A dull red blot appeared in the centre of his forehead, his eyes rolled back and he collapsed on the floor, a pool of blood forming where he lay.
“Anyone else have anything to say?” Vanji swept the room with the gun. They were all silent. “I thought so. Good, I will continue then,” and handed the rail-gun back to the Hybrid.
“You all want to know what’s going on? Well, here it is, it’s very simple, I’m taking control of Colony Two. No more compromising my vision, no more pandering to the small mindedness of the fearful. It is time to fully embrace the future. A future that belongs to the genetically superior. It is the very essence of evolution, it is nature’s law and I intend to see it come to pass.”
There was a momentary silence as the council members tried to comprehend the exact meaning of Vanji’s words. Some were horrified, some were petrified, and some simply tried to understand how they didn’t see this coming.
“So, members of the council, you are no longer required.” With that he nodded to the Hybrid leader and the room was filled, for a brief moment, with gun fire.
Some members died instantly. Some made a mad dash for the door, but never made it. After only a short few moments they were all dead. Vanji and his team of three geneticists were all that remained of the Colony Two council.
“And so it is done.” He clapped his hands together and turned to the leader of the Hybrids, Xenon. “The future of your species is now secure. I foresee a bright and productive time ahead for Homo aries.” With that the light in the main cavern grew brighter. Vanji looked out at it. “Ah, a new dawn, how prophetic.”
For a few moments they watched as the light grew brighter until the cavern was filled with a golden illumination.
“Xenon, have this mess cleaned up.”
“Yes, Dr. Vanji.”
“Now that we have accomplished this part of the plan, where are we with rounding up the Beta leaders?”
Xenon entered his trance state for a second or two as he communicated with the other Hybrids. “They are putting up a fight. We have the main cohort corralled in the entrance cavern.”
“How long before they are eliminated?”
“Not long, we will break through shortly.”
“Good, get it done. We need to prepare the rover for departure as soon as possible.”
“Yes, Dr. Vanji.”
CHAPTER 15: A New Old Friend
Jann opened her eyes and had to think for a moment to establish where she was. Soft morning light illuminated her surroundings and she could hear the sound of a waterfall lapping in the background. She realised she was in the bio-dome of Colony One, and had fallen asleep in the wicker recliner, after Gizmo had left. Jann breathed a gentle sigh of relief, stood up and looked around as she stretched her body. It was a beautiful morning in the bio-dome. And, compared to the horrors of Colony Two, it felt like heaven.
The familiar sound of Gizmo’s tracked wheels burst through the vegetation, and zipped over to her. “Ah Gizmo, good morning.”
“Sleep well, I trust?”
“Eh, no, not really, but it will do. Where are the others? Is it time for my shift?”
“Samir and Noome have just returned to rest. Kayden has been wandering around since first light.”
“Really?”
“As far as I can tell. However, there is something that has come to my attention. I have picked up a rover, travelling this way, about five clicks out.”
“Shit, when?”
“Just now.”
“Have you told the others?”
“Not yet.”
Jann thought about this. “This is not good. How much time before it gets here?”
“Twenty two point seven minutes, approximately.”
“Dammit. Tell the others, we had better get ready.”
Gizmo whizzed off as Jann raced for the Operations room.
She stood over the holo-table looking at a 3D rendering of the Jezero Crater. At the very edge of its range a small orange icon marked the location and progress of the rover. The others had, by now, all gathered around to watch.
“We don’t have much time,” said Jann.
“This is bad, this is so bad, we’re all dead,” said Noome.
“I thought you said the rovers were all disabled?” Jann directed her question at Kayden, who had stayed silent since entering the Operations room.
“I said they hadn’t worked in years,” he replied, without taking his eyes off the slowly moving orange marker. “I genuinely didn’t think this would happen.”
“What? That they wouldn’t try and stop us from leaving Mars?”
He looked over at Jann, and back to the marker, shaking his head. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
“We’re all going to die,” offered Noome.
“Noome, for fuck sake, would you get a grip.” Samir shouted at her.
Jann looked at the marker for a moment. “Seems strange. Not because they are coming after us, but because they haven’t deactivated the rover beacon.”
“What do you mean?” Samir had now progressed to comforting Noome, as anger didn’t seem to work.
“Think about it. If you were planning to go after us, you wouldn’t advertise it, would you?”
The others looked at the marker as if this revelation from Jann would somehow transform it into something more benign.
“No, I suppose not. But maybe they don’t know about the beacon?”
“What are we going to do?” said Noome.
“We hide, that’s what we do.”
“Hide, are you kidding me?”
“Trust me I have the perfect place. We can make them think we’ve left the facility. That way, when they start to scatter, searching different places, we pick them off, one by one.”
“Hide sound goods to me,” said Noome.
“They would find us for sure,” said Kayden.
“No, I doubt it. When the ISA crew came here first, Nills Langthorp hid out. We never would have found him until he wanted to be found. It’s our best chance.”
“Wait.” Said Gizmo. He raised a metal hand and twisted his head like he was looking off into the distance. “They’re transmitting.” He raced over to the comms desk and tapped a few times on the control pad. Radio static crackled around the Operations room.
“…two injured, need medical assistance, over.”
They stood in silence, for a moment. All looking at the comms desk.
“Colony One, this is Lars-Beta, we have two injured, need medical assistance, over.”
Jann moved over to the comms desk and pressed transmit.
“This is Dr. Jann Malbec, Colony One, state your purpose?”
“Jann Malbec, am I really talking to you?”
Jann looked around at the others and raised an eyebrow.
“Yes you are, now state your purpose?”
“We escaped the colony, there’s been a coup, many dead, we have two injured, we need help.”
“It’s a trap, a trick to get us to let them in,” said Samir.
“Well, there’s no point in hiding, they know we are here now,” said Kayden.
“What do you mean coup?” Jann continued.
“The Hybrids, started rounding up council members, this morning. I think they are all dead. Then they went after the leaders of the Betas, we fought back, got trapped in the main entrance cavern… we escaped… the others in there… I don’t know.”
“Christ, I knew it, I knew this would happen, sooner rather than later. Those fuckers, they were getting weirder by the day.” Samir was stomping around.
“Kayden, you got any thoughts on this, since you’re a council member?”
“Eh… well I’m shocked, if it’s true, that is.”
“Shocked, is that it, you’re shocked?”
Kayden raised his hands. “What do you want me to say, yes, I’m shocked. And it looks like we got out just in time.”
Jann turned back to the comms desk.
“Have you got EVA suit
s?”
There was a pause in the response, presumably they were checking. This was a good sign as far as Jann was concerned. If they were lying then the response would be instant.
“We’ve got one, wait…” there were some indistinct snippets of conversation in the background. “…shit, it’s got no power…” more background talk, “we have two injured, one I don’t think could EVA, even if we had a suit… and there’s another problem… we’ve less than twenty minutes of air left in the rover.”
“Hang in there, we’ll think of something.”
“They could just drive in to the workshop garage, there’s air in there.” Samir had calmed down a bit.
“There’s no way through from there, they would still have to EVA.”
“You’re not seriously thinking of letting them in?” said Noome.
“Look, this is actually good news for us. Because, if they are who they say they are, then that means we have both rovers and no one can come after us, unless they walk.”
“Boateng-Beta walked here.”
“Yeah, and it killed him,” said Samir.
“I say we do as Samir suggests and send them to the workshop. We can keep them corralled in there. Would be safer, for all of us,” said Kayden.
“There is another option,” said Gizmo, as it moved over to the holo-table and brought up a 3D schematic of the Colony One facility and zoomed in on one sector.
“This module has an airlock that connects with the one on the back of the rover. They simply reverse it up close, and we can manipulate the umbilical to connect.”
Jann looked at the 3D image. “Does it still work?”
“Well that could be a problem. Nills built a windmill in it, back during the sandstorm, so it is full of dust and debris. It would need to be cleaned out and checked. But my analysis suggests that should take only a few minutes.”
“Okay, let’s do it.”
Jann sent a message to the stricken rover and gave them instructions as to where to go and what to do. Then she, Noome and Samir suited up to EVA. Kayden was left to operate the airlock from inside Colony One.
As they stepped out on to the planet surface they could already see the rover in the distance. Gizmo raced off to direct it to the airlock. Jann and the others made their way there and started to clear out the sand blocking the outer door. They disconnected the windmill and had cleared out most of the debris when the rover pulled up. Dust blew up around them as Gizmo directed them in. They backed up slowly and the rover inched its way along the guide rails to within operating distance of the airlock. Jann and Noome stepped into the open door and manually hoisted the connecting umbilical. It clicked into place at the rear of the rover with a satisfying clunk.
“Kayden, you can pressurise it now.”
“Okay.” His reply echoed in her EVA suit helmet. She waited… and waited.
“Christ, Kayden, what’s the problem, these guys are breathing nothing but CO2 by now.”
“I’m trying, I’m trying… it’s not working.”
“Dammit, we’ve got to do something.” With that Jann could feel a noticeable vibration in the airlock and it began to pressurise.”
“Wait, it’s just started working… that’s weird.”
“I did a manual override from the control panel on the outside. That is why it is working,” said Gizmo.
The alert flashed green and Jann popped the visor on her helmet. The rear door of the rover cracked opened and out came two Betas, one supporting another who looked badly injured. She had a blood drenched bandage around her thigh, her face was ashen.
“Thank you, we were dying in there.” The Beta’s eyes widened, “Are you Dr. Jann Malbec?”
“Yes, come; let’s get you all to the Medlab.”
“I am honoured,” he bowed.
“Quick, Noome, help get them inside.”
Finally the last Beta came out of the rover, his arm was in a sling and he had blood spatter on his face. But there was no mistaking who he was. Jann recognised him immediately.
“Nills! Is that really you?”
He looked at her and smiled. “Yes, I am Nills-Beta. How do you know me?”
Jann’s face betrayed a look of astonishment. He really did look exactly like the Nills she used to know; the same bright smile, the same raggedy chin, the same unkempt hair.
“You knew my Alpha, didn’t you?”
“Yes, a long time ago now, he… he was a dear friend to me.”
CHAPTER 16: Memories
“Are they all dead?” Kayden directed his question at Nills who was now sitting on a bed in the Colony One Medlab.
“I don’t know, it all happened so fast.”
“And what about Vanji and the science team?”
Nills just shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know.”
“Christ, this is insane,” said Samir.
“Well, it looks like we got out not a moment too soon.” Kayden patted Samir on the shoulder.
“So you’re the one who helped Dr. Jann Malbec escape.”
“Yeah, we all did.” Kayden waved a hand over at Noome who was tending to the injured Beta.
“Why? You’re a council member, you have a lot to lose?”
“Not any more, it would seem. If what you are saying is true.”
“You’d better believe it. The Hybrids control Colony Two now. For what reason, I really do not know.”
“Greetings Nills, glad to have you back.” Gizmo raced into the Medlab followed by Jann who had just divested herself of her EVA suit.
“Eh… this is Gizmo, Nills. You built him.”
Nills looked quizzically at the droid. “You mean my Alpha did.”
“Yes.”
Nills scratched his chin. “I have no memory of this machine.”
Gizmo was built after the Analogues of the colonists were created. So, assuming that was the source for the cloning, then you would have no knowledge of it.”
Nills continued to stare intently at the robot.
“Would you like me to fetch some tea for you?”
Nills laughed. “Sure, yes, why not.” With that Gizmo raced off.
“That’s an amazing machine, and you say my Alpha designed it.”
“Yes, he did have a lot of time on his hands.”
Nills shook his head and then looked around the Medlab. “I have memories of this place. Dreams. I remember the layout.”
“Here, let me have a look at that arm.” Jann unclasped his hand from his upper arm and inspected the wound. It was superficial, nothing serious. She went off to get some bandages and saw Lars looking around in awe of the place. “Lars?”
He stood up and bowed. “Dr. Malbec.”
“Do you know where the galley is?”
He thought about this for a moment. “I do, I have memories of it.”
“Then why don’t you go there and help Gizmo prepare some food. We’ll have it in the common room. You know where that is too, don’t you?”
His eyes went wide. “I do, I know this place, as if I have been here before.”
“Good, then you know what to do.”
When Jann returned to Nills, he was explaining all of what he knew about the Hybrid coup to Samir and Kayden.
“When they had finished with the Council members they came after us, the Beta leaders. It was very early so most of us were still asleep. But we were down in the main entrance cavern. You see, when you guys escaped we were sent down to check on the readiness of the second rover and to see if any of the other vehicles were operational. That’s when we heard the news that the Hybrids had gone on the rampage. We barricaded ourselves in but they were too strong and broke through just as we were making run for the rover. They killed six of us in the first charge. Two fell injured, we’re all that made it out.”
“Those fuckers,” Samir turned to Kayden. “How come you didn’t see this coming? You’re on the Council?”
“Nobody saw it, do you think any of those on the council who are now dead, saw t
his coming?”
Noome had finished patching up Anika, who sat up on the edge of the bed looking pale. “Well, it doesn’t matter now anyway, we’re leaving this god forsaken rock for ever.”
“Leaving?” Nills stood up.
“Yeah, we have a ticket for the next bus, and I for one am taking it.”
“You mean leave Mars, go back to Earth, how?”
“The old ISA MAV,” said Jann, “the one I came here in. It’s still operational and the Odyssey transit craft is still in orbit, waiting for it to return. I can go back.”
“To Earth?”
“Yes, but not for at least another sol. The fuel tanks aren’t ready yet.” She turned to the others. “We’re safe here for the moment, the Hybrids have no way to get to us.
“Jann’s right, there’s no panic,” said Kayden.
“Come on then, let’s eat.” One by one, they shifted out of the Medlab into the common room.
Gizmo and Lars had been busy. The table was arrayed with standard colony fare. Fruit, fish and, if Jann wasn’t mistaken, colony cider. They all sat and picked at the food, no one spoke much, it had the feeling of a last supper. The mood was sombre. After a while it was Nills who finally broke the silence. “I was wondering, if you have time before you leave, would you show us the bio-dome?”
“Sure, we have plenty of time now.” said Jann. “You probably have a memory of it.”
“We do, but I’d like you to show it to us, if that’s okay with you all?” he turned to Kayden. Who just opened his hands, “Sure, go ahead.”
The Betas all rose, Lars helped Anika as Jann led them toward the bio-dome. She felt like she was bringing pilgrims on a tour of some sacred site. “Maybe that’s how they saw it?” she thought. They stopped just inside the entrance and craned their necks to take it all in.
“Wow, I can’t believe I’m really here, it’s exactly how I dreamt it would be.” Lars could not contain his awe. The experience of standing in the bio-dome of Colony One was visibly emotional for him. Anika too, seemed mesmerised.
“Come, let me show you the central dais, it used to be my home. I slept in a tree, can you believe that?”
None of them replied, they obviously thought anything Dr. Jann Malbec did was okay with them. Jann was conscious that Anika was finding walking painful. “Here, why don't you sit down in my recliner and rest that leg.”
Colony Two Mars: A SciFi Thriller (Colony Mars Book 2) Page 9