Polaris Read Online Free PDF Page A

led an exemplary existence. He’d checked their backgrounds while they were en route. Pillars of the community. All of them. But the prospect chilled him nonetheless. Had there been a maniac, he’d still be on board.
    â€œWe need light,” Miguel said. He crossed the bridge and sat down in the pilot’s chair. The control board looked standard. He threw a couple of switches. Lights came on. “Kage,” he said, “do you hear me?”
    The silence rolled back. Shawn knelt and opened a black box at the base of the pilot’s chair. “The circuits seem to be intact.” He touched a switch, pushed it forward. “Try it now.”
    â€œKage, are you there?”
    â€œHello.” A female voice. “To whom am I speaking?”
    â€œCaptain Miguel Alvarez. Of the Peronovski. Kage, what happened here?”
    â€œCaptain, I am sorry, but I do not understand the question.”
    â€œYou were supposed to start back to Indigo six days ago. Instead, you’re adrift near Delta Kay. Where Delta Kay was. What happened?”
    â€œI don’t know, Captain.”
    â€œDid somebody turn you off, Kage?”
    â€œNot that I’m aware of.”
    He peered into the black box. Someone could have disconnected one of the core circuits without her being aware it was happening. That would have shut her down. But if that’s what happened, they went to the trouble to reconnect, but did not throw the switch to reactivate the AI. Why would anyone do that?
    â€œKage, what are your last recollections?”
    â€œWe were getting ready to make the jump into Armstrong space. At the end of the mission.”
    â€œAnd then what happened?”
    â€œThat’s what I remember. Next I was talking to you. I am not aware of the passage of time between those events.”
    â€œKage,” he said, “where’s Madeleine?”
    â€œI don’t know. I don’t see her.”
    â€œHow about the others?”
    â€œI don’t see anyone.”
    â€œMiguel,” said Shawn, “she has a restricted view of the ship. AIs always do. We’re going to have to find them ourselves.”
    They put the lights on and started aft. Through the common room. Down the main passageway, which was lined with doors, four on each side. Miguel had never before been aboard the Polaris, but he knew that these were the quarters for the captain and her passengers.
    â€œMadeleine?” he called. “Hello? Anybody home?” His voice echoed through the ship.
    â€œSpooky,” said Shawn.
    â€œYes, it is. Stay close until we figure out what’s going on here.” Hetouched the pressure plate on the first door, the captain’s quarters, and it opened. It was empty, but Maddy’s clothes were hung up.
    The cabin across the passageway was also empty. As were the others, and each of the washrooms.
    â€œWhat’s below?” Shawn asked, his voice barely a whisper.
    â€œCargo, engine room, and lander.”
    They went down and looked. There was nobody in cargo.
    â€œThis is crazy,” said Shawn.
    Miguel led the way into the power room. Nobody lurking in the spaces between the engines. Nobody in storage. Nobody in the launch area.
    They approached the lander, which was the only place on the ship where they hadn’t looked. Alvarez opened the hatch and peered in.
    Nobody in the front seat. Nobody in the back.
    The place felt haunted. “What the hell,” he said, “is going on?”
    There was a spare washroom on the lower deck, but it was empty. Cabinets lined one bulkhead. Several of them were big enough to hide in, so he opened them one by one. They were also empty.
    They found two pressure suits. “Kage,” he said, “how many pressure suits are on board?”
    â€œFour, Captain.”
    â€œWe’re looking at two of them.”
    â€œThere are two more on the bridge.”
    â€œThey’re there now?”
    â€œYes,