Asylum: The Extinction Series, #4

Asylum

The EXTINCTION Series: Book Four

By

Miranda Nading

Copyright © August 2016 by Miranda Nading

All Rights Reserved

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The characters, places and events in this book are either fictitious or are used fictitiously. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes.

When no further can the heart descend

A touch, a heart, a hand extends.

The path to walk is still dark and steep,

Yet in love’s light, faith will leap.

—Miranda Nading

A SPECIAL THANKS TO my Constant Readers for their continued encouragement and support, and to new readers like Cheri Heck who remind me that stories have power.

TO MY GRATITUDE TO my cover artist, Carrie Peters at CheekyCovers.com and my editor, the Pedantic Punctuator for her support and encouragement. To Laura Stapleton for being the final grade.

WITHOUT YOU, THESE books would not be possible.

1

HIS BREATHING AND THE faint rumble of the ship’s engines were the only sound as Yuri lay on his side and glared at the transparent wall of his cell. Every inch of his body hurt, but the adhesive around the IV and the long needle buried in his arm seemed to irritate him more than the shrap wounds across his torso.

Being in a hospital on Earth was one thing. Being stuck in a sterile jail cell on a spaceship was its own unique brand of hell. Except for the dark eye of the camera in the corner, there was nothing but white. Even through the flexglass wall, there was nothing but white. No one even stood guard outside of his cell, so there was no one to talk. Or at least, none that seemed particularly interested in having a conversation with him. How much of that had to do with killing the astronaut that had tried to kill him, he couldn’t tell.

For the hundredth time, he let his eyes slide across the walls, looking for a plumbing or electrical access hatch he could use. For the hundredth time, he came up empty. He heaved a sigh and rolled carefully onto his back, trying to think of anything besides that night in the Cupola on the ISS. The night he’d spent in Mel’s arms. How soon after that had she turned them over to Victory? How soon after that first embrace had she tried to kill him?

He shook his head to clear it. Time was something he’d lost track of. He couldn’t even remember with any degree of certainty how long they’d been aboard Victory. He’d tried counting meals after they threw him into the cell, but the drugs the doctor had him on were good ones. Though they took the edge off his pain and dulled his senses, they seemed to be wearing off faster and faster after each dose.

Despite his best efforts, his brain betrayed him and kept pulling up images of Mel in the briefing room. She’d looked like death warmed over. Evidence of her nearly explosive decompression during her rescue from the control center of the International Space Station was still very much apparent, but she hadn’t looked beaten and broken. After the strange video call with her father—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, William Maitland was her father—she’d looked exactly that, broken. And that little girl? Was she Mel’s daughter? The likeness had been startling.

Then there was the matter of the handcuffs, the dark bruises around Melanie’s wrists.

Yuri shook his head. He couldn’t afford to feel sympathy or pity for a woman who had used him and tried to kill him. Not for a lady who had aligned herself with those who were canceling human rights and destroying everything Yuri held dear. He tried to tell himself he was only trying to figure out her motives, but it didn’t help.

Get up. The man they called Reeves seemed to draw the short straw a lot when it came to babysitting the new arrivals. Time for sick-call.

Groaning, moving slow and favoring his wounds more than he needed to, Yuri rolled over and put his feet on the floor. He took his time getting up and over to the visi-wall, trying to look helpless without overdoing it. Though the guard raised his weapon before he keyed in the sequence to retract the visi-wall, he looked considerably more relaxed than the last time he saw him. Relaxed, yes. Ready for Yuri to take him by surprise? Nyet.

He only hoped one of them would let their attention slip, just for a moment, when no one else was around. After that, he had no idea what he was going to do. He only knew if the opportunity presented itself, he had to take it. Even if it meant getting shot again.

There had been several trips to sick bay, another to the briefing room where he’d seen Mel and the eclipse. Using his memory of the ship’s exterior from the ISS, he had a pretty good idea of where the bridge and engineering should be. The problem was his hands. The lifts and several of the doors he thought he would need, required a full hand print reading. He doubted his would gain him anything other than a ship-wide alarm.

But then again, he only needed a hand. It would be messy, but if he could take Reeves or one of the others, he could drag their body into a storage closet and take what he needed. The idea sent a shiver of disgust through him, and even as he contemplated it, his eyes roamed the ceiling and walls for access panels. If they were there, and they had to be, they were well disguised.

The doors to Sick Bay slid open and Yuri froze, finding himself face to face with his commander and would-be assassin. Reeves gave him a nudge with the butt of his rifle and Yuri stepped inside, never taking his eyes off Mel. His mind and heart felt torn all over again. One wanted to strangle her where she stood, and the other wanted desperately to know if she was okay under all of those bruises, gaunt cheeks, and dark eyes.

I see Doc has taken good care of you, Commander. The bruises are already fading, The Captain came up behind them, startling Yuri out of this internal struggle.

Mel pulled her eyes from Yuri’s with what looked like more than a little effort, then smiled at the Captain as if he’d never held her prisoner. Thank you, Captain. I think I’m as ready as I’m going to be for that tour you promised.

Okay, big boy. Doc Kowalski patted the Halo table and threw Yuri a wink. Your turn.

Under the watchful eye of his guard, Yuri rolled onto the slab, grumbling over the insult of being called a boy. Doc punched in a few codes in the console and restraints slid over Yuri’s arms and legs, pinning him to the table like a bug on a collector’s tray.

Captain, our friend won’t be going anywhere for a few hours, Doc smiled and nodded his head toward Reeves. I’m sure there are things this young man could be doing that would be more useful than being in my way.

Reeves shrugged toward the Captain. Need to get the bay ready for the station’s payload.

Go ahead. Doc, call him back before releasing our esteemed cosmonaut. He turned to Mel. Though we hope for better with your engineer, Commander, considering his first encounter with one of our own, I think we’ll play it safe for a while.

I understand, Captain. Maybe after our tour, and his treatment, I could have some time to talk with him.

I don’t see why not. Now, where were we?

The Captain stepped into the corridor and the doors slid closed. Mel never looked back. The doctor played with his console a moment, tuning into the repeating broadcast to the planet. Yuri growled deep in his chest but kept his mouth shut.

Hmmm... not a big fan of this station, are you? the doctor asked as he initiated the Halo. Not a very talkative fellow, either?

Yuri held his tongue, keeping his eyes on the ceiling as the tingling sensation of the strange bed began to crawl over his skin.

Perhaps this will help loosen your tongue, the old man offered and he held a scalpel in front of Yuri’s eyes with a steady hand. The blade was long and reflected the light from an edge far more dangerous than any razor.

The doctor said nothing else until Yuri turned his head to meet his eyes. There was no sign of malice, that grandfatherly tenderness was still there, but the smile below them held an edge as sharp as the blade in front of Yuri’s eyes.

Let’s start with a basic question, the old man’s smile widened. If I let you off this table, would you kill Commander Melanie Edwards... or save her?

2

BY THE TIME THE DOCTOR finished explaining Melanie’s plans to take control of Victory and alert the world below, Yuri’s mind was reeling, the scalpel hovering two inches above his face all but forgotten. There was no chance, absolutely zero, of her pulling it off.

Before he could answer the doctor, the broadcast cut off, and Melanie’s voice filled the room. I am Commander Melanie Maitland Edwards of the International Space Station, and the daughter of C.O.R.E. Director and President, William Maitland. You have been lied to.

The doctor froze and turned toward the sound of her voice. Dear God, that crazy woman has done it.

William Maitland has been heralded as the savior of modern man. He’s spent the last forty years building an infrastructure that he, and he alone, controlled. He did this so that when he pulled the plug, there would be no chance to fight back, to recover. Twenty years ago, I tried to escape that world, to hide from it. They found me, and I’ve spent the time since working behind the scenes to be in a position to help if I could, to get the word out if I could not.

Let me up! Yuri hissed and struggled against his bonds. The doctor seemed frozen, fear etched across his round features. Doctor! Let me out of this thing!

Hands trembling, the doctor keyed in the shutdown and release sequence, then stepped back, the scalpel raised as if it would stop Yuri if he decided to kill the old man.

Is that being piped through the ship’s comms? Yuri asked, as he ripped the IV lines out of his arm.

The doctor stammered, looking lost and confused. Yes... Yes— well, I believe so.

His sole purpose is to orchestrate the end of what he and his company saw as a flawed race. In short, the extinction of everything we have ever known.

Don’t guess, make sure. How many men are on board this ship?

Ten... no... nine.

Yuri had reached his quota of patience. He slapped the hand with the scalpel aside and grabbed the doctor’s lab coat, shaking him. They are going to kill her!

To do this, he will use nuclear weapons to purge the planet, to initiate an ice age that will reset the Earth and wipe the slate clean. I’ve just learned that the timetable for this has been moved up and you don’t have much time.

Something slammed, metal on metal, in the background of the broadcast and the doctor’s face cleared. Nine! Two are out at the orbital, locking it down. One in the science lab with your friend, Kaito, and the Captain is probably locked in with Melanie. That leaves five that we’ll need to deal with.

To set the stage for this, to get what he wanted, he’s bought entire governments with promises that their families would enter the new age he is building. That, too, is a lie. Most have been taken to underground bunkers to wait to be reunited in this new existence, but only a select few will actually have that chance.

Yuri ran for the door, but the doctor called him back. Wait! You’ll need this!

Slapping a small device into his hand, the doctor grabbed one that was identical for himself before giving Yuri a small case.

What the hell is this? Yuri demanded.

Tranquilizers. The doctor used his free hand to grab Yuri’s shirt. Do not kill them unless you absolutely have to.

With that, he ran toward the door. Yuri snatched at his lab coat and jerked him back. Where do you think you’re going?

The rest will await death along with everyone else on our brutalized planet. They wait, not for rescue, but to be wiped off the face of the Earth with all those who my father has deemed unworthy.

The doctor froze as another crash rang through the broadcast. Then another. Reeves was headed down to prep for the payload. Two were in engineering the last time I checked, but they will all be headed this way now. I’ll try to catch up with them; you deal with the two that are working to get at the commander.

There is so much you need to know, but I don’t have much time. The bunkers sit in strategic locations all over the globe, but the ones with launch capabilities for ships such as this one are the ones you need to get to.

Yuri started through the door before realization set in that he didn’t know where he was going. Which way?

The doctor turned to a console and began scrolling through the menu. Right, down to the second corridor. They’ll be in the third hall on the left. I’ve quarantined this level of the ship, as long as the others haven’t made it this far, they won’t be able to without my override or the Captain’s unless they take the maintenance crawl spaces. With that, the doctor fled down the hall and palmed a lift at the end.

They are isolated, but with access. Heavily guarded with good visibility, so they will see you coming, but not everyone working inside is there by choice. They might be able to help. Those locations are Indian Springs, Nevada. Kake, Alaska. Anambas Natuna, in the South China Sea. Shuang Cheng Tzu in China. Woomera, Australia. Al Anbar, Iraq. South East of Suhar in Oman, The United Arab Emirates. San Marco Range off the Kenyan Coast. Svobodny and Baikonur, Russia.

Yuri ran to the end of the corridor and knelt down, bringing the small tranquilizer gun up to the ready before easing around to take a look. It was clear. So far so good. The intercom system continued to send Mel’s voice through the ship, but now he could hear cutting torches that didn’t sound filtered through the broadcast.

"Get organized, stay alive, and get to those bases. They are your only chance. As you hear this message, Maitland has crews working on getting nuclear warheads ready to launch, both from the Earth itself and from the orbital platforms. You are running out of time. You can’t stop what’s coming, no one can, but you can try to survive it.

He ran down to the next corridor, the sounds of the plasma cutters growing louder.

Gunny, if you can hear this... I’ve done all I can. Good luck, brother.

Yuri aimed the little gun and fired at the closest soldier.

Eve, please forgive me.

The gun was worthless at a distance, and the men had finished their cuts. As they pulled back, Yuri vaulted down the corridor, bent almost double at the waist and yelling as he had done on the football fields in college.

God, if you’re up there...

The door came down. One took aim and fired inside, but the other had heard Yuri and turned in his direction. Yuri had time to register the surprise on the young man’s face before he plowed into him, slamming into the man behind him and driving them both to the floor.

The gun had fallen to the floor during his charge, so he settled for his fist, using each one as a hammer, pile-driving the men into submission. When they were both unconscious, he retrieved the gun, rolled them over with the toe of his boot and shot each one in the ass for good measure.

Inside the room, the only sound was Melanie’s message as it looped back to the beginning. I am Commander Melanie Maitland Edwards of the International Space Station, and the daughter of C.O.R.E. Director and President, William Maitland. You have been lied to.

Taking a breath, steeling himself against what he might find inside, Yuri stepped through the doorway. Captain Melbourne was strapped to a chair, his hands tied and a gag hanging just below his mouth. Small blood trails ran down the left side of his face. Though he sat with stoic determination, trails of tears slid down his face. Help her, he muttered and nodded his head back and to the left.

Yuri looked down to find one small hand, palm up and covered with blood. Tears filled his eyes, but he clenched his jaw and choked back the cry that threatened. When he had control of everything but his tears, he nodded his head, raised the tranquilizer gun and fired. The small dart caught the Captain in the neck, and the effect was instantaneous. His eyes rolled back in his head and his body slumped against its bonds.

Letting the gun fall to the floor, Yuri walked around the Captain’s chair and dropped to his knees next to Melanie. Heedless of any soldiers that may have made it to this level, he gathered her into his arms, pressed his face to her throat and sobbed, Oh, Myshka... why couldn’t you trust me?

Another sob broke free as he felt her arms wrap around his neck, It had nothing to do with trust, you big dumb polar bear... and everything to do with risk.

3

MEL SHUT OFF THE SHIP wide broadcast but left the feed open to the satellite. When she finished, she turned and leaned against the console. The fact that she wasn’t dead slowly coalesced into her reality. When the opportunity had presented itself to get the word out, she hadn’t thought beyond that moment. Hadn’t planned for the idea that she would make it out of that room alive. Mel couldn’t move forward. Couldn’t beginning planning her next move until she reconciled the death she’d expected with the one that hadn’t come. How’s Captain Melbourne?

The wounds are shallow, Yuri answered. He stepped back from the unconscious man and took a closer look at Mel’s injuries. It looks like they were using non-lethal shrap.

The pointed look he gave Mel made her look away, the memory of their fight on the station was still too fresh. Probably didn’t want to risk killing their Captain.

Speaking of trying to kill a crewmember, you and I need to talk.

Stepping forward, Mel took his face in her hands, meeting his eyes and hoping he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she wasn’t hiding anymore. Before she could over think it, she pulled him down to meet his lips with her own and tried to convey, with everything in her, the genuine depth of her feelings.

He flinched away from the kiss, and for a moment her heart sank, afraid he would pull away completely. Instead, he held her gaze for a breathless second before wrapping a fist in her hair and claiming her lips, leaving her breathless when he finally pulled away.

And we will, he added after he released her, but we need to get control of this ship.

Where’s Doc?

He was headed below to tranquilize Reeves and the men in Engineering.

Fear for the old man’s safety shot through her, and she ran to the console. After finding the control menu to the com system, she keyed up engineering. Doc?

When he didn’t answer, panic began to settle in. Doc, answer me. Seconds passed with excruciating slowness. We need to get to him.

He quarantined this level, and only himself and the Captain can override it.

Mel’s mind seemed to do a cold start from shutdown mode to full throttle. It spun with the possibilities until her eyes fell on the Captain. Grabbing the scalpel off the floor, she freed one of Melbourne’s hands and wheeled his chair over to the console.

Slapping his hand palm down on the keypad, she hunted through the menu for the quarantine fields and found a new problem. The EVA crew is coming back!

What? Yuri pushed in next her, his hands flying through the menus. We cannot allow them to come in. Not yet. We’re not ready!

Get down there and be ready, I’ll unlock the quarantine.

We shouldn’t get separated.

No choice. She turned and kissed him, light and quick. We’ve got to help the doc and get these guys under wraps. I don’t have time to explain everything, but we need to get this bucket moving, and we can’t risk having anyone loose on the ship that’ll get in our way. Please, GO!

Yuri snatched a shrap gun from one of the unconscious soldiers and ran as Mel searched through the menu to release the quarantine. Indecision, between heading down to engineering to help Doc and remaining where she was, brought her to a halt.

Doubt could only mean one thing.

She was missing something.

Looking down at the Captain’s still form, she let her mind run back through a list of everyone she knew to be on the ship. The Captain was with her; Yuri was dealing with the two EVA crew members. Doc had two in engineering and Reeves.

What was missing?

She cast her memory back further, to the call with her father and Evie. Kaito!

No one had said anything about Kaito and Richter. Her fingers danced through the com menu and found the Science Lab. Kaito?

Silence.

There was entirely too much of that going around.

Kaito, this is Mel. Can you hear me?

Decision made, she palm-printed the Captain one more time and locked out the bridge using a simple password, one unlikely to be quickly deciphered by the crew of the ship. After a quick scan of the layout of the ship, she grabbed the second shrap gun and ran for the science lab.

The door didn’t open when she drew close, so she hit the button on the panel. Nothing.

She tried the com button. Kaito, are you there?

Silence.

Kaito, if you’re in there, open up!

There was no mistaking Kaito’s voice when he finally answered. The science officer had been ripped from his comfort zone when Victory docked with the space station, and they’d been thrown ass over teakettle by Mel’s attempt to save the station from the solar storms. The hysterical edge to his voice said he’d had enough. No!

Kaito, open the door so I can help you!

No!

Are you hurt?

A pause as if he hadn’t had time to stop and think about it. No... No, I don’t believe so.

The parallels between Kaito’s petulance and a teenager refusing to come out of their room hurt her heart before she shut the door on the ‘what could have been’s’ with Eve. Then open the door.

Where’s Yuri?

He’s securing the Victory crew, now open the damned door, Kaito.

No!

Oh for the love of... He was starting to chap her hide. She took a deep breath and pushed the button again. Would you open it for Yuri?

No!

What in the hell is wrong with you?

You two! he yelled through the com. "Every time I turn around one of you is trying to get me killed! I am done! I am not playing anymore and I want to go home!"

Kaito, she forced herself to remain calm, although she was half a heartbeat away from leaving him locked in the science lab. Do you still have an eye on the sun?

Mmm...Yes.

Is she happy?

Of course she’s not happy! he snapped.

Can you see what’s happening on the planet?

Y... yes.

Are you sure that’s where you want to go?

That’s not fair, Mel.

How about all those nukes pointed at it? Does that really make you want to go home?

Now you are just being mean.

And you’re being a big sissy girl.

If not wanting to be dead makes me a sissy girl then so be it! I’ll put on a dress and cook dinner and make cocktails!

Now you’re just being a chauvinistic ass!

I’m tired of you two trying to kill me!

Well I’m not trying to kill you now, I’m trying to help you so I can go back to helping Yuri and Doc, now open the damned door! That’s an order!

You’re not the boss of me!

Mel took her hand off the button before he could hear what she wanted to do to him and then what he’d said gave her an idea. You know, we’ve practically mutinied. Because you were under my command, you’re automatically guilty of treason by association. Besides that, I’ll tell them you helped. Now, if you help us and open this door, I’ll be in command and make you the Chief Science Officer of Victory. I’ll go back to helping Yuri and Doc while you think on that a bit.

You would tell them I helped you?

Oh, absolutely, Mel laughed. Hell hath no fury, Kaito.

With that, Mel turned to walk away, slowly. As she suspected, the door to the science lab slid open before she reached the end of the corridor.

Promise you won’t try to kill me anymore.

Mel turned and smiled at him, his fat lip and bloody nose caused a surge of guilt. I promise only to try to kill you if it’s for your own good.

Comforting. He snorted, then nodded his head towards the inside of the lab. What do I do with him?

For a moment, she didn’t know to whom he was referring. He’d been such a pain in the butt that she’d forgotten about Richter. When she stepped around the corner, her mouth dropped open and she couldn’t think of a single word to say before doubling over with laughter.

Richter was trussed up like a Christmas goose and hanging from one of the consoles. Wires that had once been in the panels behind the console, between the workstation and the monitors snaked out and wrapped around him so he was parallel to the screens. What appeared to be electrician’s tape was wrapped around his mouth but his eyes spoke volumes. If they cut him loose, he’d come down swinging.

Kaito narrowed his eyes at her. This is not funny.

She shook her head to disagree, but fought to get herself under control. When she finally stopped laughing, she wiped her eyes and said, Oh, I think we’d better leave him there for now.

She looked back over her shoulder as they headed for Coms. Can you fix that?

It’s just the geology station, Kaito smiled. I don’t think we’ll need it before Yuri has time to fix it.

I’m trying to imagine how you got him up there and just can’t quite make it happen.

I would not have had to if you had warned me about what you were planning, he grumbled. When the video came up, we both froze. As soon as I saw his Captain tied up, I knew he would think I was part of the mutiny so I hit him over the head with my tablet. Less than useful.

I’m guessing that’s where the bloody nose came from? she asked, choking back another bout of laughter.

Kaito cast a wary eye at the still-unconscious soldiers as he stepped over them, looking as if he half expected one to jump up and grab him. That was from trying to get him strung up. It was harder than you might think.

Oh, I’ve got a pretty good—

Captain Melbourne was waiting as they stepped through the Coms doorway, nursing his head with one hand and holding a gun in the other. His previous unflappable poise was nowhere in evidence and the hand holding the gun trembled. I think we’d better have a talk.

Kaito sighed and gave Mel a scathing look, I knew I should not have opened the door.

4

BY THE TIME YURI GOT to the airlock, it was cycling, filling the void that had encroached from space with breathable atmosphere and engineered gravity. The pad on the side indicated the cycle was already ninety five percent complete. If they opened the hatch and saw him standing there with a gun, chances are they would just shut the door in his face, suit back up and find another way in, one he hadn’t found. At least that’s what he would do if he were the one trying to get back on his ship and Mel had been the one taken prisoner.

Of course, if they got a good look at him, they would likely judge their chances of having the upper hand in a fight as more than good. And they’d be right. He had not had nearly enough time to heal.

He stepped to the side so the hatch would swing in front of him, hiding him from the men inside and waited. When the cycle indicator turned green, he braced himself, prepared to take advantage of the element of surprise, but the door remained closed.

There was no viewport to the interior of the EVA room. Unless there was a camera mounted outside and a monitor inside, they had no way of knowing he was there. He scanned the door for the telltale fish-eye lens, but saw nothing. Granted, it could have been positioned anywhere in the room, but Yuri doubted it. The stress imposed from the pressure changes, including gravity, would have made it a nuisance to maintain.

It was also possible that they were waiting for him to make the first move while they tried to contact help from within the ship. Though that seemed the more likely explanation, as time went by, he began to suspect it had been a ruse.

He didn’t know enough about this ship to say for sure that they couldn’t initiate the cycle and then back out before the outer hatch closed. For all he knew, there was a different hatch, a better hatch somewhere else on the ship. With so little information to go on, he’d simply made a beeline for the hatch they had brought him and his crew through after Melanie shot him and turned them over to Captain Melbourne.

Patience worn thin by doubts and second thoughts, Yuri pushed away from the wall as the seal broke on the hatch, hissing quietly to equalize the pressure between the two compartments. He stepped back and watched as the hatch came open just enough for the men inside to get a look at the corridor. After a whispered exchange, the door swung towards Yuri and he put a hand up to buffer the space between the heavy metal hatch and his nose.

Muffled steps were his only indication the men were leaving the airlock. He counted to five, shoved the hatch back the other way and stepped up behind them, raising the shrap gun. Stop where you are and hands up!

Both men stopped and raised their hands, one muffling a comment in Russian that sounded vaguely familiar. Neither man could be considered small, but the one on the right rivaled Yuri in size. Petre? Petre Gottschalk?

The larger man froze before turning his