14 Surv1v0rs

7

          Jack could hear the storm outside rattling the complex.  Thunder was a distant percussion, like artillery exploding just over the horizon.  Periodically, the lights would flicker.  It was quiet.  He tried IM'ing Reeves.  Nothing.  He shut his eyes to see his implant's interface better.  He realized he'd slept for three hours.  His circadian rhythm was completely off, but he was used to napping while on missions.  Only now he felt he needed more sleep, but he supposed it was because he didn't feel well.   He figured he should get some medication from the supplies stashed in the atrium—something to kill his fever.
          As he got up, something of his dream returned to him.  He couldn't remember it all—only that it was interred in his subconscious—and when he thought of Reeves, he felt a strange discomfort.
          He made his way back to the plant through the Sector 5 corridor while a strange nagging feeling haunted the edges of his conscious.  No, you are not trying, the voice inside his head iterated from his dream.  You do not want to open it.  You fear what you will find inside.  
          What the hell does that mean?
          A sense of nausea overcame him as he climbed the stairs to the office.  Damn, I forgot I was going to go to get some meds, he thought.  No doubt his memory was lapsing.  You suffered a concussion.  It's normal to be forgetful.
          Yes, that's it, of course.
          An acrid smell greeted him.  He'd been here hours before using the laser bore, but he didn't think the smell would linger this long.
          He opened the door and switched on the light.  Hell, he thought, Reeves never told me he was going to finish it. 
          In several strides, he reached the safe.  A hole, four inches in diameter, had been meticulously cut through the thick Majestic steel door.  He could tell it had been done not more than half an hour ago because he could still feel the heat from the jagged edges when he traced his fingers along the edges.  Reeves must have finished it after I'd gone to bed, he reasoned.  At least it was done now.  He wondered if Reeves found anything inside.
          He tried IM'ing him again.  Nothing.  He was probably sleeping, that's why his comm was off.
          He went to look for him.  
          As he walked back, the lights flickered again. The storm's hurricanic force made the windows rattle.  
          But, what if that was intentional?
          Who cares?
          Of course, you know what that means.  It means Reeves doesn't trust you anymore.  And he's probably hidden the gun.  He knows something about you.
          He knows what?
          What you will not admit.
          That's silly, he thought.  There's nothing to admit.
          He reached Reeve's quarters in the central residential hub and raised his hand to knock.  He hesitated.  How would Reeves respond if he didn't trust him?
          Probably lie about what he found in the safe, he thought.
          "Jack?  What is it?"
          The voice made him jump, and he spun around.  "Reeves!"
          "You're jumpy," Reeves said, coming down the hall.
          "I tried messaging you."
          "Wi-Fi's glitchy right now," said Reeves.  
          "Ah," said Jack, before pausing.  "So, what'd you find?" he asked casually.
          "I'm sorry?"
          "The safe."
          Reeves eyed him careful.  "What are you talking about?  I didn't—is it open?"
          "Yes," said Jack.  "Didn't you finish it while I was asleep?"
          "No," said Reeves, looking increasingly troubled.  "The power was out for about an hour; I went over to the generator with Audrey and Rick to find out what was wrong."
          "And did you find out?"
          "The generator is old, that's the problem."  He started for the plant and jerked his head in that direction.  "Let me see."
          They returned to the office and Reeves examined the hole, first running his finger along the edges of the hole, and then went through the contents of it.  He found some Pluto, which was space dope, and carbon copies of facility certificates and industrial licenses.   
          "Maybe that was all that was in it," said Jack.
          "I served in the military, as did my father," said Reeves.  "Believe me, we don't settle down anywhere without packing something.  And I tried his quarters and it didn't have a safe."
          "You never know," said Jack.
          "Kaiser," said Reeves, after a moment.
          "What?" 
          Reeves headed out of the office.  
          Jack followed him.
          "Maybe he thinks he needs the protection, I dunno," said Reeves, "but this ... this we can't have."
          "Just speculation for now.  I mean we don't even know what was in it."
          "I know what was in it," said Reeves.
          Reeves stopped in place and cocked his head sideways as though listening to something in his head.  He was receiving an IM.  "Michael?" he said.  "Wi-Fi back up?" 
          > Duh, how else would I be texting you? <
          "Okay, bastard, force of habit to ask.  By the way, have you seen Kaiser?"
          > No, why? <
          Reeves switched over to Audrey.  "Audrey, have you seen Kaiser?"
          > I haven't.  Wait a second.  Yes, I have.  He was going back to his room.  Is something wrong? <
          "Meet me outside his door."
          > Is it serious? <
          "I'll let you know in person."
          "What are you going to do?" Jack asked as they headed for the dormitory.  
          "I don't know, Jack," said Reeves.  "But we can't trust Kaiser anymore."  
          "What are you going to do with him?"
          "I don't know if he has it or not, but it's too much of a risk.  I'm gonna confine him until we're rescued.  That's the only way to be sure."
          "I'm sure he'll have objections to that."
          "It should have been done after we first learned of his betrayal.  I have to admit I was indecisive about what punitive measures to take.  But things are clearer now."
          Jack sensed something of the subconscious fear he'd been having in his dream—the feeling of something spiraling out of control, like the storm that continued to rattle the complex.  Nerva had remained standing long after all the colonists had abandoned her, and yet he felt her slowly folding under the atmospheric pressure, which was growing heavier by the hour.  Soon, she would begin to disintegrate.  

* * *

          "No questions," said Reeves.  His mind was finally made up.  "We're just going to take him to storage and lock him in."
          Jack felt the tempo of his heart increase; a spike of adrenaline kicked into his veins in anticipation. 
          Audrey had not yet arrived.  It was just the two of them.  But Reeves was strong enough to handle Kaiser on his own.
          Reeves rapped violently on the door to Kaiser's quarters. 
          No answer.
          He tried the door.  It was unlocked, and he opened it and went inside.  A second later, he came back out.  "Not here."
          He switched to group chat.  "Anyone seen Kaiser?"
          Michael: > No < 
          Dareel: > Saw him going to the fac.  What's up? <
          Marcus: > Negative <
          Connor: > What's he done? <
          Audrey: > He's at the chem plant.  Going there now <  (The message was private.)
          "Let's go!" said Reeves, and started off at a brisk gait.
          Jack followed.
          "Audrey," said Reeves, "he may have a gun!  Careful!"
          Audrey's abrupt and loud voice suddenly exploded over their comm units.  "A gun?  Where the hell would he get a gun?"
          "Just—don't go into the plant until we're there," said Jack, also switching to voice comm.
          "I'm already there," she said over the comm.  "It looks empty from what I can—wait—wait, there's someone here."  She lowered her voice.  "Someone in a spacesuit!"
          "What?" said Reeves.  
          "He's trying to escape," said Jack.  And it made sense.  It seemed reasonable Kaiser would want to escape after receiving death threats.  
          "We can't let that happen," said Reeves.
          Only, something didn't seem right.  And Jack knew it right before he heard her scream.
          "Audrey?" Reeves shouted.
          But there was no answer from her end.