Iástron

by James C. Dunn

  Justus gasped.

  ‘Astonishing, isn’t it?’ Lesper said, grinning.

  He didn’t reply, but stepped forwards in awe. Before them soared the most beautiful, stunning, and somehow terrifying sight he had witnessed in his twenty-six years: reflected in his now-dilated pupils there glowed a striking storm of inexorable bursts. Words and colours could not describe the sight. The wrathful sea which conquered the entire world glowed in flashes of sapphire and amethyst, the lightning spreading across an alien globe of unspeakable beauty.

  ‘Welcome,’ Lesper said triumphantly, ‘to Tempest-Beta.’

  However, the place they were headed was not the planet. The Nyx navigated around the world for some twenty minutes, in the direction of a small moon which clung in pronounced orbit.

  Justus turned to Lesper, who had been watching his reaction with keen intent. ‘We’re not going down there?’

  ‘I hope not. No. We’re headed for that.’ The commander’s heavy finger aimed awareness to the dark moon in the distance.

  ‘What’s special about the moon?’

  Lesper approached the captain until they were close enough for him to whisper. ‘It’s not a moon, Captain.’

  ‘Not a moon? Then . . . Then what is it?’

  ‘That’s why we’re here: to find out.’ He turned sternly to the pilots. ‘Don’t take us too close to the wrong side now. Last thing we want is to get pulled down. Chances are we won’t get back up.’

  Justus recalled the departure from Rotavar. When they had left on an obviously non-Crilshan vessel through the impassable blockade without hindrance he had questioned Lesper as to what kind of project he was being taken to. His reply had been silence. When he’d brought it up a couple of days after leaving he’d been told not to ask anything more of it.

  ‘What is it if not a moon?’

  ‘Not a moon in the traditional sense. Technically speaking it is now, but there was a time when it wasn’t.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Captain, please. I’ll tell you all you need to know later. For now, trust me.’

  They continued to approach the body of pure-black rock when Justus saw to his amazement a large triangular structure obtruding from the surface. It was as dark as the rock itself but reflected metallically the dazzling tempest below. The ship’s engines were cut once over the massive metal base and slowly they descended through its dark crown. Justus’ heart hammered his chest at what he was about to witness as he was led to the back of the ship.

  ‘Wait here,’ Lesper told him. ‘You’ll be taken to your quarters right away. I will call you to see me later.’ And he left Antal Justus stood in the cold cargo hold as the Nyx made its final, rickety descent into the Weapon to Destroy Worlds.

  * * *

  ‘The weapon to destroy worlds!’ Justus said as he stepped foot off the Nyx and descended the cargo ramp. ‘Like hell it is!’

  He moved cautiously down the ramp to be met with the sound of diligent men and women circling the Nyx, manually strapping in clamps and braces, and taking a moment to look upon the visitor. Furthermore, what he found at the bottom was the last thing he’d expected. A dark-haired, attractive woman, with arms crossed and lips pursed, stood awaiting his arrival. Normally he’d keep his face stern so as to keep up his credibility as an officer for as long as he could, but her general manner—which yelled, “I absolutely don’t want to be here”—caused him to grin widely. It appeared she appreciated this even less than his presence.

  ‘Antal Justus,’ he said, holding out his hand.

  Lips still pursed, she regarded him for a second, before taking his hand firmly. ‘You’re the captain?’ she replied, her accent familiar, her tone somewhat dissatisfied.

  ‘I am,’ he said. ‘You’re from Earth.’

  ‘Spot-on. You can tell?’

  ‘I’d pick the accent out of a thousand.’

  ‘Well done.’ She tilted her head ever so slightly, as though taking him in. While not going so far as to call her a goddess, he wouldn’t have been far wrong. She offered a mature charm, very much like Adra Dimal had. That’s what had always attracted him to his old co-pilot.

  After a moment she said, ‘I’m Avéne Ketrass. Follow me.’ And she turned to lead him through the dock.

  ‘The Weapon to Destroy Worlds?’ he said a second time. ‘How on planet Earth could this place be considered a weapon?’

  ‘What?’ Ketrass said.

  ‘Oh—nothing.’

  ‘Good. Come.’

  The dock itself was relatively small compared to most he’d seen; it was deeper than it was wide. The ship had descended through the centre of the great structure and moved down to emerge at an undersized opening. There were two vessels docked at present, including the Nyx, and it appeared there wasn’t space for even one more. Nevertheless, some two dozen overall-clad men and women went about their business, working and conversing in hushed mutterings. Justus wasn’t sure what he had expected, but this certainly wasn’t it.

  Ketrass led him down the orderly corridors leading off from the dock, which he found sorely reminiscent of the large battle cruisers used by the forces on Earth. The layout certainly seemed similar, but he couldn’t be sure, having only been aboard said ships the once. He hurried to keep up with her vigorous pace, but wasn’t complaining with the view she provided from behind. Beneath her long, white lab coat he could make out Ketrass’ slender, toned form. She obviously took care of herself, but he guessed it was nothing less than a prerequisite of living under the demands of artificial gravity. No doubt he’d have to take up a daily exercise regime of his own now too.

  ‘So,’ he said, hoping to break the silence, ‘who built this place?’

  ‘Shhh,’ Ketrass hissed. ‘No talking. Just keep up!’

  He continued, ‘I mean this really is some feat. You’re out here, days away from civilization, above a dangerous planet in a foreign system. I hope they’re paying well!’

  He was forced to stop all of a sudden as Ketrass halted and twisted toward him. ‘Look,’ she said, ‘you may be here for the money or the thrills or whatever your kind seem to look for in life, but I’m here for the knowledge. I’m here because no such discovery has ever been made in two-thousand years of space exploration! And to be honest I don’t have the faintest idea why Lesper recruited you in the first place!’ She turned her nose up proudly and carried on fuming down the hallway.

  Justus loved it when they were feisty. He smirked and followed. ‘I’ll take it that’s a no to the good-pay-thing then.’

  They continued marching through until they reached a straight corridor filled with a dozen doors, spread out on each side; the low ceiling above, Justus noticed, was packed with pipes and unkempt looking cords and cables. Ketrass opened the door to his immediate right and showed him in. Dirt and grime greeted them; strange stains covered the walls and bed, which was decorated a revolting grey.

  ‘You’re here,’ she said, smirking.

  To anybody else it might have been hell, but Justus had spent years living in much worse. ‘Love it,’ he said. ‘What time’s breakfast?’

  She frowned. ‘Five, Accentaurib time. You can tell the time can’t you?’

  ‘I get by.’

  ‘Make yourself comfortable. You’ll be here for the foreseeable future.’

  He opened several cupboards and a large rat scampered out and through the open door. ‘Not coming in?’ he grinned.

  She let out a huff of air. ‘As much as I’d love to join a greasy stranger I’ve just met in a room I wouldn’t step foot in if you paid me, I actually have a job to do.’

  ‘What is it you do?’

  She winced, but not at his question. ‘Feel free to wash. Shower’s just down the hall. The sooner the better!’

  Justus raised his eyebrows. ‘Charming.’

  ‘I hope not. And get your hair cut—it’s a mess.’ She disappeared before pulling herself back. ‘Oh, and welcome to Erebus,’ she said as she vanished, sliding the do
or closed with a puff.

  ‘Erebus,’ he repeated to himself as he listened to the shrill peep of another rodent somewhere within his mattress, before collapsing back on the new bed, hands behind his head. ‘She likes me.’

  * * *

  Justus did as Ketrass so stoutly insisted the next day and showered properly for the first time in a long while, recruiting a reluctant neighbour to remove his long, grimy hair. It turned out shorter and smarter than he’d ever worn it. He felt like a new man. Then again, he was: the old Antal had been left behind in the scorching desert of Rotavar.

  True to his word, it wasn’t long before Commander Lesper called him to a meeting on the other side of the station. After changing into his new military uniform of pure black, Justus was once again escorted by a testy Avéne Ketrass.

  ‘Captain!’ boomed Lesper as he entered the office, standing from behind an ornate-looking counter. ‘Good to see you. How did you find your quarters?’

  ‘They’re . . . well they’re—’

  ‘Good! Good!’ He ordered Ketrass to leave them and physically placed Justus into a chair, sitting himself on the other side of the table where he continued to tidy away hurriedly any exposed papers lying out in view. Justus caught sight of the silver diary he’d risked life and limb to deliver as Lesper swiped it into a drawer. Ignoring his instinct to ask about it, he bit his tongue and looked around.

  Mounted on shelves, just above the Commander’s polished forehead, balanced strange drawings, a stuffed Aegean cat, and a vomit-inducing pickled bird. Among the homes of many in the outer Systems, there hung the golden plate—a map of the Four Systems—as well as the old dictum, which Justus was unable to recall. Upon the Commander’s wall, however, was mounted a strange image he’d seen walking through the halls of Erebus station: a dark circle within a perfect triangle.

  Lesper eventually turned and activated something within his still-cluttered desk. A familiar melody began to play: drums and strings and brass combined. ‘So,’ he said, placing his large hands together, ‘it appears you and I share much in common, Captain.’

  Justus frowned. ‘Do we?’

  ‘Yes, we do. Identify this music?’

  The drums rose louder. Cymbals crashed.

  ‘Earth march,’ Justus said. ‘It was one of my favourites growing up.’

  ‘You and me both,’ Lesper replied. ‘Good childhood?’

  Strange question to ask.

  ‘Oh, you know, this way and that—busy life—always moving.’

  ‘Quite right.’ Lesper sat back. ‘Now I’m sure you’re dying to hear what’s actually going on in this . . . remarkable place.’

  ‘Naturally.’

  Lesper lowered the volume of the Earth March and said, ‘How’s your contemporary astronomy?’

  ‘It’s been better.’

  ‘You’ll have to improve out here.’

  ‘I’ve managed so far.’

  ‘Quite. Well, a quick lesson for you here then. You already know the Second System, Proxima, is the closest star to humanity’s home planet. After that come the Alpha Centauri stars, now Accentauria and Accentaurib. Voyagers have mapped out and visited many more, primarily Crulux and Fugio-One, among others. We sit now, above Tempest-Beta, a planet in outer orbit around the star Sirius. We are on our own out here. Get yourself into trouble, don’t expect any help.

  ‘Now, I’ll start at the beginning. We found this place over a decade ago. Within a year we had built this station on top of, and within, the black-rock moon.’

  ‘The weapon to destroy worlds?’

  ‘Indeed.’

  ‘Erebus?’

  ‘Ah yes, guessed my little riddle, did you?’

  ‘Actually I’ve never heard of Erebus before. Ketrass mentioned it.’

  ‘Of course she did. Well you’ll be pleased to know this place isn’t actually a weapon, little less a device to annihilate planets. Once our ship discovered the asteroid, keeping mum was not everybody’s strong suit. Naturally word got out. The “weapon” story, simply put, became rumour control. My idea. We set about spreading all sorts of notions and theories, poles apart, about places such a contrivance could be kept. And we remain hidden a decade later because of it.’

  ‘So what actually is this place?’

  Lesper leaned back in his chair and looked up at the mould-invaded ceiling. ‘We believe it is an asteroid from a far-distant system which, some thousands of years ago now, became caught in Tempest-Beta’s colossal gravitational field. This station was built so we could investigate the series of caverns leading into the asteroid. The rock here is like nothing we have ever seen. The minerals and deposits we’ve found give us hope that there may in fact be life here.’

  ‘Alien life?’ Justus leaned forward.

  ‘Alien life.’

  ‘I thought such possibilities were just stories, false hopes from our past which those with any sense dismissed at childhood.’

  ‘We all heard the stories as children,’ Lesper said. ‘Most of us shelved them in time. But I’m sure there’re plenty among us, myself for one, who still hope we’re not alone in the cosmos.’

  Justus smiled weakly. The reality, long accepted by scientists the Systems over, was that, though man had journeyed beyond his home world for over two-thousand years, never stopping exploring and learning all that he could, intelligent life was nowhere to be found.

  ‘I think you’re right,’ he said. ‘So why am I here?’

  ‘Well that’s simple, Captain.’ He pulled from beneath the table an expensive-looking bottle of liquor. ‘Security. When we got wind of your exceptional rescues and volunteer operations, especially the one on Enustine, we decided you were the man for the job. If you’re happy to take over, you’re the station’s new military head.’

  ‘What happened to the last one?’

  ‘Retirement, I’m afraid. Ill health. Sounds like a poor excuse, but you should have seen him.’

  ‘And who’s financing this thing?’

  ‘You let us worry about that, Captain.’ He opened the bottle and filled two glasses to the brim. You have other duties. And there’s plenty for you to see. Ketrass will take you on a tour and act as your guide while you settle in.’

  Justus laughed, reached for a glass. ‘I get the feeling she’ll like that!’

  They sat for some time longer, drinking and chatting about Justus’ various exploits. The Captain couldn’t wipe the smirk off his face. He’d always been worried that he would never leave anything behind, never do anything that mattered. That had always been his fear. But they had wanted him. This far-out expedition had chosen him from one-hundred-billion people. And that made a galaxy of difference.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  ‘LET’S GET THIS straight,’ Avéne Ketrass stated bluntly as Justus sat on the black leather medical table. ‘I’m not interested in anything you’ve got to say. I really don’t care what you think of me. And I’m only doing this because Lesper asked me to.’

  ‘I hear ‘ya,’ the new captain answered with a smirk. He unbuttoned his black shirt and slipped it off.

  Ketrass’ eyes descended to the long, thick scar across Justus’ chest. He wasn’t the most attractive man she’d met, but he was certainly the first reasonably appealing male she had seen in all her time there. At thirty-three, Avéne had experienced her fair share of bastards, or ‘men’ as they preferred to be called. She had been part of the Erebus Project for the past five years, and not a single second had been spent focused on anything other than her work. That wasn’t about to change because some cocky ass had arrived. Even if he did look good with a haircut and new uniform.

  She swallowed slowly, averting her gaze to the metal tray behind her upon which lay various surgical blades and apparatus. Ketrass turned and noticed him grinning. She smirked back, revealing a large and lethal-looking needle gun.

  Justus winced, tripping over his tongue in sudden surprise. ‘Hell—ho—ha! Where in hell’s that going?’

  ‘Nowhere
too important,’ she said. ‘Drop your pants.’

  ‘MY PANTS?!’ he cried, backing up on top of the table.

  Ketrass burst out laughing, and Justus’ shoulders dropped upon realising she was teasing. He dropped his legs back over the edge of the table, this time grinning nervously, and Ketrass brought the gun forwards, forcing it into his right neckline, just above the collarbone.

  ‘Bleedin’ hellfire!’ he hollered, gritting his teeth in shock. ‘And what’s this for?’

  She waited for the clack and pulled it out. ‘Every member of the station is implanted on arrival with a station beacon chip. In case of emergency. That way everyone’s position can be identified in a single click.’

  ‘Ever needed them?’

  ‘Nope,’ she said smugly, taking a small contraption from her coat. ‘And this is your PCD.’

  ‘My what?’

  ‘Your comm device. It’ll keep you updated on the day-to-day running of the station. Keep it with you at all times.’ She handed him the small-screened data-comm device, about the size of her hand.

  He took it and switched the PCD on. ‘What’s this?’ he asked, referring to the image of a circle and triangle.

  ‘Oh that,’ she said. ‘That’s our image, I think.’

  ‘You think?’

  ‘Well, it’s all around the station. I imagine it has something to do with our sponsors.’

  ‘All this time and you’ve never asked?’

  She lifted her arms up and gestured out of the clear window. ‘Look around you,’ she said. ‘I’m a little preoccupied with the discovery of the century.’

  ‘It’d bother me, but sure, whatever.’

  ‘Look, I don’t care. They don’t tell me. I don’t ask.’

  Justus, having already averted his attention back to the device, asked, ‘Where do those passages lead to?’ He pointed to a map of the station which had appeared on the PCD-comm.

  Two tunnels descended into the asteroid, one on either end of Erebus Station. The structure seen on top of the orbiting asteroid descended below the surface, much deeper than one would imagine upon first glance. The Captain read the text out loud, explaining each area: Sections One through Six.

  There wasn’t anything of interest in any of the first five sections, Ketrass knew. But Section Six was different. Nobody was allowed down there except Lesper and Professor Kramer—and anyone else they decided was deserving of the privilege. Ketrass had almost been down there, just once, but at the last moment been shunned.