The Outer Worlds: Book One of the Epherian Chronicles (21 page)

‘
We’re going to stop here to replenish the reactor,’ said
Michael. ‘It’ll take about an hour. Ethan, I need you to hack the
refuelling system. This city has been abandoned.’

‘
Why was it abandoned?’ asked Ethan.

‘
They were expecting an alien invasion which hasn’t yet
eventuated. We won’t be around long enough to see it
arrive.’

‘
Yeah, that’s what we thought on Zeno Par,’ said Ajax
doubtfully.

‘
It is a statistical improbability that the alien fleet would
arrive in the one hour it would take us to replenish the reactor,’
said Ivan.

‘
Statistical improbabilities don’t reflect well in my life
experience,’ said Ajax.

‘
Then your life must be exception to the law of probability,’
said Ivan in dry monotone.

‘
It always has been,’ said Ajax with a hoarse laugh as he
opened the exit door and stepped out onto the concrete
platform.

The air was
cold, and the last rays of light were streaming across the docks.
About twenty metres away was a refuelling station, which was a
large rectangular metal box with a control console and a robotic
arm with an attached adjustable fuel pipe. The robotic arm could
extend out in many directions and take the refuelling pipe to the
ship.

Michael and
Ethan followed Ajax over to the console. The GCTD had been removed
from the controls. Ethan stepped forward with the quantum code
breaker. He connected wirelessly to the console and within five
seconds had broken the security code. Meanwhile Ajax walked over to
the edge of the platform and stared out at the empty city and the
large lake beyond. Michael and Acacius walked across to stand
beside him.

‘
Cap, this whole city is a dream for a salvage crew. There must
be thousands of valuable components out there. We should take some
time and see what we can find.’

‘
We do not have time,’ said Acacius. ‘The End Machine is
searching for us as we speak. The shadow is moving throughout the
Outer Worlds. We cannot delay our mission.’

‘
Hmmm, well, it’s a pity,’ said Ajax. ‘I hope money doesn’t
become a problem for us in the future; because you’re looking at
our one big chance to cash in.’

The robotic
arm of the refuelling system extended out toward the Out Drifter
and connected to the reactor’s fuel outlet, which was situated
toward the back of the ship. Michael viewed the ship as the light
of day faded away. The scorch marks and dents in the outer hull
were much more numerous after the battle on Zeno Par. The ship was
beginning to look like a flying wreck. Michael knew that other
members of the Outer World Salvage Guild would laugh if they saw
the Out Drifter, but he had never cared much about how things
looked on the outside.

‘
Beautiful, isn’t she?’ asked Ethan with a knowing grin. ‘It’s
a miracle the outer hull wasn’t breached in the last
battle.’

‘
Armorstonian ships are as tough as they get,’ said Michael
with a dash of pride in his voice.

‘
Yes, they are tough, but not indestructible,’ said Ethan. ‘One
day the Out Drifter is going to reach its maximum point of
endurance. There are multiple ways the ship could meet its final
end, and it won’t be pretty when that day comes, especially if we
are in outer space.’

‘
I prefer to maintain an optimistic attitude regarding the
ship,’ said Michael under his breath.

Ethan shrugged
his shoulders and lowered his eyes. ‘Captain, an optimistic
attitude has nothing to do with it. It doesn’t matter what attitude
you have; only repair work will keep the ship flying. These are
mechanical issues, not psychological.’

Michael turned
back toward Ajax and Acacius.

Cynthia and
Dog-Two had come out of the ship and were approaching the edge of
the platform. Night was falling over the city and a mist was
descending on the town from the mountains.

‘
It should be morning soon,’ said Cynthia. ‘I read on the
computer that the nights only last three hours on Nod
33.’

‘
We’ll be gone before sunrise,’ said Ajax in a gentler tone
than he had previously taken with Cynthia. ‘I’m guessing we have
about an hour before the reactor is replenished, which gives me
some time to look for essentials. I’m going to check out some of
the abandoned bars in the town. They may have left some bottles
behind. You never know what you can find in a ghost city,’ he said,
pointing toward a street that cut away from the docks in the
direction of the city centre. He turned toward the dock elevator,
which was across at the far side the platform.

‘
Don’t be longer than an hour,’ said Michael.

‘
Don’t worry, Cap. I won’t keep you waiting,’ he replied,
stepping into the elevator.

Michael turned
back to Acacius. He seemed to be in a trance as his eyes scanned
the buildings and structures below.

‘
There are other human beings here,’ he said in a low
voice.

‘
We should rescue them,’ said Cynthia.

‘
No, they wouldn’t be stranded,’ said Michael. ‘This was a
wealthy tourist location; they would only be here because they have
chosen to stay.’

Acacius
glanced momentarily at Michael. ‘There is much we need to talk
about before you face the End Machine.’

‘
I’m ready to talk when you are.’

‘
The skills you possess have never been fully tested. I can
lead you along the path, but only to a point. There are many things
in life that must be learned through experience. We do not know if
the Lore of the Ancients can defeat the End Machine. The End
Machine can easily move between the four spacial dimensions as you
and I can. To defeat the machine you must go further.’

‘
Further?’ questioned Michael. He had never heard of any
dimensions beyond the primary spacial dimensions.

‘
Indeed, much further,’ replied Acacius grimly.

**

Ajax returned
an hour later with a leather bag full of rare alcoholic beverages.
He emptied his bag in the cargo bay and proceeded to examine each
bottle.

‘
Half of these I haven’t yet tasted. Look at this one,
Ferocious Fire; this is worth at least two thousand credits! And
look at this one, Gracious Garnet; this one makes your teeth glow,’
he remarked with a chuckle.

Within the
hour the reactor was fully replenished. Ethan also managed to do
some repair work on the outer hull. He had welded some metal sheets
over areas where the armour and heat shields had almost been
breached. The additional metal sheets didn’t match the darker
underlying colour, and they made the ship look even more like a
flying piece of scrap metal.

Sara powered
up the reactor and lifted the ship off the platform. She scanned
the console and checked all the indicators. Everything appeared to
be running well. The Out Drifter ascended above the city and flew
smoothly toward the upper atmosphere. With the reactor
replenishment they could now travel vast distances without having
to worry about where to refuel.

Michael
entered the control room and took the co-pilot’s seat.

‘
I have set the course for Bodach Delta. We are fourteen days
from arrival at full speed.’

Michael nodded
as he looked down at the control console. ‘I did some research into
the Tunnel Makers. They’re known for their brutality. We’ll have to
be careful.’

‘
Ethan is not someone who would lead us into a hornet’s nest.
He must have some confidence in the plan,’ she said.

‘
The Tunnel Makers have changed in the last few years. They’re
developed into the most brutal and powerful smuggling outfit in the
Outer Worlds. The smuggling trade is a tough business. The industry
has been squeezed by the alien expansion; the factions are fighting
over an ever shrinking market.’

‘
I’m sure we will be fine, Captain. You have a tough crew, and
I think we can handle smugglers.’

Michael
nodded. ‘You’re probably right, Sara. I just prefer to know exactly
what we are up against.’ He looked at the life support console.
‘That’s odd,’ he said, glancing at Sara.

‘
What?’ she asked casually as she adjusted the reactor
stability levels.

‘
Why would the life support monitor be reading seven
lifeforms?’

Her eyes
darted across to the small digital readout. She stared intensely at
the screen and looked puzzled.

‘
That can’t be right. Let me complete a diagnostic before we
jump to any conclusions,’ she said. ‘Computer, scan the life
support software for any bugs or errors.’

SCANNING: ZERO
ERRORS

‘
Computer, how many lifeforms are on board the
ship?’

SEVEN
LIFEFORMS AND TWO SYNTHETIC ANDROIDS

‘
Computer, do a scan of the entire ship for all registered and
unregistered crew.’

MICHAEL
(CAPTAIN); AJAX (SECURITY); CYNTHIA (UNASSIGNED CREW); ETHAN
(MECHANICAL ENGINEER); SARA (PILOT); IVAN (SYNTHETIC ORGANISM);
DOG-TWO (WEAPONISED SYNTHETIC ORGANISM); ACACIUS TRIFON (UNASSIGNED
CREW); UNREGISTERED LIFEFORM.

‘
Computer, what is the unregistered lifeform?’

HUMAN,
MALE

‘
Locate the unregistered lifeform.’

CARGO BAY
AREA, SPECIFIC LOCATION UNKNOWN

‘
Someone is hiding on our ship,’ she said in a low
voice.

Michael stood
up and drew his plasma pistol. He stepped out of the control room.
Sara drew her pistol and followed Michael to the living room where
Ajax, who had clearly had too much to drink, was arguing with Ivan
about whether androids could ever be considered equal to human
beings. Dog-Two was sitting beside the table and watching the
argument, and Acacius was sitting cross-legged in the corner of the
room and appeared to be in a deep trance. He opened his eyes as
Michael walked into the room.

Michael
interrupted. ‘I think we have a problem.’

‘
Damn right we have a problem,’ yelled Ajax, his face crimson
red. ‘Ivan thinks machines should be given human rights throughout
the galaxy. Not on my watch! I won’t ever think of a robot as my
equal, not now, never!’

Dog-Two
snarled. Ajax’s lips curled into a vicious sneer. ‘Don’t yap at me
you sad excuse for a dog! There is nothing more special about you
than a food synthesizer or a washing machine!’

Dog-Two bared
his razor sharp teeth and growled.

‘
Silence!’ yelled Michael. ‘We have a real problem. The
computer has identified an infiltrator. There’s someone on the
ship.’

Ajax froze.
‘How could someone come aboard without us knowing?’ he asked.

‘
I don’t know how, but they are hiding in the cargo bay. The
life support monitor is reading an extra person.’

‘
Where’s Cynthia?’ asked Ajax.

‘
She’s with Ethan in the engine room,’ said Sara.

‘
Then what are we waiting for,’ said Ajax. He quickly put down
his bottle and reached for his rifle, which was propped up beside
him. Ivan drew his pistol, and Dog-Two began to growl.

Michael led
the way through the central corridor. The others followed closely
behind. They reached the cargo bay and stopped to scan the area
before stepping in, but they couldn’t see anyone. Ajax brushed by
and walked over to where the sleeping pods were lined up against
the wall.

He turned
around and shook his head. ‘Nothing, Cap. There’s no one here.’

Cynthia and
Ethan entered the cargo bay from the engine room door at the
back.

‘
What’s going on?’ asked Ethan.

Acacius
stepped into the cargo bay from the corridor. He stood still for a
moment, closed his eyes, and concentrated. ‘I perceive there is a
stranger here. He is listening to us.’ Acacius turned to face the
opposite wall. There was an area where the wall cladding looked
stained and a little corroded. ‘Show yourself.’

The wall
seemed to shimmer, and a second later the optical illusion
dissipated. A short, bedraggled and skinny man with unkempt grey
hair appeared out of nowhere. His face was deeply lined and
unshaven. He was wearing a long synthetic cloak.

‘
Nano-cloak!’ yelled Ajax as he pointed his rifle at the
infiltrator.

The man fell
to his knees and cowered against the wall. ‘Please don’t kill me.
I...I mean you no harm. Please!’ His frightened blue eyes stared up
at the crew. Michael had seen nano-cloaks before, but he had never
seen one of such high quality. Nano-cloaks were made of a material
consisting of millions of small luminous nano-bots which could
produce light to mimic the surroundings and hide the wearer from
sight.

‘
Who are you and what do you want?’ asked Michael as put his
pistol away. The stranger was unarmed and didn’t appear to be
carrying any weapons.

‘
My name is Gopher.’

‘
You sure weaselled your way in here!’ said Ajax, who was still
pointing his rifle at the stranger.

‘
I didn’t expect you to discover my hiding place. I was
planning to leave at the next stop. I’m a citizen of Nod 33. I was
stranded on the planet after everyone left. I was left alone. Do
you understand what it’s like to be completely alone and waiting
for an alien invasion? There was no chance of survival. When I saw
you land I decided to take the opportunity to escape.’

‘
That makes no sense,’ said Sara. ‘Nod 33 was a billionaire’s
retreat. They wouldn’t be short of any transport ships, and they
wouldn’t leave a citizen unless they wanted you to be left behind.
You could have asked for our help before sneaking
aboard.’