Artificial Absolutes (Jane Colt Book 1) (17 page)

The explosion forced Jane and Devin back down the stairs as the ceiling caved on the ground level. Jane exited the stairwell on the floor below. She sprinted toward the front.

Who the
hell
is bombing us?
Can’t be the Mega, not when there’re soldiers in the building.

The building crumbled behind her. Jane felt as if she, too, would collapse and prayed the adrenaline would kick in before she did. The light from the front stairwell was too bright, and she wondered if the wall had fallen. Devin turned into it. Jane followed a few steps behind. A wave of relief washed over her. The stairwell was exposed.

Three deep blue Barracudas soared over her as she climbed over the broken concrete. What sounded like cannon fire thundered behind her. She cleared the rubble and ran with all the speed she could muster, cursing her body for causing her so much grief.
Where the hell’s the adrenaline?

Boom.

A roaring explosion knocked her to the ground in a searing blast of heat. Her back burned as though someone had set it on fire. Looking back took far more effort than it should have. Through her hazy vision, Jane saw pieces of a dark Barracuda mixed with the demolished building. Only a few soldiers stood by the Remoras. She wondered with a heavy feeling where the rest were.

Devin pulled her up. “C’mon!”

Something exploded, and a rainstorm of dark powder fell. The Mega must have destroyed a Barracuda.

Jane fixed her eyes on the Stargazer and ran. She was so close…

There it is.

Her feet flew beneath her. She zoomed toward the ship, scarcely aware of the scorching heat or her bursting heart. The image of the Seer at the landing tripod flashed through her mind. She found the panel he’d used and pulled the lever. The door opened, and the ladder extended.

She barely felt the rungs as she sped into the vehicle. She jumped into the pilot’s seat and slammed her hand against the scanner as her muscles, breath, and heartbeat broke down.

Devin entered behind her—when had she passed him?—and took the copilot’s seat. The viewscreen activated. Jane ignited the engines. Unable to hear her brother’s words over the rushing in her head, she gripped the steering bars with a mad kind of glee. She pushed them forward. The Stargazer launched into the atmosphere.

In the viewscreen’s rear view, the last Barracuda hurtled into the remnants of the building.

Commander Vega listened with growing fury as the Flame Team leader listed the unaccounted for members. Almost three quarters were missing. She kept her face proudly calm, belying her internal rage as she ordered a rescue team to the planet. Only a rubble-filled pit remained where the building had been. Two of the hostiles, upon sustaining damage, had crashed into it. Judging from its shattered state, no one had survived.

“Commander, the target is leaving the planet.”

Commander Vega recalled seeing Devin Colt and his sister enter the Stargazer. She wondered how the target escaped when so many of her people had been buried. “Shark Team! Man—”

“Commander!” The pilot switched the viewscreen to a forward view. The Stargazer flew straight at the warship.

“Move to avoid!” The
Granite Flame
lurched as the pilot maneuvered it. None of the warship’s many views showed the Stargazer. Commander Vega snapped her face toward the navigation officer. “Where is it?”

“The target engaged lightspeed. It’s out of visual range.”

“Track it!”
Incompetent
.

“The sensors can’t find them.”

Commander Vega strode to the officer’s station. The screen before him displayed a chart of the Viatian system with color-coded points identifying half a dozen other vehicles.

The target was nowhere to be found.

Chapter 10

Recovery, Discovery

S
everal hours—Devin lost track of
just how many—had passed since Jane so recklessly flew at the Mega. He watched the tracker from the pilot’s seat. The
Granite Flame
’s
probes returned to their mothership. So the Stargazer really was untraceable. He leaned back in relief.

Several minutes later, the
Granite Flame
left the Viatian system and flew toward the interstellar tunnel at lightspeed.

Finally
.

Devin steered the Stargazer, which he’d maneuvered at random to stay out of visual range, toward the tunnel, approaching it from a different direction. The Mega was several light-hours ahead; they’d be back in Kydera before he left the region.

He got up and checked on Jane in the living quarters. She was still asleep in the hammock. She’d been so tired from the chase, poor kid. He still couldn’t believe what she’d done after taking the Stargazer’s controls.

“What are you doing?” Devin had asked. “You can’t fly this thing!”

Jane had ignored him and placed her hand on the scanner.

“Knock it off, Jane!” He’d strapped himself into the copilot’s seat. “This is different from your practice sessions. Stop messing around before you get yourself killed!”

Jane took off, a wild look in her eyes.

Taking the controls from her would have been dangerous, so Devin put his own hand on the scanner. Although he gained some control over the ship’s system, he didn’t have the authority to override her actions. “
Jane
!”

“Hey, bro!” Jane appeared exhausted and energized at the same time. Her face lit up like that of a child with a new toy. “Watch this!” She flipped the Stargazer toward the warship.

“
What are you doing
?”

“They’ll move, and then they won’t be able to find us!” She twisted the steering bars forward, accelerating the ship to its maximum sub-lightspeed.

The warship grew larger on the viewscreen. “Stop!” Devin yelled. “This isn’t a game!”

“They’ll
move
!”

The Mega veered to avoid collision. Devin swiped the control touchscreen, engaging lightspeed.

Jane pushed her hair off her sweaty face. “Yes! They’ll never find us now!”

He was still reeling. “
What were you thinking
?”

“What do you mean?” She grinned. “I got us outta their sight!”

“There are other ways!”

Jane lifted her chin. “Like what? We could’ve engaged lightspeed right away, but they’d’ve followed, and we’d have to do that stupid ring-around-the-rosie thing you did last time! Besides, who are
you
to tell me off? You dropped us in an elevator for crying out loud!”

She had a point. A part of him wanted to upbraid her, but he couldn’t help feeling a little proud of his kid sister’s boldness. “All right. Good job.”

Jane collapsed back in her chair. “Thank you!”

“But that’s enough. I’m piloting.”

“Okay.” She stumbled as she got up. Her face looked feverishly red and sickly pale at the same time, and she seemed to have difficulty focusing her eyes.

Devin moved into the pilot’s seat. “I’ve got this. You go get some rest.”

“Aren’t you tired too?”

“I’m fine.”

“Okay, then. I’m gonna pass out now.” Jane had held the wall for support as she left the cockpit.

There had been no dream. Jane had slept more soundly than she’d thought possible. Although her eyes refused to shut again, her limbs felt as though they sank into the creaky hammock. Her body wanted desperately to stay put, but her mind was wide awake.

Bored, she untangled herself from the scratchy—and probably unsanitary—blanket and stood.

Whoa.

Her head spun as though the Stargazer flipped again. She rested her back against the wall, waiting for the feeling to subside.

The world came back into focus. Jane kicked off her high-heeled boots and returned to the cockpit.

Devin sat in the pilot’s seat, concentrating on his slate. Dust covered his black clothing. His wavy hair fell all over the place, some of it stuck to dried blood from a cut near his cheekbone. Jane hadn’t seen her brother, the perpetually groomed corporate tool, looking that messy in years.

He noticed her. “Hey, you’re up. Feeling better?”

“Yup. Good as new.”
Lies.
Her muscles ached with every move, and her head throbbed as though her brain banged around her skull. The small cuts on her forearm stung with disproportionate pain, as if that chemical still burned her skin.

Devin’s gaze fell to her wrist. “How’s the arm?”

Hurts like hell.
“It’s fine. Just needed to wash it off.”

“Let me see—”

“Stop being paranoid! I’ve gotten worse from playing with Klistosian gold-cats.” Jane plopped down in the copilot’s seat. “So, what’s going on?”

“The Mega left the system a while ago. The Stargazer’s on autopilot, heading for the tunnel. Not sure where we’re going after that.”

“What’re you doing?” Jane peered at his slate. A number of windows were open, containing news stories with dramatic titles like “Financial Prince Shoots Father in Cold Blood” and “Tribunal Weighs Evidence in Attempted Patricide.”

“Catching up on the news,” Devin said dryly.

Jane huffed. “They’re all idiots.”

“There’s one about you.”

“Really? Can I see?”

He swiped the slate and handed it to her. An article, titled “Victor Colt’s Daughter Missing,” splashed across the screen. It speculated that Devin’s crime had traumatized her, augmenting her budding psychosis and causing her to run away.

Jane was somewhat amused. “Clearly, they haven’t alerted the media about what happened on Viate-5, or the title would be ‘Dangerous Fugitive Uses Helpless Sister as Human Shield.’ Speaking of which, what the hell was that? The bombing, I mean?”

Devin took his slate back. “Someone covering their tracks, probably the people behind No Name. They must’ve sent the Barracudas as soon as they saw a military ship approach the system.”

“Do you think they crashed into the building on purpose?”

“They didn’t seem too keen on surviving. I’m guessing they were unmanned.”

A message window appeared on the slate.

Corsair: I’m freakin’ amazing.

Jane angled herself for a better view. “Seems chattier than usual.”

“He’s probably using voice commands.”

Archangel: What is it?

Corsair: I found your crazy kidnapper machines.

Jane gasped. “He found Adam?!”

“Just the machines.”

“Still, he’s awesome!”

Archangel: Are you sure?

Corsair: Uh… I don’t make mistakes, remember? Here’s your proof, you doubtin’ nonbeliever. They’re on Travan Float.

Devin opened the attachment.

Several very blurry but, for Jane, unmistakable images of two dark, boxy machines appeared. “That’s them!”

Archangel: You’re good.

Corsair: I’m a freakin’ genius. Do you know how much shit I had to pull to find those things? No one else would’ve even recognized them!

Archangel: Okay. You’re a genius.

Corsair: Thank you. So… Uh… I don’t know where on the float they are. Background’s too fuzzy. Hey, if there were a way to be more precise, I would’ve found it. A float’s better than the entire galaxy, right? Considering the size of the universe, that’s
very
specific!

Archangel: When were the pictures taken?

Corsair: Less than an hour ago. Going there?

Archangel: Yes.

Corsair: Heh. Home sweet home, right?

Jane leaned against the copilot’s seat. “Does he live there?”

“No, he hasn’t been there in ages.” Corsair logged off, and Devin closed the communication window. “Travan Float’s a hellhole, but at least we’re one step closer to finding your friend.”

“And we
will
find him.” It was only one clue, but it made Jane feel as though everything would be all right. “What’s Travan Float anyway?”

“Travan’s a Fringe system.” Devin rested his head against the back of his chair. “Its planet was rendered uninhabitable by a nuclear war about two hundred years ago, and all that’s left is the space habitat they built when the time came to evacuate. It’s one of the most lawless places in the galaxy. As far as I know, a crime boss called Madam Wrath runs it. She and her predecessors never cared what happened as long as people kept paying. It’s a haven for outlaws.”

“Sounds wonderful.” And like the kind of place for a mad scientist who wanted to replace a seminary student with a robot to hide. Maybe Sarah was there too.

Devin yawned, slouching uncharacteristically. He looked beat.

Jane nudged him. “Hey, bro, your turn to get some rest.”

“I’m fine.”

“Liar. I don’t even remember the last time you slept.”

“I got some shut-eye while we were autopiloting to Viate-5.”

“Well, we’re autopiloting now. Don’t worry. I’ll wake you if anything weird happens.”

“All right.” Devin folded his slate and got up. “No stunts, okay?”

Jane held up her right hand as though testifying in court. “I swear by the Absolute, no stunts.” She moved into the pilot’s seat. “G’night!”

“Night, Pony.”

Jane hugged her knees and looked out into the immeasurable darkness, awed by the glittering abyss. No matter how many times she went to space, the stars always burned with infinite possibilities.

I flew a freaking starship today.

She grinned, recalling the exhilaration. She wasn’t sure what instinct had told her to take the controls when she’d never really flown before. She’d taken some piloting lessons at university, but only to prove she could do anything her brother could.

Now, I’ve gotta figure out how to think fast when people—or things—are chasing me.

Never again would she be the damsel in distress, freezing in helplessness or running in panic when someone she cared about was in trouble. She remembered how her brother had led her during the chase and shielded her as though she were a little girl.

No more of that. Once we get to Travan, I’m gonna
act
instead of just following my big brother around.

Excitement coursed through her as she imagined finding the machines and confronting the bastards who’d sent them. She pictured herself kicking them in the face until they told her where Adam and Sarah were, then victoriously dragging their sorry asses back to Kydera Major, where her father would be awake and waiting for her.

But if Dad knew what she’d done—abandoned everything and ended up on the wrong side of the law—he would be enraged, no matter what her intentions had been.

He would’ve wanted me to stay out of it. Hell, he would’ve wanted me to tell those officers about Devin’s Blue Tang and let him get caught, then count on the system to sort it out.

That would have been a lot smarter, would have spared her the trouble she’d faced since. Jane wondered where the rational side of herself had gone. Then again, the “system” had already failed her once. Perhaps not trusting it, especially with No Name lurking, wasn’t such a foolish thing to do.

If Dad could see me now, out on the Fringe in a black market junker, he’d probably disown me.

Nah, he’d sigh loudly and ask why I make things so difficult.
As he had after she’d timidly told him about switching her university major to music.

“You too, Jane?” Dad had pulled his mouth down into the sternest frown she’d ever seen from him. “I thought that kind of misbehavior had been confined to your brother, but it looks like you were cursed with the same flaw. Very well, have your fun. You’ll get your head on straight eventually.”

At the time, Jane had been grateful for his patience, for receiving disappointed sighs instead of roars of fury. He’d acted as though allowing her to chase her dream was another indulgence for his little girl. She wondered whether he’d ever seen her as an individual with a will of her own.

Rather than one of those AIs—some obedient thing that should do what
he
wants even when he’s not ordering me around… Why am I so moody? Think about something else!

A shiver shook her body. Jane realized how chilly she was. She glimpsed Devin’s rectangular office bag by the pilot’s seat. Remembering that he had a jacket in there, she grabbed it and opened it.

Curious, and always up for going through her brother’s stuff, she rummaged to see what its other contents were. A weird spherical device lay beside the laser gun. She picked it up. Unable to recognize it, she figured it was some kind of grenade and put it back carefully.

Where’d he get something like that anyway? Why doesn’t he tell me anything? Jerk.

Jane put on her brother’s black suit jacket and rolled up the sleeves, mentally grumbling about how unfair it was that he’d received all the strong genes while she’d inherited her mother’s slender frame.

She placed her hands in the pockets. Her knuckles touched something hard and smooth in one of them. She pulled the object out. It was a rectangular case about the size of a playing card. Beneath its sapphire lid, a portrait of Sarah stared back at her.

We’ll find her, Devin
.

Was Sarah even alive? Was Adam? Jane thought about the terrible things that could have happened to them and any number of people on the target list of a perverse, nameless enemy. Her heart pounded, and cold gripped her from within. She curled up and buried her face in her knees.
What if Adam’s dying somewhere?

She pictured how Adam would respond if he saw her freaking out: “Stop scaring yourself, Jane. It’ll all work out in the end. You’ll see.”

“That’s not rational,” she’d replied once. “There’s no ‘end’ to look forward to, just more of the same. Nothing ever changes, and you know it. If I get through today, I’ll still have to deal with tomorrow. What’s the point?”

“Not everything is rational. Sometimes you have to trust that everything that’s happening is somehow for the best.”

Jane usually hated when people talked like that. For some reason, it was okay when Adam did. Strangely enough, she’d even listened. There were so many things only he could get her to do…