Shehadn’tfixed worse. She hadn’t fixed anything close to this. But she’d been too grateful for the help to say so.
The walk to the spaceport was cold and dim. She passed The Emporium, its windows dark. Harry’s shop, unlit.
The elevator carried her up to the control tower, and when the doors opened, Sam was at his console. He looked the same as he had for five days: exhausted and grim.
“Morning,” she said.
He didn’t return the greeting. Instead, he turned from his console and held up a d-pad. “This came in twenty minutes ago. Official transmission. You need to confirm receipt with a thumbprint.”
Holly took the pad. The screen displayed a formal notice bearing the seal of the Way Station Registry. She read it, and the words landed like stones dropped into her stomach, one after another.
NOTICE OF SCHEDULED INSPECTION. Moone’s Landing, Lars-Vector-2. Pursuant to Regulation 4.7(c) of the Galactic Way Station Operational Code, a snap inspection has been scheduled for the above-named station, to be conducted in three (3) standard days from the date of this notice. This inspection has been triggered by a formal complaint filed by an anonymous party alleging multiple maintenance deficiencies and operational violations. The registered owner is required to confirm receipt of this notice and ensure full access to all station systems and facilities for the duration of the inspection. Failure to comply may result in immediate suspension of operational status.
Holly read it again. The words didn’t change.
“Three days,” she said.
“Three days,” Sam confirmed.
She pressed her thumb to the pad. The screen flashed green. Confirmed. Received. The clock was ticking.
Forty
Holly set the pad on the console. Her voice came out flat. Emptied. “Any of the festival guests could have filed this. Someone who saw the water failure. Someone who felt the pressure shift. Someone who noticed the force field flickering when they left.”
“Could have,” Sam said.
Their eyes met. “It wasn’t Rasker.” Everyone knew where he’d been the night everything went wrong.
“Didn’t say it was.” Sam sighed. “Damn strange, if you ask me.”
“I’m going to double-check something.” Holly pulled out her wrist comm and called Mr. Binn. The lawyer answered on the fourth chime, his voice carrying its usual crisp professionalism.
“Ms. Greene-Moone. How may I assist you?”
“I’m sending you a message I just received from the Way Station Registry. You should have it now. It’s a snap inspection notice prompted by an anonymous complainant. Can you take a look and tell me if this is legitimate?”
A brief pause. “I’m afraid so, yes. Regulation 4.7(c) permits any party to file a complaint alleging operational deficiencies. The identity of the complainant is protected under the registry’swhistleblower provisions. An anonymous filing is a valid trigger for early inspection.”
“Can I challenge it? Delay it?”
“You may file a formal objection if you believe the complaint was filed in error or foul play was involved.” A pause. “Is foul play involved, Ms. Greene-Moone?”
“I…don’t know,” Holly said. “We had a lot of sudden system failures. Too many to be a coincidence.”
Mr. Binn’s voice softened, just slightly. “I’m sorry, Ms. Greene-Moone. I wish I had better news, but the inspection can’t be halted without proof of deliberate sabotage.”
Holly briefly closed her eyes. “Thank you, Mr. Binn.”
She ended the call and stood in the control tower, looking out the observation window at the landing pads below. The force field shimmered unsteadily, its rainbow ripple a visible reminder of everything that was wrong.
“Sam.” She turned to him. “What can we realistically fix in three days?”
Sam didn’t answer immediately. He pulled up a list on his console, the master log of every active failure on the station, and scrolled through it with the deliberation of a man reading a will.
“The force field; I can keep it stable with the bypass. It’s ugly, but it works.” He scrolled further. “I’ve got a workaround in progress for the air pressure. Should have that stabilized by tomorrow.” He paused. “Water system is a problem. The caverns are still flooded. Without draining them, I can’t access the ruptured conduit, and without the conduit, there’s no running water. Inspectors will flag that immediately.”
“The lighting?”
