by M. R. Forbes
Miranda was silent for a moment as she thought about it. "That doesn't make any sense. We have to be off Delta in three months. That isn't nearly enough time to get the Magellan ready."
"Are you sure? The ship is configured to support five-thousand right now. How long would it take to renovate some of the space into bunks, a hydro-garden, and a few extra recycling units for air and water? A month, at most?"
"Not for twenty-thousand."
"What about for ten-thousand?"
Miranda considered it, and then shook her head. "You can't be suggesting that there are people in the NEA who would leave others behind. They would essentially be murdering them."
"I don't want to believe it, and until I speak to Reza myself, I don't completely. He thinks it's true, and I don't get the feeling he's out of his mind."
"He could be looking for attention, or to get back at Guy for something. I've heard he can be a hard man to work for."
"It's possible, which is why I need to go to Gamma and talk to him. If there is something going on, I need to find out what it is and try to stop it."
"I don't know, Gabriel. You're a pilot, not a policeman. You should go tell Captain Tehrani about the message Reza left, and let him handle it."
"No. I can't. Reza came to me directly. He kept looking around like he was certain he was being watched. I don't know that I can trust Tehrani."
"She's a good person."
"She's also friends with Angela Rouse, who looked a little too happy about the message from Earth."
"What about your duties here?"
"I already put in a request for another week off. Colonel Graham granted it within five minutes. He knows there's nothing for me to do here."
"I'm not going to try to change your mind. God knows that I can't. You've got that St. Martin stubbornness. You're sticking your nose somewhere that you shouldn't. Be careful not to get yourself court-martialed or arrested."
"I'm only going to go talk to him. If anything does happen, you'll take care of Wallace? You're his favorite."
Wallace was laying on the bed, on her pillow.
"Something better not happen."
"If it does?"
"You know I will."
"Thanks, 'Randa. I left you access to my room. Feel free to hang out there if you want some more space."
Gabriel turned to leave. Miranda put her hand on his shoulder, and when he turned around she hugged him.
"Seriously, Gabe. Be careful. I already lost one best friend."
"They're scientists. They can't possibly be scarier than trying to outrun the Dread."
THIRTY-SEVEN
It had been seven years since Gabriel had been to Gamma settlement. He and Jessica had left their sperm and egg deposit with the registry on that trip, to secure their place as future parents once they were retired. Located on a small moon orbiting Taphao Thong, it was the most remote of the settlements, designed that way to both keep it obscured should the Dread ever show up in the system, and to protect the other settlements from the experimentation that occurred there. While the scientists took extra caution not to destroy anything, working with new technology meant there were never any guarantees.
Colonel Graham had authorized him to take a starfighter down to the settlement, since they would need to be delivered there for breakdown anyway. Sitting in the cockpit thinking that this might be the last time he was ever behind the sticks was a melancholy experience that might have led Gabriel back into his depression, if it weren't for the fact that his mind was otherwise occupied.
Miranda couldn't believe anyone in the NEA would be willing to let some of its people die to get the rest of them to Eden. While Gabriel didn't want to believe it, he was able to think that it was possible. He had seen Councilwoman Rouse's face when Guy had made his report, and how quickly she had sided with the Chief Astronomer. Was it because they were conspiring together, or was it because he was looking for something to fill the void left by the decision to end the war? Or maybe he was just looking for someone else to blame?
Gabriel adjusted his thrust as he neared the moon, bringing the fighter in more slowly than normal. The equipment in the settlement was sensitive to pretty much everything, which meant all kinds of extra rules around how things operated around it.
He eased the fighter through the open hangar, following a line of lights to the bay where they wanted him to land. He deftly maneuvered the vectoring stick, spinning the fighter in a neat one-eighty as he lowered it to the floor. He felt a wave of sadness as the small skids touched down, running his hand along the perimeter of the cockpit while he waited for pressurization. He lingered for a minute after the safety light had flashed to green before opening the shell and climbing out of his seat. He pulled off his helmet and set it down reverently, grabbing at his crucifix before hopping down and sending a thought to his mother.
The airlock slid open as Gabriel reached it. Lieutenant Curtis was on the other side, standing at attention as he approached.
"Captain St. Martin, sir," Curtis said, saluting.
"At ease, Lieutenant," Gabriel said. "I'm dropping SF-6 off for tear down. Has my return trip been arranged?"
Curtis shifted into parade rest. "Yes, sir. Spaceman Durvy will be ferrying you back to Delta in four hours."
Gabriel had asked Graham to arrange for him to have some time on the moon so he could tour the facilities. He hadn't been specific about the length of the trip to avoid possible suspicion, and he was happy to know he would have more than enough time to meet with Reza. He had sent only a single, obscure message to the scientist hours earlier in case the man's belief that he was being eavesdropped on was valid. Reza hadn't gotten back to him before he had left, so he figured he would find him now.
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Can you point me in the direction of Astronomy?"
"Astronomy, sir?" Curtis said, one of his eyebrows raising in curiosity. "Going to pick a fight?"
"Not quite," Gabriel said, smiling. "Would you want to assist if I were?"
"I'm friends with a lot of the team here, sir. Still, it would be tempting."
"I'll let you know if I change my mind."
"Yes, sir. Take the pod to the north wing, when you get off, go into the main concourse and turn left. Walk about half a kilometer."
"What about residential?"
"All of the scientists are segregated based on discipline. They don't like to be too far from their work. When you get to Astronomy, there will be a door to the lab in front of you. The passage to residential will be on your left."
"How do they manage it when an Astronomer marries a Chemist?"
"Excuse me, sir?"
"Never mind. I've got it. Thanks, Lieutenant."
"Of course, sir."
Gabriel took his leave of the hangar, casting one last longing glance back at the starfighter before he did. He followed the directions to the pod, climbing into the first that arrived and traveling the short distance to the central concourse. Like Alpha, this was where administration for the settlement was handled. Unlike Alpha, the area was nearly deserted in the middle of the day. He had always heard that scientists tended to be less social than other people, and his few trips to Gamma had proven it.
He crossed the concourse, drawing looks from the few people who were present. The soldiers in the space came to attention and saluted him as he passed while the others simply stared. He was sure most of them knew who he was, even if he had never met them. He was a rare enough sight in Alpha Settlement. He was like dark matter here.
A second pod ride brought him to the north wing of the settlement. The concourse was almost as quiet here, though it seemed they had chosen to use the hub as a food court. Three dozen scientists sat in random locations around simple tables, while a single cooking station prepared what smelled like fresh vegetables and synthetic meats. Gabriel had barely eaten in the last few days, and now that he was regaining some of himself the scent was more than tempting.
Like before, the scientists watch
ed him pass. A few of them even waved or nodded their heads to acknowledge him. Others looked away when he made eye contact, embarrassed to be caught staring. He waved back to those who were friendly, and ignored the ones who weren't. He also scanned each face, looking for Reza.
He turned left and headed down the next corridor, stopping when he reached the full-sized hatch labeled 'Astronomy.' As he had guided the fighter in, he had seen the orbital telescope they used to scan the distant universe. Its construction had cost three times the resources as all of Delta Station, but both the science community and the Council had believed it was worth it.
He had been a child at the time, but his father should have seen the writing on the wall back then that the people were losing faith in their ability to overcome the Dread occupation.
He stepped up to the hatch. It slid open at his proximity, revealing another corridor that branched off into the science complex. He had no idea where he was going, so he just started walking.
He hadn't gone far when he nearly bumped into Guy Larone as he was exiting one of the rooms. The Chief Astronomer drew back in surprise at the sight of him, his posture and his expression instantly defensive.
Or was it guilty?
"Captain St. Martin?" Guy said. "I didn't expect to run into you here."
Gabriel struggled with his temper, fighting to keep it at bay. He really was getting back to normal.
"Reza invited me to have lunch with him," Gabriel lied. "Have you seen him?"
Guy's eyes twitched. "Lunch? I didn't realize you and Reza were friends."
"If you had, it would have given you more ammunition, right?" Gabriel replied, immediately angry at himself for not being more reserved. He smiled. "I'm kidding. We aren't friends, or weren't, I should say. We've been commiserating over the fate of the people of Earth together. There is one scientist in the NEA with a conscience."
He could have kicked himself for going over the line again. Guy stared at him, obviously angry. The scientist shook it off.
"Well, in any case, you won't find Reza here. He's been shipped off to Alpha."
"To Alpha?" Gabriel asked.
"After his performance in front of the Council, Mr. Mokri decided that it would be a good idea to try to hack into off-limits portions of our datacenter to prove his inane theories. Needless to say, built-in safeguards alerted the IT Department to his shenanigans, and he was summarily both fired and arrested. I'm sure he would have told you, had his comm access not been revoked."
It was Gabriel's turn to stew. Maybe if he had checked his messages earlier, the scientist wouldn't have done something so stupid. He had come to Gamma under a false pretense, and now he would need a reason to transfer between settlements.
"You believe him, don't you, Captain?" Guy said while Gabriel was trying to think of a good excuse to use on Colonel Graham for bringing the SF-6 to Alpha.
"I didn't say that."
Guy laughed. "You don't need to say it. I'm not stupid, Captain. I know you despise my team for our discovery, and for ruining your game of make-believe war. It wasn't us that drove the last rivet into the starship. You can thank General Rodriguez on Earth for his surrender. The idea that we would make up numbers that are the basis of transporting every life in the Calawan system to Eden is not only preposterous but personally hurtful. Just because we believe in two different ways forward doesn't mean that we're monsters."
"I never said you were," Gabriel said. "Like I said, we were supposed to have lunch. We set it up before I left Alpha the other day. I had no idea what he was planning. Anyway, to be honest, I did want a little more clarity regarding his statements. Considering that there's a question about the numbers at all, and considering my position and the position of my father, I don't believe that is out of line."
"No, it isn't," Guy agreed. "I would be happy to show you the calculations if you're interested. Just give me some time to prepare, and we can meet to discuss them."
"Why do you need time to prepare? They're only numbers."
Guy laughed. "Only numbers? If that were true, you could do my job. Do I tell you flying a starfighter is only a matter of manipulating a pair of sticks?"
"Maybe another time, then," Gabriel said. "I only reserved enough time to eat and run back to Delta."
"Very well, Captain. Let me know when your schedule allows a longer visit."
"I will," Gabriel said. "If you'll excuse me."
He turned and headed back toward the exit. He could feel Guy's eyes on him, watching him leave. The confrontation left him with a bad feeling that Guy was full of shit.
THIRTY-EIGHT
The prison on Alpha Settlement was located in the central hub, through a secured hatch that led down into a subterranean area above where the large dome's anchors had been sunk into the earth. It wasn't a large area. The vast majority of offenses in the NEA were minor things like fistfights or verbal altercations or the occasional theft or vandalism by a minor. These crimes often led to a maximum of a day or two in prison for the citizen in question and meant they only needed a dozen cells for the entire population.
When Gabriel arrived, he learned that only four of them were occupied. He didn't know what the other three offenses were for, but the guard in charge of documenting visitors to the prison was happy to talk to him about Reza. Mr. Mokri was the first hacker to be arraigned in at least twelve years, and between his two-week sentence and Guy's request that he be re-assigned, it turned out he was somewhat of a fifteen-minute celebrity in the settlement.
That fact worked to Gabriel's favor since he needed something to use to convince the Spaceman to let him in to see Reza. He had no official reason to stop by, but he also didn't think that whatever the scientist had to say could wait. The short hop from Gamma to Alpha had given Gabriel time to consider, and the idea that Reza had been framed had wormed its way into his head. It was Guy's attitude that had done it. Gabriel's father was arrogant, but the Lead Astronomer put that arrogance to shame. There was something there. Something Guy wasn't saying.
He was sure of it.
Fortunately, Spaceman Lee was a fan of Gabriel's exploits and an even bigger fan of the Old Gator. He was more than happy to let Gabriel in to meet Reza and to keep quiet about it. After all, what harm could Gabriel do in talking to him?
The cells weren't much different than the standard residential quarters, save for their slightly smaller size and open, barred entry. Each was identical, equipped with a simple bed and mattress, a small room with a toilet, and a comm unit for watching movies or reading.
Reza was laying on his stomach on the bed cradling his handheld, looking as distracted by it as he had at the loop station. He didn't notice when Gabriel approached with Spaceman Lee, continuing to tap on the device with his thumbs.
"You've got a visitor, Reza," Lee said.
"I thought I asked you not to let anyone in to see me," Reza said without looking up. "Are they media?"
"Reza, it's Gabriel St. Martin," Gabriel said.
Reza's head snapped in Gabriel's direction. He looked flabbergasted that the pilot had come to see him. "Captain St. Martin. You were the last person I expected here after I never heard back from you."
"Spaceman Lee, can you give us a few minutes alone?" Gabriel asked.
"Of course, sir," Lee said. "Do you want to go in?"
"Yes, please."
Lee put his thumb against the door. It unlocked, and he held it open for Gabriel, who went inside. Reza shifted to a sitting position so Gabriel could join him.
"I'll be back in twenty minutes," Lee said before leaving.
"Sorry it took me so long to come," Gabriel said. "I took the news about the resistance pretty hard."
"You're here now," Reza said.
"Why are you here?"
Reza shook his head. "Ugh. So stupid. When I didn't hear back from you right away, I thought maybe I could entice you to listen to me by getting at least a little bit of proof about my claims. I had seen Guy and Sarah's original workup on Ed
en on our servers, the one with the skewed numbers. I wanted to transfer a copy to you. But Guy knew I wasn't going to let things be, so he set a trap for me, and I wound up here. Like I said, it was stupid, but I needed to get your attention. You're the only one who can help me."
"Why am I the only one? If you had irrefutable proof that the math is wrong, then-"
"I tried to tell the Council," Reza said, interrupting. "You saw where that got me. The Larones have all the experience, and I'm just an upstart who switched out of mechanical engineering because I was bored."
"You switched out of ME? Because you were bored?" To Gabriel, there was nothing boring about trying to improve machines. Especially their weapons systems.
"Yes. I thought Astronomy would be fun. I've been trying to put together this theory on slipspace and phasing that I think could change the way we look at the streams, and maybe increase our time and distance estimates to ninety-nine point nine percent accuracy. That's what I'm working on now, and that's why I'm sure the numbers are wrong. The bulk of my astronomical effort has been with slipspace. So, Guy is trying to discredit me."
"Getting arrested doesn't help with that. I came over here with the idea that you might have been set up."
"I know, I know. It was so dumb. No, I didn't get set up. I did it to myself, and I probably lost the only tiny shred of proof I have."
"Only that the math is wrong. What about the other thing you said? What about the idea of leaving people behind?"
"Exactly. I told you; it doesn't work any other way, but I can't even get anyone to consider the possibility if I can't prove the smallest part of it. Well, except for you. You believe me, don't you?"
Gabriel stared at Reza for a few moments. "I'm not sure what I believe."
Reza leaned back, smacking his head against the wall. "Ugh. If I can't convince you, I can't convince anyone."
"You have to admit, the idea that there are members of the NEA conspiring to leave a good portion of the population behind is hard to swallow, when the worse offense we have around here is a food fight. You're talking about leaving people to die."
