Firmament: Radialloy

by J. Grace Pennington

  “It wasn’t killing you! You would have died in the first place if it weren’t for me! You killed her!”

  My eyes tingled with unshed tears, but I kept on, my voice beginning to waver. “Did you tell her your plan? Or did she find it out?”

  “Do you really think I would have told her?”

  “So she took me away. She took me—where I would be safe.” Fierce pain grabbed my heart as I thought of the Doctor.

  “If it weren’t for you, if it weren’t for him, she would still be alive!” A paroxysm of fury contorted his face, and the last vestige of pretense fell away. “You deserve to die!” He pounded his fist on the button and the metallic door slammed shut, leaving me locked in darkness.

  I didn’t hear his footsteps as he left the room, but I felt no doubt that he had. My bravado drained out of me, and I sank to the floor, resting my back against the cold, metal wall of the closet.

  Even if August and Guilders realized what I had done, my father would have locked the door, and he’d be watching the systems now. The trick wouldn’t work twice. And there were just over three hours left to save the Doctor.

  Why, why didn’t I just stick with the plan? Oh why couldn’t I have just done what Guilders and my conscience said to do?

  The same reason I hadn’t listened when the Doctor told me not to listen to Erasmus.

  I trusted myself before all others.

  I was so desperate to keep things the way I wanted them, that I couldn’t let the future rest in anyone’s hands but my own.

  As it had turned out, my hands were anything but competent.

  My wristcom let off a tiny, faint square of green light, and I could read the black numbers flicking from digit to digit on it as the seconds went by. A minute. Two minutes. Five minutes. Thirty. I heard nothing, felt nothing but the cold metal through my jacket and the coarse fibers of the Commander’s uniform against my cheek.

  Fifty minutes. There were only two and a half hours left until twelve.

  Something snapped inside me, and I dropped my head to my knees, hugging them to my chest. I sobbed, releasing pent-up tears that did nothing to relieve the horrible, consuming ache in my heart.

  After endless long minutes of sobbing and numbing, I felt myself drifting, moving away from reality. I wasn’t worried about suffocation in the closet, for a thin crack under the door provided air.

  So I let myself drift. There was nothing I could do. Nothing. I couldn’t even try any longer. All I could do was to sit, and condemn myself.

  One moment I was slipping out of consciousness, the next I was jolted awake by a sudden feeling that I was falling. Feeling momentarily disoriented, I reached up to brush something from my cheek and felt a uniform pant leg.

  Then my head cleared, and I sat up straight.

  A beep startled me, causing me to hit my head on the back of the closet. Then the door slid open, and I blinked, dazed in the sudden light.

  Two men stood there, but at first I could only make out blurry forms. I saw that one was short and one was tall and bulky, which led me to guess that it was Peat and Sigmet. When my vision sharpened, my guess was confirmed.

  “Hurry,” said Sigmet, beckoning with one rounded hand. Peat held a small electronic device, pointing at the closet lock. He lowered it as I stood up. “We have to get out before he finds us.”

  I didn’t see how I could be any worse off with them than with him, so I stepped out of the closet.

  A thought made my stomach tie itself in knots. “Did they save the Doctor?” I asked.

  In one continuous motion Peat slipped the device into his pocket and gripped my arm, then began pulling me along.

  With my heart hurting until I couldn’t bear it, I managed to look at my wristcom as he dragged me out.

  It was three minutes past twelve.

  “Answer my question, or I’ll scream,” I cried as we rushed out into the bright, white corridor.

  “Don’t be a fool,” Peat insisted.

  But Sigmet said, “No. He’s still in captivity.”

  My world ended.

  It was too late.

  XXIII

  They continued to drag me down the hall, and for several minutes I was too devastated to notice or care where they were taking me. We rode the elevator up, and then they hurried me out and into the B-Deck hall.

  “...twenty hours. That’s until he goes insane. After that, if he’s not taken care of in another twenty-four—he’ll die.”

  I jerked up as I remembered August’s words. We still had time to save him.

  Competing emotions tore at me—my heart sank like lead as I thought of him never being sane again… and yet at the thought that his life might be saved, adrenaline surged through my veins.

  Where were they taking me? What were they going to do with me? Would they hide me somewhere else, so Commander Howitz couldn’t get to me again?

  As we got closer and closer to the end of the hall, the side of the ship, I understood. They were taking me to their speeder.

  But—how could they use it without the Commander’s clearance...

  Unless they knew how I’d gotten into his room. The same method would probably work on the speeder.

  Instinctively, I jerked my hands behind my back. They couldn’t know. How could they? Guilders and Ralston were the only other people who knew what had happened, and neither of them would tell.

  But something told me that the men who could stop security cameras and get through locked doors could figure out anything they wanted.

  My idea was confirmed as the large airlock doors at the end of the hall came into view.

  I wasn’t going to go with them. I had to save the Doctor. Somehow.

  Letting my heart beat twice, I gave my arm a wrench, trying to pry it from Peat’s grasp. If he was surprised, he didn’t show a sign of it. His hold didn’t loosen, and he continued jogging towards the airlock.

  “No!” I screamed. I tried to plant my feet on the floor, but they slid easily. As we passed the last quarters’ door, I tried to grab on to it, but we were too far away.

  He pulled me through the huge doorway, and I grabbed onto the edge of it with my free hand, clamping my fingers as tightly as I could manage. I would not go.

  He kept tugging on me for a moment, and a wave of pain shot over my shoulder. My knuckles cracked painfully, and my fingers slid slowly over the edge, but I didn’t give up.

  “Help!” I screamed. “Hel...”

  Sigmet clapped a hand over my mouth and pulled my hand forcibly from the door. The speeder was moored inside; I saw the access opening to reveal the small craft.

  Together, they dragged me towards the access panel. I struggled, and tried to scream, but the short man’s hand effectively blocked any sound.

  Peat used his free hand to activate the panel.

  “Ready for clearance scan,” came the computerized voice.

  I pulled harder than ever. Peat pulled my hand close to the panel, but adrenaline seemed to give me superhuman strength, and I pulled back, somehow adhering my boots to the smooth metal floor.

  Sigmet let go of my arm and gave me a push in the back. I stumbled forward, and felt my hand pressed to the warm surface of the scanner. But he had also let go of my mouth, and I screamed again.

  I heard a sound, like something bouncing twice on metal, and then arms encircled Peat’s neck from the back and he was yanked away.

  The big man let go of my hand to try to disengage the newcomer’s arms, and I jumped away from the panel. In a second, Sigmet had grabbed both of my wrists and started forcing me towards the scanner again, but I kicked him in the shin and he grunted and let go long enough for me to duck down out of reach of his grasping arms and dash for the back of the room.

  Then I looked back towards the struggle.

  August!

  August, his face paler than ever, fought both men, but he was losing the battle. Even if he were strong and completely healthy, he would have been no match for the two men, or ev
en Peat alone. I clapped my hands over my mouth as Sigmet grabbed his left arm and twisted it behind him, causing August to let out a scream.

  “Sometimes you have to take risks, August...”

  The scream woke me up. He wasn’t fighting them to win. He was fighting them to give me a chance to get away.

  I knew what I’d have to do.

  Without waiting another second, I tore my gaze away from the struggle and ran, ran out of the airlock and down the corridor. I didn’t look or listen to see if they’d noticed that I’d left, I just ran. Ran, ran, ran, finally reaching the elevator.

  It opened, ready for me, and I jumped in. For a split second I hesitated, then followed my instincts and yelled, “A-Deck!”

  The elevator seemed to rush faster than usual, and yet at the same time it seemed to take longer. I gripped the rail that ran along the wall, feeling the pain still throbbing in my knuckles.

  Finally the elevator came to a crisp stop, and I was out almost before the door opened. From there it was only a few leaps to the bridge doors, which slid open unasked when I reached them.

  I took in the room at a single glance. There he was, standing beside the Captain’s chair, face furrowed in stony frustration.

  “Commander Howitz!” I yelled. “They have August!”

  Silence reigned. He turned slowly to look at me, anger shooting from his face. “How did you...”

  “Never mind that!” I cried, jumping forward. “Peat and Sigmet! They have August in the airlock. They’re hurting...”

  Before I could say another word, he was out of the command pit and at the door. “Martin, keep an eye on things!” he called. “You, come with me.”

  He looked at me as he said “you,” and I hastened to follow. I had only a second in which to decide whether or not to obey, and it was enough. I had to look after August if he was hurt, and if I didn’t come, I felt sure that the Commander would only force me.

  Not a word was said as we rode the elevator back down to C-Deck and rushed through the halls. He didn’t question me, he only ran. I panted as I tried to keep up with him, using two steps to his one.

  “DNA—Howitz, Erasmus; Commander. Security cleared,” the computer voice rang out as we approached the airlock.

  The Commander bounded the last few meters to the entrance, and I heard shouts of surprise. Breathing hard, I reached the opening at last and looked in.

  The Commander thumped a large fist on Peat’s head, then twisted his arm behind his back and yanked his blaster from its holster at his belt. Tossing the blaster into the corner, he released the man and drew his own weapon in a single, fluid movement, then stepped back and surveyed the two men. Sigmet hadn’t had time to draw his own, and made no move to draw it now.

  August lay senseless on the floor, blood steadily trickling from a gash in his forehead. I cried out and started to dash to his side, but the Commander’s voice stopped me.

  “Just a moment, Genevieve. Take Mr. Sigmet’s blaster from his belt.”

  I tried to swallow, but a nervous lump prevented it. I walked the two steps to the odd little man’s side and pulled his blaster from his belt, never meeting his eyes. Then I stepped back.

  “Point it at them,” he ordered.

  I did so, settling my finger tremblingly on the trigger.

  “Now.” His gravelly voice drew out the syllable uncomfortably. “Over to that corner, away from the entrance.”

  Peat’s eyes were angry, but Sigmet’s high ones didn’t change. They shuffled a few meters to their left.

  “Keep them covered, Andi.” Lowering his weapon, he walked to the panel and began to work it.

  Peat’s eyes dared me to fire if he moved, and I stared back with all the sternness I could muster.

  “I believe you’ve broken our deal, gentlemen,” the Commander said coolly, continuing his work for a moment. Then the computer announced, “Mooring locked.” The Commander turned around.

  “You’re the one who broke it!” Peat exploded. “Locking the girl away? That wasn’t part of...”

  “She was interfering. What made you think that I wouldn’t follow through with our agreement?”

  They seemed to have no answer to this. Sigmet asked coldly, “Just what is your plan now, Sandison?”

  As a reply, the Commander pushed a button on his wristcom and spoke into it. “Two armed officers to airlock one at once.”

  “Yes sir,” a voice answered.

  “Arresting us?” asked Sigmet coldly.

  “Yes. I can no longer trust you.”

  “Don’t play games with us,” Sigmet scoffed. “You never trusted us.”

  “That doesn’t really matter now, does it? On second thought, you cause more trouble than I care for. Perhaps I should just dispense with you...”

  “Commander!” I cried.

  “...unless you’d like to show your worth by telling me the clearance code for the piloting of your ship.”

  So my guess earlier had been right. Neither could take me before because neither could leave without clearance from the other. If he could get the code from them, there’d be nothing stopping him from just taking me and leaving right now. I bit my lip.

  Peat looked haughty. “Nice try, Sandison.”

  Even as he spoke, I understood. He wouldn’t kill them. If he did, he’d never be able to use the speeder.

  Two uniformed crewmen appeared with drawn blasters in the doorway. Commander Howitz looked at them and cocked his head towards his co-conspirators. “Take them to the brig.”

  They didn’t argue. They were both too smart for that. The crewmen shifted around behind them and pointed blasters at their backs. “You heard the Commander.”

  Not even waiting for them to make it out the door, the Commander turned to me, resheathing his blaster. “How is he?”

  He... August. I dropped the blaster I was holding and knelt by his side. The blood had already slowed, but he was still pale and his breathing was shallow. I almost sighed.

  “He’s in the early stages of shock,” I announced, feeling his wrist. “We’d better get him to sickbay.”

  Without a word, he hoisted August up in his powerful, muscular arms, and started towards sickbay.

  XXIV

  I followed, not thinking of escape for the moment. My brother needed me. The walls seemed to glide smoothly past, and I barely felt my boots touch the floor as I hurried after him.

  The elevator carried us to B-Deck, and the Commander, bearing his still unconscious son, turned fluidly to the right as he exited. I followed, not as fluidly, almost hopping to keep up with his huge strides.

  At last we reached sickbay, and he burst through the door and lay August down on one of the cots with surprising gentleness. Then he turned to me and said, “Take care of him,” his gravelly voice as collected as ever.

  He said it as though committing a charge to me, and I hoped that he would leave the room, but instead he simply positioned himself at the end of the bed and stood there, arms folded over his chest, watching.

  I cleared my throat, finding myself suddenly nervous. I’d never been nervous when the Doctor watched me. But with a struggle, I switched my brain to professional mode and examined the small gash on his forehead.

  My hands trembled as I reached for the regen kit in the medical cabinet. Be all right, August. If I had gone to sickbay to meet him like I was supposed to…

  We could be winning right now. August could be fine, we could all be safe, the Doctor—he could be all right.

  Stop thinking. Just work.

  With a great effort of will, I blotted out my fears and set to work on healing August’s cut and getting his blood pressure back up. Commander Howitz only watched silently from the corner, his arms crossed over his chest. I tried to forget that he was there, but he was still fuzzily impressed on some corner of my brain as I worked, like a little gray cloud in a clear, cold sky.

  Other than the subtle consciousness of his presence, I knew nothing except the necessity of heal
ing, the steady slowing of my brother’s pulse and breath rate, and the slow regeneration of skin as the drug worked on the wound.

  After twenty minutes of work, his eyelids fluttered open. I hadn’t expected him to recover quite that soon, and I found myself staring into his eyes as the glaze cleared and he focused on my face.

  “Wh-where...” he began.

  I took his hand in mine as his father interrupted. “They’re in the brig now, August. You don’t have to worry anymore.”

  August didn’t take his eyes off mine, but his fingers squeezed softly.

  I heard a noise from behind, and turned to see the Commander standing up and walking towards the cot. “I think this is the first time we’ve all been together. Alone.”

  I dropped my gaze and just looked at August’s pale, cold hand resting in mine.

  What he would have said next I don’t know. His wristcom beeped before he could say anything.

  “Commander Howitz, the Alacrity I is closing to a thousand AUs.”

  “Keep up elusive maneuvers!” he growled into the speaker.

  “But sir, there’s more—our scopes just detected a transport from the cruiser Comet III following the Alacrity I.”

  My heart leapt. Crash was on his way! And he was bringing reinforcements!

  “I’ll be right there.” Switching off the comm, the Commander turned to us, his heavy brows furrowed. “Stay here. I’ll be back when I’ve dealt with those imbeciles.”

  “Dealt with them?” I cried after him.

  He called over his shoulder, “If he takes a hint, I won’t kill him.”

  I believed him, and half-hoped Crash would take a hint. At the same time, I knew he wouldn’t.

  The Commander spent a moment at the locking panel by the door, and then left, sealing the door behind him. I knew him too well to think he’d assume we’d stay there without being forced, but still, I checked the door.

  Locked. And no DNA clearance on this one. My clearance code didn’t let me through either. He’d overridden everything.

  “We can still save his life.”

  I didn’t need to ask who August meant, and the thought made my heart sink through the floor. “His life. What life? He’ll never be able to work again. Nothing will ever be the same.”