Azimuth by Arshad Ahsanuddin

Author:Arshad Ahsanuddin [Arshad Ahsanuddin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction
Published: 2015-07-01T04:00:00+00:00

PART V: DESPERATE MEASURES

JANUARY 2203, ITERATION SEVEN

The play’s the thing,

Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King.

— William Shakespeare, Hamlet

CHAPTER 29

Jacob shifted position, trying to get comfortable on the narrow bed. It wasn’t long enough to accommodate his height, so he was forced to draw his knees up. As long as they’re keeping me in the interrogation cells, Thomas and Edward are still loose, and they’re hoping to get something out of me to lead them to the Rampart key. He rolled onto his back and stared at the light strip in the ceiling. Pity. The accommodations are a lot nicer in the long-term holding facility.

The door at the end of the hall hissed open, and David Cooper walked in. Behind him, Thomas entered, surrounded by four unobtrusive security drones that hovered around him in a circle about a meter wide. The telltale blue haze between them gave away the shock field they projected to keep Thomas contained. The drones drifted forward, forcing Thomas to keep pace or be electrocuted. They shepherded him into the cell across from Jacob’s, and a static force field sealed him inside. The four drones then shut down their mobile containment field and darted out of the cell, a ripple of iridescent light left in their wake as they passed through the barrier. Thomas sat on the bed in his cell and folded his arms expectantly, saying nothing.

After meeting his gaze for a moment, David turned to face Jacob. “Where is Edward?”

Jacob’s heart leapt. They don’t know! This could still work. Outwardly, though, he affected nonchalance, shrugging. “Edward who?”

“Edward Sutton. Or should I say, Edward Davenport.” David sighed. “None of this made sense until we discovered he and his sister were involved. Then it was obvious. We all lost someone in the accident. Captain Atkins, Commander Davenport. The rest of the crew who died alongside them.”

“It wasn’t an accident,” Thomas muttered.

David turned to face him. “Granted. But it’s the past. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

“We can,” said Thomas, a faint smile on his lips. “And we have.”

David growled. “You would destroy everything we’ve achieved to roll the dice on an alternate future. What makes you think things would be any better if you managed to save them? After all that humanity has accomplished because of their sacrifice, you would toss it away just to save a handful of lives?”

“Yes.” Jacob didn’t flinch as David pinned him with a glare. “You probably can’t understand, but—”

“I understand perfectly,” snapped David. “Captain Atkins personally recruited me to the Hourglass. I would have done anything for him and his vision of the future. But I know he wouldn’t stand for you jeopardizing that vision just to satisfy your selfish desire to see him survive.”

“You’re right,” Jacob added. “He would have put his gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger himself to prevent that from happening. But it’s not up to him.”

“It’s not up to you, either,” said David, obviously trying to control his temper.

“But it is.” Thomas stood and stepped forward directly behind the force field that held him in his cell.

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