Elise reached for a glass, picked it up, then set it down. “I talked to Elija. He wants more Terrans at the Homestead.”
“We can move a few more in, but I need to proceed carefully,” President Armstrong hedged.
“If you don’t move a reasonable number soon, the ships threaten to invade. We don’t get sick, nor are we contagious,” warned Elise.
“There was an epidemic at the Homestead not long ago.” Armstrong shook his head. “For Alysians, that makes bringing in any Terrans risky. We’ll not allow it.”
Elise leaned forward. “We have enough serum now to inoculate everyone. The disease is under control.”
“For the moment, maybe.” President Armstrong crossed his arms and leaned backward. “We need more time to better assess the risk.”
Richard leaned forward, hands on his knees. “Braden said a few ships want to go back out.”
“Your brother is stirring up the fleet.” Elise’s lips thinned. “There’s a great deal of talk about ships leaving… but they’ll have to replenish resources first. They’ll need to siphon water and mine minerals from Alysia. They’ll want to cryo food and resupply shipboard hydroponics farms.”
President Armstrong’s eyebrows rose. “I’m sure I can find people to help with that.”
“Not everyone will want to go.” Elise picked up her tea and sipped.
A meaningful exchange of glances passed between Trace and his father. Trace tapped the table. “Let’s get down to specifics and see what we can work out.”
“Win-win.” Richard smiled, raising his glass.
Chapter 31
New Developments
Elise gripped the rim of the toilet in the ornate guest bathroom of the Presidential Suite, waiting for the next wave of nausea to hit. She’d feared the Alysian food would be too rich for her digestion, but she’d eaten it anyway. Station and shipboard fare didn’t contain the fat and the spices of planet based food. The last fifteen minutes had been agony. At last, her head cleared, and she rose to stand on shaky legs. Wiping her face, she decided to be more selective about her food choices when eating on Alysia.
Finally dressed, she patted her hair in place and left her luxurious guest room to join the others. She, Merek, and Mika would return to the space station, which someone had started calling Earth2. It was a bit of a public relations move that she intended to encourage. Perhaps a few more would stay because of the nostalgic name.
Trace requested that Richard remain on Alysia and help him untangle the problem of resettling the Terrans. They also had to dismantle Cadwell’s underground organization. Richard appeared torn between wanting to go back with her and staying to do his duty.
Of course, duty won out.
So, he hugged her and said goodbye to the others while they prepared to leave.
She consoled herself with the knowledge that she would be piloting.
The return trip proved uneventful. After settling in her office, she let the fleet know that their commander was back in charge. She requested a meeting with Captain Bradley to brief him on the current situation.
He linked in promptly, his holo image wore a serious expression.
“James,” she began, “it has come to my attention that a good portion of the fleet would like to go back out and find a different world to settle.”
To his credit, the man merely straightened up and appeared to thoughtfully consider her words. Nodding sagely, he replied, “There’s been recent chatter to that effect. All the same, many are prepared to make a go of it here if they felt more welcomed on the damn planet.”
“As you know, I just returned from Alysia and several leaders are agreeable to our demands. Compile a list of people willing to stay and indicate those ships that want to leave. I told President Armstrong that the ships would not leave until they had replenished their resources. This would include everything from food to water and additional plants and animals for cryo.”
Captain Bradley’s eyebrows rose.
“And James, in your plans, consider that I may not go. I’m committed to making this planet work for whoever chooses to stay. If you want to go, you’d be my first choice for fleet commander. I won’t ask you to stay against your will.”
His mouth dropped open and his eyes widened. “Seriously? I thought you expected me to remain as second-in-command. Also, the fleet believes you would block any move they made to leave.”
“At one time, perhaps, but not anymore.” Elise stared off into space. “I’ve decided it should be their choice.”
Bradley tapped his fingers in agitation. “This changes everything. I’ll need to speak to the captains.”
“You know, I have permission to immigrate two hundred from the station to the Homestead. Robert will put together a list. The fleet needs to select two hundred and fifty to replace them on the station. I was surprised that we didn’t fill every spot… I thought we had.”
She expected the announcement to result in a more positive reaction, but James sat up, biting his lip. “I need to let the fleet know immediately.” He clenched his fists and gave a short shake of his head.
“I would appreciate it if you did.” She slowly pressed the button that would break contact and wondered at the response of the fleet.
Well, she had set the ball rolling.
Exhaustion overwhelmed her. Lately, extreme fatigue dogged her every step. She struggled out of her chair. An energy boost from Dr. Jay was what she needed, and maybe have him check her over. She wasn’t scheduled for a nanite addition, but she might be running lower than she thought. She didn’t want to suffer what the original Elise did, merely because she didn’t pay attention to her health.
Entering Jay’s lab, she greeted Beth, John’s assistant. The woman looked heavier and her movements were sluggish. Her hair had glimmers of silver, and wrinkles were beginning in a once youthful face.
“Is Dr. Luttrell Junior around?” Elise asked.
“No, but Senior is around here somewhere. Check the gebbit compound. He mentioned he might go there.”
“John’s still on the station?”
Beth grimaced and grabbed her stomach. “He’s working with the gibbets.”
“Are you okay?” Elise stepped toward her.
Beth waved a hand at her in a dismissive gesture. “Just some indigestion. I’ll be fine.” She managed a wan smile.
With a final glance at the assistant, who appeared to have recovered, Elise headed to the gebbit lab where she found Lexi talking to Oscar.
“Oscar, you can’t go running off. This space station isn’t safe. There are people who hunt gebbits and put them in stews.” She put the gebbit in his cage and whirled around to face Elise. “Commander!”
“It’s Lexi, isn’t it? You’re part of Merek’s special team.”
The girl stepped closer. “Yes, and I’ve been trying to find him or Dazz. I have important information I have to report.”
“If you tell me, I’ll let him know. Captain Merek has been away on an assignment for me, but now he’s back.”
Lexi fidgeted and gazed out. “Dazz says we have to use the chain.” She swung back, clearly exasperated, and slapped a hand on the cage, causing Oscar to jump. “I’ve never seen his stupid chain, but Dazz insists that we tell him, then he tells the Captain… and gets all the credit.”
“Would this chain be called the ‘chain of command?’” Elise bent her head down to meet the young girl’s angry eyes. “You can tell me. Inform Dazz that I commanded it.”
A smile emerged. “Okay. Well, Oscar got out again. He figured out how to raise the latch. I saw him take off. He went straight for the shuttlebay this time. A food shipment had come in, and he must have smelled it. They have very sensitive noses, you know. The Alysian packers had unloaded, and they were getting ready to send back for more. That’s when I saw her.”
“Saw who?”
“There were two—a girl and a woman. Each climbed into a different return crate. Someone is smuggling people off the ship
s through the station to Alysia.”
“Were the shippers aware of this?”
Lexi paused and pursed her lips. “I don’t think so. One of the packers from the incoming shuttle made an effort to check the crates, though. He was a Terran. Most shippers are Alysian. That Deuce Card person usually keeps a tight rein on the shuttles, but he must have gotten called away. He wasn’t around, and that was weird.”
“Has this happened before?”
Lexi exhaled heavily. “I don’t know. I saw it, and that was because I was chasing that sneaky gebbit.” She turned to the cage. “I’m putting a lock on you, Mr. Sneaky.”
“That’s a good idea.” Elise stopped to think of what she should do next. “Find Dazz and tell him what you told me. I won’t mention what you said to the others, but I’m going to do something about this ‘chain of command’ rule.”
“Good.” Lexi smoothed down her top and smiled up at her.
The door opened and John strode in. He grinned at Elise and nodded in recognition. “How are you doing, Commander? I hear you were looking for Jay? Hello Lexi.”
“Hello, Dr. Luttrell. I’m leaving now. I have to find Dazz.” Lexi edged toward the door.
“Thanks for the information.” Elise smiled at her and waved goodbye.
She pivoted to John. “Yes, I was looking for Jay, but something else has come up and I need to go, too.”
“They’re a good group of kids and smart, too.” John gazed after the departing girl. He swung around to regard her. “So, what do you want with Jay?”
“I was feeling tired and wanted him to check my nanite levels.”
“Oh?” John scrutinized her. His eyes narrowed. “Have you had any morning sickness?”
“What’s that? I was sick this morning, but it was just from some rich alien food. I ate too much of it while on Alysia. It upset my digestion, but I’ll be fine. I’ve been feeling tired lately and wanted Jay to check my nanite levels.”
“Hmm… I can do that.” He peered at her, curiously.
“Unfortunately, it’ll have to wait. I need to talk to Deuce and Merek immediately. Can I come back next shift?”
“I should be around. Make an appointment through Beth.”
Concerned about Lexi’s comment, Elise dashed by the receptionist without stopping. That appointment would have to wait for a better time, although the right moment never seemed to appear.
Chapter 32
Stowaway
“Harry, you take the right. Phil, you take the left. Make some noise. I’m going in to get those stowaways.” Merek fired out orders and surged forward.
Back in the Operations Center, Elise and Jacob oversaw the operation as they watched the shuttlebay monitors. Currently, the packers appeared unaware of their attention as they hurriedly loaded two heavy boxes, peering around as they did so.
Merek slid through two stacked crates and remained poised to move toward the shuttle as soon as the packers got distracted. A shout erupted from the far back. Laser blasts sliced the air, cutting the dim light with bright flashes. The smell of ozone, emanating from blasters, seeped through the area. A heartbeat later at least a dozen stacked crates toppled over, producing a loud racket.
The two packers guarding the shuttle raced over to investigate the commotion while Merek zigzagged toward his objective. Another shout from the other side as Harry also drew the guards’ attention, and Merek slipped inside the loaded shuttle.
He pulled out a pry-bar and opened a crate.
“Go away,” a young girl said, flapping her hand at him.
“I’ve come to save you. We have to hurry.”
“I don’t want to be saved. I want to go live on that planet and raise tomatoes.”
“Raise…” Approaching voices drove him to seek cover. He hopped into a large empty crate next to her.
“Tomatoes?” he whispered between the slats.
“Yes, they’re a bright red fruit that’s tasty.”
“I know what tomatoes are.”
A loud siren split the air, alerting everyone that the exit doors of the shuttlebay were opening.
“Get in, you fool.” The voice came from the cockpit as an entering pilot shouted at his copilot.
“Be quiet about me or we both will be killed,” Merek warned the girl. “You won’t get to grow any tomatoes if you make a sound and alert that pilot that I’m here.”
A second person scrambled in. The shuttle doors sealed shut, the engine revved, and the craft surged forward.
Merek settled back to conserve what little energy he could. His most recent dose of nanites was beginning to take hold, and he hoped he would have enough strength for what lay ahead.
Now we’ll find out where you’re taking Terrans and who’s behind this operation.
***
In the Operations Center, Elise leaned forward, studying the monitor. “He’s in.”
“Looks like it.” Jacob swiveled around. “I hated to send Merek back into danger so soon. He’s still recuperating.”
Elise rubbed her face. “We didn’t have many options. He’s one of the few fully augmented guards. Besides, Merek does danger well.” She paused, hearing an echo of her mother’s words. Even so, at the end, Merek’s original, Trajan, had died doing danger. With that thought, she realized Merek wasn’t bulletproof either.
“Still…”
She nodded. “I know. I feel the same way.”
Two consoles away, the shuttle controller yelled into his headset at the departing kidnappers, leading them to believe they’d escaped free and clear.
Elise watched the shuttle roar away. She nodded at the operator who returned a thumbs-up.
Jacob spoke into his headset, “Get in there and secure the shuttlebay. Take care of any injured. I’ll meet you back at security headquarters.” Standing up, he said, “Maybe we should have sent Mika.”
Elise rose and put a hand on his shoulder. “The deed is done. I have full confidence in Merek. Let’s hope Trace and Richard hold up their end.” She gathered up her tablet. “Trace will pick up surveillance from the Alysian side. He’s itching to find out where the stowaway Terrans end up. That new station manager, Robert Grant, investigated this station’s population count and, so far, twenty are unaccounted for… mostly woman and young girls—five men. We didn’t know the exact count because the others were told to keep it secret or they would be brought back.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
“I didn’t think so, either.”
Jacob sighed. “All right. I’ll untangle this side of the operation and interrogate the packers while you contact your Alysian friends.”
Elise nodded, heading back to her office to contact Trace and Richard.
***
Crammed into the tight-fitting crate, Merek braced himself as the shuttle bucked and slewed about.
“Fricking incompetent, nincompoop pilot,” he muttered under his breath. Whoever the pilot was, he wasn’t very good.
“Can I get out now?” The young girl’s voice quavered. “I’m going to be sick if I don’t.”
“Yes, let us out.” Nearby, a young woman’s voice held a firmer tone as if she was used to being obeyed. “I’m getting badly bumped around in here.”
Up in the cockpit, the pilot answered, “Not likely, dears. You two sit tight until we come pry you out.”
A second voice from the cockpit asked, “Did the boss say where these two were going?”
“Nah, I’m always the last to know, and for good reason. But there’s a lot of interest in the woman. She’s a real looker and will fetch a high price.”
Inside the second crate, the woman shouted, “Your people said we were to land at the Homestead.” Her tone was not as sure as it had been earlier. “I paid good money for this trip. Being trapped in here wasn’t part of the deal.”
“Yes, dearie, too bad. I suggest you sit back and enjoy the ride.” Merek heard sniggers erupt in the cockpit, but then everything got quieter as they concentrated
on flying.
After a several hours, Merek’s muscles began cramping. He heard the woman moan and the girl sniffling.
Responding to the girl, the woman said, “Don’t worry, Annie, everything will be all right. Think about all the baby lambs they will have at the Homestead and the different tasty vegetables you’ll grow in your own garden.”
Merek doubted they were headed to the Homestead.
After more time, the shuttle began to buffet wildly. Tossed about, Merek figured they were entering the stratosphere.
Up front, their pilot expressed worry. “I can’t raise the damn base.”
“Try a different frequency,” the copilot suggested.
A hand hit a dashboard along with more cursing as the shuttle rattled in the roiling atmosphere. “Nothing. I’m getting nothing.”
“We need to let them know we’re coming in, Joe.”
“I know, idiot. You get them on the radio. I have my hands full flying this brick.”
“I got someone,” The copilot shouted. “They’re saying the Diechwrathe base has been blown, and we have to land at the Islian one.”
“Seriously? If that’s the case, I need to change our trajectory. I don’t know if we have enough room left on the glide path to reach that one.”
“Our only other option is to land on the Tundra, and we don’t have enough cold weather gear for everyone.”
A volley of cursing erupted from the cockpit as the shuttle continued to drop like a stone.
Then Merek heard the words, “Frag, we’re not going to make it.”
“You really need to miss that mountain in front of us.”
“Shut up.”
Merek felt the shuttle swerve and stall out. He gritted his teeth thinking, Well, it’s been an exciting life… and then they slammed into the ground.
***
Merek returned to consciousness, listening for sounds of life. A thump, followed by a volley of curses erupted from one of the crates. Flexing his legs, he pushed the lid off. Repositioning himself, he peered into the cockpit. Both pilot and copilot lay slumped over the dashboard. Whether they were merely unconscious or dead, he couldn’t tell.
Somewhat Alien: The Station (Terran Trilogy Book 2) Page 23