“Okay, okay. You don’t have to soft-soap me anymore.” Jim holstered his weapon and turned on his heel, then he headed for the cockpit.
“And Jim,” Siobhan called after him, “whatever happens, just keep moving. Don’t stop, not for anything.”
Jim acknowledged her with a raised hand, then he disappeared into the corridor’s shadowy mouth, and Siobhan heard the cockpit door open and close.
For a moment, Siobhan stood still, deep in thought. Her throat was dry and her chest was tight, but she forced herself to take a deep breath and let it out slowly. She looked down at the rifle in her hands and shook her head. She’d started something; she’d set a chain of events in motion. And whatever happened next, it would be down to her. Her decisions. Her actions. Could she face that? Could she accept the blame if things went wrong?
I’ll have to, she told herself. It’s too late to back down now. What was it that Dad used to say? She smiled sadly and whispered, “Step up to the plate and keep swinging.” It was a phrase her father had used often, and the memory gave her strength. I’ll do it for you, Dad, she thought. And from somewhere beneath her feet, a dull roar rumbled and grew louder as the truck’s engines sprang to life.
CHAPTER 13
Truck One
Lyndsey woke to the sound of someone hammering on her cabin door. She sat up and pushed herself out of bed, fumbling for the light switch.
On the other side of the door, someone shouted, “Doctor Teare! I need to talk to you!”
Lyndsey staggered to the door without getting dressed and opened it just enough to peer out into the corridor.
Her senior technician, David Brandt, was standing outside her door, his hair tousled, and his face pale. “It’s truck two. They’ve gone. They’ve…they’ve pulled out.”
“What? When?”
“Just now,” David replied. “I heard the engines, so I got up to see what was happening. It was truck two, definitely. I saw them go.”
Lyndsey shook her head. “But Alec’s in there. He wouldn’t do anything so stupid. It’s still dark, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’ll be dark for hours, but even so, truck two has gone.”
Lyndsey studied David’s expression. He was a good man and reliable, a solid member of the crew. If he said that truck two had gone, then she had no choice but to accept it and act accordingly. “Right. Get Kyrksen. Tell him to meet me in the cockpit in two minutes.”
“You’ve got it,” David said, then he hurried away.
Lyndsey closed the door then grabbed her coverall from its hook. “What the hell, Alec?” she whispered. “What’s gotten into you?”
Within a minute, Lyndsey was barging into the cockpit. She took the pilot’s seat and tapped the control panel to open a channel to truck two. “Alec, this is Lyndsey. Report in immediately. What in God’s name is going on over there?”
She waited for a second, but when there was no reply she tried again. “Alec, or whoever is piloting truck two, answer me!”
Again, there was no reply, and Lyndsey let out a hiss of frustration. She bent over the control panel, checking the comms, but everything looked fine. They must have been able to hear her in truck two, so there was no logical reason for them not to reply. Unless…unless something had happened to the crew; something that had left them unable to use the radio. Could they have been affected by the symbiont? Lyndsey shook her head. If the crew had been contaminated they would’ve evacuated the truck, not taken it away. It didn’t stack up.
The door burst open, and Kyrksen hurried in, his eyes sweeping the cockpit. “What’s happened?”
“Truck two has just gone AWOL. We’ve no idea why, and they’re not answering my calls.” She indicated the co-pilot’s seat. “Strap in, we’re going to have to do something about this.”
Kyrksen looked ready to object, but he sat down and fastened his harness.
Lyndsey switched to a different comms channel and tried again. “Truck two, return to the fleet immediately and shut down your engines. If you do not comply within ten seconds we will be forced to take action.”
“Shut the channel,” Kyrksen said. “We need to talk without being overheard.”
Lyndsey bridled at Kyrksen’s tone, but she couldn’t argue with his reasoning. Truck two might have fallen into enemy hands, perhaps aided by the two strangers Kyrksen had taken on board. At the very least, she had to assume its communications were compromised, and in that case, the protocol was to shut down comms completely.
She closed the voice channel and made sure that it couldn’t be reopened, then she sat back and stared hard at Kyrksen. “Do you know anything about this? Anything at all?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Kyrksen snapped.
“What about the two people you allowed into the truck? Could they have a hand in this?”
“I suppose it’s likely that they’re involved, but they must’ve had outside help.” Kyrksen grimaced, sucking in his cheeks as though he’d eaten something sour. “If I’d still been in charge of truck two, then this wouldn’t have happened.”
“I doubt that very much, and your petulance won’t get us anywhere. We need to decide a course of action, and every second we delay, they get farther away.”
“All right, all right. Let me think.” Kyrksen looked out through the windshield. “It’s still pitch black out there, so unless they’ve completely taken leave of their senses, they won’t be able to travel fast. We could follow them, and so long as we stick to their route exactly, we should be able to move faster than them. We could catch them up and force them to stop.”
Lyndsey chewed at the inside of her cheek. “No. There’d still be a risk to our vehicle, and we can’t afford to lose truck one, or any other truck come to that. Each one is too important, both to the fleet and to the mission.”
“There is something else that we could try, but it’s not without risk to truck two.” Kyrksen hesitated, his eyes darting from side to side as if judging her reaction. “In fact, if it works, there’d definitely be some damage to truck two, and there’s a good chance the crew could be injured.”
Lyndsey took a breath. “All right, if that’s what it takes. A little damage is better than losing the whole truck. But we must keep any injuries to an absolute minimum. We don’t know what’s going on over there, and I don’t want to risk lives unnecessarily.”
Kyrksen nodded thoughtfully. “All right. But with what I have in mind, there are no guarantees. People could get hurt. Is that understood?”
“Loud and clear,” Lyndsey said. “Just tell me what we can do. Give me something to work with because we have to stop that truck, Kyrksen. And that’s all there is to it.”
CHAPTER 14
The Rover
The decontamination cubicle was cramped, and Cate felt as though the walls were pressing in on her from every side. She closed her eyes, listening to the hissing swish of the high-pressure sprays that were dowsing her EVA suit in cleansing solvents from head to toe. After a few seconds, the noise died down and the ventilation fans hummed into action. She opened her eyes and stared at the inner door, drumming her fingers against its thick, frosted glass, and keeping her gaze fixed on the rapidly changing digits on the display panel mounted on the wall at its side.
Finally, the door slid open, and Cate stepped into the rover, lugging her toolbox behind her.
Ben was leaning against a storage locker, already divesting himself of his EVA suit, but he looked up and greeted her with a smile. “You did a great job out there, Cate.”
Cate dropped her toolbox, then she unlocked her helmet and lifted it high, shaking her hair free. Ben’s enthusiasm was all very well, but a chorus of nagging doubts was making itself heard in the back of her mind. “We’ll see soon enough. If it didn’t work, we might have to go outside again.”
Connor stepped forward to join them. “You did your best, Cate. I have every confidence in you.”
Cate nodded, but she couldn’t bring herself to smile. Not yet.
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br /> “Is there anything we can be doing while you get out of your suit?” Connor asked.
“Not really,” Cate replied. “It’s better if I run the diagnostics. Just give me a second.”
“I’ll help with the tests,” Ben put in. “Connor, why don’t you and Parry take the back seats and rest while Cate and I check things over?”
“Good idea,” Connor said. “Just tell us if you need anything.”
Ben had finished removing his EVA suit, and he stood in his shorts and T-shirt, turning his hands over, examining them carefully.
“Everything all right?” Cate asked.
Ben hesitated. ”Yeah. It’s just…it feels like my fingers are tingling or something. It’s probably nothing.” He shrugged. “I guess it’s the circulation coming back after wearing the gloves.”
Cate nodded slowly. “All right, but if you feel any burning or anything—”
“I know,” Ben interrupted. “I’ve been out on patrol often enough. I know the drill.” He opened a locker and stowed the suit carefully, placing the boots neatly on the shelf below. “I’ll get dressed, then I’ll go ahead and take a seat up front.”
“Be right there,” Cate said, and for a long second, she watched Ben as he walked away, taking in the line of his shoulders, the way he moved. But when he glanced back over his shoulder, she dropped her gaze and felt the color rise to her cheeks. Idiot! she scolded herself. What’s he going to think now?
Cate concentrated on freeing herself from her suit, then she retrieved her clothes and pulled them on. By the time she went forward to join Ben, both Parry and Connor were stretched out on the back seats, their eyes closed. Connor was sitting very still, his hands clasped across his stomach, and Parry was clearly dozing with his head lolling forward. Cate squeezed between the seats as carefully as she could, trying not to disturb them, but Connor opened his eyes and half rose from his seat.
“It’s okay,” Cate said. “Stay there and get some rest. I’ll let you know how we get on.”
Connor nodded gratefully and sat back with a sigh.
Ben was in the driving seat, running his hands over the controls, but he moved across into the passenger seat to make room for her. “Just familiarizing myself with the panel,” he said and gave her a sheepish smile. “But don’t worry, I didn’t do anything.”
“Good,” Cate said. “I need to be sure the cells are going to hold up before we put any strain on the system.” She took a moment to focus, remembering the routines and procedures she’d learned long ago. The knowledge came flooding back, but there were other memories too: her time in the training academy, the faces of her friends and colleagues back on Earth. A different world, she thought. A different life. Her eyes misted and she blinked rapidly, aware that Ben was watching her, then she sat up straight and cleared her throat. “We’ll start with an integrity test on the secondary cell.”
“Sounds good,” Ben said.
“It’ll give us a baseline to work from.” Her hands moved across the control panel, and the display responded immediately:
Secondary fuel cell diagnostic subroutine—initiating integrity check.
She stared at the display, watching while the progress bar inched forward with agonizing slowness.
Another message appeared above the progress bar:
Secondary fuel cell—integrity at five percent.
Ben let out a groan, but he cut it short when the number flickered and changed from five to fifteen.
“Come on!” Cate urged. “Keep going.” But the number remained fixed; a stark and silent condemnation of her efforts. She put her hand on her stomach, but she couldn’t quell the sinking sensation settling in her belly. She’d failed. She’d let everyone down. And she had no idea what to do about it.
“Is it enough?” Ben asked. “Is it enough to get us moving again?”
Cate shook her head. “I must have missed something. I don’t know.” She opened her mouth to say more, but in that moment Ben grabbed her arm and cried, “Cate!”
The readout was changing now, faster and faster, the digits blurring as they climbed higher.
“Of course! The sensors had to cycle after I reset them. I should’ve known.” Cate shook her head at her own stupidity, but when the leading digit leaped from a six to an eight, she let out a whoop. “Eighty percent! And still climbing.”
Ben punched her playfully on the shoulder. “I knew you could do it.”
She gave him a smile. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Yes, you could,” Ben countered. “But I’ll take it.”
Connor and Parry were wide awake now and leaning forward to peer at the display. “Does that mean what I think it means?” Parry asked.
“It means we were right,” Cate replied. “Mac didn’t sabotage the cores at all, he just tampered with the sensor module to make the cells look damaged. If the core had really broken down, there’s no way we’d ever get readings this high.”
“It’s stopped rising,” Ben said. “Ninety-three percent!”
“That’s great,” Cate said, “but we’re not out of the woods yet. That’s the integrity test remember, not the power level. Still, at least we have a fighting chance now.”
“Well done, you two,” Connor said. “You’ve done a fantastic job, but I have to ask—how much longer before we can get moving again? I’d really like to get underway again.”
“Give me fifteen minutes and then I’ll know more,” Cate said. “I want to make sure the cells are generating power properly. We need to know that they can take the strain before we fire up the motors.” She looked at Ben. “It’ll be quicker if you run through the tests with me.”
“No problem,” Ben said.
“Anything we can do to help?” Parry asked.
“Not really,” Cate replied. “You guys get some rest. I’ll let you know when it’s time to head out.”
Parry sat back and made himself comfortable. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”
Connor patted Ben on the shoulder and gave Cate a tired smile. ”I meant what I said. You did an amazing job—both of you. Outstanding. You should be proud of yourselves.”
“All down to Cate,” Ben said.
“Okay, that’s enough backslapping,” Cate said. “We still have work to do, so let’s get on with it.” She turned to Connor. “No disrespect, but you can leave us to it. Take a nap or something. You’ve got time.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Connor said, and he glanced over his shoulder toward the back of the rover. There was a cot back there, and it suddenly seemed very inviting. He just might decide to check it out.
CHAPTER 15
Truck two
Siobhan clung tight to the chair’s armrests and stared, wide-eyed through the truck’s windshield as a pillar of solid rock loomed large in the truck’s headlights, growing closer and closer. “Do something!” she cried out. “Steer around it.”
Beside her, in the pilot’s seat, Jim wrestled with the controls. “What the hell do you think I’m trying to do?” he snapped, his voice taut. “I warned you, this thing takes time to maneuver. We shouldn’t have risked going so fast.”
“Then slow down,” Siobhan pleaded. “We’re going to hit it.”
“We are slowing down,” Jim said from between clenched teeth. “Just shut the hell up for a second and let me think.” He flashed her an angry look. “And check your harness.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
“Shit!” Siobhan hissed, but she did as she was told, running her hands over the complicated five-point harness, checking every strap was tight. And her stomach lurched. She looked up with a start, her head swimming, and what she saw made her gasp in horror. In the glare of the truck’s headlights, the pillar of rock seemed to be swinging sideways, tipping farther and farther until it tilted at a crazy angle. At the same time, Siobhan’s sense of balance told her she was falling over, and she swallowed hard, fighting the wave of nausea rising from the pit of her belly.
“Hold on,” Jim called out. “I’m turning as hard as I can, but it’s going to be tight.”
Siobhan didn’t trust herself to reply. She kept her mouth firmly closed and her eyes on the pillar of rock as it slid slowly away. She was still disoriented, but she understood that the truck was banking as it turned, and she watched with grim fascination as the rock slipped gradually toward the edge of her field of vision. And then it was gone, and she let out a long, slow breath. “We missed it.”
“Yeah. I’ll level out a bit more slowly.” Jim gave her a relieved smile. “Maybe you should check on Milo and the others. That maneuver must’ve thrown them about.”
“In a second.” Siobhan placed her hand on her stomach and pressed hard, then she took a deep breath and exhaled through her nose. It didn’t quite stop her insides from performing backflips, but it helped. She took another gulp of air and felt a little better. “I’ll check on Milo in a second,” she said. “When everything’s the right way up again.”
Jim didn’t look up from the controls. “Suit yourself.”
Siobhan sat very still and looked straight ahead. It was still dark outside, but she sensed that the truck was gradually leveling out. Thank God for that, she thought. I don’t want to do that again in a hurry. She ran her hands through her hair and glanced at Jim, but he wasn’t paying her any attention. That was just as well; she’d made a complete fool of herself. She shouldn’t have reacted so badly, but she wasn’t used to being thrown about in midair. Her journey on The Pharaon had been smooth because the ship could simulate gravity, and she’d been in the sleep pods when they’d landed on the planet, so the last time she’d felt so disoriented was on the shuttle from Earth, and that had been a very long time ago; she’d been a little girl.
“Okay, that’s level,” Jim said. “Are you going to check on your friend or not?”
“Sure. I was just thinking. You were right about the other trucks—they must’ve decided to let us go.”
“Yeah, it looks that way. Either that, or we just lost them. Like I said, the instruments on these trucks don’t work too well at night.”
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