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Jonas had returned to the security office after sending Grayson the message of the stolen shuttle. In a way, he was thankful for the fifteen-minute delay in communication due to the distance between Mars and Earth. It gave him a thirty-minute gap in their conversation, so he could brace himself for Grayson’s explosive fit of fury.
A guard stepped into Jonas’ office. He was six foot tall and thin. His hair, eyes, and skin color were characteristic of someone from the Middle East.
“What is it, Zeke?” Jonas asked.
“Did you not get the report?”
“Which one?”
“I set it . . . there, on your desk, under you laptop,” Zeke replied, pointing.
Jonas moved aside his laptop, and picked up the folder. He opened it and looked at the picture inside. “Magnus Knight?”
“Yes, sir. He incapacitated two guards yesterday after his shift.”
“And I’m learning about this today?”
“We found them a little while ago. They were cuffed and gagged inside his shower. He stole their uniforms.”
Jonas frowned. “He apparently also stole the Percival 3000. Where are the two guards?”
“In the infirmary. According to the report, one of them is still unconscious. Critical condition. The other one should leave within a few hours.”
Jonas nodded. “Come with me.”
He left his office with Zeke and walked down the stairs to the desk where Boony was going through the facial scans on the computer. He expected Grayson to call at any time. At least he had discovered the identity of one thief, but he wanted more information before he talked to Grayson again.
“Boony, patch me through to the Percival 3000’s intercom.”
“Yes, sir.” She typed in several commands. “You’re connected.”
“Come in, Percival 3000,” Jonas said. “Channel is open. For now.”
***
Boony sat at her desk still evaluating the video feed. Once the facial recognition software identified Magnus and Sylvia’s faces, she had no choice but to reveal their names. Not doing so made her a conspirator. Jonas wouldn’t hesitate to make an example out of her, so no one else inside Olympus Mons would ever attempt any similar insubordinate action or help others steal a shuttle.
She imagined that she’d end up in the mines where Magnus had been. Perhaps worse. While the computer scanned the faces, she deleted the recorded tracks of her conversation with Magnus via the headsets.
“Percival 3000. Come in,” Jonas repeated.
The computer in front of Boony sounded its recognition alert. Jonas turned and looked down at the computer screen. When he saw the face, he took the picture out from the folder and set it before her. Beneath the picture on the screen were bold letters identifying Magnus Knight as one of the culprits.
Jonas pointed at the screen. “Boony, get me the information on him now. Everything you can find.”
“Yes, sir.” She bit her lower lip and typed in additional search commands.
Jonas connected to the bridge of the Percival 3000. “Magnus Knight? Care to reply? I know you’re aboard the shuttle. The evidence speaks for itself. Being silent doesn’t change the fact that you’re aboard the shuttle.”
Boony printed out Magnus’ bio. Secretly, she hoped Magnus made it to Earth safely. He was a giant of a man, but his heart seemed kinder than his intimidating appearance portrayed. Had Magnus been ruthless like the other hardened prisoners, she had no doubt that the two guards in his room would have been dead. But he held the mildness of a true gentleman.
The computer screen beside hers froze. The image that appeared brought obscenities from Jonas.
“Fuck!”
“What is it?” she asked.
“Sylvia Perkins? She’s one of our best mechanics. She’s the last prisoner I’d ever expect to do something like this. She had such a short sentence and scored favorably on each of her conduct reports. Are you certain that’s the correct match?”
Boony shrugged. “The facial recognition indicates it is her.”
Jonas gritted his teeth, trying to find a way to remain calm while he conversed with Magnus. With his anger and blood pressure rising, he doubted he’d be successful doing that.
***
Magnus looked at Sylvia and Carter with slight confusion. “How’d he find out so quickly?”
“Hard to say,” Sylvia replied. “But there are cameras everywhere in the mines, corridors, and the landing bay.”
“I know, but I expected a longer delay.” He closed his eyes and shook his head, remembering the information Boony had given him about the guards being found.
Magnus pushed the transmitter button. “This is Magnus.”
“I understand that you overtook the two guards that came to your cell yesterday. Is that correct?”
“I guess you could say that, sir, but it’s not what it seemed.”
“I’m not a trusting person with prisoners and even less with one that is now an escaped con that has stolen Grayson’s prized shuttle.”
“I understand how it looks,” Magnus said.
“It’s not how it looks, son. It is exactly what it is. What I don’t understand is how you convinced one of my best mechanics to help you steal a shuttle.”
Sylvia leaned toward the intercom. “He didn’t convince me. I chose to go on my own. Magnus came into the picture afterwards.”
Magnus frowned and placed his index finger to his lips.
“No,” Sylvia said. “What he’s saying about you isn’t true.”
Jonas said, “Look, there’s no way I can go after you. I’m sure you’re aware of that. So let me appeal to your better judgment. That is, if you are fortunate enough to possess any rationality at all.”
Magnus’ jaw clenched tightly. His eyes narrowed.
“Magnus,” Jonas said in a milder tone. “I don’t know if you’ve ever heard about the things Grayson has done to those who have betrayed him in the past. I know his relentlessness. I’ve seen it. Even if he gets his ship back, and you somehow get away from him, he won’t stop hunting you. He won’t rest until he makes each one of you suffer. So, I’m placing this offer on the table for you. It’s a one time offer.”
“I’m listening,” Magnus said.
“Bring back the Percival 3000, and I’ll explain to Grayson your cooperation. You’ll remain out of his reach here on Mars. I’ll make certain things go back to normal for you.”
“No,” Magnus replied. “No deal. I’m not going back to the mines.”
“You signed a contract,” Jonas said in an aggravated tone.
“I never signed away my right to keep my mentality, sir. Never. None of those miners took their contracts to become mindless slaves. That information was never disclosed to any of us. Perhaps that’s what you and Grayson fear the most—that we’ll get to Earth and expose what he’s doing, what’s really going on here. No telling how many humanitarian laws he’s broken to put more money into his filthy pockets.”
Jonas didn’t respond.
“And since you seem willing to continue supporting Grayson, I can’t trust your word that we’d be any safer returning to Mars.”
“You’re making a huge mistake,” Jonas said. “I’m asking that you think this through.”
“I have thought this through and listening to you has made it that much clearer. When we get to Earth, Grayson Enterprises will crumble. I’ll make it my life’s mission to let the authorities at all levels know the despicable treatment these miners are suffering. You know the media will go into a frenzy reporting this. I’m certain the U.S. Supreme Court will find it appalling enough to shut down his operations. Most likely, he’ll get prison time for his crimes.”
Anger rose in Jonas’ voice. “Without mind control over these prisoners, there’d be no possible way to control them. These men were the most ruthless killers on Earth, and you’re the perfect example. Within a few days of having the freedom from your Sleeper Chip, you stole the most expensive shuttle that Grayson owns.”
“No, sir. Don’t place me into the same category as those other miners. My criminal charges on Earth pale in comparison to what they have done. I was framed for a murder I didn’t commit.”
“If that’s true, prove yourself to me,” Jonas said. “Return here and I’ll investigate the charges against you. I have ties on Earth in highest security levels with the FBI and the CIA that can examine your case. I promise that I will not send you back to the mines until they have fully evaluated all the evidence of the charges filed against you.”
Magnus looked into Sylvia’s worried eyes. Carter shook his head.
“Sorry, sir, but I’m not that trusting of your promises,” Magnus said.
“If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for Sylvia,” Jonas said. “She had a short termed contract here. Have her return the ship to us, and she can finish out her original sentence without any penalty.”
Sylvia shook her head and whispered, “No. I’m in this with both of you. I don’t trust him. Don’t believe him.”
“She says, ‘No deal.’”
“Fine,” Jonas said evenly. “I suppose you’ll find out the true danger you’re all headed into after it’s too late. Even though you can’t find it in yourselves to trust me, I do have your best interests in mind. I also know you have another passenger on board with you. Who is he?”
Magnus smiled. “I’m sure with your great investigative skills, you’ll figure it out.”
Magnus pressed the button and turned off their connection.