Hollow Moon

by Steph Bennion

  “What is this?” demanded Quirinus. “What’s going on?”

  “Quirinus O’Brien!” declared Dana. She held up her agent’s warrant, then slipped it back into a concealed pocket before either Ravana or her father could get a good look at it. “You are under arrest for the aiding and abetting of Maharani Uma of Ayodhya, wanted for terrorism offences on Yuanshi. You do not have to say anything, but any statement may be recorded and used in evidence against you.”

  “You’re arresting me?” Quirinus exclaimed. “Don’t be absurd!”

  “I don’t understand,” cried Ravana. “Fenris works for the Maharani, not my father!”

  “Agent Fenris is a Que Qiao operative who has been collecting intelligence on the renegade Maharani for some time,” Dana informed them. “It is he who identified O’Brien as the man wanted for helping Maharani Uma and Raja Surya flee Ayodhya nine years ago. Your father is an enemy of the state and must be brought to trial.”

  “No!” protested Ravana, hugging her cat tightly. Today was going from bad to worse.

  “You slimy son of a…” began Quirinus.

  Fenris raised his gun. “Do you deny the charge?”

  “My ship was hijacked!” retorted Quirinus. “I was forced to take the Maharani and her cronies off Yuanshi! You were pointing the gun back then too, as I recall.”

  “Funny how history repeats itself,” mused Fenris. “Here I am, once more holding you to account and fittingly it is to Yuanshi that we are now to return. Did I mention I am once again commandeering your ship? We have a car waiting to take us to the spaceport.”

  “You can’t let this happen!” Ravana cried, appealing to Surya’s cyberclone.

  “I have my orders,” the clone replied, keeping its pistol trained on Quirinus.

  With Dana and the clone close behind, Fenris led Ravana and Quirinus out of the pagoda and across a secluded section of the garden towards a nearby gate. This opened into a deserted service street where a ground car in police livery was waiting. Dana motioned to Quirinus and Ravana to join the two black-clad security guards already inside the car. As Ravana took her seat, nervously clutching her cat to her chest, she tried not to look at the plasma rifles resting nonchalantly upon their laps.

  Sirens wailing, the police car sped through the busy streets of Hemakuta. The heavy drone of its turbines somehow made the hush within the vehicle unbearably intense.

  They reached the spaceport in a matter of minutes. When Quirinus and Ravana saw the fuel tanker being decoupled from the Platypus they knew Fenris had not acted on the spur of the moment.

  “If you get a chance, run back to Ostara,” he whispered. Ravana nodded.

  The police car slipped smoothly past the departing tanker and lurched to a stop next to the open airlock of the Platypus. The cyberclone followed Quirinus and Ravana out of the car, keeping them at gunpoint.

  Fenris led the way into the freighter’s cargo bay and up the ladder towards the flight deck. Dana was behind them and the scowl she wore as she led the guards into the airlock made it clear that Quirinus and Ravana had little choice but to comply. As Ravana followed her father she kept a firm hold of her cat, not trusting it to be roaming loose in a ship bristling with plasma weaponry.

  Ravana followed her father out of the crawl tunnel and up onto the flight deck. Quirinus gave the waiting Fenris a frosty glare. Someone had removed a maintenance panel to gain access to the AI unit, but it seemed any attempt to bypass the security system had failed. The strange tendrils had multiplied considerably in their absence.

  “Ship!” Quirinus called. “Status report.”

  “Dock safety protocols engaged, awaiting further orders,” confirmed the melodious tones of the Platypus. “Access to all systems remain restricted to registered crew only.”

  Fenris scowled. Behind Ravana came Dana and Surya’s cyberclone, Dana by now having relieved the clone of the pistol. Ravana guessed that even if she or her father could somehow get past Dana, the guards in the cargo bay would be waiting.

  “My word,” murmured Dana. She looked around the flight deck with the air of someone distinctly unimpressed. “This thing brought you from Barnard’s Star?”

  “We have refuelled your ship,” Fenris told Quirinus. He raised his pistol and aimed it squarely at the pilot’s head. “All you have to do is fly us to Ayodhya.”

  “What if I refuse?” retorted Quirinus. Just for an instant, he darted his gaze towards the floor near Ravana, then returned his stare to Fenris. “What then?”

  “I presume registered crew includes your daughter,” Fenris replied coldly. “If you do not cooperate, I will shoot you and persuade Ravana to do my bidding instead.”

  “You’re mad,” Quirinus told him. He settled resignedly into his seat.

  Moving slowly so as not to attract attention, Ravana turned her head to see where her father’s glance had been directed, then mentally kicked herself for missing something so obvious. Apart from the cargo bay door and the docking ring in the roof, there was another way in and out of the Platypus. Near where she stood was an airtight hatch in the floor of the flight deck that led to the maintenance bay below. This was where they kept a single-seat extra-vehicular pod used to perform repairs in deep space, but more importantly the bay had a wide door that opened out beneath the beak-like nose of the ship. All she needed was a suitable distraction. On cue, the cat in her arms wriggled and purred.

  “Forgive me cat,” whispered Ravana. “You know I wouldn’t do this to a real animal.”

  Quirinus activated the navigation console, all too aware that Fenris and Dana both had their guns trained on him. Ravana caught his glance and shuffled towards the floor hatch in readiness for an attempt to escape.

  “Ship, run pre-flight checks,” ordered Quirinus. “Prepare primary systems for a short interplanetary hop, coordinates to follow. Confirm main cargo bay airlock closed and sealed. While you’re at it, override dock protocols and open the EV pod door.”

  “Confirmed,” said the AI. “Glad to be of service.”

  “What was that last order?” demanded Dana.

  “Catch!” yelled Ravana.

  Dana spun around and shrieked as the ball of black fur hurtled towards her, the reluctant missile hissing violently as it pawed the air with outstretched claws. Ravana had already dropped to the floor and was slipping through the open hatch by the time Dana pulled the screeching cat from her face. Fenris whirled around and aimed his outstretched gun at the fleeing Ravana, but the cyberclone stepped forward to try and intercept the flying pet and instead caught the full force of Fenris’ swing across its face.

  “Reboot me!” the clone burbled, falling to the floor.

  “Run!” shouted Quirinus.

  “Stop her!” yelled Dana.

  Ravana dropped down the short ladder into the maintenance bay. She landed heavily, centimetres away from the folded manipulator claws of the giant metallic lobster that was the EV pod. The exterior door was open, leaving the way clear for her to slide across the floor and drop off the edge to the concrete runway two metres below. She fell awkwardly and was just clambering to her feet again when a black shape dropped from above and into her arms. A small furry face looked up at her and gave a weak meow.

  “Hullo cat,” murmured Ravana. “Glad to have you back.”

  *

  Angry shouts filled the flight deck but the EV pod door was already closing. Quirinus risked a glance through the windscreen and to his relief saw Ravana put down her head and run as fast as she could across the runway, not daring to look behind.

  Fenris turned away from the Platypus flight-deck windows and glared venomously at Quirinus. Dana looked equally displeased, but the claw marks on her face gave her good reason to be. Surya’s cyberclone lay on the floor, burbling quietly to itself.

  “Try anything like that again and I will shoot you,” growled Fenris. He raised his gun to Quirinus’ face. “Get this thing in the air now!”

  *

  Ravana ran thro
ugh the entrance of the small terminal building, not daring to stop as she hurtled on past the queues of bemused travellers until finally she could run no more. Exhausted, she staggered into the washroom facilities, found an empty toilet cubicle and dropped heavily onto the seat. Only then did she break down and cry, lost in despair, her tears falling heavily upon the electric cat clutched tightly to her chest until she could weep no more.

  When she finally plucked up courage to emerge and make for a window overlooking the apron, glancing furtively around for any sign of pursuit as she did so, a gap in the row of parked spacecraft confirmed her fears. The Platypus and her father had gone.

  She slumped into a nearby seat, totally at a loss, leaving her cat to wander. Whilst in the washroom she had managed to get her wristpad working long enough to send a message to Ostara and Zotz, but now the screen was dead and she had no idea if they were on their way. On the far side of the arrivals lounge a group of Arab dignitaries were making their way towards her, amongst whom she suddenly spotted the familiar figure of Governor Atman. As they approached, Ravana rose to her feet and gave a hesitant wave.

  “Governor?” she called.

  “Hello!” he greeted. “You’re one of the Barnard’s Star contingent, are you not?”

  “I need help,” pleaded Ravana. “My father has been arrested by Dana and I don’t know what to do! Fenris threatened to shoot him unless he took them to Yuanshi!”

  “Slow down!” said Atman. “Agent Dana, you say? I confess that I’ve had little direct input on security arrangements but I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.”

  “But…” protested Ravana.

  “I must dash, my dear,” the governor interrupted. “These people have come all the way from Aram and we’re already very late for dinner!”

  Dejected, Ravana watched as Atman and the delegates walked on towards the large ground car parked near the main entrance. Moments later a couple of figures bustled through from outside, who upon seeing Ravana quickly rushed towards her.

  “Zotz!” called Ravana, almost crying with relief. “Ostara! You came!”

  Ostara ran up and gave her a hug. Zotz looked equally anxious, so after Ostara had released her embrace Ravana gave him a quick hug also.

  “What is happening on this crazy moon?” asked Ostara. “Your message had bits missing but it sounded like Fenris has gone mad!”

  “He tricked us,” Ravana told her, close to tears. “Fenris has taken the Platypus and forced my father to fly him to Ayodhya. Agent Dana was in on it, too. She arrested him for helping the Maharani escape all those years ago.”

  “Dana arrested Fenris?” asked Ostara, confused.

  “Agent Dana is working with Fenris,” Zotz reminded her, putting down the large bag he had with him. “Remember what Fenris said in his holovid to Taranis? They’re planning a revolution on Yuanshi and it’s all linked to the kidnapping of the Raja.”

  “What?” Now it was Ravana’s turn to look bewildered.

  “What do we do?” asked Ostara. “Go to the authorities?”

  “Dana is the authorities,” Ravana pointed out. Her cat had returned and clawed gently at her ankles. “Besides, I ran into Governor Atman and he was worse than useless.”

  “Then we follow them to Yuanshi,” declared Zotz.

  “That was my plan,” admitted Ravana. “But I’d be glad of the company.”

  “Easier said than done,” murmured Ostara, looking out across the runway. Of the spacecraft berthed outside, most were short-range orbital shuttles. The information screens showed a recent arrival from Yao Chi, Taotie but no flights to Ayodhya until the morning.

  “That’s weird,” Zotz said, tapping his wristpad. “The satellite image for Hemakuta shows two runways at the spaceport, but the screens only list flights for one.”

  Without waiting for a response, he wandered down the corridor and was soon lost from sight. Ravana returned to her seat, looked at Ostara and managed a weak smile.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” she said. “This trip is turning into a nightmare.”

  Ostara came and sat next to her. “I heard what happened in the VR suite. It must be bad enough to suddenly discover you’ve got bits of circuitry in your head, but to find out like that? I think I would have reacted just the same.”

  “It was horrible,” Ravana admitted.

  Ostara took her hand. “Your father meant well,” she told her. “It wasn’t right that he kept it from you all these years, but that doesn’t make him a bad man.”

  “I know,” said Ravana and sighed. “Dana won’t put him in prison for helping the Maharani, will she?”

  “It won’t come to that,” Ostara reassured her. “Not if I have anything to do with it!”

  Zotz came running back, waving excitedly.

  “Come and see this!” he exclaimed, beckoning to them as he picked up his bag.

  Intrigued, Ravana and Ostara followed him to a long corridor that led away from the main arrivals and departure lounges. At the end of the passage was a small circular room with a high ceiling, large glass windows and a door that led outside to an expanse of smooth concrete that was the mirror image of the airstrip on the other side of the spaceport. Parked at the end of the deserted landing strip was a large flying-wing spacecraft, one in military green and black camouflage livery but without official markings.

  “A second runway,” remarked Ravana. “Zotz, I’m impressed. You were right.”

  “The Sun Wukong,” said Ostara, looking at the name on the side of the spacecraft. “Where have I heard that before?”

  “Taranis mentioned it during his holovid with Fenris,” replied Zotz. “He said it was bringing equipment to Hemakuta and then returning to Yuanshi.”

  “So he did,” mused Ostara. “Perhaps we should find the pilot and ask for passage.”

  Zotz gave a crafty look. “Actually, I’m thinking we should just sneak aboard.”

  Ravana nodded, thinking only of her father. “I agree.”

  “As the responsible adult here, I should forbid such foolishness!” Ostara said severely.

  “I have to do this,” Ravana said resolutely. Gripped by a sense of purpose, she suddenly felt much older than her sixteen years. “I will go alone if I have to.”

  “Entering a spacecraft without proper authorisation is illegal, not to mention extremely risky!” declared Ostara, then saw Ravana’s woeful expression. “But I have serious reservations over Fenris’ own conduct in such affairs. I would not be much of a security official if I did not take this opportunity to investigate the matter further, would I?”

  “Then you’ll come with me?” asked Ravana, clutching her struggling cat to her chest.

  Zotz hefted his bag to his shoulder. “I’m game.”

  Ostara nodded. “We have to do what we can to find your father,” she said. “This local craze for kidnapping is getting a little out of hand.”

  *

  Hanuman cast an expert eye over the flight-deck console and satisfied all was well, buckled himself into his seat. Ganesa had stayed behind on the Sun Wukong and in his absence had arranged for refuelling and prepared the ship for their return flight. Neither of them wanted to be in Hemakuta any longer than necessary, both agreeing the city was far too bureaucratic, false and pretentious for their tastes. Besides, they were both wanted for smuggling offences on Daode and bribes to Que Qiao officials were becoming expensive.

  “Did you make the delivery okay?” asked Ganesa.

  “Fenris didn’t turn up to the rendezvous, so I left the equipment in the conference hall control room as per instructions,” Hanuman replied. He noticed Ganesa was giving him an odd look. “Is anything wrong?”

  “We have stowaways,” she informed him. “In the hold.”

  “More rats?” asked Hanuman. Their home port of Lanka was overrun with vermin and it was becoming increasingly tedious to keep them from sneaking aboard and chewing on the ship’s wiring. “Never mind. They won’t last long in there once we hit deep
space.”

  “Look for yourself.”

  Hanuman shrugged. “Computer,” he ordered. “Give me visual on the hold.”

  “That command is not recognised,” came the synthesized reply. Hanuman scowled.

  “I’ll do it,” said Ganesa, smiling. “Computer, can you put the cargo bay monitor on the main screen, please?”

  “Confirmed,” the computer intoned.

  Hanuman looked at the main console display and squinted at the view inside the hold. Three figures were clearly visible, crouched low behind the ship’s cargo of animal feed and crated farming equipment.

  “Rather young for pirates, don’t you think?” he observed. “I’m sure you would agree that the Chinese woman is far too pretty and innocent-looking to be a Que Qiao spy.”

  Ganesa raised a quizzical eyebrow. “Do we throw them off?”

  “Anyone desperate enough to hide aboard this ship is obviously anxious to avoid the authorities and therefore can’t be all bad,” remarked Hanuman. “They look harmless enough. Just make sure they’re able to open the inner airlock to the passenger cabin when they need to and hit them with the usual depressurisation warnings once we clear Hemakuta airspace. I’ll go and introduce myself once we break orbit.”

  “Right you are, boss!” giggled Ganesa. “You’re just a big softy at heart.”

  “I may have a sideline in selling child slaves for all you know,” he retorted.

  Ganesa smiled again and selected the controls to fire up the main engines. Moments later, the Sun Wukong was accelerating hard down the runway, all systems purring in a sweet technological symphony as it prepared for another fiery ascent into the void.

  Chapter Nine

  The dark side of Yuanshi

  THE SUN WUKONG stood at rest in the darkness, cocooned in a hush broken only by the gentle ting-ting of cooling metal. The spacecraft had made for the side of Yuanshi that faced the mighty Shennong, descending through the night to land at a lonely forest airstrip on a small island continent and hundreds of kilometres from the nearest major settlement. The ship had come to a halt near the single security light above the gate at the end of the runway, beyond which lay a cluster of large square buildings. The dark was far from total, for the huge crescent of the gas giant that hung above the horizon bathed the scene in a sickly yellow aura, casting the surrounding bamboo forest into sharp relief.