Absolute Zero

by Phillip Tomasso

  Creatures scurried toward them, screeching, angry, in attack mode. One was directly behind the commander. Weber planted both feet and aimed his weapon. If he missed, he’d hit Anara Meyers. The bolt would obliterate his commander.

  If he didn’t do something, the creature would be on her and then she would be dead, regardless.

  Weber squeezed the trigger, a smooth action, his finger taking the trigger all the way back without jerking it. A single laser bolt flew out of the mouth of the barrel. The bolt burned a hole through the creature’s head as it rose off the ground and prepared to devour the commander.

  Meyers was showered in a spray of its blood. She ran faster, though. She never stopped.

  Getting behind D’Rukker and Webber, the commander didn’t pause. “We’re going to the shuttle!”

  “Erinne is getting her ready. Go! We’ll meet you there!” Weber responded. “Go, go!”

  Serverino made his way into the storage area, never letting up on his shooting. D’Rukker moved out, stood beside him, and fired on the creatures relentlessly.

  Weber saw the creatures retreating, scrambling to get away from the gunfight. Some scaled the piles of diamonds and were escaping into the air ducts. He let out a “Whoa-who!”

  D’Rukker turned his head slightly, eyebrow cocked.

  Weber said, “Sorry. Got a little caught up in the moment.”

  “Go and join your friends. We’ll hold them here until the shuttle takes off.”

  “Wait, you’re not coming with us?”

  D’Rukker laughed. “And leave my ship? I don’t think so.”

  “But what are you going to—?”

  “Everything we need to fix her will be somewhere in this compound,” D’Rukker explained.

  “Yeah, with a million hungry monsters that want to eat you,” Weber said.

  “Do we look worried?”

  They did not look worried at all. “I just—”

  “Well just someplace else. Get out of here. Now!”

  _____

  Weber returned to the bay. Through the front porthole, he saw Erinne Cohn at the controls.

  “Someone is inside the shuttle,” Captain Stanton said.

  “She’s okay,” Weber said. “She’s with me. These guys saved Bell and I out on the ice.”

  “They’re pirates,” Meyers said.

  “Does it matter?” Weber asked.

  Erinne was at the shuttle door. She stood with her arms out, holding on to either side. “What are you guys waiting for? Engine’s prepped. Tank’s full. She’s good to go.”

  Erinne stepped off the shuttle.

  Weber went up to her as the others climbed into the shuttle. “You’ve got to come with us,” he said.

  “I told you. Aroldis is never going to leave his ship, and I’ll never leave him. We’re family. He is all the family I have left.” The pirate smiled at him. “Come with you where? Back to your ship? Back to Nebula? Web, that’s not who I am.”

  “But it could be,” he said.

  “What’s the alternative? A small farm on Earth? Be your wife? Raise a family for you so you and your kid can build a starfighter in a barn?”

  “It’s not that small of a farm,” Weber said, speaking in an almost whisper.

  “Weber, let’s go!” Ruiz stood where Erinne had stood inside the shuttle and called out to him.

  “I want to fly ships still. Not just build them.” Her eyes bore into him. Weber knew she was looking deep into his heart through his own eyes. She touched the side of his face. “Are you going back to Earth when you get out of here?”

  Weber looked over at the shuttle. “No. I’m not.”

  Erinne smiled. “Good.”

  “Why is that good?”

  “It means there’s a good chance I’ll run into you again somewhere out in the middle of nowhere.”

  There was little chance they’d cross paths again. Space was infinite.

  She kissed him.

  “Yo, Romeo, let’s move.”

  Erinne said, “Murray’s all strapped in. Ran an IV from the medical bag on the shuttle. Try to keep him still until you get back to your ship.”

  “I will,” he said.

  “Until next time.” Erinne swiveled her blaster up from the strap where it hung over her shoulder and without another word ran toward the sound of the fight still raging on.

  Weber started toward the shuttle.

  Captain Stanton appeared at the door.

  “I’m coming,” Weber said.

  “Get down!” Stanton shouted.

  Weber dropped to the floor and rolled. Dropping from the ceiling was a small creature—small compared to the ones they’d just fought in the storage area. It didn’t look any less dangerous or deadly, though.

  Crab crawling, Weber scurried away from the thing as fast as he could, dragging D’Rukker’s blaster with him. His hands and feet were moving too fast for him to pick up the weapon. If he took even a moment to grab for it, the creature would be on him.

  A laser bolt passed over his exposed torso.

  Weber dropped flat onto his back.

  Another bolt flew past him and struck the creature in an eye socket. Blood oozed from the wound for just a moment. It was as if the heat from the laser had extolled damage, but also cauterized the wound at the same time. It rose into the air, shrieking, clearly in pain.

  A third bolt stuck home, hitting the creature in the mouth and exiting out of the back of the throat. The creature stood where it was for a long second and then toppled over.

  Weber felt a hand slip under his arm, and he was hoisted up onto his feet.

  Ruiz raced with him back onto the shuttle.

  “Where are the others?” Stanton asked. He held a standard Euphoric issue blaster in his arms. It must have been on the shuttle.

  “They’re not coming,” Weber said.

  “They’re not, what?”

  “They’re not coming. They’re staying. Get us out of here!”

  “We didn’t get to thank them? How are we just going to leave them here? Those things are everywhere.”

  “They can take care of themselves,” Weber said but wasn’t sure he believed it.

  The woman Weber did not recognize was tending to Murray. She had strapped herself in beside the lieutenant and was holding his hand.

  Ruiz went to the front of the shuttle and shouted to the commander, and then turned around. “She said buckle in.”

  In front of them, the shuttle the bay doors slowly opened. The shuttle engines roared.

  Weber did not want to see the planet surface. His mind imagined more creatures out there waiting to get into the compound. He couldn’t handle that thought. It would make Erinne’s chances of survival less likely, and right now, he needed something good to hold onto.

  The shuttle eased out of the bay, and then behind them, the bay door descended.

  Stanton sat next to Weber, securing the belts around his waist and chest. “We’re going home.”

  They were going to another spaceship in the planet’s orbit. And then they would return to Nebula. Neither was home.

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  On Board the Eclipse

  First Officer Mark Windsor stood on the bridge. He could not take his eyes off the porthole. The sight of the Euphoric shuttle approaching the Eclipse was one of the best things he’d ever seen. Communications were up and running between them, and although the commander had only given him a brief debrief, he was anxious for the rest of the details. It could wait.

  A celebratory meal was being prepared because Commander Meyers had stressed repeatedly that the crew was starving.

  Chief Engineer Mandy Kadera, standing beside Windsor, bounced on the balls on her feet. “I knew they were going to make it. I just knew it. Didn’t I tell you? I know I told you. That new commander, she’s going to work out just fine.”

  Windsor hadn’t been too sure, on either account. He kept the negative thoughts to himself. In fact, he’d already replaced them w
ith loyalty and confidence in his new team. Their first mission might not be considered a success in the eyes of the suits back at Euphoric, but as far as Windsor was concerned, it was.

  “With permission, Commander, I’m going down to supervise the shuttle landing,” Kadera said.

  “I believe I will join you.”

  “Aye,” Kadera said, still smiling.

  Epilogue

  The Eclipse sped toward home. From where they were in the galaxy, they had a wonderful view of Earth and both Way Stations. The Way Stations were mirror-copies of each other. The further of the two was Nova. The closest, Nebula. The center of Nebula was cylindrical. Three arms jutted out and on the ends of each arm were three rings. Each ring spun independently, as did the center. Everything Earth once had was contained on Nebula. Hydroponic gardens, stores, businesses, virtual vacation spots, and residential neighborhoods.

  Once the Eclipse docked, a man stood in the bay and fidgeted. He adjusted his shirt collar and tried looking both calm and official. “Commander Meyers! I am so happy you’ve made it home safely! I am Crispin Gunther. Your liaison for the Neptune mission. And this is my assistant, E.G.O.R.”

  He held out a hand.

  Meyers ignored it.

  “A pleasure to meet you, Commander,” E.G.O.R. said.

  Meyers eyed the robot, before turning her attention back on Gunther.

  Reining his arm back, he said, “We have some things to go over. The corporate higher-ups are in a conference room and look forward to your debriefing.”

  “The crew and I are tired, Mr. Gunther—”

  “Crispin. Please.”

  “They need to spend time with friends and family, Mr. Gunther. We lost four crew members on that mission. Four friends. I have been coordinating time to meet those families so I can deliver to them the devastating news,” she said.

  Gunther held up both hands. “We have people that will do that unpleasant business on your behalf. You needn’t worry about that. Instead, the corporate higher—”

  “As commander of the Eclipse, it is my responsibility to tell those waiting family members about what happened on that planet, about how their loved ones died heroes, and convince them it wasn’t all for nothing. It is my responsibility, and it is my privilege, Mr. Gunther. Now if you’ll excuse me, I know many of the families are already here, waiting to speak with me,” she said.

  “Of course, Commander. It’s just that first you should debrief with the corporate higher—”

  “Mr. Gunther, if you don’t get out of my way,” she said, and left the threat unsaid, as she shouldered past the corporate liaison.

  “It’s just that the diamonds, Commander,” Gunther said.

  She stopped, shook her head. She couldn’t believe the brass ones on this guy. Slowly, she turned back around and faced him. There was no hiding the vile displeasure on her facial expression. “The what?”

  “The diamonds. You did get the updated objective sent, did you not?”

  “I did,” she said, taking steps back toward the little man.

  Behind her was the crew from the Eclipse. She hadn’t realized they’d assembled and were watching the exchange. This wasn’t meant for them to hear. She was embarrassed by her outbursts, but it couldn’t be helped. Professional or not.

  “You see, it’s just that, you didn’t bring any back.” Gunther had taken steps backwards, away from the commander.

  He stopped when he backed into Captain Stanton. He looked up at the captain over his shoulder. He offered up a weak smile that quickly vanished as if he’d seen something dangerous in the captain’s eyes.

  The commander puckered her lips and let her tongue brush along the back of her teeth as she contemplated her next words.

  When she could find none, she did the next best thing.

  Curling fingers into a first, Commander Anara Meyers unleashed a punch that clocked Crispin Gunther square in the nose.

  It wasn’t Gunther’s fault, she was certain. He was just doing as he was told.

  Her job came with risks, and apparently, so did Gunther’s.

  Bleeding, Gunther fell onto the floor.

  “Well, that was rude,” E.G.O.R. said.

  “Shut it, tin can!” Commander Meyers helped the man onto his feet.

  “And that was more rude,” the robot said.

  Ignoring the assistant, Meyers said, “Will you explain to the corporation I will be along to debrief them as soon as I can? And please, ask them to have ready all the information they previously obtained about the mission to Neptune. I want to hear firsthand whether or not they knew the planet was infested with creatures that had emerged from the toxic oceans, because they knew. Didn’t they? They knew. They sent us over there without as much as an inclination into the dangers that awaited us. Have them have that information ready for me, Crispin. Will you do that for me?”

  “Of course, Commander. Shouldn’t be a problem,” Gunther said. Most of his words were garbled. He must have some blood in the back of his throat. Broken noses tended to do that.

  “Wonderful. That’s wonderful,” she said. She clapped Gunther on the back as she kind of shoved him forward. “Appreciate your liaisoning for us, Mr. Gunther. I really do. Top notch. Unparalleled by any other, I am certain. Nice work.”

  “Thank you, Commander,” Gunther said, hurrying away. She wondered if he missed the tone of sarcasm in her voice. She didn’t see how he could. Her words had dripped with mockery.

  “Commander Meyers!”

  The voice boomed around her. Meyers snapped to attention. Back rigid. Arms at her side, as did the rest of the crew in front of her.

  The sound of the voice came from behind her.

  She didn’t need to turn around to see who approached. Had the admiral seen her punch Mr. Gunther? It could cost her job. She could be arrested for assault. Her actions could bring utter disgrace to the Meyers name. Why had she done that? Why had she let her emotions get the better of her?

  She had to face him. She turned around. “Admiral,” she said. While he looked thinner than even the last time she saw him, gaunt, almost, his voice had lost none of its power, and command. The authority was as strong and as apparent as ever.

  “Was that a corporation man you just punched in the nose, Commander?”

  “But, Daddy, I can explain,” she said. Daddy. Why had she called him that? Why, as an adult, as a commander, did she let him always make her feel like a child?

  “From what I just observed, sounds to me like he had it coming.”

  What? Meyers felt shocked. She wasn’t sure she’d heard her father correctly.

  “And what I can remember from when I returned from a long mission like yours, was the desire to eat some real food.”

  The crew behind Anara agreed. She didn’t have to see them to know they’d be rubbing their stomachs and nodding vigorously.

  “I’ve booked us a banquet room at the Mandrake. Spared no expense. My daughter has returned home from her first major solo mission. That calls for a celebration in my book!” He looked at the ancient pocket watch he carried on a chain. “They should be ready for us right about now.”

  Captain Stanton said, “All of us, Admiral?”

  “The entire crew, and Dr. Sandra Carter, if she is inclined to join?”

  “Food on the ship was good, but …” The scientist raised her eyebrows. “I could eat.”

  Everyone laughed.

  Anara Meyers wasn’t sure what was even funny about what Sandra said. Maybe nothing was funny. It was possible the laughter came from relief. They were home, back on Nebula. Safe, and alive, but home.

  “Admiral, I will meet you there as soon as possible,” Anara Meyers said. Over his shoulder, she saw Captain Danielle Rivers’ husband and son. The man stood behind the boy, hands on the pre-teens shoulders. A celebration did not seem appropriate. They had endured, and survived a traumatic event, but a celebration? “I just have some people I need to talk with first.”

  The admiral no
dded. “I know you do. I’ve rented the room for the evening. Please, join us when you are finished.”

  First Officer Mark Windsor stepped forward. “Commander, would you like me to accompany you?”

  She did. She really did want Windsor with her. Anara had no idea how she was going to tell so many people that their loved one was dead. She didn’t want to do it alone. “No, but thank you. You join the others. I will be there just as soon as I can.”

  Without looking the captain in the eye, never looking away from Rivers’ husband and son, Anara began walking toward them.

  They became something of a blur the closer she got to them, but it was only because she was crying and refused to wipe away the tears.

  _____

  Lieutenant Murray Bell sat up in the hospital bed. His legs dangled over the side. He kept kicking out his metallic prosthetic. “I mean, the good thing is, I won’t have to shave it when I wear shorts.”

  Weber and Ruiz laughed.

  Bell edged himself off of the bed. He winced when he stood.

  “That hurt?” Weber asked.

  “The nub is sore. Going to take some time getting used to it. They wired nerves and screwed in bones. Docs tell me this leg is going to be so much better than the original I’m going to contemplate lopping off the other for a matching pair.” Bell took a few steps, and then a few more. He stood in front of a full-length mirror that hung on the back of his door. “I’m like a freaking robot. How’s your arm?”

  Weber rolled his shoulder around. “Wearing the sling on the way home helped. I should be fine, no bionic arms for me.” Weber couldn’t help but think of Erinne and her arm. She never got around to telling him what happened, how she’d wound up with a prosthetic. He wanted the attention diverted. Bell was the man of the hour in his book. “We’re going to have to come up with some kind of new nickname for you, like … like … I got nothing.”

  Ruiz laughed again. “Shorty. Eileen. iHop.”

  Bell pointed at the lieutenant. “Oh, she’s full of them!”