Chapter 23: Invisible Capsule

15 4 0
                                    

According to the image on Blaze's monitor, Titan resembles a giant, black pill with two circular openings on each end—one in the back for smaller ships to enter, and one in the front for them to exit. Titan is invisible in the darkness of space, but our specialized IPS detects it. We come up behind the ship, and the entrance opens, flooding one of DeLarge's camera feeds in fluorescent light before the lens adapts, once more displaying a clear image.

The cameras exhibit Titan's colossal inner docking station, where four large ships and sixteen small ones are docked, although an additional eight the size of DeLarge could easily fit within the area. Two ships exit Titan at the other end while we enter, and I note that every vessel is either stolen from the MSF or logoless.

An indistinguishable amount of time passes, and our ship finishes docking. We in the command center are the last to exit the ship, and I'm not overjoyed that none of us have spacesuits on. But when DeLarge's main door opens to reveal an elevator made of steel and triple-pane windows, and we don't immediately die, I figure it's safe enough. Nupan, Blaze, Felix, Thomson, Timour, Timour's two Cosmic guards—I'm insulted that I don't have guards—and I clamber into the elevator, a cumbersome experience due to microgravity.

The door closes, and the elevator moves in the floor's direction. Felix hooks his feet under a foodhold with one arm and wraps his other arm around my waist, preventing me from hitting the ceiling. Gradually, artificial gravity increases, and my body floats to the ground. Grabbing a handhold, I swing my legs under me, stand, and remove Felix's arm. He chuckles, and I shake my head to keep from smiling.

But then I catch a glimpse of Timour's face and am taken aback by his confused, irked, and doleful expression. Even though he's staring directly at me, a few seconds pass before he realizes I'm looking at him, and the glum lines on his face smooth into a simulated smile. I make a funny face to cheer him up, but neither one of us buys it.

Nupan and Blaze chat quietly together, whereas Timour's guards cackle like their lives depend on it—something involving baijiu, karaoke, arroz con leche, and strippers. Ah, a couple of wannabe cosmopolitans. Reticent and withdrawn, Thomson stares out a window, brushing off Felix's attempt to start a conversation with him. The Captain gives me a "this is your fault" look, and I return a "leave me alone" glare.

When the elevator halts, the screen on the door reads: "Current g-force: 0.680" before opening to reveal a foyer.

"This is our stop," Felix states, pointing to Timour's guards. "Bring the Liansan."

"You need help?" Thomson asks, glancing at me for the first time today.

Is he asking me? Felix snaps, "Now you're willing to articulate?"

Thomson clenches his jaw, silent.

"No," Felix answers his question, "I've overworked you... and Nupan and Blaze. Rest up until the next mission. You're dismissed."

Those three nod and stay in the elevator. Felix, I, Timour, and the guards step into the foyer, in that order. There's more character and splendor put into this hallway compared to those on DeLarge, since this is a revamped cruise liner. We pass light Monet blue walls with glued-on minimalistic floral paintings; fake plants in pots on thin, black tables; navy ceilings and doors; white crown molding; and faux hickory floors. A former UE passenger ship alright.

A couple hallways in, I stumble. Timour catches me as I shake my head to rid the vertigo, but that only worsens it. "You okay?" he asks.

"Yeah." I pressurize my brow ridge and blink. Infuriating Coriolis effect. "Do you feel it?"

Into the Black HoleWhere stories live. Discover now