The door to the docking bay opened
without warning and weapon fire flashed through, harmlessly hitting
the wall on the other side of the hallway. One of the soldiers threw
some sort of grenade through as one of the other soldiers pressed the
button to shut the door. Toll realized the grenade had gone off when
he felt a wave of force press into him, the sounds of the energy
weapon discharges hitting the door stopped and it was clear that the
walls and distance must have greatly reduced the effects on everyone
in the hallway. The invaders in the docking bay were most certainly
shaken if not knocked totally unconscious. The soldiers opened the
door this time and charged into the bay as a single unit. Carter
looked back at Toll, who got up and moved over by the door, his
pistol in hand.
“You're the only pilot I have access
to right now.” Carter snapped. “Stay back with Rusty because if
you get shot this will all be for nothing.” Toll nodded, handed his
pistol to Carter and rejoined his friend. Carter did not enter the
bay even as the sounds of the fighting got louder and more intense.
“You're not going?” Toll asked
Carter. Carter shook his head.
“Hate to say it but I'm even more
important than you. We can afford to loose a few soldiers. I
absolutely have to get back to the Pacific Free Zone.” He said with
grim determination. Neither Toll nor Rusty was comfortable thinking
of the soldiers as expendable. They came from a planet that had a
global population of less than one billion people and a history that
included one 'war' in the entire time the colonists had been there.
All three men were lost in their own thoughts as the fighting raged
on the other side of the door. Then suddenly it was silent. One of
the Decency soldiers opened the door.
“It's clear sir. We have one dead,
four wounded or unconscious and three detained.” The soldier summed
up. Carter stood up.
“Ok boys, they cleared the way, let's
go.” He turned his attention to the soldier and handed him a card.
“This is my personal information. Request to speak with the
Captain. She will make sure that the penalty fee for the dead soldier
and a bonus for you and each of your men is taken from my account. I
appreciate what you did here today, its very likely you just saved
the entire PFZ.” The soldier took the card and nodded. Carter
entered the bay and headed for the nearest multi passenger ship. Toll
and Rusty scrambled to follow him.
Rusty was the last one aboard the
cruiser. Toll practically dove into the pilot seat and got himself
acquainted with the controls and the layout of the flight systems.
Rusty took in the rest of the ship. “Kind of overly dramatic with
the soldier back there wouldn't you say Carter?” Rusty asked.
Carter was leaning over the pilots
chair watching Toll's process. “not really.” He responded. “The
PFZ has been growing a bio computer for a long range battleship that
The Corporation ordered two years ago. The bio computer has exceeded
the maximum size requirements for the ship we're installing it in. If
I can't get the thing to loose some weight in two weeks, the PFZ has
to refund a two billion dollar contract which is enough to sink the
entire operation.” He explained with a relaxed tone that did not
match the subject matter he was discussing.
The color drained out of Rusty's face.
“You're growing a computer that costs two billion dollars?” he
asked.
Carter nodded. “Pretty much, The
other seven are much smaller and less expensive.”
Toll flipped out. “Everyone who's
going to fly the ship needs to be where I am, everyone who is not
flying the ship and talking smarty smart computer talk, needs to be
not where I am.” He snapped. Carter stepped back.
“sorry, didn't mean to get in the way
of an artist like yourself.” He joked.
“I'm not an artist, I just would like
to not crash into the wall trying to get out of here.” Toll shot
back. “You want me to get clearance or just go?” He asked.
Carter didn't hesitate. “Just go.”
he said.
Toll nodded. “You might want to sit
down and belt up, most passenger ships tend to have the turning
radius of a house.” Both Rusty and Carter took their steats and
buckled themselves up without further comment.
