The Caverns of Mare Cetus (5 page)

   Ramon nodded. "You have my word. Nada."

   Hunter started hiking again, Ramon scurrying up beside him. "Well, first, this isn't just any velandrite deposit. It looks big. Maybe bigger than any ever found. If so, it's worth a king's ransom. That's why I think Sid's accident is a fabrication. The way I see it, someone in management wanted to be a hero and ordered Sid to descend that shaft to get to the velandrite. Sid, being the veteran he was, refused. But I have reasons to believe Zeke was tied into that management asshole, and I think he tried to take the shaft on his own. When Sid's team either tried to stop Zeke or rescue him, all of it went to hell. So the Board concocted that story, modified logs, and labeled Sid the scapegoat, using that free-climb shit as a cover-up. I knew Sid. He would never screw up like that."

   "Okay," said Ramon. "I get it now. What all this fluff actually means is we're going for the velandrite, right?"

   Hunter was taken aback—where was that in what he just said to Ramon? "Yes. A series of crosscutting passageways will get us there. It's going to take a bit, but I guarantee—no shafts."

   "Still sounds like a shaft to me," chuckled Ramon. "But shouldn't an M&E group be handling this?"

   "M&E doesn't have enough caving experience to do
this
job. You know Explora's fallen on hard times since I found that velandrite deposit in 96. They haven't staked a velandrite claim since then. They need this one."

   Ramon's voice rose. "Claim staking? The best in CER—and we're staking a claim? What the hell—even robotics can do that."

   "Robotics don't stake claims anymore!" exclaimed Hunter in a hush. "The Revised Mining and Reclamation Codes from three years ago—remember?"

   "Lighten up. I'm just messing with you again. I know what went on before ReMReC. The whole system was being abused. But you know, it didn't really bother me until some horny robotic tried to stake a claim on Ari…"

   Hunter smiled briefly. "Look. I don't make the rules—I just follow them. If you want to thank someone, thank Turquoise Limited. If they hadn't flattened Novia's Class A space donut on Pulchra Novia…"

   "Ouch. Who can forget that one? They had just inserted that station into a proper orbit around that moon not days before too. So, while they're having a drink to celebrate…" Ramon tipped his hand, mimicking the action, "out of nowhere comes a Turquoise claimlander heading straight for Pulchra. Too bad the station got in the way. That piece of junk hit that thing broadside and sent it slamming into Pulchra. And for what? A platinum deposit that turned out to be a mirage."

   "Yeah, and let's not forget the hundreds of poor souls who were onboard that station, including the governor and her aides."

   Ramon spit on the ground. "Damn disaster if there ever was one. Crews picking up debris and body parts for months, good old Turquoise, but crap, when Arielle finds out we're nothing more than high-priced claim stakers, that's what you're going to be eating."

   "But she doesn't have to find out. At least not yet."

   "No prob," said Ramon. "I promise I won't say a word, but I am going to enjoy watching you squirm when you unload this on the team. Say, who else here knows about this claiming shit?"

   "Only Renata and Garrett know anything…" A flash of brilliant blue light lit up the passage, forcing Hunter's eyes closed as shrill, pulsating pops echoed all around him. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes to ribbons of flickering light. He turned around, blinking in confusion. "What the hell?"

   "I think it's Garrett," said Renata through his com.

   The ribbons of light suddenly vanishing into the darkness, Hunter began searching for Garrett as anxious shouts from the others continued to echo out from behind him. "Garrett!" he called. "What's going on? Garrett!"

   There was no response.

   As Hunter scanned the passage, he felt hands touch his back. He glanced back. It was Renata. Trent, Devon, and Richelle were beside her. Edison, Isis, and Arielle were standing a bit farther down the passage.

   "Where's Garrett?" asked Richelle.

   "He was right behind us," said Hunter.

   "What's wrong with your intrepid bodyguard?" asked Ramon. "Did he see a ghost, or did he just now realize you're down here?"

   "Shut up," said Renata.

   "Garrett!" shouted Hunter. "Answer me already!"

   "Where are his lights?" asked Richelle.

"Everyone needs to stay calm," said Trent.

"He has to be back there somewhere," said Renata tensely.

   "Then let's find him," said Hunter. He started down the passage, Renata, Trent, and Devon following. Before they could take a dozen steps, two lights flashed on a distance down the passage. The group halted.

   "I'm fine," came Garrett's voice over their coms. "Everything's fine."

   "Why didn't you answer me?" asked Hunter into his com. He began taking long, rapid steps toward Garrett, the others following. When they reached Garrett, he was standing rigidly, his back turned toward them, the rifle firmly gripped in his hands. He was staring into the passage, appearing mesmerized.

   "Garrett," said Renata. "What happened?"

   "Just a misfire," said Garrett.

   "Really?" asked Renata.

   "You had a misfire?" asked Hunter. "How is that possible?"

   "Well, it happened," responded Garrett, annoyance in his voice. "I just dropped back so I could practice some rapid fire techniques." He pointed the rifle down the passage. "I accidentally set off a charge. Nothing more…"

   "Bullshit—nothing more!" said Hunter. "I told you I didn't want you bringing that thing down here. You've just proven my point. The weapons. Now! I want all of them here on the ground in front of me." He pointed to the cavern floor. "I'll signal a Collector to take them back to the Jumper."

   "That's not going to happen," said Garrett.

   Hunter wasn't about to back down this time. He stepped up to Garrett and stood in front of him, nearly nose to nose. Renata moved beside Hunter, placing her hands on her hips. "It is going to happen!" exclaimed Hunter. "Security or not, I am the commander down here. I should have ended this nonsense on the surface. I'm ending it now."

   "Okay. Have it your way," said Garrett suddenly, surprising Hunter. He crouched and gently set the rifle on the ground, but he didn't take his hand off it. He glanced at Devon several times.

   Devon's puzzled expression made her look as if she had no idea of the tremendous power struggle going on between Hunter and Garrett.

"Well…" said Hunter.

   Garrett grabbed the rifle and stood up. "I've changed my mind. I think IO would prefer I keep the weapon, right, Devon?"

   "If it makes you feel safer," she replied. "I really don't care either way."

   "Why are you asking her?" asked Hunter angrily. "IO has nothing to say in this matter."

   "IO?" asked Renata, her voice rising. She turned toward Devon. "You're an Iob?"

   "IO has everything to do with this," said Garrett.

   Renata glanced at Hunter. "Why didn't you tell me she was IO?"

   "Because I have more pressing priorities than updating the team on the presence of a mouse—okay? Renata Stone—meet Devon Snow—IO—no authority. Okay, done."

   Renata suddenly backed away from Devon as if she had the plague.

   "Renata," said Devon, "I'm just here to help."

   Renata turned her back on Devon. "Let's get this straight right now, Hunter. Are we—or are we not going to leave the weapons here?"

   "Can you assure me this won't happen again?" asked Hunter, turning toward Garrett.

   "Absolutely," answered Garrett.

   "I mean it," said Hunter. "Don't let it happen again. I won't tolerate another misfire."

   "Yes, sir," said Garrett promptly, but Hunter couldn't be sure if Garrett was thanking him or mocking him.

   Renata stepped up to Hunter and whispered in his ear. "Pardon the pun, but nice cave-in. You know he didn't have a misfire. One moment I see the commander, the next I see a waffle. What's with you?"

   "Don't question me," he whispered. "I agree with you. I know it wasn't a misfire. We'll talk about this later, okay?"

   She sighed. "Yeah, later."

   "Come on," echoed Ramon's greasy voice over their coms. "If Señor Jansen is fine, let's get going already."

   "Let's go, Devon," said Trent. He gave her a wave with his hand, and they began hiking down the passage.

   Hunter now noticed an odd expression on Renata's face, something disquieting in her eyes. She had taken off her hardhat and was holding it in her hand. "So I'm a waffle, huh?" he joked.

   She put her hardhat back on, saying nothing in return.

   Hunter glanced at Garrett, who was again peering into the passage as if searching for something.
"
Come on, let's get going…" As he put a hand on Garrett's shoulder, Garrett whirled around, sticking the rifle barrel in Hunter's face. Hunter stumbled back, his mouth opening to a soundless cry.

   Garrett's face seemed filled with fear. Then immediately his expression relaxed. He chuckled lightly. "Testing me, huh? Well, I passed. I'm in complete control of my baby. Otherwise, I'd have vaporized your head." He dropped the rifle to his side, then started down the passage toward the others.

   Hunter's hands were trembling, his heart racing. He let out with a loud gasp.

   Renata gave Hunter a disgruntled look of disappointment, then turned and started after Garrett.

   As Hunter continued to recover from the fright Garrett had given him, he watched as Renata caught up to Garrett. Then just when he thought he had his nerves under control, he heard a dull thud behind him, startling him again. He turned around; it sounded like a rock had fallen off the wall. He searched the area near the source of the noise, then after a moment he sighed. There was a grapefruit-sized, rounded gray stone on the ground that appeared to have fallen from a ledge above it, which was covered with similar stones.

   He stooped to pick up the rock. "Ow!" He dropped it and it rolled against the wall. "Damn. That thing's hot." As he reached out to touch the stone again, he heard shouting in the passage. He turned toward the commotion, picking out Arielle's and Edison's voices. As he turned from the voices and stared at the rock, he cautiously touched some small stones on the floor beside him. They were cold, just as he expected. The shouting suddenly intensified, causing him to turn toward the voices again. He stood up, his eyes fixed down the passage. Then he touched several of the rocks on the ledge. Cold again—just rocks. He glanced toward the voices again. What was going on? He crouched and looked at the large stone once more. It didn't look any different from the others, so why was it hot? Could that have been caused by Garrett's
misfire?

   "This is intolerable!" echoed Arielle's voice through the passage.

   "Oh, man. I knew it. Ramon!" Hunter jumped to his feet and raced toward the group. When he reached them, his suspicions were realized.

   Edison's voice was broiling with anger. "If you told me that's what we'd be doing—I might have just done it, but now you've really pissed me off."

   Hunter stepped back, putting up his hands. "Hold on now, doing what?"

   "Claim staking!" exclaimed Isis, her thin eyebrows slanted in anger. "You do realize I have degrees in both bio and inorganic chemistry. And I've been hired on to stake some stinking claim? This is a joke, right?"

   "Calm down," said Hunter, motioning with his hands. "Let's try…"

   Arielle, Edison, Richelle, and Isis began to lambaste Hunter with insults and accusations. After Hunter stood in silence for what seemed like a long time, but was actually only minutes, he bellowed out at them, his cry echoing through the passage like he had shot off a cannon. "Shut the fuck up already! You've done nothing but whine ever since we got here. Yes! It is claim staking. You know pre-trip objectives aren't always clear. If you want out—you know the way back." He glared at Ramon. "Nice going," he mouthed.

   Ramon pointed at himself while decisively shaking his head. As he pointed at Arielle, then Edison, he mouthed something Hunter couldn't make out. Then he shrugged in puzzlement.

   Hunter wasn't sure what Ramon was trying to say, but no matter how the others found out about the claim staking, he had to go to his backup plan—now.

   Edison took off his hardhat. "Good call, Hunter. I'm out of here."

   "So I'm a whiner, am I? Screw you." Isis turned away from Hunter and started walking down the passage. "Come on, Richelle. Let's go."

   "I'm not a f-f-fucking whiner, either," grumbled Richelle. "Go stake the claim yourself, wh-wh-why don't you?" She turned to follow Isis. "Coming."

   "You need to know this before you go," said Hunter, raising his voice. "If you leave now, you're going to pass up a big bonus from Explora. I only found out about it myself just prior to landing—30X folks—think about it."

   Isis and Richelle stopped in their tracks and looked back at Hunter.

   Edison pressed his huge hands against his hardhat as if trying to crush it. "That's a pile, man. You're making this tough."

   "I don't know about the rest of you," said Arielle, "but 30X isn't enough for this lousy deception. I'm going back. Who's with me?" She glanced at Edison, Isis, and Richelle, who shook their heads at her in return.

   A sinister smile formed on Hunter's lips.

   "What?" exclaimed Arielle, her voice cracking. "You're going along with this? Can't you see? He's buying you off." She threw her hardhat on in disgust. "Ramon. Come on. Let's get out of here."

   "No way," he said. "Do the math. With both of us that's 60X!"

   "You greedy fool. How can you let him con you like this?"

   "I'm staying," he said. "You're crazy if you leave."

   She glanced at all the smiling faces, then huffed. "The hell with all of you then." She grabbed Devon's arm. "Come on, honey. You're coming back with me for company."

   "Hey!" cried Devon. "Let go of my arm!"