She noticed that his control layout had subtly changed, and silently approved, though not without offering a gentle pat on the hacker’s shoulder.
“Yeah, yeah,” Quinn muttered.
“Are we almost ready?”
“No. We are ready. But we’re going to have to move fast if we want this to work.”
Alasdair took the coffee cup from Kristin while her attention was drawn. “My car is prepped.”
“That thing won’t get us anywhere quickly,” Thad joked. “And the other car you have isn’t big enough for all of us.”
Mia plopped down on the couch and started peeling a pink banana-like fruit. “Everyone keep their bragas on. I’ve got it covered.”
“Really?” Alasdair asked.
“Look out the window. Down in the alley.”
Kristin, Alasdair, and Thad did just that. Several stories below was a long, sleek limousine hovering to the side of the busy street. It was easily large enough to carry the entire team.
“When did you steal that?” Alasdair asked.
“Last night, while you were sleeping.”
“Of all the knobheaded ideas! I’m not even going to go into how foolish that was. Stealing the car, bringing it here…”
“If you don’t want to go into it then why are you?” Kristin defended.
Mia ate the last bit of her fruit. “She’s got you there, cowboy.”
Kristin again looked down to the alley with satisfaction. “It’s perfect, Mia. Good job.”
“Whatever,” Mia dismissed with a wave.
“Don’t encourage her,” Alasdair chided.
“I need her to be who she is. All of them for that matter, even you—minus the booze. That’s the only way we’re going to find out who killed Bobby and, conversely, get paid.”
Mia laughed from the couch. “She’s two-for-two, vaquero. I might even think about liking her if she keeps this up.”
Alasdair decided now was not the time. “Quinn, let’s get everything prepped. I want to start in two minutes. That means everyone else down to the car, now. Including you.”
Kristin sipped the last of her coffee. “Hope you’ve enjoyed giving orders, because that time is about to pass.”
“God, I hope so,” Thad grumbled as he retrieved his bag of weapons.
A minute later, Alasdair was behind the controls of the hovering limo, the engines warmed up and everyone secured in the back. After precisely two minutes had elapsed, he initiated a voice-only link to Quinn. “Are we ready?”
Upstairs, Quinn typed in the last string of commands into the computer. He adjusted several controls, checked the multiple readouts, and finally opened the macro control. “I’m ready here. We’re going to have about six minutes from the time I start the sequence to get to the impound lot. Any faster or slower and we’ll blow the plan.”
“Or worse. I’m aware of that. Just let me know when to expect you. I want to go as soon as—”
Without any intervention from the occupants, the sunroof of the limo slid open. A second later Quinn, dressed in his business suit, landed in the center of the passenger compartment, unhooked his repelling harness, and slid into the seat between Kristin and Mia. “The clock is ticking. I suggest we get moving.”
Alasdair looked at him in surprise. “Let’s try to keep the theatrics to a minimum from here on out, okay?”
Quinn just smiled and turned to Kristin. “That was pretty impressive, right?” She responded by rolling her eyes, so he turned his attention to Mia.
“Nice entrance,” the thief cooed as Alasdair moved the vehicle into the street. “Is that a Type-Three poly-fiber harness with autobraking?”
Quinn smiled, then offered the harness to her for inspection. “With the built-in proximity monitors and accelerometers. Only the best.”
“I’ve seen better,” she smiled, “but not many. I might be inclined to steal it from you, but I’ve already got one.”
“Might?”
Mia finished her admiration of the harness. “Anyone who appreciates this kind of equipment might have something more valuable to offer.”
“It’s always a possibility.”
Kristin’s palm when to her face in mortification. Oh, brother.
Little more was said on the way to the impound yard. A minute from the main gate, several marked and unmarked police cars roared around the limo and off in the direction of the yard. Alasdair had to turn sharply to avoid one of them slamming into their backside. “Wonder what they’re in such a hurry for? Any ideas, Quinn?”
Quinn smiled as he watched the readings on his computer. “Looks to me like someone might be trying to steal the Minerva out of impound.” He made a tsk-tsk sound. “That’s a very naughty undertaking.”
“What’s the situation with security?” Alasdair asked as he neared the main gate.
Quinn already had the information on his screen. “For us, good. Looks like Superintendent Darros did what we wanted her to. She reorganized all the security guards to be on alert for the Minerva. Every vehicle is being dispatched there now, and airspace is being cleared for incoming security fighters.”
The limo came to a halt just beyond the main gate. Gone was the former surly guard, replaced by a younger, far less experienced officer. Kristin leaped from the limo and scurried to the officer, handing him her bogus credentials. “I’m from the Intersector Bank of Athea. It’s been reported that someone is trying to steal our property.”
“Yeah,” he stammered. “It’s all over the radio.” He held the device up for inspection.
“Well, don’t’ just stand there!” she barked. “Let us in this instant!”
The young man, taken further off-guard by her forcefulness, moved a half-step back toward the guard shack. His voice continued to crack as he spoke. “I’ll have to call this into Superintendent—”
“Darros, yes! I know! She’s the one that called me to report the theft! Now are you going to let us in or do we need to break down this barrier?! Come on, man! This is no time to be a hero!”
When the ground started shaking, the bewildered young man did as he was ordered. Slapping a large button, the gate was immediately opened. Alasdair didn’t hesitate, nearly striking it as he sped through the opening. “We’ll be there in thirty seconds. Quinn, I hope this works.”
“If it doesn’t, we won’t be around to complain about it. The Minerva is too close to the Rose. If we don’t get onboard in the next minute and a half, the blowback from the Minerva’s engines are going to toss this limo half-way across the planet.”
Chapter 9
After smashing through two crates and bouncing off a forklift, the limo came to a sudden halt just beyond the Cobalt Rose. Kristin didn't have time to appreciate the design of the hull as they rushed out of the wrecked car and toward the waiting vessel. They halted just beside the loading ramp, which was still firmly shut. Alasdair was immediately beside Quinn, who was working feverishly at his small computer. "I thought you had this?"
Quinn was entering commands faster than Alasdair could comprehend them. "I did. I do. Just give me a second. Some kind of fail-safe was activated, probably when the yard went into lockdown. It’s something I didn’t plan for."
Alasdair turned toward the Minerva. The engines were starting their fateful windup to full power. "We don't have a second, Quinn!"
"There's just a few more commands I need to transmit."
Mia side-stepped the two and stood before the closed ramp. "Forget it! There's no time." Pulling up her sleeve, she twisted the bracelet around her wrist. Closing her eyes and concentrating, the armband began to glow softly before changing shape. Soon a short, glowing tendril extended from it aimed directly at the Rose. Sounds immediately began emanating deep within the Rose as actuators hummed to life. Within seconds the cargo ramp was extended. Once her eyes had opened, the bracelet reverted to its original shape. Mia turned to see all eyes staring at her. "What are you people waiting for… a written slip of transit?"
As the team rushed into
the hold, Mia spotted something out of the corner of her eye. She nearly bowled Thad over as she rushed back outside.
“What are you doing?” Thad shouted, but got no response from the running woman. She retrieved something from the ground, and when she was safely back on the ship, Thad noticed she was holding a small, furry animal. “What is that?”
“I couldn’t let it die out there.”
Thad was indignant. “We’re all about to die and you want to rescue a cat?”
“There’s no time for this,” Kristin barked.
"Which way to the cockpit?" Alasdair asked.
"And the engine room?" Quinn added.
“Weapons control?” Thad barked.
"And the galley," asked Mia, lovingly cradling the tabby. "Stealing things make me hungry. Besides, I think she’s thirsty."
"It's not stolen yet," Kristin said, marching past her to stand in front of the assembly. "Quinn, the engine room is through that hatch. Aft. Level five." She pointed to the closed hatch on the upper railing.
"Aft. Right."
"Aft means 'in the back,' Stone," Alasdair said. "And this time, you'll have to make sure the hatches actually open."
With a beep from Quinn's computer, every closed hatch on the Rose immediately opened before the cargo ramp retracted. "I know what aft means."
Kristin made her way to a nearby ladder. "The cockpit is this way. Alasdair, you're with me."
Thad moved to stand beside Mia. "What about us?"
"The weapons control room is amidships. Level three. We may need to blast our way out of here, and I want the weapons systems fully charged and ready."
"Understood,” Thad called back, then muttered “I hate space travel,” as he turned to leave.
Kristin was already at the top of the ladder with Alasdair close behind. "Just make sure they're online. Show Mia what to do."
"What about food?" Mia lamented.
"I'm going to pretend you're not being serious," Kristin shouted back through the doorway.
In the cockpit, Kristin took her position in the pilot's chair and quickly began familiarizing herself with the flight controls. Quinn's voice came over the intercom. "Sixty seconds until the Minerva is at full power."
"Understood. Status of the engines?"
"I started the automated preflight back at Alasdair's apartment. We'll be ready after the Minerva makes her getaway."
Alasdair slipped into the copilot's chair and donned his headset. "Quinn, any complaints about the engine room?"
"It's a little cramped in here, but all-in-all it's a decent layout. I can work here."
"Beautiful. You're hired." Alasdair then looked at Kristin, who was staring at him intently. "What?"
"You're in the wrong chair."
"Come again?” he snapped back.
"Oh, by the Moons of Minos, the title 'First Officer' does not always mean copilot! Get over to the gravity control." She hooked a thumb over her shoulder. "That's an order!"
His frustration, well-laced with muted curses, was noted as he unhooked his harness and moved seats. Kristin heard a string of words to the tune of 'triple-noduled slug noodle,' but dismissed it as accented gibberish as the Rose's engines came online.
"Are the ground locks disengaged?" she asked over her shoulder.
"Ah… yeah," was the hesitant answer.
"Ah, yeah? Really? Now's not the time to be ambiguous!"
"Yes." He corrected, which was followed by another string of subdued nonsense that sounded like 'smarmy truckload of flabby' something. "Locks disengaged."
"Internal gravity?"
"That feeling against your arse isn't my foot," he replied, then under his breath, "but I wish it were."
"I heard that!"
That's when a loud roar overtook their conversation. Kristin looked out beyond the segmented viewport to the impound lot stretched out before them. A large cloud of dust was boiling up a few hundred meters away. The Minerva was lifting off. Below, both Kristin and Alasdair watched as the expanding cloud of dust and superheated air tossed the nearby hovering limo aside as if it were made of tin. It flipped several times before careening into the side of another vehicle before bursting into flames.
Alasdair hummed to himself. "I wonder whose car that was?"
Kristin's response was deadpan. "I think it was Superintendent Darros's."
"That's a shame." He turned to her, and for the briefest of moments, they share a smile. "All auxiliary systems are go. I think we're ready to leave."
Kristin sighed before shaking her head. "Well, it's probably time for you to strap in." She then inclined her head to the copilot's seat. "I might need your help."
"You might?"
"Might."
The Minerva was now clear of the landing pad. A plethora of civilian and security patrol forces were swarming around the ship, trying to force the occupants to land. Little did they know that the Minerva was being piloted remotely from a computer two kilometers away, and any bio reading the police were getting were all implanted by Quinn's little miracle transmitters.
"The Minerva will be at full liftoff power in ten seconds."
Kristin nodded. "Quinn, I want to spin the Rose’s engines up fast. I don't want to give the authorities the time to figure out what's happened."
His response was even. "Understood. We should jump as soon as we reach sixty kilometers."
"No. Jumping that close to the surface could put innocent people's lives at risk. We need to wait until at least eighty-five."
"Lives are at risk," Thad's voice broke into the channel. “Ours.”
"You have your orders, Quinn."
There was a pause before he spoke. "Understood. It's gonna be tight, Cap’n. We'll outrun the local yocal police, but there are fighters inbound from the security base. Space-capable ones. They could be a problem."
"Well, you'll just have to count on my superior piloting skills then. Glasco out." She closed the channel and gripped the flight controls. "Standby to take the maneuvering jets to full vertical thrust on my mark."
Alasdair flipped a series of toggles on the control panel, then opened the ship-wide intercom. "Ladies and gentleman, this is your co-pilot speaking. In a few moments, we will be transitioning to full vertical thrust. I advise everyone not strapped into their seats to do so now, or you'll become a very unattractive pancake embedded into the deck plates."
Kristin couldn't help but smile. "Cute."
Outside, the Minerva transitioned to forward thrust. Her white-hot engines were ablaze as she rocketed over the city and out toward the western horizon with every police car and cruiser in pursuit. The space interceptors shot over the Rose's position, taking up equidistant locations around the stolen ship.
Kristin watched the receding blips on her sensors for two full minutes. Now or never. "Alasdair, full vertical thrust."
"Hold on to your breakfast." He pressed the igniter button to his left. The large thrusters, embedded in the center bottom of the Rose and designed to cushion landings and assist in takeoffs, roared to life in a blaze that set the landing pad on fire. It took only seconds to break gravity's hold on the ship. The Rose's internal compensators were only designed to handle this much stress in emergencies, and the hull groaned in contempt at the maneuver. Kristin was pulled back into her seat so tightly she nearly blacked out, but the computer—and fate—prevented her from succumbing. Up and up the Rose lifted, the blue skies slowly darkening. Far sooner than expected, the Cobalt Rose was free of the planet's atmosphere and in the cold vacuum of the void.
Kristin looked down at her sensors, noting that two small blips were turning to intercept her. Tightening the scanning beam, she saw the specifications for two fully armed space fighters. Then she smiled. They're too far away.
Kristin opened the interlink to the engine room. "Quinn, you still alive down there?"
"Alive, yes. But I think I'm a little shorter."
"You'll live. Is the course laid in and ready?"
"We're
all set, Cap’n."
"Standby for the jump."
Alasdair cocked an eyebrow. "Are you going to tell me where we're going? I mean, normally we make those course setting from up here."
"Remember what you said before, that you don't trust any of them?" she asked as she cocked her head toward the rear of the cockpit. "Well, I don't. Including you. I gave Quinn what he needed to get the Rose into space. I didn't have to share it with you or anyone else." She placed her finger over the jump initiator but hesitated before pushing it. "We're going to Complex." Kristin waited for him to say something. Anything. She didn't know why. Those heavily-armed interceptors are getting closer by the second. What am I waiting for?
"Okay," he answered simply before checking the tightness of his harness. "Complex it is."
“Stand by.” Taking a deep breath, she initiated the jump.
Chapter 10
Allowing herself a moment of satisfaction, Kristin leaned back and intended to revel in the sensation of being in jump space once more. It had been far too long since she'd been out in the void and the vast expanses between star systems. Now with a ship of her own—or one that soon would be—Kristin would never have to leave that freedom behind again. Freedom. This is for you, Bobby. She stroked the arm of the chair lovingly as she looked over the instruments, her eyes finally landing on Alasdair, who was busy entering calculations into the sensor computer. She studied the flicker of lights playing across his skin as he leaned closer to the screen. "Something interesting?"
He shook his head in the negative. "No. Nothing."
"We're in jump space. It's not like anyone from Arbrer could have followed us even if they wanted to. Most of them should still be chasing the Minerva in the opposite direction.”
He knew that, but that also wasn't the point. "I like to be cautious."
"How long until we reach Complex?"
"About two hours."
"Could you raise the internal temperature a few degrees? It's getting a little chilly in here."
Alasdair was still studying the screen intently. "It gets cold in space."
"But it doesn't have to be in here. And do you intend to argue with every order I give?"
Resurgence Page 5
