“Dr. Sargis. Respond, over.”
Sergeant Roddy Harris strode down the passageway towards Elizabeth Sargis’ lab with a determination that was undeniable. He cursed under his breath, frustrated at how these scientists were so lax when it came to protocol and how tardy they could be when issued an order. He stormed into her lab and surveyed the cluttered space.
“What a freakin’ pigsty!” Harris said as he swept a pile of clutter off Sargis’ desk with his forearm, sending it crashing onto the floor. “Dr. Sargis!” he shouted with Marine authority. “Are you in here?” No response. Harris aqctivated his comm.
“Dr. Sargis, respond, over.”
Nothing.
“I say again, Dr. Sargis, respond, over.”
Still no response.
Harris cursed again as he turned and stormed back down the passageway towards the hatch leading to the dig site.
That nerdy egghead is gonna make me walk all the way back to the dig. She’s gonna pay for that. Maybe I’ll make her get down on all fours and shine my boots on the flight back to the Mars Base.
“Dr. Sargis!” Harris shouted as he searched the halls of the expansive dig site. “Dr. Sargis! Sound off!”
Harris bellowed into adjacent hallways as he made his way to the back of the ruins. It took him over a half an hour before he spotted the doctor crouched in front of a section of wall that contained an ancient inscription, half buried in the red Martian soil.
“Dr. Sargis!” Harris shouted as he approached the truant archaeologist. “Why won’t you answer me?” The burly Marine marched up to stand beside the doctor while she remained silent, ignoring him. “Dr. Sargis!” Harris shouted in anger once more as he reached down and clutched the scientist’s arm.
“Let me go!” Elizabeth protested as she attempted to pull away, but Harris maintained his grip as he pulled her to her feet. She shot Harris a cold stare.
“No Ma’am, I won’t! You were supposed to be on the transport over an hour ago. Everyone else is onboard, and they’re all waiting on you. Now move it.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Sergeant. I have work to do. This is too important to leave right now. I’m close to a major breakthrough.”
“I don’t care, Ma’am. I have my orders, and they say that I’m supposed to evacuate all personnel from Outpost Nine back to the Mars Base. That includes everyone. Even you.”
“I’m not going. Just leave me. I’ll be fine here by myself.”
“No Ma’am. There’s an imminent threat of a large scale enemy incursion on Mars. All the outposts are now prime targets. All non-base personnel, both military and civilian, including you, have been ordered back to the Mars Base. Now get your keister on that transport. Pronto!”
“No!” Sargis was struggling to get free of the sergeant’s grip, but to no avail. “I’m not military. I don’t have to answer to you.”
“Oh yes you do,” Harris said. “I’ve been ordered to evacuate all personnel from this outpost, you included.” Harris didn’t like having to repeat himself. “Now, if you force me, I’ll zip-tie your wrists and ankles, throw you over my shoulder and carry you all the way back to the hangar bay. Do you want everybody to see me do that, or are you going to arrive under your own power?”
Elizabeth glared at the Marine. He was the personification of everything she hated about Solar Warden. In her mind, it should be an organization that promoted exploration and discovery, not just another branch of the military. She never liked the military, and did her best to ignore their presence. She felt they weren’t necessary, even though she’d heard rumors of abductions taking place in remote outposts like hers.
With their eyes locked, both attempted to present more determination than the other.
“You would, wouldn’t you?” The doctor challenged as she broke the tense silence.
“In a North Carolina minute,” Harris replied.
Sargis stood in a posture of defiance for a moment. She managed to yank her arm away from Harris’ grip. “Fine. But I’m filing a complaint with your commandant when we get back to the Mars Base.”
Before Harris could respond, the doctor turned and stormed off down the hallway towards the outpost complex. She made her boots thump the gravity plating to augment her frustrated anger, raising tiny clouds of red dust around her feet with each forceful step.
Harris activated his comm as he shot the scientist an exasperated glare and followed her out of the ruins. “Harris to Garcia. I found the doctor. We’re on our way back. ETA, ten minutes, over.”
Harris fell into step behind Sargis, half expecting her to dart off down an adjacent hall in an attempt to evade him. He was right on her six, ready to grab her if she tried such a ruse.
The sergeant was focused on his charge when scientist and Marine rounded the last corner before the hatch leading into the outpost and the hangar bay beyond. This arrogant scientist, acting like an angst-driven teenager, caused Harris to lose his focus. He was incensed by the upstart PhD, and his eyes bored into the back of her head instead of taking up the vanguard, weapon at the ready as he scanned the way ahead looking for potential threats. He let his training lapse, and made the fatal mistake of not maintaining situational awareness. Harris didn’t notice the pair of large reptilian troopers who were positioned just outside the hatch, their own weapons raised, waiting for the two humans to stumble around the corner, right into their line of fire.
For both of their sakes, EDF Marine Sergeant Roddy Harris should have stayed frosty …