Box

by Richard J Lowe

  ‘Maybe,’ said Simone.

  ‘Wait. What do you mean “take her back to Earth”?’ asked Connie.

  Simone looked down at Connie. ‘I’m afraid we seem to have perpetrated our own bit of kidnapping.’

  Connie lifted her duct taped arms. ‘Well, duh.’

  ‘Not just the duct taping. We’ve physically moved too,’ said Simone.

  ‘Moved? Appearing back at the base was pretty amazing,’ said Connie.

  Simone and Kevin exchanged a glance.

  ‘Why are you looking at each other like that? Where are we now?’

  Simone saw Kevin nod at her. Fair enough. No harm in showing Connie the view. ‘Box, show outside.’

  The flat screen flicked into life showing two rows of giant grey cubes extending into the distance.

  Connie struggled to a sitting position. ‘Is that what’s outside? Where is this place? What are you going to do with me?’

  ‘The answer to your first question is “yes”, and the answer to the second two is “I’m not sure”,’ said Simone.

  Connie switched from looking at the image on the screen to the brother and sister. ‘Look, I had to do what Ray wanted. It was that or get kicked out of the facility.’

  ‘You were only obeying orders?’ asked Kevin.

  ‘Stop it, Kev,’ said Simone.

  Kevin sat down and put his feet up on the table. ‘Come on. She’s been the one pointing a gun at us.’

  ‘Like I said. It’s do as Ray wants or you get a one-way ticket out of the facility.’

  ‘Would that be so bad?’ asked Kevin.

  ‘I can tell you’re not from Earth.’

  ‘Is it really that bad? You said something about a plastic eating bacteria.’

  ‘Can I maybe sit on a chair and tell you? This floor is not very comfortable.’

  ‘Oh, sorry,’ said Simone. ‘Box, another chair please.’

  Simone saw Connie’s eyes widen as a third chair flowed up from the floor and formed next to the table.

  ‘I’ll be damned,’ said Connie.

  Simone helped Connie into the chair before sitting down herself. She left the duct tape in place.

  ‘You were going to tell us more about Earth. The bacteria,’ prompted Simone.

  ‘Polly. It’s the damn end of the world, that’s what it is.’

  ‘Things did look a little bleak,’ said Kevin.

  ‘Bleak? Try gone to shit.’

  ‘What happened?’ asked Simone.

  ‘The Children of Gaia.’

  ‘Who?’ asked Kevin.

  ‘Bunch of eco-terrorists. Those stupid arseholes released Polly into the sea “to cleanse the oceans”.’

  ‘Aren’t they all choked with waste plastic? That’s a good thing, right?’ asked Kevin.

  ‘Sure, until it got a taste for nylon and electrical insulation.’

  Simone immediately realised the implications.

  Then Connie confirmed them. ‘All the cables running under the sea were the first casualties, quickly followed by all the boats.’

  ‘All of them?’ asked Simone.

  ‘And then Polly came down in the rain. That’s when everything fell apart.’

  Simone glanced at Kevin. His face showed a mixture of fascination and horror.

  Connie looked grim. ‘Then, three years ago, the Armageddon plague hit.’

  ‘Plague? Oh my god,’ said Simone.

  ‘Polly got at a secret bio research facility somewhere, chewed through whatever was keeping the bugs in.’

  ‘That’s why the transports from Earth stopped,’ said Kevin.

  Connie laughed hollowly. ‘Space programs? We have problems keeping the lights on, let alone sending anything up there.’ She lifted her chin towards the ceiling. ‘Anyway, millions of people died, and some didn’t.’

  ‘How did they survive?’ asked Simone.

  ‘Natural immunity? I don’t know, I’m no doctor. Nobody in Akpoort has died from the plague for nearly a year now. All we have to worry about now is starving and Polly eating the last of our plastic.’

  ‘Jesus,’ said Kevin.

  Connie smiled grimly. ‘If he’s planning on making an appearance, he needs to hurry, ‘cos we’re damn close to the end of days.’

  ‘What’s Ray’s story?’ asked Simone.

  ‘Ray? He’s trying to survive, like the rest of us. Only difference is, he’s doing it off the backs of others.’

  ‘You don’t sound like a fan,’ said Kevin. ‘Why do you work for him?’

  ‘Survival. Like I said, that’s what we’re doing these days.’

  Simone wasn’t sure what to make of Connie. Being threatened with a gun and taken prisoner had not made a stellar first impression. However, since then the South African had been courteous and was now being cooperative.

  ‘What are you going to do with me?’ asked Connie.

  ‘Do?’ Simone hadn’t thought that far ahead.

  Connie lifted her arms, presenting her duct taped wrists. ‘Unless you’re planning on keeping me like this.’

  ‘Kev, unload the rifle,’ said Simone.

  Kevin picked up the rifle and looked at it for a moment. ‘How?’

  ‘Seriously?’ said Connie.

  ‘We don’t have guns on Mars,’ said Simone.

  Connie shook her head. ‘Amazing.’

  There was a click as Kevin managed to remove the box magazine. ‘There,’ he said.

  ‘Still one in the chamber,’ said Connie.

  ‘Oh.’ Kevin looked at the rifle in bafflement.

  ‘Just open the bolt.’

  ‘Like this?’ Kevin lifted the bolt.

  ‘Yes, now pull it back,’ instructed Connie.

  He did so, and a bullet popped out and hit the floor with a thump.

  ‘And now it’s safe,’ said Connie.

  ‘Good,’ said Simone. ‘Box, knife please.’

  ‘The creation compartment slid open, revealing a large kitchen knife.

  ‘Wait a minute.’ Connie shifted back on her chair and lifted her arms up in front of her chest protectively.

  Simone picked up the knife and strode over to Connie. ‘Wrists.’

  Connie tentatively extended her arms, offering her wrists to Simone who cut the duct tape. ‘Thanks.’ Connie massaged her wrists.

  Simone moved to cut the tape on the woman’s legs.

  ‘Wait a minute,’ said Kevin. ‘Are you sure we want to do that?’

  Simone sliced through the duct tape. ‘Where’s she going to go Kev?’

  ‘But—’

  ‘You’re not going to try anything, are you Connie?’

  Connie shook her head. ‘What would be the point? I actually like the sound of Mars. No guns, no Polly, no plague.’ She smiled. ‘No Ray.’

  Kevin laughed. ‘Just freezing temperatures, no oxygen and we have to dig our water out of the ground.’

  Connie laughed drily. ‘Believe me, that sounds like paradise to me.’

  CHAPTER 18

  Daniel woke slowly. He had not set an alarm, choosing instead to let his body rest as long as it needed. The past couple of days had left him feeling drained, both emotionally and physically.

  He stayed under the shower until the alarm warning him he was close to exhausting his water allowance sounded. A strong, black cup of coffee completed the process of waking up. Daniel took his coffee to his chair next to the window and looked out across the ruddy martian landscape. He didn’t feel like painting today. He was still having trouble processing what Lula had revealed to him the day before. Doris’s ColPol accident report had been doctored. Someone was covering up the real cause of his wife’s death.

  Dimitri and Lula would be picking him up soon. They were going to the ColPol station to try and see Jacob. He checked the time on his cuff. He had fifteen minutes, just enough time for some breakfast.

  He was finishing his last piece of toast when Doris announced their arrival.

  Daniel waited for the airlock to cycle, feeli
ng a little giddy and nervous.

  ‘Danny! I hope you’re ready for some drama in your life.’ Dimitri was as loud as ever.

  ‘Sure, Dimitri.’

  ‘I’ll be relying on you two to grab some attention,’ said Lula.

  ‘What?’ asked Daniel. There he went with the clever questions again.

  ‘So I can stick this on an access point.’ Lula held up a small white box.

  ‘I thought we were going to see Jacob,’ said Daniel.

  ‘Sure, if we can,’ said Dimitri.

  ‘We decided that we may as well take the opportunity to get a line into their internal network,’ said Lula.

  ‘Isn’t that risky?’ asked Daniel.

  ‘Of course, but what is life without a little risk, eh Danny?’

  ‘Peaceful?’ offered Daniel.

  Dimitri laughed.

  ‘Don’t worry Daniel. I just need you and Dimitri to keep attention on you while I fit the data-tap.’

  ‘We’ll keep the fascists busy, won’t we Danny?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Daniel.

  Dimitri frowned briefly. ‘Sure you do. We have to find out about Doris, no?’

  Daniel looked for some resolve and found it in the kernel of anger he had uncovered yesterday. He focused on it, allowing the rage that had been directionless to find a new target in the faceless members of ColPol.

  ‘Yes.’ Daniel was surprised at the steel in his own voice.

  The drive to the ColPol building seemed to take no time at all. Daniel felt nervous energy twisting his stomach as Lula brought the rover to a halt near the main airlock.

  Lula opened the drivers door. ‘Ready?’

  Daniel nodded.

  ‘Let’s go,’ said Dimitri.

  When they reached the airlock, Dimitri leaned on a large blue switch situated below a weather-worn speaker.

  The calm, even voice of a Pol-AI crackled from the speaker. ‘Please state your business, colonist.’

  ‘Hey fascists, let us in.’

  With an exasperated sigh, Lula pushed her husband to one side.

  ‘We are here to see officer Reims,’ said Lula.

  A few moments passed before the single word response: ‘Standby.’

  A green light came on and the outer airlock door opened, allowing them inside. Daniel was glad he was entering the building by choice this time.

  Once they were through the airlock, Dimitri stomped up to the main desk. Daniel followed and saw the officer on duty warily watching them approach. He had one hand below the desk, probably on his taser.

  ‘Hey, we’re here to see Reims,’ said Dimitri.

  ‘Officer Reims is in interrogation at the moment, Dimitri. Tell me what you want.’

  Dimitri feigned a hurt expression. ‘What’s with the attitude Baxter? I thought we were friends?’

  ‘Friends? That’s the last thing we are Ivankov.’

  Daniel interrupted, trying to defuse the situation. ‘Look, we just want to see my son-in-law, Jacob Aarons.’

  Officer Baxter switched his attention to Daniel. ‘Aarons, huh? No-one is getting to see that traitor.’

  Dimitri’s nostrils flared. ‘Traitor? Bullshit. You fascists are persecuting an innocent man.’

  Baxters arm tensed, presumably readying his taser below the desk.

  Lula put one hand on each man’s shoulder. ‘Calm down boys, it’s time to go.’

  ‘You’re lucky I have places to be,’ said Dimitri.

  Baxter deliberately put his hand holding his taser on top of the desk. ‘Get him out of here, Lula.’

  ‘Come on, big guy,’ said Daniel. ‘Time to go.’

  Lula and Daniel shepherded Dimitri into the airlock under the watchful eye of the ColPol officer. Once they had made it back into the rover, Dimitri’s belligerent facade fell away and he grinned broadly.

  ‘You’re crazy,’ said Daniel.

  ‘He’s Dimitri,’ said Lula.

  Lula pulled her laptop out from beside the seat. ‘Looks like the data-tap is up. I’ve got an AI monitoring network traffic. It’ll alert us if it finds anything matching the search parameters.’

  ‘Which are?’ asked Daniel.

  ‘It’s working on a multi-level Neimburg heuristic—’

  ‘Dimitri speak, please,’ said Dimitri.

  Lula looked at them both and sighed. ‘Anything about Jacob and/or Doris’s “accident”.’

  ‘Good,’ said Daniel. ‘Although, I’m not sure I want to know.’

  ‘Are you serious?’ asked Dimitri.

  ‘Serious or not, we’re not discussing this outside the ColPol headquarters.’ Lula stowed her laptop and started the rover.

  ‘Can you take me home, please?’ asked Daniel.

  Lula nodded. ‘Of course. The monitoring AI will send me and your hab-AI an alert if it finds anything.’

  CHAPTER 19

  Kevin passed the wine bottle to Connie.

  ‘Thanks.’ Connie took a swig of the Martian chardonnay. ‘Not bad. I think I might like Mars.’

  The three of them were sitting on blue and white striped deck chairs in between the two long rows of giant grey cubes. Next to them was their Box, its ‘door’ open.

  ‘This place’ – Connie waved the bottle around her head in a circle – ‘is amazing.’

  ‘Amazing and mysterious,’ said Kevin.

  ‘You have no idea who built it?’ asked Connie.

  ‘I’m assuming Aliens,’ said Kevin.

  Simone nodded. ‘This technology is so far beyond ours.’

  ‘So, it’s little green men then.’ Connie took another swig of wine.

  ‘We don’t know what colour they are,’ said Simone.

  ‘Or what size,’ said Kevin.

  ‘Oh, I think we can speculate that they are roughly the same size as us,’ said Simone. ‘The Box design seems to bear that out.’

  Kevin nodded. ‘Ah, right. Hadn’t thought of that.’

  ‘Little green men or big purple blobs. I suppose it doesn’t matter unless they want their box back.’ Connie passed the bottle to Simone.

  ‘No thanks.’ Simone held up her glass of juice.

  Connie shrugged and redirected the bottle to Kevin. ‘Do you guys have a plan?’

  Kevin accepted the bottle from Connie. ‘Plan? We’ve just been going with the flow.’

  ‘Ignore him. We had planned to get some spare parts from Earth and then head back to the colony,’ said Simone.

  ‘And look how that turned out,’ said Kevin.

  ‘Sorry. But you wouldn’t have found much anyway,’ said Connie.

  Simone smiled ruefully. ‘I guess not. We didn’t factor a plastic eating superbug into our plans.’

  ‘Speaking of which. We should spray ourselves with some anti-bac,’ said Connie.

  ‘Right. Back in a minute.’ Simone stood, stretched, and stepped back into the Box.

  Kevin and Connie had passed the bottle back and forth a couple of times before Simone re-emerged carrying a white can labelled ‘Broad-spectrum antibacterial spray’ in bright blue letters in one hand, and another bottle of wine in the other.

  ‘This is for you.’ Simone threw the can at Kevin who watched as it bounced off his arm and rolled away.

  Connie finished draining the first bottle of wine, belched and said, ‘Skilful.’

  Kevin hauled himself to his feet and recovered the can. Then, he vigorously shook it and motioned for Connie to stand. She obliged and allowed Kevin to spray her from head to toe with the antibacterial.

  ‘I asked the Box to disinfect everything inside as well,’ said Simone. ‘Don’t want to take the bug back to Mars.’

  ‘Hell, no.’ Kevin finished spraying Connie, tossed her the can and raised his arms, letting her return the favour. ‘That’d be fatal. There’s a lot of plastic in vital colony systems.’

  Simone sat down and twisted the top off the bottle she was carrying. ‘Seconds, anyone?’

  ‘Thanks, Sim.’ Kevin accepted the bottle. />
  ‘We’ll head back to Mars tomorrow, after a good night’s sleep,’ said Simone. ‘I really don’t think I can face dealing with colony bureaucracy today.’

  ‘I hear you,’ said Kevin.

  ‘Maybe you can tell me more about my future new home,’ said Connie.

  ‘What do you want to know?’ asked Simone.

  ‘Who runs things?’

  ‘The council,’ said Kevin.

  ‘Sounds suitably bureaucratic,’ said Connie with a smile.

  ‘Believe me, they are,’ said Simone. She yawned, stretching her arms wide. ‘I think that’s it for me. I’m off to bed.’

  ‘G’night, Sim,’ said Kevin.

  ‘The Box has created sleeping compartments for us. Mine will be the one with the door shut.’

  ‘Thankyou, Simone,’ said Connie gravely. ‘I appreciate the trust both of you are showing me.’

  Simone returned the smile warmly. ‘I’m a believer in the fundamental humanity in everyone.’

  ‘And I just do what my big sister says,’ said Kevin.

  This drew a laugh from Connie.

  ‘It’s the natural order of things. Goodnight. I’ll see you both tomorrow.’ Simone turned and disappeared back inside the Box.

  Connie offered the bottle to Kevin.

  ‘I actually think I’ve had enough,’ said Kevin.

  ‘Me too,’ said Connie. She put the bottle down next to her chair.

  They sat in silence. Kevin was a little surprised at the speed with which Connie had ingratiated herself with Simone. He was all too familiar with his failings. He was all too eager to trust a pretty face. Simone had always seemed to discern the true character of the women in his life. At least two of his disastrous relationships could have been avoided if he had trusted his sister when she had told him his girlfriend was no good for him.

  It was Connie who broke the silence. ‘Is there really no way out of this place?’

  ‘No. Like we said, big blue barriers.’

  ‘Damn. I’d like to see what’s outside.’

  ‘Outside?’

  ‘Yes. I mean, this isn’t on Earth or Mars, right?’

  Kevin nodded. ‘The gravity’s wrong.’

  ‘There must be a whole new world out there.’

  ‘You’re assuming it’s worth seeing,’ said Kevin.

  ‘What? An undiscovered world? Why would you not want to see it?’