Chapter Twenty-One
The thing about Io…
The unique, special, immensely dangerous thing about Io…
The thing about Io is…
It's a volcanic moon.
And, not just a volcanic moon.
It's a volcanic moon in close proximity to, and which carries on a very potent relationship with, the gas giant Jupiter.
To own a dome on Io - to live there and raise a family…
It was a symbol of conquest. Human resilience set against the rawest forces of Nature.
To live on Io was to prove you could overcome anything.
…as long as you possessed the funds.
Engineers and architects initially consulted to tame this violent moon for colonization had concluded it couldn't be done. At least, not so the planetoid could be fit for long-term human habitation. Mobile mining camps, perhaps. But, wealthy homesteaders…?
Not the best idea.
This was because the stormy giant, Jupiter, held Io in its thrall. The push and pull of its powerful forces produced a searing heat in Io's belly; the pressure rising, building, until molten rock exploded through the moon's frozen sulfur dioxide surface. Flowing lava vaporized the toxic ice on contact, hissing and bubbling as deadly gasses escaped into the atmosphere - a full ton spewing into Jupiter's orbit every second, supercharging particles trapped in deadly radiation belts within the giant's magnetosphere.
Lethal radiation engulfed the massive planet, Jupiter basked in the glow of fantastical auras…
Until Space Corps scientists, funded primarily by Earth taxes, developed an energy shield designed to interfere with and, to some extent, block Jupiter's most puissant forces. Powered by a combination of Io's geothermal energy and radiation from Jupiter itself, their force shield calmed Io's deadliest volcanoes, creating a balance just stable enough to allow the construction of a small, closely clustered network of radiation-resistant domes - greenish blisters of Earth-type atmosphere and living soil set in an uneven semicircle atop the toxic terrain. Elite homes, schools, shopping centers…
There, they gleamed against the poison ice: a haughty smirk aimed directly at Jupiter's great red eye.
Adam Larkin glared down from the captain's chair of his shanghaied Space Corps scout ship and smirked right back.
"Fire," he ordered.
The octagonal ballroom rattled and shook. One of the three angled mirrors bearing Cat's preening reflection cracked, and the pain of it made him cry out.
"Steady on, old chum," Rimmer said, and narrowed his eyes. "My guess is that was a warning shot."
"Warning shot?" Lister exclaimed, wheeling his arms. Kochanski risked the shocks from her electronic shackles to help steady him on his feet. "You mean, someone's firin' at us?"
"Look, sirs!" Kryten said, staring up at the elaborate chandelier. "The lights - they're flickering. I think—"
An odd, static-electric wave washed over the group, accompanied by a low, hum-like sigh. The lights died, their shackles opened and fell to the floor. From outside, they could hear the startled cries of reporters as their expensive camera drones dropped from the sky…
"The power…" Rimmer said, his voice almost a whisper. "The power is out…"
Kochanski regarded him.
"Is that a problem?" she asked.
"It could be," he said. "It certainly could be. Without power, the dome's oxygen generators won't be working. Worse, if all the domes have lost power, the energy shield that blocks the forces of Jupiter could falter. Even on back-ups, we may only have a few hours before lethal radiation—"
"Hey guys!" the Cat called, pointing to the cracked mirror. "Look over here!"
The mirror was angled so the dais beyond the French windows was visible, as well as the pale, greenish curve of the inner dome.
The group craned their necks, straining to peer past the Cat's reflection, as well as their own, until they could see what he'd been pointing at.
An enormous GELF face had been projected against the side of the dome.
Almost as one, the group turned and hurried to the window for a clearer view, the Cat trailing reluctantly behind.
"Gah, yuck!" Cat winced. "Just look at that matted fur, those crooked fangs, those beady little eyes…!" He looked Frank up and down. "That dude looks just like you, man!"
"Good God," Frank gasped. "But…but how…?"
"Remember, old boy, you're not the only one Mother and that general duped with that serum," Rimmer said. "Looks like the real crashers have finally joined the party. And, judging from the hospitality this family's shown so far, I'd say it's up to us to make sure they get a proper welcome."
The GELF's glaring face loomed over the manicured gardens, making the admiral's important guests all twitchy and uncomfortable. Reporters everywhere crouched over their fallen camera droids, at loose ends without instant access to their network liaisons.
"What is that hideous thing?" the guests muttered and whispered, shooting haughty, disapproving glances at the dais, where Admiral Rimmer and General Metzeler seemed to be having an argument.
"Not another tiresome prank..."
"Have you ever seen a more ridiculous looking costume?"
"You don't think it could be alien, do you?"
"More likely a vid."
"Why doesn't someone change the bloody channel?"
"Will we be having cake after all, then?"
The irritated muttering grew and swelled - until the mutant's image spoke, and all other voices went uncomfortably silent.
"I am Adam Larkin," the furry GELF slurred through his obstructive fangs, "captain of the independent supply freighter, Icefall. I appear to you today, like this, to deliver a message. The GESS Project you have funded is a dangerous lie. The Project's champions, Admiral Rimmer and General Metzeler, have willfully and knowingly defrauded my people into playing the guinea pigs for their irresponsible genetic experiment. This warped form...this mutated face you now see is the result. Many hundreds of my people have suffered this terrible transformation. Dedicated, hardworking families who were given no choice, no honest facts about the so-called vitamin regime these supposedly respected officers were hawking to our schools, our hospitals! They lied to us, and they have lied to all of you. Their crimes will not be tolerated. Deliver these criminals to us, and we will see to it that justice is fairly and properly served to all who have been complicit in this assault on our genetic future. Refuse, and we will destroy your energy shield and leave you to weather the force of Jupiter's wrath. Consider carefully which would you rather face: human justice, or Nature's mercy? You have ten minutes to decide."
The GELF's image faded in a haze of static, and the admiral's guests burst into panic.
Rimmer sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Fan-smegging-tastic," he groaned.
"We could just leave her to it," Lister said, watching him closely. "Scarper back to Starbug an' the Wildfire and head somewhere else."
"Judging from Mr. Frank's experience, sir, and the shady way the admiral, General Metzeler, and your other two brothers attempted to scapegoat all of us, I think we can trust those GELFs have a legitimate grievance," Kryten added.
Frank growled low in his throat, but didn't protest.
Rimmer shook his head.
"No," he said. "You make a fair point, Kryten, but I can't let this ultimatum stand. This situation needs diffusing, if not for Mother's sake, then for theirs - those angry miners whose case will only be harmed if they carry out this threat. I'm heading up to face those GELFs. Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for—"
"No, Ace, you can't," Kochanski broke in. "Not alone. The Wildfire has no weapons!"
"As a wise woman from Dimension 85543229 once told me - and, with apologies to present company," he said with a glance at Frank, "'There's more than one way to skin a GELF.'"
"Yeah," Lister said, crossing his arms, "unless the GELF skins you first. I'm with Krissie. It's all or none on this one."
"You're all agreed?" Rimmer said, casting his gaze from one determined face to the other.
"We are, sir."
"You bet, H-Face."
"Frank?" he asked, looking into his brother's dark eyes.
Frank nodded slowly, and placed a hairy hand on Rimmer's shoulder.
"I'm with you," he said. "Ace."
Rimmer's expression twitched...just for a fraction of a moment...and he swallowed hard.
"Thank you," he said, and strode across the ballroom floor, leading the group through an unmarked, mirrored door to the servant's corridor. "Come on, quickly," he said. "I'll tell you my plan once we're in orbit."
To Be Continued...
Until next time, thanks so much for reading! Please Review! :D