“You hear that, Arthur?” Cole asked.
“I have no choice.”
“He’ll kill us all,” Rig said, revealing his opinion on the matter. “Can’t risk it.”
“Who else is there with you?” Forester asked.
“Mr. Richter Solomon the mechanic. He’s a former debtor and fellow Terracom hater.” He smiled. “You’ll like him.”
“You have my blessing.” Cole leaned close to the console. “Arthur. I assume you heard that as well?”
There was a pause. “I did. Is such a decision wise considering prior circumstances?”
“Bah! A lot’s changed since you went AWOL.”
“That was less than an hour ago, and I specifically explained my—”
“It seems I have no choice in the matter,” Forester muttered.
Several moments of tense silence passed as complete faith was placed in the untested AI. What began as a dull hum, grew to a buzzing crescendo as the scout’s thrusters neared the insides of the ICV-71. A terrifying thud indicated the docking arm connecting with its intended target, and the entire ship shuddered. The force of the tremor was so great, that Cole closed his eyes and braced himself for the end.
And the end did come, but it was not what he expected.
The shuddering eased until all that remained was the gentle whirring of the twin engines. Cole dragged both gloved hands across his face and exhaled an exceptionally loud sigh of relief. He expected to find a new streak of gray when he next looked in the mirror. He turned to the mechanic, who was equally relieved.
“Good thing that bay was empty, eh?”
Cole couldn’t agree more. “It’s a good thing we have Cain on our side. Otherwise we’d be dead.” A brief image of the ICV-71 shredding like cheap tinfoil and his frozen body forever floating through space flashed in his mind. He gripped his arm rests to conceal his slight trembling.
“Maybe you believe that, but this ship is a prototype, built by imperfect beings.” Cole stood, his knees weak. “No offense, Cain, but you still have a lot to learn before you can make any assumptions about people you’ve never met.”
“CAIN is a fast learner.”
Cole spun around to find both Lin and her repaired Rook entering the bridge. There was a hint of a sad smile on the corners of her pert lips. He returned the smile. “Hey, Doc.”
Lin nodded, the familiar mask of indifference smothering her rare show of emotion. “How long before we jump?”
“What he said.” Cole stepped away from the console to meet Lin. “Your partner-in-crime just docked with us,” he said, stopping within arm’s length of her. He saw her brow furrow and wondered if it was from his close proximity or the news of the director’s unexpected return. I’m sure my stress sweat smells wonderful to her.
Lin nodded. Her eyes flicked over to the mechanic whose hungry stare made her squirm. “My father passed away during the battle,” she said just above a whisper. She lifted the item in her hands.
Cole recognized the second cube as the one that had been attached to Kingston. “I’m sorry.” He made no mention of the peculiar procedure she had been performing when he had visited her. He also did not acknowledge the obvious: the mission was a complete failure. Thousands of lives had been sacrificed unnecessarily for the one man who had caused their deaths. Rage and disgust should have filled him, but he felt strangely empty and unconcerned. It made no sense.
Cole expected to see him disheveled and covered in blood and bruises. What he saw was surreal. Forester strode forward with his usual calculating presence, unmolested and with no noticeable blemish of any kind. In fact, he looked as though he had just stepped away to use the restroom and nothing more.
“Both of you have a LOT of explaining to do.” Cole pointed to him and Lin in turn and shook his head before returning to his chair. He looked up just as the DMP worked its technical marvel. The parting and collapsing of a confined area of the black sea that was space itself signified their departure was at hand. Cole had never been more pleased at the prospect of returning to his solar system than he was right now. “But first, let’s get out of here before Terracom mounts another assault.”
Cole raised his arm and pointed for emphasis. “Take us home, Cain.”
11 - RIGGED
Mars reared its ugly terraformed head, the alternate rendezvous destination for the crew of the ICV-71. There would be no returning to the SolEx Space Station now that everyone aboard was a wanted criminal in some capacity. While he may have been coerced into assisting the coup, he was well aware that some of his actions were questionable, and he would be viewed as an accomplice at the very least. The blackmail hanging over his head only worsened his situation. True, the rescue was ultimately a success, but the real mission was only beginning.
The familiar warm glow of the Thermal Towers dotted and illuminated the surface. Mars was a cold planet, and no amount of terraforming could replicate the Sun’s proximity to Earth. Terracom, for all their corrupt tendencies, were scientific geniuses. Along with shaping the red planet to become Earth 2.0, they also mastered the art of efficiently harnessing energy and distributing it across the surface. The cost to maintain a second habitable blue marble? Well, Cole assumed it had something to do with bribed government officials and his gouged paycheck.
The ICV-71 displayed its custom SolEx logo upon entering into the planet’s atmosphere. Cole was assured by both Lin and Forester that the delivery vessel would attract little or no attention. That, coupled with the proper company entry codes offered by CAIN to any questioning spaceports, would make them appear official. For a time, at least. Even if they remained hidden, Rig’s ocular tether to Terracom would eventually draw unwanted attention. Another variable unforeseen by Lin.
The ship soared above bustling martian cities, CAIN in complete control. The AI adhered to secret coordinates previously installed by the crafty engineer long before Cole ever set foot inside the bridge. He wondered what other sort of backup plans Lin had devised inside that genius mind of hers. Did his freedom ever enter into her consideration?
A unique silhouetted structure rose on the horizon, and Cole knew it was their destination. Sure enough, the ship slowed and dipped low toward the unidentified location. As they approached, Cole understood why this particular place had been chosen: seclusion. The compound appeared abandoned and was in a remote area a short distance from the base of the System’s largest known inactive volcano.
Cole shook his head, impressed. “Your home base is the defunct Olympus Mons National Park nature center?” He turned to regard Lin, whose attention was solely upon the viewport. He could have sworn he saw a hint of a smile tease the crook of her mouth.
“I don’t need a history lesson, Cain,” Cole said, laughing. “I still remember it happening when I was a kid. My dad brought me here
once when I was little.” He frowned at the memory, suddenly yearning for a simpler time before being dishonorably discharged and lured into a ludicrous plot to rescue a brilliant psycho.
The ICV-71 landed beside the building, and CAIN did a quick scan for any intelligent life forms within the immediate vicinity. The reading came up empty, and the crew prepared to disembark. All except Cole.
“We should bring Emmerich with us,” he said to no one in particular.
Lin and Forester shared an uncertain look, but it was Rig who spoke. “Who’s that?”
“You’d like her. She’s an ex-military inspector for SolEx who has a major axe to grind with Terracom,” Cole explained. “She helped to organize the hijacking of this ship and had plotted to blow up the Terraport we so recently ditched. That is, until she got double-crossed by those two.” He pointed toward Lin and Forester, then removed the sidearm on his hip. “She pointed this at my face, so I broke her wrist and stuffed her in one of the bunks.” He purposely left out the clumsy encounter he had with Emmerich prior to Lin enacting her plan.
Rig nodded. “Sounds like this Emmerich had the right idea.”
“Yeah, well you can help me bring her off this ship. She probably won’t be able to walk since I twisted her ankle.” Cole ignored Rig’s confused expression and started for the hallway to where the inspector was being held.
“The inspector cannot be trusted,” Forester said, stepping into Cole’s path. “She’s a dangerous radical with powerful associates. Her connections were the only reason we sought her out to begin with.”
Cole stared hard at the director, tempted to reach out and move the slender man aside. “A radical that cannot be trusted, you say? Sorta like you?”
Forester frowned. “Need I remind you that—”
“That you’re holding incriminating evidence over my head?” Cole finished for him, taking a step closer. “No, Arthur, I haven’t forgotten.” He turned his head partway toward the viewport. “Cain.”
“Display archived footage of Inspector Emmerich’s initial arrival.”
The viewport switched over to a video screen which showed the AI’s perspective of the events during which the coup was first enacted. The room’s occupants watched in stunned silence as the not-so-distant-past played out in incriminatingly high definition. Rig gazed in amusement, taking in the spectacle with great joy, even laughing at times. Cole couldn’t help but smile at the mechanic. Even more enjoyable were the looks of dismay on the faces of Lin and Forester. He knew that the tide had turned in his favor.
“You see, I too have damning evidence,” Cole said, turning back toward Forester. “Only mine is probably a bit more convincing than whatever it is you concocted.” He crossed his arms. “I enacted the recorder shortly after Cain went self-aware. I wanted to back up my claim to have piloted the ship all by myself in case an inquiry was conducted. I never thought I would need it to clear my name of any wrongdoing in a conspiracy to free a criminal mastermind.”
“You people are crazy,” Rig said, clapping his hands.
Lin laid a delicate hand on Forester’s shoulder, and he reluctantly moved away from Cole and stood behind her. Her Rook hovered beside her, and she met Cole’s gaze. “There will be no more threats made to you. On that you have my and Director Forester’s word.”
Cole wore his skepticism. “Forgive me if I don’t believe you.”
“Regardless, we are in your debt, and you have earned my respect. What you choose to do next will meet with no resistance.”
Cole took a deep breath, carefully considering her words. “And if I contact the authorities?” He did not intend to invite any more unnecessary complications into an already complicated situation. While the archived footage may clear him of being a criminal mastermind, he was not certain it would completely absolve him of all misdeeds.
Lin’s mouth twisted nervously. “I hope you decide against such a reckless decision, but no, I will not intervene.”
“You might not,” Cole said, then pointed at Forester, “but he might.” And he really did wonder if the secretive director would make an attempt on his life. After the unbelievable escape he had managed from Terracom 3, he knew the man was hiding a dark secret.
“Our mission was to be a peaceful one,” Lin said. “Our intentions were to free my father and avoid—”
“Casualties?” Cole finishing. “They’re exactly what you have achieved.” He indicated everyone on the bridge. “All of us have blood on our hands. Lots of it.” He sighed. “And your father’s dead. I’d say your ‘peaceful mission’ was anything but.”
Lin wiped tear streaks from her cheek. “What, then, do you propose we do?”
Cole motioned for Rig to follow him toward the living quarters. “Gather the troops and head for the nature center to discuss everyone’s future. Or lack thereof.”
“Then you have no intention of reporting us to the authorities?”
Cole shrugged, his back still turned. “Art, right now my intention is to stay out of a debt colony. It’s the one thing any of us should be considering. The only way that’s going to happen is if we put our heads together and decide our options.”
Cole envisioned both Lin and Forester nodding their agreement as he walked away. The mechanic joined him on his right, snapping his fingers jovially. This guy! “Are you enjoying being a fugitive? You won’t be so chipper when Terracom snatches you up again and decides to put you in a debt colony on the sun.”
Rig boomed a full belly laugh. “Why wouldn’t I be enjoyin’ myself? I’m facin’ a slow, excruciating death either way. Might as well have some fun ‘fore I get shoved in the ass-crack of another terraformer.”
Cole could find no fault with his logic. I like him more all the time. “Well, you best stay on your game if you want to continue enjoying your freedom.” He slowed before the door leading to the room which held Emmerich. “She might have a broken wrist and a bum ankle, but your girlfriend inside is no creampuff.”
“You sure you want to bring her out if she’s as much trouble as you say she is?”
“She’s as much a part of this fiasco as any of us, and she deserves to be a part of the discussion.” He shook his head, preparing to open the door. “Believe me, I’m not looking forward to kicking this hornet’s nest.”
“She tied up in there?” Rig asked.
“No.”
Cole felt the sidearm slide from the holster as Emmerich uttered the single word answer for him. The barrel was pressed hard against the back of his head before he could react. He froze, only able to see Rig out of the corner of his eye. The mechanic had stepped away from the scene, his arms raised and wearing a bemused expression.
Shit! “Hey, Inspector,” Cole said, keeping his voice level. “I see the ankle’s feeling better.”
“Shut your damn mouth, or I’ll paint that door in front of you with your brain.”
Rig chuckled nervously. “You Emmerich?”
“This doesn’t concern you.”
“Like hell, it don’t,” he countered. “You were hidin’ in that room across the hall, so I’m sure you heard what flyboy, here, was sayin’.”
“I couldn’t care less about his discussion.” Her voice was tense, angry. “On your knees, Musgrave. Put your hands under your kneecaps. Slowly.”
This is going well. Cole did as was asked, preparing himself for the execution to come. He wanted to plead his case, but he knew any words he spoke would only anger her more. He was at her mercy. Only Rig could save him now, and that was not a comforting thought.
“Yer gonna put a hole through his head because he stopped you from blowin’ up that Terraport?” Rig asked.
“That would be as good a start as any,” she said, pressing the sidearm barrel harder against Cole’s head. “You best leave before I shoot you next.”
“Aw, c’mon,” Rig said, holding out his arms in a pleading manner. “Don’t be stupid. What good’ll that do you? He’s the pilot, and I
’m the mechanic. I’d say that’d be a terrible start.”
“If you don’t leave in the next ten seconds, I will—”
“What was your rank in the military?” Rig asked, interrupting her.
“What? How did you...?”
Rig slowly lowered his arms and scratched under his chin. “Eh, it’s obvious,” he said. “I was a tactical spacecraft mechanic for Starforce during the Carbon War. You’re not much older than me, so I’m guessing we served around the same time.”
Emmerich hesitated. “I was First Sergeant, sixth star division under Admiral Musgrave.”
“Musgrave...” Rig pondered the name. “As in Argina Musgrave II? The same Admiral who helped bring about the end of the war?”
“The very one,” she proclaimed proudly.
“Shit, Emmerich! What are you doin’ wasting your time on Nugget, here? Yer a damn hero! The three of us should be working’ together, not plotting each other’s executions.”
Emmerich smiled, though it was grim. “This ‘Nugget’ is Admiral Musgrave’s traitor son, and he can’t be trusted.” She pressed the barrel against the back of Cole’s skull until his head hit the door.
“Musgrave’s kid, eh? So what if he’s a traitor. He saved everyone’s life from that nutcase Kingston,” Rig said in Cole’s defense. “Yours included.”
“I told Dartmouth saving the Singularity was a lost cause!” Cole’s head bounced off the door in her anger.
Ow.
Rig held up his hands in. “Yeah, well, he’s dead. The plan to save him failed, and a lot of good people died as a result.”
“The plan was to take out the Terraport and all the executives aboard it.”
Rig shrugged. “Instead, Terrorcom lost an entire debt colony and one of its terraformers. It ain’t what you wanted, but it definitely pissed them off.” He took a step toward her. “C’mon. Killin’ him ain’t gonna do nothin’. ‘Sides, he’s got the right idea. We should do what he says and talk this all through.” He pointed at the sidearm. “It’s better than the alternative, don’t ya think?”
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