Ghosts of Mars Page #2

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the commander first?

So what do you do for fun then?

Are you a gambler?

No. I'm short-time, Sergeant.

I believe in saving my money.

Don't worry about that.

I was gonna do it for free.

Let me put it this way.

Maybe I'd sleep with you

if you were the last man on Earth.

But we're not on Earth.

It's a voltage overload,

most likely.

You want to check it out?

It's probably nothing.

But on second thought--

Police officer.

Anybody there?

Sh*t!

- This is not making me happy.

- It's time to get backup.

Jesus Christ.

What are you doing?

- I almost killed you.

- What's going on?

- Rec-fac's a slaughterhouse.

- What?

Slaughterhouse?

That's the word Descanso used.

I didn't see it myself.

According to what

Commander Braddock told me...

right after we first arrived

in Shining Canyon...

she and the two rookies headed

towards the recreation facility.

Mel, I'll get us squared away

at the rec-fac.

You and Sergeant Jericho

go and check in at the jail.

Save some hot water for me.

Descanso, sweep left.

Bashira, stick with me.

Officer to train,

do you read?

The casino, barracks, dining hall,

rec center, no one alive anywhere.

- Commander.

- What?

- I can't reach the train.

- Well, keep trying.

How are we doing?

I don't know. This thing

was built to stay locked.

And Williams

is still locked up?

What do you mean?

Williams was arrested

on the suspicion of murdering...

six rail workers and a payroll courier

up at Klik 305 Hub Station.

The bodies were hung and decapitated,

just like the bodies in the rec-fac.

So how'd they pin that

on Desolation?

He showed up here

with the courier's payroll.

The cashier realized

it was a stolen scrip.

They made the arrest.

There's got to be a day log

here somewhere.

Sergeant's desk.

Here.

Last night the mine called in

a work stoppage.

Reported winds

gusting up to 60 knots.

- Sixty?

- That's what it says.

Anything else?

Arrest for theft, then nothing.

Got it.

What's going on around here?

We haven't had a meal

or a piss break in six hours.

Descanso, open the door.

All right, everybody, answer "here"

when I call your name.

- Akooshay.

- What?

Just answer "here."

- Yeah.

- Zimmerman.

I'm right in front of you.

Benchley.

- Who's that?

- She showed up last night.

Checked herself in. Insisted on

being locked up here with us.

Well, wake her up, sunshine.

Let's see what she has to say.

Somebody wants to talk to you.

- Who are you?

- Whitlock.

What are you doing

in the holding tank, Whitlock?

It's the only safe place

at the moment, okay?

- Can I go back to sleep now?

- No, you can't!

I need answers.

What's going on out there?

What's your I.D.?

Dr. Arlene Whitlock.

I'm the Spec Six science officer...

in charge of the mining operation

at Drucker's Ridge.

I left Drucker's about a week ago

with a weather balloon I'd modified.

There was a disturbance in town.

It seemed prudent to get out.

They said there was a riot

and the place was destroyed.

Yeah, something like that.

I was adrift for several days,

you know.

Ran out of food.

I followed the railroad tracks

until I got here.

Oh, sh*t.

Then the storm forced me too low.

I hit a windmill and crashed.

And they were kind enough

to take me in here.

Well, wasn't that nice of them.

Mel, Jericho,

go check out Williams.

See if he knows anything

about this.

Williams, do you know

what's going on outside?

Are you aware of

what's going on outside?

Let's go. This a**hole

doesn't know anything either.

You got some balls, calling him

an a**hole to his face.

That's Desolation Williams.

I heard he took out at least six when

they cornered him at Deimos Station.

And this is eight inches.

You men love to exaggerate.

Just goes with the territory.

Yeah, well, in my case,

it's a bit different.

Perhaps a connoisseur like yourself

would appreciate what I have to offer.

Go get the commander.

Disarm her.

Officer.

It was almost like she was...

possessed.

Like there was some kind

of force inside her.

- Who was she?

- She was a dispatch officer.

We tried to make her comfortable.

The rookies took her to a storage

room in the back of the jail.

Then the commander and I went

back outside to look around town.

- What do you think?

- That the science officer is lying.

- Tell me again about Williams.

- I didn't read the full file.

Caught him with the money,

but he said he didn't kill anybody.

- Course. They all died off right.

- Then cut their own heads off?

Put down your weapon!

Put it down!

Call Jericho.

Sergeant Jericho,

we need backup!

We're 20 southwest

of the rec-fac.

Don't open the door!

Don't let it out!

Who goes there?

I can't fight it!

It's in me!

Commander Braddock!

There's a man in there.

Open it.

The lock is destroyed.

I gonna need a cutting torch.

How long?

At least half an hour,

maybe more.

What the f***

is going on here?

He committed suicide.

Before he slit his throat,

he yelled something...

something like, "Stay away!

Don't open the door.

Stay away."

And now

the commander's gone.

Maybe he was contagious.

Or crazy.

I don't know.

I say we take him at his word

and leave him locked in.

Look, one of us has

to stay with the rookies.

Why don't you go back to the jail?

I'll find the commander.

Let's get the hell

out of this place.

There's nothing we can do

for this guy.

You're right.

Okay, let's go.

Drop the weapon before

I cut this dyke b*tch head off!.

What the f*** happened?

Bashira let him out

for some food.

Let me guess.

You unshackled him.

- What do you want, Williams?

- I wanna get the f*** out of here.

We'll let you walk.

Just let the girl go.

You think I'm falling for that sh*t?

I can't let you take the rookie.

Take me, okay?

Put the gun down.

Put 'em down!

Drop your gun, Descanso.

Yeah, drop the gun, Descanso.

Relax! Take it easy!

Just relax, relax.

- You'll get what you want.

- I know I'll get everything I want.

Now let's go.

Damn girl,

I like you already.

Sh*t.

You okay?

Just swell.

- Where's Williams?

- He took off out the air lock.

He went into the clinic.

I saw him go in

not even two minutes ago.

Let me guess.

He's got your shotgun, right?

Couldn't help it.

He was too fast.

He's still in there though.

I can see the back door from here.

All right,

you two take the back door.

I'll go in front and flush him out.

If he comes at you, shoot to kill.

Now what?

How the hell did that happen?

- Let's go.

- Wait a minute.

Looks like you're

coming with me now.

You see what's going on out there.

You know I didn't kill nobody.

- I said move it.

- I ain't going nowhere.

I just saved your life.

You should let me go.

And I saved yours.

Looks like we're even.

Now move it!

Let me ask you something.

If you're so innocent, how come we

found all that stolen flash on you?

I didn't say I was innocent.

I said I didn't kill nobody.

Okay, let's say I believe you.

What exactly happened

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