by Gavin Magson
“What is the chamber for?” asked Ajax out loud.
“It is to stop the passengers waiting on the platform ahead dying from the vacuum of space. All the ships have to pass through a pressurisation chamber.” said Greg.
When it was their turn Ajax could not hide his own excitement, intrigued by the chamber. Greg's explanation made perfect sense to him, but Ajax was surprised that he had not thought of it of his own accord.
“You can be such a child at times, Ajax.” said Duke, chuckling at Ajax's curiosity.
Their transporter moved forward as the front door opened, powerful magnets pulled it along until they came to a stop next to waiting passengers. Their overhead restraints released as the transporters door opened and the men disembarked, once again following Duke as he led them through the space docks.
A quick elevator ride later and they stepped out onto the docks lower level, ships lined up on either side of the wide floor, so far into the distance Ajax could not see an end to them. Duke only walked them past a few ships before they stopped at a clear walkway that attached itself to the Illicit Jane.
“Best place to look down on the planet is in this corridor, so make sure you get all of your sightseeing in now.” said Greg.
As they crossed the transparent bridge Ajax could see the dirt covered planet below, its rotation slowly turning the large continent out of view. Somewhere in the desert was the prison where he had left his soul behind; he had seen things that would make any man become an insane husk of a human. Ajax shuddered; memories of the death, disease, famine and even war that raged below the desert sands were fresh and vivid in his mind. He would never go back there; he would kill himself first before suffering that horror.
What he had never noticed the first time he peered down on the planet was what could be seen just past the ocean that ringed the continent - green land. Somewhere on Konar was possibly a land coated in lush vegetation, yet he could not figure out why the city had been built in such a barren environment.
“What is past the ocean?” asked Ajax aloud, causing the troupe the cease in their steps.
Duke turned back to face Ajax, a serious expression across his face. There was no humour behind his eyes now, and Ajax could feel a chill run down his spine.
“That is not a place I would speak of in public, and would prefer never to speak of if it could be avoided. Leave your questions about that until a different time; now is not the place.” Duke turned back and continued his ascent until they were nearing the ship.
The first thing Ajax noticed about the revamped mining tug was its new paint scheme. When he had last seen it in dock the theme was bare metal pockmarked with damage from colliding objects; if there had been moisture and oxygen present he would undoubtedly see rust to match the ships interior. Now he could not help but admire the gleaming red spaceship, all the external damage of yesteryear gone, hopefully forever.
The corridor was at a steep incline, Ajax could feel his calves straining a little by the time they crested the rise and reached the ship's airlock. Even the door had received some much needed attention and a lick of paint, matching the rest of the ship. Duke caught up to him, puffing slightly from the exertion, and keyed in his access code on a panel. The lock released with a slight hiss and the door opened inwards.
The mining tug had a similar pressurisation chamber to that of the space docks, though much smaller as it only accommodated a handful of people at a time; thankfully it did not automatically de-pressurise with humans inside of it. Another door opened for them and the four men stepped through into the new look command room.
“I really like what you have done with the place.” said Ajax, letting off a whistle to show how impressed he was.
Gone were the battered and broken chairs, non-functioning screens, and the mysterious lingering smell that had seemed impervious to all forms of chemical warfare. Everything glistened under the working lights, especially the wall sized screen that took pride of place in front of the brand new captain's chair. Ajax moved into the centre of the room just so he could better see it, trying to take in its ridiculous size. Duke noticed the object of his attention and walked over to his chair, pressing a button to activate the screen.
Without hesitation, gentle buzzing noises, or a pulsating vibration the screen instantly displayed a panoramic view of the space docks. The quality was so good the thing could just have easily been a window; Ajax would have struggled to tell the difference. Duke moved a joystick around on his chair to show off the moveable image, zooming in on a receptionist’s cleavage to demonstrate its other uses. Ajax chuckled heartily and gave the captain a slow clap.
“She is a beauty, they had to build this especially for my ship; that makes it a one of a kind in my eyes. Give the chair a try, you wouldn't believe just how comfortable it is.” commanded Duke.
With an offer like that how could he refuse? Ajax gently sat down on the soft leather chair, shifted a little and reclined into the seat with a satisfied grin on his face. He thought it like sitting on a cloud, easily one of the finest seats he had ever graced with his rear.
“The tight bastard wouldn't buy one for all of us, ours are the cheaper models. Still comfortable, don't get me wrong; it's nice to see how the other half live.” said an envious Greg. A chuckle came from Lev behind them, who was shot a wounded look from his partner.
“Calm down, I could have kept the same chairs and you would have needed a new spine in a couple of months’ time. You have a brand new system to tinker with; I don't know why you have to complain about it so much.”
“Come on, Greg, show me this new system. Hopefully it's the best investment my money has been put towards so far, after all you guys don't make money as a luxury cruise ship.” said Ajax. His attempt at diffusing the situation seemed to work, for now.
Greg booted up his computers with much ceremony. Three screens flickered into life, two of which displayed different overlays on top of the image Ajax had just viewed. It all looked like a mess to Ajax, but as long as Greg understood it what did it matter? The centre screen showed a readout on the ships condition, everything from remaining fuel and oxygen to the volume of storage space left in the ships hold. Ajax was impressed by just how passionate Greg was about his job, despite half of what he said not even registering.
“So these screens let you control most of the ship? Everything from piloting it to checking how much food you have left?” asked Ajax.
“Pretty much, there is little I can't do from here. I take it Duke hasn't told you about our new high powered mining laser? This thing is a beauty, it can cut straight through ore like a hunting knife through skin.” despite the odd metaphor Greg remained enthusiastic about his new toy.
“Don't forget to tell him about the improved Insects.” chimed in Lev.
“Good point. We've upgraded the robotic helpers that excavate our hauls and deposit anything of value in large hoppers that further remove any remaining waste. The new ones are bloody gigantic; I mean they could turn a hover into a cube of scrap in seconds. We tested them out a week ago, far more efficient than the last ones and twice as easy to control. Even you could do it. If we are fortunate on our next voyage we could manage more than one haul, easily doubling profits.”
“I am glad you think so highly of me,” said Ajax snidely. “I must admit that you have certainly done a lot with the money, Duke. In fact, I am surprised by just how much could be purchased with near a million credits.”
“Ah, you noticed that? Well you need not worry about this loan, it won’t result in any threats of violence, or death. Whilst you were in Six I had a visit from Rine, completely unexpected. He knew what you were doing with the reward for the prison, said it was a noble gesture that he rarely saw these days. When he offered me more credits I was hesitant, especially after what happened with Rascas. He reassured me that it was more a thank you than a loan, and that there was no interest or short term to my repayments. I’d have been a fool to turn him down.”
“A fool, and rude in his eyes. If he breaks his word don’t hesitate to tell me, I would swiftly sort out any possible misunderstanding between you two. So, how long before everything is operational and you can get back out there?”
Duke moved over to the men whilst carrying a small wooden box Ajax had not seen him produce. He opened its ornate lid with care and pulled out four cigars, which he offered to the crew and Ajax.
“Funny you should ask that,” said Duke, igniting his cigar with a lighter that positively gleamed from the years of careful polishing. “We are ready to leave the docks right now, if we wanted to. Your return to the slums is coinciding with the refurbished Illicit Jane's maiden voyage; we depart tomorrow.”
A broad smile stretched across Ajax's face for the first time in days, he shook the captain’s hand with enthusiasm. Duke used his silver lighter on the other three cigars and soon the room filled with their smoke. A bottle of fizzing alcohol appeared, along with four cups.
With the pale, bubbling liquid hissing gently in his cup Ajax raised it along with the crew. Duke said but two words, “To Jane,” before lifting the cup towards the other men and downing its contents.
The taste was strange, nothing like he had experienced in his months on Konar, yet it brought back a feeling of familiarity to Ajax. He could not shake the sensation that he had drunk it before, but a memory to accompany it eluded him.
“Good luck, my friends; I will miss you. Come back rich this time.” said Ajax.
The only noise in his room came from the gentle ruffling of material as Ajax packed his rucksack. With efficiency he stowed away clothes, food, and supplies in a specific order; he would not tackle Seven under equipped. His hands did all the work, leaving his mind to wander as he thought about Ilya once more. He had finally started to, reluctantly, accept that she had begun a new part of her life that he would not be included in. A tear welled in his eye, threatening to escape, but he managed to blink it away this time.
Ajax almost jumped, snapped out of his trance as someone rapped their knuckled on his bedroom door. He spun around and paced to the door, ready to berate the insolence fool who disturbed him. When he opened it three grins greeted him, along with a fourth uncertain expression.
“I didn't think it was that time already,” said Ajax, genuinely shocked the crew were outside his room.
“I'm afraid so, kid, we wanted to get an early start on things before the space dock is crammed with crews from every part of the city.” said Duke as he extended his arm.
Ajax shook all four crew members by the hand, although Deborah had to be forced into it by her captain. Ajax swallowed down the lump forming in his throat; he was annoyed by how his body reacted to the crew’s imminent departure. He did not wish to show his fear of being alone once more.
“I wish you had given me a little more notice, I could have seen all of you off at the hub. At least I had the chance to see your ship before you left. How long do you plan on being off planet for?” asked Ajax.
“It's tough to say, where we plan on searching for ore is a considerable distance. With the new work done on the ship we are capable of being out for up to five months; hopefully it won't take that long to land a catch. Have you thought what you will do after your second stint in the slums? Perhaps settle down, have some kids and retire from life threatening escapades?” asked Duke.
“Come on, does that really sound like me? I have no idea at the moment, haven't even given it a seconds thought. I am sure that I can find something soon enough, after all I am constantly hearing about talents like mine are sought after in Konar. Miles, the leader of the squad I was a part of, he talked about some off planet work that might be coming up soon. If you aren't back fast enough it might be me who isn't on Konar for once. Take care of yourselves; I don't want any of you going space crazy after being cooped up for so long. Deborah, don’t let any of these reprobates bully you around up there, they are big pushovers at heart and will easily succumb to some stern words.”
His words earnt Ajax a rare smile from Deborah, who merely grinned in reply. Before Ajax could react Lev moved in and wrapped long arms around the man, squeezing him tight; Ajax was sure he could feel his ribs begin to flex under the force. When the last bubble of air had been pushed out of his lungs the giant finally released him, Ajax was left sucking ragged breaths down as he tried to curse at the man.
“I'll miss you too, Lev,” said Ajax when he had finally composed himself. Greg was content with another handshake, struggling not to laugh at his partners actions.
“We'll be back before you know it, just keep an eye on your tablet. I think the range on these things will mean that we can only contact you when on the surface, so anything you get through should mean we are back planet side again.” said Greg.
When Greg finished speaking the pause between the five stretched into an awkward silence, everyone was struggling to find the right parting words. The crew left him alone once more and Ajax returned to finish his packing.
All Ajax wanted to do was get his packing over ahead of tomorrow so that he could leave for Sector Seven and the squad he had missed. He needed to take his mind off everything that was happening around him, and the thought of killing again had its own appeals.
Maria was busy wiping down tables when the muscular figure of Ajax paced across the floor, heading straight for the door. She called his twice before Ajax turned to face her, lost in concentration about the day ahead of him. His hard expression gave nothing away about his thoughts or emotions.
“I didn't know you were off so soon.” stated the waitress. She pocketed her cloth and closed the gap to Ajax. “Were you going to leave before saying goodbye?”
“I am on a strict schedule, plus I didn't think you would be up already to start cleaning for breakfast. Doesn't Sarah normally start preparing a half hour from now?”
“She does, I just like to get everything done in plenty of time and not at a rush; much less likely to miss something that way. If you need to leave so soon at least come here for a hug, I don't know how long you'll be gone for.”
Despite the smell of chemicals Ajax could still pick up the aroma of Maria's shampoo, a hint of perfume filling his nostrils as they embraced. Slender fingers gripped at his jacket as the woman pulled him in even closer; he did not fight to pull away.
“Just don't leave it so long before returning this time.” said Maria as she released her grip on him.
“Don't worry, I won't. Take care, Maria, I'll miss you too.”
One last smile and the man turned away. He pushed the heavy wooden door and briefly let a winter chill whip through the room. When Maria pulled her hand away from her eyes, trying to shield them from the cold blast, Ajax was gone.
It seemed like he had been walking for hours, yet still the train station was not in sight. Ajax knew the route he walked should take barely half the time he thought had passed; his march through the fierce winds was endless. He did not notice the deserted streets, lost in his thoughts. Only a handful of brave, or desperate, stall owners could be seen setting out their wares as he navigated his way through Sector Four, each desperately trying to keep objects from blowing away. He just could not shake the feeling that something bigger than him was going on, even the clouds gathering above appeared ominous and foreboding.
Ajax stopped at a stall to inspect some green apples he had seen the vendor shine up when he stepped onto the street. The bright colour reminded him of Aiko's eyes, the deep emerald a sight of beauty to him. The thought of her filled him with instant regret; his mourning over Ilya could cause him to lose both women, not just one. He paid for two apples and fished out his tablet.
Aiko, I'm sorry that I have not been in touch for days. I've been so focused about Seven that, foolishly, I have ignored you. I hope you can forgive me, I don't want to lose you too. I’ve already arranged with Beryl for my stuff to be shipped out as I'm heading into the slums again today, but will be back to see you soon. Take care - Ajax
The appl
e was sweet and ripe, its juices filled his mouth and sated his rumbling gut. Ajax had expected it to be past its best, perhaps the vendor knew not to let such an intimidating man leave with a substandard product?
His tablet vibrated as a message came through and Ajax fired it up, expecting to see Aiko's reply. The apple bounced off the pavement at his feet when he saw the contacts name.
Are you still in the sector? I need to see you now; meet me at the mansion – Ilya [Map location enclosed]
Ajax clicked on the link attached to her message and impatiently waited for the route to load up. When the map appeared he got his bearings and set off at a jog, following the shifting map. He traversed the increasingly busy streets until urgency and desire took over him; Ajax began to run.
Chapter 20
Ajax checked the map again, sure enough he was stood outside the correct building. He pressed down on the gates intercom, impatiently waiting for someone to answer. On the third attempt he gave up hope and stepped back to swiftly observe the gate. The metal spikes atop the gates were just above his eye line and embossed at the centre were the letters HS; Henry Steel.
Ajax shouldered his bag, paced forward, and gripped the gates bars, pulling himself up to step over the spear tips and back down again on the other side. The mansion was huge and looming ahead of him as Ajax jogged up the gravel driveway, his breathing still laboured from the run here. The building stretched far either side of the driveway, numerous windows signifying the gross amount of rooms.
Not a single noise came from inside whilst Ajax knocked on the tall door, and still no one answered him. He tried the handle, it turned in his hand and he pushed the door open, stepping inside an expansive hallway. Ajax called out Ilya’s name, his voice echoing around the ground floor and up the stairs; still no answer came.
Everywhere he looked inside the hall there were vases and paintings; even the carpet appeared antique, no doubt it had been handed down for decades. Ajax could not decide which direction to head in, he tried to call Ilya's tablet as he headed for the large staircase in front of him. Her tablet just kept on ringing, until he hung up the call.