HAWK

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: CACHE (1/5)

Kas didn't even glance through the big window overlooking the lab as she headed back the way she came. She pushed the cart at a brisk walk to avoid suspicion, though if she could she would have burst into a sprint.

Astrid fluttered just ahead of her as Kas came into view of the tanks.

'I've taken care of Swanne,' the firefly said.

'Yeah, I saw. Did she drown?'

'You can't drown in an amniotic tank. She will be able to breathe the liquid until they get her out, but they will have to manually override the tank's hatch as Swanne is the only one with direct access and she can't issue voice commands.'

'Smart. How long will it take them to get it open?'

'Between ten and twenty minutes. I locked it down pretty tight.'

'Good work, Astrid.'

An alarm sounded behind her. It was coming from Swanne's lab.

'What's that?'

'It's the emergency alarm, the engineers must have triggered it.'

A team of four workers tending to the bio-mech bear suddenly dropped what they were doing and bolted past Kas on their way towards the emergency. None of them paid her any attention.

'Is that bad?' Kas asked.

'It doesn't matter how many engineers there are, they won't get the hatch open any quicker.'

Still, Kas picked up her pace until the door to the sterilisation chamber appeared just ahead. There was a blue square on the floor as there had been when she entered. She stood on it and it promptly turned blue. The door hissed open, revealing the small white room within. As per Astrid's instructions, Kas pushed the cart inside though it was a tight fit. The door sealed shut behind her and the alarm all but disappeared. Orange smoke poured out of the walls and ceiling and Kas saw the sleeves of her containment suit start to dissolve. Within seconds, any trace of it was erased and the door reopened behind her.

Kas pushed the cart out and started towards the two WASP soldiers, still standing guard with their rifles. Another mist sprayed her as it had done when she entered and ensured she and the cart were perfectly sterile before allowing her back into the main corridor.

The two soldiers barely turned their heads as Kas strolled past them with the cart. She followed Astrid to the left and rejoined the flow of human traffic. The big black trolley made her feel terribly conspicuous, but nobody gave her a second glance. She saw Astrid heading towards a shuttle elevator and had to stop herself from rushing towards it, eager to get inside as soon as possible.

'Do you know if Captain Mack's still in the hangar?' she asked.

'I can find out, but it will mean leaving you for a short time.'

'How short?'

'About two minutes.'

'Will I need you in the shuttle?'

'No, just tell it you want to go to level one. I should be back before you arrive.'

'OK, go - but be as quick as you can.'

Astrid fluttered off leaving Kas alone. As she neared the shuttle, the doors split open and released a handful of workers in blue and black research suits. Kas was about to push the cart inside when she stopped. There was still a woman inside the shuttle.

'Are you coming in?' the woman asked.

Kas hesitated but figured the woman looked harmless enough. She didn't want to appear suspicious or waste any more time, so she pushed the cart inside and heard the doors seal shut behind her.

'Destination?' the shuttle asked.

'Level one,' Kas replied.

The cabin shifted and began its journey. Kas looked at the woman through the safety of her nitroglass and saw her eyeing up the cart. 'DR. MILO' was printed in small grey letters on her top.

'You're going to the hangar?' the doctor asked.

Kas didn't want to get into a conversation but figured she had little choice. She decided to keep her answers short.

'Yeah.'

'There's been a lot of activity around the hangar this past couple of days. What's going on up there?'

'I don't know. I'm just delivering equipment.'

'What kind of equipment?'

'I have no idea. I just transport it.'

'It looks like it's come from BMR.'

Kas said nothing, but the doctor wasn't about to give up.

'Who's it for?'

Kas cursed under her breath. How did she manage to pick the one shuttle that came with an interrogator?

'Captain Mack,' she improvised.

The doctor pursed her lips like she was sucking on a rancid sweet. 'Captain Mack is a curious man. If I'm being honest, I am not sure he's entirely aligned with our cause here on Eidol. What do you make of him?'

'I don't really know him.'

'Isn't he your captain?'

'I take my orders from Governor Swanne.'

The doctor nodded. 'I see.'

The two women rode in silence for a while. Apparently, just Swanne's name was enough to end the conversation, which was fine by Kas. Astrid suddenly returned via the wall, appearing to hover directly in front of Dr Milo's face.

'I'm back,' Astrid said. 'Captain Mack is in the hangar preparing for departure. He knows you're on your way but he's eager to leave immediately.'

Me too... Kas thought but didn't say.

The shuttle slowed to a stop seconds later and Dr Milo stepped past the crate towards the door.

'Level three,' the shuttle announced.

'Give the captain my best,' the doctor said as the doors opened.

'I will,' Kas replied. Dr Milo stepped out of the shuttle and disappeared. Kas willed the doors to close before someone else embarked. They did, and the shuttle recommenced its journey towards Eidol's uppermost level.