“You mean you're gonna find a way to save everyone?” said Caleb.
“I'm gonna try. I've seen death before, but never have I seen so many innocent people fall so quickly. Whatever is happening is evil and I have a feeling that it isn't natural. I think someone has caused all of this, and I'm gonna make them pay.”
“That's a hell of a theory, big man,” said Richard. “Do you think getting to the Presider is going to be that easy?”
“Well,” said Kozz, “trying to get to him in a civilized manner would be near impossible, but I think I can figure out a way to grab his attention. Once he sees my face or hears my name, I'm in.”
“But how do you know he's still alive?” asked Kelly. “I mean, what if he became one of the infected?”
“That's possible, but it's the only plan I have. He's one of the few who knew anything about my identity when I was an Enforcer. To those few I have an incredible amount of authority, but no one else would give a damn about me because they don't know who I am. My gut tells me that he's still alive, and I think Jammer or someone else would have mentioned if the Presider was dead.”
“Good point,” said Richard and Kelly in unison.
Several men and women exited the elevator and walked through security into the massive ship which hovered outside the skyscraper.
“The ship is departing shortly,” announced a woman's bubbly voice over the speaker system. “Last call for all employees and passengers. The gates will be closing soon.”
“It's that time then,” said Kozz.
Luciele was the first to run over and hug Kozz. The big man put one arm around her in return. “Thank you so much for everything you've done for us. You have no idea how grateful Caleb and I are. I'm going to miss your big head.” Luciele kissed him on the cheek. His gray stubble poked at her soft lips. “Good luck. I hope you find everything you're looking for. You're a wonderful man.”
“You and Caleb have done more for me than you'll ever know,” said Kozz. “I think of you as family now, and I'll never forget you.”
Richard walked over and shook the man's hand. “It's been a journey, my friend. Hope you find your wife, and you know, save the world and stuff.” Kozz patted the kid on the back. Kelly sneaked in a hug just as Kozz let go of Richard's hand. “Have a safe trip,” she said, “and tell your wife I said hi when you find her. I know she won't know who I am, but you'll have a ton of stories to tell her and you can start off with one about me!”
“You're a couple of crazy kids,” said Kozz. “Good luck finding your families. Maybe we'll run into each other again if the Presider calls everyone back to Erde.”
Richard and Kelly moved out of the way to let little Caleb through. Kozz bent down and picked up the boy. “Don't worry kid,” said Kozz, “we'll be seeing each other again. If we're both hunting around for the other we're bound to wind up in the same place.” Kozz saw that Caleb's expression was thoughtful and concerned.
“Did you mean what you said about trying to save everyone?”
“I sure did. I've defeated bad guys before and I'm gonna beat this one too.”
Caleb was sitting on Kozz's crossed arms. He bent forward and hugged the man who had saved his life and became his best friend. “Thank you,” said Caleb. Kozz heard Caleb sniff, but the boy did not cry. Kozz held him up for a few moments before lowering him back down to the ground.
“Sir,” said the woman at the security gate, “are you coming aboard? We're about to close the gate.” Everyone else in the rooftop gateway lobby had entered the ship or left down the elevator.
“I love you all,” said Kozz. He picked up his bags. “Be safe.”
Kozz turned towards the gate and walked away. Luciele teared up and grabbed her son. Kelly and Richard stood each with an arm around the other and waved as Kozz walked up the security ramp. Kozz showed the woman his badge and walked through the gate without hindrance. He looked back to the others and gave a single wave before moving forward into the ship. Two members of security followed him in and closed the gate.
Tears fell from Caleb's eyes.
Jammer's duties let him check in on Luciele and the others sparingly, but he kept his promise to Kozz and made sure they were taken care of while they stayed in Port Town. He set up the ride for Kelly and Richard on board a caravan that was leaving for Quartz and he told Luciele and Caleb that he would walk them into the Erde-bound passenger barge himself to guarantee that they found a comfortable spot on the vessel.
The passenger barge was set to leave five days after Kozz had departed Frostarc. Luciele and Caleb left early that day with Jammer. Richard and Kelly followed them to their ship and would be leaving with their caravan later that evening. The passenger barge was a further distance down the massive docking bay than the medical barge had been. Instead of climbing a skyscraper to enter the ship at its top, a loading ramp was lowered from the bottom of the floating hull. A line of eager and frightened people had already formed near the ramp and extended down the city blocks as far as the naked eye could see. Dozens of soldiers guarded the ship and were perched high above the populace, ready to snipe tranquilizers at any who turned infected. A trail of dirty tents, torn blankets, and food trash was scattered around the waiting people. Many had camped out, apparently for days, at their chance to find a spot on the massive ship.
“Shouldn't there be plenty of room on that barge for everyone?” asked Luciele.
“There are a lot of people that want out of here,” said Jammer, “and I don't blame them, but there isn't as much room on that barge as it seems from the outside. There are several levels on the ship, but they are all designed with lots of space to carry enormous loads of goods from one destination to another. Each level has a ceiling which a hundred feet above the floor. Since the levels are so spaced out, there isn't all that much floor space for the thousands upon thousands of people who want on that ship.”
“Why aren't there more ships traveling between here and Erde then?” asked Kelly.
“Because there aren't many left,” said Jammer, “or many left who know how to operate them. A lot of trained pilots have fallen to the infection, and some of the ships held by the Cooperation have been sabotaged and destroyed by the infected. It's like they intend to cripple our society and know just what to attack to achieve that goal.”
“Scary stuff,” said Richard.
“They're smart,” said Caleb. “We've seen how smart they are over and over again. I told Kozz that when I was infected there was something in my mind that took control of me, something that pushed my thoughts aside and controlled my body. I felt like I kinda saw it and it pushed against me when I tried to fight back. Whatever it was, it was smart. It wasn't just a sickness.”
“I've heard rumors of others who eradicated their infection and described similar stories,” said Jammer. “Our top scientists and bio-engineers are trying to figure out how it all links together and how they can cure it. I just hope to God that they put the pieces together sooner rather than later.” Jammer sighed. The man always tried to appear optimistic, but he showed signs of fatigue and concern. Experiencing months of carnage and death had taken its toll on even the most courageous of soldiers. “Let's get you guys on that ship.”
It was time for more goodbyes. Hugs went around as they shared their last moments together.
“Please take good care of yourselves,” said Luciele. “You two are as cute as a couple of ducklings in a pail of water. Stay out of trouble, and good luck finding your families.
“We're so fortunate to have met you guys,” said Kelly. “If you didn't come around we would still probably be stuck back on the glaciers with the others. I hope you find a safe place on Erde to stay until this crisis is over.”
“I don't know what we're going to do when we get to Erde,” said Luciele, “but all I want is for my son to be safe. From what I can tell this is the best path for us to follow.”
“I hope it's better than what we've seen here,” said Richard. “I'm sure we'll h
ead off to Erde once we track down our families.”
“That would be cool,” said Caleb. “I'm gonna miss you guys.”
“We'll miss you too little buddy,” said Richard. “Maybe we'll find you on Erde or something.”
“We'll keep in touch once everything is back the way it was and the communication system is up and running again,” said Kelly. “I wouldn't dare miss watching you grow up into the strong man you're going to become.”
“You guys are awesome,” said Caleb. He ran over and hugged them both one more time.
“Wait for me in that cafe across the street,” Jammer said to Richard and Kelly. “I'll be back in a bit.”
Jammer walked towards the ship. Luciele waved goodbye to the young couple as she followed, pulling Caleb by his hand. Caleb walked backwards and waved until they approached the long line of people waiting to board the ship. Luciele pulled her son close as Jammer pushed his own path through the line. Luciele diverted her eyes from those she passed, feeling guilty for walking to the front of the line which these people had spent days in, but she marched forward, seizing the opportunity to ensure Caleb's safety.
They approached the security gate at the base of the massive loading ramp. The guards opened the gate for Jammer without him needing to show identification. Luciele and Caleb followed Jammer through the gate as the people waiting in line hollered obscenities behind them.
The loading ramp was a large section of the hull which folded down to allow large vehicles and storage containers entry. Luciele thought the massive ramp seemed both overwhelming and silly at the same time. She felt like they were just three little bugs climbing a very big hill.
Jammer led them into the lowermost level of the ship where parallel rows of lights lined the walls up near the high ceiling and light seeped in through the hundreds of open vents at the bottom of the walls near the floor. Segmented living spaces covered nearly all of the floor space, leaving only thin passageways to travel throughout the level. Each living space was fitted with a bed, a chair, and a small section of cabinets that doubled as a tabletop. The same pattern repeated the full distance to the other side of the barge, only breaking for the occasional restroom compartment and kitchen area. Jammer explained that there would be a few cooks and attendants on board, but most of the food preparation and cleaning was going to have to be done by the passengers themselves as there simply was not enough staff on the ship to go around.
The floors were a rusty brown, as were the walls, but the inside of the ship had been sanded, smoothed, and sealed to make it a safer and more comfortable living space. Many thousands of people would be spending weeks inside the hull walls which were designed for carrying large supply loads from one planet to another.
Jammer led them into a freight elevator. “We're going to the topmost passenger living space. The area is small, but more comfortable. You'll be directly below the on-board crew living space. It's simply been converted from a level of offices to a level of bedrooms, but there's not enough crew on the ship to fill the spaces any longer. We decided that we wouldn't hold this area off to more 'important' passengers. Who all else winds up here with you two will just be from a random drawing. The rest will have to live on the loading levels for a few weeks.”
The freight elevator took them up several levels until they reached the uppermost loading area. Each loading level looked similar to the one below it. The only difference with the uppermost storage level was a second elevator which was required for passage up to the remaining levels of the ship. The rusty brown of the storage areas was contrasted by the steel blue color scheme of the office level Luciele and Caleb would be staying in. The ceiling on their level was only a few feet above their heads, and the walls were a smooth, cool metal.
Though the area was a cold and professional atmosphere, its cleanliness and quietness comforted both Luciele and Caleb. Not much had seemed this pristine and normal in a long time.
A large office with glass walls had been converted into a kitchen, the only one on the level. There were several hallways with at least a dozen rooms down each.
Jammer led them to a room at the end of one of the halls, one that looked just like any other, but it was right next to one of the security offices on the level. Jammer went inside the office and instructed the two guards inside to take special care of Caleb and Luciele.
“Well this is it,” said Jammer, “your home for the next few weeks. They'll start letting people in about an hour from now. You can use that time to explore the area here or just set yourselves up.”
“Thanks so much for all of this, Jammer,” said Luciele.
“Not a problem, Luce.” He smiled at the scrunched face Luciele gave him. “Just fulfilling a promise to an old friend and taking care of a lovely lady and her son while I'm at it.”
“You remind me a lot of Kozz,” said Caleb. “You two must have been good friends.”
“We did grow up together,” said Jammer. “You remind me a lot of him too, when I first met him. He was a shy but determined little kid. He grew big quick, and the streets made him the brute he is today, but he was a lot like you when he was younger. Remind him that he owes me a drink for taking care of you guys." Jammer looked around the room, nodding to himself. His eyes went to Luciele and he smiled. "On second thought, I did hook you up pretty good— make that two drinks.”
“But we might not...”
“You'll run into him again." Jammer did not let Caleb finish his thought. "I'm sure of it. He's not the kind of guy to forget his friends.”
Jammer bid them farewell and left them in the hands of the officers on board. Luciele left their belongings in the room and decided to take Caleb on a walk around the level before it filled with people.
“What do you really think about all of this, Richey?” Kelly had not touched the cup of coffee she had ordered. Her nerves had tensed her body and mind. Her new friends had all left and she was unsure what it would be like when she and Richard arrived in Quartz. “Do you really think we'll find them? I mean, alive and well? Who knows what could have happened.”
“We can only try, Kell.” Richard grabbed his girlfriend's shaking hands. She tried to steady them by wrapping her fingers around her cooling coffee mug. “There's no way to know what happened. We just have to see if they're alright. Whatever happens, we still have each other.”
“But what if...”
“Then we move on,” Richard interrupted. “I don't want to think of anything like that. There's a good chance that they're all just fine. They have to be. I'd travel across the galaxy to make sure you were alright, just like Kozz is doing for his wife. We need to know so that we can help them if they need us.”
Jammer pushed open the cafe door. Kelly looked at him with frightened eyes. They're still just kids themselves, thought Jammer. They haven't given up, but they feel lost. “Come on now. We're gonna get you two where you need to go.”
A FROG with speckles of dried blood splattered across its matte-black front waited for them on the street. An officer sat inside, barely visible through the hardened, tinted windows.
“This is your ride,” said Jammer. “Inside is Officer Daube. She's one of the finest FROG drivers I've ever known. She'll bring you to the military caravan that is leaving for Quartz later this evening and will be joining the caravan with this vehicle and you in it.”
“You're the man,” said Richard. “Seems like you got all the hook ups.”
“We owe you so much,” said Kelly.
“You owe me nothing. Kozz asked me to take care of you all and so I've done so to the best of my abilities. You're great kids. Good luck out there.”
Jammer opened the back hatch and let them inside, closing the door behind them. A mesh fabric separated the back benches from the front seats. The bright sunlight had trouble piercing through the tinted windows and was absorbed by the black interior. It was difficult to see where they had placed their bags.
“Greetings and salutations,” said the driver. “I am Of
ficer Daube. Welcome aboard the Blackbull, my personal warbeast and transport vehicle for the last six years. Located above your heads is a dial, please turn the dial in a counter-clockwise manner if you wish to see the hands in front of your face.”
“Ah!” Kelly turned the dial which controlled a dim set of lights in the back of the vehicle. “Thank you!”
“We'll be joining with the rest of the team shortly,” announced Officer Daube. “I sure do hope you enjoy your ride. Be aware that Blackbull's suspension isn't what it used to be and that we might encounter some bumpy terrain along the route!”
“This is going to be fun,” said Richard.
Kozz was greeted by a guard and led to his room. He took mental pictures of the signs and guide maps he passed as the guard led him down numerous white corridors. The elevator had enough buttons for fifty floors, but Kozz knew that there had to be even more. The living level was furnished like a city home with modern furniture and warm colors. They passed other people as they walked around, everyone giving friendly nods like they were neighbors in a cozy community.
The guard led Kozz to the end of a long hall filled with closed doors and showed Kozz to his room. Inside was a plush bed with a steel frame and enough desk space to accommodate any of the scientists or engineers on the ship. The guard left him where he was and said that the ship's captain would send a representative down to welcome him aboard.
Kozz dropped his belongings in his room and grabbed his room key, locking the door as he set out to explore. At the end of the hallway, next to his room, was a lounge area with a telepod, a sofa, several reclining chairs, and a steel table with a neat stack of magazines. He flipped through the pile, pushing most to the side. Many of the magazines were from several months ago, all he had already read, but he found two copies which were recent. One of the covers displayed a horrifying scene of a gang of infected attacking a city bus on the streets of Erde, and the other was a picture of Presider Conway standing at a podium with an elbow resting on the lectern and his face buried sorrowfully into his hand. Kozz's thirst for knowledge enticed him to sit down and read the articles inside. The magazines might provide some insight into the cause and scope of the horrors taking place in the galaxy, but he felt that there was more pertinent information to be discovered on this medical barge. He could not relax, not yet.
Frostarc Page 22
