“I barely felt a thing,” Max said.
Ross responded with a light snore.
Max smiled and placed a gentle hand upon his furry friend. Peering behind the vessel, he watched the Earth, his home, the only surface he had ever known, fade into a pale blue dot.
CHAPTER 8
Zoey tapped her chin with a nervous finger as she paced around the luxurious suite. Perra filled an armchair in the corner, leaning forward with elbows propped on her knees. She stared at the floor through barren eyes, contemplating options. Restless hands passed the plasma gun back and forth, its smooth composite shell reflecting Jupiter’s pastel colors from the giant windowpanes.
“This could work,” Zoey said.
Perra leaned back in the chair, dropped the plasma gun on a side table, and covered her face with both hands. “I’m sorry, my love, but I don’t share your confidence.”
“No, this has promise. Let’s go over it again.”
Perra sighed, slapped her hands onto the armrests, and motioned to Zoey with a limp wrist. “Fine, proceed.”
“Okay, so, we both leave here dressed in formals as to not raise any unwanted suspicion. We know that Jai and his posse will be watching our every move, so we don’t bother hiding from them. He needs to remain anonymous in a place like this. Veiled Traders on Europa would not bode well for his reputation, so we can use that to our advantage. If we can get to the lobby entrance without incident, that should give us the time we need.”
Perra lifted a worried gaze to Zoey. “We are going to be so exposed.”
“I know.” Zoey lowered her chin and nodded. “Doesn’t matter though, all we need is a solid head start.”
“Fair enough.” Perra crossed her arms and stared at the floor.
“If I know Jai as well as I think I do, he will have a few lackeys stationed somewhere near the entrance, probably dressed as business types. Hopefully, they will stick out enough for us to pinpoint. We need to lock eyes with any that lock on us. Know who they are. The last thing we need is the death of an innocent.”
Perra gave a slow nod as Zoey resumed her pacing.
“From here, we walk straight to the front entrance, no dallying. When they confront us, the show begins. As soon as I fire the first shot, the whole place is going to erupt in chaos. You run as fast as you can to the ship and spin up the jump drive. I’ll keep those assholes busy until you’re ready. And once I’m inside with the airlock sealed, we thrust the ship’s nose to a patch of black and jump. That should give us enough time to avoid the Rippers.”
Perra took a deep breath and shook her head. “This is so risky.”
Zoey stopped pacing and glared at Perra. “But you said this was perfectly feasible. We don’t need the main engines to jump into hyperspace.”
“Feasible, yes, but incredibly dangerous.” Perra stood from her seat. “You need the main engines for stabilization, otherwise you can come out the other end in an uncontrolled spin. And that’s without destination coordinates. Who’s to say we don’t end up in an asteroid field with nothing but thrusters? I understand that we need to sacrifice prep for time, but this is a jump into the black with no beacon of any kind. Again, feasible, but completely insane.” Perra slogged over to the windows and placed both hands on her hips. She expelled a heavy sigh while overlooking the icy landscape. “Furthermore, our ship is secured to the station dock. You know the port authority will lock down detachments if we start shooting up the place, which kind of nulls the escape plan.”
Zoey smirked. “But we don’t need to detach.”
Perra turned to Zoey and lifted an eyebrow. “What, do you plan on taking the entire Europa Center with us?”
“No, just the dock seal. We have atmo locks and flash gel on the ship, do we not?”
Perra returned the smirk. “Very clever, you sultry minx.”
* * *
Max’s heart seemed hell-bent to escape his chest as he gazed upon the enormous gas giant through the window port. Jupiter’s massive vista bathed his face in creamy pastels, its swirling ribbons twisting and turning over each other in a slow yet violent dance. The great red eye churned in the southern hemisphere, serving to highlight the raw power of the universe and humanity’s lack of meaningful influence.
A bead of saliva broke free of Max’s dangling lip and landed on Ross’s ear.
“Did you just—eeew,” Ross said. He shook his head and flung his own saliva in retaliation.
“Ugh, thanks for that.” Max wiped his cheek.
“Attention, passengers,” Eleanor said, now standing upfront with a plastic expression. “We have begun our descent to Europa and will dock in about 20 Earth minutes. At this time, please return to your seats and stow any loose items for arrival.” Max glanced at the rear of the shuttle where nobody had moved since liftoff. “Once we have established a successful seal, the captain will turn off the seat belt sign and you will be free to depart the vessel. For any passengers with connections, you may consult our comdev portal or the numerous atmo traffic panels inside the Europa Center. As always, we thank you for flying with Sigma Starliners and wish you the very best on your continued journey.” She tapped the intercom link on her collar, dropped the act, and returned to her seat to resume a game on her comdev.
The cabin lights illuminated, causing passengers to stir in their seats and expel grumbling yawns. Blips of portable devices powering down bounced around the cabin.
“I guess some things never change,” Max said to himself.
Returning his gaze to the window, he watched the snowy dome of Europa rise from beneath the shuttle. He pressed his nose to the glass and glanced down at a sea of jagged glaciers and cobalt crevasses. Specks of brown rock littered the landscape, serving as a solitary contrast to the bright surface. In the distance, the sharp edges of an aqua green structure, the Europa Center Station, rested atop a massive white pillar. An intricate spiderweb of clear docking tunnels spilled from the entrance, resembling a crystalline snowflake hovering above the moon’s surface. An exotic collection of spaceships with bold colors and sleek hulls docked and disconnected from the snowflake; the kind of ships that screamed opulence, even to someone with no knowledge of spaceships. Some departed for orbit while others disappeared below the station as valets escorted them to long-term parking.
“We there yet?” Ross said, lifting himself into an arched stretch.
“Almost. I can see the station in the distance.”
“Okay, wake me up when we dock.” Ross dropped into a pile upon Max’s lap.
“Wait a minute.” Max lowered a skeptical gaze to Ross. “Do you even need to sleep as a CounterPet?”
“Of course not. I just didn’t feel like listening to your wack talk for five hours.”
“You’re such a loving companion.” Max returned his gaze to the viewport.
“I’m a cat, not your therapist.”
A few minutes later, a slight nudge secured the shuttle onto one of several docking ports along a busy arm of the snowflake. The dull hum of the engines faded away as the seat belt sign overhead pinged off. A rustle of passengers filled the cabin as they gathered their belongings to depart the vessel. Ross jumped to the floor as Max arose from his seat. He retrieved his backpack from an overhead bin and slung it over his shoulder. Eleanor unlocked the hatch and swung it open, resulting in a puff of decompression. The brilliant reflection of Europa’s frigid landscape poured into the shuttle, causing passengers to squint as they exited. Max hung back, opting to exit last as a scant courtesy to the other travelers.
“Have a pleasant stay,” Eleanor said to the first traveler. “Thank you for flying with us,” she said to the next, and so on and so forth. To Max, she offered a cold smile and nothing more.
He stepped outside onto the clear tunnel floor, eliciting a gasp of awe. The rugged Europan surface spread out like a frozen ocean beneath his feet. Max stood motionless in the crowded corridor with his eyes fixated on the floor, like a texting prick oblivious to their surroundin
gs, but convinced of their unique status as the center of the universe. An array of colorful humanoids, both by attire and complexion, passed Max on their ways to and from the Europa Center Station. Some glanced at him with expressions of concern, wondering if someone had lost a pet. The puffs of airlocks opening and closing broke the dull muffles of conversation. Green hologram signs floated overhead, indicating gate numbers and various terminal directions. Ross trotted down the gangway as Max ogled the breathtaking scenery like a dumbstruck drunkard.
“Oi,” Ross said with an impatient tone. “You coming or not?”
“Sorry, sorry,” Max said as he leapt forward into a light jog. They strolled down the corridor alongside a bizarre assortment of fellow travelers. Max stared at each one with the bulging eyes of a child in a strip club. “Dude, there are aliens everywhere.”
“Why are you whispering? Do you not think they know?”
“I don’t want to offend anyone.”
“Your casual racism never ceases to amaze me.”
“My cas—I’m not a racist.”
“Yet you whisper among them without realizing you are one.”
“I just—” Max sighed. “Good point. Touché.”
Max’s eyes began to wander as the weight of his new reality settled upon his shoulders. His lungs fluttered with excitement; his ears drank the hum of commerce; his nose swam in a sea of compelling new aromas; his mind, despite the overwhelming onslaught of new and exciting stimulus, found itself at ease for the first time in years.
The crowd thickened as they poured into the central corridor, a widened channel serving as the main terminal throughput. High-end kiosks sat along the walls, offering a variety of exclusive products. Blue-skinned humanoids in gray uniforms tended to each station, greeting each passerby with warm smiles and kind words. Iris scanners pinged with purchase confirmations. The occasional gasp of admiration spilled from jewelry counters. The hiss of espresso machines complemented puffs of rising steam. With his gaze locked onto the blackness of space above, Max’s shoulder collided with another.
“Watch it, skinbag,” a suited humanoid said through a yellow, scaled expression.
“Sorry,” Max said, jumping aside to avoid the growing flow of foot traffic. He ducked into an open section between kiosks, pausing to rest.
“What is wrong with you today?” Ross said, shooting a sour glance up to Max.
Max turned to face the wall and studied the sliver of Europa’s horizon. He placed an open hand upon the clear composite, allowing a hint of coolness to penetrate his skin. His head lifted to digest the monstrous dome of Jupiter towering over the landscape. It dwarfed the moon in every possible manner, superimposed atop a sheet of twinkling black. With his eyes beginning to water, Max grinned with a healthy dose of serenity. “Ross, my good buddy, this is, by far and away, the best day of my life.”
A series of deafening booms erupted from the Europa Center entrance about 50 meters away, sending shockwaves of static down the central corridor. The screams of terrified travelers filled the tunnels. Countless bodies crumpled to the floor while others scattered for shuttles and exits. More static bursts followed, hurling beams of purple light down the composite walls. Max fell to the ground and covered his head. The odors of welding fumes and singed meat infected the sterile air.
“Shit, shit, shit,” Ross said as his poofed body scampered down an adjacent tunnel.
“Ross!” Max jumped to his feet to give chase.
Another blast, closer this time, followed by a rumble underfoot and a fresh batch of screams. The entire gangway shook and creaked, causing Max to stumble and catch himself. He glanced back at the central corridor, uncovering little more than white smoke and the shadows of fleeing bodies. A shot of adrenaline kept him sprinting towards the orange ball of frightened fur in the distance. Ross came to a stop at the last airlock, pinning his body against the external hull of a rather unassuming freighter vessel. Max arrived moments later and dropped to his knees to scoop up his fearful friend, but flailing claws and screeching meows conveyed a clear intention of staying put. Another series of booms and screams echoed through the tunnels. Realizing that curiosity would indeed kill the cat, Ross cocked his ears back and started clawing at the vessel door. The airlock slid open and Ross darted inside the ship.
“Goddamnit, Ross!”
Max stood outside the airlock, panting with hesitation. He turned back to the unfolding scene, only to stare down the barrel of Perra’s plasma gun. He shot his hands into the air, keeping them tight around his head as if to acknowledge a tiny field goal. His saucer-like eyes seemed more taken aback by her creamy orange complexion than by the pulsing weapon pointed at his face. A glitzy necklace lifted and lowered atop her heaving chest, complementing the swing of sparkling earrings. A swanky blue evening gown hung from her shoulders, its shimmering fabric hugging her hips in perfect symmetry. Perra’s piercing eyes softened at the realization of what stood before her.
“My stars ... you’re an Earthling,” she said as a half-smile crept up her cheek.
“And you most certainly are not,” Max said through a shocked expression.
Another series of static booms rumbled down the tunnel, snapping Perra back into duty. She shoved Max aside, slamming his shoulder into the airlock. “Get your damn animal off my ship,” she said before darting around the corner and into the cockpit. Racing hands powered up the control panel, filling the cockpit with a warm yellow glow. She keyed a short sequence of commands and thumped a palm down on a large green icon, prompting hull thrusters to ignite underfoot. An empty red bar denoting jump drive readiness began to turn itself green. Perra gnawed on the side of her cheek as she reached overhead to flick a critical string of switches. The sheen of her evening gown reflected pulsing icons around the cockpit.
Max gulped and took a wary step inside the rumbling vessel. He glanced down a narrow passageway leading to the cockpit where Perra’s shadowy arms danced across a chirping control panel. Turning to the other side, he found himself standing inside a large cargo bay. LED strips along the ceiling bathed the charcoal gray interior in hygienic light. Roped netting dangled from ceiling hooks, flanking numerous storage compartments that resembled gym lockers. Stacks of logoless crates adorned the metal floor, secured by thick straps and steel latches. The piles provided numerous hiding places for tiny stowaways.
“Ross! Where are you?! Come out here at once!”
“No!” Ross said from somewhere inside, his voice muffled by barriers.
“I mean it! We have to get out of here!”
“What do you think I’m doing?!”
“Get out here! Now! I’m not going to—”
With a violent clunk, Max found himself pinned against the wall of the cargo bay, staring down the barrel of Zoey’s plasma gun. A ritzy black dress swung from her waist, exposing her orange thighs as she pressed a forearm into Max’s chest.
“Who the hell are you?!” Zoey said.
“Uh ... Max.” His eyes shifted from side to side. “The Earthling.”
“He’s looking for his pet,” Perra said from the cockpit.
“That would be me,” Ross said from somewhere inside.
Zoey’s eyes danced between Perra, Max, and the mystery voice. She huffed and released her hold, sending Max to the metal floor with a sharp clank. Dropping to a knee, she opened one of several floor compartments and fished inside, nabbing a puck-like disc and a tarnished device that resembled a painting gun. Footsteps echoed in the tunnel as Zoey rushed back to the airlock. Blasts of static thundered through the vessel as she fired her plasma gun at Jai’s cronies. Max cowered on the ground beside her and covered his ears, flinching with every shot. The impacts of returned fire boomed inside, shaking the ship and creaking everything metal. Jai and his lackeys ducked out of sight for cover, allowing Zoey to arm the disc and hurl it down the corridor. The disc slid across the smooth composite floor and exploded into a white cloud of atmo-tight foam sealant. The cloud hardened in an instant, sea
ling the corridor off from the rest of the complex. With Jai and his goons behind a wall of blast-proof foam, Zoey darted into the corridor with the flash gel applicator in hand. She adjusted the ignition timer to a short fuse and squeezed the trigger while swinging her arm in a large circle, coating the interior of the tunnel with a continuous string of red flash gel. The gel smoked and crackled as it began to eat through the tunnel walls. Zoey ran back into the vessel, sealed the airlock, scowled at Max, and joined Perra in the cockpit.
“Are we ready yet?” Zoey said, strapping herself into the pilot’s chair.
“Almost there,” Perra said, tapping a mess of keys with furious hands.
Targeting sirens howled in the cockpit, flashing red as inbound Rippers launched paralyzer missiles.
“Wait!” Max said from the cargo bay. “I’m still in here!”
“Ignore him!” Ross said, now muffled from a different location.
The jump drive indicator pinged with a full green bar.
“That’s it, we’re good to go,” Perra said.
The cockpit flared as the flash gel ignited in the tunnel, allowing the ship to float free on its thrusters with a sliver of the dock attached.
“No, no, no, no,” Max said as he wobbled his way towards the cockpit.
“Incoming,” Perra said, pointing to the missile trails speeding towards them.
“Better hold on to something, Earthman,” Zoey said and pulled back on the throttle.
The ship lifted its nose to the blackness of space, throwing Max to the back of the cargo bay. He landed with a thud, knocking himself unconscious. Zoey tapped a short sequence of keys into the control panel and slammed a fist upon a large green icon. The tiny freighter vanished into a purple sliver of hyperspace as a barrage of missiles slammed into the moon’s surface.
Max and the Multiverse, #1 Page 9