Dark Star Page 8

  “Price is two fifty,” he said, bright eyes darting from Pip’s face to his pockets. Pip snorted. “Who you think you’re dealin’ with, midget? Fifty, and a half measure water token for the South East station if you do it good.”

  The boy grinned. “Deal.”

  Pip slipped a fifty credit and the token into the boy’s hot palm and whispered what he wanted him to do. Then he went to wait on the opposite side of the street to the market. Two minutes later the operative let out an explosion of obscenities and Pip chuckled as he watched the kid sprinting away with her bag. She hesitated, but as he’d suspected there were things in that bag she couldn’t let go of and, with a quick check back at the market, she set off in pursuit.

  Pip figured he had about five minutes, seven at most, before the boy dumped the bag and the operative returned.

  He raced across the street. The market was a fresh goods one, so it wasn’t large; half of it was filled with recycled clothing sales. He ran down the aisles, scanning for Essie and found her at the back, lining up for fresh noodles. He slid up alongside. “Aunty,” he whispered. She flinched and spun around, eyes wide.

  “What the–”

  “No time to explain.” Pip dragged her out of line and behind a tall shelf of tinned goods.

  “Cut it out, Pipsqueak. What’re you doing here?” Essie wrenched his hand off, then grabbed his shirt jerking him towards her. “Do you know something about the message from Rosie?”

  “What?” He stiffened with surprise. “She contacted you?”

  Essie let go of him. “I got a short ping last night on my com. No names but I know it was her.”

  “What did she say?” Pip’s heart leaped. “Is she okay? Did she say where–”

  “Hold up,” Essie hissed, “and keep your voice down! As far as I could figure, she’s okay. But no, she didn’t give her location. I don’t think she knows. They’re not going to give her a map to the place, are they?”

  “What exactly did she send?” Pip said.

  Essie glanced around, but the only person nearby was an old woman poking around in a meagre selection of dried seaweed at the other end of the aisle. “Here.” She handed him her com. Pip read the message fast, guts churning with fear for Rosie’s safety.

  “You see, she says only two of the Enclaves are left,” Essie whispered. “And she’s in one. If she’s right Helios is a hell of a lot more vulnerable than we thought.”

  “It makes sense,” Pip said, though the idea of her being in any Enclave belonging to Helios scared him.

  “So what do you know of these Enclaves?” Essie asked.

  “It’s where they train kids to be operatives. But how could there only be two left? They had them everywhere when I was a kid.”

  “The Senate and UEC’s efforts to purge Helios must be more effective than we gave them credit for,” Essie said. “They must really be shaking them out of the system. I wonder if they have any other agents, other than Sulawayo, left in Senate Prime here. I’m going to check into that.”

  “They just let you walk into Senate headquarters these days, do they?” Pip raised an eyebrow.

  “No.” Essie snatched back her com. “But I still have contacts.”

  “It doesn’t help us find her,” Pip said. “Have you talked to Dalton?”

  The lines on Essie’s face deepened. “No. I haven’t seen him since before Rosie left. Don’t trust myself. I was tempted to give him a going over after I found out he knew before us about Rosie going. Though she probably talked him into it. I’m sure it was her idea, to stop either of us going after her.”

  “Still, it was bloody reckless,” Pip said. “If she thinks Sulawayo will do what she wants, keep her end of the bargain, she’s got it wrong. They won’t play her game.”

  “I know. Unless there’s something she hasn’t told any of us. Rosie’s not stupid, she won’t have gone in there with no plan. Riley taught her better than that.”

  Pip wasn’t sure. He watched the line of people at the noodle stand elbowing each other to get to the front. One of the women in line gave the man next to her a nasty glare and Pip suddenly remembered a look Cassie had given him. “Wait, Cassie was acting weird the other day, like she knew something I didn’t about why Rosie went – and I have a feeling Curtis knows as well.”

  “Like what?”

  “Don’t know, but I reckon I can get it out of her.”

  “I hate secrets.” Essie seemed pissed. “But Rosie’s like her dad, good at keeping them. Whatever’s going on, we need to figure out where they took her. And now we know how vulnerable Helios is we might have a better chance of getting her out.” She leaned closer. “I’ve already tried my old Elite contacts but the Helios witch-hunt has everyone scared of their own shadow. No one wants to talk and I can’t get in to Senate Prime. Most of my clearances were revoked after Mars.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “They can’t have taken her too far, could they?”

  Pip shrugged. “Depends what Enclaves have survived, and I don’t know where any are. When Helios dumped me on Earth, they isolated me from any other actives on purpose. Rosie said in her message it’s not off world though. So she’s still terrestrial, Earth bound, and she hasn’t crossed any borders.”

  “Which leaves outside the city,” Essie said. “That’s a lot of ground to cover.”

  It was. Too much and the thought panicked him more than he liked. “How about Riley?” Pip said. “Any leads?”

  “Not yet, but I’ve had some ideas. Mars for one. He could have decided the best place to hide is somewhere everyone has already looked. And it’s almost impossible to get to at the moment.”

  Pip dropped his voice to barely above a whisper. “You know Rosie has the Pantheon list in that implant, that she saw it before?”

  “I know, Dalton let me in on it when he told me about her leaving,” Essie said, concern clear on her face. “I don’t like how his dad is on it.”

  “We should check up on his dad,” Pip said.

  “Easier said than done. He’s well protected. We’ll have to start talking to Dalton again. Keep an eye on Jebediah. I’m thinking Riley might have known where the Pantheon are and he’s gone off after them.” Essie pursed her lips. “We need leads and I might know someone in the Senate who’d be willing to help.”

  Pip raised an eyebrow. “Who in the Senate is going to do that?”

  “You remember the guy who interrogated Rosie, name’s Whitely? He’s an A-grade arse but he’s so deeply Senate, the emblem is probably tattooed on his heart. He hates Helios. He’d rather see a Feral on the UEC ruling committee than a Helios agent. And he just got promoted. He’s got almost full access at Senate Prime now. I bet he’s been heavily involved in getting Helios out of the system. He’ll know things.”

  “But would he help?”

  “Maybe, if he’s asked right.”

  Pip was deeply wary of that idea, but they needed a way into Prime. It was Senate headquarters and Sulawayo’s cover was as an agent. There had to be something there that might help them find Rosie.

  “Okay,” he said. “The gangs have an arrangement with some of the space pirates who run people illegally to the colonies; they’ve got a passenger pick-up soon. I can find out where it is, ask around. If Riley has gone to Mars, someone off the ships might know. He’d probably have bought passage on one of them to get there.”

  Essie checked the time on her com. “I’m guessing that operative you pissed off will be back to check on me any moment. Let’s say we meet somewhere again on Saturday night?”

  “How about the Game Pit?” Pip said.

  “Isn’t that run by the Principality gang? Thought they were drug runners, dangerous.”

  “Yeah, but they’re not all bad and they can’t stand Helios. I know the head guy. He’ll let us in.”

  Essie gave him a sideways look. “He better. I’ll shake the operative and meet you there; let’s say two am, to be sure.”

  “So Sunday morning then?”

 
“Don’t be smart, Pipsqueak,” Essie said. “You know what I mean.”

  Pip grinned. “Sounds good.” He held his fist out and she tapped it with hers.

  “Be safe, Pipsqueak.”

  “Always am, Aunty.” Pip headed out the back door.

  CHAPTER 7

  A small spot of darkness wavered in the peripheral vision of Rosie’s left eye and her hands trembled as she switched off the dry blast. Outside the shower cubicle, the other girls were noisy: talking, laughing. A hairbrush hit the floor with a sharp clack and bare feet slapped against the tile. Rosie leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, hoping when she opened them again the dark spot would be gone.

  No. Still there, like a shadow, a warning. She should never have tried to use that machine. “Hey, you gonna take all day?” Gillian banged on the screen, making her jump.

  She wrapped the towel around herself and opened the door. Immediately, a T-shirt hit her in the face.

  “Hurry up and dress,” Gillian said. “Target practice again today. We don’t want to miss breakfast.”

  Again? Rosie’s shoulder was still sore from the pulse blast.

  They hadn’t spoken about what happened the night before, and Rosie couldn’t figure out what Gillian thought about it, or her. She worried she might have been caught on the surveillance as well – she wasn’t confident that she’d made it back to the cafeteria in time. What would her punishment be? She went with Gillian to the cafeteria, dread filling her and, as soon as they entered, an operative stopped them at the door.

  It was the same man who’d questioned them in the bathroom and taken the stylus. He stepped in front of them at the iris and pulled them to one side.

  “Operative.” Gillian grinned at him. “How are you this morning?”

  He didn’t crack a smile. Other zeroes entering the caf cut furtive glances at them as they headed towards the food line, and Rosie could feel everyone watching and straining to hear.

  “I have a message for you from Alpha,” the operative said. He scowled at a couple of boys staring at them from the closest table. The boys shrank down over their food and, with a twitch of his lips, he glared down at Rosie and Gillian again.

  “Last night’s protocol break has been noted on your record and three points deducted from your training tallies, but as this is a first offence your punishment is a warning. Violate the rules again and you will be sent to solitary. Clear?”

  “Clear.” Gillian and Rosie answered together and the operative scowled at them a second longer before striding away.

  “Weird.” Gillian watched him go. “Either Alpha’s got a soft spot for us or he’s planning something special for later. I was sure we were about to get dragged to a cell.”

  Rosie had thought the same thing. She’d stolen a stylus and used it to get into the surveillance and the Enclave network, surely Alpha would be furious at that. Shouldn’t there be questions about it? Gillian shrugged as if she was dismissing it. “No use worrying.” She grabbed Rosie’s arm. “Come on, this girl’s gotta eat.”

  Rosie allowed herself to be pulled to the food line, but inside she was a mess of nerves. The lack of reaction from Alpha was disturbing and she wondered how Gillian could be so cool about it. They hadn’t had a chance to get away from the surveillance to talk yet. No chance for Rosie to come up with a story of how she got the stylus to access the surveillance. Gillian had to be curious about that, and what she’d been doing roaming around the Enclave at night. Maybe Gillian was with Sulawayo, or she was going to use what happened as ammunition to get her to do what she wanted in the future. After all, she barely knew Gillian. But still, she’d been nothing but friendly since she’d arrived. It was hard to figure her out and it made Rosie anxious.

  She had the meeting with Sulawayo in the ruins tonight, and Sulawayo would be after information. She’d memorised the instructions Sulawayo had left her about how to get out of the Enclave, but after what had happened she was doubly nervous of being caught. The agent had said she’d leave her a stylus and exit door codes in her clothes locker, but would she still be able to do that? And what if Gillian was watching her now? She might not be able to get out of the room without being seen. Rosie wished she’d been able to get word to Aunt Essie about what she’d seen on the implant, about the MalX and what she’d over heard Alpha saying. Her aunt needed to know the rebellion was false and the part Jebediah was playing in it, and, most importantly, about Dark Star. Whatever it was, it had sounded important, central to their plans, and that brief moment in the medibay might have been her only chance. If only she’d known then.

  They ate breakfast with Stefan and Freddie again and Gillian kept up a stream of random chatter. Rumours had already started about them being caught in the cafeteria. Someone had seen them being marched back to their room and someone else had overheard one of the operatives talking about the stylus taken from Gillian, and that it had been found to belong to Doctor Bree. Stefan told them the boys had bets going on how Rosie had stolen it. One of them involved her seducing him. Gillian was making light of it, as if it had just been some fun game they’d both been in on, but Rosie couldn’t share her attitude. She barely ate, her brain in overdrive about all that happened.

  “Relax.” Gillian winked at her. “No reaction is good. Besides, I heard a rumour that the doctor has been dragged over the fire for letting you get his stylus in the first place.”

  “Yeah, we heard that too,” Stefan said. “Pity you got cut off from the food though, you could have got something for us.”

  “Hey, we tried,” Gillian said, “but the stiffs took it off us, and the stylus, so no more late night raids.”

  Rosie kept silent, not wanting to contradict Gillian’s story, and her unease wound higher as they were marched outside and down to the underground training rooms.

  She remained on edge all day. There was too much she didn’t know, too much to do and not enough time to do it. She couldn’t even contemplate what might happen should the black spots in her vision get worse. By the time evening came, she could barely force down her dinner.

  Back in their rooms to study, an odd strain lay between her and Gillian as they sat silently on their beds. She felt her watching her sometimes, as if she was going to speak, but said nothing because the surveillance would pick up every word. Eventually, it was ten and lights out.

  Rosie lay in the dark waiting for Gillian to be asleep enough for her to check the clothes locker. At least she couldn’t notice the spot in her vision. Time moved too slowly. Her eyes were grainy and itchy with weariness and she struggled to stay awake, but drifted off only to be woken suddenly by a hand over her mouth. She panicked and struggled.

  “Relax, it’s me,” Gillian whispered. Rosie squinted as a tiny torch switched on, illuminating the other girl’s face over hers. “Okay?”

  Rosie nodded and Gillian sat back.

  “We don’t have much time. I’ve suspended the surveillance for a minute. Come on, get your boots.”

  “Why?” Rosie said cautiously.

  “Don’t be dense.” Gillian tossed Rosie her shoes. “I’m on Sulawayo’s team, figured you’d guessed that. She’s waiting for you. Shake it, this won’t last long.” She waggled a stylus in her hand. “Sulawayo set this one up so it won’t trip the alarms but we still haven’t got much time.”

  “I was supposed to go alone,” Rosie said.

  “Yeah, well after the other night’s fiasco, plans have changed; the boss thought you’d be better off with an escort.”

  Rosie wanted to ask more questions, wanted time to think about this, but Gillian had to be on the level if she knew about her meeting with Sulawayo. She pulled her boots on while Gillian yanked the covers roughly back up, making a bulge that looked like a body.

  They left the room and ran up the hall towards the iris, Gillian dealing with the surveillance as they went. The halls were silent and they made it through the cafeteria and the other iris without incident. Instead of heading into the other wing th
ough, they went through into the same corridors that led to the medibay, except Gillian went right, running down a corridor that led to a set of doors to the outside. They opened into the back courtyard area Rosie remembered from her arrival. Directly opposite was a large hangar-sized building, massive doors opened wide, and Rosie glimpsed the shapes of some transports and a few bio bikes inside. A large transport was parked near the door, backed up as if it had been unloading earlier. It was very quiet. There were no lights and the night sky was clear of cloud, the stars blazing bright.

  “This way.” Gillian jogged to the left along the back of the building.

  Gravel and sand crunched and slid under their boots. As they reached the corner at the back end of the operatives’ wing, Gillian halted. Ahead was open desert, stunted trees and rocks, all dark shapes against the sky.

  “Ruins are that way,” Gillian whispered. “Sulawayo will be there already. I’ll wait here for you.”

  Rosie hesitated. How could she be sure this was real? It could be some trick of Alpha’s to test her.

  Starlight glinted along Gillian’s cheekbone. “You better motor. If you’re late, she’ll be pissed.”

  “How did you know to follow me last night?” Rosie said. “And how come Alpha didn’t come down on us?”

  “Come on, girl, you seriously think Sulawayo would let her prize catch in a room with someone she couldn’t trust? I’ve been watching your back,” Gillian said. “I’ve seen you checking the place out, and then I woke up and you were gone. And don’t think she’s not pissed about that, by the way. You’re supposed to be settling in, not sticking out. It was her who made sure Alpha didn’t go ballistic about your little trip outside the dorms.” Her voice lowered. “Good thing you only got as far as the cafeteria, right?” Her face was scarcely visible in the darkness but the note in her tone was clear.

  “That’s what you told her?” Rosie said.

  “If she knew you’d got further, we might not be having this conversation. She won’t like you roaming around, sticking your nose in things.”