Rogue Colony (Galaxy Mavericks Book 6)

by Michael La Ronn

  “Them?” Beauregard asked.

  “I don’t know what they were,” Michiko said. “But they were aliens, for sure. They swallowed our ship.”

  “Can you describe them for us?” Will asked. He handed her his notebook and pencil.

  Michiko took them reluctantly but started to draw a black cloud.

  “They were like clouds,” Michiko said. “Black. They blotted out sunlight. And they had red eyes, like blood. And when they swallowed us, it was…it was…”

  She sobbed. Reiko hugged her.

  “Take all the time you need,” Beauregard said.

  “I’m sorry,” Michiko said. “It’s just, that I miss them.”

  “The aliens?”

  “My friends.”

  “They may still be alive,” Beauregard said. “And we need your help to find them.”

  Michiko continued drawing.

  “The world we were in, it was like a negative photograph. All the colors were off.”

  Beauregard’s eyes widened.

  “I’m lost,” Will said. “What do you mean they took you to another world?”

  “I’m just as lost as you,” Michiko said. “But wherever they took us, Refugio was there. And so was another planet that I had never seen before.”

  “What do you mean Refugio was there?” Beauregard said.

  “The missing moon. It was there and it was destroyed. There was another planet there. Half of it was being eaten by the aliens and the other half was crumbling—like this.”

  She handed Will the notebook with a crude drawing of the planet. There were squiggly lines showing the aliens and zigzags showing the crumbling.

  “Was it Earthlike?” Beauregard asked.

  Michiko nodded.

  “Sounds like Kepler to me,” Will whispered.

  Beau stroked his chin and studied the drawing.

  “The aliens brought us to the planet’s surface,” Michiko continued. “And there was a giant black hole there. The aliens devoured Ashley, Rudy, and Hassan.”

  “Why didn’t they eat you?” Will asked.

  “They tried. But for some reason they backed away.”

  “Was it something you were wearing?” Beauregard asked. “Perfume? Jewelry?”

  “I don’t know,” Michiko said.

  “That’s strange,” Beauregard said. “Very strange.”

  “There was a human among them,” Michiko said. “He told me to deliver a message.”

  “Which is?” Beauregard asked.

  “He said ‘fucking hell is coming.’”

  “Michiko!” Reiko cried.

  “Those were his words, not mine,” Michiko said. “And then he threw me into the black hole. I don’t remember much after that.”

  Will’s face was puzzled. Beauregard was rattled by the story, too, but he kept his composure.

  “Do you have any additional information that might help us find Ashley, Rudy, and Hassan?” Beauregard asked.

  “I can’t think of anything else,” Michiko said. “I pray that they’re alive. Please find them.”

  “We’ll do our best,” Beauregard said. “We promise that we will not rest until every inch of space near Reader IV is covered. Thank you very much for your time, Miss Lins. We're very glad we found you, and we will pray for your speedy recovery.”

  “One last question,” Will said. “Did you ever find Drake?”

  “No,” Michiko said. “We never did.”

  “Got it, thanks,” Will said.

  The three men left the room. Reiko followed.

  “Do you think they’ll be able to find Ashley, Rudy, and Hassan?” Michiko asked.

  Arthur grabbed his guitar and tuned it. “No idea. But if anyone can find them, it’s the Galactic Guard.”

  20

  “Why did you drop out?” Reiko asked. “You had so much going for your career.”

  Reiko sat in a chair next to Michiko’s bed. Arthur sat on the floor ghost-fingering chords on the guitar.

  Michiko lie back on her bed. She tried to pick the right words carefully.

  “It wasn't for me, Mom. I hated it.”

  “Sometimes you have to do things you hate to do things you love.”

  “Well, I don't see it that way,” Michiko said.

  “I just don't understand why you hid it from me for an entire year.”

  “I was scared of what you would say,” Michiko said. “I promised that I would tell you eventually. I just…didn't have the courage to tell you.”

  “You could have at least told me where you were,” Reiko said.

  “That was quite the scare,” Arthur said. “We got a call that you had been hurt. We called the school, and that's when they told us you were gone. And then your team lead called us and that's when we found out you were in the Galaxy Corps.”

  “I'm sorry,” Michiko said.

  Arthur nodded as if he understood. But her mom’s gaze only intensified. She spoke softly but strongly.

  “I would have supported a year off,” Reiko said. “I could have been persuaded. But I can't believe you lied to me. Michiko, it's just--”

  Arthur cut her off.

  “Reiko, she's alive. Can you drop it for once?”

  “I should have never trusted you,” Reiko said. “If I hadn't listened to you and intervened, none of this would have happened!”

  “It's her life,” Arthur said. “How many times have I told you it's her life?”

  “She's not old enough to make sound decisions. She still needs us.”

  “Hello,” Michiko said, folding her arms. “I can speak for myself. And I've been doing just fine, thanks.”

  “You call all of this just fine?” Reiko asked.

  “Umm,” Michiko said, “I lived in the rainforests of Coppice by myself. I made money all by myself. I fed myself. I paid bills. I'm a grown woman, Mom. Back off.”

  Reiko shrank back in her chair. She adjusted her hair.

  “Well, you need rest,” Reiko said. “We’ll leave you alone for a little while.”

  Michiko looked away as her parents left her alone in the dark hospital room.

  “DOCTOR GOLDSTEIN, WHAT DO YOU THINK?” Reiko asked.

  Arthur put his arm around Reiko as they stood, watching Michiko through an observation window. Michiko wore a hospital gown and played her father’s guitar.

  Reiko didn't want her daughter to leave her sight. For the past forty-eight hours Reiko hadn't been able to sleep. Her eyes burned. Her nerves were jittery with caffeine and she could've snapped at any moment. Thank God her husband was so calm about all of this. She couldn't take it.

  A doctor with a brown beard stood with them.

  “We don't know what happened to her,” Dr. Goldstein said. “There are many things we are unable to explain.”

  “But is she okay?” Reiko asked.

  “Michiko was exposed to a radiation that we have never seen before,” Dr. Goldstein said. “Typically, we would expect radiation burns, followed by sickness and then death. Aside from exhaustion, she is virtually unharmed.”

  “Then why does she have to stay here?” Reiko asked. “If it's not too much trouble, I would prefer to take care of her at home.”

  “We’ll be able to release her soon,” Dr. Goldstein said. He left Arthur and Reiko.

  “What are we going to do?” Reiko asked. “We can't afford for her to stay here.”

  “Doesn't she have medical benefits through Galaxy Corps?” Arthur asked.

  Reiko sighed. “I called the hotline earlier. You won't believe the out-of-pockets, Arthur. It would have been better if she were still on my plan. This is such a mess.”

  Arthur sighed. “We’ll figure out a way to pay for it. As long as she’s okay, that's all that matters.”

  “Maybe we can call the medical center back home,” Reiko said. “They would understand our situation.”

  “Excuse me?” a voice said.

  A young man in a white suit and black tie stood behind them. His blonde hair wa
s slightly wet from showering, and it hung down to his ears. He smelled of watery cologne. Something about him hinted at money. Lots of it. He was a young man—there was a black diagonal stripe across his suit, a fashion popular with young men these days. Reiko didn't approve of his fashion, but he radiated confidence and concern, and it was nice to finally talk to someone who cared.

  “Yes?” Reiko asked.

  “I couldn't help but overhear your conversation and I thought it would be good to introduce myself.”

  He extended a hand.

  Reiko took it reluctantly. His hands were soft, so soft. He smiled at her and patted their handshake with his other hand. Then he moved to Arthur and shook his hand.

  “I'm so sorry to hear what happened to your daughter,” the man said. “I can't imagine what you're going through.”

  “It's tough,” Arthur said. “But we have a saying on Asiazil: just keep smiling and the shadows will dissipate.”

  The young man laughed.

  “Smile…yes, I quite like that, Mr. Lins. I quite like that a lot.”

  “I'm sorry, but who are you?” Reiko asked.

  The young man smiled. “I'm just a citizen who appreciates your daughter’s service to the galaxy, and I want to help you.”

  “Are you a doctor?” Reiko asked.

  “Far from it,” the man said, “but the best doctors in the world work for me.”

  He handed her a business card.

  “My name is Florian Macalestern, and if it's okay with you, I'd like to talk about paying for all of this and getting Michiko the best medical care in the galaxy, courtesy of the Macalestern Corporation.”

  21

  “What do you mean I'm leaving?” Michiko asked.

  Her head still hurt and she didn't understand her mom, who was excited and speaking quickly.

  “We have such great news,” Reiko said. “We found someone who wants to help you.”

  “I have medical benefits through Galaxy Corps,” Michiko said. “I don't need help.”

  “The benefits only pay eighty percent,” Reiko said. “We would have to shoulder a big burden. This is a better alternative.”

  Michiko wanted to rest. She had just gotten used to the hospital room, and she wanted to go home.

  “It's for the best, meu anjo,” Arthur said. “If there's anything wrong, they'll be able to find out immediately.”

  “Who?” Michiko asked.

  “We just met with a man named Florian Macalestern,” Arthur said. “He is with the Macalestern Corp.”

  “Isn't he the CEO’s nephew?” Michiko asked.

  “It doesn't matter,” Reiko said. “He told us that his division has been working on a special project that observes unusual radiation. Some of the studies he was telling us about were absolutely amazing. He even got to pick his team, and they work with some of the best doctors and scientists in the galaxy. He echoed the doctor’s optimism that you are fine, but he wanted to be sure without a doubt.”

  “That's great and all,” Michiko said, “but wouldn't it make sense for me to stay here? I'm close to home, and really, I feel fine other than being tired.”

  “Florian told us that he would only need a couple of days to run tests,” Reiko said. “After that, we can go home and he will even send a home nurse with us to monitor you for a couple weeks. Isn't it wonderful, Reiko?”

  Michiko said nothing. She didn't want to deny her mother’s kindness—a stranger’s kindness—but she was tired and groggy and didn't know what to think.

  “Where is this medical facility at?” Michiko asked.

  “Don't worry about that,” Arthur said, kissing her on the cheek. “Soon, it'll all be over and you can even go back and finish your term in the Galaxy Corps if you want.”

  “Shouldn't I meet this Florian?” Michiko asked.

  “He said he had some errands to run before leaving,” Reiko said. “But he said he will set aside some time to meet with you when we arrive.”

  “Mom, this isn't—”

  Reiko tucked Michiko into bed.

  “Get some rest,” she said. “This is non-negotiable. Until you're at one-hundred percent health, I'm going to be making all the decisions, understand?”

  Reluctantly, Michiko nodded, eased under the sheets and turned away, staring outside at the cold, twinkling stars.

  22

  “We got you a nice room on our ship,” a muscular man in a white suit explained as he wheeled Michiko down the hallway on a stretcher. “It's one of the best.”

  Reiko walked alongside Michiko, her purse slung over her shoulder. Arthur followed with a plastic guitar case in his hand. The man wheeled Michiko’s stretcher down the barrel-shaped hallway.

  “Are you sure we don't need copies of the medical release papers?” Reiko asked.

  “It's all taken care of,” Ellis Huxley said, holding up a wrinkled piece of paper. “Don't worry, we’ll get you copies.”

  “The doctor should have seen me before leaving,” Michiko said. “How can he release me without seeing me?”

  “I don't care what kind of care you're getting here,” Huxley said. “It won't compare to ours. The doc knows that. They tend to stay out of our way. Money does that.”

  The man, who had not stopped talking since he entered the room, had a thick, basso voice. If his lower register went any lower, he would have sounded like a frog. In his white suit, he looked like he could flex his chest muscles and rip the suit to shreds, pop out the cords in his neck and destroy his shirt and tie.

  “Only the best for ya, Miss Lins,” Huxley said. “I think you're gonna quite like your new room. I think you're gonna quite like it a lot. Flo-Mac picked it out himself.”

  “Flo-Mac?” Michiko asked.

  Huxley’s swarthy, acned face spread into a smile.

  “It's what we call Florian,” Huxley said. “Saves us a few consonants and a hard to say last name. I like to take credit for it.”

  “Flo-Mac,” Michiko said, giggling. “Love the nickname. I think I like him already.”

  “Everybody loves Flo-Mac,” Huxley said. “He's young, and yeah, he's Bessie’s nephew, but he's proven himself at the company. He'll be CEO someday.”

  Huxley winked at Michiko.

  “That means I might be COO,” he said. “I'm currently the Director of Medical Learning and Performance, but my expertise lies in operational…compliance.”

  Michiko looked at Huxley’s muscular body. She didn't doubt that he didn't have trouble enforcing any rules.

  “Well,” Reiko said, “if you conduct yourself as you have been with us so far, I have no doubt that you would be the best man for the job.”

  “I appreciate that very much, ma’am,” Huxley said.

  He wheeled Michiko toward an airlock where a white and black-striped ship hovered in the center. Other men and women in white uniforms waited around. Upon seeing Huxley, they quickly moved around and opened the ship’s bay doors.

  A woman with sleek curves dressed in a white suit and black tie waited for them with a tablet in her hand. She wore fire-red glasses and red lipstick.

  “Good evening,” the woman said. “My name is Tatiana Russo. At Macalestern, I am Florian’s Associate Vice President of Comfort, but for your trip, I'm the ship’s comfort concierge.”

  Arthur laughed. “What's a comfort concierge?”

  Tatiana smiled a tantalizing smile.

  “My job is to make sure your stay is as wonderful as possible,” she said. “Have you ever traveled on a luxury ship before?”

  Michiko, Reiko, and Arthur shook their heads.

  “They're freshies,” Huxley said. “Give them the run down, will you?”

  “Flo-Mac is a wealthy executive,” Tatiana said. “And a major shareholder in the company. With his current title, the company gives him private transportation services. And if there is one thing you should know about him, it's that beyond his intelligence, he loves to travel in comfort. My sole job is to make sure that he's comfortable wherever
he goes. It's like an assistant, but way better. He has assigned my services to you for the duration of your flight.”

  “My,” Reiko said, gasping. “That's unnecessary.”

  “No, it's a requirement, Mrs. Lins,” Tatiana said. “If I fail to follow protocol, I will have to answer to Florian, so please don't make this difficult on me.”

  Arthur couldn't take his eyes off Tatiana. Reiko hit him on the shoulder with her purse.

  “Uh, yeah,” Arthur said, “we won't make your life difficult.”

  “Our request is that you focus on Michiko, not us,” Reiko said.

  Tatiana nodded and smiled at Michiko.

  “That won't be a problem at all, Mr. and Mrs. Lins.”

  23

  Will, Beauregard and Sims saluted a television screen on the rescue ship bridge. Outside, the Pinheiro Space Station revolved, a rotating helix glinting in the light of Reader IV.

  On the television, Commander Mike Ponty and Lieutenant Commander Danica Gregg saluted back. They were seated in a conference room, with a sunlit window behind them.

  Will missed sunlight. He'd been in space for the last seven days and wouldn't have minded the sun on his face right about now.

  “What did you find out?” Commander Ponty asked.

  “We’re stumped, sir,” Beauregard said.

  He recounted Michiko’s story and sent them a digital photo of Will’s notes.

  Ponty rubbed his forehead. “This stinks. All of it.”

  “I agree, sir,” Beauregard said.

  “If I may,” Will said, “the weirdest thing about all of this, sir, is that we have a group of volunteers who ended up in trouble—but they never found the guy they were looking for.”

  “Who?” Ponty asked.

  “A Drake Alpert,” Will said.

  Lieutenant Commander Gregg, who had a laptop in front of her, typed something quickly. Then she shook her head.

  “Name isn't showing up in our rescue database,” Gregg said. A strand of brown hair hung down from her forehead. Normally, Gregg was well-kept. She looked stressed, as if she hadn't slept in a while.