Mars Rising (Domeworld Saga Book 1)

by John Corwin

  "Max, we should stay here forever," she said over the rush of water. "Yana can bring us food and beer and it'll be better than City 7 ever was."

  Max's laughter boomed from the other room. "You'd kill me before the week was out."

  Scarlett chuckled at the truth of it. "There's more than one shelter."

  "You can have the one in the swamp," he said.

  "I don't think so." She turned off the water and began drying with a towel. "Isn't there a third shelter?"

  "Yeah, in the northeast sector." Max could be heard digging in the backpack. "According to the map, it's in a nicer area. Maybe we should check it out tomorrow."

  Scarlett wrapped the towel around her and went to the doorway. "Have you given up on climbing the wall?"

  Max leaned back in the chair, a beer in hand. He glanced at the sleeping Yana. "She says we can't see anything, so why bother?"

  "I think we should at least try." Scarlett went to the closet and took out another set of Yana's clothing—this one similar to the tight outfit the ranger wore.

  Max finished his beer and yawned. "Maybe you're right. We might see something she missed." He pointed to a spot of bare floor at the foot of the bed. "I'm going to sleep."

  Scarlett claimed the area next to the bed after changing clothes. She folded the towel into a pillow and lay on her back. "Are you awake, Max?"

  "Mhm," he grunted.

  "This may sound foolish, but I'm a little excited about exploring." She imagined finding the other habitats and the interesting animals inside. "Maybe we can look for other airlocks while Yana is recovering. Then we'll come back and have her show us how to climb the wall."

  "Mhm."

  "You're certainly talkative."

  Only a faint snore answered her.

  Yana was already awake when Scarlett got up the next morning. The ranger managed a wan smile.

  "Hungry?" Scarlett asked.

  Yana shook her head. "I feel nauseated, but I should eat."

  Scarlett found a packet of oatmeal and decided it would be the easiest for the ranger to digest. She tore open the self-heating packet and helped Yana sit upright.

  "Max and I want to climb the wall," Scarlett said. "When you feel better, will you show us how?"

  "Certainly," Yana said. "But if you go a hundred yards further up the trail past the tree I found you near, you'll find a vine-covered tree that reaches as high as the wall. During my second visit, I secured a rope across the remaining yards from the tree's trunk to the wall so you don't have to risk taking the branch across the gap."

  Max sat up and broke off a yawn. "How high is the opaque section of glass?"

  Yana slowly turned toward him, grimacing in pain. "Fifteen feet."

  With a grunt, Max pushed up from the floor and grabbed a meal packet. "There's got to be a way to look over it."

  "I'm certain if you could carry a ladder up the tree it's possible," Yana said.

  "Are you sure security will believe your story about a blaster accident?" Scarlett asked.

  "Creed and I were both injured multiple times by animals and other hazards," the ranger said, "so I don't think they'll take issue with this."

  Max swallowed a mouthful of scrambled eggs. "Can you explain the political situation at the station again?"

  Yana took a sip of water and answered. "There is a codex outlining basic rules and granting power to the seven members of the council. Security enforces the will of the council."

  "You said no one procreates, that children simply show up," Max said. "If someone doesn't work out for a specific task, what happens to them?"

  "People who disobey the rules or do not fit in with their assigned task usually disappear." Yana pushed herself to the edge of the bed, wincing with every move. "In a society so small, no task is unimportant and every position has at least one backup."

  "I'll bet the scientists on your council know if there are other habitats," Scarlett said.

  Yana nodded. "I cannot disagree."

  "How large is your security force?" Max asked.

  "We have ten security marshals," Yana said. ""Why?"

  "We don't want to be on the run forever." Max glanced at Scarlett and then back to Yana. "Are you okay with your council?"

  "I am willing to do whatever I must to preserve this habitat," Yana replied. "While I'm not fond of the science council, I don't see a better way to govern the people."

  "Those people who disappear are killed," Scarlett said. "Your council is every bit as bad as our government; they're just stealthier about it."

  "Perhaps." Yana tried to stand and sank back onto the bed, groaning in pain.

  Scarlett repressed a frustrated huff and bit her tongue before she lambasted the ranger for being a short-sighted idiot. She caught a knowing smirk from Max and couldn't hold back any longer. "What are you looking at?"

  "A stubborn person who bulls their way through obstacles." Max tossed an empty meal packet in the bin and turned to Yana. "Could this habitat be run better or more efficiently?"

  The ranger flinched as if an idea had slapped her in the face. "Yes, as a matter of fact." She tapped a finger on her chin as she spoke. "For one thing, they've mixed several species of trees in here that don't even belong in a jungle and for another, the swamp portion has no place here. What they need is a marsh."

  Yana sighed. "Of course that would take some doing and perhaps construction of another dome. What we should do now is eliminate the boar population since they do far more harm than good, and cull the leopard males since a habitat this size is far too small for six of them. In addition, we need to reduce the goat population by two-thirds before they defoliate the grazing land used by the gazelle."

  "Did you take those recommendations to the council?" Max asked.

  Yana nodded vigorously. "Of course, but they seem content to ignore the biology and ecosystem texts with better models, and when I recommended we at least cull the boar population, several of them turned me down because it would limit the amount of bacon." She turned a troubled gaze on Max. "As a matter of fact, Creed was hunting boar for them when you encountered him."

  Scarlett realized what Max was doing and wanted to be mad that he'd so cleverly found a way to reframe the discussion. Instead, she added a question of her own. "Is there any danger to the habitat if action isn't taken?"

  "By my calculations, if they don't follow my recommendations on population control, the goats and boars will irreversibly damage the plant life and throw the ecosystem out of balance." Yana's expression turned glum. "It's almost as if the scientists have no real interest in preserving the habitat."

  "Almost like everything is one big experiment?" Max said.

  Yana snapped her fingers. "That's precisely it. There's no heart in this, just cold impersonal research."

  Scarlett beat Max to the punch. "It's too bad you're not in charge, Yana."

  The ranger folded her arms across her chest and winced when her elbow touched the burn. "I see what you did there." Yana bit her lower lip. "Unfortunately, I can't argue with the logic I just laid out with my own tongue."

  "Are there others who feel the same way?" Scarlett asked.

  "A few, yes." Yana's eyes grew troubled. "What, exactly are you proposing?"

  Scarlett turned to Max. "Well, what are we proposing?"

  Max leaned his back against the wall. "We need to take control from the science council and establish a government that can't murder its own citizens on a whim."

  "How do you propose doing this?" Yana asked. "Do we murder the scientists and security marshals on your whim instead?"

  "Are the marshals blindly loyal to the scientists?" Scarlett asked.

  "I've never given it much thought." Yana removed the cap from her head and let long black hair fall free. "The marshals are treated nearly as well as the scientists, most likely because they're the ones with the guns."

  Max posed another question. "Are the scientists armed?"

  "Yes." Yana untangled her hair with her
fingers. "The rangers are the only others granted weapons, though we're not allowed to bring them past the weapons lockup at the main entrance."

  Scarlett perked up. "At the main entrance, you say?"

  "Yes, next to the security station." The ranger tapped her chin. "There are two marshals who guard the entrance and the weapons. I suppose if we wanted to take control of the station, we could catch the guards by surprise and secure them. From there, it would be a matter of finding the other marshals and locking them away as stealthily as possible."

  "What's the layout of the station?" Max asked.

  "Just inside the main door is the security pod housing the marshals and the weapons lockup." Yana traced a finger on the palm of her hand as if to illustrate. "Past the security pod is the dome—a small one only a few hundred yards in diameter. Apartments for the maintenance workers are just inside and beyond that, a wall separating gardens and housing for the scientists."

  Scarlett felt a scowl tug on her mouth. "Sounds like a miniature version of City 7."

  "No surprise there," Max said. "The scientists take the best of everything." He turned back to Yana. "How many scientists are there?"

  "About thirty." The ranger winced and touched her side. "Your only hope of success is neutralizing the marshals by stealth and then taking the science council by surprise. They live in the largest houses on the other side of the wall."

  Max gazed at her intently. "Can we count on you to help us?"

  "I can't believe I'm seriously considering this." Yana looked back and forth between Max and Scarlett. "I will only help if you promise to give me full control of eco-planning for the habitat and if you promise to kill only as a last resort."

  "Is there a prison facility?" Max asked.

  "A small one," Yana said.

  Scarlett's doubt swelled. "If we succeed, we'll need room for the science council, scientists, and several marshals. Where are we supposed to put them all?"

  "Good question," Max said. "Only Yana can tell us who we might trust and who we absolutely can't."

  "This isn't something you can rush into," Yana said. "I'll need time to ask around and build support. That could take months."

  "Plus she needs to heal," Scarlett added.

  Max swiped a hand through the air. "The one thing we don't have is time—don't you see that?" He reached a hand for Scarlett as if to grip her shoulder but withdrew and leaned back against the wall. "Marshal Garth's suit had a radio which meant he probably checked in with Simmons or Alderman."

  A deep chill crawled down Scarlett's back. "Alderman probably knows about the airlock doors and the tunnel."

  "Even if Garth didn't have time to radio in about the doors, his disappearance will be enough to raise suspicions," Max said. "We don't have much time before Alderman sends out a larger squad."

  A vivid image of security forces from City 7 marching through the tunnel to the habitat flashed through Scarlett's mind. "He might send through an invasion force."

  "Enough to take over the jungle science station," Max said. "Once he's done there, it's on to the next dome and the next."

  Yana's eyes widened. "You believe Alderman would conquer us?"

  "He has weapons and vehicles you wouldn't believe." Scarlett had seen them with her own eyes. "He could storm your facility and take it over easily." She bit the inside of her lip. "If that's the case, Max, why should we bother taking over the station ourselves?"

  "So we can have our own army." Max pointed to the window. "We have the advantage of terrain, and if we armed all the maintenance personnel, we'd have a numbers advantage too."

  Yana's eyes grew alarmed. "A blaster battle would severely damage the habitat."

  "Imagine what Alderman would do to the habitats if allowed to conquer them all." Max's lips pressed into a grim line. "We need a defensive position." He paced away from the wall and looked out of the window. "Granted, we could go to another habitat and try our luck there—just leave this one to fall."

  "How certain are you Alderman will send more people?" Yana asked.

  Max faced her with a look of stone-cold certainty. "A hundred percent. It's only a question of time. We have to be ready for him when he comes."

  With Yana's help, it seemed far more likely their small crew could take control of this habitat, Scarlett thought. Another habitat would reset the variables, introduce new rangers, and new circumstances that would likely be far less favorable to their cause.

  "I reckon you're right," Scarlett said. "Instead of accepting that Alderman will come, I think we ought to take some other precautions."

  Yana's brow furrowed. "Like what?"

  "Disabling the airlocks, for one thing," Scarlett said. "It won't stop him, but it'll put a damper on any invasion plans."

  A smile crept onto Max's face. "That's a good idea, Scarlett. I think we should get Yana back to her station and go take care of the airlock right away."

  Scarlett didn't betray how pleased she was with the compliment, stiffening her lips into a straight line instead of smiling. "We'd better get moving then. Alderman might have people already on the way."

  Max nodded. "Let's go."

  They left the shelter, closing it up behind them, and helped the injured ranger walk the perimeter path. Scarlett couldn't help but notice how Yana leaned against Max for support far more than Scarlett.

  They stopped just out of sight of the cameras outside the station door. Max put a hand on Yana's shoulder. "Do you think you'll be well enough to come outside and give us an update in a couple of days?"

  She nodded. "In two days I will meet you at the tree I climbed to reach the top of the dome wall. If you are unable to stop Alderman from entering the dome, I suggest you escape."

  Max's eyebrows climbed. "And leave you behind?"

  Yana smiled wearily. "I will find a way out." She pressed a hand to his chest. "Thank you for saving me from Garth, Max."

  He pressed his hand over hers. "Be careful."

  Scarlett's chest tightened. Since when did these two become so close? "I recall helping a little."

  Yana looked at her and nodded. "I will see you in two days. If you don't hear from me in three days, assume the worst and leave the habitat." She took her weight off Max and stood upright. "Until then."

  Scarlett and Max watched Yana limp out of sight, then Max rested a hand on Scarlett's shoulder and looked south. "You ready?"

  For some reason, the weight of his hand felt pleasant instead of repugnant. Scarlett looked up at him and for the first time saw past the hated shell of Constable Planck and into the man she now thought of as just plain Max. His eyes seemed bright with life, no longer devoid of hope. It was as if he'd suddenly found something to live for, a future he dared to imagine possible.

  What frightened Scarlett was her own willingness to believe right along beside him. Damn her tender heart, but she actually felt optimistic about their chances of stopping Alderman and taking over the jungle habitat.

  Scarlett pressed a hand to her forehead.

  "Feeling all right?" Max asked.

  "I must have a fever, Max." Scarlett allowed a small smile to penetrate her wall. "Because I think we might have a chance."

  He barked a laugh and his hand tightened on her shoulder. "As long as we believe, we always have a chance."

  The grin on his face sparked fire in Scarlett's chest. She felt as if she knew him in a completely different way—not as Constable Planck, but something more. What was wrong with her?

  Max cocked his head, a dazed look on his face. He cleared his throat, turned away, and started walking.

  Scarlett stared after him for a moment, shook away her confusion, and followed.

  Chapter 37

  Scarlett and Max reached the airlock and went into the tunnel. Blasters drawn, they jogged until the other door came into sight.

  Max was no engineer, but he'd come up with some ideas for disabling the outer door along the way.

  "What now?" Scarlett asked.

  Max hit
the airlock button and watched the door slide open. "There's a maintenance panel inside. I think if I tear out a few wires that'll keep the control panel from working."

  Scarlett ducked under the door and walked across the airlock to a panel on the left. "The outside panel is on the other side of that wall."

  Max pried open the panel with a knife and found steel conduit inside the wall. He gripped one of the pipes and twisted, but the conduit didn't budge. "It's no good. I need tools."

  "I have one," Scarlett tugged on his shirt to get him out of the way.

  "You brought tools?" Max jumped back when he saw the tool she meant.

  Scarlett's blaster whined and the conduit exploded into a mess of sparking wires. The lights in the airlock flickered and the inner door began to slide shut.

  Max grabbed Scarlett's arm and pushed her toward the closing door. "Get out, fast!"

  She ducked under the door and Max rolled beneath it after her, just seconds before the door slammed shut. He pushed upright and hit the button on the control panel.

  Failure flashed in red letters on the screen and the door remained closed.

  Scarlett holstered her blaster and smiled grimly. "I reckon that did the trick."

  Max chuckled. "I reckon so, Deputy."

  Her dark gaze darted up to his. "Don't call me that again, Max. You're not the constable and I'm not the deputy anymore."

  Max backed away from the ferocity in her eyes and held up his hands in surrender. "Fine, Scarlett."

  The anger softened to apology. "I don't like thinking of the way we were in City 7, Max."

  "We've only been gone from that place for a few days," he said. "We're still the same people."

  Scarlett shook her head vehemently. "No, we're not." She jabbed a finger into his chest. "You are not the same."

  Max looked down at her finger then into her big liquid eyes. Doubt and hope lingered there, but he wasn't sure if it was about him or the mission that lay ahead. That odd feeling of a memory just out of reach tickled at his brain and just as quickly vanished. No matter the case, it seemed best to keep the peace. "I guess we're jungle people now."