Hell on Mars (Reality Bleed Book 1) by J.Z. Foster & Justin M. Woodward

Author:J.Z. Foster & Justin M. Woodward [Foster, J.Z.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Winter Gate Publishing
Published: 2020-04-23T16:00:00+00:00

11

Tealson was calm and quiet, at least as much as he could be under the circumstances. Still, he would kill for a cigarette. He tried to shove the cravings to the back of his mind. He had a lot to think about. He’d just closed a transmission with Alice.

Alice had said she couldn’t identify several organs, and the unconscious body didn’t contain any lungs. The heart was also shriveled up and wasn’t working, as if there was no longer a use for it.

Yet, the being still lived.

Was ‘lived’ even the right word?

He and his flight crew sat in silence, rolling the news through their heads.

“Son of a bitch,” Tealson mumbled under his breath.

“Indeed,” Bennie answered, raising his eyebrows. “I was wondering when you were finally going to speak, and son of a bitch seems to fit the situation perfectly.”

“It doesn’t have lungs, Bennie.”

“I know; I heard.” Bennie shrugged. “At least we got the lights on now, right?”

“What the hell kind of thing could be up and moving without lungs and no beating heart?”

“Russians,” Bennie said flatly.

This finally got Tealson’s attention as he slowly looked over at Bennie. “Russians? What are you saying, son?”

“The goddamn Russians did it,” Bennie sneered. “I’m sure of it.”

“That doesn’t even make sense,” Stalls cut in. “How could they do anything like that?”

Tanaka stayed quiet, looking down in contemplation.

“I don’t know how they did it, but they did.” Bennie pointed at Stalls. “You know it. Sabotage or something. This isn’t natural. It was made in some KGB lab and weaponized. They’re on a fucking space station after all. Nothing gets out here. Whatever the hell fucked them up was manufactured. This was sabotage for that big middle finger of a Mars station you mentioned earlier, Commander. Couldn’t beat us in space, so they’re going to knock us down a peg.”

Tealson stared at Bennie. He wanted to tell Bennie he was full of shit. He really wanted to. . . but hell if that wasn’t the best theory so far. He threw his hands up and sighed. “Who knows, Bennie? Maybe you’re right.”

“Commander,” Tanaka said looking up. “I’m getting interference on our monitors.”

“What?” Tealson moved over. “You kidding me? Don’t I have enough problems without this piece of shit falling apart? Get Moller in here to take a look.”

“My instruments are off too,” Stalls said. “I’m not sure what’s causing it. I’ve never seen it do this before.” Stalls tapped her knuckles on the console. “They’re all screwy.”

“Dammit, I’ll get DalBon in here, too.” He moved to the comms and pressed a button. A burst of static popped on. “The hell? Moller, DalBon? Either of you read?”

“Yeah I’m—” The static sizzled. “—need?”

Tealson sighed and slapped the console. “I can’t hear you for shit. Both of you get up to the bridge.”

“On—” another burst. “—now.”

“Goddamn Russians. They’re doing something, I know they are.” Bennie shook his head. “I can see the headlines now—mysterious contagion on Felicity. Mars station abandoned.”

Tealson swiped his hand through the air. “Do me a favor and cut the shit, Bennie.

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