Cities of Mars

Chapter 3 – Preparations

Chapter 3 – Preparations

They docked with Red Sky and disembarked. Some of the other passengers shook Zack's hand before heading off to their workplaces. The air was soon full of the ripping sounds of their boots.

Dale covered his ears. “Those sticky boots are horrible. I've only worn them for short periods at a time. I can't imagine having to live in the things. How do all the workers deal with the racket?”

“Most of us use electronic plugs,” Eliza said. She turned her head and pointed to her ear. There was a device wedged in there, barely visible. “They're tuned to the particulars of the sounds the boots make. They cancel the noise out, but allow other sounds unimpeded. You'll want to get fitted for some if you intend to stay on Red Sky for very long.”

“Huh. I might just do that.”

Eliza led them into the station. Her office was closer than Zack's, so they went there instead. She opened the door and held it for her guests.

Dale glanced around the office. It was small, but neat, and it gave an impression of order and efficiency. A pair of armchairs faced a cheap metal desk. Behind the desk was a large swivel chair, and behind that was a thick window. He walked over to the window and looked down. A sliver of Mars was visible below, shining bright and orange against the black backdrop. The surface was decorated with circles, polygons, ovals, and lines—the domes, tunnels, roads, and railroads of the settlements.

“I've got all the data at hand here,” Eliza said, gesturing to the screen on her desk. “Please have a seat at the desk, Mr. Kinmont.”

Zack sat in the swivel chair and began skimming the figures on the screen.

Dale pulled his gaze away from the window and walked around the desk. He and Eliza sat in the armchairs facing Zack.

“I'm not happy with the progress of the ship,” Zack said. He frowned at the screen. “I'd like to speed it up. Your thoughts?” He looked up at Eliza.

“It won't be easy,” she said. “Or cheap. We're already on three shifts.”

“I think we can strip out a few things.” Zack nodded at the data. “The galley, for instance. No need to construct that. We'll just use the hibernation pods.”

“Not possible, I'm afraid. There aren't any pods available for installation. The manufacturer had some issues. Delivery was delayed.”

“How long?”

“Six months.”

Zack swore softly. “Then that's out. I guess we'll have to pack food after all. Dehydrated meals, I suppose. Packets that only require water to be added. That sort of thing.”

Eliza made a face. “That won't be popular.”

“We'll call them rations. The passengers will be going to defend Hesperus, after all, so they might as well start thinking of themselves as soldiers.”

“Are we sending employees to fight?” Dale asked.

“I'll get to that in a moment.” Zack looked at Eliza. “One month. I want the ship ready to go in one month. Pay whatever overtime you have to. Cut short the space trials. And forego any components that aren't absolutely necessary to get those men to Venus alive. Time is worth more than money, so spend whatever you need to meet the deadline.”

Eliza nodded. “Ya. Understood.”

“Now... about soldiers.” He leaned back and pursed his lips thoughtfully. “We'll need men, obviously. No women, though. Conditions will be crowded, and tempers will be short. It's several weeks to Venus, and having a mixed group is just asking for hormone-related shenanigans. After all, these are civilian recruits we're talking about here, not professional soldiers. Now, to answer Dale's question, I'm not going to start conscripting my employees. I belong to the Free Space Party, not the 'Slave Army' Party. So that means volunteers. Earth is off-limits, Hesperus is already preparing for its own defense, and Crater is in Nat's pocket. That limits our recruiting to Mars. Fortunately, we have the people here to fill our needs. We should be able to successfully recruit an army to defend Venus against Nat's bunch.”

“And what about Mercury?” Dale asked. “I'm not giving up on them. And I owe them. I'd like to go back, and I want some guys with guns with me. Can we defend Venus and capture Mercury at the same time?”

“That depends.” Zack gave him his famous half-smile. “How good are you at recruiting?”

“Me?” Dale blinked. “I don't know the first thing about it. I figured you'd be doing it. You're the CEO, after all. You're in charge of this whole operation.”

“But you're the Hero of Hesperus.” Zack c****d an eyebrow. “That's what will rally the people. I saw the way the Hesperans looked at you in those weeks after the revolution. I heard the things they said to you and the things they said about you when you weren't in earshot. They loved you, Dale. They admired you. You're a natural leader. You're just not comfortable with leading yet. But if you can step outside your comfort zone, and send out a call to arms, then I think Mars will respond. I think you'll get your volunteers.”

“I tried something like that in Crater, remember?” Dale grimaced. “I thought everyone there would jump at the chance to follow me. But they didn't. Their revolution failed, and a lot of them died. And it was all for nothing. I was arrogant. You said so yourself, and you were right. I can't make that mistake again.”

Zack shook his head. “Like I said before, Mars isn't Mercury. The two planets are about as different as they can be. The people here are not psychologically defeated like the Hermians were. There's a real can-do spirit here, especially among the Nerians, but in the national cities, too, to some degree. You're not convinced yet because you've never seen Mars for yourself.”

“I don't know...”

“Trust me, Dale.” Zack gave him an earnest look. “Have faith in my judgment. Give recruiting a try. You might be surprised.”

Eliza looked at Dale. “You can do it. I trust your uncle implicitly. If he says a thing is so, then it is so.”

Dale looked at her, and then back at Zack. After a moment, he sighed. “All right. I'll give it a shot. But I have no idea what I'm doing. I'll need help writing speeches and stuff.”

Zack smiled. “I think I can help with that.”

Dale gave him a grateful look.

“Now that the recruitment issue is settled,” Eliza said, “there's the matter of armament. The men will need guns. I suggest seeking out a deal with Bellona Firearms.”

“Sounds good,” Zack said. “We'll have big orders to fill, and they've got the capacity. They might be the only dealer with the capacity. They're as Nerian as Nerian gets, though, so they might need some persuading. Don't delegate this one. I'd like you to personally meet with their CEO.”

“Ya. Will do.”

“I'd also like Dale to go with you.”

Dale's eyebrows shot up.

Eliza gave Zack an uncertain look, but shrugged. “You're the boss.”

“And now,” Zack said, “I'd like to speak to Dale alone.”

“Of course.” She rose from her seat. “I'll start making the arrangements. I'll contact you when I've made an appointment with Bellona.”

“Thank you.”

She left the office.

Dale watched the door close. When it clicked shut, he turned to Zack. “Why do I need to go talk to the gun guy? Eliza seems capable. She can probably handle it by herself.”

“She's very capable. And of course she can handle it. That's why I want you to tag along. You can learn a thing or two from her.” He leaned forward. “I won't always be around to help you. And neither will Eliza. You should try to learn as much as you can from us while you can. You're my heir, Dale. I made the last of the legal arrangements on the God's Eye Nebula. You'll be CEO of Tanaka-Chandra some day. It's my duty to prepare you for that as best I can.”

Dale's stomach churned. It was a huge responsibility. He doubted he was up to it.

“A word of warning, though. Eliza is an excellent driver. Perhaps the best on Mars. And she knows it.”

“I don't get it. What's the 'warning' part?”

Zack chuckled. “You'll find out. Oh—one more thing.” He leaned back and clasped his hands behind his head. “The Martians don't use net goggles. This is the most advanced planet in the system, and that technology is obsolete here. The people here use ocular implants. They're still kind of a new technology, but most of the bugs have been fixed, and now they work like a charm. They're tiny things that are inserted in the eyeballs and attached to the optic nerves. You won't even know they're there unless you're using them. I'll be getting fitted for a pair myself, and I've made an appointment for you, too. It's tomorrow morning.”

Dale frowned. “You could have asked me first. Maybe I don't want something shoved in my eyeballs, you know?”

“I knew you'd balk a little. That's why I sent Eliza out. I didn't want you to look like a whiner in front of her.”

“Oh, well, thanks, I guess.” Dale rolled his eyes.

“It's a quick, painless procedure. And it's necessary for us to stay in contact. You'll be meeting with Bellona Firearms on the surface. I'll remain here on Red Sky. But we'll still need to coordinate. It's a small sacrifice. Don't make it a bigger deal than it is.”

Dale folded his arms across his chest. “I don't know...”

“You already need medical care,” Zack said. “You want a new ear, right? I certainly would if some psycho had bitten mine off. And your hand probably needs attention. I'm sure that doctor from Crater did his best, but, well, it's Crater. This is Mars, and the doctors do things differently here. Better. Once they start to examine you, they'll see all your injuries. I imagine they'll be horrified at the way some things have healed. They'll want to rebuild you from scratch. You can have the implant inserted while you're undergoing all the other procedures. Get it all over with at the same time, you know?”

“Well...” Dale gave him a hard look, but he finally sighed, and his shoulders slumped with resignation. “All right. I'll do it. And you're right. I do want a new ear.” His hand drifted up to where his ear had been bitten off. He ran his fingers along the jagged edge of cartilage. It had healed, but he knew it looked terrible. It would be nice to be whole again. He dropped his hand and flexed the fingers. They worked, but he hadn't regained full strength. Maybe the docs could help with that, too. Mercury had damaged him, but perhaps Mars could repair him.

“Then I suppose that's that.” Zack rose from his seat and walked around the desk. His sticky boots seemed unnaturally loud in the small room. He opened the door and held it for Dale.

Dale rose and exited the office.

Zack followed, closing the door behind him. “Don't worry. Everything will be fine. You've suffered lots of injuries, but Martian doctors are the best. They'll completely overhaul your body, and by this time tomorrow, you'll be a new man.”

* * *

The next morning, Dale got his overhaul. He opened his eyes and squinted. The light was too bright.

“Welcome back,” said a woman in a nurse's uniform. “How are you feeling?”

He spoke, but what came out was gibberish.

“That's all right. Don't try to talk. Take a few minutes to get your bearings. I'll tell Miss Solberg you're awake.” She scurried out.

He looked around. He was in a hospital room. There was a moment of panic when he couldn't remember anything. Then it all came back to him: he skipped back to Port Weir from Red Sky. He had arrived in Martian space the day before, and now the doctors were going to evaluate his injuries and fix what they could. They had just been about to put him under. Or had they already? Had the surgery already happened?

He glanced down at his body. His right hand was wrapped in... something. It was a sort of blueish sleeve. He had never seen anything like it.

He flexed his fingers. They seemed to be working. He balled them into a fist and squeezed. No pain.

“Hello, Dale.” Eliza entered the room. “How are you feeling?”

He swallowed and concentrated on getting the words out. “I'm fine, I guess,” he said slowly and carefully. “A little woozy. What's my status?”

“Your procedures were all successful. Your hand is still in the process of being repaired from the inside. You'll need to wear the sleeve for a few days. But it shouldn't interfere with anything. The doctors cleaned up the work that was done on your left arm and shoulder. They've implanted you a new ear seed, though it will take a few weeks before it's fully grown. You should be able to feel the implant. When it comes in, it will look completely natural—much better than the old grow-and-plant method.”

He touched the side of his head. There was a small hard object inside what remained of his right ear, just under the skin. The “ear seed,” he supposed. Some sort of stem cell thing—he didn't understand how it worked. But assuming it did work, it would soon grow into a new ear. He rolled it around a little with his fingers.

“And,” Eliza said, “they gave you ocular implants so you can join the rest of us on the Martian network. The doctors usually wait twenty-four hours before activating them, mainly to make sure the body doesn't have any kind of adverse reaction to them. That sort of thing is rare, but they're sticklers about it, and they wouldn't budge when I tried to persuade them to get you synced up today. They insisted on waiting until tomorrow. But we don't have a day to waste, so we're going to cheat.” She winked. “I've read the manual, and these things are fairly straightforward, so even though I'm not a doctor or a nurse, I can help you get started. So... ready to try them out?”

“I guess.” He blinked a few times and looked around, but nothing looked different. “Are you sure they're in there?”

She laughed. “Ya. I'm sure. They just need to be activated and synced. I'll walk you through it. Ready?”

“Yeah.”

She pulled a tablet from her pocket. She tapped on it a few times, and then held it in front of him. “Just focus on the dot.”

Dale focused. The screen was black with a red dot in the middle. After a few seconds, he frowned. “I don't get it. What am—whoa!”

The word “Initializing” appeared in front of him, hanging in the same spot in the air wherever he turned his gaze. Moments later, it disappeared, and a “Menu” button appeared in his lower left field of view.

“Do you see the menu button?” Eliza asked.

“Yes.”

“Concentrate on it. Imagine touching it with your finger. Don't actually move your finger, though. Remember, the implant is connected directly to your brain via the optic nerve. Just use your mind.”

He did, and the menu appeared. He looked at her. “That's really cool.”

She grinned. “Ya, it is.”

“I wish we'd had these in Scenic Ridge.”

“Wish all you want, but Earth's governments will never allow them.”

“I suppose you're right.” It was a sad thought. It was only his first full day on Mars, but he had already seen a glimpse of what it had to offer. It made his Earth upbringing seem primitive by comparison. How many other things had he missed out on?

“You can make the menu button disappear, too,” Eliza said. “Which you'll want to do most of the time, since it would be distracting otherwise. The implants are designed to be completely unobtrusive when you're not using them.”

“Good.” He focused on the menu button, willing it to disappear, but it remained. He frowned. “It's not working. I can't make it go away.”

“There's nothing to it. Try again.”

He tried; nothing changed. He sighed. “This is stupid.”

“Come on,” she said, laughing and offering him her hand. “Let's go. I'll show you how to use the implants on the way down.”

He took her hand and rose to his feet. There was a little dizziness, but it quickly passed. She held his arm to support him and led him into the hall.

“Wait a minute.” Dale had been focused on trying to make the menu button go away, and had almost missed what she had said. “You'll show me 'on the way down'? You mean to the surface? Where are we going?”

“Bellona Firearms, of course.” She gave him one of her dazzling smiles. “We're going to make a deal, remember? I hope you're up to it.”

* * *

Dale and Eliza made their way to one of Port Weir's surface-bound docks and waited for the next shuttle.

Dale looked around the boarding area. A handful of people stood around, waiting to descend to the planet. They looked bored. He, on the other hand, was almost jumping up and down. He couldn't wait to see Mars from ground level.

A voice declared the shuttle ready for boarding, and the door opened.

Dale let Eliza lead him inside. They took their seats and strapped in.

When everyone was strapped in and the shuttle was sealed off, the captain spoke.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” he said. “I hope you're all ready to go to Mars. Please observe the counter mounted on the wall in front of you. That's our countdown. When it reaches zero, we'll disengage from Port Weir. Until then, sit back and relax.”

Dale looked up. One minute to go.

“After the meeting,” Eliza said, “I'll show you around Nerio. Okay?”

“Okay.” He blinked and rolled his eyes around in all directions. The menu button was still there. “I just wish I knew how to use these implants. This menu thing is driving me crazy.”

“Well, if you can't make it disappear, why not practice a little with it? Try sending me a message. Remember: you don't have to actually say the words. Just think them. The device will do the rest.”

“All right. Here it comes.” He concentrated on composing a message, and then sent it—he hoped—to Eliza's implants via the Martian communication network.

A moment later, she laughed.

“What?” Dale asked. “What did I do?”

“Nothing.” She shook her head and grinned. “You just, uh, garbled your words a little.”

“How little?”

“You said 'Eliza eyeball flying potato dinosaur gets inside.'”

Dale sighed. “I meant to say, 'Eliza, I hate having this thing inside my eyeball.'”

She laughed again. “After we take care of business on the surface, I'll help you practice more with the implants. Okay?”

“Thanks,” Dale mumbled. It was a bit demoralizing. Had he ever done anything right the first time? He tried to think, but he couldn't recall a single instance.

The seconds ticked down to zero, and the craft uncoupled from Port Weir.