“Cushing and Hopkins have arrived. They’ve worked to ensure space for the evacuees.” Lieutenant William Prentice sat to Captain Wren Walton’s right, working on the console. There was a tension on the bridge that neither acknowledged. Peter Jouras was on a shuttle to the surface of Astridina III to attempt to bring the message of the enigmatic figure known only as, ‘Creator’. The Mackenzie crew had spent their time investigating and interviewing to get a better understanding of the Astrid culture and religion. Walton set her teeth on edge. Each layer they had uncovered had revealed the stark differences across the civilization. So great the differences it was impossible to predict how the Astrid people would react to Jouras and his news.
Walton stood just down from her command chair, staring at the rotating planet. There were still unresolved items. One, the prediction that in twenty years Astridina V was going to swing its off-balance orbit into Astridina III. Two, Creator remained a mystery, and Henry Wyatt’s warning continued as a quiet echo in her ear. The news of his impending death was another layer to the concerning pile of variables. Was he truly dying? Or was this some kind of escape clause for him to flee into the stars and bring more trouble to the rimward?
And what would happen to the Astrid people if all, or most, of the 100,000 moved to the fifth planet? Did Creator need them for something more maniacal? Her worries over the last few days remained centered on the mystery man. It bothered her the lack of answers and truth they were able to glean from him. Park had attempted to meet with him before sending Jouras to Walton, but he had refused to answer her from his apartment in the depths of the planet.
She glanced at Shaw at communications. “Status?” Ensign Jake Shaw shook his head, listening in on the ongoing conversation. Jouras had asked to have an open communications link with them as a matter of transparency and, as he admitted guiltily, safety.
“He’s still speaking, reading from the prepared script. Some background conversations, but nothing significant.” Shaw returned to the channel, and his team in the decks below assisted.
Walton kept her lips locked. She had already made the rounds with each department on the bridge ten minutes ago, asking for updates or status information. They were left to wait until Jouras finished his presentation to his people. And hoped his friends were still friendly after he told them an apocalypse was coming.
“Ensign Athena. Thank you for seeing us,” Lieutenants Barzo and V’Luth stood with the tactical and security chief outside the temple where Peter Joura was speaking.
Athena Catari stared at them both, annoyed. “This had better be good. Not doing this over communication channels isn’t making this easy.”
Barzo handed over a notebook, which Catari opened while the security lead officer started with what she knew. “One of the larger denominations is responsible for the work with the Orion Syndicate. They’ve been developing a serum that extends Astrid life by at least ten years. It’s set to go on the market within the week.” Barzo continued, “They’ve been doing plenty of experiments – and not all of them good. What no one wants to talk about is that over the last few years there’s been around 500 deaths because of the serum trials.”
Catari flipped the pages, incredulous. “How do they know the current version is safe?”
V’Luth stepped forward, his eyebrows raised. “They do not. We were able to investigate several of the laboratories with some unique subterfuge. It has not passed any type of vigorous testing, peer-reviewed examination, or logical investigation. It is, at best, a guess.”
Barzo chuckled, “And we know how little V’Luth likes to guess.” She nodded at the notes as Catari continued to read. “We’ve managed to get samples of the serum for testing back on Mackenzie. There’s still a lot of unanswered questions. The Orion Syndicate doesn’t just do these things out of the kindness of its heart.”
Catari muttered, “Damn it. Report to Captain Walton and take the journal with you. Hand those samples over to Doctor Dawson immediately . We need to know what this all means.” The two investigators stood at attention and departed to transport back to the Mackenzie.
Athena walked to the door of the temple but stopped as it flew open, and Peter Joura looked wildly around until he found her. “Lieutenant.” His face was sweaty and his hands were shaking. “My people have agreed to leave with you. There are 500 of us. But we must leave now. One of our less trustworthy members was seen running, and we think they’ve gone to report on us. I do not trust the safety of our people with them.”
Athena didn’t hesitate as her training kicked in and she tapped her badge. “Ensign Athena to Mackenzie, I need extrication operations for 500 people at my location, Code 1!”
