The Red Line

V

The crew of the Hawk-Lye were home bound space free. Cruising steadily on the surface of a endless black sea, and a billion trillion of stars.

The sight might have been amazing for those in the cockpit. But the cockpit was barren. The halls were silent. The rooms untouched.

It would seem, for a visitor, as if no one lived on the ship. Unless you were to stumble upon the medbay.

-----------

"It's been three hours". Foley, the boy in the frowny mask, sighed. He rested his head on the pod glass and peered down at the sleeping 7t39. "When can we wake him?"

"When his vitals are normal". Linus answered from across the room. The older man was observing Russ as she removed the tracker chip from Amber's neck.

"When will that be?"

"When that red light turns blue". Fogerty replied. He pointed to the progress screen, displaying a body and a chart of blinking red codes.

"Do you think he's cold?"

"I don't think it feels much". Russ said.

"But he keeps jerking around". Foley whispered. "Maybe he's having a bad dream?"

"Don't you have something better to do?" Russ snapped.

"No".

"And you?" She pointed the kitchen knife, she was using to remove the chip, at Fogerty. "Why aren't you fixing the console?"

He scratched his head, smiling sheepishly. "I ugh-"

"Leave them alone". Amber murmured.

They all glanced at their captain, who looked worn thin. He had his elbows propped on his knees, and both hands cupping his forehead. Dark bags were forming under his eyes, eyes that weren't as bright as usual.

Foley, the most apathetic of the three, was the first to ask if he was feeling alright.

A tired smile tugged at Amber's lips. "I'll be fine as soon as Russ gets this tracker out of me".

Russ made a tsking sound, but otherwise remained passive.

"So where too?" Fogerty asked. Joining the conservation.

The original plan was to get Linus Meraya to the Corpthror branch in sector 21, called Mountain, before the week ended.

"We stick to the plan". Amber said.

"But what are we going to do with him?" Foley whispered, tipping his head towards the pod.

"Let's just dump the ex- scientist, and the robot with Corpthror and be on our way". Russ said, like it was the only reasonable thing to do.

"But..." Foley croaked. He glanced at Amber. "Shouldn't we ask him what he wants to do?"

"It's not up to him". Russ snapped.

There was a loud clang when Fogerty jumped off his stool. He took a quick lap around the room before addressing his captain and crew mates. "If we hand the cyborg boy off to Corpthror what do think they'll do with him?"

"Who cares".

"I do". Foley piped.

"Amber?"

It looked as if Amber were in a world of his own. He was holding his chin and staring at the floor, unblinking. But when his name was called he gave a start, and blinked. "Our mission was to secure Linus Meraya. The kid is a free. We won't get money off him".