Update error. Access code suspended while under investigation.
Brookes reads the message with a mixture of concern and curiosity. Digging a little deeper into the system pertaining to Commander Taylor’s predicament, he realizes what the actual meaning of his last message was all about:
This will be my last message. They found out that the prototype was stolen and it was never recovered.
They are coming for us, Sam.
His plan with Sam had placed him in danger. Sam was in a safer place for now, but his own was still in question, so he hid himself where he should be harder to locate and where Sam and Brookes might even discover him in time.
With just seconds to go, Brookes changes the low-priority tag placed on Commander Taylor’s cryocell to urgent with a recommendation for Facility One.
Professor Brookes is still typing commands up until the last seconds, and then the connection suddenly drops. Seeing the last message appear on the display of the hacking device, Brookes sighs with relief.
Activity logs deleted.
The patrols come in faster than expected. Their previously standoffish approach is now at an end. As the prototype moves away from its hiding place, the ships open fire but without luck. Each shot misses. Only one ambitious pilot attempts to fire his weapons manually, but at this speed aiming proves impossible, and then the ship is gone.
“Wow, that was close. I hope you have good news, Professor,” Sam says, now opening his eyes. Being the ship has its advantages.
“Good and bad news, I’m afraid, and some unexpected news. I’ve gained access to Facility One—at least I think I have. The bad news is that I did not have time to hide my changes as well as I would have liked, meaning any detailed searches might discover that my access has been reenabled and simply disable it,” Brookes replies, pouring himself a coffee.
“Okay then, and the unexpected news?” Sam asks.
Professor Brookes takes a sip of his drink and looks up. “I found Commander Taylor. He sent himself here—well, to the cryostation at least. His status was so low on the priority list, his case would in all likelihood never have been heard.”
“So he’s just going to remain there?” Dr. Zorn asks.
“Ah, well…no, not now. I made some changes to his status. I hope our friend Commander Taylor will not be too upset when he wakes up and realizes he’s been sent to Facility One,” Brookes replies.
“I’m guessing he will be annoyed or shocked at first, but it’s sure the easiest way to free him from the cryostation. I’m sure he will understand. Now it’s decision time. Jessica’s condition is worsening, and we need to do something now, or we could lose her. I know we already decided upon our course of action, but I need to hear it from you all,” Sam replies.
Frank looks up upon hearing Jessica’s name mentioned. “We should go now. I’m in!”
Dr. Zorn just nods his agreement.
Professor Brookes, feeling grateful to the others but knowing his own reasons for going back are purely self-interested, remains silent.
“Okay then, we are going back. Oh, and, Frank, don’t bang your head when you wake up.”
Sam climbs out of his cryotube feeling stiff and heads for the galley to prepare several antinausea shots and vitamins for the others. Dreamtime food and drinks do nothing for the physical body, but all the cryotubes can provide is the most basic of sustenance to keep the body from dying while in cryosleep.
Waking Professor Brookes first, Sam waits while Brookes slowly climbs out of his tube and heads down the narrow corridor toward Sam. “It’s just the basics, Professor, but it will stop you feeling so bad and give your body some needed energy until we can get some real food.” Brookes takes the offered meds and uses them, his pallid complexion improving almost immediately. Zorn is next to emerge, looking equally rough as he joins the others and also takes the meds. Sam wakes Frank, and as expected, there’s a shout of alarm from Frank’s tube and then a dull thud, followed by cussing as Frank slowly climbs out, his large form proving harder than most to extract. Professor Brookes and Dr. Zorn are perplexed as Frank, louder than usual, continues his outburst of emotions as he stumbles toward the others while looking at his hands. “What the hell is this? No fricking way—this can be real!”
“It’s okay, Frank, it’s my bionanites and mostly your own body’s natural regenerative ability, with a lot of help from the cryotube. While you were in dreamtime, I manipulated your body’s own bioelectrical potential, and with the help of my bionanites, the end result is your new hand.”
Frank stares dumbfounded at his new hand while the others stare in disbelief. “Thanks, Sam. This is amazing. I can never repay you for this, but whatever you need, I’m here for you.”
Professor Brookes is already thinking over the meaning of this astonishing revelation. He asks, “What have you done to us, Sam?”
The others, still looking on in amazement, turn as Professor Brookes shatters the jubilation with his question.
Sam says, “Well, there is absolutely nothing to fear. Every passenger that uses the cryotubes is connected via my bionanites. They are harmless to you, but the ship must monitor your status every moment of your sleep. It’s how I’ve monitored Jessica.”
Brookes does not look happy about this. “I don’t care why. You should have told us. I consider this a serious invasion of my privacy. I want you to deactivate any of them inside my body and delete any data you may have gathered.”
The others remain silent as they watch, stunned by this sudden change of Professor Brookes’s personality. “I’m sorry, Professor. Consider it done. If anyone else requires this, just let me know. It’s just the ship’s normal protocols that take DNA samples and inject each passenger with bionanites, but I’m sorry—I should have mentioned it.”
Brookes stands up and heads down toward the cargo compartment. “Thank you. I’m sorry for my reaction, but you should have mentioned this sooner, though I do realize this was done without any ill intent. I’ll be in the cargo bay until we are ready.”
Dr. Zorn and Frank watch as Brookes walks away. Then Frank turns to Sam and says, “I, for one, am grateful. Thanks, Sam.”
Dr. Zorn nods his appreciation and adds, “I’m sure he will calm down, but as Frank says, I’m grateful, and to be honest, I know how much these things cost on private health care.”
Once the laughing subsides, Sam stands up and starts to head back down to the cryotubes. “We’d best extract Jessica. It’s a shame they could not do anything for her, but whatever Samael did to that blade, my nanites can’t touch it.”
Facility One, 65 days online: federation year 2436
With a slight clunk, the prototype locks into place upon Facility One’s outer hatch. A light turns green to signify a good seal, and Sam opens the floor panel in the cargo room floor, revealing a ladder leading down through the ship. “This type of connection is unusual. Normally a ship or station would have some kind of umbilical connection, but for some reason Professor Brookes decided not to include such in his design.”
Professor Brookes, having calmed down from his earlier outbursts, smiles and says, “Yes, I’m sorry I forgot to factor into my design a system to make it easier for our clients to escape via the maintenance hatch. However, if I get the chance, I’ll submit a design change at my earliest convenience.”
Descending the ladder into a slightly larger circular space, Sam activates the hatch release, and the outer bulkhead door moves inward momentarily before it slides to one side, revealing Facility One’s outer hatchway. “That would be very kind of you, Professor. Now if you would do the honors?” Sam asks, motioning to the doorway.
Professor Brookes steps off of the ladder and bends down to the hatch in the floor. He enters his security clearance, and seconds pass as the system confirms his identity. If the cryostation guesses what the prototype is doing, then the entire facility will be placed into lockdown. However, only moments later the hatchway’s lock turns from red to green as a release of
hissing air signifies the doorway is opening.
Frank’s jubilant shout from above as the door opens causes the rest of the group to shush his sudden outburst. “Let’s not get carried away just yet,” Professor Brookes says as he enters through the newly opened hatchway and descends into the facility as lights illuminate the small room below.
“Here goes nothing,” Brookes says as the group finally enters the circular room, with Frank carrying Jessica. Then he addresses the system. “System, this is Alistair Brookes, chief architect. Please add Sam McCall, Dr. Zorn Oken, Frank Russell, and Jessica Braose to the system and grant them admin access.”
Another period of silence as everyone waits for the reply, which seems to take too long. Then, “Affirmative, Professor Brookes. Names added as requested. Welcome to Facility One, Professor.”
“System, open a route to medical,” Brookes says, feeling the stress and fear of possible failure fall away, replaced with the elation of success as a corridor opens up before him.
Wasting no more time, the group rushes down the corridor, taking turn after turn, until they arrive at one of the main elevators. Minutes later they enter the facility’s medical room in an explosion of activity.
“We need help. My friend here has been stabbed,” Sam calls out. Then he stops in his tracks as a woman turns from her work at the sudden intrusion. “Muna?” he asks in amazement.
“Sam McCall! I never thought I would ever see you again. How long has it been? Fifteen, twenty years? There was some news about your last job and then nothing. Most of us thought you were dead, but a few believed you hit the big time and decided to leave for good.”
Sam is stunned into silence for a moment and then painfully brought back as Frank kicks him in the ankle. “Umm, mate, we need help for Abs. Maybe you two can catch up later?”
Before Sam has a chance to say anything else, another woman wearing a lab coat enters the room. “What the heck is going on in my examination room? Who are you people?”
Frank, not wasting any more time, heads for this new arrival. “Hey, Doc—at least I hope you are—my friend here has been stabbed, and she really needs your help.”
The woman, looking unsympathetic for a moment, casts her gaze over the group, her eyes stopping at Professor Brookes. She stares at him for a moment, and then she looks back at Frank and at Jessica in his arms. “Okay, put her on the examination table, and then everyone else except Muna, out. You can all wait in the other room. I’ll be with you once I’m done.”
Reluctantly, with Frank almost having to push Brookes out of the door, everyone leaves. Only once the door closes does Brookes relent and find a place to sit down. Sam, noticing the change in him, asks, “Are you okay, Professor?”
Professor Brookes, looking slightly bewildered, replies after a few moments, “The doctor is my wife.”
Just over an hour later, Muna enters the room, prompting everyone to stand. She raises her hands to delay the many questions already forming on their lips. “Your friend is stable and should make a full recovery. Dr. Brookes is willing to see Professor Brookes and one other now and insists that the rest of you come with me. The evening meal is now being served, and most of you look like you could do with some food.”
Frank’s desire to see his friend quickly dissolves upon hearing Muna’s offer of company and food. Dr. Zorn also steps forward to accept Muna’s offer as Sam and Professor Brookes are already heading out of the door.
They enter the examination room where Dr. Brookes is still standing over Jessica, who now seems to be sleeping peacefully. A surgical table stands nearby, covered with surgical gloves and swabs.
“I’ve seen my fair share of stab wounds, but nothing like the one your friend here had. Whatever she was stabbed with was growing inside her. I’ve never seen anything like it. However, once the object was removed, her body healed itself surprisingly quickly, leaving not even a scar,” Dr. Brookes says, looking between the two for their reaction.
“It’s rather a long story, but we’re grateful for your help, Doctor. How long will Jessica be out?” Sam asks.
“Unsure, but for someone who was at the brink of death an hour ago to be recovering so quickly is nothing but remarkable. She will wake in a few hours, but if I might ask a favor of you, I would like to speak with Professor Brookes alone. If you would not mind, go join Muna and your friends, and we will be along shortly,” Dr. Brookes replies.
“Sure thing, Doctor,” Sam replies, looking at Professor Brookes. The professor gives a nod, and Sam leaves.
By the time Sam arrives at the main dining hall, the place is alive with activity. Almost every table in the hall is empty except for just a few. Dr. Zorn, eating alone, occasionally looks over at the crowded table that is the main source of laughter and mayhem, and some prisoners at the other tables also watch, making unheard comments.
Grabbing a tray of food, Sam joins Zorn, sitting down across from him. Talking with such a racket is reduced to shouting and vague gestures at each other.
A sudden uproar of laughter makes Dr. Zorn and Sam regard the horde once more. Frank appears in the middle of the crowd, standing on a table and lifting two ladies on his arms like weights. The onlookers are impressed at Frank’s feat of strength, and there are many shouts of encouragement and catcalls cheering him on.
Then, as if the volume is muted, the cacophony is silenced as Dr. Brookes, along with Professor Brookes, sits down next to Sam and Dr. Zorn. “Your friend sure has made an entrance,” Dr. Brookes says as she sets down her tray.
“Frank was a kind of celebrity on Facility Zero. He seemed to love his creepy ghost stories,” Professor Brookes adds.
“Yeah, except the creepy ghost stories he told come true,” Sam replies.
“Fair point,” Professor Brookes replies. “Oh, and may I introduce to you my wife, who, I may add, has gone through hell trying to find me.”
“Nice to meet you, Sam and Dr. Zorn. I hear I owe you both my gratitude for helping my husband escape. And talking about going through hell, I also hear that your time on Facility Zero was terrifying,” Dr. Brookes says.
“It was not what I was expecting, admittedly, but somehow we all managed to survive, although I do owe my life to Jessica,” Dr. Zorn replies.
“I would say you are all doing pretty well now, considering that you still hold admin status when the system says that you are all supposed to be dead. Especially Jessica, who I’m guessing is ex-military by the looks of her dermal protection and incredible nanites,” Dr. Brookes adds.
“We owe a lot of thanks to both Jessica and Sam, and although this is a most wonderful way to enjoy an evening meal together, I’m hoping now that Jessica is on the mend that we could all leave here as soon as possible, assuming we can find Frank again,” Professor Brookes adds, staring across the room to where Frank is now trying to lift his table full of ladies off the ground.
“Well, I was going to bring that point up,” Sam replies. “I need a few years, as I have mentioned before. My current estimation is around four to five years. If I leave now, that will only be around eight to twelve weeks for everyone here. However, we would be cutting it close to be able to land and take off again. A few more weeks, and the black hole’s proximity will again cause us issues.”
“I might be able to help on that score. After looking at the ship’s specifications, I’ve been doing some calculations that might extend the power of your engines. It’s a fine ship, but it’s designed for stealth and has no real emergency thrust for desperate times. Given more time and research, I’m sure I can improve on something already remarkable,” Dr. Zorn adds.
“Well, I’m not sure that I can just leave. I want to, but I have a few patients who need my care. So I’m more than happy to stay now I know my husband is safe. Plus, I would like to run a few tests on Jessica to ensure her blood work is clear,” Dr. Brookes replies.
Professor Brookes is about to reply as two young women approach the table. They set a pitcher of water down in the mid
dle of the table and then move around toward Professor Brookes. “May I introduce Roslyn and Jocelyn,” Dr. Brookes says, smiling at her daughters. Professor Brookes is stunned into silence as he stares at his daughters, now at least fifteen years older than when he last saw them. The emotions become too much to bear.
Roslyn holds back, looking shy, but Jocelyn rushes in to hug her father. Reading this as the best time to leave, both Dr. Zorn and Sam make their silent farewells and leave the dining hall, allowing Professor Brookes and his family to enjoy this reunion.
Facility One, 66 days online: federation year 2436
Although Dr. Brookes could not find anything medically wrong with Jessica, she did not wake that day or the proceeding week, and as the weeks turned into a month, still Jessica did not wake. With every test possible giving no results, Professor Brookes took turns with Frank to sit with her. With no way of communicating with Sam on the outside, all they could do was wait and hope.
Facility One didn’t suffer with the power issues that Facility Zero was cursed with, but this facility had its own issues in the form of gangs. Once the initial excitement of having men arrive at the station wore off, fights and arguments became widespread. Over the next few weeks, Frank ended up in medical three times. Not wanting to hit a lady even though dozens of frantic women were trying to lay claim to him, he ended up needing several stitches. For the next month, Frank avoided any and all contact with the female population except for Dr. Brookes and her daughters. He decided it was best to spend most of his time working in the bioreclamation level. This approach worked, although even Dr. Brookes’s daughters refused to take his daily meals to him in the end.
Further issues occurred when the facility rescinded Professor Brookes’s admin access, only to have it reinstated again by Dr. Brookes a few minutes later. This happened with increasing frequency.
Prototype: The Lost and Forgotten Series Page 29