Metamorph: The Outbounder Chronicles

by Chris Reher

  He raised his arm to stop her from banging her fist on the door. “Let’s get the com system working so everyone can be warned at once. We don’t need a bunch of civilians running around and getting whipped by that… that whip-thing the Kalons have.”

  “I wonder if everybody is just hanging around, waiting out in the open for this to end,” she grumbled. “I’d recommend an overhaul of how drills are conducted.”

  “You do that, Agent. Let’s move.”

  He set a punishing pace around the plaza shops but she kept up, guarding her footfalls in the quiet corridor cluttered with the sort of accumulated refuse that found no permanent storage space. Containers, lengths of used piping and sheets of metal, broken furniture and buckets of god-knows-what got in her way without ever offering a good place to hide, should someone come their way. They found a narrow access staircase where her memory told her it would be and made it to the upper level and the station’s administrative areas. She was out of breath by the time they reached the Ops deck.

  “Security control center is down that way,” she said.

  Both of them dove behind a service desk when a nearby sound startled them. Laryn tried to slow her breathing as they strained to hear more. Ryle mouthed “Kalon” and she nodded. He motioned her to stay down and then inched up to peer over the top of the counter before ducking again.

  “Damn,” he whispered.

  “What?”

  “Body in the hall. Uniformed. And that door to Security isn’t the kind I can hack.” His gesture told her to stand by while he contacted Jex aboard the Nefer. Laryn waited, listening for movement in the hall while he used his transmitter to speak silently with the AI. After a moment he lifted his arm to make an adjustment to the scanner on his wrist, following unheard instructions.

  “What, Jex is into lockpicking, too?”

  He glanced up from his scans. “That’d be a violation of its program parameters.” He raised his arm away from his body to scan the area. “Trying to get a guess of who’s in there. Everything’s garbled.” He sent the scan to Jex for analysis.

  “Well?” she prompted when everything seemed to be taking far too long. She flinched when something in that room crashed to the ground.

  “Toji thinks there are three of them in there, going by their sounds.”

  “Thinks?”

  He shrugged. “The room should have a full set of officers during a lockdown.”

  “So now what?”

  “Now we knock. Keep your gun up. Stay close.”

  He moved around the desk, still crouched low and sidled over to the door leading to the security office. It was a slider and so Laryn scuttled to the other side of the opening, her gun gripped in both hands. He tapped his com unit and, a moment later, a rapid series of trills and squeals emitted from it. She grinned when she understood that Toji was calling out to his kinsmen.

  The Kalon sounds from inside the room subsided and then the door slid aside. Both Ryle and Laryn pivoted to fire into the room, aiming high to avoid hitting any Humans also still here. The Kalons screeched and, one after the other, fell to the laser fire. A Kalon thread sailed through the air but missed Ryle as he threw himself aside to roll out of the way. Another shriek rose into the air and was then silenced by Laryn’s weapon.

  Ryle came to his feet and surveyed the room. Two Humans lay on the ground, carelessly pushed into a corner after the Kalons commandeered the space. He bent to examine them and then shook his head to answer the question on her face. “Will Hatcher,” he said, naming the station’s security chief. “I have no idea who’s in charge around here now.”

  Laryn locked the door to the hall before studying the main security console in the center of the room. “This is logged out of ANN-D. I won’t be able to access the control module to get the com back online. Or end the lockdown. Damn.” She moved to another console to access the more mundane maintenance systems. A model of the station rose into the air in three-dimensional detail.

  Ryle prodded a few of the security monitors lining the console, hoping to activate the external cameras, before he joined her at the hologram. “Can you access anything at all?”

  Laryn changed the view of the station to display its schematic, recalling what she knew about Pendra’s mechanical operations. “If I run a diagnostic of the power grid, I might be able to get at the locks holding the ships.”

  He watched her rotate the station’s wireframe to find the docking bays. After some hunting through the schematic, an overlay appeared to show the main power supply lines. She zoomed in to find the distribution network serving the smallcraft berths.

  “Hmm,” she mumbled. “Not good. It’s not going to let me fake a problem. System’s too damn clever. It’ll just reroute. I was hoping to get at those junctions there to cut something.”

  Ryle tapped his com. “Nolie? How are things going down there?”

  “Mostly sorted out. Azah had a bit of a discussion with the guards but they eventually saw things her way. Not counting Nefer, we’ve got all eight outbounder ships and the Pendra cruisers ready to launch. Jadie Cay says she’s looking forward to kicking ass. Her guns are getting rusty.”

  “Is everyone armed to the teeth around here?” Laryn said. She scowled at the uniformed body on the floor. “Except those who should be?”

  Ryle grinned and shrugged. “Nolie, we need to cut the power to the flight decks. It’s the only way to release the docking clamps without higher clearance. It’ll cut ventilation and lights, so get everybody out of the bays now.”

  “Just me left down here in the bay now. Everybody else is aboard their ships, waiting to get going. Anyone not needed went off Kalon-hunting. We’ve got four guards and ten crew including Azah.”

  “Azah went?” Ryle said.

  “Yeah, she’s worried about her dad. They were going by Shelody’s office to see if he’s there.”

  “Let’s hope they’re careful,” Laryn said. “The Kalons aren’t taking prisoners.”

  “Toji is worried his friends will get hurt,” Nolan said.

  “Could happen,” Ryle said. “But if they’re not part of this, chances are they’re locked up somewhere like everybody else. Tell him to stay on the Nefer, no matter what.”

  “Will do,” Nolan said. “I’m going aboard now.”

  “Hold that.” Ryle traced a finger along a power line in the air. “Go over to the hoist controls by the loading dock ramp. Should be across and to the left of the Nefer’s lock.”

  “Eh? Why?”

  “I want you to shoot it.”

  Laryn started to object but then couldn’t think of any good reason why she’d suddenly care who fired at what right now.

  “Oh,” Nolan said. “Okay.” Then, a few moments later, “I’m there.”

  “The panel will be locked,” Laryn said. “It’ll have a backup system, anyway. We need real damage, the sort you need a Human to fix. Move to your left, about halfway to the door to the chief’s office. The wall there is not reinforced or shielded.”

  “You’re sure about that, huh?”

  “Of course she is,” Ryle said. “You won’t hear an alarm. Those are all tied to com. Emergency lights will work. Blast away, Nolie.”

  The report of Nolan’s gun reached them almost at once, followed by an unintelligible exclamation sounding like something between triumph and surprise. A red outline appeared around the smallcraft docks but no audible alert called for their attention.

  “Pitch black, man,” Nolan exclaimed. “Oh, never mind. Emerg lights came on. Heading up to the Nefer now.”

  “Nice work, Nolie,” Ryle said. “Hurry in case the bay depressurizes. The others will have to close the ports manually when they cast off. Things might get leaky. Jex, cloak us again.”

  “Do you think they’ll even stand a chance against the Kalons?” Laryn said after they cut their com link to Nolan. “The weapons we’ve seen so far are beyond anything we understand.”

  “Better than being stuck to the station, wai
ting to get picked off. And I’m sure none of us are about to let the Kalons have even one more of our ships. Remind me to have a chat with Azah about listening to her captain when he says to stay put.” He reached up to turn the map of the station. “The Kalons must have already been in place, including up here, when the lockdown started. Having everyone out of the way gives them the run of the station, excepting a handful of guards and section bosses.”

  She nodded. “Being locked up in the residences and whatever else is non-essential is probably safer for everyone now.” She pointed her chin toward the window. “Until the rest of the Kalons get here.”

  “Never underestimate Roucho Company’s trigger finger,” he said.

  “It’s what the Kalons have under their trigger finger that worries me.” She turned her attention to a flat chart of the station’s modules and divisions, all inaccessible now. “We need to neutralize the Kalon sensor jammers. Get communications back up. If we don’t warn whatever security is patrolling the place, they’ll be mowed down like the lieutenant and his crew were. They won’t even suspect a Kalon of treachery.”

  Ryle nodded. “Let’s try to access the com elsewhere. I don’t want to stay in one place too long, either.”

  She ran her finger through the maps. “Likely places are Admin and right here in the main module. Engineering for sure. Astrophysics in the Annex, maybe. Probably a few points in the Ministry sector.”

  He went to the door. “Let’s try Admin. It’s closer and less secured.”

  A noise in the hall froze both of them in place. The heavy footfalls of several people approached and then they heard voices.

  “Human,” Ryle said and opened the door. He did not go into the corridor. “In here,” he called out. “Don’t shoot.”

  The voices fell silent. Then, finally, a woman replied. “Step out.”

  Ryle and Laryn peered into the hall and then walked out to meet a trio of guards. Two stood over the body of the guard they had found earlier. One of them bled through a crude bandage wrapped around his forearm.

  “There are dead Kalons in there,” Laryn said. “I am Agent Ash, Mediary. The Kalons are trying to take the station.”

  “Aren’t you smart,” the lieutenant said. Despite Azah’s dismissive opinion of station security, the stone-faced woman looked capable and unshaken by the threat they faced. “Like the bodies we’re finding aren’t giving that away. What are you doing up here?”

  “Trying to get the com back online,” Ryle said. He gestured over his shoulder at the security station. “Do you have access to ANN-D?”

  “Not to that degree,” the guard replied. One of the men with her walked past the station to a double-doored closet next to it. His handprint unlocked it and he began to hand out guns and pistols. The lieutenant took one of the rifles. “We’re trying to regroup but our team is scattered all over the station. The Kalons are stalking the halls, murdering anyone not behind locked doors now.”

  “Give me your com unit,” Laryn said as they walked past the dead elevators to the stairway to the lower level. “We’ve figured out the jammer.”

  The guard unsnapped her wrist band and handed it to Laryn. “That’s the first good news I’ve had today.”

  “The agent may be able to access the main com system from Admin,” Ryle said to the guard. “To upload that program site-wide.”

  “Don’t bother,” the lieutenant said. “The place is torched. No one alive up there although we’re missing the Chairman and the station manager. Something tells me we’re also missing a shuttle.”

  “They wouldn’t just leave!” Laryn said.

  Ryle grinned. “She’s new,” he said to the guard. “We’ll head to the Annex. Laryn should be able to access there. We could use an escort.”

  The woman nodded to another guard, this one seeming barely old enough for his uniform, but solidly built. “Jagger, you go with them. We’ll check the residence levels.”

  Ryle peered over the railing and then gestured that the stairwell was empty. They descended silently and then scanned the broad ramp leading to the common areas of the station. No sign of the Kalons, and no sound was heard. The lieutenant gave a curt wave and, with the other guard, continued down the stairs to the lower levels.

  “Let’s not risk crossing the plaza,” Ryle said to Laryn the guard named Jagger. “We came here through the service passage behind the shops. That way.” He frowned and raised his hand. “Wait. Hang on a sec.” Laryn recognized his expression as one he wore when speaking silently with Jex.

  All of them flinched when a metallic boom reverberated through the halls, followed by a hoarse shout in the distance.

  “We need to keep moving,” the guard said, looking down the corridor over the barrel of his gun. “This is too open here.”

  “Azah’s group found two of the engineers,” Ryle said. He pointed at his head near the spot where the KRNL chips would have been removed. “Dead. As we suspected.” He paused to listen to more of Jex’s report. The intent expression as he concentrated fell slack as it changed to surprise and, finally, shock.

  “Is everyone all right?” Laryn whispered.

  He shook his head. “The decelerator for the photonic transporter. The guidance system is offline. The platform is drifting.”

  “What?” Laryn said without enough breath to speak above a whisper.

  “Wouldn’t that raise an alarm?” Jagger said.

  “Only if it was a malfunction and then only if we had a working com system,” Laryn said. “It’ll switch to a backup program to make repairs but I’m guessing the Kalons turned it off deliberately. We’ve got a fleet coming in! Without the decelerator they’ll crash into it. Or, if they’re paying attention, they’ll veer off at half the speed of light.”

  Ryle ran a hand over his face as he contemplated this. “Thousands of people,” he said, stunned by the prospect. “Out there with no way home again. I can’t think of anything worse.” He shook his head as if to clear it. “Jex, what’s the arrival time of the fleet from Earth?”

  Laryn watched him wince as Jex replied soundlessly.

  “102 kilo-secs,” Ryle translated.

  “That means they’ll be looking to decelerate within hours,” Laryn said. “If that laser is out by even a half degree it’ll miss the deflectors and that fleet might as well be on the other side of the galaxy. We have to get it back in place!”

  “You make it sound like that’s an option,” Jagger said.

  “It could be,” Ryle said. He chewed on his lip for a moment. “Jex, do you know where the platform is supposed to be?” He shook his head as Jex replied and then translated. “Not to the precise coordinates it needs to be. But close enough. I’m going to take the Nefer out there.”

  “And do what?” Laryn gasped.

  “Use the ship to tow it to where it’s supposed to be. You two find a way to get at the guidance system and bring it back online. It’s the only way to angle it precisely.” He paused to consider his idea. “You do know how, right?”

  Laryn squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her forehead as she considered his plan. Madness, all of this. She glanced at the guard. “Excuse us for a second, Lieutenant.”

  Ryle followed her as she tugged on his sleeve to get out of earshot of the guard.

  “I’m going to need Jex for that,” she said. “I can get into the Cog lab system, but no further. After that I need him to get me past security to access ANN-E directly.”

  He frowned. “How’s that supposed to work?”

  “This isn’t the time for games, Ryle. I know he’s a JX.7 model. Maybe even JX.6.”

  “You don’t know any such thing,” he said, aghast. “You’re not suggesting that Jex is compromised!”

  “I am,” she said. “He’s trying to hide it but no AI is as self-aware as he is. No AI is allowed to be as self-aware anymore. He’s got moods and those moods are inconsistent. That isn’t just a social program he’s running to sound Human. If anything, he’s trying too hard not to
. His assumptions and projections are not based on pure data analysis and neither is his interaction with the crew. He’s modified, and he’s able to hide those modifications from the update scanners. He lies.” She pointed a finger at him when she detected a hint of a grin on his face. “Admit it. I already know about the database. Which is probably stolen.”

  “I’ll admit myself right into jail.”

  “You already are. For whatever reason.”

  “Yeah, but this time they’ll actually lock me up. And take my ship.”

  She spread her arms wide. “You have no choice, Ryle. You had the chance to hightail it to Earth or Terrica or some other safe place without Kalons in it. But you’re here. So don’t start worrying about your hide now. That moment’s in the past.”

  This time he did smile. “You are fierce, Agent. And perceptive. Unless Jex was spilling secrets while I wasn’t listening. It seems to like you more than most.”

  “He didn’t. Not really.”

  He took a deep breath and looked around the deserted hall as if for escape. “The curbs are in place, as they should be. Jex can’t live without my or Azah’s biotelemetry. It can’t act on its own but it’ll go past security protocols if ordered to.”

  “That’s what I was hoping for.”

  “So how is Jex going to help you?”

  “I’ll need command control for him.”

  “What? I don’t think so!”

  Laryn tapped her com tab but her eyes remained on Ryle. “Jex, are you familiar with the neural appliance I carry?”

  “I am, Laryn. It is a Pendra Mindware KRNL4, according to your profile.”

  “Can you interface with it?”

  “I can, but not from your current location. The risk is too great, given the interfering EM noise we’re experiencing.”

  Ryle frowned at her. “What are you thinking?”

  She held up her hand to ward off his question. “If we interfaced, would you be able to access the station’s neural networks?”

  There was just enough of a pause to let them almost feel Jex’s attempt at resolving the conflict her inquiry posed. “Accessing ANN without authorization is outside my mandate.”