by G J Ogden
“Understood, Shuttle Logan, standing by,” came the reply, and the link clicked off.
Griff knew they had already had some luck with the CET cruiser. Ordinarily, a CET commander on patrol would be bored enough, and pedantic enough, to stop and search a wreck of a shuttle like theirs. However, the CET were clearly too concerned with other matters to be bothered with them.
Then Griff’s message indicator lit up, and the response came back from the RGF base at Hunter’s Point. Griff read it and swore, “Shit, the base has been closed to all traffic in and out until further notice,” he said. Then he had an idea, and quickly opened a new data connection on his panel. “I’m going to see if my security codes still work.”
Cutler glanced across to him, “What will that achieve?”
Griff established the link and then started to log-in. “I was essentially working undercover for Wash,” replied Griff. “Which meant I could move in and out of RGF facilities off the books. If I can get access, and my codes still work, I might be able to grant us clearance directly.” Then he noticed that Cutler appeared to have stopped listening, and was hurriedly entering a new entry program into the computer. “What are you doing?” Griff asked, scowling across to him.
“If you fail, then clearly, we cannot submit to the CET authorities,” replied Cutler calmly. “So, we will have no choice but to enter the atmosphere without clearance.”
Griff spun his seat around to face the mercenary, “That’s suicide!” he yelled. “They’ll either destroy us before we reach the atmosphere, or shoot us down as soon as we make it through!”
The message panel on Cutler’s console lit up. It was an incoming communication request from the CET cruiser. It had clearly run out of patience with them.
Cutler grabbed the controls and placed his hand on the thruster lever, before glancing back at Griff. “Then you had better get clearance quickly,” he replied, coolly. “You have sixty seconds, before that cruiser decides we’re a threat, and disables our engines.”
Griff shook his head and spun back to face his console. He used his credentials to connect to the RGF computer systems, but the data was loading slowly. “Damn this piece of crap!” he growled, again slapping the monitor on the side. “The link is too slow; you have to give me more time!”
“You have forty seconds…” Cutler replied, flatly.
Griff slapped the monitor again, and the RGF data portal finally loaded. He checked his access level and shook his fist triumphantly. “I still have clearance,” he called over, “I’m authorizing us for an emergency landing.”
“Twenty seconds, Inspector…” said Cutler.
“Damn it, just wait another minute!” Griff snarled back, as he focused on the screen. Come on, process already! he urged, as the cursor continued to blink silently.
“Ten seconds, before we have to run…” said Cutler, tightening his grip on the thruster lever.
Griff’s screen updated with the clearance code. “I have it!” Griff shouted, turning the monitor so that Cutler could read it. “Call back the damn cruiser!”
Cutler glanced at the monitor, before taking his hand off the thruster control. “It’s about time you were useful,” he said, with a rare acidity to his delivery, before flipping open the channel to the cruiser. Griff felt his face redden with anger, but he had to bite his tongue, while Cutler spoke to Commander Lane again.
“My most sincere apologies, Commander Lane,” Cutler began, putting on his fake voice again. It just made Griff want to punch him even harder. “We had a few additional technical difficulties to iron out, but I’m transmitting the entry clearance now.”
They waited, while the channel remained open to the cruiser. Static crackled over the speakers, like a turntable, playing the lead-in track to an old and worn LP.
Shit! It’s taking too long… Griff thought to himself. He began running scenarios in his mind. If Cutler ran, they’d be destroyed for sure. However, perhaps he could turn in Cutler, and claim he had been captured by the mercenary. It would be an RGF Inspector’s word over that of a suspected criminal, he reasoned to himself. It was a long shot, but it was better than burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere.
Griff slid his fingers slowly onto his holster, and gently teased open the strap holding his pistol in place. Checking to make sure Cutler wasn’t watching, he then closed his hand around the grip, and began to slowly draw the weapon. Suddenly, Commander Lane’s voice crackled through the cockpit speakers again.
“Apologies for the wait, Shuttle Logan,” said Lane, “It’s all a bit hectic up here right now. Your entry clearance has been confirmed. Make sure you get that radiation leak looked at.”
Griff let out his breath slowly, realizing that he’d been holding it for the last few seconds. He then slid the weapon back into its holster, as Cutler cheerfully answered the cruiser.
“Will do, Commander, it sure is comforting to know you guys are up here,” said Cutler, with a saccharin sweetness that made Griff feel nauseous. “Shuttle Logan, out.”
Cutler then closed the channel, and resumed his previous entry course, before glancing across to Griff and frowning. “You look pale, Inspector,” he said, derisively. “I would have expected you to handle such situations with more of a level head.”
Griff felt like pulling out his weapon and shooting him right then and there, but he instead sat back. I’ll show you level-headedness… Griff thought, as the blue planet started to fill their view outside. Soon, I won’t need you anymore. Then you’ll find out how calmly I can act, when I put a bullet in your arrogant head.
“How about you just concern yourself with landing the damn shuttle,” snapped Griff, before noticing that he was still connected to the RGF data portal. He was about to shut down the window, when he spotted that he had a personal communication. Frowning, he turned the monitor away from Cutler so that he couldn’t see it, and opened the message. His eyes widened as he saw who it was from, but he was careful not to let Cutler see his shocked expression.
It read: ‘From: Superintendent Jane Wash [Suspended]. Subject: Mutual benefit.’ Griff cast a surreptitious glance across to Cutler again, but the mercenary was completely consumed by the task of re-entry, and was paying no attention to Griff. He continued reading. ‘As I’m sure you now know, the RGF is finished. I have been suspended, pending an investigation by a joint CET and MP board. It’s a formality – they intend to make an example of me, but I won’t let that happen. You created this damned mess, so you will help get me out of it, or I swear I will take you down with me. You know I will! But, since I know what truly motivates you, I will point out that I am still a very rich woman. Help me to acquire a counterfeit ID and get me away from the core planets, and I’ll make you a rich man. I know – and you know – you won’t get a better offer, even if you rat on me to these CET assholes. Which I’m sure you’re considering even now. I KNOW you, Griff! Reply here with your answer. Wash.’
Griff smiled, but then quickly wiped the grin from his face, afraid that Cutler might see it and suspect something. Luckily, the mercenary was still too distracted. Griff thought that turning over Cutler and what he knew about Wash was his best option, but Wash had just gifted him another. Wash was right that even if he did dish the dirt on her, there were no guarantees the CET authorities would be lenient with him. However, with Wash’s money, he could not only get a fake ID for her, but for himself too. And the thought of taking back the credits that the witch had extorted out of him over the years was too tempting to ignore.
A smile again curled his lips, as he hit ‘reply’ and typed out a simple, short response. ‘I agree to your proposal. Meet me at Swinsler’s Shipyard, Hunter’s Point, San Francisco.’ He transmitted the message, waited for it to send, then closed down the RGF data portal.
“We’ll be on the ground within the hour,” said Cutler, as flames started to encroach on their view of the planet. “I’ve laid low at Swinsler’s lot before. We can get this shuttle fixed up there too.”
> “Sure, whatever,” said Griff, playing with the strap on his holster. “Sounds like a plan.” Then he glanced across to Cutler again, and smiled. He’d gotten rid of Tory Bellona, and soon the problem of Cutler Wendell would be dealt with too. Swinsler’s shipyard is where you’ll lay low, alright. he thought. Low, as in buried six-feet in the ground…
CHAPTER 26
The smile on Liberty’s face grew wider, as she turned for another pass around the asteroid. She was now fully in control of Morphus’ shuttle for the first time. The alien AI had yielded all controls to her as a test, and she was passing with flying colors.
Morphus had recreated a replica of the VCX-110’s cockpit and flight controls, as a way for Liberty to feel more comfortable flying the ship. However, despite the clear similarities in terms of the mechanical design of the control systems and instruments, the aesthetic appearance was still very ‘alien’. Everything looked as if it had been cast in a mold, as a single, unified piece, rather than bolted together from many component pieces. And while Liberty still had to actually move the controls in order to pilot the vessel, the connection between pilot and ship was more than merely physical. She was also connected to it via her new alien augmentations, which interfaced directly with Liberty’s central nervous system. Morphus had explained it as a being a symbiosis of organic and inorganic components. It sounded impossible, yet it worked.
Tobin drew his hands away from his face for the third time in the last minute, as Liberty veered back out into deep space again. Her initial flight training may have been a thrill-ride for Liberty, but for Tobin it had been the roller-coaster ride from hell. He sucked in another gulp of air and exhaled slowly, before anxiously turning to Morphus, who was standing between their two seats.
“Remind me again how the ship can move like this, without us being squished against the walls?” said Tobin. He’d asked Morphus the question once before already. However, it had been during one of Liberty’s earlier sprints over the asteroid, and he’d been too pre-occupied with an impending, fiery death to hear the answer.
“This vessel is capable of manipulating the curvature of spacetime,” replied Morphus, as casually as if it were describing something as simple as a door hinge. The alien entity’s hands were pressed behind its back, like an eighteenth-century naval commander. “But within a planetary atmosphere, it can also use what you would consider to be more conventional reaction-based thruster technology.”
“Right…” said Tobin, who then glanced at Liberty, clearly not having understood a word of what Morphus said.
Liberty shrugged, momentarily taking her shimmering hands off the controls, which just had the effect of making Tobin look more nervous. “Right now, I don’t care how it works,” she said, grabbing the controls again, before dipping back towards the asteroid’s rocky surface. “But I like it!”
Tobin shook his head, but then covered his eyes again as Liberty dove into a deep crater, before powering up the slope on the other side.
“We should continue on through the portal,” said Morphus, in its usual, composed manner. “Your abilities will be sufficient to begin your acclimatization to the Revocater’s systems. I have begun the process of cortical integration in order to provide you with the necessary knowledge.”
Suddenly, Liberty froze and was pressed back into her seat, with her eyes tightly closed. Tobin yelped, and went to grab the controls, before realizing that they had begun to move by themselves. The ship had already turned away from the asteroid, and was heading towards the portal.
“You could have warned me!” said Tobin, pressing a hand to his chest.
Liberty then opened her eyes and let out a labored gasp, as if she had just surfaced from a long underwater dive. “Me too!” she exclaimed. “It would be nice to have some notice before you start messing with my brain.” Then Liberty’s eyes widened, and she started pouting and blinking elaborately, as if she was sucking on an especially sour piece of lime.
“Are you okay?” asked Tobin, frowning at her. “You’re pulling some pretty funky faces there…”
Liberty scowled at Tobin, in-between pouts and blinks. Then she shook her head and let out another long breath. “Well, that was interesting…” she said, rubbing her temples.
“I apologize, I should have warned you before implanting such a vast array of knowledge,” said Morphus. “But now you should have the requisite abilities necessary to pilot the Revocater.”
Tobin smiled, “Are you able to implant any knowledge into my head too?” he asked. “My mom never forgave me for flunking out of business school.”
Liberty shook her head and glanced back at Morphus. “While you ponder that very important question, how long is it until we reach the Corporeal’s homeworld?”
“This is the final portal transition,” replied Morphus, before looking to Tobin. “And yes, Tobin Rand entity, I can assist with your knowledge, but not your academic inadequacies.”
Liberty and Tobin laughed, before the view outside was consumed by a swirling purple energy. Seconds later the ship emerged back into normal space in front of a silver-colored orb, hanging in orbit above a vivid blue planet.
“Oh, wow, what is that?” wondered Liberty out loud, as she stared out at the massive metal sphere in awe. “Is that the Telescope? Hudson told me about it, from the memories you implanted in his head.” However, Morphus was oddly silent. Liberty looked back at the alien, but its face – that of the human female they’d become accustomed to seeing – seemed strangely absent of life. It was as if the entity had been frozen in a moment in time. Then the lights in the artificial cockpit dimmed, and Liberty heard the thrum of the ship’s mysterious power source wind down. Liberty and Tobin exchanged nervous glances, before Liberty again turned to Morphus. “Morphus, what’s going on?” she asked, more urgently. “What’s wrong?”
Morphus stepped closer to the viewport, which suddenly zoomed in on the massive sphere. Liberty looked out, initially seeing nothing more than the glow of the system’s sun reflecting off the sphere’s metal surface. And then she saw it. A dark, arrow-like shape, buzzing around the sphere like a moth around a light bulb. It was a seed ship.
“Goliath has sent its drones here,” said Morphus, finally breaking its silence. Then it looked down to meet Liberty’s eyes. “They must be searching for the Revocater.”
The image in front of Liberty switched to show an area of the planet’s surface. It was a fractured wasteland, smashed and broken from Goliath’s relentless assault, millennia ago. However, unlike the first time Morphus had returned to its creator’s homeworld, there was now something moving on the surface. The objects had a design similar to that of the arrow-shaped seed ships. But instead of flying, they scurried over the scarred landscape, like mechanized arachnids.
“But how does it know?” asked Tobin, tearing his eyes away from the sinister-looking drones to look at Morphus. “Goliath must be half the galaxy away from here?”
Morphus adjusted the view on the screen again, focusing on the area where the service tunnel was located. There were no seed ships or spider-like surface drones directly near it, but Liberty could see that they were getting closer.
“When I detected Goliath at the planet you call Sapphire Alpha, it must also have sensed my presence,” replied Morphus. “Goliath does not know our intentions, but the great ship is wise. It will know that if a Revocater pilot survived, then it will be searching for a way to destroy it.”
“But you can destroy these drones, right?” said Liberty, wondering why Morphus had appeared to power down. “You can stop them, before they find the Revocater?”
“If the seed drones and ships detect us and the Revocater, they will return to Goliath and inform it,” replied Morphus. “The great ship will then make destroying me and the Revocater its top priority. And until I have the crystal, I am powerless to defeat it.” Morphus stepped back, so that the entity disappeared into shadow. From the darkness, they heard its voice again. “We must reach the prototype Re
vocater without being detected.”
Suddenly, the image switched back to the view of the Telescope over the planet, and their ship began to move. However, it was not only moving – it was reconfiguring itself too. Liberty could see bulkheads shifting and panels folding and bending. Without warning, the cockpit shrank and became suddenly claustrophobic. Liberty instinctively pressed her hands up, trying to brace the ceiling that seemed to be collapsing in on her, but she could not hold it back. She screamed and ducked, covering her head, but then the movement of the ship’s surfaces stopped as suddenly as they had begun. The cockpit fell into silence.
Liberty opened her eyes and peered around. There was barely space for Liberty and Tobin, and the alien entity was nowhere to be seen
“Morphus!” Liberty cried out, feeling terror grip her. It was like she had been entombed in a metal sarcophagus and buried alive. “Morphus, where are you?!”
There was a deathly silence, punctuated by the rising beat of Liberty’s heart thumping in her chest. Then the alien AI spoke.
“I am still here, Liberty Devan entity,” said Morphus. “I had to act quickly to reconfigure the ship, before we were detected.”
Liberty threw her head back in relief. “You scared the hell out of me!” she shouted.
“I apologize, but the expedience was necessary,” replied Morphus. The unearthly thrum of the engines then increased in volume, and the ship began moving rapidly towards the planet.
“Wait, won’t they see us?” asked Tobin.
“I have reconfigured this vessel so that it appears to be a seed ship,” replied Morphus. “Goliath’s servants are many in number, but they lack sophisticated intelligence. In many respects, they are analogous to your Earth-based wolves.”
“So, you’re hoping they’ll just see us as another member of the pack and leave us alone?” asked Tobin.
