Kangaroo Too by Curtis C. Chen

Author:Curtis C. Chen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The Moon—South Pole—Shackleton Crater

10 minutes before landing

Jessica wakes up after I do, just as the shuttle descends below the rim of Shackleton Crater.

“Copernicus sure looks different in the dark,” she mutters, rubbing her eyes.

Right. She thinks we’re at the OSS base, because JAG took custody of her from the U.S. marshals. I never told her that we were actually going to SDF1, and she never asked.

I decide not to tell her yet. It’ll be more fun to surprise her when we get inside.

“Last chance,” I say. “You want to tell me about Alisa Garro now? While we still have some privacy? Or do you want to wait until I find someone who can order you to talk?”

“I’m already under arrest,” Jessica says. “I’ll wait for my lawyer. My actual lawyer.”

“Suit yourself.”

The shuttle touches down on the pitch-black floor of the crater, then dims its own running lights and rolls forward into a hidden hangar bay. An airlock tunnel extends toward us and mates with the side of the shuttle. Air hisses into the tunnel, and Hong cycles open the door and leads us into the base.

The person who greets us on the other side of the airlock is a tall woman with skin the color of wet sand and eyes like obsidian. She’s not wearing a uniform, but the way she carries herself implies that she’s had military training.

“Kangaroo, I presume,” she says, staring at me.

“That’s me.”

She turns to Jessica. “And Dr. Chu?”

Jessica nods. “Happy to be here.”

“Welcome to Science Division, Facility One. I’m Director Khan.”

“Wait,” Jessica says. “What?” She looks at me. “I thought we were going to Copernicus!”

“Surprise,” I say, smiling.

Jessica looks like she wants to murder me. “I’m not going in there.”

“You don’t want to say hello to your old friend Alisa Garro?” I ask. “You can continue the conversation you were having last night.”

“I’m sorry,” Khan says. “Is there a problem here?”

“More than one,” Jessica says. “I’m staying in the shuttle.”

“You can’t stay in the shuttle, Doctor,” Khan sighs. “This is a full-black secure facility. We can’t have heat signatures lingering on the hangar deck.” It’s pretty unlikely that anybody would be able to sense one single human’s body heat through the crater doors, but agency regulations are very clear about taking no unnecessary risks when it comes to hiding personnel.

“Fine,” Jessica says. She turns to Hong. “Then we’re leaving.”

Hong points at me. “Sorry, ma’am. I was ordered not to leave the commander’s side.”

Jessica glares at him. “You can call me sir. And who gave you that order?”

Hong gives her a sheepish look. “My orders came directly from Lasher, sir.”

Jessica actually growls. “I should have stayed with the marshals.”

“We can discuss this inside, people,” Khan says. “Kangaroo. Lasher said you want to meet with Dr. Jill.”

I frown at her. “I’m here to see Alisa Garro.”

“My apologies,” Khan says. “Same person. ‘Dr. Jill’ is her code name. If you’ll follow me, please.” She turns and leads us into the facility.

“Why is her code name ‘Dr. Jill’?” I ask.

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