by S. K. Holder
Vastra slammed his fist into the grid in frustration. The grid lines broke into waves. ‘Still I had hoped to see my family.’
‘Access denied,’ said the controller. You do not have authorisation.’
Skelos was about to use his Technopath skills to override the security function when the controller announced, ‘Gate Nine has been opened. Preparing to disembark.’
The blue light went out. The capsule descended at great speed through the floor of the cave before landing in an outer-core carbonic steel chamber with a viewing window built into the door.
Skelos’s stomach lurched as the cylinder shifted again, shunting along a hollow steel tube. At the far end he could make out another cylinder chamber identical to the one in which he stood, yet its doors remained closed.
Wracked with fear, he cowered behind Vastra. He caught his breath as a searing pain coursed through his veins. A rush of brilliant white light engulfed the capsule and the door of the adjoining chamber opened to embrace them.
TWENTY-FIVE
Ted took a cab to the address Steve had written on the card. This is a test, he thought. A test of loyalty he couldn’t fail. Caught in a stream of traffic, he had plenty of time to think about the consequences of his actions. He had left too many loose ends trailing, including himself. That’s the way Steve saw it. It’s the way he saw it. He was never going to see any more money – not from Luke and certainly not from Steve, not unless he found a way to get Connor back, and maybe not even then.
Once he arrived at his destination, he asked the taxi driver to wait for him.
Steve had sent him to an office not far from London’s Holborn station. Wedged in between a coffee shop and a solicitors, Ted had a hard job finding it. He walked past it twice, despite the blinking red spot on his phone’s Sat Nav indicating he had reached his destination.
He caught the open door from a departing courier wearing a motorbike helmet. He found the floor to the office listed on a toughened glass plaque on the wall. He needed Rostene Services Ltd on the third floor. He walked past a casually-dressed young man sitting at the reception desk who was too engaged in conversation with a woman in a pinstriped suit to notice him.
He couldn’t see a lift so he made his way up the stairs. The lights were out. He crept up the thick carpeted steps with wide eyes and an unstable bladder. He wouldn’t put it past Steve to lure him here to meet his murderer. His boss could afford to employ a hacker to get the virus off, one who didn’t know as much about the company’s illicit activities.
When he encountered a man working on the light fuse box on the first floor, he got his nerves and imagination under control. It was all part of the test. Kane wouldn’t send him to a gaudy office in the West End. No. It had to be a gloomy block smelling of moth balls and built two centuries ago.
As he approached the top of the stairs to the third floor, Ted heard a woman and a man in a heated exchange. He could recognise that guttural voice anywhere. It belonged to Kane Brailey C.E.O. Steve must have known he would come here.
‘I don’t know how long I can keep this up,’ said the woman. She sounded croaky and distraught. ‘I had to get out of the house this morning. The school rang again, and one of Connor’s friends brought over his school work and was asking where he is.’ The woman started to sob. ‘I just want them to come home.’
Ted jogged down a step. The subject of the conversation made him restless. Kane was talking to Luke and Connor’s mother. And clearly, she had not gone to the police. A normal person with nothing to hide would have gone to the police.
‘He’ll be with Luke,’ said Kane, his voice softening. ‘Did you call his phone?’
‘Of course I’ve tried phoning him. Do you think I’m stupid? I’ve tried both their phones. They won’t answer. What sort of trouble is he in? What did he say to you?’
‘Like I told you he got upset over this whole laptop business and the fact that I had blocked his gaming account. He told me to stay away from you and Connor. I offered him some money. He told me to shove it and stormed out of my office. I may have called him an arrogant sod, but well, if you heard the way he spoke to me. And then he breezed into my office yesterday. Seems he wanted the money after all.’
‘You gave him money.’ She sounded incredulous. ‘Without asking any questions? You let him leave without calling me?’
‘I didn’t know Connor was missing then, did I? And technically, it is his money.’
Was it? Ted had a good think about Kane’s remark. Had he left the company to Luke? It was possible, given that Kane didn’t have any children of his own. He considered that he may have been wrong about covert experimental initiatives and government conspiracies. Was Steve after the company? Steve had made his own fortune in the software company, Hion Tech. His years of experience and commitment to the software and games design industry had paid dividends for Tridan Entertainment. The company had reached new heights since Steve joined Tridan. Ted’s shoulders sagged − and new lows…
A loud slapping sound, shattered his thoughts. He heard Kane cry out.
‘You brainless fool,’ said the woman. ‘Do you want him to like you, is that it?’
‘I’m sorry Celeste. I’m guessing Connor was upset because you hadn’t told him about me, and I’m guessing he was disappointed I didn’t want to talk about his dad.’
‘Connor I can understand, but I’m telling you, Luke does not run away. He knows we need to stay together. If he took money from you, he must be in serious trouble. How much money did you give him?’
‘Erm, about fifteen thousand.’
The slapping sound came again. It was louder the second time around. She muttered a few choice curse words under her breath. He heard no reaction from Kane. Ted sensed he had seen the second blow coming and knew he deserved it.
‘Or maybe you gave him the money to ensure he didn’t come back. What did you tell them about their father? Tell me what you said.’
‘I told you I didn’t say a word.’
‘Their lives are in danger and you don’t know anything. How convenient. We were supposed to be safe here. If there’s something you’re not telling me.’
‘I’ve told you everything I know. Is there anything going on at home?’
‘The boys have been quieter these past few weeks, especially Luke. He’s been moodier than usual. He hardly goes out. He doesn’t take as much care of himself as he used to. He skips breakfast and he hasn’t had a haircut in weeks. I guess this is my fault. I’ve been doing a lot of late shifts here. I don’t spend as much time with them as I should. If I hadn’t asked you for help with the laptop, none of this would have happened.’
‘How did Luke find out about the laptop?’
Celeste sighed. ‘I told him. He kept asking me where I got the money to buy it and I caved. I can’t think what possessed him to ask where it came from after all this time.’
‘None of this is your fault,’ said Kane. ‘It’s mine. I should have told you they had come to my office straightaway and I shouldn’t have given Luke the money.’
‘Of course it’s your fault. And my boys will not be taking over Tridan Entertainment when you’re through with it. Not one of them. So don’t go giving them internships or anything else your company has to offer. That was never their legacy. Look into my eyes Kane and swear to me that you haven’t been in contact with them.’
‘You’d be the first one to know if I had. There is no reason for them to contact us. If it makes you feel any better, I’ll have a brief word with our benefactors. I’m sure Luke will be in touch. They’re probably staying at one of Luke’s friends. Send him a text message. Meanwhile, you can ring their friends. You’ve got their numbers, right?’
‘Yes, I could do that, but if I don’t hear from them by this evening I’m calling the police...’
Ted stumbled sideways down the stairs. He sensed the conversation was coming to an end. And he had heard enough. He raced from the building and into the waiting taxi.
&
nbsp; TWENTY-SIX
Connor crashed into a dune and went skittering down it, screaming as if he were falling into the jaws of an alien itself. He clawed at the bank’s rough surface hoping to find a niche that would break his fall, or better yet, stop him falling all together. He heard a jubilant cry from above and looked up to see Erard plummeting to the ground. He heard him land with a thump on the other side of the ridge.
Connor scuttled along the dune’s edge in search of a door to save him from his plight. To his despair, he found no opening.
When was this nightmare going to end?
Brett shouted through Connor’s transcom, making him start.
‘Get yourself up cadet,’ he bellowed. ‘You’re a sitting target.’
Conner leapt to his feet. He watched the carrier pass over, and then jump out of sight. The isolated words from Brett’s pep talk echoed in his mind, ‘You better be faster than them…keep moving.’
He saw no aliens but thought he heard their screeches and wails in the distance. He felt a hand on his back and shuddered violently, thinking the alien with the tentacle had returned to finish him off.
‘It’s only me,’ said Erard, passing in front of him. Blue in the face, his eyes gleamed with excitement.
Connor felt nauseous just looking at him. With Erard’s bounding enthusiasm for combat, he didn’t consider himself to be in good company. He stared at the laser gun in Erard’s holster with a mixture of fear and envy. ‘Where are the others?’ he asked.
‘My father’s taking Riv to another drop point. Not Scout. He’s not ready.’
He assumed Brett was talking about the younger boy who he had seen crying in the carrier. He was glad for him. He wished he had the foresight to muster up some tears of his own to escape the battlefield.
‘Let’s move,’ said Erard, charging off without telling him where they were going.
Connor charged after him, determined not to be left alone. Erard moved at speed but Connor found he could match him.
They raced across the terrain until they came to a conical formation of rocks. Erard stopped to drink from the flask he had stored in his pack. Connor copied him, taking several gulps from the flask without pausing for breath. He choked the last mouthful back up. He figured he would be okay as long as he followed Erard’s lead.
He surveyed the land. He saw a small crop of bushes, withered trees and some boulders stacked to form stump bridges. ‘What happened to the aliens?’
‘We’re not going for the big ones. It’s the Koracks eggs we’re after and the babies, if there are any about.’ He sniggered. ‘Your face. You didn’t think they would send Citizen cadets into the midst of the battle did you?’
Connor glowered at him. He didn’t get what Erard found so funny. ‘I did think that.’
‘You’re First and I’m Second. Only Riv can go into full combat. She’s a Peltarck. We get lumbered with the babies and the eggs.’
‘Won’t the adults be guarding them?’ The thought of confronting another full grown alien made his stomach churn. The fear was worse now that he knew what was out there.
‘The fleet have drawn them away so we can do our work. There are two nest clusters located in this zone. Some of the eggs may have hatched. It won’t take us long. Half an hour at most and then we’ll return to the armoury.’
‘Looks like you’ve done this before,’ said Connor, trying to keep his tone light. He felt the responsibility lifted from his shoulder’s by Erard’s cool demeanour. The operation was easier than he dared hope.
‘Twice before. I destroyed the eggs before they had hatched.’ He grinned. ‘If this is too much for you. I can ask father to double back and pick you up. You don’t have to do this.’
‘That’s not what your father said.’
‘Forget what he said. If you’re cowering in your boots, he hasn’t the right to send you out.’
Connor felt himself grow hot. He snatched his transcom from his ear. ‘I’m not cowering in my boots.’ He would look like a fool if he asked Brett to come to his rescue when a bigger threat raged on the battlefield. He would also risk Brett learning his true identity. It was just a few alien eggs. No big deal. Half an hour at most, Erard had said. They could be back on the carrier and back in the armoury within the hour. ‘Where are these eggs?’
Erard nodded to a rock cave similar to the one he had hidden in when trying to escape the aliens he had met on his arrival.
Connor sweated in the cool air, his nerves frayed. He tried to be optimistic. Brett had a laser gun and as he said the eggs were unguarded. He ran a hand over his face. This wasn’t a dangerous mission. He’d had one of those already and survived it. ‘Do we need to go in?’ He would have liked Erard to obliterate his fears completely by telling him the eggs could be destroyed without having to enter the dark cavity.
‘No we don’t. But we will. We have to get some fun out of this. Put your transcom back on. I don’t want my father to think that you’ve collapsed from shock.’
Connor left his transcom off. There was truth in what Lin had said about the way in which the Citizens viewed death; as if it couldn’t touch them. Killing aliens was like a sport to them. ‘I didn’t come here for fun. If you’re stupid enough to go in there, then fine, do it.’
Erard’s face tightened, but he kept his mouth shut. Connor wondered if Brett had been listening to their conversation.
Erard moved silently to the rock formation. He squatted at the entrance. Connor crouched on the other side of it. He heard a crackling noise coming from inside similar to that of a burning log fire.
‘My father will send two Varipods out to us when we’re done,’ said Erard.
‘What will you use to destroy them?’
Erard patted the small disc on his holster. ‘I’ll use the Wreath.’
‘Not the laser gun?’
‘And have rocks raining down around us. I don’t think so.’
Erard went to the mouth of the rock stack on his knees. Connor caught his arm. ‘Throw the Wreath from out here.’
Erard clicked his teeth and switched off his transcom. I can’t throw the Wreath from out here. How will I know if I’ve killed them?’
‘The ground’s flat inside,’ said Connor. ‘I’ve been in one. Throw in the Wreath or use the laser gun. It’ll be quicker.’
Erard raised his eyebrows. ‘So now you’re giving me instructions. I’ve done this before, remember.’
Connor watched Erard disappear inside the cave with a smirk on his face. He shoved his transcom back into place. He didn’t care what Erard did. He wasn’t his responsibility. But he didn’t like being left alone. He glanced over his shoulder so many times, he began to grow dizzy. It was hard to watch the entrance and check there wasn’t something sneaking up behind him. His attempt to tune into his hearing brought a deluge of noises from every direction, which only added to his distress.
He called Erard’s name and got Brett roaring in his ear. ‘Find the other nest. Inform me when you’re done.’
Connor turned off his transcom, afraid that Brett would hear his strangled cry of fear. ‘I’m going to find the other nest,’ he shouted through the opening. He didn’t know if Erard had heard him or not. It occurred to him that he should go in and check if he was okay. As he waited for Erard to reply, he wondered if he should tell Brett that his son had gone in alone. Perhaps he already knew.
He went down on his hands and knees and peered into the entrance. He saw a mound of jelly-like eggs sitting in a muddy soup of water. Erard sat hunched on a ledge with one of the eggs in his hand. Connor thought the eggs would have been bigger; the one Erard held sat neatly in his palm. He watched him place the egg in a pod attached to his belt holster. He then started to count the eggs with his finger, mouthing their numbers.
Connor attempted to count them himself. There had to be at least seventy, possibly more. He edged out of the rock stack. Erard wasn’t in a hurry to destroy the eggs which Connor knew he had no business collecting. He stood up. H
e could see the peak of the next rock formation close by. It was smaller and flatter than the first one they had found. A clump of shrubs surrounded it. He looked around for more. He couldn’t see any. He clipped his transcom to his ear to remind himself he wasn’t unaccompanied.
He ran as fast as he could to reach it. Once there, he crashed to his knees, snapped a thorny shoot from the shrub and thrust it through a break in the rocks before he lost his nerve. He jerked it out. The shoot came out clean and he couldn’t hear anything stirring inside. He took the throwing net from his pack. It was made of metal and had strange nodules attached to it. It bent easily enough in his hands. He thought about lobbing it into the tight breach in the rocks to see if it caught anything.
He attempted to make contact with Brett through his transcom. Brett failed to answer and Connor felt the fear welling up inside him as he knelt on the ground, cradling the net in his hands. He could see no sign of Erard.
What if he was destined to spend the rest of his life battling aliens, destroying eggs and their offspring? The thought gave him a fresh stab of fear and he sprung to his feet scanning the area around him. He thought he saw one of the shrubs move and the ground tremble around it.
‘I’ve deployed the net and des-destroyed the other nest,’ he said in a loud voice. Still Brett didn’t answer him. The roaring in his transcom had ceased.
At last, Erard emerged from the rock stack with a look of smug satisfaction. He patted the pod on his belt.
He sighted Connor and streaked towards him.
‘What were you doing in there?’ he asked, once Erard had reached him. He tried not to breathe through his nose. It was hard to ignore the smell of rotten eggs that Erard had brought with him. ‘You were gone ages.’
‘I was gone long enough for you to destroy the other nest on your own.’
The knees of Erard’s trousers were black and his hands were thick with grime and mucous.
‘I don’t know how. I’ve never done it.’ He stared at the Wreath hanging from Erard’s belt and at the pod in which he had deposited the egg. ‘I thought I would have heard an explosion.’
