Paradise 21 (28 page)

His eyes blinked and stared at her. Aries backed away from the screen.

“He’s not on this ship, Aries.”

That was definitely Barliss’ voice, but it sounded different, calmer, with less gruffness. His eyes had a strange, faraway look in them, almost glazed over as if he’d watched the main sight panel for too long. His change in demeanor scared her more than the fact he stared at her through pixels.

“Barliss?”

“Yes.”

Aries looked over her shoulder, but besides the tiny sprouts poking through the soil beds, she was alone in the greenhouse.

“What are you doing on the computer screen?”

He smiled, his lips curling like two thick earthworms, a gesture he’d never done in her presence. “There is a lot I need to tell you. Please, stay where you are.”

Aries stared in shock, utterly stupefied. She felt her mouth drop open.

“I’ll be right there to get you.”

There was only one explanation for his consciousness streaming through the main computers. Barliss was connected to the ship like the commander. Her nightmarish vision of him sitting at the helm of the
New Dawn
came true.

“I’m not staying anywhere!”

She yanked the screen off the desk. It crashed to the floor, shattering with electrical sparks. The biologists shouted from the cornfield.

Aries bolted through the opposite door, running from at least three white-coated biologists. The image of Barliss’ pixilated face burned in her retinas. He was more powerful than ever, and she didn’t stand a chance.

Striker programmed the lasers, adjusting each setting to stun. Innocent people shouldn’t have to die, even if they were crazed colonists on the
New Dawn
. The population of humanity dwindled, and killing each other would only lead to further decimation. All he wanted was Aries and a free getaway.

As Striker began recharging the energy cell of each laser, Loot appeared as a shadow in the doorway. The boy’s face was somber, his body tense, like a wound toy waiting to spring. “Can I come in?”

“Sure.” Striker gestured with a tilt of his head, since his hands were busy. “You can help me prepare the weapons.”

Loot walked to the other side of the table and Striker handed him a rag. “Wipe off as much sand as possible. Pay special attention to the creases around the triggers.” Striker forced a smile. “We wouldn’t want it jamming on us at the wrong moment, now would we?”

“No, sir.”

He eyed the boy as Loot picked up a laser, wondering how he’d gotten mixed up with Drifter and Tiff. “Did you come from the orphanage on Outpost Omega?”

“That’s where my first memories were. I ran away when I grew large enough to fend for myself. Tiff found me and took me in.”

Loot’s wiry body barely filled his shirt and breeches and his eyes looked almost feral in the blue light. Striker wondered where the boy’s parents had run off to. Outpost Omega brimmed with orphans, most of them dying before they reached adulthood. Loot was fortunate. It didn’t sound like Tiff to take anyone in, but maybe she’d grown up a little. Maybe he’d judged her too harshly.

“You’re lucky Tiff took you in.”

“I know you don’t like her, sir. But she’s got a lot of good in her. It’s just hidden underneath all that spite.”

“It’s too late for me and Tiff, son. But I wish you and her the best. You both can come with me to Refuge. I’m going to invite everyone at Outpost Omega. No one should have to live a life like yours, not even pirates.”

“You really are a hero.” Loot looked up to him, making Striker smile.

“Nah. I’m just another man looking for a better world.”

“I hope you find it, sir. I hope we all do.”

Striker squeezed the boy’s shoulder before checking on another laser. “You can stay on the ship with Reckon. He’ll look after you while I’m on the
New Dawn
.”

“That’s why I came to talk to you, sir.” The boy raised his head to meet Striker’s gaze. “I’m going with you.”

Loot’s determination pained Striker’s heart. He shook his head. “It’s too dangerous. You’re much better off staying on the ship with Reckon. You can help him keep the pace steady as he maintains the corridor.”

“I’m old enough to make my own decision, Captain.” The boy’s voice hardened. “I want to help you. One man can’t take on a whole colony ship.”

Striker put his laser down and studied Loot. At that age, every boy felt invincible. He didn’t want Loot learning of his mortality the hard way. “It’s a dangerous mission. You’d be risking your life.”

Loot snapped back the laser in a smooth motion. It was recharged, ready to fire. “I know how to work these.” His eyes challenged him. “I’ve done it before.”

“The boy’s right,” Reckon chimed in behind them. He’d been so quiet, Striker had forgotten he was there. “Striker, you can’t go in alone. You can’t trust Drifter. He’d shoot you in the back if he had the chance.”

“I don’t like the idea of putting the boy in danger.”

“Please, sir.” Loot stepped forward. “I’ve dreamed of a mission like this all my life. I’m curious about these colonists and I want to see the inside of their ship.”

Striker ran his fingers along the barrel of the laser. Loot reminded him of himself as a boy, eager for adventure and ready to change the world. “All right. Stay close to me at all times.”

“Yes, sir.” A smile flickered across his face. “I won’t let you down.”

The screen beeped, and Striker turned to the sight panel. A glint of silver winked at them from the corner of the display.

Reckon looked up from his simulations. “What is it?”

Adrenaline rushed through Striker’s body. “Loot, round up the others and bring them to the main deck.” He wanted to jump at the sight panel and soar through space toward the silver speck. “It’s the
New Dawn
.”

Reckon’s eyes opened wide. “Wow, there really is a
New Dawn
. Can you imagine? An entire city flying through space.” He turned to Striker. “Fly behind it. You’ll need to get within one mile of its hull for the corridor to work.”

Striker took his place in the captain’s seat. As he navigated the ship closer, he saw the
New Dawn
for the first time. The cylindrical tube was made of the same metal as its surface vessels had been, but it was also surrounded by rotating gravity rings. The
New Dawn
was twenty times the size of the alien craft, and he felt like a guppy swimming alongside a shark. As his ship came up behind the
New Dawn
, he searched for an entrance point along the rear of the hull.

“Will they see us trailing them?” Reckon’s voice faltered.

“I doubt they’re focused on what’s behind them.” Striker winked and found an entry point on the lower left side. “Over there.” He pointed to a door hatch as the details of the
New Dawn
came into view. “It’s a loading dock. Set your coordinates.”

“Yes, sir.” Reckon’s fingers flew over the panels, the wires he held touching all the right symbols. “I’m creating the first of the pressure points.”

Striker stifled a surge of impatience. Aries would still be there in the next five minutes and even fifteen. He had to keep his composure if he was to save her. “How long will it take?”

Reckon shook his head. “Not long.”

Tiff and Drifter emerged on the main deck, bickering like children left alone for too long. Drifter was the loudest. “You’re just a skanky pirate wench who—freakin’ quasars! That’s the colony ship?”

“Tie him to the pedestal in the back of the deck, Loot,” Striker said. “He’s staying here with Reckon.”

As Loot secured Drifter to the ship, Striker said under his breath, “Reckon, can you handle him while we’re gone?”

“If he’s tied up, yes.” Reckon nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

A light reflected off the
New Dawn
’s hull as Reckon used the alien technology to create the corridor in space. “I’ve attached it to our upper hatch.” On the main sight panel, a stream of white light illuminated the walkway. “It’s ready.”

Striker threw a laser to Loot and gave him a nod. “Let’s go.”

He moved to the door, but a small hand grasped his arm. “I’m coming, too.”

Tiff sounded desperate. Striker didn’t know if it were for the boy’s safety or his own. He didn’t care.

“No, you’re not. Stay here. Watch over Drifter.”

“Like hell I will.” She dug her nails into his arm. He could see the resolve in the hard set of her jaw.

“Tiff, let me go.”

She held on tight. “You can trust me, Striker. I owe it to you to help after—after—that Sahara thing.”

It was as much of an apology as he’d ever get. He couldn’t deny her this request. Even if he left without her, she’d follow him.

“Okay.” He gestured to the lasers. “Take as many as you can carry.”

He gave Reckon a nod and left without another backward glance. The most important rescue mission of his life stood before him. He’d stolen a lot of things as a pirate. Never another human being, but how hard could it be?

“You sure you trust this alien technology?” Tiff crossed her arms. Although she tried to look tough, Striker could see a glimmer of fear in her eyes.

“Reckon’s been testing it the whole way here.” They reached the platform, and he traced the familiar pattern on the wall.

“What if it doesn’t work?”

Striker had the same growing doubt, but he squashed it immediately. This was the only way to get Aries back. “Everything else onboard has worked. Reckon’s a coding genius.”

They stepped on the platform. The hieroglyphics pulsed around him, and he traced the geometric patterns.

“Here we go.” The platform rose. Striker checked his handheld scanner. “It’s registering atmospheric conditions on the other side.” The hatch opened slowly above their heads, revealing a glimmering, star-speckled sky.

Loot released his breath as if he’d been holding it the whole trip up. “We’re not dead.” The boy’s voice resonated like they were in a tunnel, but it felt like they stood in the center of the universe, the stars stretching out at their fingertips.

Striker put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Nope. We’re not.”

“Way cool to the max.”

Without the corridor, they’d be sucked out into space, but now they stood atop the ship in a bubble of pressurized air as it kept pace with the
New Dawn
. The view was quite a sight, infinite space without a thick layer of metal or glass in between him and the vast unknown. As he glanced up at the
New Dawn
, his dreamy thoughts fizzled out. There was a mission to accomplish. Aries was trapped somewhere inside.

Striker looked back at Tiff and Loot. “We’re going to have to jump.”

“You’re kidding, right? Jump onto what? There’s only space for millions of miles around.” Tiff clung to the hatch as if she’d blow away. Striker didn’t even feel a hint of a breeze. The chamber was secure.

“I’ll go first.” As he jumped, Tiff and Loot screamed behind him. He didn’t fall very far. His boots hit an invisible barrier and he stood on open space, feeling like he was a god walking on thin air.

“Monstrously awesome!” Loot’s voice was hoarse with awe. The boy followed him and leaped onto the corridor, throwing his arms out to keep his balance. Tiff slid down the side of the alien ship slowly, testing the boundaries. Once her feet touched the bottom of the barrier, Striker turned toward the
New Dawn
.

“Let’s go.”

They followed him, walking through space on an invisible runway to the outer hull of the
New Dawn
. Striker found the panel for the loading dock and got to work decoding the door.

Tiff shifted from foot to foot, as if she were afraid to step too long in one spot. “Let’s hope Reckon can keep this thing in place.”

“It’ll hold. Just get ready,” Striker said, keeping his head down over the panel.

Tiff adjusted the shoulder straps for her lasers. “I’m always ready.”

Striker punched in the code sequence. The door beeped once and opened. “Easy as pie.”

It reminded Striker of his own ship bay. This place glowed brighter than Outpost Omega, as if everything had been preserved from the old Earth days, brand spanking new. The loading dock seemed empty, but red warning lights flashed inside.

“You’ve set off the alarm,” Tiff spat as they jumped inside and ducked behind a storage bin.

Striker ran a hand over his hair. “That’s impossible. I decoded it and turned it off.” He checked the panel on the inside of the door and punched in a few sequences. “No. This alarm was going off before we got here.”

He read the information flashing on the tiny screen. “It’s a code red, section eight alpha: prisoner escapee. They have no idea we’re onboard.”

…

Every computer and wall panel Aries passed flickered on, streaming Barliss’ face. She couldn’t get away from him and the search teams were closing in. His voice resonated on the intercom. “Aries, there’s nowhere to hide.”