CHAPTER VII: THE SECRET OF IO

They accepted everything with surprising joy and naïveté, falling deeper into the darkness that I had prepared for them.

Corporal Harlan woke up, feeling very bad, as if he had not slept at all. He would have to meet Major Boyd today, as well as make his first attempt at observing what was going on around the UAC base. His bad expectations about Dr. Stalker had found their proof, and that gave him a slight feeling of satisfaction. Kyle hoped he would be able to find something that would be enough to send the unstable scientist somewhere else... a place with padded walls, preferably. His intelligence briefing would be after an hour – that was enough time to get prepared and have a much needed snack. He looked at the small sink on the wall – there was some toothpaste – "Jupiterion, Extra Whitening." He frowned – he hoped the other items that the colony produced for itself did not bear such ridiculous names. The water tasted funny. He tried not to think that what he washed his mouth with was refined water from the base sewers where all the waste went. It was carefully refined yet he could not suppress the shivers of disgust that ran down his spine. He could only suppose that he would get used to it after some time...

The coffee's taste was even worse. Quietly, the marine poured it into a pot with a flower. His knowledge of synthetic coffee's content was enough to tell him that it could easily serve as fertilizer.

"Why do they try to imitate it? They can just give us some soy slurry and a couple of vitamin pills for dinner..."

Kyle did not have the courage to try the tea, remembering the effect it had on Stalker (though it was certain that the doctor was a jerk anyway). The marine finally decided not to eat anything until he had asked the marines about what was edible at the base. He glanced at one of the windows – a terrible storm ravaged the clouds in the atmosphere of Jupiter, while some mysterious vapors rose from the surface of Io. If he did not have important tasks to perform, he would spend a whole day staring at the sky of Io and the greatest planet in the Solar System that followed its path in heaven as it had for millennia. For a second he wondered whether the Gatekeeper had seen something as breathtaking as this view...

The warm room was well decorated, and there was some food on the table – a fact that revived Kyle's optimistic outlook on life. Major Boyd was already there, looking through some folders that were assembled before him. He noticed the marine after closing the last one.

"Ah, Corporal Harlan, I was expecting you. Have a seat. If you are thirsty, you may try this thing in front of you. It was delivered this morning – the newest product of the UAC, a refreshing drink for tired colonists. We are the first to try it out. If no one dies, they will sell it on Earth. That was a joke, of course..."

Kyle did not notice the joke – he looked at the metal can on the table – completely white, with a proud blue V on the front. Below it was the title "Vorta – Cola" and the UAC logo.

"They are also planning to release a "diet" version of the thing. Apparently, someone thought that it would help people rebuild Earth faster. You know, sometimes I am very happy that I am not one of those corporate robots. So... before we begin, I would like to know what you already know. What you've been told before coming here..."

"Sir, I was sent here on a special assignment, with a primary objective to observe and report on the activities of a specific troublesome person on this colony," the marine answered.

"Our beloved Dr. Simon Stalker, isn't it? Most people, including myself, start hating him from the very first time they meet him. The other scientists pity him, claiming that his bad temper is because of too much stress. Ha! If it was like that, all marines would have gone insane by now. You, Corporal Harlan, come here with special recommendations and authorizations. I was informed that you played a significant role in the demons' defeat, though their sudden mass retreat is still a mystery. Perhaps, they were scared by hearty men like you?"

"Indeed, sir. We fought the monsters and held them at bay until they ended their invasion. They got what they deserved," Harlan replied cautiously.

"This morning, yet another secret order arrived – you have been granted full access to our secret files... as well as to the knowledge of our most recent discovery..." the Major said, looking at Kyle intently.

Kyle felt his blood run cold for a quick second. A discovery? He was not informed about this. His first thought was that they had somehow stumbled upon the demonic outpost. If that was true, he would have to take a look at it as soon as possible.

"Discovery, sir?"

"Yes, Harlan, an underground network of caverns, which appear to be artificial."

Underground caverns? It could be what he sought. Some luck he had – finding it so soon. That fact was slightly worrying too...

"Sir, what makes you think they are artificial?" he asked slowly.

"Well, the heavy metal gate covered with weird markings is pretty sufficient proof, I believe. We found it at the end of the caverns and we have so far been unable to open it and proceed any further." The Major said with a slight chuckle.

A gate. That was the proof! They had found the demonic outpost, and Kyle had to get there soon. He was sure that there was danger...

"The caverns we discovered were completely empty," the Major continued, "There were some traces of digging, many walls appeared to be scorched, and that gate is a definite sign that something was hidden by someone down there. We are planning to send a special expeditionary force down there tomorrow, which will try to find a way to open that gate – two scientists and a detachment of marines, led by a Corporal. We have not chosen who that Corporal would be yet..."

Sir, if you need my services I am ready to..."

"Harlan, it so happens that you are currently the only Corporal on Io Base Alpha. The orders I received were specific – you are to lead these men. I cannot imagine what you have done to impress high command so much. Have you saved the president or something?"

"I was... only doing what I had to do," Kyle felt pressured, "I defended a whole city and perhaps that convinced them to..."

"Sorry for interrupting you again, Harlan, this is not so important right now. I can see that you are a good soldier, and I rarely make mistakes when assessing people. I believe that I can trust you. I also believe that you will not fail me. Am I right?"

"Certainly, sir. I will do my best."

"I know you will. Before you leave, is there anything that you would like to ask?"

Kyle was about to say "No" but something important came to his mind...

"Sir, I would like to know how Dr. Simon Stalker reacted to the discovery. What do you think his intentions are?"

"Oh, that is one of the most surprising things – he is not interested in it at all. We informed him about it, and he told us, in his usual hostile manner, that he was too busy with "more important things." He has not asked about the discovery even once. He has not seen the caverns, even though the other scientists did. He is completely indifferent."

"This is strange. Perhaps, he is so obsessed with himself and his "epochal discoveries" or he feels too great to deal with such matters? Still, I will watch him closely." Harlan murmured.

"I approve. He has become even stranger over the last few month. He does not allow anyone inside his laboratories, and we know that he is working on something – there were many nights he spent awake in there. He has deliberately damaged all security cameras in his laboratories, so that we cannot see what he does. He threatens repair teams and constantly installs new locks and padlocks on his door. I am sure that he is working on something that I would not approve. Just a few days ago he came to me asking if we had pistols with damaged handles. He wanted us to send him all those pistols, after removing the handles completely. We could not find a reason to refuse, so we did send him some damaged weapons. I have no idea what he needs them for."

"Damaged pistols? They are useless, unless repaired. Would he smelt them or integrate them into something. Whatever it is, he only wastes necessary supplies. I am not an opponent of scientific progress, but there are boundaries of acceptance for everything."

"Do not get angry about this, Corporal. It is useless – the man is irrational. I have to leave you now. Have another can of Vorta – Cola if you like. If you start feeling strange, see our physician. Another joke... So long for now."

The Major walked out of the meeting room, leaving Kyle alone with his thoughts. He was still very tired and wanted to go back to his room and sleep. The cold grey corridors outside all looked the same, except for the convenient signs put there by the maintenance personnel. As he approached his room, he heard a coarse voice behind him.

"So you are the new one? A fresh addition to the military meat-grinder, I see. Rest assured, you will not enjoy your stay here."

Kyle turned around to face the menacing grin of Dr. Stalker.

"Can I help you with anything?" Kyle struggled to remain calm and not demonstrate his contempt.

"It is not necessary. I just want to welcome you to Io Base Alpha. You arrived right on time."

"What do you mean?" Kyle's muscles stiffened for a second.

The doctor did not answer – he turned around and walked away without saying anything else. Corporal Harlan looked after him for a few more seconds, trying to determine whether he was annoyed enough to give him a fist in the face. He returned to his room without doing that.

"I don't like you. I definitely don't like you."