by J. G. Martin
“With all of the amazing technology you have in your complex, you find this hard to believe?” Derek asked incredulously. “Whoever is behind this has access to advanced technology and resources and has gone to great lengths to prevent us from getting to the station. Johnson, or whoever he is, didn’t just happen to have a knife and suddenly decide to attack us.”
“That makes sense I guess.” The commander agreed. “But who is behind this?”
“That is what I intend to find out.” Derek replied. “That’s why I didn’t kill him.”
While Rora bandaged the commander’s wound, Derek woke the traitor up. A few slaps and some smelling salts did the trick. The fake specialist snapped awake with a snarl and thrashed wildly, trying to break his bonds. He didn’t say anything but merely stared at Derek with hate filled eyes.
“Who do you work for?” Derek demanded.
“I’m not going to tell you anything.” The traitor sneered.
“How could you do this?” Anna interrupted, moving towards him.
Derek held her back and told her. “Let me handle this. This is what I do.”
The man laughed. “Nothing you do is going to make me talk.”
“We’ll see about that.” Derek told him. “I’m very experienced in getting information from a subject, and there is no line I am unwilling to cross. I have no problem torturing you.”
“Major, you cannot do that. I won’t allow it.” The commander insisted.
“Stay out of this Commander.” Derek ordered. “We need to know what he knows and we don’t have a lot of time to do it.”
“Don’t waste your time.” The fake Johnson said and shifted his jaw.
Derek reacted a moment too late to stop the man from biting down on what was obviously a suicide capsule. Foam erupted from the restrained man’s mouth and he went into convulsions. Within seconds the fake specialist was dead and any hope of gaining intelligence from him was gone. Derek cursed as he quickly searched the body for any other clues. Finding none, he stepped back before the body liquefied inside the suit.
“What did you do?” An angry Anna demanded.
“Nothing.” Derek told her coldly. “He had a suicide pill. Whatever these guys are they turn into goo when they die. It destroys any evidence of their existence.”
“We will have to follow up with this later.” The commander stated with finality. “We need to focus on the mission. The station is getting close. Everyone strap in for our final approach.”
Chapter 35
June 25, 2029
Olympus Station, Near Earth Orbit
The enormous space station loomed in front of the shuttle, growing bigger by the second. It was truly a marvel of engineering, made even more amazing by the fact that it had been assembled in secret. It looked like a giant spinning wheel, with a giant ring rotating around a center spindle capped on either end by large spheres. The spindle and the ring were connected by numerous spokes housing access corridors and conduits. The circumference of the ring was estimated to be roughly three miles, making the station far larger than anything humanity had ever put in orbit.
According to the schematics the Society possessed, the spheres housed the fusion reactors that powered the station. The spindle contained the guts of the station including the main environmental systems, and the rotating ring housed the living and work areas. The rotation allowed for some gravity, which the Society scientists estimated to be seventy five percent of Earth’s. Thrusters maintained the station’s orbital position.
Various vanes and antennae studded the station. Defensive turrets assumed to house rail guns and missile launchers were located at strategic junctures to provide complete coverage of the space around the station. Any one of those weapons could completely destroy the shuttle with a single hit. None of them looked active, but everyone onboard the shuttle was unwittingly holding their breath as they approached. The station looked inactive, but all the lights were on and it was still rotating.
The device seemed to be working as the shuttle crept closer without being challenged or attacked. As they got close they could feel the effects of gravity begin to reassert themselves. Time seemed to stretch as Colonel Brandt maneuvered the shuttle towards a docking rig. They all collectively released the breaths they had been holding as the shuttle gently bumped the station and docking clamps engaged. Anna and the commander began flipping switches and checking systems to make sure everything was stable and secure.
“Okay, time for you to go to work.” The commander told Derek and Rora after they were securely docked.
The damaged suits had been patched up with duct tape much to Derek’s amusement and amazement. They wouldn’t need the helmets because the station had its own atmosphere. Dr. Banek had assured them that the environmental systems were still active and there were people on board the station. Derek and Rora pulled modified bulletproof vests over the suits and grabbed their weapons. Each had their pistols, and M4 carbine, and Derek had his sawed off shotgun as a backup.
He had asked about the dangers of firing a gun on the station, and the possibility of causing a breach that sucked the air out. But the scientists and the shuttle crew had just laughed at him. He had been assured that the meter thick walls and glass that made up the station’s exterior wall were impenetrable to his bullets. And that only a fool would design a vehicle or station that would be in a vacuum to be so weak as to be penetrated by a bullet or a small explosion. He hoped the U.S. military engineers weren’t fools.
As Derek prepared to cut through the airlock door of the docking ring, it suddenly beeped and the access panel turned green. The door slid open with a hiss before he could even light the cutting torch. It seemed they were expected. That couldn’t be good.
“How did you do that?” Rora whispered.
“I didn’t.” Derek whispered back. “Just go with it.”
“You are welcome Major.” The Voice suddenly spoke in his ear.
“How did you unlock the door?” Derek asked, perplexed. “How do you have access to the space station and why didn’t you mention this before?”
“I told you I would help you.” The Voice replied smoothly. “I have an asset on board in deep cover. I didn’t want to risk activating him before you were actually at the station.”
“And you couldn’t have told me that in advance.” Derek questioned him.
“Do you trust me with everything you know, Major?” The Voice answered pointedly.
“Good point.” Derek conceded. “Can they guide us to the main computer room?”
“No, but they have granted me access to the station’s systems temporarily. I will guide you.” The Voice informed him. “There are two main corridors in the ring that run parallel to each other. Stay on the outer one and head right. I’ll let you know when you need to turn.”
That matched the limited internal schematics that the Society had managed to obtain. Gesturing to Rora to follow, Derek headed out of the shuttle and to the right as instructed. They entered the sterile environment inside the habitation ring of the space station. The air was cool and crisp; obviously the station employed a serious air quality system. It was completely quiet; there weren’t even sounds from air conditioning or electronics. Lighting shone dimly from domes on the ceiling and the floor of the corridor was coated in some sort of rubber coating.
The two of them made no sound as they moved swiftly down the corridor. There was no one else in sight and the station seemed to be abandoned. All the doors to the rooms along the corridor were shut. The door locks were all red which indicated they were locked. Neither of them spoke as they didn’t want to break the eerie silence. It was eventually broken as they encountered a bulwark door. The station had bulwarks with steel doors set every quarter mile or so for security and for emergencies. It allowed the section to be completely sealed if there was a fire or a breach.
The doors were normally kept open but this one slid shut as they approached. It was followed by the lights changing to red and sta
rting to flash and an alarm sounding. The alarm wasn’t loud but it was insistent. It was interrupted briefly by an announcement from a mechanical sounding voice that there were intruders on board.
“It appears you have been discovered Major.” The Voice informed him suddenly.
“Yeah, I kind of figured that.” Derek said sarcastically. “How is that possible?”
“Since you are invisible to him, Doors must be using some other measure to determine you are onboard.” The Voice explained. “My guess is that the minute raise in temperature caused by your body heat or the increase in CO2 was noticed.”
“Can you shut it off?” Derek asked.
“I am afraid not.” The Voice replied. “I cannot override Doors’ direct commands. I can however open the door and direct you on an alternate path.”
“What is he saying?” Rora asked, realizing Derek was talking to the Voice.
“They know we are here and can possibly track us, but they still can’t see us.” He told her.
“Can we complete the mission?” She asked anxiously.
“The Voice says he can get us there.” He replied.
“Then let’s go!” She insisted.
“Go through this door to the next cross corridor and take a left.” The Voice said as the door slid back open.
The door opened to reveal a man shaped figure in a gray jumpsuit and black boots moving towards them down the corridor. Black gloves covered its hands. On its head was a gray helmet with a reflective visor that covered its entire face similar to a fencing mask. When it saw them, it suddenly charged towards them. Derek fired instinctively at the charging figure. It absorbed the bullets without flinching and he continued to fire. Its chest exploded into a bloody mess and it eventually collapsed into a heap carried forward by its momentum.
“What the heck is that?” Rora asked loudly.
Derek knelt down and removed the helmet from the bloody figure to reveal a human head and face. The face was completely emotionless and the head was hairless. On the back of its neck Derek could see the telltale surgical scar that rain right along the base of the neck at the spine.
“It’s a drone.” He told her. “It makes sense that Doors would have turned the entire crew into them to maintain control and make upkeep easier.
“How did it see us?” She wondered aloud.
“Good question. I wonder how many more there are.” He replied. “At least it wasn’t armed.”
“Major, you need to get to the cross corridor.” The Voice suddenly insisted. “There are more drones coming and they are armed.”
“How can they see us?” Derek asked him. “Is the device not working?”
“No, it’s working. Doors has disconnected them from the LINC with orders to kill anything that moves.” The Voice told him with great concern.
“What’s the big deal?” Derek asked. “I can handle a few drones. They are pretty predictable.”
“When drones are released from the LINC they become unstable pretty quickly.” The Voice informed him. “They follow the last order given fanatically and if they have any trouble following the order their minds short circuit.”
“What does that mean?” Derek asked.
“They become homicidal maniacs without any control. It is a very drastic step for him to take. He will not be able to regain control of them and they will be roaming the station until they die.” The Voice explained.
“How many did he release?” Derek asked, fearing he knew the answer.
“All of them.” The Voice said with finality.
Derek knew that the original crew complement was supposed to be over a hundred people. Even with a few deaths that would be too many to overcome if they just swarmed him and Rora. They needed to complete the mission before it became a bad horror movie. He grabbed Rora and they ran towards the cross corridor. Three more drones appeared in the corridor heading towards them. All three were armed with pulse rifles, which they fired wildly as soon as they came into view.
The purple bolts of plasma raced down the corridor towards Derek and Rora and splattered off of the walls and floor. The flooring melted where it was struck and the bolts left scorch marks on the walls. They returned fire on the drones and moved backwards looking for cover. Based on the wild firing and lack of tactics, Derek realized the drones were workers and not the combat variant. He paused his retreat and knelt down. Taking careful aim he fired a burst into each of the drones knocking them down. Before they could recover he rushed forward and put a burst into each of their heads.
“Get to the cross corridor.” The Voice insisted loudly. “Most of the drones are in the outer corridor. I can seal them in once you are clear.”
Derek and Rora rushed to comply. They raced through the smaller cross corridor that linked the two main corridors as they heard more pulse fire. The doors slid shut as several drones appeared on the other side. These drones were dressed all in black and had body armor of some type. He assumed they were the soldier variant used for security. They pounded on the door trying to get through.
“Quickly.” The Voice ordered. “Go to the third door on the left and go inside.”
Derek and Rora rushed down the interior of the two main corridors towards the indicated room. They didn’t want to encounter any more of the possibly unstable drones. They arrived at the door the Voice had told them. The door panel was green showing it was unlocked and Derek raised his hand to open it, but Rora stopped him.
“Wait.” She told him. “Something isn’t right.”
“How do you know?” Derek asked, his eyes narrowing.
“Look at the door.” Rora told him. “It has the same bar code markings as the others, but this door frame is thicker and looks reinforced. Why is it different?”
“Good question.” He agreed.
“Open the door!” The Voice said urgently.
“What is inside?” Derek asked after a pause.
“What?” The Voice asked, caught off guard.
“What is inside the door?” Derek repeated.
“It’s just a room for you to hide in until the drones pass.” The Voice replied after a pause.
Something was bothering Derek about the whole situation, he just couldn’t put his finger on it. The Voice had been helping him all along, but Derek still didn’t fully trust him. He had his own agenda, and had originally been against this mission; but had agreed reluctantly after some thought. As long as Derek’s agenda aligned with his it would be fine, but when they didn’t align what would happen? The Voice had been a powerful ally and had even had an asset on the station to help them; they couldn’t complete the mission without him.
Then he realized what was bothering him. “Are you on the station?” Derek suddenly asked the Voice.
“What? What makes you think that?” The Voice sputtered, caught off guard for once.
“I can hear the station alarm echoing in the background when you talk to me.” Derek informed him coldly. “Where are you?”
The Voice sighed. “Fine. I am on the station with you. Back the way you came, eighth door on your right. But hurry before the drones find you.”
Chapter 36
June 25, 2029
Olympus Station, Near Earth Orbit
Derek and Rora took off running towards where the Voice claimed to be. It turned out to be a quarter of the way around the station and they encountered more drones along the way. It was a mixed group of grey and black clad drones, all with the same reflective face plates. The drone opened fire immediately upon sighting them, but not with any organization. They fired indiscriminately and without any tactical movement, including the soldier drones.
Two drones fell to friendly fire and the others simply stepped on them to get at Derek and Rora. They returned fire but were forced back by the volume and intensity of the mindless attackers. He killed one more as they retreated, but the armor and lack of pain experienced by the drones was making it difficult to stop the combat drones. A second group approached from the other d
irection trapping them between the two. A pulse bolt struck his M4 partially melting it and he dropped it.
Derek decided the situation was becoming desperate enough to take a chance and he pulled out a grenade he had smuggled in. Rora’s eyes grew wide and she tried to yell at him to stop, but it was too late. He pulled the pin with a big smile and lobbed the grenade into the midst of the mob of drones in front of them. The explosion in such a confined area blew them apart and cleared the way forward. Rora followed as Derek raced to exploit the momentary break. Both fired into the still twitching bodies as they ran past.
They found the door the Voice had directed them to and paused. It looked like the other doors in the corridor, except for the one they had almost opened. Derek looked at Rora and gave her a look that asked if they should open it. She shrugged. They didn’t really have much of a choice he realized. The second group of drones was approaching and he didn’t have another grenade. So he took a chance and hit the door panel. The door slid open and they rushed in.
The door slid shut behind them and they breathed a sigh of relief before looking around. They were in what looked like a computer control room full of display screens and workstations. The stations were all empty and the screens blank except one. The room was dimly lit and seemed abandoned except for that one station. Its occupant turned to face them and both Derek and Rora gasped in surprise and horror.
The only occupant of the room stood about six and a half feet tall and was very emaciated. Tubes, wires, and electronics studded his bony torso and arms and led into his hairless skull. But the most shocking part was that his lower half had been replaced by a metal platform carried by four articulated legs like that of a scorpion. The Voice was a Humek. This discovery froze Derek in place as his brain tried to process this stunning turn of events.
“Let me explain.” The Voice said as he scuttled forward.
Rora actually screamed a little and instinctively moved behind Derek. That brought him out of his brain freeze and he yanked his sawed off shotgun out and stuck it in the thing’s face.