“Oh sorry, Gretchen. I guess I am just supposed to tolerate the Free Rangers expelling us from here? We just get Tiffany back, and we find ourselves rejected by these people we want to help. So how am I to react?”
Gretchen shook her head and turned to the orange automacube. “Tiffany? What is your analysis of this situation?”
The artificial intelligence system which resided in the automacube replied, “I am not privy to all the details of this situation which is complex and fluid. Brinley and Tennard are appealing the dictate of Trade Master Rodgeeri right now. Shall I contact Brinley to find out if the appeal has been decided?”
“Why? What does it matter?” Paul said. “Inaccessible Island is now inaccessible to us. That whole freight elevator is shut down. Our camp is probably destroyed.”
“Fortunately Paul, we have our vital equipment with us. Tiffany is now here. We have the recovered medical kit, the Willie pistol, two fusion packs, the communication links, several data stick readers, and about a dozen data sticks,” Gretchen said.
“Much of that would have been lost if it had not been in Tennard’s lab when our home got attacked,” Paul said in anger. “I was hoping it was just some stupid raid, and we could go back by now. Instead we are stuck here, and the Free Rangers blame us for these troubles. How stupid is that?”
“Actually Paul,” Tiffany replied, “from the Free Rangers’ vantage point it makes logical sense. We did come back here under unusual circumstances, and the Trade Master has lost all the use of his shuttle fleet. There is also the deaths of many of the Free Rangers themselves. That came about at roughly the same time as our arrival here.”
“Great, so now you have turned against us too?” Paul plopped down hard on the bed at the side of the room.
“You know I am on your side,” Tiffany replied. “I am just saying that to the Free Rangers we are outsiders and always will be. I have little direct understanding of xenophobia as the population of Dome 17 did not have any outsiders. However, from what I can gather by reviewing the historical records, even though limited by the losses sustained in the Great Event, fear of the unknown person or persons, and labeling of outsiders as the ‘enemy’ has been a very common human experience based on social, cultural, and biological factors.”
“So now we are the enemies?” Paul complained.
“Yes, to some we are. Rodgeeri would not even meet with us,” Gretchen said. “He barely agreed to meet with Tennard and Brinley.”
“Paul? Gretchen? Tiffany?” Brinley said through the communication links. “Come as quickly as you can to the transport hub. Bring all the equipment you have. No time to explain, just hurry!”
“Well that sounds so promising,” Paul said. He grabbed his backpack which he had already loaded up. He had done that just after Brinley and Tennard had departed.
“It does sound like the appeal was not in our favor,” Gretchen said as she too grabbed her backpack. Her pistol was in her holster. There were also supplies already loaded into the small compartment on the orange automacube.
They did not have far to travel as they were located in a converted storage room next to Tennard’s lab which was a large room with many work stations, chairs, and various instruments. Each work station was about three meters wide and a meter deep with small walls around it forming a cubical. There was also a kitchen and a set of cots newly built into the corner. On one of the work benches, which Brinley had set up, were the disassembled remains of the broken medical kit. Paul quickly scooped them into a carry bag and slung it over his shoulder as well.
Passing out of the laboratory and into the transport portal room they met Brinley, Tennard, and Sigmond. The room had a row of hatches which were similar to the hatches on shuttles. The place was well illuminated and had stacks of monitoring equipment and spare parts in neatly arranged places.
“We must depart immediately,” Brinley said. She had a frazzled look on her normally cheery face.
“What happened?” Gretchen asked. “Did Rodgeeri reject the appeal?”
“He never considered it. Before we could meet with him the guards at the freight elevator reported that engineering automacubes have broken through by cutting open the top of the lift. Security automacubes are pouring through the breech and a fierce firefight is happening. Rodgeeri vows to die defending this place and most of the Free Rangers are with him. They have taken up heavy weapons to confront the automacubes,” Brinley replied.
“They are brave, but foolish,” Tennard said. His old and wrinkled face looked more tired than he had before. “I told him what those machines can do. I told him what I had seen. Sigmond told him as well.” Tennard looked to the young man standing next to him.
“He hardly listened at all,” Sigmond said as he fidgeted with straps of the carbine which was slung over his back. His youth, brown hair, eyes and skin were a direct contrast to Tennard’s white hair and old age and pale complexion. Yet both men had the same haunted look in their eyes as they remembered the massacre of other Free Rangers that they alone survived. “Some of the Free Rangers said they are running off into other biological habitats, since they cannot use the shuttles. That is a long walk to anywhere except Oasis.”
“So what do we do?” Gretchen asked. “Where are we going?”
“I will have TSI-981 direct a vehicle to carry you to another habitat,” Tennard said.
“He refuses to come with us,” Brinley said with some tears in her eyes.
“What?” Paul said. “Staying here is a guaranteed death.”
“I am too old for adventures, but I am not looking to die quickly either. Sigmond and I know a way to go up into Oasis,” Tennard said, but there was a catch in his voice.
“So we all go up there to Oasis,” Paul said. “We escape the red machines and….”
“You three would be recognized almost immediately,” Tennard interrupted. “Sigmond and I are unknown to them, and we have faked the habitat mark.” He held out his arm and showed the ‘A’ which was now embedded in his flesh. It looked like it had been there since his childhood, even though it had only been on for a few hours. “We will locate an unpopulated place, perhaps one of the other islands, and set up our own camp. I know how to use a boat, and we can move around as needed.”
“So Paulie, you and Gretchen and I will be going to Safari. Tennard thinks the Reproduction and Fabrication facility there can help us with the data sticks.” Brinley turned to Tennard and hugged him for a long time.
“Before we go, I want to use our medical kit on both of you,” Gretchen said. She knew it might very well be the last time she saw them.
“Just vaccinate Sigmond,” Tennard said. “There is little enough time to get you away safely. Some of the grumblers made comments about sending you to the automacubes in hopes of turning them away.”
“Oh great,” Paul said.
Gretchen connected a somewhat reluctant Sigmond to the medical kit. “Provide immunity to the M1 and M2 rabies virus,” Gretchen stated.
Two small tablets slid out of the side of the medical kit. ‘Ingest these for prophylaxis against targeted pathogens’ the display scrolled out.
Sigmond took the tablets and looked at Tennard, “Is it safe?”
“Yes.”
Sigmond swallowed them.
Tennard went on, “I am immune to the Outbreak, and you need to be as well. I thought more people would want to seek this out, but most of the people are terrified of the automacube attack, and are not thinking clearly. Others are just very angry and seek revenge. Angry men are seldom rational, and rational men are seldom angry. But enough of this talk; you need to be away from here. Sigmond and I have a bit of our own journey into Oasis. So in you go.” Sigmond punched in a sequence on the side wall.
A hatch opened, revealing a vehicle that was docked. It had two rows of seats which faced each other.
Tiffany in the orange automacube rolled into the vehicle.
“Safari?” Paul asked. “What will it be like?”
“Better than here,” Sigmond said in a mocking way. “Just get going, okay?”
Gretchen pulled Paul into the vehicle and they sat down in seats on one side.
“Tennard, you can still come with us,” Brinley pleaded. “Or I could stay with you.”
“No Brinley, neither of those will help. I am too old and weak for adventures. You will be facing too many unknowns. All Sigmond and I need to do now is get into Oasis. I know a back elevator and we have the tools to cut our way in. Hiding in Oasis is something none of you can do. My sources tell me Constable Herric has your images spread all around. Klara gave him visual and audio recording. You will need to escape your enemies, and find a sanctuary.”
They hugged again. “But Klara knows you,” Brinley said.
“We will avoid that one like she was a Roe. Now go with my love,” Tennard said. He kissed Brinley on the forehead. “You are better than any daughter could ever have been.”
Brinley threw her arms around Tennard and held him for a moment more. She then stepped into the vehicle.
“TSI-981, you will now take these people safely to D Habitat,” Tennard commanded. He entered an override code into the color pad which was near the door.
“Instructions acknowledged,” the artificial intelligence TSI-981 replied. “Unable to connect to lattice. Negative function on links and couplings to other systems. Unable to report status to Machine Maintenance. Attempting to comply with command. D Habitat shows only one functional transport terminal. Commencing transport. Incident report made, in cue for delivery when reestablished link to lattice is made. Request repairs.”
The hatch locked shut. There were some clanging noises as the vehicle moved away from the transport hub. It then altered directions and sped off. Inside, Brinley was seated with her head in her hands.
“At least Tennard knows where he is going,” Paul said.
Brinley looked up and glared at him. “He is saving your life! Appreciate what you have been given.”
“What?” Paul stammered. “I was just…”
“Not now Paul,” Gretchen said. “Not now.” Gretchen placed her arm around Brinley and comforted her.
Paul moved a few seats over and was closer to the orange automacube.
“Tiffany, what can you tell us about where we are heading,” Paul asked.
“I have very limited information about D Habitat. Shall I interface with the vehicle and see if I can learn more?” Tiffany asked.
“Is it safe?” Paul asked.
“I will be very covert in my interactions,” Tiffany replied.
“Then see what you can find out,” Paul said.
The orange automacube extended its manipulation arm and jacked a cable into the access port on the front wall of the vehicle.
“This vehicle is only operating at 37% of capacity. “May I suggest connecting in one of the two fusion packs and giving an empowerment to this vehicle?” Tiffany asked.
“Can it hurt us?” Paul wondered aloud.
“I conjecture no adverse reactions; however I cannot guarantee any outcome. The fusion pack is designed to modulate its energy output to match the system it engages.”
“We shall do it,” Paul said as he removed the fusion pack from his backpack and then connected it into a different access port.
The front of the vehicle lit up, and a display screen was seen. Schematics and diagrams appeared. They had arrows and some blue symbols overlaid on what appeared to be a map of the transport system. There were also red sections on the diagram.
Tiffany started to explain, “I have accessed the nonphysicality…”
“This is TSI-981. I have made a link to the lattice. Reports sent and acknowledged as received. Repair requests recognized.”
Paul stared at the display. Brinley and Gretchen looked up.
“Paul, shut that down!” Brinley cried out. “What have you done?”
The screen suddenly blinked. “Hello, this is the midshipman overseeing this area. How may I be of service to you?” He had crisp short black hair, a medium, clean and clear complexion, with round brown eyes. His eyes were direct and focused at the display. He was wearing a uniform of dark blue with gold trim. There were red epaulets on his shoulders.
“Tiffany shut it down!” Brinley said.
“I see you have gained access to the tube transportation system. I am sorry to inform you that due to the quarantine, the tube transportation system is temporarily nonfunctional, and overrides are not permitted. Repairs are not scheduled in the foreseeable future,” the midshipman stated. “This is a regrettable, but necessary aspect to help prevent spread of the Outbreak. The vehicle you are riding in will be stopped at the next terminal, and you are required to exit the vehicle.”
Paul stood and approached the display screen. “Do you remember me? I have spoken to you several times. Will you please stop the attacks on Oasis?”
“You are mistaken,” the midshipman replied. “I have not spoken to you previously. I do not comprehend your reference to Oasis. Is that a companion of yours? Is there some criminal action taking place? You mentioned an attack. That would be expected in the remnant population of an isolation restricted area.”
“Oh, what is the official name of that water place?” Paul sputtered in frustration. “Is is Alpha Habitat or what?” He looked to Brinley and Gretchen.
“I said shut it down. Tiffany just do it now!” Brinley yelled and tried to push forward.
There was no response from Tiffany.
Gretchen looked puzzled. She then said, “A Habitat! The attacks are happening in A Habitat.”
“That is where Constable Herric and Governor Svoboda have authority and jurisdiction. Shall I connect you to them?”
“Just stop the attacks! The red machines are killing people!” Paul yelled.
“You are mistaken. The Central Planning Office does not seek to kill any passengers of the Colony Ship Vanguard, not even among the remnant populations in isolation restricted areas. Our goal is to make the voyage as safe and pleasant as possible for the residents of the habitats. Therefore containment of pathogens is necessary. The quarantine must be maintained.”
“You should be helping people no matter where they are located,” Gretchen argued. “We have a way to treat and cure the infection which causes the Roe. We can share that with you and the quarantine will not be needed.”
“There is no cure or effective treatment for the pathogens in question, despite rumors and folklore like you are advocating. The Central Planning Office has our best morphologists, epidemiologists and pathologists addressing the issue. They agree that the quarantine is essential for survival of the habitat personnel. There is nothing people in the isolation restricted areas can offer besides serving as a clinical post-epidemic remnant study. It is regrettable that as of yet no treatments options have been discovered.”
Brinley yanked the fusion pack cable out of the access port. Nothing changed. The display remained on, and the midshipman’s face was still looking at them. Brinley then pulled the cable which was connecting the automacube and the access port. Again nothing changed.
The midshipman continued speaking as if unaware of the disconnected power source. “Additionally, there is unauthorized equipment operating in the vehicle where you are located. That equipment shall be immediately suspended and segregated out of the lattice. The nonphysicality must be mainta….”
The screen blinked and a deep green glow replaced the midshipman’s image.
“Finally, we got unlinked from the CPO, they cannot know where we are,” Brinley said.
The display screen flicked and the deep green glow intensified.
“The Central Planning Office is a danger to the Vanguard. The Free Rangers are a danger to the Vanguard. Anomalous readings are a danger to the Vanguard.”
“Who are you? Midshipman?” Paul asked. “Wait….I know that voice!”
“Tiffany? What are we seeing? Who is that?” Gretchen asked. “Please Tiffany, report!”
“The CPO threw you out?” Gretchen asked in amazement.
“No, it was not the midshipman,” Tiffany answered. “I am collating the data which I gathered. I will inform you on my analysis when I make conjectures on what I encountered.”
Paul turned and looked at Gretchen. “I know that voice. That is the thing I spoke to when I was on the solo mission to reach the scout ship. I know that is what I heard. That is the same voice. That Phoenix Domination something.”
“I am Phoenix Dominie. I have severed the connection between your vehicle and the CPO as well as your link to TSI-981. I am unable to stop the continuation of the vehicle to the destination you have selected. I have inadequate assets in place. We will speak again; there are pressing issues at hand which threaten the Vanguard.”
The Colony Ship Vanguard: The entire eight book series in one bundle Page 91