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Chapter 41 – Don’t touch—

Chapter 41 – Don’t touch—

[Location: Decontamination Depot t3rm1nu5 – Near the evacuation hatch]

After the Abiathar undocked from the evac hatch, Linda headed into the plant. Even though her tears began to dry, the longing for her husband didn’t fade. With the hydrogen condensing process shut down, the place was quiet and it made the sound of her shoes clanking on the metal grate louder than normal. It only took about five minutes for her to get to the cafeteria and she headed toward the serving line. She did a quick visual inspection and made a mental note that everything still seemed to be in working order. The small clock on the wall had fallen to the floor, but it seemed to be the only casualty of the explosions.

She turned and walked through a door opposite the serving line that led to the refrigerated storage area. To her right was the cooler and to her left was the freezer. Most of the food aboard D.D.315 was synthetic and didn’t require refrigeration but the depot had been built with the equipment before synthetics had become common place.

Linda used the refrigerator space infrequently, storing fresh foods from Mars that might show up on a freighter every once in a while. But for their fifth anniversary, Charlie had given her an extravagant gift that she loved. Charlie knew that Linda was always interested in food and culinary hobbies, so he arranged it that every month for the rest of her life, she would receive a gallon of real ice cream. At first it was sent from a company on Earth, and then more recently from Mars, showing up special-delivery on one of the package ships. There were a variety of flavors and Linda loved them all. She would frequently fill two bowls and head to their quarters where they enjoyed it while watching the entertainment system before heading to bed.

She yanked on the latch of the heavy freezer door, pulled it open, and reached inside for the light switch. She felt a blast of frozen air as she walked forward, then she paused and tilted her head to listen. The refrigeration compressor was humming along as always. She put her hand in front of the vent and felt the frigid air pouring out. She sighed and smiled slightly, knowing that her precious frozen gifts hadn’t been effected by the explosions and were still tucked away, safe and sound in their icy cavern.

She headed to the far side of the space and bent down in front of a shelf. She pushed two of the containers aside and reached behind them for a card board box. She lifted the box, stood, and rested it onto her right hip. Then she turned and headed out of the freezer and clicked off the light.

She left the cafeteria with the frozen card board box under her arm, heading through the office area and then into the tool shop. Large pieces of metal lay stacked on one side of the room and automated machine tools stood to her left. Still carrying the box, she walked to the far wall. In front of her was a sliding metal door. She grabbed the handle and pulled the door to the side, providing access to a trash shoot.

Linda bent down and placed the box on the floor, opening the flaps. She reached inside and felt a cold metal object. Then she stood up with it in her hand. The pulse firing hand gun was too big for her hands, so she was quite clumsy when she held it.

As condensation formed on the cold metal, she used her thumb to eject the pulse weapon’s energy cell and it popped loose from the bottom of the gun. She slid it out from the handle of the weapon and tossed it down the shoot. As the cell disappeared into the darkness, she exhaled and allowed her body to relax.

Then she visually inspected the gun. On the slide, just above the safety, was a small inscription.

ELIXER-RX-1010JBACA

Then she tossed the gun down the shoot and closed her eyes as she replayed the events in her mind.

###

Linda walked through the door of the high power lab holding a plate of brownies. As she looked forward, she saw Jozef Baca standing next to a repulsor with a tool in his hand. The repulsor stood upright and had been mounted on one of the test stands in the lab. As Jozef saw her enter the room, he rested the tool on the workbench.

“Well, Mrs. Kennedy…what type of edible treat have you brought for me to enjoy?” He smiled and bowed.

Linda walked to Jozef and placed the white china plate on the workbench. “Brownies, Mr. Baca.” She smiled enthusiastically. “They come prepackaged from Central so all I have to do is stick them into the meal dispenser, but I learned a way that I could insert additional ingredients.”

“Really?”

“Yep. I’m able to add chocolate chips as well as additional emulsifier to make them really moist.”

Jozef walked to the plate, lifted one of the dark brown squares, and took a bite. “My…I haven’t tasted anything like this for years. Not since back on Earth.”

Linda beamed. “I’m happy you like them. If you would like more, just left me know.” She turned and headed toward the doorway.

Still chewing a piece of the brownie, Jozef spoke. “Mrs. Kennedy? I have a question for you.”

Linda stopped and turned toward her guest. “How can I be of help?”

“Have you ever heard of The Deadly Three?” He squinted slightly as he waited for an answer.

“Linda’s face dropped. “No, Mr. Baca.” Her eyes darted across the room and she swallowed hard. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She turned toward the door. “I need to attend to the other guests.”

Jozef placed the brownie on the plate and stepped in front of Linda. His imposing size and the angry look on his face caused her to freeze in her tracks. Then he peered down at her and said, “Mrs. Kennedy, don’t waste my time. You know about The Deadly Three because your husband was a member.”

Linda could feel her heart throbbing in her chest as she slowly raised her eyes to meet Jozef’s. “Like I said…” She twitched nervously. “I don’t know…I don’t know what…” She closed her eyes and lowered her head as tears slid down her cheeks.

Jozef politely aimed Linda back toward the workbench. “Mrs. Kennedy, stop lying. You know very well that your husband was a member of the execution squad at the Tuscaloosa State Penitentiary.” He put his hands on Linda’s shoulders. “Please.” He directed her toward a rolling stool. “Sit down.”

Linda looked up at him through her reddened eyes, her entire body numb, her breathing elevated. “What are ya gonna do to me?” She brushed tears from her cheeks.

Jozef turned, lifted another brownie from the plate, and took a bite. “Johan Baca was my brother. My only brother.” He pointed at the brownie in his hand. “These really are quite good.” He took another bite. “Your husband executed my brother in Tuscaloosa. Fried him like a steak on an electric griddle.”

He put the last piece of brownie in his mouth and dusted the crumbs from his fingers. He chewed and swallowed. “Mind you, my brother had done some bad stuff in his day. Should he have been executed? Maybe. But he was my brother and that’s where the rules change.” He used his finger to clean the left over pieces of brownie from his teeth. “Some cold milk would be nice right about now.” His brow flicked up and down. “Do you remember cow’s milk?”

Linda squirmed in her chair and stood. “It wasn’t personal. Charlie was just—”

Jozef lifted a screw driver from the workbench and pointed the end of it at Linda. With a cold stare, he said, “Sit.”

Linda followed Jozef’s order. “He was just—”

Jozef turned his attention toward the repulsor and began to remove parts using the screw driver. “Just doing his job. Yeah…I know.” He huffed and shook his head.

Tears continued to stream down Linda’s face as the area around her heart began to hurt. “What are ya gonna do?”

Jozef bent down and reached inside of the repulsor. “Well, you and I are going to have a little talk while I fix this.” He reached on the workbench for a wrench. “Then I’m gonna bring you to your husband and let him watch as I kill you—ouch! Damn it…fucki’n nut is stripped.” He rubbed his knuckles.

Linda began to sob and she dropped her head into her hands.

“Don’t worry. You two won’t be apart for long. Because after I kill you, I’m gonna kill your hubby too.” An evil smile lifted his cheeks as he reached inside the replusor.

Linda raised her head and looked at Jozef through her watery eyes. A small flame of anger smoldered inside of her chest. The flame grew as her crying stopped and she peered at Jozef. She clenched her jaw tight as a volcano of rage erupted inside. She slowly stood from her seat and walked to the workbench.

Jozef realized that Linda had left the stool and without looking said, “I told you to sit down!”

Still staring at Jozef, Linda placed her index finger beneath the power switch on the workbench.

Crouched and with his arm still inside the repulsor, Jozef twisted to look at Linda. His eyes widened with terror. “Don’t touch—”