Pets in Space® 4
Page 40
“All right, meeting adjourned. Report any developments to me personally.” Fleming rose and stepped away from the table.
There was a hum of conversation, which was cut through by Chief Tanaka’s raised voice. “We have a situation in the engine room. The damn rock is here. “
Juli’s blood ran cold at the idea of the alien rock sitting anywhere close to the Nebula Zephyr’s powerful engines. It had wreaked so much havoc on the beach deck she shuddered to think what it could do in an even more sensitive area.
“Guard it until Jake and Juli get there,” the captain said. “But no one should touch it.”
“No worries, we couldn’t touch it even if we wanted to.” The chief sounded grim. “It’s sitting inside the engine compartment. We had odd readings, my technician did a scan and saw this rock nestled up to the core, where of course we can’t go, not without the special suits.”
“We’ll go check it out, sir,” Jake said. “Come on, Juli.”
Steve said to her, “I wish I could go with you. Be careful, promise me.”
She nodded, swallowing hard. Dian patted her arm. “Charrli and I are going too, to see if we can help.”
Accompanied by the elderly lady and the dog, Juli followed Jake out of the conference room and into the gravlift. Two of his officers joined them as they went past Level Thirteen and the group descended rapidly toward Level Twenty, location of the powerful engines driving the Nebula Zephyr through the stars.
A crew member waited for them at the gravlift entrance. “The Chief wanted me to bring you straight to the engine bay,” she said, casting a curious glance at Dian and the dog as she spoke. “This—this rock or thing or whatever is sitting in engine four’s core.”
Juli followed the tech and the rest trailed after her, Charrli held in Dian’s arms.
“What’s our plan?” Juli asked Jake as she hastened through the corridors.
“Let’s evaluate the situation,” he said reasonably. “Then I’m thinking you and I need to suit up and go in and try to retrieve the rock. Were you ever trained on operating special protection suits?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m not part of the technical staff so the only extra training I received was how to take charge of a lifeboat.”
“It’ll be a piece of cake,” he said with a confidence she didn’t share.
The Chief Engineer and one of his crew waited inside the anteroom to engine four’s chamber. His jaw fell open when Dian and the dog stepped primly into his domain. Charrli began barking excitedly, pushed his way out of his mistress’s arms and ran to the heavily sealed door which gave entry into the safety chamber separating the engine core from where they now stood. He dug at the door, his paws scrabbling noisily on the deck.
“I guess the rock must be in there all right,” Juli said, pointing at the excited dog.
“We told you that.” The Chief was annoyed. “Can you please get the dog to be quiet?”
Dian murmured apologies and brought Charrli to heel.
“You can see it on the monitor, although Maeve says she doesn’t have it on her vidcam.” The Chief directed their attention to a bank of screens.
“Different systems in engineering and the entity is blocking me,” Maeve said. “I’m linking to your feed, however. Our visitor exhibits no characteristics of being anything but a rock.”
Juli studied the screen. “That’s the chunk I brought on board all right. I recognize the stripe.”
“Any trouble since it got here?” Jake asked.
“A few fluctuations in power levels, which is what brought Murphy here to check on the engine in person,” the Chief said, tilting his head in the direction of his crewperson. “There was a two thirds dip in power output for a nanosecond and the other three engines compensated automatically.”
“Could the engine blow up?” Juli asked, wishing her voice didn’t sound so nervous.
“Of course, under the right circumstances.” Tanaka scanned the readouts. “But there’s nothing to show levels trending in a dangerous direction. Your rock would have to wield either incredible force, as if we’d been struck by an enemy blast, or have the capability to unbalance the harmonics of the engine itself, versus siphoning power. If stealing energy is what it was doing.”
“All right,” Jake said. “Where are the suits? Juli and I need to go in there and retrieve the rock, captain’s orders.”
Eyes wide, Tanaka was the picture of astonishment. “And why are we sending the Cruise Director in there instead of one of my people, who happen to be trained to handle proximity to the core?”
“The rock is my responsibility,” she said. “Insomuch as it has an owner right now, I’m it. Will the rock be radioactive after its exposure in there?” She voiced her single biggest fear of the moment.
Tanaka shook his head. “Our engine cores don’t give off poisonous energy.”
Rubbing her forehead because his answer didn’t make much sense to her, she asked, “Then why the suits?”
“See those waves of color and sparkles in the air?” Tanaka pointed the features out on the vidscreen. “That’s the aura of the power matrix. You’d dissolve if you weren’t in a suit. The entire ship would dissolve if the actual core wasn’t behind the shielding of the engine nacelle.” He scowled and a muscle jumped in his clenched jaw. His voice was tense, as if he was barely hanging on to his temper. “It’s a complex balance of equations and energies and I don’t think I have time to give a lecture right now.”
Whatever he was going to say next got lost in a loud popping sound from behind the heavily shielded door and a flash of light so brilliant, Juli was temporarily blinded. Klaxons blared. She heard Charrli barking and Jake grabbed her and thrust her into the corridor, bringing Dian and the dog with them. The portal slammed behind them, leaving the Chief and his crew member inside.
“What happened? Did it explode?” Juli was regaining her vision, bits of clarity coming into focus amidst a pinwheel of multicolored sparkles and flashes.
“We’d all be dead if it had.” Jake shook his head. “Maeve, status?”
“Engine four is temporarily offline, according to Chief Tanaka but undamaged. Visual indications are that the rock is no longer in the engine chamber.” Maeve’s voice was calm.
“The captain must be going supernova,” Juli said. “We can’t maintain full speed with one engine out of commission.”
Charrli barked furiously and streaked away, heading for the gravlift.
“He says he’s caught the scent,” Dian reported. “He’s going to the beach level again.”
“We’d better follow him.” Jake set off for the tube, the women and his security team on his heels.
“Is the rock is going to return there each time?” Juli asked as she crowded into the gravlift with the others. “Like going home?”
“At least there aren’t any passengers there. Yet,” Jake said.
Chief Tanaka’s voice came over the senior officers’ comlink. “We sustained no damage. The engine core appears to be fine but I recommend dropping out of hyperspace for four hours to let my crew run diagnostics before we link it into the harness again.”
“Recommendation accepted.” Fleming’s voice was calm as always. “We’ll be a day late arriving at Tahumaroa Two. Juli, you’d better prepare another update for the daily briefing. Keep it low key.”
“Yes, sir.” Her head and her heart hurt over what she felt was her unfortunate role in the situation. The Nebula Zephyr had had a perfect reputation, as far as meeting schedule and not suffering system malfunctions and now the record was marred. She’d been following orders and couldn’t think of anything else she could have done but the outcome made her sad and outraged at the same time.
Rodrimueller the late passenger was lucky he was dead or she’d be giving him a piece of her mind.
Steve’s voice spoke in her ear, on a private comlink. “Are you okay?”
Glancing at her two companions, Juli said quietly, “Yes, thanks for asking. We
didn’t end up going into the core.” Her stomach clenched as she thought about what might have happened to her and Jake if she’d been inside the chamber when the rock did…whatever it did.
“Thank the Lords of Space. Jake says you’re going to the beach deck again?”
“Yes, Charrli thinks the rock may be there.” Juli wished she could make herself feel as excited about the quest as Dian and her dog were. Being back in action obviously agreed with the elderly woman and her Deskaza.
“I wish I could go with you but I’m on duty at the helm right now because of the emergency. Take good care of yourself, ok?” His voice wrapped around her like a warm, comforting blanket.
“I promise.” Although I have no idea what I’m going to do to keep myself safe from a possibly murderous, teleporting rock. Juli closed her eyes, inhaled deeply and then threw her shoulders back, straightening her spine with determination. I’m going to be smarter than it is. This ship is my home after all.
She was encouraged by the brief exchange although Steve probably shouldn’t have taken the time to check on her, not if he was flying the Nebula Zephyr personally. She was happy he had though. A pilot as skilled and experienced as Steve was, he could spare a few seconds for a personal concern and not endanger anyone’s safety. She had the feeling he could multitask with the best of them.
If the personal interest topic mattered to him enough. Which apparently she did. The idea was immensely pleasing.
Charrli was way ahead of Juli when she arrived at the beach deck and left the antigrav tube. The dog bounded onto the beach, barking loudly but by the time Juli and the others caught up, he was lying in the sand, head on his paws, ears folded.
“He says the rock was here but it left when we arrived,” Dian reported, breathing hard.
“And he doesn’t know where?” Juli was disappointed and wary.
“No. He says the scent has vanished.”
The whipsaw of emotions left Juli nauseous and faint. Until the damn rock was safely locked away again—if it could be immobilized—she wasn’t going to have a truly peaceful moment. Worry for the ship and her passengers was paramount in her mind.
“Nothing for it,” Jake said, “But to carry on as normal and keep a sharp lookout.”
“I’ll revert to the original plan.” Dian hoisted Charrli into her arms and dusted sand from his paws. “We were going to search the ship and see if he can pick up the scent again. I’ll start at Level A and work my way to the engine level. I assume I have clearance to proceed?” All business, she checked with Jake.
He nodded. “The captain gave his permission. Maeve will also vouch for you and assist in any way she can. Come to my office and I’ll give you an all access badge.”
“I’d better get back to doing my rounds,” Juli said. She checked her wrist chrono and gasped. “Oh no, I’m supposed to be running an old fashioned bingo game in the First Class lounge right now. See all of you later.” She ran to the gravlift and ascended as rapidly as she could. Her heart was hammering in her chest and her knees were weak when she finally slid into the large expanse of the lounge. Meg was running the game, with a steward at her side and acknowledged Juli’s arrival with a smile, but continued calling numbers.
Juli leaned against the bulkhead and closed her eyes, trying to use the brief respite to calm her nerves. She had a million and one things to do, not least of which was completing the arrangements for the diva’s private concert and reception, but the dread surrounding the rock’s next move hung over her like a dark cloud. Since Meg made no move to hand off the game, Juli left the conference room and made her way to her office.
She didn’t know whether to be glad or sorry the rock wasn’t waiting for her. She’d barely begun clearing her to do list when Maeve spoke up. “There have been two attempts to break into your office.”
“What? You mean, the rock—?”
“No. An unauthorized crew member has made two attempts to penetrate your office. On the second attempt he was successful and opened your safe.”
“And you’re just telling me this now?” Juli collapsed against the back of her chair. She eyed the safe, which looked normal to her. “Who was it? Did you report it to Jake?”
“The first time I thought he was merely in the corridor attempting to meet with you. The second time was concealed from my vids by static interference which I hadn’t realized until this minute. High tech burglary tools have been deployed.” Maeve’s voice was icy cold. “I believe he may have encountered the rock as he left. I have identified the crew member in question and Jake is on his way here now, with Red.”
As the AI finished speaking, there was a knock and Jake entered without waiting for permission, his deputy Red Thomsill on his heels. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Whoever the would-be thief was, he didn’t want to encounter me.” She remembered having passed a steward in the corridor once or twice recently and wondered if it was the same man. This level was offices and other admin areas, and there was no food or beverage service so she’d briefly been surprised to see him but then dismissed the event as inconsequential. I need to pay more attention. Suspicion and situational awareness weren’t a normal part of Juli’s psyche.
“This is the man.” Maeve broadcast a trideo in the center of the room, with name, employee number and other data below the small image.
“Lamark Ferd,” Jake said. “New to the ship, came on board at our last planetfall. I think we need to go pay this guy a visit. Where is he at present, Maeve?”
“He’s listed in the schedule as on duty in the dining room at this hour but currently he’s in lifeboat 137, attached to Level C.” Maeve said.
Jake and Red exchanged glances.
“Why would he be there?” Juli said.
“Hiding out, planning to eject, probably to be picked up by whoever his partners in crime are,” Jake said.
“Can you even launch a lifeboat in hyperdrive?” Juli asked.
“It’s not recommended but it can be done, if you’re desperate enough.” Jake paused. “Was anything taken from the safe?”
“I’ll check.” She hastened to the special compartment and entered her access code rapidly. “I don’t keep anything of value here normally. I’m not the Purser after all.” The door swung open and she quickly perused the contents. “Everything here is in order, other than the rock.”
“So he was most likely after the stone.” Jake and Red headed out the door, moving toward the gravlift.
“Wait for me!” Juli ran after them. “Level C isn’t in use much this trip.”
“Probably why he picked a lifeboat there to hijack,” Jake said as they ascended in the silvery stream of the antigrav. “He’s been roaming the ship for days, casing the situation before his first attempt at this robbery. Sign of a professional Amarotu Combine thief. When we get there, you hang back.” He did a double take. “What in the seven hells are you carrying?”
Juli blushed. “It’s the basket the rock was in when I took it over at the lawyer’s office, and the scarf it was tied with. I’m hoping maybe if I can get the idol in there, I can keep it confined. I think the basket is woven from reeds found on Tahumaroa Two.”
“We know we’re in trouble when we’re relying on a cheap tourist souvenir to keep the ship safe,” Red said as he left the gravtube on Level C.
Blasters drawn, Jake and his deputy advanced along the corridor toward the lifeboat station. Obedient to orders, Juli stayed a few feet behind, wondering what the security team would find when they caught the man.
Jake checked the lifeboat readout. “Maeve, this indicates no living sentients in the boat.”
“The man is dead,” she said.
Juli gasped, hand flying to her mouth to quell the instinctive sound of her shock.
“We won’t take anything for granted,” Jake said. “Maeve, have you locked the lifeboat? I don’t want to go flying off into space right now.”
“Lifeboat inactivated and double tethered.”
There was no response. Smoothly Jake and Red entered the small airlock, weapons at the ready, and then made their way into the actual lifeboat.
“He’s dead all right,” Jake reported, re-emerging a moment later, blaster holstered. “There’s something I need you to see, Juli.”
“Of—of course.” As she crossed the threshold, dread over what she might have to witness made her weak at the knees. She forced herself to keep walking forward. “Is the rock here?”
“No, but I think it has been.”
When she entered the lifeboat, she saw the steward’s body sprawled on the floor, as if he’d been stricken while attempting to reach the cockpit. One arm was outstretched and he was face down on the deck. There was no blood or other sign of violence but what made Juli blink and clutch at the nearest seat, sliding into it with a moan was a pile of glistening Tahumaroa Two sand just beyond the corpse’s reach.
“The rock killed him?” Her voice was a squeak.
“We don’t know anything for sure,” Jake said. “My wife is on her way to pronounce him dead. If the captain asks her to do an autopsy, she will, but otherwise we’ll be putting the body in cryo stasis until we reach the planet.” He addressed Red over his shoulder. “Anything?”
Looking up from his handheld, Red said, “Well, he‘s not Lamark Ferd. Nothing matches the profile of the person CLC hired for this steward job vacancy. He’s a medium level Amarotu Combine jewel thief, probably the one we were warned about in the bulletin. Goes by Natarnt Klinn, which appears to be an alias.”
“The Combine was after the rock, my rock? I mean, Mr. Rodrimueller’s rock?” Juli was having a hard time taking it all in. “I heard what Dian said, suggesting it might be a remnant of an ancient temple, a piece of an idol perhaps, because there’s definitely carving on part of it, and the rumors about the good and bad luck incidents but still—” She knew with horror she was babbling but couldn’t make herself stop talking.