The Convoy
Page 17
Chapter 15
“It really is quite simple.” Doctor Melric spat. His crinkled face was close enough to Doctor Terr Belar’s she could not only feel his breath, but taste it too. Terr was strapped down by her ankles and wrists, the throbbing headache prevented her from even considering opening her jaw. She didn’t remember anything, yet her superior held her against her will and continued to interrogate.
“I assure you Doctor, I don’t know anything.” She pleaded. She closed her eyes against the harsh light shining from the operating room she was trapped in.
“I know you and Doctor Tarrus are school-chums, but are you really willing to risk your life for her?” Melric asked with both surprise and disdain in his voice.
“No. Lalia and I aren’t friends anymore. Everything we ever did she alone got the credit. I have no reason to protect her. I promise.” Terr shouted angrily.
Doctor Melric motioned for someone in the darkness and spoke, but his face was turned and the groggy Terr was unable to make out what he said:
“Get me the serum?” She thought he asked.
Disembodied hands provided the Doctor a small syringe with florescent green fluid in it;
“Yrrsltt Vacclis…” Terr slurred, unable to speak as she gave back into the medication Lalia had administered.
Melric injected the fluid into Terr’s neck, her head straightened and her mouth gaped open, she gasped for air. Her muscles flexed to the point of excruciating pain, but then she relaxed. She breathed heavily.
“Do you have anything to tell me?” Melric offered in a quieter voice.
“Where am I?” Terr asked, her eyes widened and she began to cry.
“Raah!” Melric roared as he tossed the empty syringe aside, it shattered on the floor. He left the light of the operating room to the darkness in the corner, waiting for him was Alvar.
“Can you get information out of her?” Alvar asked with curiosity.
“I can, but to do so would completely eliminate all mental facilities. She would be in a vegetative state.” Melric answered, with his hands in a praying position.
“I have my own source. I will interrogate him myself.” Alvar said leading two of his men out of the operating room.
As the door closed Melric whispered to himself:
“Not if I get the information first.”
The Doctor reached into a cupboard for another green fluid filled syringe, his lab assistant tried to reason with him:
“Doctor, that would be an overdose. I cannot medically allow you to…” warned the assistant. But Melric pushed him aside, the assistant pleaded:
“Stop. This isn’t right. We are held to a higher standard. I will not stand silent…”
The Doctor dropped to his assistant’s level;
“No. You’re right.” He smiled crookedly as his hand reached for the shattered syringe; he swung the sharp fragment across his assistant’s throat. He then stood to face Terr as the Callos lay on the floor gurgling blood, a crimson puddle forming around Melric’s boots.
The Doctor squeezed the green fluid into Terr’s neck, and began the interrogation over again.
Alvar pulled a chair next to Ralt Yorrf, he grinned and started colloquially:
“I understand that a mechanic from the hanger left aboard that shuttle?”
“Yes. Garth ordered that I open the hanger.” Ralt agreed, sweat pouring from his brow.
“Did the mechanic have anyone else aboard when he left?” Alvar asked in a sweet soft voice.
“Yes. Yes, he had this automated assistant that I…” Ralt stopped midsentence.
“What did you do with the assistant?” Alvar asked smoothly.
“I reactivated the privacy protocol. It had been erased.” Ralt answered.
“I see…” Alvar’s voice trailed off, “That is perfectly understandable. You were under orders.”
“Exactly. I knew you would understand. Are going to arrest that maniac?” Ralts agreed.
“No, no. I understand perfectly. Now tell me who else left aboard that shuttle.” Alvar asked, more serious this time.
“Well, the female who was running from the medical wing.” Ralt listed, with Alvar nodding understanding at the appropriate times, “The automated assistant, Garth, and this Callos in a survey suit who was hiding behind some crates.”
Alvar’s eyes lit up and his ears twitched:
“Who?”
“Someone in a loose survey suit. They were hiding behind some crates. I don’t know who it was.” Ralt talked quicker, afraid he lost favor:
“I think it might have been that crazy Callos: um, what is his name? Right! Galio something-or-rather!” Ralt guessed.
“No. It wasn’t.” Alvar said aloud as he walked out of the small command tower where Ralt was being kept.
As Alvar neared the door:
“Hey, wait. Are you going to let me go?” Ralt called out, craning his neck.
“No. Unless you know where they went.” Alvar called as he left.
Ralt stood, only to be pushed back in his seat by one of the guards left by Alvar:
“They were heading into the dust field!” He called out. “They are on a trajectory to bypass CLERGY 6.”
Alvar stopped on the stairs; he snapped his fingers and a guard ran up the stairs.
“What did you say?” The guard asked.
“They went towards the dust field; they are trying to get past CLERGY 6. I don’t think they’ll make it. At the last minute I sent a trace on their signal, it is gone. This means they did go into the dust field.” Ralt answered.
The guard signaled for Ralt to be released, Alvar reentered the command tower.
“You are free to go. Thank you for your service.”
Ralt glanced back once, but then ran down the stairs and out of the hanger.
“Signal for my shuttle to be prepared. I want to be on CLERGY 6 immediately!” Alvar ordered.
Doctor Melric set down the vial next to a half dozen empty syringes, he wiped the sweat from his brow. Terr lay limply in her seat, her saliva tinted green and running down the side of her face, her eyes blank slates of grey. Melric slid his hands into his black gloves and put on his coat; he pulled his holo-pad and typed on the screen:
“Have my cruiser prepped. I will be there immediately; I will approve all flight logs. SECRECY A MUST.”