Joshua

by Frank Carey

"Only that demon that had taken over the Hellspawn probe."

  "Then we met the grange. Do you realize how close we came to having all the InterWebs taken over by those people?"

  "What are you thinking?"

  "I don't know, but I will. Look, things are going to hell on Alyson, and I may have to go pay our little social experiment a visit. If I do go, I'll be bringing Royce and EMEF Team Eight with me. Your brother, the general, and his hand-picked Elf Marine Expeditionary Force team is the best hope of us pulling our cajones from the fire. Are you interested in coming along? Assuming we do go, of course."

  "And get to meet Dr. Gray? Are you mad? Of course I'm interested."

  "Good. I'll let you know within 24-hours if and when we're leaving."

  She ran around his desk and gave him an elf-woman hug. He thought he heard his spine cracking. "Thank you. You're the best cousin ever."

  "Thanks," he said as the wheels in his head spun at insane speed. Joshua Gray didn't have a lock on hamsters running around in his head. The ones in Lucien's were running at faster than light speed.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  The transport made travel through the depot easier and faster than travel on foot. The vehicle also allowed him to collect items of interest. As he made his way from one inspection room to the next, he found six sword handles, which, when activated, sprouted one of six different blades. He found morphing digging tools and devices for viewing EM wavelengths from far infrared to deep UV. He even found a crate of invisibility cloaks that hid the wearer from view while allowing them to see out. He found a crate of rifles too large for a normal human, but perfect for Quint, so he snagged them. Hell, she and Charlie had to have birthdays coming up soon.

  His methodology was straightforward: he entered the room, spiked the charge into the existing cube of explosives, armed it, and left, closing the hatch behind him. He did this for every room on the list Kylie and Computer had generated for him.

  After several hours, he was finished and exhausted. He checked the remote detonator and saw one green light for every charge he had set. It was time for a check-in. He tapped his ear piece. "Josh to Kylie, do you copy? Over."

  Silence. Now, he started to worry.

  "Josh to Jenna, do you copy? Over."

  Silence.

  "Josh to Valera, do you copy? Over."

  Nothing. Josh headed the transport back toward the computer center. On a hunch, he scanned the area outside the building. "Dammit," he said as he saw a number of unrecognized life signs outside the building and outside the pressure seal at the bottom of the stairs. He widened the scan to include the interior of the depot and saw the computer center had become scan-proof--probably locked down as a precaution.

  "Computer, are you with me?" he asked over the comm.

  "Yes, sir. As a precaution, I have scrambled this link.

  "What's going on?"

  "A number of Zexx have stationed themselves outside the building as well as around the computer center.”

  "Dammit. Computer, can you remotely control the pressure seal?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Good. Now, I just have to figure out how to get the ones outside the computer center to leave. Computer, do you have any remotely controlled vehicles stored near the center?"

  "Yes. Three BORIS units available."

  "Great. Can you remotely detonate a BORIS unit's power supply?"

  "Yes."

  "If only they had weapons."

  "Weapons were added to the unit to improve marketability."

  "Display inventory."

  "Working..."

  Josh whistled. "Damn, Computer, you planning to take over a small country? Where the hell did you put all that hardware? Can the weapons be remotely controlled?"

  "Yes."

  "From this terminal?"

  "Yes."

  "Show available remote control commands, this terminal."

  The datapad screen listed out the commands. "Just like programming a CNC controller," Josh said, referring to the Computer Numerical Control g-code he had learned the first year he was at college. He remembered getting a commendation in that class, one of many. In seconds, he had a program written and loaded into all three units. "Prepare Unit One for launch, maintain Unit Two and Three in standby mode."

  "Working. Standing by."

  "Are there any other pressure seals leading into the depot from the surface."

  "Eight, ranging in size from person-size to twenty-foot wide and high."

  "Display seal locations in relation to computer center location."

  "Working... Displayed."

  "Lock all seals except One and Six."

  "Working. locked."

  He stopped the transport just out of sight of the computer center. He could see figures moving about in the distance. He also saw the open seal. "Ladies, I hope you're in there. Display location of BORIS units."

  "Working... Displayed."

  He got his bearings, then looked off to the right. "Activate BORIS One and implement program 'Building Exit'."

  A white, eight-foot-tall figure sprouting four tentacles ran out of the darkness, past the waiting figures, and through the open seal. Joshua could hear sirens, barking dogs, steam whistles, and a roaring lion coming from the figure. After a moment of hesitation, the figures gave chase, running out through the seal. In their haste, they forgot to set a contingent to stay behind and guard the center.

  "Is the depot clear of life forms other than myself?"

  "Yes."

  "Shut seal and lock it."

  "Working... Seal closed and locked."

  "Are BORIS pursuers outside detonation radius?"

  "Working... Yes, though they won't be for long."

  "Is detonation area clear?"

  "Yes."

  "Detonate."

  Josh felt a shock wave pass under his feet.

  Josh engaged the transport's drive and raced to the computer center. Skidding to a halt, he jumped off and ran over to the hatch. "Computer, inform occupants of computer center that the coast is clear."

  "Message sent."

  Josh waited, listening to the hum of the center's protective shield. A moment later, it went silent followed by the door opening.

  "Josh!" his aunt yelled as she rushed out to hug him. She was in the body he remembered from back on Earth. "Thank the Creator you're all right. Where are the Zexx?"

  "They're locked outside the seal. Where's Jenna?"

  "Here," she said from the doorway. Her mobile was missing an arm.

  "Jezzus, are you OK?" He asked as he joined her inside the center. He saw her arm laid out on a table.

  "I'm fine, one of those currs caught me with a shot from their blaster."

  "Have a seat," he said. He examined the stump, then the arm. "Auntie, do you have a tool kit with a microwelder?"

  "Yes," she said as she walked over to the rack near a wall and removed a standard work kit. "Here you go."

  "Can you fix it?" Jenna asked?"

  "Yes. Computer, activate BORIS Two and have it report to me at this location, immediately. Auntie, why are you back in that body?"

  "I felt like I needed to go back to my roots. This is as close as I can get to my 'real' body without alarming anyone."

  "Kylie!" Jenna blurted out.

  "Be still. He knows about us and hasn't told a soul, have you, Kiddo?"

  The look of horror on Jenna's 'face' was priceless."

  "Yes, I know Kylie is Mnemosyne and you're Aite. Your secret is safe with me." He stopped as the BORIS Two walked in. "Computer, set unit to maintenance mode and open access panel 32B. What are Zexx? I didn't get a good look at them, and my datapad has no record of them."

  The lights in the unit's eyes went out as a door opened in its abdomen. Inside were an assortment of rods, components, and tools. Kylie gave him a quizzical look. "Spare parts," he explained. "I was hoping they got copied along with the unit. "Computer, hand me rod thirteen-alpha." A tentacle emerged, grabbed a part and handed i
t to him. "The original unit was designed to be field repairable. Think of it as having built in tire jacks." Using tools from the kit, he cut and shaped parts out of the rod, then welded them in place. Finally, he declared, "Good as new. Give her a try."

  "The Zexx had dealings with the Jarrion right up to when the bioweapon was released, sir," Computer explained. "They were one of the depot's biggest customers."

  Jenna flexed her arm. "Damn, I've never seen anyone hand repair a mobile before."

  "With Trent's and Falan's help, I hand-built over a half-dozen BORIS prototypes. Luckily, your mobile's design lends itself to being repaired. "Did we tell you the Nordicans landed?" Jenna asked.

  "No, but I did talk to Falan. Alex felt she needed to know I was alive. I think she felt guilt over my death."

  "As well she should," Kylie said. "Anyway, the Zexx followed them here in search of the fabled Arms Depot of the Jarrion. We think they're orbiting in cloaked ships as they look for the depot and the Nordican fleet. We moved the Nordicans to the asteroid field to keep them safe while we sorted things out."

  "Great. I don't know if you two saw, but I had Computer lock all the doors shut, except for the big loading door at the back of the depot."

  "Sensei taught you well," a beaming Kylie said.

  "Him and you. The question is how do we get out of here? I've got a transport outside, but we'll have to unload it..."

  "Oooooh, toys," Kylie said as she ran out the door and over to the transport where she opened the crates Josh had collected. "Yeah, now that's what I'm talking about, all very useful. I likee. She closed her eyes for a moment. They heard a large engine start in the distance. Minutes later, the mother of all armored personnel carriers drove up to the entrance.

  "The Space Marines have arrived," Jenna said after a low whistle. "Those Jarrion knew how to build 'em, didn't they?"

  "Yes they did." Kylie replied. She blinked and the back of the vehicle lowered to form a ramp. She blinked again and the transport, cargo and all, drove itself up into the rear of the APC where it locked into place.

  "Handy," Jenna said.

  "I do what I can. Let's get going," Kylie replied.

  They all got into the truck and headed out toward the back door. Once on their way, Jenna tried calling the town, but got no reply. "We might have a problem." She closed her eyes. "Dammit, I'm being blocked from connecting to my primary personality through the town's InterWeb."

  "I didn't get a response when I tried calling earlier," Josh said. "I thought it was due to being inside the depot. How long can you go being out of contact with your primary?"

  "I should be OK for at least a couple of days. It's just a matter of synchronizing with Jenna Prime."

  "Depot shielding shouldn't be a problem with this equipment," Kylie said from the driver's seat, "but it's possible. We'll check once we're outside."

  They drove quickly to the back door. Seeing the coast clear on their scanners, they drove out and sealed the door behind them.

  "It'll take them a few hours to cut through those seals," Kylie noted.

  "Communications, this is Jenna. Do you copy? Over."

  Still only static.

  "Lord, I hate to do this?"

  "Do what?" both Kylie and Josh asked.

  "Get caught in a lie."

  Josh and Kylie looked at each other in confusion.

  "Valera Station, this is Jenna, access code 162-Alpha. Do you copy? Over."

  "Jenna, thank God! This is Talus aboard Valera Station. What is your status? Over."

  "Depot self-destruct armed and depot is sealed. We are in the city aboard a Jarrion APC. I have Dr. Gray and his aunt, Kylie, aboard. We have an unknown number of Zexx running around. Request status. Over."

  "Unable to contact town. Possible Zexx incursion. They may have taken the town for purposes unknown. Our docs think they may be looking for a way into the depot. Jenna, under no circumstances are the Zexx to gain access to that depot. You are ordered to blow the facility immediately, then proceed to LZ for extraction. Over."

  The comm system beeped as she ordered it to mute. "Um, bug out or save the town?" she asked her two companions

  "Save the town," they replied without hesitation, even though they had no idea what was going on. The comm beeped again. "Sorry, boss, but I didn't catch that last part. Oh, damn, we're driving into a tunnel... The speaker filled with static just before it cut out. "Damn pencil pushers. Talus is a dear, but sometimes... She stopped when she saw the looks on their faces. "Right. Long story short, Jacob and the crew of the Valera have been lying to you about the mission."

  "Which part?"

  "All of it. There are no other towns and no other people. One hundred seventy-five of the two-hundred and two colonists are retired military. The only people looking for redemption are the twenty-five elves from Adrestia."

  "Whoa!" Kylie said. "But I watched those pods eject..."

  "Robotic pre-colonization units. The other eight hundred colonists will arrive at the conclusion of this phase of experiment, which was planned to occur by this time next year. When Alex calls other towns, he's been talking to specialists aboard the station."

  "Specialists?" Josh asked.

  "OK, actors. Josh, BORIS, you, the Nordicans, and the Zexx are unforeseen developments."

  "Damn, I feel so special," Josh said.

  "You are. You saved two hundred and nine people from a fiery death, which by the way, was also unforeseen."

  "What about the crew?" Josh asked.

  "They're in on it. If it makes you feel any better, Tayla got into a heated argument with Talus about bringing you in on the deception. He refused."

  "And Valera Station?" Kylie asked.

  "A cloaked space station in high orbit keeping an eye on things."

  "Damn. So, what do we do now?" Kylie asked.

  Josh chewed a fingernail. "Auntie, what do you know about the Zexx?"

  "Not as much as I should. I've more pressing problems to deal with," she said as she took his hand and patted it.

  "Is there a library somewhere in town?" Jenna asked.

  "Computer, location of nearest library or public information storage facility" Kylie said as she put the APC in gear.

  "Working. Directions have been fed into the vehicle’s guidance system and displayed."

  Following the directions projected in the heads-up display, they quickly found the library. It was a large, cathedral-like building with ornate stone creatures hanging from the parapets. "Damn," Josh said as he stepped out. "Auntie, remember those old movies we used to watch when I was a kid?"

  "You mean those post-apocalyptic ones with zombies waiting around every corner?"

  "Yeah, those."

  All three of them nervously looked around before running to the safety of the building.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  "Mars! Take that load of fertilizer over to the south corner of the field. They're running low," the human supervisor yelled.

  "Yes, sir," Mars yelled back. Mars Pareara, ex-Councilmember of Ventos Prime and ex-head of the Adrestia assassin organization, Mars was now a simple colonist and lowly field hand on a planet dozens of light-years from his home, a home he will never see again, for if he did, his head would be separated from his shoulders by the keen blade of Queen Mother Lenora Irithyl. "So what if I killed a couple-dozen assassins? It sucked to be them," he muttered to himself. "And so what if I tried to destroy Earth at the behest of a demon while killing my wife in the process? That doesn't make me a monster, does it?" He thought for a moment before laughing. "Yeah, it kinda does."

  Mars was never really mentally well, but he learned to hide it from others. His mental instability was why he was able to kill people without a lick of guilt. Now, he hauled fertilizer across the fields like a good little farm hand.

  He found the assistant foreman and the two of them distributed sacks of fertilizer to the colonists prepping the fields. When they finished, the assistant foreman, one of the Adrestia elf assas
sins, had Mars head back to the Governor's Residence to refill several water containers for the thirsty field workers. With a well-practiced smile, Mars replied. "Yes, sir," before jumping in his vehicle and heading back to town.

  After parking by the back door, Mars unloaded the empty water containers and lugged them into the kitchen where he could fill them from an automated fill station which would turn-off when the container was filled. As he waited, he heard voices from out in the hall. Walking over, he saw Alex talking to several people including a member of a species he was unfamiliar with.

  "I will do everything in my power to help you, but please, help us. We're dying out there," the alien said.

  "You have my word," Alex replied. "We will do everything we can to help your people. Our first concern, though, is the Zexx. Tayla, take the commander back to the lounge while we see to other matters."

  "Yes, sir. This way, Commander," the Sokuhl replied

  The alien leaned down--she was very tall--and kissed the top of Alex's head. "Thank you."

  Mars ducked back into the kitchen and finished filling the containers. As he drove back to the fields, he saw an alien ship parked in the LZ outside of town. It was guarded by two more members of the unknown alien race. He continued on his way back to the fields.

  When his shift was over, Mars returned to his room where he showered, then changed into evening clothes before firing up his computer. Unknown to everyone, including Alex, Mars was an accomplished hacker, one nearly on par with the great ones such as Harmon Aymar and Atmar the Unmerciful. He was also blessed with an eidetic memory, so he was able to reproduce all his hacker tools. To anyone casually looking at his terminal, including Jenna, his computer was completely normal. Looks could be very deceiving, though, for under a shell of normalcy lurked a device of pure evil.

  "Let's see what we haven't been told," he said quietly to himself as he pushed away layers of encryption and security until he could see every entry pertaining to their new visitors, the Jarrion, the city, the depot under the city, and even Dr. Joshua Gray himself. "Well, Lucien, I see your people have made another mess of things." A smile spread across his face when he came across the Project Valera files. "Lucien, you are such a scamp." He sat back and thought about what he had read. According to the files, Alyson was on the other side of Martok space, about a week's travel by fast attack cruiser. The colonists took longer to allow them time to assimilate the sleep-teaching. "Hmmmm. This could be useful," he said to the room as he typed commands.