The Constant Star (64)

THE STORY SO FAR

Staying low, the two of them make their way through several rooms with scattered tools and half-finished projects. The gunfire is getting more intense outside.

There is a soft whooshing noise overhead as a missile salvo strikes a nearby building. The ground shakes and dust fills the air as the building collapses.

“Lucas, it’s not safe here. We have to move.”

“The fighting is getting closer, but they will be less interested in finding us. There are two groups outside, but I can get us behind them. That door in the corner. Keep low.”

They make their way across the room as panicked shouts start breaking out from outside. Another soft whooshing noise fills the air.

Oh, no.

The missiles hit the side of the workshop, the impact throwing them against the wall which crumbles around them. Debris falling, Siff notices Lucas is unconscious. She manages to drag him to the corner under a workbench as everything falls down. Brick and steel rattle the bench, but most of the debris falls away from them. The deafening sound of collapsing girders and mortar continues for a few seconds before an eerie silence and calm. The debris has not buried the bench they are hidden under and troops will be moving through here soon. Siff nudges and then shakes Lucas. He is alive and awake, but too groggy to move. There is no way she can carry him without the both of them being caught, “Come on Lucas, wake up.” His slow blinking and groaning let her know it will be a few minutes before he’s capable of anything, “Damn it.”

Siff climbs from under the table and takes a look over the debris. It looks like the rebels are retreating, but they are searching the buildings as they go. There’s a team heading this way. Shit! I can get to that alley over there, but there’s no way I can get Lucas out of here before they arrive. Shit! I can’t let him get captured, he’s too important. I have to…dammit! Shit! Shit! Shit! I hate this! This is going to suck.

“Lucas. Lucas, look at me.” His slow blinking eyes focus on her face, “I’m going to draw them away from here. I don’t think they know you came back with us, so they won’t look for you. You need to find somewhere to hide until the war is over. Understand?”

She waits until the rebels are about to enter the debris of the workshop, then breaks from her hiding spot and makes a run for it. Her actions have the desired affect and she is chased by the squad, leaving Lucas in safety for now. Siff sprints down ruined streets and through broken buildings, the number of those chasing her increasing all the time. There are no gunshots though. That’s nice. Maybe they don’t want to kill me after all.

She reaches the end of an alley and turns a corner to the barrel of a gun pointing at her face. “Gotcha, bitch.” It’s Addy, and she is furious. Siff’s pursuers catch up from behind and take her arms, Addy swivels and lands a left hook in her ribs. Siff collapses and is held upright by the two men holding her, “Okay, we got her. Let’s get out of here.” Siff is dragged away as she fights to regain her breath. Well, shit.

50

Stripped of his armor, Jupiter leans against the wall in his cell, paralyzer sitting uncomfortably on his neck. His body is fresh with bruises and his face is bleeding from those who restrained him. He can only wait now for those he once called friends to sit in judgement over him. They need to hurry up, the longer they take, the more danger Siff and Lucas are in. That is if they didn’t get captured already. He taps his fingers against the wall in nervous impatience.

Hearing footsteps coming closer, he stands upright in anticipation. Saturn comes into view and stops before him, showing him a sound dampener to let him know their conversation will be private. There is disappointment and anger on her face, “You were supposed to bring her back. If you would have brought her to us, none of this would have happened.”

“A jail cell is not the end of the world. I can explain myself before the Council; there was good reason for what I did.”

“A jail cell might just be the end of the world.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Council cannot cast judgement on you unless we all sit together, and Mars refuses to join us until after the war.”

“That violence-hungry fool! He would rather cause more death than find peace.”

“You are more right than you know.”

“What are you talking about?” he pauses, “You know something, don’t you? Saturn, what is happening?”

She shakes her head as tears fill her eyes, “Baldr, I…he…I looked into the protocol chip and found exactly what you said I would. I decided to look closer at Mars’ activities and had him followed…I…I know what he’s doing. What he’s been doing. His secret mission.”

“What? What is he doing?”

“He’s been using the power fluctuations to secretly access the termination portals. He’s been activating them.”

“But that means…”

“Baldr, he’s going to blow the ship.”

“You need to get me out of here! We need to stop him, right now!”

“I know. But I cannot get you out. I have the keys, but I don’t have control over the guards. Tell me, is Siff okay?”

“She’s okay. At least, when I left her she was.”

Saturn breathes a sigh, “Oh thank you. You saved her. You saved our daughter.”

“But not for long if you don’t get me out of here. I can stop Mars, but not from a prison cell.”

“How can I get you out? I’ll be arrested as soon as I try.”

“Bellerophon. Get the access keys to Bear and he will get

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