The Broken Cage (Solstice 31 Saga Book 2) (19 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Hume

“Hume’s courage saved us. Her raw guts.”

--
Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: Captain James Worthington, senior surviving member of the Ventura's command crew.

<<<>>>

“Jimbo, you need to get some rest. You haven't slept since she crossed the defense grid,” Dr. Shaw said to Jimbo.

“We won't emerge for another pass for another six hours, Jim,” Muir added. “We’ll call you when we’re about to get another view.”

Jimbo left the bridge, and headed for his bunk, when AI~Ben spoke to him, in his head, “
Captain, there is movement in the target area you wanted me to watch.”

A window opened in Jim's personal HUD that showed a view of the stash of rations. Bowen stepped up off the ladder, went directly to the food and began to devour two entire days’ worth of rations.

“Ben, call Cook and Kuss, and have them meet me in the conference room.”

Three minutes later, they arrived there and Jim told them the plan. Two minutes after that, Bowen left the top of the tank.

“Ben, contact Bowen. Have her report directly to the conference room.”

She arrived in fifteen minutes, a walk that should have taken five minutes. She entered into what seemed like an argument between Kuss and Cook about the way to scan using a point-to-point laser comms device.

Bowen had her usual face on. The you-are-all-fools face.

Everyone had a glass of water in front of them as they continued to argue. Jimbo drank deeply from his, and in a polite gesture, poured a glass and slid it over to Bowen.

She shrank from the glass, trying to be inconspicuous about it.

Cook said, “I think you were right, Captain.”

The argument stopped.

Bowen looked at Worthington, and said, in a condescending tone, “Right about what?”

Worthington leaned forward, and said, “You.”

Kuss shot her.

Two needles stuck into her sternum and filled her nervous system with electricity, and pain. She convulsed in the chair for a few seconds and then passed out.

Kuss searched her and found one of the weapons, concealed on her.

“I guess I won’t have to apologize to her, after all. Take her to the secondary airlock. Bind her hands behind her back. I need some sleep,” he said, as he got up and walked out. “I’ll deal with her, later.”

***

“Sir, we’re going to be coming clear in about twenty minutes,” Muir said, over the comms to Worthington.

“Acknowledged,” was all he said.

Jim sat up. He was still in his clothes. He had not even bothered to take off his boots. He swung his feet onto the floor, trying not to think, just yet.

The door chimed.

“Come,” he said.

The door slid open, and Jim was surprised to see Dr. Shaw there, holding a protein bar and a mug of steaming tea.

“I’m not letting you out of here, until you eat this bar and drink this tea,” she said.

“Ben, how many minutes until we emerge?” Jim asked.

“
Emergency medical override. Please see Dr. Shaw for any additional information,”
AI~Ben said.

“Are you serious?” Jim asked, looking up at her.

“What do you think?” she replied, handing him the steaming mug.

He took a sip. It was extra strong.

She opened the energy bar. The smell of peanut butter and oatmeal filled the cabin. He realized he was ravenous. He took it and ate it. It only took him three minutes to finish it.

“Ben, status?”

“It's okay, Ben. Thanks for your help,” Dr. Shaw said.

“We will clear the planet in sixteen minutes. Dr. Bowen is awake and demanding to speak to you,” AI~Ben replied.

“Ben, tell her I said this: I know you killed Sharon. I’m running out of reasons not to introduce you to this moon’s surface. I’m heading to the bridge.” Then, he added, “Thanks, Beth.”

“If you hold a lottery for who gets to space that bitch, I'm in.”

“Get in line.” He smiled.

They left the cabin as he sipped his tea.

***

Jim decided to make Bowen cool her heels. After visiting the head, he went to the bridge. Cook, Muir, Kuss, Ibenez, and Elkin were there, looking over Muir's shoulder, at the tactical station.

“Updates?” was all he said, as he sat in the command chair.

“We have been analyzing the new data from the dish and it's not good,” Muir said, as they quieted.

“This defense grid is like nothing we have ever seen. We can’t figure out how the grid stays in fixed positions. The weapons platforms are standard geosynchronous satellites. There is an odd field around the defense grid orbitals that seem to push against each other and the planet.”

Just then, the screen lit up.

“
Memphis
, this is Hume. Come in.” It was her.

“Hume, you sure took your sweet time. Are you secure?” Jim asked.

“I'm alright. I’ll explain, later. Data upload commencing, now,” Hume said.

Data flowed via the laser link. There was a lot of it. It was going to take a while.

“Jimbo, you won't believe it,” Hume said.

“I knew, if anyone could pull off that stupid stunt, it was you, Hume,” he said.

“Sir, I found Rand. She saved me.”

The bridge froze, for a moment.

“Where is she?” he asked, dumbfounded.

“I'm right here,” Rand replied. “Talk about taking your time. Damn, Jimbo!”

“Rand! Is anyone with you?” Jimbo asked.

“No. It’s just me. I happened to be inside one of the shuttles when the flight deck on the
Ventura
broke up. I crashed hard, but got away with an EM that is damaged but functional,” Rand said.

“Jim, Hume told me you plan to come down here. We have a good place to hide the
Memphis
, if you can make it. The coordinates are coming up with the data.”

“Better and better.” Jim smiled.

“There is something wrong here, Jim. It is an odd mix of old tech and no tech. I have seen old shuttles, old plate-style data pads, and even a few plasma rifles. But, most of the population lives a preindustrial, almost medieval, lifestyle.”

Rand spent time telling Jimbo what had happened since she arrived. She told him about Salterkirk and a hangar base she had found there. She spoke about Vi and Tannhauser and what she had learned about the culture and the people.

Hume detailed what happened after she penetrated the defense grid. The nanites managed to stay ahead of the damage she did to her body.

“I don't know if I will ever be able to get that pressure suit completely clean. Right now, the Hammerhead is parked on a landing pad on the north side of the Salterkirk hangar. Has the data transmission completed? If not, we may need to move it to another location with a better line of sight,” Hume stated.

Muir spoke up. “It completed a few minutes ago. I have been reviewing the telemetry.” Muir paused, before continuing. “We are very lucky to have packed all those sensors in, Hume. If you had gone through with hot grav-foils, with your external temp up, or any faster than you did, you'd be dead.” He shifted to another set of controls. “Ben, can you model this data and propose a potential, cold, glide path for the
Memphis
? All systems shut down. Ten meters per second.”

A simulation came up on the main screen, showing the size of the sensor gap and the size of the
Memphis
. It will be a very tight fit. Possible, but very difficult.

“We will need to study this, in greater detail,” Jimbo said.

“Don't take too long,” said Beth Shaw. “We only have about a month's worth of short rations left.”

“That reminds me.” Worthington looked at Cook. “We found Hamilton. She's dead. Bowen killed her. I don't know why, yet.”

“What? That bitch,” Hume said. “I should have blown her out the airlock when I had the chance.”

“She is currently cooling her heels in the secondary hangar’s airlock,” Jimbo said.

“Sir, before we lose contact, I need to tell you something else,” Rand said. “One of the people we are with is named Coff. He's a tracker. He works for a Keeper named Ronan. He believes we may be able to work with this Keeper.”

Hume added, “With your permission, sir, I'd like to fly Coff back to the East Isles, where this Keeper lives. I might be able to persuade him to help us.”

“A Keeper?” Jimbo looked around at shrugging shoulders. “I will leave it to you, to assess and to act. Don't take too long. Even after we get to the ground, we’re going to require material support of some kind. We also have another Emergency Module to locate,” Jimbo said. “But, that one seems to be in an area where there is fighting of some kind. We will need to go, carefully.”

“Sir, we’re going to lose them in eight minutes, with our current position,” Tyrrell said, from the comms station.

“Hume. We can't thank you enough for pulling this off. I believe you have saved our lives. If we had just flown through blind, we'd all be dead.”

“Be careful, sir. We're not home, yet,” Hume replied.

“I'm glad you're not dead, Rand,” Worthington also said. “Let's keep it that way.”

“Doing my best, Captain.” Rand emphasized the word captain.

“Report back in, at moonrise tomorrow.” Jimbo closed the connection.

“Hume out.”

***

Rand waited for Hume to bring the Hammerhead into the main hangar. She flew it near the back, to let it settle down in the shadows.

It happened to settle right in front of the door that Rand had found but was unable to open.

As Hume got out of the Hammerhead, the dust she kicked up swirled about and showed that a positive pressure draft blew out of the seam along the door's edge.

She looked at the door and at Rand, before she said, “What's in there?”

Rand shrugged. “I never got the chance to open it.”

Hume pulled a large multi-tool out of the pocket of her flight suit and had the control panel opened, quickly. “No power. Old-school. Hang on.”

Hume examined the inside of the panel with the multi-tool’s light and reached up inside to use the tool above, out of sight. After a moment, another panel, directly above that one opened, revealing a single metal lever. She reached up, and with a lot of effort, the lever slowly tilted out until it was 90° from its original position. She worked the lever back and forth, and the door slowly jacked open with each pull.

“It's a manual open,” Hume said, as she struggled with it.

“Here, let me.”

Rand took a turn and it opened further. Soon, it was opened far enough for Hume to squeeze through.

They shined the light in first and looked around.

There were some work benches and high stools visible. The ceiling was probably the same height as the hangar itself as the light didn't seem to reach that far.

They worked the lever some more, before entering.

Both drew their sidearms and activated the tactical lights.

They found themselves in a large shop. There were big machines that looked like drill presses and milling machines. They were corroded and looked inoperable. There was no power.

There were all kinds of hand tools, neatly stored about. They explored for the next hour. They found many useful items that could help with repairs to the
Memphis
.

“What we really need is a fabricator,” Hume said to Rand, as they started down a corridor that went deeper into the mountain.

Their lights fell on a wide, double door marked, ‘Reactor Room’.

They easily pushed open the doors.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

The East Isles

“Ronan was the smartest man on that godforsaken planet.”

--
Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: Lieutenant Valerie Hume, the security chief on the Memphis.

<<<>>>

Coff walked around the Hammerhead, working up enough courage to touch it. When he finally did, he realized he had never felt anything so smooth, except glass. The black and red machine was sleek and smaller than any shuttle he had ever seen. He could almost see through the tinted windshield of the canopy. The inside was small. One seat behind the other. The entire thing would fit in an ox cart.

“Ever fly in a shuttle before, Coff?” Hume's voice startled him.

“Bloody anvil!” He cursed and fell against the Hammerheads body. “I hate it in here. Always dark.”

“It helps us to hide from the sky, from the Keepers. They watch from the sky. But, you already knew that,” Hume said, looking to the hangar’s opening. There were stars visible above the water. The air was calm.

“Coff, why do they call them Keepers?” Hume asked.

The question left Coff uncertain. “Um...They are Keepers of the faith, of the magic. Why is your skin like that?” Hume had very dark skin, like her mother. But, her facial features resembled her Asian father. Her eyes were so brown they looked black and her close-cropped hair was jet-black, straight and spiked, in an unkempt way.

“I was born this way.” Hume tilted her head. “Have you never seen a Black person before?”

Coff felt self-conscious looking at her now. “No.” Then, words tumbled out. “Sometimes, they talked about black trackers and black Keepers, but I didn't think it was literal. Or real.”

“Really?” She was curious. “Tell me.” She slowly stalked closer to Coff. He, apparently, felt intimidated by Hume, and by Rand.

“They say they appeared in impossible places. Usually all in black.” He gestured at her black flight suit and body armor. “They were hooded and had horrible magic. Death magic. Quiet magic. Loud magic. Dark magic.”

Hume still slowly moved toward him. He backed away, down the side of the Hammerhead to the tail end, as he continued. “People saw them sometimes, and lived. They say if a black tracker asked you a question, the only chance to survive was to answer, quickly.”

“Can we trust this Keeper Ronan?” Hume asked. The shadows consumed her as she rounded the tail of the Hammerhead.

Coff clung to the small amount of light that was given off by the systems in the cockpit of the small shuttle. “Ronan is a powerful Keeper. Maybe the most powerful Keeper, next to the Lord High Keeper.” Hume didn't reemerge from the shadows. “I trust him.”

“Why?” Hume said, directly behind Coff.

He tried not to flinch. Tried. “I measure a man by how he treats his slaves.”

“And how is that?” she asked.

“He has no slaves. People serve him, but out of loyalty. And women...” He stuttered, “He is not a typical Keeper.”

Hume stepped into the light, stretching again, the articulation of her armor made no sound as it glided over her torso. Hume caught him staring, again. “What do you mean? Not typical?”

“Women. He takes wives. Not just bed wenches. And, only one at a time. If they want to leave him, he lets them. At least, that's what they say. He has been with the same woman for as long as I can remember.” Hume noticed he seemed uncomfortable telling her this.

“What's not typical about that?” She stopped advancing. It was evident Coff didn't want to back out of the light.

“He...He is the Keeper. He sits on the council. He lets women... Encourages...” Coff stammered.

“Hello, Coff.” Rand just stood there, at the edge of the light. He didn't see her until she took off her helmet.

He managed not to jump, this time.

“Hume, we have eleven minutes before the moon sets,” Rand said.

She nodded, ignoring Coff. Rand and Hume climbed into the Hammerhead. It lifted off silently and drifted to the hangar bay’s opening.

Coff was left in full darkness. Less afraid, now that he was alone.

***

They landed the Hammerhead on the top of the rocky hill. The sky was clear and the stars bright as the laser antenna tuned in. Their hail was acknowledged, immediately, by Cook.

Worthington spoke first. “It's not good. We've gone over the data six times and the
Memphis
will not fit. We’re now looking at modifying one of the lifeboats to get us down to the planet. We'd lose the
Memphis,
but if we can, at least, find a way to do some fine navigation through that hole, we’ll have a chance to survive.”

“Jim, you look like shit,” Rand said, bluntly. “You’re not doing us any good, if you’re fried.”

“I know. I just needed to tell you a few things before I headed in for rack time.” Jimbo scrubbed his face. “There’s definitely another Emergency Module active down there north and east of you. We are transmitting coordinates.” Someone spoke to Worthington, from out of their line of sight.

“Yes,” he said to someone, and then he spoke to Hume, again. “Do not contact them directly. Do not break radio silence. The scans also discovered that half of the launch tubes on these nuclear weapons platforms are facing the planet. There’s evidence, on the surface, that they have been used on the planet, in the past. But not for decades, or even a century.”

“Oh shit,” Hume said.

“It just keeps getting better and better,” Rand added.

“We were hoping to use the reactors on the
Memphis
to power up this place like we did on the moon base. Could you pull one of them and bring it?”

“I'll ask Elkin, but I don't think so. The lifeboat is not that big,” Jim said.

“I’m going to take Coff back to East Isles, tonight. The details are in the report. I am cautiously optimistic,” Hume said.

“You just like flying that Hammerhead around like a teenager,” Jimbo kidded.

“It is fun. I just wish the Hammerhead was armed and armored,” Hume said. “I will leave the sensor package here, for now.”

“We’re going to install the sensor package in Poole's trunk and see if we can do some recon locally,” Rand added.

“One minute, sir,” Cook interrupted.

Worthington had the last word. “Stay safe. Do not take any unwarranted chances. We have about four weeks before we get desperate. Check in, at moonrise, for status. Worthington out.”

“Get some sleep, dumb-ass,” Rand tossed in, before the link closed.

They heard Cook laughing, and then the link was lost.

***

The Hammerhead was loaded with Coff's gear and Hume was prepped. She traveled light. She wore her tactical flight suit, her body armor, her helmet, and a winter cloak that Rand provided. She only carried her combat carbine.

“I will check in with the
Memphis
, first thing, and then go see this Ronan,” Hume said.

Rand, Vi, and Tannhauser assembled after that and ate a quick meal, to see them off.

“Try not to kill them all, like last time,” Rand said to Hume, joking.

The humor was entirely missed by the others, based on the looks on their faces.

“I'll try, but no promises,” Hume said, as Rand lightly pounded her fist on Hume's shoulder.

“Climb in, Coff.”

He did, as the color faded from his face. Rand reached in and buckled his five-point harness and then handed him his pack.

Coff hugged it to his chest.

Hume climbed in, with practiced ease, and strapped in.

“I’ll be back by this time, in three days. Or sooner,” Hume said, as she put on her helmet. Her personal HUD came on with the Hammerhead dashboard as the canopy closed.

The silence felt oppressive to Coff when the canopy sealed. He felt the hum of the turbines starting to spin; but then, he felt a shift. The shuttle started to rise. Coff suddenly felt like he was upside down.

“We’re going to fly out of the cavern and then up, on grav-foils, Coff. What this means is, if you puke in here, I’m going to kick your weak-ass.”

“It's fine,” he said, shakily, as they flew toward the hangar bay’s opening, and then rose. He swore it felt like he was falling upward.

The world rapidly fell away around him as they ascended. The turbines spun and drove them forward, and the falling feeling subsided.

Coff decided it was better to close his eyes. Hume watched him on a back-facing camera on her headrest.

“Coff, what do you think of all of this?” Hume asked.

“It is magic and beyond my understanding,” he replied. His eyes shut, as Hume reached near supersonic speed.

Hume backed off the throttle and leveled off at 2,000 meters.

“That's not what I mean. Why are you doing any of this?” she reworded.

“To serve my Keeper. You may be a powerful ally.” He paused. “If you don't kill us all.”

Hume saw he was smiling, even though his eyes were still tightly shut.

“Let's talk about food. Does this Keeper ever serve bacon or steaks?”

***

They were out, over open water, in less than an hour, and approaching a large series of islands, in just over two hours. It was still mostly dark, but the lights to the east brightened.

With her night vision, Hume saw the largest island had a city. Lights and chimneys gave off thermal signatures and defined the size of the city.

“That is a big city, Coff.” Hume banked, so they could see it. “Where do they get enough firewood for the whole place?”

“The Keeper's magic has freed them from heating with fire. Fires are mostly for ascetics and the very poor, now,” Coff said, as a matter-of-fact.

“How?” Hume asked, as she continued along the coast.

“The Keeper makes air that burns. I have seen it. It can heat a massive amount of water. That water is fed to the city. It's very wonderful, especially in the winter.” Coff pointed. “We should land there on that smaller island. I know the man there. He can help us.”

The island that he pointed toward was dark. When Hume circled it, she saw that it had a single, large home. Extensive docks held a few boats of various sizes, and above the docks, near the house, was a large patio that would make a perfect landing space for the small shuttle.

The turbines spun down, as Hume said, “Hang onto your stomach, Coff. We are now on grav-foils only.”

Coff, once again, had the funny feeling like he was hanging from his harness even though his eyes told him he was still upright and gently descending. The Hammerhead set down, lightly and quietly, as the feeling of normal gravity returned.

As Hume shut down the remaining systems, Coff said, “I'm so sorry, Hume. Please don't kill them.”

She looked up in time to see dozens of men, dressed in black uniforms and cloaks, flooding out of the house and from areas around the patio. They had weapons. Most held crossbows, but she also saw that every sixth man had a plasma rifle.

In seconds, the Hammerhead faced about fifty men. All arranged so that none were at risk from the other’s crossfire.

“Coff, what is this?” Hume said, coolly.

“I'm sorry, Hume. You have to understand. I don't know you.” His voice trembled.

“You really don't know me,” Hume said, as she pressed the button to raise the cowl. “Get out.” He knew, by her tone, she wasn't to be argued with.

He struggled with it, finally unbuckling as the cowl rose. As soon as it was up, he climbed out, with his hands up. He walked a few steps from the Hammerhead and, without being asked, went to his knees and clasped his hands on top of his head.

One of the black-clad men stepped forward, and said, “Good morning, Coff. Please remain still.”

Hume slowly rose from the cockpit, and lightly stepped out and past Coff where he knelt.

“And, what have we here?” the same man asked Hume's helmeted face.

Hume said nothing.

“Hume. Please,” Coff begged.

Suddenly, a pair of darts struck Hume in the center of her chest. Electricity arced between the needles as she stood there, not reacting. She pulled the darts out with her gloved hand. And, let them drop.

Hume spoke. She didn't amplify or use any other enhanced capabilities in her gear.

“Aren't you going to introduce us, Coff?” Hume asked, casually, as two more sets of darts struck her, and she, absently, pulled them out.

“Captain Burke.” His voice shook. “This is Hume. Please. Don't.”

It was then that Burke realized Coff was begging Hume, not him.

“I am here to see Keeper Ronan. I told Coff I would not harm anyone. Please don't make me break my word.” Her voice was calm yet menacing.

“Get on your knees,” ordered Burke.

She didn't move. Her Colt AR-79 rifle hung at her back beneath her cloak. Her hands flexed over the grips of her sidearms, like a gunfighter in the old West. They could not see her crazed smile because of her helmet. That would have made them more afraid.