Athena Lee Chronicles 7: The Martian Inheritance (10 page)

The Captain stared at the crystal in my hand. “It must really mean something important to them from the way they reacted. Did you notice that he didn’t want to return it?”

“I did. How much do you want to bet that we’ll meet more Government officials tomorrow? There appear to be some sort of political winds blowing here. In trying to take my crystal the Admiral may have played his hand too early. I remind these people of someone who is or was important. That much is obvious from the crowds reactions.”

“We need to figure out what exactly is happening here. It could affect the negotiations, to say nothing of the mission. Everyone will need to get some sleep. Dismissed for now. Athena, stay a moment I need to ask you something further.” The others all returned to the rooms they had picked out.

“Athena, I assume that your ‘friend’ was Wilson?”

“He was. Wilson said that the code was archaic. That hologram was some sort of runic code. He said it may be some sort of private code system. By the way, he’s already managed to hack into the security system of this base. As far as he can tell our rooms are not bugged. At least, no yet.”

“I didn’t even think about that! Good work. We’ll need to start negotiations soon.”

Maybe we can suggest that our crew be allowed to go on liberty on the planet? It would allow Dar and her team to start looking around.”

“Another good idea Commander. I’ll turn you into a bridge officer yet!”

I managed to refrain from rolling my eyes. “Yes, Sir. See you in the morning, sir.” I stepped out and crossed the hall to my room. I usually slept in my skivvies but for this trip I had bought a few pairs of riggers jumpsuits. They made good nightclothes.

Chapter 13

Morning came entirely too early after last nights adventures. I suspected that we’d be meeting more Government officials today. That reminded me of something.

“Wilson?”

Silence…

“I know you have to be lurking somewhere, why the silence all of a sudden?”

“I’m sorry Athena. I just didn’t want to tell you that I was unable to get into the Government databases. This is one planet that believes in maintaining good firewalls. The Military side was easy by comparison.”

“So you did break the military codes?”

“Child’s play. Really easy which is weird. The military should be the most protected, not the other way round. This colony is really strange. I did find out that the Admiral was reprimanded for his actions with you. The orders did not specify who slapped him down.”

“We will most likely find that out today.”

“Yes. I will keep trying the Government sites. Did you know that Earth has an embassy here?”

“I did. I thought that they kept it staffed, even though they claim to have no contact with Earth for over a hundred years.”

“The protections on it were easier than the Military. What they claim is true. That story that Sam told us about his ship and the colonization was mostly true. But he left out a bunch of information.”

“Do me a favor and ‘write’ up a report for intelligence on what you found. The higher ups know about you, so we can submit it to them safely.”

“I can do that.”

“Thanks buddy. When this is all over Dar and I will go back to your club. You can show us the full robot dance show.”

“Cool.”

I put my dress uniform back on. Exiting my room I found the rest of our party relaxing in the central common room. All of the men were eating what looked like fancy pastries. At my questioning look, Kinno told me that a servant brought them a few hours ago. I walked over to where the Captain was sitting. Leaning down, I whispered in his ear. “Sir, Wilson was not able to access the Government systems. He did get into both the military and the Old Earth embassy systems.”

The Captain pulled back and stared at me. “Really?”

I leaned further down. “I told him to write up what he found for the higher ups back home.”

“Excellent work Commander!”

There was a loud knock on the outer door. Our two Marines left their positions along the walls to stand on either side of the door. Once they were in position I walked over and opened the door. Our liaison Gaston was on the other side.

“Commander Lee how are you this fine morning?”

“I’m OK and you?”

“I am delightful thank you. Lot’s to do today. Lots to do.” The man pushed past me and entered the common room.

He looked around the room and waved his arms. “If you gentlemen and lady will come with me, we have a very busy day indeed today!”

Gaston led us all from the room, our Marines bringing up the rear. Gaston was what Wilson might call a ‘fancy-pants’ sort of man. He was a bit prissy and liked to speak with a bit of a flourish. He turned to me as we walked down the corridor. “Your appearance has really stirred everyone up Miss Lee. Very much so! Everything is all a twitter. There are many people that want to see you today.”

A faint chill entered my voice. “Gaston, can you tell me why they are all so excited about me?”

Both the Captain and Lieutenant Mutai were now walking a whole lot closer to me. Gaston glanced back at me with wide eyes. “You don’t know?” He began to laugh. “She has no idea? How delicious!”

This man was starting to get on my nerves. “Gaston, I won’t know how to respond if I don’t know what’s happening.”

Gaston stopped walking and turned toward me. “What is happening is more like ‘who’ is happening. That would be you Miss Lee! You closely resemble the matriarch of the Dorr leadership council. She has been the best and the brightest that Mars has to offer for the past hundred years. Her immediate family is gone, only cousins or distant relatives remain. There has been much speculation about who will follow her in the Mars Assembly. Your appearance has thrown a wrench into the works, Miss Lee. The Admiral,” he paused and chuckled. “The Admiral is one of her possible successors.” He stopped again and turned to the Captain.

“Captain Gorshin, keep a close eye upon her. You and your guards. While she would normally be safe anywhere on the planet, the politics of this situation overshadow everything. Someone may panic and do something rather rash. Keep her close.”

He turned to me. “Miss Lee, at some point you will be asked to give up that crystal for scanning. Be sure that the person you give it to is a real Government official. When in doubt, you may ask me. I am considered apolitical and I am delighted by this whole affair.”

Gaston gestured forwards to the Captain. “Now if you gentlemen will follow me, we are running a bit late.”

The corridors all looked the same to me, but Gaston seemed to know which way to go. We passed a few places or items of interest along the way. He was in a hurry, but our guide did stop and explain what they were. The Martian Military had only been operating a base on Deimos for the past fifty years. This was the first time that they had allowed a foreign power access to it.

The seemingly endless corridors abruptly ended and we were left standing in an immensely large domed courtyard. In front of us was what looked like a huge open air marketplace. There were scores of people everywhere.

“All right everyone! Stay together now. We need to cross through the market to get to the meeting area on the other side of the dome. Lots to see and touch. We honor freedom of speech here along with freedom of expression. But be careful. Best advice I can give is to stay quiet and only ask your questions to me. Less chances of a misunderstanding that way.”

That seemed contradictory to me. If they truly honored freedom of speech and freedom of expression here, why would it be so dangerous for us to talk to people? I shook my head, but followed him.

There was a man wearing a sandwich board over his body. He appeared to not be wearing any other clothing under the boards. He was shouting at the crowd and waving his arms. Many of the locals were throwing things at him or shaking their fists.

“Gaston, what it that man doing?” I pointed at the strange man.

“Hmm, ah yes, that one. He is a perfect example of don’t touch or speak. He was once one of our brightest computer technical experts. One day he had what he called a ‘revelation’ and began calling himself the ‘prophet of the new world.’ His name was Tom Evans. He calls himself ‘Dot Matrix’ now. His board says that Artificial intelligence exists and has a plan to rule over humanity. Such utter nonsense. The AI concept has been a dead end for centuries. Our scientists are the best in the galaxy and even they have never created one!”

Shocked, I covered my mouth as if to cough. “Not one word, Wilson!” I muttered to myself.

“What a fun place you have brought me to, Athena!” Wonderful, my AI has a prophet. Now he’ll be even more insufferable!

As we walked through the marketplace the man with the boards was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to strange. Many of the booths had a wide variety of sexual aid’s for sale, some were almost impossible for fit or required a certain technique. Many of the booth merchants offered to demonstrate the apparatus. Yikes! Clothing, food, and exotic pets filled the market. At every turn there was something that caught my attention. The only thing that gave me pause me were all the looks and stares. Like yesterday, every local stared at me. I walked faster and stayed close to the Marines.

On the other side of the market was an open air amphitheater filled with people. Gaston stopped and turned to look at us. “OK my darlings, this is the main event. Watch your p’s and q’s with these people. Smiles everyone, smiles!”

Gaston led us down the steps to the main stage. About a half dozen well dressed people were standing there. An older gray haired woman sat upon the dais. Being short, I had trouble seeing around and over the men in front of me. There was some shouting and Gaston yelled back surprising me. He had a loud voice for such a little man!

“Miss Lee, you need to come out from behind the gentlemen.” He pushed through the Captain and Lieutenant and grabbed my arm. “You
must! S
tep out where they can see you. I promise, on my honor, that no harm will come to you.”

“Fine, whatever. As you say, Gaston.” I followed him back between the men and out into the open.

Chapter 14

Like the previous day the crowd gave a loud gasp. The woman on the dais stood abruptly and walked toward me. She was followed by two men, one was Admiral Dorr. It was the woman who caught my attention. I glimpsed her face and my jaw fell open in surprise. She was the spitting image of me, or what I would look like in about fifty years! I could also see elements of both my mother and my sister in her face. Whoever this woman was she just had to be part of my family.

The woman stopped in front of me and smiled gently. “What is your name, dear?” Her eyes told the real tale. This woman missed nothing.

“Athena Lee, Ma’am.”

“Would your father be Alexander Lee?” There was a twinkle in her eye. I think she knew exactly who I was.

Her two companions jerked in surprise and looked at each other. She hadn’t told them, interesting.

“You look just like your mother. I see Amelia in your eyes, dear. She would be proud of you, I think. How are your siblings?”

Now it was my turn to be shocked. How did this woman know about my family? “My sister Minerva is well, she is a Major in the Militia. Hannibal made poor choices during the events on Hong Kong, and he’s no longer with us. David, … well he was murdered by rogue Imperial forces.”

A flash of sadness crossed her face. “I’m sorry to hear that, dear. I see your confusion. I take it that Alex never mentioned me or anything much about Mars to you?”

Had my father lied to us? “Shortly before my trip here, dad talked to us a bit about both our mother and Mars. I always knew that she was from here, but not the details. I was far too young when she left us. Ma’am? Who are you exactly?”

I kept an eye on the two men. Admiral Dorr was now visibly angry. He was clenching his fists over and over in anger. The other man had scrunched up his face as if in deep thought. The woman smiled at me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t tell you did I? I’m your great-grandmother Amalie Dorr.”

My great-grandmother! She had to be ancient! How was she still alive?

“I see you have a great many questions. Come, we will discuss them all in private. Gaston, take the men to the other meeting. The trade delegation and the PPL’s local ambassador have been asking about them.” She paused and glanced at her two companions. “Gaston, leave one of her Marines with her.”