Relic Tech (Crax War Chronicles) (22 page)

He lowered his voice. “Recall our previous conversation?”

“I brought it up with Specialist Club when discussing the colonists’ quartering. She said she’d forward the query to Chief Brold. I’m confident she did.”

“As before, I cannot discuss it.” I noted his casual glance around.

“Understood.”

“I expect there to be severe reactions to the catalyst, especially with this group.”

“Understood,” I said, looking him in the eye. “The colonists are my assignment. I will watch the proceedings carefully.”

We worked our way down. Dr. Sevanto was sure in his route. I commented, “Very little foot traffic down here.”

“We’re almost there,” he said, before speaking into his collar. “Specialist Tahgs.” He slowed. “Specialist Tahgs.” After about ten more steps he stopped. “You try.”

“Specialist Tahgs.” I changed settings, patching through the dock’s communication network. “Specialist Tahgs.” I looked at him. “Must be a malfunction.” I went to maximum boost, send and receive. “Specialist Tahgs.” I shook my head and keyed a diagnostic. “They assured me this set is superior to implanted chips.”

We continued walking. I tried, “Maintenance Tech Cox,” and shrugged. “Maybe you could contact Medical or the recovery area?”

Before he could, I grabbed his shoulder. “I’m getting something.” I listened, readjusting. “Thought I heard something.”

“Can you replay?”

I grabbed my com-set and set it to replay the last ten seconds. I heard a faint sound. “Maybe nothing, let’s go.” We moved on.

“Mavinrom Dock Medical, this is Dr. Sevanto of the
Kalavar
.” He listened. “Has Administrative Specialist Tahgs reported in?” He slowed. “Your signal’s weak. Acknowledged.” He looked at me. “About thirty minutes ago.”

I held up a finger and motioned for silence. I heard a faint, female voice. “Help...no.” Then, a deeper muffled voice growled, “Shut up. No one can hear you. Now talk.” A muted scream followed.

I kept my voice low. “
Kalavar
Security. Priority one.” Dr. Sevanto looked at me. I waved him off.

“Priority one acknowledged.”

“Club, run this message. What do you make of it?” I keyed the command to replay the faint message.

“Received, Keesay, stand by.” Five long seconds passed. “That’s Admin Tahgs! What’s your location?”

“On the dock with Dr. Sevanto.” I looked around. “Deck thirty-nine, yellow sector. Approaching recovery area for the colonists.” I looked to the doctor who nodded affirmative. He started to say something but I raised my index finger.

“Computer says it’s her signal,” Club said. “Electronic interference. You must be close.”

“Acknowledged.”

Chief Brold cut in. “We’re coordinating with dock security. Keep moving, Keesay. Keep sending.”

“Understood.” I released the holding strap for my revolver and signaled Dr. Sevanto to follow. I picked up the signal again.

“I don’t know,” Tahgs said, distraught, maybe crying.

“Signal’s stronger, Keesay. Keep going.”

“Understood, Chief.” I looked to Dr. Sevanto. “It’s Tahgs. She’s nearby and in trouble.” I grabbed and extended my stun baton. “You know how to use this?”

He shook his head so I explained. “Stun baton. Push here to activate. Top two-thirds, anything you smack will get a charge.” I handed it to him. He was wide-eyed, but steady when he took it.

“Nooo.”

“Signal’s fading, Keesay. You passed it.”

I looked down the corridor, hoping we were on the correct level. We’d only gone about twenty yards. “Acknowledged,” I whispered. Dr. Sevanto took the hint, his jaw clenched. I checked my com-set’s readout and noted a rise in interference, a drop in reception. I pointed at the door, then waved Dr. Sevanto back.

“I think I found it, Chief. Door code is level thirty-nine, access door Y one zero zero eight.”

“Some strong signal dampener, Keesay. We’ve coordinated with dock security. Their signal may be compromised. Will explain later. Expect to move faster than instructed. You have Full Corporate Authority.”

“Class 4 Specialist, this is Mavinrom Dock Security.”

“Receiving, dock security.”

“Be advised, we are dispatching a patrol to investigate communication anomaly. ETA fourteen minutes. We have jurisdiction. Proceed to original destination without delay.”

“Acknowledged. On the way.” I looked at the doctor. “We’ve got twelve seconds. Stand there.” I pointed about five feet to the right of the door. “Tahgs is in trouble. We have Full Corporate Authority, so set the baton on full.” I drew my revolver and cocked it. “I’ll go in. Anyone comes out you don’t recognize, take them down.”

I crouched on the left side, zeroed out my wrist dampener, and tapped my com-set selecting alternate transmission scramble. “
Kalavar
, I’ll be going in.” It would’ve been nice to know the dimension or room type but if transmissions were compromised, any communication could be a tip-off. “Will provide continuous transmission.”

“Still receiving, Keesay,” Chief Brold said. “Acknowledged and good luck.”

The door began to cycle open, then slid shut. Damn, so much for surprise, I thought. No time to go through the
Kalavar
. “Dock Security, boost signal or something, the door tried to open then closed!”

“Right! Help is on the way!”

Move or Tahgs is finished, pounded in my thoughts. Three seconds later the door slid open, followed by MP fire pelting the opposite wall.

Despite this, I popped a quick look inside and pulled back. A second burst clipped the doorframe and opposite wall. Half a second later I’d analyzed. Small room. One man shielded behind Tahgs, next to a prone man. One standing to the right of the entrance. No time. I hoped my new vest and armored uniform worked.

I stood, spun in, and fired on the man near the door. He opened up on me, clipping my right shoulder, maybe penetrating my uniform. My round took him in the neck. Ears ringing from firing my revolver, I knelt and thumbed back its hammer. Tahgs struggled with a large man in a security uniform holding an MP Pistol. I recognized him. “Freeze, Dribbs!”

Tahgs tried to break away but was no match for the turncoat. Dribbs shot her in the midsection. Before he could shoot again, I leveled my revolver and fired. His head snapped. Blood plumed from his temple as he staggered
back, dropping the slumping Tahgs. I cocked again and took aim while the dazed Dribbs instinctively squeezed off rounds. One whizzed past my ear. My bullet took him in the face, bringing him down hard.

I leapt forward and examined the prone man with a Negral Logo on his tan uniform. “Dr. Sevanto! In here!” I pointed to Tahgs while scanning the room. The first man I’d shot lost his struggle to stem the blood flowing from his neck. “Dock Security, send medical assistance immediately. Two friendlies, two bad guys down.” I couldn’t hear an acknowledgment because my ears were still ringing. It’d been a long time since I fired without a dampener.

Dr. Sevanto tossed my baton aside and rushed to Specialist Tahgs while I checked out the maintenance man. I called to Dr. Sevanto, “Tech Cox has a pulse, lump on the back of his head. Looks like a flesh wound to the right calf.”

The doctor hardly looked up. “Keesay, I can’t get through to the
Kalavar
. Check out those clips on the crate.” It was a good thing he yelled.

“Right,” I said, and moved to the crate. “
Kalavar
, bad guys eliminated. Tahgs is down. Cox is down. Sevanto administering aid.” A cord ran from a larger computer clip to a smaller one stamped with the Negral Logo. Programming gibberish flashed across both blood-spattered screens. “
Kalavar
, send a software engineer. They’re trying to access Specialist Tahgs’s computer clip. Please advise.”

“Your signal is still weak. Nist and Muller are on the way. Dr. Miller and a med team are right behind.” In the background Club called for McAllister and Gudkov to report.

Dr. Sevanto had rolled Tahgs on her side before tearing open her vest and jumpsuit, trying to examine the exit wound. She was cooperative but grimacing. “Where’s that medical team?” he asked.

I took my bayonet and sliced through Tahgs’ garments. “Reportedly on the way.”

“Thanks. Clean exit.”

“Here.” I offered him my handkerchief. “It’s clean.”

He pressed it into the bleeding exit hole and rolled her back over.

“Report, Keesay,” came through my headset about the same time as dock communication chatter broke in.

I adjusted my set to ignore the chatter. “
Kalavar
, Dr. Sevanto has stabilized Tahgs. No backup yet. Dock or ours.”

“They’ve got other troubles,” the chief said. “How about the computers?”

I walked back over. “Bad guy’s larger one displays an error message. Tahgs’s screen keeps flashing in pulsating red and orange, ‘I Super Nova. You Super Loser.’”

Chief Brold could hardly keep from laughing. “That’s Engineer McAllister’s work.”

Dr. Sevanto commenced communication with the dispatched med team as a dock C3 Sec-Spec and Private Yizardo rushed in. “Report, Specialist,” ordered the anxious sec-spec.

“All secure,” I said
to the muscular C3. “Two captives injured. Two offenders eliminated, including Specialist Dribbs.” The single curl of blonde, almost white, hair on the C3’s forehead bounced as he looked where I pointed. “Quite a delay.”

“We had three sec-bots go rogue just after you called in.” He stepped toward the computers.

“Do not disturb the evidence,” I said, blocking his path.

“This is Mavinrom Dock jurisdiction, Class 4 Specialist.”

“Individuals employed by Quinn Mining abducted and assaulted Negral Corp personnel assigned to the
Kalavar
.” I placed my hand on my revolver. “I have been granted Full Corporate Authority.”

“Listen, Relic, I— ”

Before he finished, I had my revolver drawn and cocked. “Do not disturb the crime scene, Chip.” His MP pistol hadn’t cleared its holster. We locked eyes.

Private Yizardo warned, “He’ll kill you, Specialist Haxon.”

The C3 risked a glance. “Whose side are you on?”

“Neither, I’m simply military support,” said the marine. “This relic here is O’Vorley’s friend. Didn’t you watch the security holo of him caving in someone’s skull?” Haxon’s pupils widened. Yizardo added, “He wasn’t scared of Pillar. What makes you think he’s scared of you?”

Haxon stepped back, lifting his hand from his pistol. I kept mine drawn. “Negral Corp appreciates your cooperation.” Dr. Sevanto and Specialist Tahgs began to breathe again just as Nist and Muller arrived.

“Keesay, report,” said Nist.

“Area secured. Crime scene integrity maintained. Dr. Sevanto is awaiting medical support.”

“Why is your firearm still drawn then?”

Yizardo cut in, “He doesn’t seem to trust local security, or...”

“Not now, Yizardo,” said Nist. “Keesay?”

“I was granted Full Corporate Authority. An abduction and assault was perpetrated on Maintenance Tech Cox and Admin Specialist Tahgs.” I pointed at the two corpses with my revolver while watching Haxon. “By individuals employed by Quinn Mining. Specialist Haxon moved toward the computer clips, possible motivation for the crime, and risked disturbing the crime scene.” Holstering my revolver, I glared at Haxon. “I stopped him.”

“Understood, Specialist. I request transfer of Corporate Authority to me.”

“I transfer Full Corporate Authority to you, Security Specialist Nist.”

Four med techs from the
Kalavar
entered with two grav beds in tow. “Dr. Miller,” said Dr. Sevanto, “proceed to the cold sleep recovery and observe. I’ll take care of Janice and Benny.”

“Keesay,” said Nist. “Accompany Dr. Miller. Relieve Specialist Club and inform her I need her expertise here. Muller, escort Dr. Sevanto and his patients as soon as they’re ready. Specialist Haxon, stand over there,” he pointed. “Observe, if you desire.”

“I protest,” he said.

“I don’t care,” said Nist.

Dr. Miller took that cue to exit. I followed, shutting down my com-set’s continuous send. “Next time, I am going to carry more than just a revolver.” Dr. Miller looked at me quizzically as I replaced the three spent rounds.

We reached the recovery area in less than two minutes. A posted marine leveled his carbine. “This area is closed. Turn around and leave.”

“We’re from the
Kalavar
,” started Dr. Miller.

“Specialist Club,” I called into my set. “There’s a colonial marine barring our entrance. I am here to relieve you and Dr. Miller is here to assist in recovery.”

“You’re not with Dr. Sevanto?”

“No. I’m accompanying Dr. Miller per Dr. Sevanto’s directive.”

A second later the marine stepped aside and we entered the low-ceilinged, well-lit room. Three med techs from the
Kalavar
tended to five colonists, four men and one woman. The pale colonists sat on cots, wrapped in loose garments, sweating and shaking. One male colonist began dry heaving. The heavy, average-looking woman peered at me before falling into another fit of tremors. I’d expected five times the medical staff on hand.