ESCAPE FROM MARS

by G. T. Appleton

  Grayson smiled at Donavan. “It’d be a lot easier if Carter would have chosen to stay with the company.”

  “Why? You’d really want him working for you?”

  Grayson nodded. “Of course. It is a valid offer.”

  “I heard rumor that Steven Matthews is in charge of Olympus Mons.”

  “That’s not a rumor.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yes.”

  “Everyone thought that you hated him.”

  Grayson shrugged. “At one time I did, but he’s proven too valuable and his IQ is equivalent to mine. The man has some genius ideas that will aid Grayson Enterprises to greater advantages in technology within the next few years. So, here’s the thing, Donavan. Sometimes you have to be forgiving, even if you can’t stomach being around the person.”

  “How can you trust Carter and Matthews?”

  “It isn’t really a matter of trust. I’d always know where Carter is. Matthews is on Mars, and should he attempt to do anything there, I shut down supply lines for a year, and he’s doomed. He knows that.”

  “But it’s not the same with Carter.”

  Grayson smiled. “The biggest reason that I need Carter here is because he is apparently immune to the virus.”

  “So? What good is that?”

  “His blood has antigens that we need to develop vaccines to immunize people before the chance of an outbreak occurs here on Earth. That’s the real reason I offered him such a ridiculous amount of money to stay.”

  “And if he declines?”

  Grayson shoved his hands into his pockets and turned to face the sun hovering over the horizon. “There are other means for negotiation. We’ll reach an agreement one way or another.”

  “I hope so.”

  “Have some faith,” Grayson said, walking to his desk. He pushed the intercom button. “Beatrice, have them prepare my helicopter.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Grayson pushed a different button on his intercom. “Is Sylvia ready to go?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Have her escorted to my helicopter on the roof. We leave immediately.”

  Magnus listened to Grayson give instructions to Hodges via the earpiece.

  Grayson said, “I’m scheduled to meet Dr. Carter in an hour at 2010 Valley View Road. Get your team into position but make certain that you’re not visible. Understood?”

  Hodges glanced at Magnus. Magnus aimed the gun at Hodges’ head.

  “Roger that,” Hodges said.

  Magnus reached over and removed the earpiece from Hodges.

  What are you up to, Carter? Magnus thought.

  Dusk was settling over the parking lot. Carter stood between a dumpster and a graffiti-covered wall. He held the briefcase while scanning the parking lot. He glanced at his watch and shook his head. He kicked loose gravel and grumbled curses.

  A stretch black limo drove slowly across the parking lot toward him. After the limo stopped, the rear tinted window lowered. Grayson motioned for Carter to approach.

  Carter frowned. “I was beginning to think you weren’t going to show.”

  “You realize my office is in California? I had to fly and rent a limo. That takes a little bit of time.”

  Carter nodded. “Where’s Sylvia?”

  “Right beside me.”

  With the approaching darkness of night, he couldn’t see. He leaned closer, squinting. Grayson flipped on the inside lights. Sylvia sat beside Grayson.

  “Sylvia?”

  Sylvia didn’t respond or move. She sat, staring straight ahead.

  “Is she okay?” Carter asked.

  “She’s fine.”

  “Sylvia?” Carter said. “What’s wrong?”

  “Here, let me move out of your way.” Grayson rose from his seat and moved to the seat opposite of Sylvia. “Look closer.”

  Carter leaned partway through the lowered window. “Sylvia, come here. Look at me.”

  In an instant her hand moved toward him. The cold metal of a gun barrel pressed against his temple. She faced him and her eyes were glazed over. Carter swallowed hard.

  “One word,” Grayson said. “I give one simple command and she squeezes the trigger.”

  “You bastard. You implanted a Sleeper Chip in her?”

  “As a precaution,” Grayson replied. “That’s all. I made you a generous offer, and I’d like your answer.”

  Carter’s thumb slid atop the button at the side of the briefcase handle. “Looks like I’m going to turn it down since this transaction didn’t go smoothly like we agreed.”

  “I hate to hear that. I looked forward to keeping you on staff. Now I suppose Sylvia will carry out her assignment now.”

  “Before you make any hasty decisions, you might want to look out the window.”

  “Why?”

  “I’ve rigged the briefcase to shatter the virus vials and pop open. Unless Sylvia lowers the gun right now, I push the button. Maybe you’ll escape with your life today, but eventually this virus will kill you.”

  Grayson laughed. “You’re more shrewd than I thought. Sylvia, put down the gun.”

  Sylvia obeyed. Carter took a deep breath and backed away from the window.

  From the opposite side of the parking lot a black Jaguar sped toward Carter and the limo.

  “Driver, go!” Grayson yelled.

  The rear window rose and the limo sped away. Carter turned and stared in horror at the Jaguar coming straight toward him. The car screeched to a stop. When the window lowered, Carter was stunned. Magnus smiled.

  “Is everything okay?” Magnus asked.

  “What are you doing here? I thought you were leaving the city.”

  “It’s a long story. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  Carter nodded. “I’m fine, but Grayson has Sylvia. He implanted a Sleeper Chip in her.”

  “Dammit! Hop in.”

  Carter opened the back door and sat behind Magnus. “We have to get her chip removed. She can’t be at Grayson’s mercy.”

  “We’ll make it right, but it will take some planning.”

  Hodges glanced at Magnus. “You’ll never get past Grayson’s security.”

  Magnus chuckled. “You weren’t much of a challenge, Hodges, so you might want to keep your opinions to yourself. We’ll find a way inside somehow.”

  Magnus drove the car to the parking lot entrance.

  “Shouldn’t we go after Grayson?” Carter asked.

  Magnus shook his head. “Not yet.”

  “Why not?”

  “Never run into a situation without preparing first. We need a plan. Going in blind will get us killed.”

  Carter sighed with frustration. “I suppose you’re right.”

  Magnus glanced into the rearview mirror. Headlights came on from a parked car he had driven past. Another set came from a side street and both vehicles sped to catch him.

  “Shit!” Magnus said, pressing down on the accelerator. He turned left and narrowly missed an oncoming car.

  Carter turned uneasily in his seat and looked at the two speeding cars behind them. “What the hell is going on?”

  “Apparently, Grayson had another team enlisted besides Hodges’ to take you into custody. He doesn’t give up easily.”

  Hodges laughed. “Did you expect any less?”

  Magnus gave a side-glance to Hodges. “You’re really beginning to piss me off. You know, you’re not a passenger I need. How about if I drop you off at fifty-five miles per hour if you say another word?”

  Hodges looked away and became quiet.

  “Good,” Magnus said. “That’s much better.”

  76

  Bullets chipped across the trunk of the Jaguar that Magnus was driving. Magnus swerved back and forth in the lanes, trying to avoid the gunfire. He glanced in the rearview mirror at Carter.

  “I’m not liking our situation one bit, Carter.”

  Carter lowered himself in the seat. “Me, either.”

  At the next intersecti
on, Magnus took a sharp right, cut through an alley, and discovered it to be a dead end.

  “Dammit!”

  The two vehicles screeched to a stop at the end of the alley. The drivers pull their cars across the alley to block the path out. Magnus looked over his shoulder, shook his head, and dropped the car into reverse.

  “Hang on!”

  Magnus pushed the gas pedal to the floor. The tires squalled and spun as the car sped in reverse. The tail end of the Jaguar smashed into the two stopped cars. Metal crunched and the impact knocked both vehicles with enough force to allow the Jaguar to speed through.

  He cut the wheel sharply, put the car into drive, and hit the gas. Both drivers stepped from their cars and began firing at the Jaguar, but Magnus made the next intersection and turned. Then he remembered the two guards and the trunk, winced, and shook his head. He hoped they were alive but they had known the risks when they took the assignment. If they had survived, they wouldn’t be harassing anyone else for a long time.

  Senator Johnson sat at a table with Justice Watkins and the leader of the California Prison Committee, Lee Tidwell. Johnson was drained. Fatigue had aged his face by fifteen years.

  For the past several months, Johnson remained at Grayson’s every beck and call. He had no other choice since Grayson had taken Johnson’s son into custody aboard the shuttle. When Joe Johnson had arrived on Mars, Matthews had ordered a chip implant for Joe. And as long as Senator Johnson complied with Grayson’s orders, Joe would not be sent to the mines. At least that was what Grayson had told Johnson. He didn’t have any proof otherwise.

  Johnson was helpless. He was too old to attempt a space flight to Mars, even if he could somehow get past Grayson’s security and board a passenger shuttle. He was at Grayson’s mercy, which essentially wasn’t any mercy at all. He reminded himself every morning when he looked in the mirror that he should have retired from the senator several years earlier before Grayson had gained such a powerful hold over him. But money, more money than he could ever have acquired doing honest work, was the lure that snared him. In hindsight, all he had gained was not worth his losses, which included what little dignity he had as a politician.

  Lee Tidwell finished flipping through the stack of paperwork on the table. His short grayish-silver hair was sparse. His glasses rested halfway down his thick nose. He gathered the papers into a neat stack and clacked them atop the table to straighten them. Looking up, he pressed his glasses against the bridge of his nose and stared a Johnson with a slight smile. “So Grayson wants another hundred prisoners to transport to Mars?”

  Johnson nodded. “Could that be arranged?”

  “This makes three hundred prisoners over the past six months.”

  “I know. It’s asking too much—”

  Tidwell laughed. “Are you kidding, senator?”

  Johnson frowned and sat back in the high-back chair.

  Tidwell shook his head. “I’ll gladly dispatch two hundred more prisoners if Grayson wants them. I appreciate what he’s done for our prison systems in California. He has lessened the overcrowding problem we’ve endured for years. We’re better able to care for a smaller population without worrying about inner prison riots from opposing gangs. Hell, I’d like to shake his hand, senator. I truly would. I simply don’t understand how he’s prevented massive riots on Mars. Has he, by chance, had uprisings?”

  Johnson shook his head. “To my knowledge, and from what he has told me, he’s never had any problems at all.”

  Justice Watkins was tall, slender, and sported a deep California tan. He gave a stern stare at Johnson. “You’re sure of that, senator? Because everything that Grayson does is so tightly sealed that no one outside his enterprises even has a clue as to what his mining operations on Mars are like. From my tally sheets, he has nearly five hundred prisoners?”

  “Most are in transit to Mars, your honor,” Johnson said.

  “How is he capable to attend their needs?”

  “Food supplies are sent every week. Vast amounts,” Johnson replied.

  “Do you have the paperwork to verify this?” Watkins asked.

  Johnson leaned forward and opened a manila folder. He slid several papers across the table. “Here’s the past month’s shipping invoices.”

  Justice Watkins scanned through the invoices. “Impressive. How about medical records? Do you have any of those? Death certificates? I imagine with such a large operation on Mars, there must be fatalities. Injury reports?”

  Johnson sighed. “Right now, Mr. Grayson has only the health screening clearance sheets from where the prisoners have been given physicals prior to boarding shuttles bound to Mars. He said that he should have monthly reports soon. Within the next week or so.”

  “I have to admit,” Watkins said, “that I never thought anyone could benefit our society like Grayson has while building a new civilization on another planet. This gives me hope for the future of mankind. Of course, given the population occupying Mars right now, I’d never make travel arrangements to go.”

  Johnson and Tidwell laughed softly.

  “But why does he need so many so soon?” Watkins asked, becoming more serious.

  “He’s expanding.”

  “When you speak to him again,” Watkins said, “can you get him to submit blueprint layouts of his mining operations and the housing facilities that these prisoners reside in?”

  “I can ask him, but it’s doubtful he will share that information,” Johnson replied.

  “Why’s that?”

  “He has stated that it’s confidential information to prevent others from stealing his patented designs.”

  Justice Watkins formed a finger bridge and leaned back in his chair. “In some ways, I kind of get a picture of a massive slave operation taking place on Mars. With Grayson remaining so secretive about what is going on up there, the more inclined I am to think maybe something isn’t right. Perhaps we should temporarily deny any future prisoner transfers into Grayson’s custody.”

  Johnson’s hands shook. He nervously straightened his tie. His face flushed red.

  Watkins noticed Johnson’s intense nervousness. “Is there a problem, senator? Are you okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine.”

  “You look quite nervous. Has Grayson ever threatened or bullied you in any way so that you’d become so supportive of his operations?” Watkins asked.

  Johnson wanted to tell Watkins everything, and if Grayson didn’t have Joe in custody, Johnson would have spilled every corrupt detail of what he believed Grayson was doing. But he knew if he did, Joe was dead. Although Grayson had never directly threatened to kill Joe, he had said quite seriously that “accidents could occur inside Olympus Mons.”

  Johnson shook his head. “No, sir.”

  Tidwell frowned and looked at Watkins. “Wait, are you saying this deal isn’t going through today? I really would like to clear out more prisoners.”

  Watkins gave an even smile and stood, facing them. “What you two have agreed inside this room today will be permitted. But nothing more after today, not until Grayson is ready and willing to disclose the proper paperwork to my satisfaction. I hope I’m not making a huge mistake in granting this current agreement.”

  Tidwell and Johnson stood.

  “Thank you, your honor,” Tidwell said.

  “Yes, thank you,” Johnson said.

  After the justice left the room, Tidwell shook Johnson’s hand. “Tell Grayson how much I appreciate his help in relieving our overcrowding situation.”

  “I will.”

  Tidwell left the room.

  Senator Johnson sighed and sat back down. He leaned over the table with his hands clasped together. His mind reflected through his life’s decisions and he found he had far more regrets in life than positive memories. He didn’t know how to redeem himself or how to save his son’s fate from whatever Grayson planned to do.

  77

  The next morning Magnus awakened from his single bed in the cheap rundown hotel ro
om he had rented on the outskirts of Vegas. Carter snored while sleeping on the other narrow bed. Magnus shook him awake.

  “We’d best get moving,” Magnus said.

  Carter rolled over and slid his feet over the edge of the bed. “I could use a shower.”

  “Be quick. We cannot afford to stay in one place for too long.”

  “You think Grayson will find us out here?”

  “You never know. He seems overly fond of using tracer chips. That’s why we abandoned the car and took a cab out here.” He had left the trunk slightly ajar so the two men could call out for help when they awoke. They were bruised badly from Magnus’ getaway, but nothing severe.

  “Since it was a company car, you’re probably right.” Carter opened the bathroom door while holding his briefcase. “I can take a shower in a few minutes.”

  Magnus nodded, sat on the edge of the bed, and used the remote to turn the small television on.

  Carter turned on the shower. While waiting for the water to heat, he examined his face in the mirror. He wished he had a razor to remove the dark stubble on his face. As he leaned closer, a shadow stirred behind him in the mirror’s reflection.

  Carter turned quickly and saw nothing.

  He looked around with panic swelling inside of him. “Where are you? I know you’re here. I sense your presence. Show yourself, please?”

  A sensation rushed through him like a surge of electricity. His eyes rolled back in his head. To keep from falling, he gripped the edge of the seat.

  The alien’s voice echoed softly in his ears. “Kill Grayson. Stop him. If you don’t, Sylvia will die.”

  Carter slowly lowered to his knees. Sweat beaded on his brow. After a few seconds passed, he no longer sensed her closeness. He wept. He had thought he was outside her reach, but she would never stop torturing him until he did what she wanted.

  Once the shakiness left his legs and he could stand, he stepped into the shower. He thought about what the alien had said about Sylvia and recalled how lifeless she seemed being controlled by the chip. The alien was right. He needed to kill Grayson. It was the only way to save Sylvia, and he hoped by obeying he could rid his mind of the alien’s invasion.