Dark Matter, page 10
part #2 of The Starfire Wars Series
The crowd erupts with chants of “Save Earth, Save Earth!”
The camera pans back again, and my eyes widen as I see three people led out in front of Hammond—Hirata, Cooper, and Luca Powell. Since Luca supported Hirata, he must now be Hammond’s enemy. The three of them are secured with hands behind their backs.
“These three Board members have been charged with treason against Earth,” Hammond says. “They attempted to make private deals with the Alku in order to save themselves.”
Hirata’s face is damp with tears as a guard shoves her forward. This can’t be happening. Hirata was supposed to fix everything. The Senate was swinging to her side. They just elected her yesterday.
My fists clench in desperation. Once Wirrin’s faction finds out what’s happening, it will only lead to war. And if Hammond is aware of the Starfire’s power within the Intersection, she will use it. I grit my teeth. Don’t these people understand attempting to save Earth by stealing the Starfire could annihilate all of humanity?
I look around the room to find Max and ask if he knows anything about the announcement, but he’s gone. I return my attention to the screen just as Hirata hits the ground. A guard stands next to her, laser pistol still extended. Wasting no time, the next guard shoves Cooper forward and the same is done to him. I retch, but nothing comes.
The two bodies lie limp on the ground as Luca is brought to the front. His usual swagger and bravado is replaced with terror as his legs shake beneath him. A guard raises his weapon, and Luca drops to his knees.
I choke on a forming sob. Despite my distaste for Luca Powell, I have no desire to see him executed.
“I’m loyal, I’m loyal!” he yells. “Please don’t kill me!”
The guard glances at Hammond, and she raises her hand to pause the proceedings. She walks forward and kneels in front of Luca, and then leans in to whisper into his ear. Then Hammond rises and returns focus onto the camera and hushed crowd.
A tense grin stretches across her lips and she extends her hand to Luca. He takes it, and she pulls him to his feet.
“We are generous and desire to forgive. Luca Powell has extended his loyalty to the will of the World Senate.”
Luca darts his eyes over the crowd and then looks to the ground.
“The Senate will display mercy. But traitors must be eliminated.”
As the words exit Hammond’s mouth, the building we’re in shudders with an explosion. The holograms snap off from our Connects and the computer screen.
Max throws open the door. “Hammond staged a coup. At least twenty of the World Senate members have been assassinated and many are missing. We’re evacuating the building.”
“Where are we going to go?” asks Irene. “It’s probably too late!”
Beda slams her fist on the wall. “Why did I have to be here?!”
Irene grabs Dr. Owens’s bag. She stands and straightens out her shirt, then drops her shoulders from their tense position. “I’m getting our stuff from below.” She looks to Max. “I have time, right?”
Max hits his Connect and studies the screen for a second. “Be back in ten minutes.”
Irene nods. “I’ll get your things, too, Cassi.”
I don’t even get a chance to answer before she’s out the door.
“We’re going to that lab of yours,” Beda demands.
“We can’t go there. Hammond’s people will find us and then Dad’s data.”
“They may locate the lab eventually anyway,” Beda says. “We need to get out there, find everything your father was working on, and destroy the lot. Burn it all to the ground. Otherwise, Hammond could use the information against us.”
“Destroy it? No way!” I say while thinking of the AI version of my mother. It’s weird and all, but seeing her again brought me a measure of comfort. “You just don’t want any humans mastering the Starfire. We need to get out there and access all the information. Once the data is secured, then we can wipe it out.”
A blaring alarm sounds through the building and I clap my hands over my ears.
“Please calmly proceed to the exits,” an unseen male voice says. “Escorts will be waiting to evacuate all personnel from the premises.”
“Where are they taking us?” I swing to Max.
“Some place safe?” Max says.
“And where would that be?” I ask. “There probably isn’t a safe place in the city.”
“Hence why we’re going to the lab,” Beda growls.
Max studies me and I nod. But before he has the chance to move, Irene steps through the door with bags slung over her shoulder. She shrugs mine off and tosses it to me. “I got hold of Trav. He can get us an all-terrain vehicle. It’s waiting below.” Irene pivots her attention to Beda. “Unless you and Cassi can transport the four of us?”
“The Starfire still isn’t working or I would have returned to Paxon already,” Beda says.
“We’ll need data storage,” I say, ignoring Beda.
“Already packed.” Irene pats her bag.
“Then let’s go,” I say, suppressing my fear. I need to keep a straight head on my shoulders right now.
Chapter 15
We sprint down the stairs, against the stream of people who are making their way out of the building. I’m not sure whether the people in the crowd or our group feels more like salmon swimming against the current toward our impending deaths. Probably all of us.
We hit the underground parking lot, and Trav races our direction.
“You should have just left the vehicle for us and got out of here, Trav,” Irene says.
He tips his head. “Does that mean you care, Irene?”
“Give it a rest, Trav,” she says. “I don’t want anyone to die here.”
“I wanted to make sure no one else claimed the Rover.” Despite visibly tense shoulders, he smiles at Irene and then runs around a corner. A few seconds later, he appears again with a small, enclosed off-road vehicle with four seats.
“It’s pretty cozy in there,” Trav says as he swings the driver’s side door up to reveal both the front and rear seats.
Beda gives the vehicle a scowl, and I’m guessing she’s never ridden in such a thing. And being in such close quarters with three humans probably seems unbearable, too.
Max places a hand on the driver’s seat door, but Irene cuts him off. “No way, buddy. I’m driving.”
He throws his hands to chest height in surrender and then races to the passenger side. Beda slides in the front seat before he can get in, so he takes the back next to me.
“You all be careful out there,” Trav says as he begins pushing down the driver's side hatch.
“Take care of yourself,” Irene says before the door snaps shut.
Beda pulls down the other side. Within seconds, Irene swings us around and we’re rolling out through the rising gate while the vehicle’s console lights up with data.
“I’m uploading a program to block others from tracking us,” Irene says.
Beda growls, “Just get us out of the city.”
Irene glares at her. “That’s what we’re doing. If you have something helpful to add, we welcome your opinion. Otherwise, be quiet.”
Beda glares out the front window.
Irene taps in the last of the instructions, and I follow Beda’s gaze. To our left, a group of armed soldiers run toward an escape hover. The same vessel that people from our building, as well as others, have lined up to board. A single enemy fighter ship sweeps across the sky on a direct route toward the craft.
“The incoming ship is aiming for the escaping people.” The words barely escape as my heart jumps to my throat.
Irene manually takes a sharp turn, momentarily disengaging the autodrive, throwing me into Max. He helps me up just in time to see laser shots fire from the ground. The blast clocks the edge of the single fighter and sends it off course and out of sight. Then a plume of smoke billows into the air. From behind us, people speed up their loading process, and I watch until Irene tears around a building and the waiting crowd is out of sight.
“Where are they taking them?” I ask.
“Outside of the city,” Max says. “The ship has camouflage ability, and if they can escape, the tech will keep everyone safe for a while.”
“How long?” Irene asks.
“Not sure,” he says. “Arcadia is a big place, but Hammond wants to make examples of traitors. One of the pilots is in encrypted contact with me. So, we can stay in the loop.”
The vehicle accelerates once the forest comes into view. From the side window, I spot two ships overhead. But they pass us, probably ordered to focus on the larger buildings and vessels rather than small off-road vehicles.
Under the cover of trees, I let out a breath and touch Max’s hand on the seat beside me. I smile, give his fingers a squeeze and then release, pulling my hand back onto my lap. There’s a huge part of me that does regret kissing him, no matter what I said. Our kiss complicates things, and everything is already so complicated. I need to think of something else and decide to lean toward Beda.
“What if we could transport everyone onto the Alku side once they are out of the city? Maybe it will work?”
She twists her head toward me. “May I speak now?”
I sigh. “Yes, I want your opinion.”
She squints her brown eyes at me, and her face takes on a pinched expression. “No,” she says flatly.
“Why not?” I ask. “It will give us more time.”
“Even if we could, there are too many. Taking more than a few across is dangerous for our bodies. And it would also put the Alku in more danger, by harboring humans. My people will sense the humans’ presence. And that will cause even more dissension.”
“What if Vihann agrees?”
“My father’s camp will not, even if Vihann and the Council say yes,” she says. “The Luminary’s stance is to save the Alku people. He only allowed the Starfire’s use to defend humans. But the situation has changed. Now your people will attempt to use the Starfire as a weapon for themselves. My people’s goal is now to stop Starfire weapons from forming. Helping humans, even ones who are not immediately dangerous, will not be high on his priorities.”
I want to argue, but truthfully, I don’t blame her. Humans have done nothing but take from the Alku, and it’s only going to get worse.
The rest of the trip is spent in near silence. Beda slumps in the front and Irene keeps her attention on the controls, occasionally checking out the windows for overhead ships. Max stays engrossed in his Connect to relay the few tidbits of intel coming through on the escape ships. My stomach churns, and I fidget with my fingers still resting on my lap.
“We’re nearly there,” Irene finally says, breaking the silence. “I’m going to park us a little way off so we can scope out the area first to see if the lab is safe.”
She pulls us under a thick canopy of trees and we exit the vehicle. As my feet press to the ground, the Starfire on my neck vibrates against my skin, and I pull the necklace out of my collar. In my fingers, the gem glows.
“It’s active here,” I say.
Beda twists to see what I’m talking about, and her eyes grow wide. “Meaning whatever Hammond is using to block transportation only has a limited range.” She tenses her jaw. “I’m heading back to my father. My people must know what’s going on.”
I open my mouth to tell her she should wait until we get all the data from Dad’s lab. But I’m not fast enough, and she vanishes. Gone to Paxon, I’m sure.
I tuck the Starfire inside my shirt and secure my bags to my shoulder as the other two survey the area for ships or troops. But from what I can tell, there’s no other activity besides us.
“Seems clear to me,” Max says.
I agree and wave the two of them toward the lab. This time, since I know the structure is there, I can make out the building’s outline despite the camouflage. After a short walk to the front, I place my hand on the scanner and the door slides away.
“Welcome, Cassiopeia Foster,” my mom’s disembodied AI voice says, but I ignore it.
“I’ll go to the lab and start working on the files,” Irene says. “After you get me into the system, why don’t the two of you check the rest of the place out? See if there’s anything else we can use here?” Sadness shadows her eyes. “Dr. Owens did say he was living here; maybe you can find his quarters.”
We head into the lab, and when we enter, my mother appears again. “How may I help—”
“Disengage visual AI,” I say, and the virtual version of Mom disappears. I inhale deeply and suppress the emotions attempting to well up. Max touches my back, and calm instantly settles over my body. I log Irene onto the system after I drop my bags in the corner.
“Work as fast as you can,” I say. “We have no idea how long we’re going to be safe here or whether anyone else knows about this place.”
Irene removes her upgraded DataPort from her bag, as well as a few other familiar pieces of equipment. “Leave it up to me,” she says. “This is what I do.”
I turn and head from the room. Max follows.
“Your mother was so beautiful,” Max says. “I had seen her once, but never so close.”
“I think this version of her is programmed to the age she was when my parents got married.”
“She would be proud of you, you know,” Max says.
The comment stings. “I’m a complete mess, Max. What are you talking about?”
An activated door slides back, revealing small sleeping quarters. The bed is left unmade, and to the side is a small desk.
Max touches my arm, stopping me.
“Your mother was incredibly brave. She was willing to put aside how so many people were telling her and your father that colonization within fifty years was impossible. She helped make Arcadia happen anyway. Against all the odds, you found your father, and you’re still working to save the Alku. You are very much like her. I’m pretty sure she would see those qualities in you.”
I choke away my emotion and touch Mom’s ring on my finger. Even though I want to fall to the floor and curl up in a ball, I straighten my shoulders and offer Max a soft smile of thanks. Then, I head directly to the desk and begin searching the drawers. I locate nothing but a few personal items, however. Nothing of value. Taking my lead, Max checks the closet and shrugs.
He and I search the two other rooms in the building as well as the kitchen.
“I don’t think Dad planned for the building to be fully functional until he returned to Arcadia.”
“Makes sense,” Max says as we enter the lab, where we find Irene working furiously in front of the holographic screen.
“Any news from your friend?” I look at Max, but he shakes his head. I’m not sure if no news is a good or bad thing.
“All I know are their destination coordinates,” he says.
“Well, I guess the directions will help us locate them later.” I sit at the station next to Irene and bring up the Earthscape program. “What are the coordinates?”
Max pairs his Connect with the computer and sends the information. Within a blink, a three-dimensional map appears in front of me. The program shows the hover’s route and the approximate distance to the destination point, based on the last data sent to Max’s Connect. The escape destination is located along the base of the Tahm Range, where there appears to be a cave system. If they can arrive in time, the caves should be a decent place to hide. But those larger hovers are not designed for speed.
“How are you coming along on the downloads?” I ask Irene.
“Getting there,” she says, “but there’s so much, I’m not entirely sure what’s most important.”
“Just get everything you can,” I say.
“There are several more encrypted files that I’ve run across. Want me to take a chance and download all the data?”
“Yea—” I start to say.
“Warning,” Mom’s AI voice interrupts. “An unknown external device is attempting to access my computer system.”
“What’s that mean?” I ask Irene.
“It means another hacker is attempting to get into the lab’s computer system.”
Nerves ignite and tingle in my chest. Someone knows about the lab. “Can you block them?”
“What do you think I’m doing?” Irene growls. “We need to get everything possible downloaded and purge the system. Otherwise, Hammond is going to have access to all the data Dr. Foster must have been hiding.”
“Five incoming craft within a one-mile radius,” the AI says.
“There’s no way for us to get everything!” Irene says. “Time is running out.”
“Then you’ll need to purge the data now,” Max demands.
“If we do that, Hammond has won.”
I stare at the holo-screen in front of me, which now shows an overhead view of Arcadia. My mind shifts as if I’m flying above the jungle, watching the land below. In my state, I feel the Starfire pulse on my neck, and the energy ripples through me. We can’t do this without my dad. He’s the only human who understands the Starfire so completely. He also knows how to save the Alku and probably Earth.
My consciousness is caught somewhere between the lab and another place entirely. I can hear Irene calling my name and then my mom’s AI voice relaying that the ships are now in our immediate vicinity. But none of this bothers me as warmth from the Starfire travels the length of my body.
I begin to relax right as a sharp sensation hits me. It’s as if I slam into a block of ice, and a bright cyan light blinds me. I let out a scream but no sound escapes.
“What did you do, Cassi?” a muffled voice asks. I don’t know whose.
But then my mom’s voice cuts through, and the ghost of her hand strokes my forehead.
“Incoming ships have vanished,” she says. “Danger averted.”
Chapter 16
Achill shudders through my body, and my breath hitches. “What happened?” I say as I shoot up into a seated position. My head spins, and every part of my body aches.
“I don’t know yet.” Instead of Mom, Irene kneels beside me.
