Shadows In Still Water (20 page)

Wincing as her finger jammed, Bridget stopped jabbing at the door release and turned to look at the four young men. “I hate to say this but we’re locked in.”

Torp jumped up and walked to the door. “We can’t be,” he said, pushing the button vigorously several times.

Miguel joined them. “Let me try.”

“It’s not working,” Torp retorted, digging through his pockets. “Let me get that panel off.” He produced a knife with a wide assortment of attachments and proceeded to pry the lock panel off the wall. He let the panel drop with a sharp clang against the floor.

On tiptoe, Bridget peered over the two boys’ shoulders as all three looked at the tangled mess of wires inside the wall. She was no engineer but half the wires looked to her as if they had been welded or melted together. A very faint odor of ozone hovered in the air.

Torp poked the knife into the serpenty mass.

“Be careful,” Bridget said.

“Looks like there was some kind of power surge,” Torp said. “Quite a while ago I’d say.

“That’s probably why the door was open,” said Miguel. “They probably propped it open with an R.O. tuner.”

“Can you get it open?”

Torp gave Bridget a sour look. “If I had an R.O. tuner,” he told her.

“There has to be another way out of here” said Miguel.

Bridget felt doubtful. “I don’t think so. I sure can’t see any.”

“Well you can’t see behind some of those boxes.” Miguel replied.

Torp snapped his knife closed and returned it to his pocket, “Come on, everybody, fan out along the walls and start searching for a way out of here. That includes you two,” he added to Steve and Fredrichs.

Fredrichs groaned loudly as he hauled himself to his feet. Steve said nothing but walked to the wall the door was set in and began knocking on it.

He would take the most lighted area, Bridget thought, flipping her hair back from her face. She didn’t have her ring light, in fact, several items from her utility belt were missing. She had forgotten to ask the supply tech about a replacement. Oh, well, she told herself and walked across the empty space to the far back wall.

Several minutes passed with no sounds but tapping as the five young people searched for another door. Bridget could feel her body getting grimier by the minute. She imagined the place hadn’t been cleaned in a millennium.

“Pssst.”

She stopped tapping to look over her shoulder at Miguel. “What?”

“Shhhh.” He stepped closer and whispered, “Don’t you think Steve is acting strange?”

“No. Not really.”

“He seems awfully quiet to me.”

“His dad was just murdered.

“I know but I don’t think he really liked him that much. I mean I’m sure he loved him and all that but I don’t think they were very close.”

Bridget looked toward the opposite wall but Steve was out of sight. “Maybe he’s feeling guilty or something?”

“Since when does Steve Miller feel guilty about anything?” Miguel moved even closer, lowering his head to the level of her ear. “I didn’t want to say anything because I wasn’t supposed to be looking at the records but before we got to Davis, I accidentally saw Steve’s med-chart. His vaccinations aren’t up-to-date.”

“What!”

“Shhh!”

“Mig, why didn’t you say something?”

“I didn’t think it would matter. It’s not like we were planning on swimming in the river.”

“They just rushed Millie back up to the ship on life-support!”

“I know. I know. Should we say something to him?”

“No!” Bridget stood still for a moment, trying to make her heart slow down. “We don’t need to panic everybody. I’m panicked enough for us all.”

“So what do we do?”

“Do you have your scanner? Mine’s missing.”

Nodding, Miguel patted his belt.

“Okay, when we go back, stay behind Steve and scan him. Make sure the sound is off so it doesn’t beep,” Bridget instructed. She tapped two fingers against her neck. Her heart was still racing.

“If he is sick and it’s contagious and we’re stuck in here for any length of time...” Miguel’s voice trailed off.

Bridget gave him a look and turned back to her wall.

Five minutes later they had covered the entire warehouse and found nothing. They all five met back where they had started.

Fredrichs flopped down on the floor. “We’re going to die in here,” he moaned.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Bridget replied, as she kept an eye on Miguel standing quietly behind Steve.

Torp sat down on one end of Fredrichs’s box and patted the empty space next to him. Bridget slid down beside him. She noticed he held his comm-link. “Any luck calling anybody?” she asked.

The Raman shook his head, “I can’t get through to any of the
Pasteur
’s comm-techs. They must be awfully busy for some reason.”

Watching Miguel, Bridget felt her heart sink to her toes as he put his hand on his forehead then pointed to the ceiling with his thumb. Oh, no, Steve’s temperature is up, she thought desperately wishing they were back on the
Pasteur
. Calm down, we all have our vaccinations. I don’t know about Fredrichs though. And Steve. Why didn’t the stupid nidge get his booster shots?

“Brid, you awake?”

She jumped as Torp poked her in the ribs with an elbow. “What were you saying?” she asked.

“I said call the
Pasteur
. One of us has to get through.”

Nodding, Bridget pulled her comm-link off her belt and started hitting numbers. Somebody answer, she prayed.

***

Aurelia paced back and forth in the C.C., massaging the small of her back. All the stress was communicating to the platerius to dig its spikes into her.

Finally, Kincaid waved her over. On his screen appeared a red-haired, freckled-faced kid.

“Where’s Zelan? And who the hell are you?”

“I’m Pete. Ship’s medic.”

Gritting her teeth, Aurelia spat the words out, “Where’s Captain Zelan, Pete?”

“Uhmm. I don’t know. He’s on shore leave.”

“You can’t tell me a captain leaves his ship without someone knowing how to reach him.”

Pete ruffled his fingers through his hair making it stick up even more than it had. “Look, lady. He took off this morning and didn’t say a word. In case, you haven’t noticed there’s a war going on downstairs. I’m getting worried about him.”

Aurelia leaned her knuckles against the board and glared at the screen. “You look, you little snot brain. I need the
Phoenix
right now, down on that planet, getting my people out of there.”

“You mean land this ship down there?” Pete’s words came out in a squeak.

“Yes.”

“I can’t possibly authorize that.” He was shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe he had heard right.

“You don’t have to. I’m sending some of my crew over there.” Aurelia pushed the audio presspad off so Pete couldn’t hear and glanced over at Kincaid. “We can get on the space station can’t we?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Kincaid nodded.

She pushed the audio on again. “They’ll be right there.”

Cutting the connection before Pete could protest, Aurelia turned back to Kincaid. “Tell Rekhaan to get a crew over to the
Phoenix
. Now. And call Lak. Tell her they’re coming. And order a senior staff meeting in five minutes.”

Fran leaned over from her board. “Dr. Aurelia, Millie’s white count has dropped below two million.”

Thank God. Something was finally going right. “Fran, put in a call to Jak. Put my number on the return code.”

Aurelia headed out the door. She would stop and check on Millie, do a quick staff meeting then go see the governor. Arnott still hadn’t returned her call and she was going to find out why.

Jak felt the slight vibration of his comm link against his skin. He could barely hear the beep over all the explosions and screams going on above his head. Tugging the link off his belt, he glanced at the readout. Number One. Aurelia. He was in no mood to chat with her. And in no position to either.

He and Co-Lanen stood in a small underground bunker connected to the Rotunda through a series of tunnels. The only light came from the grilled opening to the street. From the street side it would look like a sewer grid. The bunker was a cool seven degrees C and smelled of damp mold. Jak sneezed.

Co-Lanen’s eyes glinted in the half light as she turned her head. “You ready?” she mouthed the words.

Jak nodded. He had no idea where they were going but intended to stick close to his partner. He couldn’t see what she did but the grill slid open. Reaching above her head, Co-Lanen pulled herself through the opening. When she was clear, Jak placed his hands on the rough sill, hoisting himself out of the bunker.

Gedden help us, he sent up the frantic thought as acrid smoke touched his eyes and nose. He felt Co-Lanen take his hand. He ran behind her, aware only of the smoke and crushing din of explosions and rafter fire. Then they were through an open doorway.

Groping along the wall, Jak hit the panel to close the door. Sharp, burning pain lanced down his left antenna. He slapped the panel twice--open and closed. He sank to his knees. He couldn’t even cough the pain was so bad.

Co-Lanen, coughing herself, leaned over him. “Are you all right?” she yelled.

He nodded. Gingerly, he felt his antenna. “Caught...the tip...in the door,” he gasped out.

“I thought you had been shot!” Co-Lanen collapsed beside him. “Don’t scare me like that.”

“It hurts bad.”

“I know. Let me see it.” Her cool fingers were soothing on the bruised tip.

“At least it cut the noise down.”

“That shouldn’t last long,” Co-Lanen reassured him. “There’s no permanent damage though it might swell a little.”

As the pain slid back up until it was just an ache at the tip, Jak got to his feet. Sounds were still dimmed as if he were wrapped in a thick blanket. Glancing around, he saw they were in a small, dingy clothing store consisting of a room filled with clothing racks and an ancient cash register. Beyond that hung a bright yellow and purple curtain over the opening to a back room he presumed.

“This probably isn’t the best place to stay for very long,” he said.

“Come on,” Co-Lanen said, getting to her feet. She took his hand again pulling him across the room and through the garish curtain. “Most of the buildings on Zarnek are connected through the lower levels. We should be able to get from here all the way to Olgdon Court.”

Jak felt for the handheld laser crossbow he had shoved on his belt at the Rotunda. The solid feel of warm kedellium reassured him. “What if the Sclarians get the same bright idea?” he asked.

“Most of them don’t like it down here,” Co-Lanen replied. They were in the dark little back room now and she was lifting a trapdoor cut in the floor. Jak reached out to help, gagging at the black sewer smell that rushed up from the opening.

“I can smell why,” he said. He gulped in fresh air then followed her down the narrow metal ladder.

***

The room had that quiet, darkened feel of midnight as Millie opened her eyes, trying to orient herself. The soft orange kesium glow over the door was the only light. She winced as she moved her fingers. They felt heavy and stiff like the time she had been bitten by a larop beetle and her hand had swollen to twice its size. In fact, her whole body felt like that.

Cautiously turning her head, Millie saw Aurelia standing by her IV machine “Hey,” Millie called, her voice coming out in a croak.

Aurelia leaned over her, automatically checking the wrist monitor. “Well,” she said, “are you through scaring us?”

Millie lifted one corner of her mouth--all she could manage as a smile. “Could I have some water?”

Aurelia went to the sink across the room and returned with a full glass. She gently slipped a hand behind Millie’s head to help her raise it and held the glass as she drank. Millie had never before been on the receiving end of Aurelia’s bedside manner. It was rather a strange sensation.

“Thanks,” Millie said, laying her head back on the pillow.

“How do you feel?”

“About the size of the Mars Metro-Dome.”

Smiling, Aurelia patted her shoulder. “It’s not quite that bad. You will be swollen for a couple of days though.”

“What is it? Risanthum?”

Aurelia nodded as she re-checked the IV connections. “I’m going to keep you on the syntholin for a few more days. We don’t want pneumonia on top of it. You won’t feel like eating much.”

Millie moved to sit up and felt the air catch in her throat. She spent the next five minutes coughing and choking up phlegm. Aurelia held the Pearson container for her until she fell back, exhausted.

“Take another drink.”

Millie obeyed. Closing her eyes, she relaxed against the pillows. A strange feeling of cold crept over her. She jerked herself awake.

“You okay?” Aurelia asked.

“I don’t think I want to go to sleep just yet. I had such strange dreams.”

Rising, Aurelia walked to the computer monitor. “I’ll order you some phenodol to help you relax.”

Millie nodded. She lay quietly, watching the doctor type in the order. “I did dream about my mother though. You know after all these years I still miss her.”

She idly watched a muscle twitch in Aurelia’s jaw. Millie continued in a dreamy voice, “She used to sing to me. She had a good voice, not as good as yours but she’d had some training.”

Aurelia walked back to her side.

“There was a song about a bird and a girl...Raman I think...I can’t quite...”

Aurelia hummed a few bars.

“That’s it. What’s it called?”

“Kar’Kedare. It’s a ballad about the Raman queen, Jalina Lenlar. It was a popular request.”

“You should sing more often.”

“Singing has never been a pleasure for me.”

Millie yawned as far as her swollen face would allow. “That’s a shame. Such a beautiful voice.”

“I suppose I should be grateful. It saved me from being a colo.”

Not daring to move, Millie waited for more but Aurelia had turned away to pick up the hypogun. Aurelia’s past tended to come out like that--in brief snippets of pain.

Millie closed her eyes and reopened them when Aurelia took hold of her monitor. Something black on the doctor’s wrist caught her attention and she tried to focus on it.

“What’s that?” she asked.

Aurelia looked at her a moment as if debating her answer then said, “They think I may have murdered someone.”

“Murder!” Millie had to cough again.

The door slid open, admitting Monnie with a cartridge of phenodol. Taking the cartridge, Aurelia snapped it into the hypogun.

“It’s nothing to worry about,” Aurelia said and pressed the gun into Millie’s arm. “Go to sleep, Mil.”

“I’m out of it a few hours and you...” Millie blinked rapidly, feeling the cool trickle of the drug in her veins. “What else is going on?”

“Quite a lot actually.”

Millie felt the firm pressure of Aurelia’s hand against her shoulder.

“Relax. Go to sleep. That’s an order.”

One more try but the darkness behind her eyes at last pulled her into unconsciousness.

***

Aurelia pounded her fist on the table. “Shut up!” she bellowed at the others seated across from her. Normally, the heavy, oval, obsidian-like table accommodated twenty people. Today, only seven seats were taken. Doctors L’Ruh and Michaelson, Zimbin, two lab techs, a crew tech and Chief Rekhaan had assembled in the conference room at Aurelia’s request. She was beginning to wish she hadn’t ordered a staff meeting.

L’Ruh leaned forward. The pink blob of her face reddened in intensity. “You’re putting an armed starship down there? Might as well throw yourself on the front of a Sclarian battle cruiser.”

“I’m putting the
Phoenix
down to help us get our people off the planet. I don’t anticipate any problems.”

“Yeah, right,” Michaelson muttered.

L’Ruh made a wide gesture with one of her tentacles.

Aurelia gave her a long look. “I know the Gidellian language.”

“I know you know it,” L’Ruh retorted.

Aurelia looked over at Rekhaan. For once, he was the only one not arguing with her. She remembered he was the only one of the senior staff besides Millie and Jak who had been with her on Feloria. She had avoided a massacre of her crew then, and she was damn well going to do it now.

“Chief, is your crew in place on the
Phoenix
?”

He nodded. “They will be taking off in five minutes.”

“Good.”

“I didn’t call this meeting to ask for your opinions. I merely wanted to keep you informed of what’s going on. The
Phoenix
will shuttle our people off the planet. End of story.”

LRuh’s voice grid hummed as if she was about to say something.

Aurelia stood up. She pressed her palm against one of the nerve clusters along LRuh’s tentacles. Just enough to make it tingle. “Don’t even think it.”

LRuh ignored her. “What about the station? There has to be shuttles there.”

“I’ve been trying to talk to the governor. He won’t answer.”

“With the
Phoenix
we can make one trip, “Rekhaan put in.

Aurelia blinked at his show of support.

“I’m worried about our people too,” said Michaelson. “but we could get into real trouble putting the
Phoenix
down there.”

“Let’s worry about one thing at a time. Dismissed.” Aurelia walked out before they could say anything else. Next stop--Governor Arnott’s office.