The Key to the Universe (excerpt)
Chapter Three
The airlock between the two ships snapped into place with a pressurized hiss. Quinn and Abe had barely had time to react before the suspension field had drawn The Lady Grace into docking position. Now, they waited for the ceiling hatch in the midship living quarters to open, all the while wondering if they were somehow being rescued from the Martian Mafia boss or being arrested themselves.
The airlock opened, a metal ladder descended, and a heavily accented voice called down, “You will ascend into my vessel slowly and one at a time. I know there are two of you aboard. You will bring the box with you.”
Abe had been in the process of hiding the metal box inside the kitchen stove. Now he withdrew it with a frown that seemed to say, No point now. He straightened, closed the stove door, and followed Quinn up the ladder into the special forces ship.
Once inside, Quinn surveyed the interior of the vessel, observing the bulkheads covered with computer, surveillance, and analysis equipment. It was warmer than was comfortable, and a strange smell, like an exotic cooking spice, hung in the humid air.
Finally, his eyes came to rest on their host. The ship’s operator was an alien, seven feet tall, thin with disproportionately long limbs that made him appear lithe and agile. He wore some kind of body armor over his gray skin, and piercing green eyes looked out from a head that was hairless and had two slits for nostrils.
“Greetings. We meet you in peace and goodwill,” Quinn said politely, using the standard greeting for an undetermined species.
Abe scowled. “This certainly looks like a government ship, but I’ve been around long enough to know that if you’re with the police, you’re supposed to give us your name and rank.”
The alien twitched its head to one side. “I am Agent Aerius,” he said. “Registration SOL3468-23 with the Solar Government Special Forces.” He produced a badge from somewhere on his person and held it briefly aloft.
“Thank you, Aerius,” Quinn replied before his great-grandfather could say anything insulting. “Why did you stop our ship?”
The alien moved his rangy body to one of the computers and tapped a key to bring the screen to life. The display was in some kind of alien language — probably the agent’s native tongue. When Aerius read aloud, the translators Quinn had had implanted behind his ears since birth — like most people — conveyed the message in a language he could understand.
“Pursuant to Solar Code 4734.45, section thirty-two, you are required to aid me with a special operation of external security,” said Aerius. “Failure to do so will result in your being charged with obstruction of justice and other penalties under Solar Law. If you are required to miss work as part of this operation, the Solar Government will reimburse you wages equal to your current rate of pay and —”
“Look,” Abe interjected, “we were just about to make a delivery. Whatever ‘operation’ you’re involved with has nothing to do with us.”
“Unlikely,” replied Aerius, turning back to them. “My commander has traced an important item from the estate of Minnie Halloran to this shop. With a vessel owned by known criminal Gabriella ‘Mama’ Rossi at your main docking port, it is reasonable to assume that you were fleeing with the object in question.”
Abe puffed out his chest in an attempt at intimidation, even though he was nearly two feet shorter than the government agent. “And what object would that be?”
“The Key to the Universe,” Aerius replied, his green eyes unblinking.
Abe deflated like the core of a collapsing star. Quinn stared at the alien agent, dumbfounded.
Quinn managed to speak first: “That’s not possible.”
“It’s a myth,” Abe added. “A fairy tale. Every dealer on both sides of the Asteroid Belt knows that.”
“Then open the box and find out,” Aerius challenged.
Abe had been holding the box in the crook of his right arm since he and Quinn had come aboard. Abe’s arm twitched, but he did not release the box.
“How do you know that’s what we have?” Quinn asked before his great-grandfather could recover. “How do you even know this is what you’re looking for?”
Aerius continued to stare at them for a minute. Then he said, “According to my briefing, Solar Government Intelligence has long known that the Key to the Universe was under Minnie Halloran’s protection, and we possessed a rough description of the box in which it was stored. Following Halloran’s death, myself and other agents have been watching for signs of the box, monitoring communications from the Halloran Estate and trying to ascertain its new owner. Yesterday, we intercepted a coded transmission from a junior associate at the Winkroot Law Firm, and I was dispatched to follow our most promising lead.
“The Key must not be allowed to come into Gabriella Rossi’s possession. I have been authorized to tell you this much so that you may understand the importance of my mission. If Gabriella Rossi has the Key, she will use it for acts of terror.”
Quinn turned to his great-grandfather. “I agree, Pop-pop. If the Key’s in there, we can’t let her have it. It’s much safer with Agent Aerius.”
“Bah!” Abe said, clutching the box tighter to his body and backing slowing toward the airlock entrance. “You think the government wouldn’t misuse such an object? For all the reading you do, Quinn, I’m surprised at your naivety. What would the government do with the Key that Mama Rossi wouldn’t? Huh?”
Aerius rose to his full height within the confines of the ship, the alien’s shadow spilling over Abe and Quinn. “The Solar Government wants only to keep the Key safe,” Aerius said with conviction. “Give it to me so that I may verify its identity and transfer it to the care of my commander.”
Abe was almost to the airlock and Aerius was about to lunge when an explosion rocked the government craft and sent its three occupants sprawling. Abe fell bottom-first into the hatch and stuck there, like a clog in a drain, while Quinn and the alien both slammed into the equipment along the port bulkhead. Another explosion hit seconds later.
Aerius said something in his native language, an exclamation that sounded like a curse. Then the alien lumbered toward the front of the ship, his detainees temporarily forgotten. “The Rossi human attacks us!”
A third explosion hammered the special forces ship. Abe popped through the airlock hatch and fell back into The Lady Grace, crying out as his tailbone struck the floor of the ship. He remained sprawled on the floor as Quinn scrambled back into the cruiser, triggering the release that raised the ladder and closed the hatch.
“Don’t move!” Quinn exclaimed as he made his way toward the cockpit. “Those shots are gonna trigger the emergency release!”
Sure enough, a shrill alarm sounded inside the ship as, with another hiss, The Lady Grace separated from the special forces vessel.
The airlock between the two ships snapped into place with a pressurized hiss. Quinn and Abe had barely had time to react before the suspension field had drawn The Lady Grace into docking position. Now, they waited for the ceiling hatch in the midship living quarters to open, all the while wondering if they were somehow being rescued from the Martian Mafia boss or being arrested themselves.
The airlock opened, a metal ladder descended, and a heavily accented voice called down, “You will ascend into my vessel slowly and one at a time. I know there are two of you aboard. You will bring the box with you.”
Abe had been in the process of hiding the metal box inside the kitchen stove. Now he withdrew it with a frown that seemed to say, No point now. He straightened, closed the stove door, and followed Quinn up the ladder into the special forces ship.
Once inside, Quinn surveyed the interior of the vessel, observing the bulkheads covered with computer, surveillance, and analysis equipment. It was warmer than was comfortable, and a strange smell, like an exotic cooking spice, hung in the humid air.
Finally, his eyes came to rest on their host. The ship’s operator was an alien, seven feet tall, thin with disproportionately long limbs that made him appear lithe and agile. He wore some kind of body armor over his gray skin, and piercing green eyes looked out from a head that was hairless and had two slits for nostrils.
“Greetings. We meet you in peace and goodwill,” Quinn said politely, using the standard greeting for an undetermined species.
Abe scowled. “This certainly looks like a government ship, but I’ve been around long enough to know that if you’re with the police, you’re supposed to give us your name and rank.”
The alien twitched its head to one side. “I am Agent Aerius,” he said. “Registration SOL3468-23 with the Solar Government Special Forces.” He produced a badge from somewhere on his person and held it briefly aloft.
“Thank you, Aerius,” Quinn replied before his great-grandfather could say anything insulting. “Why did you stop our ship?”
The alien moved his rangy body to one of the computers and tapped a key to bring the screen to life. The display was in some kind of alien language — probably the agent’s native tongue. When Aerius read aloud, the translators Quinn had had implanted behind his ears since birth — like most people — conveyed the message in a language he could understand.
“Pursuant to Solar Code 4734.45, section thirty-two, you are required to aid me with a special operation of external security,” said Aerius. “Failure to do so will result in your being charged with obstruction of justice and other penalties under Solar Law. If you are required to miss work as part of this operation, the Solar Government will reimburse you wages equal to your current rate of pay and —”
“Look,” Abe interjected, “we were just about to make a delivery. Whatever ‘operation’ you’re involved with has nothing to do with us.”
“Unlikely,” replied Aerius, turning back to them. “My commander has traced an important item from the estate of Minnie Halloran to this shop. With a vessel owned by known criminal Gabriella ‘Mama’ Rossi at your main docking port, it is reasonable to assume that you were fleeing with the object in question.”
Abe puffed out his chest in an attempt at intimidation, even though he was nearly two feet shorter than the government agent. “And what object would that be?”
“The Key to the Universe,” Aerius replied, his green eyes unblinking.
Abe deflated like the core of a collapsing star. Quinn stared at the alien agent, dumbfounded.
Quinn managed to speak first: “That’s not possible.”
“It’s a myth,” Abe added. “A fairy tale. Every dealer on both sides of the Asteroid Belt knows that.”
“Then open the box and find out,” Aerius challenged.
Abe had been holding the box in the crook of his right arm since he and Quinn had come aboard. Abe’s arm twitched, but he did not release the box.
“How do you know that’s what we have?” Quinn asked before his great-grandfather could recover. “How do you even know this is what you’re looking for?”
Aerius continued to stare at them for a minute. Then he said, “According to my briefing, Solar Government Intelligence has long known that the Key to the Universe was under Minnie Halloran’s protection, and we possessed a rough description of the box in which it was stored. Following Halloran’s death, myself and other agents have been watching for signs of the box, monitoring communications from the Halloran Estate and trying to ascertain its new owner. Yesterday, we intercepted a coded transmission from a junior associate at the Winkroot Law Firm, and I was dispatched to follow our most promising lead.
“The Key must not be allowed to come into Gabriella Rossi’s possession. I have been authorized to tell you this much so that you may understand the importance of my mission. If Gabriella Rossi has the Key, she will use it for acts of terror.”
Quinn turned to his great-grandfather. “I agree, Pop-pop. If the Key’s in there, we can’t let her have it. It’s much safer with Agent Aerius.”
“Bah!” Abe said, clutching the box tighter to his body and backing slowing toward the airlock entrance. “You think the government wouldn’t misuse such an object? For all the reading you do, Quinn, I’m surprised at your naivety. What would the government do with the Key that Mama Rossi wouldn’t? Huh?”
Aerius rose to his full height within the confines of the ship, the alien’s shadow spilling over Abe and Quinn. “The Solar Government wants only to keep the Key safe,” Aerius said with conviction. “Give it to me so that I may verify its identity and transfer it to the care of my commander.”
Abe was almost to the airlock and Aerius was about to lunge when an explosion rocked the government craft and sent its three occupants sprawling. Abe fell bottom-first into the hatch and stuck there, like a clog in a drain, while Quinn and the alien both slammed into the equipment along the port bulkhead. Another explosion hit seconds later.
Aerius said something in his native language, an exclamation that sounded like a curse. Then the alien lumbered toward the front of the ship, his detainees temporarily forgotten. “The Rossi human attacks us!”
A third explosion hammered the special forces ship. Abe popped through the airlock hatch and fell back into The Lady Grace, crying out as his tailbone struck the floor of the ship. He remained sprawled on the floor as Quinn scrambled back into the cruiser, triggering the release that raised the ladder and closed the hatch.
“Don’t move!” Quinn exclaimed as he made his way toward the cockpit. “Those shots are gonna trigger the emergency release!”
Sure enough, a shrill alarm sounded inside the ship as, with another hiss, The Lady Grace separated from the special forces vessel.
© Patrick Scalisi. All rights reserved. This text may not be copied or reproduced without express permission from the owner.
