© Becca and Dana Simmons 2001 The Young Riders is an Ogiens/Kane Production, created by Ed Spielman.
We only borrow his characters for fun. No infringement of copyright intended. There is absolutely no financial gain for the authors. We survive on the feedback, and we need plenty of it.

2313
Chapter 13

"They're staying far too calm, Kid!" Jimmy eyed the convicts suspiciously, all of them behaving exemplary for a fortnight. All the works done, not one single escape tentative, not one single fist fight, not even a foul thought registered. "This ain't normal."

Kid chuckled at his side. "That Longley fellow surely keeps giving you the eye Jimmy. Ever since you pushed him into the ditch he's been eyeing you. I don't know what to say about the glances he's been..."

"Oh, shut up Kid, it wasn't intentional, he was in my way, that's all. Why don't you go find Lou instead?"

Kid threw an amused smile over Jimmy's shoulder. "Needin' privacy here Jimmy? It's about time too, tomorrow at about this time the place will be swamped with colonizers."

Jimmy turned on his heels looking in the direction Kid's eyes were pointing. Amanda came walking to them, looking down on her noppo-screen. Jimmy smiled involuntary, but caught himself to instead turn around and snap at Kid. But the man was already leaving them, walking to the newly built town hall

"Hey Kid!" Amanda hollered, "wait up a minute, there's a slight problem!" Reaching Jimmy's side Amanda smiled at him. "Can't believe I almost missed this!"

"What?" Jimmy leaned in to catch a glimpse of what was shown on the minute screen, and to catch a sniff of Amanda's hair too, to be truthful. Each day that passes with them working together had Jimmy's mind wandering on in non-work related directions. In fact, right now he wanted to slide his hands around her waist and kiss her.

"Lot 45SE has never been checked for vegetation potential, and it's marked as farming area. By whom I have no idea, seems strange to me. The satscan's can't pic it up either, seems like something is blocking the view. We need you to ride up there and make a visual survey."

"Where?" Kid asked as he too leaned in over the noppo. Pushing Jimmy closer to Amanda. Jimmy threw him a murdering glance, he surely needed no help from a monk!

"Sorry, Jimmy," Kid mumbled, not quite managing to hide the amusement.

"Lot 45SE, a day's ride southeast. The part where the landslides has made most devastation. This just doesn't seem to be right. We gotta go there and check it out. We need Lou and Buck too Kid, can you get 'em? We need to ride out immediately, need to report back by tomorrow when the settlers arrive, wouldn't want anyone of them picking the area if it ain't fit to live in."

"Tomkins just arrived by the way," Kid remarked as he walked away.

"Who?"

"The provider," Amanda told Jimmy. "He's bringing all the equipment for them settlers. ASA's will be starting to fly in very soon."

"You sure Barnett's gonna be able to handle it back there?" Jimmy asked the woman riding besides him for the fifth time.

Amanda grunted irritably in reply, casting him a tired glance. But Jimmy still felt like something was about to happen. He couldn't exactly explain why but ever since they left Sweetwater he had the urge to keep watching their backs. He watched Buck driving the wagon with the equipment, he seemed calm and relaxed. Calm to an extent that irritated Jimmy. He let his eyes wander over to Kid and Lou riding close, Kid chuckling at something Lou had said, looking at the young woman. Jimmy shook his head, even if the sky came crumbling down Kid would probably not notice since Lou was around.

"What's wrong Jimmy?" Amanda asked at his side.

"I don't know," Jimmy admitted, "can't exactly tell you something is wrong, it's just that the whole thing seems surreal."

"They're all being thought-controlled, Jimmy. The slightest intention and Barnett will be warned!"

"I know Amanda, I know. But you gotta admit that the monitoring seems suspect too, heck they've showed no significant will to escape! Those people are hardened criminals Amanda, and all of a sudden there's nothing? They're all like sheep? Something ain't right Amanda, I just know it."

"Might be you're just being Jimmy, Jimmy." Amanda let out a chuckle. "You've been waiting for something to happen all this time, maybe you're just disappointed they didn't prove you right."

Jimmy made a face in her direction.

Amanda laughed and shook her head. "I know Jimmy, seems strange to me too, I gotta admit. But HuRec says they're trying out some new mind-altering medication on them all. That might explain a lot."

"Maybe," Jimmy admitted, "and maybe not."

"C'mon Jimmy, let's forget about Sweetwater for a while. You've just been around them too much. Tonight we'll be at the spot and tomorrow we'll be trough with the investigation. If you're a nice boy I'll take you to a swimming hole I've located."

"Could we leave them two there already," Jimmy grinned and nicked his head in Kid's and Lou's direction. "I don't think they'll be much use to us."

"Jealous are we?" Amanda leered at him.

"Hell no," Jimmy protested, "I just wish they'd get it out of their systems so they'd return normal again."

"You're such a romantic Jimmy," Amanda sighed and kicked her horse into a trot.

Jimmy followed with the distinct feeling he had said something wrong. He followed the pace set by the woman in front of him, But then he suddenly realized, he knew next to nothing about this woman. He had worked alongside of her for a fortnight, yes. He felt undeniably attracted to her, that much was sure. She must have felt it too, ever so often she returned his smiles and flirtations, making him feel a long lost tingle of excitement when around her. But still? She knows Teaspoon, she should be all right, he calmed himself. Why the hell do I have this ghostly feeling? Why do I feel doom written all over this day?

Following a small stream they continued onwards to their goal. Before the rise of the steep hill they stopped and raised a provisory fencing for the horses. They all worked in silence, decided to get as close to the ground as soon as possible before settling in for the night. The bright sunny day had turned into a clouded damp forecast of bad weather. There was a brief discussion between Kid and Jimmy about who should carry the extra load of the tent.

Amanda cast an amused glance in Lou's direction, knowing the men were both eager to show off their immense masculinity and strength. Amanda still wondered why the Kid and Lou weren't an official couple, despite the lusting gazes they both threw each other when they thought nobody noticed. It was kind of hilarious really, the way they pained for each other. Jimmy is absolutely right, Amanda thought bemused, they should get it out of their systems. Watching Jimmy she realized there might be something she needed to get out of her system too. She had to grin at her own thoughts.

Jimmy seemingly won the title of tent-bearer, with a superior grin in Kid's direction he ordered him to take the medical bag instead, just in case.

"In case you accidentally shoot somebody?" Kid asked sarcastically.

Amanda chuckled and Lou walked up to the two fighting roosters, dividing them and steering them up the steep hill.

"Map don't show this hill over here," Buck pointed out, the only non distracted member of the actual group.

"I know," Amanda replied, "there's something strange with this place. We can't get it scanned however we try, and the maps are all different. Like they keep changing."

"My EA's out too," Buck continued. "How about yours? Is mine malfunctioning or...?"

"Shit!" Amanda cursed vehemently, tapping the device she had removed from her ear. "Nothing! What's the probability of two EA's giving out simultaneously?"

"None!" Jimmy replied, pushing Lou up as she seemed to falter.

Lou wheezed at him, fidgeting with her communications device. "Ok something definitely not right here, mine's silent too! How about yours Kid?"

Kid looked guiltily at the group. "Uh er...I ain't got none on."

"As usual," Jimmy groaned. "I told you I had a bad feeling about this trip. All communications devices are out!"

"When'ya notice Buck?" Amanda asked.

"An hour or so back," Buck said, taking hold of root sticking out of the sand to heave himself further up. "Me and Ike were in the middle of a game, then I just lost him. Since he was losing I gathered he'd shut me out or something." Buck grinned.

The grovel under their feet kept giving away the closer they got to the ridge. Cursing they fought to get to the top, sliding backwards as often as they managed to advance.

"Sure as hell ain't no farming ground," Amanda moaned as she had to grip Jimmy not to slide all the way down as the ground under her gave in.

"I wouldn't know," Buck said having arrived at the rocky part of the slope. Standing on a firmer ledge he watched the shielded plateau. "Somebody's already claimed this land."

"What the hell are ya talking about?" Amanda panted and decisively pushed herself up on the ledge.

"Look!"

Amanda finally reached her goal and followed Buck's gaze with her own.

There was a tense silence in the group as they all watched what lay in front of them. Down below the slope was a hut, a ramschakle really. But the distinct signs of hi-tech told them it was recent. The solarcells on the roof and the antenna told them it was a checkpoint charley, a non-manned surveillance station.

They stood there staring for long lingering minutes, not knowing what to make out of what they were seeing. Pondering on the possible ramifications of what they were seeing.

Jimmy eyed Amanda suspiciously. She had gone pale, her jawline tight at the sight. Jimmy was able to feel her tension even if he was standing three feet from her. "Amanda?" He asked her silently, not quite sure what to make out of the situation. "Did you know...."

"Shit shit shit," Amanda wheezed as she snapped out of her daze. She threw her backpack down and started walking briskly toward the house.

Jimmy heard her curse all the way as he too let his backpack fall to the ground and followed her.

"Hold on," Buck warned, "what if somebody is in there?"

"We would'a been dead already," Lou muttered and dragged a reluctant Buck with her. "Com'on Buck!"

Half running they reached the door Amanda had left open behind her. She stood there in the middle of the room, surrounded by inuters and computers, both biological and digital and old analogical ones. When she heard them approached she turned to them, her face white and drawn.

"We've been duped!"

Jimmy let his eyes wander around the equipment in the room. The inuters generating the prisoners' thoughts, a perfect camouflage. Computers flashing dates of different kinds, obviously gathering them for later use. Jimmy had a hard time digesting all the information, why the hell was a group of criminals this important? Why would HuRec set up such a massive smokescreen? What exactly were they doing? And why? Did Amanda know about this?

"Who?" Kid asked, nudging Amanda's elbow, "who's behind all this?"

"I don't know," Amanda wheezed, "how the hell am I supposed to know!" She suddenly exploded, turning to glare at them, "How the hell am I supposed to know? Maybe you're all in on this? All I know is that they know we're here!"

Jimmy growled as he stepped up to her, "It might be all you work too, dear, how the hell can we be sure it ain't?"

"Jimmy," Lou warned as Amanda turned to stare him down. "Hold it both of you, instead of turning on each other how about finding out where all this information is being sent?"

"How about flicking this all off," Buck muttered, staring onto a screen with ASA departures and landings. Suddenly he stiffened to his place. A constant blinking at the bottom of the screen had failed to catch his attention until now. Now that it did he felt a cold shiver trickle down his spine.

"Hey guys!"

They all turned to watch him. He let his gaze rest on the flicking date and hour, knowing they wouldn't believe him if he told them. Better they saw it for themselves. At the bottom the date and hour of 2313-06-26 1800, flashed repeatedly.

"Today?" Jimmy asked, "what the hell will happen today?"

"Happened today," Kid corrected him. "What happened half an hour ago?"

Buck caught the glimpse of an ASA in the corner of his eyes. Turning his head to look out the window he knew they were in for trouble. A vessel was approaching, hovering over the landscape to find a suitable landing space. "I think we'll know in approximately five minutes," he remarked dryly.

"Let's get outta here," Jimmy wheezed. "Let's get the hell outta here till we know what this is all about!" Turning to Amanda he found her desperately trying to disconnect the wires around her feet. Holding a black box in her hand. "Com'on!" Jimmy yelled and dragged her out.

They ran flat out to the the trees at the oppostie end of the ridge, hoping to at least get some shelter. Hoping against hope the visit was a friendly one.

Panting Jimmy sank to his knees behind some rocks, drawing Amanda with him. She fingered the box she was holding nervously, cursing as it wouldn't open.

Kid crouched behind the rock peeking over it, holding his anaesthetizing gun firmly. Jimmy realized it was the only weapon they had, other than his own gun.

"We're doomed," he moaned, realizing their situation.

"Not quite," Amanda remarked, "I found the blasting control panel!"

Jimmy turned surprised to watch her. Smiling she lifted the box to let him see. Watching it he realized it held all the connections and the secrets of the apparatus inside. "Good girl," he smiled. Hoping there was a slim chance of getting out of this.

"I've just blocked their ATF's, now I just gotta find the codes to send them to Kingdom come if need be," she muttered harshly.

Kid looked at her and shrugged. Lou patted his knee comfortingly.

Jimmy threw his friend a disgusted look, hoping Kid and his goddamned black and white world wouldn't get them into further trouble. If he knew Kid right he'd probably do his utmost to save the poor souls. Jimmy grimaced in disgust, his hand ready on the gun as the ASA landed.

The door flung open and Longley stepped out. Jimmy raised his hand and took aim.

"NO!" Kid wheezed, "damn you, we're probably outnumbered!"

"Hold on, Jimmy," Amanda whispered, "Kid's right, we gotta wait and see what happening first."

Jimmy gritted his teeth and relaxed his fingers, they were probably right. If all convicts were in that vessel they were outnumbered by 12 to 5. And five had never been his lucky number.

The man ran into the house and Jimmy crawled out of his hiding, hoping to get a batter angle if something happened. Amanda followed him.

"Are they armed?" Jimmy asked.

"How the hell should I know," Amanda growled irritably.

Jimmy threw her a stern glance in reply, it was never his intention so imply anything.

Longley came out of the house, running fast this time. Heading straight for the ASA.

Instinctively Jimmy rose to his feet and took aim. He dropped the man five feet before the open front panel. Then he was knocked onto his face into the dirt.

"Goddamned idiot!" Kid hollered. "You just let them know we're here!"

Jimmy struggled to get the man off him, pushing hard against his chest, finally managing to send a fist contacting with his jaw. Hard enough to loosen Kid's grip on him.

The ASA sucked in air and started to rise. Amanda swore and fingered the controlpanel feverishly.

"Drop them!" Jimmy yelled, "don't let them take off!"

"No!" Kid yelled, " damn you. There might be innocent people in there!"

Jimmy turned to him and lunged for him, "you boneheaded fool!"

Lou was up on her feet, trying to get to the men. They we're nearing the ridge, and the steep fall. "Jimmy! Kid! Stop it!"

Her holler was drenched in the sound of the ASA lifting off. She stopped cold, afraid it would turn on them, she had no idea what kind of vehicle it was. Was it a warfare or a civil one? Holding he breath she watched it rise straight into the clouds, disappearing.

"I'm tracking it, I'm tracking it," Amanda yelled. "I have it!"

Lou turned her eyes back to the ground and saw Jimmy lunging for Kid again. The steep fall only a step away.

"Damn you!" She hollered and started running. Rounding a tree close to the brink she felt the ground give in under her feet. She fell. Sliding mud dragging her down, stones scratching her arms as she tried to find something to hold on to. But she was relentlessly dragged down the steep fall. The visual memory of the 70 feet fall into the stoney creek had her clasp frenetically for something to hold on to. Her nails dug into the earth as the grovel under her gave in. Not a sound left her mouth. Something snapped against her side and she instinctively grabbed for it and closed her eyes. She finally let out a breath as she felt her sliding stop. Opening her eyes she found herself hanging onto a young birch, the roots slowly giving away.

TBC

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