Free Zero by J. S. Collyer Page A

“That was the easy bit.”
    Hugo followed Webb's example and pulled off his goggles, stowing them in one of the pouches on his utility belt. They dusted off their clothes – Kinjo had supplied them both with black boiler suits, the sort worn by generic maintenance and tech crews across the whole Orbit – double-checked the contents of their belts and pockets, triple-checked their weapons and then moved to the edge of the thicket. Hugo hung back as Webb peered around the side.
    “ Gotta hand it to you, Captain,” he mumbled. “You got us pretty damned close. I can smell the fuckers.”
    “ What's the situation, Commander?” Hugo said.
    Webb scanned the scene a moment longer then ducked back behind cover. “Looks like we've just missed the patrol. Guess it's his lucky day.”
    “ Can you see the sensor hubs?”
    Webb peered round again. He checked his wrist display then nodded. “Our readings are right. We should be able to get down into a blind spot if we stick close to the trees and stay on a direct line.” Webb leaned back and flashed another grin. “Guess it's our lucky day too. You ready?”
    Hugo swallowed and nodded.
    Webb took a breath of his own and stepped around the edge of the trees. Hugo followed so close he was almost stepping on his heels. He copied Webb when the Commander crouched, creeping up to the next tree bent almost double. He moved so lightly that his boots didn't even snap twigs. It seemed painfully slow going and yet all too soon they were at the last of the trees, the wall a mere five feet away. Hugo gazed up it, the cool grey merging with the sky over their heads. Squinting, he could see the red beams of the sensor web strung across the top.
    Webb nudged him in the ribs. Hugo blinked at him and he gestured towards the wall.
    Ready? He mouthed. Hugo nodded.
    Hugo took a deep breath when Webb did and stepped out from behind the tree. The feeling of exposure was palpable, like dampness on his skin. Pulling out their grips, he and Webb strapped them on as they approached the wall. Webb exchanged one swift glance with him, then placed his right, followed by his left hand onto the smooth metal of the wall above his head. The grips took hold and with a strength that Hugo couldn't help but admire, the tall commander was then heaving himself up, twisting one grip off the wall, and reaching further up to re-attach it and repeat. He touched the toes of his boots to the metal, the magnets in them giving him some foothold, and he was soon setting a swift rhythm up the wall.
    Hugo stood with his back pressed to the metal and watched him gain height whilst glancing about for any sign of movement. When Webb was above his head, Hugo touched his own grips to the wall, felt them take hold, then started to climb. He kept himself a foot below Webb's ankles, letting the commander pick the way and keep them in the narrow band of blindness between the two sensor hubs. Hugo kept his ears tuned for any change in the drone of activity beyond the wall. His arms began to ache but he kept moving, hand over hand, keeping his rhythm with Webb's.
    Webb stopped. Craning his neck, Hugo he could see the commander was an arm's length from the top. He disengaged his right-hand grip and tucked it into his belt. Hugo held his breath. Webb's movements were smooth and controlled, but what he could see of the younger man's face was a rigid mask of concentration. Webb smoothed his right hand up the wall and slid it up over the top, took a firm hold then disengaged his left grip. His left hand joined his right then he lifted himself up, painfully slowly, until he was peering over the edge. His arms didn't even quiver as he held himself there, scanning. Hugo held himself perfectly still.
    Webb ducked his head back below the level of the wall and Hugo saw his face was pale.
    “Were you seen?” Hugo mouthed.
    Webb shook his head, then his eyes widened. Hugo followed his look and saw the patrol man step out from beyond the far corner