Redemption Protocol (Contact) (47 page)

“Before we discuss other matters, could you tell us how you have sustained yourself for ten thousand years?”

“The system has sustained me.”

“And does this length of time seem long to you, in relation to your span?”

“It does seem long to me, yes, although our span is long and possibly indefinite. Could you tell me of yours?”

“Yes, our span is as you describe your own. Could I ask exactly where you are as we speak at this moment?”

“I am in prison.”

“And where is that prison?”

“The system has illuminated my cell. You see me.”

Abbott gazed upward.

“And what kind of being are you? Are you, for example, biologically evolved or mechanically constructed?”

“I am an evolved carbon-based bipedal life form as it appears that you are. Our species has developed the ability to improve ourselves beyond evolution. Can you also do this?”

“Yes, we have that ability. What is the reason you were imprisoned?”

“The owner-species of this ship collected me. I am a sample.”

“A sample?”

“Of my species.”

Abbott gestured at the altar.

“Do you understand the functioning of the translation system here, Ualus?”

“It is beyond my comprehension. Have you met the owner-species of this ship?”

“No. Can you describe them?”

“They are powerful. They appear benevolent. They do not care for species they consider beneath them. There is grave danger here.”

“How did you come to be here?”

“I was taken when my species was destroyed.”

Abbott appeared rather startled by the finality of this response.

“Your
species
was
destroyed?
”

“Effectively destroyed. Is your ship intact?”

Abbott’s eyes narrowed as he made a snap judgment about the value of divulging this information.

“Yes.”

“So you were not taken by the Talmas?”

“No. We traveled here ourselves. When did you last have any contact with the Talmas?”

“Nearly six thousand years ago.”

Havoc recalled the energy readings they had picked up on approach to the system, dating to around ten thousand and six thousand years ago. He thought about the vast scarring around some of the Plash surface structures, particularly around the Anvil. This alien hadn't had any visitors for six thousand years. It certainly painted a picture, though of what Havoc had no idea.

Abbott gazed into the light.

“Can you tell us more of these grave dangers you believe are here?”

“Yes and of the energy sources present on this ship including the gravatic beam.”

Havoc raised an eyebrow. This was quite an offer given that the gravitational anomaly was one of the factors that apparently highlighted the existence of Weavrian energy in the first place. Whether the offer was too good to be true, Havoc couldn’t quite say.

Abbott swept an arm out to the side.

“Do you understand the energy systems that are present on this planet?”

“Yes.”

“Please tell us about them.”

“I have one request before I discuss these technologies. Release me.”

Abbott nodded courteously.

“Let us learn more about you, Ualus. We must be cautious and safeguard our position, given what you have said about the danger here.”

“Of course. But I am only one and you are many, and the owner-species may return.”

“Do you understand these energy technologies yourself, to explain them?”

“Of course. Both our own technologies and those of the
Eliminator
.”

“The
Eliminator
?”

“The
Eliminator
is the name of this ship.”

 93. 

Stone stood in the first of three cabins stacked side by side underneath an overhanging cliff at the top of a slope which led down to the shaft. The cabins were standard storage containers that had been fitted with environmental controls and life support to make them habitable. Despite being bolted down and heavily guyed, the wind rattled Stone’s cabin like a cat pawing at a new toy.

Stone looked out of the window. The shaft was a gaping maw – a gigantic bore hole that plummeted two hundred kilometers to where voluminous drifts of ammonia-based snow collected at the bottom. What was beyond that, they had no idea. The high winds blasted tendrils of cloud across the shaft where they were torn to pieces in the frequent eddies and vortexes.

Stone’s gaze traced round the curving lip of the shaft toward their crane and its adjacent hook platform. The crane's ground assembly resembled a scorpion with its two muscular forelegs set on the edge in a cluster of hydraulics, while the rest of the structure, including a large stack of counterweights, were arrayed in a narrow 'V' stretched out behind it. Stone thought the crane looked impressive, clutching the edge with its boom extended over the yawning darkness. The scale of the surroundings was astonishing – the shaft was three kilometers across at the surface and gradually widened as it descended.

What they were here for was found through a slot in the side of the shaft four kilometers below them. There, exactly where the map in the Plash library had indicated, were fourteen alien energy systems, stacked haphazardly in the corner of an otherwise empty cavern. Half the energy systems weighed seventy tonnes each and the other half weighed nearer two hundred. No guesses for which ones they were taking out first.

Stone had hated every second of being lowered and raised in the shaft. He didn't mind flying inside a vehicle but he hated heights. At least they were ready to lift out the seventy tonne reactors now. The operation was slightly complicated by the overhanging nature of the shaft. Stone had arranged secondary cable drums to ensure the reactors wouldn’t swing back into the wall like a clock pendulum or worse, pull the crane over the edge. This was his key concern and one that he was at that precise moment paying no attention to whatsoever.

He smiled as he gazed out the window.

“A blond haired Adonis or more of a dark haired scoundrel?”

Novosa replied from thousands of kilometers away.

“Oh I don't know, maybe I like your shiny head the way it is?”

Stone raised an eyebrow.

“I could be either.”

“Except for that lump, that can go.”

“Anything for you, Cupcake. I'm not usually this easy, of course.”

“Oh I'm sure you're not. I remember what a challenge you were.”

“I was swept away...”

“I have to go, Bob.”

Stone loved the way Saskia called him 'Bob'. It moved him in ways he'd forgotten existed.

“Ok, Cherry Pie, speak to you later.”

“These names are ridiculous, Bob. Do you make fun of me?”

“No. It's just you're like a cherry blast smoothie.”

“And what is that?”

“Unbeatable!”

Novosa laughed.

Stone’s eyes brightened.

“And would the beautiful lady take offense if I was to plant a gentle kiss on her hand...”

“Of course not.”

“How about her shoulder?”

“Mmm.”

“I should tell the lady I'm moving lower now.”

Novosa laughed again.

“Stop it. I have to go. Until later, my compact hero.”

“Big on heart, darling, big on heart.”

Novosa clicked off.

“Best fuck you'll never have.”

Stone turned in surprise. He’d been so absorbed in his efforts to woo the delightful Miss Novosa that he hadn't even heard Ekker come in. Ekker must have overhead his side of the conversation. Stone didn't care; he was in too good a mood. He swaggered over to the coffee.

“I'll try to match your jealousy for me with my pity for you, Ekker.”

Ekker scowled.

“It's not jealousy, Stone, you're just not going to get any.”

Stone felt rather smug as he poured himself a coffee.

“Oh really?”

“I might step in and take a little myself.”

Stone snorted as he strolled back to sit against the table.

“Women see through your type, Ekker.”

Intrepido walked in, heading directly for the coffee.

Ekker’s eyes narrowed.

“And what type is that?”

“Oh I don't know... mainly, just not that much fun.”

Ekker sneered.

“Not all these bitches want fun, Stone.”

Stone clasped his chin theatrically.

“Hmm, I think I see your issue with the fairer sex right there, Ekker. It's subtle but I think I've got it.”

Ekker stepped forward, squaring up a little.

“And just what is my issue?”

Stone looked Ekker up and down.

“Well the symptoms are classic... angry, poor impulse control, perhaps a little neurotic. Women can sense the real problem...”

“Oh yeah?”

Stone coughed the word.

“Impotence.”

Intrepido barked out a laugh.

Ekker's lip curled further as he looked down at Stone’s side arm. Havoc had given Stone a more manageable Tregler Five to replace his Midar Handcannon. Ekker stared at him.

“You even know how to use that thing?”

Stone laughed.

“You going to challenge me to a duel, Ekker?”

“You not going to fight for your little whore, Stone?”

Stone shook his head at this childishness.

“Maybe I should teach you a lesson.”

“Oh yeah?”

Intrepido leaned back against the cabinets on the far side of the room.

“Fighting talk.”

Stone put a finger to his lips, pretending to think about it.

“I guess female anatomy would be a good first lesson. But then, will you ever need to know anything about it, Ekker?”

Intrepido laughed and shook his head.

Ekker stepped forward.

“You little fuck.”

Stone chuckled. What was Ekker going to do? Hit him? He raised an eyebrow.

“So you finally acknowledge that I
can
get some action, unlike––”

Stone didn't see it coming; he just felt a crushing blow to the side of his head. He felt shocked as much as hurt. Another blur came in. Stone turned his head away and twisted his arm to block the strike, covering himself with coffee.

The second blow collided with his cheekbone and Stone cried out in pain and surprise. His vision blacked out momentarily as Ekker punched him squarely on the forehead. Stunned and disoriented, Stone threw up his arms to protect himself. Ekker speared him with a vicious right hook and Stone’s legs folded underneath him. He banged off the table and collapsed to the floor. His face stung and his head was ringing. He thought maybe his nose and cheekbone were broken. He moaned as he raised himself up onto one elbow. Blood trickled from his nose and mouth.

Ekker leaned over him. The brute wasn't even drawing breath.

“Any more witty comments, Stone?”

Stone felt nervous. His words came out thick and slurred.

“Alright, Ekker, you made your point.”

“Oh have I?”

Stone felt a thundering impact as Ekker punched him in the face. There was a hot, stinging sensation where Ekker's fist had struck. Warm blood poured into Stone’s mouth where his teeth had cut his cheek. He'd had enough. He didn't understand why Intrepido hadn't jumped in to stop Ekker. He muttered through blood and phlegm.

“Help me, Rodrigo.”

Intrepido shrugged.

“Big boys’ games, big boys’ rules.”

Ekker stepped back.

“What he's saying, Stone, is don't start––”

Ekker kicked him in the stomach. Stone whiplashed forward, gagging and clutching his solar plexus. The blow hurt so much that he struggled to breathe. He brought up his knees to try to relieve the pain.

“––what you can’t finish,” Ekker said.

Stone was hurt and winded. He just wanted it to stop. Ekker was on their security team to protect him. There were rules. This shouldn't be happening. He felt scared. He didn’t know how far Ekker would go. He glanced up.

“Please.”

Ekker’s face lit up like a child at a surprise birthday party.

“Oh, please? Please now? No Havoc to step in and protect you while you––”

Ekker's punch struck Stone above the eye. Stone cried out and threw his hands over his head.

Ekker kicked him in his exposed midriff again.