Free Icarus (Interstellar Cargo Book 1) by Matt Verish Page A
Authors: Matt Verish
her head.
“I need your help.”
Cole cast the voice box a fleeting glance, wondering whether or not the spoken thought was prerecorded. He sighed, ignoring Lin’s trembling. “No.”
Forester chuckled, but Lin’s face paled. “Why?”
“Because I don’t trust any of you.” He crossed his arms.
“I told you he would rebel,” Forester said, his amusement gone. “We don’t have time for this. Tell him what he wants to hear before we are suspected of involvement and this mission collapses around us.”
Cole nodded. “What your accomplice said.” He gestured back toward the console. “Seems only I can pilot this craft. Isn’t that right, Cain?” He prayed nothing had changed in the interim.
Lin’s eyes darted in all directions as she collected her thoughts. Cole thought she might pass out, and witnessing her current physical state was enough evidence for him to lend her his trust for the time being. There were just a couple more details he needed to cover.
“I know what’s being held over my head, and I hold no illusions that the three of you won’t hesitate to make me the scapegoat behind this insanity if push comes to shove.” He met the gaze of each in turn. “Make no mistake—despite my predicament— I am in charge now.”
No one offered an opinion to the contrary, much to his amazement. “If you want my help, I need to know exactly what the mission is and my role in it.”
Lin nodded. “This is a search and rescue mission, and you are our escape pilot.”
“You crazy bitch.” All eyes turned to Emmerich, who seemed ready to pass out. “It’s just like I told you, Musgrave. She’s going for the Singularity.”
Lin scowled, and Cole thought she would add to Emmerich’s wounds.
“Is she telling the truth?” Cole asked, though he already knew the answer.
“Doctor,” Forester warned, a trace of concern cracking his calm exterior.
Again, Lin nodded. “My father is down on Terracom 3, wrongfully imprisoned.”
Emmerich scoffed. Cole cast the inspector a thoughtful glance. It was possible her concerns were valid in her mind and Lin was undoubtedly hiding information. Time, however, was critical, and Cole was incapable of reasoning why not to save one person. Better to save one than senselessly murder thousands.
“How long before the Terraport fully recovers?”
Lin’s eyes brightened. “Hours. With risk of a breach, lockdown has been implemented. All occupants are being escorted to safety and will be inconvenienced for some time. Director Forester and I seized the opportunity to slip away in the initial confusion before all parties were gathered. The generators will be inspected before allowing to recharge. They will reach maximum capacity first, but the Terraport will need significant time for a complete system reboot and to reach a proper orbit to establish connection with the planet’s surface. Production and security will be down until then.” There was a light in her eyes. “Zero casualties are expected. We will never again have another opportunity like this.”
Cole liked that twinkle. I’m such an idiot. “What about her?” he gestured toward Emmerich.
Lin looked over at an antsy Forester, and he let slip an almost imperceptible nod. She turned back toward Cole, slight relief on her face. “When this mission is complete, and suspicion eventually falls upon us...” she trailed, casting Emmerich a long, hard stare, “I will see that she takes the fall.”
The last line piqued Cole’s interest, but there was still one problem. “Okay, but what do we do with her until then?”
“I will see to inspector Emmerich.” The response had come from Forester. “She yet has a role to play in this mission.”
Cole looked to Lin for verification, and she nodded, though her enthusiasm had diminished. Just who is this guy?
“You better pray to your AI god, Dartmouth,” Emmerich said, her voice faint. “There’s a
“I need your help.”
Cole cast the voice box a fleeting glance, wondering whether or not the spoken thought was prerecorded. He sighed, ignoring Lin’s trembling. “No.”
Forester chuckled, but Lin’s face paled. “Why?”
“Because I don’t trust any of you.” He crossed his arms.
“I told you he would rebel,” Forester said, his amusement gone. “We don’t have time for this. Tell him what he wants to hear before we are suspected of involvement and this mission collapses around us.”
Cole nodded. “What your accomplice said.” He gestured back toward the console. “Seems only I can pilot this craft. Isn’t that right, Cain?” He prayed nothing had changed in the interim.
Lin’s eyes darted in all directions as she collected her thoughts. Cole thought she might pass out, and witnessing her current physical state was enough evidence for him to lend her his trust for the time being. There were just a couple more details he needed to cover.
“I know what’s being held over my head, and I hold no illusions that the three of you won’t hesitate to make me the scapegoat behind this insanity if push comes to shove.” He met the gaze of each in turn. “Make no mistake—despite my predicament— I am in charge now.”
No one offered an opinion to the contrary, much to his amazement. “If you want my help, I need to know exactly what the mission is and my role in it.”
Lin nodded. “This is a search and rescue mission, and you are our escape pilot.”
“You crazy bitch.” All eyes turned to Emmerich, who seemed ready to pass out. “It’s just like I told you, Musgrave. She’s going for the Singularity.”
Lin scowled, and Cole thought she would add to Emmerich’s wounds.
“Is she telling the truth?” Cole asked, though he already knew the answer.
“Doctor,” Forester warned, a trace of concern cracking his calm exterior.
Again, Lin nodded. “My father is down on Terracom 3, wrongfully imprisoned.”
Emmerich scoffed. Cole cast the inspector a thoughtful glance. It was possible her concerns were valid in her mind and Lin was undoubtedly hiding information. Time, however, was critical, and Cole was incapable of reasoning why not to save one person. Better to save one than senselessly murder thousands.
“How long before the Terraport fully recovers?”
Lin’s eyes brightened. “Hours. With risk of a breach, lockdown has been implemented. All occupants are being escorted to safety and will be inconvenienced for some time. Director Forester and I seized the opportunity to slip away in the initial confusion before all parties were gathered. The generators will be inspected before allowing to recharge. They will reach maximum capacity first, but the Terraport will need significant time for a complete system reboot and to reach a proper orbit to establish connection with the planet’s surface. Production and security will be down until then.” There was a light in her eyes. “Zero casualties are expected. We will never again have another opportunity like this.”
Cole liked that twinkle. I’m such an idiot. “What about her?” he gestured toward Emmerich.
Lin looked over at an antsy Forester, and he let slip an almost imperceptible nod. She turned back toward Cole, slight relief on her face. “When this mission is complete, and suspicion eventually falls upon us...” she trailed, casting Emmerich a long, hard stare, “I will see that she takes the fall.”
The last line piqued Cole’s interest, but there was still one problem. “Okay, but what do we do with her until then?”
“I will see to inspector Emmerich.” The response had come from Forester. “She yet has a role to play in this mission.”
Cole looked to Lin for verification, and she nodded, though her enthusiasm had diminished. Just who is this guy?
“You better pray to your AI god, Dartmouth,” Emmerich said, her voice faint. “There’s a