The Constant Star (65)

THE STORY SO FAR

Get the access keys to Bear and he will get me out. We have to save the ship, and we have to change how we live. Siff was right. We stifled our humanity and then sacrificed it. We have to get it back.”

Saturn nods as tears fall down her face, “I’m so sorry, Baldr. For leaving you, for chasing after my own selfishness, for abandoning our daughter…”

His own eyes wet with tears and loving gaze, Baldr reaches through the bars and takes her hands. His words are soft, “Freya.” It has been years since she has heard that name spoken with love, “Freya, we are going to save our ship. And we are going to save our daughter. I have been selfish as well. I’ve been so comfortable with my life, I’ve neglected the humanity we’ve been trying to foster. Those poor people living as slaves, and the terrible constraints on our own minds we have become so comfortable with…But we can turn this around. We can change how our mission looks. My love. Welcome back. Welcome back, my love. I have missed you. I have missed you so much. But you have to go now. I have to stop Mars. You have to give Bellerophon the keys.”

She nods, “Yes. Yes I will.”

Saturn wipes her eyes and turns to exit, Jupiter paces and punches the steel wall, letting out a cry of frustration, then rests his head on his arm. He has to get out of there. Now.

51

“Come on, I didn’t hit you that hard.” Addy’s voice is impatient, and Siff blinks her groggy eyes. She has been dragged for a couple of minutes, but she gets the feeling they really don’t feel like bearing her weight any more, “Walk it off, bitch. We need to get off this level, security will overwhelm us in the next few minutes. And if they get to us, my orders are to kill you immediately. I really don’t want to do that.”

“You don’t?”

“Fuck no. I want you to suffer first.”

The men are still holding her, but Siff manages to regain her feet and begin jogging painfully with the group. Great. They do want me dead. Why? Macy was the one who got me out of here, why would Addy want to kill me? Why would she be ordered to kill me?

Up ahead another group of rebels is waiting by an open panel in the floor, “Okay, down you go.”

“Where are we—?”

Addy kicks her from behind and Siff falls into the hole, landing on her shoulder with a thud, “No questions, bitch. Just do as you’re told.” The troops jump down after her and pick her back to her feet as the panel is replaced, “Move. That way.”

The passage is dark, illuminated by blinking lights and control panels. The underbelly of Janus. The hidden arteries and lifeblood of the ship. The place where the people of the lower levels were hidden away and enslaved. This is their home, and Siff knows the security forces will not find her here. Siff begins her trek through the passageway. She belongs to the rebellion now, and whatever they might wish for her.

It is a few minutes of jogging through the dark before she hears Addy’s voice again, “Here’s as good a place as any. Open the hatch.”

A beam of light comes into the tunnel and the troop files out. Siff blinks against the sudden change in brightness to see a large cathedral-like architecture surround her. They must be in one of the museums.

“We control this section, so we can rest here for a bit. Well, entertain ourselves more-like.” Siff doesn’t like the look on Addy’s face, “We were told to retrieve you, but you know, we just couldn’t keep you from falling.” Siff is pushed forward into Addy’s waiting left cross to the face. She falls as Addy starts to dance on her feet, loosening up, “Come on, shake it off bitch. I’m not nearly done with you yet.”

Siff starts to get up but Addy’s boot catches her in the stomach and puts her down again. Is this really happening? How many times do I have to get beat up? You know what? No. Fuck this. I’ve got training. Fuck her. I’m not going to make this easy.

Siff starts to get up again and Addy’s boot swings, but this time it’s caught and Siff stands, pushing her opponent back. Her eyes narrow. Come on then. What you got?

Addy smiles a vicious smile and puts her fists up. She closes the distance as Siff defends, dodging the majority of the blows and taking the rest on her forearms. She clinches Addy and puts a couple of knees into her stomach before her leg is caught and she is thrown to the ground. Addy lands on top of her, but Siff sprawls back to her feet before she can land any blows.

The two pause, facing off. Addy comes in again, this time Siff ducks the blow and counters with a rib shot. Addy backs off and Siff goes for a leg kick. Addy catches it and sweeps her other leg. Siff lands with Addy on top raining down blows. Siff covers her head and tries to control Addy’s arms. She uses her legs and hips to separate and stand back up as Addy smiles and returns to her feet, “Not bad. But I’m going to destroy you.”

Siff shakes her arms to get loose, “Fuck you, Addy.” She fakes a takedown attempt to get her opponent to put her head low, then Siff powers through with a flying knee to the face. Addy staggers and Siff follows through with a back-kick that puts Addy on the floor, staring up at her in furious shock. “Shake it off, bitch.” Addy growls and lunges at Siff, but she is waiting and catches her with a combination of punches before throwing her to the ground. Siff has now lost control to her

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