Read Mars Encounter: Prequel Stories Page 14


  Chapter 13

  21:00 MTC, October 28th 2011

  United States of America Base, Elysium Mons, Mars

  Rachel walked into her quarters and switched on the lights. Startled. Cot was already sitting in a chair facing the door.

  “What are you doing here?” Rachel asked, terrified as she spoke.

  “I really liked Connor you know.” Cot spoke as if trying to hold back the anger in his voice. “He was funny and I liked him.”

  “What’s that got to do with anything?”

  “And I know he could be a bit of an ass at times but he worked hard and he cared about what he was doing here and he believed in the mission.”

  “We all do.”

  “I am trying very hard not to get angry.” Cot spoke softly with an eerie calmness. “Connor didn’t deserve to die out there.”

  “It was an accident.”

  “You see I don’t think it was.” Cot paused for a moment. “Why did you have him killed?”

  “What are you saying Cot?”

  “Something’s been bothering me since you got here, I couldn’t figure it out at first but then it dawned on me. You see I’ve worked with lazy commanders, incompetent commanders and out of their depth commanders but you’re none of those.” Cot rose from his seat, he stood directly in front of Rachel. “You’re professionally incompetent, making the wrong decisions on purpose since you got this mission.”

  “What precisely are you accusing me of?” Rachel asked.

  “I think we have a saboteur in our midst and I think it is you.” Cot starred at Rachel.

  “I think I have something stuck in my teeth.” Rachel put her hand up to her mouth. Cot grabbed her wrist.

  “We know about the cyanide capsule. We know what your escape plan is.” Cot opened the door behind Rachel. There stood three military guards, Daniel and Katlyne.

  “Is it true.” Daniel asked.

  “Look I can explain.”

  “Don’t bother.” Daniel said before turning and walking off.

  “I can’t believe I didn’t account for this.” Katlyne said, shaking her head in disbelief. “It seems so obvious now.” Katlyne grabbed Rachel’s arm. “You’re working for them aren’t you, back on Earth. You’re working for them.”

  “I will not talk.” Rachel barked angrily.

  “Statistically unlikely.” Katlyne replied before Rachel was dragged away by the guards.