“Good girl.” Naveya put the vial back in her pocket, then patted her legs, asking MiMi to jump in her arms. MiMi bent her back legs and jumped, allowing Naveya to catch her, then licked her chin and face all over.
“Alright, alright. That's enough,” Naveya giggled, pushing MiMi's muzzle away. “You know why this starbase is called Matrona? Well, even if you don't want to know, I'm going to tell you. Matrona is a Goddess, known in mythology as the great provider of food and fresh water. She personifies abundance and offers to share her riches freely.” She tapped MiMi's nose. “And you know what? She was usually depicted with having a dog. And carrying plants, because she had a strong connection with the healing arts.”
She kissed MiMi on the top of the head. “I'm kind of like Matrona, don't you think?”
A soft beep sounded and Naveya looked at the frequency monitoring system. “There we have it.”
On the small holographic display, she saw three numbers: 7-2-0. This would be the frequency of the plant, making it the frequency of the cure.
After writing down the number she ran to an adjacent room where two Suficell Pods were held. She walked into one Suficell Pod, turned on its digital box, and pressed “upload.” She typed in the frequency and pressed “enter.” Several numbers flashed off and on until the screen read, “done.” The screen then asked if 7-2-0 was to be downloaded in “all” Suficell Pods. She pressed “all,” then clapped her hands, eliciting a yelp from MiMi. She had accidentally smacked MiMi across the shoulders.
“Oh! Sorry, Sweetie. I got a little excited.”
She turned on the Suficell Pod, then turned the dial all the way up, placing it at maximum power. She quickly jumped out of the pod so as to not get overloaded by the powerful frequency.
She walked into the next pod and turned up the dial, typing in 7-2-0 and pressed run, then jumped out of this one just as fast.
“Time to go do our rounds. We'll head to Sphere 1 first and then —”
Naveya clutched at her heart, dropping MiMi to the floor. She backed up, and finding a chair, sank into it.
She held her head in her hands for several minutes, as if watching an action vid. Finally, opening her eyes, she stared blankly at the wall.
“It's over. I can't believe it's over.”
She stood, then sat back down, rubbing her eyes. What she had seen, she had also felt in her solar plexus and it was gut-wrenching, but powerful at the same time. “Oh, Guild.”
Searching her intuition, she closed her eyes, pushing all thought out of her mind, and beckoning the feeling to rise to the top and unveil itself. There was an emptiness; it spoke to her, and she watched it again.
She glanced at MiMi, tears welling in her eyes. “I'm sad and happy, and very well conflicted on the happiness part. We will no longer need to activate any more Suficell Pods, but it came at a very high price.”
∞
Manning, flat on his back, stared up at the launching tubes. “Dammit!” he said, pushing himself in a seated position. “I had her.” He slapped the side of his head. “You fool.”
He glanced at his palms then patted himself down. “Where's my phaser?” He quickly discovered it lying on the ground under a nearby starfighter. The jolt of his impact against the ground must have jostled the phaser out of his hand.
He crawled over to his laser and grabbed it just as his com link blared to life. “Manning! We have Payson pinned down.” It was Louise.
Manning touched his earpiece. “So, he's alive. Where are you?”
“Airlock —”
An explosion sounded and he looked up, seeing smoke carrying upward near the airlocks.
“Louise? Louise! Can you hear me? Copy. Copy!”
There was no response.
Moving quickly around a Starhawk he made his way to the airlock hangars, then ducked as a laser whizzed by his head, singeing the nose of a Starhawk.
Manning backtracked and made cover under the closest craft he saw, pressing his crouched body against the craft's landing gear. He checked his phaser charge, noting that it was nearly empty, then pointed it in the direction that the laser impulses had come from.
Stupid move, Manning. I just about got myself killed running out in the open like that! Bonehead, he chastised himself.
He stayed in the crouched position for a moment, eying the area. Suddenly he could hear Louise loudly giving orders, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He crawled to the next starfighter, aiming his gun around the landing gear but not seeing anyone.
“Louise, copy.”
Another volley of laser blasts sounded, then another detonation of some sort, along with a trail of smoke rising to the ceiling. The phaser fire ceased and everything became quiet.
“Louise?” whispered Manning.
“You're lucky it wasn't Payson or his men shooting at you,” responded Louise. “What do you mean? Then, who was it?”
“They had you in their sights and would have sent you to the heavens above if I hadn’t shot a hasty laser impulse your way.”
“That was you?” squawked Manning. “You almost hit me!”
“They wouldn't have missed, Sergeant. Now, be careful! That's an order.”
“Aye, Captain.”
Manning began to move, but before he got anywhere he noticed a crumpled piece of paper under his knee.
Snatching it up and reading what was written on it, he immediately knew what it was used for.
“Louise?”
“Manning, shut up. We are —” Another round of phaser fire blasted his ears. “We are under heavy fire.”
“I found codes to the hangar doors, I think.”
“So?”
Manning shrugged, not knowing why these codes were here or why they were important. “I'll be coming up on your 3 o'clock.”
“Well, good news, Manning. Those codes may come in handy. Payson and his assholes have just entered a hangar. You're clear to come out. They have pinned themselves even worse. The only escape is through the space-side airlock, which you know wouldn't be such a happy ending for those pansies.”
“On my way.” Manning crawled out from underneath the starfighter and moved around another craft, seeing Louise waving her hand at him, while pointing her phaser at a hangar door. Surrounding her were a few Brigantia and Taranis Guards, their eyes fixed on the door as well, weapons pointing forward.
Manning changed direction and jogged to the line of hangars, then leaned his back against an outside hangar wall. He checked the charge on his phaser again, then wiped the sweat from his brow. Why do I always look at the charge?
He moved alongside the hangars, passing door after door, heading to the door Payson had entered.
His arm started shaking and he grabbed his wrist with his other hand, stopping the quiver, then looked up at his friends, hoping they didn't see.
Guild, I'm nervous.
Through this whole ordeal, even during the first attack, he'd really never thought about being anxious or frightened; he was too busy following orders, saving his admiral, and participating in minor skirmishes against the Matrona Guard to realize how uneasy he really felt.
Man up, Manning! he told himself, letting go of his wrist and noticing that it had steadied. Keep moving.
He came up to the edge of the door where Payson and his men had entered and stopped, then crouched. If he nonchalantly walked by the door's window, he'd most likely receive a laser in the brain. Here, he was in a good position. If any of Payson's crew decided to burst out of the hangar and toward Louise and the Guards he'd have an easy shot—a shot they wouldn’t expect.
Louise rounded the area and headed toward Manning. As she circled she took a quick peek through the window, though from afar. Her body flinched and she quickly moved away. Arriving next to Manning, she leaned against the hangar. “I just got a glimpse of Payson,” she whispered. “And, Guild, when our eyes met, it felt like he was twisting my heart out of my chest.” Louise looked visibly shaken.
“He can have that af
fect.”
“I saw his men checking things in there,” said Louise.
Manning kept his eyes at the edge of the door, and waiting. “What things?”
“Big containers. Lots of them.”
Manning's eyes went wide. “Explosives? Chemicals?”
“I have no idea.”
Manning looked at the piece of paper with the codes printed on it. “What's this door's number, Louise?”
“Twenty-seven.”
Manning scanned the paper. “The code to that door is 9981.”
“What are you suggesting, Sergeant?”
“I'm suggesting we make our way in there. Maybe there's something important in those containers. They came over here for a reason. It seems nothing they do is without purpose.”
Louise looked at her team. They were circling the area, making their way a certain distance from the door, pointing their phasers pointed forward and at the ready.
“We have nine men left. Payson has decimated our numbers.” She wiped her mouth, tightening her lips. “I told Admiral Byrd to kill him. He didn't, and in return, they killed him.”
“Admiral Byrd would order us to go after them, now. I truly believe that.”
“He was a conflicted man, Manning. Payson, just like Prime Director Zim, can do that to a person.”
“What's done is done, Captain. We now need to finish Payson the best we can. Let's go in there.”
“Not wise,” she replied, rubbing her brow, hoping some miracle plan would come to her, one that wouldn’t get any more of her squad killed.
“I don't think we have a choice, Louise. I'm not saying we just run in there. We need a plan, of course.”
“We have them more pinned down than I could have imagined. We wait for back-up before we even think about moving in.”
“Where the Guild is our back-up?”
“I'm in contact with Brigantia, Taranis, and Matrona Guards. They are sending some reinforcements. They should be here within fifteen or twenty minutes. And I'm sure Shanraing is on her way.”
“Captain!” yelled a confused-looking Guard.
“Yes, Private?” acknowledged Louise.
The man started moving toward the door, watching whatever it was that Payson and his crew were doing, craning his neck to get a better view. “They have emptied a black bag of some sort and are putting on gas masks.”
Louise and Manning gave each other worried looks.
“That's not good.” Manning said.
“They are now opening the containers!” blurted the Guard. “Orders, please!”
“Stand fast,” ordered Louise.
Manning hissed, “What the Guild are they doing in there?”
“I don't know, Sergeant. We don't know. That's why we stay here. They only have one logical way out, unless a craft comes and picks them up through the space-side airlock.”
“Can we just open the space-side airlock and suck them into deep space?” asked Manning.
“I don't know the codes for that.”
“Who has the password to the main HDC in Star Guild HQ? The pass codes might be stored there.”
Before Manning could get an answer, a voice came over his com link. “Excuse me, Sir?”
Manning had almost forgotten about the ITS agent.
“Where have you been?” barked Manning.
“Watching, Sir. Still watching. I have bad news.”
“What's new?” Manning flicked his nostril. “Give it to me.”
“All airlocks on the space-side of each hangar are temporarily turned off. This is protocol for any emergencies, domestic or overspace.”
“Can you override it?”
“No.”
Manning shook his head. “What the Guild is overspace, anyway?”
“It just means outside of our starbase and beyond.”
Louise was becoming a little perturbed by Manning's conversation and grabbed his shoulder to get his attention, gently shaking him. “Payson is stuck in there and seemingly without a plan. We need to brainstorm, Sergeant, not chatter.”
Manning held up his index finger, concentrating intently on his conversation with the ITS agent. “Is there any possible way to open the airlock? Do you have anything for me?”
“I have codes to get into the hangar from your position. But I don't have codes to open the space-side airlock of any hangar that will override emergency systems. The only person who can override the emergency protocol is Prime Director Zim Nocki.”
“I'm sure there are others, agent.”
“Not that I am aware of, Sir.”
“Well, get aware of them and get back to me. Until then, give me something tangible to work with.”
“Sir, there is one other way.”
Manning's spirits lifted. “Tell me.”
“There is an emergency lever inside each hangar, but it is protocol to have a spacesuit on with sufficient oxygen. Also, a tie belt must be secured to the hangar’s bolt fasteners and hinged to your suit's clip ring. The hangar also must be empty to do this, per protocol. But it doesn't mean it won't open if the lever is...” the ITS agent paused, as if looking for something on his HDS. “Yes, the lever must be in a downward position in order to open the space-side airlock. Again, no one would survive in the hangar if they don't have suits on and aren't securely fastened to the restraints.”
“Are there suits in this hangar?” Manning stared at the paper in his hand. “In hangar 27?”
“I don't know, sir.”
Disappointed, Manning tossed the paper on the ground. “Okay, gotcha. You got nothing for me. I'll keep what you've said in mind.” Manning then looked at Louise. “You were saying?”
Before she could say anything, another Guard spoke up. “They are unpacking hoses out of another black bag!”
Manning slowly stood and quickly peeked through the window, seeing Payson and two other men, each with a hose, walking toward what looked like hundreds of containers. He ducked back when he saw one of Payson's men standing fast, guarding the door with his weapon in hand. All of them had black gas masks on, looking like bugs working diligently together.
Manning fidgeted with his phaser. “I've no idea what they're doing.”
Louise nodded. “Whatever is in those containers benefits no one on Starbase Matrona. We have to move. I'll be the first to enter.”
“You'll be shot!” cautioned Manning.
Louise shrugged off his concern. “I'll be a distraction. You can take out the gunner and the rest will be easy pickings.”
Manning touched his earpiece and spoke, “ITS, what's in the containers?”
“I've been running checks, sir. The hangar is unregistered, but also considered off limits to military personnel. The Chem Lab may have an idea. I'll be back with an answer.”
Louise looked like she was turning white as a thought came to her. “The containers must be the poison that Devon uncovered. Didn't Zim tell everyone that he punched it out of the airlocks?”
“I don't remember. We gotta get in there. Type in the code. I'm f—”
The ITS agent interrupted Manning. “Not good, sir. Sally from Chem Lab says it is batrachotoxin and can kill a lot of people. And—more bad news. Hangar 27 is the oxygen link between all hangars and for all of Sphere 1. The oxygen channels in Sphere 1 goes directly into the biosphere. If this stuff gets into the biosphere, then all of the oxygen networks in the biosphere can be contaminated. The biosphere is the main oxygen generator on Matrona and leads to all oxygen channels on all of the Spheres. There's no telling where this could spread and how far. This is planned. How else would they know to place the toxin in this hangar?”
“I know. But, how exactly are they going to get the toxin into the air channels? Hoses alone aren't going to do it,” replied Manning.
“Sir,” said the ITS agent, “I see several black bags all around the containers. They may have a device to pull out the toxin and spread it through the air channels.” There was a pause. “Oh my Guild, if they disperse thi
s into the biosphere, it could creep into the water systems as well. This will go widespread, Sir.”
“You can see into the hangars as well?” asked Manning. “What are they doing now?”
“Yes, I can see everything on Matrona. They are still messing with the hoses.”
“Where is the emergency airlock lever?” Manning inquired.
“Next to the space-side door. There is one on the inside and one on the outside,” responded the ITS agent.
Manning eyed Louise. “We have to go in and take them out.”
“Like I said, let me in first. I'm the oldest here and if I die, it won't upset me as much as if one of them dies.” She thumbed over her shoulder at the nine Guards aiming at the door.
“No. The door isn't wide enough. Only one person can go in at a time, so once you get popped, then the next person gets popped. I have a better idea.” Manning rested his phaser on the ground, then cracked his knuckles with an impish grin. “I'll have you punch in the codes for the door and we'll improvise. I'll position myself on my stomach and we'll have our Guards fire one shot after another into the hangar. Payson won't see me down there, which might get me a clean shot. My intent is to clear the one guarding the door. I'll tag his legs, sending him on his back, then I'll easily end him.”
Louise pressed her com link behind her ear, relaying the plan to the Guards. Once the confirmations came through, she placed her fingers on the door console, punching in three of the four numbers of the code. She then spoke into the com link again. “Get ready. Once the door opens, fire at will. Remember, Manning will be at shin level. Do not hit him!”
Manning crawled over to the door and positioned himself on his stomach, chin up, and phaser ready to shoot.
Louise typed the last number of the code into the console and the door slid vertically open. Phaser fire upon phaser fire blasted through the opening, hitting container upon container, puffing white dust everywhere. The plan seemed to be a good one, but flawed as quick plans usually are. When he didn't see the intended feet or legs he wanted to shoot at, he shot his phaser regardless, singeing hangar walls. The one guarding the door wasn't anywhere to be seen.
Star Guild Episodes 10 - 18 (Star Guild Saga) Page 16
