“How long will she have?” Court asked.
“It’s designed to let maintenance crews work in vacuum for up to thirty-six hours. If you don’t exert yourself and you take a few hits from the sedatives to slow your system down, I’d guess you could stretch it to forty-eight hours.”
“Sedatives?” Elle said.
“Yeah, when you get in, the suit pops a needle into you. That’s how it manages your hydration level. There are a few things it can pump into you. Some emergency calories, painkillers, sedatives, and stimulants. Just enough to buy you a few extra hours on an EVA in case of emergency.”
“So I’ve got forty-eight hours for the Willow Wisp to chase down the transponder and pick me up.”
Elle said it for Court’s benefit, she could sense his anxiety about her decision. She was pretty sure everyone else knew there was no chance of the Reclamation ship finding her in time. She was going to die from carbon dioxide poisoning inside this suit in order to get the data out there.
Kamil gave her a thorough tutorial on how to operate the suit while Court hovered over their shoulders, his anxious energy nearly palpable.
“It’s time to go,” Kamil said. “Bear and Court, help me carry the suit. Elle, you bring the package. Britt, I suggest you stay in here. It’s a bit of a jaunt.”
Tears flowed freely down Britt’s cheeks as she took Elle’s hands in her own.
“Thank you for what you’re doing, for all of us. Humanity will remember you, I promise.”
Elle smiled at the older woman and broke eye contact, worried that if she thought about any of it for too long, she would lose her nerve.
Petra’s voice interrupted their final goodbye. “Hey, folks, we’ve got a situation here. I need to move. Kane’s grav flyer is heading our way. ETA four minutes.”
CHAPTER 56: ELLE
“You need to get moving. Now.”
Britt’s command was fierce, almost harsh, but the sentiment wasn’t ambiguous. Bear carried the legs of the EVA suit, one under each of his arms, while Court and Kamil hustled to keep pace holding on to the arms and sagging torso section. The path from the warehouse to the launch pad in the distance was at least a kilometer by Elle’s estimate, and it was slow going with the heavy suit. It would be impossible to get there before Kane arrived if he was heading their way.
A whirring sound from behind grew louder. She turned to see a young man driving after them in a six-wheeled open vehicle.
“Hey, Kamil,” the man shouted. “Why are you carrying that thing? Want a lift?”
“So much for going unnoticed,” Kamil said softly. “Hold up, everyone.”
They set the suit on the ground and Kamil waved to the arriving driver.
“Last minute addition to the payload. I didn’t want to bother you with it since you’re already busy getting the pod ready to go.”
“Hey, it’s no problem. Everything else’s is all loaded. You can borrow the cart. I’m due for my break anyway.”
“Thanks, Valentin.”
“These new trainees or something?”
“Nah, just private sponsors sending an EVA suit upstairs. They’ve got family on a ship.”
“Trying to buy some favors. I get it.” Valentin winked at them. “Good luck, folks.” He unwrapped a ration bar, the only food Elle had known until she met Court, then walked toward the warehouse.
“That was fast thinking,” Bear said. “Can’t believe he bought it.”
“What can I say? They still only hire guys as slow as you around here. Let’s put the suit on the cart. Its limiter won’t let it go very fast but it’ll beat walking.”
The cart moved at the speed of a casual jog. If Kane had figured out they were here, he might find them before she was stowed away. Elle chewed on the inside of her cheek and forced her breathing to slow.
Kamil brought the cart to a sudden stop.
“They already pulled back the loading ramp. We’ll have to carry it up the rest of the way.”
They slid the suit from the back of the cart and Kamil stared at its left forearm, empty except for a series of shiny gold contact points.
“Oh, shit. The op con isn’t here. I can’t believe I missed that.”
“What’s the op con?” Bear demanded.
“The operator’s console. We need it to activate the suit. It must still be in the crate.”
Bear tripled tapped his earpiece. “Britt, you there? We need you to check the crate for the suit. We’re missing a piece.”
“It’s white, looks like a rugged wrist computer,” Kamil said.
“Yes, I see it.”
“She sees it.”
“I’m such an idiot. We need to go back for it.”
“I’ll go,” Elle said. “You guys get the suit on the pod. It’ll be faster if I run.”
She didn’t wait for a discussion; she turned and sprinted. Over her earpiece, she heard Bear say, “Elle’s on her way for it.”
“Elle, I’ll meet you on the path with it.”
Her legs burned as Elle pushed herself to maintain maximum speed. She didn’t even speak when she reached Britt, she just grabbed the op con and sprinted back.
Over the comm, Britt said, “Oh no.”
In front of her, Elle saw not one but two grav flyers land on the road between her and the pod. Through one hatch, she saw Kane. Behind the other was Petra.
“Petra, what’s going on?” Britt said over the comm. Petra didn’t answer, but she was pounding on the transparent enclosure. “Bear, you there? We’ve got company.”
Bear said, “Kamil, you stay here and get the suit ready.” Then Elle saw Bear and Court running back down the road.
The hatch of Kane’s flyer opened and he slid out.
“Looks like everyone’s been a bit naughty.” He tilted his head toward Petra, who appeared to be locked in her grav flyer. “Good thing I tracked this one down before you all managed to do something really stupid.”
Bear whispered over the comm, “Elle, stay out of sight. He doesn’t know you’re there.”
Bear didn’t waver as he walked toward Kane. Court followed on his heels.
“You got a lot of nerve selling out your own species.”
“Oh, please, spare me the melodramatics. We’re all just doing our best in difficult times. We’re all the same.”
“We’re not the same,” Court retorted.
Britt said, “Elle, move to the other side of the flyers. My left. I’m heading your way. I’ll help draw his attention. Run when he’s distracted and get suited up.”
Elle moved to the side, ducking under one of the fin-like stabilizers of Petra’s flyer. Petra looked expectantly and Elle wondered if she could hear what was happening. Kane was talking but Elle could no longer make out the words.
She heard Bear’s reply clearly over the comm. “That’s a load of crap and you know it.”
Britt said, “This is a long walk. Bear, tell him I’m coming, let’s see if we can get him to come my way. Elle, be ready to run if I say so.”
“People up there are dying. We’re trying to help to them. Do you even know what we do? We send medicine to the sick. How dare you stand there and say that we’re the same?”
“That old bat turned you into a zealot.” Bear or Court must have moved close enough for their comm to pick up Kane.
“She saved me.”
“Not for long, I daresay. After I’m done with you two, I’ll find her and L37, and this will all be over.”
“You won’t have to find her. She found you.”
There was a pause in the conversation and then Bear said, “Whoa whoa whoa. Alright, alright. Just hold on.”
“What’s going on?” Elle whispered.
“Kane drew a gun. He’s moving Bear and Court so they’re between him and me. He’s facing away from the pod. You’re clear, Elle. Go.”