Jupiter's Halo Book Two: The Fall

Chapter 21

Iasa cursed as she leaned on the railing to haul herself upright.

She’d landed badly, her leap taking her out over the edge of the top flight of the link-stair. She’d come down heavily, catching her ankle on the last step and collapsing against the wall. The stairs switched back, allowing the long journey down to be compressed into a narrower space and she thanked the designers for that decision. If the steps had continued she’d have simply kept bouncing to reach the bottom in a broken, bleeding heap.

The sound of Tiny’s furious attempts to reach her through the narrow doorway ceased. The robot was clearly running through its protocol; deciding on the most efficient course of action to clear the station and intercept her again. It would be heading back to the trans-terminal, likely it’s only viable route down into the further levels of the station.

Iasa sucked in a pained breath as she righted herself and tested her crumpled leg. Sharp knives shot up her calf as she leaned her weight to one side, receding as she went back the other way.

That could be a problem. Nothing felt broken —she'd snapped enough bones over the years to recognise that particular feeling— but her ankle was weakened and subsequently, her speed reduced. She allowed herself a moment to curse Tiny, Hornwood, her own poor judgement and the station. It didn't help the pain, but it did vent a measure of her frustration and allow her to refocus.

Tiny would make it past her in a matter of minutes. The station was large, but the terminal moved far more quickly than a person could on foot. That meant she had to stay in the stair and make it down to Primary-three before the robot had finished its killing on the next level up.

She glanced down, rolling her lips over her teeth in anticipation of the now more difficult descent ahead.

>“Hornwood,”“Still kicking boss?”“Your robot attacked me.”“I did say ‘probably’,”“I guess the virus is still alive on the outside of your suit. Strip it off and problem solved.”“If you have nothing intelligent to say, say nothing.”“Might be quiet for a while.”“At least tell me you have the situation there under control,”“We’ve got four of them here, another two on the way with Cross right now and he says he’s picking up the last one before he gets here.”“And the pods?”“I’ve sorted them,”“Elaborate, Hornwood. This isn’t a f*****g game.”“They’re sorted. Hard resets on every one.”“They’ll fall out of the sky before they make it to Luna. If they go anywhere at all.”“If we can’t get those scientists where they need to be—”“I know, I know; pain, grisly death, a puddle, all that.”“By the way, Blist is still here. The b***h refuses to leave the scientists alone with me. It’s like she doesn’t trust me or something.”“You want I should send her away too, or just kill her? I’m thinking killing would be easier. And more fun.”“No,”“Sending her away makes no sense. Her implant won’t allow it if she thinks you might do them harm.”“So kill her then?”“No,”“Cross will be in constant contact, if she goes dark he’ll know there’s something wrong.”“You think he doesn’t already?”“Perhaps. Keep an eye on Blist and those scientists and don’t kill anybody.”<

Hornwood signed off without sending any acceptance. He almost definitely did it just to annoy her, rather than because he was going to disobey her orders. Almost definitely.

Iasa had to get down there before he ruined everything through sheer boredom. She gripped her fist around the railing and pushed her injured leg down hard. The pain spiked, forcing a hiss from between her clenched teeth. That was the worst dealt with.

She shut the pain away and doubled her speed to clear the next section of stair and turn where the door led onto Primary-two. Voices filtered up from below, causing her to stop and flatten herself back against the wall. She recognised Cross speaking, the words distorted by their trip up the stair. She had to wait for him to move but she also had to reach the bay before Hornwood did something stupid. She needed a reason to send Cross on, but she couldn’t use the comm-link.

On cue, a crash and screams pulled her attention to the window in the door. She stepped lightly to it, the pain in her leg all but forgotten as she looked on a scene of rising chaos.

People were fleeing down the corridor, running with the speed of terror as something huge and unseen smashed its way through the internal walls of the level. Iasa watched for a moment, seeing the fear in the passing eyes. Some were running wildly, others were heading right for her. With careful movements, she reached up to the console in the wall and sealed the door.

There was nothing she could do until Cross was out of the way, so she stayed and watched the fear turn to anger, the anger become panic and that panic dissolve into dread. She thought she heard, through the cacophony of pleas and threats, the gentle sound of the lower door closing. She could have been wrong. There was no sense in rushing down and giving herself away.

Iasa kept her face pressed against the window for another minute. That was all it took for the press of bodies to clear. For a black shape to sweep past and eclipse her view, leaving fresh, red smears shining wetly in its wake.