Casimir's Effect
Chapter 4 – Old Habits
"You're late."
Casimir halted a few feet from three waiting Asari and held up his hands. His voice rasped out as if reluctant to encounter the day. "Not so loud."
"Late and hungover?" Artume crossed her arms over her chest and stared.
"This is the pilot? Better to hire a little Volus." Behind Artume were two more Asari females in leather combat suits. The speaker was the tallest of the three, her eyes challenging Casimir to respond. Artume spoke before his addled brains could react.
"He is adequate, Arma. Captain, open the hatch and let's get going."
Casimir unlocked the door with his omni-tool and motioned the three inside. Arma entered first, a fierce scowl on her high features. Her lean frame moved easily in a heavier version of the brown armor, which sported a full complement of weapons on the mag-plates: collapsed assault rifle and sniper rifle over left and right shoulders, folded shotgun at the small of her back, and pistol on her hip, The third Asari, a diminutive, plump figure wearing a lightweight suit and a pistol, hurried in after Arma. She kept her bright blue eyes down and vanished quickly into a side chamber.
"That's Dia. Don't make her upset."
"Why not?" Casimir's voice had elevated to a mild croak. "I think I'm allowed to be pissed given the circumstances."
"You've heard of biotics, correct?"
"Sure. That's like magic from fairy tales."
Artume shook her head. "While skill with biotics is rare in humans, all Asari possess some degree of ability. Dia is especially powerful but unstable emotionally. We do not need an accident mid-flight."
"Unstable compared to what? I wouldn't call you-"
Artume thrust her hand at Casimir and a flash of electric-blue energy arced from her shoulder, down her arm, and burst from her fingertips to explode against Casimir's armored chest. He landed twenty feet up the gangway and rolled into a gasping heap. Artume strolled to his inert form and leaned down. "I'm considered of average ability."
Casimir pushed to his feet, head now a throbbing tumult. "Got it. I'll just stay in the cockpit for the trip."
"Good. Let's get the ship powered up."
Casimir stalked into the vessel and frowned. "The crate, the one with the bug remains?"
"Binary Helix repossessed its property last night."
"Of course. They also searched the rest of the ship?"
"Yes."
"And you were pretending you needed me to open the hatch because?"
"I don't want you to feel useless." Artume's lips parted in a smile as she sauntered past Casimir to the cockpit.
"You're doing a hell of a job!" He winced at the volume of his voice and stomped into the armory. He retrieved his pistol and slapped it to the mag-plate at his right hip. In the cockpit, Artume waited in the co-pilot's seat. She tapped a sequence of coordinates into the amber display as Casimir settled into his chair.
"We're headed to the Artemis Tau Cluster. I'll have specific directions once we arrive."
"Wonderful." Casimir powered the engines and keyed the comm system.
"Captain Casimir of the Krakow, requesting clearance for departure."
"Ground control to Krakow. Uploading departure vector now."
"Thank you ground control. I hope to never see this shit-hole again." Casimir closed the comm and grinned at Artume's frown. Flight data filtered across his display and he locked in the route out to the nearest relay.
"Was that necessary?"
"I'm not allowed to be mean to you or your friends, you're all to unstable, remember?"
The planet of ice and snow slipped from view as the ship exited the atmosphere. "So what are we,"
"Don't bother. And remember that you are Edward Nowak, now. Casimir Jankowski departed Noveria and disappeared forever."
Casimir bit back a retort.
"You'll find that Mr. Nowak's bank account has received a transfer of 10,000 credits from an untraceable source. They are at your disposal."
"And if Mr. Nowak does something to displease this source?"
"It would be a shame if the account were unexpectedly terminated."
"That's what I thought." He pictured throwing the three Asari out of an airlock. "Can Asari read minds?"
"No."
"Too bad."
"Orbit established around the fourth planet. The database labels it Circe, a hydrogen-helium gas giant. I'm assuming that we're not going to attempt a landing."
"Check the sensors and cut the jokes."
"Sensors aren't picking up anything. No traffic, radio or otherwise. Are you sure this is the right place?" Casimir glanced at Artume, who activated the comm system and set it for a specific frequency.
"This is Agent Artume, authorization XXV25." Silence hung over the cockpit as they waited for a response. She repeated her statement two more times before slumping in her chair.
"What are you looking for?"
"The research station where Dr. Tamir worked. A classified station that you know nothing about. Arma!" Artume shifted to face the hall, her compatriot trotting into view. "You and Dia get ready. The station isn't responding."
"Yes, commander." Arma jogged back to her position as Artume returned her attention to the console. "Enhance scans around the planet at this orbital distance." They searched in silence, eyes on the sensor readout. Ten minutes later a lone blip appeared. "There!"
"It looks like a derelict freighter. No, two derelicts mashed together. Junk."
""That's the point. Dock with it and grab your helmet. You're going in with us."
Casimir's hands flew across the the controls. The excitement of the moment took over, reawakening a part of him that felt a thrill in the face of danger. It was an addiction that he thought he had broken, but now in the face of the unknown he felt a familiar surge of eager anticipation.
Casimir met the trio at the hatch, each now sporting a brown metal helmet that left only cold eyes visible. Artume showed him their internal comm frequency on her omni-tool and he configured his suit.
"Good thing you're all different sizes. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to tell you apart."
"Stow the chatter. The readouts show there is pressure and life support but little to no life readings."
"Wait, if this is the place where Tamir worked that means there could be bugs inside!"
"Yes, and-"
"You can't be serious! We're,"
Arma drew her assault rifle and pressed it to Casimir's faceplate.
"Arma." Artume placed a hand on the barrel and pushed it down. "Casimir, Arma will go in first, then Dia. You follow and provide support as necessary. They will need you to disable any traps or locks. I'll be here as a rear-guard so we don't pick up any extra passengers." Artume pulled her own assault rifle from its plate behind her left shoulder. Casimir noted that she now carried a full compliment of weapons.
"And if we're attacked by a swarm of those creatures?"
Arma backhanded Casimir's helmet. "Don't worry muffin. The only thing you have to fear in there is me."
"Muffin?"
"Open the hatch and keep the comm-line clear. Be careful."
Casimir's discarded his initial expectations as he stepped into the station. From the outside, the station was two large, smashed together cargo freighters that looked to be riddled with system failures and hull breaches. The inside was a high walled, white-washed display of cutting edge tech. The human hacked his way into a dozen labs, workrooms, and databases, each full of state-of-the-art equipment. The novelty changed to concern after the twelfth room that lacked either an occupant or a single byte of data on the systems. An unlocked double door at the end of a long hall opened onto a cavernous testing room, the last at this end of the station. Arma waited by the door to report in as Casimir and Dia searched.
"Artume, we've reached the main containment chamber. No scientists, no bodies, no bugs."
"What about the computer logs?"
Casimir looked up from an empty plexi-glass fronted metal crate. "All the logs I've checked were wiped, pretty recently too."
"Reverse direction and get to the command center, double-time. I have a bad feeling about this."
Arma hefted her assault rifle and strode into the hall. Casimir took one last look at the various empty cages, crates, and accompanying consoles. His shivered as his imagination populated the spaces with writhing carapaces and whipping tentacles, creatures struggling to escape their human captors.
"Edward! Get moving."
He shook his head clear and trotted into position behind Dia, eyes searching every cross corridor for signs of movement.
"Hold up a second." The Asari paused in yet another laboratory doorway as Casimir knelt to peer inside a chest. The lock was already hacked and inside were a collection of thin metal squares. "Finally something I recognize. There's a handful of ammo upgrades in here." He grabbed three small metal squares and inspected them with his omni-tool. "Looks like they modify ammo into some sort of toxic projectile." He held two out to his comrades, who refused.
"We don't have time for this, human. No more searching these labs, we head straight for the command center." Arma waved him into the hall with her rifle.
"Artume, are you hearing this?"
"Do what she says, Edward. No argument."
Casimir shook his head and slid the upgrades into a pouch at his waist.
They passed more empty rooms, shifting from workspaces to bedrooms and rec spaces. The one personal terminal Casimir checked had no data and Arma couldn't be persuaded to check any others. After traversing the station they reached a large security door.
"We're at the door to the command center." Arma pointed at the red lock and stood aside.
"I'm on it." Casimir activated his omni-tool and hacked through the security protocols. The door shifted open. "Shit!" He threw himself clear as Arma stepped forward and opened fire. Small creatures the size of a fist scuttled forward; bursts of rifle fire shredded the green carapaced bodies into thick emerald fluid. Dia and Casimir fell back behind Arma, the tall Asari firing over and over as she took calm steps backwards.
"Report!"
"Creatures; I'm taking care of it." The swarm faded to a stream, then a trickle, then with a final burst the rifle ripped the last bug into bits of shell and spray. "They're all dead. We're checking the command logs now." Casimir took a deep breath to calm his pulse and slapped his pistol back into place.
"Nice work."
"I don't want your praise," Arma responded as she marched into the command. "Just do your job and I'll do mine. Still no bodies, no sign of a fight."
"Edward, the logs?"
"Checking." He powered the primary console and punched a few amber keys. "What the hell?"
"What did you find?"
"Another ship just docked with the station directly across from you, Artume." The two Asari sprinted from the room without a word.
"What type?"
"I've never seen one like it, some sort of modified personnel shuttle, military grade. Armed, very low energy signature. Looks like they were hiding in low orbit."
"Arma?"
"We're on our way, commander. Stay put."
"Edward, pull what records you can and get back here."
"Roger that."
A quick search yielded similar results as before, with only sensor data collected over the previous few days. He stored the information on his omni-tool and paused in the doorway. What did he owe them? Maybe the newcomers were a better option. He tossed his head and drew the pistol. Without Artume and Binary Helix, he had nothing. There would be time later to reassess, for now it was still too early in the game.
Casimir found Arma and Artume crouched on opposite sides of a long corridor, using an intersecting hall for cover. Each had an assault rifle in hand and an eye on a closed hatch twenty feet away.
"Edward, take position one intersection back with Dia."
"You have some enemies I need to know about?"
"We're going to find out."
He raced to the next intersection and turned the corner. Dia watched from the other side.
"Are you OK?" She nodded and pressed her hands together, as if in prayer.
"Casimir, can we outrun their ship?"
"Not a chance. Even if we were faster, their weapons are impressive. We would be ripped apart."
The far hatch beeped twice and slid open, releasing a mass of spear-tipped tentacles, shell-encased limbs, and beady eyes. Twin assault rifles burst to life, ripping the first five foot high bug to bits. The creatures screeched and charged; a second collapsed in a heap of green fluid. Artume stepped into the hall and thrust a wave of crackling blue energy at the beasts; they flew into the air, crashing against one another and the walls. Rifles continued their deadly work, tearing another bug apart as they regained their balance.
"Arma, fall back!" Rifles continued to thunder, claiming another life as the horrors rushed for their prey. "Dia, be ready!" Artume jogged past Casimir to the next intersection, activating her omni-tool as she moved. Arma continued to send bursts down the hall and retreated to steps behind Dia, who moved into the hall. The rifle fire stopped as the diminutive Asari's body was sheathed in a layer of crackling ice-blue flame.
The remaining two creatures lunged closer and closer, ten feet, five feet; Dia thrust both hands forward and a wave of electric power launched from her body. The bugs were tossed like on a whirlwind, limbs flailing like puppets dancing on strings held by a madman. The two bodies crashed against the wall on either side of the hatch and thudded to the floor. Arma opened fire and finished the miserable creatures.
"Edward, can you get a reading on the enemy ship?" Artume's voice sounded frantic. Casimir holstered his pistol and activated his omni-tool.
"What am I looking for?"
"This feels like a diversion and I can't get a clear reading."
Casimir adjusted his scan to compensate for a jamming signal from beyond the hatch, fighting through the interference to get a reading. "Shit, the ship is gone! All I'm reading at the hatch is a modular cargo container. It has another section, too, some strange readings inside."
"Where's the ship?"
"They've docked with the Krakow!" Casimir shifted to look through the open hatch at the other end of the hall. A figure in glossy black armor stepped into view, sniper rifle in hand. "Get down!" Casimir dove at Dia and the pair crashed into the adjoining corridor. A distinctive "thwoom" marked a sniper shot and Arma crashed to the floor, her shields flaring bright blue before fading completely.
"Multiple targets in the Krakow, hard to read." He glanced up and willed Arma to stand. She lay in the hall, limbs twitching. The sniper fired again, the "thwoom" echoing through the hall as a round ripped through Arma's armor. Casimir forced himself to look at his omni-tool as he tried to make sense of the display. Dia huddled next to him, her head in her hands. A crash sounded from the bugs' hatch and a raspy groan drifted to his ears.
"Casimir? What the hell is that?"
"Strange life readings." He poked his head into the hall and pulled back immediately as the sniper fired, the round slicing into the wall above him. "Get ready to move, we have to make for the command center!"
"What are you,"
"On my go," he tapped a sequence into his omni-tool, sucked in a deep breath, then lunged into the hall, amber controls aimed at the black garbed commando. The long nosed rifle flared into overheat, a small explosion knocking the man backwards into the Krakow. "Go!" Casimir grabbed Dia and lurched into a run, only dimly noting the green skinned humanoid creatures rushing towards him from the far hatch. His mind didn't have the resources to deal with this new threat, so he paused at the next intersection to activate his omni-tool again. Dia rushed ahead, short legs pumping as fast as possible.
A quick sequence in the tool and it fabricated a small proximity mine, which latched to the wall.
"Casimir, if we survive this I'm going to,"
"Profess your undying love for me? Yeah, I know."
He glanced back and saw three of the strange creatures in detail; green skin mottled brown-black, five fingered hands ending in long talons. "Not friendly." he muttered as he turned to race away.
"What are those things?" Weapons fire crackled through Artume's comm.
"Just get to the command center!" An explosion announced the success of his mine and he allowed himself a grin. He may die today, but he wouldn't go quietly.