’ve made it thus far unscathed.”
“Not quite.” Solomon held up his bandaged hand, which had quite recently had a scalpel stuck through it by an angry ship’s commander.
“Commander Edge?” LeClerc questioned.
“Indeed.”
“That man has an insatiable thirst for blood... I told them from the beginning. He has no business being aboard this ship.”
Solomon’s smile was grim. “I couldn’t agree more.”
“Barrow, how many technicians do you see through the window there?” Solomon crouched with Dextra and Corporal Lance Barrow behind a supply cabinet in the Astro Lab outside the control room for the airlock hatch.
“Two. One is monitoring Zander via the camera feeds trained on the nanosilc deployment panels, and the other tech is standing with her back to us inputting data at the wall screen, it looks like.”
“Can you see if either of them have their eyes on the inner airlock hatch?”
“Nope, I think we’re all clear in that direction—wait...” Barrow’s eyebrows furrowed into a wide swath of black on his low forehead.
“What is it?” Dextra asked, alarm flickering in her eyes.
“Dammit,” Barrow muttered, smacking the counter with the flat of his palm. “I see a guy inside the suit up compartment prepping to EVA.”
“Not good,” Solomon said. “He must be going out to assist the Marcks kid.” He locked eyes with Barrow after the guard crouched down next to them again. “Can you neutralize the two techs if I focus on the guy suiting up?”
“Yes, no problem.”
“You’ll have to force them to open the outer airlock hatch for me when I give the signal while keeping them away from any communications devices where they could get word to Challenge Command. Doable?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And me?” Dextra asked Solomon, the look in her eyes quite obviously a desire to be useful.
“Come with me. We may need to have you distract this guy.” Solomon winked, and Dextra responded with a scowling smile, whi
ch somehow made her even more gorgeous than usual.
He led Dextra over toward the compartment adjoining the airlock. Scanning the control panel next to the slider, he realized the man had yet to flush the room of oxygen. He hadn’t even donned his compression suit yet.
“There’s still time,” Solomon whispered to Dextra. “If you wave him over here, I can wait by the slider. When he comes out, I’ll grab him.”
“I’ve got a better idea. Instead of resorting to violence every chance you get, why don’t I tell him he’s needed urgently in the lab command module. Then Barrow can lock all three of them in there.”
Solomon opened his mouth to respond, paused, and then flashed her a grin. “Because that would make far too much sense.”
Dextra laughed softly. “I’ve got this. You stay out of sight.”
With a smile, Solomon shuffled off to the back of the compartment behind a row of shelving. Once hidden, he gave her the thumbs-up, and she moved to stand in front of the glass slider. With a wave of her hand, she got the man’s attention. She motioned for him to approach, and the slider abruptly whirred open.
“Is there a problem?” The man’s tone was gruff and low.
Dextra plastered a smile on her face. “We have a situation in the lab command module. You’re needed in there.”
“Are the comms down?”
“No, they are just busy in there. I know you’re getting ready for an EVA, but they indicated this was critical.”
The man grumbled, but strode through the slider and made his way toward the lab command module.
Solomon hoped Barrow would be able to handle him but didn’t stop to worry about it. He jumped up and ran over to the slider leading toward the lab command module. With a quick scan of the slider’s keypad, he keyed in an override code to lock it down.
“That should buy us some time.”
“Think Barrow can handle all three of them?” Dextra asked.
“I hope so. Wait, I’ve got to message Vida and let her know we’re a go.” He pulled up Daniela Marcks’s info in his contact list and shot off a quick message to Vida, who he hoped was still holding the docking commander in Conference Compartment 4C.
