Synthesis Page 7

  ***

  The sheets were soaked when Sebastian woke, and his forehead dripped with sweat. Wiping his brow on the fabric did little to dry it.

  The terminal opposite the bed flashed with a message again. The time read 03.10.

  ‘Screen off!’ he shouted.

  The display blanked and he rolled over and tried to get back to sleep. He had to find the cause of the nightmares soon or he’d be in no fit state to work for anybody, let alone SpecOps.

  ***

  Sebastian ate his breakfast sitting at the desk in front of the terminal, while he opened the message Aryx had forwarded. It was empty; both the sender and contents were blank. He’d never seen anything like it before, and it was a little concerning. He trawled through the headers and list of server addresses the message had passed through. The last few addresses belonged to internal station machines – nothing unexpected there – but the addresses before them were unfamiliar.

  ‘This is strange,’ he said. The message had come from outside the station. The list of addresses was long, and it would take more time than he had to examine them before meeting Aryx, but his terminal’s security was of a higher priority; he opened the logs from the time of his sister-in-law’s call. Bingo! There was another blank message that he’d overlooked, with similar headers to the one Aryx had sent. ‘Hmm,’ he grumbled as he pored over the data. Were the messages the cause of why the terminal wasn’t working properly? As he scoured the logs he quickly changed his mind: it was a symptom.

  His terminal had been unlocked by someone aboard the station, but the logs did not show by whom. They had been altered. There were three possible ways it could have happened, and he didn’t like any of them: someone with high-level security clearance had changed the logs; a skilled hacker had broken into the system and erased them; or someone had planted code that would allow the messages to unlock terminals and modify the logs. The last option seemed most likely, but it made no sense. Why would somebody want a terminal to come on in the night? Was it related to the nightmares? No, that was a stupid idea. Totally illogical. He pushed himself away from the desk and got up.

  He pulled on the N-suit. Janyce! He hadn’t called to give her the news about the job – she’d be thrilled to know he was working for SpecOps. ‘Computer, call Janyce Hafsteinsdóttir.’

  The holding screen appeared for nearly a minute. What could be taking her so long to answer?

  He finished putting the suit on and a bleary-eyed Janyce greeted him. The background was dark and she looked half asleep, poor woman.

  ‘Sorry, I forgot the time difference. I didn’t mean to wake you.’

  Janyce rubbed her eyes and stifled a yawn. ‘A likely story. I suppose we’re even now. So, what’s important enough to wake me in the middle of the night?’

  ‘I’ve got good news! I’ve had a promotion of sorts – I’m working for SpecOps.’

  ‘Congratulations … What’s a SpecOps?’

  Pop. There went his bubble. ‘A special branch of EarthSec. They investigate new technologies and threats. It means I might get to go off-world – you know what I mean.’

  ‘That is good news. I know you’ve been getting a bit itchy about not being able to travel and all that. I’m sure your father would have been pleased.’ She’d obviously only ever seen him on one of his better days.

  ‘Anyway,’ he said, ‘I just wanted to let you know. I also managed to get a photo of myself with an alien for Erik. If you want to give it to him, I’ll forward it now. Sorry it’s only 2D.’ He transmitted the image.

  ‘I’m sure he’ll love it.’

  ‘How did he do with his presentation?’

  ‘He got an A plus and an extra merit for using the library. He hasn’t stopped talking about you for the last couple of days. He really wants to come and see his favourite uncle.’

  ‘Sorry Jan, I haven’t got enough money to pay for the trip yet, especially with the school renewal, and with all the work I’ll have to do, I won’t be much fun to be around.’

  ‘Well, it would be good for us to have a break, regardless. How’s Aryx? He looked a bit tired last time I saw him.’

  ‘He’s good. He’s got a few interesting things in the pipeline. Speaking of which, I’ve got to meet him. I’ll let you get back to bed. I’ll talk to you again soon. Give my love to Erik.’

  ‘Bye, Seb, don’t be a stranger.’ She closed the comm-link.

  He called Aryx on his wristcom. ‘Are you on the ship?’

  ‘Yes, I’m just doing a few tweaks on the mobipack. I fine-tuned a few things and started putting a patent proposal together. Probably get it finished in a few days and then send it off.’

  ‘Excellent! Listen, I’m heading to the office to get the SpecOps box and then I’ll meet you in the—’

  Glassware rattled in the kitchen and a vase jumped off the end of the worktop in a suicidal plunge to the floor as a loud rumble resounded from somewhere deep within the station.

  ‘What the hell was that?’ Aryx said. The tremor was even louder over the wristcom.

  ‘I don’t know, but it felt like an explosion!’

  The vibration stopped for a fraction of a second and then began again in earnest. The plate Sebastian had just eaten from slid off the desk into his lap.

  ‘I think the station thrusters have fired. I have to get to the office – they’ll probably need me.’

  ‘Go!’ Aryx said. ‘I’ll be at the ship.’

  Sebastian grabbed his rucksack from under the desk and bolted for the lift.

  Chapter 5

  The lift juddered to a halt in the lower atrium despite Sebastian’s instruction to take him to the office on level four. The doors opened a fraction of an inch and stopped as water began to trickle through.

  ‘What the—’ He hammered on the door. ‘Is anyone out there? I’m stuck!’ The gap was too small for him to even get his fingers in. There had to be a release somewhere. Maybe under the control panel.

  Flipping off the metal cover, he exposed the circuitry behind the buttons, but there was no manual release control. Something cold touched his foot and he shook water off his boot.

  He pulled the multi-tool from his belt and jammed one of the many blades into the panel. With a shower of sparks, the doors retracted and a mass of soggy, green weed swept in through the opening. He stepped over the tangle and out onto the walkway.

  Water streamed off the upper terraces while fish and other river creatures flopped about, stranded on the paths. People sat slumped against walls and handrails, shop-fronts were strewn with debris and restaurants’ outdoor seating lay smashed. Those not injured were either helping the wounded, throwing the suffocating water-life back into the river, or collecting up debris to make the area safe.

  Sebastian made his way to one of the bridges over the river. It was covered with plants and sediment, and as he crossed it, he pushed several fish off the edge, back into the water.

  A woman sat in a puddle at the far side, her chest heaving and her straggly, wet hair stuck to her neck.

  He helped her up. ‘Are you alright?’

  She drew a finger over her ear, pulling back the tangled locks, and put a hand out to steady herself. ‘I think I’m okay.’

  ‘What happened?’ he asked, leading her to a bench.

  Her eyes welled. ‘You didn’t see it? It was awful! A huge wave came up and went right over the bottom terrace. I hope nobody’s been killed. It was horrible … the screams.’ Her body shook as she sobbed.

  ‘I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go,’ he said, rubbing her arm. ‘Are you sure you’ll be alright?’

  She nodded.

  He made his way to another, functional, lift and waited in stunned silence as it carried him. His assumption of the thrusters firing must have been correct: if the thrusters had fired, the kinetic energy released would have been absorbed by the water, causing the tsunami. It was amazing how much damage had been incurred by that slight change in rotation. Whatever caused the thrusters to fir
e might not have been that significant, but he wouldn’t know until he got to the office. Had it been a bomb? Had terrorists somehow caused an explosion?

  The station would certainly be a prime target. Even though Humans had built the place, they had cooperated with alien races during its design and construction, and it had become the main trading and transport hub for this sector of the galaxy. But destroying the station wouldn’t serve any purpose; it would only serve to cripple the economies of Earth and its colonies. Then again, terrorists were rarely rational in their beliefs and actions, and he’d never seen any logic in their motives.

  ***

  The office was in disarray when Sebastian arrived; it had become the epicentre of activity as people collated damage reports and analysed video footage as various parts of the station called in with updates. Staff huddled around consoles in groups, and most sounded as though they were at breaking point.

  Bannik stood, surrounded by a crowd of security staff, handing out infoslates – most likely assigning damage control duties. He briefly caught her eye and she simply nodded in his direction.

  He sat down at the desk in his private office and activated the terminal. No assignments – unusual, given how busy everyone was. An incoming call from Agent Gladrin flashed up on the display and he allowed it through.

  Gladrin was out of uniform, with his hair ruffled and un-greased. ‘Agent Thorsson, good to see you again – although I wish it were under better circumstances.’ His voice wavered.

  ‘What’s happened exactly? The place is a mess. It looks like the thrusters fired and the atrium’s been flooded.’

  ‘There was an explosion, as you’ve probably gathered. The shockwave caused the corrective thrusters to fire unnecessarily, and that in turn caused a tsunami. There are reports of hundreds injured and several dead. Unfortunately, I left the station a day ago on business and cannot return to investigate the situation myself, although I am receiving status reports … As the only SpecOps representative presently on the station, I’d like you to act in my place and carry out the investigation. Do you think you’re up to the task?’

  Sebastian’s heart leaped into his mouth. ‘I, uh, don’t know if I’ve got enough experience, Sir. I’ve never done anything other than cyber-forensics.’

  Gladrin rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes briefly. ‘You’ve had training. Have some confidence in yourself, Thorsson. There was a good reason you were picked for the role, and I don’t want to think that my faith was misplaced.’

  ‘Sir, I can understand how I can be helpful performing the task you’ve assigned to me, but this is totally outside my range of experience. I don’t see how my personality will help to investigate a bombing.’

  ‘Who said it was a bomb?’

  ‘You—’

  ‘—didn’t say any such thing, and that’s why I need you. You’ve already contemplated several potential scenarios without realising.’

  Maybe he was right. He’d read the news articles about bombings; perhaps that had subconsciously prompted his train of thought.

  ‘So, can I count on you?’ The agent tapped his fingers together.

  The thought of leaving the routine he knew was an uncomfortable one, but the prospect of investigating something different was equally exciting. New planets, new technology … solving a crime.

  ‘Well?’

  ‘Yes, Sir,’ he blurted. He couldn’t believe he’d said it.

  ‘I knew I could count on you.’

  He took a deep breath. ‘What do we know so far?’

  Gladrin laced his fingers and leaned closer to the screen. ‘I have a real-time link to the security investigation. It looks as though a laboratory in the rim section was the source of the blast. Teams are analysing video footage of the area to ascertain what caused it. It appears to be a privately rented space, so we don’t have access to the internal systems – all part of the privacy contracts, I’m afraid, and an insurmountable obstacle to our investigation.’

  ‘That’s a hindrance.’

  ‘Quite the understatement. Fortunately, the explosion didn’t cause any direct damage to the station beyond the lab. The blast was directed out through the pressure ducting that all internal laboratories are fitted with for just such an occasion. It might be wise for you to investigate the scene directly, once the area has been secured. The corridor has been sealed off and damage control is working outside the station to replace the seals on the pressure vents. When they’re done, you should be good to go.’

  Sebastian listened in silence, trying to absorb the details.

  ‘I’m sorry to put this responsibility on you so soon, given that you have much work to do on your current project, but we have no other agents in the area, and I felt that it would be best to assign this to someone with intimate knowledge of the station and inhabitants of the surrounding sector. Just a moment, I have fresh information coming in from the feed.’ Gladrin turned to look at something off-screen. ‘The security footage has been forwarded to me. We have video from several recorders near the laboratory and one in the corridor outside the lab. Again, due to the damned privacy rules, it doesn’t show the doorway to the lab itself, or have any sound … and there is another problem – it appears garbled.’

  Sebastian waited. What sort of problem could there be that the computer couldn’t clean up?

  ‘I’ll forward it to you. Your expertise in programming might help.’

  His terminal displayed the file transfer. ‘Thanks, I’ll see what I can do with it. Are there any suspects?’

  ‘None. We have no legible video that might directly implicate a suspect – at least not until you’ve examined the file I’ve sent – and no record of the function of the laboratory. Damned privacy rules, again.’ He groaned. ‘Therefore, no indication of motive for the attack.’

  ‘So, you are assuming it’s an attack?’ He knew it!

  ‘For the moment. You’re to investigate as though this has been a terrorist attack on the station. The only way the fire notification system could fail would be if an explosion was caused intentionally.’

  ‘I’ll get on it right away Sir,’ Sebastian said, ‘and I’ll follow that assumption unless I find evidence that indicates something to the contrary.’ There was something about the mention of the fire system that didn’t sit right, but being so new to the job, it didn’t seem right to question his superior.

  ‘Good. I will notify Bannik of your authority in the investigation, but I think she’s too busy dealing with the fallout to give you much hassle, and that’s probably a good thing – I don’t really like dealing with the woman. Oh, and there’s one other thing. I’d like you to use your ship as a base of operations for the investigation, away from the security office. If it was a terrorist attack, everyone aboard the station, including employees, are potential suspects. We cannot risk a security leak.’ He signed off.

  Shit. Someone on the station could be involved? Everyone he’d ever met aboard liked aliens and often actively pursued contact with them. He’d always been too reserved to interact with them without legitimate business himself – the first and only exception being the Folian in the atrium – and the idea that there might be a terrorist on the station was appalling.

  ‘Contact Aryx Trevarian,’ he said into his wristcom.

  Aryx answered. ‘Any news?’

  ‘Yes, but I’ll fill you in when I get there. I’m transferring files to the ship’s computer to analyse. I’ll be with you in a few minutes.’ Sebastian grabbed his bag and left his office.

  Bannik cast an expectant glance from the other side of the department as he left, and he quickly looked away. He had no intention of getting collared by the woman, especially after what Gladrin had said.

  On his way to the repair hangar, Sebastian had to take the same return route via the lifts. Several were still out of action, and as he entered the second lift, he encountered a maintenance worker hunched over the damaged panel. The worker seemed to ignore his presence.

 
Sebastian coughed. ‘Why are the lifts out of service?’

  The worker answered without looking up. ‘Some were open when those waves hit. A ton of water went down into the system and we had to vent a few of the shafts into space and wait for it to boil off. The carriages aren’t airtight, so we’ve had to decommission them to do it. Some bastard vandalised this one.’

  ‘Any idea how long they’ll be down?’

  He shrugged. ‘How long’s a piece of string? I don’t know, couple hours, maybe?’

  ‘Well, keep up the good work,’ Sebastian said, patting the man’s shoulder. ‘Sorry about this one.’

  ***

  Fifteen minutes later, Sebastian arrived in the maintenance bay and boarded the Ultima Thule. Aryx was sitting at the diagnostics console with the mobipack in front of him.

  Sebastian sat down next to him and put his rucksack on the floor. ‘Still working on that?’

  ‘I needed to do a few more tweaks.’ Aryx looked up from his work. ‘Was it an explosion?’

  ‘Yes. Think yourself lucky you weren’t out in the atrium at the time. The place is a wreck.’ Sebastian punched commands into the terminal and started poring over the security logs. ‘Gladrin has given me a link to the report feed. He’s forwarded me the videos and put me in charge of investigating the incident.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘There’s nobody else from SpecOps in the area to take over. He thinks someone on the station staff might be involved. I’ve got to keep off the official systems, just in case.’

  Aryx’s eyes widened. ‘Do they have any suspects?’

  ‘Not yet. I’m about to analyse the footage. It’s damaged.’

  He brought the video up on-screen and the pair watched the silent playback intently. It showed a shallow view from above a doorway near the explosion’s origin. The corridor was empty. Sebastian sped up the playback and waited until movement flickered across the screen. He wound it back several seconds and played it again slowly.

  They watched open-mouthed as a vaguely humanoid shape passed the camera, moving down the corridor and out of frame, in the direction of the laboratory door. The shape was blurred.