Haywire by Justin R. Macumber

tightened his grip and steered the truck into the dead center of the path displayed on the window before him. Nearing the museum, he couldn’t help but admire the view. Sitting over everything was a triple pressure dome structure, which ensured the safety and comfort of those within it. Inside the dome was a massive crater, and at its center was the museum. The crater was blackened and ragged, like some great burning hand had reached down from the stars and clawed the lunar surface open, but the museum was a sleek counterpoint made all the more beautiful by its surroundings.
    A thin whistle slid through his teeth. “Those alien buggers really did a number on it.”
    Doctor Campbell nodded. “Most of the items on display in the museum are from labs Dr. Groesbeck had elsewhere. There wasn’t much left of this site after the Hezrin were done blasting it. Just melted bits of equipment and burnt corpses. Until today I’d had no reason to think anything else existed.”
    “ Then perhaps my visit isn’t all to the bad, eh?” Laroux smiled like a cat putting a welcome sign outside his mouth. Gimble had seen that grin before, and he pitied the doctor and her son.
    Far to their left, a mag-tram glided past them bringing people from Arcadia to the museum. If everything went to plan, the patrons would never know the Crimson Kings had been among them. Gimble hurriedly crossed himself to ward off the fates he’d just tempted.
    Eventually they neared the rear service airlock, and as they did Doctor Campbell said, “Press that button to your right to broadcast the rover’s identification. That will open the outer airlock and get us to the security checkpoint. Once we’re stopped, allow me do the talking.”
    Gimble looked at Laroux, who gave him a small nod, then pressed the indicated button. Sure enough, doors set in the outer dome parted, revealing a clear tunnel that ran between the dome layers. As they crossed into the tunnel Gimble knew they’d reached the point of no return. It was either do or die. There was a strange sort of comfort in that.
    After the outer door closed behind them, the tunnel was pressurized, and then the inner door opened. He put the truck’s transmission in gear and drove them to the security station that sat to the left of the inner airlock. A man in a uniform approached the driver’s door. Gimble pressed the button that lowered the window next to him.
    “ Manifest and ID’s please,” the guard said. His voice was steady and authoritative.
    Doctor Campbell stretched across Gimble’s lap to lean out the window, and Gimble nearly blushed when her body pressed into his.
    “ Good morning, Oscar,” she said. A broad smile spread across her face, and Gimble was impressed with the authenticity of it. She had a gun at her back, and no one would have known.
    “ Oh, good morning, Dr. Campbell,” the guard replied, a return smile flashing on his face. “I didn’t know you’d be bringing in the cargo yourself.”
    She laughed. “Joseph didn’t tell you? I called him this morning to let him know. I’ve been waiting a long time to get these pieces into the museum, and when I woke up I knew I had to be with them every step of the way.” She then leaned back and pulled her badge from her pocket. “Here you go, Oscar. Everything should be in order.”
    The guard took her badge, set it against his scanner plate, and then handed it back. “Very good, Dr. Campbell. You’re free to head in then. Have a great day.”
    “ Thank you, Oscar,” she replied. “The same to you.” After a wave, she pushed away from the window and settled into the seat.
    Laroux’s eyebrows rose in respect. “Nice performance, Doctor.”
    The doctor’s eyes turned cold and dark, and she stared forward while patting her son’s leg. “I did what I had to do.”
    The captain chuckled. “Very good. Keep that in mind as we go forward.”
    Taking that as his cue, Gimble put the rover in drive. The loading dock was off to