‘…You want me to what?...’
‘Fire rockets at the storage hold’s outer space door,’ he repeated.
‘…but, Captain, I…’
‘Sara, fire the rockets. That’s an order.’
Ajax shook his head and wiped his brow. ‘If we survive this I’m going to buy you a trophy,’ he said, a grim smile crossing his lips.
‘Get into a sleeping pod! We’re going to make it.’
‘I’ve always admired your overconfidence, Cap,’ said Ajax as he reluctantly hopped into one of the sleeping pods; Ethan had already slid into another.
‘Seal your pods,’ shouted Michael.
‘What about you, Cap?’
‘I’ll be the last one in.’
Both Ajax and Ethan hit the operation lever inside their pods. A moment later the pods sealed and they both immediately fell asleep.
An explosion rang out which was followed by two additional blasts. Within moments the artificial gravity dissipated inside the shipping container. Michael lost his footing and was floating in zero gravity as the container was sucked out into space through the gaping hole in the side of the space station. He half expected the shipping container to decompress as it drifted away, but the door seal maintained its integrity.
‘Sara, pull us in with the gravitational harpoon.’
‘…Captain, how will I get you on board the Out Drifter? I can’t open the shipping container in space…’
‘Yes you can,’ said Michael. ‘We will be contained in vacuum proof sleeping pods. Program one of the Out Drifter’s external bots to open the container. When we float out you can pick each of us up with the external robotic arm and load us into the airlock.’
‘…It’s a crazy plan, Captain, but I think it will work…’
CHAPTER TWO
Ivan’s body was lying on the workshop table in the cargo bay. It had taken several hours to locate him floating in space after he had been sucked out along with everything else in the space station’s storage hold. The lasers had destroyed his internal battery and damaged a large part of his hydraulic motor.
Michael brought a power cord and connected it to the power outlet which was hanging out of his chest. Ivan instantly opened his eyes.
‘Captain, I have sustained severe damage to my battery and my alternator will need to be replaced.’
‘I’m glad you are still alive,’ said Michael.
‘Technically, most people would say I am not alive, Captain.’
‘What I’m really trying to say is that I am glad your processing unit and memory circuits are operational.’
‘I comprehend your meaning, Captain.’
Sara walked into the cargo bay. ‘We’re travelling at interstellar speed and should arrive at Timber 5 in eight days, but we still have nothing to sell to the scrappers,’ she said.
‘We have to change course for Zeno Par,’ said Michael.
‘Zeno Par,’ repeated Sara, her eyes narrowing. ‘That would take us through the alien battle zone. We could go the long way around, but we probably wouldn’t have enough fuel to make it back to Timber 5. The reactor fuel level is below thirty percent.’
‘The aliens won’t be able to intercept us if we are travelling at interstellar speed.’
‘Don’t bet on it,’ she said soberly. ‘I was once in a battle convoy of thirty ships travelling through alien controlled space. We thought there was no way they could stop us, but they used a sophisticated gravitational technology to draw some of our ships out of interstellar speed. They destroyed those ships before we even knew what was happening.’
‘It’s a risk we have to take,’ he said.
‘Why Zeno Par?’ she asked.
‘There’s someone I need to find.’
‘I thought we were a salvage crew, not bounty hunters,’ she said, crossing her arms.
‘I’m not after a bounty,’ he said.
‘Then what are you after?’ Michael didn’t answer. ‘Captain, I don’t know about this idea. We’ve already been out in space for five weeks, and we still have nothing.’
‘I will compensate the crew.’
‘That’s very kind of you, but you know we won’t take your money.’
‘Listen, Sara, I don’t expect you to come all the way out to Zeno Par without being paid.’
**
A few hours later the crew were sitting in the living room which was a small area situated in the midsection of the ship. There was a central metal table which was surrounded by mismatched chairs and comfortable couches.
‘I’m still in shock, Cap. I can’t believe you managed to get us out of that mess,’ said Ajax as he swigged back on a bottle of Blue Obliteration, which was a chemically enhanced alcoholic beverage. The slogan on the bottle read: Guaranteed obliteration of your blues.
‘We were lucky,’ said Ethan.
‘No, it wasn’t luck; it was Cap’s quick thinking,’ said Ajax. He took another swig. ‘So, Cap, why are you taking us out to Zeno Par?’
‘There is someone I have to find.’
‘Someone?’ questioned Ajax.
‘He once lived in the Epherian Empire.’
‘Was he cast out of the empire like you?’ asked Sara.
‘Yes, he is living in exile. I have been searching for him for many years. I knew he was somewhere in the outer regions of the galaxy. I didn’t think I would ever find him. There are five hundred and eleven civilised planets and thousands of smaller colonies in the Outer Worlds. I was searching for one man among trillions.’
‘Why is he important?’ asked Ethan.
Michael cast his eyes down for a moment before answering. ‘The name he uses in exile is Acacius Trifon. It would not be right for me to attempt to explain why I must find him at this time; nevertheless, when we find him you will see why he is important. Until then I will ask you to trust me. This mission is essential.’
‘All right, Cap, if you say so,’ said Ajax.
‘We have to stop at space station X5126 to replenish the oxygen tanks and repair Ivan,’ said Sara. ‘After the stopover we will take a course through the alien battle zone to Zeno Par.’
‘The alien battle zone,’ said Ajax, shaking his head. ‘That doesn’t sound like a good idea.’
‘We don’t have enough fuel to go the long way around, and they don’t do reactor replenishments on X5126,’ said Michael. ‘We might be able to replenish the reactor at Zeno Par, but we won’t know until we arrive. To be sure, we have to cut a path through the alien battle zone to make it back to Timber 5 before we deplete the reactor.’
‘Nasty. This plan looks like impatience to me,’ said Ajax, his eyes darting back to Michael. ‘We should turn the ship back to Timber 5 and go looking for your friend after refuelling.’
‘We can’t delay this mission,’ said Michael. ‘I scanned the news signals on the open information networks. I gathered all the information I could about Zeno Par. Reports are circulating that the aliens are about to invade the Zeno Par System. We have to find Acacius Trifon before they do.’
**
It was a two day journey to the space station X5126 travelling at interstellar speed. X5126 was situated in an area just outside alien controlled space. The station was an old trading outpost that once belonged to the Trade Guild. The Trade Guild later sold it to the Precious Elements Alliance who had recently given up on the station due to its close proximity to the alien controlled space. X5126 was now owned by a group of shady individuals. It was considered a lawless outpost, and not many people would choose to go there unless they could hold their own in a gunfight.
Captain Michael was sitting in the co-pilot’s seat in the control room as Sara guided the Out Drifter toward the massive space station. Ajax was standing at the door and watching on as the ship approached. The station gradually became visible through the viewing panel. X5126 looked like a gigantic rectangular block; it was at least two kilometres in length and about seven hundred metres in width and floating in a close orbit around a small red dwarf
star called Ambrose 80.
‘We have clearance to land in docking bay 28,’ said Sara.
A series of large docking bay space doors were located about half way along the mid-section of the station. Some of them were big enough for larger cruisers to dock, but most of the bays were for small transports and single pilot spacecraft. Larger ships would have to connect to the station using an extendable corridor with a security door affixed to one side; such corridors were known as extender arms. Sara glided the Out Drifter toward the docking bay. The ship slowly drifted through the directed artificial gravity field. Directed gravitational fields were used throughout the galaxy to prevent a pressurised atmosphere escaping into space.
The Out Drifter entered one of the largest docking bays and three strobe lights indicated their landing site on the steel platform. Sara brought the ship gently down and powered off the reactor.
Michael, Sara and Ajax then walked back to the cargo bay. Ethan had placed Ivan’s body on a hover trolley.
‘All right, let’s say hello to X5126. Be careful; this station has a bad reputation,’ said Michael. ‘Remember there’s no law here.’ He slung his rifle over his shoulder. ‘Ajax; I want you to buy the supplies. Ethan and Sara; the two of you can replenish the oxygen tanks and life support systems. I’ll go and find someone who can work on Ivan. We’ll meet later at one of the local saloons before we leave.’
‘Be careful, Captain,’ said Sara.
‘Don’t worry about me; I can look after myself,’ he said with a wry smile.
Michael pushed the trolley through the exit door and stepped onto the platform. The rest of the crew followed after him. He was instantly met by a bulky man with a bald head and a deeply lined face.
The man cleared his throat before speaking. ‘Welcome to our space station,’ he said. ‘My name is Budo. I’m the owner of this docking platform.’
Michael stared into Budo’s muddy eyes and wondered what he could possibly want. ‘Did you receive our transfer of guild credits?’
‘Yes, yes,’ said Budo with a sly grin and cold eyes. ‘I received your payment for the first twelve hours. I wanted to explain our terms before you enter the station.’
‘What terms?’ asked Sara sharply.
‘If you’re not back within twelve hours we will confiscate your ship.’
‘What’s this rubbish you’re talking about?’ asked Ajax gruffly.
‘It’s our policy,’ said Budo. ‘Your ship is ours if you don’t leave within twelve hours. You can, of course, pay for an extension; however, such extensions must be paid in full before your time is up.’
‘Your rates are nothing short of robbery!’ snapped Sara.
Budo shook his head and sniggered. ‘You are welcome to leave if you think you can find a lower price on another platform.’
‘We’ll be back in less than twelve hours,’ said Michael as he pushed the trolley around Budo.
Ethan sealed the Out Drifter’s exit door and switched on the triple quantum encryption lock and the automatic security system. The crew then crossed the platform and arrived at the service elevator doors. Generally elevators could take them anywhere within the space station.
Michael pushed the trolley into one of the elevators. ‘I’ll contact you after Ivan is repaired,’ he said to the crew as the elevator doors slid shut.
‘WELCOME TO ELEVATOR 57,’ said a robotic monotone voice from the control console. ‘WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO?’
‘Elevator, take me to someone who repairs androids.’
‘THERE ARE NINE POSSIBILITIES.’
‘Who gets the worst reviews?’
‘THOMPSON VEGA, LEVEL 114, APARTMENT 331’
‘Take me there.’
‘WOULDN’T YOU PREFER SUNORDER CAVA CORPORATION? THEY HAVE REMARKABLE REVIEWS AND OFFER THE HIGHEST QUALITY SERVICE’
‘Are they paying you to say that?’ He waited for an answer, but the elevator didn’t reply. ‘I thought so. Take me to Thompson Vega.’
‘REQUEST ACCEPTED. PLEASE TRANSFER TWO TRADE GUILD CREDITS.’
Michael took his Guild Credit Transfer Device (commonly known as a GCTD) from his belt bag. The GCTD was a small handheld device with a glowing sensory keypad. Such devices were very common throughout the entire galaxy and almost everyone carried a GCTD. The Trade Guild credit was the universally accepted galactic currency because the Trade Guild had been endorsed by the Epherian Empire. The Trade Guild had been in the currency business since the time shortly after the arrival of humanity in the Triangulum Galaxy.
GCTDs were also impossible to hack and once they were assigned to an individual they could never be transferred to another person. There were no confirmed incidents of anyone being able to break the encryption of a GCTD. The Trade Guild had been at the forefront of computer technology for centuries. The guild’s encryption technology was extremely advanced. A common myth which circulated throughout the galaxy was that part of the GCTD actually existed in a different spacial dimension, so any attempt to reverse engineer the GCTD was bound to fail unless the means to access extra spacial dimensions was also available to the engineer. Knowledge of extradimensional technology was beyond the capability of most electronic engineers.
The GCTD beeped and two credits were instantly transferred. The elevator began to move, and twenty seconds later the door slid open. Directly ahead was the entrance to Sunorder Cava Corporation.
Michael sighed and shook his head. ‘Elevator, what are you doing? I told you to take me to Thompson Vega.’
‘I AM NOT PROGRAMMED TO ACCEPT ILLOGICAL REQUESTS,’ said the elevator.
‘You mean that you’re programmed to take me where I don’t want to go, or rather, where your owner will be paid a commission.’ Michael drew his plasma pistol and pointed it at the elevator’s control console. ‘I don’t want to have to ask again. Take me to Thompson Vega or I will take my two credits value out of you.’
‘REQUEST ACCEPTED.’ The door slid shut. About ten seconds later the door reopened. Michael looked out on a very long and dim corridor. For a moment he had second thoughts. Only a handful of fluorescent lights lit the corridor and half the lights were flickering. ‘LEVEL 114 AS REQUESTED.’
Michael nodded and pushed the hover trolley out into the corridor. The elevator door closed behind him. He walked forward into the gloom. Solid steel apartment doors lined the way. He continued along until he reached door 331. A small panel on the apartment door read: Thompson Vega, Robotic and Synthetic Organisms, Construction and Repair. He looked around for a doorbell or console; there was a speaker, but there didn’t seem to be a doorbell.
‘Looks like I’ll have to knock,’ he muttered under his breath as he reached out. A small hatch opened at the top and a thin tentacle with a synthetic eye looked down at him. He drew his plasma pistol and the eye quickly retreated inside and the hatch closed.
‘…Does your android need repairs?…’ asked a voice from the speaker.
‘Yes,’ answered Michael. ‘What was the eye on the tentacle all about?’
‘…Oh, that’s just one of my projects; don’t be concerned. You can bring your android inside for me to have a closer look…’ said the voice.
An instant later the apartment door slid open. Standing directly inside was a short old man with long white hair and spectacles with crimson lenses. In one hand he was carrying a metal pot and the tentacle with the eye was curled up inside. In the other hand he was holding a screen that was a picture of what the eye was seeing.
‘My name is Thompson Vega. I specialise in the construction of synthetic organisms.’
‘I’m Captain Michael Cornelius of the Out Drifter,’ said Michael. ‘That’s a scary looking thing you have there.’
‘This is probably my best invention to date. It’s made using a programmable silicone base overlying a micro carbon skeleton with a replicating nano-bot matrix. The nano-bots give this one the ability to grow and develop.’ Thompson looked down at the synthetic organism; his eyes were twinkl
ing with pride.
‘I have no idea what you’re talking about; how can a synthetic organism grow?’ asked Michael.
‘The technology is advancing at a rapid rate and entering a new era of development. Self-replicating synthetic organisms will soon be the norm. It really is a fascinating time to be working in the field. Please, follow me.’ Thompson Vega turned around and walked into the apartment.
Michael scanned the dark and dingy room. The entire apartment was crawling with bizarre synthetic creatures and other more conventional droids. There was a giant robotic ant, which was about a metre in length. It was walking in circles around the apartment. There were several massive synthetic spiders on the walls, and a large dog was sitting in the corner of the room. The dog was staring at him with glaring, dark eyes. Michael had only seen a few dogs in his life and this one was by far the largest he had ever seen. It had thick black fur, ears that pointed sharply upward, and an oversized jaw.
‘Is the dog real?’ asked Michael.
‘No. Dog-Two is an advanced synthetic battle droid. About three years ago a customer came here and asked me to construct a synthetic dog that could endure severe battlefield conditions. He paid up front, but he never returned.’
‘Why do you call him Dog-Two?’
‘Dog-One was my first attempt. Unfortunately Dog-One tried to kill me, so I had to start again from scratch. Thankfully Dog-Two is more stable than his predecessor. I have programmed him to be as loyal as he is savage, yet he has been sitting in the same position for the last twelve months. I think his loyalty programming is competing with his battlefield programming and creating a state of perpetual stagnation. He won’t let me near enough to check what the actual problem is.’
Michael stared at Dog-Two for a moment. The dog bared its fangs at him and its nostrils flared.
‘He likes you,’ said Thompson.
‘He looks like he wants to eat me,’ said Michael nervously.
Thompson laughed, which sounded more like a mad cackle. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. Synthetic organisms cannot eat.’ He leaned over the trolley and looked down at Ivan’s body for a few moments. He then examined him with a handheld scanner.
‘I can have your android fixed in twenty minutes.’
‘How much do you charge?’
‘Nineteen hundred credits for a full restoration.’
Michael groaned and shook his head. ‘Are you joking?’