War of the Spheres Read online

  “Those aren’t our people,” she told me.

  “Nope, they aren’t.”

  “That’s against protocol. Niederman can’t do that.”

  I gestured, urging her forward. “So… enforce the rules,” I suggested.

  Jillian took the lead and approached the guards.

  “I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you gentlemen to leave,” she told them.

  “I’m afraid that’s impossible. This zone is restricted. No one gets in or out.”

  “Step aside, soldier,” she said. “I need to get check on the status of our equipment inside that door.”

  Jillian moved as if to walk by, but the guard grabbed the sleeve of her spacer suit.

  “Hold on now Miss.”

  “Don’t go there, Corporal,” she said sharply. She was nearly eye-to-eye with the guard.

  “I said hold on, lady,” he repeated. “I’ve got orders to follow. Nobody goes in there until General Niederman says different.”

  The two others nodded and crossed their arms.

  Trying to squeeze past them, Jillian’s voice got louder and more shrill. “I built that damned thing, and I need access to it right now!”

  While all this was happening, I’d backed away from the scene and stepped to the side. Jillian was making a fine diversion, so I managed to slip by and reach the sensor pad by the door. I palmed it and got an immediate green light.

  The access door shot open. In the moment of surprise, I grabbed Jillian by the back of her suit and dove inside. Then I slapped the pad again, closing the door in the startled guards’ faces. After another few touches, the door was locked. With my clearance level, the guards couldn’t do a thing about it.

  “How did you…?” she began. “Oh, forget it.”

  The guards peered in the window in the door, cheek-to-cheek—watching us. They gawked in astonishment. After trying the sensor pad for a while they began to hammer at the door. I found this distracting, so I set the window to its opaque privacy setting, and we turned to inspect the bay.

  There was a sort of alcove to our left. It had a table with upholstered seats, near a small kitchen and a decent-sized bunk.

  The engine itself sat in the middle of the bay still sitting on top of the powered down loader. Banks of quiet machinery and chests of tools neatly lined every wall.

  “I don’t see anything wrong in here,” Jillian said.

  I draped an arm around her shoulders and pivoted her back toward the alcove. “Well, look what I’ve found over here,” I told her. “I couldn’t have done better if I’d planned it.”

  She shrugged my arm off. “Wait a minute. You told me something was wrong.”

  “No—I said I have something of great importance to share with you.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her to a seat in the alcove. “Sit.” I took two clean glasses from a shelf and then a slender decanter which had been sitting next to them.

  In my grip I swirled the golden booze inside the decanter. “Would you like a drink?” I smirked.

  She opened her lips and inhaled deeply. “You tricked me,” she hissed. “I don’t believe it…”

  “This isn’t a trick,” I insisted. “I wanted to get in here and check on the engine. It’s in good condition, right?”

  “Yes…”

  “On top of that,” I continued, “I do have something of great importance to share with you, and I didn’t know there would be refreshments—that was a bonus.”

  “This is just absurd,” she said standing up and turning away. “I’m under enough pressure already.”

  “Jillian,” I said softening. “Please hear me out.” I stepped over to her and gently took her face in my hands. She glared at me, but I continued.

  “I know how important your work is to you. I know you’ve been exacting and thorough—that you’ve more than exceeded expectations.”

  She continued to glare.

  “You just want to see the completion of a task well done,” I told her, “but your hands are held back by unseen bureaucrats. I know how frustrated you are. You’re intelligent, capable and beautiful and deserve to be recognized. Will you have a drink with me and relax for a while?”

  Her glare broke into raised eyebrows. “That’s what you wanted to share with me?” she asked.

  “Yes,” I whispered, and leaning to her—I lightly kissed her lips.

  Her eyes searched mine during a long pause. Then, she slapped my chest with both hands and shoved. She twisted away and folded her arms. “You are so bad. What makes you think I’m not going to be mad at you for this?”

  I took a seat and poured a splash of liquor into each glass. I pushed the other chair forward with a boot heel before stretching my legs out—crossed in front of me. “Please?”

  My comm-link beckoned to me with a short, audible chime, so I muted it.

  It took her a moment, but she faced me again. Struggling to suppress a smile, she ended up with a look of pretended disapproval.

  I swallowed my drink in a gulp. “You’re still perfect,” I said and poured another.

  “You, on the other hand, are awful,” she said, relaxing at last and dropping her arms. “I’m still pretty sure that I won’t forgive you for this.”

  “I understand,” I said.

  She removed the lab coat and tossed it on a countertop. Her brightly colored blouse had a silky sheen. It shimmered over her like liquid, and she looked fantastic. Pausing only for a moment, Jillian muted her own comm-link which had also chimed.

  Stalking toward me, she wore an expression that seemed interested after all. “What’re we drinking anyway?” she asked.

  “Who cares?” I said.

  “Yeah, you’re right.”

  She plucked the glass off the table and downed it as she let that dark hair loose again with the other hand.

  Setting the glass back on the table she nestled herself into my lap—wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing me deeply.

  “I’ll have another one of those please,” she told me.

  “Of course,” I said as I complied by first pouring the drink and then kissing her again—just to be sure.

  The muffled voices and drumming on the access door had slowed, but after a while fresh sounds began. Despite my distraction, it was obviously different when fingernails rattled out a pattern on the window glass around the corner.

  I took Jillian by the hand again and went back to the door. Pecking the correct icon, the small window resumed transparency.

  As the fog cleared, I found myself looking down into the face of Colonel Emily Hughes. The window height was such that I couldn’t see her from the chin down. She was anything but pleased.

  Hughes held up her wrist and tapped at her comm-link accusingly. Then, she pointed at the sensor pad outside, mouthing words and making unpleasant expressions with her face.

  In response, I cupped a hand to my ear and shook my head. Afterwards, I raised my hands in a gesture of helplessness.

  She became even less pleased and mouthed something more deliberately.

  I had to admit, Hughes had the temperament of a boss. She was ticked off but still holding it together with a resolve of steel. I wasn’t going to budge, though.

  Slowly, I mouthed back at her: “it’s okay.” I indicated my eyes with two fingers and then pointed back at the engine with two fingers. I shrugged one last time as Jillian came up and hugged me from behind and rested her chin over my shoulder.

  Colonel Hughes looked at each of us and then turned aside shaking her head and spoke to someone. I frosted the glass and Jillian giggled.

  “Where were we?” I asked smiling.

  “Right here,” she said, pulling me backward into the alcove and pouring us another round.

  We took our respective seats and grabbed the glasses. Clinking them together, we downed them and slammed them back to the table in unison.

  “You know… they’re probably trying to hack their way in here by now,” she said.

  “Probably,” I admi
tted. “They might even pull it off, but I’m not apologizing.”

  “Are you fearless?” she asked me.

  “I wouldn’t say it that way. I’d say I live forthrightly, regardless of outcomes. That said, being wired for commitment and sacrifice describes me best.”

  Tucking her chin down, she looked at me again like she was hunting me and smiled widely. “I like that,” she said almost purring.

  “Allow me to reciprocate. You’re as damn fine a woman as I’ve ever come across,” I told her. Given everything I could recall, it was perfectly true.

  “You know if I was ever going to settle down… you’d fit the bill nicely,” she said sounding tipsy.

  “Easy, girl.” I put my hands up in pantomime as if to calm her.

  It occurred to me then that I wasn’t getting drunk. I felt the heat of each belt go all the way down, and I enjoyed it, feeling warm and happy.

  After that, colors appeared to be more vibrant, but I wasn’t impaired. I just felt relaxed but quite lucid. My thoughts almost seemed enhanced in a way. Apparently, my metabolism was burning the booze almost as fast as I could drink it, but I found it quite pleasing.

  Dr. Brandt however, was looking more than relaxed. In fact, I’d say she was moving toward a bit intoxicated.

  “Oh—it’s warm in here,” she said loosening her neckline.

  “You know, Jillian…” I said. “I’d hate to think I’ve been leading you on. I’m really not a good prospect for the long run.” I meant it, knowing that I wasn’t normal—more different than superior—but decidedly not normal.

  “Nobody’s perfect,” she said.

  She leaned forward, and one finger circled the rim of her empty glass.

  “I mean it,” I told her. “I’m duty-bound in a way that prevents me from any permanent relationship with a worthy and deserving woman such as yourself.”

  She frowned at me. “I liked you better when you were trying to cheer me up,” she said.

  I laughed and then reached over to touch her hand in a neutral but affirming way.

  She eyed my chaste touch dubiously.

  “You know, I’m not letting you off the hook,” she warned. “I expect you to follow through on this little diversion of yours.”

  Then she smiled prettily and poured a fourth shot.

  “Jillian, I think you’ve had too much to drink. As a gentleman, I won’t take advantage of that.”

  She abruptly stood, pivoted and then did a flawless backward cartwheel. Facing me with her arms out to the sides, she walked back a perfect line like a tightrope.

  Of course, her grace and strength of motion had a lot to do with the low gravity—but it was still impressive.

  Once I was in range, she kicked a leg up like a dancer. It came down on the other side of my lap where she sat squarely facing me. Gripping my shirt in each hand, she pulled me forward and kissed me again.

  “I’ll tell you when I’ve had too much,” she whispered. “And a gentleman doesn’t leave a lady hanging.”

  I was pretty convinced she knew what she was doing at that point—and who was I to leave a lady hanging?

  With a glance at the door, I noted the banging had stopped for now. I was going to put every minute I had to good use.

  We began to kiss, and soon I didn’t care if Hughes or the guards got in. Even if that fat General himself showed up—or aliens—I wasn’t stopping.

  We proceeded to make love with abandon.

  Chapter 19

  The beautiful Dr. Brandt nestled against my side and made sounds like a purring kitten. I held her and enjoyed the fleeting moments even as I pondered our doom.

  I knew she wasn’t mine and couldn’t ever be. Still, I considered her a present temptation worth the ultimate cost, and I hoped I would be right this time. If certain things were different, she would be perfect…

  My mind raced, clear and relaxed. There were many other things to be distracted by. What was I to make of this pestilent, alien race of dimension-sliding goblins? What were their true intentions? How would they employ tactics toward their desired gains?

  A fist began thumping on the access door again, and looking at my comm-link I saw the indicator flashing.

  I ignored them both, but realizing it was time to get my head back in the game, I reversed the privacy setting on the vault’s main comm-channel. As an afterthought, I glanced at the thick body of a holstered, hand-held pulser—insuring that it was in quick-draw range.

  I had gathered a solid assessment of the enemy’s capabilities by now—their anatomy, their physical strengths and weaknesses, even the way they thought in the heat of battle to a degree.

  My guessing about their true goals and how they would go about achieving them was still largely stabbing in the dark, though. For the most part, I’d have to wing it in that department. I’d go on instinct—my preferred approach to most situations.

  Still, some deep thinking was in order. Letting my vision fog over, I saturated my mind with everything I knew or suspected about these adversaries. The expanse of my thoughts wove a deeper level of connections to draw upon later in the moment.

  I was snapped back to the here-and-now when speakers suddenly blared. A voice echoed over the general channel.

  “All personnel, Viper is approaching the station. Prepare for docking.”

  The destroyer! It had returned from chasing after the raiders. I could imagine it out there, beyond these thick metal walls, nosing closer and connecting to a docking tube from the station.

  Making a quick judgment call, I decided to go and have a look at that ship. There was bound to be valuable intel to be gained from the crew, I felt sure. They’d chased the raider for days, and they were serious fleet people, not just bored guys guarding bases. The only real military action in modern times happened far out on the fringe of the Solar System these days. Out there, small rebel colonies and pirates were common.

  Sliding a dark lock of hair away from her cheek, I could see that Jillian was sound asleep. Smoothly sliding my arm from under her warm body, I laid her head carefully on something soft. She murmured nice sounds and snuggled into the makeshift pillow.

  It was as unlikely as ever that a follow-up attack would hit exactly now, while everyone was on high alert. My feeling was that the aliens needed a little more downtime to recover before they hit us again anyway. They seemed to take days between attempts—and that was just fine with me.

  Shrugging and tugging my way back into my uniform, I decided to leave the weapon with my sleeping beauty—just in case. Putting my boots back on at the access door which stood just to the side of the main vault portal, I took a last look to make sure Dr. Brandt’s dignity was fully covered by the sheet and tucked a pair of folded spacer’s coveralls under my arm.

  Without fanfare, I hit the lock and quickly slid outside. Before anyone could react, I shut it again securely at my back.

  Two guards came at me a moment later. They looked sleepy, and it made me wonder how long I’d been distracted in there.

  I straight-armed the first guy, and he sat down hard. Then I held a finger to my lips. “Shh, Dr. Brandt is in no mood to be trifled with. Her baby is in there. She built that damned engine and wants some more undisturbed time while she runs final systems-checks.”

  I was inches taller than either of the men, so they didn’t attack me. But they sure didn’t look happy.

  “We’ve talked to your commander, Colonel Hughes,” the corporal said. “She was annoyed, but she verified you two did have clearance to enter the chamber. Still, sir, we have to object to—”

  “My methods? Fine. File a grievance. I’m sure Colonel Hughes will punish me harshly.”

  They glowered at me, but at the mention of Colonel Hughes, the corporal brightened. “Hughes did say she wanted to have a personal talk with you when you came out of there. You’re lucky—if she hadn’t intervened, General Niederman would have brought a cutting torch down here and taken that door right down.”

  “Uh-hu
h,” I said disinterestedly. “In any case, I’d suggest you stay on this side of the door—and let our people through when they ask.”

  I tapped the latch button to check if it was secure—it was. Then I looked back and forth at the muttering guards. I gave them my game face and one last curt and confident nod before I left without looking back.

  After a few turns, I ducked into a maintenance compartment and donned the spacer suit, pulling it over my uniform. I quickly located the right passageway. It was choked with the station’s receiving hands. Blending in with the other crewmen, I followed lit beacons that directed us to the active sector where the warship was docking and followed along with the regulars.

  My disguise worked well enough, and people didn’t pay much attention to one more yard-dog in the mix. I carefully adopted neutral gestures and facial features—training that came in handy at moments like this. I could look like any of a dozen other guys in a crowd if I wanted to.

  Viper locked on to the docking tubes, which reached out like spidery arms to grab her by the nosecone. Out here at the fringe of the station the core gravity-field had lost most of its effect. Everyone was floating and hopping around—moving like balloons with rocks tied to their strings.

  A klaxon blared. It was a double warning blast. A moment later, a massive shudder jarred the structure. Viper had docked.

  We swarmed through the tube-like passages like flying insects, There was a bustling commotion as we moved up into the receiving bay and felt a sequence of massive mechanical impacts. The grab-bars all over the docking tube walls quaked in our grip.

  Another double-blast sounded, and a huge opening appeared at the end of the receiving bay. It was a dilating iris, and it exposed a large, oval hatch-cover. Dogging locks were disengaged, and the big hatch popped up, breaking its seal. Plumes of vapor sprayed and then curled around the edges.

  After the big cover had swung wide open, several dozen of the destroyer’s crew disembarked onto the station. Two or three abreast, each team paused upon leaving their ship to make a ninety degree spin to correct for the differing alignment of the destroyer.