by Sandra Bard
There were far too many people depending on him: Mark, his mother, the people at the ISF …
He convulsed, his body drifting back. The more he struggled, the more he drifted away, and the momentum swung him around so he was facing away from the station. He caught sight of the remains of the droids from the previous day's attacks drifting like small satellites, and the unblinking stars far, far away.
He was facing the planetary system. He could see the asteroid cluster and the planets behind them … He was going to die. He couldn't even feel the cold anymore, though he was reflexively gasping for breath. His hand scrambled at the helmet, the lock around his neck … Perhaps if he took it off his head, he'd be able to breathe. The force field was cutting off his air supply.
Hideki's fingers felt far too fat and clumsy. The suit wasn't going to stop the … the … what … There were black spots in front of him. Mark, back on Earth, in prison; did he find a way to escape? Back to Pluto … maybe Hideki would join him … Stars …
There was a sudden jerk. Hideki turned his head sluggishly.
It was a huge red, green, and silver MAU behind him, holding him in place, exerting just the right amount of pressure to hold him and nothing more. Even now, he could barely feel the metal clamped around his middle. He was lifted up towards the chest piece of the MAU, which slid open. He was gently pushed inside the opening. It was either that, or he was so near death his body was shutting down, Hideki reasoned as he was forced into the chest of the MAU—into a cockpit. He hit the lip of the opening, bounced hard and fell inside, his emergency helmet opening as the sensors realized there was breathable air around him. Hideki lay where he'd landed, his legs on something, his head hanging down, gasping at the sweet air that filled the cockpit.
He gasped again and looked around. He couldn't see a thing. He'd probably burst a couple of blood vessels in his eyes, he was blind—then he almost yelled in pain as bright light flooded the cockpit. He was lying on the pilot chair, legs on the armrest control. The temperature controllers blasted hot air as he started to shiver uncontrollably, teeth chattering, arms spasming.
The cockpit was empty; there was no place Tyler could be hiding unless the MAU came with another control room. And given what Hideki had seen, there was little chance of it.
Hideki slid into the pilot seat and looked at the controls. There were a few he recognized, most were rather basic—simple controls, a couple of manual levers. With the number of highly flexible maneuvers and the fine motor control he'd seen, he'd expect a much more sophisticated system. Unless, of course, the controls were hidden.
Hideki started to run a hand down the sides of the seat, inside the controls, along the seams and—
"I really wouldn't do that, Inspector."
Tyler's familiar voice sounded as if he were standing next to Hideki, whispering in his ear. "You just might disrupt my control if you trip over something I need."
Hideki spun around, almost hitting his head on the overhang of the display consoles. "Tyler? Where are you?"
"Not in this. But you'll be seeing my handsome face in less than a minute."
"I just can't wait," Hideki mumbled.
"Then sit back and relax, Inspector. I'll answer any questions you have. And try not to touch anything. Controlling this remotely is difficult enough without you trying to mess about the controls."
Hideki silently sat back in the pilot's seat and craned his head, wondering where the remote cam was.
*~*~*
He was sure the MAU made a few turns but he was far too engrossed in leaning back and taking stock of his body to be bothered. The pilot chair was comfortable but it didn't have the biometric sensors Assumption came with. He was still puzzled by the interior of the MAU; the reality didn't quite meet his expectations.
Perhaps he was going about it the wrong way. There had to be a control somewhere, a receptor for the remote signals, and he could …
There was a soft swish behind him. "As much as I enjoy the sight of your rear view, please tell me you're alright."
Hideki spun around a little less elegantly than he usually would have.
The MAU had reached the docking bay, and the chest hatch had opened just as Hideki had scrambled down to see if there were any receptors under the seat. He sat up slowly, a sudden dizzy spell slowing him down, and turned around to face Tyler, who was balanced at the edge of the open hatch.
Hideki didn't bother to reply, just walked to the chest hatch and kept a foot on the edge and looked down. He'd seen Tyler scramble up and down the sides with the dexterity of an acrobat. He was sure he could manage it, or at least be able to survive a fall to the floor in the low gravity.
"We could have the rope ladder brought if you wait a second," Tyler said, and Hideki scowled at the thought of being lifted down like an invalid.
He shook his head, took a hold of the handhold and stepped out. As he did, his body rebelled at the sudden introduction to gravity, and the food he'd recently consumed tried to crawl up his throat. Fighting back his nausea, Hideki clamped his lips tightly and kept his left foot on what he assumed was a foothold. Next, he scrambled to find the right foothold, which meant he had to let go of the handhold and slide down a little, tensing his leg muscles to balance himself. It was like climbing down a sheer wall until his feet hit the leg joint and he steadied himself.
For a moment he was sure he was about to throw up, despite all his spacer training. He'd gone through that as a student pilot—never throw up in space, especially not inside a helmet unless there was no other way. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and tried to will his stomach to settle down. He wasn't going to throw up.
Then he felt a hand on his back, rubbing up and down along his spine, slowly, steadily. The fingers pressed at his vertebrae, one by one, then up again. The warmth from the hand radiated through his body despite the double layer of clothes and he let his head fall forward a little until his chin rested on his chest. Then he felt a warm body press against his back and lips press against the back of his neck, soft … fluttering …
Startled, Hideki let go of his precarious foothold and suddenly he was falling off the MAU onto the ground. The low g of the station stopped him from hitting his head and spilling his brains out. He landed in a crouch, with one leg bent, the knee of his other leg hitting the metal-plated floor hard.
"You okay, Inspector?" Tyler asked as he landed next to Hideki and reached out to touch him.
Hideki flinched, and Tyler retreated with a hurt expression on his face as if Hideki had personally injured him.
"Fuck you and your stupid station," Hideki ground out. "You tried to kill me, and now you want me to stand here and let you—"
Tyler retreated, hands held up in defense. "We really didn't know they were going to do it. They weren't even … haven't even been here that long."
"I'm amazed by the amount of loyalty this woman is able to inspire in you," Hideki said. "Murder from that lot; seduction, drugging and questioning from you."
"For the record …" Tyler sounded tired, leaning against the foot of the MAU, shoulders hunched defensively. "It was not my intention to sleep with you. Just question you."
"Really." Hideki wondered if it was acceptable for him to sink to the floor just there. He was weary of everything. His knees were shaking and his stomach was still rolling dangerously.
"I was going to invite you to a drink after the skirmish and perhaps—"
"Slip it into my cup?"
"Ask you nicely." Tyler sounded defeated as he folded in on himself and slid to the ground slowly. "That drug was for … relaxing the mind and …"
"Why in the world were you—are you—carrying around something like that on you in the first place?"
"It's for me. My prescription for … my condition."
"That's the first time I've ever heard of a mind-relaxing drug being administered to anyone."
"You know us pilots, always wound up tighter than a warp coil," Tyler said with a shrug and a grima
ce. "My doctor prescribed it to me a long time back to help me relax."
"I could see you were very relaxed."
"I also get horny after a good skirmish. There's little I can do about it." He looked at Hideki and gave a weak leer, almost as if he were acting the part. "You're easy on the eyes, and I've been wanting to nail you since I saw you."
"That's hardly a glowing endorsement." Hideki relaxed. "Fine," he said, finally getting his feet to move. "That doesn't excuse your station personnel from trying to kill me."
"They're confined. And they will be tried for murder, make no mistake." He got to his feet shakily and sighed. "Shows how careful I have got be when I speak. I made a stupid comment today, said it'd be easier if you weren't on the station, and they took it literally."
"For a newcomer, you've got a lot of influence over these people," Hideki said as he started to walk over to the exit.
"Not that new," Tyler said as he followed Hideki. "I've been here close to an Earth year, give or take a couple of months."
Hideki frowned as the airlocks opened. He stiffened as he stepped into the airlock but relaxed when Tyler stepped in with him, warm body pressed against his, closer than necessary.
"But you don't appear on my record," Hideki said. "No records of when you arrived … and you're not listed as a pilot or crew or anyone."
"Your personnel record of Marion? I wonder …"
"I should thank you for saving my life again," Hideki said. "But if it's all the same with you, I'm going to signal for the fleet."
"Wait."
Tyler reached for Hideki and this time Hideki didn't move away. Tyler's face was softer, his mouth a sad line.
"I know we got off to a rocky start and nothing here is going to convince you that we are worth the effort, but please." Tyler rocked forward on his heels and pressed a kiss to Hideki's lips, soft, undemanding.
Despite everything, Hideki was tempted. Tyler had the sort of unnatural charisma that had pilots flying into dead zones, the dangerous allure. He had to stop himself from physically shaking his head as he stepped back and made a face. "No," he said firmly. "The same old trick isn't going to work on me."
"It's not a trick," Tyler said. "I do want you. You can't deny that."
Hideki stepped back and gripped the seams of his one piece suit to stop his hands from clutching Tyler. "I have things to do," he said.
"Well, then," said Tyler, also stepping back, "come and speak to Florence. She's waiting for you. I told her about the evacuation, and she needs to speak to you."
"I …"
"Surely you aren't going to sleep after that," Tyler said. "The nightmares alone will keep you awake."
Hideki nodded silently. It was just another thing to do before he got it over with. Assumption had a damaged engine; would he be able to hitch a ride with a ship when the station was evacuated?
"What are you thinking of?" Tyler asked.
"My ship needs to be repaired."
"We've got a tech going over it. Don't worry, they won't take off the engine cover, just slip it back into position. They don't know what to do with it anyway. That engine has specs we've never seen before."
"And that's how they'll kill me," Hideki grumbled.
"I also told them I'll be taking it for a test flight first, so believe me, if it crashes, it'll be because you're a stupid pilot," Tyler said as they reached the door to Florence's office.
The doors slid open soundlessly and the sound of soft music drifted out. Jazz. Hideki stepped in after Tyler. There was a soft scent in the background and the paintings on the wall glowed in the mellow light. He was stepping back in time to a period piece. Despite the late—or was it early?—hour, Florence was as impeccable as ever, dressed in a grey and pink pantsuit and platform shoes, hair swept up in a loose, elegant bun.
She was standing when they both entered, face drawn with worry, nibbling at her lower lip, smearing pink lip gloss on her chin, making herself appear human and reachable. He could see why she'd gotten the adoration of the masses. She was the type that would inspire men to want to protect her and take care of her while obeying all her orders.
"The station's in general lockdown," she said the moment Hideki entered. "I've ordered everyone to be confined to their quarters until further notice. Only the essential crew is around, and even then, I'm using only the most senior and trusted staff."
"Ah," said Hideki blankly.
"What I'm saying is," Florence said, looking embarrassed as she gestured for Hideki to sit down, "I'm really sorry about what happened. It … I never thought …" She looked physically sick. "Tyler, you should have taken him to medical, not brought him to my office."
"And let our docs poke at this marvelous body of his?" he said with a shake of his head.
Hideki didn't reply. He hadn't even thought of going to medical—his body felt fine despite everything. And he knew what Tyler was implying: a normal person would have died in space considering the time he'd spent floating around. Mark did good work; as far as he could see, there was no need to subject it to a medical examination.
"Can I offer you a drink?" Florence asked as she sat facing Hideki. "Tyler, do sit. Hovering over me is giving me a complex."
Tyler sat next to Hideki on the same chair, sliding up until their knees brushed. Florence narrowed her eyes but didn't comment. Hideki felt as if he'd been caught by the principal and wondered if he should close his legs. But the damage was done and retreating would make him look like a blushing virgin, which he certainly was not.
"Whatever you're having," Hideki said carefully. "I'm sure Tyler told you about the plan to evacuate Marion."
"I did hear," Florence said softly. "How many days do we have?"
"A week at the most. We need to move fast if we're to destroy the pirate base."
"I don't see why it's important to destroy these people after all this time." Florence sounded tired. "We've been managing. It's like living in a war zone, but we get by. Why is it so important to destroy them now?"
"We really can't let Jasper Croinsky live free."
Tyler kept a hand on his knee. Hideki turned around quickly and was given a small drinks carton with the straw already interested. He was slightly disappointed that Tyler removed his hand after having gained Hideki's attention and handing him refreshments; he had rather liked the warmth.
"Jasper Croinsky—isn't he supposed to be in prison somewhere?" Tyler asked.
"Who's Jasper Croinsky?" Florence asked.
"He's the space pirate we're after," Hideki said. "He must have joined the pirates here recently, since he was in custody until recently. He escaped from the Luna holding cell after a certain incident."
"There's no way he'd come here," Tyler said, pausing to take a sip of his drink. "The pirate base here is run by a small-time pirate called Marshall Foster. He's not going to take kindly to some bigwig like Jasper Croinsky coming in and taking over."
"Maybe he's not taking over," Hideki said. "He could be hiding here."
"Not his style."
"It makes sense in a way," Florence said. "Perhaps this person is hiding in the place everyone least suspects. People team up all the time."
Tyler frowned, clearly not agreeing with the statement, even as he shifted closer to Hideki, nudging him with his knee. "I'm telling you, Inspector, that's not how it works. The pirates don't have some big organization; they're mostly independent small groups, and that's the only thing that makes them manageable."
"You would know this because?" Hideki asked.
"Tyler used to be military," Florence said. "But still, Inspector Takamura's information came from the ISF, and they have no reason to lie to him."
"There is," Tyler said softly. "They could be after me."
Hideki sipped his drink to buy himself time to think. "Why would they be after you?"
"I took some military hardware from them and ran way. Now they want me back."
"Military hardware … Oh, you mean the MAU. But it's old and … out
of date. I've seen the new mech suits, and they can run circles around this MAU."
"I wish you'd stop calling it 'old and out of date'," Tyler grumbled. "It saved your ass today."
"Are you harboring a fugitive?" Hideki asked Florence.
"This mech unit is special," Florence said. "And Tyler was discharged with honors; he wasn't allowed to leave with the MAU … He just did."
"I'd gotten rather attached to it," Tyler said. "I mean, no one wanted it."
"Well," said Hideki. "I don't think ISF would evacuate an entire civilian base for the sake of an old mech unit."
"Maybe they would," Tyler snapped, his body pressing against Hideki insistently. "This would be the perfect way to separate us. I don't think they'll let me take Avis with me to my quarters. They'll put him in the cargo bay and …"
"It's no different from what is being done here," Hideki said quietly.
"'Yes, it is," Tyler said. "No one can deny access to Avis here on Marion. On an evacuation ship … hell, they might put me in a totally different ship."
"Avis?" Hideki had to ask.
"The MAU has a name," Florence explained in a low voice.
"That's not even … There might not even be enough room for the MAU … your … Avis." He knew the evacuation was planned out for two and a half hours and the crew could only take what they could carry.
"Exactly," Tyler said. "They might just make me leave him behind and …"
"While your obsession with your mech unit is commendable—"
"Wait," said Florence. "Before we all jump the gun, let's see if this pirate you're after is here."
Hideki felt his body run cold as he rounded up on her. "I knew it. You're in contact with the pirates. Are you—"
"Inspector." Tyler elbowed him hard, and if Hideki had been in his old body, he'd have screamed in pain. As it was, he grunted in discomfort and glared at Tyler, who glared back at him with equal intensity. "The only pirate insider we had here was Manning, and he was killed in the last pirate attack."
"You mean, you threw him out of an airlock."