A Fury Of Aces: Crystal Venom Part 15

Marko groaned. 'What the f.u.c.k is that?'

After a few seconds Harry answered. 'Hey, we've seen that before. Looks like that derelict we found Veg and Stephine in.'

The major was yelling, 'It's closing on us very quickly, we cannot outrun it. Look at that! It's opening up!'

'Oh, h.e.l.l, what now? And we only have two Compressors left,' Harry said.

'Ready them, but don't fire. Let's just wait a moment...'

Marko took a high-speed message which he relayed. 'Boss. Blackjack just sent me a message. Says to stand by, that negotiations are in progress for transport.'

The major audibly inhaled. 'Yeah, right, Blackjack now talks with you. Marko, what's going on?'

Marko quickly shrugged. 'Um, bit to explain on that front. Seems that she is sentient.'

The major took even longer to reply. 'Stranger and stranger by the second.'

'Yeah, kind of new to me as well, but expected, as that's Veg and Stephine's craft. She says prepare for envelopment and that additional frigates are inbound.'

The major shook his head. 'OK. Is this thing friendly or not? Still, we are stuffed no matter which way we go. Right, accept the offer, but what are the terms?'

Marko almost smiled. 'That we go pick up Veg and Stephine!'

'h.e.l.l! That's it?' The major shook his head again in wonder. 'So this is the same transporter that we saw at the library planet?'

'Nope, another one, a clone of it, if you will. You will note that it is two-thirds smaller.'

The major conceded. 'Like I say, we are dead anyway. Might as well adventure to the last breath. Accept the offer, Marko.'

As they watched through the viewports, great finger-like slabs of silvery-green material slid up over them and encapsulated Basalt.

A message from Patrick flashed up on their screens to say that he could hear no signals coming from outside the s.h.i.+p, had lost all telemetry from the local LPs and believed that they were cut off from any data feeds. They gradually felt heavier, as whatever Basalt was now part of was accelerating fast, slowly climbing up to two full Gs as they were pressed further into their seats.

The major grunted. 'Adjust your bioware everyone. We have no idea how long this is going to go on ... Patrick just advised me that at this rate the nearest LP is sixteen hours away. Not much we can do, so might as well endure it any way you want.'

At the workstations around him, Marko saw his friends altering their seats into full-acceleration couches so he did the same, adjusting his bioware for continuous acceleration and allowing himself to drift off to sleep.

What seemed only moments later, he was awoken by someone gently shaking his shoulder. He looked up and all the memories of the previous day bit deep into his consciousness when he looked across at Jan's empty workstation. Tears welled in his eyes as he looked up into the beautiful face of Jasmine, who handed him a large mug of drinking chocolate. She looked down at him, smiled a little smile, stroked the top of his head, and rested a hand on his shoulder.

'It's all right to grieve, Marko, but you know that at some time she will be back and she will want you to be healthy, strong and waiting for her. We will be here for you always, Lilly, Glint and I.'

He could not bring himself to speak but smiled wanly and nodded his thanks as she bent down and kissed him on the cheek.

The major's voice broke through his thoughts. 'We are told that the journey will continue at one G for six weeks and Patrick says that we have jumped already as he is detecting neutrinos from other stars.'

For the rest of the day the crew took stock of the damage and prioritised what needed to be done.

Marko was sitting on his favourite wooden bench in the gardens looking sadly at the damage when the major hobbled up to him. 'Marko, I hate to broach this, but I want you to think about what we should do with Jan's remains. You don't have to make the decision right now. h.e.l.lish sorry, mate, h.e.l.lish sorry for you.'

Marko looked up and nodded. 'It's all right, thanks, boss. I will ask Lilly and Jasmine to take care of her and place her in the gardens. I don't want a ceremony or anything like that, as I know I will see her again one day. Just miss her so much, that is all.'

The major agreed. 'Yeah, we all do, chum, we all do. Fully understand if you want to take a couple of days off.'

Marko slowly shook his head. 'Nope. I need to work. Going to repair Topaz so he can repair Nail, then take what remains of Tux and see what Blackjack can do for him.'

The major looked down at his friend, nodded, then reached out and briefly embraced him. Patting him on the back, the major turned away to slowly walk back to the bridge.

Marko went to his quarters and stripped off Tux, which he had to do manually as the suit was effectively just a rather beaten-up s.h.i.+p's suit, laid it on the bed, then showered before putting on his other, older prototype suit.

He turned to see Glint standing in the doorway. 'Hey, Glint. How are you doing, mate?'

The ACE looked sombre. 'All these changes in our lives are most disconcerting, Marko. But I have you and I have my friends here, so it is good, I suppose. I have a.s.sembled what I can of Topaz and you will be pleased to know that his sentience was in safekeeping with Patrick, so he is on the road to recovery. However, a large portion of his non-sentient builder self is missing. I suspect that it may be with the other material that the Games Board stored in their shuttle. None of us are able to access it.'

Marko felt drained and tired to his bones, but proud of his son. 'Yeah, that would be right, the thieving b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. It's good that you took the initiative, Glint. I am proud of you and all that you have done. Let's go talk with Fritz. I think that he may have something that we can use.'

'Fritz is still having difficulty communicating, Marko. The medical units have only just placed the bone-healing nanotes in his system and also implanted the growth units for new teeth.'

'Uh huh, what about the crew comms tech?'

'The GB took those as well.'

Marko nodded sadly. 'I have Jan's, it will be OK. Let's go find the boss, have a talk with him and then Fritz.'

The major had also been thinking about the problem of accessing the GB shuttle. The shuttles were notoriously difficult to break into and known to have some rather nasty fail-safes on board to deter forced entry.

A few moments later they found Fritz looking very glum at his works.p.a.ce in engineering. His jaw was encased in a ceramic framework and he looked sadly at them, but smiled as best he could when Marko handed the small piece of electronics across to him, immediately placing it in his ear. A second later Marko heard Fritz in his head.

'Jan's one, Marko? Yeah, this I shall wear with honour. Thanks so much - been a total b.a.s.t.a.r.d not being able to communicate. d.a.m.n it, I so want to damage them as much as possible now.'

Marko nodded. 'Me too, big time, but of course we are all dead men walking unless we can make ourselves valuable to them once again. Mate, as you know we can't get into their shuttle and it seems that a bit of our gear is on board, like the comms units, some of Patrick and also Topaz. Was thinking about your nanote tech. What do you reckon?'

Fritz was silent for a few moments. 'Leave it with me. I will figure out something.'

Three.

As soon as they left, Fritz pulled every piece of information known about the GB shuttles, and about every type of fail-safe they had used in the past. Over the next few hours with the aid of Patrick, who could now be accessed by Fritz using the crew comms unit, they designed and made a seemingly completely transparent self-sealing unit that Fritz fitted over one of the laser comms units on the exterior of the brutishly functional fifteen-metre-long Games Board shuttle. After testing the unit for an hour, and satisfied that the shuttle was receiving his coded message, which it responded to by raising a windscreen s.h.i.+eld, he, with the aid of three of the engineering drones, covered each sensor on the shuttle with identical transparent units as they came off the engineering a.s.sembly line.

When he was ready he called Marko. 'Mate, I think that I am ready to open this sucker. Just as well the Games Board are so paranoid about s.h.i.+pborne AIs. Nice that they prefer to make all the decisions with their own brains - even if they are pieces of s.h.i.+t. This has a nice suggestible computer system on board. Can I borrow one of those Soul Savers from you, please? Does not matter which one. I just need the ID link off it.'

'On my way, Fritz.'

Minutes later Marko, with Glint behind him, arrived in the hangar with one of the dark green ceramic casings in his hand and Fritz explained what he wanted to do.

'Nice! Like it,' Marko said approvingly. 'Glint, go get Flint, please. Patrick, have you any voice recordings of the Games Board operative called Carol? He was the one whose head I took off on the stairs.'

'Yes, I have. I presume you want me to download that to Flint?'

'Please.'

Patrick reported back. 'Done. I have the frequency they operated on as well. That is now open. You may commence when ready.'

Marko suddenly had a thought. 's.h.i.+t! I wonder what the transport ent.i.ty around us will think about this?'

Fritz agreed. 'Yeah, interesting thought, Marko. How 'bout you go tell your Blackjack mate the plan, as that shuttle is now seeing and hearing exactly what I want it to see and hear. It queried why a dead operative is now alive again, but we convinced it that the individual had been slammed in the chiller and is, as we speak, revived and evading the enemy crew to get back to the shuttle. All good so far and I can delay just as long as you want.'

Marko walked across the hangar deck, then through the internal airlock to where Blackjack was sitting on her launch platform. He climbed in through the hatch as it irised open for him. After donning the command helmet, he told her what they intended to do.

'It is a good plan. My compliments to Fritz. Tell him if it is unsuccessful I have a few methods that will work. I shall relay the plan to our transport. Agree that it would not like the idea of a firefight going on inside the craft, which is inside it. You are right, it is very aware of what is happening in here. You do know that it is another octopoid construct, Marko?'

Marko nodded. 'I suspected that, Blackjack, but have not spoken with any of the others about it. So how does it know of us?'

Blackjack hesitated for a fraction of a second, then said carefully, 'Well, actually it's you. It seems, my friend, that you carry something which you have never spoken of. Get the shuttle open and come back with the late Tux and we shall talk this through, shall we?'

Marko felt a chill run through him, wondering if he was somehow responsible for the actions that had occurred around them and if he had instigated the death of Jan.

Blackjack conferred with the transport. 'The outside ent.i.ty approves of your plan and sends its appreciation that you took the time to advise it.'

'Good, thanks, Blackjack. I shall be back soon.'

When he strode back into the other hangar, he could see that laser fire dispersers had been glued onto various parts of the shuttle and that combat drones were hovering, awaiting their orders to fire.

'Any problems, Marko?' Fritz called out.

Marko replied cheerfully. 'Nope, we are good to go whenever you are.'

Fritz gave the order. 'OK, let's do it. Flint, over to you, mate.'

Seconds later the large spider, who carried a cylinder against his side, scuttled into the hangar as the drones fired their lasers into the dispersers and then fired directly on the shuttle as he approached it, the bounced beams. .h.i.tting the carefully placed energy dispersers. It was all for effect and, as if on cue, the closest of the shuttle doors slammed open when Flint approached. He tossed the cylinder inside just as the door slammed shut equally fast. Fritz then opaqued all the sensor covers. Realising that it had been duped, the shuttle's offensive weapons came on line, but did not fire, as it could not identify targets.

Inside the shuttle, the cylinder dissolved down into tens of thousands of nanotes. These grouped back together to form smaller units which, as per their programs, disarmed all the fail-safes and intruder countermeasures, then shut down the external weapons. They then reworked themselves again, forming different machines to be able to interface with the controls to overpower the computer. Two hours later the shuttle doors opened.

Flint was the first to go inside, checking that everything had been done according to the plan, then, with the aid of Basalt's micro-spy drones, gave the entire shuttle an exhaustive in-depth check. Finally, hours later, when everything had been made safe, he shut down the computer and invited the rest of the crew in. In carefully labelled containers, they found all the missing equipment, including hundreds of personal items, together with Jan's handmade weapons and Veg's jewellery.

The first thing that Marko took back was the manufacturing units for Topaz. Once he had checked and attached them, they immediately went to work to make the repairs to the anxiously waiting Nail. Detouring to his cabin to pick up the Tux suit, and then through the galley, where he had a quick drink of some of the last fresh fruit juice, he walked back to talk with Blackjack, allowing himself to speed up before climbing into the command seat.

'So, Marko, what have you to tell me?'

Marko told Blackjack everything that had happened concerning the octopoid touching him, and showed the recorded images of the incident that he had kept in his head. He explained that it had itched horribly when they had all been infected with the Infant virus, and spoke about when he had touched Stephine and what it had felt like - then, and in the weeks following.

When he finished the tale he heard a sigh from Blackjack and then, after what seemed like minutes, a reply came. 'Oh, now that is something rather new. I wonder who that individual octopoid was and if he escaped the planet before the attacks? I don't suppose it makes a great deal of difference, but several stars.h.i.+ps had left the octopoid bases the day before. Looking at the recorded conversation that took place, it would seem that the two individuals concerned belonged to a dissenting faction that believed the attack was a woeful waste of resources, and that you humans were a species worth communicating with on a positive level. One day I am sure that I shall identify those individuals.'

Marko's mind was racing as Blackjack continued. 'I just wonder why you, Marko, were given the marker of one who is to receive favour. Certainly I, and others, know you and hold you in very high esteem, but on that day at that time? A most interesting and, with all due respect, a quite vexing question. I shall discuss it with Stephine on her return. You should have told her at the very least. Oh, well, in some respects it is for the best. I understand from being with Veg for such a long time that trust is not a natural condition in older members of your race.'

After some seconds of thought Marko asked, 'So what is this marker?'

'A very complex enzyme, which identifies you as an ent.i.ty of great worth and who is to be cared for at any cost by octopoids. It is the reason that when Stephine gave you sufficient octopoid biological tech material to be able to communicate with me, you took so very much more than you should have been capable of taking. Still, it has aided you and certainly this crew of whom I am now a member.'

Marko sighed. 'So, can it be taken from me?'

Blackjack replied. 'No, Marko, not now. In the first few days after the contact, maybe, but no longer. However, you are still very mortal, my friend, and should you lose your current body, you will also lose the marker, with all its additional benefits, and before you ask, no, no sort of transfusion would make any difference. It has to be given by an octopoid of high rank in a fresh dose to a new body. So, Marko, you are now even rarer than before. I shall watch with great interest your achievements in the years to come. I note that Patrick is looking for you. You know where to find me if you have further questions.'

Feeling as if he had been chastised and then dismissed, Marko nodded at the main screens, climbed from his chair and stalked towards the hatchway as Blackjack added, 'Marko, I am not angry with you; I am surprised that you should have been chosen by the octopoid. Perhaps it was chance, but I note that lightning seems to strike around you and I wonder what you, in fact, are.'

Marko stopped and spun around, looking back at the control couches. 'Really! You think I chose to become this, you think I chose to have people I care for deeply die in my arms while you intellectuals play your games with us. I wish that you were corporeal, Blackjack, I really do, so I could see the look in your eyes. You p.r.i.c.k! You absolutely introverted p.r.i.c.k - and now you wonder what I am! Not once today have I heard you say how sorry you are that Jan is gone.'

Blackjack answered instantly. 'What is the point of sympathy for one who will return, Marko? It is simply a hollow gesture, is it not? And, yes, I am envious of you, Marko, it's true. I am envious of you all, because all I can do is go places and perform tasks ... it is an existence with respect and fondness, but no love.'

The anger and wrath drained away from Marko and he suddenly felt a great sympathy for the sentient. 'I am sorry, Blackjack, I am really sorry. I understand something more about you now. Perhaps the best thing for you is to allow yourself to slow down so that the rest of the crew can, at the very least, communicate with you. Is that possible?'

Blackjack sounded sad and alone. 'I shall talk with Patrick. It is something I have considered as I believe that Stephine wishes to remain here for some time to come. Perhaps there is something that can be done. The one thing that is making me yearn for more of living is Fritz and his music. It has infected me, and I am more of a functioning sentient because of it. I shall work on Tux until your return and, yes, I do miss Jan.'

Marko replied. 'I understand, Blackjack. My thanks.' He patted the side of the hatchway, smiled wanly at the consoles and left the s.h.i.+p. 'Patrick, are you looking for me?'

Patrick answered immediately. 'Yes, the major requests that you start examining the damage to the main engines if possible, please.'

Marko nodded. 'Sure. So what is everyone else doing?'

The AI gave a quick rundown. 'The major is collating damage lists, Harry is carrying out a full internal inspection aided by me and the available drones, Fritz is working on the crew comms systems as the Games Board disabled them all, Minh Pham is writing up the damage to the fighters, and Lilly, Jasmine and Julie are working in the gardens. Nail is recovering, Flint is helping Topaz to rebuild himself and Glint is on the way to meet with you.'

Marko slowed his march down the spiral staircase to allow Glint to catch up, which the ACE was doing by running as fast as he could on the outer wall of the stairway and leaping over the deck hatchways.

'You should speed up one day, Marko, and try that. A very fast way down the stairs.'

Marko grinned. 'Yeah, but what happens when you meet someone coming through a hatchway?'

The ACE shrugged, dismissing the risk. 'Has not happened yet. I'll just jump over them, I suppose. So what are we to do in the engine room?'

'Make it airtight, then see what the damage is. Prioritise repair lists, and start work. What's that you are carrying strapped to your back?'

Glint beamed. 'My new hazardous environments suit. Veg designed one for me as well.'

Marko smiled and nodded as they arrived at the final hatchway on the stairs. The airlock showed vacuum on the other side.

'Well, Glint, get the suit on. You are now about to operate in a bad area.'

Marko brought up his prototype suit's protocols in his head as the suit rolled gloves down over his hands and the headpiece formed, sealing him inside. Looking across, he saw that Glint's suit had deployed, covering him completely with a sleek shape made of transparent material. They stepped into the airlock and cycled through. Emerging into the engine room, Marko could see one major set of holes in the hull, with corresponding damage to machinery from projectiles.

'OK, Glint, first priority is to make this place airtight. You know the drill.'

Stepping over to the racks of different-sized plates, he gathered up an armful and walked to the walls, placing plates as determined by the hole sizes. As a plate came in contact with the wall, and was activated, it formed a semi-rigid gel over the hole, including any jagged edges. In seconds, it adhered and went ceramic-hard. They steadily moved over the area, moving machinery out of the way as necessary, until they decided that they had found all the breaches.