Running Toward Home

by M B Panichi

  She happily accepted seconds and did her best to keep up with the multiple conversations surrounding her. Toby kept up a running stream of stories of happenings at university and drew Shaine and Morgan into a friendly sports rivalry over the System Soccer League teams. Shaine’s father and her brother-in-law talked farming and politics. They occasionally asked Morgan and Shaine their political perspectives as spacers. Jeannette and Leese jumped into whatever conversations seemed to need their two cents and asked Morgan what it was like to live on Moon Base, and if she was enjoying her time on the farm.

  It was everything Morgan imagined family dinners should be, and so much more lively and intense than anything she’d known. Growing up, she remembered quiet family dinners when her parents’ shiftwork allowed. Later, it had been just her and her dad. Even when she had retreated into sullen teenaged silence, Vinn Rahn insisted they share a meal and somehow manage to touch base.

  Jeannette served apple crunch with ice cream after they decimated dinner. Morgan sighed in pleasure, savoring the cold with the hot. The sweet and crunchy flavors and textures made her taste buds do something close to an orgasm. Washed down with fresh-ground coffee, she couldn’t imagine anything better.

  As the second round of coffee was poured, discussion turned to Toby’s latest political cause.

  Mike said, “It’s pretty far-fetched, if you ask me. There’s no good reason to reopen that old nuclear power plant. We don’t need it here.”

  Jeannette agreed. “It’s been inactive since before I was born. Seems silly to decide to refit it now.”

  Toby nodded enthusiastically. “It’s all about corporate greed,” he said firmly. “That’s the only reason they’d try to reopen. It’s an environmental danger of the hugest degree! They won’t even talk about how they’re planning on funding all the upgrades they have to do to get the site back to code.”

  Morgan asked, “Wasn’t nuclear power outlawed on Earth centuries ago?”

  Kent Ichiro nodded. “It was. But power plants in operation were allowed to continue. The problem is we’ve been safe for so long now, people have forgotten the dangers and disasters and the swaths of land left uninhabitable. Or they think that the plants will be safer and more foolproof.”

  “Exactly!” Toby agreed. “But the technology has hardly changed. There hasn’t been any need to upgrade technology that’s not in use. There are only three nuclear power plants in the world currently active and supplying power, and those are all in the middle of nowhere.”

  Shaine shook her head. “Who’s pushing this? I can’t imagine it’s the local population around here.”

  Mike said, “There are a couple of local council people and a group in the territory senate, but I don’t really see what they’d gain. They insist it would help the economy by giving us a new revenue stream, selling the extra power back to the grid, providing about two hundred and fifty permanent jobs, and a lot of construction and ramp-up employment.”

  “I don’t see how they can possibly make it profitable,” Kent Ichiro commented. “That reactor has been off-line for almost a hundred years. Seems to me it would be foolish to sink that much money into bringing the plant back to code.”

  Shaine asked, “If it’s not a currently working facility, how can they bring it online anyway?”

  “Loophole,” Toby said disgustedly. “The original facility still exists, and they say it’s still structurally viable, so legally they can still bring it online. The regulations have been quietly relaxed over the years. Backroom corporate politics. Slip an extra line in a bill here or there while nobody is paying any attention. Stupid idiots. Nuclear disasters destroyed three of the largest cities on the planet three hundred years ago, and they want to try it again.”

  Morgan sighed. “The corporate greed never stops, does it? They just never learn.” Shaine raised a brow and Morgan scowled. “And my father is up there with the worst of them.”

  Kent shook his head. “Tarm Maruchek is nowhere near the worst of the lot.”

  Toby said, “There’s going to be a protest on Saturday, at University Park. It’s going to be huge. Everyone is going to be there. You and Morgan should come.”

  Shaine held up her hands. “I think we’ll pass, buddy. We’re too old for that kinda stuff.”

  Toby turned toward Morgan, his youthful face hopeful. “Oh, come on. It’s going to be more like a party. They’re even going to have a bunch of bands. I know you like music, Morgan. Come and show your support. You don’t have to carry a sign or anything. Just be there, okay? It’s like a community event, a big picnic.”

  Morgan glanced at Shaine who shrugged. Toby put on an expectant, hopeful expression, kind of like an excited puppy dog. Morgan sighed. “Aw, heck, Shaine. You wanna go?”

  Shaine laughed. “Yeah, we’ll go.”

  Chapter Six

  Saturday afternoon Shaine and Morgan strolled across the green expanse of University Park. Shaine pulled a kids’ wagon filled with their cooler, a blanket, two beach chairs and a couple of tossing disks—one for her and Morgan, and one for Big George. The excessively furry Newfoundland trundled along with Morgan holding his leash. His tongue lolled and his tail wagged. Shaine thought he seemed very pleased to be out with his people for the day.

  Shaine scanned the busy picnic grounds and decided that as protests went, this one was pretty low-key. She saw mostly young families and university students gathered around picnic tables and blankets, playing disk catch and soccer and having lunch. Signs and kiosks were scattered around the park, posting information about the damage that nuclear power plants had caused in the past and the potential dangers of reopening this one. An acoustic band played in the cement amphitheater at the center of the park. Mellow music floated up the low hill.

  Morgan and Shaine spread their blanket on the low rise facing the stage, close enough to hear the music but far enough away that they could still chat. Throughout the day there would be people speaking, several bands and a fireworks show in the evening. From their vantage point, Shaine had a good view of all the action, or lack thereof. Old habits lingered, and she needed to have a handle on what was happening around her even if the mild, family-oriented crowd at the protest didn’t seem the kind of mob that would be causing any trouble. She wasn’t sure that being out in public was wise, since her intention was to keep Morgan in hiding. But with this many people around, it was like hiding in plain sight. They blended into the crowd, just another group of friends hanging out.

  Big George flopped down in the grass next to Morgan with a huff and stretched his legs with a low groan. Morgan rubbed his bear-like head. She asked Shaine, “You think Toby and Chelsea will find us?”

  “They’ll find us.” She grinned. “I have the beer.”

  Morgan laughed. She lounged in one of the low-to-the-ground beach chairs and tilted her face to the sky. Shaine stretched out next to Morgan and tucked her hands behind her head, eyes half-closed.

  Morgan said, “I love the way the sun feels. It’s amazing.”

  “I’m glad you like it.”

  Morgan combed her fingers through Shaine’s short hair. “Thank you.”

  Shaine sighed and smiled. “You’re welcome.”

  Toby and his girlfriend found them about an hour later. Shaine broke out the flying disks and the four of them played disk catch and fetch with George. Whipping the disk side-handed to Toby, she felt about half of her thirty-nine years. Even Morgan seemed to have regressed from the worldly age of twenty-seven to a carefree seventeen. To hell with being in hiding, she thought. They both needed this.

  She didn’t remember the last time she’d played outside and not in a sealed dome. Probably not since she was in Earth Guard, on leave with her buddies or between missions on Earth. She wanted to run and cheer and shout to the whole universe that it was a perfect day.

  She jumped to catch Toby’s return throw, turned and fired the disk toward Morgan. It went high. Morgan took a couple running steps and jumped to snag it. George leap
ed into the air at the same time and bounced soundly into Morgan, capturing the disk in his mouth and taking them both to the ground with a delighted woof.

  Morgan laughed as she pushed Big George off her, wiping the slobber from her face while George pranced in circles, barking and growling with the disk in his teeth.

  Shaine jogged over. “You okay?”

  Morgan grinned. “I’m good.” Shaine pulled her easily to her feet.

  Not long after, Toby complained piteously of starving to death. Shaine gave him a hard time even though she felt her own stomach rumbling. They broke out the picnic cooler and passed out sandwiches, chips and cookies.

  Toby wolfed down half of his first sandwich in two bites while his girlfriend shook her head at him. “Slow down before you choke,” she chided.

  He shoved another bite into his mouth and protested around it, “Hey, I’m a growing boy.”

  “Better watch it before you start growing in more than one direction, T.”

  He flipped Shaine off and grabbed a second sandwich from the container. “I’ve been playing disks all day. Gotta keep up my energy.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Did ya pack any beer in there?” he asked.

  “What, you think I’m lame or something? Of course I did. After Mom left,” she added with a guilty smirk. “Let’s save it for later. Here, have a soda.”

  Big George bumped Morgan’s hand with his nose, getting her attention and turning pleading eyes on her sandwich. He tipped his head hopefully. A long string of drool dripped from the side of his mouth. Morgan ripped a corner off her sandwich and held it out for George. It disappeared in an instant, and she rubbed his head.

  Shaine muttered, “Big baby beggar,” and gave him a couple chips.

  Chelsea said, “You guys are staying for the fireworks, right? Have you ever seen fireworks, Morgan?”

  Morgan shook her head. “I’m excited to see them for real.”

  “You’ll love it!”

  Toby put in, “My buddy Johan’s band is playing right after the fireworks. They’re seriously tight, just killin’.”

  “Is that the recording you sent me a couple weeks ago?” Shaine asked. Toby nodded. Shaine said to Morgan, “It’s the prog-slam band I played for you.”

  Morgan grinned. “Excellent.”

  The afternoon went quickly. They ate the rest of the picnic lunch and Shaine brought out the beer as night fell and it was time to settle in for the fireworks. Shaine and Morgan got comfortable on their blanket. George curled up in the grass beside them. Toby and Chelsea spread their own blanket just a bit away.

  Morgan scrunched up two fleece jackets and made a pillow, which she put under Shaine’s head before she stretched out beside her.

  “You comfy?” Shaine asked.

  Morgan wriggled a little closer. Shaine eased her arm under Morgan’s head and helped her settle in. The sky glittered with stars and the moon hadn’t yet risen over the trees. Though they were in a crowd, and Toby and Chelsea were only a couple meters away, the darkness made it feel as though she was alone with Morgan. She savored the sensation of Morgan resting against her. She turned her head to kiss Morgan’s hair.

  Morgan said, “The sky at night is different here. The dark has more colors.”

  Shaine studied the sky and thought, Everything has more color with you here, but it sounded stupid so she bit her tongue and said, “It’s a beautiful night.”

  From the stage, a low rumble of music started up. Shaine recognized the opening notes from an action vid soundtrack. The music crescendoed and the first fireworks arced up and exploded into a shower of white sparkles. Morgan laughed delightedly.

  The music changed from orchestral to popular and the fireworks transformed to match it. Shooting stars and expanding globes of color left trails of red, green and gold sparkles across the night. The reports of the explosions echoed over the hill. A few actually vibrated the ground, and Shaine felt the concussions under her back.

  She had a momentary flashback to her time in Earth Guard, to a night in the jungle where she lay hidden in thick brush, watching her own handiwork as a terrorist compound blew itself to hell in a blinding flash of light and sound, shaking the ground beneath her.

  That was when she noticed some of the pops and bangs she heard didn’t match what she saw in the sky. For a second she thought she was still lost in memories. But the screams were wrong. She heard another spate of blasts.

  “That’s rifle fire,” she muttered. Suddenly, blood pumped wildly in her veins. She stood up and she scanned the darkened park.

  The fireworks show continued, spewing colorful patterns into the sky.

  Morgan got uncertainly to her feet.

  “There.” Shaine pointed toward small flashes of light at the far edge of the park. She leaned over to Toby and Chelsea and grabbed Toby by the arm. “Call the police. Tell them there’s weapons fire at the protest. Tell them to send medical. Now.” Turning, she said to Morgan, “Be right back.”

  Morgan said, “I’m going with.”

  Shaine opened her mouth to protest, then shrugged and sprinted toward the flashes of light. There wasn’t time to argue.

  They bolted up the back of the rise, away from the amphitheater. As they cleared the top of the hill onto the expanse of flat picnic grounds in front of the parking area, they had to dodge people scattering in their direction, yelling and frightened, carrying crying children.

  The fireworks show continued to build to an ear-shattering finale. The whine of sirens rose in the near distance. Automatic weapons fire cracked and popped along with the wail of screams.

  Shaine and Morgan sprinted full-out over the grass. Shaine could see the gunmen at the perimeter of the parking lot, firing into the edge of the crowd. As they approached, Shaine paused behind a tree, crouching and pulling Morgan down beside her. “Multiple shooters,” she muttered.

  In the haze of smoke and dust, backlit by vehicle headlights, four assailants fired into the park. They didn’t advance their position, just kept firing in place. Two dark-colored hover-vans with their side doors open idled behind the gunmen. Shaine could see one driver in each van. She looked at Morgan.

  “Stay here.”

  Morgan opened her mouth to protest. Shaine leaned over and kissed her hard. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.” She took off in a low run toward the vehicles. Because of the headlights pointed forward, she had the advantage of shadows and darkness and was able to cross the short distance unnoticed.

  She reached the first van and wrenched open the driver’s door, grabbing him by the front of his shirt and pulling him out. He didn’t even have a chance to squeak before her fist connected with his face. She dropped him, unconscious, to the grass.

  She took his place behind the wheel, jammed the van into drive and shoved the throttle forward. The first gunman didn’t have time to react before he met the van’s grille. The second man shouted and started to run, but she hit him too. The third shooter turned toward her.

  Bullets shattered the windshield as she dove out the open driver’s door, tucking and rolling as she hit the ground. The van careened forward and hit a tree.

  Sirens converged around the park.

  Shaine felt pain as a distant sensation as she scrambled to her feet. She saw the second van take off, spraying dust behind it. The remaining gunman took off running across the grass toward the crowd. Shaine started after him.

  Morgan burst out from behind a tree, cutting across the grass in front of her.

  Morgan launched into the man’s legs, tackling and clinging to him as he struggled to get free.

  Shaine threw herself on the man’s back and landed a solid right hook into the side of his face, stunning him.

  “Fuck, Shaine, you’re bleeding!”

  “Windshield.” Gritting her teeth, she pulled the guy’s belt off and used it to tie his hands behind his back. He started to struggle again and she smacked the back of his head. “Don’t move or I’ll use real force,” she growled.

&nb
sp; “Freeze! Halt or we will open fire!” The voice snapped over an exterior speaker from one of the patrol cars.

  Shaine straightened slowly, hands open and held out to her sides as the police converged on them en masse. Morgan froze, wide-eyed, her face pale.

  Several SWAT team members ran toward them with assault rifles drawn. “On your knees, now! Hands on your heads!”

  Shaine and Morgan did as they were told. Four officers moved forward. Two covered Shaine and Morgan with rifles pointed at their heads. The other two men moved in. Shaine clamped down on a cry as one grabbed her arms and pulled them roughly behind her back. Glass shards from the windshield cut through her skin with the movement. Blood dripped down her back under her shirt.

  She shot a quick look toward Morgan, feeling absolutely horrible to see the stark fear written on Morgan’s pale features as the other officer secured her hands behind her back. Fuck. Now what had she gotten them into? She took a breath, calming herself.

  She said quietly, “We are unarmed. My ID is in my back pocket. Ex-EG, making a civilian arrest. Two shooters and one driver down behind us. One shooter and one van got away. She’s with me.”

  The officer dug roughly in her pocket for her wallet, flipping it open to verify her ID while his buddy patted Morgan down. Six other officers held assault rifles pointed at them. Another group checked out the two gunmen Shaine had hit and the gunman who lay groaning beside them.

  One of officers holding Shaine asked, “Did you see where they were headed?”

  “The van took off out of the parking lot heading north.”

  Morgan said sharply, “Shaine needs a medic before she bleeds to death.”

  “Shut up.” The man holding her gave her a rough shake.

  The officer in charge snapped, “Boroveck, get a medic.” He turned to another officer. “Take these two over to the squads. I’m holding them for questioning.”