Their Solitary Way (15 page)

“Sir, I don’t think so,” said Michael. He looked at Steven, who seemed to agree.

“I’m no coward,” said Paul, firmly.

“If you stay, you might die,” said Seth. “It’s not your responsibility.”

“We’re security officers,” said Steven.

“Part-time,” corrected Paul.

Steven glared at him. “Still, we’re trained and ready to kick some digital ass.”

Seth could see the dedication in their eyes. The need to protect their crew. “You’re sure about this?”

“We didn’t fly across half the galaxy just to tuck our tails and run,” said Steven.

“Alright,” said Seth, patting the suit on the desk. “There’s armor in the other lockers. Put them on in case we run into an area without any oxygen.” He lifted his rifle above his shoulder. “And don’t forget your weapons. Time to gear up.”

It didn’t take long
for Seth and his team to acclimate to the gear and begin their manhunt. The suits were oxygenated, which gave them access to any section of the ship, regardless of the breaches.

“Where’s the cyberbrain’s control room?” asked Steven, his voice a little muffled by the helmet.

“Five decks below us,” said Michael.

“Shouldn’t take too long, eh?” asked Paul.

“I imagine it might,” said Michael.

Paul seemed to consider this. “Why?”

“I believe we’ll have to avoid the lifts,” explained Michael.

“Pretty much,” Seth agreed. “Unless you’d rather give Lilith an easy kill.”

Paul’s eyes widened. “Why would that happen?”

Steven put his hand on the man’s shoulder. “Because the elevators are fully automated.”

“We can’t use the security card?” asked Paul.

“Not for those,” said Seth.

“So, what are we supposed to do?”

“Maintenance tunnels connect the decks,” said Seth. “Should be safe.”

Paul frowned. “I hate crawling in those. I always get stuck.”

Steven smirked. “Try being smaller like the rest of us, you giant.”

With Seth in the lead, the team left Security and headed for one of the three maintenance hatches near the end of the hall. The first led to the deck above, while the other led below. Michael unlatched the cover, setting it on the floor. “We should be okay to fit. Careful of the wiring. You don’t want to get yourselves caught on anything.”

Seth ducked inside, followed by the others. Paul entered last, grunting his annoyance. The tunnels were tight, barely enough space to climb. It took them a surprisingly long time to get from one deck to the next. Seth never realized how far apart they actually were until now.

The tunnel was boiling hot, even more than the hatch they pulled Cain from. Maybe it was the suits this time, but Seth felt like he was getting roasted alive. By the time he reached the next deck, a bucket of sweat poured from his forehead, dripping to his chin and sliding down his chest.

“How much longer?” asked Paul, panting heavily.

“A few more floors,” said Seth.

“Hard to breathe in these suits. Visor’s fogged up, too.”

“Hang in there,” said Steven. “We’re almost to the exit. Okay?”

“Yeah,” wheezed Paul. “Yeah, yeah.”

They climbed for nearly fifteen minutes, passing through connecting tunnels on every new floor. When they reached the last deck, Seth kicked the hatch open and stepped through, more than happy to be free.

Paul leaned against the nearby wall, once he was out, breathing so hard his visor was fogging up.

“Are you alright?” asked Seth.

“I…I gotta stop…for a second,” Paul said between breaths.

“What’s wrong with you?” asked Steven.

“Don’t like small spaces,” said Paul.

“You’re claustrophobic?” asked Seth. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me before?”

The giant shrugged, hunching over on his knees. “Didn’t want to stay behind.”

“Seriously?” asked Steven. “You could’ve had a heart attack or something.”

“Shut it. I’m good.”

Steven gave him an uneasy look. “I dunno about that.”

“I’ll kick your skinny ass to prove it.”

Steven grinned. “Sounds like he’s okay. Let’s get going.”

Seth led them through the deck, passing several empty compartments along the way. The cyberbrain facility took up most of the floor, while the rest of it seemed like an afterthought. “Doesn’t look like too many people come down here,” said Seth.

“You’re right,” said Michael. “Since Lilith’s systems are so efficient, visits aren’t exactly common. The crew’s spread too thin, so this place doesn’t get the maintenance it needs.”

“You mean they just ignore it?”

“With all the incidents and blackouts happening over the last six months, some sections get neglected. Lilith kept us all so busy with various crises we hardly had the chance to come here.”

“Except when she called us,” finished Paul.

“Right,” said Michael. “I’m starting to think there was a reason for that.”

As the team reached the centermost compartment, the path split in two. Seth recalled his original tour through here. The left path led to the cyberbrain chamber, while the second led to a nearby lift—the only one on the floor. “This way,” Seth said, signaling the left. “Almost there.”

A small door lay a short distance before them, separating the outer hall from the next area. Using his access card, Seth unlocked the manual override, turning the crank, edging the door open. Michael, Steven, and Paul stepped through, one at a time, pausing as they entered the second section. A wide array of glowing circuitry and exposed wires ran along the walls and ceiling. Valves dripping coolant onto the floor, pooling liquid into tiny puddles which emptied into drains. “What’s all this?” asked Seth.

“This place is a mess,” said Paul.

Michael glanced at one of the dangling wires. “It looks like this entire section is degrading.”

“Why would Lilith let her systems fall apart like this?” asked Seth.

“Remember the electrical storm we passed through six months ago?”

Seth nodded. “Sure. It almost tore the ship apart. You think it caused all this?”

“It’s possible,” said Michael. “Engineering’s been too busy handling everything else to come and check this area. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lilith took some damage from the storm herself.”

“She’s not a computer, though,” Seth pointed out. “She still has a body and an active brain.”

“Right, but that body is tied directly to the ship’s systems. Her brain has wired connections coming directly out of it. If the storm fried the ship, she might have been affected, too.”

“You think the storm fried her brain, somehow?” asked Seth.

“I don’t know,” admitted Michael. “But it certainly would explain her erratic behavior.”

“Whatever the case, we’re shutting her down,” said Seth, moving on. “Let’s go.”

“Wait,” said Paul. “You hear something?”

As a matter of fact, Seth
did
hear something. A loud humming noise, coming from…he couldn’t tell. Was it the walls?

Steady buzzing like an insect, and getting louder by the second. Was it a machine?

Steven walked to the farthest wall, pressing his fingers against the metal. “I think…” He leaned in, listening. He took several steps, following the sound. “I think it’s electrical.”

“Wait a second,” muttered Seth, remembering the other incidents. Each one happened in an area full of automated systems and power conduits, much like this one. “Something’s not right about this.”

“What’s wrong?” asked Michael.

Seth took a step back. “Steven, get away from there. Are you listening? I’ve got a bad feeling about—”

The wall erupted into a thunderous snap, propelling them away. Seth flew through the door, landing on the floor and tumbling. His ears rang and everything began to spin. For a moment, he didn’t even know where he was or why he was here. Cracks formed on Seth’s visor, but it didn’t shatter. He felt sick and dizzy, all the strength in his arms and legs depleted. It was like being half asleep or sedated.

A few seconds later, the feeling in his limbs returned to him, and all at once he could sense the heat from the flames. There was smoke, too, now that he could see straight, and it filled the air above him as it moved into the ventilation system. A scream rang out in the distance, echoing through his helmet. He struggled to raise his head, trying to see.

A hand gripped the edge of the nearby door, and Michael appeared. He held Paul by the shoulder, helping him move. Paul’s visor had a smudge of blood inside it. “Sir,” muttered Michael. “Are…are you okay?”

Seth gripped his knee and pushed himself up, almost falling down again in the process. He finally managed to stand, despite his shaking knees, but held onto the nearest wall to keep support. “I’m fine,” he said, not knowing whether it was the truth or not. “Where’s Steven?”

Michael hesitated, looking away. “He’s…gone, sir.”

Seth fumbled past him and leaned through the archway. There was no sign of Steven. Not even pieces of him. Spatters of blood littered the outer walls, but nothing else. In the place where he’d been, a large crater remained, deep enough to see the next floor as well as the adjacent room.

“I’m sorry, sir,” said Michael.

“What about Paul?” asked Seth.

“I’m…good…” muttered Paul behind the bloodied visor. His voice was erratic, almost a whisper. “Where’s…Steven?”

“Paul needs medical attention,” said Michael.

“No, I’m—”

Paul collapsed, but Michael caught him, though the giant’s weight seemed like it might crush him. “Easy there. Sir, we need to get him to a doctor.”

Seth felt a pinch of pain in his head, so he closed his eyes. It didn’t help. “You need to find an escape pod,” Seth told them. “There’s bound to be a med kit inside.”

“We’ll all go,” said Michael. “You don’t look so good, either.”

Seth shook his head. “The mission is still on.”

“Don’t worry about me,” said Paul. “You two finish the job.”

“No,” said Seth, letting go of the wall. He knees shook as he tried to stand on his own. “I’m going alone.”

“But, sir,” pleaded Michael.

“Do as I say,” demanded Seth. “I’m the security chief on this ship. Understand?”

Michael paused, but nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Seth felt a throbbing pain in his chest, but ignored it. “Good. Now get him to the pods and patch whatever wounds he’s got. As soon as you’re on the ground, find the others. There’s bound to be a doctor with them.”

Michael gripped Paul’s arm, steadying him. “We’ll get there, but please hurry, sir.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be right behind you.”

“Ready, Paul?” asked Michael. “One foot after the other.”

“Right…”

He watched as Michael helped carry the broken officer towards the adjacent hall. As they neared the corner, Michael stopped and glanced back. Seth nodded, and without another word the two men continued, disappearing behind the corner.

Seth was now alone.

The explosion had left a small crater in the floor, ripping apart the wall separating this area from the guts of the ship. Wires and metal stuck out like roots from the ground. At least he wasn’t near the hull.

Still, Seth wouldn’t risk exposing himself. For all he knew, Lilith may very well have found a way to vent the atmosphere from this compartment. After a quick check for any rips in the suit, he continued, taking care to move through the rubble in the hall.

The floor beneath him shook, knocking him on his face. The crater continued to crumble as the ceiling caved in, bringing more metal and debris into itself, piling into the level below. Seth panicked, shuffling further into the hall.

He took several sharp and quick breaths, his eyes darting side-to-side, waiting for another disaster to strike. Another chance to die. His arm began to burn with pain. He must have landed on it the wrong way. Or worse. Hard to tell inside this suit.

Suddenly, the rumbling ended, and he heard a voice. A fluttering, gentle whisper. “Seth.”

He flinched and scurried to the side, gripping the wall. “Who’s there?”

“Seth, what are you doing?” Lilith asked, calmly, in a tone that reminded him of his mother.

“It’s you,” he said.

“Me,” she answered.

“You’re the one who did this!”

“I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

“You killed one of my men!” He pushed himself up, leaning heavily to his right side, holding his arm. “Just wait until I—”

“Really now, Seth,” she said. “Look at you. Beaten, broken, and barely standing. Why don’t you go to the escape pods and join your family? Your mother will be worried. I can handle the ship from here. I can keep it safe.”

He limped forward. “I’m not leaving.”

“I can’t guarantee your safety if you continue. It could get dangerous.”

“Go to Hell,” he said.

“That isn’t very nice. You should really mind your—”

He turned his communicator off. “If I die, it won’t be with your voice in my ear.”

With a dry throat and shaking hands, he crept to the end of the corridor. There he saw a set of charcoal doors, and to their left, a sign which read, CYBERBRAIN SYSTEMS CENTER.

“Almost there,” he muttered, and with his card, he unlocked the final gate.