Mars Prime Read Online Free PDF

brig.
    There were eight small cells, each scarcely larger than a standard telephone booth, lining both sides of the corridor. The doors were made of clear shatterproof plastic. The interiors were almost completely bare, except for the usual velcro patches and a blower-type stainless steel waste disposal unit. Corvan saw no sign of other prisoners and assumed there were none. Not too surprising at the very start of the voyage.
    The bonds fell away at the touch of a black wand and were collected for reuse. The tape was ripped from his mouth and he was pushed into the nearest cell. The door slid shut with a solid thud. The security officers talked to each other for a moment or two then left the area.
    Corvan tried the implant. Nothing. He forced himself to relax. There was nothing to do but listen to the hiss of incoming air and the echo of his own thoughts. Damn.
    Â 
    "Rex?"
    Corvan's eyes flew open. "Is that you, Kim?"
    He'd been asleep. The cell, the corridor, everything was the same. Everything but the interlace. It was suddenly and miraculously open. Her thoughts flooded around his.
    "Yes, it's me. Who else would bail you out?"
    Corvan looked around his tiny cell. "I don't want to seem ungrateful or anything . . . but the/ fact is that I'm still here."
    "Not for long," Kim answered confidently. "They'll turn you loose within the next ten minutes or so. I called to make sure that you wouldn't say or do anything stupid."
    "I didn't 'say or do anything stupid,' " Corvan replied stubbornly. "I tried to do my job, that's all."
    "That's a matter of opinion," Kim said evenly. "Do me a favor. Don't blow the opportunity to get out. Try compromise instead of confrontation. Or, spend the rest of the trip in the brig. The choice is up to you."
    The interface disappeared with an angry snap. Kim was pissed. There was no doubt about that. Her pragmatism and his idealism had come into conflict before. And she'd been right sometimes. Was this one of them?
    Wait a minute. What had she said? "The rest of the trip?" The ship had broken orbit. They were headed for Mars. Lock, stock, and murderer!
    Corvan pounded on the plastic. "Hey! Let me out of here!"
    The guard appeared as if by magic. She was slightly overweight and wore her hair in a top knot. She had bright red lips and fingernails to match. The door hissed open. She motioned him forwards.
    "Out? Yes, sir, three bags full, sir. I hope you enjoyed your stay, sir. Now, if it's convenient for Your Royal Highness, we'll head for B-deck.''
    Corvan ignored her sarcasm. "B-deck? Why?"
    The guard did her best to look surprised. "Why? So Your Highness can consult with the F-man. Why else?"
    The F-man? She meant Fornos. Corvan frowned. First Jopp, now Fornos. What the heck was going on? Was it all part of some deal that Kim had negotiated on his behalf? There was no way to tell. His wife wasn't speaking to him. Not at the moment anyway.
    The guard turned her back on him and pushed off. The message was clear: "I'm leaving, and if you're smart, you'll do the same."
    Corvan gave a shrug, pushed off, and followed her rather sizeable rear-end up corridor. This trip was a good deal more pleasant man the last one had been. Some of the colonists had adjusted to the lack of gravity by now, and though somewhat clumsy, felt well enough to point at him and whisper to each other.
    Corvan felt what he always did when people recognized him: pleasure mixed with annoyance, mixed with guilt. Like reops everywhere, Corvan had worked hard to build a reputation for credibility and the following that went with it. To do that, and feel annoyed when people recognized him, seemed more than a little stupid.
    B-deck housed the snip's command and control center, administrative offices, computer spaces, and communications facilities. It was busy here, with lots of traffic flowing in both directions. The people had a sense of purpose. The ship was underway and there was work to do.
    Colonists weren't allowed on this level