“Hold it… I’ve got to stop. Oh god, I’m a total mess.” He balanced himself against a workbench, breathing hard and looking deathly pale. “I don’t think I can make it.”
“Yes you can, just keep going, come on.”
“Jann, I’m a doctor, I know the story. I’m losing a lot of blood. I’ve already passed out once. Unless I get it stopped soon, I’ll bleed to death. I’m fucked, Jann.”
It was clear to her that Paolio had a point. Their only option now was to head for the Medlab and take their chances.
“The Medlab then. You can make it that far. Come on.”
“No Jann. Every thing’s fucked, leave me, get out of here, get off this planet… do you hear me? Get off while you still can… go now.”
“I’m not leaving you here, you can forget that idea. And I’m not leaving Annis either.” She threw his arm around her shoulders and hoisted him up.
“She may be dead too, Jann.”
“Move, we’re wasting time.”
Jann helped him onto the bed in the Medlab and rushed back to shut the door. She needed to find something to wedge into the closing mechanism but time was running out for Paolio. So she left it and went back to him. His leg looked bad. His flight-suit was saturated in blood. “I’m going to have to cut this off.” She hunted around for some surgical instruments and found several trays. She grabbed a set of cutters, probably designed for this exact job. She surveyed Paolio’s leg more closely. He had managed to apply a tourniquet to his upper leg just above the knee. Best not touch that just for the moment.
“Are you sure you want me to do this?”
“My leg’s not much good to me if I’m dead.”
“Okay.” She started cutting. It didn’t take long to reveal the wound and to realise that it was worse than she thought. He had a large gash on the inside left calf, and the bone protruded from a gelatinous mass of blood. “Oh shit.” She hadn’t meant to alarm him; it just escaped out of her mouth. Paolio lifted himself up on one elbow and assessed the damage to his body. “Fuck.” He collapsed back down again.
She found some lint and started cleaning around the wound. Paolio groaned in pain. “Stop Jann, wait.” He raised himself up again and this time took a longer look at the wound. The bleeding seemed to have stopped, which was something at least. But he knew the score, what he wanted Jann to do next would either save him or kill him. It was fifty-fifty, at best.
“Jann, listen to me, here’s what I want you to do…” before he could finish they heard an intense banging from across the dome. Jann ran to the lab door a looked out. Decker was trying to get the main bio-dome door opened. She could see the bar she used to wedge it closed was working itself loose with the vibration. They didn’t have much time.
“Jann!”
She shut the Medlab door and this time jammed a long, hardened steel, surgical instrument in to the locking mechanism. It would buy them time, nothing more.
“Jann!”
“Paolio, Decker’s breaking his way out of the bio-dome.”
“Jann, listen to me, listen to me.”
She stopped, “sure Paolio.”
“I want you to reset the bone and stitch me up.”
“Are you serious?”
He grabbed her arm and brought her face closer to his… and gritted his teeth. “Do it, do it now before I change my mind.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll need to find some clean bandage first.” He released her arm and sunk back down on the bed. Jann backed off and started opening drawers and doors and pulling out everything she could find. She knew what he was asking. Resetting the bone would mean starting to bleed again, as well as the excruciating agony. If he was lucky he might just pass out with the pain… if he was lucky. She found some, still packaged so still sterile, if that actually matter in the rarefied Colony One environment. There was loud crash outside. Decker was out from the bio-dome. She ran back to Paolio. “If there was ever a time to get focused this is it. Do it now,” she thought.
“Paolio, ready?”
“No,” he sighed. “Yes, yes. He managed a hint of a smile.”
She surveyed the wound as best she could, but there was no easy way to do this. She placed one hand gently on his leg just below the knee. Paolio screamed. She whipped her hand away, Paolio held his forehead and moaned. “Here, bite down on this.” She pushed a plastic handled instrument between his teeth, not that it was going to do much good, it was more psychological. She readied herself at the foot of the bed to reset the leg bone. “Ready in three.” Paolio groaned and nodded. She grabbed his calf just above the ankle. “One… “ and jerked it back with a twist. “Paolio screamed in agony.” The bone retracted back in through the open wound. She could feel it grind around inside as she tried to feel it back into place. Paolio raged and roared and she was sure he was going to pass out. Blood oozed out of the wound and pooled all around, it dripped on to the floor and her hands were wet and slippery. She couldn’t do this to him any more, when she felt it was right she stopped. “I think that’s it.” Paolio didn’t respond, he was too traumatised. She quickly wrapped his leg with a tight bandage to close the wound. It wasn’t pretty, but they were way beyond that now. Paolio was quiet, he had passed out. She finished the bandage and the blood flow had lessened. He looked deathly white, his body drenched in sweat and his breathing shallow. “He’s still alive,” she thought, “but for how much longer. I’ve probably just killed him.”
She sunk down on to the cold floor of the lab and cradled her head in her hands, rocking back and forth, like some long-term inmate of a desolate gulag whose mind had been eroded by eternal hopelessness. How did everything get so fucked up so quickly. Lu and Kevin were dead. Killed by the unhinged Decker, and Paolio, what hope was there for him now? Annis was probably dead as well. Soon, there would be just her.
Even if she were to run now there was no way out. She wasn’t going to leave the doctor. And there was no way she could get him into an EVA suit before Decker got out. They were stuck here. What’s more, with no power in the colony it was only a matter of time before the air became so saturated with CO2 it would be poisonous. How long, she had no idea, hours, days, weeks? It didn't matter; Decker would get them long before that.
But there was no respite, the lab shook and reverberated as Decker tried to get in. She jumped up, “shit,” and backed away as the door rocked again. There was nothing for it; she would have to make a stand — here, in this lab, on this desolate planet. It would be her end and she knew it. Jann swept the lab with the light from her helmet in search of anything she could use as a weapon. The door reverberated again. She picked up a long sharp surgical knife and held it with both hands out in front. She hoped to God it would not be the instrument of her own death. Her body shook and sweat saturated her face, stinging her eyes. She could smell her own fear. “Hold fast old girl,” she thought, “focus.”
The banging stopped and Jann entered a twilight zone of the unknown. At least with the noise she knew where he was, once it stopped her anxiety ratcheted up, notch by notch, as she waited for the inevitable onslaught by the crazed commander. She held fast.
Time passed and the light from her helmet grew dim, soon she would see nothing but total blackness. She had stood rock solid just back from the door ready for the attack, But now, her legs began to shake as the initial surge of adrenaline began to lose its potency. How much longer could she keep this up? She rubbed her eyes. It seemed like the light in the lab was getting brighter. Was the power back on? She shook her head and blinked. Yes, it was much brighter, coming from behind. She spun around and standing in front of her was the strangest man she had ever seen.
He was thin and ragged with wild hair and a thick scrub of beard. The light came from behind him so she could only see him in silhouette. He had come in through the door from the other section of the Medlab, the module they had all assumed to be sealed and derelict. Then came a low buzzing noise and a small robot moved in beside him. It was a little over waist he
ight. It stopped at his side, like a faithful dog.
“Is your colleague still alive?” He pointed over at the unconscious doctor.
“Yes, I think so.”
“Gizmo, would you be so kind as to look after the unfortunate individual.”
The little robot swung its head around to look up at its master — then it spoke.
“Certainly, Nills.” It whizzed over on sleek tracked wheels, extended two arms under the body of the doctor and lifted him up with ease.
“Wait, stop… where are you taking him? Who are you?”
Nills paused and extended his hand. “If you want to stay alive, then you’d better come with us.”
CHAPTER 12: NILLS & GIZMO
Jann had no real choice. Either stay and face the homicidal Decker… and certain death or follow the enigmatic colonist and his robotic sidekick… to possible safety? So she tentatively followed them through the door and into the wide, brightly lit module. It was empty save for a large section of flooring, hinged up to reveal a long ramp sloping down into the sub-surface. The little robot descended first. Nills turned to Jann and waved his hand towards the tunnel. “Quick, follow Gizmo.”
As she descended she could hear him closing the floor panel behind them. The light extinguished and the tunnel grew dim, lit solely by illumination from an open airlock door just ahead. Jann had a feeling that she was entering the proverbial rabbit hole.
They passed through the airlock and into a spacious underground cavern. It was hard to take it all in at once as it was dimly lit, with only patches of illumination here and there. The floor was flat and solid, and looked to be fashioned from a type of concrete. The sections of cave wall, that Jann could see, shimmered and glistened like they had been coated with some sort of sealant. The area was furnished like a workshop with equipment and machines of indeterminate function. Computer racks and monitors rested on scattered workbenches.
“Gizmo, would you be so kind as to place the injured human over there.”
The little robot wheeled around and set Paolio down on a bed with an uncanny gentleness. The doctor was still unconscious. He badly needed surgery on his broken leg and he needed blood, none of which was going to happen. There was not much Jann could do for him. His fate was in the lap of the Gods. She took her helmet off and looked over at the ragged colonist. “You’re Nills Langthrop.”
“Yes, and you are Dr. Jann Malbec. Science Officer with the International Space Agency Mars expedition.”
“Yes, how did you know that?”
Nills didn’t answer. Instead, he turned and waved an extended hand towards the little robot. “This is my friend Gizmo.” It rocked its head and spoke.
“Greetings Earthling,” said Gizmo.
“Eh… pleased to meet you,” she replied, a little uncertain. She turned back to Nills. “Where are we? Are there any more colonists?”
“All in good time. For the moment you are safe.”
“Why were you hiding from us? We’ve been searching everywhere.”
He went quiet and scratched his beard. “It’s a long story.”
“Nills, I think the infected earthling is getting ready to leave.” Gizmo was over by a bank of monitors. Nills rushed over, followed by Jann. On screen was a video feed from the main Colony One airlock entrance. Decker was putting on his EVA suit. They stood in silence for a while and watched.
“You know what’s wrong with him, don’t you,” said Jann.
“He’s infected. You probably all are.” He turned to face Jann who was visibly shocked. “But don’t worry it only affects some. You’re okay, as is your colleague,” he nodded over at the unconscious Paolio.
“This is what you were talking about... in your last transmit.”
Nills nodded. "So you got that, interesting."
“There must be something we can do?”
“Wait, just wait. Come, are you hungry?” He stood up and waved a hand in the direction of a makeshift galley.
“What? No. It’s not exactly high on my list of priorities at the moment. What about Annis, do you know if she's still alive?”
“Patience, we have plenty of time.” He walked off, the little robot followed after him. Nills sat down at another row of workstations and started looking at readouts on several monitors. Jann had so many questions going around in her head it was hard to know where to start. However, it was clear that Nills was not going to respond well to an intense interrogation by her. She would have to take it slow. For the moment she was not in any immediate danger, as far as she could tell, so there was that at least. Jann also got the impression that Nills had the situation under control, as far as possible. So she decided to take a different tack.
“Yes, I'm really hungry.”
His face lit up. “Good, come… follow me.” He jumped up from the workstation and gave a kind of a nod to Gizmo. The little robot reciprocated by rocking its head as they moved over to the galley area.
“Gizmo, perhaps you would be so kind as to decant some of that cider we have been saving for a special occasion.”
“Excellent idea, Nills. Now would seem like the perfect time. Considering that we have guests with us,” the robot replied.
Jann watched it go about its task. It had a kind of scrap-yard construction with bits attached here and there. It rode around on tri-pointed tracked wheels and had a speed and grace of movement that spoke of superb engineering skill. She had never seen, or heard, anything like it before.
“Do you like fish?” Nills was staring into a tall storage unit, like a teenager surveying the contents of a fridge.
“Fish would be lovely.” She wasn’t sure if it would be lovely. But it seemed to be the best way to engage with the enigmatic Nills.
“Excellent. We have some top notch fish pie left over from our last baking day.”
“Good choice, Nills. It should still be well within optimal safety limits for human consumption,” the robot interjected.
Nills and Gizmo busied themselves bringing food and plates over to a table. The both moved with a practised ease, they knew each other’s ways. For Jann it was like watching a surreal ballet.
“Come, sit… and tuck in.”
There was fish pie, fruit, bread and an assortment of other food of uncertain provenance. As she sat, Gizmo poured her a cup of cider.
“We call it Colony Cider.” Nills raised his cup to her. Jann did likewise and they clinked.
“To new friends,” said Nills.
“To new friends.” She took a sip and was surprised to find it was absolutely delicious. She downed the whole cup in no time. Gizmo refilled it for her.
“Thank you Gizmo,” she said.
“Not at all, my pleasure. It’s good that you are enjoying it.”
“Yes, it’s… delicious.” Jann had just entered a whole new world. One where she was having a conversation with a robot, over dinner.
“Your robot is extraordinary.”
Nills looked at his creation. “He’s my friend.”
“Its language skills are remarkable. I’m used to robots saying things like ‘stand clear of the doors’ or ‘mind the gap’.”
“Indeed,” he nodded. “Tell me, what do you think of the pie?”
Jann was cognisant that, at the same time as she was tucking in, the psychotic Decker was still at large. Kevin and Lu were dead and Paolio was… dying, not to mention the whereabouts of Annis. But, to get anything out of Nills and his robotic friend she would have to work at his pace, on his terms, and that meant trying some pie first. Then a thought crossed her mind. “Maybe he’s the cause, maybe he’s trying to poison all of us?” Prolonged exposure to isolation can do strange things to the human mind. "Perhaps he's the one who's really mad. Or am I just being paranoid?”
Nills took a forkful of pie and proceeded to eat it, with relish. Comforted by this fact, Jann placed a tentative morsel in her mouth and ate it. “Mmmmmm… this is absolutely amazing.” And it was. After spending months living of ISA prepackaged
rations it tasted fantastic.
“Do you hear that Gizmo, she loves it.”
“But of course Nills, I have always said your culinary skills were bordering on the epicurean.”
“You flatter me, Gizmo.”
“Well, credit where credit is due, as they say. More cider Doctor Malbec?”
“Eh… sure… okay. Thank you.”
“Not at all, it’s my pleasure. Please… drink up.” It gestured with its free arm at her cup. Jann sat transfixed by the quirky robot. It was more polite and considerate than a lot of dates she’d been on. She began to relax and she began to eat. Hunger got the better of her paranoia. It helped that the food was delicious and she didn’t stop until she had cleared her plate. All the while sipping on the colony cider between mouthfuls of fish pie. This seemed to please Nills no end as he kept smiling and nodding at Gizmo, who reciprocated with a kind of Indian head wobble. Then it beeped, and its head turned to look off into the distance, like it was thinking. “What is it?” Nills had noticed.
“The ISA Commander, Robert Decker, has left the colony,” it said.
“Excellent, come, let’s get the power back on and get to work.” Nills jumped up from the table and scurried over to the workstations. His fingers danced across a keyboard and he muttered to himself as he inspected screen readouts.
“So it was you who switched the power off.” Jann had just finished off the last of her cider.
“Yes, yes.” He waved a dismissive hand in the air.
“Why did you do that?” Jann ventured.
“The infected. The drop in temperature quietens them down for a while, they become more rational, less volatile.” He turned back to his workstation. “How are we doing Gizmo?”
“Rebooting sequentially as planned… all sectors nominal… optimal temperature in approximately twenty two minutes.“
“Good, keep an eye on power distribution.”
“Bio-dome ranging at two point seven”
Colony One Mars: A SciFi Thriller (Colony Mars Book 1) Page 8
