I stop at an intersection, listening. Above us are the grates from the moving walkways that take people quickly from one end of the station to the other. Straight ahead is one of the secured entrances to the greenhouse. There are vents all around the heavy door to allow airflow. This is how Derek and I escaped the sergeant, by hiding out in the greenhouse.
But I figure whoever’s after us might be expecting us to do that again, so I turn right and keep crawling down more tubes. Derek stays quiet, trusting I know what I’m doing. My hands and knees are getting sore from crawling, but we can’t afford to stop. We’re crawling parallel to the walkway above and can hear the chunk of boots jogging up and down the moving tracks. Galactic troops.
We reach the intersection I’ve been looking for, and I sit as I wait for Derek to come alongside me. His breathing is a little elevated as is mine since I kept up a quick pace.
“Now what, Bren?” he whispers in my ear.
“Unfortunately these tunnels don’t lead directly into the docks, so we’re going to need a lot of luck right about now.”
Derek frowns in the dim light. “Are we at Dock 3c?”
“Yes. The entrance is a few meters down from where the vent ends.”
“3c is a private dock. So hopefully there’s no security here, other than the usual Delta security rounds.”
I nudge him with my shoulder. “And you should know those schedules. Where are we on that?”
He looks at the time glowing through his skin. “There should be someone from security coming down this corridor in about fifteen minutes. So do we go now or wait until after? They aren’t necessarily right on time.” He makes a face, making me smile.
I peek out of the vent. “I think we need to risk going now. I don’t think Red would’ve risked himself without a plan, and right now that plan is dock 3c.”
Derek hesitates but helps me push the vent out. We scramble into the corridor, and after sealing the vent back up, sprint toward the dock.
Several civilians walk quickly past us going in the other direction, eager to check out Delta Station’s accommodations. We slow down to a walk, keeping our heads down. I try to stay calm as we keep walking. I almost cry when I see dock 3c on the door ahead of us.
I hesitate to use my implant to cycle open the door. I look around the empty corridor and then at Derek. “If either of us opens this door it will send an alert through the system.” I frown trying to think of how we will bypass security.
We hear voices, and my heart races as I look at Derek in a panic.
“Give me your backpack.”
Confused I take it off and watch as he puts it on. He then flips my sweatshirt hoodie over my head, tucking in my unruly dark curls. His gaze flicks down the corridor we just came. The voices don’t sound like security so they must be civilians coming back from leave on Delta. I’m about to ask Derek what his plan is when he grabs me up in his arms and holds me close, tucking my face into his chest. I hear his heart racing as fast as mine.
I stiffen as I hear the voices come up behind us. Derek just tightens his grip on me so I don’t move.
“Hey guys. Can you help me out here? My girlfriend got into some strong stuff at one of the Delta pubs.” I feel his chuckle rumble through his chest. “She’s kind of a light weight anyway.”
The other voices, both male, laugh along with Derek. “Sure if you tell us which pub you all were at. I might like some of whatever she had.”
I hear the beep of the bio scanner, and the door whooshes open. The noise of the busy dock drowns out the rest of the conversation between Derek and the two civilians. I smile into Derek’s chest as he walks right into Dock 3c with me tucked close to him.
Soon the voices talking to Derek fade, and the busy area is left behind. Derek stops and gently puts me back down on my feet, but keeps hold of my hand. I keep my hoodie on.
“Now what Bren? We’re at the docks, but what ship are we looking for?”
I discreetly look up and down the docks, studying the ships and the activity around each one. I know specs for every ship ever built. My gaze stops on one farther down the dock, away from the bustle of activity. I point. “That one.”
“How do you know it’s that one?” Derek asks as we quickly walk toward it.
“Because I have no idea what kind of ship it is.”
The outside hull looks like it was cobbled together from several different ships. The main body of the ship is one of the morgue ships, which is what drew my attention. But its engines, hidden by large flanges taken from a long distance cruiser, are much larger than this size ship should have. It’s ugly and beautiful all at once. A masterpiece.
I just know it’s one of Red’s ships. I grin as we get closer and I run my fingers along the battered metal. I notice it has a red sheen staining the metal. This ship has been to Mars many times.
We get to the ramp that leads up to the door, and I hesitate. Will they be waiting for us? I don’t know who the captain is or how to reach them to let them know we’re here. Again, I decide to just trust my instincts and walk right up to the door.
Nothing. No movement. It’s also the only ship not unloading supplies. What do I do, knock?
I glance back at Derek, who looks nervous. A commotion rises on the far side of the dock, and we both turn to look as galactic troops pour in. My heart sinks as I look around to see if there is anywhere we can hide. Unfortunately, we’re at the end of the dock, so there are no crowds, no crates to hide behind, and no exit.
Then I hear a whoosh, and the door behind me opens with a lot of grinding screeches.
“Hurry up and get in here, will ya?” yells a gruff voice.
As startled as we are, Derek and I do as the voice says, more afraid of being discovered by the galactic troops than of a stranger. We’re barely in the door when it slams closed just centimeters behind us, and we stare up in shock at a familiar face.
20
Escape
I let go of Derek’s hand as we both exclaim, “Markov!” I grab him in a tight hug. When I release him I smack him hard in the chest, sending him back a few steps. “What the heck is going on here?”
“I’m rescuing you, of course.” He tries to look hurt, as he rubs the spot I hit, but his usual grin can’t be suppressed. I hear the old ship’s engines rumble as they start up.
“But we’re supposed to be rescuing you.”
Markov looks behind me at Derek. “Guess I got to you first.” He grins as he turns and hurries down the corridor. Derek and I follow him to the bridge.
Several people are on the bridge as we walk in. None of them take notice of us as they work on getting the ship out of Delta’s docking system.
I sigh in relief as I notice they’re all civilians. None are clean-shaven; most look like they could work in the mines or as supply privateers. Markov, Derek, and I definitely are the ones out of place here.
Markov stays quiet as we watch our departure on the main screen. Derek and I follow his lead and stay silent and hold onto one of the consoles for support. My heart skips a beat as the ship turns enough so that I can see the giant looming dark shape of the galactic security vessel docked at the far end of Delta station. My eyes are glued to it as our ship makes a hasty retreat. I watch intently for any signs of the ugly ship moving and coming after us.
Derek squeezes my hand breaking me out of my trance. “Breath, Bren,” he whispers to me.
I take his advice, smiling gratefully at him. I then turn back to the screen and see Delta is already just a small speck of light in the distance, blending in with the rest of the stars. This ship has some intense engines.
Markov walks over to us. “I think we’re safe for now. The captain is taking us to the hospital ship, where I’ll be dropped off. Just like everyone is expecting.”
“They’re going to just let you go, just like that?” My free hand clenches as I remember him being roughly led away by the galactic troops down on the asteroid.
Markov glances at the crew on
the bridge and waves toward the door. “Let’s get something to eat, and we can fill each other in on what’s been happening since the asteroid.”
I’m guessing Markov’s been on this ship for a few days because he doesn’t hesitate at each turn and lift we take. The layout is unusual due to the ship being cobbled together from several different designs.
He also seems to know everyone onboard. Figures.
Especially the women. They each have to stop and talk with Markov, and they always make sure to touch his arm or shoulder while lamenting the fact he’s going to be leaving them soon.
I’m sure Derek is enjoying this. I glance over and see that yes, he’s feeling pretty comfortable with Markov’s attention. Fine with me, we’re only friends anyway. I’m just relieved Markov is safe.
We finally get to the galley, and Markov brings us sandwiches from a cooler in the back. We’re the only one in the room so we sit at a large table in the middle.
“You’re pretty comfortable with this place already, Markov,” I tease as I accept a sandwich.
He grins. “They’ve treated me pretty well here. I’m really quite thankful to our new friend Red.” He takes a large bite of his sandwich.
“Yes, he promised me he would get you away from the galactic troops. How exactly did he do that anyway?”
Markov swallows. “I didn’t even get past the supply bay on the galactic ship. That’s how good Red is.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I saw you being beaten and hauled up the ramp of one of the two galactic ships there.”
He nods as he finishes another bite. “They weren’t actually beating me. It was all for show. Those were Red’s men disguised as troopers. Once we got up the ramp and in the door, they took me straight out a side hatch.”
I look at Derek. Then I turn back and punch Markov in the shoulder this time.
“Ow. What was that for?” He rubs his arm.
“For scaring the crap out of me and worrying me. I thought they had taken you because of my investigation.” My appetite lost, I push the remainder of the sandwich away. “Red deserves a good punch too because he let me watch and assume you were being beaten.” I hug my arms to myself suddenly cold.
Markov’s expression falls. “I’m sorry. I thought you knew I was all right. You were with Red.”
I uncross my arms and look away. “I was kind of asleep for a few days. And it’s been crazy since I woke up. Red didn’t have time to explain, just that he’d make sure you were all right.” I glance at Derek. “Did you know?”
He holds his hands up in mock surrender. “No way. He didn’t say hardly anything to me. I was too busy being angry at him for freezing you to death.”
“What?” exclaims Markov, behind a bite of sandwich. He chews quickly and swallows. “What do you mean freezing you to death?”
I look again to Derek but he stays silent. Fine. I take a deep breath. “In order for him to get me off the asteroid, I had to leave on the morgue ship.”
Markov remains still but he’s glancing between Derek and me.
“I had to leave in a body bag. In the freezer,” I explain in short.
“What?” Markov exclaims again. “No way.”
“Yes, and the galactic commander happened to come aboard suspecting I was there. I was in the freezer so long they had to resuscitate me when they finally got me out of there.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. Ask him if you don’t believe me.” I point to Derek.
Markov glances at Derek who nods.
“I’m so sorry, Bren. I had no idea. The crew here just told me you were with Red and not to worry.”
I get up from the table and throw my food and wrapper in the recycler. “I’m fine now, and he did get me off the asteroid. It seems Red not only knew my mom but was good friends with both my parents at one time. He was confident my dad could revive me.”
“And you’re all right?” I can see the medic in Markov kicking in now.
I keep my distance. I don’t need him trying to check my vitals in front of Derek. “Yes, I’m fine. But tell me how the galactic troops are just letting you go back to work? They’ll know you’re back on the hospital ship when you scan in.”
Markov gets up and throws his wrapper away, followed by Derek. “The official story is that I was just there as medical support for the investigation and I got lost from you and our guide. I never got a chance to go down into the mine.”
My pulse quickens. “Who was able to do that? It would entail changing official galactic records.”
“Red.” Markov holds his palms out. “He told us he was connected.”
“So no one will be asking you about what we saw?” I still can’t believe Markov is not only safe, but can return back to his job without any consequences. A little bit of jealousy burns in my chest.
“Nope. I’ll be fine Bren. It’s you I worry about. He couldn’t cover your tracks because of who you are, and that as the lead investigator just disappeared from the crime scene.”
I chew on my lip as that sinks in. “Yes, I’ll need to figure out who is behind this before I’ll be able to go back to my regular life. I’m glad you’re going to be out of this though. Because we have bigger issues now.”
Markov looks between Derek and me, his blond head towering over both of us. “What do you mean? What could be worse than mines being blown up over some secret project?”
My gaze flicks to the door. We’re still alone, but I’m on edge now. We can’t even go back to our regular life. I look up at Derek. “The second in command of the galactic ship has Red and my dad.”
“Oh no. I’m so sorry Bren. What happened?”
I reach out and touch the small metal galactic comm on Markov’s blue medical shirt. “I think they tracked me with the comm they gave me on the way to the asteroid. We dumped it in one of the rooms behind security.”
Markov grins. “That’ll take them awhile to find.”
Despite the serious situation I smile back. “Yes, as you well know those rooms are a maze. Red, or my dad, was able to get us a message to find this ship before we walked back into the morgue, where the galactic officer was arguing with Red. We could hear him through the freezer walls.”
I lean back against the counter suddenly exhausted. “We had to use the vent tunnels and a lot of luck to get to this ship without being spotted. Galactic troops are crawling all over Delta.”
Markov looks over at me. “Did you actually see Red and your dad in custody?”
I look at Derek. “Well, no. We were just listening through the wall of the morgue freezer.” I hold up a hand. “I know, I know those walls are thick, but I am certain I heard Red’s loud voice. But honestly I didn’t hear my dad at all.” I stand up and pull on my backpack. “Why, what are you thinking, Markov?”
He motions for us to follow as he walks quickly down the corridor. He stays quiet while we follow him to his quarters. The three of us cram into a small one-room berth probably a third of the size of his room on the hospital ship. Derek and I sit next to each other on the bunk attached to the far wall. Markov digs through a drawer in the tiny metal desk.
Markov finds his data cube and the screen lights up on the wall behind the desk. “I don’t want to say too much around the crew because I’m not sure who we can trust.”
I nod. “These crews are for hire, so if they accidentally find out information it’s like free creds for them. That’s how they make their money. Selling information.”
“And couriering people,” states Derek.
“Yes, like the family on the Tempest.”
“Most of them, like this crew I suspect, have a certain amount of ethics. But we just can’t chance it with all we’ve gone through, and all we know.” Markov pulls up his hospital logs.
“I saw earlier your dad had been logged into his private med channel for last few hours.”
“He was letting Red do some research under his name,” I say. My face flushes warm as I hear myself say that
out loud. “Dad doesn’t usually let people. I begged him to let Red use it.”
“I’m not judging, Bren. I just want to show this to you.”
On the screen a picture of my dad pulls up. It’s his official work picture, the one he took years ago that shows up on every record. He looked so young back then, his hair not clipped as short as it is now, and his worry lines hadn’t formed yet. But he also looks sad. I frown. I’ve only known him to be happy and positive, either over vids while I was growing up, or at Delta since I came to live with him. It never occurred to me he wasn’t happy before. My heart squeezes, and I already miss him and my life on Delta.
“Yes it shows activity for the last several hours, but since it’s a secure channel I can’t tell what Red was researching. But look down here.” He points to the bottom of the activity log.
My heart starts racing, and I look at Markov.
“How can that be?”
Time stamped just fifteen minutes ago, my dad was logged in and recording one of the autopsies of the miners.
“Unless he allowed someone else to use his security clearance again?”
I shake my head.
“Then my theory is they only have Red. I think it would’ve been too political to take your dad, in his position at Delta, with no evidence against him.”
“Only his wayward daughter causing problems on a distant asteroid,” I say flatly.
Derek reaches over and squeezes my hand. “The important thing here, Bren, is your dad is safe. They only have Red, and we know he’s quite resourceful.”
I smile at Derek. “Yes, I’m grateful for that.” I look back to Markov. “But I also think they might’ve left him alone because they know I’ll contact him eventually. They’re using him as bait.”
Markov nods his head. “I agree. You can’t contact him without risk of them finding you.”
I stand up quickly, letting go of Derek’s hand to pace the small room. “This is so frustrating. There are so many people involved in this.”
“After they drop me off at the hospital ship, this crew will take you to one of Red’s other mines. One they tell me isn’t connected to him. You’ll have time to look over all the records again. I know you can figure this out Bren.”
Delta Fringe Series Boxset: Books 1-3 Page 32