He scanned the hub’s windows as he approached. What was that? Had he caught a glimpse of movement? For a split second, he thought he’d seen a pale face pressed against the grimy glass, but surely not. It had just been a reflection, a trick of the light. He powered forward, focusing on the door. The keypad beside it looked undamaged, and he typed in the passcode Kyrksen had given him as quickly as his gloved hands would allow. Behind him, his team stood in silence, the creaking of their EVA suits unnaturally loud.
“Is the code okay?” Jane asked, but before Alec could reply, the door unlocked with a hollow clunk.
Alec readied his weapon. “Andy, open it up.” He took a steadying breath while Andy complied, then as soon as the door was open wide enough, he dashed inside, checking the decontamination chamber as he moved. “Clear. Everybody inside.”
The team filed in, and Jane slammed the door shut, turning the handle to fasten the seal and trigger the automatic decontamination cycle. The high-pitched whine of the electromagnetic field generators rose to an almost inaudible whistle; the decontamination chamber at the base was much larger than those in the trucks, and the field generators were much more powerful.
“Just a few seconds,” Alec said, raising his voice. “Be ready.”
He stood by the inner door, the team taking up position close behind him. Alec could sense them shifting their weight, making themselves ready like dogs preparing to spring from their traps and surge onto the track. He looked straight ahead, watching the door, his fingers tight on his rifle. Any second now.
A small display panel beside the door flashed its simple message:
Decontamination cycle complete.
“Here we go,” Alec said quietly, and as the whine of the field generators began to fade, the inner door unlocked with a hiss, sliding smoothly open.
“Go!” Alec commanded, darting inside and turning to scan the room, his rifle at his shoulder. Behind him, his team fanned out, facing outward from the door to cover every angle. “Clear!” Alec called. “Heidi, Andy, take corridor two, clear the rec room then push through to the living quarters. Doug, Jane, take corridor three and do the same. Go!”
He watched his teams move out, but he made sure to keep the other corridors in his peripheral vision at all times. Any survivors would most likely be holed up in the living quarters, he told himself, but he couldn’t be sure. The medical bay on corridor four, and the labs on corridors five and six would’ve been harder for the intruders to break into; the labs, in particular, offering little of value to the intruders. The medical bay was a different matter, but although it would’ve been useful to anyone sick or injured, it wasn’t a place most people would choose to inhabit. But that still left corridor one on his immediate left, and though it led only to the galley and a food store, there were plenty of knives in the galley and plenty of hiding places behind the steel cabinets which might just be strong enough to deflect a plasma round.
Alec edged toward corridor one, sighting along his rifle as he moved, but before he reached the opening, Jane’s voice came over the intercom: “Rec room one, clear. Moving on to the living quarters.”
“Same here,” added Andy. “It looks like someone’s been through here. Some of the doors have been left open.”
“Good work,” Alec said. “Take it steady. I’ll stay in the hub. I’ve got your six.”
He listened for a moment, picturing the actions of each team member as they called out over the intercom, partners covering each other as they pushed doors open and stormed inside, clearing the rooms one at a time before moving on. Standing alone in the hub, Alec turned around for a second, scanning the corridors, adjusting his grip on his rifle, ready for anything. If someone in the other corridors heard the two teams and went after them, they’d have to cross the hub, and Alec would only have one chance to stop them.
Glancing over his shoulder, he peered back along the narrow corridor that led to the galley, and the blood froze in his veins. When he’d last looked, only a second ago, the internal door had been firmly closed, but now it stood ajar, light from the windows filtering into the gloomy corridor.
He rushed to his left, leaning against the corridor wall and training his weapon on the galley door. “Who’s there?” he shouted. “It’s okay. We won’t harm you. But you need to show yourself. This is our base.”
There was no reply, but on the intercom, Doug spoke in an urgent whisper, “Alec, have you found someone?”
“I think so,” Alec said. “Looks like there might be someone in the galley. But I’ll hold my position until you’ve cleared the living quarters.”
“Some of the beds have been slept in,” Jane said. “Someone’s definitely been living here, but I don’t know how recently.”
“Keep going,” Alec replied. “When the living quarters are clear, report back to me, and we’ll check the other—”
He broke off abruptly. A sharp crash had sprung from the galley, metal striking metal, the sound ringing out along the empty corridor. “Hold on. Movement in the galley. I need to get closer.”
“No,” Jane said. “Wait until you have backup.”
“It’s all right,” Alec assured her. “I’m not going in. I just want to get closer to the door.” He crept half a step forward, keeping his gun level. Jane was still saying something, but Alec focused on the door, straining his ears for any sound from the galley. “Hello!” he shouted, his voice booming down the corridor. “I know you’re in the galley. Come out. We just want to talk.”
Beyond the door, something clattered to the floor, and Alec’s fingers flexed against the trigger of his rifle. “Come on out!” he yelled. “There’s no need to hide. We can help you, but you have to come out right now. If I have to come in there, somebody could get hurt.”
A shadow flitted across the doorway, and Alec stood still, rooted to the spot. Surely, they must’ve heard me calling out, he told himself. He was still wearing his helmet, but he’d shouted loud enough to wake the dead, and he’d made himself plain hadn’t he? If they don’t show themselves, it can only mean one thing—they must be hostile.
He dropped to one knee, bracing himself against corridor’s wall, his rifle aimed squarely at the gap in the doorway. What I wouldn’t give for a stun grenade, he thought. But all he had was his rifle and his wits.
“We’re on our way back to you,” Andy said over the intercom. “We’ve cleared our corridor. Hold tight until we get there.”
“Got it,” Alec said. It would only take the others a few seconds to join him, and then they could go forward together, taking control of the situation and forcing the intruder to back down.
He let his muscles relax a little, sensing victory. But when the galley door suddenly swung wide open, Alec wasn’t prepared for what he saw.
The man in front of him stood tall, his pale face drawn and creased with wrinkles, his cheeks hollow. But he was smartly dressed, a faded uniform hanging from his thin frame, and his hair was neatly combed in a side parting. He was even clean-shaven, which was more than Alec could say, and his eyes burned bright with a fierce determination.
“You can put down your weapon,” the man said. “There’s only me here, and as you can see, I’m not armed.”
“Stay there,” Alec said. “Just stay there. Stand still until my team gets here.”
The man shook his head and stepped forward, holding out his hands, his palms empty. “It’s all right. There’s no need to get angry. I can explain.”
“Stand still!” Alec snapped. “Do exactly as I say.”
The man’s face fell, and he stopped walking, his shoulders slumped. “Okay, I hear you. No need to yell.” He folded his arms. “But if you could hurry it up a little. Only, you see, when you guys arrived in your vehicles, I could tell straightaway that you were from Earth, and I’ve been making preparations.”
Alec tensed. “Preparations?”
“Yes, that’s right.” The man grinned, a hopeful gleam in his eye. “I’ve been brewing a pot of coffee.
” He beamed for a moment, but then his expression clouded, as if at a sudden thought. “Oh. Unless you’d prefer tea. But I’m not sure if there’s any left. Maybe just a little. I was saving it for a special occasion, but I guess this is as good a time as any.”
Alec shook his head in disbelief. “Who are you?”
“Me? Well, I’m Parkins, of course. Simon Parkins, Reserve Navigation Assistant assigned to The Pharaon. GRC.” He frowned. “But you knew that, didn’t you? I mean, you must have got my signal, didn’t you?”
“No,” Alec said. “No signal.”
“But I sent it years ago,” Simon insisted. “When The Pharaon went down.” He hesitated, blinking. “Wait, you are from the GRC, aren’t you? Only I’ve been waiting for a ship to come and get me. A ship to take me…” He let his voice trail away.
Slowly, Alec got to his feet, lowering his rifle. “We were hired by the GRC, but I’m sorry. This isn’t what you were hoping for. We didn’t come here to find you. We’ve just returned to our base, that’s all. I don’t know how to tell you this, but we have no way of getting off this planet. We’re trapped here, just the same as you.”
“Oh.” The man glanced over his shoulder, looking into the galley. “Well, I guess I’d better head back.”
Alec held up his hand. “Wait! Was someone in there with you?”
Instead of replying, the man cocked his head, listening, and Alec heard the rhythmic thudding of boots on the smooth floor as his team members charged into the hub.
“It’s okay, Simon,” Alec said, keeping his gaze fixed on the man. “They’re with me. They won’t hurt you. Just tell me, who’s in the galley?”
Simon shrugged. “No one. It’s just…I didn’t want the coffee to go cold. That’s all. It would be a shame to waste it. A terrible shame.”
Alec half turned as the others entered the corridor, their rifles already at their shoulders, and he gestured at them to stay back. “Rifles down, everybody. Our friend here is ready to cooperate. That’s right isn’t it, Simon? You’re ready to help us out, yes?”
“Sure,” Simon said. “But there’s just one problem.”
“What’s that?” Alec asked. “Something you’re not telling us?”
Simon shook his head firmly. “No, it’s just that I count five of you altogether, and I’ve only got four clean cups.”
CHAPTER 10
The Hill
“Almost there,” Connor said between gasps for breath. “Another few yards and we’ll be at the lookout.” He shifted his grip on the large plastic crate he and Parry were lugging up the hill between them.
“About damned time,” Parry grumbled. “What the hell has he got in this thing, anyway? House bricks?”
“Just a few vital bits and pieces,” Mac said from behind him. “I’d have carried it myself, but with my injuries…”
Parry bared his teeth and looked as though he was about to argue, but before he could say anything, Connor shot him a warning look.
“That’s all right, Mac,” Connor said quickly. “You said this was the best spot to set up, and I gave you my word that you’d get all the help you need, so here we are.” He paused to clamber over a ridge in the path, trying not to let the crate rest too heavily on Parry. “Just a little farther.”
Working together, Connor and Parry struggled over the last few yards up to the lookout, and by the time they set the crate down on the precarious plateau of rock that served as their lookout post, both men were breathing hard. Connor wiped the sweat from his brow and stepped closer to Parry. “I know this situation isn’t easy, and believe me, I’m not too happy with it either, but we need to keep him onside, all right?”
Parry nodded, tight-lipped, then he looked into the distance, shielding his eyes with his hand. “Do you think this is going to work? The signal, I mean. Do you really think we can get hold of someone in the TA?”
“Honestly, I don’t know,” Connor said. “But it has to be worth a shot. And apart from what it costs us to stay on good terms with our new friend, I can’t see what we’ve got to lose.”
Parry looked him in the eye. “We can’t trust him, Connor. You know that better than anybody.”
Connor nodded. “Don’t worry. We won’t take our eyes off him. Not for one second.”
“What are you two muttering about over there?” Mac called out as he heaved his bulk up to the lookout. His gaze went from Connor to Parry and back again. “Huggermugger, that’s what you are. What’s so secret that you need to whisper about it behind my back?”
“Nobody’s whispering,” Connor said. “We’re just out of breath, that’s all.” He rubbed his hands together. “Right, where do we start?”
Mac let out a grunt. “We don’t do anything. Not yet, anyhow. I need to get set up, and it’s skilled work. You two can make yourselves scarce while I get organized.”
Parry bridled, but Connor laid his hand on his friend’s arm. “Come on, Parry, we’ll catch our breath for five minutes.” He strode a few yards away from Mac and looked back down toward the settlement. He couldn’t go far within the confines of the rocky plateau, but he needed to put a little distance between him and Mac; the man could get under his skin quicker than a hypodermic needle. And a blunt one at that, he told himself, and the mental image made a wry smile crack his dry lips. Always forgive your enemies, he thought, nothing annoys them quite so much. Parry came over to join him, standing by his side in silence and unslinging his sonic rifle from his back.
“Still think you need that?” Connor asked. He glanced over to where Mac was busy unpacking the contents of the crate. “He hasn’t given us any trouble.”
“Better safe than sorry.” Parry checked his weapon, brushing dust from the stock with his sleeve. “The man is a snake, and you know it.”
“Yes, but for now, he might just be our snake,” Connor began, but before he could say any more, he was interrupted by a cry from Mac.
“Goddammit! Of all the stupid…” Mac threw down the lid of the plastic crate and began rummaging through his backpack. “I can’t believe it, I really cannot believe it!”
Connor shared a look with Parry. “I’d better go and see what the fuss is about.”
“Right,” Parry said, cradling his rifle against his chest. “Good luck with that.” He paused. “Best if I stay out of his way a little longer. One more smart remark from him, and I’ll take him down a peg or two.”
“Fair enough.” Connor strolled toward Mac. “What’s up, Mac? Lost something?”
“I damned well hope not,” Mac muttered. He dropped his backpack to the ground. “We’d better all hope I haven’t lost the damned thing.” He returned his attention to the crate, rifling through its contents from one side to the other and back again. He’d already set the long-range comms set aside, laying it carefully on a small square of tarp atop a flat rock, but the crate was still crammed with coiled lengths of cable, neatly stacked circuit boards, and plastic tubs containing electronic components. “It has to be in here. It has to be!”
Conner squatted beside him. “Tell me what you’re looking for, and maybe I can help.”
Mac went on with his search without looking up or acknowledging Connor in any way. “No, no, no. It’s not here.” He sighed and closed his eyes. “I don’t know how it happened. I can’t figure it out.”
Connor studied Mac’s expression. The man was putting on a show, there was no doubt about that, but was this just an example of Mac’s regular bullshit, or was there really a problem? Connor forced a smile. “Mac, just tell me what the problem is, and then we’ll take it from there.”
Mac scratched the stubble on his chin. “Listen, you’re not going to like this, but I’ve left my soldering gun behind, and it’s the one thing, the one tool I can’t do without.”
Parry stalked over to join them, and he stood over Mac, his expression grim and his rifle in his hands. “What’s the problem?”
Mac scarcely spared a glance at Parry before turning his attention back to C
onnor. “You know what? It’d be nice not to have your friend breathing down my neck every second.”
“Is that right?” Parry demanded.
Mac didn’t reply, didn’t react. He kept his gaze locked on Connor. “Mind you, it makes no difference. I hate to say it, but without my soldering gun, there’s not much I can do.”
“But, you can get started, can’t you?” Connor asked. “We could get it for you later.”
Mac stared at Connor, his eyes baleful. “Hardly worth it. You’ve got to remember, this is all trial-and-error stuff. If it was straightforward, we could’ve assembled the gear back at my house, but as it is…” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I’ll have to go back down and get the damned thing. I’m afraid it might take me a while.” He stood, wincing as if in pain, then he stooped to massage the muscles in his thigh.
“Wait,” Connor said, standing up. He took the portable comms unit from his belt and inserted the earpiece. “Patrol two, this is patrol one. We need a little help here.”
A voice broke through the whisper of static. “Connor, it’s Phoebe. Is this about Siobhan? I haven’t heard back from them.”
Connor froze. “What? What are you talking about?”
“Siobhan,” Phoebe said. “I assumed you knew. She went out in the rover with Cate and Tess, and Evelyn went with them.”
“Why?” Connor asked.
“They’re following up on Ben’s project. Another scouting run. Siobhan was very keen to go, and in the circumstances, I thought it might do her good to keep busy. I didn’t object.” She paused. “I’m sure she’s fine, Connor. She’s in good hands.”
“Right,” Connor began, his own voice sounding oddly distant. “But that wasn’t what I was calling about. I need someone to go and fetch something from Mac’s house and then bring it up here.”
Mac, his hands in his pockets, sidled close to Connor. “I can tell them where to look.”
“Hold on, Phoebe,” Connor said, but a wash of white noise hissed in his earpiece. “Phoebe, can you hear me?”
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