Zero Read online

  “No worries, Doll. Go. And thanks. I owe you.”

  She looked round them all, lips a thin line, then nodded. “You remember how to get into the bolthole?” Webb nodded. “Good. I'll be back at noon. And, Lord God, get washed up, the lot of you. You look like death.”

  Then she left, locking the doors behind her.

  “Rami,” Webb said. “Get a message to More. We need the Zero ready to launch...”

  “Belay that.”

  “Captain,” Webb began.

  “We're not leaving,” Hugo ground out. Rami, Bolt and Harvey exchanged glances. Webb's clear eyes remained on him. “The job's not finished.”

  “Sir -”

  “I'm going to annihilate them.”

  He glowered at the floor a moment longer then stumbled across the room and through another door. Lights flickered on as he stumbled down some stairs. He didn't know where he was going and he didn't care. He just had to be alone. His feet hit flat concrete and he found himself in a windowless corridor with bare brick walls that smelt of underground. He fumbled at the first door he came to, and found a bathroom and locked himself in.

  He leant on the metal sink, staring into his eyes in the mirror, trying to see if he was still in them anywhere. Growling, he shrugged off his jacket then ran the cold water and washed off the caked dirt and blood from his face and hands. The water ran black down the plughole.

  He kept splashing his face over and over, willing his spirit to rally and his flesh to steady but couldn't stop the trembling and couldn't stop the flames burning his skin or the metal and brick groaning and crashing in his ears. When he looked back in the mirror the dirt and blood had gone but his skin was pale, empty eyes rimmed in red, hair a wild tangle and one temple purpled with bruising. He'd seen faces like this before on defeated enemies. He remembered the pity and scorn that had risen in him at the sight and hung his head and breathed deep until the returning urge to vomit passed.

  He scooped another handful of water and drank, more because he knew he needed it than because he felt any need. When he felt he could control himself he unlocked the door. Webb was leant against the wall outside, arms crossed and eyes narrow.

  “Alright, Hugo,” he said. “Let's do it. Let's destroy the Splinters.”

  Hugo swallowed. Webb held his gaze and he could see resolve in them and something else, something like determination, but colder. Webb glanced down at Hugo's sliced and bruised wrists and nodded down the corridor. Hugo followed him through another door. The lights turned on as they entered, revealing a clean but cluttered kitchen unit, with a sink and cupboards on one side and the work surface on the other entirely given over to a gutted engine of some kind.

  “Where are we?”

  “Somewhere safe,” Webb said as he started rifling through cupboards. “Sit.”

  Hugo perched himself on a stool as Webb pulled out a medkit. He drifted in a daze as Webb, surprisingly gentle, took one hand and then the other and cleaned the cuts on his wrists.

  “You know what happened today would be a stroll in the park compared to what would have happened if the Splinters had been let loose on the entire colony with that cache, right?”

  Hugo stiffened. A bitter mist of hot and cold was roiling inside him but none of it formed itself into thoughts or words. It tasted familiar at the back of his throat and he hated it.

  Webb threw the bloody sterilising pads in the disposal and pulled out a length of binding. The silence stretched on as his commander bound his wrists and finally he found something to say: “So what do we do?”

  Webb paused and looked up. His eyes searched Hugo's for a moment, then he looked away. “First thing we do is get the cement, the Zero and the crew the hell away from Lunar 1.”

  “The whole crew?”

  “They need to think we've bolted. And I trust the Zero's chances more if she's got everyone aboard.”

  “What about tech? Weapons?”

  A ghost of Webb's grin passed over his face as he finished binding Hugo's wrists. “Lunar 1 is a paradise for all the worst sorts of dealers. We can pick up anything we need.”

  “We should let Luscombe know...”

  “If I may suggest, Captain,” Webb said, not breaking his look. “This is the sort of mission the colonel would prefer learning the results of rather than having to approve or know of beforehand.”

  Hugo nodded, uneasiness flickering inside him as he rubbed the bindings. “So we send the Zero away. Then what?”

  “I haven't the faintest fucking idea,” Webb said. “But we better think of something.”

  X

  “I'm staying.”

  “Now who's space-crazy?”

  “This whole poxy mess is your fault, Ezekiel,” Harvey countered, prodding him in the chest. “If you hadn't said I should come to you with this kind of thing, I'd be buried in some hole on Haven, waiting for the Splinters to blow themselves up or get themselves drifted by the Service. Now you've got me in this deep the hell am I gonna let you have all the fun. I'm staying and I'm going to obliterate the bastards.”

  Webb felt a smile quirk a corner of his mouth. “Fine. I can't make you go. But a whole lot of shit's gonna go down before we're through with this.”

  “Don't I just know it.”

  “Glad to have you on team, Captain,” Webb moved towards the door of Doll's apartment. “Your first mission is to keep an eye on Hugo whilst I get Rami and Bolt back to the Jeep.” Harvey's eyes widened and Hugo's face darkened but Webb continued before either of them could protest. “I'll be back. Stay put. And don't answer the door.”

  Webb paced down the corridor, trying to ignore the stiffening in his ankle and the demanding ache spreading along his ribs.

  “Shouldn't we wait until the night-cycle?” Rami asked as they came up to the front door.

  “They could find the Zero any second now,” Webb said, unlocking the door and peering up and down the alley for a good three minutes before scurrying across. They ducked back into the abandoned lot then dropped one after another back into the maintenance ways. Webb moved along without thinking, trusting his feet to find the way, feeling Rami's eyes in the back of his head the whole way. It took a lot longer to get back to the storage unit than it had taken them to get away. Not only did he now pause to listen at every corner to make sure the way was clear of day-cycle maintenance crew, but his legs were getting heavier with every step and his breathing shallower over the pain gathering force in his ribs.

  It took him two goes to get the code right to open the door to his storage unit again. “Stick to the back groundways and alleys where you can,” he said as he moved out the way of Jeep towards the door controls. “And stay on the comm. Let us know the minute you're away.”

  “Aye, Commander,” Bolt said, clambering into the driver's seat.

  “Zeek?” Rami said.

  “Go, Lieutenant.”

  “Zeek, please...” her face was calm but her eyes flickered with pain. “I...” she fumbled, glanced at Bolt who was deliberately looking away. “I'm sorry... for saying you shouldn't be on the ground team. I just wanted - ”

  “It's okay,” he said. And then, again, in a softer voice, seeing her lips thin. “Really. Now go, get yourself safe. That's all I need from you right now.”

  She nodded, jaw set and climbed into the Jeep and shut the door. Webb activated the door, checked the alley and then waved them out. He watched until the Jeep was out of sight, feeling something tighten inside him, then locked everything back up. He made his way even more slowly back to Doll's, pausing in the maintenance ways to smell the exhaust and the oil and to repeat to himself why he stayed.

  ɵ

  “This Armin sounds like the key to the whole thing,” Webb was saying, staring into a mug of tea Harvey had made with stuff she'd found in Doll's cupboards.

  “I'd say so,” Harvey growled as she spun an ancient yo-yo up and down. “He's the scum that cornered me in that bar. He's gotta be high up the chain.”

  “If he s
urvived,” Webb said, “we need to find him and watch him. He'll lead us to the ringleaders.”

  “Do they even have leaders?” Harvey muttered.

  “If they've been hired, there'll be some nasties running the show.”

  “So, we identify the ringleaders. Then what?” Hugo said.

  “Depends on who they are,” Webb said. “And if we find them.”

  “There's that lovely word again,” Harvey muttered, catching the yo-yo.

  “We need to know more... ” Webb muttered.

  “Reconnaissance starts tomorrow,” Hugo started but then they all looked up as the door opened. Hugo went for a gun that wasn't there just as Doll came through the door, oil smudged on one cheek and red goggle-marks around her eyes. “Still here, then?”

  Webb stood. “We'll be moving on soon,” he said.

  She looked around. “Weren't there more of you?”

  “They've left with the ship.”

  Doll glanced between them. “And you stayed behind?”

  Hugo saw Webb swallow. “We've still got some business to take care of...”

  The older woman's shoulders slumped a little and she shook her head.

  “The job is never done, is it?” she said, moving through the room towards the stairs. “I'm going to wash up and fix some lunch. You all look like you're about to keel over.”

  “No, please,” Webb said. “Don't go to any trouble. We'll be moving on as soon as it's dark.”

  “Whatever mess you're in, Ezekiel,” she said turning at the door, “I will sleep better knowing you've at least got somewhere safe to come back to.” She smiled at Webb and Hugo thought he saw his commander pale. He opened his mouth but Hugo cut him off.

  “Thank you, Ma'am,” he said, standing.

  “No,” Webb said, stepping closer to here. “I'm not having you mixed up in this, Doll.”

  “Dear boy. Don't you think I'm old enough to make my own decisions?” She patted Webb on the cheek. “Just don't tell me what's going on. Everyone's safer that way. Sit down and I'll get us some food. You always were a terrible eater, Ezekiel. It doesn't surprise me you're still so thin. I'll be right back.”

  Webb stared after her and Hugo saw Harvey stifle a giggle behind her hand. Her face quickly fell though when Webb turned and they saw the look on his face.

  “I won't have her put in danger, Hugo,” he said.

  “Commander, we need a base,” Hugo said. “If this place is as safe as you say it is, it's our best option.” Webb chewed his thumbnail, glowering at the table. “Webb,” Hugo said. “I promise we'll keep her safe.”

  Webb sighed, pulled off his cap and dropped himself into a chair as the smell of cooking started drifting up from downstairs. Hunger raked claws through Hugo's insides. Webb sat and frowned at the table top and Harvey glanced between them for a moment as the thick silence stretched on.

  “I'll go help,” she said, replacing the yo-yo on a shelf and disappearing downstairs.

  Hugo watched her go then turned back to Webb. He was still staring off at nothing and Hugo was suddenly far too tired to try and bring up the planning conversation again. He hauled himself to his feet and turned on the wall display. The channel was still showing footage of the burning apartments along with reports on suspects and terrorist involvement and calls from the local Enforcers for Service intervention. He made himself watch, feeling the cold anger flicker. Webb didn't look.

  When Doll and Harvey returned with steaming bowls, their eyes flicked to the silent wall display and then away.

  “Grub's up,” Doll said, placing the bowls on the table.

  Hugo's stomach clenched at the savoury smell of noodles and herbs. “Thank you,” he said, pulling a bowl towards him. “Mistress...?”

  “Captain Hugo,” Webb said, already shovelling noodles into his mouth. “Donatella.”

  “Donatella...?”

  “McCullough,” she said with a smile, handing Hugo some chopsticks.

  Hugo stared as the woman pulled her own bowl towards her and began eating. “McCullough?”

  “Indeed,” she said, smiling again. “A long story for another time. Doll is fine... Kaleb, isn't it?”

  Hugo nodded after an elbow in the ribs from Webb.

  Doll nodded, looking down at her food. “And how are you finding your new position?”

  Hugo chewed and swallowed his mouthful, still watching the woman as he did so, trying to figure out if her face was familiar. “Ask me when this is over.”

  Doll looked up with a wan smile then looked to Harvey. “And you, my dear?”

  “This is Captain Harvey,” Webb said, seemingly relieved to redirect the conversation.

  “Marilyn,” Harvey said around a mouthful of noodles, holding out her hand.

  “Two captains,” Doll said, shaking Harvey's hand. “I am privileged.”

  “Not that privileged,” Harvey muttered.

  “The Phoenix, yes?”

  Harvey froze, noodles dangling from her mouth. Hugo would have thought it funny if it wasn't for the very real fear in Harvey's eyes.

  “I'd be careful around here, my dear,” Doll continued. “Contracts were out for you even before whatever happened with the apartment block.”

  Harvey swallowed her mouthful, eyes locked on Doll. “I am always careful.”

  “Glad to hear it,” Doll said, watching the wall display over Harvey's shoulder.

  The rest of the meal was consumed in silence. Hugo tried to catch Webb's eye but the commander kept focussed on his food.

  “All done?” Doll said and started collecting bowls. “Now, I assume if you are anything like Ezekiel you all sleep about as often as you eat properly. Come, my dear,” she said, gesturing to Harvey. “There's a couch in my room. The boys can get settled in up here.”

  Doll took Harvey downstairs and then reappeared with her arms full of blankets.

  “This is more than we deserve,” Webb said and Hugo couldn't quite miss the catch in his voice.

  “I know,” Doll said as she piled the blankets on the bench. “I've got to get to my afternoon shift now. Get some sleep. And keep this door locked.”

  “Thank you,” Hugo said again. Her appraising eyes turned on him momentarily before she nodded then left.

  Webb stood rubbing the back of his neck. Then he shook himself and moved across the room to shut off the wall display.

  “McCullough?” Hugo said, folding his arms.

  “She'll tell you herself if she wants to, Hugo,” Webb muttered.

  “I can't plan this mission if you keep information from me, Commander.”

  “She's not part of the mission,” Webb said, reaching to close the shutter on the window.

  “She's providing us with a base. She's involved, even if she doesn't know what in.”

  “It's not my story to tell.”

  Hugo ground his teeth. “Is she a fence?”

  “No.”

  “She knows who we are.”

  “I've known her a long time. And she works in a meltworks. She hears things, knows things,” Webb said, hauling the table into a corner to clear the floor. “You have to on this damn colony so you know whether to bolt down the nearest alley when you see someone coming.”

  “She could be useful.”

  “We're not using her,” Webb said, face hard. “She's risked herself enough by hiding us.”

  “Commander, I fear you may be letting your personal feelings cloud your judgement.”

  “Too right I am,” Webb said, closing the distance between them. “Doll is out of this. Out of it all. She offers us a base, that's fine. But that's it. Get those ideas out your head right now or I'm walking and you can do this on your own.”

  Hugo raised his head, held the commander's troubled gaze a moment then sighed and looked away. “Is there anyone we can use?”

  “No,” Webb said, grabbing a blanket from the bundle on the bench. “We're on our own. Get used to it.”

  ɵ

  Hugo drifted awake, won
dering what had woken him but then just lay there, marvelling at the fact that he had fallen asleep at all. He tried to stay in the drowsy safe place where he felt he could turn over and go back to sleep but after the tea that afternoon, nature had other plans. He sighed in the dark as he drifted fully awake and his head filled with the realities of the last few weeks like a fire gaining air.

  Shaking away what he could, he rose off the bench and was just moving to step over Webb when he noticed that the commander was not in his blankets. There was light coming under the door from the stairway.

  Padding over to the door, he pushed it open and saw there was a light on in the kitchen unit. The door was ajar and he heard the soft murmuring of voices. Without wanting to think about why he did, he moved down the stairs slowly enough so as not to activate the motion-sensitive lights and edged up to the kitchen. He peered through the gap.

  Webb was knelt on the linoleum, head bowed and eyes tight shut, clutching something at his throat. Doll stood over him, one hand on his head, the other hand raised in the air. She was mumbling soft words over him with her eyes closed. Hugo felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head but was unable to look away. When Webb finally rose, wiping his eyes, the spell was broken and Hugo padded away, used the bathroom and crept back up the stairs.

  He heard Webb return to his blankets sometime later and listened as his breathing levelled out but couldn't be sure if the commander ever actually fell asleep. Hugo felt the thoughts chew themselves out inside his head, staring at the dark wall, tasting guilt on his tongue.

  ɵ

  He woke with a start. He had managed to fall back asleep but this time it had not been dreamless. He stared at the wall until he only saw the brickwork and not flames and smoke. Rubbing his eyes, he sat up, groaning as every muscle protested and the back of his head throbbed. The shutter had been opened and dust danced in the weak light. The room was empty. The chrono on the wall display confirmed it as a little after six in the morning.

  Once he had stood up he became aware of returning hunger and of voices and a low buzzing noise coming from the stairwell. He picked up the filthy remains of his t-shirt, scowled as he pulled it on and then reached for his dusty trousers then went downstairs in bare feet. It wasn't until he got to the bottom that the image of Doll praying over Webb from the previous night rose again in his mind. He paused in the corridor to school his face then moved on through to the kitchen.