by Rexx Deane
‘Do you think it was the accelerant?’
Sebastian winced. ‘No, they’re usually reactive, but the particles haven’t bound with other atoms at all, and there are no traces of it in the lab. The exterior of the door wasn’t damaged, so it’s not like somebody drilled a hole and squirted it through.’
‘You ought to get the computer to analyse the sample with X-rays, see if it turns up a crystalline structure.’ Aryx turned back to the wiring problem – he couldn’t hold Sebastian’s hand all day, after all.
‘I hadn’t thought of that. Computer, begin X-ray analysis of sample.’
‘Unable to comply.’
‘Why?’
‘The sample tube is empty.’
‘What in Hel’s name?’
Aryx looked up.
Sebastian seemed about to burst a blood vessel. ‘Show me the sample log!’
The display changed to a curved graph of the sample’s mass and composition over time. While the two of them had been talking, the sample’s mass had slowly reduced to nothing.
‘How the hell did that happen?’
‘Perhaps it’s radioactive,’ Aryx said. ‘Or maybe it’s one of those things that breaks down in light or air, or something?’
‘I’ve never heard of anything that breaks down completely like this, and certainly not when it’s chemically inert. Physical breakdown always leaves traces.’
‘I should imagine that’s why it’s “unidentified”.’ Aryx put down the wires he was working on. ‘We’re going to have to investigate this stuff, aren’t we?’
Sebastian drew a hand down his face. ‘Gods … where do we start?’
Aryx bundled the plastic blob and wiring into the evidence crate and secured it under the console with a retaining strap. He pulled himself closer to the screen. ‘Try using your office’s TI to search records for stuff with similar properties, maybe?’
‘Computer, link to my workstation’s TI and patch it through.’
‘Acknowledged. Connection established. Greetings, Sebastian. What can I help you with?’ the TI asked in its smooth tones.
‘Search records that refer to unidentified minerals, or minerals that defy analysis. Also use keywords such as “vanished”, “disappeared”, “evaporated” and other terms that might refer to diminishing mass.’
‘Which records should I search?’
‘Shipping logs, manifests, research notes. If nothing comes back from those, expand the search within reasonable parameters. If that turns up nothing, get back to me and I’ll try a different angle.’
‘Understood. The search parameters are vague and, due to the potentially large number of records, it will take considerable time to complete. I will notify you when I am done.’ The TI fell silent.
Aryx pulled his hands down his cheeks. They’d been at the investigation for only a couple of hours and it was already frustrating. ‘Shall we take a break while the computer searches?’
‘Oh Gods, yes.’
‘Well, I’m going to head to the gym. I’ve missed my last couple of workouts and could do with the relief.’
‘Mind if I join you?’
‘Of course not. It might help clear your head.’
***
When Aryx arrived, there were only a few Humans using the gym. Except for the occasional Bronadi, it seemed the use of gyms on the station was an activity almost exclusively limited to Homo Sapiens. Maybe the other races didn’t have the same ethic of working out, or their biologies worked in a way that made planned exercise useless. Aryx grinned. It could simply have been down to the nature of the station visitors; the high-ranking ambassadors and officials probably saw physical exercise as beneath them, or didn’t have the time.
Sebastian arrived wearing the N-suit and carrying a bundle of clothes under his arm.
Aryx stopped performing chin-ups on the horizontal bar and lowered himself into his seat. ‘You’re late.’
Sebastian patted the bundle. ‘I had to get a change of clothes.’
‘Try training with the suit on.’
He looked down at himself. ‘Are you kidding?’
‘No, I’m serious. It’s got an osmotic skin to absorb moisture and should regulate your temperature quite well. You ought to get some training wearing it so you get used to it, in case you have to go off-world.’ Aryx shook his head. ‘You’re so lazy, sometimes.’
Sebastian slouched. ‘I’ll do a run on the treadmill. It might help me think.’ He clambered onto the nearest machine and started strolling.
Aryx strapped himself to his chair and lifted it with him as he continued his chin-ups. He must have impressed the other gym-goers, as members of both genders looked him up and down with expressions of appreciation. Sebastian was smiling, too. Perhaps he was starting to chill out. He continued his circuit of the gym and moved on to work his chest and arms with weights, finishing off with some time on the ergo machine – a device that he pedalled with his hands. It was the best way to get a decent cardio workout without scaring the residents, zooming up and down the atrium walkways.
He’d been pedalling for fifteen minutes and still not broken a sweat. Sebastian’s face was a little flushed as he jogged alongside Aryx.
‘How are you doing?’ Aryx asked.
‘Not bad. I thought the suit would have been much hotter, but you’re right, it regulates temperature quite well. The water,’ Sebastian said, pulling the straw out of the collar and sucking it briefly, ‘doesn’t taste too bad either. It’s quite effective at filtering perspiration. It just tastes like a plastic bottle.’
Aryx laughed. ‘Just don’t piss in it to try it out, will you?’
‘Of course not. What do you think I am?’ Sebastian slowed. ‘I need to get off.’
‘Call that training? You’re going to do well, aren’t you? As long as you only get stuck in a desert that’s fifteen minutes’ walk across!’ Aryx pushed himself around to the treadmill on the other side of Sebastian and wheelied up onto the belt. He set the speed to 8mph, pressed the Go button, and immediately started pushing to overtake him. ‘Right, now speed up to match mine.’
Sebastian groaned, but pressed the button. ‘You’re a slave driver.’
‘Stop complaining. That’s it, run!’
Less than five minutes in, Sebastian’s face was bright red and running with sweat. The suit caught and absorbed the moisture as it trickled down his neck.
‘Keep going! You can go faster.’
‘Oh, shut up. It’s alright for you, Mr Wheely-Good-Fitness 2264 … I bet you won that prize by default.’
What a cheek! Aryx grabbed the handrail and allowed the chair to freewheel while he reached across and set the other treadmill to maximum.
Sebastian shot backwards in a tumble to the floor, laughing.
‘You deserved that, you git.’
The pair finished their workout and made their way to the changing room. Aryx showered quickly, and waited for Sebastian to dry off.
‘Have the results come back from the search yet?’ he asked.
Sebastian checked his wristcom. ‘No, not yet.’
Aryx shook his head. ‘Computers. They’re always so damned slow when you need something in a hurry.’
‘Tell me about it. Rarely a day goes by that I don’t curse them. I think it’s going to be a while. Why don’t you go and relax for the rest of the day? The other evidence can wait until tomorrow. I’ll contact you if I need you.’
‘I’d rather get that blob analysed.’
‘Go and get some rest. You look tired.’
‘I’m fine,’ Aryx said, yawning. There was no way of disguising it. ‘Okay, maybe I will.’ He left Sebastian to finish up.
When he arrived at his apartment, he was in no fit state to concentrate on the mobipack’s patent proposal, so he made himself a light meal and spent the rest of the evening finishing off the novel he was reading. It wasn’t long before the infoslate clattered to the floor.
***
Aryx found hims
elf in a dull grey space, and judging by the shadow looming over him he was sitting underneath a large object.
‘Hello?’ His voice was muted and echoless.
Something creaked above him in response. Something metallic, under strain. A terrible, cold memory rumbled up from his stomach. He needed to get out from underneath whatever it was, but his chair was nowhere to be seen, and neither was the mobipack. He’d have to shuffle along on his backside or try to walk on his stumps.
The metal creaked again.
He dropped forwards and elbow-shuffled towards the penumbra.
The shadow darkened, and from somewhere behind came the sound of breathing. Something clattered on a hard surface.
The object above came down rapidly. The darkening, oppressive shadow reminded him of events on Cinder IV – he wasn’t going to make it out.
A moment later, he crossed the threshold of the shadow. Pain shot through his shoulders and upper back as something sharp clawed into him, dragging him back to the shadows, beneath the crushing weight.
No, not again! Not like this!
The mass came down and, as the last breath was crushed from his lungs, he screamed.
***
Sebastian woke to a bleeping wristcom. He’d had a terrible night’s sleep and yet another nightmare. He rubbed his eyes and rolled over to answer the call. ‘What is it?’
The office TI spoke. ‘I am calling to inform you that the search you requested has been completed.’
‘Forward the results to the Ultima’s systems. Send Aryx a message when he wakes to let him know that I’ll meet him at the ship. What time is it?’
‘The time is now 06.27.’
‘Great.’ He sighed and rolled over. Just a few more minutes.
Thirty seconds later he got up. The case was too important, and the perpetrator already had a head start.
After scoffing down a quick breakfast, he made his way to the security offices’ changing room to get the rucksack of SpecOps gear. With the lift system fully functional once more, the journey was mercifully quick. Karan sat on one of the benches when he arrived, tying her bootlaces.
‘Don’t you ever do any paperwork?’ he asked. ‘You’re always here or out running.’
She folded her arms. ‘I haven’t exactly seen you in the office lately. And for your information, they’ve got me on patrol. The ambassadors have requested intensified security, so we’re all stretched pretty thin at the moment. I wouldn’t mind so much if it got me out in the atrium. What are you up to, anyway? I thought you got fired, or something.’
‘I didn’t. I’m doing SpecOps work.’
She drew in a sharp breath.
‘I wasn’t made redundant. I was promoted, but I can’t tell anyone what I’m working on.’
‘That’s a shame – I was looking forward to some gossip.’
‘What are you on about, gossip? Isn’t the explosion enough for you?’
‘I guess so, but it’s a bit … impersonal. I’m not exactly involved in anything to do with the investigation.’
‘Think yourself lucky.’ If only he could tell her something, but with everyone being a potential suspect it didn’t seem like a wise move. ‘As soon as I can give you some info, I will.’ He strode to his locker and opened it.
‘Whatcha got there?’ She was right behind him.
He glared over his shoulder at her and grabbed the canvas bag. ‘Mind your own business,’ he said, slamming the locker shut.
A tremor shook her bottom lip.
‘I’m sorry. It’s very important.’ He put the bag over his shoulder and turned to leave. ‘I’ll catch up with you when things calm down a little. Hey, how have you been sleeping lately? Any more bad dreams?’
Her eyes reddened. ‘None since Friday – not that you care!’ She spun around and stormed out.
He took a deep breath and let out a thin, ragged sigh; he hated lying, especially to his friends. He’d have to make it up to her somehow.
***
Sebastian entered the repair hangar, where the floodlights above the Ultima Thule continued to drive back the encroaching darkness. Judging by the lack of other lights in the hangar, it seemed to have been the only ship worked on for the last few days.
Aryx was already aboard, hunched over the melted plastic lump on the diagnostics console.
‘Any progress?’ Sebastian asked.
Aryx looked up, a wire in one hand and a soldering iron in the other. His eyes had dark circles under them. He pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘Not much. I didn’t sleep well last night, so I came down early – it’s taking ages to attach these. I just hope it isn’t going to be a waste of time.’
‘Bad dreams again?’ Sebastian took the seat next to him. ‘I had another nightmare too, but I can’t remember what it was about. Oh, and before I forget, the computer found some records that might relate to our unidentified vanishing mineral. Computer, show an overview of the records found during last night’s search.’
The display lit up and an overview of several documents appeared.
‘Give me a quick summary of the document types.’
‘On the Galactic net, several anonymous bulletin boards hosted requests for a mineral with specific properties. It was not possible to access the posting logs without sufficient evidence for a warrant.’
‘Given that the requesting posters were anonymous, ignore those. Did anyone reply?’
‘Yes. A Bronadi Bemorical Crip’thort by the name of Braku.’
‘Excellent. Contact him please.’
‘One moment.’ A comms holding screen appeared.
Aryx gave Sebastian a sidelong glance. ‘A Bemorical Crip’thort?’
‘My Bronar is a bit rusty, but I think it’s a trading title. He’s a commodities broker.’
His nose wrinkled. ‘I don’t know why they don’t use Galac titles like everyone else.’
The screen changed and they were presented with a saggy, dog-like face. A fine, velvety fur covered the creature’s deeply wrinkled head, which was topped with two furry trapezoid ears. Its short muzzle terminated in a black crazy-paving nose, giving it the appearance of a cross between a hyena and a Shar Pei dog.
Aryx stifled a snigger. Sebastian jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow and he dropped the hot soldering iron in his lap. ‘Ow!’
The Bronadi’s bulbous, overhanging lips quivered. ‘Never have I, Bemorical Crip’thort Braku, encountered such rudeness! Contacts are to message before requesting face-time. This is most insulting!’
‘Please, forgive my intrusion in such a hurried fashion. My name is Sebastian Thorsson.’ He bowed his head. Thankfully, the security manuals he’d studied included diplomatic protocol.
The Bronadi nodded. ‘Intrusion forgiven. Now, what can this humble servant of Bronat possibly help you with at this time?’
‘Tenebrae Station, the trading hub where I work as a security officer, was recently attacked. There is evidence of an unidentified mineral at the scene of the crime. It seems to be unstable somehow, but non-reactive, and evaporates easily. My searches of the communications network turned up several “Wanted” posts on bulletin boards. Posts to which you have replied. We have no access to the posters’ records, but given that you replied with an offer to supply minerals fitting the description, you were our next lead.’
‘I am afraid I cannot provide you with the clients’ identities, as I simply do not have that information. I made no direct trade with them. I do not trade in volatiles, and the mineral in question is not available through regular trade channels – it would not have been profitable for me to broker. I passed on the details of the supplier to the clients in the hope they might pass on my name to other potential paying customers.’
‘Can you tell me who the suppliers are?’
‘Indeed. The mineral is available almost exclusively in large quantities from a small mining outpost by the name of Sollers Hope. Several other worlds have produced only tiny amounts of the mineral and even then unreliabl
y, and not in tradeable quantities. I hope this information is satisfactory.’
‘Most satisfactory, thank you.’ Sebastian bowed again.
‘If you have no other questions, I must go. I have other, more timely, business to conduct. Good trading to you, Thorsson.’
He let out a sigh of relief as the screen blanked. ‘Well, I suppose that could have gone worse.’
‘Yes,’ Aryx said, brandishing the soldering iron, ‘I could have ended up with my bloody lap on fire!’
‘Oh, shut up. That’ll hopefully teach you some manners around aliens. At least we now have a source for the mineral.’
‘I suppose we’re in for a trip?’
‘If you want to come along. You’re welcome to stay on the station if it’s too much of an inconvenience.’
Aryx held up the melted lump. ‘I can’t really work on this without the console and, like you said, this place isn’t necessarily secure. It’s easiest if I just carry on working while you drive.’
‘Fair enough. Computer, locate Sollers Hope.’
The computer paused for a moment before speaking. ‘There are three references to Sollers Hope in the Galactic database.’
‘Wonderful. I knew I should have asked Braku for its location. Computer, show me the list with coordinates.’
The display changed and three entries appeared, all with coordinates within a light year of each other. At least they were all near the Quintoc system.
The list read:
Sollers Hope
Sollars Hope
Sollershope
‘What’s the difference, apart from the spellings and locations?’
‘Uncertain.’
‘Entry dates?’
‘The entries are grandfathered records and have no explicit insertion dates other than the dates they were digitised.’
‘Utterly typical.’
‘It’s a bit weird,’ Aryx said. ‘But you know what the old surveys were like – all prone to Human error at the end of the day. Someone probably sat there transcribing a hand sketched map or something and couldn’t read the cartographer’s writing.’ He laughed.
‘I don’t know what to do. We can’t randomly head for one in case there’s no node …’ He turned to Aryx. ‘No, actually, let’s aim for Quintoc itself. “Sollers Hope” is within 100 AU of it, and there’s a node there, so that’s the most likely location.’ He turned back to the console. ‘Computer, calculate a navigational path using relevant acceleration nodes. Oh, and don’t log the flight path with the station’s navsystem.’