Jason leaned down closer. “Is that a rubber band?”
“Yep,” Dira said.
Tadd signaled to the two men wearing the harnesses. Like two plow horses, they dug in and pulled the SuitPac. Their progress was slow at first, but once they’d picked up a little momentum, they were able to drag the thing all around the cubicle with relative ease.
“Is there a way we can affix some wheels to it?”
“Ricket’s working on that aspect.”
In typical fashion Ricket showed up, as if on cue, by Jason’s side, holding something in his hand. “This should help.”
Ricket waited for the two Rallm men to make their way back to Tadd. “Can you have them take off their harnesses?” Ricket asked. He placed what looked like a small jury-rigged cart, wheels and all, on the deck. He then positioned the SuitPac on top of it and reattached the two tethers to the rubber band. “Let’s try that out,” Ricket said, looking pleased with his handiwork.
Again, the two men slipped on their harnesses. This time, though, they had little trouble getting the SuitPac to roll easily behind them. Jason and Ricket watched them run from one side of the cubicle to the other. The irony wasn’t lost on Jason that they would be transporting one of the most advanced technological devices in the universe by means maybe a mere step above what cavemen would have used.
* * *
The Rallm team consisted of Tadd and three other small men. Only Grimes, of the Streamline’s crew, would remain on board.
Gaddy carried a small backpack prepared by Ricket. She opened the flap and looked inside. The SuitPac device, the little handmade cart, and the four Rallm men all sat within a cardboard box. Several of the men gave a cursory wave. She closed the pack’s flap and slipped it over one shoulder. Gaddy and the others deployed their battle suits.
“You know what to do … I want you back here within sixty seconds,” Jason said.
“I got it. I know what to do.” Gaddy returned Jason’s fist bump and phase-shifted away.
In that very same instant she was transported to the surface of the Terplin moon, Itimus-four. Immediately, she went down on one knee and surveyed her surroundings. She was crouched behind one of the massive rock obelisks and, looking up, she saw there was something affixed to the rocks three quarters of the way up: a netting or mesh of some kind, stretching horizontally out over the city, and affixed to the many other obelisks positioned around the walls of Chrimguard. The same mesh netting hung down vertically—revealing that it really wasn’t so much a dome as it was a tent.
Gaddy checked her HUD. No other life icons in the vicinity. She moved forward, staying low, and approached the mesh curtain. It wasn’t what she’d expected; in fact, she could almost see right through the crisscrossed latticework. She slid her gloved hand down the mesh and was able to poke a finger inside. She grabbed and pulled at it. It didn’t move or give way in the slightest. She didn’t know what the material was, but she guessed it was incredibly strong.
A sound to her left brought her back to the mission at hand. Two sentry guards had appeared out of the darkness onto a stone stairway not far behind her. They were in what seemed to be a heated discussion and didn’t look up. She admonished herself to be more vigilant. She waited for them to pass before heading off in the opposite direction—toward the delivery depot.
She reached a cobblestone road, a smaller offshoot of the main road, which led into Chrimguard. In the distance, several large vehicles were being inspected by four armed guards. And there, too, was the gargantuan, turret-mounted plasma weapon she’d seen on the holo-display. Positioned forty or fifty feet high up on the city wall, she saw that it was constantly panning—left and right—always tracking for potential threats. Keeping to the shadows along the shoulder, she followed the smaller delivery road until it opened up into a small parking lot, where there were delivery vehicles. Most were parked in several rows, apparently out of service for the night. Gaddy then saw where she needed to go. Beneath a well-lit cantilevered awning was a busy group of four uniformed Craing workers. Two were moving back and forth between a delivery vehicle and a wide countertop, while the other two were placing packages and envelopes onto a moving conveyor belt that led into Chrimguard. Gaddy used the zoom function on her HUD to get a better look at the conveyor belt. The packages moved no more than ten feet before disappearing into a small opening—an opening with a flap. Gaddy guessed it was made of the same mesh material that surrounded the rest of inner city of Chrimguard.
Zooming in close on the conveyor belt provided her a view of something else. Almost imperceptible, behind the vertical mesh curtain, she noticed the protruding muzzle of a pulse weapon. Then she saw there were others. At twenty-foot intervals, armed guards were watching the depot. Even phase-shifting closer, there was no way she could get close enough in to get the Rallm team onto that conveyer belt.
One of the workers got into the small delivery truck and drove over to where the other trucks were parked. He hopped out, strode over to an identical-looking vehicle in the adjacent row, and drove it over to some waiting workers beneath the awning. Ah! There was her answer.
Contrary to the confidence she’d shown Ricket concerning her ability to set phase-shift coordinates, she needed a few moments to get things right. Gaddy took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then phase-shifted.
Now inside the truck, in the semi-darkness she saw the cargo section of the delivery vehicle was practically full. She activated her helmet light and saw that both sides had floor-to-ceiling shelves. Small packages and envelopes were stacked up all around her. Gaddy wondered how long before the back door would open and the transfer process begin again. Without wasting a second, she removed her backpack and took out the small open box containing the Rallm men. As her helmet light shone down on them, they used their hands to cover their eyes against the brightness.
“Sorry.”
She held up the box and mentally assessed its size. Maybe eight inches by eight … a perfect square. Most of the boxes on the shelves were smaller than that. She found the largest one, nearly the same size, on the top shelf. She set the box of Rallm men down on the floor and, on tiptoes, stretched for the just out-of-reach package. It was then she noticed a step stool on the floor nearby. Gaddy got the stool repositioned and easily grabbed the package off the top shelf. It seemed heavy for its size. Hanging from a cord was a small box cutter. She quickly flicked the razor-type blade out from its protective housing. As she began to slice open the bottom of the box, she heard voices coming closer from outside.
Following the edges of the box, she made three slices—enough to pry open a lid and dump out the box’s inside contents. Whatever it was, it clanged when it hit the metal flooring. In the beam of her helmet light she saw it was a heavy, gold-chained necklace.
Out of the corner of her eye, Gaddy saw the back door latch turn and the cargo door begin to open. Holding both boxes side by side, three of the Rallm men squirmed free from one box and entered into the other one. Though they moved quickly, she silently cursed them for taking so long.
The Craing worker stood in the now-open doorway but was still facing the other worker. Not really tracking their conversation, Gaddy did hear something about his shift being over and needing to clock out. With all four Rallm men finally transferred, and knowing she was out of time, she shook the SuitPac device, along with the cart, into their package. There were several audible groans from within and she hoped she hadn’t inadvertently crushed any of them. The cargo door opened wider as the worker finished saying whatever it was he was saying. Gaddy did her best to reposition the flap, but it wasn’t perfect. Under even the most casual inspection, it would be evident the package had been tampered with. Gaddy tossed the package of Rallm men onto the floor, turning off her helmet light, just as the cargo door opened up the rest of the way.
Chapter 44
They’d watched Gaddy’s movements—from the drop location to an area next to the dome, then down the narrow road leading to t
he delivery depot, and then into the cargo vehicle.
“So much for only taking sixty seconds,” Billy commented.
Jason was thinking the same thing as he watched the Craing worker mosey over to the back of the delivery vehicle and stop. “What’s taking her so long?” he asked aloud. “She must be in trouble … let’s get down there. Ricket, phase-shift the team—”
In a flash of white light she was back, standing in the stern of the ship in the same spot she’d left from seven minutes earlier.
“That was cutting it close,” Jason said, relief in his voice that she’d returned unharmed.
“Captain … the SuitPac.”
Jason turned back and leaned over Grimes’ shoulder.
She gestured to the holo-display that was zoomed in on the delivery depot canopy. Sure enough, there was a highlighted blue icon moving beneath the awning. “I’m tracking the SuitPac. It’s left the back of the vehicle and been moved to what, I’m assuming, is the conveyor belt.”
Five seconds later the icon disappeared.
“It just went beneath the dome.”
“It’s a tent.”
Jason turned to see Gaddy standing behind them.
“It’s actually more like a tent than a dome,” she said.
* * *
Tadd was furious. Both Brun and Larcmore were injured and it was a miracle neither had been killed. He pulled his legs in as the cart slid around, close to where the four of them huddled. It was now lighter outside since the side of the box with the flap was opening up wider with every jostle and bump.
“How’s it feel?” Tadd asked, looking down at Larcmore’s outstretched leg.
“I won’t know if I’ll be able to put any weight on it until we get out of here. Hurts a bit.”
Tadd felt the carton tumble forward and then everything went weightless for several seconds. “Hold on!”
In a sickening end-over-end drop, Tadd grabbed Larcmore, keeping his eyes locked on the makeshift cart with the heavy SuitPac strapped to it. The box landed and something smashed into the side of his head. Everything went black.
Tadd regained consciousness, upside down, with his head throbbing. There was more light entering now.
“Tadd!” came Dorland’s hushed voice.
“Yeah, I’m … okay. What’s our situation?”
“Larcmore’s dead.”
Tadd looked over to the other side of the box and saw Larcmore’s still body lying beneath one of the cart’s wheels. “You and Brun?”
They both answered at the same time: “Good … still alive.”
Tadd slowly got himself turned around and carefully got to his feet. Both Dorland and Brun were doing the same. Tadd noticed Dorland was holding his arm.
“Is it broken?”
“No. I don’t think so.”
Tadd steadied himself as his world continued to spin around him.
“Your head’s bleeding. Maybe you should wait—”
“I’ll be fine,” he said, and crossed over to the cart. It had landed right side up. He stepped onto the cart and then, on hands and knees, used the ramp-like SuitPac to climb up to the semi-open box flap. He grabbed the edge of the box with one hand and used his other hand to push up on the flap.
“What do you see?” Brun asked.
“We’re on the floor with a hundred other boxes. I don’t see any movement.” He let the flap fall back and looked down at Brun and Dorland. “If we’re going to do this, now’s the time.”
“You did hear me tell you Larcmore’s dead, right?” Brun said irritably. “Four people are needed to activate that SuitPac-thing. We’re totally screwed.”
“One thing at a time. Right now, we need to get this box flipped onto its side … hopefully, without killing any more of us.”
It took far longer than Tadd thought it would. Once the three men had the box flap pushed all the way open they used their combined bodyweight to tip the box onto its side. That accomplished, the cart with the attached SuitPac now lay on its side. Getting both repositioned took more time to correct. Tadd had purposely kept his eyes averted from Larcmore’s mangled body since discovering him dead. Now, as he and Brun carried his body to the other side of the box, he took in the damage to the younger man’s crushed head. Whatever it took, they needed to return to being normal-sized men … being this small totally sucked.
Wearing the two harnesses, Tadd and Brun strode forward, until the pull ropes went taut. Tadd looked over to Brun. “You ready?”
“Ready.”
Tadd looked to the back of the cart. “You ready to push us, Dorland?”
“I guess.”
Tadd leaned forward and pulled. The wheels on the cart started to turn—slowly at first and then faster. Tadd and Brun emerged from the box at the same time and kept pulling as the cart gained forward momentum behind them. But as soon as the cart’s makeshift wheels encountered the first of many gaps that separated floor cobblestones, the left wheel began to wobble on its axle. Tadd and Brun continued to pull but both kept a leery eye on the wheel.
Earlier, standing at the top of the box, Tadd had noticed an alcove off to the side. It wouldn’t provide much in the way of concealment, but it was better than being out in the open. They soon had a good rhythm going and, like a team of horses, quickly maneuvered the cart around one fallen package after another. By the time they’d reached the alcove, all three were drenched in sweat. It was only then that Tadd heard voices—Craing voices.
Tadd scurried over to the wall they’d just passed and looked around the corner. More workers. They were picking up the strewn packages and putting them back on the conveyor belt. He ran back to the cart.
“We need to do this … right now!”
Brun and Dorland stared back at him blank-faced. “How?” Brun asked incredulously. “The thing’s still on the cart. Don’t we have to put it on the ground first?”
“No time,” Tadd answered. “You two stand on the top edge of the cart, on this side. I’ll do the same on the other. Go!”
Tadd moved to the far side of the cart and got himself positioned in front of the right hand side spring tab on the SuitPac. He then noticed two Craing workers coming into view; bending over, they picked up boxes as they moved along. Once they turned back the way they’d come, there was a good chance Tadd and the others would be spotted in their little alcove.
Both tabs were slightly inset, halfway down the side of the SuitPac. They’d practiced the routine on the Streamline and even then, with four able-bodied Rallm men, it was no easy feat getting the two tabs compressed at the same time.
Tadd saw the tops of Brun’s and Dorland’s heads duck as they got set. “Push!” Tadd urged, his arms outstretched and leaning into the tab. He pushed. The tab receded about halfway into the case. Crap! Tadd let it spring back out. He repositioned his hands and got a little better footing. This is never going to work … it barely worked when we were four and uninjured, he thought, but he readied himself for another try anyway. He saw Brun’s and Dorland’s heads duck down again. Tadd took a deep breath and felt his heart skip a beat; a Craing worker, opened mouthed, was looking directly at them.
“Push! Push! Push!”
Tadd gave it everything he could—he pushed until his arms and legs began to shake. What started out as a low groan in his throat quickly grew into something akin to a battle cry: “AHHHH!” The tab moved all the way into a locked position with a resounding Click. Tadd waited for the other side to lock … Come on!
The Craing worker was yelling something now. Others came into view. Although the workers were approaching slowly, cautiously—they were nearly upon them now.
Click!
Chapter 45
Tadd didn’t know what was happening. This never happened while practicing back on the Streamline. His first reaction was to run, get away from the damn thing before it exploded, or imploded, or whatever the hell it was doing, over the course of several seconds. What he didn’t expect was to see the SuitPac, a device nea
rly as large as himself, not only reduce in size, but systematically, section by section, cover his entire body in a fitted battle suit.
He stood there, frozen in place, not knowing what to do. Then he saw the bodies of Brun and Dorland, lying dead, beneath the scattered pieces of the broken cart.
Tadd was so caught up in what was happening, he’d forgotten about the Craing workers. It was only when a huge hand swept down, multiple fingers enfolding him, that he remembered them.
He waited for the pain—what surely would be the excruciating, bone crushing, last moments of his life. But the pain didn’t come. In fact, he felt … fine. The hand gripping him released and Tadd fell back onto two open palms. A face stared down at him from above. The Craing worker was talking, speaking in Terplin. Tadd had picked up some of their language during his time as a captive, back at the arena. The worker wanted to know who Tadd was? Who had sent him here? But then another voice came—not the workers’—but Captain Reynolds’.
“Tadd?”
“Um, hello? Yes, Captain Reynolds, it’s me, Tadd … I’m here.”
“So … you’re wearing the battle suit?”
“Yes, but I don’t know how … we got the SuitPac device initialized, just as you told us to do. I didn’t expect—”
“The others? Where are the others in your team?”
“All three are dead.”
“I’m very sorry, Tadd.” Jason wasn’t expecting to hear that. “Can you tell me what’s around you. Are you alone?”
“No. I’m presently being held in the hands of one of the Craing workers. There are three of them looking down at me—they are all talking at once.”
“Okay. Hang on—we have a lock on you. Stand by.”
* * *
Jason phase-shifted the entire ten-man team into the depot together. It wasn’t a particularly pretty phase-shift. Having Tadd’s coordinates was one thing, but the mesh dome—the tent—had kept details of what lay in surrounding areas hidden from sensor scans. The subsequent result was their battle suit-matter displaced any other matter that happened to be in the way. Two SEALs, Thomason and Gomez, found themselves standing, waist-deep, within the conveyor belt itself. Dira had displaced the front edge of a metal table, and Rizzo’s left arm was hidden inside a block wall. Everyone else stood in the clear, including Traveler.
The Great Space (Scrapyard Ship Book 6) Page 23