The Ones We Forgot: Chapter Three
The Black Knight crew prepare to experience a form of interrogation outlawed on Earth for the only law out here is that of Mars itself.
Previously on: TBA
“This is Frontier Red reporting an incident to Luna Command. Can anyone respond?” Ross asked while tapping the top of the console.
“Still nothing?” asked Anya, folding her arms. “Not like them to go quiet on us for this long. Maybe they’re having tech problems.”
“Or maybe it has something to do with that Morte freak we had to put down.”
“So that’s why they’ve got you badgering Command. How long have you been here for again?”
He raised an eyebrow at the request and began counting on his fingers. “A couple of weeks. Why?”
“This isn’t our first Mortan, not by a long shot. A couple try to come out here for an easier life. That’s why the scans are so intensive. Helps root them out.”
“Yeah, well, something has Chief all antsy.”
“How so?” asked Anya.
“The Mortan degraded at a rate we’ve never seen before. It’s usually a pretty slow process, right? This was instantaneous.”
The crackling from the radio soon ceased, and they finally got a response. “This is Luna Command. We have a developing situation here. As such, we’ve only just parsed together your recent transmission regarding the recent transport that docked at the Mars base. Are you certain that it was carrying a Mortan?”
“Correct. The crew is being detained. In the meantime, I’ve been tasked with gathering information. I was hoping you guys would have the record of those tied to this flight.”
“We can try, but we’re a bit occupied at the moment.”
Anya leaned forward and pressed one side of the headset into her ear.
“Why? What’s happening over there?” asked Ross.
“A lockdown. Most of the civilians are in the shelters. A couple of us were ordered to remain at our stations, though.”
“Well, when you get the chance. Can you run the call sign LT765 through the system on your end? We want to verify they are who they say they are.”
“How did you deal with the Mortan’s remains?”
“I presume they were incinerated. I just had to contact you about it.”
“Right, Right. I’ll run some checks and get back to you. Luna Command, out.”
The headset returned to static, and Ross took it off. He placed it on the console and looked about ready to pop a blood vessel. “You hear what he said, a damn lockdown! I need to forward this to the Overseer immediately.”
The newcomers were not too pleased about being forced into lockup, but it was for everyone’s safety. Francis was just thankful that only one of the Mortans with them had been exposed. The Deterrent was supposed to hide itself from such scans. I guess not all symbiotes are made the same.
The section of the Martian base they were in was part of the Security Dome. Built into the Martian surface, the jail cells they now occupied were part of the underground section and numbered only a few. The Security officer tasked with putting them here hadn’t seen fit to separate them. Francis sat opposite Charles while the Echo, Eva, and Melina stood at the back of the cell, resting their backs against the wall.
“Not how I expected this to go, Frank,” said Charles, scowling.
“At least they haven’t killed us,” injected a laughing Pyotr, sitting next to Francis. That got some unsavoury stares from the others. "Just trying to lighten the mood, guys."
Melina shrugged. "Yet—who knows how long they plan to keep us here?"
Echo looked at Francis. “They won’t keep us here that long, will they?”
“I sure hope not,” said Eva. "I was looking forward to a warm bed, and R&R."
“I promise they’ll let us go once they question us and so long as that goes without issue. We’ll be free to do as we please,” said Francis, holding up his hands. Or so I hope. Damn it, Andrey. Why did your symbiote let us down now? It was fine on Lazarus. It couldn't have been on purpose. Right?
Heavy footsteps soon caught their attention. The Chief of Security was rubbing the back of his neck on his approach while flanked by a well-armed escort. “I’ve got people aside to question each of you separately. Provided your stories are consistent, we’ll let you go.”
“Sounds fine to me,” said Francis.
The security glass appeared to dissolve, allowing the group to exit confinement. Once all of them had left, the glass reformed. Another trick they had learned from mysterious alien benefactors. Adam led them down a long, meandering corridor that ended in multiple rooms. The last was reserved for Francis and he was escorted inside by Adam himself. The room was mostly bare, bathed in intense light, and had a metal table where on sat two wreaths. He knew of one purpose for them. They observed neural recordings. It was still the early days, but a few entered production with mixed results. These he suspected were something different, something he had yet to encounter.
Cain pointed to the metal chair, then the wreath on one side of the table. “Please sit, Captain. Put on the reader.”
An icy venom dripped from those words, and Francis exhaled before taking a seat. “Something bothering you, Chief.” Francis put the wreath on his head and soon felt its various points stab at his forehead and more.
“I don’t know, Frank. You tell me. You show up, Mortan in tow displaying behaviours we’ve never seen before. ”
“Our manifest is legal, though, by all accounts. We’re affiliates of a corporation working on behalf of the Lazarus Foundation. It’s no secret Mortans try their luck out here, away from prying eyes. Some are very good at masking who they are. We’re sorry we didn’t catch him sooner.”
“Is that so? Then you won’t mind us verifying if what you say is true?”
Francis smiled. “Is my word not enough?”
Adam Cain stood up and rested his big, calloused hands on the table. “In this hour, no. Words mean next to nothing. Words can be dressed in lies, but we have special contingencies for these situations.”
A chill ran down Frank’s spine. What on Earth does he mean?”
“Send ‘im in.”
The door opened, and a bald, pale-skinned man entered. The first thing that caught Frank’s attention was the man’s blindness. It felt like the man was looking through him.
“Reginald, would you kindly rend the man before you?” Cain asked, putting on his own wreath. “I’ll be with you every step of the way. You can’t hide anything from us.”
Francis’ eyes widened. He had seconds to harden his mind and prepare for what came next. A rend? I’ve seen those before, Psions, capable of ripping memories from people, killing them if they have to.
“I thought the Rend was illegal.”
“On Earth, yes.”
“But out here, the only rule that matters. Is the rule of Mars.”
The Overseers’ office was located in the Private Sector of the Mars base where all the bureaucracy of running the operation was handled. Unlike the more rustic, worn-down section he occupied, this place had cool filters and a more decorative look. He almost forgot he was on Mars for a moment. He wasted no time in entering the waiting area that was presided over by the Overseer’s Executive Assistant. She sat behind a plain wooden desk and had a still-steaming cup of coffee nearby. As usual, a couple of others were also waiting, but he had no time to waste and pushed his way through, apologising all along the way until he finally stood before the older woman.
“I hope there’s a good reason why you’ve forced your way to the front. The Overseer, Raine, is a busy man, Mr Ross.”
“Believe me, I wouldn’t be here if this wasn’t of utmost urgency. It concerns all those present on the Moon.”
She adjusted herself in her seat and leaned forward, one arm on the table. “Give me the message and I’ll pass it on.”
“I think discretion would be advised,” said Ross looking back to his grouchy colleagues.”
“That serious.”
“I wish it wasn’t.”
“Fine, go on through. I’ll ring ahead to let him know you’re on your way.”
“Thank you, miss.”
Ross headed right towards the metal double doors that led straight into the Overseer’s office. He just about heard the Executive Assistant contact Overseer Raine, advising him to expect a guest.
Much like everyone else in the Private Sector, the Overseer’s obvious was well-maintained and uniform. Behind his desk sat a viewscreen looking out onto Mars itself. The dark-haired man looked up from his writing when he saw Ross enter.
“You have news regarding the moon. what is it?”
Ross stepped forward and swallowed down the bile building in his throat. He had been so dead set on coming here, he barely knew what to say to the man. The Overseer clearly could sense his nerves. “Spit it out. We haven’t got all day. And you have a station to get back to.”
“Sorry, sir. The moonbase went into lockdown recently. It’s possible something could have happened over there.”
“Or what’s more likely is that they are running safety drills. Hardly anything new, Mr Ross. Is that all?”
The man’s thick eyebrows and cast iron stare burrowed into him. “No, sir. There was also a Mortan discovered to be among the recent arrivals. It was dealt with, but the two could be connected.”
“The Mortan is dead though?”
“Yes-sir.”
The man sighed and shook his head. “And what of his allies?”
“In lockup.”
“Then it’s safe to assume that Chief Cain has everything in hand.”
“Sir-”
“Not another word, Ross. You are dismissed and don’t come back to me unless you have something tangible regarding your wild claims.”
The man’s head dropped, and he chewed down his frustrations. “I will do, sir. I will report to Cain if anything else comes up.”
“You do that.”
The communication centre had a way of unnerving her when she was alone. On more than one occasion, the lack of anything to do even allowed her to buy some time by having a quick nap. She sat slouched in her chair, arms folded, drifting in and out of daydream when a loud buzzing noise came from her headset that sat atop the console. She almost paid it no mind until she heard it speak her name, but not in the standard crackly way. It had a deep guttural sound to it. The console came alive and began showing signs of something making contact. The main screen showed that a callsign had appeared; EM555. She blinked a few times and looked over to the stairs that led up to where she sat. It would be a long time before Ross got back.
“Anya. I know you can hear me.”
Her heart pounded against her chest, and she reached over to grab the headset. She put it on and pressed a button that took her off mute. “This is Tower. We aren’t expecting any new arrivals. Identify yourself.”
“Technically, I’m already here.”
She sniffed at that. “Then why are you clogging the transmission? Luna Command might -”
“You know that won’t be the case. I read your file, one Anya Alekseeva. You serve only one master in all this.”
“Since you refuse to clarify anything, I’m disconnecting you.”
“Oh, if only it were that easy. Something is stirring beneath this planet. Very soon, the time will come when you will have to choose.”
“Choose?”
“Whether you live or die, for it is his will that binds us all. An inviolable truth.”
“What does that mean? You’re not making any sense.”
“Given time, my child. All will become clear. When the wall is breached and what once was will return to the world. All will be shown truth, all will be welcomed. EM555, out.”
The line went dead, and she pulled the headset off of her and she looked at it. I must be tired. That has to all be in my head. No, it was real… that was for certain- but what did it mean exactly? Who are you, EM555?