by Dana Kelly
“Cajun gave me the exact location,” said Mike. “And an access code. I can get the flight info.”
Malmoradan snorted. “Of course, he did. All right, then let’s say we call Hector a cab, and let’s say the cabbie makes it to Arsenal Bay. Let’s even say the information’s current, and he locates the good doctor. What makes you think he’ll say yes?”
“I’ll offer him twice his base salary to come here,” said Mike. “Plus expenses.”
“He’s a doctor who runs his practice out of a residence tower on a countdown planet,” said Malmoradan, and he regarded Mike expectantly.
“And?”
“He’s not doing it for the money.” Malmoradan frowned somewhat. “Ask yourself if he’d be willing to abandon his patients for two and a half months—because he’d be spending two weeks in the nightmare and three weeks in space just to get here. So he can maybe save the consciousness of a stranger’s DI. Then it’s three weeks back, another two weeks in the nightmare, and it could take months to even book a flight. Most likely, he’ll have to wait for Taranis to pick him up.”
Mike sank in his chair. “I hadn’t considered that.”
“While we’re on the subject, let me tell you about his patients,” said Malmoradan. “If Taranis is like the rest of the galaxy’s mega-manufacturers, they work their employees to death. Literally. Sickness, accidents on the job, malnutrition, and exhaustion is everyday life for these people, and I’ll be damned if every nullie I met didn’t end up sterile. Nullies, by the way, is what the folks from countdown planets call themselves, because they’re treated like they’re less than nothing.” He leaned back in his chair, and it creaked.
“That sounds horrible,” said April.
“Wait until you hear about the spin-down,” said Malmoradan. “When countdown planets get used up, it comes time to move, but it takes time to set up the next site. While the survivors are waiting around for moving day, supply drops get less and less frequent, and when the oxygen starts to run low, that’s when things get ugly. Hector took an oath to help others. His services are lifesaving, and if Arsenal Bay’s spinning down, they’d be critical.”
“Okay, fine, but Hector’s not the only expert in bioelectronicals,” said Torsha. “I’m sure we can find someone else.”
“It’s bioelectronics, actually,” said Mike, and he looked dismayed. “Unfortunately, I’m not sure of that at all.”
“Then what’s the plan?” asked Orin.
“It sounds like hiring Hector to make a house call isn’t realistic,” said Mike. “I’m tempted to accept Casey’s offer. What do you guys think?”
“I think you should,” said April.
“I agree,” said Malmoradan. “One last job together.”
Shona smiled demurely at Mike. “I’d love to show you around Watchtower.”
“You three don’t get a vote,” said Torsha.
Shona laughed. “Why don’t we?”
“You just don’t,” said Torsha.
Mike breathed into his hands. “Even though I hate the thought of it, I think the right thing to do is to book transport to Arsenal Bay with Casey and the Watchtower. Even if it takes a couple months to get back here, it’s our best shot at saving Nimbus.”
“You’re coming with us?” asked Orin.
Mike smiled slightly and nodded. “I am.”
Orin cheered. “Then let’s call Casey!”
Torsha got in Mike’s face, giving him a start. “We need to talk, just you and me.” They excused themselves from the group and adjourned to Orin’s old room, where she slammed the door.
“What’s up?” asked Mike.
“You’re going back up there?”
He tapped his jacket pocket. “I have to. He’d do it for us.”
“You’ve lost your mind,” she hissed. “We haven’t even tried anything else! I already helped you save Orin, and we know exactly how that turned out! I love Nimbus, but… please don’t ask me to go back up there.”
Mike hugged her close. “I wasn’t planning to. You should take the van to Cavern Lake. Take it easy. Say hi to everyone for us.”
She stood back and regarded him suspiciously. “Really? This isn’t some reverse psychology guilt trip, right?”
“It definitely is not,” said Mike. “Don’t worry, we got this.”
“You all got something, that’s for sure,” said Torsha, and she prodded Mike’s shoulder.
He chuckled. “I guess since you spent all that time with us, you must have it too.”
“Ha, you’re so funny,” she sneered.
Mike pulled open the door. “Shall we?”
She sighed and shook her head. “Not yet. There’s a lot of memories in this room, and I think I’m going to spend some time with them.”
“Cool.” For a moment, he lingered in reverie. Turning away, he rejoined the others at the table.
April retrieved her phone and dialed, but Casey didn’t answer. She left a detailed message. Shaking her head, she tapped her phone against her palm. “She always picks up. I wonder why she isn’t answering.”
“Maybe she’s living it up with the Marble River folk,” said Malmoradan.
April quietly laughed. “You know, I’d wager she’s doing exactly that.”
◆◆◆
Bilious green neon light bathed everything inside a local dive bar. Towards the back door, people played pool, and a very drunk cullthoun repeatedly proclaimed through his vocoder that he was sober enough to throw darts, despite there being no target or even any darts. A live band murmured old country songs from behind a rusty security cage, their stage presence as rundown as the rest of the establishment.
Seated at the counter, Casey downed the last of her beer and signaled the bartender to bring another. Nearby, Cajun hunched over a sticky table, nursing a drink someone had purchased for him an hour ago. A defeated paper umbrella jutted out of it; it was pink, but the green lighting turned it gray.
Suddenly, Cajun perked up. “Mon Capitaine, they called, they did!”
Unsteadily, Casey craned around to regard him. “They what?”
He listened to the message. “Our friends are lookin’ to book passage with us.” Cajun reviewed a proposed transaction: a certain Skyler Stern offered one galactic credit in exchange for transport to Arsenal Bay. With a smile, he tapped the “Accept” button. “Joie de vivre, ya April called it right!”
The bartender set an ice-cold lager before Casey, and she cheerily thanked him. As soon as he left, she returned her attention to Cajun. “Just once, I’d love it if she was wrong.” Gulp after gulp, she drained her beer. “Or smug,” she slurred. “So I could slap it off her face.”
“I know ya don’t mean that,” said Cajun, and he pushed away his watery mojito. “Let’s get back to the shuttle. We can rustle up the crew in the mornin’.”
“What about Malmorfadin? What if…” She burped quietly into her hand. “What if he can’t find us?” She laughed suddenly. “I said Malmorfadin! I meant Malmorf… Madan.”
“Ya don’t need to worry about that, tonight.” Cajun booked a cab, paid their bill, and propped himself under Casey’s shoulder. She draped her arm across his back.
As they moved, Casey leaned over and whispered, “You know, I have a secret.” Tapping her head, she asked, “Do you want to know what it is?”
“Ya not really Casey? Or April and you, ya not really cousins—which is essentially two ways o’ sayin’ the same thing, when ya think about it.”
“That’s right! How did you…?” She stopped in her tracks, looking overly concerned. Closing her eyes, she stumbled as she grimaced. “Of course, because I already told you, but… But I was joking before.”
“I know,” said Cajun. “But this time ya bein’ serious.”
Casey gasped. “You can’t tell anyone!” Her eyes bounced as she struggled to track him, and she swayed steeply.
Cajun steadied her. “Come on. Ya’ll gon’ be fine after the hangover.”
“I
don’t want a hangover.”
“Don’t ya worry, now. I’ll brew ya somethin’ to fight it. Exit’s this way, mon Capitaine. Our cab’ll be here in two minutes.” Patiently, he guided Casey from the bar.
Outside, rain surged in sheets over a weathered parking lot, scattered cars, a row of motorcycles, and the corrugated steel awning overhead. Beyond the lot, vast stretches of waterlogged scrublands sprawled under the darkness of the night. In the distance, lights twinkled from a half-dozen residence towers.
Arriving right on time, an automated taxi rolled into view, and they climbed inside.
◆◆◆
“You guys ready?” asked Orin. He shouldered his backpack, wearing an excited smile as he greeted the morning.
“Just about,” said Malmoradan. “Our first stop is Horseshoe Point, where we’ll be meeting Casey’s driver. That’s a three-hour cab ride from here, and I ain’t got any idea where her driver’s taking us after that. Could be a secluded ravine, or it could be a snowy mountaintop. So, you know… pack accordingly, I guess.”
“I’d never even heard of Horseshoe Point before this morning,” said Mike. “Which is saying something, because I take pride in knowing all the out-of-the-way places around here.”
“Well, it is a clandestine rendezvous,” said April. She paused to glance out the apartment window. Faded shade sails soaked the muted sunrise, and they painted a blurred kaleidoscope on the tower’s inner walls. With a sleepy smile, she stretched and returned to packing.
“Look! There’s acres and acres of farmland between here and there,” said Shona, and she swiped through the street view of the cab route. “Horseshoe Point’s in the middle of the forest, too. Are we gonna have time to get some pie and coffee while we’re there?”
“We’ll have about an hour to wander around,” said Malmoradan.
“Good, because I’m starting to develop a thing for forest-town diner food,” said Shona.
Malmoradan raised his brow. “By my count, this’ll be the second forest town you’ve ever been in.”
“I know! I can’t wait to see it,” said Shona.
“Where was the other one?” asked Mike.
“A small logging town on planet Ryliah’s northwestern strand, where we nabbed that rogue exo,” said April. “What was it called? It’s on the tip of my tongue.”
“Sik Moyís,” said Shona. “I’ll never forget it. They had the most amazing trees I’ve ever seen!”
Their lighthearted banter continued while they finished packing, and Torsha stepped close to Orin. “You’re coming to Cavern Lake when you get back. Okay? You have to.” She hugged him tightly.
He ran his hand over the top of her head. “I promise.”
“You have to say the whole thing, or it’s not a real promise,” said Torsha.
Orin smiled warmly. “I promise I’ll come to Cavern Lake as soon as I’m back.”
“And Mike too. And Nimbus when he’s better.”
“I don’t think they’ll need any convincing,” said Orin.
“Well, if they do,” said Torsha.
“I promise I’ll do my best.”
She leaned into him, pressing her face against his chest, and her ears relaxed. “I changed my mind. You’re not allowed to go back up there. You have to stay with me, now.”
“All right then,” said Orin, and he laughed quietly. “I’ll let the others know.”
“Good,” said Torsha, and she yawned.
“Our ride’s almost here,” said Mike, and he lightly tapped Orin’s shoulder. “We have to go.”
“Yeah, I know.” Stepping back, Orin drew a deep breath and smiled wistfully at Torsha. “See you in a million years.”
She gazed into his eyes. “See you in a million years.”
He tightened his backpack straps. With a nod, he followed the others out onto the footpath. Under the mantle of an overcast morning, they descended the stairs to ground level.
◆◆◆
Limestone mountains stood vigil along the horizon. Kissed by the dying sunlight, they twinkled like newly fallen snow. A wide valley traced the rain shadow expanse, etched by centuries of howling wind. Cactus trees, spore towers, and inselbergs cast long silhouettes.
On the valley floor, plumes of dust kicked up behind a weathered, off-road pickup. Seated in the truck bed, Orin, Shona, and Malmoradan huddled around the roll bars, watching the desert scroll by. Orin wore a souvenir ball cap and truck stop mirror shades, and bandanas covered their mouths. They bounced with every stone, every rise, and every drop the pickup drove over.
Inertia pressed them toward the cabin as the pickup truck slowed. Brakes complained as the vehicle came to a full stop, and the driver let the engine idle. Sliding open the rear cabin window, he met Malmoradan’s eyes and nodded.
Malmoradan pulled down his bandana. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Sorry it took so long,” said the driver.
“They call ‘em surprise checkpoints for a reason,” said Malmoradan. “You found a way around, and we’re grateful.” One by one, they climbed out of the truck bed, to stand upon a mix of brick red dirt and resplendent blue sand. Mike and April exited the cabin and joined them.
A nearby pile of rocks collapsed in slow motion as each stone sprouted four stumpy legs. With a burst of speed, they scattered. “What are those?” asked Malmoradan.
“Tortocas,” said Mike.
Malmoradan nodded. “I ain’t ever seen a tortoca before.”
Orin removed his bandana. “They’re indigenous to Rhyon, right here in the Sea of Sands.”
“According to his mom, crossing a pile is supposed to be a good omen,” said Mike.
“It looks like they’re mating,” said Shona.
Mike nodded. “I think you’re right.” He cleared his throat and turned his back to the pile.
“Well, whatever they’re doing, crossing a pile is lucky. Luckier than ladybugs,” said Orin. “My mom used to take us camping out here when we were kids, and every time I’ve seen a pile, something good has happened to me. Usually within the next twenty-four hours.” He grinned. “Nimbus is going to be fine, and this trip is going to be great!”
They heard a shrill whistle in the distance and turned to see Casey hurrying close. “Hey guys,” she said. “What took so long? I was starting to get worried.”
“We encountered an unannounced MABAS checkpoint,” said April. “We had to take the long way around, but it was nothing your driver couldn’t handle.”
“That’s a relief. The last thing we need is for Orin to turn up on their radar again.” She gave the driver a double thumbs-up. “Thank you very much! We’ll take it from here.”
He nodded and shifted into reverse. Sand and gravel crunched quietly under the tires as he pulled away and drove off.
“Welcome back, all of you,” said Casey. “Mike, I’m glad you decided to join us. Right this way.”
Resting atop a nearby mesa, her shuttle’s hull gleamed in the setting sun. Cajun, Edison, Sturmhardt, and Misaki sat on folding chairs, positioned on either side of the boarding ramp. They talked and joked amongst themselves.
As soon as she noticed the others approaching, Misaki hopped up, beaming. “Hi, Orin!” she called out, and she waved.
Orin laughed. “Hi, Saki!”
They quickly gathered their things and boarded the shuttle. Casey retracted the boarding ramp and sealed the airlock as the others crowded into the passenger compartment, where they now shared space with a dozen large crates. “What’s all this?” asked Malmoradan.
“Resupply,” said Cajun. “There’s plenty o’ right fancy food inside, too. Ya’ll are eatin’ well this trip!” He glanced at April and nodded toward the cockpit as he settled in. “She’s waitin’ for ya.”
April tapped the side of her head. “I know.” She squeezed Cajun’s shoulder and took her seat at the copilot’s station.
Casey glanced her way with a smile, and the shuttle soon lifted off.
◆◆◆
“No, don’t.” She held up her hands as she sank into the couch. “Don’t do that. Don’t use his nicknames for me. And for your information, Harvest Tide’s next Thursday. You two really should’ve put paper turkeys, miniature cornucopias, and string lights all over the living room. Aurora makes a big deal about decorating for all the major holidays.”
“That was our mistake,” said Aurora’s doppelgänger, and she reverted to her natural form. “We believe it is better to remain at home as much as possible. Reduced interaction leads to reduced risk of discovery.”
“Everything’s in a box in the closet,” said Torsha. “I can show you. Do you think she buys new decorations every year?”
“We had not considered decorating for any holidays,” said the female. “Romald and I will correct our oversight after you have departed aboard the sky van.”
Torsha laughed dryly. “His true name is Romald?”
“That was spoken in error,” sighed the female. “I should not have said that.”
“Oh no! It’s Pandora’s box,” said Torsha. She made ghostly sounds as she slowly waved her hands.
“My true name is Romald,” he said in his own voice. “Why do you find that funny?”
“It’s like a joke name,” said Torsha. “ROM plus Ronald equals Romald.”
The female blinked pointedly. “I do not follow.”
“You know, because you’re techno-organic! It’s one of those words, like holotainment or flicycle. What’s it called, a… an anagram? A palindrome?”
“You mean a portmanteau,” said Romald.
“No, it’s not that,” said Torsha, and she regarded the female. “What’s your true name?”
Lights flashed along her throat, and her eyes dimmed slightly. “That was an error on my part. You were not supposed to know either of our true names. I humbly request you accept my refusal to share my true name with you.”
“Come on! Who would I tell?” asked Torsha.