Shattered Minds (A StarSeeker Novel Book 1)

by David Byrd

  The next time he came to all he heard was quiet…no explosions, no cries or sounds other than a slight whirring of environmental systems moving air around. He opened his eyes and found his right eye was blurry. Blinking to clear them he was staring straight up at a ceiling. It was not the StarSeeker he was sure but his dreams had placed him in various areas. He felt extremely weak but by degrees he managed to sit up and swing his legs over. He stood up and let the dizziness abate and took stock of the surroundings. It seemed to be a medical bay. He could hear sounds outside the room so he slowly made his way in that direction. He was still unsure whether this was real life or still a dream. The sounds became louder and he headed for an open doorway. Inside with their backs turned appeared to be Julia and Zara.

  The two women heard the sound of a shuffle and turned around quickly startled.

  “Quentin! Julia cried. Both Julia and Zara rushed to his side and hugged him. Zara a bit too enthusiastically which caused a wince from Nash.

  “I don’t understand,” Julia said. “The treatments were not working.”

  Nash feeling a bit dizzy looked to be about to pass out.

  “Oh no you don’t mister…back in bed with you right now!” Zara said walking on one side with Julia holding him from the other until they made it back to the trauma bay. After getting him back in bed he tried to focus and ask more questions but was too weak.

  “Nope…No questions right now, you just go right back to sleep,” Zara said.

  Too tired to argue Nash was about to say something else but Zara interrupted once more while looking at Nash’s naked form up and down.

  “Mr.…you are out of uniform…so you just go back to sleep and that’s an order.”

  Nash closed his eyes but he had a slight smile on his face. “Love you too Zara.” He whispered falling fast asleep.

  Zara looked at Julia her face full of energy and hope. “Whatever you did Doc…thank you.”

  “That’s just it…I don’t know…Nothing was really working. The last thing I did was…transfuse him!” Julia said thinking furiously. “I have an idea that I need to test.”

  “OK you go ahead and I’ll contact Jev to bring a fresh uniform out when he comes. And oh by the way…Quentin!” Zara said smiling with her eyebrows raised.

  Julia blushed slightly. “Well you know…I was just startled and not thinking straight.”

  “Uh huh…” Zara said with a mischievous wink as she left the bay.

  Jevin received the good news about Nash and prepared mission packs containing survival essentials including weapons and ammunition energy charges just in case they encountered trouble away from the ship. He contacted acting Governor Hako and requested transport to the Research Center and 15 minutes later a skitter arrived. He set the ship for automated defenses, code locked the hatches and made his way over to the skitter. Two men in police type gear ushered him into the skitter without saying anything. They promptly headed out to the center which took only a few minutes. They pointed the way in and remained in the skitter while Jevin carried in the packs.

  Julia meanwhile had taken a blood sample from herself and began a detailed analysis. Early results were displaying anti-bodies that matched the structure of the pathogen. Without diving into any other data she was convinced that the vaccination she received before leaving Earth was designed to prevent infection by the parasite. So Paxton definitely knew what was going on...possibly even participated in the entire project and they already had a cure they were not sharing with the people of RanClor IV. The only conclusion she could draw is that they wanted things to happen the way they were going. But why send her to investigate. Surely they had an idea that she might find something to blow the operation that was being performed. Hearing Jevins’s booming voice coming down the hall both she and Zara came out to meet him. She had to admit it was really good to see the big guy there to back them up. Zara went immediately into the pack he brought for her and pulled out all manner of items that she efficiently checked and added to her body and BDU.

  Julia filled them both in on her tests and conclusions and Jevin only nodded in agreement.

  “It fits all the information I was able to find,” he said. “There has been a wave of infections on RanClor every 10-13 days. In all cases a freighter carrying fresh produce has arrived a day before the next series of infections. The freighter also has been contacting Paxton every time it makes landfall. So you have to wonder why a commercial freighter carrying food for RanClor IV would be contacting a Bio Tech company on Earth.”

  “Did you find out who the captain of the freighter is?” Zara asked.

  “There were only initials in the official documents…C.T.,” he said. “But…the freighter is here now which is why I brought my lovely Zara some of her favorite party favors.”

  “Who can we trust? Who do we tell about this and how can we stop them…We have to get started on making a vaccine…” Julia said breathless.

  “Whoa…hold on there Doc,” Jevin said. “First we know they are hostile and will probably do anything to keep this from getting out. They’ve already tried to hit us a couple of times. Second, you need to get all your data together and figure out what it will take to help the people of RanClor IV because we really can’t trust anyone at this point.”

  “I…I know you’re right I’ve just never been in a life or death situation that was my own before,” she said.

  “You’re doing just fine Julia. But from now on you need to be armed. Here…this is a small blaster you can conceal almost anywhere. Do you know how to shoot?” Zara asked.

  “Yes…one thing my father did teach me was self-defense. He insisted that bad things happen in seconds without the benefit of waiting for help.” She said.

  “Good…the charge pack is good for at least twenty shots before reload. It’s a small caliber pulse gun, but unless the assailant has armor it will do the job.” Zara said.

  “I’m going to check on Nash and then get all of the results onto a data cube,” Julia said. “At least we will have all the conclusive data whatever we decide to do with it.” Julia hurried off which gave Jevin and Zara a chance to talk alone.

  “What do you really think big guy?” Zara asked.

  “I think we are in deep and we need to get off planet as soon as Nash can walk. You know as well as I do that an operation like this couldn’t have been built by Paxton alone.” Jevin said.

  “Yep…I knew that but didn’t really want to say out loud that Earth government or the military or both are somehow involved. It means we are all targets unless this information is out in the open as soon as we can get it out.” Zara replied.

  Chapter 18

  Julia downloaded all of the analysis and conclusions for both Nash and the tests on her blood and the parasite. She stored this on a portable data cube she placed in her pocket and then stopped in to see Nash. His vitals were much improved and he was in a normal sleep pattern so she left him for the moment. Jevin and Zara were still discussing the situation down the hall and she just needed to get some fresh air for a few minutes. The stress was starting to build and it would be good to go outside for a while.

  As Julia left the main lab, the two men that were stationed at the exit were nowhere to be found. She felt that was odd but standing in one spot for hours would be boring so she assumed they were close by or possibly taking a fresh air break as well. Walking outside she found a nice sunny spot on a low wall so she sat down and closed her eyes drinking in the warmth from the sun on her face. The RanClor system sun was a yellow star that was a bit older than Earth’s sun so it was further in the cycle to become a red giant…in 9 or so billion years. The light just a bit more saturated and a touch darker than back home. Julia let the tension flow out concentrating on the warming rays on her face when she heard the crunch of footsteps approaching. Shading her eyes she could see the two guards approaching her but their face plates were darkened. As her eyes adjusted she could also see that they were armed and pointing their weapons in
her direction.

  “Don’t make any sudden moves Dr. Danforth,” one of the men said. “Just get up and come with us quietly and we won’t have to kill you.”

  Julia weighed the options in a moment…If she resisted or tried for the concealed weapon, there were two of them and they would shoot her. If she struggled or tried to call out they would probably still incapacitate her or worse shoot her. So with little choice she rose slowly and the men took an arm on either side of her with weapons pressing her sides and moved her quickly to the flitter. They placed her inside and closed the door. Inside the flitter, there was a partition separating the driver from the passenger compartment so she couldn’t see who was in there. The flitter took off like a shot and she could see the two men walking purposefully back to the complex.

  Julia quickly tapped the DT twice to make contact with the others hoping that they were not out of range yet.

  “Julia what’s up?” Zara said through the device.

  “ZARA…GUNMEN…GET OUT!” Julia shouted in the skitter and moments later a small hiss of static was heard. The device was out of range but she hoped her friends heard her warning.

  Both Zara and Jevin heard the warning clearly and both smoothly pulled out their weapons when they heard footsteps coming down the hallway and the distinctive sound of a pin being pulled in an explosive. They dropped to the floor of the admin office and huddled closely to the wall. An explosion in the lab next door blew out the windows of the admin office raining glass shards down on their backs but the walls absorbed the force of the explosion. They both knew though that if whoever was out there was a pro, they would systematically destroy everything in the center so they didn’t have much time.

  Nash woke up a few minutes before the attackers entered the complex. He found a fresh uniform on the chair beside his bed and he slipped into that mentally making sure he was steady. Suddenly there was an explosion down the hall. The research center was arranged in a circle of rooms and laboratories with the admin office in the center. At first he thought with a groan that he was back in the nightmare again but this time he could smell the distinct smell of the explosive in the air and see clouds of smoke rolling by. He quickly searched the room for any kind of weapon. All he could find was a scalpel kit in a drawer. He checked the doorway and couldn’t see anyone so he assumed they were on the other side of the area systematically destroying the rooms. Concern flared in his mind for Julia, Zara and Jevin but he had to stay focused. They would have to throw the explosive into the room which meant getting close enough so that it didn’t roll back at them. He would use that opportunity to make his move. If there were several he doubted he could handle all of them before being hit but there really was no choice.

  At least two muffled voices were coming closer. Nash thought that they must believe the center was deserted or that they had already taken out anyone alive or they wouldn’t be so careless. Nash approximated when the men would stop and prepare the next explosive charge and he used that moment to explode out of the doorway. Two men in full body armor were momentarily startled by his sudden appearance. Nash crashed full force into them and knocked both down in the corridor. Nash kicked away one man’s weapon and started hand to hand combat. The other man was dazed but starting to get off the floor. Nash knew he probably didn’t have enough time to avoid a blast…he wrestled with the man on the floor but the only exposed area was where the headgear met the top of the shoulders. With a twisting motion he slipped the scalpel into the narrow section where it found purchase. Meanwhile the other attacker had regained his feet and his weapon was now pointed at Nash. Nash pulled the dead man on top of him as a burst of energy lashed out but hit the dead man. The next thing he heard was the sound of a pulse burst and the other attacker fell to the floor. Zara and Jevin came running from down the hall guns drawn.

  “Nash…are you alright?” Jevin asked.

  “Yes I’m fine…better quarter and search for any more surprises,” he said rolling the man off of him. “Good shot by the way.”

  “Why thank you,” Zara said moving down the hallway to check each room in the complex. The three of them made sure there were no surprises and met at the center exit.

  Jevin and Zara recounted the warning Julia gave them which probably saved their lives in the moments before the explosion. They also caught up Nash on the parasite, test data and conclusions Julia had drawn.

  “I’m afraid I found the original two security members who brought us in. They were dead in a storage closet.” Zara said.

  “Dammit…they’ll be getting off planet as soon as they can and now that the center is destroyed, Julia is the only one with knowledge of the cure.” Nash said.

  “We’d better liftoff too…those two are going to be missed soon,” Jevin said.

  Nash was standing looking pensively out in the distance.

  “Nash…we’ll get her back,” Zara said. “She’s our friend and crewmate too you know.”

  Zara’s comment broke Nash out of daydreaming. Yes they would get Julia back and he was grateful they made it out of this situation.

  “First we need transport back to the ship…any ideas,” Nash said.

  “There is at least one terminal still working, I’ll contact the acting governor and arrange it. He’s ex-military…a friend.” Jevin replied.

  Chapter 19

  Julia was taken quickly to the spaceport where she was marched at gunpoint into a freighter and locked into a small cabin with a single bed and a refresher. Soon after, the ship lifted off and after clearing the atmosphere jumped into FTL. There was nothing she could do at the moment about her friends but she was determined to get the information about this operation out in the open somehow. She tried to sleep with nothing more to do in the small cabin but after what seemed like a number of hours the door to her cabin opened and a tall man entered. He seemed to be around forty with sandy hair and light blue eyes but his face while many would find handsome had a look of cruelty. A person who is used to getting what he wants at any cost.

  “So you are the great Dr. Danforth,” the man said sitting down in the chair opposite the bed she was laying on. “Funny but you don’t really look great to me.”

  Julia sat up and smoothly put her feet on the floor looking the man in the eyes. One thing she would not do is to take the bait. He seemed the type that liked to prove something.

  “I’m sorry but I think in all the rush I didn’t catch your name.” Julia said smoothly.

  “Hmmm…You may be a tougher nut to crack than I thought Ms. Danforth,” he replied.

  “It’s Dr. Danforth and I’d like to know why you kidnapped me and where we are going?” She asked.

  His eyes narrowed and his mouth pressed into a petulant line.

  “I’ll ask the questions here. You’re valuable to some of the people I work for but you have no value for me. I would have preferred to blow you up with the rest of that lot on RanClor IV but some people have other ideas.” He said.

  “Well then you’d better get me there unharmed and on the double or you are likely to be the one in trouble,” she said sweetly.

  The man stood up suddenly clenching and unclenching his fists. His face darkened and he was clearly struggling with rage. He turned to leave and at the hatch turned back to her.

  “My name Doctor, is Caldwell Turner and I’m taking you to a place that you will never leave from,” As he said the last he smiled a self-satisfied smile and left.

  Spoiled, entitled prick she thought. She knew she had pushed too hard but the events and worry for her shipmates made her lose a bit of self-control. One thing was certain though…Mr. Caldwell Turner would not intimidate me in the slightest she thought.

  Nash, Jevin and Zara were picked up by a flitter and taken quickly to their ship. On the way Jevin relayed the flight analysis he compiled and the tests and conclusions Julia made to the acting governor. Governor Hako issued orders to impound the freighter if it appeared again. At the ship, Jevin checked a remote control arm gaun
tlet to make sure none of the security measures had been tripped. Satisfied, he keyed the hatch and not five minutes later the ship lifted into orbit.

  “Nash, we have a transmission from Governor Hako coming in,” Jevin said.

  “Put him on the main display Jev,” Nash replied.

  “Captain Nash, just after you departed, we received a rather unorthodox message addressed to you and the StarSeeker but there is no return address and we couldn’t trace it back to anything more generic than Earth.”

  “Thank you Governor…please go ahead and display the message.” Nash said. On the main viewer the brief message displayed.

  To: Captain Quintin J. Nash StarSeeker c/o RanClor IV

  3.03125 / -0.09375 / 3.15625 HJN

  “Well…well what do you make of that,” Jevin said.

  “These are coordinates from…my father. I don’t know how he’s involved in this but somehow he’s keeping tabs on our whereabouts.” Nash said. “Zara enter those coordinates in the Nav computer. Where is this?”

  Zara took a few moments silently rechecking the coordinates with current star charts.

  “It makes no sense,” she said. “This position is just inside…and I mean by just a few kilometers inside the no fly zone for Telvari space. But there is nothing on the charts…absolutely nothing.”

  “A trap?” Jevin asked.

  “I’m sure it’s a trap of some kind and while I have no love for him, my father he did warn us before the attack on Midway Station. I just don’t believe he would deliberately cause us harm.” Nash said. “Besides he knows more about what’s going on than we do so if there is a possibility that something at this location is where Julia was taken…I vote we go.” Nash looked at his friends for their answers.

  “Laying the course in now to arrive at least one parsec out. We’ll go in under sub-light and stealth the rest of the way.” Zara said punching in the course and then looking back at Nash. “You should know our answer Cap. And by the way that green eye of yours was really un-nerving at first but now I think it’s kind of sexy. Hold on to your butts.”