by Gary Weston
“What the hell happened? I had to find out what happened back there.”
Belle stared at the HATED in her hands. Both red and green buttons were dull. The batteries were dead.
“Well, Belle. Now you know some of the tricks up Davron's sleeve. Basically, we're screwed.”
Chapter 16
Belle joined the others for a feed, waiting for the HATED to recharge, anxious to find out more about Davron. As they ate in silence, she glanced at Matlock. Out of the three, he would be the one to confide him, if the need arose. That time had not arrived.
Matlock broke the silence. “I don't see how we can get close enough to Davron to take him out,” he said, as if reading Belle's mind. “We're millions of miles away before we can hit his ship. His weapons can already take us out.”
Danders said, “So, why hasn't he?”
“He's devious, I'll give him that,” said Akrins. “The fact that he can take us out but hasn't, tells me it serves his purpose to let us reach him. And whatever that is, is not going to be good for us.”
“Fuel,” said Danders. “He can't be running around space indefinitely.”
Belle said, “The Romulus had a full supply of helium three when Davron stole it. Out in space, he only needs to reach a decent speed, turn off the engines and the ship will keep going at the same speed almost indefinitely. It was fully stocked and equipped with food and water for a ten crew mission for two years. Having said that, you could be right. He could well be thinking of taking anything we have.”
Matlock said, “Captain. I for one don't like the idea of us being human sacrifices. We are armed, but we may as well not be. I like a fight as much as the next man, but I didn't sign up for a suicide mission. I'm sure I speak for all of us on that score.”
Belle stared him out. “You're thinking of disobeying orders and abandoning the mission?”
“To do what? Go back to Earth to spend years in confinement for breaking orders? All I'm saying is, we need a plan. Something we can fight back with.”
“He's right,” said Akrins. “We know the W S A couldn't give a damn about us. They couldn't think of anything else to do, so they put a few, shall we say, undesirable elements together and hope they can kill Davron. Captain. We really need something to balance up the odds.”
Belle stood up. “That's just what I intend to try to do.'
Matlock said, “You have some ideas?”
“I'm working on it. I've things to do.”
Belle returned to her cell. The HATED was fully charged. She was ready to try again. About to start, she recalled something important. The noise from the suitcase. If she reached that point in time again, the results would be the same. She had no idea if it would work, but she pulled on her suit and fitted her helmet. It was possible to control the volume of sound reaching her ears down to nothing, which she did.
Making herself comfortable on her bed, she relaxed her body and mind letting herself fall into a meditative state, working the HATED before she went under completely. The green cloak of fog enveloped the cell, and she was back in the airlock with Davron, the outer airlock door open, ready for the hopper to take them to the laboratory. She was looking at the back of his head, his tight blond hair and the ears which stuck out a little too much. On the seat next to him was the yellow case. This was the second time she had joined Davron at this point in time. She knew exactly what was going to happen.
Davron had the laboratory under his control. He knew there were just three on board. Two would be the scientists, the other looking after everything else. They would have external help, but this was the minimum required to operate the practical end.
As the hopper approached the laboratory, Davron opened the outer airlock door and steered the hopper inside, setting it down. A touch of a control in the case closed the airlock door. Unhurried, he climbed out of the hopper with the suitcase. Belle got out as before. She had seen what was about to happen next; the inner airlock door opening, the man with the stun gun appearing and being rendered unconscious by a well-aimed dart from Davron's weapon. The scientists in the white coats appeared. This was as far as she had seen before.
There was that moment of hesitation before Davron let off that awful, debilitating sound. Belle hoped the helmet on her head in the Venom, would protect her from it. It did. She was still standing and couldn't hear a thing. Fully prepared, Davron bound three pairs of hands and feet together. He could have easily killed them, but he hadn't. Once the three were secure, he went to the door the scientists has appeared from. It was still open and he entered, followed by Belle.
Belle had heard the legend of Davron and the laboratory, but what she saw sickened her to her stomach. The huge lab had every wall covered with tanks and cages. Pigs and primates were the principle victims.
The tanks housed one animal each, suspended in a green liquid, bubbles rising from it as it was continuously circulated. Tubes and pipes were attached to each animal to provide nutrients and oxygen. They were also heavily sedated. From the pigs were growing organs, hearts, lungs, livers. All of these were on the outside of the animals. Each animal had scars where the organs had been harvested to supply the rich people who could afford them.
It was the primates that sickened Belle the most. They were similarly suspended and attached to tubes and wires. They also had organs growing on their bodies. The primates were devoid of hair, and it was that which made Belle feel sick. Without body hair, they looked even more like human beings. She also realised they were alive, kept in a vegetative state to be used to grow parts for wealthy humans.
Davron was looking at each tank in turn. His tears flowing freely down his face. He had known exactly what to expect, and yet what he found was still affecting him deeply.
Against one wall were live animals ready to take the place of any in the tanks that died. Several primates were behaving in a most agitated way, and Belle was thankful she couldn't hear them. She wondered what Davron had in mind. He was standing by a particular cage. Here was something he hadn't been expecting. It was a monkey. It looked healthy in every way. What it shouldn't have had however, were wings.
This wasn't something for producing organs. This was obviously a one off experiment by the two scientists as a pet project. The monkey held onto the bars of the cage, staring at Davron. It reached out of the cage and Davron took the tiny hand.
Davron seemed to make up his mind and he opened the cage and the monkey leapt out into his arms. Davron stroked his furry head. With the monkey in one arm, Davron went to the controls of the laboratory and turned everything off which kept the animals in the tanks alive. One by one, they died and were released from their vile existence.
This left the live primates, destined to replace the ones in the tanks. Davron looked at them for a moment, then turned his face to the ceiling as if asking some deity for forgiveness. He knew he couldn't take them with him, but if he left them, there was every chance they would be used as the others had been.
Belle knew what Davron was thinking. He wanted to save the winged monkey. But to take it back to the Romulus, he would have to find a suit of some kind for the ride over in the hopper. He left the huge room carrying the monkey, and made a search of some lockers. Eventually, he found what he was looking for. A suit, helmet already fitted. He checked the air supply. It was good.
“Ok, pal. You have to trust me, ok? I have to get you inside this so you can come home with me.”
He stroked the monkey's head and the animal seemed to understand this human meant him no harm. Davron put the monkey down and he flapped his wings.
“Don't you go flying off, pal.” Davron opened up the suit and lay it on the floor. “You have to get inside this. Come on, pal. Work with me.”
Davron carefully put the monkey inside the suit, fastened it up and set the air supply. Through the visor, the monkey was looking understandably scared. Davron picked him up in the suit, holding him like a baby, and the monkey calmed down. He
returned to the room with the tanks and cages.
“Sorry, guys,” he said to the primates. “I don't want to do this, but believe me. It's better this way.”
From his belt, Davron took a canister. He placed it on a bench-top and pressed a knob. As he made his way quickly to the door, a yellow gas poured out of the canister. Without looking back, he closed the door, sealing it for the gas to do its work. The primates would soon be dead. Belle followed Davron back towards the airlock and the hopper. The three bound people on the floor were coming round. Davron stopped to talk to them.
“I'm going, now. You'll be able to free yourselves in time. You can call your friends to come and get you. But I want you to remember this. I could have just blasted this place and killed you three. I didn't. Next time, I'll not be so kind. Do not let there be a next time.”
Belle started to follow Davron to the airlock and the hopper, but the green fog returned and she was back in her cell.
Chapter 17
On the flight-deck of the Venom, Belle was talking to General Burns. Their conversation was ambiguous, because of the crew.
“At least we aren't being bombarded by Davron, at the moment,” said Burns.
“Glad to hear that, General,” said Belle.
“You're making good speed, it seems.”
Belle said, “We're on track. We can't all help feel out gunned at the moment.”
There was a pause, then, “More ways to skin a cat, Captain Belle. I trust you are using all the available options?”
“Indeed. Most illuminating.”
“Excellent. Anything to your advantage?”
“I'm exploring all possibilities.” Belle noticed the puzzled expressions and glances between Danders and Akrins. “I'm sure I'll be able to think of a plan of action soon, Sir.”
“Understood. We are all hoping you and your crew can do away with that menace. Keep up the good work, all of you. A successful mission will be well rewarded for all of you. Good luck, over.”
“Thank you, Sir. Over.”
When Belle turned around, she could see the expressions on Danders and Matlock's faces. “What?”
“What do you mean, exploring all possibilities?” Matlock asked.
“Exactly that. I'm not just asleep in my cell, you know. I'm trying to come up with a plan. Either of you have a problem with that?”
Matlock said, “Of course not. Just let us be a part of the process. We've all been around the block a few times. It's in our own interests to help come up with a plan that will save our lives.”
“I understand that. Look. Like you, I've no death wish. Sergeant Matlock. I'd like to see the laser cannon again.”
“Ok. Come on, then.”
Belle followed Matlock to the rear of the ship, then to the steps that led to the laser turret and the cannon. He was about to climb up when Belle said, “I know all about cannons, Dale. I just wanted to talk to you on your own.”
“You do know something,” Matlock said. “Out with it.”
“For your ears only. For everyone when the time is right.”
Matlock's eyes narrowed as he tried to read her. “You are onto something.”
Belle wondered just how much to reveal. “I've a way to get a handle on Davron. Understand his true capabilities. Hopefully, even understand the full extent of his power. I can't say more than that.”
“Jazz. Let me help.”
Belle sighed and shook her head. “Soon. Maybe. Not now. You have to trust me. I want to survive this as much as all of us. I promise the minute I can divulge anything to you, I will. You really want to help?”
“Of course.”
“Then do so by keeping the other two calm and off my case. Let me do what I have to do and I'll rope you in when I can, ok?”
Matlock nodded. “Ok. Jazz. You really think you can come up with something?”
“I'm trying my best. Sorry I can't say anything just yet. Just support me behind the scenes. I have to get back to work.”
“Ok. Hey, look. Thanks for confiding in me.”
Belle said, “I needed to. Keep everyone off my back until I know what to do.”
“I'll try. Don't forget. I'm here for you.”
“Thanks.”
Chapter 18
The HATED had charged itself up again. She sat on the bed in her locked cell, staring at the thing in her hands. The steady hum of the ship told her with every passing minute, they were getting closer to the Romulus. It wasn't Davron's range of fire power that was the problem, but their own. Once inside the firing range, Davron would be forced to act and possibly destroy the Venom. He could do it well before that moment arrived, but Belle thought that that was the tipping point, when Davron would have no alternative but to act. If that were true, she had until then to find out more about their advisory.
Belle considered that. She couldn't afford to waste any visits to Davron. She needed to go to a point after the laboratory was rendered useless. Find out what he had been up to. She pressed the green button then took the second cube of the device and twisted it. Immediately, the green swirling fog filled her cell, and she closed her eyes. She could still see the fog of green. Letting her body relax, she was back on the Romulus. But when? Was this before or after the organ laboratory had been shut down? The flying monkey gave her a clue.
“Now look here, Muffin. I'm not angry with you. But you have to learn where you can do and not do your business. This is a ship, not a zoo. Come on, pal.”
Muffin was swinging around the safety rail of the upper level platform. With an acrobatic loop, he stopped and sat on the top rail. He spread his wings and leapt off the rail, landing on Davron's extended arm.
“Finally. Now. The evidence. Some of it on my boot. A good job for you I wasn't barefoot. No good kissing me like that. You're not off the hook that easily.”
Belle followed Davron to the passageway to his living quarters. He stopped halfway down the corridor.
“See this?”
“Eh, Eh, Eh!”
“Glad you find all this amusing.” Davron pointed to the mess on the floor. “Here, not good. Bad Muffin.”
“Ooooh!”
“Exactly. OoooH! Here, bad.”
“Ooooh!”
“Right. Very bad. See? Now here's a good place. See? Easy to clean. Out of the way. You crap here. Ok?”
“Eh,eh, eh!”
“Good. Now I want to show you something. Come on, pal.”
Belle followed Davron and Muffin backed to the flight-deck where Davron sat with Muffin on his lap. The screen was lit up with a planet. “That's where I live, Muffin. You'll love it. Trees. Birds.”
“Ooooh!”
“Plenty to eat. A nice clean planet. Not screwed up by people. Think we can be happy there?”
“Eh, eh, ooooh!”
“Exactly. You can crap anywhere down there. Just be more careful on the ship, ok?”
“Ooooh.” Muffin kissed Davron.
“Thanks for that, pal. Time for bed. Come on.”
Muffin flapped his wings and took off, circling the flight-deck twice, before settling in the corner of his sleeping place in the corner of gantry. Davron stared for a moment at the blue planet on the screen before turning it off. He was unaware that a woman was standing behind him. He dimmed the lights and walked off to his sleeping quarters. For Belle, it was more information about the man she was supposed to kill. The green fog appeared and she was back in her cell, another piece of the puzzle solved.
Chapter 19
So where was that planet? No astronomer had found anything like it near Earth. Davron had obviously made a home of it. Hints had been made about speeds as fast or even faster than light for ships. Had Davron managed to achieve what most still considered physically impossible? She had only seen mathematical figures by over enthusiastic lecturers, trying to explain their version of physics. Most of it had gone over her head. At that time, faster than light speed just wasn't available.
/> But the planet Davron lived on must be way off any known solar system so far discovered by mankind. And that posed other questions. Suppose Davron had set up some idyllic paradise home. Why the hell would he leave it just to take pot-shots at Earth? With such a healthy disregard for Earth as Davron was reputed to have, wouldn't he be more inclined to say, 'to hell with them. Let them screw themselves into oblivion.'
But this was her take on what she'd be doing, not necessarily what Davron would do. The more she thought about it, the less sense it all made. She decided to join the others on the flight-deck and have a feed. She set the HATED in a hidden place to catch the light and left it to recharge, then locked her cell after her.
She found Matlock in the galley and he watched her as she prepared a simple meal from the ready meals in their provisions. Belle pulled the tag which began the heating process, then poured it out onto a plate. She sat opposite Matlock, who had finished his meal and was sipping a juice.
“Well, Captain,” Matlock said, leaning back in his seat. “And have you come up with any mind shattering plan?”
Belle scooped up some of the unidentifiable brown pulp and ate it because she was hungry, not because she liked it. “I'm working on it.”
“How? I mean how are you working on it? You hide yourself away in your cell most of the time. Do you mean you are just thinking about the mission?”
“It's none of your concern what I do in my cell.”
Matlock leaned forwards, staring into her eyes. His eyes were a deep, dark brown. She had to look away. “When my life depends on us coming up with something, I think it is my concern. And the closer we get to Davron, the more concerned I become.”
Eating the last mouthful of brown pulp, she washed it down with water. It didn't fully take the taste away. “I told you earlier. When I have something to tell you, I will. At the moment, I haven't anything to tell you.”
Matlock picked at his teeth with his fingernail. He had something to say, but was wondering if he should say it. He was about to speak, when Akrins walked in.
