Shu shook her head.
“You must come clean,” Maddox said. “It is the only way to avoid surgery.”
“You’re a barbarian,” she said with heat, “a savage.”
“I am di-far, a man of decision. It would be well for you to remember that.”
Tiny beads of perspiration appeared on Shu’s forehead. It caused Maddox to wonder if she’d been lying earlier. Shu had said she didn’t believe in the old ways. It would appear she did. It would also appear she really believed he was di-far. Why would she have lied about that?
“For short periods of time I can utilize transduction,” Shu said in a monotone.
Maddox shook his head.
“At those times I have the ability to see electromagnetic radiation and electromagnetic wavelengths and process the data as fast as a computer.”
“You hijacked the ship’s monitoring images?” Maddox asked.
“Crudely stated, but correct,” Shu said.
“Thus, you saw the kidnapping androids through the ship’s monitors, through its security cameras.”
“Yes.”
“What else can you do?” Maddox asked.
“You’ve spoken about the androids’ mental dullness. That was due to me. I interfered with their neural connections.”
Imperceptibly, Maddox leaned toward her. “Can you do that to humans?”
Shu shook her head.
“Are you lying?”
“No.”
“How can I know you’re telling the truth?” Maddox asked.
“You’ll have to trust your instincts.”
Maddox inhaled as he pondered the situation. “How can I block your adaptations from affecting those on my ship?”
“Powerful scramblers will do it, as they’ll interfere with the signals.”
“Why did you want to come on this particular voyage, Provost Marshal?”
Shu looked away, sighing at last. “One of the reasons was to thwart Strand.”
“Do you believe he was in the cloaked star cruiser that followed us in the Tosk CL System?”
“Of course,” she said.
“And?”
“I also want to thwart Professor Ludendorff,” she added.
“Thwart him from doing what? Using the Nexus?”
“No, not that,” Shu said. “I can help you use the Nexus. I…probably know more about it than either of the Methuselah Men. I certainly know more about it than you or anyone else in your crew.”
“Let me ask you again. What are you? Who are the Spacers?”
“I am Shu 15, a Surveyor First Class. I am an agent of change, bid to bring about the Golden Age of Man. The Spacers are the children of the gods, seedlings cast into the cold universe to ensure the progress of life in its march against Death.”
“Death as in the cessation of the living?” Maddox asked.
“No. Death as in the terrible Swarm Imperium and the Makers of the alien Destroyers.”
A cold feeling worked through Maddox. “Do you know the extent of the Swarm Imperium?”
“You’ve asked me that before. I do not. Like you, the Spacers believed that the Swarm was extinct or at best made up of a few pockets here and there. The knowledge you brought back from the Dyson sphere has changed much. In truth, that knowledge sent a shockwave through the Spacer councils.”
“The Spacers want to know the extent of the Imperium just like Star Watch does?”
“We probably want to know more than Star Watch does.”
“Why?”
“With greater knowledge comes greater pain,” Shu quoted. “We Spacers know more about the wider galaxy than Star Watch does. Rather than bringing us delight, this knowledge threatens us with despair.”
“Is that due to knowledge about the Makers of the alien Destroyers?” Maddox asked.
“Partly,” Shu said.
“Are the Makers in our galaxy?”
“If I don’t know the extent of the Swarm Imperium, how could I know about the Makers?”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“I have no idea if the Makers are here or not,” Shu said. “I rather doubt it. Let us for all our sakes hope they’re not.”
“Indeed,” Maddox said. “Yet you feel the Makers will return to our galaxy?”
“In time,” Shu said. “The records show they’ve already made more than one pass.”
Maddox studied her more closely. “What, specifically, are you hoping we find on this voyage?”
“I’ve already told you that we, like you, want to know how close the Swarm Imperium is to Human Space.”
“I know that much. I mean what else are you seeking?”
Shu shrugged. “I don’t know what else.”
“I don’t believe you,” Maddox said. “I think you know exactly what you’re looking for. I believe you won’t tell me because I would be against it.” He fell silent, thinking, finally admitting, “I’m not sure what to do with you.”
“Try trusting me.”
Maddox smiled faintly and glanced back at Meta. “Shall we trust her?”
“No,” Meta said.
“There you have it, Provost Marshal,” Maddox said. “We lack trust. However, you have answered my primary questions. Thus, I won’t order the surgery…yet. I have much to consider. Good day.”
“Are you letting me out of detention?” Shu shouted.
He faced her while standing on the other side of the open door. “No,” he said.
“I’m sick of this confinement.”
“No doubt,” Maddox said. “But it’s better than your alternative.” He shut the door.
“Well?” Meta asked.
“I need to think about this,” Maddox said.
“She didn’t tell us everything she can do with those devices,” Meta said.
Maddox didn’t reply, as that was obvious. Instead, he took Meta by the arm and led her down the corridor. Why did Shu 15, a Spacer with Builder adaptations, hate the Methuselah Men, Builder-modified beings? It was perplexing, which actually delighted the captain—now that he knew, or was fairly certain anyway, that the cloudiness was departing his mind.
He’d been born to solve puzzles such as these and to test himself against worthy opponents. It would seem that Shu had become something of an enigma.
-25-
Keith Maker sat in medical, clicking pages on his tablet. He read a PUA (pickup artist) book on scoring with chicks. According to this, girls used a guy in the friend zone. It was called being a White Knight, doing things for the ladies in the hope they’d notice you as dating material.
He couldn’t believe it. Here was a pic of a guy painting a girl’s toenails. Oh boyo, this was terrible. Here was a Tom carrying a girl on his shoulders while she kissed another taller man. Look at the scowl on the White Knight’s face.
Keith never wanted to be the loser carrying a woman on his shoulders while she kissed someone else. That was pathetic. He wanted to be the other guy.
So far, according to this, women liked the dangerous Toms, the alpha types, the jerks that did exactly what they wanted to do.
Keith grinned. He was dangerous. No one flew a combat fighter better than he did. He frowned a moment later. How would a woman know he was dangerous? He had to get her inside a strikefighter and let her see him in action.
Those with big muscles had an advantage. Tall men did too. Did that mean he should take up a personal combat art? It probably wouldn’t hurt. Maybe he should curl barbells this trip, too.
I will never be a White Knight. I will never be in the friend zone.
How could he show Shu 15 that he was an alpha warrior if she stayed locked away in detention the whole trip?
Keith kept reading as Sergeant Riker snored in the bed. Doctors had removed the android’s bullet from his chest.
The old bounder needed sleep. There were several tubes in Riker, pumping meds into him, but rest would aid in the healing process.
Ack, this was interesting. The PUA book said a man need
ed a sense of plenty, as in plenty of women to choose from. According to this, it was poor form having a case of one-itis. If a woman refused your entreaties, it was time to move on to a different lady.
But what if I don’t want to move on? Keith wondered. Do I have one-itis?
He recalled Shu’s wave and the pert way she walked. Keith couldn’t help grinning, imagining what he would like to do to Shu. He envisioned them alone, him standing arrogantly, eying her so she understood he was a Highland warrior. He would bend in, kiss her lightly and begin unbuttoning her blouse.
Keith’s smile turned lusty as his eyes glazed over. Yes, siree, she was a beauty. She—
Riker groaned.
For a moment, Keith didn’t notice. He was too absorbed in his Shu fantasy.
The sergeant groaned again, smacking his lips together.
That jerked Keith out of his fantasy. He laid the tablet on his lap. The old bounder stirred in the bed, his head moving on the pillow. The eyes cracked open and Riker looked around.
Keith set the tablet aside and stood, moving to the railing on the side of the bed. “Aye, mate,” he said. “How are you feeling?”
Riker didn’t appear to recognize him.
“It’s me,” Keith said, thumping himself on the chest.
“Where am I?” Riker wheezed.
“What? You’re on Starship Victory,” Keith said. “Where else would you be?”
Riker groaned, using his bionic hand, gently touching his chest. “An android shot me.”
“Aye, but you’re okay now.”
Greater coherence filled the sergeant’s eyes. “The thing could have killed me.”
“That wasn’t bloody likely,” Keith said. “The captain was there.”
Riker eyed him. “I take it the captain is well?”
“Aye,” Keith said. He told Riker what had happened after he went down.
The sergeant glanced at the tubes in his arms and the medical machines keeping watch over his vital signs.
“We’ve been taking turns,” Keith said. “The captain has sat with you at times. You were still out, though.”
“How long until I’m fit?” Riker asked.
“Do you want me to get the doctor?”
“Not yet.”
Keith’s grip tightened on the railing. He shifted from foot to foot.
The sergeant was a clever old dodger. He seemed to notice. “Is something wrong?”
“No. It’s just… you know, I’m wondering what she’s like.”
“Who?”
“Shu 15. You saw her. She’s a beauty.”
Riker’s gaze shifted as he took that in. Finally, the sergeant smiled ruefully.
“What are you grinning about?” Keith asked.
“The woman’s a viper,” Riker said.
“That can’t be true. I saw her. She’s a sweet package, and she waved to me. She has a fantastic smile.”
“She’s a Spacer Intelligence officer,” Riker said.
“What blarney are you spewing? You’re saying she’s a spy?”
“Spies are people that case officers had turned. She’s a case officer, a nasty piece of work. Believe me, boy. You don’t want anything to do with her.”
“That’s tripe, mate. You’re just saying that to boggle me mind. She looks…nice. I mean, couldn’t you blokes have overreacted concerning her?”
Riker half rolled on his bed. Keith let go of the rails, stepping back. The old sergeant pointed at his crotch.
“Don’t think with that,” Riker said. “Instead, use that.” He pointed at Keith’s brain.
Keith laughed even as he blushed. “You’ve never been sweet on a girl before?”
Riker collapsed back onto his back. He sighed wistfully. “I’ve known a woman or two.”
“I'm betting it was more like dozens of ladies,” Keith said.
Riker glanced at him.
“You must have been a Highlander with the ladies in the old days,” Keith said.
Riker appeared surprised.
“You probably had a string of ‘em eager to get with you.”
Riker glanced at him before staring up at the ceiling.
“You’re not feeling well?” Keith asked.
“Shu isn’t for you.”
Keith bristled. “Why do you say such a thing? Do you think she’s too much for me?”
“Find a good woman,” Riker said. “Marry her. It isn’t about how many women you screw. It’s about finding one worth having. I never did, and that was my loss. It’s hard to find a good woman. Rutting like animals doesn’t help you find her. Finding a woman of quality is the key.”
“How do you propose I do that?”
Riker sighed. “If I knew, I would have done it myself.”
“Maybe you’re right. But I’m thinking… How do you say it? A hot babe is critical, the hotter the better. I mean, why else bother?”
Riker glanced at him again. “She’s a user. Remember that. If the captain ever lets her out of detention and she shows an interest in you, know that it’s because she’s planning to use you.”
“I’m not a White Knight, mate.”
Riker appeared perplexed.
“I’m an alpha on the prowl.”
“I’m tired,” Riker said. “And some of the things you say make me realize how old I am. I’m going back to sleep.”
“You’re going to be okay, Sergeant. You hang in there, mate.”
Riker had already closed his eyes, and he was beginning to snore.
Keith picked up his tablet. The Spacer honey was a user, eh? He would remember that. Still, the way she’d shaken her tush at him…
The lieutenant headed for the exit, with his eyes half-lidded. He reentered his fantasy where he was unbuttoning her blouse. He actually shivered with delight as he thought about reaching for her bra. She was the sweetest woman on the starship, and one way or another, Keith planned to make her his darling.
-26-
Maddox found the next few days hectic but productive. Even better, the Spacer toxin had finally lost its potency. He felt like himself again, his mind like a razor.
The medical teams finished examining each crewmember. Everyone was exactly as he or she appeared to be. Human. That meant six androids had made it onto Victory but no more.
The detention center attack had been their last hurrah as they’d tried to assassinate Shu 15. Maddox couldn’t conceive of any other reason for the assault.
With Andros Crank’s help, Maddox installed powerful scramblers around Shu’s chamber. Would they prevent her from using her Builder devices to read transmissions?
Andros had his doubts. The Kai-Kaus was a stout man, wheezing most of the time. “These are human-built scramblers,” he explained to Maddox. “The Spacer possesses Builder items. Everyone on the Dyson sphere knew that Builder-built was always superior to anything else.”
“But if the scramblers overload her processor—”
“Captain,” Andros said. “According to you, she spoke of transduction. She can see radiation; see wavelengths. I imagine she could pick out the right wavelength with ease. These scramblers might force her to take a little longer looking for the right bandwidth. I doubt they will do anything else.”
“How do we blind her then?”
Andros shook his long gray hair. “Don’t use electrical-based equipment to transfer your ideas. Perhaps the better barrier would be to let her know the holoimage watches to see if she uses her items. When they’re active, Galyan knows. However, she must already realize this. I suspect she will limit her use for a time, if for no other reason than to attempt to throw you off the scent.”
Maddox didn’t like that. But what else could he do? He tried speaking to her again.
Shu had become like the ancient sphinx, though. She said nothing other than, “Let me out of here.”
They both knew he wouldn’t do that. She was waiting for something. He asked her about Spacer customs in order to get her talking. She didn’t bite. He ask
ed how the Spacers had originally found the Builder tech. She remained stoically silent.
When Maddox mentioned her silence on the bridge one day, an informal discussion began. It started when Andros Crank suggested they put Shu in a lifeboat and leave her.
“She is a danger, Captain,” Andros said. “She lacks loyalty to our communal effort. Good men and women have already died because of her silence. She means us harm. That is my firm conviction.”
“I agree, sir,” Valerie said. “Remember when the professor took over the starship? He used Builder items to do it that trumped ours. Do the scramblers really hinder Shu?”
Maddox glanced at Andros for confirmation. The Kai-Kaus shrugged before looking away.
“Valerie and Andros are right,” Meta added.
Maddox eyed the others as irritation struck. His normal way would be to ignore the lot of them. He was the captain. He would trust his own judgment…
No. That’s wrong. I can trust my family. Remember all the times they helped me. With them, I can let my guard down at least a little. Why not explain some of your motivation?
“I know Shu is dangerous,” Maddox said. “But consider this. Valerie spoke about the professor. He’s always been a threat to the crew, as he always has his own agenda. Worse, he’s smarter than we are and has vastly more experience. We’re going to pick up the professor in the Xerxes System. That means we’ll have two dangerous, Builder-modified people aboard. Yet maybe Shu and Ludendorff will cancel each other out as they plot against one another. If we’re going to carry the one, we might as well have the other as the antidote.”
At navigation, Valerie squirmed in her seat.
“You have something to add?” Maddox asked.
“Shu used androids toward nefarious ends,” Valerie said. “She used a toxin against your mind. The first two androids also planned to modify your thinking. That seems to indicate that they all acted in tandem.”
Maddox considered that, although he no longer believed the androids had belonged to the Spacers. Galyan had already attempted to dissect the captured android brains. They had each melted down just like the captured androids that had tried to overthrow the Commonwealth a year ago. That showed these androids likely came from the Builder base at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, the same as the others.
The Lost Patrol Page 15