Kiernan noticed that many of the airlock indicator lights were red, which meant the pods had launched. Ariel ran down the bay to the one remaining green light. She hit the airlock release button and the door to slide open. She hurled herself into the pod, Kiernan hard on her heels.
Ariel hit the button to close and seal the door. Before the door fully shut, a bullet whizzed by and smacked into the pod deck. Kiernan flung herself into the pilot’s seat. The safety harness closed around her as more loud pings hit the outside of the pod.
Chapter Thirty-Four
“YOU HAVE TO buckle in,” Kiernan shouted. “Hurry!” Her finger hovered over the launch button set into the control panel on her seat’s right armrest. As soon as she saw Ariel securely seated, she pushed the button. “Hold on.”
There was a forceful jerk, and the g-forces of the sudden acceleration slammed them back against their seats. The pressure continued for ten seconds before fading. Kiernan knew the forward momentum of the pod was carrying them rapidly away from Celeste and they would be out of range of the explosion. The pod’s one porthole was facing away from the ship so they wouldn’t see her demise, for which, in a way, Kiernan was thankful.
She eyed Ariel, searching for any injuries. “Are you all right?”
“I’m okay. How about you?”
“I’m fine.”
Kiernan lifted slightly off her chair and against the safety harness. “We’re at zero gravity.” Suddenly, there was an irritating beep on the control panel. Kiernan read the display. “Damn! The bastard must have shot the battery and damaged it.”
“What does that mean?”
“Readings show the battery is malfunctioning. We have only seven hours of power left instead of seventy-two.”
“Mars is almost three days away,” Ariel said, the alarm evident in her voice.
“I know, but there’s a good chance we’ll run into a supply ship or survey crew in the area.” She pressed a button for the homing device and read the display. “Our homing device is functional. At light-speed radio bursts I’m sure the whole solar system has picked up the distress signal by now. Help is on the way.”
“Can we somehow conserve energy, maybe turn down the heat, turn off the interior lighting? Would that save some power?”
“That might work. The lights operate off their own battery cells, but the heat and air filtration operates from the main power battery. There are no controls to adjust or turn off those functions, so we’ll have to go into the battery box.” She motioned with her head to the carpeted deck. “It should be right there where that square section of carpet is located.”
Ariel focused on the area. “You mean where the bullet hole is?”
“Yes. There’s a tether right below the armrest that pulls out so you can attach it around your waist to keep from floating.”
They disengaged their harnesses, pulled out the tethers, and hooked them around their waists. Kiernan floated out of the chair and used the tether to pull herself down. Ariel somehow managed to aim herself to the place on the deck where the battery box was located. She grabbed hold of a cloth handle on the section of carpet to steady herself and pulled on it to dislodge the carpet piece and expose a panel set into the floor.
“How do you open this thing?” Ariel asked. She took an elastic band out of her pants pocket and pulled her wildly floating hair into a ponytail, securing it.
Kiernan managed to float over and stop four feet above the panel. “Push the rectangular area in the center of the panel and a handle will pop up.”
Ariel grabbed the handle, pulling the panel loose, pushing it away to glide to the other side of the pod. There was an exposed three-foot-by-three-foot area consisting of a square box-shaped object which Ariel knew was the battery. One side of the battery had a puncture in it where a bullet entered. “I’m glad the battery stopped the bullet, and it didn’t penetrate the outer shell,” Ariel said in a relieved voice.
“No chance of that. The pod’s outer skin is made from the toughest alloys known and is able to withstand anything as obsolete as an antique projectile made from lead.”
“So, I did hear bullets bounce off the pod. I thought I imagined it.”
“If they had penetrated, we’d be dead by now.” Kiernan pointed to a square area in the corner of the opening. “That’s the circuit board.”
Ariel checked it and said with relief, “This pretty much tells us what circuits control what function. Everything is labeled.”
“We have to consider one thing—if we shut off the heat we’ll freeze to death pretty fast.”
“Hmm, well, let’s not shut off the heat then.” Ariel studied the board. “It appears there are four energy router micro crystals controlling each function. If one is pulled will the heat continue, but at a reduced level?”
“That might very well be. I know Celeste uses several dozen crystals for the same function, so if one is blown the others will still work. I’m not sure about a temperature drop. We can always try it and see.”
“I’ll pull one crystal and if there is a drastic drop in temperature I’ll quickly reinsert it.”
Kiernan took a second to think it over. “Let’s do it.”
Ariel pulled the crystal and placed it in one of her pants pockets. After a few seconds, she said, “I don’t notice a change in temperature. Do you?”
“Let’s wait a few minutes and see.” Kiernan held out her hand to Ariel. “Here, pull me down.”
At deck level, Kiernan pushed away a hank of hair floating in her face. “You have another band I can use to pull my hair out of the way?”
Ariel searched her pants pockets and drew out a broken band. “Here, turn your head, and I’ll tie this around your hair. I can’t guarantee it’ll hold—but it’s all I have.”
Ariel gathered her hair tightly in a ponytail and tied the band securely.
Goose bumps popped up on Kiernan’s arms, making her slightly shiver, and she said, “It has cooled in here.”
“Do you think the temperature will continue to drop?”
“I’m not sure. It dropped slowly, so perhaps that’s a sign the heating system is still functioning to some degree. We’ll see. I don’t think there will be a sudden drop, and that’ll give you plenty of time to put the crystal back in, if the temperature gets too low.” She pushed up from the floor and pulled her tether, floating over to the control chair where she maneuvered herself until she could easily read the display panel. “We’ve managed to add three hours to the battery life.”
“Every little bit counts.”
“That it does.”
Kiernan maneuvered herself until she was hanging upside down. She opened the enclosed space under one of the seats to check for an emergency blanket. The space contained four sixteen-ounce water bottles and sixteen high-protein ration bars.
Ariel checked for supplies under the other seats. She called out, “I found food and water, and an emergency blanket in the first aid kit.”
“I found plenty of ration bars and water.” Kiernan paused. “Damn, I’m cold. Break out the blanket.”
Ariel managed to sit close to the floor and lean against a chair. She opened a packet and unfolded the thin, silver insulated blanket. “Come here and let me hold you so we can share the blanket and body heat.”
Kiernan pushed over to Ariel, but used too much force and crashed into her, slamming her back against the chair.
“Ouch,” Ariel exclaimed. Her hand flew up to her nose, and she gingerly touched the bridge.
Kiernan muttered, “Sorry,” and caught the edge of the seat to steady herself.
Ariel pulled Kiernan down beside her. “I’ll undo my tether and attach it to yours.”
“Good idea.”
Ariel unclipped her tether and pulled enough out to loop it around her waist and attach the end to Kiernan’s tether at her waist. She wrapped the blanket around their shoulders and settled back with a sigh. They were silent for a couple of minutes until Ariel said, “I don’t think t
he temperature will drop any further.”
“I think you’re right.” Kiernan keenly searched Ariel’s face. “How’s the nose?”
Ariel lightly pinched the bridge, wiggling it. “It doesn’t feel like it’s broken and it doesn’t hurt much.”
Kiernan took Ariel’s chin in her hand, and leaned her head to one side and then the other to study the nose more closely. “It’s not bleeding or swollen.” She let go of Ariel’s chin. “I’m sorry about that. I’m clumsy in zero gravity.”
“That’s not what I heard,” Ariel said suggestively with an impish smirk. “Rumor has it you have plenty of practice in zero gravity.”
“I don’t know where you heard—ohhh. So, you heard about my secret room, did you?”
“You mean it’s true? I didn’t find it on Celeste.”
Kiernan shot Ariel a wicked grin. “Don’t tell me you actually searched for it.”
“Well—“Ariel flushed, her eyes darting guiltily.
“You did.” Kiernan laughed.
“Oh, all right, I did sort of search a couple of days ago,” Ariel admitted sheepishly.
“You won’t find it. It doesn’t exist—except in the prurient imagination of the media.”
“Oh.”
“You sound disappointed. You’re not interested in doing that, are you?”
“Of course not,” Ariel replied with mock indignity. “Well—I have wondered what it would be like. You ever do it in zero gravity?”
“I have. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be—and dangerous. You can snap a wrist if your fingers happen to be in a—certain place—and the motion is too enthusiastic. You’re coming apart instead of coming together, if you know what I mean.”
Ariel’s cheeks tinged red. “I’ll take your word for it.” She pulled Kiernan more closely against her side, and after a pause, she let out an amused chortle.
“What is it?” Kiernan asked.
“Dwayne fell for the oldest trick in the book.”
“It was all I could come up with.”
“It worked. He must have been crazy. No one believes homosexuality is a perversion, except those outlandish cults of Christian fundamentalists and a couple of backward Islamic sheikdoms.”
Kiernan sighed. “Dwayne, of all people. I would never in a million years think he would—” Kiernan swallowed the lump in her throat.
Ariel squeezed Kiernan’s shoulders, her voice sad. “I’m sorry, Kiernan. About Captain Pearson and Celeste, too.”
“I’ll have Jack do an investigation of Dwayne. As for Celeste—I can build another one like her in a year—even better. I’ll dedicate her to the memory of Captain Fred Pearson.” They fell into silence. Kiernan looked at Ariel with sorrowful eyes and said with a tremor in her voice, “I’m sorry—for everything.”
Ariel dropped her gaze to the deck and was silent. Kiernan saw her expression was one of contemplation. She waited in nervous anticipation for Ariel to say something—say anything.
Finally, Ariel quirked up one corner of her mouth. She lifted her eyes to Kiernan. “Are you asking for my forgiveness?”
“No. I don’t deserve it.”
Ariel replied wryly, “Good then. Because if you were, I would think you were asking it because you knew we were going to die and wanted a clear conscience.”
“Ha! I would have to ask a lot of people’s forgiveness to have a clear conscience. And I don’t think it’s my time to die.”
“That’s reassuring. That means it’s not my time either.” Ariel’s face sobered and her eyes grew pensive. “I forgive you. I should be the one apologizing. I accused you unjustly of hurting my mother.”
“You had every reason to believe I did. However, rest assured when we return home there will be a reckoning. Theodore has resigned, but I’m going to demand he apologize to Joanna, and to you, both in person and by letter. If Joanna wants to sue him, I’ll support her in that. I hope I can make amends to her. I need people like her working for me.”
“Once she sees the truth, I think she’ll be willing to sit down with you and talk—about a lot of things. As for the reckoning—I have a few things I want to say to Theodore. You know, he read me so well. He was the one who suggested I take you up on your proposition on the condition you didn’t press charges against my mother. At first, I thought he was trying to help you without your knowledge. Later, I thought you sent him to manipulate me into marrying you.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I gave him my word I wouldn’t. Later, when I believed you sent him, what was there to say?”
Kiernan smiled with tender sadness. “You are without a doubt the most trustworthy and honest person I have ever met.”
“I’m not perfect. There’s times I stretch the truth or tell only a part of it.”
“But I bet it’s when you have to keep from breaking your word, or to spare others.”
Ariel didn’t comment.
Both anger and sadness descended on Kiernan. Theodore had manipulated them both. He had presented Ariel as a possible wife for her. He didn’t have any other candidates. He’d used subterfuge to gain information on Ariel. That right there should have made Kiernan follow her instincts—should have made her suspicious concerning the guilt of Joanna Thorsen. She felt like such a fool.
Both Ariel and Joanna had suffered from Theodore’s treachery. Ariel, perhaps, suffered the most. She was manipulated into marrying Kiernan and was made to be afraid for her mother.
Guilt joined her anger and sadness. It wasn’t only Theodore who’d manipulated Ariel. She’d also manipulated Ariel by leading her to believe she would prosecute her mother if she didn’t stay married to her and have her baby. And to make matters worse, Kiernan had once again proved she was untrustworthy by not being upfront about Jack’s phone call.
She watched Ariel’s eyes and felt sad and serious. “Ariel, I’m not proud of what I did to keep you in this marriage—the threats, and all. At the time, I believed I had no choice. The thing is—I failed to realize there’s always a choice, but it might not be the one I’ll like. What I’m about to tell you is the truth. I didn’t tell you about Jack’s call because I was being selfish. I didn’t want this time together with you to end, and I figured that the minute you found out the truth, you’d be history. None of this is your fault, and you shouldn’t have to suffer any longer. When we return home, I’ll initiate the divorce procedures right away and void the agreement. You’ll be free and clear of any obligations to me. I’ll arrange for you to have a generous settlement, as well—”
“So, you want to give up on us?” Ariel stiffened and drew away from Kiernan. “Is that what you’re telling me?”
“Ariel?” Kiernan said with surprise.
“You said you’d like for us to get to know each other better. I thought we were doing that, I thought we were making progress, I thought—” Ariel swallowed, her eyes tearing.
Kiernan searched Ariel’s face, almost afraid to hope. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying? You truly want to give this— us—a try?”
“Yes, I do!”
“After being bullied into this marriage and bullied by my threats?”
“Bullied? You offered me a business proposition and I accepted,” Ariel said with shining eyes.
Kiernan almost couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She gently stroked Ariel’s soft cheek, feeling overcome with emotion. “I love you, Ariel. Oh, I love you so very much.”
ARIEL STARED AT Kiernan, trying to make sense of what she’d said. Had she heard correctly? Yes! She saw it in Kiernan’s eyes. Kiernan loved her. In a voice made unsteady by emotion, she declared, “I love you, Kiernan.” She pulled Kiernan close into a fierce hug and cried.
Kiernan brought Ariel’s head down on her shoulder. Tearfully she said, “Oh my beautiful angel.” Ariel felt the soft kisses placed in her hair before Kiernan buried her face in it.
Finally, the tears ceased for both, but they still held each other close.
/> After a couple of minutes, they separated and searched one another’s faces. They chuckled nervously upon seeing each other’s red faces and puffy eyes.
Ariel reached for Kiernan to pull her in for a kiss. She noticed a few watery droplets floating between them and reached out to touch one, causing it to shimmer and float away.
“Tears,” Kiernan said. “Those, I believe, are mine. Yours should be right behind me from crying on my shoulder.”
“I guess I better not blow my nose.”
Kiernan rumbled out a low laugh, a sound that always sent a delightful shiver down Ariel’s spine. Her smile slowly disappeared, her lips parting, soft and inviting.
They surged toward each other and traded devouring kisses. A warm hand slid under Ariel’s shirt and under her bra. As she pulled Kiernan closer, the blanket dislodged and floated above them.
Reluctantly Ariel pulled away from soft lips. Kiernan’s hand slid away as Ariel made a lunge for the blanket. Her body shot upward pulling out more tether length from her chair. The end of Ariel’s tether remained wrapped around Kiernan’s waist and twisted Kiernan until she was under Ariel. Then the tether snapped back hard, ramming Ariel into Kiernan and forcing her against the floor.
“Oof,” Kiernan said as Ariel landed on top of her. She pushed Ariel up, and off, causing the tether to once again loosen, sending both spiraling upward. Ariel grabbed Kiernan and twisted their bodies upright so when the tether snapped back, they landed on the deck in a sitting position. Ariel hastily freed a hand to reach out, and snagged the edge of the seat to stabilize them. Once steadied, she was able to reach the corner of the blanket to bring it down and wrap it around their shoulders.
“Are you okay?” Ariel asked.
“Yes.” Kiernan gave Ariel a leer. “Thanks for the ride, darling.”
“You should see what I can do when gravity comes into play.”
“I intend to.” She stroked Ariel’s face tenderly. “I love you.”
Linda S. North - The Dreamer, Her Angel and the Stars Page 30
