The others were in the passenger cabin, belting down.
“Two minutes,” said Lily.
“Are you going back to Virginia?” Samantha asked.
“I don’t know.”
“We’d like to have you at the Academy. This discovery will bring in some extra funding. I expect we’ll be expanding our operations. If that happens, we’re going to be looking for another pilot.”
“I appreciate the offer, Samantha. Let me know if it develops, okay? And let’s see how it goes.”
The engines began to pick up, signaling that the transition to normal space was beginning. Gradually, the mist swirling around the ship faded, and stars broke through. And the Moon and Earth.
* * *
“JAKE,” SAID LILY, “we are approximately six hundred thousand kilometers out. Estimated time to Union: twenty-two hours.”
Jake switched on the allcomm. “Okay, guys, we’re approaching the station at about twenty thousand kilometers per hour. We’re going to increase that a bit, but before we start, you have ten minutes to wander around. Then I’ll need you belted down again.” He opened a channel to the Wheel. “Ops,” he said, “this is Venture. We are insystem and on our way.”
There was laughter in the passenger cabin. And Tony started with his violin.
“Venture.” The response from the Wheel. “This is Ops. We have you logged in. Wait one. The chief of the watch wants to speak with you. Hold, please.”
Jake frowned, wondering what that was about.
Another voice took over, a baritone which he recognized. “Jake, this is Morgan. Do not approach the station. We want you to use your lander to take your passengers directly to the Reagan terminal. Stay away from the Wheel. When they’re safely down, come back to us. We’re under what the FBI is calling a viable threat. Someone is saying they’re going to destroy the station, and we’re taking it seriously. The Feds aren’t giving us many details. When your passengers are on the ground, we want you to come back and help with the evacuation. Over.”
“Roger that,” said Jake. “Terraforming again?”
He waited while the signal traveled to the station, and Morgan’s response came back. About fifteen seconds in all. “That’s what we’re hearing. They’re demanding Kosmik promise to stop.”
* * *
JAKE INFORMED HIS passengers, adjusted course, and began to accelerate. He talked to Reagan and set his arrival time, which would now be about thirteen hours. It would burn a lot of fuel, but that had become a minor consideration. Eventually, he was able to slip back into cruise. “You guys can go in and sack out now if you want,” he said. “See you in the morning.”
All but Samantha retired to their cabins. She was working on a project, or just reading. Jake wasn’t sure, but he stayed on the bridge. Everything remained quiet. He kept a feeder circuit open to the station, so he would know if something happened. Two hours after midnight, Yoshie called. “We’re still here,” she said, with a smile in her voice. “The people in charge are beginning to think it’s a false alarm. I hope they’re right.”
“So do I, Yoshie.”
Eventually, Jake fell asleep. Lily’s blinker woke him. “Incoming message,” she said. “It’s from Alicia Conner. Addressed to you. Do you know her?”
“Yes,” he said. His spirits rose. “I believe I’ve heard the name somewhere.”
He heard the click as Lily switched to the transmission. Then Alicia’s voice: “Jake. Glad you’re back. When you get a chance, let’s talk. Okay?”
Yes. By all means, Alicia. He closed his eyes and was still wearing a silly smile when Lily broke in again. “Got another one, Jake. From Lyda Bergen. Sounds as if the women are all very happy to have you back in town.”
“From who?”
“Lyda Bergen.”
“Who’s it addressed to, Lily?”
“Actually, just to Venture.”
He sighed. She was probably a reporter. “Okay. Let’s hear what Lyda has to say.”
Lily paused. Then, a scrambled voice, actually a series of voices, said, “Welcome, home, Venture. We, are, really, happy, to have you back, again.”
“That’s it,” said Lily.
It was unsettling: There were a lot of pauses, and the words were spoken by several different voices, both male and female. “Anything else?”
“That’s it.”
“Okay, Lily. Thanks.”
Crank transmission. He called Samantha. “Hate to bother you.”
“It’s okay, Jake. What is it?”
“Does the name Lyda Bergen ring any bells with you?”
“No,” she said. “I don’t know her. Why do you ask?”
“Captain,” said Lily.
“Yes?”
“Something strange is occurring.”
“How do you mean, strange?” He became suddenly aware that the ship was changing course. It was a gradual shift, barely noticeable. But it was happening nonetheless.
“I no longer have access to some circuits. I am most concerned over those that control navigation.”
Jake opened the allcomm. “Everybody wake up and belt down. Let me know when you’ve complied.”
Samantha again: “Jake, what’s going on?”
“Not sure,” he said. “The AI is experiencing a minor problem. Give me a minute.” They were beginning to accelerate. He heard a couple of yelps from the passenger cabin, and somebody crashed against a bulkhead. But they all checked in. He turned back to Lily: “You have any idea what’s going on?”
“No, Captain. But I think there is a connection with the message from Lyda. It may have contained a code of some sort.”
“Somebody screwed around with you, Lily.”
“Yes. I think that is exactly what happened. Somebody got into the software. A virus has been introduced, and I retain only partial control.”
“Where are we going?” The acceleration was increasing. He was pinned in his chair, barely able to move.
“I’m not sure. We have also executed a modest course change.”
“If present conditions hold, where would we go?”
“We would be headed for Pluto.”
Pluto was shorthand for leaving the Earth-Moon system. “Lily, get me Ops.”
He sat staring out at the distant Earth. And finally Ops responded. “Go ahead, Venture.”
“Is Morgan available?”
Tony’s voice from the passenger cabin: “What’s going on, Jake?”
“Give me a couple of minutes, Tony. I’ll get back to you.”
Then Ops: “Morgan’s stepped away, Jake. This is Yoshie. What’s wrong?”
“The threat to destroy the station: Did you guys get any details?” When the answer came back, there was nothing that Jake hadn’t already heard. “Yoshie,” he said, “is there any information on the specific nature of the threat? Is it supposed to be a bomb?”
Another long wait. He could hear the voices in the passenger lounge. They were all unhappy.
Then Yoshie was back. “We don’t have anything specific, Jake. As far as I know, nobody actually mentioned a bomb.”
“Okay, Yoshie, thanks.” He went back to the allcomm: “We don’t know yet precisely what’s happened. Still trying to find out.”
“I might be able to help,” said Lily.