Dana snatched it from his hand, scrolling through the information. “There’s nothing on here about what the drugs are.”
Yoshida smiled. “You will just have to trust me.”
“Trust you?” Dana said, scowling. “After -”
“Dana,” Webb cut her off. “It’s not like we have a choice.”
“After what?” Yoshida said, eyes narrow and wary.
Webb glanced toward the surgical bay, curtain still drawn. “Can we see him?”
Yoshida stood in silence a moment searching his face, then nodded and stepped aside.
Dana pushed in front and hurried to the surgical bay, shoving back the curtain and stopping in the doorway. Webb came up more slowly behind her.
Hugo lay on the gurney, free of blood and dirt but with a thick layer of dressing taped across his chest, with more bandaging wrapped around his body. The skin around the bandaging was red and angry and the rest of him had an unpleasant yellowish look. His head was angled away, his eyes closed, an oxygen mask over his face. His chest rose and fell steadily, the monitors around him beeped evenly and his face, at last, looked restful.
“You’d almost not believe what a pain in the ass he can be seeing him like this,” Webb said, voice steady but only just.
Dana let out a single choked noise then went to him, stepping carefully around the IV stand suspending his blood and drug fluids. She brushed his hair from his face and padded at the skin of his face and neck as if to reassure herself he was still there.
“Let that transfusion finish,” Yoshida said from the doorway. “Then you can take him. Ideally, you don’t want to move someone so soon after the procedure, but you should get him to wherever he’s going for further treatment as soon as possible.”
“Yoshida,” Webb said, turning on the doctor. He softened his voice. “There’s one more thing.”
“What?”
Webb chewed the inside of his cheek. “There was…a girl. A girl from Lunar 1.”
Yoshida’s brow creased.
“The Ghosts had her sister sign over their business in exchange for a procedure. She had the wasting sickness. She needed a new liver.”
Yoshida’s face slackened. “Yes,” he said, after a painful pause. “Yes, I remember. That was an unfortunate case. I told them I hadn’t perfected the procedure, that it was too soon to try on live subjects, but they wouldn’t listen.”
Webb’s mouth went dry as he searched the medic’s face for signs that he was telling the truth, or a sign that he cared, but the man met his look straight on and couldn’t be read.
“I can assure you that that was just an unfortunate occurrence, the result of me being forced to perform a procedure prematurely. Your friend’s body has accepted his implant, as I say. Ideally he shouldn’t be moved and I won’t be held responsible for the ability of his own medical care once he leaves mine. But I have done what I agreed.”
“Her sister…” Dana’s voice was small. Webb turned to look at her. Her eyes were fixed on Hugo, knuckles white as she gripped the rail of the gurney. “Her sister’s after you.” She raised her eyes to look at the medic. “She’s declared a Black Cross against everyone involved.”
Yoshida blinked, looked first at Dana then at Webb.
“Fair warning, Doc,” Webb said. “I’d get yourself the hell away from this colony the minute you can.”
Yoshida stared at him a second longer, eyes wide then nodded. “Thank you,” he said, then went back through to his lab and could be heard jabbering into the communicator.
Webb drifted over to stand by Dana. “How much longer?”
Dana examined the amount of blood left in the bag. “Half an hour, maybe.”
“I say we get straight to the Phoenix and wait for the cavalry.”
Dana nodded.
“Hey,” Webb put an arm around her shoulders, though he, too, felt like there was a rock in his stomach. “He’s going to be ok.”
“If there’s no brain damage,” Dana whispered. She touched her fingers to Hugo’s forehead again. “And if we manage to get him out of here.”
Webb gave her a squeeze and let his arm drop, knowing there was nothing to say to that. Neither of them mentioned Ariel.
*
“You have your supplies?” Yoshida said. His voice was clipped as he continued to secure lockers and pack away his lab equipment.
“Yes,” Webb said, lifting the lock box.
“There’s a couple of men coming through with mopeds,” Yoshida continued as he worked. “I suggest you do as I’m doing and get yourself away from Haven as fast as you can.”
“That’s the plan.” Webb hesitated then stepped into the medic’s way to get his attention. “Thank you. I mean it.”
Yoshida frowned. “Just remember our agreement,” he said, then pulled something that looked like a gun from one of the drawers in his workbench. “Turn around.”
“Whoa,” Webb took a step back. “What the hell is that?”
“I’m going to implant a tracking device,” Yoshida said, matter-of-factly. “I use them to monitor the progress of my patients. This way you can’t escape our deal, so don’t try to.”
“Doc,” Webb said, raising his hands. “You can trust me.”
“Please turn around,” Yoshida said, eyes hard.
Webb felt his stomach turn over. That cold look was back in the medic’s face. He suppressed a shiver and turned. The metal press against the nape of his neck and then there was a sharp pain.
“Ah, you bastard,” Webb said, pulling away.
“If you try and remove it,” Yoshida said, returning the device to a locked drawer, “I shall know.”
“Will you relax?” Webb grumbled. “I’ve shaken on it, haven’t I?”
“The transfusion’s finished,” Dana said coming through from the surgical bay. She was looking drawn. “Let’s get out of here.”
Yoshida went back to packing away his lab without another glance at either of them. Webb followed Dana back through to Hugo, neck stinging and mind sliding away from thinking about his agreement. He stood back out of the way as Dana unhooked Hugo’s IV lines and mask.
“How much medic training have you actually had?” Webb asked, admiration clear in his voice as she checked his stats before unplugging his monitors.
“Only what’s standard at the Academy,” she said.
“Never thought I’d be grateful for that place being so thorough,” Webb mumbled.
“Me neither,” Dana said quietly. “Are his clothes down there?”
Webb searched and found the sweatshirt hooked on the wall behind him. “Jesus,” he swore as they struggled to get Hugo upright. “Either he keeps getting heavier or…”
“Or we haven’t eaten or slept properly in days,” Dana finished. “Come on. He needs to get back on a bloodline as soon as possible.”
“Dana?”
They froze.
“Kale?” Dana bent to look in her brother’s face. His eyes were open, though his eyelids were heavy. He peered at his sister like he was trying to keep her in focus. “Everything’s ok, alright? We’re going home. Come on,” she said to Webb. “We need to hurry.”
“Where am I?” Hugo mumbled.
“Just relax, man,” Webb said, keeping his voice light. “Everything’s taken care of. This way.”
Hugo shivered as his bare feet touched the deck. Webb winced in sympathy. He swayed as he tried to shift his weight on the gurney. They propped him up again. He stared at the deck without seeing it.
“Kale, you still with us?” Dana tried again.
“Let’s just get him out of here,” Webb said.
Dana nodded, though she still searched her brother’s face for any sort of reaction.
They half-supported, half-dragged him out of the bay just as there was the chugging noise of mopeds braking and powering down in the hanger.
“Good luck, Doctor,” Dana said as they shuffled past.
Yoshida looked up, surprised. Then he nodded. “Y
ou too.”
Yoshida’s guards gave them wary looks as they dismounted the mopeds but did no more than that. Webb ignored them and mounted one of the mopeds. Dana helped Hugo to climb on behind him.
“Hugo,” Webb said. Hugo shifted against his back but didn’t reply. “You need to hang on to me. Can you hang on?”
Dana stood by, mouth pinched when he didn’t reply but Webb felt an arm come round his waist.
“Just like old times, huh?” Webb said and fired up the engine. “At least we’re not on Lunar 1 this time.”
“I’m not sure Haven’s any improvement on Lunar 1,” Dana said, swinging a leg over her own moped.
“Try growing up there,” Webb replied, then the men were opening the gates and they were speeding away. They went slow, despite Webb’s impatience. Hugo’s grip tightened with the movement but he still swayed against Webb’s back and he could feel his former captain struggling against unconsciousness.
“Stay with us,” Webb said even though he wasn’t sure Hugo could hear him. “Almost there, man. Just stay with us.”
Dana steered them well clear of the nearest yard but the streets were unnervingly empty, even for mid-shift. After pausing at the second junction and seeing no one outside and no lights in any nearby buildings, Dana took them on the straighter and quicker roads.
“She’s berthed in a private dock that’s not been used in years,” Dana said, sparing a look from the road to look over to Webb and her brother. “We can get to her through Sector 2 and avoid the harbour but…”
Dana cut off and braked. Webb did the same. There was a broad inter-sector avenue ahead. A couple of workers, barely more than children, stood in the centre of the junction, staring at them. They all stayed there in silence for a minute that stretched on and on and then the workers turned and ran away, shouting.
“Shit,” Dana punched her palm off the handle bars. “They must have recognised us.”
“There’s nothing for it,” Webb gunned his engine. “Tear it.”
Dana didn’t hesitate but fired her accelerator and sped out onto the avenue. Webb followed, steering with one hand and keeping Hugo’s feeble grip clamped against him with the other. The few people they passed stared after them. Another moped in their path swerved out of their way but Dana was merciless and sped them on, taking a corner at sickening speed onto a street heading back toward Sector 2.
Webb dared to think they were going to make it when the hull was low enough to make out the Sector number, when they turned a corner and had to skid and brake before ploughing into a solid line of people blocking the way.
Webb kept his moped and Hugo upright with an effort, panting heavily and staring around at the dozens of pale, scarred faces. Dana looked about too, fear stiffening her body.
Dana swore. “Those kids must have raised the alarm and told them which direction we were going.”
Webb didn't say anything. Hugo shifted against him, mumbling. Webb’s hand on the handlebar tightened.
More and more Havenites were joining the crowd, all facing them with dark looks on their faces. Some murmured in groups with heads bent together but the crowd was otherwise silent. Some of the faces were clearly angry. Most were unreadable. Some bore recent injuries. A few had weapons in their hands.
Webb started when he recognised Bryce in the front row, arms folded, glaring death at him. He felt Hugo shift and moan against his back again and tightened his grip on his arm.
“I did not get him this far just to be lynched,” Dana said so quietly Webb felt it more said to herself than him.
“Just keep still,” was all he could say.
Waiting for something to happen was worse than if the Havenites had all descended on them at once and torn them apart. The scores of eyes pinned them in place and Webb couldn’t even think of anything to do or say. Dana didn’t look at him but just stared back at the crowd, knuckles white around the handlebars of her moped and face set and frightened.
Webb’s blood pounded in his ears and he was just about to gather his breath to yell something, he didn’t know what, when the crowd in front of them parted and a small party came forward.
August was amongst them, dark face blank. Simone was behind him along with another Elder, tall for a Havenite with fair hair. Webb didn’t recognise him. They were accompanied by four Enforcers, all with long blades or stout sticks ready and each with a secured prisoner in their grip. Three of the prisoners, stumbling along with hands bound, Webb recognised vaguely as Ghosts he’d seen in the recreation rooms in Ariel’s stronghold, though now they were dirty, bloodied and so worn out that they weren’t even protesting.
The Enforcer in the centre was dragging along Ariel by one elbow of his fine suit. The blade stood tall despite the rough handling, dark eyes looking on all around him with disdain, despite the filth that streaked his face and white hair.
The peculiar party came right up to them and those holding prisoners forced them to their knees. Ariel’s black eyes fixed on Webb and burned.
August stepped forward. “Ezekiel Webb, Commodore and Midshipman Hugo,” he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “We are all gathered here to tell you have been spared execution for your crimes on the understanding you leave Haven for good, taking these individuals with you and ensuring all their connections with Haven out in the Orbit are obliterated. Their stronghold is destroyed, their army disbanded. But we can’t do anything about the connections and power they have on the Outside. You can.”
Webb stared at the older man, brain whirling.
“There are citizens that are owed your heads,” the Elder Webb didn’t know said, stepping in up next to August. His face was lined and his eyes fierce but he held himself in complete control. People in the crowd shifted and fingered weapons. “But these scum,” he glared around the once-finely dressed prisoners, “are the worse kind of traitors. And you are the only way we can make sure no one else can carry on what they’ve started.”
Someone spat. It landed near Ariel’s knee. He made no more reaction than to clench his jaw. His eyes were still fixed on Webb’s face.
“You will live to regret this, Hadrian,” one of the other prisoners said, though she glared at the floor and refused to look at anyone. “It would be better for all of you if you’d hung us.”
“There’s still time,” one of the Enforcers growled.
“No,” the Elder, Hadrian, said. “Our judgment is exile. Let these Outsiders take away all your security and heritage, since you saw fit to disrespect them so violently.” Murmuring broke out amongst the crowd again and Hadrian called for silence. “How soon can you be on your way?” he asked Webb.
“We have a ship docked in a private berth near here,” Webb said, still keeping very still and trying to ignore Ariel’s stare. “There is a Service ship on its way to accompany us back to the Orbit.”
“Get them up,” August ordered and the Enforcers wrenched the prisoners back to their feet. “We will allow the Service ship to berth in the dock here and will get them on board for you. Then they’re your problem.”
August wouldn’t meet his glance but Simone was looking right at him. Someone muttered something angry in the crowd but was shushed.
“This is our decision,” Hadrian’s voice boomed around the square. “But you best remember,” he turned back to Webb and Dana, heavy face stormy and broad, yard-worker’s shoulders bulging. “You are still blacklisted here. If any of you ever dare to enter Haven space again, you will be executed on the spot.”
“Message received,” Webb said, shifting. Hugo slid against his back and Webb tightened his grip again.
“See that it’s done,” the Elder said then turned and disappearing into the crowd. Some protests started to erupt and a few people broke off to follow him. Bryce threw a fierce look at Webb then did the same, arguing heatedly but Hadrian shouted right back.
Chatter began to spread amongst the onlookers. Some melted away but a lot of them stayed to stare. More Enforcers came forward, some
to help escort the prisoners away. A couple came to take Hugo.
“Be careful,” Dana hurried over. “He’s hurt.”
“Dana,” Webb said, standing free of his moped and gently passing a limp Hugo over into the Enforcer’s hold. “Go with your brother. Rami will be here any minute. Get him straight to her ship’s medical bay. And take these.” He fished the lock box Yoshida had given him out of his pocket and the gaming panel that was blinking again. “I’ll be right behind you.”
“Where are you going?” Dana said, glancing after the Enforcers bearing Hugo away.
“I’ll be right there. Go.”
She nodded, turned to leave, hesitated, turned back and flung her arms around his neck. “We got him,” she whispered in her ear. “We really got him.”
Webb hugged her to him. “We sure did. Now if we can just get your brother back alive, we’ll chalk this whole thing up as a win, yeah?”
She pulled back and nodded, weak smile warming her face. “Don't be long,” she said, then ran after the knot of people heading toward the docks.
Webb left the mopeds in the middle of the street and strode over to August and Simone who were fielding angry questions from the remaining Havenites. As he approached August managed to break away.
“You need to get out of here,” he said, taking him by the elbow and leading him away from the gathering. “I’m serious. Lots of people are unhappy with this and the riot’s still fresh in their blood. We can’t stop them all if they take matters into their own hands.”
“I just wanted to thank you, August, whilst I could,” he looked over to where he could just about see the white head of Ariel disappear as the Enforcers marched them around a corner. “You’ve saved our asses.”
“What makes you think this was my idea?”
Webb shrugged on shoulder. “Well, yours and Simone’s I was guessing.”
August shook his shaggy head. He looked very tired. “Hadrian spoke the truth, boy. Stealing, assault, lying about the real reason you brought Hugo aboard? You were closer than I like to think to a public execution. You were lucky we found out about these Ghosts when we did.”
Haven (The Orbit Series Book 2) Page 33