Titan Cruel Moon

by Kate Rauner

  ***

  Without Drew for company, Fynn wandered through the next morning's crowd until he found Ben and slipped in next to him. Maj released the couple the adjuncts had tossed into a bin the day before, and everyone turned to watch them limp into line for morning exercises. They stood far apart.

  "Weird, isn't it?" Ben said. "Punish two lovers for hiding away together by tossing them into a bin together."

  Trying to stay inconspicuous, Fynn only shook his head.

  Calisthenics ended quickly and breakfast stretched out as crews, reluctant to abandon newly awakened Kin to their day in the clinic, delayed work shifts.

  Fynn and Ben were halfway through their morning potatoes when Rica bounded over. She dropped a clamp-on voltmeter on the table between them and pointed to the display. "I noticed some of the dome's LEDs are out. So I took this reading where the cable enters from the nuclear reactor. The voltage is down."

  Ben frowned at the numbers. "I thought the Stirling converter ran on fission heat. Doesn't uranium have a half-life of millions of years?"

  Fynn held up his little finger. "There's only a nubbin of uranium alloyed with molybdenum in the core. Neutron absorbers build up over time. I should search for videos about the end of its useful life. It should be completely predictable. In the meantime, I'll warn Emily about this voltage drop. Motors on her fans and pumps may be turning slower. I don't know what kind of damage that could cause."

  Ben scanned the next table. "Where's that friend of yours? He's on Emily's maintenance team, so he'll know."

  Fynn didn't want to talk about Drew. Emily would realize he was gone soon enough, though who she might choose to tell was uncertain. He handed the meter back to Rica. "Good catch. Why don't you take daily readings from now on and see if there's a trend."

  "Why don't we get a second burner running? Then it won't matter what the reactor does. We'll have plenty of power."

  "Do you have enough controllers repaired?"

  "No, but we've accomplished a lot with manual controls. We can make it work."

  Any reason to spend his time in the furnace dome, at the far end of the colony, sounded good to Fynn, and Rica's idea made sense. Starting a second burner would get them closer to the schedule too, which ought to improve his father's standing with Tanaka. Wins all around, including a chance to work side by side with Rica. She was smart and funny. What she saw in Casper was a mystery.

  "Where is Casper?" Fynn asked.

  Ben tipped his head toward the next table. "Eating with his barracks mates. But they're almost done."

  "Good," Fynn said. "Let's get going."

  ***

  Yash climbed the stairs to Tanaka's room. His muscles tightened with each step. It had been a day since the twelve newly awakened Kin shuttled down. A day without a word from their spiritual leader. Yash had been anticipating this confrontation every hour.

  When he reached the door, he paused to lean on the balcony rail and gather his thoughts. Straight across the open playing field was the shuttle dock. To his left, the men's barracks, the brightly colored units partly muffling utility systems that hummed behind them. To his right was Greta's medical clinic. He hadn't told Greta about being summoned. She'd want to come with him, but she was busy evaluating the new arrivals. He'd do this alone.

  He rapped knuckles against the door and pushed it open without waiting. Tanaka sat at his desk. The adjuncts were at the lounge end of the room. Maliah rose from her chair.

  Yash's stomach twisted tighter. He didn't want Maliah to see him argue with Tanaka. That would upset her. For an instant, there seemed to be wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, and the golden tone of one cheek was marred by a bronze splotch. His girl was growing older. Then she smiled and those shadows disappeared. He smiled back fleetingly. He had work to do.

  A dining table and chairs sat against the opposite wall. Yash greeted Tanaka with a nod, crossed to pull a straight-backed chair over to the desk, sat down, and folded his hands in his lap.

  Tanaka's face seemed frozen. He leaned his elbows on the darkly pigmented desktop and rested his chin on clasped hands. "Twelve," he said. "Twelve Kin joined us yesterday when my schedule calls for thirty-six."

  "Eleven healthy," Yash said quietly. "Except for some lingering numbness, which we've come to expect. One in a coma."

  "Showing signs of consciousness, I understand."

  "A coma. And we still don't know if we should leave them all in stasis or wake them as quickly as possible."

  "Wake them as the schedule dictates. With the gardens established, it won't be long. Thirty-six each month until all four hundred are with us."

  Yash leaned forward, keeping his hands in his lap. "We are less than four hundred now. We've suffered losses and may suffer more."

  Tanaka's eyes narrowed to slits. "Your boy interfered with my adjuncts at the shuttle dock. Did you know that? Did you instruct him to do so?"

  "That's not what I heard. He simply closed the airlock after everyone was out."

  "Magnus was going to seize control of the shuttle for me, and fly my adjuncts to the Herschel. To explain..." He opened his hands as if cupping the words. "Explain my instructions to our errant Commander Westergaard."

  The slur against Liam irritated Yash. He pressed his hands, palm down, on his thighs and continued as calmly as possible. "Liam is doing a good job for the colony. The Herschel crew got our Gravitron loose, and they're assembling the station segments. I've asked him to keep searching for a channel we can use to contact Earth."

  Yash ignored the shuffles behind him and concentrated on Tanaka, who shifted forward. "I forbid such contact."

  Yash took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. "I share your vision, Doctor Tanaka. Liam does. We all do. A home for the Kin. A colony established where no human ever set foot before. But there will be no colony without people. Enough people to maintain the equipment and raise children. I plan to use all the information I can obtain to make the vision a reality."

  "Yet you defy my schedule."

  "No. I aim to achieve your schedule's goals."

  "Doctor Lund, our Viking warrior, has solved the stasis problem. All twelve Kin from this last awakening are alive. She has exposed your incompetence."

  Yash sputtered, but skipped over the insult as a distraction. "She also recommends we try to contact the stasis researchers on Earth. You used their mongrel research yourself to build the pods."

  "You claim I'm under their control?"

  "Not at all. You inspired us to make this journey, and the Kin need you. I ask you to trust me and Liam in our areas of expertise. Together, we'll build this colony."

  Tanaka settled back in his chair. "I will consider your words." He dismissed Yash with a wave of a hand.

  The abrupt end to their conversation left Yash blinking for a moment. The conversation had gone better than he'd expected. He rose, tipped his head to Tanaka, and slid his chair back to the dining table. The adjuncts looked blank as he wished them goodnight.

  He nearly flew, barely touching a step on his way down the stairs. Tanaka was reasonable. All it took was stroking his ego a little. And, indeed, they would never have funded the Herschel without Tanaka, so it made sense to acknowledge that. Greta would be proud of how well he handled the situation, but Yash decided not to tell her. She'd find something to worry about.

  ***

  Maliah's heart pounded against her chest till it hurt. She would have dragged her father away if she could, but instead sat quietly in her chair, straining to hear every word over the hiss of ventilation currents. To her surprise, Tanaka looked thoughtful, as if he'd made a decision. And her father smiled as he left.

  The adjuncts crossed the room to stand in front of Tanaka's desk and Maliah trailed after them.

  Magnus crossed his arms high on his chest. "I assume you've finished considering Rupar's words?"

  Tanaka face was stone. "Our Chief Engineer needs to reform his thinking. Let us encourage him."

  Magnus squa
red his shoulders to face Tanaka. "Yash Rupar needs time alone to reflect on his actions. A few days in the trash bin, perhaps?"

  Tanaka shook his head. "Something sudden and memorable. In the book of the Kin, more of an exclamation point than a sonnet."

  She wasn't sure what that meant, but a chill ran through Maliah. "Let me talk to him first. He's my father. He'll listen to me."

  "No, my dear." Tanaka shifted to lock eyes with her. "This is not your responsibility. Not yet."

  "Maybe Maliah should participate. I'm sure she'll welcome the opportunity to demonstrate her loyalty." Magnus half-turned to gaze at her with a flat smile. "Perhaps she has an admission of her own to make. Some faithless action?"

  The chill in Maliah's belly froze solid. "No, never."

  Magnus' smile was ugly. "Perhaps you think a parent is more important than the Kin? More important than Doctor Tanaka?"

  "I'm dedicated to the Kin and to you..." She tore her gaze away from Magnus' sneer to face Tanaka. "To you, Doctor Tanaka."

  Tanaka transfixed her with his stare. "Are you, my dear? Perhaps Magnus is correct and you do have a confession to make?"

  Images of Fynn, an indistinct figure between spurts of static, rose in Maliah's mind. "I didn't report... I saw someone, heard someone... Something disrespectful." She choked on Fynn's name and couldn't say it. "I confronted the person. I was sure I could make him see..." She covered her face with both hands as the tears spilled out.

  "Look at me dear."

  She peeked between her fingers. Tanaka looked weary. "I thought you might be ready to become an adjunct. But I see it is not yet time. No matter. I am patient. Go to your room, now, dear. I want you to turn off all the dome cameras for the night. Understand?"

  She didn't understand, but wanted desperately to get away. Maliah stumbled out the door and clung to the balcony railing. Her pulse pounded in her ears and her knees gave way. She collapsed to the floor and hugged herself. She was proud and ashamed all at once. Tanaka had considered making her an adjunct. And she may have lost that chance forever.

  Anger surged through her. Fynn! And that stupid friend of his. Why had she covered for them? She pulled herself to her feet and smoothed wisps of golden hair that escaped from her braid.

  As soon as her trembling legs would support her, Maliah crept down the stairs to her room in the tower base to turn off dome cameras and fall into bed. This would never happen again.

  ***

  A soft beep woke Yash. He fumbled to silence his pad before Greta stirred. A tone from any of the medical monitors, even though they were down the hall, would have her on her feet in an instant, but not from his pad. He rolled off her office couch.

  The text message was from Magnus. It said, Tanaka couldn't sleep and wanted to inspect the furnace power plant. Yash was to meet him there immediately.

  Yash blinked at the pad's readout. It was well past midnight. He snagged his coveralls from a hook but wasn't quiet enough.

  "What's up?" Greta asked sleepily.

  "I have to check something. Go back to sleep." He stroked her shoulder and left.

  The village dome had reached its lowest lumen level, all reddish shades of gray. He wondered if he should rouse Fynn. But Magnus' message hadn't mentioned his son and it was so late. Yash knew the furnaces. He could handle whatever Tanaka wanted.

  The greenhouse was dim too. Plants needed some downtime from grow lights. Yash walked among moving shadows as ventilation currents rustled the leaves.

  His steps echoed in the empty front half of the furnace dome. Figures stood by the pallets. Yash took a deep breath and tried for a dignified shamble without too much bounce.

  He raised his sleeve. "Shall I turn the lights up?"

  Trina grabbed his wrist, and Shun jumped to his other side. They twisted his arms back and forced him to his knees.

  Shocked at the attack, Yash didn't resist.

  Tanaka's face was barely visible in the dim light. "Doctor Rupar, you do not seem to understand that I demand obedience. Perhaps after tonight you will." He walked away and the sound of his footfalls disappeared beneath the pulse pounding in Yash's ears.

  The other two adjuncts moved directly in front of him. Magnus raised something in his hand.

  Yash's voice was hoarse. "Magnus, you idiot."

  Pain split his head and everything went black.

  "What're you doing?" Maj's voice was far away. She sounded upset, maybe frightened. But Yash couldn't open his eyes to see.

  "Payback."

  Voices faded into silence. Pain vanished, replaced by darkness and cold. A spark of light appeared in the center of his vision. It grew brighter. Yash tried to grab hold of something, anything, but he floated helplessly toward the light.

  ***

  Ben and Rica shouted in unison. Something was terribly wrong and Fynn bounded toward them. Rica caught him, and for a moment, he couldn't make sense of what he saw. Crumpled coveralls, one of the ceiling fans crashed to pieces, its case lying scattered on the floor. And a dark red pool. Then he saw a lanky arm, a dark skinned hand.

  Rica hugged him tight. "Ben called the medics."

  Fynn jerked free and fell to his knees. Sticky blood matted Yash's black hair, leaving a few streaks of gray visible. Fynn's hands hovered over his father's body, unsure where to touch or whether to move him.

  Greta arrived with the other medics and shoved Fynn aside. She pressed two fingers to Yash's neck, gently moved his arm, and touched the edge of the thick puddle.

  "He's been dead four or five hours." Her face was like marble.

  People kept arriving until a crowd surrounded them.

  Greta sat back on her haunches, trembling, and Fynn scrambled to her side. As their sobs merged, Fynn thought his throat would burst. Arms surrounded them, hugged them, and rocked them. But nothing would ever help.

  Chapter 21

  G reta sat in her clinic office, Fynn stiff and silent beside her. The medics were washing Yash's body and laying his limbs straight. What could Yash have been doing, alone in the middle of the night? If she could see him one more time, alive and moving, she might have an answer. She tapped her flat pad and opened the camera with the best view of the clinic.

  There was no record, nothing for the entire night. She tried another camera. Also no record. And in the furnace dome, no record. That was odd.

  A call to assemble came while she puzzled over the cameras. Fynn swore.

  Greta stood and offered him a hand. "It's easier to go."

  Kin were in the village dome already, but it took longer than usual to line up. People came to hug her and Fynn, and to cry with them. Tanaka and the adjuncts didn't try to hurry the assembly.

  When the group quieted, Tanaka raised one hand. "You've all heard of our terrible loss this morning. Doctor Yash Rupar, our Chief Engineer, who was so crucial to this colony's design, has died. A martyr to the stasis sickness that affects many of us."

  Fynn shifted his weight backwards. "What's he talking about?"

  Around them, Kin glanced at each other and whispered. Death wasn't a secret in a colony of five dozen people. Everyone knew, and most had seen Yash lying crushed under a fallen ceiling fan.

  Even without the obvious accident, Yash never suffered any stasis effects. Tingles spread through Greta's body and her thoughts froze. She looked blankly at Fynn and shook her head. It made no sense.

  Tanaka turned sideways and Maliah stepped to the rail beside him. "Yash Rupar will lie with our other martyrs on Titan's surface," Tanaka said. "Preserved for all time to inspire our descendants with his courage. And he leaves the Kin a living legacy - his daughter stands with me, full of sorrow, yet inspired. We cannot change what has happened, but we can honor Rupar's memory by renewing our devotion to his life's goal. To establish paradise on Titan."

  Maliah raised her fist. "Kin."

  The crowd joined her chant. "Kin, kin, kin."

  Greta's fist opened and she reached forward. All she wanted was to hold her oldest ch
ild in her arms, but Maliah was so far away.

  ***

  Fynn lay on his bed, welcoming the quiet. The Kin had started a rally, a sort of wake for his father, and Greta had returned to the clinic for her last hours with Yash. But Fynn couldn't bear the thought of seeing him so cold and still. He opened the private channel to the Herschel and called Drew.

  Drew's text arrived immediately. Are you somewhere safe to talk? Everyone on the Herschel heard about your dad. I'm so sorry.

  Fynn wasn't sure why he wanted to talk to Drew, but his muscles unknotted and tears blurred his vision. It doesn't seem real. Emily's maintenance crew is skipping the rally to thread safety cables through the other ceiling fans so nothing like this happens again.

  I wish I could be there.

  What's going on in orbit? Fynn wouldn't mind a distraction.

  Our AI, Orpheus, is becoming useful. It's operating the shuttles to weld ring segments together. You can follow the station assembly sequence on the colony schedule. Once the ring is complete, the pilots will pull the spokes off the Hershel's core.

  Fynn opened the schedule on the main portion of his screen. There was a video link showing station configuration. What's this part about emptying pods?

  Yeah. To attach the spokes, the three center levels need to be awakened and the pods removed or heat from welding could damage the pods. Liam was going to talk to your dad.

  Drew's message seemed to cut off abruptly.

  It's okay, Drew. What did Liam want to say?

  We can't access the labs until the Herschel is reconfigured and Tyra still can't raise Earth, so maybe waking those levels is the fastest way to get info on the stasis problems, even if it means some Kin will die. Your dad didn't have stasis sickness, did he?

  Fynn smacked the pad as he typed. No. Don't know what Tanaka meant. Why did Tanaka lie about Yash's death? It left Fynn lightheaded. Bewildered.

  If the med lab is as complete as the genetics lab, the Herschel can figure out what's going wrong with stasis. I'm assigned to genetics, so I got that manifest. Whoever put it together knew their stuff.