The Key of Astrea

A Disguise in a Friend

Jack sat in the cockpit of the Strider and watched the remains of the Redeemer scatter into space. Victus sat in the third gun pod. The dark Terminal loomed behind them. There may not be a station, Jack thought, but maybe there's some transmissions. "Scan all frequencies," Jack said to the computer.

The console beeped a moment later. Jack looked down and saw that there was a message waiting for playback. The source of the communication was a nearby satellite. Jack pressed play, and a cheerful male voice spoke over the ship's speakers.

"Welcome to the Sol System. We have registered and logged your spacecraft. Please proceed to one of the four spaceports at Sol-3, or, as we call it, Earth."

Jack's temper rose with each word of the automated message.

"There are 365.25 days in an Earth year," the message continued. "Days are divided into twenty-four hours. Years are divided into twelve months. It is currently the year 2024, the sixth month of the year, and the eighteenth day of the month. The primary species is human. Seventy-one percent of the planet is water, and the land is mountainous. We have included the coordinates in this broadcast. Proceed to the nearest Department of Transportation to begin your application for citizenship. Your well-being is our goal. Have a wonderful day."

"What the hell is Sol?" Jack asked.

"Sol is the star of this system," the computer answered.

"I wasn't talking to you." Jack disconnected from the broadcast. "Hocco." Jack scratched his scalp with both hands.

There was no answer.

"Hocco, where the hell are you?"

A moment later, Hocco floated into the cockpit. He calmly took a seat in the copilot's chair.

Jack's hands shook with adrenaline. He stared at Hocco and said, "You owe me some answers."

"Jack," Hocco answered, "do you know how many systems are part of the Terminal network?"

"There are nine." Jack said. "Everyone in the galaxy, knows that." He clenched his fist. "What are you playing at?"

"Wrong." Hocco spun the chair around to face Jack. "There are twelve."

"No." Jack thought back to his lessons. "That's not possible."

"Why not?"

"Somebody would know," Jack said. "I would have heard something."

"If there's no reason to suspect another system, then why would anyone seek them out? Besides, only a Terminal Master could confirm such an allegation, and why would they lie?"

"What was your reason?" Jack asked.

"Have you heard of a locked Terminal?"

"Locked, like a door?"

"Sort of. You can travel to a locked Terminal, but you cannot return through it."

"And Terminal masters allow people to travel there?"

"They do."

"Why?"

"Use your imagination."

Jack thought. There were times in his life when he'd wanted to escape. Even now, he spent most of his time alone, locked in his shop, married to his work. Hocco watched him think it over and remained quiet. Why would Hocco tell me this? Jack thought. Unless... "We're in one of these locked systems, aren't we?"

After a short silence, Hocco answered. "Yes."

"You trapped us here. You tricked me. I would punch him right now, if he wasn't wearing a helmet. Why?"