“But have any of them received alien transmissions from fifty light years away?” I smirked, and she seemed to relax.
“Not that I know of, but it’s possible. Speaking of which, where are we on that project, R11?” Jade walked over to the robot, and I joined her as he responded.
“Close. I’ve made great progress and expect a trial run tomorrow.” R11 peered up at us as the screen continued flashing with equations.
“Tomorrow? You might actually be able to read the message?” I asked.
“Sure.” R11 added some lightheartedness to his commentary. “Or I could let you read it.”
“Okay, this is great. We’ll finally learn what the message says, and why these people are choosing to communicate with us.” My hands trembled at my sides as I considered the possibilities. “In the meantime, let’s finish through the Ring and park for the night. Maybe we can speak with the other teams.”
Luther lifted his eyebrows in surprise. “You want us to converse with the enemy?”
“More like info-seek. That a problem?” I asked him.
“Not for me. You’re the guy who loses his cool every time you go near one of those guys,” he retaliated, and I couldn’t argue.
“I’ll talk to Travis Brenner of Oasis. Holland, you see if Chen Wei’s pilot from Lotus will discuss anything with you. I mean, you did beat them in the Race, after all.”
Jade pointed at herself. “And me?”
“Luna. You said you knew Marley. Convince her to blab over a drink.”
“What about Luther?” Holland smiled.
“He’s going to meet with HyperMines. They were the lowest ranked next to us at the start, and you saw how they were disregarded at the introduction event. Try to be charming. Pretend we should stick together and see if we can’t both advance to the top four.”
“Sure. I gotcha,” Luther said.
The Ring was coming up, and I was surprised that there had been any shuffling of places over this section of the Race. Oasis had dropped to the bottom at seventh, with Hyper taking sixth. I expected Brenner to be irritated on the station tonight, but that might work to my advantage.
“Has anyone heard about Eclipse since this all began?” I sped for the end checkpoint, passing through in third position. It would have to do. If we completed the next task before the last three teams, we’d be moving on for the final leg.
The team had heard no new information, including R11, who checked for any active feeds from the elusive Eclipse. “Nothing, Captain Lewis. But I did see someone sharing a video of their work conditions in an Orion mine in the Belt. Apparently, it was tagged with Eclipse’s name, but was quickly removed.”
“Keep the search running continuously in the background, R11.”
The nearby space station was one of a kind. I’d been there before, but only on the hauling decks, not the hotel side. It was made of five separate rings, connected through corridors to an elongated central heart, making it look like five wheels with spokes.
The lowest was larger than the top four, used to receive materials and supplies from haulers like Capricious. We were being told to head to the top level, where the Board and Primary CEOs frequented when staying near Saturn.
Lotus and Sage were already parked inside the station’s hangar, and I entered through an invisible energy field, directing Pilgrim to our designated dock.
“I hope they’ve already left,” I muttered, not wanting to talk to Varn this minute.
The hangar smelled brand new, and I spotted cleaning drones wiping the smoothed corners of the ceiling. It was huge inside, much bigger than you’d assume from viewing the station at a distance, and bright. Luther squinted as he emerged from the ship, and R11 waited at the top of the ramp.
“R11, if you learn anything about the translation, hit my PersaTab straightaway. Understood?” I stepped aside, letting Jade by me.
He gave me a mock salute. “I will not fail you, Captain.”
A woman in a black suit abruptly led us through the luxury deck. She ignored most of Jade’s questions, stopping only when we arrived at the hotel sector. The doors were programmed to our thumbprints, and I wondered what else they’d extracted from us.
We had all the major amenities on Pilgrim, but I was looking forward to a sound night’s sleep on a pillow-top mattress, not the cramped bunks we were living with on the Racer. I couldn’t let myself grow too used to this level of treatment. The Race would end soon, and I’d be back to Capricious, hopefully hauling for SeaTech—unless Bryson hadn’t been insincere with giving me an executive role. I hadn’t given it much thought and didn’t know what my select skill set would offer him in a boardroom. But with the hefty paycheck I was getting, things were looking up, if the world wasn’t coming to an end in the largest civil war ever known to mankind. That would put a bit of a hamper in my future plans.
We all parted ways, and I dropped my bag at the foot of the bed. Everything was white inside. White linens, white floors, white walls, and in the bathroom…white tiles. It was too bright, and I turned the lights down, dimming them to forty percent.
I zipped out of my jumpsuit, dropped it in a hatch across the room, and took a few minutes to shower. The water pressure was glorious. I stood under it, the hot steam removing weeks of tension from my body.
And it came to me. If anyone knew about the revolt, it was Bello and Grid in the Wastes. If they were meeting with Liberty, as the farmer suggested, maybe they could give me a heads-up.
Jade had added security to my Tab, so my transmission would theoretically be secure. My dirty jumpsuit was already back in the cubby, washed and folded. Outstanding operation.
I found Bello’s contact information, and set the Tab onto a white table. Her projection appeared from the waist up over the screen.
“Hawk? What are you doing?” Her southern accent made me smile.
“I know I’m not your favorite person, but I need your help.”
“That sounds familiar. Why is it I only see you when you require something? It’s becoming a trend.” Despite the words, she smiled. I heard the kids in the background, and Grid’s deep voice calling for them.
“Is this a bad time?” I asked.
“It’s always a bad time, Hawk. Get to the point.”
“Eclipse.”
“I don’t think you should be talking to me.” Her hand moved, like it was going to end the communication.
“I’m on your side!”
Her arm paused. “What have you heard?”
I glanced around the room, wishing I’d checked to see if someone was surveying me. “What’s happening on that front? And do they stand a chance?”
She stared at me. “Your hair is wet.”
I ran a hand through it. “It is.”
“How’s the Race going?”
I gave her a smirk. “Have you been watching?”
“Grid is obsessed. When he’s not playing with the kids, or discussing plans…”
“So you are involved. I have some information.”
“Are you suggesting a trade?” she asked.
I had her. “Something like that. You tell me what’s happening on your end, and I’ll offer my news.”
“You called me, Hawk. You spill it first.” Bello had a way of taking charge. I sighed, defeated by her logic.
“Fine. Sage Industries is making giant weapons. My father was on the line, and he thinks they’re for space warfare. Some might be for ground assaults too.”
Bello’s face told me she was upset. I could see it in the twitch of her eye, the slight pursing of her lips. “This is bad. We thought the Primaries might be working on a giant project but hadn’t received confirmation. What do you think is happening?”
And there it was. I’d have to fill her in on everything I knew before she’d share her information. What was the harm at this point? She was a mechanic in the Wastes. I told her that I’d seen the Eclipse video, that I’d been at Primary City during their overt attack, and that I assumed Eclipse
was planning to culminate an offensive around the time of the Race’s conclusion.
She nodded at the end. “You have most of it right. But I was there too.”
“Where?”
“In Primary City,” she added.
“That’s a tad dangerous for a Wastelander, isn’t it?”
“Can you not advertise it? The Wastes will be annihilated if this gets out. Eclipse has far more support than you can imagine. Over fifty percent of the corporations outside the Primary are with her. They have a real shot. We have a real shot.” Bello’s face was full of hope, of change. She’d always been a dreamer.
“You think they can actually defeat the Primaries?”
“We have to try. If they merge, what freedom we have left will be taken. There’s a reason it’s been this way for so many generations. It’s not ideal, but at least we have our lives. But this will end all of that,” Bello said.
The conversation made me feel foolish for the energy I was putting into the Race. “What’s Eclipse’s opinion on Proxima?”
Bello peered down and to the left. “She thinks Bryson is hinging too much on a place that we’ve only seen video of.”
“I thought they seemed too familiar.” I’d wondered since the start but couldn’t figure out exactly how they were working together.
“That’s not what I’m saying. Actually, Mr. Kelley has stayed neutral. He’s sympathetic, but hasn’t agreed to add his firepower to the fray.” Bello sounded disappointed.
“Maybe I can sway him, if necessary. Have you left yet?” I asked, knowing they’d have to be starting the trip if they were going to arrive near Neptune by the Race’s end.
“We’re on the way.”
“And you don’t think the Primaries will notice a fleet leaving Earth?” I could see them forwarding patrols to stop insurgents before they passed the Moon’s perimeter.
“We’ve been departing in segments for months. Most of the fleet is past the Belt, with others making the rendezvous from Saturn, Mercury, and Pluto.”
That made sense and indicated Eclipse had her plan well thought out. “What about the kids?” I asked, still hearing them in the background.
“They’re staying here, with Aster,” she said.
“Good.” I didn’t know what else to say. Their parents were heading into battle, and I doubted there would be any salvation for Eclipse and the minor corps unless a miracle occurred. I had to talk with Bryson.
“Grid is impressed with you, Hawk.”
This made me smile, picturing the giant of a man cheering on his wife’s ex. “Tell him I’ll sign a hat when it’s done.”
Bello’s eyes filled with tears, and she nodded. “This war is essential, Hawk. Don’t forget that.”
Her words were ominous, and I hoped they didn’t mean that the revolt considered this entire battle a suicide mission. “We’ll get through it.”
“Goodbye, Hawk.”
“Take care, Bello.” And she was gone.
She’d confirmed my suspicions, and now I was certain there was an assault coming, as well as where and when. But what kind of arsenal would be waiting for them? I understood why they were targeting the end of the Race. It was rumored that every CEO would be on hand. All Ten of the Primaries, including Bryson Kelley, along with their families and top executives. It was the perfect opportunity for Liberty to strike.
It wasn’t surprising that Eclipse was trying to unravel the Corporations, but it also left the people of our home planet vulnerable. But if she managed to destroy the viewing party, the entire Board and top CEOs would be eliminated in one fell swoop. Was she willing to go to those lengths to accomplish her goal?
I hoped not.
Nineteen
“How’d everyone do?” I asked the team. The restaurant lounge was busy, with so many people here for tomorrow’s big show. I’d had to fend off fans all night, which was something I didn’t want to get used to.
“Great. Marley pretended to be friendly, and when I asked about the next challenge, she just smiled and patted me on the arm,” Jade told us.
“At least she spoke to you,” Holland muttered. “Chen Wei wouldn’t even let me talk to the pilot. Lotus is a bunch of jerks.”
“I hear you, kid. HyperMines was a bust. They acted like I was some joke, and that SeaTech had no right to be in the Race. Even the low rungs of the Primary ladder are perilous.” Luther sipped his coffee.
I spotted Travis Brenner. So far, I’d been unable to find anyone from Oasis. Considering they were in last place, I didn’t blame them. Oasis had lost hope in the eyes of the fans too. His posture was defeated. “I’ll be right back.”
Travis leaned against the bar, ordering a drink when I arrived, and he slid one at me without looking. “If it isn’t Hawk Lewis,” he grunted. It was obvious he’d already had a few of whatever this concoction was. Steam rose from the blue drink inside the glass.
“Travis, it’s good to see you.”
“I didn’t connect the dots until the Race began. If I would have known the great Hawk Lewis was on my team for the last few years, I’d have searched you out. We both worked for Oasis, and I still wasn’t aware we had such a highly sought-after pilot in our midst.” He slowly turned, his eyes unfocused. “But I guess hauling from Eris and other crap jobs wouldn’t put you in the limelight, would it? I’ve done some research on you since.” The tension was rising, and I regretted coming over. “Decked the Sage CEO? Man, that took some serious balls. They were going to fire you over a late shipment, because you stopped to save a civilian transport from being attacked by pirates. That’s terrible.”
There weren’t many civilians allowed to travel between planets—only those who’d gained great favor from their employers—and pirates were even rarer. A few thugs living out of their ship, trying to get supplies wherever they were able. “Then we have to agree on that note,” I said.
“I did some further reading. Used my notoriety to poke someone at Oasis in the know. That was all a setup. The ship attacking the civilian transport was hired by Luna Corp to steal your delivery. I guess you had some pretty valuable gear on that haul. Something that would turn the tables on energy warfare.”
I tried not to react while he spoke, replaying those words in my head. My load for Sage had been coming from Jupiter, and I’d been told it was nothing but gas and ice samples.
I leaned in, smelling the booze on his breath. “You’re telling me Luna was attempting to steal from Sage…from me? But the pirates struck the wrong ship?”
“The guys they hired weren’t too bright, and the civilian vessel had made an alternate route last minute. The hired guns saw a yacht where you were supposed to be, and attacked. But you managed to fend them off. Probably blew up the evidence too.” Brenner inhaled the mist rising from his drink and downed it in one chug.
“Why would Luna steal from Sage?” My voice was a whisper in the loud bar, and I glanced over my shoulder to see my entire team staring at me.
“Don’t you get it? These guys are all pricks. They want to rule. It’s a constant power struggle.”
“It never changes,” I said.
“That’s the truth.”
“Have you heard anything about the finish line?” I took a chance that his drunken loose lips would spill an important detail.
He grabbed my drink from my hand and downed it. “I know that I’ll be there.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I’m the best. And you’ll probably lose tomorrow.”
“Not likely. Jade Serrano’s been practicing for weeks,” I lied.
And he took the bait. “Damn it. They told me SeaTech didn’t know what the challenge was about. I mean, how hard is it to bring your dead Racer to life anyways? Guy like you had to do it all the time in that hunk of junk you flew around in.”
I clapped him on the arm, staring Brenner in the eyes. “Thanks for the chat. Let me buy you another round.”
He smiled and ordered two more. I pointed at m
y table and told the bartender to send me the tab.
“Maybe we’ll see you at the finish line after all, Hawk. Two Oasis men,” Travis Brenner said as I walked away.
I doubt it.
Holland was almost falling out of his seat by the time I returned to the team. “Well?”
“Sounds like they plan on killing our Core, and we have to revive Pilgrim,” I informed them.
“We can do that,” Jade said with a smirk.
“Oh, and the others have been warned of what’s coming. So we’d better move to the Racer to practice,” I instructed. After hearing the real reason for Sage being so angry with me five years ago, I was feeling restless, but it also made more sense. I wondered how much infighting there truly was between these Corps, and how deep the cracks reached.
____________
Octavia Post looked well-rested on the screens as she announced today’s race segment. “Each ship’s Core will be neutralized. The teams must not use any outside devices to bring their Racer to working order. They will then travel past Saturn to a Checkpoint. The first four teams to accomplish this will move on. The last three will be eliminated.”
Luckily, we’d been expecting this. The seven Racers were lined up, and a blocky modified freighter moved down the line, starting with Oasis. I smiled, thinking about how rough Brenner must feel today.
“R11 won’t be powered off too, will he?” Holland asked.
“I don’t—” I began.
“I have backups and will be able to remain operational for five hours without charging,” R11 told us.
“Good. It’s all hands on deck.” Jade had a plan, but she wasn’t confident if it would work or not.
The freighter shot a beam of red energy at Luna Corp’s Racer, and it went dark on my screen. We were next. “Everyone ready?”
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