by C. Gockel
“It’s not just one threat. Microbes and dangerous animals and toxic plant life— once the Keseburg lands, we’ll be here. Forever. It will never take off again.”
“Yes— that was the point, wasn’t it?”
“But what if it turns out to be a terrible place?”
He laughed. “It’s not like we’re going to go home and the next morning we’re going to start packing, Oxwell. There will be other missions before any of that.”
“That’s why we have to keep it quiet. Forget about this place and move on. People are going to die. Our families. They’re going to starve or get sick or get lost and die of exposure— and it will be our fault. We need to go home. We aren’t meant for planetary life anymore. Maybe eight hundred years ago, but not now. That’s what the Spindling is— it’s an evolutionary step to whatever we’re about to be—”
“Oxwell, get a hold of yourself. The Spindling is an illness, a genetic disorder— it isn’t helping us survive, it’s killing us. Ask Titov. Ask Al Jahi. Their kids aren’t thriving. They’re dying. Yeah, some people aren’t going to make it when we settle here. It happens, despite our best efforts. Some are going to be like Hackford. Some are going to be like Peter Titov and Chione’s Dia and crumple under the physical pressures of the planet. But if we stay up there ,” he pointed above his head, “we’re all going to die. Not just from Spindling, either. The Keseburg’s falling apart. Rationing’s getting worse and even our mining missions have been fewer and fewer. Not enough people trained for them, not enough resources to spare even to go collect more to keep us going. We have to risk a colony. This was our last best chance.”
“Maybe the moon mission will find resources we can utilize—”
“What do we need resources for? We have a whole planet, Oxwell. We don’t need to limp along anymore doing hasty patch jobs every time we get dinged with a space rock. We don’t have to barter a month’s worth of credits for a lousy piece of half-grown produce instead of the muck that spits out of the printers. We’re here. We won, Oxwell. We did it. All we have to do is go home and tell them to send some of the security troops down to take care of the robot. Flaming core, they’d probably be happy about it. First fight that wasn’t a drunken brawl at Zachary’s since the Fi-gen rebellion.”
Alice tried a different tack. “It told us what happened to this place. The robot. Its people were intelligent, advanced. They suffered overpopulation, just like us. Wiped out the planetary resources, just like Earth. Wiped out themselves, in the end. The planet is only now recovering. What will happen when we decide to do the same thing?”
“Not ‘just like us’, we’re not our parents or grandparents. We never saw Earth. We are not responsible for what happened to it. And we’re not going to destroy this planet either.” He eased his legs over the edge of the bed, sitting up the rest of the way with a wince.
“You don’t know that. What our children or grandchildren will do—”
“Is not my concern. Alice, listen to yourself. You’re not making sense. What happens beyond the span of our lives— in either direction, isn’t our fault. We can only do the best we can. And this place— this is the best we’re going to find. I know it. There’s nothing else out there. Not that you or I will see. We’re going home with good news. Help me up, I have to start preparations.” He held out an arm to her. Alice stared at him for a moment. He wasn’t going to change his mind. There was no cost that would outweigh this discovery in his view. The thrum of her blood sounded like the Keseburg’s massive engines. She took a step back and fumbled in her pocket. She hadn’t meant to keep the spare syringe after Dorothy’s death, it had just ended up in her pocket as she had worked on the woman. She’d intended to return it to Leroux. She thumbed off the cap. It was the only way.
“Oxwell?”
“I’m sorry, Captain,” she said and her hand flashed out and ripped the feed from his neck. “I tried to convince you. Dorothy’s murder has the rest of them rattled. Maybe yours will persuade them to flee and stay silent about the planet.”
“Murder? What are you—” He held up his arms to ward her off, but he was slow and clumsy from his injuries. Alice easily overpowered him and jammed the syringe into his neck port. It was too much in addition to the heavy sedation that still remained in his system. He shoved her away and reached for his feed wire. His fingers kept fumbling as they tried to catch it behind his back. Alice watched him for a moment. He tried to slide forward to reach one of the consoles and she pushed him easily back to the bed. “You’ll never get—” he slurred.
“Away with this?” she finished. “What I do beyond your life span isn’t your concern, Captain.”
He struggled but his eyes were already closing and the monitor was in warning mode. She waited a moment longer then leaned in and reattached his feed into its port at his neck. Alice clicked her own feed on.
“Leroux, wake up! Someone, help,” she shouted.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“What happened?” demanded Al Jahi. Leroux was still trying to restart the Captain’s heart, but Alice knew it had been too long.
“I— I don’t know,” she stammered, “I was just sitting here reading lab reports when the monitors went off. He just— crashed.”
“Too much sedative,” grunted Leroux as she pressed on Stratton’s motionless chest. She glanced up at the screen. “What did you give him?”
“Me? Nothing, I swear. Check the logs, you’ll see.”
Al Jahi hesitated for a moment and then tapped something into her feed. “There’s been no authorized bursts.” She tapped again. “And the emergency cabinet hasn’t been accessed.”
“Had to be someone. An extra hundred milligrams of Rem didn’t just spontaneously appear in his bloodstream,” said Leroux. “Another burst of adrenaline, Oxwell, now. ”
Alice punched in the code as Leroux continued to work. She shook her head. “Nothing, Joan. His body isn’t making it anymore.”
“Then get a dose from the cabinet,” she snapped.
“He’s gone . His brain isn’t—”
“I need a dose from the cabinet,” she insisted. She turned to Al Jahi. “Chione? We can spare one. It’s Gabriel—”
Al Jahi ran to get it herself. “In his port,” gasped Leroux, still pressing. Alice didn’t move forward to help, though Al Jahi’s hands shook too much to get it on the first try. She watched the Leroux fall into her training, her body following the pulsing wave of press and release, press, release and retreat for the computer to administer a shock and then returning to do it all again. The only sound for a few moments was the deep whoosh of Leroux’s breath and the periodic ring of the computer. Alice felt her own breath even out as the minutes ticked on. He wasn’t coming back.
“I need another dose of adrenaline,” said Leroux.
“It’s not going to save him,” said Alice. “It’s been too long. His body has shut down.”
“Please, Chione.”
Al Jahi shook her head and pulled Leroux’s hands from the Captain’s chest. “I’m sorry Joan. Oxwell is right. It’s done.”
Leroux fell a step back. She wiped the sweat from her face and sank into a nearby chair. “But I saved him,” she muttered, “He was stable.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” said Al Jahi. “I— I better notify the others.”
Alice knew she had mere hours, perhaps less, before the shock of the news wore off and the others would begin to question her in earnest. She had to get rid of the syringe. “I think I need— I think I’m going to be—”
Leroux looked up at her, still dazed. “You need to throw up Oxwell?” she asked blankly.
Alice nodded. “I think so,” she gasped, sucking in great whooping gales of air.
“Whoa, Oxwell, sit down,” said Leroux, springing up. “You’ll hyperventilate.”
“No, I need air. I need— outside.”
“Okay, okay, take it easy, we’ll get you outside.” Leroux put a hand on her back and led her down the hall to
ward the equipment lock. “It’s been a terrible few days for you in particular. First Dorothy and now— I’m sorry, Alice. I’ve been so wrapped up in everything I didn’t even think. Maybe we should call Dr. Cardiff.”
“Let me just— I just need space. Just for a minute.”
They’d reached the lock. Leroux opened the door. “Can you get down the ladder?” she asked.
“Yes, I think so,” said Alice.
“I’ll get Dr. Cardiff. We’ll give you a minute.”
Alice nodded her thanks and climbed slowly down into the open air. She bent over her knees for a moment until she was certain Leroux had gone. There would only be a few moments until either Dr. Cardiff found her or the others returned from the field lab. She hurried to the charred remains of the isolation chamber, ignoring Issk’ath as its eyes followed her. They’d never believe it over one of their own anyway. But she made certain to press into a small space behind a bubbled, blackened wall of burned plastic so that it could not see what she did. Alice made certain the syringe was recapped and knelt beside the emergency cabinet. The metal had dented in the blast. Too far to open the doors. She swore under her breath, but then her fingers found a small gap at the hinge. She pushed the slim syringe through and heard it clatter against the shelves inside. It would take someone a decent effort and tools to get it open. She’d have time to think of something else if they tried.
“Oxwell?” called Dr. Cardiff from the Wolfinger’s ladder. “Oxwell? I only want to talk.”
Alice didn’t bother moving, still crouched in the ash. “I’m here,” she said and watched Cardiff pick her way through the broken metal and plastic toward her. The doctor crouched beside her.
“It isn’t your fault. You did your best for Dorothy, no one could have asked for more. She wouldn’t want you to punish yourself for something that couldn’t be helped.”
“It’s not just her now,” said Alice, “The Captain died on my watch too.”
“I’m sure there’s an explanation. A— a medication error or some residual effect from his injury. We’ll find out what happened to the Captain, don’t worry. Nobody blames you.”
Alice nodded meekly and let Dr. Cardiff lead her out of the wreckage. Issk’ath’s eyes followed her into the Wolfinger. “You should clean up,” said Cardiff, “It’ll make you feel better. Maybe get some rest. I can get you a sedative—”
“No!” shouted Alice.
“Of course, of course not,” said Cardiff, keeping her voice calm and soothing. “It was just an option.”
“Thank you, doctor. I think I’ll be okay. I’ll— I’ll be in my quarters. The others will need you too.”
Cardiff nodded and patted her back. Alice went to take a shower and waited for the questions to start.
It was over dinner. Most of them just fiddling with the rations packs rather than eating. It was Spixworth that started it. He probably meant to be kind, to get it out there and dissuade the others of her guilt. “Did you see anyone, Alice?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“Well— maybe you left for a minute. Just to go to the bathroom or get a cup of coffee?”
“No, I was there the entire time.”
“Did you fall asleep? Even just for a little? Maybe you didn’t even realize you were dreaming,” said Liu.
Alice shrugged. “I don’t think so.”
“Can’t we just check the feed?” asked Titov.
“I already did,” said Al Jahi. “They both had them off. Captain Stratton’s was off so he wouldn’t be disturbed after the surgery. I assume yours was off because you were concentrating on reports, Oxwell?”
Alice nodded.
“Can’t you force the record? Like the Admiral does in emergencies?” asked Titov.
Al Jahi shook her head. “I could override and turn them on, but I can’t go back, there’s no record. The only visual is the feed outlet in the corner. And you can’t see anything on it. Just Oxwell and Titov’s work station. It isn’t aimed toward the clinic.”
“So maybe it was Alice then,” said Martham. “I know you don’t want to say it, or think it. I don’t either. But if no one left and no one entered, what does that leave?”
“Me? Why would I kill the captain?”
“I don’t know,” said Martham, “I’m not sure why any of us would.”
“Maybe it wasn’t any of us,” said Rebecca.
Good old Rebecca, thought Alice, I knew I could rely on you.
“You think it’s one of your little gray men, Emery?” sneered Martham.
“We found a sentient being, Martham. Are you really—”
Liu clutched his head. “Enough! This isn’t the time for a pissing contest. Our captain, my best friend , is lying dead in the next room and we don’t know why.” The group sat silent for a long moment.
“We aren’t even certain it was intentional yet,” said Dr. Cardiff. “Maybe Emery is right. Maybe it was a computer error or the dosage timer accidentally reset or something.”
“It would have shown up in the log— the computer error would have triggered a report,” said Al Jahi.
“And the dosage timer is supposed to shut off and alarm if there is any kind of power fluctuation or reset or anything. It doesn’t deliver the next dose for that very reason. I know, we’ve had issues with it before,” offered Leroux.
“Not if someone did it and covered it up. Maybe someone did use the computer or the dosage timer, but it wasn’t an error. They might even tamper with the access logs to show that they’d never done anything at all,” said Martham. “Who among us knows how to do that? Liu? Al Jahi? Leroux? They all know the Wolfinger better than any of us. Plus, as Liu just pointed out, they had a longer relationship with Stratton. Long enough to start hating him—”
“Hey!” shouted Liu, standing up and stabbing a finger at her, “Who made you the Inspector General? Al Jahi is the ranking officer here, it’s her show. If anyone is going to start a line of questioning, it ought to be her.”
Martham stared at him. “What if she’s the one who killed him? It should be one of us. We’re the scientists. And we’ve nothing to gain by killing the captain. And none of us would know how to erase the logs—”
“You’re talking about mutiny, Martham!”
She stood up, leaning forward on her hands. “It’s a long way home, Liu. And there’s more of us than there are of you—”
“It should be Issk’ath,” Rebecca interrupted. Everyone turned to look at her. “It should be Issk’ath that investigates the captain’s death.”
Cardiff shook her head. “Why?”
“It’s impartial— it refuses to take sides, it says it has no moral context for us so it can’t judge, only report. It has no relationship with any of us, not really, except maybe Dorothy. It’s intelligent, we know that much, and it wants to come with us. We can make it useful, if it’s willing.”
“How do you know it wasn’t Issk’ath that did it?” asked Blick. “It’s got far more reason to do it than any of us seem to. Captain Stratton would never have agreed to take it back to the Keseburg. No way. And if it really is talking to Dorothy somehow— well, Stratton made her stay out there alone. If anyone was to blame for her death, it was him. Maybe she wanted to get back at him.”
Spixworth shook his head. “Insects don’t kill for revenge. Territory, resources, mates, sure. But not hate .”
“It’s not an insect. It’s a machine. A thinking machine. Built by a people that destroyed themselves and waged war. We don’t know what it is capable of. Besides, it has already been in the computers,” said Blick.
“But Titov and Stratton blew up the isolation chamber. They disrupted its connection to our system,” said Al Jahi.
“You sure? We don’t need a hardwired connection. We have the feed. And that thing had Dorothy’s. At least for a while. Are you certain it didn’t find some alternate path? Or it’s not just picking up the feed remotely?”
“But it said it wasn’t programmed for d
eception,” said Rebecca.
“No, Emery, it said deception wasn’t a ‘priority’ for it. I was there. I would think murder would move that up the list of options,” said Liu.
Alice felt a warm wave of relief. She’d expected to have to push a little harder, but they’d convince themselves that Issk’ath and the planet were dangerous. She didn’t need to resort to more violence. Titov puffed out his cheeks and crossed his arms.
“What are we supposed to do next, then?” he asked. “If it’s in the system, can we get it out? Would we even know if we were successful? Or are we just waiting for it to pick us off?”
“You’re assuming it wants to. It had reason to kill the captain, for its own sake and for Dorothy’s. But if it really did kill him, does it have a reason to kill the rest of us?” asked Dr. Cardiff.
“I tried to blow it up,” said Titov, “so…yeah.”
“But it’s had access to us for days, it’s been in the labs around our equipment, it could have killed all of us any time it wanted,” protested Rebecca.
“Maybe it was trying to figure out which of us it needs to get back to the Keseburg and eliminating those it thinks aren’t necessary. It would have to be careful, not raise suspicion. It’ll pick us off one by one.”
“We’ll remove the feeds,” said Al Jahi. “We can disrupt them— Leroux, you’ve done it before. When Poltin’s chip was malfunctioning, remember? We’ll have to rely on manual options of treating injuries and we’ll have to work from consoles on the way back, but at least we’ll be safe from the kind of thing that killed the captain.”
“Until it decides to crash the ship if we don’t take it back to the Keseburg. For all we know it’s got access to every system. Guidance, life support, fire suppression, air locks— everything ,” said Blick.
