They suited up—or rather, she suited up while he reluctantly donned the largest thermal cloak she could find, arguing that it would help disguise him if he were spotted from a distance.
Then the airlock cycled open, and they stepped out into a transformed world. The landscape stretched before him in shades of white and pale blue, the ice cap rolling towards the horizon in gentle undulations. The sky above was clear for the first time since his emergence, a deep rust-red that faded to pink at the edges. Two small moons hung low on the horizon, pale crescents against the dawn.
Wrong,something whispered in the back of his mind.The sky should be different.
He pushed the thought aside. Many things were wrong. Many things had changed. He could not afford to mourn a sky he barely remembered.
She moved past him, her breath misting in the frigid air as she headed towards a cluster of equipment half-buried in snow. “The communication array’s over here. The main antenna took some damage, but the backup systems should?—”
She stopped mid-sentence, staring at the equipment.
“What is wrong?”
“Nothing. Actually, it’s better than I expected. The backup array is intact.” She was already working, brushing snow away from panels and checking connections. “Give me a few minutes.”
He stood guard while she worked, his senses extended outward for any sign of threat. The ice whispered to him of distantmovements, vehicle vibrations, perhaps, but they were many kilometers away. There was nothing close to them. Not yet.
“Got it!” she called, interrupting his surveillance. “Array’s online. Signal’s weak but?—”
She fell silent, and he turned to find her staring at a small screen, her face gone pale.
“What is it?”
“I have messages.” Her voice had gone flat, carefully controlled in a way that told him she was anything but calm. “Three of them. All of them from GenCon.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The name GenCon sent ice through Adjar’s veins—appropriate, perhaps, for a creature of ice, but this cold was different. This was the cold of dread.
“What do they say?”
“Hold on. Let me—” She tapped at the screen, her gloved fingers clumsy on the small controls. “First one’s dated two days before the storm.”
She read the message aloud.
“‘Dear Ms. Kour. GenCon Polar Division wishes to extend a generous offer for your mining claim, designation NPC-7749. Due to recent geological surveys indicating potential safety concerns in your operating area, we believe consolidation of claims would benefit all parties. We are prepared to offer three times the current market value for immediate transfer of rights. Please respond at your earliest convenience. Regards, Acquisition Department, GenCon Polar Division.’”
“They wish to buy your claim?”
“They’ve wanted it for years. I’ve refused every time. This is the first time they’ve mentioned safety concerns.” She scrolled to the next message. “Second one, dated the day after the storm began.”
“‘Ms. Kour. We note that you have not responded to our previous communication. Given the severity of recent storms and the isolation of your claim, we are concerned for your welfare. Please confirm your status at your earliest opportunity. Additionally, we wish to inform you that our geological monitoring systems have detected significant seismic activity in your area. For your safety, a survey team will be dispatched to assess potential hazards. Cooperation is appreciated but not required. GenCon maintains jurisdictional rights for environmental safety assessments under Martian Colonial Code section 7.3.2. Regards, Safety Compliance Division, GenCon Polar Division.’”
His wings strained against the cloak, wanting to unfurl. The language was polite, but the threat beneath it was unmistakable. “They are saying they will come whether you agree or not.”
“That’s exactly what they’re saying.” Her jaw was tight. “Section 7.3.2 is a bullshit provision they lobbied into colonial law several years ago. It basically lets them override private claims if they claim there’s a ‘safety concern.’ No one’s been able to fight it successfully.”
“And the third message?”
She hesitated, then read:
“‘Ms. Kour. Our monitoring systems have confirmed the presence of a significant geological anomaly at coordinates corresponding to your claim. Preliminary analysis suggests this anomaly may be the source of the previously mentioned seismicevent. Given the potential scientific and safety implications, GenCon is dispatching an investigation team immediately upon weather clearance with an estimated arrival time forty-eight hours post-storm. Your cooperation in this investigation will be noted and appreciated. Any attempt to interfere with or conceal evidence related to the anomaly will be considered a violation of Colonial Safety Protocols and prosecuted accordingly. We look forward to a productive partnership. Regards, Special Projects Division, GenCon Polar Division.’”
Silence stretched between them.
“They know.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “They detected the explosion. They know something came out of the ice.”
He moved to stand beside her, close enough that his body blocked the worst of the wind. “You believe they seek me.”
