Xalata Orbit and Melody Fret: The Hammer of Asttar

by Nick Evans

  For one moment, she thought she saw a movement and there was a vibration as if something heavy had walked by on the other side of the door, but she could see nothing and the bumping disappeared and all was still once more.

  As she moved back up the corridor and into the atrium once more, she noticed signs of wheel marks in the dust and footprints - one set large and two sets smaller. The footprints appear to show activity around the pairs of wheel marks but she couldn't really decipher what had happened there. Had people been arriving or leaving? The footprints themselves gave little indication of to whom the feet might belong, although the larger ones were evidently a bigger person. Who were they? Was this where Xalata was taken? If so, Melody could follow the tracks.

  Suddenly, in the distance, she heard the low whine of a vehicle approaching and two voices talking. Without hesitating, Melody found a hiding place behind a low seat that was near one of the outer walls. The vehicle swept into the space - it was a standard, open low truck, powered by electricity, with a flatbed at the back for carrying loads and then four seats at the front, one of them for the driver, if a driver was needed. This type of truck was used everywhere in the habitats and they were charged wherever they were left, in small bays at various points around the areas. Melody ducked down behind the seat so there was no chance of being seen and before she could get a look at who was riding on the truck.

  The two passengers were not talking as they came into the atrium, but, as they stepped off, they spoke again. Melody could only hear small fragments of what they were saying and she didn't recognize either voice. One was a man, and she thought she might know him but couldn't quite think why. The other could have been a man with a high voice or a woman with a low one.

  "... make sure that she ..."

  "... can't be certain ... why did he ..."

  "... do as you're told ... will be serious for you ..."

  The voices were getting heated and it was obvious that an argument was brewing. However, before Melody could hear any more, the two people moved off in different directions and one voice called out, "Back here in an hour and we'll get back to the secure base. Just watch your back!"

  So, if they're going back somewhere in an hour, I'm going with them, thought Melody and she slowly lifted her head above the seat to see if anyone was still around. The two people had gone and the vehicle was left standing there. I could steal it and follow the tunnel back the way they came in, she thought, but how would I know if they turned off?

  She decided that it was safer and more certain to hitch a secret ride on the truck so she darted quickly and quietly over to it to check out her options. Obviously she couldn't sit in the seats, so that left the flatbed of the back of the truck, which was covered in a plastic sheet. There were various bulges under the sheet where things that were being transported were taking up space. Between two bulges she could see that there was a good space and, when she pulled back the cover, she realised that it was even better. The two bulges turned out to be large cases containing tools, but there was a shallow well between them, which she would fit into very nicely indeed.

  With less than an hour to go, Melody thought that she should probably think about getting hidden, in case one of the people returned early. She checked her bag, made sure she had everything with her, took a gulp of water from a bottle and then slid under the cover and pulled it back into place. It snapped shut as magnetic clasps found each other along the rim of the flatbed.

  Although it wasn't very comfortable, there was space to move around and she found that she could sit up and check her pad without touching the cover at all. Her only worry was that the returning people would want to get something from under the cover or had more load to put on the truck. However, she was as far towards the seats as possible and the obvious place to put on additional stuff was at the back of the truck. She tried to relax and stop fretting.

  She had only been under the cover a short while when she heard once more the thudding sound that she had heard behind the airlock door, when she had thought she had seen a movement. This sounded closer - a thudding noise as if something very heavy was constantly being lifted and dropped. She could feel small tremors through the floor and up into the vehicle and then, she heard something that made her blood run cold: a snorting and a low rumble as if from a massive beast like a dinosaur. It sounded as if it was in the atrium with her. Another snort came and a snuffling, followed by the sound of something very large moving around in the space. She was too scared to look out yet she desperately wanted to know what was out there.

  Then, as more sounds of movement came closer, she felt the vehicle bump as something - the moving thing - hit it gently as it went past. She bit her hand to prevent herself from crying out in terror. There was a strange smell that worked its way under the cover - a chemical smell of minerals, mixed in with a pungent, almost animal, scent. Whatever it was out there was huge, moving and not very careful.

  * * * * *

  A little while later the sound of movement had faded away and it was obvious that whatever had been out there had now moved on. The remaining time before the two people were due to return passed slowly under the cover. She was bored and scared in equal measures but then, in the distance, she heard the two voices returning. Worried that they would find her, she made herself as small as possible in the well area of the truck. There was the sound of someone putting something heavy on the ground and then the unclipping of magnetic catches. Oh cripes - they'll find me! There was a thud and whatever had been carried to the truck was now put on the back and the catches were once more clipped in place. Melody carefully and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

  She felt the truck's suspension drop a little as the two people got on board and then they set off. The ride was quiet, as no one was speaking. The vehicle hissed along, making no noise at all except for a hum from the wheels and the occasional gentle rattle as it passed over an area of rougher surface. The truck turned left and right and any attempt Melody was making to check the route was lost as it became too complex. She settled back in her space and tried to relax. There was still no sound from the two people on board and yet she was very aware that only an arm's length away from her were two individuals who would not be pleased to know she had stowed away. What would they do if they found her? She didn't dare go there and tried to think nicer thoughts as the truck hissed along the tunnels.

  She had just been on the point of dozing off with the motion of the truck and the repetitive hum of its engine, when she felt it slowing down. After a couple of turns, the truck stopped and the two people got off, unloaded their package and walked away - she could hear their footsteps. At this point Melody took the opportunity to look from under the cover and caught a glimpse of two figures - a man and a woman it looked like, the man was carrying the package. Hopping down from her hiding place and keeping them at a distance, she followed and caught more glimpses of them - definitely a man and a woman. Their voices waft back down the corridor - clearer now because of the acoustics of the tube through which they were walking.

  "You check she's still secure and I'll take this lot and put it into the cold store. She'll not be needing it yet." Melody wished she could identify where she had heard the man's voice before. It was familiar and yet totally unlike anyone she knew.

  "I don't want to keep going back to the main habitat," said the woman's voice, quite deep, but clear. "It's too dangerous. If we get caught by that thing it's the end."

  "Don't be so worried, my dear. It will all be fine. We have the detectors and it can't reach where we go and hide. We need the supplies from down there as this end has been trashed. Now get going and make sure she doesn't see your face."

  They arrived at an airlock door, which was obviously coded because they used a touchpad to validate themselves, and went inside. Melody couldn't follow so she settled down to wait, hidden from sight again. She was getting very hungry by now so she hunted in her bag for something to eat. An energy bar - she'd been one of the team a
t the Academy that had designed this particular one, all made from hydroponically grown foods. I wish I was back there now and not doing this, she thought miserably as she munched on the bar.

  It wasn't long before the man and woman emerged from the door and headed back to the vehicle. As they drove away, Melody spotted another man coming down a different corridor and heading for the door. She was sure that through that door must be where Xalata was. As the man went in, she dashed across to stop the door sealing again. A dangerous move but she appeared to have got away with it.

  Carefully, she went inside and allowed the airlock door to close. She stood with her back to the door and looked around to make sure she'd not been spotted. Then she tiptoed across the lobby that she found herself in, towards the doors at the end. One of these must contain Xalata! Just as she was nearing the end, she heard some more voices and, knowing the layout of these units, dashed back to a door that opened on a cupboard. Here she was again! The airlock hissed open and two more voices were talking about "the girl in Q10" and the fact that they needed to check her food in two days' time. Yep - it has to be Xalata.

  OK - just need to get in there now, she thought as the voices faded again and the airlock door hissed shut. She pushed open the cupboard door and, now that she knew which room it was, she headed straight to the door labelled, Q10. The door had the usual arrangement of access pass plate and a touchpad to alert whoever was in there. Could she get Xalata to open the door if she pressed the plate? She tried and nothing happened. No sound. No motion. Nothing.

  She looked around carefully. What to do? Then, having no better idea, she touched the plate again and, instantly, wished she hadn't. An alarm blared out, filling the lobby with noise so that Melody had to put her hands over her ears. She stumbled away from the door and headed back towards the cupboard, just as the airlock swung open and there stood two large masked men. And, judging by the way they were standing, they were not just coming on a shopping trip.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Inside Q10, Xalata jumped up as she heard the alarm. A purple light was flashing on the door console but she had no idea what it meant. Running to it, she found that none of the controls would work, just as before. The noise was quite deafening and she found it difficult to think as the blaring alarm pulsed and wailed in her ears.

  She glanced at the screen which showed the outside and, as she did so, she caught a glimpse of Melody - was that really Melody? - running away. How could she be here? she thought. I'm somewhere on the other side of the Moon.

  She shouted out to try and catch Melody's attention, but of course she could not be heard through the thick airlock door. Then, without warning, two dark shapes appeared in the viewer and she realised that it was someone coming into the home. The airlock door opened sharply and two masked people came in. Boy, were they angry!

  "Stop interfering with the door mechanism - you cannot escape, you stupid girl," said one of the men. "Set this alarm off again and we'll put you somewhere you really would not want to be, with something you really would not want to meet. Do I make myself clear?"

  This last question was shouted and Xalata cowered back against the lobby wall, frightened by the power and threat of the man towering over her. When all was said and done, she was a 14-year old girl and these were hefty adults who looked as if they knew the inside of a gym. Then, in a flash of inspiration, she realised that these accusations were a great cover for Melody, if Melody it was, outside.

  "I'm, I'm really sorry. I was just bored and, y'know, fiddling with stuff. I didn't realise I'd set off the alarms. I promise not to do it again - really. Shine a light - I'm only some girl, y'know. Really, really sorry ..."

  "Yeah, shut up and just stop fooling about. Get back in the room." And with that, the two pushed her into the living space, marched back to the entry, shut the door and she heard the airlock close once more.

  "Shoot. That was a bit hairy," and she crept back out to the lobby to check the viewer and see if she could see Melody again.

  * * * * *

  Melody watched the guards enter and then begin to leave again. She could hear raised voices as they came out of the home, but couldn't make out what was being said. She then realised that the guards had opened the door using a simple code. Without a moment's hesitation, she pulled out her pad to record what they entered on the control. Zooming in, she could just about see what was happening and recorded their exit. As they started to walk away, she checked back on the video and could make out five of the six numbers: 4-3-9-0-2 but she could not see the last one as one of the guards had moved in front of the control. There was no way she would risk entering the wrong number. It would certainly set off the alarm again and then who knew what trouble she and Xalata would be in?

  She checked the video again to try and see whether she could work out which number had been pressed by the position of the body and hand. Still no luck. She just could not risk it.

  Then she realised - each of the guards had a number on his uniform and one of them had 4-3-9-0-2 to start. The last number on the guard's own uniform was 2. It had to be the answer! The lazy guard couldn't be bothered to make a new code so had used his own personnel number. Idiot!

  She waited until she was certain that all was clear and then she darted across to the door, punched in the code and waited as the door slid back. She couldn't believe her luck.

  "What? Melody? But it's you," cried Xalata as she heard the airlock open and her friend walked in quickly. "I ... I'm speechless. For Frank's sake, how did you get here? What? I mean, this is Habitat 14 ..."

  "I know," responded Melody, "I can't believe it myself," and she hugged her friend tight as they stood in the lobby. "Let's go into the living space," she continued, "In case they come back. At least I can hide then. Do you think they are watching you?" A horrible thought had occurred to Melody that the home may be being kept under surveillance.

  "I don't believe so," said Xalata, "Cos there's no way out unless I know the code to the door ... but, you do though! Why don't we go?"

  "Woah! Hold on, where are you going to go? I don't even really know where we are, other than that it is across the other side of the Moon on Farside. How the freak we got here, I have no idea. But I came here under a cover on a truck."

  "Me too. So, I didn't see anything as they brought me here."

  "So, we need to know where we are going before we head off. We can get out of here any time we want 'cos I have the code. What we need to do is come up with a plan and, first, we need to know why they took you and what they want."

  "I guess so," Xalata looked worried. "I've only been here a few days and already I'm causing my Dad trouble ... oh, no - does Dad know what's happened? He doesn't know where I am."

  "No, he doesn't but I'm guessing we can soon tell him," and Melody pulled out her pad. "I'll just connect with him on The Q and get the cavalry to come fetch us!" And so saying, she tapped into her communicator and tried to contact Brett. Nothing happened.

  "What? There's no connection. I can't see or speak to anyone."

  "Maybe it's just in here. Should we try outside?"

  "Too risky - there are people about out there and we can't take the chance that they see us going out of the airlock. There must be another way to get a message out ... but how?

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Glitch was fuming. His parents had grounded him and had made him stay in his room, telling him he was not to go to the Academy or leave the home. He had nothing to do and was bored out of his brain. He had tried to ping Xalata and Melody on his pad and had not had a response. He had also tried to track them by illegally tapping into the cameras that were everywhere around the area, but again, couldn't see anything. He didn't have permission to get into the historical records from the cameras although, he thought, it would not take a great deal to crack into them.

  So, he sat. And he fumed. There was no one else around as his parents were at work. He'd been strictly forbidden from opening the door to any one or from ste
pping outside. It wasn't going to work, he decided. His friends were in danger - something weird was happening and he just couldn't sit on his hands while it took place. Besides, it was his fault in part, as he had lured Xalata to the dark doorway. He'd never realised that this was what had been planned and he felt a fool. His parents had been furious with him and, when he said about his sister on Earth being threatened, they had responded that she was fine - they had spoken to her only that morning!

  He felt stupid, guilty and, above all, frustrated. He needed to DO something!

  His pad sat beside him on the desk in his bedroom and he flipped idly through a number of areas of the habitat, hoping to pick up a clue, using the illegal access that he had worked out months ago to the network of cameras. Then he zoomed into the Outpost and followed the cameras backstage to where he had taken Xalata. The door could just be seen from the camera position he was in. As a cupboard it was innocuous, yet he knew that it was much more than a cupboard but he could not work out how it changed into the portal that he had seen as Xalata was snatched away.

  As he looked, the door to the cupboard opened and someone stepped out. Glitch couldn't believe it - someone had actually been through from the other side and was now about to walk towards the camera. He held his breath and then let out a cry when he saw who it was. The walk was unmistakable - it was Fark! The chief of security looked both ways as he came out of the cupboard and then swiftly walked away down the corridor to the exit.

  Glitch switched cameras and followed him all the way to the TransTrak, where Fark boarded a pod that was probably coming back to The Academy. So, if Fark has just come out of the cupboard then he MUST know how the access through to the other side works, thought Glitch. The sneaky devil. All that when they arrested me was just show. He knew! So what did that mean? Glitch racked his brains to try and make sense of the situation. One thing was certain, Fark was not on the side of the good guys.