Floxham Island ~ Sinclair V-Log AZ267/M (12 page)

“It’s in the
armoury. Is there a problem?”

“Not really,” I
replied, “but it might help me identify who killed Jenna and Mr
Tyle.”

“It will?” he
frowned. “How?”

“I’m hoping
there’s a forensic lab here somewhere,” I explained. “The samples I
took from the overalls need to be processed before I can identify
who they came from and my own equipment isn’t able to do that. This
being Floxham Island, I’m hopefully assuming that there’ll be such
a lab here somewhere. If there is and I can get over there and find
it helpfully still with power, I can process those samples and at
least partially identify our killer.”

“Okay,” he
nodded as he stood up. “Come on then, let’s take a look.”

The forensic
lab was easy to find on the plan of the island. Finding its
location wasn’t the reason I sighed heavily and swore. The reason
for my mood was the fact that it was right on the other side of the
island, at the furthest possible point from where we were all holed
up, safe in the Admin Block. Flark sighed and ran a hand through
his hair as he realised the full extent of our problem.

“Shit,” I
hissed. “It couldn’t be any further away could it? Is nothing gonna
go right for me on this job?”

“Dammit,” he
exclaimed and thumped the table. “Just when I was beginning to
relax with the idea that all we had to do was stay inside here for
another couple of days, this shit happens.”

“I’m sorry
buddy,” I replied. I really did feel badly for the Liner’s crew.
They weren’t paid to deal with situations like this and so far
they’d all acted without reproach and I couldn’t complain about any
of them. If there was a way to get around having to involve them in
any more danger, I’d take it happily.

“Don’t
apologise Sam,” he sighed. “It’s not your fault we have a maniac
killer amongst us. What annoys me is that we’ve no choice but to
get you out there to that lab. If we stay here and wait for rescue,
more people could end up with their throats cut. But, if we make a
run for the lab, we could all end up as dinner for those creatures.
What a choice huh?”

“Yeah,” I
nodded. My mood was getting worse with each passing second but the
guy was right and I couldn’t argue his logic. “And you know what
else is good? We could get there and find the lab without power
anyway and our trip will have been a total waste of time.” He
turned away with his hand still grasping his hair and I made a snap
decision that I knew was totally stupid and thankfully so did he.
“Listen buddy, you and the crew aren’t paid to deal with this shit.
I’ll go on my own and if I don’t make it back, just promise me
you’ll get Nembier to the authorities and explain to them that
there is substantial doubt as to his guilt okay?”

“What?” he
yelled as he spun around and gazed at me wide eyed. “Are you crazy?
That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in years Sam,” he said
and started to laugh. Relief flooded through me and I could’ve
kissed him. “And how the fuck do you expect me to deal with Luggs
and Dex once they find out I’ve let you go out there alone huh?” he
asked, eyes still wide with astonishment at my rash suggestion.
“They’d skin me alive. Hell no Sam; even just for my own safety,
you’re not going out there on your own okay? End of
discussion.”

“Captain?” I
asked with a grin.

“Yeah?”

“Give us a
kiss,” I laughed.

“Aww shucks
Sam,” he said as he burst out laughing.

Flark and I
decided that it would be best not to let everyone know that I was
going to be making a trip to the forensic lab to process the DNA
sample I got from the discarded overalls. We agreed that to do so
might alert the killer to the fact that he or she may soon be
discovered and then either cover their tracks or go completely
psycho in one last blaze of glory. Knowing that our best guns were
going to be away from the group for a while and unable to give
protection should that happen, made us both more than a little
uneasy but there was no better option so we had to go with it. We
knew that our disappearance would have to be explained somehow
though, so I suggested we just tell everyone that we were going to
scout around a bit to see if we could find some long range comms
equipment we could use to alert the liner to come back for us. It
seemed the logical thing to do and Flark agreed. We got back to the
canteen and after taking Clavan into our confidence and gaining his
promise not to spill the beans on the real reason for our trip, I
took a deep breath and hoped I could lie convincingly.

“Okay listen up
folks,” I called and waited for the chatter to die down. “The
Captain and I have decided that it would be sensible for us to try
to get some help from somewhere rather than sit and wait for the
liner to return. Now that another person has been killed it seems
the logical thing to do. Now, we’ve looked at the plans of the
island and we’ve located a couple of places we think give us the
best opportunity of finding some long range comms equipment that
will enable us to do that. The problem though, is that we’re gonna
have to work our way right across the island and you all know
what’s out there. Anyone who can handle a gun is welcome to
volunteer but please, no sightseers this time okay? Be aware before
you volunteer that you may not return. I’m sorry to be blunt but I
can’t sugar coat the dangers. Take twenty minutes to think about it
and then we’ll ask for volunteers.” Before I’d even finished my
speech, Luggs and Dex were at my side and within ten seconds of me
finishing, Baz joined us. Cap appeared within another twenty
seconds, shortly followed by half a dozen of the other inmates.
With Flark and I, that made a dozen reliable guns and I was as
happy as the situation allowed me to be. We felt we had the best
chance possible of making it there and back without losing more
than a couple.

Nembier looked
at me with fear in his eyes so I decided to have a quiet word with
him. “Hey guys, could you give us a minute?” I smiled at his watch
team and they got up and left us alone.

He looked me
right in the eyes and nodded slowly. “You’re a decent liar Sam,” he
smiled, “but you can’t fool me buddy. So what’s really going
on?”

“I got a DNA
sample from the overalls the guys found and I need to process it
before I can even have a chance of identifying the killer.”

“So?”

“So I need a
forensic lab with a sample processor to do that. My equipment won’t
do that job.”

“Okay,” Nembier
nodded. “So why are you telling me?”

“Because if I
don’t make it back, I want you to know two things,” I said as I
held his gaze.

“And what would
they be?”

“First, I know
you didn’t kill Jena Marks or Jallon Tyle. Second, I want you to
know that I’m not totally convinced that you’re guilty of the
murders on Agrillia either.”

His jaw dropped
as he looked at me and tried to take in what he’d just heard.
“You’re not?”

“No, and I’ve
asked the Captain to see to it that you get delivered to the
relevant authorities if I don’t make it back in one piece and to
make sure they know there’s some doubt as to your guilt. I’m
telling you this so that you know I’m not some low life Merc who
just sees guys like you as a pay check. I also hope that it helps
you to understand the importance of allowing yourself to be
delivered to the authorities without a fuss, so that the proper
procedure and a full investigation can be undertaken. My official
tag will ensure that my concerns are taken seriously, so don’t
think I’m handing you a bone to make you be a good boy okay?”

“I understand,”
he nodded and I noticed his eyes well up, “and thank you.” I went
to stand up but he put a hand on my arm. “Sam?”

“Yeah?”

“I mean it
y’know. Thank you. Just in case you don’t come back, would you
allow me to shake your hand?”

The canteen was
filled with voices and scraping chairs as I had a chat with the
blue eyed plank who would be Acting Captain in Flark’s absence and
explained about changing Nembier’s watch team every couple of
hours. With a killer still on the loose I also told him to try to
ensure no one went wandering around alone.

“Better try to
keep folks in groups of three or four buddy,” I suggested, “so that
if the killer does strike again, we’ll have some witnesses.” He
nodded. “Also, if the Captain and I don’t make it back here, please
get Nembier to the proper authorities and tell them I have
substantial doubt as to his guilt. Here’s my official tag number
and the overalls we found are stowed away in the locked drawer in a
desk in office number thirty seven, one floor above; the desk with
the blue book on it. No one here knows I stowed them there okay, so
don’t let anyone know. We don’t want them to go missing. Hand them
over with Nembier and my tag number. Nembier won’t give you any
problems while I’m gone and he knows he has to be delivered to the
authorities.”

“Okay Sam.” The
blue eyes looked worried now. “No problem.”

“I doubt we’ll
be back before nightfall,” I added. “We’re probably gonna have to
hole up somewhere and make the trip back in the morning.”

“Be safe and
God speed.” He offered me his hand, which I shook.

“Okay people,”
I called out and everyone looked up. “We’re gonna be off now to the
armoury and then we’ll be on our way. We probably won’t make it
back here before dark so we’ll be finding somewhere to hide until
morning so don’t worry if you don’t see us back here before
tomorrow. Now Chip here is gonna be Acting Captain in our absence,
and although he only has official authority over the Liner crew and
passengers, it would be a good idea for everyone to do as he asks.
We really don’t need any internal politics to add to our problems.
Is everyone okay with that?” Nods and grunts filtered around the
room so I nodded. “Okay guys, let’s go.”

The twelve of
us made our way to the armoury to tool ourselves up. Once Flark and
I explained the real reason for our trip, those of us already with
weapons, loaded up on ammunition whilst the six inmates browsed the
hardware on display. I watched them closely and was pleased when I
saw them all choose powerful laser rifles. This told me they at
least knew which weapon was appropriate for the job and weren’t
just tugging my chain when they’d volunteered. As I rooted amongst
some crates I gave a little whoop of glee.

“Hey guys look
at this,” I exclaimed. “We have ourselves some Nozzies here.”

“Great, gimme
one them bad boys Sam,” Dex grinned as he strode over, followed
quickly by Luggs and the others. Nozzies are protective body armour
vests that cover the entire upper torso, shoulders, upper arms,
abdomen and groin areas. They’re made of some sort of weird mix of
a light metal and a volcanic rock from four of the Lymbin system’s
moons and their totally unpronounceable name begins with the word
Noz something or other. They’re standard kit in the military and
law enforcement fields, and are known as Nozzies, for obvious
reasons. They’re extremely light and comfortable to wear but can
withstand anything except the most powerful laser and pulse
weapons. Oh, and they won’t protect against the Hellfire Canon
either but thankfully now that those Transmortals are gone, the
Hellfire Canon will not be something we have to worry about
encountering ever again and certainly not here on Floxham Island.
We also hoped they would afford us protection from the teeth of any
of those creatures outside that we might be unfortunate enough to
get too close to. One of the inmates was rooting around in the
cupboards and suddenly gave a yell that sent us all running over to
have a look.

“Fuck me, look
at that Sam,” Luggs exclaimed with a grin.

“My god, I want
one of those,” Dex said and took another down for himself.

What we’d
stumbled upon was a stash of fairly antique but pristine
Incendipulse guns, together with hundreds of fuel canisters. These
weapons send out a quick but deadly pulse of volatile energy that
immediately bursts into flame as soon as it makes contact with
anything. Very few things can withstand them, apart from solid
rock, water or thick metallics. They’re not just flame guns, they
are portable mini volcanoes and I was delighted to see them.

“Shit,” I
hissed with awe as I handled one. “What a weapon this is. Has
anyone here ever handled one in use?”

“Once,” Dex
nodded. “We had one in my military unit and I persuaded my captain
to let me have a go one day.”

“What are they
like?” one of the inmates asked.

“Wow, they are
damn awesome,” Dex laughed and shook his head. “You have no
idea.”

“Okay let’s
have at least three of them with us okay guys?” I said and several
bodies all rushed to grab one. “Okay, now if no one needs a piss or
anything, let’s get to it shall we?”

We grouped at
the main entrance door and readied ourselves.

“Okay guys
let’s get the introductions over so we’re all acquainted huh?” I
smiled and they nodded. “I’m Sam as you already know so each one
introduce yourself so we all know who we are.”

“Morry Laymon,
hi.”

“Sergeant Dex
Simmia. Dex for short. Hey guys”

“I’m
Luggs.”

“Bazlon Janks.
Baz for short. Hi”

“Jo
Capillianos. Cap for short.”

“Hank Grollien.
Hi.”

“Rum Grelly but
everyone calls me Grelly.”

“Asken
Stichings. Stitch for short.”

“Tearlan
Budjon. Bud for short.”

“Carl
Graskin.”

“Stefano
Masboyenkiaskonos. Boy for short.”

“Great to meet
you guys,” I grinned. “Okay let’s do this.”

We exchanged
glances and I nodded at Dex, who yanked the door open. We all leapt
out, guns at the ready and squinted in the bright sunshine. Nothing
leapt at us so after making sure the door was firmly closed behind
us, we took a breath and regrouped.