ESCAPE FROM MARS

by G. T. Appleton

  “Illegal by whose statutes? The U.S. holds no jurisdiction aboard my vessels and certainly not at Olympus Mons.”

  Senator Johnson’s face flushed crimson red. “Boyd, you cannot do this.”

  “Seems I already have.”

  “That’s it! I’m reporting you before Congress and you’ll be under full investigation. They’ll scour every transaction you’ve ever made. I’ll make sure of it.”

  Grayson grinned. “Your threats are pathetic when you don’t have any ground to stand upon.”

  “You’ve crossed the line.”

  “Capital punishment no longer occurs in the U.S., but on Mars, I make the laws. Did you know that? I could enact a clause that any trespasser be put to death without prejudice. That would be on the books for months before your son even arrives, so it would be valid and not considered a spur of the moment amendment.”

  Johnson’s lips quivered. The crimson on his cheeks paled. His desperate eyes searched Grayson’s for mercy that didn’t exist. “Please, Mr. Grayson. Don’t do this. I’m sorry for my outburst. If you can give me another month, I can approach the prison committee and make a new request? Or I could plead with a committee in a different state? But Joey, Joe’s my only child. My boy.”

  “The outburst is not the issue,” Grayson said in a low tone that almost resembled the threat of a growl. “However, your defiant disregard is quite problematic. I thought when you last left my office that we had an understanding. An agreement. Do you think I spout words to hear myself talk?”

  “No,” he replied in a near whisper.

  “No, is correct. I addressed you. Right where you stand.”

  Johnson nodded.

  Grayson stepped around the side of the desk and sat on its edge, still crossing his arms. His gaze was colder than an angered cobra sizing up its prey. “You have one month to redeem yourself. One hundred prisoners, as I requested before. You fail, and there will be severe consequences.”

  Johnson nodded nervously. Tears moistening his eyes. His lower lip trembled so he bit it.

  “You need to realize that I have eyes and ears planted all through the world in the places where you’d least expect it. I’ve a good mind to release that video to the public of your little imprudence. Not only would that put you in new light to your wife, but I also imagine it will draw major skepticism by your counterparts in Congress. They are like jackals when they smell fear. Regardless of what side you’re on in politics, there are always those without your own party that seek to remove the weaker. So never step into my office making threats. Understand?”

  Johnson nodded.

  “I don’t think you do. Take a look behind you.”

  Johnson’s eyes widened. Slowly he turned and Henry pressed a 9mm to Johnson’s forehead. The cold barrel caused him to take a deep breath. The senator swallowed hard and piss ran down his legs.

  Grayson had made threats before, but never had one of his men ever pulled a gun on him. Johnson’s eyes crossed as he stared up at the gun barrel. He also noticed the wide grin on Henry’s face and the gleam in his eyes. There was a hunger in the guard’s eyes he’d never seen before. Johnson had never seen the man smile before, and now, he wished that he never had.

  Johnson knew that Grayson wasn’t a part of any mafia, but he was something more powerful and far worse. He questioned why he had decided to challenge Grayson after all this time instead of acquiescing Grayson’s demands like normal.

  Henry lowered the gun and stepped aside.

  Slowly, Johnson turned to face Grayson again. Johnson’s pants legs were hot with wet lines running down the inside seams. The smell of urine lofted. Grayson seemed to ignore it and the slight puddle on the carpet.

  “I can make you disappear,” Grayson said. “Don’t think I cannot replace you with another senator. Someone younger and more power-hungry. Someone with the incentive and ambition to get the job done properly. Now get the hell out of my office.”

  Jonas stood at the shuttle door until each member he had chosen to return to Earth had boarded. Oddly, Matthews had not made his presence known. Jonas had expected him to at least make an appearance at the landing bay, but in a sense he was relieved that Matthews hadn’t.

  Jonas boarded and motioned the pilot to seal the door. He took a seat beside Boony.

  She smiled. She had put on makeup and fixed her hair before boarding. She didn’t look like she normally did.

  “I guess you made the right decision?” Jonas asked.

  “Why?”

  “You look happier and more relaxed.”

  Boony nodded. “I suppose so. What about you?”

  “Ask me in seven months.”

  She laughed.

  “Everyone I chose to return to Earth showed up.”

  She nodded toward the seat across the aisle. “Is that Norm Schrader seated over there?”

  “Yes. Since he wants to kill Matthews, I thought it best he board. My guess is Matthews would have killed him had we left Norm behind.”

  “He probably would have.”

  “Clark came too, but only if I let him bring the insects.”

  “You let him?”

  “Of course.”

  Her eyes widened. “Really?”

  He nodded. “Not to worry. These three insects eat the ferret food. And besides that, Derek’s two robots are guarding them inside an enclosed room.”

  “I suppose that is safer.”

  Jonas nodded. “Yes. I can’t deny a young scientist’s ambition.”

  “Even if it endangers the lives of others?”

  “Unraveling the mysteries of science isn’t always a safe endeavor. But since it’s unlikely that any of us will ever make the voyage back to Mars, I wouldn’t want Clark to spend the rest of his life living with the regret of abandoning his greatest discovery. If these insects prove to be the only docile ones to emerge from their hive, they can contribute a vast amount of understanding about their hive and possibly give us more information about the history of Mars.”

  “Do you think Grayson will attempt to steal Clark’s glory?” she asked.

  Jonas shrugged. “It’s possible, if Grayson finds out about them. But, I don’t plan on letting him know. I’ve told Clark not to say a word about bringing them back. There are countless scientific labs in the U.S. that would secretly grant him access to their labs for secondary recognition.”

  “Grayson will sue once the knowledge is released to the public.”

  “I was serious about the class action suit, Boony. He’s going to be so tied up in court and dealing with legalities about violating human rights, the insects will be the least of his problems. If justice is served properly, he’ll spend a long time in prison.”

  Boony grinned and shook her head.

  “What?”

  “People like Grayson don’t get time in prison. They seldom do.”

  “That’s true some of the time, but Grayson has a lot of enemies in the political world and with the public in general. There will be protests. People will insist that he pay for his crimes, especially family members of the prisoners on Mars.”

  Boony laughed softly. “And all this time I thought you liked Grayson.”

  “I had a job and a duty to perform. I did what I had to in order to protect Derek, but even I have my limitations. No amount of money can override my true morals. What Grayson didn’t know was that I’ve kept a journal about what he’s been doing, and what the prisoners have endured. I have kept thorough documented records of their shifts, sicknesses, and the use of the Sleeper Chips. The Sleeper Chip technology is the most damning evidence against Grayson because their use in humans violates all human rights.”

  “And this is why you don’t mind allowing Matthews to take control of Mars?”

  “Let the two egotistical monsters battle it out. I’m too fatigued to make this my fight, and with all the evidence I can present in court, making my exit now is in my best interest as well as everyone else’s.”

  Boony marve
led. “Honesty, I never viewed this to be your stance. You seemed so devoted to keeping order on Mars.”

  Jonas nodded. “Of course. Without the prisoners being under control of those chips, everyone’s life was endangered. But, Boony, I worked for the CIA for many years enforcing the law and protecting the innocent as best I could. That’s something I cannot dismiss, even after I retired. I kept the best poker-face possible. Grayson was none the wiser.”

  “None of us were.”

  “Once Grayson receives news about Matthews taking over Mars, he’s going to try to contact me.”

  “Will you talk to him?”

  Jonas shook his head. “No, We’re going to be in Hyber-Sleep in a day or so. We could all use the rest.”

  She smiled. “I was apprehensive about undergoing that on my flight to Mars. Other than the intense grogginess for the first few hours after being brought out, I did feel better. Will we be awakening each month like before?”

  “I think that’s safer.”

  “Probably. But with us asleep, Grayson will be pissed when he cannot talk to you.”

  “I know. I’d love to be a fly on his office wall when Matthews gives him the news.”

  Boony winced. “Oh, I imagine there will be a great deal of outrage.”

  “Unlike anything another human has ever witnessed. But, there’s not much Grayson can do about it from Earth. He has weekly ships arriving, but more are empty ore vessels than passenger shuttles. He might send more trained guards to Mars, but it will take seven months for them to arrive. There’s no way to predict exactly what Matthews will do. He might make good on his promise to release the prisoners from the Sleeper Chips.”

  “You think he’d be that desperate?” she asked.

  Jonas shook his head. “It’s not desperation. You’ve read each prisoner’s records, haven’t you?”

  “A lot of them.”

  “These are people who have no conscience under a madman’s control. Even if Grayson sent the best tactical squad he has, a lot of people will die. It’s a no win situation for Grayson. If his soldiers kill the prisoners, there will be less miners and less work. There’s a greater chance that his men suffer failure rather than succeed.”

  Boony sighed. “You’ve thought this out for quite some time, haven’t you?”

  “I calculate circumstances all the time. I never had any reason to until the Sleeper Chips began malfunctioning.” Jonas turned slightly in his seat so he could look Boony in the eyes. “Can I ask you something and get an honest reply from you?”

  She nodded. “Sure.”

  “You helped Magnus escape, didn’t you?”

  Boony swallowed hard and looked away.

  “Look, I’m not going to reprimand you or report what has happened to Grayson now, okay. I want the truth.”

  “I did, but I had legitimate reasons for doing so.”

  “I imagine you did. I’ve worked with you long enough to know that you never deliberately act outside the law. But, if I may ask, what about Magnus led you to believe that he’s innocent?”

  Boony pursed her lips. After a few moments of thinking, her eyes peered into his. “Some things in his records didn’t seem right.”

  “You think he was framed?”

  “The evidence against him was sketchy at best, and the warden in Texas was hasty to offer Magnus to Grayson for the prisoner-release Mars program. Even if Magnus was guilty of the murder, he doesn’t have a record like any of the others.”

  Jonas nodded. “I read through his file. I agree. Something wasn’t right, and I can see why Magnus wouldn’t return even with my assurance that I’d see he got a fair retrial. Hell, it would be difficult to trust anyone after you abruptly awakened in the Martian mines. I’d take the first chance back to Earth myself. But I do have connections on Earth. If we can find him when we arrive, I might be able to help him. The problem is that they have a few weeks’ head start.”

  “I know. I’ve thought about that, too.”

  “One more question.”

  “Okay?”

  “Did you let him into the gem vault?”

  Boony’s face flushed red. “I did. I’m sorry for lying about that.”

  Jonas shrugged. “I thought you did, and that’s what gave me the inspiration for getting those gems I handed out to everyone aboard. Even if a class action against Grayson guarantees we keep our pay and pensions, they all deserve an incredible bonus for their service.”

  “And their retreat?”

  Jonas laughed. “With the dangers on Mars, we’re all safer aboard this shuttle than on Mars.”

  “What about the Chinese robots?”

  “According to Derek, Bradbury and Isaac used the EMP to knock all eight out of commission.”

  “So Matthews doesn’t need to worry about them?”

  “No. Their biggest living nightmare is the thousands of bloodthirsty insects. I hope the ones I assigned to seal off Mineshaft 15 were capable of doing so. It doesn’t guarantee they won’t be attacked later, but it keeps them safe for a little while longer.” He leaned back in the soft seat, rested his head, and closed his eyes. “I suggest finding something to read from the computer library or streaming a good movie.”

  “I’ve been browsing. It’s hard to make a decision. Are you going to nap?”

  Jonas chuckled. “Let an old man have a few moments to rest. I think with the stress I’ve endured, I deserve it.”

  54

  Matthews sat in what had been the main security office where Jonas had worked. He sat in the chair watching the security cameras. A few minutes after the shuttle left through the landing bay doors and the doors sealed shut, Matthews spoke over the intercom system:

  “Greetings to my new employees. Let me give a brief introduction of myself. This is Steven Matthews and I’m proud to announce that I own the operations inside Olympus Mons. Of course, the entire Martian planet is far more accurate since we are the only ones living upon this otherwise barren wasteland.

  “Now, you’re probably questioning who I am, and what has happened to your beloved Jonas, and how I came to be the man in charge? My dear employees, Jonas decided he wanted to return to Earth for his well-deserved retirement, graciously leaving me in charge, which for some of you, that’s good news. But the even better news is that I will handsomely increase your wages.”

  Matthews cleared his throat without turning off the intercom. “Yes, I understand that Grayson has always been the one to give you pay raises, which was quite seldom, was it not? At least according to your records . . . There has been scarce opportunities for anyone to be promoted. But that changes today. I will reward you according to your work efforts. The harder you work, the more you get paid. Fair warning, however, is the opposite is far worse. If you piddle around twiddling your thumbs and half-ass doing your job, you’ll find your reward of being compensated with a Sleeper Chip implant. You’ll join the mining force. Not exactly one of those ‘gotta-have-it’ types of jobs, now is it?

  “With the recent changes in the seat of power inside Olympus Mons, I am in need of qualified employees who I can count upon to be my right hand men and women. Over the next few days, I will be handpicking those worthy of such positions since Mars is undergoing a revolution of sorts. Those here will find your surroundings hospitable, and to those Grayson shall send, and understand, he will send others to in an attempt to overthrow us, but we will make such rivals regret ever crossing the galaxy on behalf of Boyd Grayson. Those loyal to this empire shall benefit with untold wealth, and for those who oppose, you will suffer a severe fate working in the mines, making the rest of us wealthier with each gem you unearth.”

  Matthews turned off the intercom for a moment and looked at Dr. Sheung with a smug grin. “How am I doing so far?”

  “You sound worse than Jonas.”

  Matthews’ brow rose, and he quickly formed a frown, shaking his head. “Really? I had hoped to make a better first impression.”

  He punched a button and turned the i
ntercom on again. “As I understand it, the prisoners have been tucked away safely inside their cells for the night while the majority of you are busy sealing off Mineshaft 15. I cannot stress the importance of constructing that steel wall within the next few hours. Those nasty critters have the capability to kill all of us. So when you have completed it, I am giving everyone a paid two-day holiday. Drinks at The Vortex are on me.”

  Matthews gave a rather pleased smile at Kim and pointed at the camera footage from the outside Mineshaft 15. The men and women working on the metal barricade cheered. Some jumped. Others high-fived. “See? I believe they are happy with our new arrangement. With enthusiasm like that, you could fortify a city in a few short weeks.”

  “Not if they’re all drunk,” she replied.

  “Most seemed to have already gone that route. Have you not ever been to The Vortex?”

  “No.”

  “You should go sometime. Mingle. Loosen up. Let people see you and realize that you’re one of them.”

  “But I’m not.”

  “Come now, Kim, don’t tell me you’re not human.”

  She scowled.

  “See? There’s that look again. You hold it so often I wonder if it hasn’t frozen on your face.”

  “The sad truth is that I’m beginning to miss Jonas.”

  “Really? You’re pining after him when we were just beginning to become chummy?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “You and I will never be chummy.”

  “Oh, Kim, lighten up. I’m starting to think that you hate people, and if so, whatever possessed you to become a medical doctor?”

  “I do hate people. The medical field was not my choosing.”

  “No?”

  “No. Father refused to pay for my education if I didn’t become a doctor.”

  Matthews shrugged. “I suppose a career of splitting atoms to make nuclear weapons was out of the question? Your father opposed such a career, but that seems more your line of work. Creating ways to eradicate humans on Earth.”

  “Such does not have to be extreme, Mr. Matthews.” She held coldness in her voice that matched the glint in her eyes.

  Matthews smiled and laughed. “Ah, I suppose not, Kim.”