The passengers waited in orderly queues, unaware of the attention being given to the HJA docking station below. Jenny could tell the ones who hadn’t emerged fully from stasis. Even with the anti-stasis serum injections, it could be another two hours before the passengers—still disconnected from reality—would feel normal.
Jenny noticed one man in particular who was heading for one of the other crafts. An attractive man in his mid-forties, he shuffled along with the others. His appearance was neat and tidy, his hair combed and his skin smooth, but his eyes said he had hardly slept over the last fourteen days.
From the on-board computer, she downloaded the manifest from the ship officer’s DPad using a unique identification code. As everyone filed on-board, she ordered them to strap in, and reminded them of the short and intense journey ahead, ignoring the request not to engage with her passengers.
‘If you feel sick there are bags under your seat.’
She guided her craft out of the hold and headed for the predetermined landing coordinates at Dock 10. One by one, the other crafts followed suit, branching off towards their own destinations. She made brief contact with the communications operator in HJA and received instructions that she was clear for landing. She began her descent, firing all thrusters until she had dropped below the outer perimeter shield, where the remaining leg of the journey towards the landing plate would be dictated by gravitational pull alone.
In her rear-view mirror she noticed two passengers wearing navy-blue suits and black Stetsons sitting in different locations. They looked out of place.
Galen watched through one of the observation deck’s viewing screens as Dock 10 became infested with dozens of military personnel. Hidden behind crates, the roving cameras tracked their movements. He expected they would make their move when the passengers disembarked; the military didn’t know who was using Bob Harris’s identity.
Galen hadn’t witnessed a military presence quite like this before. The World Government didn’t like airing their dirty laundry in public; they preferred private places with no witnesses. He worried about his parents and their obsession with uncovering hidden truths at ESC. He wondered if the military presence would be as strong if they were coming after his mother and father. The thought terrified him; but something else bothered him more. Who was “Bob Harris” and why were they hunting him out in the open, where everybody could see?
Galen looked around at the unsettled faces in the room. Stuart looked beside himself with worry.
‘What do you think will happen to the stowaway?’ Galen said to Stuart. He was reminded of Paddy’s story about his ex-colleague.
‘I have no bloody idea. One thing I know is if I were Bob Harris, I wouldn’t be returning to this crap-hole called Earth.’
The stories about Exilon 5 were infectious. Having watched one of the government’s videos on the Maglev trains, it was easy to get drawn in by their lush, green, sunny alternative to this destitute planet.
While Stuart was distracted and they waited for the craft with Bob Harris on-board, Galen thought about calling his parents and telling them about Stuart’s falsification of records and that the ESC memos were most likely about him. But Stuart wasn’t a bad guy; he’d just made a couple of really stupid decisions.
Galen’s attention was drawn back to the screen. The craft had just landed.
As Stephen and Anton waited to disembark, Stephen noticed the pilot whispering to someone in the docking station. The female had her back to the group and was trying to be discreet. But he could hear what she was saying.
‘Bob Harris? Yes, he is,’ she confirmed. ‘I’m looking at the manifest now. How do you want me to proceed?’ A male on the other end of the line said, ‘Do nothing, ma’am. This is our operation now.’
‘Understood,’ said the pilot, before disconnecting. ‘I don’t like to be called “ma’am”, you arrogant prick.’
Anton shot an anxious look at Stephen.
The humans knew they were on board.
Galen and six others were transfixed by the main screen action. The sergeant had ordered non-essential personnel to stay out of Dock 10 and all other crafts were diverted to alternative docking stations as the entire HJA docking station was placed on lockdown.
Stuart continued to shadow the sergeant, who had stayed behind on the observation deck. The corporal was in Dock 10 where he waited for further orders from his sergeant. The sergeant continued to overshadow communication operative, who ignored his intrusion as best as he could.
Galen wondered if the sergeant’s decision to stay behind in the observation deck was less about authority and more about staying away from danger.
The sergeant’s agitation increased and he turned away from the communication operative. He spoke to the corporal. ‘Order the docking attendants to scan every identity chip. We need to know which one is ours. I don’t care. If you have to. Just make sure it’s still alive. Gilchrist’s orders.’
Stephen and Anton waited for the craft doors to open. With so many humans on-board, Anton spoke telepathically to Stephen.
They can’t catch both of us. Why don’t we just make a run for it?
Because I think they’ve erected a force field around the building. We won’t get very far.
Anton shrugged. So what’s left? We can’t just give up now.
I’ve no intention of giving up. Give me a minute.
Stephen closed his eyes and ran through the limited options available. There was only one thing that might work. He opened his eyes.
What is it? Anton asked.
I think I have a plan, but it’s going to be dangerous. Stephen looked at the door. How fast can you run these days?
Almost as fast as you, brother. You need me to go somewhere?
Stephen told him his plan.
But you’re going to have to be clever about it. And don’t be too long. You know how I feel being this close to all these humans. The woman behind him inched forward and he flinched. I don’t know what I might do.
Don’t worry, Stephen. You can trust me to get it done.
Stephen half-smiled. You don’t know how glad I am to hear you say that. But we need to stick to the rear of the group. If they’re going to discover us, let’s make sure nobody else gets in our way.
Stephen made his excuses and let others pass as the doors were opened. Anton moved with the rest of the crowd and readied to put their hasty plan into action. Stephen desperately wanted to go with him but in the event the humans were only searching for him, there was no way they could be linked. He stayed to the rear of the group.
Outside, military humans appeared from behind shipment crates and swarmed around the passengers. He had already picked up their scent. The military stood behind docking-station attendants as they scanned identity chips. Passenger let out gasps as the extra force made their presence known.
Cleared passengers were ushered out through a set of doors to the rear of the dock. Anton was almost at the attendant. The craft was almost empty. Stephen remained at the back of the group.
He stared after his friend, helpless as Anton prepared to make his move.
Jenny watched the military hover around Dock 10 from the safety of the cockpit. Just one passenger remained on board: a man in a navy-blue suit and black Stetson. She made her way to where he stood by the open door.
‘Must be serious,’ she said. ‘They don’t usually bring out the big guns unless the person they’re after is a major criminal.’ She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. The coldness that seeped through his jacket caught her by surprise. ‘You should stand back from the door a moment; let the place quieten a little. The military are always itching to use their damn weapons. I’ve seen innocents get caught up in the middle of their crossfire. It’s almost like they have to shoot at something or they’ll die of boredom. Hang back here for just an instant.’
She turned to check with the observation deck but spun back around when she heard the craft door sucking closed. Her remaining pass
enger stood with his finger poised over the door’s control panel.
‘What the hell are you doing?’ She made a move towards him. ‘Get away from there. You have no authority.’
She had barely finished speaking when the man was standing beside her. She gasped at his sudden speed. A flash of metal in his hand caught her eye and bile rose in her throat.
What are you? She tried to speak but no words would come.
The man jammed the round end of the metal rod into her back. ‘I need you to erect the force field around this thing, now. I will hurt you if I have to. It’s a matter of life and death.’
‘For who?’ She tensed up against the pressure of the weapon on her skin.
‘For you, for me. The reasons are beyond your comprehension.’
The man’s actions terrified her, but she drew on her experience of dealing with difficult passengers. ‘Who are you? Tell me why you’re here.’
The man forced her into the cockpit and shoved her into the seat. ‘I said erect the force field around this craft.’ His voice had become more urgent.
‘Why should I?’ There was a nervous crackle in her dry throat.
‘Because I could snap your neck if I wanted to. But I need you to find a William Taggart for me.’
The name was not familiar. ‘Who’s William Taggart? What’s this all about?’
‘Force field first.’ He jabbed the rod into her spine again.
Jenny figured she would live longer if she complied. The military personnel were busy as they hunted for their person of interest. She considered calling the observation deck, but this man’s reflexes were off the chart. She could be dead before anyone made it to her in time. She pressed a button on her console. ‘Done.’
‘Find William Taggart.’
The man’s voice was cold, devoid of emotion. ‘How am I supposed to do that when I don’t even know the name? Can you at least tell me where I should begin?’
‘He was a passenger on the ship I was on. Find him for me.’ The rod found her rib and she cried out.
‘Okay, okay. I’ll help you, but you’re really hurting me.’
The man reduced the pressure. ‘I’m desperate to find him.’ Emotion slipped into his words.
‘What is he to you?’ The weapon no longer bruised her skin, but he still held it against her ribcage. It was the word “desperate” that had caused her to turn around and meet the gaze of her assailant. The man’s eyes were strange: wild but fearful. ‘I will help you,’ she said. ‘Whatever you need.’ It was what she’d been taught to say if she was ever caught in a hostage situation.
The man nodded.
She scanned the ship’s computer and found the name her kidnapper was looking for. ‘Here he is. He’s an ITF investigator. Heading to Sydney. Probably going to the Security Centre, I imagine. Will you let me go now?’
‘No. I need you to take me there, but not now. Someone is working on getting us out of here. I just need you to sit and be quiet.’
36
A nervous Anton hoped he could create enough of a diversion for Stephen to get to safety. But that was only part of it. The next bit was much trickier: getting Stephen through the docking station’s force field. He hadn’t told Stephen but he wasn’t planning to go with him.
A dozen military eyes scanned the faces in the queue. Three sets of eyes lingered on him. He held his breath and stood still, his adrenaline charged and readied for flight. Their eyes scrutinised his appearance, searching for anything that seemed out of place. They compared Anton’s face to the passenger beside him. Anton tried to relax and appear uninterested in their attention. They moved on to the next person.
Anton tried to slow his racing heart. His new artificial skin had passed the human test, but the identity chips would soon reveal who he was to the military. He drew in air through his filtration device and released it. When he reached the top of the line the attendant motioned him forward. Anton placed his left thumb on the DPad. The name that flashed up sent the military into frenzied overdrive.
Strong arms grabbed at him and tried to force him to the ground. He stumbled, but regained control long enough to twist out of their grip. The military tightened their hold, still believing they had him. But Anton could not be held. He used his Indigene speed to evade them and was moving towards the doors to the rear of the dock.
An officer reached for a black object in his holster. The air crackled with energy. Static nipped at Anton’s skin. The static eliminator he carried in his pocket felt hot. He rubbed away the sensation on his arm and bolted for the doors, chased by ten military humans.
Anton reached the room he had identified as the observation deck. He had a good lead on the pursuing group, which gave him time to wedge the door shut from the inside and hold them off for a short while. There were a dozen humans already inside the large room, but not so many that he couldn’t deal with them.
His eyes honed in on the youngest, weakest-looking military human in the room. He looped an arm around his neck and stuck the sharp end of his weapon into the human’s flesh.
‘I need someone to drop the force field around this station.’
An older man stepped forward. ‘I’m not sure who you think you are, sonny, coming in here and threatening my staff. I won’t have it! Do yourself a wee favour and let young Galen go before you get into serious trouble.’
‘I’m in charge now,’ said Anton. ‘And I said drop the force field.’ A snarl crossed his lips. Galen’s body turned rigid beneath his grip.
‘This is my station,’ said the man. ‘Now drop the weapon. No harm done.’
Anton sensed the man was lying. He upped the ante. Making a quick cut across Galen’s neck, he stood behind a female and threatened her with the same weapon. Everyone gasped. Anton knew that it wasn’t the violence that had shocked them, it was how fast he’d moved. He needed to show them he was no ordinary threat. He glanced over at his first target, just as a small trickle of blood wept from the tiny cut on his neck.
‘What the hell are you?’ said the older man.
‘Do you see that craft down there?’ He nodded towards the viewing screen showing Dock 10. ‘It needs to leave. You need to drop the force field.’
‘And why would you think I’d do that for you? All you’ve managed to do so far is threaten my staff.’
‘Because I could kill you all where you stand.’
The man hesitated.
Anton had already shown them what he was capable of. It was clear he was not like them.
The man spoke to the communications operative. ‘Drop the force field.’ The operative moved to the nearest panel and manually shut off the field.
The older man stared at Anton. ‘What’s on that craft that’s so damned important to you, anyway?’
Anton smiled. ‘You have no idea.’
‘The pilot on that ship is not to be harmed in any way. If anything happens, I’ll be coming after you. I promise you that.’
The lone military man took a step forward, but remained behind the operative and Stuart for protection. ‘You won’t get away with this, you know.’ He wagged his finger in Anton’s direction. ‘You are trapped here, you fool. You won’t last two minutes when my men get here.’
Anton ignored the threat and spoke to the man in charge. ‘Contact them and tell them they can leave.’
Anton watched as the craft with Stephen on-board rose out of Dock 10. His pursuers had caught up to him and had broken down the door. Anton moved over to Galen again. Something familiar about him drew him in dangerously close. Galen’s mannerisms, the way he looked at Anton; it reminded him of his father Leon. In some small way, he began to understand Stephen’s obsession with Ben, but not his aversion to all other humans. Galen shot a hand over his neck. Anton chuckled.
‘What are you, exactly?’ said Galen.
‘If I knew that, human, I wouldn’t be here.’
A sudden discharge of electricity set Anton’s teeth on edge. He slumped to the ground as the milit
ary moved in.
37
Bill hurried through the public entrance of the Earth Security Centre and headed straight for the turbo lift at the other end of the foyer. The glass panels with reflective pigmentation covered the ceiling and bathed the public area in a natural light. Images shown on the panels transformed the grey world outside into a blue wonder. It was how the ESC marketed itself: as a beacon of light and hope while the world outside languished in despair and eternal darkness. And it worked, judging by the crowd of eager recruits gathered to hear the history of the building from the trained guides.
Bill snaked a path through the busy lobby, distracted by what he would say at the debriefing. Get the tone wrong and Gilchrist would stick him on traffic duty. His wife’s face came to mind. She was telling him to keep a cool head. If he could convince Gilchrist that he was not on the mission for any other reason, she might keep him on.
Bill noticed a pretty blonde woman walking towards him, staring at him. He steeled his defences. A distraction? Was she working with one of his enemies; looking to nab him as soon as his back was turned? It was dangerous for him to be back on Earth. She didn’t seem like a distraction. Her eyes were troubled, and she held his gaze as he passed. There was something else behind the eyes: a warning.
He nodded to her. She ignored him and walked on.
38
Laura stilled as soon as she saw Bill Taggart walking in her direction. She almost turned around but couldn’t bring herself to do it. She remembered the letters that were hidden in her apartment and the secret words they contained. She wondered why Bill was at the ESC, but reasoned it probably had something to do with his investigative work on Exilon 5.
She tried to warn him with a look but when he nodded to her, she didn’t know what to do. The place was crowded and she’d no idea if one of the roving cameras was tailing her, recording her every movement. No matter what else happened, she couldn’t let them connect her to the information she had seen. She applied enough power to her legs to carry her out the front entrance and take her home.