“You lying bitch!” shouted Will. “Why don’t you tell your superiors how you took us in there and told us all about your dear sweet brother? Tell them about how you were forced to work on this project and how they used your brother as leverage against you.”
The two men looked at each other as if suspicious of Ileana. She slowly walked over to Will and kicked him in the ribs.
“I told you only what I needed to tell you to get information. These men know my methods, so save your breath. You may not have it much longer.”
“She’s charming, Will. Are you two dating?” sniped Daniels.
The guard once again punched him, causing him to cringe in pain.
“Ileana, are you prepared with the proper Earth coordinates for the colony?” asked Gregoran in a deep voice.
“Yes, Premier. I have the proper coordinates, but he is the true expert on the planet. Over the past few weeks, I’ve discovered that there is much more to Earth than even I thought. It might be wise to take him with us, for a short time, while we build a settlement.”
“Agreed. What about this one?” Gregoran asked, pointing at Daniels.
“Dispose of him; he’s of no use to us now. Ileana told us what we needed to know, and under the circumstances, the security of the black corridor is irrelevant,” said Ambassador Junta.
“No!” shouted Will. “I won’t help you if you kill this man. He comes too, or you can take your chances on Earth. Have fun. Maybe you’ll be ripped apart, and maybe you won’t.”
“We don’t have time to argue. Bring them both to the ship. We’ll be along shortly. We’ve assembled the members of the council for an emergency meeting before we depart the station. Prepare for launch within the hour.” snapped Gregoran.
“Premier, I will need your access key in order to prepare the ship for launch.”
“Dr. Karkovich, you know that is not procedure. I must be the one to—”
“Premier, with all due respect, proper procedures are fine when there isn’t an asteroid set to impact Mars in a few hours. I need time to prepare the engines for departure, as they haven’t been run in over a month. We can’t take a chance that all systems aren’t functioning properly, so you can either join me on the ship, or I can take your key and get started.”
Premier Gregoran removed a small silver cylinder from a chain around his neck. “These guards will escort you and our guests to the black corridor,” he said as he tossed the key to Ileana.
Gregoran and Junta walked out of the interrogation room as the guards pulled Will and Daniels up from their chairs. This time, Will received the punch to the ribs. He grimaced in pain as he walked from the room and back down to the doors that led to the unsecured area of the government deck. It was absolute chaos in the corridor as people were running in all directions trying to contact loved ones. Others were sobbing loudly while watching the coverage on the Manikar news broadcasts. Nobody took notice of the guards taking Will and Daniels, bound at the hands, from the interrogation room. Ileana followed behind, keeping her emotionless expression unchanged.
“Ileana, listen to me. It’s not too late to save your brother. We know where he is now. There’s a chance to find him!”
The guard once again punched Will in the back, trying to silence him.
“No need to keep him quiet. His begging amuses me,” said Ileana.
Will once again tried to reason with her while trying to ignore the pain of the beating he was taking.
“I can’t believe you would just abandon him. These people won’t help you once you get to Earth. Those creatures are there, where your brother’s ship landed. These people won’t risk their lives for you or him. I know their habits. I can get you there, but you have to trust me.”
“Dr. O’Neil, my knowledge of Earth is sufficient for that purpose. You will assist us in establishing a settlement when we arrive.”
“And then what?” shouted Will.
“Every society needs a working class. You and Daniels will be the first two members of that class, if we decide to keep you around. There will be plenty of Cholan workers to keep you company, as we’ll be taking them with us.”
“You’d use them as slaves?” he asked with distain.
“Don’t use such harsh terms, Dr. O’Neil. They will be glad to serve us if we allow them to survive. It’s a small price to pay.”
“You really are a bitch. You know that?”
“I now grow weary of his begging,” she said, nodding to the guard.
The guard hit Will several times in the stomach and dragged him along as he fought to breathe. When he recovered a bit, Daniels quietly whispered to him, “What’s going on? Why is everyone in such an uproar?”
“They didn’t tell you?” Will asked.
“Tell me bloody what?” said Daniels frustrated.
“There’s an asteroid just hours away from Mars. It’s going to impact the surface and destroy everything, including this station. We were on our way to get you and get out of here…or so I thought.”
“My God. Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Stanzic confirmed it.”
Daniels took a few seconds to absorb the horrific information Will had just shared with him.
“I have two boys, you know, on the surface. I wish I was with them now. They’re all grown now and pretty independent, so we really haven’t spent too much time together in recent years.”
“I understand Nigel.”
“Yes, of course you do. Edena is a wonderful young woman.”
“That she is my old friend—that she is.”
Within a few minutes, they arrived at the entrance to the black corridor. Will was relieved that Jonas wasn’t there waiting, as he would then be in the same predicament that he and Daniels were in. He then realized that staying on the station meant certain death, so this alternative might actually have been better for him. Ileana pulled her access card from under her shirt and proceeded to enter her code to open the door.
“Take them to the ship; I’ll be along in a few minutes.”
The guards pushed Will and Daniels forward through the door, and it slammed shut behind them. Ileana didn’t follow them through the entrance into the black corridor. Will saw this as an opportunity to try to convince the guards to let him and Daniels go.
“Listen to me, both of you. Mars is going to be destroyed. Don’t you have families? You’re taking orders from people who don’t care about you. What do you think your life will be like on Earth? You heard them; they’re planning to enslave people. What makes you think it won’t be you?”
The two men looked at each other almost as if they were considering Will’s pleas. Then they smirked at each other, and before Will knew what had happened, he was reeling in pain from the blow he took to the stomach.
“Androv Larsen has paid us well to make sure you’re safe and sound,” said one of the guards. “You will be the slave Dr. O’Neil. We had originally planned to detain you and take you to his ship, but apparently the plan has changed, and so has the price he will pay us.”
“You bloody fools,” shouted Daniels. “Forget them, Will. They’re obviously too damn stupid to understand anything you’re saying. They’ll end up doing Karkovich’s laundry on Earth, and they seem to be fine with that.”
Will tried to catch his breath and appreciated the fact that Daniels was taking the attention off him, as he was about to be punched again. Both men turned their attention to Daniels and landed a series of blows to his midsection, causing him to fall to the ground.
“Leave him alone. Save your strength for building Larsen’s new house on Earth. I’m sure he’ll pay you well for that too.”
The men now left Daniels on the ground and turned their attention back to Will. The first man kicked him in the stomach, and he too dropped to the ground. They failed to notice that Daniels had gotten up and had come up behind the second guard, who was just watching the first prepare to kick Will while he lay on the ground in pain. Daniels took his bound hands
and put them over the guard’s neck, pulling the chain against his throat. The second guard turned to help the first and fell to the ground as Will kicked him squarely in the kneecap. Will struggled to get to his feet, knowing there wasn’t much more he and Daniels could do against their much larger captors.
As Will stood up, he was immediately slammed back against the bulkhead following a now familiar sound. It was a sonic blast, but he was clearly not the main target. He looked up to see the guard he had dropped tumbling through the air, and eventually landing and sliding along the floor.
Ileana stood in the doorway, holding a sonic rifle, which she now aimed at Daniels and his captor as they struggled. She fired at both men and sent them airborne across the floor. The guard stood quickly and drew his weapon as Daniels took the brunt of the blast. The guard fired several shots in Ileana’s direction as she took cover in a doorway. Will ran to help Daniels and dragged him into a small room. They could hear the firing continue outside the doorway as they both struggled to get their bearings.
“Whose side is she on anyway?” asked Daniels.
“I really don’t know, but we have to get free of these bindings. I’m going to make a run for the second guard and see if he has the keys.”
“Will, be careful.”
Will raced out the door, dodging the blasts that came from both directions. Ileana peered out and fired repeatedly at the guard, who had also hunkered down. She seemed to be ignoring Will scampering to where the guard lay incapacitated. Glass shattered as a blast from Ileana’s rifle landed to Will’s left, and struck an office window.
Will reached into the guard’s pocket and removed what looked like the key to his bindings. He used the guard’s body to shield himself as he fumbled with the keys and finally freed himself. He stood and started to run back to Daniels when he felt someone grab his ankle. Will fell to the ground and now felt the weight of the guard upon him. The large man lifted him up, keeping a tight hold around his neck as he used Will’s body to shield himself from Ileana’s continuous firing.
Daniels was still recovering from the blast he’d taken from Ileana’s rifle and couldn’t stand long enough to assist. He could see her peek out and take a few shots and then tuck back safely into the doorway. Will struggled to breathe as he was dragged toward the doorway where the other guard had taken shelter. As they got within ten feet of the doorway, Will saw Ileana throw her rifle around her back and sprint to the office where Daniels was holed up.
“Nigel, watch out. She’s coming!” he tried to scream, but his voice was barely audible, as his throat was being constricted by the guard’s grip.
The guard continued dragging Will along as a shield and was now five feet away from the safety and shelter of an office. Will watched as Ileana emerged from the doorway, not holding her sonic weapon anymore. Daniels ran behind her, firing a pistol she’d obviously given him. He provided cover as she reached for one of the small knives secured to her ankle. As she dove through the air to avoid the guard’s weapon, Daniels fired a barrage toward the doorway where the first guard was trying to provide cover for the second. Glass once again shattered and flew out in all directions as the ear-piercing sonic blast hit. Ileana rolled across the floor and sprung into the upright position, knife in hand. She thrust her arm back, and with one single, swift motion, she released the knife. Will barely had time to react as the guard collapsed on top of him. Ileana had hit her target, and Will was grateful that he wasn’t it.
He could see the knife sticking out of the guard’s throat. Will struggled to crawl out from under the body and could see he was only a few feet from the other guard, who was too preoccupied with Daniels and Ileana to notice that he was still alive. Will grabbed the sonic weapon that was lying next to him and carefully aimed into the doorway. As he squeezed the trigger, the guard was thrown violently into the air and smashed through the wall behind him. The hallway was suddenly silent but for the sound of footsteps approaching Will.
“Are you all right?” shouted Daniels, looking like he had regained his senses. He reached down and helped Will to his feet.
“I’m fine,” said Will as he rubbed his throat. He looked at Ileana, who stood next to Daniels, expressionless. “So it’s safe to assume you’re on our side for now?’
Ileana gave the closest thing to a smile that she could, and for the first time Will felt it was sincere.
“It was necessary,” said Ileana. “I had to get the Premier Gregoran’s key, and we never would have gotten Captain Daniels out of there any other way. Sorry if I scared you.”
“Scared me? No, just a walk in Manikar Park, that’s what it was. Oh, and I’m sorry I called you a bitch back there.”
“It’s OK; under the circumstances I think it was a bit of an understatement. Dr. O’Neil, I am going to hold you to your promise. You have to help me find Inando when we reach Earth.”
“I’ll keep my promise,” said Will. “If he’s alive, we’ll find him.”
“Now that you two have kissed and made up, can we please get the hell out of here?” said Daniels sarcastically.
“Good idea. Wait! Jonas! We can’t leave without him.” Will reached into his pocket for his com and with all of the confusion; he was relieved that the guards hadn’t searched him. He still had his com and the orbs. He tried to reach Jonas, but there was just eerie silence.
“Damn it. Where is he?”
“We don’t have time to get him. I disabled the door to the rest of the station. Even if he was standing outside it now we couldn’t help him. If anyone does manage to break the magnetic seal, it’s rigged to explode. I’m sorry,” said Ileana.
“Maybe there’s another way he can go. I can’t just leave him!”
“Will!” shouted Daniels as he shook him by the shoulders. “There’s no time! We have to get out of here.” When he released him, he handed him the sonic pistol that was lying on the floor. Will shook his head solemnly, and they ran down the corridor.
“There are still government agents in this section. They have been told to prepare for departure, which means there will be two pilots waiting at the entrance to the ship. There will also be a few higher-level officials overseeing the operations, as there always are, and I don’t know how many security personnel. They are awaiting my orders and will not enter the vessel until I do. We must be cautious.”
High above the communications tower, Jonas struggled to gather his thoughts.
“Oria, is there any other way out of here?”
“No, I don’t think so. Just the elevator and the maintenance corridor that you used.”
“I guess we have no choice.”
Jonas took Oria by the hand and ran over to the hatch that led down to the rest of the station far below. He could see that Oria was shaken by the news of Mars’s destruction and still had tears in her eyes. He swung the hatch open, this time with no consideration of making noise, and it slammed against the metal floor with a loud crash.
“I’m so scared.” said Oria.
“Listen to me. We have a chance to survive, but you have to trust me. There is a ship on this station, which we can use to get out of here. Dr. O’Neil is waiting for me, so we can escape. We have to get down from here without getting caught. Don’t be afraid.”
Jonas could hardly believe the words coming out of his mouth, because he was terrified. But there was something in him that now fought his fear and anxiety. He wanted to ease Oria’s fears, and in the process, it caused his own fear to diminish.
“So we aren’t going to die?”
“No. We’ll be OK if we can get out of here.”
Oria embraced Jonas and kissed him on the lips. His eyes were as big as Mars’s two moons as he relented and kissed her back. He now felt like he could singlehandedly take on anyone who got in his way.
“Thank you, Jonas,” said Oria, smiling up at him.
“No. Thank you,” he said smiling. “Now let’s go.”
Jonas led her carefully through the hatch and down the l
adder. He closed the hatch above and stuck a long metal bar through the locking mechanism to prevent it from being opened.
“Keep climbing down.” said Jonas.
“I’m scared. We’re so high.”
“I know, but we have to keep going. Just be careful.”
As they began climbing down, Jonas could see the elevator’s cables moving as it ascended to the communications tower. He had no idea who was coming or what their intentions were. He only knew it couldn’t be good. It had to be government agents or worse. As they passed the airlock window, Jonas took one long look at the planet’s surface, knowing it would probably be his last before impact.
“What’s wrong?” asked Oria.
“Nothing. It’s going to be OK.”
He continued following Oria down the long ladder. He could now hear the sound of the elevator getting louder. It came into view and passed them as it went to the top and stopped.
“We have to move faster. It won’t take them long to figure out where we are.”
“I’m trying, but it’s so high. I’m so scared,” cried Oria.
“I know you are, but you have to try.”
Jonas and Oria continued descending as they heard the sound of someone trying to pry open the hatch above them. The bar that Jonas jammed in from below held the door closed.
“It’s working; they can’t get in!”
As Jonas triumphantly continued climbing down, the noise from above stopped. A few minutes later, the elevator once again began moving and passed them on its way down as they stopped to watch.
“What does that mean? Are we safe now?” asked Oria?
“It means they’re going down to the bottom access panel. We have to try to get down before they get there.”
Jonas knew in his heart that the odds of them making it first were slim. Once the elevator reached the bottom, it was a short run to the passageway where the entrance to the maintenance corridor began, and they were not yet halfway down. He also knew there was no other way out, and their fate would rest in the hands of whoever raced to the bottom to get them.
Destiny Earth Page 25