by M. D. Cooper
Her heart stopped.
He was holding Erin. Her eyes were closed, and she appeared unconscious, yet she was gripping Reiko’s calf like a vise.
As the Marine moved into the passageway, the PETER’s a-grav hit. He maintained his hold on Erin, but Reiko hit the floor with a thump. The Marine lowered Erin beside her.
Erin’s skin was a mass of red blotches. Isa wasn’t sure she was breathing. She forced her way between the gathered Marines, and this time, they let her through. Someone closed the door.
Isa fell to her knees beside the two women. The only comfort she could derive from what she saw was the fact that Reiko looked even worse than Erin did. Blood oozed from the TSF engineer’s mouth, and her eyes were open and staring without focus, the whites turned scarlet.
Isa leaned over Erin. Her wife’s lips were blue, a horrible contrast to the red rash that covered her face and hands. Then Isa noticed that one of Erin’s hands was a mangled mess.
What happened to her? What did Reiko and Leif do?
“One of you give me a gun,” she said to the Marines. “I have to make sure that woman is dead.”
“Can’t do that.” Usef’s voice was filled with malice, but it wasn’t directed at her.
Footsteps were running up the passageway.
“Please move aside.”
A Marine carrying a medic’s case had arrived.
Isa got up and backed away a couple of paces, covering her eyes. She couldn’t watch. She didn’t want to see Erin’s last moments. She’d said that Walter was dead; that meant she had no one and nothing special working inside her to keep her alive.
This wouldn’t be like that time with Martin. If Erin died, she could not be resurrected.
For what seemed an eternity, all Isa saw was darkness, and all she heard was the sound of the medic working on Erin.
After some time, a hand touched her shoulder. It was large and heavy. Usef was trying to offer her some comfort, but Isa didn’t feel any better. She would not ever feel better if Erin died.
Isa told herself that she had done her best. She’d refused to believe the trick Reiko and Leif had pulled. She’d searched for Erin when everyone else believed she was dead. She’d found her wife, and saved her from Reiko….
Had she done all that for nothing? Would she lose the woman she loved at this last, final moment, when their enemies were dead, and Usef and his troops had arrived to save Erin?
Isa felt the moments of her despair counting out, one by one.
Then something changed. She sensed an alteration in the atmosphere. The Marines, who had stood as still and silent as herself while the medic worked, began to move.
Isa removed her hands from her eyes. The Marines were lifting Erin up; Isa saw her wife’s chest move.
She’s breathing!
Isa ran over and pushed between the Marines carrying Erin. She gripped her wife’s uninjured hand. Erin’s eyes opened a slit, and her gaze found Isa’s.
Isa ran with the troops down the passageway, leaving Reiko’s corpse behind.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
STELLAR DATE: 05.15.8942 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: PETER (Planetary Exo-Thermic Extraction Ring)
REGION: Athens, New Canaan System
Erin was being treated for her injuries in the PETER’s medbay. Once she was stable, they’d transfer to the civilian ship.
She still did not look well to Isa. The PETER only housed a basic medical station, sufficient to deal with the minor ailments and accidents of its two resident engineers. In normal circumstances, Lark and Fazir would have been able to receive treatment for more serious medical emergencies in a fully equipped hospital in either Actium or Attica. But all the Athenian medical staff had departed on the last evacuee ship, and the Andromeda was still a few hours away.
To Isa, the fact that Erin no longer had Walter to help her heal really showed. Bruises from her wife’s fights with Leif and Reiko were blooming all over Erin’s body, and she had grazes on her cheeks and elbows—though these were hard to distinguish against Erin’s ‘vacuum rash’. Her unprotected spacewalk had predictably done a number on her. One of her hands was sealed in a treatment bag, and Isa had also noticed that, in the brief moments when Erin opened her eyes, one of them didn’t focus properly.
Isa had glued herself to Erin’s side ever since the Marines had brought her to the medbay. The entire time that the Marine medic had treated Erin, Isa had not taken her eyes off her. The Marines had detained Jere and Hal, and though Isa knew that Erin was no longer in any danger from anyone at this point, she feared looking away for even a moment, lest she not see her wife again.
It was a stupid fear, she knew. But then again, her feelings of unease about Erin’s safety on Athens had been illogical, and so had her conviction that Erin was not dead, and she’d been right on both counts.
She held Erin’s less-injured hand and watched her as she drifted in and out of consciousness. The medic had told Isa he’d replenished Erin’s fluids and treated her wounds, and that the treatment bag would patch up her hand. He’d also diagnosed a problem with her nervous system and treated it. Erin’s nerves were in a state of over-stimulation, he’d said, and added to Isa in a low voice his opinion that Erin may have undergone torture.
When Isa heard that, she wished she’d killed Reiko herself.
Every so often, Usef would pass by the open door and peer inside. Then he would continue on his way in the usual, gruff, serious style he adopted while in uniform. Compared to the Usef that Isa had first met, Major Usef was a different person.
She preferred him in his colorful, short-sleeved shirt and thong. She would have liked that Usef to come in to talk to her.
“Hey.” Erin’s eyes were open.
“Hey, yourself.” Isa gripped her wife’s hand tighter, wondering if she would stay awake this time. “How are you feeling?”
“I’ve felt better.”
“I bet you have.”
“How long have I been out?”
“A couple of hours.”
“What happened to Reiko?”
Isa pursed her lips. “She’s dead.”
“Damn. You mean I kissed the black for nothing?”
“Yes. Sorry. After they brought you back to life, the Marines started working on her. They said they did everything they could, but her internal AI had destroyed her brain.”
“Her AI wanted to kill itself too?”
“That’s what it looks like. They said it could have been her AI who forced her to space herself.”
“I don’t think so. She was scared, Isa. I saw it in her face. Scared of something so bad that she would rather die than face it. And I don’t think that something was Tanis.”
“I don’t know,” said Isa. “It might have been. Tanis is pretty scary.”
Erin smiled. Then her eyes grew wet, and tears flowed out. She sniffed.
“My joke wasn’t that bad, was it?” asked Isa, who wasn’t sure she’d been joking.
“I miss Walter.”
Tears filled Isa’s eyes too. “I’m sorry.”
Minutes passed in sad silence.
Erin suddenly started, and her eyes grew wide. “Did you tell—”
“Yes, I’ve told Martin you’re safe, though I spared him the details. He would only worry, and by the time he sees you again, you’ll be better. I sent him a message as soon as they told me you were out of danger. We never said a word to Jude about what had happened to you, either. As far as he knew, you were lost and I had gone to find you, while he went home early with his daddy.”
Erin relaxed. “So, as far as everyone knew, I died in the eruption?”
“That was certainly how it looked. It was the only rational explanation for Phaedra losing your signal for so long in that area. But I couldn’t believe it.”
“Thank the stars for that. You saved my life, Isa. If you hadn’t come along when you did, Reiko would have succeeded in killing me. I had no more fight left in me.”
> “Well, you saved mine once too, remember? I only wish I’d hit that bitch dead-on with my first shot, right in the head, and taken her out. I know you wanted her kept alive, but after all she did to you….”
“I know the feeling, believe me, and I don’t blame you, but it would have been wrong. You remember how Usef was mad at me for years because I disobeyed orders and killed Pippa? He was right. I was a fool. You can’t allow your emotions to rule your head in those circumstances. Not when there’s a longer game to play, and our survival is at stake.”
“I’m glad to hear you finally understand,” said Usef as he walked through the doorway.
“Shit,” Erin grumbled. “You weren’t supposed to hear that.”
Usef’s impassive face cracked into a small smile. “Don’t you mean ‘you weren’t supposed to hear that, Major’?”
“Forget it,” said Erin. “As long as I’m not in uniform, I’m calling you Usef. I don’t care how you feel about it. After what I’ve been through, I’ve earned it.”
His smile spread wider. “Sounds like I’ll have to get you into uniform, then.”
“No,” said Isa. “Nuh uh. No way. Erin’s an engineer, and that’s how she’s staying. That’s what she loves. Not all this fighting, right, Erin?”
“Yes, that’s right. For now, anyway.”
Isa did not like the sound of Erin’s second sentence, especially considering that the woman who uttered it had only just been through kidnapping, torture, combat, and a near-death experience. And for some of those, it was not her first time.
Erin suddenly gasped and sat up. “I think I’ve got it.” Then she clutched her head and carefully lay down again.
“Erin, lie still,” Isa scolded. “You have to take it easy until we can get you onto the Odyssey.”
“But I think I know what’s wrong with the PETER! I was dreaming about it when I woke up. Then the thought slipped from my mind when I realized where I was and remembered everything that happened. But now it’s come back to me. I need to speak to Lark. Is she still here?”
“Yes,” said Isa. “She’s around somewhere.”
“I’ll ask her to come by,” said Usef.
“Thanks,” said Erin. “It’s a pain in the ass to have no Link access, I feel blind, deaf, and dumb. It reminds me of that traditional hotel room you booked in Attica, Isa. Do you remember?”
“Of course. It was an odd feeling. I liked it at the time, but I’d hate to live like that forever.”
Lark appeared in the doorway. Isa was shocked when she saw her. The woman was a mess. Her face was blotchy and her eyes red, as if she’d been crying for hours.
“Lark, I—” Erin said before she also noticed Lark’s face. “Er, is Jere returning to the Transcend?”
Lark nodded, her lip trembling. “He and Hal are being taken to Carthage for questioning by the governor.”
Usef said, “I’ve spoken with him, and I believe he had no part in this—neither did Hal, for that matter, but Tanis wants to see them, anyway. Evidence may still turn up that they were complicit.”
“That’s not going to be the case,” said Lark. “Jere’s a good man, even if he is from the Transcend. He isn’t our enemy, no matter what Reiko and Leif did. He had no idea what they had planned.”
“There are always good people on both sides in war,” Usef said. “Doesn’t mean they escape the consequences.”
“Lark,” said Erin, “you have my sympathy, but don’t forget you have a job to do here.”
“I haven’t forgotten. Why did you want to see me?”
“I want you to try something. I have an idea.”
Erin began to explain an idea she’d had. Rather than going back to the default settings on the nodes, it involved programming in a new efficiency curve that would better suit the planet’s current state.
The explanation became complex very quickly, filled with acronyms that were meaningless to Isa. Though she didn’t follow it, she marveled at how her wife could lie there in her injured state, after suffering all she’d suffered, and still be solving engineering problems.
As Erin was speaking, Usef stood up to leave.
“Are you going?” asked Isa.
“Yes. It’s time to escort our two Transcend friends to Carthage and then back to the heliopause.”
“That’s going to be a long trip,” Isa said. “I guess we won’t be seeing you on the Odyssey or on Athens for a while.”
“Well, we’re trusting Erin to fix this mess. Even so, it’s going to be some time before Athens’ tourist resorts open their doors again. It’s a pity—I’ve had a lot of fun here over the years.”
“Me too,” said Isa.
“But on the other hand, it’s lucky for Martin that Athens will be uninhabited for a while.”
“Why’s that? Martin loves coming here as much as any of us.”
“This is the only place in New Canaan that offers tsunami-surfing. Now he won’t have to defend his title until the planet is up and running again.”
Isa lifted an eyebrow. “What I think you mean to say is, that’s lucky for you.”
Usef laughed and slapped her on the back, jerking her forward. “I’ll see you when I see you.” He strode toward the door.
“Bye, Usef,” said Erin.
Without turning around, the beefy major lifted a hand in farewell.
Lark also stood up, looking somewhat calmer now. Isa guessed that having a clear work plan to keep her occupied probably helped.
“When is Fazir coming back to the PETER?” Isa asked her.
“He got transferred to the Andromeda while en route to Carthage, and they have the facilities to patch him up. Once they give him the all-clear, he’ll be coming back.” Lark seemed visibly relieved. “Hopefully in a day or so.”
“So you’re going to be on your own until then?”
“If Erin’s idea to fix the PETER works.” The engineer winked at her boss. “If I’m alone for a day or so, it’s no big deal. I’m used to solitude.”
“We’ll stay in touch, though,” said Erin. “I really appreciate what you did for me—and that you kept Isa safe.”
“Thanks,” said Lark while shaking her head at Erin. “As much as I was able to, with this wild woman.”
“You know, I’m feeling a little better,” Erin said. “I think I’m well enough to get up.”
“I’ll leave you to it,” said Lark. “I’m going to try to see Jere one last time before he leaves.”
As Lark left the room, the Marine medic stepped forward, ready to assist Erin as she pulled herself upright. This time she managed it on her own.
“Ready to go home?” Isa asked.
“Ready to get back to work.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
STELLAR DATE: 05.15.8942 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: Odyssey, departing Athens
REGION: Athens, New Canaan System
“Are you sure you want to do this?” asked Erin.
She was back to her normal self, excepting the absence of an AI partner in her mind. While they’d waited for the Odyssey’s return, the Andromeda’s doctors had restored her Link access and fixed the damage that Reiko and Leif had done to her brain with their heavy-handed, unskilled work when they had ripped Walter from her. The doctors had also restored the vision to her damaged eye.
Erin had printed some new clothes suited to a trip spent aboard a luxurious spaceship, though she had been expecting to spend the days until they reached Carthage mostly in their cabin or under the stars in the Observation Dome. She’d taken Isa at her word when she’d said she only wanted to rest and relax, but Isa had changed her mind.
“The thing is, how long will we have to wait until we have another chance?” asked Isa.
“I don’t know. Maybe not as long as you think. The Odyssey might convert to a cruise ship until Athens is open to visitors again. She could travel between the inner planets, stopping off for a day or two at each one. Or she could visit Athens, where the shuttles won�
�t land, only offer tours. There might be some interest in seeing Athens from orbit, or taking rides to see the volcanoes and lava fields.”
“Stop being so logical,” said Isa. “Let’s go and see Mikhail. You know you want to.”
“Okay, you got me there. I would like to see him again.”
They walked through the ship to the cocktail lounge. Like the rest of the Odyssey, the place was heaving with people. The ship was packed with the last of Athens’ evacuees, but no one seemed too bothered about their hasty departure from the volatile planet. Everyone who Erin had encountered seemed to be having a helluva time. The chatter in the lounge was so loud, it was drowning out the music.
Many of the patrons were showing signs of drinking more of Mikhail’s cocktails than was advisable if they wanted to remain upright. Luckily for the drinkers, that didn’t seem important to them.
Isa tugged on Erin’s elbow. She’d spotted a pair of empty seats at the bar. They eased through the crowd and hopped up onto the seats.
“Oh no,” Isa exclaimed. “Where’s Mikhail?”
Their husky cocktail waiter had been replaced by an unfamiliar woman. Her back was facing them while she fixed a customer’s cocktail. Glossy, thick, blonde hair hung down her back in long curls.
Isa was visibly disappointed. She was actually pouting. Erin guessed her wife had gotten used to the things she loved about her trips to Athens, and that Mikhail had been one of them.
“Nevermind,” said Erin. “I bet she makes great cocktails. Or maybe Mikhail left her his recipes. Check out the list. I can see some new ones as well as old favorites.”
Erin continued to peruse the cocktail menu. There were so many drinks to choose from, and she didn’t want to make their server wait when it was their turn to order. The woman was rushed off her feet, keeping everyone supplied.
But it was hard to choose when so many delicious-sounding alcoholic beverages were on offer:
Silven Sunrise
AI Ale
Pilot’s Challenge
New Canaan Cannonball
White Dwarf