“A13.” I paused. “That is my mother’s lab. They’re taking it off the station just like they did with the other lab sections.”
The people inside the tubes set to work with cutting tools.
“Look what’s up on that flat part on the right side of the ship.” Decker pointed and I saw the raider woman’s vessel perched on a makeshift mooring platform.
“So if it’s there, we know that means Ansun and the raider woman have decided not to try to find us, at least not at the moment,” I said.
“I don’t see Gregor,” Lainie said.
“He was in bad shape when he left me.” I feared Gregor hadn’t even been strong enough to make it to the repair pod. And if he hadn’t, the oxygen in the station was due to be shut off any time now. “We should go back to the station and see if we can find him.”
“There he is!” Lainie cried. She pointed to the bottom ring of the station and I spotted the tiny repair pod creeping along.
“I don’t see anything on the station that looks like an explosive pack,” Decker said. “But they could be small enough to miss on such a massive structure.”
I recalled all the various images of the station I had seen in the past and compared them with the view in front of me. I found the difference. “It’s those silver cylinders. I haven’t seen those before.” I pointed out three cylinders attached at odd angles to the bottom ring.
“Those are so small, it might just be part of the station you’ve never noticed.” Decker argued.
I knew they hadn’t been there before. “Watch, Gregor is heading right toward the one outside C16.”
We watched him try and fail to get the pod’s arms to unlatch the cylinder from the side of the ship. He tried again, and again, he failed.
“He was shaky when I saw him. I don’t know if he’s going to be able to do this.” I said. It was painful to watch Gregor’s clumsy maneuvering.
“I can get a closer view of him from one of the console slips,” Lainie said. She selected n and made the view on the slip zoom in on the pod. “He looks like he’s going to pass out,” she said. Gregor’s face was slick with sweat and the bandage over his ear was covered in fresh blood.
“What happened to his head?” Decker asked.
“Ansun,” Mira whispered.
Just when it seemed like another attempt had failed, one arm freed the cylinder from the station and the other grabbed it. “He got it!” Lainie pounded Decker on the back like Decker had done it himself. Gregor reversed the pod away from the station and then had the arm release the cylinder with a push, sending it off tumbling away into space.
Lainie gave of whoop of excitement, but I caught a movement on one of the other slips. “Move in on the raider woman’s ship.”
Decker brought it into view. “There’s someone in the weapons bay.”
“They see Gregor!” Lainie cried.
“Can we warn him?” Mira asked.
“I don’t know how to hail the pod,” Decker told her. “He’s not wearing an earpiece and I bet the pod only connects with the comm on the station.”
“He sees them,” I said quietly. Everyone fell silence. We watched Gregor move the pod to the next cylinder.
An energy blast from the raider ship shot by the pod, just missing it.
“He’s got to get out of there!” Lainie yelled. “Why doesn’t he just forget the pack and go!”
I felt someone touch my hand. I looked over to find Mira right next to me. I took her hand in mine as we watched.
Gregor got hold of the other cylinder more quickly this time. As he moved away and sent it into space after the first, another brilliant flash of light came right out at pod. The whole display lit up. Where the light disappeared, tiny bits of debris floated where Gregor’s pod had been.
No one said anything. I stumbled back, letting go of Mira. A sharp wave of hatred for Ansun filled me. Lainie let out a sob and put her head down on the console.
Decker was the only one who stayed in place. I watched as he maneuvered the shuttle underneath the bottom ring, out of sight of the raider ship and then dropped the shuttle back toward Fosaan.
Forcing myself to speak, I said, “Good move. They might have come after us next. I want us to be around long enough to tell someone what Gregor did. He should be awarded some sort of medal for that.”
“I wish he’d blown up Ansun,” Lainie said, “instead of just wasting those explosives. And I wish I knew where Saunder was so we could get to them before Ansun hurts anyone else.”
“We need to focus on that. The question is where could Ansun take everyone?” Decker asked. “It’s not like he has another planet or access to many ships. At least not yet.”
“Good point,” I managed to say, trying to concentrate on the missing Earthers instead of Gregor. “They can’t be far away. What do you think, Mira?”
She just shook her head and sat down. I realized she didn’t look good. Her fingers clasped the edge of the seat like she was barely holding herself upright. I could see she was breathing very, very fast and she was shaking all over. When I touched her arm, it was ice cold, so I went over to the shuttle’s emergency kit and took out a warming blanket. When I had it activated, I sat down next to her and wrapped it around her. She didn’t look up. “Mira,” I said, “Put your head down. It will help you feel better.” She laid her head on my lap. I brushed the hair away from her face, feeling her shiver.
Lainie knelt down in front of her. “It’s all right,” she said. “That was intense.”
“I’m sorry,” Mira whispered. “I didn’t even know your friend. I should be more in control of myself. I should have done something about Ansun a long time ago. It’s all my fault. I had a responsibility to the clan and I did nothing. Ansun is right. I am weak.”
“You’re not weak at all.” I began to realize what a drastic action Mira had taken, cutting herself off from everything she had known. “You’ve taken a stand against Ansun when no one else in your clan would. We wouldn’t have managed without you.”
Lainie nodded her head in agreement. “I don’t understand something,” she said to Mira. “Back on the station, the raider woman said something strange to Ansun. She said he’d never be the emperor. Why would she say that?”
Mira took so long to answer, I was almost convinced she wasn’t going to speak at all. Finally, she sat up, taking the warming blanket off. “Ansun has always wanted to be rid of me, but he just couldn’t find a reason before, or a way to do it without the clan revolting. My mother was Ansun’s older sister, and the heir to the Empire after my grandmother. After my mother died, I became the heir, though we don’t exactly have an empire.”
“I don’t understand,” Lainie said.
“I do,” I said. “After Mira’s grandmother, Mira is the next ruler of Fosaan. Ansun wants to be named Emperor, but he couldn’t claim the title with her still around.”
Mira raised her chin. “Quinn is correct. I will be the next Empress.”
“Wow,” Lainie said. “So you’ll be in charge of a whole planet?”
Mira shrugged. “A mostly empty planet. And it doesn’t matter now. Ansun has everything he needs to stay in control. I can’t go back and take over from him.”
Decker started to say something but a beeping noise from one of the display panels made him stop. He moved over to it. “I’m picking up a signal from the planet. It’s not from the station. In fact, it’s not coming from anywhere near the station.”
“What are the coordinates?” I asked.
Decker entered them. “That’s the middle of the ocean.”
“Maybe it’s an atmospheric anomaly.” I said.
“Some of it sounds like an actual signal.” Decker tapped a markon. “I’ll replay it. The first part matches a military distress signal, but the rest is just noise or really strange music. Listen.”
Bizarre music filled the shuttle. “That just sounds like random notes to me,” I said. �
�There’s no melody or rhythm. Definitely an anomaly.”
“It’s a signal all right.” Lainie smiled. “Turn down the sound and turn on the visual so I can see the sound waves.”
She leaned over Decker’s shoulder, watched the pattern of waves move across the display for a moment and then said, “Let me sit there.”
They changed places. “It’s a code,” she announced, breaking into a smile. “The wave patterns are the message. See, each note stands for a letter. My dad and I came up with the idea, though we never tried it.”
“That’s a terrific way to hide a message, but it doesn’t do us much good if we can’t read it,” I said. “Is that standard enough to run through a translator?”
“We don’t need to. I can read it. That’s my dad’s signature. This bit here. See the repetition.” She pointed at the display. “It starts here, ends there and then repeats. I need to slow it way down to read the rest of the message.”
“Why would he use that sort of code?” Decker’s voice was skeptical. “How would anyone know it’s a code?”
“Experienced comm people would,” Lainie said patiently. “Either he doesn’t have access to anything fancy or he doesn’t want it picked up by the wrong people. I guessing Baldy and Ansun are the wrong people. Now be quiet and let me concentrate.”
It seemed to take no time at all for Lainie to read it. She leaned back in the chair. “They’re on an island somewhere. He doesn’t know where. They were put there and told the Fosaanians would be back to move them somewhere else.”
“Where would Ansun have them moved? Mira, do you have any ideas?”
Mira shook her head. I tried to remember everything I knew about the geography of Fosaan. Unfortunately, Ansun would know far more than any Earther.
“I suspect the raiders have a base somewhere and they’ll take them there,” Decker said. “Ansun doesn’t have the capability to provide what they need.”
“Don’t underestimate him,” Mira said.
“We’ve got to do something before they are moved again.” Lainie got up, acting too agitated to sit still. “My dad may not be able to contact us from a different place.”
“What can we do? Only a few people would fit on here even if we could get to them first,” Decker said. “I say we wait for Quinn’s father to show up. He can communicate from his ship with military command. They may be able to rescue the scientists and stop Ansun.”
“They won’t be able to stop Ansun,” Lainie said. “Even if they do rescue the scientists, what if he gets away? He’s got all the technology now, and he’s smart enough to have secured it somewhere. He doesn’t even really need the scientists. With the raiders backing him, he can hire other scientists and make as many bots made as he wants. It may take him a little longer than it would with the current scientists, but it won’t set him back for long. Who knows what he’ll do then?”
“He doesn’t have everything. And I don’t think we can wait for my father,” I said, thinking of the look on Ansun’s face after he’d given the raider woman the helicos. It had been nagging at me. “Take me back to the station.”
“What are you going to do there?” Decker asked. “Because if you don’t have a good reason, I’m not going back.”
“The current MIs are still flawed. Ansun gave the raider woman the technical specs but he looked like he knew something she didn’t. I think he knows the fix for the bots is in a piece of equipment in my mom’s lab.” I explained about Gregor’s adaptation of the machine my mother had told me about the last time I had seen her. It seemed ages ago, even though it had only been a few days. “We can’t let Ansun have it. I’m going back to the station. I’ll get rid of it before they can finish taking off the lab.”
“That’s crazy, Quinn,” Lainie said. “It’s too risky. You’re just basing this on a look on Ansun’s face. And even if it’s true, you don’t know if the equipment worked the way your mother thought it would.”
For once, Decker surprised me by not immediately objecting. “I would like to stop that scum,” Decker said. “But, Quinn, I don’t think you are going to be able to carry it off. You don’t look like you are in great shape either.”
I knew I wasn’t, but that wasn’t going to stop me. “We don’t have any other options except just hanging around hoping my father gets here soon. I don’t want to do that.”
Lainie finally nodded. “You’re right. We have to do something.”
I looked at Mira. She said, “I want Ansun stopped too. I’m sorry you all have to be a part of this.”
Decker sighed. “All right. Let’s do this then,” he said, going back to the controls. As we came closer to the station, I was relieved to see the salvage ship still at work. I’d been afraid my mother’s lab would already be gone.
When Decker landed the shuttle in the bay, we could hear a voice from the station’s audio system. “The station’s oxygen content has fallen below the safety range. Use supplemental oxygen.” It repeated itself over and over.
I grabbed an oxygen pack out of one of the storage units, trying not to think about what would have happened to us if we hadn’t been able to get off the station.
“Quinn, wait,” Mira said, moving over to me until she stood just inches away. She took off her necklace, reached up and put it around my neck. “We’ll see you soon.” Then she kissed me.
I kissed her back, forgetting everything.
It was only Decker’s voice that made me stop. “Um, while you may be enjoying yourself,” he said, “we can’t just hang around here. If you are going to do this, you should go.”
I broke away from Mira, wishing she and I were anywhere but here. “Later,” I whispered to her. I put the oxygen pack around my neck.
“Wear an earpiece too,” Lainie urged.
“Why?” I asked, trying to clear my head. I told myself I’d have time to think about Mira later.
“What if you can’t get to the lab?” Lainie said. “All those sections are still sealed off. I can direct you if I can remember which ones I sealed.”
She was right. I didn’t have time to wander around the station. I found an earpiece and attached it, “Okay. I’m ready.” Decker lowered the ramp and I went out into the bay.
The station was eerily quiet. I jogged through the corridors trying to make my way to the lab, but I had to keep doubling back every time I came to a sealed door. Lainie tried to direct me, but obviously didn’t remember what she had shut off. I nearly knocked myself out running into a panel she swore was open.
“This isn’t working,” I said. “Let me figure it out. I think I know how to get to an access ladder.”
When I was nearly at the panel that concealed the ladder, I ran around a corner right into a cleaning bot and fell over it. My head hit the wall and then the rest of me hit the floor. For a moment, the vision in other eye disappeared too. I lay there knowing if I had gone blind, I’d never be able to find my way back to the shuttle.
“Quinn, are you there?” Lainie asked.
I blinked and the sight came back in my right eye. “It’s nothing,” I said. I got up carefully, fearing the movement would make the vision go away again. The audio warning about the oxygen content continued. I decided I’d better move faster and hope for the best.
I reached the access ladder and climbed up. “I’m almost there,” I said. “I’m at A18.” I took off again but after a few meters, a horrible screeching sound made me clap my hands over my ears.
The audio system’s voice said, “Breach detected. Initiating sealing. Ten countdown.” The floor shook beneath me. I turned to find clear panels sliding shut on the corridor behind me and the voice counting down from ten. “Ten, nine, eight … ”
“Quinn, what’s happening?” Lainie screamed.
“Seven, six, five … ”
I didn’t have time to answer. I dived for the opening and made it through just as it sealed shut. Trying to catch my breath, I lay on the floor, shaken at the
close call.
“Quinn, are you there?” It was Mira’s voice.
I rolled over on my side and propped myself up with one arm. “I’m here.” I got to my feet and went over to a view port. Outside, I could see the salvage ship had my mother’s lab fastened between the two arms as it drew them back from the station.
“I was too late,” I said, almost to myself.
“Good try,” Decker said. “Come on back. I’d like to get out of here.”
I took a couple of steps in the right direction, so angry I stopped to take a punch at the wall. When my hand connected with it, I recoiled in pain. “Ow!”
“What’s wrong now?” Lainie sounded panicky.
“Nothing. I was just acting like Decker.”
“What?” Decker asked.
“Nothing.” On my way to the hanger bay, I stopped by a sign that read, Until we can get the parts we were supposed to get thirty fissing standard days ago or until I come up with a brilliant new idea, this water supply station is closed until further notice. It was signed, “Your friendly maintenance officer, Gregor.”
“Oh, Gregor,” I said, images of the man filling his head. I stood for a moment thinking, and then reversed direction. “I’m going to try something else,” I announced. “Decker, get the shuttle away from the station right now. I’m not finished with Ansun yet.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m taking another one of Gregor’s pods out to get that other cylinder. No one is getting away with that lab. Pick me up when I’m done.”
I heard Mira’s voice. “What does that mean?”
“I’m going to blow up that ship,” I said.
“No, Quinn. The raider ship is still moored on the salvage ship,” Lainie said. “They’ll spot you just like they spotted Gregor. You won’t be able to do it.”
“Yes I will. The maintenance bay is on the other side of the station, and the last cylinder is down there too. With any luck I can get it and get to them before they see me.”
“Not a good idea,” Decker said, his voice calm. “Do you even know how to operate a repair pod? You saw what trouble Gregor had.”
Station Fosaan Page 20
