The Constant Star (62)

THE STORY SO FAR

<Come in Jupiter. Gate prepped and ready for receival. State your ETA. Over.>

“Come in Needle. Immediate ETA. Open the gate.” Baldr looks to his two young wards, “Move!”

They sprint around the corner and follow Baldr as he disappears through a hologram of the cliff-face. They enter a short steel hallway and burst through the open elevator door on the other side. The door closes behind them as Jupiter motions for Siff and Lucas to be silent. He does not know how much surveillance is up and running, but luckily it seems the visuals are still down. It is not long before they are connecting with the grav-module and preparing for their entrance from the Gate. As the elevator slows, Siff sees her father ready himself. The door slides open and in front of them is a team of six officers standing ready to escort Siff, a war zone blazing around them. Their shocked faces give Baldr the distraction he needs to open fire. An electric shock runs through all of them and knocks them unmoving to the floor.

“Don’t worry, they’ll be fine. We have to move fast. Get to the elevator.” They sprint across open ground, hoping to remain unseen and climb aboard. Jupiter opens the control panel and begins pulling wires out, “We need to get both of you to a place where you can disappear. This elevator is supposed to take us to an awaiting security detail. As soon as I change its landing port they’ll know something is wrong and come running. Lucas, you doing okay?”

“Elysium is a lot darker that I imagined. I have no idea where I am or what is going on.”

“We are in immediate danger. We need you to hide until the Council is ready to listen to you. If we get caught we all die. When these doors open we have to run to safety and get out of sight.”

“Got it.”

Jupiter works quickly pulling and rewiring, “I’m going to put us in the lower decks. Close to the lower levels. A lot of fighting has been taking place there, but it has since moved to a different sector so we should be safe. All the same, prepare yourselves to see some disturbing things.”

The doors close and they begin to move. A speaker in the elevator buzzes and comes to life, <Jupiter come in. Why have you overridden the elevator?>

“Emergency protocol, Needle. We’ve been attacked by rebels and delivery station is no longer secure.”

<Stand by.>

…

<No word on rebel activity at delivery station. Return to original course.>

“Negative, Needle. New course determined.”

<Jupiter, what are you doing?>

“The right damn thing for a change. Over and out.” Baldr pulls a wire from the control panel and the speaker goes silent, “Okay, we’re in the shit now. The doors are going to open in a few seconds and we are going to run. They won’t be far behind us. Are you ready?” Siff grits her teeth and nods her head, she has never seen her father like this; he was always so mellow and resigned to his place on the ship. What happened? There is a click as the elevator arrives at their level and the doors slide open. Siff watches her father step out first. Lucas follows her as they sprint for cover. They dive behind some rubble as gunfire rings about them, pinning them down. Panicking, she looks up to her father who smiles back, “Don’t be afraid, sweetheart, you’re going to make it. I told you we would need a distraction, and now is the time. You have to help Lucas disappear, I will hold them back. They are going to capture me, but you will have a chance. Get him to the first med-bed you can find, okay?”

“Dad, no.”

“It’s okay, they’ll arrest me, but they won’t find you.” He smiles, “I need to talk to the Council anyway, right?” Siff nods in somber agreement, holding back her tears. She gives her father a big hug and he returns it tightly. He holds her out at arms-length to get a good look at her face, “I love you sweetheart, and I’m so proud of you.”

“I love you too, Dad.”

Baldr’s helmet comes across his face, “Okay, get ready. It’s time to go.”

49

He moves like lightning. Baldr’s powered suit thrusts him across the empty ground as he lays suppressive fire across the front lines of the Council’s forces. The suppressive fire raises smoke and debris; visibility of the fighting is zero. Siff grabs Lucas, “Now!” They sprint across the rubble strewn streets, Siff forcing herself to ignore the bodies laying in their way, the smell of burnt and rotting flesh filling her lungs as her exhausted legs drive on. They cross through several back-alleys and ruined houses before collapsing exhausted. The gunfire is still raging in the distance behind them; Baldr is keeping his word, “We can’t rest long, we have to get off this level and get hidden. This building should have med-beds inside and hopefully some food and water.” She can see Lucas is suffering. His breathing is strained and his hands are on his knees, head bowed. She takes his left arm over her shoulder, “Come on Lucas, we’re almost there.” He gives a short nod and they enter the abandoned home.

Though not as affluent as she is used to, Siff recognizes an administrators home when she sees one, “They must have fled when the fighting came through here. The med-room should be through here.” She takes Lucas through a door and is relieved to see an undamaged med-bed in the centre of the room, “Okay, lay down here. There you go.” Siff helps Lucas into place. Once on the bed he winces in pain before instantly passing out. Okay, I just really hope the system is still up.

Going to a control panel she opens the operating system and the machine begins to

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