Shadows of Mars (Broken Stars Book 1)

by I. O. Adler

  “You work just for them?”

  “My assignment includes service for the other survivors. Designate location Framework is where most have relocated in order to pool resources. My duties includes translation, signal intelligence, and data gathering from my own observations of this solar system. Most of this can be done virtually.”

  “Which makes you the key to this whole place,” Barrett said. “Tell me about this Framework. How many others are there?”

  “I am not at liberty to discuss specific metrics.”

  “Give me a ballpark so I know what we’re dealing with.”

  She Who Waits flashed a band of yellow. Had the euphemism “ballpark” taken her a moment to process? “There are twelve distinct species within the coalition, but a few have recovered others following the attack. As an example the Cordice have rescued many over their journey who now live entirely uploaded lives within their simulation.”

  “And how many is that? Or is that also a secret?”

  “The Cordice aren’t reticent about their history or their current plight. They have been foremost among the coalition in advocating a departure from this galaxy to evade the enemy. After the recovery and the establishment of the Framework, they gave a deadline of their own departure. They hold their own history as evidence that any species who wishes to survive must join them. They offer all those who can’t travel in their own vessel the opportunity to upload their consciousness and live among them. There are twenty billion Cordice.”

  The number stunned Carmen. Over two times the earth’s population packed into a computer? What type of life was that? She imagined an overcrowded prison, or the worst slums with people everywhere. Or, in the case of the Cordice, quadruped robots covered in fungus. Had her mom been living in this electric purgatory for the past two years?

  Carmen had to get her out. “So what are we waiting for? Are they still deliberating?”

  “Yes. Knowing the Cordice it will be a thorough discussion. But their biologist has informed me that your interface bench is complete. And designate Raymond Barrett will be able to have his hand repaired. They invite you to enter the benches so you can access the communication nodes and their simulation.”

  The construction robots docked into the walls. The scurrying hermit crabs and a few stray cockroach bots began to vanish as if suddenly eager to find their own hidey-holes. Carmen went to see Jenna. The tiny bots inside her bed were gone. Her leg was packed with the silvery thread and looked clean. She was breathing softly.

  “So just like that, we plug in? And what if we want to disconnect again?”

  She Who Waits didn’t respond.

  Carmen inspected the two new beds. Could she once again deal with having her consciousness plopped into someplace new? She hadn’t enjoyed her experience when they had first been taken by her mom. It was beyond confusing finding herself in the skin of a robot. And if what she had seen of the Cordice apocalypse was any indication, experiencing their world with all her senses, including restored hearing, might be too much. It had knocked Jenna for a loop and shattered Peter. And Mom hadn’t been entirely herself. Was that from the physical trauma she had suffered during the attack or was there an issue with her connection? Either way, jumping brain first into Cordiceworld would carry a risk.

  Jenna was still connected and in control of a spaceship. Once that was surrendered, the Cordice didn’t have any obligation to let any of them return home. While it didn’t sound like her mom was a prisoner, she also wasn’t free if she wasn’t permitted to communicate without their having to enter the Cordice simulation.

  “I won’t do it. Not until my mom and I can talk.”

  Barrett had followed her and wore a grave expression. “We’re finally on the same page. Who’s to say what they could do with our minds when we’re plugged in. Your sister needs to stay in control of that ship until we get our people back. Because once we’re inside their computer world they don’t have to do squat.”

  “That’s part of it. But look at their ship. It’s run-down. If their own caretaker broke, then what about the processors which run their simulation?”

  “You’re good with computers, aren’t you? Maybe if you took over for your sister we’ll have a better chance of using it to get home.”

  “I haven’t changed my mind on giving the harvester back. I just don’t want to connect until I’m sure we can also unplug anytime we want. But your hand…it’s getting darker.”

  Barrett still had his arm in the sling. The fingertips were purple. “If I had some aspirin I’d be peachy.”

  Vibrations rose from the floor. The walls of the medical bay shuddered. A faint rumble began but stopped in moments.

  “She did it,” Carmen said. “Jen, you docked the harvester, didn’t you? Is there an airlock…”

  She didn’t want to finish the question. If Barrett was correct and the Cordice were eavesdropping, did she want to ask if they had a way to retreat that wouldn’t require them to use She Who Waits’ shuttle? The beds were fixed and there was no way they’d easily get Jenna’s out of the room, let alone down a chute.

  Carmen leaned next to her sister. “Wake up if you can.”

  Jenna opened her eyes. Blinked sleepily. “Mom wants to see us both.”

  “Stay with me. We’ll wait to talk to her here, not in there.”

  “It’s her, Car. It’s really her. She says…she says it’s important.”

  “And you did your part. But don’t go back in. Promise. Get rest in case we need to go.”

  Carmen returned to She Who Waits. “Their harvester is back. When can I speak with my mom? I want to do it here. Is that possible?”

  A second red light appeared. This was new. Both lights pulsed. She Who Waits flashed the occasional bright diamond within her swirls. The pulses increased and decreased in frequency.

  “What does that mean?” Barrett asked.

  “Not sure. The second light just popped up. It’s like there’s a conversation going on and we’re not part of it. Hello, can you hear me? What’s going on?”

  “The Cordice are upset,” She Who Waits said. “They were almost at a conclusion in their deliberation when a communication came from a Melded ship approaching from the Framework. The incoming visitor is demanding the harvester for themselves. And now the Cordice are accusing you of contacting them in order to surrender it.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Carmen was stunned. “We didn’t do anything. None of us talked to anyone else besides the Cordice. We don’t even know how. You’ve been here the whole time. Tell them.”

  “I have,” She Who Waits said. “And some among the Cordice have suggested that I had a part in relaying messages to the Melded. My coming aboard the ship uninvited is being used as proof of my duplicity.”

  She stated all this with the calmness of someone reading a shopping list.

  “You’ve just been trying to help us. We brought them the harvester. Put them through.”

  “They won’t allow a second conversation as I am in the process of relaying a discussion between the Cordice and the incoming Melded ship.”

  “Who are these people that are coming?”

  “Designate Melded. They are one of several voices among the survivors on the Framework who make the case that the enemy needs to be confronted. Like the Cordice, they too have rescued many during their travels. Their ships, along with most of the marooned, have suffered substantial damage. When the Cordice departed the Framework, the others had been unable to follow. That is no longer the case.”

  “So they’re coming to just take the harvester?”

  “Yes. They claim they assisted in its repair after the attack.”

  “And if the Cordice refuse?”

  The diamond pattern inside the pillar became a flurry. “I do not know. But their ships carry armaments.” Both her red lights resumed blinking. “The Melded are no longer responding. They will be here in minutes.”

  “What can we do? Jenna hasn’t released the ha
rvester. Couldn’t she keep them from boarding?”

  “She’ll do nothing of the sort,” Barrett said. “We’re not getting involved in a fight we don’t understand.”

  “Will they hurt us? Will they hurt the Cordice?”

  “I don’t believe so,” She Who Waits said. “Although some of the newer and younger among the Melded can be irritable.”

  Carmen only had a moment to ponder what that meant before the ship once again began to vibrate. This time the sound of scraping metal lasted for several seconds. A violent bang caused the floor to lurch and made her grab hold of Barrett to steady herself.

  She Who Waits began to move out into the hallway. “I have been requested.”

  “We’ll come with you,” Carmen said.

  “If you follow, it’s your decision. My work with the Melded requires my presence. I can’t say how they will react to any impression of interference.”

  Barrett joined them as they left the medical bay. Carmen watched to make sure the door would close after they left. Leaving Jenna behind felt wrong. But as long as her mom was inside the simulation, their fate was now linked with the Cordice.

  The thing charging towards them down the corridor of the home ship’s spine was a creature that had escaped from a fevered dream. A bloated worm the size of a bull, it rolled across the floor in a rapid undulating motion, with multiple body segments wrapped in a space suit made of material that looked like tan woven fabric. A massive helmet with a reflective visor and copper valves covered its head. The valves spat steam or thick white vapor. In two of its six arms it held what Carmen guessed were weapons: a pair of short black boxes, each with a barrel and handle.

  It raised one of the weapons at her.

  Several smaller beings followed, but none were like the worm. They walked on either two legs or four. All but one were covered by helmeted suits, with the last in line stripped bare to the waist, revealing a lean body thick with fur and a pair of mechanical arms. They were all armed.

  The worm reared up before them and croaked as more vapor shot out of its face mask. Its neck pressed against the ceiling as it jutted its head forward, almost touching She Who Waits.

  Carmen had positioned herself behind the translator. Barrett had taken several steps back and looked ready to bolt. The hallway had a hatch they could close if they had to retreat, but if the Melded could board without a problem, Carmen doubted any of the doors on the ship would slow them down, and at that moment she knew turning her back on the worm was a bad idea.

  She Who Waits had a single red light. She let out a series of husky screeches. The worm interrupted her, answering back with a massive blop! followed by several evenly-spaced deep-throated grunts. The exchange continued, with She Who Waits starting what Carmen could only guess were intelligible sentences, followed by the worm, who didn’t appear capable of letting her finish.

  Carmen stepped to the wall to get a better look at the other Melded. They were waiting behind the worm, still poised as if at any moment they would continue their stampede. Glowing displays were visible on their face shields.

  The hairy Melded without a helmet had one brown eye and one that shone brilliant green. His fur was gray and matted. He consulted a device on one of his metal arms and tapped it a few times as if recording some tidbit of information. He then narrowed his eyes as he looked up at them.

  Carmen waved.

  The Melded didn’t react.

  Tough crowd.

  The worm’s interjections grew more and more strident until finally it brushed past She Who Waits, physically moving her as its girth couldn’t quite squeeze past. The hairy Melded bounded forward and took Carmen by the arm. He pulled her aside as the worm surged past her and down the corridor. Its misty exhalations smelled of wet grass.

  Green Eye’s throat swelled and he let out a squawk.

  The rest of the boarding party followed their leader. She Who Waits fell in with them. Carmen’s new escort shepherded her and Barrett along, gesturing and nudging as if it wanted them to keep up.

  “I’m Agent Barrett. Human. From Earth. We want to establish relations with your kind. I speak for mine. We understand we were all attacked. We would like to exchange information. Is that your leader?”

  He received a shove.

  Carmen smirked. “Exchange information? Did we just get into a car crash?”

  “You’re not helping.”

  “We’ll need She Who Waits to translate.”

  “Well, why isn’t she doing that now?”

  They arrived at the chute. The worm had already descended. A second Melded dropped down without bothering with the handholds. The rest paused as She Who Waits approached the chute.

  “Hold on,” Carmen said. “We need to be able to talk to them too. Where are they taking us?”

  “I have been requested by designate Melded Primary Executive to bring them to the audience chamber.”

  “Because it’s your job, right?”

  She Who Waits hovered above the chute. “I don’t understand your query.”

  “You said you translate. Well, we need you too. You helped us get this far. Let me talk to them.”

  “Designate Primary Executive is not agreeable to talking. And I must hurry.”

  Carmen could only watch as She Who Waits sank down towards the ring. One of the Melded gave Barrett a hard push. He almost fell into the chute. Carmen moved towards a four-armed alien who stood a head taller than she. Without hesitation he pointed the barrel of his weapon at her.

  Instinctively she raised her hands, not knowing if even this gesture might be viewed as a threat.

  The furry Melded with the green eye urped at the other alien. They exchanged sounds before Four Arms disengaged and went down the chute. The confrontation appeared to be over. The other Melded didn’t seem as if they were going anywhere.

  Green Eye crouched and motioned to the chute with his hands.

  Carmen was about to start climbing, but then she waited for Barrett. “Will you want help going down?”

  “You’re going to get us killed,” he hissed.

  He managed a clumsy one-armed descent and she went after him.

  As frustrating as waiting for the Cordice negotiations had been, at least there was the start of a dialogue. But the Melded were a whole new ball game.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  The audience chamber was in the opposite direction of the medical bay and not far from the chute leading back to the spine of the ship. It was a plain white room with a single box machine that projected a hologram image Carmen recognized immediately: the Cordice homeworld, a moment before the disaster began.

  The Melded Primary Executive dominated the center of the room, its head craned forward, its weapons slung. She Who Waits stood next to it as the hologram began to play.

  The scene of destruction of the Cordice world unfolded. A thunder of crashes and booms filled the chamber like it was a theater designed to shatter eardrums.

  The Primary Executive bellowed. The hologram paused. The worm shouted again as She Who Waits’ red light pulsed. The image of rocks burning through the mountainous planet’s atmosphere vanished. The worm chuffed steam. This too appeared to receive a translation.

  Where the hologram had once been, a four-legged creature appeared. It was identical to the caretaker in form, but it was covered in a neat layer of green-and-yellow moss. A wiggling pair of thick twiglike antennae stood erect on its head. It had no face or obvious eyes or ears. A soft chirping came from a speaker. A heartbeat later She Who Waits’ red light let out a series of short groans. The Primary Executive responded, the calmest reply yet, with a wet popping sound.

  The exchange continued, with both Four Arms and Green Eye standing politely by and Barrett leaning at the doorway and wiping sweat from his pale face.

  Carmen approached She Who Waits slowly, not wanting to cause alarm. “You can translate for us too, can’t you? We need to know what’s going on.”

  She Who Waits gave no indicatio
n she heard as the Cordice chirps and the Melded grumbles continued back and forth.

  Carmen spoke louder, as if addressing the room. “I’m Carmen Vincent. I represent Earth. I’m requesting to be part of this discussion.”

  “Carmen!” Barrett hissed. He waved her back to him.

  As what she could guess was a negotiation over the harvester continued, she realized her chances of bringing any of them home again might be slipping from her hands. She put two fingers to her lips and whistled. The shrill blast interrupted the Cordice and caused the red light to blink.

  The Primary Executive let out a rattle and turned her direction.

  Carmen felt her knees weaken as she faced the monstrous worm. “She Who Waits can repeat my introduction. You’re talking about the harvester, aren’t you? It belongs to the Cordice. You Melded are here to take it. But what you’re forgetting is that as of right now, we control it.”

  She glanced at She Who Waits. A second red light appeared. But for the moment none of the aliens were saying anything.

  “I’ll keep it simple. I want my mom freed along with Hamish Townes. Then I want to hear from whoever gets to keep the harvester that we’ll be brought home. If you have any further desire to talk to us, we’d like that too, but for right now, that’s my demand, with all respect to everyone here.”

  The worm let out a sharp exhalation. It began breathing hard as if it was suddenly winded. Its face loomed as it leaned close. With a nudge it could bowl her over. If it attacked, it would crush her. The soft pops from its throat sounded like suppressed belches.

  The red light winked. “You pilot the harvester.”

  The Primary Executive had responded. But Carmen wasn’t sure if it was a question.

  Carmen hated that her voice was shaking. “The harvester belongs to the Cordice. But we returned it. My conditions are reasonable—”

  The Executive bellowed. The explosion of sound made her stagger back. She raised a hand as if to ward off a blow. From the light came the translation.