Approaching Oblivion (Jezebel's Ladder Book 4)

by Scott Rhine

  “We don’t want the oranges to freeze tonight. It’s going to be close,” said Yvette.

  “Why you?” asked Yuki.

  Yvette rolled her eyes. “One of our ‘geniuses’ got the idea to pick up one of these red-hot metal bowls after it was lit. He might have been okay until his coat sleeve caught fire. After I treated the minor blisters on his hands, I got to take his place on the work crew. Auckland is with the big galoot now, picking fused nylon off his forearm so he can dress that burn.”

  “Herk? That’s terrible.”

  “I’ve seen worse. We once had a surgeon who thought picking up his mover to trim the hedge was a good idea. Oops, they need me. Later.”

  Park followed close at Yuki’s right side in case he needed to grab her remaining arm and prevent a fall. White particles tumbled in the sky but never seemed to touch the ground, making the habitat a giant, low-gravity snow globe. The thumb-sized flakes fell only on the mountain as they approached, reminding her of a carpet of cherry blossoms. The beauty of the moment threatened to overwhelm her.

  When they reached the Hollow, Park opened the gate for her and bowed her through. Mercy met them at the gate, obviously with child and beaming to see her friend. Mercy was wrapped in a blanket and had handmade mittens. Below the bundling, her belly extended as far as her breasts. Her cheeks were pink and healthy as she said, “Careful, the walls have ears.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Yuki spotted a void in the snowfall. At first, she couldn’t believe it, but the empty space in the swirling flakes moved along with them. The hole was triangular and roughly a meter tall. Was Mercy referring to this ghost? “Pardon?” Yuki asked, shaken.

  “Nadia’s house is over there. She’s probably peeking through the blinds at you right now.”

  “Of course,” Yuki said with a nervous laugh. She didn’t dare let their ghost know it was visible. How was it staying hidden? She guessed the same Magi technology that cloaked Sanctuary from the outside and that the Chinese used for their stealth armor. That would explain where Mercy’s theoretical agricultural robots had disappeared to—they were still here, watching the experiment invisibly. What was the Magi’s final quote? ‘The hand of the uplifter must not be seen.’

  Who could she tell? Most of the planners thought Yvette was imbalanced for suggesting that the Magi were evil. She would need hard evidence first. To do that, she’d need to get her chronometer back from Mercy, the one with the spy gadgets. Licking her lips, Yuki tried a small lie. “I gave my contact lens to Z, and someone turned off my alarm this morning to keep me in bed.”

  When Park closed the gate behind her and dashed to catch up, Mercy said, “He’s so attentive and smiling all the time. What have you done to that man?”

  Chuckling evilly, she said, “What haven’t I done to that man? Speaking of which, do you have any spare thin fabric I can borrow for a few days? I’m trying to make a gladiator costume.”

  “Oh, are you reading Z’s copy of Ben Hur out loud?”

  Park made his amused thinking gesture, and Yuki replied with an exaggerated, “Yes, that’s it.” A moment later, she asked suspiciously, “Um . . . I know Lou will be at the meeting as the project sponsor. Why are you braving the cold?”

  “They use my voice in the translation interface—Lou likes to hear it. Data entry is tedious, but it gives me a chance to earn allotment as well as spend time with him.” Once in the comparative warmth of the caves, Park and Sojiro went ahead to hang the coats. Mercy said, “Come to our room, and I’ll get the wristwatch for you.”

  Once they were in the neat bedroom, Mercy whispered, “This is the longest you’ve ever been with a guy. I’m glad you two are happy.”

  The comment startled Yuki because it was true in every respect. Both the longevity and the bliss had crept up on her unawares. For the first time since graduating college, she was truly happy. Damn that Lou, he was right. Every lot has enough good in it. Although, she was sure everyone had been betting against her, with the exception of Mercy. “Thank you.”

  When they returned to the lab, candles decorated the walls. Yuki asked, “Are we conserving power?”

  Sojiro, Mercy, and Lou shouted, “Surprise!”

  There was a sad, lopsided cake and a wooden breadbox wrapped with a piece of red ribbon.

  “Happy birthday,” said Park from behind her.

  Half-hugging each of her friends in turn, Yuki said, “How did you know? Even I forgot the date after I took out my chronometer contact.”

  Park said, “Important dates are remembered.”

  Mercy raised her eyebrows in silent approval.

  “Risa made the box for me,” Sojiro said rapidly. “I traded her a couple framed sketches of Herk. Open it up. I want to see if you like the lining.”

  “Okay,” Yuki said, pulling the ribbon off, and placing it carefully in her pocket. That would be useful in thanking Park later. Perhaps she would tie it in her hair. When she flipped open the box, her breath caught. The interior held a burnished wooden bicep, shiny metal bars, and carefully molded plastic bits that smelled like a new car. “My arm. You finished it.” Not crying at that moment was the hardest thing she’d ever done.

  “Not completely.” Sojiro waggled his hand. “I have to do a little fine-tuning, but you can take it out for a test spin. These slave drivers wouldn’t let me sleep till I finished it.”

  She unzipped her jumpsuit and slid the fabric down so he could attach the prosthetic. Lou couldn’t see anything, and she trusted the others to see her exposed. As Sojiro strapped the device in place, she said, “How did you all manage this? It’s so expensive.”

  Mercy explained, “You’re hooked up with an important pilot now, and you’re both pulling hazard pay. You’d be surprised how fast that accrues.”

  Yuki had to bite her lower lip to stop the tears. Gazing at Park, she whispered, “I didn’t seduce you to—”

  Park put his finger to her lips. “I don’t sleep with a woman unless she’s my partner.”

  That did it. The tears poured out. She couldn’t see a thing and had to use both hands to wipe the water away. Yuki didn’t realize what was happening until she patted both pockets to find a cloth. Both.

  She stared in wonder at her new hand as it did everything she asked of it, turning slowly so she could examine every aspect. When she could breathe again, she told Sojiro, “You are a genius who has made even this crutch a work of art.” To Mercy, she said, “You are a beautiful, considerate liar who I will repay every cent.” To Park, she said, “You, hold still.” Using both hands, she cradled the back of his head and pulled him close for a kiss. “We’ll talk about your punishment later.”

  He looked down with a slight grin, unwilling to discuss such matters in front of others, no matter how close. He stroked the ring finger of her new hand. “Maybe now that you have one of these, we can decorate it.”

  Yuki had no capacity left for shock. “No,” she blurted. “Why would you want me?”

  Park furrowed his brow and looked around in embarrassment. “I love you.”

  She looked down. “I stole you from another woman who was counting on you.” Holding up her new hand, she pointed to the golden battery visible beneath its clear cover. “The one who made this for me. What kind of person does that?”

  “I asked Nadia to marry me one year from our first date. She turned me down because she doesn’t believe in marriage. She doesn’t believe in a lot of things. You do. You believe in me.”

  “I have to face her and make peace,” Yuki said irrationally.

  “I’ll go with you,” Park offered.

  “No. Just me.” She wanted to be able to speak frankly to Nadia, and she couldn’t do that if she needed to act demure in front of Park. Besides, it would give her a chance to scope out the unseen watcher. Quirking up her mouth, she added, “Consider it my black-belt test.”

  “I think it’s a bad idea,” Lou muttered. “She’ll rip that arm off and beat you with it.”

  “Z sa
id I have to begin with honesty. I need to apologize to Nadia and thank her, or I can never fully be a part of this community.”

  Park and Sojiro helped her slip the new arm into first the shirt and then the coat.

  Alone, Yuki strolled outside in search of Nadia. Yuki opened the picket fence and walked up to Nadia’s porch. The others crouched in the oval door of the cave, waiting to rush to her rescue. This was the longest and coldest night of the journey. If they could get through it unscathed, nothing could stop them.

  Yuki knocked at Nadia’s wooden front door, but no one answered. It was too early for sleep, and smoke trickled from the chimney. Nadia must be avoiding the confrontation. How could the power engineer know it was her? Then she remembered—if Nadia concentrated, she could see power sources with her talent, and no one else in camp walked around with a battery powerful enough to power a car strapped to her hand. Knowing the distinct signature, Nadia could easily avoid her rival from now on. Yuki said, “Time to put on big-girl panties. We need to talk.”

  “Screw you. That’s all you’re good for, you know,” Nadia bellowed. “When the paint wears off, he’ll see.”

  Yuki waved the new hand. “I did you wrong, and you still helped me.”

  “Z ordered me to.”

  “Nevertheless, I came to thank you—for the battery and Park. I owe you.”

  The door opened a crack. A brown eye peered out. “Why are you really here?”

  “I stole your happiness. I’m afraid . . . unless I replace it, mine won’t last.”

  Nadia spit. Anger made her accent thick. “You want to do good deed, slut? This is space exploration, not pleasure cruise. At next meeting, I will ask to be placed on first landing party.”

  “As a lieutenant and construction expert, Rachael was placed in charge,” Yuki cautioned.

  “I do not wish to lead; I want to be among first on new world. You and your friends vote me onto that, and I leave you in peace. Good riddance to bad garbage.”

  “Done,” Yuki promised. For the first time, she felt as if the entire crew of the Sanctuary was working together as a team—a family.

  Risking a side glance on her way out, Yuki glimpsed a flicker of a ghost above Mercy on the mountainside, standing like a guardian angel.

  Chapter 15 – The Party’s Over

  The image of the void hovering over Mercy bothered Yuki for the rest of the evening. Why do the Magi care so much about my friend? If anything, they should be following the wristwatch that can detect them, or Nadia who might be able to sense them as soap bubbles of light. Is Snowflake using remotes to observe its favorite human? The computer had bent the rules before, but only when Mercy was in mortal danger. Suddenly, everything had hidden portent.

  As the party wound down, Mercy excused herself. “I shouldn’t have eaten cake this late. I have awful heartburn.”

  Without the presence of mittens, Yuki noticed how swollen Mercy’s hands were. “Have you told Yvette?”

  “No. She’s been busy, and it’s not like she can do anything about it with my weird chemistry, just like the headaches. Unless something knocks me out, my body won’t tolerate it. I had a migraine all day till the party started. That’s why I ate dessert. I was finally hungry, and it looked so good. Now I’m paying for it.”

  “When is your next checkup?”

  “Lou takes us into the Oblivion system tomorrow at noon. The medical staff is going to be busy with that until evening. The day after is soon enough.” Mercy meant to say more, but sat down suddenly instead.

  “Why don’t you come with us to Olympus tonight?”

  “No. Technically, I’m on bed rest. It’s week twenty-seven, and I’m not allowed any unnecessary risks. Besides, with a full day of data collecting on the new system, you need your sleep.” Her face looked a little wan and puffy.

  Leaning over to Park, Yuki said, “Dear, fetch the cart. Don’t bother Auckland or Herk; Sojiro can help.” He nodded and motioned to his sparring partner to assist. Both men departed without a word. Turning to Mercy, she said, “Tell me what you’ll need to spend the next few months in Olympus. I’ll help you pack.”

  “The control room is going to be crowded enough, and everyone will be cranky,” Mercy objected.

  Lou came back from the bathroom and asked, “What’s going on?”

  “I don’t want to have to land the saucer here in the middle of reentry tomorrow, so we’re kidnapping your wife,” Yuki snapped. “Any objections?”

  “Nope. Now that my part is finished, she won’t listen to me anyway,” Lou said, sipping the last of his beer.

  Mercy smacked him in the chest with the back of her hand. To Yuki, she said, “I’ll be fine, really.”

  Staring into her friend’s eyes, Yuki said, “I’ll make you a deal: you hand this coat back to Toby. If he doesn’t have you on an exam table within a minute, I will clean Nadia’s floor with my toothbrush.”

  “I’ll get her delivery bag and my overnight case for sick bay,” Lou said. “Make her lay down. Use that bionic arm to force her if you have to. I’ll call Yvette.”

  Yuki replied, “We’ll pick the nurse up on the way through the orchard. The boys will be bringing the cart around any second.”

  ****

  After hearing the symptoms from Yuki, Yvette escorted Mercy directly to the sick bay. At one point, the nurse sliced a twig off an apple tree with her knife to clamp between the patient’s teeth. “Just to be safe.” Lou kept asking what was happening. Inside Olympus, the men were all forced to wait outside the door. She performed a glucose test and an ultrasound before telling the Japanese woman, “Get Toby.”

  “But he’s in lockdown.”

  “Have the commander override it.”

  Yuki leapt to obey. Mercy lay on the exam bed and complained, “Hello, I’m the patient. Isn’t anyone going to tell me?”

  “I need confirmation,” Yvette said, wringing her hands. Sick bay didn’t trigger any stress memories, but waiting for her former attacker made her breathe so fast her fingertips went numb. There was no other way to save her friend.

  Toby shuffled into the room, dressed in his robe and Velcro slippers, which made him appear less threatening. He took one look at Mercy and held out his hand for the chart. After seeing the test results, he reared back his head. “Yes, it looks like preeclampsia. I thought we had a few more weeks before we needed the tailored virus. There have been so many other urgent tasks that cropped up for winter. I’m not ready. I’m so sorry.”

  “How soon can you have it?” Yvette asked with a quaver.

  “Four or five days at the soonest.”

  “Tell me what’s happening,” Mercy demanded. Lou appeared at her side, shushing and trying to keep her calm.

  Yvette said, “In combination with your immune response against the baby, you have gestational diabetes. It’s indicated by a large fetus, high glucose, inability to clot, bruising, as well as swelling. From the bruises on her legs and arms, I’m betting she’s had some convulsions she hasn’t told you about. I think she also knows what the problem is and has been hiding it.”

  “It’s too early. Stewart can’t survive,” Mercy said, her voice edging higher with panic. “I’ll stay in bed like I’m supposed to. Please don’t take him.”

  “What does she mean?” asked Lou.

  “Sit down,” Toby told him softly. Yvette looked sharply at the nanobiologist. He was being inordinately kind. “The short list is: high blood pressure, placental separation, bleeding out, risk of life-threatening seizures, and damage to Mom’s kidneys and liver. At a minimum we should perform a Caesarean section—as soon as possible to spare the mother’s health.”

  Lou’s chest heaved as he tried to absorb the information.

  Toby continued. “We need to lower her blood pressure and place monitors on her as soon as possible. Perhaps administer fluids and anticonvulsive medication.”

  Red floated in. “Would it help to freeze her until you have a treatment ready?”

 
Toby nodded. Between his angst and zero g, he’d lost a lot of weight. “If you sign off on it, sir.”

  Lou’s voice cracked as he said, “I need her awake to see well enough to navigate our entry into the system.” After a pause, he whispered, “I need her. Don’t let me lose her again.”

  “Clean her up, and prep her for surgery just in case. A few hours delay shouldn’t hurt,” Toby said. “As long as no one else gets critically injured in the next day and needs stasis, we’re golden.”

  “I won’t make any mistakes, then,” Lou said grimly.

  “Don’t worry, Lou. I’ll make some coffee and resume work on the antigen suppressor tonight.” Toby seemed like a different person with his meds. He was meek again.

  Following him out the door, Yvette said, “I’ll get the coffee. You can get dressed, doctor.”

  “Thank you,” Toby said, looking for the catch.

  “We have a common enemy, Toby. I’ll keep her stable while you work. I know you can do this. You’re the best in this field.” He had changed. Is it enough? she wondered. If he misses a dose or adds a drug to his regimen, will he relapse into Mr. Hyde?

  ****

  When Yvette ordered Lou to get some sleep, he said good night to his wife in the medical bay and disappeared. The nurse struggled to stay awake till Auckland arrived to relieve her at six in the morning. Since Toby was still locked away in his cell and the saucer was quiet, she decided to treat herself to a shower before bed. Hot showers were the one luxury the Hollow didn’t have since conservation kicked in because the crude camp couldn’t recycle water with the same efficiency as the alien-made saucer. She opened the frosted-glass door to one tube, but couldn’t force herself to undress in this room. Furious at herself, she turned away from the memories in the shower.

  That’s when she found Lou huddled in the deactivated stasis chamber, holding the ridiculous T-shirt Mercy had been wearing. Grief rolled off him in waves. He hadn’t slept much, if any.