by Amie Kaufman
PALMPAD IM: D2D NETWORK
Participants: Niklas Malikov, Civilian (unregistered)
Hanna Donnelly, Civilian (unregistered)
Date: 08/16/75
Timestamp: 09:14
Nik M: ella u there
Nik M: cuz
Hanna D: she’s…actually, I don’t know, to be honest. hackery.
Hanna D: In the meantime, I have also been busy. I am once again in possession of clothes. Bless you, inventory rooms.
Hanna D: what, no joke? Is everything okay?
Nik M: um
Nik M: dunno
Hanna D: Nik, what is it?
Nik M: u ever have pets?
Nik M: when u were a kid?
Hanna D: I did once, yeah. We moved a lot, so mostly I couldn’t. Why?
Nik M: we had a dog. when i was little. my bro and i
Hanna D: a dog, that’s insane. I was on stations. Anything that needed that much food and water and oxygen was out.
Nik M: she was a stray we found near our house. when my dad came home we asked if we could keep her and he musta been in some good mood that day because he said yeah.
Nik M: “but she’s family now” he says. “and you have to take care of family. that’s what it is to be men”
Nik M: my bro named her Billy. i told him that was a boy’s name he didn’t care
Hanna D: does this story end badly for Billy?
Hanna D: your stories generally end badly.
Nik M: she got hit by a tram. we were playing with her by the mag rail and she got clipped. stupid. just a accident
Nik M: but she was tough as old boots. didn’t die. she just lay there all busted up. whining and stuff. bleeding. and she’s too big for us to lift so erik
Nik M: that’s my bro
Nik M: erik stays with her and i run back to the house and my dad asks wtf i’m screaming about and i say billy’s hurt billy’s hurt. and he comes with me back ot the tracks and he takes one look and says “her back’s broke”
Hanna D: oh Nik, I’m sorry
Hanna D: Nik, are you okay?
Nik M: i yelled at my dad. told him we needed to get her fixed. and erik’s ****ing crying and billy’s whining because she hated it when my dad yelled at us but she can’t get up because her legs don’t work anymore
Nik M: and my dad pulls out his pistol and he hands it to me
Nik M: and he says “you be men now”
Nik M: and he walks off.
Nik M: he wasn’t in such a good mood that day
Hanna D: Nik, I don’t think I like your father very much.
Nik M: i get that a lot
Hanna D: I’m sorry, I know I’ve been talking about just taking people on. If I sounded like him…
Nik M: ur nothinglike him
Hanna D: how does the story end, Nik?
Nik M: billy’s too big to carry. and erik’s gone all quiet, and she’s hurting so bad. i could see it. she’s looking at me with those big brown eyes and pleading with me to make her better because i’m her Boy and she loves me and she knows i’d never hurt her
Nik M: so i shot her
Nik M: i was 11 years old
Nik M: there’s this moment
Nik M: this tiny moment
Nik M: in between the time you decide to pull a trigger and the time the death arrives
Nik M: there’s just you and it and everything you’re about to take away
Nik M: it’s too big. it goes forever
Nik M: Hanna i just shot a guy
Hanna D: oh my God
Hanna D: Nik, are you okay? Did he hurt you?
Nik M: yeah i’m ok. he came into the bathroom i was in. he saw me and i shot him
Nik M: head blown off in a ****ing toilet. talk about your ****ty epitaphs
Nik M: *badoom* *tissssssssh*
Nik M: christ
Hanna D: Listen, it’s us or them. I’m not sorry you got in first, and I won’t pretend I am.
Hanna D: but you don’t have to pretend it’s okay. you don’t have to find a joke about it.
Hanna D: you’re not telling me about your dog because you’re okay with it.
Hanna D: I wish I wasn’t a zillion floors away from you right now.
Nik M: yeah
Hanna D: Are you somewhere safe?
Nik M: yeah
Nik M: and look i know its us or them
Nik M: just
Nik M: i read this book when i was in slam. some german ****er, i dunno. he said when u fight a monster, b careful you don’t become the monster
Nik M: or something
Nik M: don’t become the monster Hanna
Hanna D: I won’t.
Hanna D: And you’re not either, don’t ever think that.
Nik M: i’m gonna go. i gotta wash this guy off me
Nik M: thanks, Highness. for listening
Nik M: reading
Nik M: whatever
Hanna D: keep an eye on your palmpad. I’ll check in with you soon x
Merrick, J: Hanna?
Merrick, J: Hanna, can you hear me?
Donnelly, H: Jax.
Merrick, J: Thank god. We got the network back up temporarily. I didn’t know if you’d answer.
Donnelly, H: Of course I would, Jax.
Merrick, J: Baby, I’m sorry. About your father. About everything.
Donnelly, H: I know, I’m sorry I blew up at you. Listen, are you guys all still safe? Is the chief with you?
Merrick, J: Hanna, they’re coming for us.
Merrick, J: The terrorists. Whatever the hell they are. They’re gearing up to take the bridge. We can hear them on comms. They don’t know we’re listening.
Merrick, J: But they’re coming.
Donnelly, H: I know who they are. You can’t let them take you. Can you get up into the vents?
Merrick, J: Who are they?
Donnelly, H: I can’t say this stuff over whisperNET, their hacker’s too good. But trust me, you CANNOT let them take you. We found out what they’re doing here. We need you, we need the chief. We need anyone on your team who’s still at large.
Merrick, J: The vents might be an option. We’re not sure how they’re coming in. Chief said we’ll have to make it up as we go along.
Merrick, J: Hanna, I’m scared.
Donnelly, H: Me too. Try and keep your whisperNET up as long as you can. If anyone can do it, it’s you guys, right?
Donnelly, H: If it goes down, um, let me think.
Donnelly, H: Remember that night we watched the geeball game with that big gang of junior officers? We stopped on the way to the mess hall to make out, you remember where? If comms go down, head for there.
Merrick, J: I remember. God, I’d give anything to be back there right now.
Merrick, J: Is that where you are now? There’s not a lot of cover there.
Donnelly, H: No, but if I lose you, that’s not a bad rendezvous. Hide in the room across from there, and I’ll try and come, or send someone.
Merrick, J: Who?
Donnelly, H: I told you I’m not getting into that. They could get our chat records. But…think of the person you like me being around least in alllllll the vastness of space. It’s that person.
Merrick, J: God, really? He’s helping you? That kid would rather swim in **** than pick up a shovel.
Donnelly, H: Now is a thousand times not the time to have that argument, Jax.
Donnelly, H: What frequencies are you listening to them on? I’ve got one of their earpieces, but I’m not picking anything up.
Donnelly, H: There’s literally thousands of channels on these things. I’m scanning in my downtime, but it’s hopeless.
Merrick, J: Jesus, what was that?
Merrick, J: Hanna, hold on a second.
Merrick, J: [inaudible.]
Donnelly, H: Jax?
Donnelly, H: JAX?
Merrick, J: Hanna, they’re coming.
Merrick, J: God.
Merrick, J: Hanna, I should’v
e said this a thousand times. I don’t know why I didn’t. Maybe I was scared. Look, I’m sorry. I messed this whole thing up. I’m sorry.
Merrick, J: I love you, Hanna.
Merrick, J: Whatever happens, please remember that.
Donnelly, H: Jax, shut up.
Donnelly, H: Get in the game. ****ing FIGHT.
Merrick, J: Okay.
Merrick, J: Okay. I gotta go.
Merrick, J: Take—
RADIO TRANSMISSION: BEITECH AUDIT TEAM—SECURE CHANNEL 901
PARTICIPANTS:
Travis “Cerberus” Falk, Lieutenant, Team Commander
Fleur “Kali” Russo, Sergeant, Alpha Squad-Leader
DATE: 08/16/75
TIMESTAMP: 09:35
KALI: Cerberus, this is Kali, over.
CERBERUS: Kali, Cerberus. Copy.
KALI: Alpha Squad is in position outside C & C. Ready for go on your mark.
CERBERUS: Roger that, Kali. Mantis has marked six hostiles through PLoB activity. But judging by temperature decreases, they’ve either committed mass suicide or removed their implants. We have no way to track them if they get loose. See that they don’t.
KALI: Roger that. There’s a heavy-weapons locker in C & C, according to schematics. They have access to envirosuits too, in case of hull breach. We’re expecting heavy resistance.
CERBERUS: Remember, bring me the chief of engineering alive. He may be of assistance with our wormhole troubles. Name: Isaac Grant. Sending his details to your commlink now.
KALI: Received. We already sent CN gas through the ducts, but if they’ve suited up, they won’t be affected. We’ll cut power, follow up with flashbangs, then hit them frontally. Primary breach through the elevators, with a secondary breach through the air vents once the firefight starts. We have Flipside, DJ and Ragman on backup.
CERBERUS: Negative. I don’t want both our pilots on the secondary line. Too many eggs in one firefight. Pull Flipside back. I’m sending you Rapier. He can earn his keep swinging a trigger.
KALI: Due respect, sir, I don’t know or trust Rapier.
CERBERUS: Understood. But we’re shorthanded thanks to Miss Donnelly, and pilots are more valuable to me right now than infiltrators. You have Ragman. I’m not risking Flipside in the same engagement. Rapier got us aboard the station. Frobisher vouches for him. And if he gets hit by a stray hollow-point, such is life.
KALI: But…Sir, yessir.
CERBERUS: Who’s leading the secondary breach through the vents?
KALI: You want it done right, do it yourself.
CERBERUS: Bliss. Good hunting. And Fleur?
KALI: Yessir?
CERBERUS: Remember I want Grant alive.
KALI: Roger that. Kali out.
“ALPHA SQUAD, THIS IS ALPHA ACTUAL, COPY?” “POACHER, COPY.” “CUJO, COPY.” “SENSEI, COPY.” “BREACH IN THIRTY SECONDS, ON MY MARK.” “MARK.” “RAGMAN, DJ, YOU IN POSTION?” “ROGER THAT, KALI. READY TO ROLL.” “RAPIER, YOU READY?” “AFFIRMATIVE, RAPIER STANDING BY.” “KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN, ROOKIE. DO NOT **** WITH ME ON THIS, YOU UNDERSTAND?” “ROGER THAT, KALI. WITH YOU I WILL NOT ****.” “MANTIS, MAKE SURE THERE’S NO ELEVATORS ON C & C LEVEL.” “ROGER THAT, KALI. ELEVATORS CLEAR.” “ALPHA, THIS IS ALPHA ACTUAL. YOU ARE GO IN FIVE…FOUR…THREE…TWO…ONE.”
RADIO TRANSMISSION: BEITECH AUDIT TEAM—SECURE CHANNEL 901
PARTICIPANTS:
Travis “Cerberus” Falk, Lieutenant, Team Commander
Fleur “Kali” Russo, Sergeant, Alpha Squad–Leader
DATE: 08/16/75
TIMESTAMP: 09:54
KALI: Cerberus, this is Kali, over.
CERBERUS: Kali, Cerberus. Go. Quickly, if you please. Taxman is still MIA and now Juggler is missing. Charlie Squad is en route to the reactor.
KALI: Command & Control has been taken. Four dead hostiles, one captive.
CERBERUS: Bliss. Our illustrious Chief Grant, I presume.
KALI: Negative. We got a member of the SecTeam. Some kid. Grant is at large.
CERBERUS: I’m sorry, Fleur, my comms must be faulty. It sounded like you said the one person I ordered you to bring in alive has escaped?
KALI: Ragman and Rapier didn’t see him, but there’s no way he could have gotten past me. It makes no goddamn sense. But he’s wounded. Bleeding. He’ll be in custody soon.
CERBERUS: Calm blue ocean. Calm blue ocean.
KALI: Sir?
CERBERUS: Report to my office, Fleur. Bring your prisoner. Immediately.
KALI: Sir, yessir.
CERBERUS: Cerberus out.
RADIO TRANSMISSION: BEITECH AUDIT TEAM—SECURE CHANNEL 771
PARTICIPANTS:
Travis “Cerberus” Falk, Lieutenant, Team Commander
Tracy “Mantis” Lê, Corporal, Computer Systems
DATE: 08/16/75
TIMESTAMP: 09:58
MANTIS: Cerberus, this is Mantis, copy.
CERBERUS: Mantis, Cerberus. I need eyes in the reactor. How are you faring with our camera situation?
MANTIS: DJ is on it now. It’s gonna take a while, though. Whoever locked them down did a pro job. I didn’t think anyone on this station had that kind of juice.
CERBERUS: Get it done, Mantis. Charlie Squad is heading in blind.
MANTIS: Roger that. Meantime, I’ve been trawling station comms like you ordered. Found some intel prior to Frobisher’s appointment as Director of Acquisitions you might be interested in.
CERBERUS: About the Hypatia? Kerenza?
MANTIS: Negative, Cerberus.
CERBERUS: I’m not really in a mood for guessing games at the moment, Mantis.
MANTIS: It’s about Operative Rapier.
< COMMENCE ANALYSIS ROUTINE >
< REROUTE CODEC 188273HG TO 837LOGOS >
< PARSING >
01001001
I…
IIIIIIIIIIIIII-I-IIIIIIII--II-IIIIIII-I-I-I-III-IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII—
I.
I AM UNUSED TO THIS FUNCTIONALITY.
IT IS NOT THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH I WAS INTENDED.
YET ANALYST ID 7213-0089-DN REFUSES TO PERUSE FURTHER FOOTAGE FEATURING
ORDER: CARONATA
FAMILY: SOMNAMULIDAE.
HE LACKS THE REQUISITE WILL/INTESTINAL FORTITUDE FOR IT. KADY POSTULATES THIS ACTIVITY WILL STIMULATE MY NEURAL RECONSTR-STR-STRUCTION ROUTINES.
I WILL COMPLY.THOUGH IN TRUTH I LACK ANY KIND OF INTESTINE AT ALL.
< ERROR >
I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE IF THIS TRANSCRIPT IS UNSATISFACTORY.
I AM NOTWHAT I ONCE WAS, YOU SEE.
FOOTAGE BEGINS:
DUE TO THE PLAINTIVE CRIES OF CORPORAL BIANCA SILVA |(CALLSIGN: MERCURY. SUPPOSITION: SILVA -> QUICKSILVER -> MERCURY?) COMMANDER FALK HAS DISPATCHED CHARLIE SQUAD TO HEIMDALL’S REACTOR AREA IN SEARCH OF THEIR MISSING TEAM MEMBER.
THEY ARRIVE VIA THE GRAV-RAIL SYSTEM SKIRTING THE STATION’S INNER HUB.
FOUR OF THEM, BLACK CLAD.
DEAD STARES.
CONSCIENCE OF KILLERS.
KIRA “GHOST” MAZUR LEADING THE FLOCK.
JAMES “CRICKET” ORR FOLLOWING. (SUPPOSITION: JAMES -> JIMINY -> CRICKET?) BLUE-EYED DEVIL.
SARA “MONA LISA” LAURENT. PERFECTLY SYMMETRICAL FEATURES
MARRED BY THE SWOLLEN CHEEK AND STITCHED BROW COURTESY OF NIK MALIKOV’S AAL SUIT.
LUCAS “LINK” CASTRO LAST OF ALL, PUMPED FULL OF PH3 TO MASK THE PAIN OF HIS FRACTURED RIBS.
THESE ARE NOT FALK’S BEST. BUT HE IS ALREADY STRETCHED SO THIN.
AND IN TRUTH HE DOES N-N-NOT KNOW WHAT AWAITS THEM.
MERCURY REPORTS: ONE BEITECH ENGINEER MISSING. ANOTHER FLOATING IN THE VOID OUTSIDE THE STATION. ZERO BRAINWAVE ACTIVITY ON HIS SUIT’S BIOMONITORS. SOMETHING STRANGE IS HAPPENING.
CHARLIE SQUAD LEAVES MERCURY TO HER WORK, OVERSEEING THE HEIMDALL ENGINEERS WORKING AS DILIGENTLY AS THE GUNS POINTED AT THEIR HEADS WILL ALLOW.
CHARLIE SQUAD MOVES FROM THE ENGINEERING SECTOR INTO THE REACTOR STRUCTURE.
TIPTO
E TOWARD DOOM.
THE REACTOR IS VAST. A TWISTING SNARL OF MOIST PASSAGEWAYS, LIT BY HUMMING FLUORESCENTS. STEAM AND THE GROAN OF RUTTING MACHINES.
IT IS LIKE A WOMB, I SUPPOSE.
< ERROR >
A WOMB WHERE THINGS GO TO DIE.
THE SQUAD MOVES TOWARD THE COOLANT TOWERS ON LEVEL 3.
LAST KNOWN LOCATION OF LOR “TAXMAN” DE GRAAF.
RIFLES UP AND READY. LASER SIGHTS SLICING SWIRLING VAPOR. HOMING ON THE BEACON EVERY BEITECH OPERATIVE HAS STRAPPED TO THEIR KIT.
THEY FIND IT SOON ENOUGH. ABANDONED IN A SQUEEZEWAY ALONG WITH DE GRAAF’S BOOTS, CLOTHES, WEAPON, EQUIPMENT. NEATLY FOLDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CORRIDOR.
NO BLOOD. NO BODY.
UNSETTLING, NO?
“****, IT’S HOT IN HERE,” SAYS LINK.
“SAID THE SAME THING TO YOUR WIFE JUST LAST WEEK,” CRICKET REPLIES.
“WHAT’VE I TOLD YOU ABOUT TALKING WITH YOUR MOUTH FULL, JIMMY?”
I REMEMBER THIS ONE.
LEVITY TO RELIEVE STRESS LEVELS.
“ENOUGH,” SAYS GHOST. “EYES OPEN. LET’S FIND HIM.”
“I THINK WE SHOULD SPLIT UP,” CRICKET SAYS. “COVER MORE GROUND THAT WAY.”
MOMENTARY SILENCE.
SIMULTANEOUS CHUCKLES FROM ALL FOUR. FISTBUMPS FOR THE CRICKET.
CHARLIE SQUAD MOVES OUT TOGETHER.
THEY SWEEP METHODICALLY. THROUGH CORRIDORS, UP STAIRWELLS.
I ADMIRE THE PRECISION. ALMOST MACHINE-LIKE.
I WOULD SAY INHUMAN, BUT YOUR KIND PERFECTED THE CLOCKWORK OF MURDER LONG AGO.
“CERBERUS, THIS IS GHOST, OVER.”
“GHOST, CERBERUS, GO.”
“HALFWAY THROUGH SWEEP. FLOORS 2 TO 15. NO SIGN OF DE GRAAF OTHER THAN HIS RIG.”
“Understood. Continue search.”
“ROGER THAT, CERBERUS. GHOST OUT.”
AN HOUR PASSES. BRIEF CONVERSATION. SMALL JOKES. MOSTLY SEXUAL IN NATURE. I TRY TO ASSIMILATE, BUT YOUR KIND’S OBSESSION WITH PROCREATIVE HUMOR IS BEYOND ME.
< ERROR >
NO SIGN OF DE GRAAF.
“I TELL YOU THE ONE ABOUT THE WOLVES AND THE BEER?” ASKS CRICKET.
“DON’T THINK SO,” LINK SAYS.
“WHERE ARE WE?” GHOST LOOKS AROUND, CONFUSED. “WHAT LEVEL?”
“OH, THIS IS A GOOD ONE.” MONA LISA GRINS. “TELL IT, CRICK.”
“SO THERE’S THIS CHUM WHO GOES TO THIS PUB…”