“What the?” the man began but Aaron waved him to silence.
Russell grinned. “We’re your new bunkmates so move over and share that bed.”
If possible Kyle’s eyes went even wider at this statement. Jessica suppressed a chuckle and punched Russell’s shoulder.
Aaron took a deep breath and shook his head. “Hello, Kyle. You can ignore their joking. Your father sent us to try and get you out of here.”
“My father?” Kyle asked looking suspicious.
Aaron fished a small medallion out of his pocket and held it up. It resembled an ancient gold coin. Aaron snapped it into two pieces. For just a moment nothing happened, and then Charles Morgan’s distinctive voice rang out, “Trust them!”
A grin slowly spread over Kyle’s face. “We’re leaving?” he asked.
“Uh, yes, but not immediately,” Aaron replied. “In fact, we’re going to need your help for us to get away.”
“My help?” Kyle asked. “What do you need me to do and who are you?”
“Sorry,” Aaron said and quickly ran through their names.
Kyle nodded at each of them as they were introduced but he still looked confused. “I’m glad you’re here to help, but what is it you need me to do?”
“We had a co-worker of yours write some computer code for us. Basically, it circumvented a lot of the onboard security measures and allowed us to reach you. However, he wasn’t able to complete the most important part.” As he spoke, Aaron removed the small tablet computer that he carried and handed it over to Kyle. “In about forty hours, we need to turn off this ship’s engines and drop the ship back into normal space. In addition we need to disable communications and lock most of the decks down.”
“Is that all?” Kyle asked with obvious sarcasm. “I mean is there anything else you want me to do while I’m at it?”
“I know it’s a lot, but Michael’s got most of the code done. He said you should be able to finish it.”
“That’s true,” Kyle agreed, “but in forty hours? And why forty hours anyway?”
“Well,” Aaron said slowly, “in roughly forty-three hours, this ship will re-enter normal space at the edge of the Fort Bell system. It will assume an orbit around the planet and more prisoners will be transferred up. If we’re not out of here by then, I don’t think we’ll be escaping.”
“I see,” Kyle said slowly, looking from face to face. “You’re putting a lot of faith in me.”
“We were told that you’re one of the best.”
“Okay,” Kyle said after a moment. “Once the ship’s shutdown, then what?”
“We have another ship meeting us. The coordinates of the rendezvous are in the tablet. We need the ship’s systems offline; all of them.” Aaron pointed to the tablet, “There is a list of everything we need in there.”
Kyle flicked the computer on and sat down on the edge of the bed. He quickly began scanning through the list of requirements and the partially written code. It was rather like he had flipped a switch and turned his attention completely inward.
Aaron glanced at Kyle and then motioned Susan over to the side of the cell, near the door. “Can you sense the guard,” he asked quietly.
Susan’s expression became distant and after a moment she nodded. “He’s back at the security desk.”
Aaron nodded. “Good. As soon as he starts his rounds again, let me know.” Turning his attention back to Kyle, Aaron said, “Kyle.” There was no answer as the programmer was so completely focused on the computer that he didn’t hear. It took Aaron tapping him on the shoulder to get the man’s attention again.
“Yes?” Kyle asked, looking a little perturbed.
“We’re not staying here,” Aaron said, trying to remain patient.
“We’re not?” Kyle repeated looking confused. “If this cell is empty, I believe an alarm will sound.”
“You would be correct,” Aaron said grinning, “but Michael’s computer virus altered the security parameters of your cell. However, when I said we’re not staying here, I meant the four of us.” He motioned at himself, Russell, Susan, and Jessica. Kyle’s expression became somewhat fearful and Aaron could understand. “We’re not going to leave you for good. We need to reconnoiter the area and plan our escape.”
“I could come with you,” Kyle said quickly, looking from face to face.
Aaron shook his head. “Won’t work. Just because they haven’t inspected your cell, doesn’t mean they won’t.” He took out a small case and handed it to Kyle. “If that door starts to open then put that tablet in this case and hide it in your bunk.” Kyle took the case cautiously and turned it over, looking at it. “If they scan your cell, this should keep the tablet from being detected.” He pointed at the tablet, “It’s set up with a connection into the ship’s computer. There’s a chat program loaded. Use it if you need to contact us. Understand?”
After a moment, Kyle nodded. “Yes.”
Aaron leaned in close. “We’re going to get you of here. Got it?”
Kyle smiled weakly and nodded again.
Chapter 22
They had to stand in the hallway just around the corner from the security guard’s desk and wait for him to get up and start his rounds. The risk of being caught was minimized with Susan being able to locate the guard even when he was several corridors away. They stood in silence, each of them calm in their trust of Susan’s ability. Finally she poked Aaron in the shoulder and motioned for him to move out.
Aaron led them quickly and quietly to the elevator, where he once again punched in his computer code, and then they waited nervously for the several minutes it took for the elevator to arrive. When the doors slid open, they hurried in quickly and everyone but Susan exhaling in relief.
“Don’t trust me?” Susan asked, grinning.
Aaron grinned back. “Let’s just say I’m glad to be out of there.”
“Where to?” Russell asked. “Are we going back to the locker room where we left our spacesuits?”
“Yes,” Aaron said after a moment’s consideration, “but I think it’s a good idea to follow our two escape routes. See if there’s anything we need to be aware of.” Pausing he looked around, but the other three were just nodding in agreement. “We’ll split up. A group of four will be noticed quicker than two people walking together. Susan and I will follow our primary escape route and you two take the backup.”
When formulating their escape plan, they had picked two escape routes from the prisoner cells to the hangar. According to the information that Charles Morgan’s group had provided, these escape routes should be the safest and quickest two paths out of the detention bay. Still, even though they trusted Morgan’s people, it would still be a good idea to verify the information.
Aaron punched in two separate destinations and then they waited while the elevator moved down and horizontally. It finally came to a stop and the doors slid open to reveal an empty hallway. Russell and Jessica stepped out. “Be careful,” Susan called quietly after them.
The doors slid shut again and the elevator moved down another level and stopped. The elevator opened onto another empty hallway, but on this level the lights had also been dimmed and it gave the corridor a gloomy creepy appearance. In actuality, the overhead lights were off and the only illumination came from a series of low lights that lined the bottom of the walls.
Aaron glanced at Susan. “Anyone around?” he asked, making sure to keep his voice low.
“No,” she answered, “it’s deserted.”
Aaron led the way from the elevator towards the hangar bay. This particular level of the ship was massive storerooms and contained everything needed to keep the ship and its crew functioning. It wasn’t surprising that the lights were dimmed and the floor was deserted.
They followed the route towards the hangar, observing their surroundings as they went. Understandably, this level of the ship was rather uninteresting. The corridors were quite wide so as to easily move goods and containers around, but even so, enormo
us scrapes and gouges covered the passage walls. Ever so often they would pass a recessed door, and they knew from their mission prep that the doors opened to large storerooms beyond. All the doors were closed now, and they didn’t pay them any attention.
At last they passed the last doorway branching off of the corridor and then the hall ended in massive sliding compartment doors. They knew that the hangar bay waited just on the other side.
“All right then,” Aaron said. “I think this route will work for us. Even if some of the crew is trying to get something out of storage, they won’t be able to stop us getting the prisoners through here.”
Susan nodded and then froze, her eyes widening in alarm. “Someone’s coming.”
“They know we’re here?” Aaron asked, tensing up.
“I don’t think so,” Susan said, shaking her head. “I think it’s a guard but I don’t think he’s looking for anything in particular.”
“Damn!” Aaron said. He was relieved that they hadn’t been discovered, but it seemed awful bad luck to run into a security guard just as he was making his rounds. He looked around at their surroundings. The only thing that offered a chance of hiding them was what lay beyond the door. Undoubtedly, it led to a storeroom, but it really didn’t matter what was on the other side at the moment. He moved towards the controls, preparing to key in his access code.
“Wait!” Susan said quickly, “if you open that now, he’ll hear for sure.”
“Got any better ideas?”
After a second Susan said, “Maybe. Do you trust me?”
Aaron took a deep breath and nodded.
Susan grabbed Aaron by the shirt and dragged into the shadow of the recessed door. She frantically began pulling at her hair and in a matter of seconds her prim and proper hair was hanging in disarray. Then, she grabbed the right side of her shirttail and yanked it free of her pants. Lastly, she unbuttoned the top five buttons on her shirt, exposing quite a lot of her bra.
“What the?” Aaron said, but cut off as Susan grabbed him and pulled him into the shadows. She yanked his head down and began to passionately kiss him. Caught completely by surprise, Aaron let her.
“Hey you!” a stranger’s voice called out. There was the briefest of pauses and then the same voice called out, “Lights!”
Bright overhead lights clicked on and the shadows disappeared instantly.
Susan pushed Aaron away like a schoolgirl caught making out by her parents. She and Aaron turned to face the guard.
The guard’s hand rested on the butt of his pistol but, to his credit, he hadn’t drawn it yet. “Who are you? What are you doing here?” he demanded, his eyes wide in alarm. His whole body was tensed and he stood bent over a little, like he might spring at any moment.
Susan held her hands out in front of her with her palms facing the guard. Aaron quickly imitated her. “We’re sorry. We didn’t mean to cause a commotion,” she said, and she managed to get just the right mix of fear and embarrassment in her words.
The guard looked from one to the other and he seemed to sag a little as he took in Susan disheveled appearance. He straightened up and his demeanor turned a little from being startled to anger. He took a deep breath, swelling a little as he did so. “This area’s off-limits. Furthermore, what you’re doing is not allowed.”
“Not allowed?” Aaron repeated blankly and then he looked towards Susan. His brain seemed to be operating in slow motion but it finally dawned on him that the guard assumed that they had been looking for a quiet and dark place to fool around.
“That’s right,” the guard said. “It’s not allowed to mess around with other crew members. You should know that.”
“We do,” Susan said slowly. “But, come on, everybody breaks that rule.” She didn’t knew specifically if the Miram Union military had that problem with its members, but it was a safe bet. Every military unit that she had ever known suffered from that particular issue. It seemed that when young men and women worked together, hormones always got in the way.
“Be that as it may, you still could go to Captain’s Mast for this,” the guard said. “I doubt either of you would enjoy explaining your actions to the Captain.”
Captain’s Mast was a way of handling minor infractions. The Captain would listen to the involved individuals and then either dismiss the charges or implement punishment.
Aaron felt a little panicky as this could go bad rather quickly. If the guard insisted that they go to the ship’s brig, then this would turn into a fight. If he and Susan won such a fight, the guard would most likely be dead and, more importantly, missing. More likely, he would write a report and then send them on their way, but this too could be bad for them. They didn’t want to raise any red flags before trying to break out a group of prisoners. He opened his mouth to speak, not even sure of what he planned to say, but Susan spoke first.
“Listen, we’re awful sorry about this, but there’s no reason to involve the Captain. All those reports you’d have to file and then we’d be in trouble. How about you let us go and we promise never to make out in here again.”
The guard reached up a hand and rubbed the side of his face. “I could get in a lot of trouble if I did that,” he said slowly, after a moment’s thought.
“We sure as hell won’t tell anyone.” Susan raised her hand to her chest and her eyes got a little misty. “Please, we were just trying to have a little fun.”
The guard didn’t answer right away but instead considered, after a moment, he sighed. “Come on,” he said as he turned and walked back the way they had come. “If I catch either of you in here again, you can be sure you won’t get off so easily.”
Susan flashed a smile at Aaron as she followed the guard.
Aaron brought up the rear of the threesome and he was reeling. He had never been in security and he had always been an officer, never enlisted, but he couldn’t even imagine security as lax as this. He knew that some things had to be handled locally and outside the proper channels, but that didn’t excuse letting crewmen go after catching them in a restricted area. He kept his mouth shut, relieved that the security was so poor and disgusted by it as well.
It took several minutes to get back to the elevator, and they walked the entire distance in silence. The guard reached it first and punched the elevator call button, then he turned to face them. “Remember what I said. If I catch either of you in here again, I won’t hesitate to report you.”
Neither one spoke but Aaron nodded at the guard as he followed Susan onto the elevator. After a moment the doors closed and the elevator began moving, still they waited. Aaron counted to twenty slowly before he spoke. “Whatever gave you that idea?”
Susan turned to look at him, grinning as she did. “Did you ever hear of a Commonwealth ship called the Acadia?”
“Yes,” Aaron replied somewhat confused. “It was a tender, but I don’t understand what that has to do with you kissing me.”
“The Acadia had a crew of nearly two hundred men and one hundred women. In one six month deployment, nearly a quarter of the women got pregnant. It was so common that the ship became known as the “Love Boat.””
“And you got the idea to kiss me from that?”
“Well, men and women do what they do, no matter where you are. I assumed that the Unionists would have the same problems,” Susan answered. She hesitated and then continued, “You’re not bothered by the fact that you enjoyed the kiss. Are you?”
Aaron swallowed hard before answering. It was true he had enjoyed it but he hadn’t kissed anyone in a long time. On reflection he decided not to say that second part to Susan. “So I enjoyed kissing a beautiful young woman,” he finally said as the elevator came to a stop, “what’s wrong with that?”
The doors slid open as Susan’s grin got even bigger. “Absolutely nothing,” she said and then she led them out into the hall.
Chapter 23
Aaron and Susan returned to the abandoned locker room without any further incident. They were slightly surprise
d that they had beaten Russell and Jessica back, but a quick check of the ship’s computer showed that no alarms had been raised. There was, however, a message waiting for them. It was not from Russell or Jessica, but instead from Kyle. After decrypting the message, it simply read:
Flight Data Recorder cannot be disabled or tampered with.
Aaron sighed. The Flight Data Recorder was a nearly indestructible device that was used after a disaster or calamity to determine the root-cause. He had included erasing the recorder in the list he had given to Kyle, but disabling the recorder had really been more of a wish than a necessity. He doubted whether the recorder would actually include anything that would lead the authorities to him or his group.
Susan came over and read the message over his shoulder. “Is that a problem?” she asked.
“Probably not,” Aaron answered. “But I would feel safer if we could erase or destroy it.” He began typing a reply to Kyle; it was short and to the point. Fine. Carry on.
It took Russell and Jessica nearly another half an hour to return and, by then, Aaron was starting to get nervous, regardless of the lack of alarms.
“What took so long?” he burst out as Russell and Jessica entered the room.
“Sorry,” Russell said, looking a little surprised. “There were quite a few people on that level and we didn’t want to raise any suspicions.”
“It was busy during the mid-shift?” Aaron asked.
“Yes,” Russell said, nodding his head. “The galley is right off the main corridor. There weren’t a whole lot of people there, but it looked like there was always someone coming and going.”
A suspicion formed in Aaron’s mind and he asked, “So what did you two do to keep from raising suspicions?”
“Well,” Russell began but he cut off as Susan chuckled.
“You ate dinner. Didn’t you?” Aaron asked.
Russell didn’t answer right away but Jessica nodded her head.
“But just to fit in with the crew,” Russell said quickly.
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