Dubious Heroes: a novel Read online

  "Fucked how?" Cisco asked.

  "As in this whole place, us included, vanishing off to wherever it is that things vanish to, and are never heard from again."

  "I'd just as soon pass", Cisco said.

  "That makes two of us", I said. "Which means we won't be getting any data off of this system."

  "So, now what?" Kyra asked. "Don't tell me we just raided this place for nothing."

  "Hardly", I said. "They're apt to have backups somewhere, and on top of that, there should be some portable reference materials, for their techs."

  "In that vault", Kyra said.

  "Probably", I said. "That's where I'd stick em."

  "It's through that door over there", Cisco said, checking his map. We followed him into the adjoining room. Set into the far bulkhead was a shiny metal door, only a little larger than a regular one. We stood and looked at it.

  "Looks as though it's made of the same stuff as our hull", Kyra said.

  "You may be right", I said. "If I were a betting man, I'd say it's also wired up to one of those black boxes in the other room."

  "Wired up to do what? Cisco asked.

  "Something bad", I said, "But that's just a guess."

  "There's a control panel", Kyra said, and I saw that she was right. It looked a lot like the one aboard the Revenge, which controlled access to the DEC equipment room.

  Donner stepped up, and pushed a button on the panel.

  "Open sesame", she said. Cisco snorted.

  "Yeah, that'll work", he said. Kyra, arms folded, didn't say anything.

  "Go away", the door said.

  "Marvelous", I said. "I hate these damn things."

  "I said go away", the door said again.

  "That's an awful lot of attitude for a door program", Kyra said, looking at it suspiciously.

  "I've run into them with similar dispositions", I said.

  "And they were run by ship AIs", she said. "Who puts an AI in charge of just a door?"

  "Maybe it's the AI Doon pissed off a few minutes ago", Cisco said.

  "I kinda doubt that", Kyra said. She reached forward, and pushed a button again. "What's your name?"

  "None of your business", the door said. "Now, go away."

  Kyra looked at me, her brow crinkled. I knew what she was thinking.

  "Well, we tried it the easy way", she said. "Now, we do it my way. Donner, did you bring your rocket launcher?"

  Donner swung it around from her back. As far as I could tell, she slept with the thing.

  "Got it", she said, slapping a switch on the side of the tube. I heard a faint, high-pitched whine, as it powered up.

  "I'm betting a rocket will take that door out", Kyra said.

  "I dunno", I said. "That material is some pretty tough stuff."

  "Torpedoes and plasma cannon will punch holes in it", Cisco said. "Our rail gun did, too."

  "True", I said. "This is probably thicker than our hull, though."

  "What about the walls around it?" Donner asked.

  "At least as thick as the door", Kyra said. "Otherwise, what would be the point?"

  "Our rockets are armor piercing", Cisco said.

  "That's a lot of armor", I said. I kicked the door, and it rang dully.

  "So we shoot it twice", Donner said. "I've got plenty of rockets."

  "We're too close to shoot it", I said, looking around. "We'd need to be in the next room, and we can't get a clear shot from in there."

  Kyra pulled her blaster, and fired at the wall, showering us with dust and debris. The smoke cleared to reveal a two meter-wide hole in the bulkhead, through which we could see into the lab.

  "Hope you didn't hit one of those DEC boxes", I said.

  "They're all lower down", she said. "Besides, who cares? We're still here, aren't we?"

  "Hard to argue with that", I said. I looked over at Donner. "Alright, let's blast that fucker open and get out of here. We're running out of time."

  "This won't destroy any data chips in there, will it?" Cisco asked.

  "Probably not", I said. "They're pretty tough. It's not like we have a choice, anyway."

  We went back into the lab, and looked through the new hole in the wall, into the vault room. Donner shouldered her weapon.

  "Give us a count of three, and hit it", I said.

  "Aye", she said. "Three, two..."

  "Wait", the door said. It sounded a bit anxious.

  "I think the door wants to talk", Kyra said.

  "It should have thought of that before it got all antisocial with us", I said. "Blast it."

  "Wait", the door said again, and then, with an audible click and whoosh, it swung open.

  I looked over at Kyra, and she smiled at me.

  We’d guessed right.

  Chapter 44

  The man who walked out was small and slight, even delicate. Physically, he was about the same size as Cozi, neatly dressed in clothing that was neither recycled, nor disposable. His hair was a light, sandy color, with a close-trimmed beard that matched. The oddest thing was the clear glasses he wore. I wondered if they were some special sort of heads-up display.

  The man's hands were empty, as he stepped forward into the room, holding them up in the standard way one did when someone was pointing a gun at you, or in his case, a blaster, and, I noted, looking around, a rocket launcher.

  "At ease", I said, and Cisco and Donner both lowered their weapons.

  "Thanks", the man said, lowering his hands.

  "Them, not you", I said. "I'd keep em up."

  He quickly raised his hands again. I continued.

  "What's with the glasses?"

  "They're corrective", he said.

  "Hand them over", Kyra said. He did so, and she examined them, even looking through them. "What else do they do?"

  "There's a heads-up display that links to my Pod", he said, "but that's it. Mostly, I just look through them." Kyra handed them back to him, and he put them on again.

  "No one's worn those things for a hundred years", I said. "Why haven't you had the surgery? It only takes about twenty minutes. My parents had mine done when I was five."

  "It's a religious thing", the man said. "We aren't allowed to change the way God made us."

  He seemed sincere enough, but I remained skeptical. I'd never heard of such a thing, before, and there were plenty of religious people on Luna.

  "Whatever", I said, not wanting to get into yet another thing I knew nothing about. "Who are you, and why were you hiding in that vault?"

  "I'm Jean-Michel Beaulieu", he said.

  "What was that?" I said.

  "Bo… Leo", he said, slowly this time. "It's French for bank. It’s also my name." He stepped toward me, and stuck out his hand. He remembered who we were, and what was going on, and froze in mid-step.

  "I'm Orel Doon", I said, and stepped up to shake his hand. "Nice to meet you, Mister Beaulieu. Don't make any sudden moves, and no one will shoot you."

  "Thank you", he said, lowering his other hand. “Just call me Boo… everyone else does.”

  “Bo, or Boo?” Kyra asked.

  “Boo”, he said. “Family nickname that kind of stuck.”

  “Boo Beaulieu”, I said, and stifled a smile. And I thought I had a goofy name.

  I'd never met anyone who was French before; I wondered if all of them were this nervous. At least he was polite, for a change.

  He looked thoughtfully at me, head tilted.

  "Are you the Captain Doon?"

  "I suppose I am", I said. "You name sounds kinda familiar, too..."

  "The Beaulieu's of Dark Energy Corporation", Kyra said. "It would be something of a coincidence if our friend here isn't related to them."

  "No shit", I said. "Those Beaulieu’s. So, Boo, who'd you piss off to get stuck all the way out here in Alpha Bumfuck Centauri?"

  His face reddened.

  "This is an important facility", he said. "We're doing groundbreaking work out here, implementing things that were only theory, just a
decade ago."

  "Sounds like the spiel they gave you as they put you aboard an outbound ship", I said. "Why aren't you back at DEC headquarters, on Luna or Mars, running the family business?"

  "My brother Charles handles the business aspect of the company", he said. "I'm in charge of this facility, which includes Research and Development."

  "Totally in charge of it?" I asked, even though I knew the answer. “R&D for all of Dark Energy Corporation?”

  "Pretty much", he said, shrugging.

  "But, I’m guessing you aren’t in charge of the United Planets people here", I said. "Which also means, you don't control those UPDF ships out there. Am I right?"

  He gnawed on his lower lip for a moment, before replying.

  "Sort of", he said. "I don’t answer to anyone from the UP, nor their military, and they don’t answer to me. That said, they will generally do as I ask, but they don’t really have to. Does that make sense?”

  "It does. We had much the same relationship with the UP at my old company, TransGalactic Shipping”, I said. “I gather you’ve been watching stuff on the net.”

  "You're kind of hard to miss", he said. "We may be off the beaten path, but we're still connected to all the newsnets. They've been playing clips of you non-stop for weeks, now. Even before that, the UP people were circulating your dossier among themselves."

  "I have a dossier?" I said.

  "Of course you do", Kyra said. "What I can't believe is that DEC lets this guy out of their sight. I'd think they'd be afraid someone would snatch him, and discover all the family secrets."

  "If you'd like", Beaulieu said, "I'd be happy to sit down and explain it all to you. How DEC drives work, Speedlink, all of it. I can do that, you know. When I'm done, you'll understand just as much as you did, when I began."

  "I never said I was a physicist", Kyra said. "But I bet I could find someone who'd understand what you were saying."

  "Maybe", he said, "Maybe not. At most, there are about a hundred people alive with the ability to conceptualize even the basics of what we do. Half of them already work for us, and the remainder are scattered about at universities, and a few private research facilities. Besides, I'm safe here; they parked a UPDF destroyer outside, plus a few other ships, and we have troopers actually on the station. This place is very secure."

  "You think so, huh?” Kyra said, patting her holstered blaster. “We’re here, aren’t we? You might want to rethink that.”

  Beaulieu paled a shade.

  "Maybe it was at one time", I said, "But not anymore. Your friends at the UP haven't updated their tactics to take into consideration the new technology you gave them, not with their own ships, let alone if an opponent has access to it."

  "Like us", Kyra said.

  Beaulieu sighed, and shook his head.

  "Figures", he said. "I tried to tell them this stuff would change everything… hey, you weren't really going to shoot the vault with that rocket launcher, were you?"

  "We came here for data", I said, "And I wasn't about to let a vault door stop us from getting it."

  "Well", he said, "I'm glad we avoided that."

  "Why?" I asked. "What would have happ-"

  My commlink beeped in my ear, interrupting me. I placed a finger on my ear, so they'd know what I was doing.

  "Yes?"

  "Speedlink is back online", Eng said. "If someone here calls for help, I imagine help will show up. Soon."

  "Gotcha", I said. "We'll be on our way in just a few. Doon out."

  "What's up?" Kyra asked.

  "Speedlink, that's what", I said.

  "Shit", she said. "We need to move. Now."

  "I know", I said.

  "If you're expecting to leave here with the secrets of Dark Energy Corporation, you're about to be disappointed", Beaulieu said. "That kind of information isn't stored anywhere outside of our main facility."

  "All we really want are operations manuals", I said. "You know, something that can show us how to use the things we already have."

  "Oh. That's easy enough", he said. "Why didn't you just ask?"

  "We were getting around to it", I said. "Let me guess... in the vault?"

  "Of course", he said.

  I stepped around him, and entered the vault. It was maybe three meters square, with shelves lining most of the walls, holding a number of odd-looking components, which I assumed were internal parts for their black boxes. Beaulieu was behind me, trailed by Kyra.

  "There", he said, pointing to a rack of data chips sitting on a shelf.

  "Which ones?" I asked, looking at them.

  "For fuck's sake, grab them all", Kyra said.

  "Good point", I said. I removed a duffel bag from my thigh pocket, and unfolded it. I had Beaulieu dump the entire tray into the bag, as I held it open. "This was almost too easy."

  "Why should it be hard?" Beaulieu asked. "All you want to know is how to use something of ours you already have. After all, we don't have a quarrel with you."

  "I wonder if your brother Charles shares your opinion", I said. "Someone in your company is awfully cozy with the United Planets."

  "You'd have to ask Charles that", he said, but his face held a different answer. It also gave me a good idea why they'd sequestered him out in Alpha Centauri. My earpiece beeped again, and I suspected it wouldn't be good news. I was right.

  "Doon", Eng said. "We need to get out of here. Now."

  "We're on the way", I said, which was true, more or less.

  "Six ships just transited in", Eng said. "They're all arming weapons, and I have an idea that they aren't going to wait for us to leave the station."

  "Damn", I said.

  "What?" Kyra asked. She was probably still on the combat freq, instead of command.

  "A bunch of ships just showed up", I said. "Eng doesn't think they're going to let us leave here. Eng, what's their range?"

  "They've taken up stationary positions about a hundred clicks out", he said. "The Dominion is actually pulling back, as well."

  "Shit. They're staying back out of nuke range", I said. I looked over at Beaulieu. "Your friends are about to destroy this station."

  "They aren't my friends", he said. "Did you say they are going to nuke us?"

  "We need to talk and walk", I said, leaving the vault. "Kyra, evacuate your marines from the station. We need to be ready to space in five minutes."

  "Got it", she said, as we left the lab. Cisco led the way, with Donner on our six, as rear guard. "The prisoners are all locked up in the Habitat module, and our people are leaving, as of now."

  "Eng", I said, into my commlink.

  "Here."

  "Is Angie there, too?" I asked.

  "I'm here", she said.

  "Good", I said. "Angie, even if they fire on us, do not, I repeat not fire the nuke."

  "Acknowledged", she said. "Disarming the weapon, now."

  "You brought your own nuke?" Beaulieu asked.

  "Yes, we did", I said. "Several, actually, but anything more than one is, well, overkill. When we got here, I threatened to nuke this place if they messed with us. I think they're trying to goad us into using it, and blowing ourselves up. And you too, by the way."

  "I imagine they brought their own nuclear weapons, too", he said, then shrugged. "Since you made the threat, you'll get the blame, regardless of who nukes us."

  "Shit", I said. "He’s right; Jorgensen has me recorded, threatening to nuke the station. Kyra, change of plans. We need to get everyone off this station. If Beaulieu is right, they're going to nuke it, even if we get away."

  She tapped her earpiece, as we trotted to a stop at the lift which would carry us down to the docking area.

  "I don't care where you put them", she said, into her commlink. Get them aboard, and do it now. Stun anyone who gives you any shit."

  "How many people are on the station?" I asked Beaulieu, as we waited for the lift.

  "About eighty", he said. "Can you get everyone off in time?"

  "I don't know",
I said. "But, we have to try."

  "Ha", he said, smiling, as we entered the lift.

  "What now?" I asked.

  "It isn't just PR", he said. "You really are the good guys."

  "I don't know if I'd go that far", I said. "Our intentions are good, but that isn't necessarily the same thing."

  "If it gets me off of this station", he said, "I'll take it."

  Once we made the dock area, we trotted across the walkway, passing marines headed back into the station. Cycling through the main airlock was a nightmare, but we eventually made it through. The lift to the Bridge was waiting, though it could only take three of us at a time. I grabbed Beaulieu, and stepped into the lift, Kyra stepping in behind us.

  "You two see that our guests are secure", Kyra said, to Cisco and Donner, as the lift door closed. Seconds later, we were on the Bridge.

  "Welcome aboard the Revenge, Mister Beaulieu", I said, as he looked around. "That harried looking fellow over there is my Executive Officer, Mister Eng."

  "Harried doesn't begin to cover it", Eng said. "I'm guessing they're gonna fire on us, any minute now."

  "My friends call me Boo", Beaulieu said.

  "Have a seat over there, and don't touch anything", Kyra said, pointing. Beaulieu went over, sat down, and buckled himself in.

  "Incoming torpedo", Angie said.

  "Damn", I said, as I took my seat. "It is nuclear?"

  "Can't tell", she said. "We'll know for certain in about six seconds."

  "Fuck that", Kyra said. "Firing plasma cannon. Goddammit."

  "What?" I asked, trying to find what she was looking at on her screens.

  "Accidentally took out a piece of the station", she said. "Firing again."

  "Torpedo destroyed", Angie said.

  "Fuck yes", Kyra said. She wasn't a sailor, but she could certainly talk like one. I feared we might be scarring the ultra-religious Beaulieu for life.

  "Next time, they'll send more than one", Eng said.

  "I know that", Kyra said. She tapped her earpiece, and spoke into her commlink for a moment, then spoke.

  "We have a problem”, she said. “All the station personnel are lined up on the walkway; there's a bottleneck at the airlock."

  "Angie", I said. "Override the controls, and open both the inside and outside airlock hatches."

  "Done", she said, not bothering us with the standard lecture on just how dangerous this was. Anything we were doing now was likely to be a lot less dangerous than getting nuked.