Part 17
Fara stepped out of the shuttle and into the Prospect's hangar bay, not much had changed inside the ship. Most of the interior lighting was off or flickering and a smoky haze still filled the air, the smell of burnt wiring tingled her nose. The ship was powered down and eerily silent, the constant hum of the ship's machinery that normally masked her footsteps was absent, each step she took sent an echo through the empty hangar. The trail of strobing lights on the floor meant to guide the ship's crew to the hangar seemed to push her away as she walked against their flow and toward the pressure door that led to the ship's interior.
The pressure door led to a hallway that had been sealed off after the explosion, as she walked in the dim light, Fara carefully stepped over fallen panels and debris that still cluttered the hallway. The ship's repair drones had wasted no time patching the holes and repairing the structural damage to the ship but the debris and cosmetic work took a lower priority. Further into the ship, Fara began to worry, she still had yet to see Falco, Katt, or Fox. Someone had to know she was on board, they opened the door to let her dock. About midway down the hall was dent in one of the panels, Fara didn't think much of it at first glance, the hallway was full of damaged panels. This panel was pushed inward where the others damaged panels were bulged outward, two meters down the hall from the dent were several smears along the wall and floor, Fara stopped and looked down. In the dim light it was hard to see what the smears were, Fara touched one of the marks with her finger, the substance flaked off the wall and stuck to her finger. She rubbed her fingers together, the dark red substance was dried and flaked off easily. Fara took another sample from the wall and brought it to her nose, the flakes had a strong copper-like smell, it was blood. This was where they found Jack, he had been tossed against the wall and landed right here, and he was in trouble.
Fara ran toward the end of the hall where she found the ladder she had used to get to the lower level of the ship after the explosion and climbed as fast as she could to the crew deck. Her search for the others became more frantic as she found the crew deck dark and completely deserted, there was only one place left to search. On the command deck, Fara found the officer's quarters empty and made her way to the bridge. As she stepped through the doorway she let out her breath, Fox and his robot ROB were inside. Fox was sitting in the captain's chair with his head tilted back, sound asleep. ROB was working at one of the consoles toward the front of the bridge and turned to greet her.
"Hello Fara Phoenix." He said, "I'm glad to see you made it back safely."
"Hello ROB." Fara replied. "Glad to see you and Fox here. Where are the others?"
"They left as soon as I came on board. Fox and I have been repairing this ship."
"Left?" Fara was stunned. "Why?"
"Because Falco has only one priority, himself." Fox said.
"I thought you were asleep." Fara turned and said to Fox.
"I was. I woke when I heard you talking to ROB. I'm glad you made it back Fara, where's Jack?"
"Someone took him from the infirmary on Io station." Fara said shaking her head. "I have no idea where he is now."
"So how do we find him?"
"I have a contact on Io station that's working on it, he said it might take a few days though."
"A contact?" Fox looked at Fara in disbelief.
"Admiral Miller, an officer I met while I was waiting for Jack to recover, gave some information after his disappearance." Fara held out her hand. "She also gave me this for getting Jack back to the station."
"Looks like some kind of medal." Fox said.
"It is a valor award." ROB interrupted. "Given to individuals for exceptional deeds in service to the HSF."
"How did you know that ROB?" Fox asked.
"I have linked my systems with the human ship to station network by way of this ship's main computer. I have been using it to obtain information on ways to more efficiently repair and operate this ship. By my estimation, I've reduced repair time by 13%."
"You have access to their network?"
"Much of the HSF network is restricted, most of what I can access is related to ships of this type, though I can browse the humans' database for general information. I have been looking over the history of the HSF while waiting for the drones to complete their assigned tasks. I find it interesting humans do not use independent thinking machines."
"What do you mean?" Fox asked.
"Any task performed by an automated drone is assigned and overseen by a human, self aware machines do not exist in HSF space and their development and construction is forbidden. Humans do not use the word robot and call any mobile automated machine a drone."
"Why would they do that?" Fara asked.
"In the past, self aware machines under human control have adopted an aggressive nature and turned violent, resulting in many unfortunate deaths. As a result, all forms of self aware artificial intelligence are forbidden, the nearest any of their technology gets to a true A.I. is the main computer on a starship. It is given the freedom to plot routes and manage the ship's internal systems without input from a human, but cannot activate weapons or tamper with life support without approval."
"You might want to keep a low profile ROB." Fox said with a chuckle. "I think..."
"Main structure integrity at 85%." ROB interrupted. "The ship is structurally sound enough to attempt FTL travel or a jump."
"Until we hear from Fara's contact, I think we should stay here and continue repairs." Fox told ROB.
"The ship will be fully repaired in 173 hours." ROB responded. "I have put all non essential systems offline in an effort to reduce repair time."
"I think I want to lie down." Fara told ROB and Fox, "Hopefully, we'll hear something on Jack soon."
"I might do the same, there's nothing I can do right now anyway. ROB can handle the ship until one of us wakes up." Fox said as he followed Fara off the bridge and out to the elevator. He stood silently next to Fara as the elevator stopped on the crew deck, as Fara began to step out Fox stopped her.
"Fara, when you were asking about Jack did you?..."
"Yes, I asked about her too Fox." Fara interrupted. "I also asked him to track down Miri."
"Why Miri?"
"Payback. The same reason I want to track down Krystal." Fara began to walk away from Fox, who stood outside the elevator shaking his head.
"I don't think Krystal had anything to do with what happened to Jack or the attack on the ship." He said to Fara. "We know Miri was working with Wolf."
"We'll find out." Fara stopped and turned to face Fox. "If I'm right, are you going to help me catch her?"
"I..." Fox hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "Yes. If I'm right, will you accept that there's more to Krystal than what you've heard?"
"Alright." Fara said with a smile. "Though I doubt I'll have to." Fara stepped into her room and promptly shut the door, leaving Fox standing alone in the dim lights of the hallway. He walked back into the elevator and went back to the bridge where ROB worked silently at one of the terminals, briefly turning his head away to look at Fox as he entered the room. Fox sat in the captain's chair, slid down in the seat, and closed his eyes.
When Fox awoke, the bridge was dark and deserted except for the amber glow of the control consoles. On the screen infront of him was a pale green gas planet with black swirling clouds briefly illuminated by flashes of lightning. A quick search of the ship's security system found ROB deep in the lower decks working at a console, Fox paged him.
"ROB, where are we?"
"We are currently in low orbit around a gas giant in the Alpha system. Designation: Alpha VII."
"Why did you move the ship?"
"The ship's computer suggested I refuel the reactor. I gave the command and the ship brought us here."
"There's nothing out here." Fox said. "Where are we going to get fuel?"
"The ship's reactor is fueled by hydrogen." ROB replied. "I am using a gravity beam to collect it from this planet's atmosphere. Normally, these reactors can go decades without refueling, however this reactor was allowed to cool down then restarted suddenly. It needs to be refueled or it will become unstable and shut down again."
"Oh." Fox said. "Carry on then." ROB continued to monitor the ship and make repairs, when the reactor was refueled he moved the ship into orbit around Alpha III so they would be nearby when Norman contacted Fara. Over the next few days, Fox had taken to wandering the halls of the empty ship impatiently waiting for any word on Krystal. He hadn't realized how lonely the ship had become with so few on board, ROB was occupied with tending to the ship or scouring the HSF network for some random bit of information. Fara wasn't speaking to him except for the indirect grunt or shrug whenever he tried to start a conversation, he couldn't tell if she was still angry at him or just preoccupied with her own thoughts. Fox looked out one of the ship's windows as Io station slowly drifted past. Despite the conflict going on in Lylat and the problems withing the human's own systems there were never less than two dozen cargo ships circling the massive station's docking bay. When the station had passed, Fox went back to the bridge. A flashing red light on one of the consoles grabbed his attention.
"There's a message for you on that console." ROB said as Fox pressed the button on the console and replayed the message.
"Fortune's Prospect, you are requested at Io station immediately. Docking bay 45 has been reserved for you. You will be given clearance to dock as soon as you approach the station. Due to the high volume of traffic at the station, we are only able to hold this docking bay for 48 hours, after which you will have to register for a docking permit."
"Good thing we're nearby." Fox turned to ROB. "Good call ROB. Get us to Io station as soon as you can, I'll tell Fara."
"I have already plotted a course. We should be there in two hours." ROB replied. Fox ran to the elevator and made his way to the hangar bay where Fara had been tending to the Interstellar Iridium shuttle. Fox found her sitting in the pilot's seat fast asleep, the weapon Jack had given her clenched tightly in one hand.
"Hey Fara." Fox spoke softly as he walked up behind her. "Fara, they called us. We're headed to the station now." Fox put his hand on her shoulder and gently rocked her. Fara snapped awake and jumped from the pilot's seat, facing Fox with her weapon drawn. She looked at Fox and slowly lowered the weapon, remaining silent.
"Fara, they called." Fox repeated. "We're going back to Io station."
"It's about time." Fara said as she rushed past Fox and toward the bridge. On the bridge, ROB was setting a course for Io station, Fara took a seat at one of the consoles as Fox entered the room behind her and sat down in the captain's chair. The return trip to Io station was brief and uneventful and, as the message had said, they were tractored into docking bay 45 where Norman and Miyu were waiting for them.
"You're traveling around in an Argus class?" Miyu said as Fara and Fox approached. "Those things were outdated when they were new."
"It beats walking." Fox replied.
"That's the Prospect isn't it?" Norman asked.
"Yes." Fara said.
"Outdated or not, that is one of the most resilient ships in the armada." Norman told Miyu. "I've seen that ship come back here for repairs that would have crippled any other vessel. The Argus were over engineered in a way that's never been repeated in starship design. The companies that operate the few surviving Argus class ships don't let go of them easily and being jump drive equipped makes it almost impossible for anyone but a member of the HSF to command one."
"Jack turned the ship over to me before he disappeared." Fox said. "To keep Sandra Dinan of Interstellar Iridium from taking command of the ship."
"I see." Norman replied.
"So where is Jack?" Fara interrupted. "Do you have anything to tell us or not?"
"Easy there." Norman told Fara. "I already told you Star Wolf turned in a bounty for someone named Kursed, which you identified as Krystal, one of the individuals you're looking for. When I pressed for details about that transaction I found the CDF removed the bounty on Kursed some time ago then reissued it recently and increased the payout almost ten fold. My guess is whoever got... "
"Wait a minute." Fox interrupted. "Fara, you knew where Krystal was the whole time we were drifting around out in space?"
"I didn't know for sure." Fara said. "Norman didn't have any details other than someone turned in her bounty."
"I can't believe you. We were wasting time out in the middle of nowhere while Krystal was in trouble and you didn't say a thing about it."
"Ahem." Norman interrupted. "Like I was saying, Star Wolf got paid for turning someone over to the CDF. The books say it was Kursed, but I'd wager they bought a captured human and are trying to cover it up."
"Why does the CDF want a human?" Fara asked.
"The Cornerians have been asking to study our biology for some time. They've been asking for cadavers and anatomical data for years, we've sent them a bit as a gesture of goodwill, along with some blood and tissue samples. We trace everything we give them and it all goes to the same place on MacBeth, very well fortified underground facility built among the ruins of factory. A few months ago, they started asking for a live specimen, a request that was denied. This upset the CDF, who threatened to break off diplomatic ties with us. Not too long after that the aid ships we were sending into Lylat started being attacked by random criminal groups operating in the system."
"They were trying to catch a human on the ships coming in from outside Lylat." Fox added.
"Exactly, that's why we're forced to use Cornerians and Cornerian ships to transport our care packages. That and the CDF doesn't want human ships in Lylat, they think it'll scare the locals seeing another group of unknown ships after so many wars."
"So you think Jack's on MacBeth?" Fara asked.
"It's as good a theory as any, MacBeth would be a good place to hide. There's a ton of traffic coming and going from that planet, it would be easy to lose a ship in the confusion." Norman said as he handed Fara a small package. "I'm sorry I don't have anything more solid to go on, but information from inside that facility is nonexistent. I do have a way for you to get in though."
"What is this?" Fara asked.
"The Cornerians that return to Lylat from HSF space are taken to a quarantine facility on MacBeth before they're either returned to their planet of origin or taken to that underground facility. I've got the two of you one way tickets to MacBeth as returning civilians, from there you're on your own. The freighter you're on will be leaving in a couple of days so you've got some time to work up a good cover. If you do manage to get inside, our contact there is Dr. Johnathan Waytus, he spent time on Io station studying human biology and was recently transferred to MacBeth before we lost contact with him."
"Thank you Norman, for everything." Fara said.
"My pleasure. One thing before you go, Jack's one of our own and there's a reward for his safe return. Just come see me and I'll make sure you get paid in full."
"We'll be back soon." Fox said as he and Fara began walking back toward the Prospect. Fara went to the ship's lounge and sat down at one of the tables, Fox sat down across from her and stared silently.
"What?" Fara finally broke the silence.
"You should have told me about Krystal."
"There wasn't anything to tell."
"You knew she was on MacBeth, Fara."
"Okay, so she's on MacBeth. One person on a planet that's in ruins, with thousands of kilometers of tunnels and underground caverns, and has more ships coming and going than the rest of the planets in Lylat combined. I'm sure you'd be able to drop down there, find her, and be back in no time. Use some sense Fox."
"I think I deserved to know you were looking for her."
"Maybe you did, that was poor judgment on my part, I'm sorry. We need to focus on getting into this place and getting Jack and possibly Krystal, back out without causing an incident."
"If Krystal is there, we're taking her with us when we leave. I won't lose her again."
"Fine, we'll see when we get inside. If we knew why some of the returning Cornerians were being separated we could make sure we get singled out and taken away."
"They're studying humans there right? So what if we bring some human technology with us?"
"Like what? Weapons? They'd just take them away."
"Maybe they can't take the technology away from these people. Miri, Jack's friend or companion or whatever she was had an artificial eye that was human technology. It wasn't permanently attached but I'm sure there are Cornerians out there with human made artificial limbs"
"I think I have an idea Fox. My headset was part of a pilot training experiment the CDF was working on, maybe we can pass it off as a piece of permanently attached human technology."
"That gets you inside, what about me?" Fara though a moment then answered Fox.
"Do you think they'd separate a married couple?"
"I don't know. That doesn't sound like a good idea."
"We could try that or we could go back to Io station and have the humans replace a limb." Fara said with a smile.
"Let's go find a couple of rings."