Space Above and Beyond - #2 Dark Side of the Sun - Dina Anastasio
Page 6
"What about the convoy?" Nathan asked. "Wasn't there supposed to be a heavily armed convoy?"
Shane smiled. She had forgotten all about it. That was her mission. She remembered her orders. "The miners will transfer ice ore to this convoy," McQueen had said. "You are to guard against any enemy attempt to disrupt it."
McQueen had not bargained for the AIs. Or the nine dead miners.
Shane peered up though the endless galaxies. What would they do when the convoy came? There were no miners left to transfer the ore.
She remembered the old man and went back to find him. He was where she had left him, huddled in a corner. He trembled as she helped him to his feet.
"It's all over," she said. "Everything will be all right now."
"Are you sure?" the old man said.
Shane smiled and nodded. This time she was very, very sure.
They walked through the darkness together. When they were inside the ISSCV, Shane radioed McQueen.
"Enemy destroyed," she said. "But I'm afraid almost all of the miners are dead. No sign of the convoy yet."
"What enemy?" McQueen asked.
"AIs. Lots of them. There's nobody left to do the transfer."
"You feel up to it?" McQueen laughed.
Shane glanced over at Nathan and groaned.
"Should I take that to mean you've had a bad day, Vansen?" McQueen said.
"I think you can take it that way."
"All right. Then we'll send some replacements. Think you can last till they arrive?"
"I think I can do that."
The radio crackled. "Meteorite," McQueen said. "See any shooting stars through that porthole of yours?"
Shane glanced out into the night. "No shooting stars," she said. "But I do see some lights."
"That should be the convoy. Any enemies around?"
"Negative. I think we got 'em all."
"The replacement miners are on their way," McQueen said. "You can leave when they get there. Over and out."
Shane went to her bunk and thought about the AIs. Would they return before the convoy arrived?
They were everywhere. On Earth. Moving about the planets. And in the deepest regions of outer space. She could never destroy them all.
She stretched her arms above her head. Across the aisle, Nathan was staring through a porthole. She assumed that he was watching the convoy arrive.
She wondered if he was thinking about Kylen. It must be a terrible thing not to know if someone is alive or dead.
At least she was sure about her parents. Because she had seen it happen.
The Dream
The dream is different now. In this dream, I am eight. I am standing in a circle with my little sisters. I am throwing a Frisbee into the air.
"Show your sisters how to catch it," my mother's voice calls. "Here, here, like this."
In the dream, I turn. I search for my mother's face. But she is not there. Instead, two AIs wait, and watch.
A shot crashes through the evening.
My little sisters scream.
It is a new dream. Yet it is the same. I see now that I have not put it to rest.
But I will keep trying, and trying. Until it is gone.
Table of Contents
The Dream
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
The Dream