Space Hoppers - Dance of the Guinea Pigs Read online

  Xander knocked on Sarah’s door. “Hello? Sarah?” There was no reply. “We’re about to load up with fuel and I thought you might like the chance to go and check out another planet. Sarah?”

  Hearing no answer he used his personal key card and opened her door. The room was still littered from Monty’s rummage through her bag and was in darkness. He moved towards the bed trying to avoid treading on anything. “Sarah?”

  She put a hand protectively over her eyes to shield them from the light in the corridor. “Hmmmph?”

  “Are you all right?”

  “Fine, just a bit of a head cold that’s all. What are you doing in here?”

  “I thought you might like the chance of going down to another planet if you’re well enough?”

  “After what happened last time?”

  “I give you my word that I won’t let you out of my sight for a moment.”

  Sarah turned over, tugging the sheets with her. “I think I’ll stay here if that’s OK with you. I feel a bit tired.”

  “Shall I get one of the doctors to have a look?”

  “No. Just sleepy. Fine tomorrow.”

  He stayed there for a few moments looking as if he was going to say something. Eventually he decided that she had gone to sleep and left.

  As he went Sarah could feel his disappointment.

  Ten minutes later and a security guard was making his way to stand watch outside Sarah’s pod. The message on the intercom had told him categorically that she was not under arrest or suspicion of anything but he was to be there for her protection. Even though Xander would, in normal circumstances, rather have had a limb amputated than take her to another planet, he had given the Seekers his word that he would protect her. The guard would just have to take his chances.

  Sarah was woken by the feeling of being watched and rolled over in the bed to come nose to snout with Monty. She pushed him off and made her way slowly to the shower, her body feeling like it had been stretched. Sarah had an uneasy feeling that she was supposed to remember something and the thought nagged at her like a piece of pip stuck in her teeth.

  Going into the bathroom and looking into the mirror she could hardly recognise the face staring back at her. Without cosmetic help, even with the cream from Med-crew she could still trace the time she had spent on board the ship by the bruising over her body. Her hair, while clean, had been singed in places from the Engine Room One disaster, her nails were dirty and her eyes were tired.

  Deciding to wash off the unease she was feeling, Sarah reached a hand out under the steaming jet of the shower and checked the water while giving Monty instructions not to sleep on the bed again. Finding the shower a little cold she turned to change the temperature and stared at her hand, which now had hundreds of sapphire blue pinpricks under the surface.

  They glowed beneath the surface of her skin without pain or movement. Tiny little sparkling gems of radiance that lit up the area around them.

  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Admitting this to Xander meant the possibility of testing by Med-crew and she was not prepared to put herself through that. She moved over to her bag on the sink and fished around for a pair of gloves in the hopes that whatever it was she had apparently caught on the planet would wear off in a couple of days’ time. She would drink lots of water, take some vitamin C and get lots of rest. It this is all a dream I’m ready to wake up now she thought, checking the rest of her body for colour changes.

  Sarah flexed her fingers inside the gloves and tried to convince herself that she was feeling calm. She was a sensible, rational human being and would not give in to feelings of paranoia.

  A flicker in the mirror reflected movement behind her and she turned around.

  The leather-clad guinea pig fixed a steely eye on Sarah and pulled himself up to his full height.

  “Hello. My name is Emilio Squeekfest. You killed my fada. Prepare to die.”

  The first bus landed on the arid planet in a cloud of dust and Xander, Booker, Brelt and Garet descended from it after the air had settled. The main body of the engineering team followed them in two more busses with the orbs tethered, floating behind in a portable energy container. Slowly they made their way to the electricity source.

  The electricity in the area was particularly plentiful and ran in deep streams across half of the planet. The river they ended up at was a vivid green streak against the dusty landscape. Not liquid but a moving wave of energy.

  Booker started to get excited. “Good, we’ll use this stream, good strong current here. All right team, get your hoses and plug ‘em in.” He turned to Xander. “This should easily see us till Kaor as long as you don’t try to go down more than one more slug hole. There’s nothing that uses energy faster and we can’t fill up a re-charging orb. Engine Room Three’s going to be out for a while because of that last slug hole you opened.”

  “Well, we were under attack at the time.” Xander said, preoccupied with the orbs. “Are you sure they’ll hold up to this? They did take a massive denting, is there any chance they could leak?”

  “No, there isn’t. I told you, they’re working just fine. There isn’t anything that can go wrong.”

  There was a long, drawn-out sucking noise followed by a faint “pop” as something banged and knocked its way up through one of the pipes. Xander followed the noise as it got closer to the orb and watched as a confused eel was released to swim around.

  “Uh, Booker?”

  “What now?”

  “Did you know that was going to happen?”

  The eel was swimming angrily around. As it swum it bared fangs at Xander and bashed its head against the side.

  Booker shrugged. “It’s an electric eel. You get them in the really deep streams.”

  “Is this a bad thing?”

  The engineer looked at the eel trying to use its teeth to carve its way out of the orb. “It’s probably not a good idea to go swimming right now.”

  “Just… just take care of it. OK?”

  “Sure thing.” Xander walked off while Booker looked around for a new recruit to delegate the problem to.

  A crew member spotted a form approach at high speed with dust billowing in its wake. “Incoming,” he called out.

  Xander appeared from the bus hatch “Secure the area. Has anyone got a pair of binoculars? Ah, thanks.” He stepped off. “A humanoid on a land bike. Hmm, OK, everyone, weapons ready.” Xander walked down the ramp to make contact. Behind the lone biker there was a larger dust cloud approaching, the cause not yet visible.

  As they watched the man drew level with them and fell off the bike, exhausted. A medic hurried over. The man’s clothing was torn and his face was dirty and cracked with dehydration. As he crawled towards them they could see he had been whipped deeply on his back.

  “There’s more coming!” called out the crewman on watch.

  The man stopped crawling and raised his hand, palm up to them, beseechingly. “Help… me.”

  Xander looked from him to the rapidly approaching land bikes. “Booker?”

  “Here.”

  “Are we loaded up yet?”

  “Affirmative.”

  Xander paused for a moment. “Right, get this man in and let’s get out of here.” Med-crew gently put him on a stretcher and carried him quickly into the bus. He kept muttering his thanks as he went.

  With a last glance at the pursuers Xander followed him.

  Back on board the ship, outside Sarah’s pod the guard was having a chat with a rather attractive crew member.

  “Can you hear something funny?”

  The guard cocked his head to listen and then rushed into Sarah’s pod and saw her screaming and flinging anything she could get her hands on into one of the corners. Monty had been on the balcony when the door had unexpectedly shut behind him and was trying to hurl his body through the reinforced glass.

  “Quick, he’s cornered – shoot him!” shouted Sarah.

  The guard took in the scene. “Shoot who?” />
  Sarah stopped flinging. “It was right there, I saw him.” She looked around. The door had closed as soon as the guard entered so there was no danger of Squeekfest having escaped. He had to be still in the room.

  The guinea pig leapt up onto the counter firing darts from his blowpipe. Sarah threw a tub of moisturiser at him which missed but hit the controls opening the washing chute it had been standing on.

  With a startled “wheek?” Squeekfest disappeared from view. Sarah, who hadn’t noticed because she was trying to find something else to throw, picked up a shoe on the ground and flung it with all her strength.

  The shoe also hit the control panel and she and the guard exchanged a look as a wash cycle was activated. The machine bumped and knocked, and was silent.

  Putting one arm out to motion for Sarah to stand behind him, the guard used his gun stick to open the chute. He peered at the darkness inside. Gingerly he reached in and removed a very clean miniature leather jacket.

  When the landing crew returned, Sarah rushed out to see Xander as he came out of the bus. He was in what appeared to be a deep discussion with Booker.

  “I’ve got so much to tell you! You won’t believe what happened while you were gone!”

  “Where’s the guard?”

  “What guard?”

  “The one that was outside your door.”

  “Oh, he had stuff to do. Anyway…”

  “He just left you?”

  “No, he was there when the guinea pig attacked but after he realised I was OK he went to deal with another problem.”

  They had been walking as they talked and were now outside Xander’s pod.

  “You saw a guinea pig?”

  “Yes, it accused me of killing its father and then went mental with darts. Good job his aim was rubbish.”

  Xander turned to Booker. “So, they’re coming out then.”

  “You knew about this?”

  He stood still. “We think one of them sabotaged Engine Room One. Security is trying to find out how many of them we might potentially have on board. Are you hurt?”

  “No, it really was a very bad shot.”

  “Good. Why are you wearing gloves?”

  “I felt a little cold this morning.”

  Booker frowned. “It’s true, Xander, the temperature’s been dropping. We’ve managed to keep the temperature level so far. I’m surprised anyone noticed.”

  “Well, you’re the chief engineer. What do you suggest?”

  “I suggest you stop sightseeing so we can dock at Kaor and take this thing apart.”

  “I thought engineers could fix anything?” said Sarah.

  “Anything mechanical, yes, but…”

  “Thank you, Booker. No need to go into details right now. Sarah, keep your gloves on for now. Booker, it’s not ‘sightseeing’, we’re carrying out important field research so just put some heaters around for now, will you?”

  Booker peeled off a crisp mock salute. “Yes sir. Absolutely sir. I’ll just go and find the several thousand heaters needed for a ship of this size. I think we keep them in one of the cupboards. You know, just in case.”

  “There’s no need to be sarcastic.”

  “Why don’t I go and hook myself up to the outside of the ship and insulate the whole bloody thing with padding while I’m at it?”

  “Look, I wasn’t questioning your management of the situation I was merely trying to offer a constructive suggestion.”

  “Well, you can take your constructive suggestions and…”

  “Ahem?”

  Xander looked wearily back at Sarah and stared at her as though he’d forgotten she was still standing next to him. “So you’re OK?”

  “Yes.”

  “No one died?”

  “Well, not a crew member so, no.”

  “Will this wait?”

  “I suppose so.” Sarah’s shoulders fell.

  “Good.” Xander went back to Booker. “Can you keep the ship operational until we dock?”

  “If the situation doesn’t get much worse, yes.”

  “Fine. In that case I’m going to try and catch up on the paperwork I’ve missed out on over the past few days. Sarah, please contact Med-crew if you feel the need.” He entered his pod and closed the door behind him.

  Behind Sarah, the man they picked up on the planet was being air-wheeled to Med-crew. As his stretcher went past a cold draft whipped around her. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and a shiver go down her spine.

  Garet met Sarah wandering back from seeing Xander. He wrapped a tentacle around her and pulled her along with him. She looked up, startled out of her thoughts.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Down to the next level. It’s poker night, I’ve got a good feeling and I’m carrying my lucky bullet.”

  Sarah started to pull away. “I don’t know, Garet. I’m not feeling all that bouncy and I’ve left Monty on his own.”

  “Does he play poker?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Not much good at a poker game then, is he? C’mon, I’ve decided that you’re my lucky charm.” Two of his eyes winked at her. “I heard about the extra clean mini-jacket.” He pulled her around a corner and down some stairs.

  “Already? But knowing I was attacked, you’ve decided that makes me lucky?”

  “Nope, knowing you survived makes you lucky. Almost there.”

  Giving up to Garet’s enthusiasm, she let herself be guided through the maze in level two.

  “What’s so lucky about your lucky bullet?”

  “It missed me. I know some gamblers prefer animal body parts but I’ve always found them a bit freaky.”

  “We have rabbit’s feet on Earth.”

  “Really? My planet’s pretty big on Keco intestines.”

  They moved quickly into the procurement part of the ship. Garet, as Acquisitions Officer, ran the department with the minimum of fuss and as little outside interference as possible. He led her into his office, which was lined with boxes. Around a circular table in the middle sat Brelt, Martyn, Booker and someone she learned was called Rayine Heatis who ran the catering section.

  As she was among friends Rayine had removed her scarf for the evening, revealing a metal mask that covered half her face. Where an eye should have been there was a blue glow. Garet introduced them before opening a box and bringing out a bottle and six cups. Sarah tried not to stare at the blue glow.

  “All right. Booker’s turn to deal; Brelt, you hand out the chips; I’ll pour the drinks. Do you know how to play Zanack rules?” Garet cocked his head at Sarah.

  Actually, I don’t know how to play poker.”

  The mood around the table improved noticeably.

  In Med-crew, the new arrival lay behind glass in a healing bubble. A tube was connected to his upper arm and another to his mouth. The doctor consulted the chart with satisfaction.

  A nurse came over. “Would you like me to change the medication, Doctor?”

  Glancing up from the chart he was holding, he pursed his lips. “Not just yet, he seems to be responding well so far. Another human… interesting.”

  Opposite the human in a considerably smaller bed, Lieutenant Garth was crouched over his dinner tray looking intense. Clearly he was suffering from some kind of post-traumatic star disorder and Med-crew were treating him very carefully. Rather like an old glass heirloom that you’re not sure what to do with but you know there’ll be trouble if you drop it. The doctor went over to see how he was getting on.

  “Hello, Garth, is that all you’ve ordered for dinner? Carrot sticks?”

  “You are what you eat.”

  The doctor wrinkled his forehead in concentration. “So if you drink milk you become a large, lactating bovine?”

  “No, it’s…”

  “You want to become a small root vegetable? Your meal matches your orange bath robe so I suppose you’ve got the outfit for it. No one can say you don’t colour coordinate. Maybe we should take an
other look at your medication?”

  “This is the micro-biotic way.”

  “You’ve certainly mastered the ‘micro’ part but when do you actually get to eat some food?”

  Garth looked up at him and gave him a beatific smile.

  “So if I put down two nufs, one spluck and a nidgit I trump your run of scardos and an earfap?” Sarah hesitantly laid her hand on the table.

  Booker groaned. “Any other card games you can’t play that we should be aware of?”

  Sarah leaned forward and gathered up the chips. “Truly, it’s beginners luck. I did an evening class in bridge once and after that any game seems pretty simple.”

  “Well, you’ve cleaned me out,” said Brelt. “And I was planning on buying a new dress with that.”

  “Hoping fly-boy is going to get the courage to ask you out on a date where he doesn’t mess up?” Booker laughed.

  Brelt blushed. “He just gets nervous, that’s all. I can’t believe he can fly like a bird but be so clumsy on the ground. He’s really a lovely person when you get to know him.”

  Rayine looked up and Sarah heard her say, “All he needs is a good dish of Cadka and he’ll think he’s invincible. The effects don’t last for long and it’s a bit heavy on the aniseed but there’s nothing more effective.”

  “You think that would work?” Sarah shuffled the cards.

  “What was that?” asked Garet.

  “I just asked Rayine if her suggestion would actually work.” She started to deal.

  “What suggestion?”

  Sarah realised they were staring at her. “Rayine, you tell them.” She nudged her encouragingly.

  “You heard that?” Rayine’s eye was wide.

  Now it was Sarah’s turn to stare. Rayine hadn’t spoken out loud. She couldn’t move her lips through the metal plating.

  The crew did not keep regular hours. On a ship with no distinguishable way to mark night and day the clocks on the walls were mere indicators. The clocks stayed permanently on Kaor time since it would be a logistical nightmare to change them all whenever they went through a different time zone.