“No. I can do that,” Gretchen replied also with a chuckle. She packed up all the gear into two packs. “Come on Paul, our friend needs us.”
Paul pushed the lever on the pressure door and a color pad lit up next to it. The nine section control mechanism was bright and clean.
“Brinley? There is a color pad control here. What sequence do we use to get the door to open?” Gretchen asked.
“Try three greens. It is a new override code we have been using. Simple, easy to recall, and fast to enter. We are spreading the word to others who have been in the diaspora caused by the Jellies.”
Gretchen entered the code and the door slid open. The hallway outside was clear and Brinley was waiting down the way. She had a large and long weapon pointed at them. It was a deep gray color with a square muzzle and optical sights across the top. There were several lights on its side. Brinley lifted it away from aiming at Paul and Gretchen as they stepped from the small apartment. The gray and black striped cat slipped out of the room as well.
“You were going to shoot us?” Paul asked. He was incredulous.
“No. I was going to shoot some imposter or android that was faking a signal from you. Glad I did not need to do that. Paulie, I would not shoot you, ever. I was just being careful. I am not willing to walk into a Jellie or CPO trap. Besides, it has been a long time since we were together and I was not really sure what had happened to you both. I am thrilled you are alive.”
Gretchen rushed over to Brinley and gave her a hug. “It is so good to see you in person!” She then asked, “What is that weapon? I have not seen anything like that.”
“Tennard and I designed it, with a lot of help from Larissa,” Brinley answered. “I have tried to get Tiffany to review it, but there never is a response. That AI sent me a parcel, and that was the last I heard.”
“Us too,” Gretchen said.
“Tennard is alive?” Paul asked. He too hugged Brinley tightly and held her for a while.
“Yes, he and Sigmond were some of the last refugees to get out of Oasis. You can speak to him when we get back. They have set up a camp outside of Miass in the Wilds.”
Paul had tears running down his face as they separated. “What does the weapon do?”
“Paulie, it kills the enemy, of course,” Brinley said with a wink.
“It looks like a Willie pistol, sort of, but much bigger.” Gretchen asked. “It does seem to use fusion power, is that correct?”
“Yes, it charges off a Dome 17 fusion pack. It is a combination of your Dome 17 pistol design, an old style gunpowder weapon, and a Vanguard organic disruptor. We call it the L-ROD for Long Range Organic Disruptor. The L-ROD shoots a small capsule, about the size of your thumb, inside of that is an organic disruptor. It holds forty of those capsules in the stock. The ammunition supply count is here.” She pointed to a small numerical display. “It also has a compartment, where, like your pistols, it makes a supply of pellets for pure projectile fire. The selector lever here toggles between capsule and pellet. The weapon uses the same propulsion system the pistols have. When that capsule hits the target it sets off the organic disruptor charge. It also packs an impressive ballistic impact all its own. The capsules are not as high velocity as your pistol, but it is throwing a much bigger projectile. The pellets are fired at comparable velocities to the pistols. We have not tested them on the Jellies, but Tennard and Larissa are convinced they will be more effective than anything else we have, especially given that they can be fired from much greater distances than a regular organic disruptor.”
“The Willie pistols have worked,” Paul said.
“Yes, and Tennard used that success, along with the reports of the damage done by organic disruptors, to design this weapon. He and most of the Free Ranger refugees are working in Miass with Governor Konstantin. We only have one Reproduction and Fabrication facility that will make the component parts. The AI there refuses to simply make the completed L-RODs so Tennard has been assembling them by hand from the separate parts. So we only have a few made,” Brinley said as she slung the weapon across her back. “We need to hurry back. Larissa has been following the developments.”
“Great. I look forward to that,” Paul muttered sarcastically. “I can hardly wait to see Larissa, or anyone else who has tried to kill us before. Will I freeze going back to the Wilds again?”
“Larissa, like all of us there, is defending the Vanguard,” Brinley replied. “I know your feelings, and I share most of that, but the Jellies do not care who they kill and have been active against people everywhere. If we do not defeat them, we will all die. But come on, we do need to get going.”
Brinley led them along a few empty corridors, and then up an access stairway which opened to a transport terminal. The wall with the portal hatches was smaller than some terminals, as it only had three portal hatches. One of those was obviously broken and had been sealed over with a layer of some transparent permalloy about five centimeters thick. The permalloy seal was not uniformly clear and looking through it was similar to looking through cloudy water. The hatch itself was cracked and broken beneath the permalloy.
“No Roe in this area?” Paul asked as he looked around the transport terminal.
“Paulie, are you complaining now about not having a enemy attack you?” Brinley teased. “The Roe are still a threat, but I have seen less of them than before. Perhaps the Jellies have been killing them as well?”
“Or maybe the Roe are off eating the Jellies? That would be something helpful,” Paul said.
“TSI-981, we are ready to head back. Open up the transport vehicle,” Brinley commanded.
The three of them entered the transport vehicle after the rear hatch opened. It was nearly identical to the others Paul had ridden in. It had two rows of seats facing each other on the sides of the vehicle. Two seats at what he thought of as the nose of the vehicle, and a display screen across the front. This one was clean and well maintained, and had no dead bodies, or bloody stains, unlike others Paul remembered.
“We can depart as soon as you desire,” TSI-981 stated after the rear hatch closed and locked down. “Please indicate destination. Repairs in progress.”
“TSI-981 take us to the secure hub in the Wilds,” Brinley commanded. “Use as much stealth as possible in transit.”
“Destination accepted and plotted. Route will be hidden from the lattice and CPO. Repairs in progress.”
There were several clanging and clacking noises as well as a strange sloshing sound. The vehicle unhooked from the terminal. It then sped away with a few really harsh bumps and jerks.
“We are going to the Wilds?” Paul asked. “That is where so much of this trouble started. I certainly do not want to freeze again.”
“Paulie, you said that before. Yes, freezing is bad, but would you rather we crash another shuttle?” Brinley smiled as she joshed with him.
“I never want to crash another shuttle. I do not want to see another Roe, or be shot at by automacubes, or fight with the Jellies,” Paul said seriously. “None of that! That was why I tried to escape. I also do not especially want to see Larissa again.”
“Paulie, I am sorry it has been so hard for you. It has been hard on all of us, believe me, I too have suffered.” Brinley said. “But we are heading back to the Wilds, and that is a fairly secure location.”
“Fairly secure?” Paul asked. “What does that mean?”
“Well Paulie, while you and Gretchen were attempting your escape, we have….”
“Destination changed,” TSI-981 interrupted. “Repairs in progress.”
Brinley was instantly alert and attentive. Any semblance of humor or frivolity was gone. “Explain yourself, TSI-981. You are not allowed to take commands from the CPO, the lattice or any outside source.”
“Larissa has commanded a change in transit, using the override code you established,” TSI-981 replied. “Repairs in progress.”
“Does that AI have to keep repeating ‘Repairs in progress’? It reminds me o
f a Roe babbling some meaningless phrase,” Paul asked.
“It is a chore to keep the AIs as stand-alone units,” Brinley replied. “The lattice keeps trying to pull them back in, and some other DAMA or IAM systems are also messing with them. I have had to shut down a number of engineering automacubes which have snuck in and tried to rework the AIs.” Brinley pulled out her multiceiver and hit the Larissa button.
“Brinley, are you with Paul and Gretchen?” Larissa said as her image was displayed on the multiceiver. “Was it really them?”
“Yes, and we are on the way back, but now our transport has been diverted. Was that your doing?” Brinley asked. Watching Brinley and Larissa converse, it was clear there was a working dynamic between them which was new to Paul and Gretchen, but was not smooth or easy. Their tones and attitudes each carried somewhat of an edge.
“Yes, that was on my command. There is a refugee in the Woods who needs help. The Jellies have struck there and done great damage. I will send you a synopsis of the Jellie attack there. Video and audio records are available to you now.”
The display shifted and Brinley, Paul, and Gretchen watched the record of what had happened to Lyudmila and her father.
“Not another horror recording displayed,” Paul said, yet he kept his eyes fixed on the images which were shown. “I hate seeing these things.” His mind went back to his time in Dome 3.
The record only lasted a short while, but the three observers sat in silence while the grim situation was shown. They watched all that the man, a gamekeeper named Arvin, had recorded as well as the views taken from Lyudmila’s multiceiver.
Finally Larissa’s voice came back on. “I have been unable to connect to anyone else in C Habitat, the Woods. Neither the Constable nor the Governor is responding. Werner and Durand were not friends, but they had been at least responsive. I had hoped they would join our cause, but I fear what may have happened to them. My personal AI, TSI-463 says that only a few multiceivers are even functional there in the Woods. Only the girl Lyudmila is responding. So I have diverted your transport to stop and pick up this girl.”
“No. Not another bogus rescue of some lost girl,” Paul said. “Watching Zoya get killed was bad enough. Why would you want us help this girl anyway?”
“I would be there myself if I was in range. You are the closest asset I have to help her,” Larissa’s eyes were very intense, and the tension from Paul’s comment was palpable.
“Like you helped Zoya and her mother?” Paul snapped back. “And I am certainly not your ‘asset’.”
Larissa replied in a very tightly controlled manner, “Paul, I admit I was wrong. I apologize to both you and Gretchen. If I could go back in time, knowing what I do now, I would make other choices. I live with what I did every moment. Your Dome 17 technology does not have time travel capabilities, does it?”
No one said anything.
“So Paul, tell me. Do you have a time travel machine?” Larissa asked again. There was even more of an edge to her voice. “You cannot reverse what has happened? Or allow me to go back and make a different decision? You are not offering me some technological breakthrough like your weapons, faster-than-light travel, or your teleportation, are you?”
“No,” Paul finally muttered.
“I thought not. No one can go back in time, or Paul I am sure you would have already run away,” Larissa said. “I have commanded the transport to stop at a terminal which seems to be functional. It is located just outside of what used to be a main egress into the Woods. Records show it was sealed during the Outbreak. That brave girl, Lyudmila, is riding the horse toward that same location, but she is on the other side of those sealed doors. Get her into the transport and send her here. I need you there to help me know what the Jellies have been doing in that habitat, and how badly the situation is for those people in there. Get the survivors to the transport hub and we will bring them back to the Wilds if they need medical care. Be sure to get any children back here as well. There are two more vehicles en route to that location.”
“Why should we obey you?” Paul asked.
“You are the impertinent one. Paul, the Jellies have already taken over Oasis and killed scores of people. They have total control of that habitat. Oasis, A Habitat, is under Jellie control. Do you understand? If they continue their push into the other habitats we are all threatened. The CPO refuses to help, or even recognize that the aliens are here. Paul? Paul, maybe you could join the CPO? Or if you want to just sit in the vehicle and wait, be my guest. However, someone has to be brave enough to help that girl escape.”
“I will make sure we open the doors for her. No door can keep me out or keep me in, right Paulie?” Brinley said. Her attempt to lighten the mood and ease the tension fell flat. “Anyway, there may be Roe in the corridors between the transport hub and the entrance to the Woods habitat. I will make sure it is safe.”
“Excellent, Brinley. Thank you. I am getting a transport vehicle together and sending some security automacubes there to fight the Jellies, but that will take more time. The other vehicle I am sending is empty but can be used to transport survivors. I am sick of reacting to these Jellie attacks, and am looking for how to bring the fight to them in some preemptive strikes. If we can learn their plans, maybe we can save some lives.”
Paul muttered something, but Gretchen placed her hand on him and said, “Paul, we need to help her. We are all in this ship together, and I will work with Brinley to save that girl, even if it does mean working with Larissa too. Please help me. Do it for me?”
Paul looked at her and nodded.
“Paulie, we will just have a short trip. Then back to the Wilds. We have secured the Wilds fairly effectively. There we have farms, food, shelter, water, and a fairly safe habitat. We also have several combat projects in development,” Brinley said.
“TSI-981, how long until we arrive at the new destination?” Brinley asked.
“Estimated time of arrival fourteen minutes,” the AI replied. “Repairs in progress.”
Paul felt the medallion on his chest begin to grow warm. Then he heard, “Paul, this is important. Save that girl.”
“Did you hear that?” Paul asked.
“Yes,” Gretchen replied. “Brinley said the Wilds was fairly secure, and we will pick up that girl in fourteen minutes.”
“Not that,” Paul said.
“Everyone heard your argument with Larissa. That was hard to miss, Paulie. I must say you did not hold back your feelings,” Brinley stated.
Neither Brinley nor Gretchen had heard the message Paul received from the medallion. He wondered if it was all in his mind.
“I will help you. Paul you are the Longinus now.” The words from the medallion again were heard only by Paul. He did not ask if anyone else had heard, for he was unsure if he wanted to know. He fingered the medallion, and pondered what he had heard.
When the transport vehicle was near to the new destination, the artificial intelligence system TSI-981 made the announcement, “We will be docking shortly. Please be aware, I am unable to scan in more detail than the basics. The destination meets basic requirements for docking, but there may still be threats and dangers. Repairs in progress.”
The vehicle stopped. It then backed up and with some clanking, clanging, and a squishing sound it connected to the portal hatch.
Brinley had her L-ROD weapon aimed at the door. Both Paul and Gretchen had their own pistols drawn and ready.
The portal door hatch opened with a grinding noise and stuck midway open.
Paul slid under the hatch before either of the others could do so. Something scurried by his feet, but he was unsure what it was as the floor was covered by papers, trash, and various assorted debris. He kicked it out of the way and glanced around.
Brinley and Gretchen followed him out of the vehicle. They all faced different directions and assessed where they were.
This transport hub was in atrocious condition. There was one light which shone from a rectangular box above an
exit door about five meters away. The exit door was a sliding one which was jammed about halfway open. In addition to the piles of loose junk covering the floor, there was damage to many of the utilities which had been along the walls. Pipes were broken, greasy oily gunk had dribbled down from those broken pipes. Energy conduits were crush and charred. Wiring was shredded and hanging in tangled bundles.
“No wonder the hatch only partially opened,” Brinley said. “Gretchen, would you please find an access port and jack in a connection to the fusion pack?”
“Sure,” Gretchen replied.
Paul turned and looked at the other hatches. There were nine of them, but only three even looked remotely functional. Most were crudely welded over with steel or other softer metals. One had a permalloy beam attached to it which extended to the opposite wall and was jammed in place so hard the portal hatch had bent under the pressure.
The Colony Ship Vanguard: The entire eight book series in one bundle Page 145