by Sarah Noffke
“The commander. Jules,” Pip said, his voice suddenly full of pain. “You don’t put up with bullshit, like her, but also, you don’t take yourself overly seriously.”
“Well, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
She checked the small office where the man had come from. Empty. There were two other offices.
“You should. I mean, it’s why Hatch picked you,” Pip said, his voice a little lighter than before. “So, the baby…”
Bailey kicked the door to the first office open. A man sat at a desk, his eyes widening with horror at the sight of the lieutenant. She grimaced as she pulled the trigger, hitting him straight in the head.
How do these people live with themselves, knowing they are running a prison here?
“What about the baby?” she asked, glad to have Pip to take her mind off the murder she was forced to execute.
“Well, I think it will take after me,” he began. “Have my sense of humor. Maybe my adventurous nature. Who knows what else.”
Bailey shook her head as she eyed the last office in the hallway. She lifted her boot and slammed the door open. Empty.
She let out a breath, striding back the way she’d come. “I’m not sure why you think the baby would take after you. You’re not really involved.”
“You know, I do have feelings.”
“Pip, it’s not your baby,” Bailey reasoned, careful to keep her voice sensitive. The last thing she needed was for the AI they were relying on to get in a sour mood and refuse to help.
“I know, but we’re all a family, so it sort of is,” he countered. “I’ll be like its adopted father.”
Bailey came to where the hallway dead-ended. One last door. She placed her fingers on the handle, and took a deep breath. “That’s true, you’ll have many ways to influence the child.”
“I’m looking forward to having new life on the ship,” Pip decided, a new cheerfulness in his voice.
“Yes, but first we need to get the old life back.” Bailey turned the handle and swung the door open to the last room.
It was hard for Lewis to compute that he was exploring a secret facility with an insect-man by his side. He threw a cautious look at Vitos when they came to another bend. The Tuetian had character, and more importantly, he was the curious type. Lewis liked people who were full of wonderment.
He angled his head to the right, indicating that the alien should take that hallway. Vitos agreed with a nod, holding up his strange Tuetian gun. It was bulkier than the weapons he and the lieutenant used, and were apparently not as powerful. However, Vitos said that it worked better for his hands, which were oddly shaped in comparison to a human’s.
Vitos swung out, firing almost at once. Gunshots rang out from the other side of the hallway, and before Lewis could cover him, Vitos had spun around to fire again. He finally lowered his weapon with a proud smile, giving Lewis the all-clear.
Damn, Lewis thought in awe. The gun might not be as powerful, but Vitos was fast and agile with the weapon. That counted for something.
As they approached a set of doors at the end of the hallway, Lewis picked up on a strong chemical smell. It prickled his nostrils, and made him want to cover his face.
“I smell it, too,” Vitos said, watching him. “That isn’t natural.”
A laboratory door sat at the end of the corridor. Lewis checked the offices on the way, only to find them vacant. He assumed most of the personnel were in the lab at the back.
“Put away your weapon,” he ordered, thinking of something Hatch had related about K-factor.
Hatch had told them that the mineral was highly volatile. If that’s what they were manufacturing here, then the last thing his team would want to do is go into this lab, all guns blazing.
Vitos shifted with surprise. “Are you sure? My combat skills aren’t strong.”
Lewis nodded. “I’m sure. Neither are mine, but we’ve got to be smarter than these horses’ asses.”
Vitos agreed, securing his gun in his holster.
“On the count of four,” Lewis said, leaning back on his heels and steadying himself.
“Four? Don’t you mean three?” Vitos asked. “Is that a human thing? We always go on three.”
Lewis winked. “It’s a me thing. I like to change things up.”
“I like it,” Vitos said at his back.
“You take the right. One, two, three, four.”
A cold chill knocked Bailey in the face when she opened the door to what she knew now was the server room. The area was dark, but she could see large servers running the length of the space. At the front was a control station and a large screen. Three scientists looked up from where they were huddled around the same workstation.
Bailey fired, killing the first. She needed to reload, but there was no time for that. She holstered her gun as she strode forward. The two remaining assholes froze, panic written on their faces. She picked up the closest scientist, a woman shorter than she was, by the throat, and threw her backward. As soon as her hand was free, she launched a punch into the midsection of the last scientist. He hunched over, but stayed standing.
Picking up a clipboard from a nearby station, Bailey brought it down over the man’s head, sending him to the floor. She caught the woman rising from the ground, pulled her other gun, swung around, and fired. The shot hit the woman in the chest, and she flew back, landing in a heap next to a computer terminal.
Bailey kept her gun up as she searched around the other terminals. There were roughly a dozen in this room.
“I won’t be able to download or transfer the contents of the databases from this many servers,” Pip informed her over the comm.
Bailey let out a frustrated breath. “Then what is our option?”
“We may not need them all; maybe only one, and we can consolidate,” Pip stated. “Link me to the main workstation.”
“How do I do that?” she asked, pulling the chair out from the terminal in the center.
“You have to insert your finger into the main drive,” Pip stated.
She rolled her eyes. “Seriously? You think I’m a moron?”
“Just checking,” the AI said with a laugh. “I didn’t know, maybe you’d fall for that.”
Bailey checked over her shoulder, swearing she’d heard a noise.
“If we were linked, then I could do it by proximity,” Pip informed her. “Since we’re not, you have to insert the chip Hatch gave you into that station. It should give me remote access.”
Bailey did as she was told, listening over the humming of the servers for noises behind her. It was hard to believe that on one or more of these servers, real consciousnesses were trapped. She couldn’t even fathom living inside a database. How strange that must be.
“Okay, I’ll need a minute,” Pip said, code suddenly running across the main screen.
“I’m glad you know what you’re doing,” Bailey said, turning to the large room at her back.
Something didn’t feel right. She’d checked the space, but she still felt like there might be someone there she hadn’t caught. Her hair raised on the back of her neck—a feeling that always told her to be on guard. Someone was watching her. She knew it.
She scanned the area for cameras, but there were none.
“Oh, there you are,” Pip said triumphantly.
“What? What did you find?”
“People…but no one I recognize.” His tone sank with disappointment.
“Keep checking,” Bailey ordered, tentatively taking a step forward.
She peered around the first row of servers. Only blue and red lights blinked back at her.
“Spaghetti and meatballs! There’s someone I recognize,” Pip crowed.
Bailey halted. “Who is it? The captain? The commander?”
“Nah, but I’ll keep checking. There aren’t as many here as I would have thought.”
Bailey nodded. There were four other locations. It was possible that the crew of Ricky Bobby were spread out, or being held s
omewhere else.
She took another step, peering around a server. It didn’t make sense that someone would be here, yet Bailey couldn’t shake this feeling that she was being watched.
“I can consolidate all these consciousness into one database and put it on a shared server. That’s the safest method for transport.”
Bailey turned her head, thinking she’d seen something out of the corner of her eyes. When she looked, there was only darkness. “How exactly are we supposed to get this server out of here?” she asked.
“I’m working on a strategy for that,” Pip stated.
“And you’re keeping it a surprise, are you?”
“I’m working out the logistics before I unveil my genius plan.”
Bailey hardly heard him. Something had definitely materialized in the room. She caught it in her peripheral. Is it possible that I’m surrounded? It didn’t make sense.
Knowing she had to be fast, she feinted turning to the left, and quickly brought up her gun and swung to the right, catching the entity that was stalking her.
Bailey’s hand shook. Air hitched in her throat. Her mind struggled to comprehend what it was that she’d come face-to-face with.
Chapter Thirty
Sutra 6, Planet Pochli, Cacama System
Lewis tightened his fist as he threw open the laboratory door. To his disappointment, the two scientists in there seemed to be waiting for them.
One threw a beaker at his head, and he ducked. The glass broke on the wall behind him, and a yellow cloud shot up from the ground where the beaker had hit. Acid began eating at the white tile.
Lewis spun around and launched himself at the scientist, who was now empty-handed. He barreled into the man, knocking him to the ground, and punched him in the throat.
Behind him, he heard Vitos struggling. Glass breaking. A man grunting. Wings fluttering.
Lewis was using his knees to pin the scientist’s arms down. He struggled, but was able to keep his hands tight around the man’s neck. He didn’t want to kill the guy, but not because he didn’t deserve it…Mostly, he thought the scientist could come in handy.
When the man started to lose consciousness, Lewis stood and grabbed him by the foot, dragging him to the back where he’d spied a large, walk-in closet, most likely where they kept extra supplies. He pulled the man into the closet and stepped over him, deliberately not shutting the door. Instead he pulled the BCW from his pocket, a black cube that was heavy for its size. He released the safety and pressed the smooth button on the bottom before tossing it on the ground inside the closet. Walls that were refractive like bubbles spread out around the cube as it rose into the air, creating the perfect cage for the scientist who had tried to burn off Lewis’s face.
Vitos was hiding behind a lab counter, ducking to hide from the continuous assault from the other scientist, who kept throwing nearby objects at him. The man picked up a vial of a familiar, yellow liquid. Lewis opened his mouth to warn Vitos, but before he could, the scientist had launched it through the air at him.
Vitos was inches away from being doused in the lethal liquid when he rose into the air; the glass broke under him, in the place where he’d stood. He zoomed forward, his wings steadily carrying him, and dropped down onto the scientist who didn’t have a moment to react.
Vitos grabbed the man by the jacket and shook him. Then he reared his head back and opened his mouth. He lunged, sinking his teeth into the man’s neck—though he didn’t suck or feast. Instead, he dropped the man as quickly as he’d grabbed him, and looked up at Lewis with blood on his face.
“Impressive,” Lewis said, a little grossed out by the sight.
Vitos wiped his mouth with the back of his arm. “It’s a common hunting technique on Tueti. Sever the main artery.”
“Smart,” Lewis said, finally taking a moment to study the lab.
Printed across the back wall were the words: ‘A lie told often enough becomes the truth. – Vladimir Lenin’.
He pointed. “There’s our sutra. Man, Vance is a strange character. The figures he worships aren’t the most notable in human history.”
“It’s true that we can accurately be judged by the ones we admire,” Vitos stated, carefully stepping over a puddle of blood left by the scientist he’d killed.
Behind the almost invisible wall, the scientist Lewis had knocked out began to stir.
For a moment, Bailey thought she’d stepped in front of a mirror. That would be the most likely explanation for why a copy of herself was standing only a few feet away. The only problem was that she was holding a gun, and the image was staring at her with her hands by her side.
“What are you?” Bailey asked, noticing that the image of her was transparent.
The imposter raised a hand, looking it over. “Finally, I have a body…well, almost.”
Bailey lifted her gun for emphasis. “I asked you a question. What are you?”
“I’m not a what. Are you the one who trapped me?” the figured demanded, heat flaring across her face.
Wow! Bailey had no idea what a bitch-face she could have when angry. Damn, I look mean.
“It wasn’t me!” she protested.
The figure stepped forward. “Then why are you holding a gun on me?”
“Because you look just like me!” Bailey exclaimed. “How are you doing this?”
“If you didn’t imprison me, then what are you doing here?” the imposter asked, looking around like she was trying to get oriented. Her eyes found the dead scientists.
“Pip? What’s going on?” Bailey asked over the comm.
The figure turned, her eyes widening. “Did you say ‘Pip’? Are you with Ghost Squadron?”
Bailey didn’t know if she should answer or not. Staring at her own image was tripping her out. “Pip!”
“Hey. The transfer is complete. Sort of took my attention there for a moment,” he answered.
“Okay, so do you want to take a second to tell me why I’m staring at an image of myself?” Bailey asked, her gun still pointing at the figure.
“Oh, that’s Penrae,” Pip said, sounding not at all concerned. “She’s the only one from Ghost Squadron that I could locate in the database.”
Bailey squinted at the transparent image. “You’re with Ghost Squadron?”
“Yes, but they aren’t here,” the woman said.
“Why does she look like me?” Bailey asked Pip.
“Ask her where the crew is,” Pip ordered, ignoring her question.
Bailey decided to lower her gun. “Where is Ghost Squadron?”
“They are spread out. Most are in two larger databases,” Penrae answered.
“Dammit!” Pip complained.
“Now someone tell me why you, Penrae, look like me,” Bailey demanded.
“I’m more curious how she’s the only one in this database,” Pip mused.
Penrae looked at Bailey with an amused expression. “Did he tell you?”
Bailey sighed. “No, he’s being a jerk.”
Penrae laughed. “That sounds like Pip.”
“What’s going on? Why do you look like me, and why are you the only one from Ghost Squadron in this database?” she asked.
“The answer to both of those questions is that I’m a shapeshifter,” Penrae answered, her form flickering.
“Of course!” Pip exclaimed. “That makes perfect sense!”
Bailey didn’t get it. “What, so you’ve taken the form of me. Does that mean you’re free now?”
Penrae shook her head, worry growing on her face. “No, and I can’t maintain this shape long. When Pip opened the database, it granted me a new freedom. I found your identity and used it to come out, but I’m not real…not yet.”
“You need a physical body,” Bailey guessed.
“Yes, though because I can shapeshift, whatever happened to us didn’t affect me the same way,” Penrae explained. “I’ve been ghosting through the different databases every time they’re opened for a transfer. Or, in this insta
nce, when Pip accessed them.”
“That’s brilliant!” the AI yelled.
Bailey’s eardrum was assaulted by his excitement. She pulled at the comm as her ear rang.
“Are you here to rescue me?” Penrae asked.
Bailey nodded and then shook her head. “We’re trying, but we still have a lot to figure out.”
“You have a strong body,” Penrae noted, regarding the form she’d stolen. “Do you have a name, new member of Ghost Squadron?”
“I’m Lieutenant Bailey Tennant.”
Penrae smiled wide. Bailey didn’t think her own face had ever given such an uninhibited grin, which made seeing it on the face of her imposter weird.
“Those in this database will be happy to return home,” Penrae told her.
“You’re in contact with them?” Bailey asked.
Penrae nodded. “Yes, but it’s a strange place in the database. It’s cold and dark and you feel like a ghost. We don’t eat or sleep or have anywhere to go. We bump into each other, but most of the ones here keep to themselves.” Penrae stared down at the ground, a longing in her eyes. “It’s very lonely.”
“I’m sorry,” Bailey said, at a loss for words.
“Ask her who these people are?” Pip encouraged.
“First, have you figured out a way for me to get the server and database out?” she asked him.
Penrae seemed to know she was talking to Pip, because she remained quiet.
“Yes, the logistics are nearly complete. I don’t know if it will work, though,” Pip waffled. “How attached are you to the detective? Could we leave him behind, if need be?”
“No, Pip. That’s not an option.”
“Okay, fine. I’ll come up with a plan that involves keeping the detective. What about the alien?”
Bailey shook her head. “We’re keeping both of them.”
“You’re so very ambitious. Fine, fine.”
Bailey lifted her eyes, still startled by the experience of talking to herself. Well…sort of. “Penrae, who are the people in the database? Pip doesn’t recognize them.”
