Target 10 S3.3 Compromised
He held Jemy's gaze, whose face seemed to turn to a pale white.
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"Hope and surprise?" RJ cocked his head. "We have to have more than that."
"I haven't been able to think of anything if there is. But it's a logical deduction that he'll think we're dead since he sent Marisil. He won't be looking for us to come back."
"But Reby would be!"
"I know. He must be keeping her busy. Maybe he drugged her like he did me and she's been unconscious, not even knowing she missed her connection time."
"I know he's insane, but this doesn't make sense. He was way too attached to that monster. I can't see him letting it go and not trying to get it back. Or at least checking to see if it survived." Aida... a panic rose inside him. "Aida, has anyone communicated with you from the surface?"
"No, RJ."
Jemy's face screwed up at his question, then went slack. "Have you received any connection from the surface since we left for site two?"
"Yes, Captain. Reby maintained a connection until you landed at the second location."
She didn't tell me about Jemy being unconscious, she didn't tell me about Marisil.... "Is there any way you can provide confirmation of that?"
He held Jemy's gaze, whose face seemed to turn to a pale white. It was a color he'd never seen on his brown-faced friend, no matter how dire their circumstances had been.
"RJ, I've sent a report of my communications log to the display at the Captain's table."
Jemy pulled the stool closer, and they both scoured the information all the way back to when they left Dinucent. "None of the connections from the Haven show any of the typical protocols being used like they are in the CR. Even Reby's initiation of the connections aren't recorded in this log, just the conversation." He rubbed his hands together.
"Aida, can you explain why none of the communications from Haven follow the standard protocols that exist for every connection prior to reaching Haven?" RJ was digging out his limited training in external ship communications, hoping he'd understand the answers he got.
"All connections use appropriate protocols and were approved via the automated systems."
"Why aren't those approvals in the log?" Jemy asked.
There was a second of silence. "I have reviewed all my logs and I see your concern. My processing memory does indicate the events happened. I have made a note to check the automated logging procedures to ensure there isn't an error during the next communication."
Jemy stood up and walked around the table, hands on his hips. "I don't like this."
"Neither do I." He tried to find some way to comment on the irregularities without tripping something in Aida's programming—assuming she'd been compromised. "But if what we are thinking might have happened, then I assume things would be going badly for us by now."
"They're not?"
"I mean, right now."
Jemy paced around his lab, examining the table of supplies one more time. "Aida?"
"Yes, Captain?"
"Have there been any changes to your core programming since we've arrived?"
"Yes, Captain. A change has been to the subroutine designed to interface with RJ. He initiated and approved those changes after he discovered you unconscious in the shuttle's cockpit. My automated learning subroutines assessed and agreed with his change that all crew members should be notified if any of the others are in distress. Does that answer your question, or would you like me to go farther back into my logs?"
Could he have done something before that? "I assume Reby had you do a systems check each time she connected?"
"I performed a full systems check in preparation for her connections, performed any necessary corrections and provided a full report."
RJ let out a sigh. "There's no way to know for sure, but I think she's ok."
Jemy's eyes widened. "You needed to tell her to let crew members know if someone is in distress?" He moved back to sit down on the stool.
RJ smirked. "Just me really. Apparently, Reby instructed her not to offer me help unless asked and for some reason she was unable to inform me you were passed out on the floor bleeding out." He glanced up at the ceiling. "I think we have that worked out now."
"Descent initiated. Arrival in five minutes." Aida announced.
"Thank you, Aida." Jemy got up and grabbed his share of the supplies. "How's the leg?"
RJ stomped a third time. "I felt that one." He stood, putting all his weight on it, then took a few steps. "Feels weird, like it's not all there, but it seems to work well enough." He walked, dragging his right foot just a little, to the table. "You made good use of time, I see." He slung the rifle over his shoulder and picked up the bio-sensor.
"I know they probably won't work as intended, but I'm hoping they'll do something close range — like your analyzer." Jemy put one of the devices, a thin brown metallic circle with rings under it, into his pocket.
"They might." RJ dropped his head. Such a large area to search. But we'll find her! Having loaded his share of supplies, he turned to Jemy. "Meet you at the ramp?"
"Nope, I'm coming with you."
"What?"
"Aida's fine on autopilot. Once through the shield, the docking system takes over."
RJ looked at him sideways. "You sure?"
"As sure as I can be. And I don't want to wait another second."
"Couldn't have said it better." He elbowed Jemy, and they exited the lab toward the ramp.
Time to get that bastard, and save the love of my life.
***
Jemy and RJ leaned on opposite sides of the airlock door where the Demption ramp would open. Random clangs and tings echoed through the enormous empty cargo chamber as Aida navigated through the field and the engines cut. Jemy let out his breath, knowing he'd been right that the docking systems would pick them up. No pilot needed.
"Engines offline. We are now under the control of the docking systems of the alien structure," Aida said.
Jemy glanced at RJ, and they exchanged curt nods. Together they lifted their rifles, anticipating a frontal assault. His fingers slid on the smooth, cool metal barrel. He adjusted his clammy grip, determined to be ready for whatever Clay might have in store for them. An army of Marisils? Or more disintegration guns? He shook the thoughts off and imagined Reby back on the ship with them, safe and sound. It was the only way to keep himself from giving into the fear.
"Captain. We have successfully docked."
"Sensor report?"
"My sensors show no anomalies in the immediate area, Captain. Visual inspection of the exterior shows an empty docking bay."
A video feed appeared on the wall in front of him.
RJ came over and stood close behind him to see the full panorama of an empty bay. Jemy noticed the symbols on the walls were different from the ones where the shuttle docked. "We aren't in the same dock," he said.
"The Demption's much bigger. The auto systems probably just put us where we fit best." RJ shook his head. "No way to know for sure though, except to go out."
"She's waited long enough." Jemy pushed the button to open the airlock.
It didn't open.
"Aida, open the airlock."
"Captain, I'm unable to complete your request."
He went cold.
"Fuck!" RJ muttered, his breathing rapid and uneven.
"Why can't you open it?" Jemy managed to ask, the words squeaking out.
"It's very strange, Captain. Someone is here with me."
Clay...
A silence settled into the air, the pressure of the empty space around them ringing in his ears.
"What do you mean, someone is here with you?" He caught and held RJ's gaze, knowing they both waited for the same answer.
"There's no need for alarm, Jemy," said a soft, soothing voice.
He couldn't tell if it was male or female, but it certainly wasn't Clay's.
"I am the steward of what you call Havenstar, the one you know as Obi."
Jemy's mouth opened. Then closed. An obexpl? "I-I don't understand."
RJ grabbed Jemy's arm and shook his head. "Some kind of sick game he's playing," he whispered.
"I assure you that my words are true, RJ. I am the obexpl that assisted Clay after his arrival."
"Then you're helping the murdering fucker." RJ's jaw clenched, his grip tightening.
"Let go." Jemy shoved RJ back and the death grip released.
"It's true I helped him. But I'm trying to help you now. And your female companion."
"Reby? Where is she? What did he do to her?"
RJ blurted the words out before Jemy could react. It seemed everything happened in slow motion, like he was running through the dense waters of Parkan. First contact. Clay's attempt to murder them. His sister alone and in danger. But one word Obi said came through clearly: help.
"She is sleeping and not in any immediate danger."
"But Clay is with her?" The vitriol in RJ's voice as he said Clay's name was as strong as any acid.
"He's in the room with her."
"He—"
"You said you're trying to help us," Jemy said, cutting RJ off. He tilted his head and RJ looked away.
"Yes, I am. You want to leave, with Reby. I want the same thing. We can help one another reach that goal."
The words were simple and clear, but Jemy sensed there was more to them. Hoping he didn't sound like a simpleton to an advanced intelligence, he said, "You want us off Havenstar. And we want off Havenstar with Reby, so you'll help us get her and go? Is that what you mean?"
"Yes, I will help you get Reby, and then we will all leave."
Another word caught his attention. "All? You mean you want to come with us?"
"I insist."
***
The air in the cargo bay seemed to crackle with static electricity. The hair on Jemy's arms stood up. His heartbeat pounded in his ears. A knot squirmed in his stomach.
"How do we know you aren't Clay fucking with us?" RJ's voice cut the growing silence.
Jemy held his breath.
"I understand your suspicions, RJ," Obi said.
The airlock door slid open.
They jumped back.
Nothing waited for them.
Nothing attacked them.
Nothing happened at all.
RJ still aimed his weapon at the docking bay.
Jemy adjusted clammy hands on his.
"You have a choice. You don't have to agree to take me with you. If you want to search for Reby on your own, I will not interfere. I will not help you either."
The emptiness of the docking bay beckoned Jemy. We should just go...but what if...
"But you helped him!" The words seethed out from between RJ's clenched teeth.
"I did. Initially. I haven't assisted him in a very long time. Certainly not since you arrived. Do you need more time to consider my offer?"
"Yes," Jemy said.
"No," RJ said.
Jemy lowered his weapon. "RJ, if he's an Obexpl, he can help us. Alone, it could take a long time to find her. We can't give Clay time to try to murder us again before we get to her."
"That's a big if!" He stubbornly kept his rifle aimed at the open airlock. "There's no way to prove who it is—"
"I'm sorry for the interruption," Obi said. "But I may have a way to satisfy your doubts. Jemy, do you recall your excavations on Etania?"
"What?" Jemy's mind raced. Etania was a key example in his theory that there were pre-human civilizations on many worlds.
"The inert tetrahedron you discovered in the base layer is indeed a bit of technology from a non-human race that occupied that world twenty three thousand years before humans arrived. Not, as your counterparts suggested, a toy from the human population before the last collapse."
"I knew it!"
"That doesn't prove anything!" RJ finally lowered his weapon and leaned toward Jemy. "Seriously? You hear what you want to hear and that convinces you he's legit? He has access to our entire fucking database!"
Jemy stepped back. His face flushed.
"Let's go!" RJ stomped through the open airlock.
Jemy didn't move.
RJ looked back from the base of the ramp. "Fine. I'll go alone."
"Now wait a minute—" Jemy started, but stopped when the video feed changed. "RJ! It's Reby. On the feed."
Reby lay on her side in a traditional looking bed, her naked arm and back exposed. She was sleeping, but breathing heavy and sweating. The view panned the room they'd never seen. A fully dressed Clay sat in a chair—a real human-sized chair—next the bed. His brow was furrowed and he wrung his hands together. Oh, no. No. The knot in Jemy's stomach twisted more, threatening to make its way out.
Beside him, RJ growled. "What did he do to her? You said she wasn't in danger!" RJ twirled around. "Obi! You lying sack of shit! When I find you I'll—"
Jemy grabbed RJ's shoulder, never taking his eyes off the screen. "Why does she look sick?"
RJ tensed under his grasp then pulled away, but remained silent.
"RJ, I told you she's in no immediate danger. He's already done what he intended and he can't harm her anymore. Her physical state is a result of the transformation. Based on his reaction, it isn't going the way he thought it would."
Jemy stared at the video as it panned back to Reby. Pain, anger and sadness mixed inside him like ingredients in a blender. Obi's words didn't make sense except to confirm his worst fear that Clay had raped her. He swallowed and turned to RJ. "We need his help to find her, before anything else happens."
***
RJ couldn't look at the video feed. It was like his heart had been ripped out, set on fire, then put back. Heat pulsed through him, building.
He screamed.
He fell to his knees. The floor blurred, and he squeezed his eyes, pushing aside the tears.
Jemy dropped down next to him. "Let's get her. Now. With Obi's help."
RJ choked back his tears and grabbed Jemy's outstretched arm. They stood together and their eyes locked. In Jemy's he saw determination, but also something else. A distance, just a hint, that he'd never seen before. Somewhere deep inside he recognized it was his fault and he should apologize for blaming Jemy. The sentiment died, overtaken by a rage. One only saving Reby could ease.
"I'm gonna kill the fucker, too." He grasped his rifle, his face hardening.
"That isn't possible," Obi said.
"Why the hell not?" RJ asked. There's no way he's stopping me.
"Because he cannot die."
"Everything dies."
"After thousands of years of watching life begin and end, I would agree with you. But Clay is an exception. The reason is a long story better told once we've secured Reby and my transport vessel. In the meantime, I suggest leaving your weapons behind, as they will serve no purpose."
"I don't like this, Jemy." Cold, like long icy fingers, wrapped around the back of RJ's neck.
"Neither do I," Jemy said. "We'll bring them, anyway."
"Of course."
RJ thought Obi sounded disappointed. Fuck him.
"Please direct your attention to the video feed."
I don't want to. He didn't turn his head, but instead watched Jemy's face as he looked.
"Clay's leaving," Jemy said.
RJ turned just in time to see Clay exit the room.
"I've distracted him and will lock him out of that section so you won't encounter him."
The fire burned again inside RJ's chest. Reby first.
"The teleporter is located directly across from your exit ramp. I'll guide you to her from there."
He ran out of the Demption, Jemy overtaking him as they reached the teleporter. Inside, Jemy placed his hand on the control panel.
RJ blinked.
The door opened.
"Go left." Obi's voice was inside his head.
RJ shook his head and looked at Jemy, who returned a confused face.
"You hear that too?"
"Yeah," Jemy said. "Let's go."
They turned left as instructed and RJ put aside questions about how Obi got inside his head, and what it might mean.
Though the hallway was as uninteresting as the rest they'd walked through, he kept himself alert. The hair on his arms and back of his neck stood on end. Clay might ambush them, or Obi might be leading them to a trap. Still, he held onto the tiny part of him that hoped it was true, and he'd have Reby back.
"Go right," Obi's said at a junction. "The door is open on your left."
RJ sprinted, forgetting any fear of ambush. Jemy's steps pounded behind him.
In the room he found Reby laying on the bed, just as they'd seen her. Covered in sweat, she trembled. He rushed to her and carefully rolled her onto her back. "She's burning up."
Jemy gently pressed his hand onto her forehead. "We need to find out what he did and how to fix it."
RJ looked around the room. Clay was nowhere, but Reby's clothes were folded neatly on top of a small table in the corner. Red curtains with an iridescent sheen hung from three of the walls. The bed had a matching blanket, thicker and plush. "We need to put her in the auto-doc first. Get her temp down. You grab her clothes. I'll carry her."
Jemy stood still for a moment, but RJ ignored him. He yanked off the heavy blanket and pulled the thinner sheet around her. It smelled like sweat, sex, and was damp to the touch. His vision blurred again. He blinked the tears away. Just get her out of here. Standing, he cradled her and headed for the door.