Solstice 31: The Solstice 31 Saga, Books 1,2,3

by Martin Wilsey

  He sat on the bare foamcrete shelf and watched her slowly tip toe down the hall in the darkness. She felt the bars of his cell and stopped. Impossibly quiet now she reached both of her arms through the bars, pressing her face to them. Her hands silently searched the black within.

  He gently took her hands in his and squeezed them. Her face crumbled into tears as he advanced into her arms, but she didn't make a sound. He lightly kissed her forehead as they held each other through the bars. The girl was naked and filthy. He was in rags at least.

  In the darkness with the ease of practice, he moved to the wall and sat on the floor, right next to the bars. She sat on other side of the bars. His right arm extended through the bars as both her legs came through to rest on his lap. He held her as her forehead rested on his arm.

  Her soft whisper was loud in his ear.

  “You were right again. There are demons in the north, above the gorge. They have killed hundreds, maybe thousands of the High Keepers men. He just keeps sending more. He is killing everyone above the gorge, no matter the cost. Just as you said.”

  “Hmmm...”

  He felt her cling to him, almost desperately as she continued. “They say. I mean they rumor. That the demon is... just one man.” She was trembling. “They say... He is a Man from Earth.” He could feel her fear at just saying the words out loud. She had been taught to say it was to summon the monster.

  “Yes. He is.” The voice like gravel whispered. The trembling increased, “Soon; he will find you here. This demon, this monster, this Man from Earth. You will tend his wounds. You will eat his food because in his kindness and fury he won't eat while you starve... And you will give him a message.”

  “What message?” It was the quietest whisper yet.

  “Kill them all...” The words had weight. She nodded her head; she'd do it. “Then you and I shall escape together. Just as I told you. Because he will bring down the Citadel to its foundations. Soon after.”

  She began to cry again.

  “Now tell me what the guards say.” He soothed her with his words as well as his gentle touch.

  “How did you know they would all be drunk and asleep tonight?” She asked knowing he would not tell her.

  “Because it was the truth.” He whispered.

  “What about all the other things. They think I'm a sooth sayer.”

  She started to tell him everything. Facts, gossip, or simply things she has seen or heard. She knew it wasn't much, but she also knew that he was starving for anything different. Weeks and years of darkness would have driven her mad by now.

  “Why do they call you the Scarecrow. They are all afraid of you, still. Even though they say it's been over a decade since you killed one of them.”

  “Have you never seen me in the light? Scarecrow is about right.” He laughed a little.

  “That's not it.” She said.

  “They call me that because your language has no real word for who and what I am, my role in the world, my title. It is all held in my true name. Milesian Baytirus Esso Doa roughly translates to Protector of this Garden. They thought it was another way to say, Scarecrow.”

  “Hummm...” was her only quiet reply.

  “Call me Miles if need be. Why do you ask now after all this time?” he asked, already knowing why.

  “She came down here, a few days ago, just as you said she would. She brought me fresh bread and cheese.” She was trembling again, “She said, 'Tell Miles I said goodbye.' And I knew she meant you. I never needed your name before.” She was crying again.

  He was combing her knotted hair with his fingers. “What will happen to me?”

  She could somehow feel his smile on her forehead as he replied and hear it in a whisper.

  “Everything.”

  ***

  It was only a few weeks before one of Hagan's drones found signs of the reactor core that had been jettisoned by the Memphis. At first, he thought the crash site would be near and easy to find. The crater analysis gave him a general direction to look for a debris field, but there was none.

  “Echo, I need some possible theories that could fit the data we have,” Wes asked looking at the high-def feed on the main display as if the Sariska was flying over the crater.

  “We know when we separated that the Memphis was in an un-powered tumble along this trajectory.” A tactical map opened on the display of the moon. That means the Memphis must have had some kind of recovery to be flying over this area.” The map showed a potential track that the ship could have taken to that spot.

  “Let's speculate that they got some kind of control of the ship. Why the hell would they be here?”

  The image shifted to Drone 2. It was moving at a high altitude over the area.

  “They were fleeing,” Echo said. “Retreating to an area where they would be safe. Look at the surface here. Chunks of the Ventura were still impacting the surface then, but a much higher angle.”

  “They either went to the far side of the moon or off into deep space,” Hagan stated. “Echo, please task the drones to begin their search pattern on this vector moving on this track. We have just saved half the surface.”

  There was a long pause. Very unusual for Echo.

  “Sir, do you see this?” Echo said highlighting a spot on the horizon.

  “Zoom in, optical and digital,” Hagan ordered.

  The image was not clear, but it looked like a Blaw-Knox lattice tower peak.

  “Echo. Bring the boys in. We are moving the Sariska to that tower. We may have found our beacon.” Wes was smiling.

  “You will lose contact with the drones, sir,” Echo warned.

  “I know, but we have to check this out.” Hagan took another bite of the ration bar.

  ***

  As the Sariska lifted off and slid down the mountain side on a direct line for its goal, eyes watched from the surface.

  It flew straight as an arrow.

  She knew exactly where it was going.

  She ran.

  ***

  “Wes, I am not sure this plan is safe,” Echo said from the co-pilot seat with real concern in her voice.

  “I thought ECHO systems were bad asses,” Hagan said mocking and excited. “What's with this safety stuff. I dead anyway. And honestly, I am not going to starve to death.”

  “If that Blaw-Knox tower is what I think it is, it may have a base there that is occupied. I want to do a high fly over and drop the boys in for a bit of recon before we go there.”

  “Now that's more like it.” He smiled. “We have the right tools for that job.”

  “I also want you to take this.” A small maintenance bot crawled up his leg carrying a Nanite hypo injection tube. “Like you said, You're dead anyway.”

  Hagan took the injector tube from the bot and started reading the warnings regarding inappropriate use. It had nothing about the dangers he knew the Mil-HUD injections also brought.

  Hagan laughed a bit too long and said, “What the hell.” And held the injection tube to his neck.

  Echo didn't have to say it out loud, but she did, “Chief Engineer Wes Hagan, do you accept the installation of the Black Badger Mil-HUD- 2745?”

  “Just do it before I chicken out.” He pressed it harder. He felt the numbing mist and a slight prick. “That wasn't so bad.” Then suddenly, it felt like the tube sunk sharp teeth into him.

  He screamed, and his vision went white. He was paralyzed. It felt like something big was eating it's way up to his brain.

  Why do I smell toast?

  ***

  When he came back to consciousness some time later, his first thought was that he was glad he had been strapped in. The tube was gone. He could taste blood in his mouth.

  A maintenance spider was climbing him holding a clear vile with a brown liquid that hooked like weak coffee.

  Echo said, “Drink this, it will help. All of it at once.”

  “Why do my sinuses hurt? And my wrists?” He took the vile. It was like a large test tube. He pulle
d the stopper and up ended it in a single motion.

  It burned on the way down. Hagan sputtered and coughed. Finally able to speak said, “Was that bourbon?”

  “Actually, yes,” Echo smiled. “It's tradition. Your systems are coming on line now.”

  “Holy shit. No wonder it hurts. How can they integrate so fast?” A SL-Hagan status window was rolling by in his personal HUD. He knew without thinking that DS-01 through DS-06 were prepped and lined up for a drop. He simply knew that the ramp was already down, and the rear compartment was in full vacuum.

  “We will be over the target in eleven minutes. Squad drop-prep, go.” Echo said, and things began to happen fast in his brain with no explanation. Hagan was the designated Squad Leader. He could now somehow see everything all six Drop Suits could see. All at once. Amazingly this didn't confuse his perceptions, it just sharpened them.

  Weapons status cycled on all the suits. Grave-chutes were ready and when tactical indicated it was time DS-01 to 06 ran out the back of the Sariska.

  It veered off sharply as the Drop Suits began to descend in formation. Hagan saw the tower far below and the small station that was at its base.

  There was a very wide landing pad. But no docking or hanger facilities.

  “Keep her steady. I am going to suit up.” Wes released the five point harness and turned back to the main compartment to find his pressure suit waiting. By the time they set down, he was ready.

  He felt more than saw the other six Drop Suits follow him down the ramp.

  Four of them deployed around the base of the Sariska, and two followed him up to the two that were already waiting by the open base airlock. Four of the suits entered the airlock with him as the big door closed behind them.

  “The base still has power. So far so good.” Hagan said.

  “It is deserted. It looks like it had an organized shut down when it was closed up.” Echo said as the door and airlock finished it's cycle and the inner door swung open.

  Flood lights came on from all the suits as the entered the base. There was another inner door that was closed. The configuration would allow for a large space airlock if needed.

  They entered the space beyond and closed all the outer doors. His helmet indicated that pressure was good, and the O2 and CO2 levels were both excellent.

  Without warning. All four suits turned and faced him, weapons were powered up. He was being painted by LASERS.

  “Wes, did you know you had a rider?” Echo's voice was sinister as the Drop Suits crowded closer.

  CHAPTER FIVE:

  Hagan’s Station

  “Logs showed that Hagan sat on that ridge for months while the drones searched an area the size of Texas. When he found the site of the station, he moved right away. He almost saw her again. She was clearly in the data on video.”

  --Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: General Patricia Chase, senior member of the Earth Defense Coalition.

  <<<>>>

  “Echo, what are you doing?” His new Mil-HUD showed him all the weapons trained on him were hot. He also saw the targeting solution of all sixteen weapons. They would all pass through him and miss the DS behind him. “What do you mean a rider?” He unlatched and removed his helmet for a sniff of stale, very cold, dry air.

  Echo's avatar appeared as if she was in the room. “Someone was surveilling you without your consent. The Mil-HUD has detection protocols and protections against this. Please remain still.” Echo placed her finger to her lips as he began to feel something in his head.

  “Are you alright, Wes?”

  “It's not too bad. Like an rapid ice cream head ache.” Wes said.

  “Interesting. Not what I expected at all.” Echo turned away and was looking into the bases garage bay.

  The weapons began to stand down. The suits turned away one at a time to shine their lights on the base instead of him.

  “DS-03, please go to the tower base so we can assess the condition of the communications equipment.” He walked to a console. It was completely dead. DS-05, please assess the solar panels. We have emergency lights only in here.”

  “Would you like me to explore and inventory the outpost, Wes?” Echo asked as she looked around the garage.

  “How will you do that? The Drop Suits are too...” Hagan trailed off as he saw six of the palm sized spiders climb down from a suit. “Oh. Yes, please. Everything from tools to wire. Water to beds. Everything. And if you find something that will tell us anything about who the hell these people are, let me know right away.”

  Echo seemed to walk deeper into the workshop being followed by DS-01 and five of the spiders. One spider and DS-02 were already exploring the garage bay with full flood lights on.

  ***

  “The solar panels are 90% intact, but they required some maintenance. Dusting mainly.” Echo said as a window opened in Hagan's HUD. He could see the field of panels. Dust has settled on them from a couple centuries of going without maintenance. “We have already discovered the pole mops specifically designed for the task.”

  “Let me know when you find the power plant.” Hagan requested.

  “Already found. It looks dead.” Echo replied, as an expanding floor plan of the outpost was displayed. The layout included the battery bank room and a generator room. “It looks like this place had an organized shutdown. It's like they expected to be back. All the interior airlocks are secured, and the seals are still good.”

  Wes was proceeding to the lower level where the batteries were. DS-03 followed providing light. It was apparent right away as he entered the room that all the cells in the bank that covered the wall were dry.

  “Echo, how much water will it take to refill all these cells?” He was liking at the clear, clean glass fronts of the cells that told the whole story. Over time, they just dried out.

  “About 300 liters. Not much really.” Echo replied.

  “Make it a priority to find the water storage.” Hagan was moving to the generator room. It was just as he'd feared. Old style colonist portable nuclear generator. He'd never get it running. They were not that reliable when they were new. He closed and sealed the airlock to that room behind him.

  The floor map was expanding.

  “Water storage will be on the upper level or even in tanks above. It will all be frozen solid.”

  ***

  “This has been the longest year of my life,” Mallin said as he waited by the radio for supply shuttle to contact the moon base. The control center was in a dome and projectors showed the sky outside in high definition, Baytirus center most, “I have never been so bored in my life. I thought being a pilot would be fun. One fifteen minute flight a month is not what I had in mind.”

  “I’ve been here six months, and it’s not so bad.” Skinner said, “Easy duty, twelve on twelve off, three hot meals a day and all the slaves wenches a guy could want.”

  “Gah, you been to the agri-dome since you been here.” Mallin grimaced, “Some of those women have been here too long. They just don’t look right. I saw one climbing in an apple tree picking once. Arms and legs are too long, too skinny, sunken eyes. I wouldn’t screw her with your dick.”

  Skinner laughed, “Well you won’t have to worry about that much longer.”

  “Three hours total flight time this whole assignment. What a waste.” Mallin continued to complain. “At least, I got to see that huge ship get destroyed by the High Keeper.”

  The main board lit with annotations and telemetry.

  “Wake up Cyrus and Enoch. Our ride home is here.” Mallin said as the transmission hail came in.

  ***

  Hagan’s outpost turned out to be three levels deep.

  The top level was the only level above ground. Even this level had been buried under a deep mound of the excavated regolith. Each side had an exterior airlock, including the garage door they came through.

  They also found a sealed airlock to the entrance of a tunnel on the lowest level. It was wide enough to drive a vehi
cle through. The vehicles were still parked there. They were open top, utility, flat beds. The tunnel was in vacuum. From what he could see, the pipes and cables attached to the walls were cables that went directly out to the tower.

  Offices were located that included the base chief engineers office. He was kind enough to have one entire wall of his office covered with the old fashioned annotated design drawings of the entire installation. There were even hand written modifications drawn there, including notes. It was a smart engineer to keep this low tech. Just in case, something went wrong.

  The water tanks were directly above the top most level. They even had designed a power free method to thaw them in case of a full freeze. It only took Wes a few minutes to figure out the system before he tasked DS-09 to go to the roof pad and simply open the four two meter square hatches and focus the sunlight on a heat transfer matrix. They would use the moons extreme temperature variance to heat the water to liquid.

  There was also a solar greenhouse like system that was opened to heat the air inside the outpost via convection in sealed pipes filled with some kind of super antifreeze liquid.

  It only took about six hours before the water was flowing to the battery room. There were leaks everywhere, but most of the shut off valves worked.

  The battery bank was beginning to charge, as they were filled, the solar panels were cleared off, and they might even be fully charged by the time the darkness came.

  ***

  There was a song drifting to her ears from the darkness. She knew it was him calling to her. He always knew when the guards were drunk and asleep. The nest of rags that made her bed were in a shadowed corner of the guards room.

  She quietly moved and took the key and unlocked the barred gate that controlled the access to the hall of cells that held him. She rehung the key.

  She padded quickly down the black hall counting the cells on the left side with her fingers.