24 – Where old dogs lie

59 gasped and drew in a lung full of air, then coughed violently as though to expel dust, the air however was clean and fresh inside her helmet. She opened her eyes, and looked around slowly, her head buzzed and her body felt stiff and swollen. The control panel ahead of her was completely dead. Slowly, with creaky arms she picked up the loose data cable which was jacked into her neck but now loose on the other end. Slowly locating the socket she clicked it into place. The pannel was still dead. She pulled the jack and slowly wound it up and folded it away into her suit. She lifted herself slowly from the seat, she felt no pain, only a constant throbbing. Her joints clicked and released as she stood and slinked into the aft section. Hitting the hatch release located on the wall behind the pilot seat, the mechanical safeties began to pry the main hatch open.

`You will loose consciousness in 5 seconds’ a voice spoke softly to her as her eyes glazed first in like being covered by water; a red hue filled the aft, and then in static everything faded.
 

`What is her condition?’

`She is fine, in good condition given the circumstances.’

`Yeah…. yeah.’

`We will let you know when she wakes’

`Well, we already killed one of these without getting any answers, we need this one alive, no fuck ups. Getting rid of her likeness was hard enough.’

`I know, leave it to me, her implants appear to be functioning correctly, we haven’t jacked in this time so we will likely have to do this the hard way.’

`You have time, but watch your back, if they find out, they will bring us down. Given we intend the same for them, we cannot afford to loose anyone.’

`It is far to easy to go missing on Mars. Far to easy.’

She was already awake, as her consciousness was restored, knowing only that she was on mars, she decided to gather information of the situation around her indirectly. So she listened very carefully, smelled the air with her nose but remained motionless, eyes closed, with all other sensory functions engaged at the minimum level possible, a brain scan could probably reveal her brain activity, but she did not have any probes attached to her. She waited, the lights in the room remained constant, to a normal person, the passage of time, night and day would be difficult to follow, though for her, her implants were able to run a simulation of the current solar system, and the day night cycle of Mars. Several days passed, with each day, the air and feeling became more and more tense and impatient. It was the 5th day, 59 would awake from her assumed coma.

`Has her condition changed?’

`No, other than direct intervention or upping her doses, we probably wont know anything till we can jack into her, and Jack kits are not exactly easy to come by and transport without raising some serious questions. So what is the plan, we are running out of time.’

59 slowly opened her eyes, took in a large lung full of air, then spoke; softly but with defined surety.

`We all have such little time gentlemen, life they say is the longest thing you will ever do, some like to live quiet lives, others seem to tempt fate, and put their time here on the line for so little. You two on the other hand put it on the line for something that is so much more than little.’

They both looked at her in stunned silence, each look a step towards her before being stopped by her glare and shout

`You know of the committee but you don’t know what it does, or what it even is!’

`Don’t insult us freak, do you know what we did to the last one like you?’

`Yes I remember.’

The two men paused and looked at each other for a moment then slowly back at her.

`If you want rid of me, and to loose your link back to those you seek, then just kill me. I am now mortal, I am the last, I made sure of it. As we speak there is a base open to Titan atmosphere, I can tell you what I did to the lead scientist, but lets face it, we don’t have time.’ She sat upright and began pulling the tubes and drips from her arms.

`You are a clone, and, and that plug in your neck, your memories are digitised?’

`Yes, you are slow. My memories are uploaded sporadically, via ghost packets using the nearest computer systems. It is fairly easy to find bandwidth when the people responsible for you built most of the high-tech electronics in existence. If you want to expose the committee for what they are, it will get you killed. The conspiracy that surrounds them is so deep they can hide in plain sight and no one would suspect them.’

`But we caught you…’

`I am not a committee member, I was a product. Think of all the assassinations over the last 18 years, did it ever occur to anyone that it was the same person, and that person might have started at the age of 7. You know it is quite traumatic to have been told that there is a holy war coming, and a certain gentleman is the heart of it all, and the only way to get to heaven is to kill him, and yourself at the same time…only to wake up the next day, with your mind on fire, reliving all those moments of the last 7 years in an instant. How could you? You are blessed with a single lifetime.’

They stood in stunned silence looking at her, breathing slowly, they probably had the most valuable person in existence to their cause of exposing the truth.

`—Tell me, how many people do you have observing this room?’

`First, tell us, who your associates are, who is giving you your orders.’

`On mars, I had but one associate on Mars, a Father Leopold, who is no longer with us, he died in a similar way to the wayward president. Men have a terrible habit of getting their fingers into dangerous places. I have the name of his replacement, but only a name.  The address will be coming forthwith, but before I may find it I really need to be street side.’

`You will be coming with us, a dangerous thing like you cannot be allowed to walk the streets.’

`You think I am a monster don’t you? Never mind I did think I might have some use for you, but, it seems I already know who you are, so I can get what information you have at my leisure.’ She sprung forwards out of the bed faster than either of them could react, she elbowed the man closest to her, the placement accurately into is larynx, causing him to fall to the floor unable to breath. Using the momentum gained from her elbow she had the look as through she flew to the man on the left, he was fumbling to retrieve what she assumed would be a gun, it didn’t matter. With an open arm she wrapped it around his neck, swivelled and tripped him, as she struggled she wrapped her legs around him and squeezed, he fidgeted and struggled as he life drained out of him. She watched the other man, who was seemingly more alive, while her victim fell silent and lifeless. Throwing the body off of her she stood and stretched then crouched back down to search the body. As her instinct had told her, he was carrying a sidearm. An antique by anyones standards, it looked like it would pose more danger to the user than the target. She tossed it on the floor and moved over to her second victim.

`Shhhh now, it will be over soon.’ she said as she lent her knee over his neck, he slipped away without too much fuss, the energy already washed from his body in her initial blow. She moved back to the first man and began removing his clothes and uncomfortably putting them on.

Leaving the hospital was fairly easy, her door had no guard, there was no one watching as she had already  infiltrated and hacked the security systems, business was normal as far as anyone was concerned. She walked directly out of the front door. It was interesting to her that despite her appearance on mars had been to crash land a military shuttle, that she wasn’t taken to the main military hospital but a civilian one. She put it down to good fortune. She already had details of her first contact, the local network security was no match for her interpretation, it was like an open book.

`Good, you have your 6~am coffee and have a seat, afterall you are a busy man, you need your luxuries, you need your little moment alone every morning.’ 59 looked down the scope of her .50 calibre rifle and made a few small adjustments to the elevation. `Yep, the same morning as all the rest, let us give it an unexpected twist.’

The man felt a vibration on his wrist, he checked his time piece then picked up his cup and took a sip. 59 sighed, turning to her smaller suppressed rifle and made similar adjustments, making the scope softly click. `So, we don’t answer anonymous voice calls? Well, who would this day and age? After all that person might have two rifles fixed at your face. Fine, fine, fine.’

The man checked his time piece again, this time pressing it, he spoke softly with a welcoming hello.

`Hello sir, such a lovely morning we are having.’

`Who is this?’

`Who it is doesn’t matter, what matters is how you answer my questions.’ The man killed the line, 59 sighed once again, then tutted. As he put his coffee down on the wall beside him, it exploded out of his hands, waxed paper shreds and hot liquid sprayed over his hand and side. He rapidly pressed his watch again.

`Hang up again and the next one will cut you in half. Now that I have your attention, perhaps we can chat, and before you think quietly to yourself that your secret panic signal has gotten out and people are comming to help, be assued that no one is comming to your aid.’

`Who are you, what do you want?’

`Yeah, don’t look so agitated either, I think you know the answer to the first, and I think most likely the second too so as soon as we get those over, we will be all warmed up.’

`You are the one who destroyed the Titan base,  and you want to know who I really work for.’

`News travels fast. I doubt you really know much about me,  other than I am a rogue agent, dangerous and a threat to all.’

`Yes.’

`Well, you good sir are only guilty of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. You are new to the system, your first assignment. It would seem cruel for me to kill a man, who couldn’t possibly have caused me harm.’ The man gulped, 59 watched and smiled while he remained still, but at the same time looked noticably scared. `— And I want, unless you dicide to keep useful information from me. I already have all of your files, but as I already knew, files never contain names, except that of the owner.’

`I work for a man named Yohan.’

`Have to do better than that.’ A stone flicked up from the floor ahead of him. It split in half, one piece hitting him in the shin, the other hitting the wall between his legs. He flinched and gritted his teeth. `— a man named Yohan?’

`He… he has an accent… Brazil, or that region, second name Vasquez.’

`Good, continue.’

`He is the overseer for the new people, he always has another man with him, I don’t know his name. He was always called Mr.S though he never spoke at all.’

`If I was to search for a certain Mr Vasquez, where would I look?’

`Please, please I don’t know, you know as well as I that we are never given that information. What ever we get is 3rd or 4th hand, and even then it is via dead drop.’

`The location of said drop? Do try to be honest, you will find it difficult to urinate in your pants if I shoot your penis off.’

`It is on… It is on 4th and ‘ his head vaporised, 59 instantly swung the rifle to focus in on where her implants calculated her origin from what little report echoed around the air. After searching a few windows, she spotted the source. A woman was quickly folding a rifle into a bag. 59 memoried her face and snapped off four shots, the third appeared to hit, a puff of blood seemed to fill the air behind the window and the woman dropped from view before the forth shot landed. 59 instantly scanned the area and plotted the shortest path to the building. She rapidly began folding away her rifles into two long boxes. She began running a search on the local police database for matches for the face she recorded. As she finished packing the boxes she picked them up and headed out of the rented appartment, leaving the unfurnished and blank rooms just as she first saw them two weeks ago. As she moved down the stair way, she put on her sisters ring, and concealed her weapons, as well as her entire body.

The search finished without a hit, and she began matching up with the Earth database she had stored. Unfortunately only a very small sample was stored in her internal memory. There was not room for the faces of all 2 billion inhabitance on record, not to mention the abscense of complete records from China and India, whos population was large and partically unaccountable or otherwise kept from records due to political reasons. Before she exited the building she stopped, she removed her sisters ring from her head and dropped the boxes against the wall. Her sisters ring was no big secret to them, her face was known too but, with a sisters ring, she would stick out like a sore thumb. She concieled a pistol from the box and headed outside and began towards the building as naturally as she could. Still early in the morning, being natural wasn’t going to be any camouflage, though, to be understanding of the situation, listening in and yet not have spotted her from the window she had looked out from for about two weeks, something was strange. It was a big risk going to find the sniper, but 59 would need to leave Mars soon, this itself would be a risk orders of magnitude worse, the risk would be worth the gain.

23 – The naming

They floated in silence, the only sound was the ruffle of clothes and the chinking of hands and feet against hold points and a gentle hum in the background that emanated through everything. The corridor opened up into a wide open space, surrounded by a ring of gleaming computer screens and displays. Directly ahead was a large monitor screen which doubled as a window. In the center of the room was a group of three consoles each with comfortable looking chairs, and a slightly uncomfortable amount of flashing lights. A woman put her hand on a chrome rail, she gripped it, squeezing till her knuckles lost their soft pink colour, she planted her feet on the floor and looked at the man who floated over her.

`So this will be home.’ She said, letting go of the rail and pushing away.

7 days later
Excitement buzzed through the air, the bridge was a haze of movement, all shift rotations of crew floated near and around around their consoles, pointing at lights pressing buttons and watching as the ship came to life beneath them.

`Alright, keep it down people’ James shouted, looking away from the central command holographic desk. Louise sighed and swept her long hair from her eyes then gathered it up behind her back and tied it with a black ribbon. She looked up at James and smiled.

`Mikhail, patch me through to Starlight traffic control.’ She paused for a moment, `Starlight this is Captain Summers, the Puzuzu is nearing jump distance, requesting permission to activate our gravitational controls.’

Errrr affermative Captain

`All crew, brace for gravitation.’ Summers pointed to Jameson and Feng who began rapidly tapping their consoles, the ship began to vibrate beneath them, and slowly begin to pull everyone and everything that floated to the perceived ground.

`It will be at full strength in about 5 minutes Captain.’

`Begin calculations for the jump to Charon, start cycling up the drives also.’ she paused again and pressed her console. `Starlight we are beginning jump preparations, for Charon. ETD 5 minutes.’

Roger that Captain, over and out.

`Over and out? Should we just plot a course for some nice moon and retire? Do they care?’ James said with a smirk.

`Yeah they dont always have to care much, but a good luck might have been appropriate.’

`We should bring this ship back in even worse condition than the last.’ A muffled chuckle aired around the bridge. The newer members of the crew present chuckled nervously with everyone else as though not to seem out of place.

Louise stepped over to James and began quietly talking to him, `So we jump out to the training facility on Charon, pick up a squad of Mobile units and wait for orders? We will be out there in about 5 minutes any bets?’

`My money is on our friend Walker.’

`Walker? interesting.’

`It makes little or no sense sending us back to where we have already been, they would probably be aware their sphere thing is missing, and already been out to check. We are fairly new at this, that object we first scouted was probably not fresh, and I am willing to bet we are massively out numbered.’

`That isn’t a bet I really want to take, because in my own mind, i’ll be paying out.’

`How about, we go out again if we make it back.’

`Alright, sounds good.’ James looked away from her, Louise followed his eyes and turned to face Mikhail, who gave a nod to them both. `How do we look?’

`If we go now, aaaah we have a 65\% jump accuracy from this distance, but, but, we can jump and replot from the Jupiter. Other option is to wait for better converge calculations.’

`We are in no rush, hold for a 90\% jump and engage when ready.’ Mikhail nodded and pointed at Jameson, who began generating the warp field. A faint rhythmic humming began to penetrate the air.

`Well, at least the lights don’t dim, like on the Hyecho.’ James commented. `If I am honest, I hate this bit. Drive burn-in hold the worse probability for failures.’

`Don’t worry James, Ill not tell anyone if you shit your pants.’ She winked at him.

`Convergence is at 92%’ Mikhail announced.

`Roger that, keep converging and hold for my `Go’, patch me through ship wide.’ Mikhail looked down then nodded at her. `Crew, this is the Captain. As you will be aware, the Puzuzu has been fully onlined and has completed preparation for our first jump. This is the moment of truth.’ She took a deep breath and looked around the bridge one last time. `–Ok…. jump.’

The ship hummed, slightly, the bridge began to take on an almost furry fuzzy feel, then came back into sharp focus.

`We are currently in sync’d orbit around Charon, altitude is…..170~Km. Is veeery close. Contacting base now’ Mikhail announced.

Welcome to the outlands Puzuzu, You are cleared for conventional planet fall, Platform 1. You will receive your full compliment and proceed to the coordinates attached to the datapacket we are transferring now

`We are receiving an encrypted packet ma’am, requires your authorisation codes. Routing it to your console.’ Jameson said turning to the Captain.

`Put us down Mikhail, no rush, normal procedure. Collins, follow me, we will take it in my office.’ Louise and James slowly left the bridge, nodding to everyone in recognition of a job well done so far.

Louise looked at a viewing screen set into the wall in order to fake a window. The stars outside were mesmerising, so many to count, in so many different patterns. Pluto, a grey ball with a slightly yellow hue floated slowly into view, the brightness obscuring the background. The reflection of James face moved over the glass as he approached her.

`Feels familiar doesn’t it?’ James said softly, he put his hand on her shoulder.

`Yeah, back out in the black. The things we have seen, it must feel so normal to everyone back on Earth and the colonies. I still haven’t grown tired of this. James, thank you for joining me to Earth and taking me to that place. It was very sweet and relaxing.’

`Don’t mention it, I just wish it could have been longer, camping out looking back up at the stars.’

`It is hard to believe a place with such natural beauty still exists on Earth. I saw the stars more than you did if memory serves me correctly.’

`I didn’t know it would still be there, but I figured 3 years isn’t long enough for it to be put under concrete. Anyway, it was my pleasure.’

`Oh well yes.’ She looked, at James and then back to the window. `Alright lets look at this packet.’ She pressed a panel beside the window, it went dark for a moment then returned full of text. A series of coordinates appeared sparsely embroidered with notes which scrolled for a moment then stopped. After tapping the window a few times over the coordinates a three dimensional map of the local group appeared showing a plan of jump points. `We are going out to look for Walker. The brief doesn’t say it, but these are the coordinates given to him before we left, or very near to it. Walker went this way….’ she pointed to the coordinates, `Matherson went this way…’ she traced her finger in an approximate line. Rotating the view and manipulating the screen naturally, she closed her right eye in thought and paused.

`Do we have any data about these jump locations? While the specifications of the Puzuzu are impressive. If we can jump to somewhere other than near the local star, It might be nice. These jumps put us though 3 binaries and a trinary. Those are terrible to plot and if Walker found himself in the same situation as we did it doesn’t matter if we go out to his coordinates or to our previous mission coordinates. They will know, and more importantly they will be ready for us. What is wrong?’ Louise had been paused with her eye shut, a tear softly rolled down her cheek.

`Something is… something, Something tells me we will be fine.’

`When was the last time you heard them?’ She sighed and looked away from the monitor.

`I don’t know, I sometimes its almost constant, other times its fairly silent, sometimes it feels like something is watching me, other times I feel alone, other times I think I am being pushed. James I need you there on the bridge.’

`I’m supposed to take up 3rd shift, 2 shifts were fine on the Hyecho, not here. Other than the overlaps who can we put out there on command? Zhang definitely isn’t ready for that on 2nd shift, though I know he would jump at it. Same for Grison, Rosa would do a better Job, but Grison out ranks her. So we are not looking good for options.’

`Peterson from 1st shift?’ They both thought about it for a moment, it had occurred to them that they had only thought about people from their own shifts, though in reality it didn’t matter so long as the chain of command was in the correct order.

`Peterson is perfect, we will make the changes and submit them to the crew. It will cause a bit of a stir you understand?’

`I know it will, but I’d rather you be there to just keep an eye on things it isn’t a question of me not trusting myself. It is more a question of trusting myself when I am maybe not quite myself. It sounds stupid but that is the best I can put it.’

The Captains pager beeped softly, she pressed it and spoke, `Summers here what is it?’

`We have a kid down in the boarding bay claiming to be the Lieutenant of our detachment. She requests and audience with you.’

`Have the Lieutenant escorted to my office.’ She looked at James for a moment. `Have you read her file?’

`No I haven’t, should I?’

`Yes, I recommend it.’ She walked to her desk and slid open her drawer and retrieved a cream yellow card folder. She looked at it for a moment then gave it to James. He looked at the name `Ka-go Has-a-gawa’ he said slowly. He opened it and raised his eye brows.

`This is a Joke right?’

`I wish it was, I guess we will get some answers in about 5 minutes.’

`So all we know about her is her age. She is 18… How the hell is that possible?’

`I have a few theories, none of them I like very much. Besides, she was ranked as a Sergeant up until about 2 hours before I printed that.’

`Why did you bother?’

`I don’t know, I was amazed and just printed it as a keepsake. An officer of the first wave of MEF soldiers, an 18 year old with zero history, a name that places her from Japan, and that is it. A date of birth, a name and a rank. It is quite underwhelming and yet spectacular.’

`It gives me the creeps, what are we getting here? A bunch of ghosts? Are we heading straight for a hostile takeover?’

`Oh calm down, I’m the one who is supposed to be paranoid.’ There was a beep from the door buzzer. `Open.’ Summers said in a slightly raised voice. The door slid open, revealing Hasegawa standing with an engineer, who was still carrying a wrench. `Thank you Leon, please come in Lieutenant.’

Kago nodded, her long black hair swept in front of her eyes, sticking to them for a moment before she swept it away remaining focussed ahead of her. She stepped forward slowly into the office carrying with her a large cache of papers squeezed into 20 folders. She saluted Summers with her free hand and stood to attention.

`Lieutenant Hasegawa reporting ma’am, I am with your detachment of MEF troops. I wish not to impose on you or your crew. My men and women are at your disposal, as am I.’

`Thank you Lieutenant, begging your pardon but would you like to put those papers down somewhere?’

`These papers are for your study Captain, they are detailled records of the skills and training undertaken by my people, apologies for this primitive form of media, but for reasons of denial by Earth Government, no full electronic records can legally exist.’

`Speaking of which, I have a very very interesting document right here that we have a number of questions about if you could humour us.’ James lifted the printed file from the horizontal so she could see her name. Kago stood and looked at it for a moment and looked back at Summers.

`May I?’ Kago looked down at her papers and then at the desk.

`Please do.’ She stepped slowly forward, and softly put the papers on the desk, it made little or no sound. She lifted the top file, it was the thickest, and held it out to Summers who took hold of it with her right hand. Kago didn’t let it go instantly and looked at Summers with an approximately sad expression she then let go and stood back straight. Summers flipped the file over and opened it.

`Captain, forgive my gesture, you will probably be the first person other than my medic and the MEF higher command that has been authorised to read it. It contains details on many many sensitive subjects. I request secrecy of the content of all these files equally. It is important for the coherence and performance of the people under my command. Each and every one of us is a professional, but even professionals have secrets that run deep.’

`I understand, only myself and Collins will be allowed to view these documents. It is also important for us to understand who we have onboard.’

`Lieutenant, enlighten me if you will in your own words. Are you really 18 years of age.’

`Yes I am.’

`In two years you have become an officer, this is quite impressive, could you explain this for me?

`I joined… I was taken into the services at the age of…’ she paused and looked at James eyes she searched for the best way of explaining it, she knew her own history very well, vocalising it in a way she was happy with was however not easy.

`You do not need to explain Kago. Thank you for this information, secrecy will be assured, please assemble your people for boarding. I will forward a deployment plan for your people into our shift roster.’

`Hey, Louise, you can’t blow that off so easily.’

`Just be quiet Collins. Kago, just show him, he is very slow sometimes.’

`What?’ He said frowning at her. Kago nodded and rased her hand taking hold of a clump of her hair and removed the wig she was wearing, slowly reviealing a smoothly shaven scalp as the hair fell away. She turned and faced away from James. As she turned, he gasped.

`Shit.’ He said, raising his eyebrows as Louise looked at him with a frown.

`I just have one request Lieutenant, your medic has read these files, don’t think of it as an insult but may I interview her?’ Kago turned back around placing the wig back on her scalp.

`No insult at all Captain, I will instruct her of your authorisation over these files so she doesn’t feel she has to hide anything.’

`Many thanks Hasegawa, please feel at ease and carry on your duties.’ Each of them saluted and Kago left the room. Louise pressed her pager.

`Summers here, Who’s idea was it to send Leon up with the Lieutenant?’

`Leon?’

`Listen, she is an officer, she out ranks nearly everyone here, a little more respect next time please.’ She pressed her pager once more to force close the link then looked at James. `Jesus they really can be a bunch of assholes sometimes. It is why I hate the kind of selection they do with fleet. We do want the best of the best, but why is it, the best of the best have been trained since childhood that they are elite and everyone else is some how not worth any respect?’ Louise said sitting in her chair.

`So what is the scoop. Just the headnotes. She is some kind of test subject right? She is out here because the powers that be need a field test, or a way of possibly disposing of the evidence.’

`That about sums it up, and it gets worse, just seeing these documents just put us in a similar role.’

`Bastards, so I guess the committee more directly own our ass now?’ He sighed and swung around swinging his arms loosely before clasping his face and looking at the floor for a few seconds. `Great, great I think we need a plan. A damn good plan.’

`Plans are fine, moulding the crew will take allot and up until about 5 minutes ago wouldn’t have worried too much about sending a low ranking mechanic to escort a MEF Lieutenant either.’

`Not totally true, but you do have a point. That was a big eye opener, you hear about those kind of things in hushed tones, but never really believe it can be true. I think the first step once we are on our way is to lock this ship down, the crew have to be onside. I don’t want a witch hunt, but I think if any of us are going to get off this ship alive and not locked up as a consequence, we have to weed out the probable informants.’

`Easier said than done. Though I don’t think we need to worry about our new mobile detachment. I get the impression most of these girls and boys are out here because they don’t have a choice, not one file I have seen yet is from what I would call a specifically selected soldier. That is of course if these documents are not forgeries.’ She looked at them for a moment, passing over a few pages at a time spreading a small number of the folders over her otherwise tidy desk. `and even that statement doesn’t seem likely.’

22 – Lyre

Long long separation between posts, due to being busy and slightly lazy not wanting to put something out there that i hadnt read and checked over. Either way, this is now out there, hopefully for people to enjoy.

The room was dark, empty, without feature, without texture. The only light I could see was the glow and reflections of my own face in my helmet. A faint rustle came through my radio, I knew it was time to begin.

A door opened ahead, filling the room a brillant bright light. Dust in the air swirled in the air, I naturally squinted as though to keep it from my eyes, though it was unnecessary. I moved forward, moving to the right of the light, planting my shoulder against the wall.

Fairhurst, we have intelligence to suggest there is a low yield tactical nuke in your area. Retreat retreat retreat. 

`Ops? Repeat? I am to retreat?’

You heard correct, get out of there, you have approximately 10 minutes to clear safe distance.

`shit’ I cursed out loud.

A location lit up on my display, I appeared to be inside a small hut in a village on the outskirts of a small town. The hut faced away, as I peered around the door, I decided I would have to put my endurance to the test, from my current location, I would not have time to clear a traditional safe distance. My only option was to use the terrain to shield me, the closest terrain which should be suitable was just under 2 miles away.

I made a mental path on the map and burst out of the hut, and set what I thought was a reasonable pace. The area was dusty, as though the whole town was built on the only outcrop of rock in a desert. Dust kicked up ahead of me.

Morgan, they are shooting at you.

`Need to ignore it, I need to clear that sand dune, so as needs must.’

needs must.

I started to weave a little in my run. I could only hear faint rifle reports, meaning who ever was firing at me was a good distance away. The softsuit wouldn’t provide much protection from a rifle, but at this range I could afford to take one or two. Unless I am extremely unlucky things would be fine. As I dodged and weaved the sounds, echos and the dust died down, as it was obvious they were waisting time and effort. I was making fairly good time, I could feel the weight of my gear begin to dig into my shoulders, the weight of my rifle was starting to make my fingers feel heavy. The burn on my chest hadn’t started to kick in yet, which was good given that I was setting an extremely fast pace which would probably see me hurting later, despite the distance not being long.

I felt a sudden pain in my left shoulder, I was pushed forward, flipping overhead and landing roughly on my shoulders. I slid over the dusty ground then lurched myself forward flipping myself back onto my feet. I turned around and readied my rifle.

`Lyre, execute search protocol 2.’ Come on, anyone good enough to hit me from that distance will take a shot at a stationary target. I knelt and rested the rifle on my knee, waiting to lift it at the slightest provocation. ‘Lets see if that was luck, or skill.’ Dust kicked up ahead of me, I flinched slightly as if to protect myself from the dust, a marker lit up on my visor. I rapidly lifted my rifle and scoped over the marker. A man, was beginning to steady himself for another shot looking out from an open walled building. It looked like the remains of a building which had had its side cut clean off. I adjusted for the distance, and added a slight offset to the left due to the wind. I pulled the trigger firmly. The rifle gave me its natural thud and kickback into my shoulder, I steadied it and looked at the target, who was now was clutching an open chest wound, probably moments from death. I took the body of the rifle in my hand and carried on running. My shoulder throbbed with each bounce, it felt sharp, and cold like something was protruding from me. The suit looked fine, and I would have likely received a sarcastic comment from Lyre if I had a hole in me. It didn’t really hurt to move it, at least not yet.

My time was running out, I was going to clear the top of the hill and make it down the other side with about a minute or so to spare. Each step closer to the top forced my feet deeper and deeper into the sand, it seemed I was walking on a fluid more than anything solid. It became harder and harder, the pain in my arm became worse and worse as blood surged through my viens, I could feel each heartbeat thump hard inside my chest. I slowly cleared the top, and began walking down the far side, the town quickly disappearing below the hill.

There was a bright flash in the sky, my heart seemed to skip, then thud even harder. I began to try and run down the hill, though the lack of grip made it difficult to do much other than slide down. As the sky dulled overhead, I dived forward, rolling down the remaining sand. As I hit the level sand below, my suit powered down, the visor went blank and the sand rumbled. I felt myself sinking slowly as a thunderous roar filled my senses, my body shuck and rumbled with it, I closed my eyes tight and breathed rapidly. The only thing I could think was I am going to die, I am not going to make it this time, I am too close. I forced my eyes open, looking rapidly around me, I dragged my arms from the sand, and shuffled my legs up a little and stretched forward to take hold of my rifle which was partially submerged in the sand. I looked up, the sky was turning darker.

Then the hill seemed to explode ahead of me, all I could do was try to keep myself floating as sand streamed overhead as the hillside seemed to melt away. The hill above became smaller and smaller before my eyes as I thrashed about to stay afloat. It carried on for what seemed like an eternity, then slowly, very slowly the air began to settle. Dust filled the air, everything was covered in a brown haze. My visor flickered into life, and my plant started to rumble into life as it began to clear itself of the sand and dust.

Radiation levels are high, but well done, you are not going to die yet.

`Yeah thanks Lyre.’

Radiation levels were high, but not as bad as to be immediately dangerous, just so long as I hung back and took things carefully. I looked away from my visor and up at the sky, I froze. My eyes welled up, I had not seen one of these since back home was raised. The most beautiful and horrific thing I have ever seen. It took only a moment, but soon my tears began to slowly drip down my cheeks, into the crux of my nose and over my lips.

`What have they done? What on Earth have they done?’ I couldn’t contain it, I bent over forward and borked, I grabbed my helmet ready to lift it if anything did come. Nothing did thankfully.

Pull it together you pansy. Do you want to die out here?

I stood up and coughed the driest cough I think I have ever done, I tried to gather some salivar and swallowed hard several times.

I switched my radio back on, it had initially been disabled in the shockwave that passed before the main blast of scorching hot air.

`Command, target area has been annihilated, I repeat, the tac nuke was detonated.’ I waited for a reply, but there was only silence. I tried again much to the same response, cursing under my breath, shortly afterwards as I watched the cloud tower overhead.

`Lyre, that town was built on an rock out crop, would it be possible that the blast cleared out much of the sand and dust. We need to hold up in a cave or something. We cannot really stay here. Even if it means another jog.’

It would have unlikely cleared much. Do you still have any survey probes or did you drop them during the excitement?

`Cheeky bastard.’ I patted myself down searching for the tubular object that I could load into my side arm. `Shit you might be right, oh no wait here it is.’ I said to Lyre as I located it clipped into its normal position on the side of my plant. It wasn’t an object regularly used. I pulled the slide back on the top of my pistol, tipped the round out and replaced it with the much larger cylinder. I rotated it on its axis until it clicked. This was to ensure the pistol didn’t reload itself, and cause issues.

I aimed over the brow of the dune, the probe connected itself to my suit and I pulled the trigger. Data started to stream back to me after about 5 seconds. Radiation was still pretty high but It probably wasn’t accurate as the probe was unable to sense direction. A laser map of the area, followed by a radio map as the probe deployed its full array of sensors and antennae.

Investigate spots A through G. Clearance of the light material looks minimal though there those locations look to be our best spots.

`OK lets go.’

After what was now a painful jog back toward the town, trying dodge any obviously high radiation signatures, and updating our maps on the fly as higher and higher resolution came back from the probe, we found ourselves in a small cave which extended about 30 meters under the town. The radiation levels here were much better for a extended stay. I had setup a transmitter to make sure my radio connection was strong, and cycle broadcast my message regarding the destruction of the town and for new orders. I felt exhausted, while this mission had only lasted a matter of 4 or 5 hours I felt unusually tired. I sat, with my head leant against the cave wall, my helmet still in place. While I had already had my radiation dose for the year, the suit did a fairly good job at keeping the air breathable, Since it was able to provide a supply for about 2 hours, I ran the system in fill mode, and such it was spending its time, sucking in air, cleaning it and compressing it for storage, while i tried to get some of the fresher air into my body. The power plant would be fine for another two days and could be recharged with a few basic chemicals, finding anything out here could be a little difficult given that nearly all the town had been vaporised.

I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, I spent what seemed like an hour or so in a state of half sleep. I felt my head move forward and I sharply opened my eyes. The cave was totally black, I instantly turned on my lamps to no avail.

A message appeared on my visor.

How do you feel

`Confused, where am I?’

In the combat simulator on Charon, do you remember how you got here?

`No, all I remember are the fitting and testing of those CAP things.’

Good, what is the name and sex of your CAP

`Lyre. Female’

You passed Morgan, It was a reasonable performance given your experience of similar events.

`Wanted to gauge if I would crack under pressure.’ There was a moment of silence and a faint tapping of figures on keys that echoed through my headset.

Something like that. From this, understand the power of the CAP and its ability to alter or moderate your thoughts. The operating mode you was subjected to is it’s maximum capability, be assured that outside this base the mode you experienced is automatically locked out.

`That is good to know.’ I felt furious and yet calm it was a little unsettling.

Sorry Morgan, everyone learns the hard way.

`Unusual for you to be apologising.’

Excuse me?

`Just talking to Lyre’

Try not to too much, it can make it more difficult to separate.

10minutes later

I sat alone in the largest mess hall I had seen since basic training on Earth, I held a container of water, gravity here was minimal but it still managed to slosh around and look somewhat like a carbonated drink as my hands shook. I stayed near the first dispenser I saw not really wanting to venture to the far side of an empty room. One of the 12 doors slid open and with a springy step Shelby entered.

`Morgan!’ She said, her face lighting up when she saw me. I watched as she part walked and part drifted over to the table, jumped over it and flipped over mid air to sit opposite. `–How was the test?’

`I passed. She said we are the first, but she said normally people don’t fail. What is the deal? You are always with her, what is going on Shelby?’

`We are the first. The first to combine all this technology. The CAPs have been used in various combat zones around the Earth. Mankind had never encountered hostile life before we found Pulchritude. Up until then very simple soft suits where used, and combat outside an atmosphere was not even considered. You can argue we are not the first, but we are the first of this form.’

`You have served?’

`The Sarge has, she was on the Pulchritude campaign.’

`Shit.’

`Yes, 6 years ago, she was about 13.’

`13… Thats insane, 6 years ago…. 6 years ago I was watching a nuke go up over Sheffield on my way to University. That was the test they put me through, making me watch the same thing happen. She was out killing people? How the hell does a 13 year old get selected for this kind of outfit?’

`Morgan, the back of her skull, you haven’t seen anyone else with one of those have you?’

`No.’

`Well lets just say it has something to do with that and we should leave it there, some things are best not known, and others are not worth the hanging. Anyway tell me about Sheffield’

I looked down, I really didn’t want to talk about it. It wasn’t an easy subject to explain or express. As she said, some things are best left alone.

`Morgan? Sheffield Morgan? You hear me hun?’

`I don’t want to talk about it. All you need to really know is about half of the city was totally flattened. And the hills around Sheffield we all hated walking up and down are probably the only reason Im alive.’

`How does it make you feel? To think about it?’ It wasn’t a nicely worded question, but from her expression I knew there wasn’t any malice, just curiosity.

`I don’t really feel anything. I don’t think I can.’ It was the truth and the best way I could put it. `If I did, I don’t think I could carry on.’ Shelby just looked at me, and curled her bottom lip slightly as though challenging me to carry on. `I need to repay her for sparing my life.’

`She spared many Morgan. Listen, look at me’

`I am.’ I said leaning forward with my elbows on the table.

`My eyes, look at my eyes.’ I looked closely into her eyes; they were green her pupils large, they looked tired and a little sad.

`You look sad.’

`Yes, I have the same eyes as you do Morgan, I look at you and I know that you feel. I know that you care about the world around you. Giving up is not an option, and not coming to terms with your life isn’t an option either. It will come to kick your butt you know that? Listen, do you find it hard to read Kago’s emotions?’ I thought about it for a moment, squinting letting my eyes wander around the room.

`I can never see any emotions.’

`Because she doesn’t have eyes Morgan.’

`What?’

`She doesn’t have eyes.’

`Yeah you said that?’ I frowned at her a little.

`They are not organic, she cannot show emotion because her eyes do not respond like ours, despite that she carries on. Some asshole did that to her when she was a kid, we all have problems Morgan. All have problems.’

21 – paying the bills

Louise let out a big sigh, puffing her cheeks as she exhaled, then followed by taking a long breath to fill her lungs. She was being interviewed along with James, regarding the filed report. They both waited in a coffee room, ready to be called.

`Take a seat, you are making me nervous now you know.’

`Sit down? You are kidding right? I can’t breath in this thing.’

`What?’

She looked sheepish for a moment then put her hands on her waist and cocked her head to one side. `Don’t tell me!’ He laughed for a few moments, bending forward and putting his cup of coffee on the table infront of him.

`What is so goddamn funny?’

`You, why the hell are you wearing a corset?’

`I don’t fit into my uniform anymore.’

`So? Get a new one issued.’

`I have some dignity you know. It would go down in my record that this officer grew fat during her first proper long haul mission.’

`Dignity?’ He tutted and shook his head. `Where did you get it? This station doesn’t exactly have a mall.’

`I bought it on Earth, It was my last luxury item I bought before being shipped out. I bought it for… for… oh I can’t remember.’

`Him?’

She sighed again, `What is wrong with me, my Marriage fell apart before it even fucking started. Im hopeless. It is no wonder the Hyecho barely made it back. I’m a walking disaster area. Big fuck-ups seem to gravitate towards me. I can feel one coming. Just wait and see. Nice long comfy prison sentence followed by death.’

`Oh stop being a drama queen Lou. Sit down, shut the fuck up and have some coffee.’

`What?’

`You heard me.’ He looked at the seat next to him and nodded towards it. She did so, slowly picking up a cup of coffee, taking a sip then sitting down.

`—Besides, you was supposed to wink at me and tell me you bought it for me.’

`What?’ She said clattering her cup down nervously. He smiled and sipped his coffee, then looked into her eyes. She looked away. `—you need to be very careful James. Very very careful.’ After a few moments, they both burst out laughing.

A few moments later the door opened, a woman addressed them both with a quiet and soft voice. They both stood and straightened their uniforms and followed her to a small room. They each stood before a pannel of 4 people. Neither had met any of them. Two men sat on the outsides, while two women where sat in the middle. There were no introductions. Only questions.

`How would you describe the current state of the Hyecho Captain Summers?’ The man on the left said, slowly and carefully.

`Severely damaged Sir. Possibly irrecoverable.’

`Indeed, the hardware value of it was over 600 Billion when it was completed. We are to understand Mr Collins was in command for that period?’ The woman sat next to him followed.

`Not all of it ma’am, the Hyecho received structural damage during first contact with the unknown vessel. It suffered small hull beaches throughout the whole mid-section.’ Louise responded before turning her head to James.

`After being captured, I thought it prudent to attempt an escape. Given the situation it was difficult to form any kind of rational plan. The data collected by the onboard sensors showed the vessel we first saw appeared to project a gravitational field similar to a planet. Much like our own Jump systems but on a much larger scale. I took the decision to initiate a blind jump in the hope to recover the ship.’

`Hope Mr Collins?’

James stood in uncomfortable silence, there was nothing he could add, and didn’t wish to be appear as insubordinate.

`He is correct, they did recover the vessel, even in its current state, the mineral worth alone is significant. The Hyecho does contain a lot of valuable data, possibly even more valuable than the ship itself.’

`You and the crew will be commended for their performance, you may retain any members you wish and have reassigned any you do not and replacements supplied. You will take command of the Venus Class vessel Designated V-02. It is currently in dry dock undergoing final commissioning, you and your assigned crew will begin the standard education program to be ready for launch in one month time. Orders will be assigned at a later date. Dismissed.’

The woman approached them and directed them towards the door. They each saluted and followed her.

After walking for a while in complete silence, Louise turned her head over her left shoulder, `Officers bar?’ He returned by nodding to her. They continued in silence until entering the bar. It was fairly quiet, they took two drinks and sat in a quiet corner. After a few moments looking at their drinks uncomfortably James spoke.

`What the hell was that?

`Yeah, money money money… I think we are busted, and we are being sent back out to get us out of the way.’

`I agree, maybe not on all accounts, but this is being kept very low key, and we are covered by fleet sensitive materials acts, which they have assigned the Hyecho material too. Meaning we can’t say anything even if we wanted to.’

`And to be sure we are being sent away. The Venus class, it is fairly big. Armed too. I would not be surprised if we got sent back out in the same direction.’

`To the same planet probably, or maybe that dwarf. Carrying a load of grunts no doubt either. We dont even have official orders yet and I already feel depressed.’ James said leaning back on the chair picking up his drink.

`How are you holding up? I must seem rude, I haven’t really shown any concern for anyone.’

`Same as always, same as you except the marriage. I have nothing to return to Earth for. Family made it clear that I am not welcome, no friends to speak of, at least none that noticed I have been missing for more than 2 years. I checked my accounts, none, not a single message at all. In many ways I’d rather just get back out there. Even if it does mean certain death.’

`You are a piece of work you know.’ She laughed with a sarcastic smirk on her face. `—You cannot possibly be serious, don’t you want to at least breath the air? See the ocean?’

James looked down at his drink, then back at Louise. `No.’ He paused, looking at her, trying to will her friendly expression from her disapproving look. `I have no reason to go, no one to talk with and no one to share it with.’ He put his drink back on the table and sighed. `We only have two weeks leave anyway.’

`Come with me?’

`Thought you were visiting the folks? I’d not be welcome. Your folks are probably an inch away from mine in their idiocy.’

`I want to see you happiest memory, your happiest place. Somewhere you could just stand for hours.’

He sat and thought about it for a few moments and closed his eyes. In truth it was not difficult for him to think of a place. His childhood had been a happy one. It was really only after he joined the military that his life changed. By association with the military his family had rejected him outright without argument. He never understood it, or why. Upon informing them, he was simply removed from the household by his father. A tall man whom at that time he had the greatest despect for. The years of isolation from them and bitterness left to fester guaranteed it would take something extraordinary to bring them back together. He didn’t feel strong enough to even attempt it.

`OK.’

`So were will it be?’

`Just wait and see.’

20 – Good Things Come….

A low gurgle emanated from a blooded mass of flesh that once resembled a person. It gurgled and moaned as it moved its eyes around rapidly and tried to pull itself along the floor with its hands. There was so much blood its hands found it hard to grip on the plated floors, it was very hard and very slow work. Its breathing and gurgling became more rapid as a slow tapping sound of her feet drew nearer and nearer.

`You cannot escape, it is over.’ The feet of the woman stepped infront of mass that sluggishly tried to shift across the floor. `— I think 59 is my last incarnation. If I wake up in that tank again It will be by some colossal mistake, or miracle given what I just did to the lab. I am going to open this place to Titan, nothing will be left.’

`Please, you can’t’ it would have sounded more urgent, but the mass was now barely conscious.

`Can’t? You will be dead soon, and so will your work. The last thing I need from you is, this…’ She pushed a data line into the socket on the back of what appeared to be the person’s skull. It made a juicy click rather than a clean sounding one. The body moaned in pain but was now unable to move very much. After a few moments she pulled the jack out, it sounded just as juicy as when it went in.

She bent down and turned over the person, it was the lead doctor, the one who was the cause of much of her direct suffering over the years.

`For what you have done to me, I will leave you here. If I was you, I would try to end my existence as fast as possible.’

`We gave you life.’ He spluttered as she struggled to draw breath.

`No, no you didn’t’ She stood looking down at him, her face emotionless without real regard for his existence or the fact he barely resembled a person in his current state. She unclipped her holster and drew her pistol, up to now it had not been fired, at least not during her time in this facility. She held it in her blooded hand, and pointed it at him. Blood squeezed out of her glove and dripped onto his already blooded face. She sighed.

`You know, I have thought about shooting you many many times in the past. Right now? I don’t really think it is worth it, nor do you deserve the fast death it would give you. So here.’ She cocked the pistol, ejecting a bullet from the chamber into her hand. She tossed it onto him. `Have the bullet anyway, a momento of sorts. I’m going to go take a shower before I go. So I bid thee farewell.’ She smiled crassly and stepped over him being careful not to touch him as she did.

She walked slowly towards the showers, sauntering without care or purpose. Everything looked peaceful, she closed her eyes. In her head she brought forward the internal layout of the base and rendered it, perfectly, without blemish.

 

She had killed everyone in the facility, bodies didn’t exactly line the hallways though. The permanent staff there maybe only reached 30 or so, about another 60 people came and went in a rotation system. At this point in time 53 people were dead, she knew each of them by name, each one had a part to play in her treatment. She didn’t feel remorse usually, though she didn’t feel anything for these people. To her they were not human. She strapped herself into her commandeered dropship as she watched the airlock slowly crack open. About two seconds later gas appeared to move out from the facility, she guessed it was the atmosphere rapidly warming and being expelled. It didn’t matter, the whole base would be in dead cold with a completely unbreathable atmosphere in a matter of minutes. The sensitive equipment would unlikely survive such conditions, any objects of importance that would probably survive had been physically damaged by Number 59. She began the routine and rhythmic pressing of buttons and flicking of switches in order to power up and launch the dropship. Her next objective would be much harder to reach.

19 – Home?

Hyecho this is Starlight Station, your auto dock system is not responding.

`Good morning Starlight, this is Captain Louise Summers, the Hyecho has no functioning auto dock system.’

Confirmed, please proceed on vector 342 point 62 by 31 point 241.

`Roger that, we will need a wide berth in dry dock we are in bad shape as you will have been informed.’

Roger that Summers, we see you venting. What happened out there?

`Not at liberty to say Starlight.’ The ship creaked, causing louise to pause and squint fearing the ship was about to give in. `Come on old girl’ she whispered to herself.

Follow current vector for 342 then make your way to dock Q1. Park up there and we will dock with you using an umbilical.

`Roger, Summers out.’ She nodded at her bridge crew symbolising they can take it from here. She looked at James and smiled. `Quarantine, I cannot say I am surprised.’

`Me either, given the shape we are in and the fact we didn’t broadcast a standard `everything is good and peachy’ message when we got back. We came back, nearly took out a squad of grunts on training manoeuvres, punched a small hole in Saturns rings and issued a mayday message. I am actually surprised they haven’t just shot us out of the sky from a safe distance.’

`You are such a pessimist’

`Incoming message, private for the Captain’ Mikhail said, turning in his chair.

`Fine, delay it, I will take it at my console. Walk with me James.’

They slowly left the bridge and started towards Louise’s quarters.

`So what is the plan James, what exactly can we say? The truth?’

`I am concerned that the truth will see you in a lab being experimented on.’

`We cannot silence the crew, only Derrick knows anything which could cause trouble. Get to him, I don’t think there will be any issues, but we need to be sure.’

`I guess we part ways here then.’ James waved and headed towards medical as Louise carried on, on her path. She came to her quarters, entered and moved directly over to her desk. She straightened herself up and accepted the incoming message.

Captain, we hope you have a good explanation of why you return a 500~billion dollar vessel with an experimental drive system in such bad condition.} It was the chief of operations, a small man who was effectively second in command to the whole fleet.’

`Sir, I can report first contact with an intelligent species.’

I assume they are hostile.

`No sir, I would not describe the encounter as hostile.’

He scoffed Not hostile? Then what happened?

`They have technology far in advance of our own, we made every attempt to contact them, fearing for my crew I attempted to escape. We were tracked through several jumps. Eventually being captured.’

Very interesting, I expect a full report. The damage sustained was during escape? I still do not understand why you would not describe it as hostile.

`The damage was sustained during the escape, that is correct. We unfortunately destroyed our capter’s vessel in the process. We observed a region with planets that looked as though they had been heavily nuked, suggesting that maybe a war had taken place there. We were collecting information regarding one of these planets and an object in orbit when we were first approached. Our vessel was not directly attacked. They attempted contact but in an usual maner.’

And Earth? Is the location known by them?

`That is unknown Sir, we plotted an erratic path home, performing some very long jumps in the process. It did not appear as though we were followed, though there is a possibility.’

Report on my desk by 1700, you are also to be detained while we investigate and gather intelligence. After which you will be reassigned, should we see fit.

`Reassigned Sir?’

Didn’t think you would get off that easily did you Mrs Summers?

`If the fleet sees fit Sir then that is how it shall be.’

Very well, Ill hear from you at 1700

Luckily Louise had already prepared much of her report, and had omitted the parts that would likely see her locked up. She felt a sudden headache, as though a moment of extreme tension. She put her hand on the table as though to brace herself against falling, although she didn’t feel dizzy.

She looked down, and saw something moving other than her, she looked up into the mirror like computer console. She couldn’t see it clearly, but a figure was stood behind her, twisted and warped, a pale blue colour, appearing not to have any facial features she could make out.

`Did you really think you would get off that easily? Mrs Summers?’ She spun around, the room was empty. She shivered slightly then began rubbing the brow of her head. Louise sighed a long sigh and leant up against her desk. `Get a grip.’ she whispered to herself as she heard a knock at the door.

`It’s open, she shouted.’ The door slid open, and in came James and smiled. She glanced at him then looked back at the floor.

`Is it really that bad?’ He smirked

`We will be reassigned assuming we don’t get locked.’

`It could be worse.’ He shrugged his shoulders, she remained in the same awkward pose.

`No not really. I could still be hearing things. I could be loosing my mind.’

`Shit, again?’ He walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder, then rubbed her cheek with his thumb.

`They are not here, but they are at the same time. Either that or I am just going insane.’

`I…I assume you will be going home for a few months in the mean time? I want you to go and get some rest.’

`I have no reason to go back, you know that. Besides, the way I just got handed my orders, it would seem we are being reassigned on his recommendation anyway.’ They both shared a moment of silence looking a little sadly at each other. Louise nodded her head looking away from him. `Yeah yeah I am sure we will be going back to the glass worlds too, it is pretty obvious.’

`What?’

`What, I was just answering you…?’

`I didn’t say anything.’

`Never mind, sorry I’m just tired. What did the good doctor say?’

`Nothing, he understands the situation and we didn’t need to ask. Get some rest ok, you don’t seem to sleep these days.’

`I will finish off my report then sleep.’ Sleep was at a premium, she was not really aware of how long it had been since she last slept. Truth be told she hadn’t slept in a 120 hours. She was now beginning to doubt her grip on reality as each second passed.

18 – The end of the day

The feeling I got when we arrived back on Titan was not one of safety or relief but one of fear and depression. I was not happy to see this place in the slightest. Everyone else seemed to be happy to be back with a planet under their feet and open-ish air to breath. My suit was clean for the most part, it made me ponder what had knocked Shelby and I away from the rings, I didn’t ponder very long. Parisa was taken away on a cart. She wasn’t moving, I couldn’t even see if she was breathing, Shelby was busy and I didn’t feel it was my position to ask.

`Good work guys, bad circumstances, but good work. I’ll find out where that pilot went to and kick his ass for all of us.’ Louis said.  Everyone looked around at him, but didn’t really respond, he simply turned and left as though acknowledging an empty room and words unheard.

In all Parisa was the worse off, It was clear the rest of us had faired pretty well, a few scrapes and bruises but nothing else. Those with minor injuries or that had reported with unconsciousness during the operation soon left to be checked up. Leaving Kevin, Xu and I alone. I nodded at them as if to excuse myself and headed towards my bunk. It didn’t seem rude or unnatural, I felt everyone shared my confusion. The dorm where I was stationed was only a short distance away, with a few minor twists and turns in the path. The base wasn’t really well designed for fast response that was for sure. The dorms were completely empty, the light above the door flickered as though on its last legs, and the whole place smelled like sweaty socks. Yep I was home alright, I honestly wasn’t sure how the girls could stand it. Then again, our girls were harder than some of the boys so I guess that wasn’t a fair statement. I had a bottom bunk away in a corner, probably one of the darker places. For some reason no one contested it too much when we arrived, everyone contested the brighter areas.

I sat down and rubbed my face with my hands around my eyes to try and get some life back into them. I could feel myself sweating, though I was uncertain why, as the base was always kept at a comfortable temperature. I felt a need to sweep the moisture from my hair, I ran my hand over my head expecting to grab a clump of hair though found nothing. I didn’t think it was possible to have phantom hair syndrome, but ever since day one I had probably been doing that two or three times a day. I laid down and stretched out on the bunk, I felt my muscles finally relax as I let the bunk take my whole body weight. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, though as I did so, I started to ache all over. I laid in minor pain for about 20minutes. The door slid open making it’s usual squeaks and bumps, letting a painfully bright light through.

`Morgan? You in here?’

`Yo!’ I said with a sigh.

`Why aren’t you in medical huh?’ It was Shelby.

`I am fine Shelby, I just need some sleep and I’ll be good.’

`You guys and the `I’m fine’ crap. You Brits are the worse, you drive me crazy with it! Do you know how annoying it is when you are patching someone up who has potentially life threatening wounds and all they can say is `Get off I’m fine I’m fine.’ But oooooh no, you then moan like babies when you have a slight headache like its the end of the world or you have the plague or something.’

`Sorry, I just didn’t want to be in the way down there since I felt ok at the time. How is Parisa?’

`Her suit saved her life, but It is too early to say if she needs shipping out or not. She is stable but hasn’t regained consciousness yet. She has a broken neck.’ There was a slight wobble in her voice, I sat up when I heard it. I had never witnessed her ever being emotional. I slowly climbed out of my bunk, my knees and ankle snapping as I transfered the weight back.

`Are you OK?’

`DO I FUCKING LOOK OK?’ The only thing I could think was `holy shit’. She was still wearing her soft suit, it was stained in blood, she had red streaks on her face and head where she had wiped away any itches. Her eyes were full of tears, I quickly walked over to her and took hold of her shoulders.

`No, no you don’t.’

`I can’t do it Morgan, I cannot take it anymore, I just cannot stand these walls, this smell. I came here because I wanted to have an adventure, save lives, to make a difference. On Earth I was a Doctor, a Fucking doctor! Here what am I? I’m the mop and bucket girl sweeping away the blood because some Moron Captain jumps in like a retard and nearly takes out half of my friends? What am I supposed to do? Just smile oh it’s ok don’t worry I’m fucking here….I’ll take… care of…it…’ She broke down and started crying, I wasn’t able to do anything for her except hold her. I felt so useless. She quietened after about a 2 minutes, after catching her breath she looked up at me. `—Morgan, thank you for saving my life.’ I opened my mouth to speak but she moved forward and kissed me. In my surprise and confusion I didn’t react instantly though at least managed a response before we parted.

`I.. ummm no worries, I mean, no problem.’

`Ohhhhh boy what am I gonna do huh?’

`Forget that mop and bucket stuff for a start, everyone has a lot of respect for you, you know? They might not say it, but I know they do. We should thank you more and I am sorry that we don’t. I think we distance ourselves because you are right up there with the Sarge.’

`How are you feeling?’

`Sick actually, this light is killing my eyes’

`Yeah I need to stick you again, sorry. We don’t usually use that juice, it isn’t included in the suit meds. I had to add it to yours to get you to come around. Unfortunately it is real nasty Morgan I’m sorry. Go lay down.’ She walked me over to my bunk and laid me down, she opened a small box that was attached to her hip and filled a syringe. I couldn’t really see the color so well as the light was really starting to hurt my eyes. She wiped a patch on my arm and stabbed me and injected me with what felt like an ice cold liquid. She put her hand on my head and rubbed my forehead with her thumb, It felt warm and soft. I softly drifted asleep feeling as though she was watching over me.

The next morning we were shuffled into the debriefing hall after breakfast. A mostly empty room with three chairs each, towering above a small podium. Everyone was talking about the few people down in medical, the pilot they wanted to find and kill, the Captain they wanted to push out of an airlock. I was neutral, I nodded at Shelby when I walked passed her, she ignored me which kicked me into thinking more important things were happening than any of us realised. I braced myself for a shock even though I knew it might not come for another 10 minutes. I took a seat where there was a distinct lack of people and waited. My eyes were still hurting because of the light and my arm and left buttock felt sore the numerous jabs Shelby and my suit gave me yesterday. It was as though I wasn’t their, it felt comfortable and relaxing in the atmosphere of relative chaos. After I had been sitting looking around for about 2 minutes the front doorway to the briefing room opened and Kago slowly walked through, followed by two technicians. Not many people noticed, she had almost made it to the center by the time people where starting to settle down.

`Attention on deck!’ Shelby shouted from the front, everyone bolted upright and stood to attention. I felt my body ache as I did so, I really felt like I had aged 30 years or so.

`OK relax people, I have good news and bad news. The short bit of good news is that you have the day off, while high command work out what just happened. The bad news is that I am advancing your training upon orders of the local command.’ She paused for a moment, she seemed to wince a little though most people here likely just took it as a pause than anything more. `— You will all find this part of the training stressful, I am yet to meet anyone who was not in some way affected by what you will experience.’ She paused for a moment again and looked at the technician who stood beside her. It was at this moment that I noticed a strange looking object in his hand. It looked like a thin sheet of plastic. She took it from him and placed it over her head, softly pressing into place on her shaven scalp. The screen lit up behind her. It started to then scroll with text.

Human-CAP interface : .............connected
Subject : 32914
Name :  Kago Hasagawa
Project : ¶¶¶ ¶¶¶¶¶¶
System State : Standby
Set System Verbosity Level : High
System Message :
Good Morning  ¶¶¶ ¶¶¶¶¶¶
It has been a long time

`This is know as a Combat Artificial Perception Device. We usually just call it a CAP. The acronym is not very well thought out, though the important thing you should take away is simply the `perception’ part. It’s purpose is to supply stabilisation during a combat situation or situation were you would be impaired by…being human.’

By being slow, and stupid.

I frowned was it really talking?

`It does have artificial intelligence, but it is somewhat borrowed. It will not take over your mind, it uses prompts of what it learns about you. It will more often than not forms a dark version of yourself. It will be your best friend and worse enemy at the same time’

You are your own worse enemy.

`As it is demonstrating now.’ She pointed at the screen. `This is a part of your training, and you will be expected to complete it. I haven’t seen anyone thrown out at this stage, but I assure you all, this is not easy.’

The whole thing seemed a little strange like, we thought we had done most of our training, now they throw something new into the mix. I looked around quickly, everyone appeared as dumbfounded as I felt.

They look scared.

Kago laughed to herself, put her hand on her side and winced.

`Sorry I should not laugh, but it also gathers some of your subconscious thoughts too. It keeps them to itself usually, though I have the system on high verbosity.’

As she explained more and more, I found myself understanding less and less, all that I could really think about was that many of us nearly died yesterday, and that everyone was acting like things were ok or normal now Kago was back. Seeing her wince and grin uncomfortably at the podium and projector board made me feel something was terribly wrong and that she was trying to put everyone at ease. I started to feel a little sick.

17 – Rain

I lurched forwards, taking hold of Shelby’s helmet I pushed the shield down then did the same to mine. I felt my head go back.

I could hear rain, a gentle pattering around me, I could see something flashing red through my eye lids, though I didn’t feel like acknowledging it. That was until I felt, something tugging at my arm.

I opened my eyes, warning messages were spattered all over my visor. I felt a sudden moment of clarity, along with a sharp pinch at the base of my spine. The suit had just pumped me with something fairly exciting.

`You OK kid?’

`What? Yeah. What the hell is going on?’ I my visuals restored, only one of my camera systems was operating correctly. In front of me was metallic monolith that floated between Saturn’s rings as though it was sitting in a pool of water.

`What the hell is that? That, that wasn’t there before right?’ I shouted.

`All I know is that we are drifting away and I am out of juice, I used it all getting us to slow down to this pace. I’m hoping you didn’t waste all yours getting that stupid shell casing.’

I looked at my fuel display, it was showing 20\% but fully operational. `Enough to sort of set us floating back towards that thing.’ Shelby climbed over me and took hold of the load-points on the chest plate of my suit.

`OK kid, let her rip.’ I took a deep breath and squeezed the throttle. My suit stuttered then came to life.

`Any radio chatter from that thing?’

`Not a word, radios went down when that thing jumped in, there was a huge EMP, I didn’t have anything short out, just tones of static. Not a word from our pilot either, he seems to have disappeared. It is from Earth though, it registers as the Hyecho, a exploration and science vessel that left about two years ago. I’m no mechanic but I don’t think it should be venting like that either.’ It wasn’t clear enough to see at first on my visor, but the ship did look like it was either loosing some kind of gas, or was vaporising the ice of the rings.

The radio beeped and static for a moment, then the locator monitor lit up with all the local suits. It appeared that almost everyone was accounted for,  whether conscious or not was another matter.

Radios back online, squad, squad, squad. Join up on me

I need a medic, I think, I think Parisa is gone.

Where is Shelby?

Shelby? Shelby come in?

`I am on my way, I have Morgan here providing propulsion. Give me markers of where I am to be.’

Join up with Jerry

‘Jerry, do you have any spare fuel?

errrr negative, no negative, no.

Radio chatter became hard to understand, then between the calls of the sergeant for everyone to shut up, a new voice broke clean through the rabble.

This is Captain Summers of the Hyecho, we have several hull breaches and are in need of assistance.

Roger that Captain, do you have repair stations on the hull? I will be able to assign 5 soldiers, the rest are either injured or trying to get back to us because of your arrival. You will probably get more when we have redeployed. We got our radios back 20 seconds ago.

Lighting up coordinates now, we have a small fuel reserve also, we heard one of your girls requesting booster fuel. The main receiving hanger is now open also.

All I could think was, we were lucky, and it seems they were unlucky, I have never seen a jump before, they didn’t teach us much though it was possible to pick up some odds and sods given we had made a number of small substellar jumps. Most of it seemed like it was playing the numbers and probabilities and the odds of them arriving here must have been astronomical.

`Shelby, how did we get out here?’

`Well, you was looking into space like you had been hypnotised or something, then you just swung around snapped your visor shield shut and jumped at me shouting. No idea what you were shouting, you just took hold of my visor snapping snapped it shut, and spun me around. Next thing I knew a big chunk of ice shattered around us and we where moving away from the moon and the disks at an alarming rate. Im surprised your suit didn’t just cave in, especially after what you said about the sarges accident on Titan.’

`That would explain the aching, it seems the drugs aren’t good enough to blanket it all, feels like my arms have been bent around in a way they aren’t totally compatible with.’

`Not many dings on the back of the suit though, which is strange unless it wasn’t the ice that hit us. How long if we go back to refuel rather than straight to Parisa?’

`I think 20 to get there and slow down if we want to be able to move anyone later, we could probably get back to the ship in about half that if we don’t mind using most of the fuel. And again we would have more for the rescue. It is probably about the same overall.’

`OK keep on the same course, get us some fuel first.’

`Plug your suit into mine I need rangefinders, mine are shot.’ I felt a bump and scratching around followed by the sound of a click on the inside of the suit. I brought up the connection and feed information. I squeezed the thruster and gained more velocity.  `—How bad are we looking?’

`Lookin?’

`How many of us are left?’

`Well, I am showing Parisa as Dead, all her monitors are blank, I cannot raise her on coms either, I informed Jerry of the plan. One moment, Morgan, I will patch you in on my lines if you really need to know.’ There was a rough click. `—Xu, Kev you boys hear me?’

Two yeses came through the channel

`Any injuries? Im showing you Xu in level 5 and you Kev in level 4 panic mode.’

A confusing ramble of OK and Fine echoed once again

`Well settle down or I am going to make you boys OK, you get me?’ She paused for a moment then came through the com once more.

`Ali, I lost your heart monitor, but your others are ok. Are you still breathing?’

Took a chunk of ice to the chest, I am fine Shelby.

`Matthew, I got you on radar near Ali, I have a report of a suit malfunction. Whats the story.’

Power-plant is in low power mode, Ali has me, no medical problems.

`OK Morgan, that leaves Parisa as Dead, Laura as fine but silent on coms, probably unconscious and Seany as…oh no he is good and well, suit popped back up. He was probably sleeping too.’

`Jeez Shelby, and I thought you didn’t ever have much work to do. Seems like you have lots of people to fix.’

`Give me the broken parts and I’ll send you back a soldier. Oh by the way, I need to inject you again in about 5 mins, otherwise you will pass out. So don’t bitch when your suit stabs you.’

`I feel fine?’

`Yeah, but you wont in 5.’

I began to decelerate as the ship began to gain more and more features, including the landing bay, which was going to be our target. I felt my stomach turn over, and my head begin to hurt, It came suddenly, within a few seconds. As promised I felt a sharp stab in my back, causing me to squint my left eye, quickly I began to feel somewhat normal again. A text message appeared on my visor.

In 12 hours or so you will feel like crap, Sorry. Have to keep you operational. I’ll make it up to you Kid.

As we slowed over the Hanger we both began searching for the fuel lines, the inside of the bay didn’t seem to be lit up in any way, nor did we have head up display helpers on our visors. After about 30 seconds I spotted what we wanted and pushed us both slowly into the bay. I took hold of Shelby and spun her around so I was holding onto her plant. I extracted a charge line from a station mounted on the wall and plugged the jack into the receiving side and began the fill. In about 20 seconds she gave me the thumbs up. I pulled the jack and turned around. I felt a metallic scraping sound then a solid snap. My fuel monitor lit up and quickly began to fill.

Shelby softly jetted out of the bay and then started to quickly accelerate away towards Jerry and Parisa. I drifted out of the bay and looked around. I tabbed the command channel.

`Sir, Morgan here, I am refuelled and operational, how am I assigned.’

`Recovery, Go and pickup our two floating suits.’

16 – Jumps

James sighed, Louise looked down at his legs as they poked out from a vent and frowned.

`Stop sighing, it is driving me mad. What is wrong? We all have to pitch in you know.’
`I know that, it actually reminds me of old times Lou, but not fond memories, and I cant get this fuckin thing, SHIT.’ A bang echoed from the tube, followed by metallic tapping as James rapped his fingers several times and trying to vent his frustration. `—Tell me what this part is for again?’
`It is…’ Louise looked at her computer pannel. `—a control system, it regulates the coolant flow to the main drive systems. We are on the engineering deck after all.’
`I always hated the early days, grubbing around, wondering if each tiny jump we made would be our last. These boys really have it hard.’
`The early days were only about 5 years ago James. You make it sound like we have been at this since childhood or something. This mission itself has lasted about a year already.’
`That reminds me, do we really expect this stuff…’ A bang and a clatter came from inside the vent. `—to burn out in a year?’ A blackened mess; originally a circuit board slid out onto the floor, James’ hand reached out and waited as Louise handed him a fresh one. `—not enough redundancies if you ask me, this system should have just switched over to a backup, one of many backups. Then these boys wouldn’t have to do this shit.’
`What ever happened to the officer and gentleman that is my ex-o?’
`Sorry, but you know what I’m talking about.’ There was a crunch and a snap that came instantly afterwards. `I really hate that part, It always feels like you have to break it to get it in. How does that check out?’
Louise look at her computer pannel once more and taps it a few times.
`Looks like we are good, at least it doesn’t show up red like previously. When you get out of there we will power-cycle and bring the system back up.’
The Hyecho had stopped to repair one jump out from Sol. Due to their previous method of escape many of the systems onboard had been suffering from advanced deterioration or stress damage. They would have returned to a colony, except doing so would take them past Sol. They were located near Sirius A, a desolate binary system with a class A star and a white dwarf which had long since swept away any interesting dust or planetary formation. It’s large mass made it a good jump locator however, it was just a shame that it was on the uncolonised side of the local group. The plan was to hit the next jump beacon; Jupiter, then begin the journey back to dry dock.
The next day, the Hyecho was ready to make it’s final jump home. The crew was tired, the last month had been a none stop cycle of refuelling and repairing. James was taking a quick nap on the bridge while everyone worked to bring up the systems for the final jump. He came too as the countdown was being read out by the navigation officer. His hazy eyes looked over at Louise, who winked at him and smiled. The ship hummed like it had on the previous jumps, everyone by now had forgotten to worry about it.
`Execute.’
The ship hummed and made the now usual thump throughout its hull as the ship flipped between the stars.

Update

I have been side tracked lately with personal things, namely work and related things and have not had chance to post anything new up. I have still been working on 3 chapters, two short and one longer. Number 15 just went up which is the first of two short chapters. The others just need a little polishing and will be up shortly also.