Forbidden the Stars Part 25

Alex turned his head slowly towards Klaus, and smiled benignly.

Klaus nearly veered into a small crater when he glanced to the side and saw his captive grinning back at him like some kind of r.e.t.a.r.ded baboon.

"What the h.e.l.l are you smiling at, kid?" Klaus hissed after he regained control of the ATV and put the vehicle back on course.

They were going way too slowly. Klaus didn't want to take any chances. If the d.a.m.ned yahoo Americans hadn't used his message as a political loophole to invade the Chinese Sector and take down Yin's empire, then Chow Yin was going to be on the warpath for Klaus. When Yin wanted revenge, he didn't waste time about it. There would be a dozen ATVs after him and Alex, each carrying men with real guns that fired bullets, not poison-dipped flechettes.

And even if the Americans had gone through with their task the way Klaus hoped, they would soon learn about him, and that he had kidnapped Alex. Their prize would be too great to ignore for long. Any way he looked at it, Klaus was going to be a very wanted person.

Because of Alex.

He looked the kid square in the face for a moment. Alex hadn't replied to his question, nor had he ceased his smiling, although he had turned his attention to the Lunarscape ahead.

"Quit that grinning, you fool. What do you have to be so happy about. You know that I'm going to kill you, don't you?"

Alex slowly rotated his head. "No, you're not."

Klaus's nerves caused him to jerk the steering bar of the ATV a bit, not enough to put them in jeopardy, though. d.a.m.n the kid. How had he known that Klaus had changed his mind about offing the little kid?

Over the past fifteen minutes, Klaus had also been taken with the tranquility of the lunar surface, and had done some thinking.

Revenge was good and all, but if he continued his spree of violence and mayhem, there was only one possible end to the whole affair: his own death. People would not put up with that sort of behavior for long, and would quickly organize to stop Klaus' rampage.

Alex was a valuable commodity, despite his ethnic origins. Perhaps even the most valuable commodity in the solar system.

And at the moment, Klaus had complete control of him. Yin had schemed to use Alex to gain personal wealth, and that would have been due solely by Klaus's efforts. What would Klaus have gotten for his troubles? Nothing.

But now, Klaus could use Alex to his own gain. No partners, no bosses, no fathers, n.o.body but him.

He had no aspirations of mining the depth of Alex's reported abilities. He didn't have the time or the inclination. Instead, he would settle for a modest ransom. The Americans or the Canadians would surely pay up. Klaus was not greedy; a few million dollars would keep him happy for the rest of his life.

Klaus knew exactly who he could turn to, to help him: The very same smuggler who had pirated Alex from the Orca 1, Orca 1, his uncle, Trent Gruber. Captain Gruber would his uncle, Trent Gruber. Captain Gruber would have have to help Klaus. He was willing to offer his uncle a healthy percentage. If that didn't work, and the smuggler was unwilling to partic.i.p.ate, Klaus had enough blackmail material on him to send him to United Earth Corporate prison for the rest of his natural life, relative or not. to help Klaus. He was willing to offer his uncle a healthy percentage. If that didn't work, and the smuggler was unwilling to partic.i.p.ate, Klaus had enough blackmail material on him to send him to United Earth Corporate prison for the rest of his natural life, relative or not.

Gruber, brother to Klaus's long-deceased mother, had a small base on Luna, a few hundred kilometers away from Luna Station. That was where Klaus was heading.

But how had Alex known that Klaus's intentions had changed?

"What do you mean, I'm not going to kill you?"

"I won't let you," Alex replied simply. "I have far too great a purpose to allow that to happen. I need you to help me, though."

"Help you? What for?"

"That is my business. I can tell you no longer want to murder me. You have something else in mind. Extortion, ransom, something like that. I've read enough s.p.a.ce opera to guess that you've got a plan for squirreling me away. All I want is for you to bring me to your hiding place, and keep me there for a while. Help me, and I guarantee you will be rich."

"And what if I don't happen to want to go along with your stupid little plan, pipsqueak?"

The answer came in a form that was a thousand times more effective than any verbal threat. The ATV's electric motor ceased to fire, and the vehicle slowly came to a standstill. "What the-?"

Klaus's breathing apparatus slowly stopped pumping air into his helmet. Klaus was soon inhaling the same air he was exhaling, and the oxygen content was dropping as fast at the carbon monoxide level was rising. He would quickly poison himself if he didn't get any air.

Panicking, Klaus began flailing about, desperate for a lung full of clean, life-giving air.

He had the presence of mind enough to realize he could get air from only one source. "All right! All right! You win! I'll do whatever you say, only give me some-"

The influx of oxygen was like cool water was.h.i.+ng over a feverish forehead, a warm fire in the arctic cold.

Klaus took several deep breaths, remembered that he shouldn't inhale so deeply, or the oxygen itself would adversely affect him, and slowly, slowly, evened his breathing.

The ATV's motor flared to life, and Alex said, "Come on, Klaus. Let's get going."

"You know," Klaus said once he had his breath back and had his nausea firmly under control, "you are really a little s.h.i.+t."

SELECTED ARTICLES :.

FROM WORLD a.s.sOCIATED PRESS :.

JULY 2091.

In an historic move, United Earth Corporate has abolished the long-standing Luna Charter in favor of a direct administration. Spurred by recent events involving a Chinese expatriate who managed to usurp most of Luna Station's resources and property, an act which nearly brought the UEC to the brink of an international incident with China, the UEC has penned a new charter nullifying all land claims on Luna Station by country corporation and individual corporations. An official explained that the Station will be independent of any country corporation's political influence, and in the future, will lease s.p.a.ce on Luna Station on a yearly renewal basis.

JULY 2091.

The Chinese Amba.s.sador is in New York today, in the first of six scheduled meetings attempting to bridge the gap between Western Corporate philosophy, and the long-standing Republic philosophy that has been a cornerstone of Chinese politics for centuries. In a statement issued prior to the first meeting, the amba.s.sador rea.s.serted that his government would not hold NASA or any other agency responsible for the kidnapping of Sakami Chin on Luna Station seven months ago. He also expressed an interest in continuing to build a dialogue between the two great nations in order to further the newest science of Kinemetics. China, who owns more than a hundred asteroid mines, has revealed their suspicions that one or more of their asteroids may have the faster-than-light supraconductor element called Kinemet.

AUGUST 2091.

The second Pluto mission has successfully launched this morning at 06:23 local time at Kennedy s.p.a.ce Port. The Orca 2 Orca 2 is a joint mission between NASA and CSE with a mandate to further explore the artifact known as is a joint mission between NASA and CSE with a mandate to further explore the artifact known as Dis Pater Dis Pater, and study its relations.h.i.+p to the Kinemetic influence known as the Manez Effect. With pressure from the European s.p.a.ce Agency as well as the j.a.panese and South American Organizations, NASA has begun organized a third Pluto mission, Orca 3, Orca 3, and has invited representatives from every nation to accompany the flight to our farthest planet. Captain Justine Churchill Turner, Captain of both the and has invited representatives from every nation to accompany the flight to our farthest planet. Captain Justine Churchill Turner, Captain of both the Orca 1 Orca 1 and and Orca 2, Orca 2, is scheduled to helm the third mission as well. is scheduled to helm the third mission as well.

NOVEMBER 2091.

NASA has announced in a press release today that they have discovered a small cache of the FTL element Kinemet on their small asteroid, Nimow. According to preliminary tests, Dr. Caven Oahe estimates that the hundred and two kilogram find contains enough potential energy to send a s.h.i.+p to Alpha Centauri and back. Although the Jet Propulsion Lab, in conjunction with Quantum Resources of Canada Corp., has not yet released a timetable, sources indicate that designs for such an interstellar craft are in the works. Physicists and Engineers at the University of South Carolina estimate the first FTL s.h.i.+p could be ready within four years.

MARCH 2092.

In today's technological society, organized religion has long been relegated to history books and small gatherings in bas.e.m.e.nts. But in Central America, there is a growing religious movement that some say are a doomsday cult. The Mayan Spiritists, who have been gaining in number over the past year and a half, foresee the end of the world's civilizations as they stand. When asked, a high-standing member of the organization indicated that, as the Mayan Culture was once the most advanced society in the world, it will once again inherit mastery of the Earth.

MARCH 2092.

Scientists from the Orca 2 Orca 2 have not been able to discover the origin or intent of the Plutonian artifact, have not been able to discover the origin or intent of the Plutonian artifact, Dis Pater Dis Pater. After weeks of investigation, members of the Orca 2 Orca 2 mission are no closer to solving the puzzle of the huge monolith on the Dark Planet. A NASA spokeswoman says this is not unexpected. The last time the artifact showed any kind of activity was during the first Orca mission, when it responded to the triggering of the FTL element, Kinemet. The mission are no closer to solving the puzzle of the huge monolith on the Dark Planet. A NASA spokeswoman says this is not unexpected. The last time the artifact showed any kind of activity was during the first Orca mission, when it responded to the triggering of the FTL element, Kinemet. The Orca 2 Orca 2 mission is not mandated to conduct any Kinematic experiments; instead, that will be reserved for the mission is not mandated to conduct any Kinematic experiments; instead, that will be reserved for the Orca 3 Orca 3 mission, an undertaking which will be shared by all active s.p.a.ce agencies of the Earth. The mission, an undertaking which will be shared by all active s.p.a.ce agencies of the Earth. The Orca 2 Orca 2 will takeoff from Pluto tomorrow morning, and is scheduled to arrive on Luna in an estimated six months. will takeoff from Pluto tomorrow morning, and is scheduled to arrive on Luna in an estimated six months.

AUGUST 2092.

Quantum Resources Inc. of Toronto, Canada Corp. has released the latest results of their joint research project with the JPL of NASA. The mystery of Kinemet, once referred to as Element X, has been solved. With recent discoveries of Kinemet deposits on more than twenty asteroids in the past year, research has been s.h.i.+fted into high gear, and has yielded fantastic results, says a Quantum Resources spokesman. "It is only a matter of time before we can outfit an interstellar s.h.i.+p with a Kinemet-powered engine." The complete report on Kinemet can be found on the Quantum Resources Meshsite, mirrored at NASA.

NOVEMBER 2092.

The Orca 2 Orca 2 has returned to Earth, and its seven-member crew is in debriefing in Houston. NASA and CSE declare the mission a success, even though very little new information has been acc.u.mulated on the artifact, has returned to Earth, and its seven-member crew is in debriefing in Houston. NASA and CSE declare the mission a success, even though very little new information has been acc.u.mulated on the artifact, Dis Pater Dis Pater. A complete sensor array was left behind on Pluto to doc.u.ment any future reaction from the artifact.

JANUARY 2093.

NASA and CSE have announced the upcoming schedule for the test launch of the first interstellar s.p.a.cecraft. The Quanta, The Quanta, as the s.h.i.+p has been dubbed, is a one-man s.h.i.+p designed without a payload. Its primary mission will be to achieve the first recorded FTL flight. The s.h.i.+p will travel from Luna Station to Pluto, where it will rendezvous with the as the s.h.i.+p has been dubbed, is a one-man s.h.i.+p designed without a payload. Its primary mission will be to achieve the first recorded FTL flight. The s.h.i.+p will travel from Luna Station to Pluto, where it will rendezvous with the Orca 3 Orca 3 mission for the jet-propelled return trip. A date for the launch has not been announced, but a.n.a.lysts from the Canadian Astronomy a.s.sociation say the next window for a flight to Pluto will be October 2094, landing on the farthest planet seven months later, approximately May 2095. The most probable date for the FTL test flight will be then. mission for the jet-propelled return trip. A date for the launch has not been announced, but a.n.a.lysts from the Canadian Astronomy a.s.sociation say the next window for a flight to Pluto will be October 2094, landing on the farthest planet seven months later, approximately May 2095. The most probable date for the FTL test flight will be then.

OCTOBER 2094.

Major Justine Churchill Turner is on her way to Pluto for the third time. The Orca 3 Orca 3 successfully blasted off Luna Station early this afternoon. Three and a half years ago, Major Turner played a key part in the capture of international criminal Chow Yin on Luna Station; she is something of a celebrity there, with a planetarium named after her. Of historical note, Major Turner is a descendant of Percival Lowell, the astronomer who first theorized the existence and possible location of Pluto. successfully blasted off Luna Station early this afternoon. Three and a half years ago, Major Turner played a key part in the capture of international criminal Chow Yin on Luna Station; she is something of a celebrity there, with a planetarium named after her. Of historical note, Major Turner is a descendant of Percival Lowell, the astronomer who first theorized the existence and possible location of Pluto.

MARCH 2095.

NASA has announced the name of the pilot who will take the helm of the first FTL flight. Captain Mitchel Kincardine of Canadian s.p.a.ce Exploration has been selected from nearly three hundred qualified applicants to undertake this historic mission. Capt. Kincardine, father of two, has long been a pilot for CSE.

APRIL 2095.

The Quanta, NASA/CSE's interstellar s.p.a.cecraft which is scheduled to make the first FTL flight next month, is en route to Luna Station where it will be outfitted with a Kinemet engine and tested in zero gravity a few thousand kilometers above the moon's surface. Captain Kincardine is accompanying the s.h.i.+p, and has been quoted as saying that he is looking forward to seeing his name written alongside Christopher Columbus, Yuri Gagarin, and Neil Armstrong. NASA/CSE's interstellar s.p.a.cecraft which is scheduled to make the first FTL flight next month, is en route to Luna Station where it will be outfitted with a Kinemet engine and tested in zero gravity a few thousand kilometers above the moon's surface. Captain Kincardine is accompanying the s.h.i.+p, and has been quoted as saying that he is looking forward to seeing his name written alongside Christopher Columbus, Yuri Gagarin, and Neil Armstrong.

Luna Station : Luna :

The unrelenting chorus repeated itself in his mind, and had been for four long years. repeated itself in his mind, and had been for four long years.

The sounds of the planets were slowly driving him insane with their message of urgency.

Come to us, Alex. Come to us.

He was working towards that as fast as he could, but he had to wait for others.

Wait.

Always wait.

Watching every move, reading every word published, communicating with others who could provide him with any sc.r.a.ps that would help him complete his task.

They had announced a date, and he had to s.h.i.+ft his preparations into high gear.

The music of the spheres told him so.

Come to us, Alex. Come.

The Quanta : : Luna Station : Luna :

May 2095

Alex Manez took a deep, agonizing breath and ran his fingers through the thin wisps of his hair, once long and luxurious.

The fourteen-year old then strapped himself into the leather-back pilot seat of the s.p.a.ce craft and began systematically flipping switches, turning dials, and pressing specific b.u.t.tons on the panoramic console surrounding him in the c.o.c.kpit. Every so often, he took readings from the various meters and consulted the computer monitor, rechecking this figure or that.

He had to be sure that everything was running smoothly, at this stage of the game, since he was on his own on a project that would ordinarily require the input and coordination of hundreds of personnel. Alex was undertaking this task of his without the permission of those hundreds.

Alex was stealing the FTL s.h.i.+p they had dubbed, The Quanta. The Quanta.

The vessel, highly experimental, was owned by the United Earth Corporate, each member country having invested heavily in the project in the hopes of reaching the outer planets of Sol System in a matter of hours, rather than the months that it took at present.

Because of the unusual mission a.s.signed to The Quanta, The Quanta, the only means of piloting and navigating the craft was via the onboard computer-the mission control's part was only an observe-and-a.s.sist position. the only means of piloting and navigating the craft was via the onboard computer-the mission control's part was only an observe-and-a.s.sist position.