I of the Storm (Chapters 1-3)
A serialized book for SubStack
Chapter 1
>>PSX Celeste passenger liner, on approach to JFK Moonbase, lunar South Pole<<
The floor lighting flickered and flared down the passenger aisle, like they had been struck by lightning. Sickeningly the liner lurched then skewed towards the lunar surface. Wails filled the passenger cabin, like a rising siren of doom. Trinity’s safety harness constricted, driving her hard into the seat. A screaming child drifted down the aisle, helpless in the grip of zero-gravity. Instinctively Trinity drew the infant to her and somehow strained a reassuring smile. White rocks and peaks grew on the external monitor, resembling glistening teeth ready to devour them. A deafening screech as they hit the lunar surface – then the ship began to cartwheel.
–
>>PEL Hospital, JFK Moonbase, lunar South Pole<<
Lying on top of her hospital bed, Trinity tried not to doomscroll as she waited to be discharged. A young man in fatigues with spiky hair entered her room. Strangely his ID was blank.
“Hi Trinity, thought you’d appreciate an update,” he said, eye wandered across her trim body.
“Sorry, you don’t look like a medic. Do I know you?” she gulped.
“Yeh, I’m I-Z. I for influencer and Z for Zenith. You probably know me online.” Without waiting for a reply he continued, “I started a get-well fund, you’re real popular.”
“You’re an I...” she quavered, fidgeting with her ill fitting clothes donated by the hospital. “Er, are you streaming this right now?”
I-Z nodded, his lip faintly curled, “Rescuers say you had some kind of aura and were holding your dead child…”
“Ah – it was only mine for the brief moment before it-it…” Trinity choked.
“Asphyxiated, like everyone else on the flight,” he completed. “But not you – why’s that?”
Trinity’s lips compressed before she stuttered: “I-I don’t think I should be talking to you,” pawing for the call button.
“They say your flight was shot down by the Chinese. How you feel about that?”
Trinity’s jaw dropped, “I-I don’t know – sad?”
“You think chinks are sad. Pretty stroong language,” he emphasized.
“No that’s not what I mean,” she countered, “we should learn to live peacefully with the Eastern Bloc. We don’t want another war do we?”
A male orderly appeared at the door, and fixed I-Z with a stony stare.
“Was the child you killed Chinese or Western?” I-Z squeaked, as the orderly hauled him backwards from the room.
Chapter 2
>>Runcorn Hotel, JFK Moonbase, lunar South Pole<<
Standing in the grimy hotel corridor, Naem Sargent eyed the other two guys, bunched around door one-eleven. Both professional bodyguards according to their business bios. McCormack, a muscle stuffed suit, and Greck, who looked badly in need of a meal.
McCormack caught his look, “What’s your problem match-head?”
Naem stroked his flame tattooed scalp, “Just here to interview for the bodyguard gig, same as you. So no problem.”
Greck faintly snickered, drawing McCormack’s attention. Whip fast muscles had Greck in a headlock, then screwed on the pressure. Eyes popping Greck kicked off the wall, frantic to break the stranglehold. In his peripheral vision Naem noticed door one-eleven crack open, with a flicker of movement beyond. He moved to block the entrance.
“Best stand clear of the door, until this resolves,” Naem said coolly.
Unable to free himself, Greck twisted, spasmed then hung limp. McCormack dumped his drooling victim on the floor with disgust.
“And we’re done,” Naem commentated.
Trinity Tzane squeezed past him into the corridor, “Xcorp Dev” according to her minimal ID. Even in the dim light, her skin had a luminous quality that was striking. She stared at the twitching body on the floor, face stretched in disbelief. Her small triangular jaw set, “Thanks for coming everyone but I’ve decided to cancel the interview.” Adding, “Sorry, I won’t be needing a bodyguard.”
Red faced, McCormack yanked off his tie and stomped towards the lobby, spewing profanities.
Naem said quietly, “This guy might appreciate some water when he comes round. OK if I grab a glass?” gesturing to her room.
Trinity gave the suggestion of a smile, “Sure. There’s some water bottles in the cooler.”
When he returned, Greck had stopped twitching.
Naem checked his pulse, “He’s blowing bubbles, that’s good.”
“Thanks,” she replied. “Don’t think I could handle it if he was…”
“Yeh, I know. My transport was downed in Mongolia. Close my eyes and I’m right back there,” Naem confessed as he fed Greck sips of water. Pressing the bottle into his hand he continued: “I noticed a few security concerns in your room. If you want I can walk you through them. Call it a free consult.”
“Security? Everything looked fairly normal to me,” Trinity said, peeking back in her room.
“Yeh, normal for a hotel room is far from secure,” he replied.
–
>>Room 111, Runcorn Hotel, JFK Moonbase, lunar South Pole<<
A soft hiss came from the bathroom as Trinity showered before bed. Naem swept the draws in her bedroom. The contained just an assortment of casual clothes, perfectly folded. “Huh – no underwear,” he muttered to himself. Spotting a cable snake into the bed he followed it to a charger plate, hidden beneath the mattress, “Ahuh.”
The bathroom door slid open, revealing Trinity, looking sheepish in a towel. “Everything OK?”
“Sure, that’s some heavy duty charger. Guess you have implants. Do they give you any trouble?”
Trinity gave a slim smile, “It’s nothing to worry about. All quality tech, from Xcorp.” She weighed him with her eyes before continuing. “I appreciate the attention but are you sure you don’t want your own room?”
“Sorry no, bodyguarding is tough. I need to be in a connecting room minimum. How about I sleep in the bathroom with the door open.”
She looked shocked, “What, on the floor?”
“I had worse…”
She plopped onto the foot of the bed, “Andre would go mad if he knew. He’s my boyfriend – or was until yesterday.”
Naem frowned, “You think he’s a problem?”
“Huh, not in the way you mean,” she murmured. “Only two weeks away on Earth and he dumps me.”
“His loss, your gain,” Naem consoled.
She smiled briefly, “Thanks, you’re probably right. Andre said we have ‘irreconcilable differences...’ Worst part is I found out online. I had to search for ‘Fable,’ that’s what the I’s call me now. No-one believes my story – and they despise my politics,” she said wearily.
Naem nodded, “Yeh, the I ambush outside your apartment was brutal. Some of the questions were really outlandish. I see why you need a bodyguard.”
Trinity’s head lowered, “Outlandish is where I am right now. Ah – tomorrow I’m going on a trip outside…”
“Outside – what’s our destination?” he enquired.
She sighed, “Huh, it’s quite a walk, you OK with vac-suits?”
“No problem,” he replied, “although I recommend we fly.”
Trinity managed a sad smile, “Sorry, it’s a secure facility, so flights aren’t allowed.”
Naem folded back the duvet, “If we have a long walk tomorrow, best get some rest and-ah recharge your batteries.”
“You’re right, sorry for being so awkward.” She slid under the duvet still dressed in the towel. He turned his back while she wriggled under the covers then scooped up the discarded towel. As he entered the bathroom she said with frustration: -
“It’s a double bed…”
Frowning slightly he returned. Cautiously he stretched out on the covers, lying beside her.
“You won’t sleep out there in the cold. I don’t mind sharing,” she offered, matter of fact.
Naem yawned at the ceiling, “Shallow sleep is fine. I’ll wake if you’re up in the night.”
Her warm breath felt like balm on his shoulder.
“Your flame hair tattoo is rad…” she confessed.
“Huh, it’s supposed to make people pause, but you never blinked,” he said, then killed the lights.
“Well, I’m not like other girls.”
In the corner of his eye, her skin glowed distinctly in the dark. “Yeh, I’m getting that.”
Chapter 3
>>Shackleton crater, lunar South Pole<<
The track along the rim of Shackleton crater was littered with foot snagging rocks as it slalomed around towering outcrops. Naem breathed hard as each step buried in the cloying dust, forcing him to lean forward to maintain momentum in the low gravity. Through his misted visor, he spotted a sign ahead: -
“CHINESE SECTOR – NO ADMITTANCE”
Grabbing the shoulder rail of Trinity’s suit, he slowed her to a halt and pointed at the sign. Ignoring his advise, she broke comm-silence: -
“It’s OK, we have permission.”
He crouched to write in the dust: “Permission to enter or leave?”
She pointed both ways along the trail, then nodded to go farther. As they rounded a pockmarked boulder, lights emerged from the Chinese Moonbase ahead. His suit read 45% charge – past the point of no return.
–
>>Airlock 9, Tiankongshi Moonbase, lunar South Pole<<
The base administrator Chen Wén, dressed in a red jumpsuit, awaited them as they exited the airlock. He eyed their dust smeared suits with faint disapproval. His assistant Han Giáng, in crisp military uniform, watched them intently with a poker faced smile.
“Welcome to Tiankongshi Miss Tzane,” Chen said curtly. His face was shiny with perspiration, a small vein contorting on his temple. Chen’s voice climbed an octave: “What assurances can you give for my safety?”
Trinity looked between the two Chinese, “I’m assured you’ll be safe, if you are willing to come over-.”
Han crouched forward at an extreme angle in low-g, causing Naem to advance slightly. Abruptly Chen’s assistant leapt at Trinity, right arm set for a straight fingered strike. Unfazed Naem intercepted him with a rising clothesline as Han’s fingertips stretched for Trinity’s jugular. Crunch. Han fell in slow motion, neck vertebrae protruding from the skin.
Naem broke the stunned silence: “We have to leave now!” backing Trinity into the airlock.
Hands to her mouth, Trinity murmured, “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Chen said, “Sorry, Han follows me everywhere, they don’t trust me.”
Trinity seemed stunned, as Naem secured her helmet.
The administrator continued: “You need my security clearance to leave. So I must come with you.”
–
>>Shackleton crater, lunar South Pole<<
Trinity dragged Naem towards the Chinese No Admittance sign, between the two opposed bases. His suit was in energy save mode, leaving him lightheaded and nauseous. Naem collapsed against one leg of the sign and pointed further down the trail.
Trinity shook her head and took his gloved hand. “Try to breath slowly, so the rebreather can catch up,” she pleaded.
Chen interrupted, “We should take his advice and leave. Security has already found Han’s body and preparing a response.”
“Then help me with him!” Trinity ordered.
Laboriously they carried Naem farther down the track, his feet leaving long drag-marks in their wake. Dust kicked up ahead, scraping against their suits until it became blinding. As the dust storm dissipated, a four legged moon-hopper appeared ahead on the trail. Butterfly doors swung out and up, revealing an empty cabin.
“Its a Xuber,” Trinity shouted, “we must have crossed the border!”
Chen stared over his shoulder, face shot with despair.
Trinity climbed through the Xuber’s open door, grabbed Naem by the shoulder rails and hauled him unceremoniously aboard. “Chen – if you want to restore some meaning to your life, come with us now!”
Chen paused undecided. Then head low and leaden footed, he clambered fatefully onboard.
–
>>Room 36, Ambassador Hotel, JFK Moonbase, lunar South Pole<<
Naem stood by the hotel room door eyeing Chen, their Chinese Administrator friend. Guy kept shaking his head as if tortured by some internal turmoil.
Trinity brought him some water, “Do you want something to eat?”
Chen looked up and smiled, as if her suggestion was risible. “They have people watching. Soon they will find us.”
Naem broke his rule of silence, “We’ve been lucky so far. I’m sure the authorities can look after Chen.”
The administrator muttered: “They have people everywhere, even the authorities.”
“I changed my hotel room, we should be safe for now,” Trinity assured.
Chen barely shook his head, “They want you Miss Tzane. And anyone with you will be collateral damage.”
Naem’s brow furrowed, “You were Administrator of a Chinese Moonbase. Doesn’t that make you a higher priority target?”
“The Celeste was shot down by the China,” he confessed. “They used a coherent microwave to make it look like an electrical failure-.”
Trinity interrupted: “Sorry, you shot down my flight, but why kill all those people?”
“Not me the PLA,” he said bitterly. “They will do anything to destroy you, even risk another war.”
A knock resounded from the door making them all jump…
– To be continued –
Link to next installment: https://chrisprophet.substack.com/p/i-of-the-storm-chapters-4-and-5