by Gary Weston
‘It has to go in at an angle,’ said Zena. ‘That’s it. More. A little more. And in it goes. Good job.’
‘Ok,’ said Shorty. ‘Your part is done. You go over to the freighter. Leave the spare lines here for us to tie the ends of the tunnel to the airlocks, when we get down there.’
The three wished the two women good luck and crossed over to the freighter, unfastened the two lines and Shorty and Zena reeled those to them.
‘Ok, Mario,’ said Shorty. ‘It’s daylight for that ship down there. Now is a time to show us what a great pilot you are. We’ll stay in the airlock.’
‘Right. Closing airlock door. Hold onto something. Shooters. Be ready.’
‘Shooters ready, Captain.’
‘Ok. Let’s go get our friends off that rock,’ said Mario.
Chapter 271
Millet and Lieutenant Croxfort were briefing the crew. Millet said, ‘You all know what to do. Lieutenant Croxfort and I will be in the airlock, ready to receive the end of the tunnel and secure it over the airlock. We’ll have marsillium coated suits which should protect us in the event of being attacked with acid. But, the inside of the airlock will be exposed. Captain Dorran. The second I give the word, open the outer airlock door. The repairs to the wiring will hopefully let that happen. Lieutenant Croxfort and I will work as fast as we can, but that tunnel will take all our strength to secure it. If We come under attack, Williams and Pierce, you will open the inner airlock door and spray everything with the urine. They have more urine over on Captain Luppino’s ship. Once the tunnel is secure, I want everyone through it in record time. Just go fast and hard and don’t stop for one second. We’ll have no shooters on the rescue ship, because we all know that’s a weak spot. Captain Dorran and Agent Jordan will be before me and I’ll be the last off the ship. Ok. That covers everything.’
Captain Dorran said, ‘Four minutes until they land, General.’
‘Right. This is it, people. Time to go home. Open the inner airlock door, Captain Dorran.’
The door hissed open, Millet and Croxfort stepped inside and the door closed behind them. Mario Luppino landed his ship with the airlocks just twenty-one feet away.
Shorty’s voice called out, ‘Hi, General. I gather you couldn’t manage without me.’
‘We’ll talk about that later, Captain Armstrong. On my count of five, get those suits over. Dorran. Outer door open now, and five, four, three, two and now, Shorty.’
The line with the two marsillium coated suits tied to it was caught by Croxfort who pulled the suits inside. ‘Airlock closed, Captain Dorran.’
Inside the closed up airlock, Millet and Croxfort quickly figured out the larger of the two suits for Millet and they hurriedly dressed.
‘Right, Shorty,’ said Millet. ‘We’re ready for the tunnel.’
Shorty said, ‘I hope you two have been working out, because this isn’t exactly light.’
Millet said, ‘I have all the exercise I need chasing after you. On three, Captain Dorran. Open the outer airlock. One, two and go, Shorty.’
Two lines were fired over to Millet and Croxfort who wrapped them around their arms and heaved, pulling the canvas tunnel towards them. Gradually, the tunnel extended, but it took every ounce of the two men’s strength to haul it across, the whole thing getting heavier as it opened up to its full length.
‘Come on, Frank,’ yelled Shorty. ‘Put your back into it.’
‘Hey. That’s General Frank, Shorty. Come on, Lieutenant. We almost have it.’
Which they had, until a gush of acid washed over them. One of the lines dissolved away and the end of the tunnel was suspended on just one line, held only by Millet, and he had to lean back hard to prevent the heavy tunnel dragging him out of the airlock .
Croxfort grabbed the line with him and yelled, ‘We’ve been sprayed by acid. Get that piss in here now.’
The inner airlock door opened and the William’s and Pierce, standing well back inside the ship, let both the General and Lieutenant have a good soaking and also the whole of the airlock. Seeing as how the two men were struggling with the heavy tunnel now on just one line, one dived forwards, and grabbed the loose end of the line, and four crew joined him in a tug-of-war and got the tunnel up against the side of the ship, around the airlock. The line was anchored down, not as intended, but time was not on their side. Above them they could hear and smell the acid being sprayed on the top of the tunnel.
‘That will have to do,’ yelled Millet. ‘Get off this bird and over there, NOW!’
One by one, Millet’s crew dived through the tunnel, ignoring the deadly acid attacking the coating. Dorran and Jordan dived through, leaving just Frank Millet behind. They raced awkwardly along the wildly swinging “bridge” to safety but before they hit the other side, a spray of acid ran down the side of the stranded ship, and the one remaining line holding the tunnel to the airlock, and the weight proved too much. The tunnel gave way, falling to the ground, only Shorty’s end still in place. Jordan and Dorran were still inside the marsillium coated canvas, which was protecting them from an unimaginably painful death as the outside of the collapsed canvas was being soaked in the deadly vomit. All Millet could do was to stand alone on the abandoned ship, as the tunnel hung like an obscene appendage with two people trapped inside.
‘Come on, you two,’ bellowed Shorty. ‘Get up here.’
Jordan and Dorran climbed up the inside of the canvas tunnel. Minutes were ticking away, but finally, grabbed roughly by Shorty and Zena, Dorran and Jordan were inside the rescue ship.
‘Frank. I can’t see you. Talk to me, damn it.’
‘Still with you, Shorty. Lose the tunnel and throw a line down. I’m going to climb up to you.’
There was a long pause, then the canvas tunnel was cut free, and Millet could see that the only ones in the airlocks were himself and Shorty, who was ready with a urine filled spray unit. Millet found the remains of a line and slid down it, but even in the twenty-feet run to the other ship, he was being swamped in acid. The suit protected him and he dived for the line hanging so seductively out of the other ship. As he climbed, Shorty heaved, and he was on his way to safety. He had almost reached it, when another acid attack from an invisible creature hit both him and the line he was climbing. With the line in one hand, Shorty grabbed the spray unit and soaked both Millet and the line.
‘Get the hell up here, Frank.’
‘Good idea. Wish I’d thought of it myself.’
Millet hauled himself up, hand over hand, and with his last ounce of strength, heaved his dripping body into the airlock.
‘Hit the go button, Mario,’ yelled Shorty. ‘We got us a General on board.’
The airlock shut fast, and the landing thrusters had them off the surface of the rock in seconds.
Shorty said, ‘You think I’m kissing you until you had a shower, you had better think again, Frank.’
Chapter 272
Commander Gordon said, ‘Cheers, Boss.’
‘I am so delighted. Our people are coming home.’
Joy Dainty said, ‘That’s one planet to cross off our holiday list.’
‘Mars it is then,’ said Gordon. ‘A thriving planet if ever there was one. You’ll love it.’
Raven said, ‘I love the way they still celebrate some of the old Earth customs. Christmas. Trick or treat. Even Guy Fawkes night. Any excuse for a party on that planet.’
‘We should have a party here,’ said Joy. ‘Welcome our people home.’
Gordon said, ‘Not all of them, Joy. Two great young people lost their lives on this mission.’
Joy said, ‘No Party? Is that what you’re saying?’
Gordon said, ‘I’m just saying. How would you feel if your son or daughter didn’t come home? Not a time for celebration, is it?’
Raven sighed. ‘I’ll have a word with the families. See how they really feel.’
Joy said, ‘Perhaps something a little subdued. We need to make these people feel as if it all meant someth
ing.’
‘But Felix is right. It has to be done as if we are not just welcoming our people home, but honouring the fallen. That’s my job. I’ll go see them in the morning. Whatever they want, we’ll respect.’
Gordon said, ‘That’s for the best. I had similar conversations with the old Boss. When the drixolate wars were raging, there were not many days he didn’t have to go round and tell a family how one of their own had died in battle. It never got easier for him. That was a huge burden to carry.’
Raven said, ‘It was and it still is. D S I is risky business, and always will be. I live with it every day. I have to send people into deep space and pray they come home safe. Sometimes they don’t. It goes with my office that I have to tell their next of kin of their loss. I don’t see a long line of people wanting to take over my job.’
Joy grabbed his hand. ‘I’ll always be here to pick up the pieces, Tagg.’
Raven forced a smile. ‘I know. And that’s what keeps me going.’
* * *
The family of Yelena Gavrikov were doing their best to console Viktor and Alisa, the dead girl’s parents. All were wearing black.
‘Boss. Please enter,’ said Viktor.
Boss nodded to the others in the room. ‘My sincere apologies for interrupting you all. I won’t take up much of your time.’
Alisa, her eyes red from crying, said, ‘Boss. Would you like a drink? Wine perhaps?’
‘Thank you, no. Some good news I thought you’d like to know. General Millet and his crew are on their way home.’
Viktor hugged Alisa. ‘That is good. No more families here to get the news we did. Yes. That is good, isn’t it Alisa?’
Alisa said, ‘Yes. But not our little girl. Not our baby.’
Boss said, ‘Sadly, no. I so wish they were all coming home.’
Viktor said, ‘We take some comfort in the others returning home.’
‘I’m here to ask you something,’ said Boss. ‘It is customary to celebrate the return from a mission like this. But I’ll understand if you are against the idea.’
Viktor held his head up high. ‘Boss. Although Alisa and I never set foot on Earth, we are from Russian stock. Russians know how to party and to us we would be celebrating Yelena’s life, not her death.’
Boss smiled. ‘That is a wonderful way to look at it. You are of course, all welcome to be there as honoured guests. I have to be going. Thank you.’
Boss left to go to the next family. Roy and Mary Vincent, parents of Tim, the rookie who had died. He found them alone. The feeling of grief seemed to hang heavily in the air. Mary let him in, Roy sitting at a table with a bottle of booze, the table with the three dimensional image projector, showing images of Tim from a baby, right up to the time of him proudly wearing his D S I uniform.
‘Best leave Roy, Boss,’ said Mary. ‘He’ll be ok in time. This is his way of dealing with it.’
‘I’d probably be the same, Mrs Vincent. I’ve just come from the Garikov’s. I can tell you that General Millet and the others are off the planet and are on their way home.’
Mary Nodded. ‘Good. I appreciate you coming to tell us that.’
‘There’s something else. We would like to celebrate the safe return of the others. But I wanted to make sure you are ok with that. The Garikov’s said something I thought significant. They want the celebration to go ahead in memory of their daughter’s life, not her death.’
Mary glanced over at her husband. ‘I’ll talk to Roy later. I’m sure he’ll feel the same way. Yes. Please celebrate their return. I’m not sure if we’ll be joining in though.’
Boss said, ‘You’ll be most welcome. But I will understand if you decide not to come. I’ll leave you to your grieving. Look. Mary. If there’s anything I can do, anything at all, give my office a call.’
‘Tim was so proud of being accepted for D S I training. That’s all he wanted to do since he was little boy.’
‘I remember Tim well. Such enthusiasm. You should always be proud of him.’
‘We will. Thank you, Boss.’
‘You take care. Give my regards to Roy.’
* * *
Joy Dainty didn’t have to ask Raven how things went. It was written on his face.
Raven swirled the ice around in his booze. ‘The Gavrikov’s were very much in favour. A celebration of their daughter’s life, not her death. I like that. The Vincent’s are going through a harder time from what I saw. Perhaps they don’t have the family support of the Gavrikov’s. They are ok with the party, but I don’t really expect them to turn up.’
‘Not much else you can do. Just help them in any way you can.’
Raven poured another drink. ‘I did. All D S I Military are covered by the special fund. Both families will receive a pension from it for the rest of their lives. That’s no compensation I realise, but at least it’s something.’
‘Anything that helps is a good thing. Will Maj Saltoe plan the party?’
Raven thought about topping up his drink then decided he’d had enough. ‘She’s already doing it. You know Maj. Efficiency personified.’
Joy said, ‘She is. Come on, now Dixon’s asleep. You need some T L C.’
Chapter 273
Millet and Shorty were wrapped up in each others arms in the tiny, cramped bunk room. Millet pulled Shorty close and kissed her lips.
‘That planet was about the worst experience of my professional life,’ said Millet. ‘Not one I’d care to repeat.’
‘I always said that a planet with invisible beings was a bad idea.’
‘That you did. I’ll take your advice next time.’
Shorty sat up. ‘I thought you might retire. Try something new.’
Millet frowned in surprise. ‘Retire? I’m not doing that. Unless…’
‘What?’
‘Unless Boss fires me for screwing up the mission.’
Shorty said, ‘Why would he do that?’
‘I got two good young people killed and I lost my ship.’
‘Boss doesn’t blame you for what happened. You were all set to come home. We all know that. Those creatures attacked before you had the chance.’
Millet shook his head. ‘Boss told me to get off that rock. So did you. I had the chance to do just that, but delayed it. Damn. What a mess.’
‘Every mission carries a degree of risk, Frank. It would be like…Like me blaming you when I got shot. I didn’t and I don’t.’
Millet said, ‘Tilly Jordan blamed Raven for years. What happened to them, was just like what happened to us.’
‘Frank. If you’re going to beat yourself up over this, then it really is time to end it. Promise me you’ll think about it.’
‘Who would we have take over from me? There’s nobody ready to step up that high. Major Sefton would be my natural successor but he got killed two years ago and nobody was promoted to take his place. Shorty. I’m not ruling out retirement, but I couldn’t just leave D S I in a mess. I promise I’ll have a serious talk with Boss. See what he suggests.’
Shorty said, ‘That’s all I ask. Now kiss me, you big lug.’
Chapter 274
Tilly Jordan was busy writing up her report when Shorty joined her at the table. Tilly could see the signs and shut down her terminal.
‘Yes,’ said Tilly.
‘Hmm?’
‘You were just about to say if you could ask my opinion on something. Go ahead.’
‘It’s about Frank.’
‘Naturally. Men are usually the route of all problems.’
‘I’m worried about him.’
Tilly smiled. Her new face let her do that, these days. ‘That’s why women were invented. So men have someone to worry over them. So, tell me.’
‘He’s bottling it all up. Frank and I have been in more battles than I could shake a rifle at. Got the scars to prove it.’
Tilly subconsciously rubbed her reconstructed face. ‘We all carry those, inside and out.’
‘Frank could have handled being
shot. It’s what’s in his head that bothers me. If this gets too personal, tell me to get lost.’
‘Out with it, Shorty.’
Shorty took a deep breath. ‘He feels guilty about those two deaths. I keep telling him it happened and not to blame himself too much. But he is. I can feel it. He said about you and Tagg Raven. Boss. How you blamed him for years for what happened to you.’
‘I did. Not now. I tormented the hell out of that man for a long time, and he just took it. That was because he loved me and I played on that.’
Shorty said, ‘What made you stop? Did you forgive him?’
Tilly leaned back in her chair, thinking how to answer that one. ‘I don’t think it was that simple. But I was slowly drinking myself to an early death. His partner, Joy Dainty came to see me. You know something? And I don’t want this ever repeated, ok?’
‘My word.’
‘I loved Tagg Raven. I still do. We had a relationship before I was shot. Talk of babies together. That sort of thing. When I was shot, I lost all that. Tagg didn’t dump me. As disfigured as I was, he still loved me. I let him go. I lived a few years as a recluse. Hating myself. Hating Tagg. Then Joy came to see me. I could see the love in her eyes that she felt for that man. She asked me to let him go. Let him and her be happy. She…The beautiful Joy Dainty. She had everything I had lost. She had her looks. She had my man.’
Shorty stared at this now pretty woman, with a face and figure she could never have, and yet felt her hurt, her loss, her pain.