Jupiter's Reef Read Free Page A

the skies of Mars, and after checking the ship’s systems several times, Alex’s confidence in the ship returned. He raised the viewscreen and directed the outboard cameras on the ship’s underbelly to rise from their secured position and examine the integrity of the hull. After careful scrutiny of the images, Alex saw only traces of ice still clinging in a few crevices. The rest had either blown away or been melted by the ship’s still warm polyceramic shielding.
    He trained the camera on the forward skid plate and saw that it was seated at a slight angle. Alex thought about their situation. A moment ago they were facing doom. Now they were in the same situation they had been in when they arrived on Mars; a nick ahead of the law and in need of repairs.
    He looked again at the bent skid plate. Maybe they wouldn’t need it. But maybe they would. Of course he wasn’t the only one to have a say in this.
    “What do you want to do, Mary?” he asked.
    “I want to go to Earth. You know that.”
    “The computer wants us to get repaired.” Alex looked at the view screen and touched the console. A map of Mars showed them gaining on Isidis Base. Their telemetry was already being generated from the base.
    “There’s a lot of chatter on the radio,” said Mary, touching the spot on her temple where her augmentation tabs used to sit. “We’re the talk of the planet.”
    “Well, that’s great. Just when we are trying to slip off to Earth with as little flap as possible. Now we’re in the spotlight. Call me Mr Lucky.”
    Mary nodded. “By now old Professor Johnny knows we’ve stiffed him, I’ll bet.” She stroked her snow white hair nervously. “He still has power. He gave us this ship and he can take it away just as easily.”
    “He was going to steal our discovery,” argued Alex. “Dingers to him, I say.”
    “The question is, what if he says dingers to us?” argued Mary. “I’m a Sensor. To some in the Corporation, I’m property.”
    “And to MarsCorp, I’m scum,” said Alex.
    “No,” said Mary, thoughtfully. “It’s on Io that you’re scum. Here, you’re a stranger.”
    Alex stared at Mary for a moment, wondering if she was serious. His expression forced a laugh from her.
    “Very funny,” he said. “So do we go to Isidis or not?”
    “We hit the ice dune pretty hard,” she said. “I think we need to check her out if we’re headed to Earth.”
    From below them two hyperscooters, little scout ships favored by MarsCorp Patrol, came up on either side of Diver . Matching her speed and heading, they flanked the ship, dipping up and down like dragonflies watching prey. Alex could see the pilots examining Diver for signs of damage. Finally they broke an apparent radio silence with a terse report.
    “MarsCorp Patrol Isidis Sector ... You look okay ... Diver . You’re cleared ... to land at Isidis. Follow current heading.”
    “Nice of you guys to come and check us over,” radioed Alex.
    “Nothing nice about it,” whispered Mary. “If we weren’t fit to land and tried it, they’d shoot us down. Remember, Alex, this is Mars and any ship is a potential threat to the Project.”
    “You’re kidding,” said Alex, making sure his radio was off. “What could WE do? Nick a hole in a terraforming steam tower?”
    “There’s big resistance to the Project,” said Mary. “MarsCorp has a policy and that’s it. All threats are dealt with equally.”
    “Harsh,” said Alex, shaking his head. “Very harsh!”
    He looked at the little ships that were tracking Diver . He could easily see that their underbellies were bristling with weapons pods.
    “They do this often?” he asked.
    “It’s standard response for anything out of the norm. And our little emergency might just as easily be a ruse. They weren’t so much checking us for damage as looking for weapons.”
    Alex shook his head. “I feel like a convict already,” he grumbled.
    He thought for a minute and raised a finger. “Well okay,