“So what’s in the message?” the Cat asked.
Rob’s helmet had turned toward Morton.
“It’s Mellanie. She’s opened a wormhole for us. I knew it. I knew she’d come through.”
The Cat exhaled calmly. “I hope you’re right. The navy was very clear about its timetable.” She started pulling her armor on.
“Yeah yeah, screw you.”
The navy communication had come in that afternoon, telling them they were to be lifted off in three days’ time. Until then they were to cease all combat missions, and simply observe the Primes. It had been a big morale boost, and sparked an instant argument about what to do about the Bose motile. Rob had been all for shooting it there and then, pretending the whole episode had never happened. Even the survivors had objected to that.
Morton’s virtual hands moved quickly over communications icons, routing his reply through their network of sensor disks, so that the transmission wouldn’t come from anywhere near the mountain saddle where their cave was located. Just in case.
“Mellanie?”
“Morty! Hi, oh God, darling, are you okay?”
“Sure. Fine. How about you?”
“Good. We don’t have much time. This wormhole can take you off, all of you. Where are you?”
“Mellanie, what was the name of your stylist when we were living together?”
“What? Oh, I see, very paranoid. Sasha used to doll me up for you. Okay?”
“Okay. So what’s going to happen? Are we clear with the navy? My colleagues don’t exactly fancy going on the run after we get back.”
“You’re clear. I have some allies now, the best, you’ll see. Please hurry.”
“All right, this is the location.” He sent a file with their coordinates.
“Give us thirty seconds.” The signal cut off.
Morton stood up, and clapped his hands loudly. “Okay, people, we’re out of here. Let’s move! We don’t have long.”
The four survivors stirred as the lights were switched up to full brightness, blinking sleepily.
“Rob, get outside,” Morton said. “See if you can locate the wormhole. It’ll open any second now.”
“Right.”
“Dudley. You’re going to have to walk to it.”
“I can manage that, thank you,” the Bose motile replied through its array.
“I’ll just stay by your side when we go through,” the Cat purred smoothly. She was already standing at Morton’s shoulder, holding her helmet in one hand, a pack slung over her shoulder.
“Highlight of my day,” Morton retorted. He gave Simon and Georgia a hand lifting up David’s stretcher, and put his own helmet beside the injured man’s legs. The Cat simply walked alongside without volunteering any help as they picked their way over the slippery rock.
“Fuck me,” Rob said. “It’s here!”
“What’s on the other side?” the Cat asked sharply.
“Some kind of big room. Hey! I can see Mellanie. There are some troop types in there with her.”
Morton smiled to himself. He resisted the urge to say: Told you so.
It was sleeting heavily outside. Morton screwed his face up against the bitter cold striking his skin as he emerged from the cave’s narrow entrance; he wished he’d put the helmet on. The wormhole had opened a few meters beyond the cave entrance, a silver gossamer circle poised above the dirty slush, resembling a full moon. Dark shapes were just visible inside. Rob was standing directly in front of it, a tall black figure striding forward purposefully. Then the silver glow splashed around him and he was through on the other side.
“So Mellanie has pulled it off again,” Simon said. “You have yourself quite a lady there, Morton.”
“Yeah,” he drawled, suddenly very eager to see her again.
He picked his way over the awkward surface, paying more attention to his feet than to the glowing silver circle ahead of him. The cold was bitter, stinging his ears and cheeks. Then the air tingled around him, and he was through the force field. He blinked against the bright light. Warm air immediately started to melt the ice that had settled on his hair and suit.
They were in a CST exploratory division environment confinement chamber. He’d accessed news reports of their missions enough times to recognize one instantly: a spherical chamber fifty meters in diameter with black, absorptive walls. Yellow and red striped lines marked out airlocks and instrument recesses, while broad windows halfway up allowed the Operations Center staff a direct view of what was going on. A ring of lights shone down on him and the reception party. Morton didn’t even notice the rest of them. Mellanie stood out in front, wearing an agreeably short white skirt, and a blue denim shirt open virtually to her navel. Her hands were on her hips, and she was staring right at him, eyes shining and mouth smiling wide.
“Morty!” She ran forward.
He almost dropped David Dunbavand as her arms hugged him. Someone took the stretcher pole from his grip, and he hugged her back. Then they were kissing passionately, and he was ready to tear that shirt off and have sex with her on the floor of the chamber right there and then.
She pushed back, tossing her head. Golden hair floated about. Her tongue was caught coyly between her teeth. “Missed me again, huh?”
“Oh, Christ, yes.”
Mellanie laughed. It was close to mockery, certainly triumphant.
People were moving past him. Medics clustering around David Dunbavand. Security personnel with activated force fields carrying stumpy carbines helped Rob out of his armor, were taking the Cat’s bag and helmet from her, led the other survivors away from the wormhole. Three of them stood around the Bose motile, while another pulled off the sheets of cloth it had draped over its body. Mandy was crying, comforted by a medic.
The wormhole closed silently behind them.
“Please remove your suit, sir,” one of the security team said.
Morton did as he was told. The Cat stripped off her own armor, deliberately taking her time.
“All clear,” the security team chief finally announced.
An airlock door split open. Dudley Bose stepped into the chamber. It was the first time Morton had seen the re-lifed astronomer. He wasn’t impressed. Bose was a harried youth with a nuclear furnace of nervous energy that made his movements jerky, anxiety and incredulity pulling at his face like a heavyworld gravity field.
Morton braced himself for a small scene. After all, he was still smooching up against Mellanie. But Dudley ignored everyone else in the chamber to race over to the Bose motile. His speed almost tripped him; perfect coordination was still definitely lacking. He came to a shaky halt a meter in front of the tall alien. Two of its sensor stalks bent around to keep the man in view.
“GIVE ME MY MEMORIES BACK,” Dudley screamed at the motile. “Make me ME again.” His fists rose uncertainly.
“Of course,” the Bose motile said from its array. “What did you think I was going to do with them? We are one, Dudley, more than brothers.”
“I…I…” Spittle was shooting out of Dudley’s mouth. “I have to know. What happened? What did they do to me?”
“They killed us, Dudley. Shot us in cold blood. Our original human body died at Dyson Alpha.”
Dudley swayed about, on the verge of apoplexy.
“You didn’t tell him?” Morton asked her.
Mellanie shook her head. “I’d better calm him down,” she murmured; she sounded exasperated, a parent running after a particularly troublesome child.
Morton looked from her to Dudley. What in Christ’s name does she see in him?
“Come on, Dudley,” Mellanie said, holding him by the hand. “We can sort all this out later.”
“No!” He yanked his hand free, leaving her startled. She winced at the strength he’d used. Morton took a pace toward them. Rob and the Cat suddenly appeared on either side of him. The Cat’s hand rested on his shoulder. “No,” she purred.
“Just fuck off,” Dudley bellowed. “Fuck off and leave me alone with myself, you stupid little tart. I’m here, do you understand? I’m here, all of me. I can be me again. Don’t try and stop that, don’t interfere. Nobody interfere.”