Read Online Recon Marines III: The Marine's Doctor by Susan Kelley - Free Book Online
Authors: Susan Kelley
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Hector said.
Molly thought of a man compassionate
enough to stand guard over an unconscious, dangerous freak. A man
who dreamed of learning everything about everything as she did.
“Only someone incredibly strong could survive that. Like fine steel
melded into something unbreakable.”
****
Something about the spinning station
raised the hairs on Mak’s neck. He knew to trust his instincts.
They’d flown around it twice, scanning every level of the ten-story
structure. The second level from the top was for ship docking. One
old derelict ship sat in a bay but the rest of the space was empty.
The landing lights responded to the standard military signals,
opening a door to welcome them.
Nothing living showed on the scanner
though power still operated on all the levels. Most military bases
like this one would have barracks on the floors right below the
docks and below those would house work areas and perhaps officers’
quarters. It made little sense for the power to still be on. A
careless oversight when the base was evacuated quickly?
Pender flew the ship into the bay with
a casual perfection. “Same formation as on the planet,
sir?”
Mak waited until the ship settled onto
the platform. Outside scanners still showed no movements or signs
of life. He would have preferred to explore the entire base by
himself but that would take hours. The doctors might spot
indications of lab work if any was performed here. Julian might
have communicated with this station about supplies and nothing
else. If they couldn’t find anything, they would be at a dead
end.
“ I want you on rear guard,
Pender. I’ll keep Corporal Box in front with me.” Mak left unspoken
that he didn’t trust Box and wanted to keep an eye on him. “We’ll
be searching through any communications equipment we find. You and
I will explore the control tower on the top floor after we escort
the doctors through the sublevels.” The top floor would have all
the scanners used when the station was active, the actual brains of
the spinning platform. “Gravity is normal and air quality
acceptable. Arm up, Pender. I’ll make sure the doctors are ready to
go.”
Molly had her team prepared, all of
them armed with backpacks and other bags in their hands. Corporal
Box waited with them, spreading his glare between Mak and the
doctors. Mak didn’t need the man to like him, only to follow
orders.
“ No one can go off on
their own,” Mak ordered. “Stay in one group. If you see something
that needs a longer examination, we’ll all stop.”
“ Is there someone here?”
Molly asked.
“ Nothing living. Corporal,
you’re with me.” Mak led them to the door. He kept his rifle slung
on his back, leaving his hands free to open doors. He handed the AI
unit to Box. “Keep an eye on the scanners.”
Molly slipped in between Mak and Box,
her familiar footsteps trying to distract him. He led them down the
first flight of metal stairs, the air stale and smelling of rust.
Mak used the override code the general had given him to unlock the
door into the residential levels. It slid open, a rush of warmer
air greeting them. Mak scented old sweat and spoiled food. Lights
came on with a wave of his hand over a panel. They stood in an
eating and socializing area with two halls leading off from both
sides.
“ The hall is a circle if
this is a standard design. Everyone wait here and I’ll check. It’s
a waste of time for us all to walk around.” Mak took off at a jog,
finding the rooms empty with beds stripped. Fifty double occupancy
rooms on this level. They found the same abandoned rooms on the
next level. After returning from his quick check of that floor, Mak
led them down the next set of stairs. The feeling of apprehension
came over him again.
The locks gave way before his codes
and the lights answered, throwing harsh brightness over a wide-open
area that looked like a training room. Equipment for obstacle
courses, strength training and other exercise devices lay
Molly thought of a man compassionate
enough to stand guard over an unconscious, dangerous freak. A man
who dreamed of learning everything about everything as she did.
“Only someone incredibly strong could survive that. Like fine steel
melded into something unbreakable.”
****
Something about the spinning station
raised the hairs on Mak’s neck. He knew to trust his instincts.
They’d flown around it twice, scanning every level of the ten-story
structure. The second level from the top was for ship docking. One
old derelict ship sat in a bay but the rest of the space was empty.
The landing lights responded to the standard military signals,
opening a door to welcome them.
Nothing living showed on the scanner
though power still operated on all the levels. Most military bases
like this one would have barracks on the floors right below the
docks and below those would house work areas and perhaps officers’
quarters. It made little sense for the power to still be on. A
careless oversight when the base was evacuated quickly?
Pender flew the ship into the bay with
a casual perfection. “Same formation as on the planet,
sir?”
Mak waited until the ship settled onto
the platform. Outside scanners still showed no movements or signs
of life. He would have preferred to explore the entire base by
himself but that would take hours. The doctors might spot
indications of lab work if any was performed here. Julian might
have communicated with this station about supplies and nothing
else. If they couldn’t find anything, they would be at a dead
end.
“ I want you on rear guard,
Pender. I’ll keep Corporal Box in front with me.” Mak left unspoken
that he didn’t trust Box and wanted to keep an eye on him. “We’ll
be searching through any communications equipment we find. You and
I will explore the control tower on the top floor after we escort
the doctors through the sublevels.” The top floor would have all
the scanners used when the station was active, the actual brains of
the spinning platform. “Gravity is normal and air quality
acceptable. Arm up, Pender. I’ll make sure the doctors are ready to
go.”
Molly had her team prepared, all of
them armed with backpacks and other bags in their hands. Corporal
Box waited with them, spreading his glare between Mak and the
doctors. Mak didn’t need the man to like him, only to follow
orders.
“ No one can go off on
their own,” Mak ordered. “Stay in one group. If you see something
that needs a longer examination, we’ll all stop.”
“ Is there someone here?”
Molly asked.
“ Nothing living. Corporal,
you’re with me.” Mak led them to the door. He kept his rifle slung
on his back, leaving his hands free to open doors. He handed the AI
unit to Box. “Keep an eye on the scanners.”
Molly slipped in between Mak and Box,
her familiar footsteps trying to distract him. He led them down the
first flight of metal stairs, the air stale and smelling of rust.
Mak used the override code the general had given him to unlock the
door into the residential levels. It slid open, a rush of warmer
air greeting them. Mak scented old sweat and spoiled food. Lights
came on with a wave of his hand over a panel. They stood in an
eating and socializing area with two halls leading off from both
sides.
“ The hall is a circle if
this is a standard design. Everyone wait here and I’ll check. It’s
a waste of time for us all to walk around.” Mak took off at a jog,
finding the rooms empty with beds stripped. Fifty double occupancy
rooms on this level. They found the same abandoned rooms on the
next level. After returning from his quick check of that floor, Mak
led them down the next set of stairs. The feeling of apprehension
came over him again.
The locks gave way before his codes
and the lights answered, throwing harsh brightness over a wide-open
area that looked like a training room. Equipment for obstacle
courses, strength training and other exercise devices lay
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