Massoud (Massoud Chronicles Book 1)

by Amanda R. Norris

  “Your captain is an unusual man, Massoud. I have served with a Gnostian before, and Capt. Teloc does not fit with my preconceived notions of what is typical for his people. He is not quite as analytical as one would expect. What do you think of him? Is he more scientist or space wanderer?”

  “I can hardly say. I’ve been told he’s a very competent scientist, but I’m not in a position to judge for myself. I can only comment on his performance as a commanding officer, nothing more.”

  “And what is your judgment in that regard?”

  Massoud looked at her interlocutor with misgivings. “Captain, this is a very unusual line of questioning. May I ask why you are so interested?”

  Patel adjusted her position to lean back in her seat before saying: “Massoud, I’m sorry to say that the days of scientific exploration are coming to an end. I am, unhappily, confident that a war with the Xenos will occur. The peacetime pursuits of the fleet must be abandoned. Our resources must be fully directed towards military development. We are unprepared for war in terms of technology, training, logistics, and psychology. We are untested. We have no combat experience; the closest we can claim is our experience in tackling piracy. However, any conflict with the Xenos will be on a vastly greater scale and fundamentally different in nature from our previous engagements. Those among us, who are to face our old enemy, must be intelligent, flexible, and able to hold their nerve in unpredictable situations. I think your captain may meet those criteria. I suspect he is wasted commanding a Class C ship.”

  Massoud considered Teloc’s emotional outburst during the meal and wondered at Captain Patel’s judgment. She struggled to respond appropriately, but the captain interrupted her thoughts.

  “I do not condemn him for his display of emotion this evening. When you have your own command, you’ll realize that a captain’s worst nightmare is to lose the ship entrusted to him. Teloc would have died on his ship, if it had not been for your interference. He was ready to make the sacrifice, but what a terrible waste it would have been. He stands in stark contrast to empty-headed admiral’s offspring I’ve had to deal with. We’ll need people like Teloc, who can react quickly to a threat and respond appropriately—people who are committed to their duty and not their career.”

  “I think, Captain, that you understand him quite well without any input from me,” Massoud said.

  “There’s nothing in my assessment that you disagree with?”

  “No.”

  “How does he interact with his crew?” Patel took a sip from her glass, watching Massoud over the rim.

  “He’s naturally distant. Although he can handle any crew-related problem, it takes him out of his comfort zone. The crew views him as an authority figure rather than a comrade, which is unusual on a science ship. The ship’s complement is so small, you see; we spend a lot of time together, and everyone knows each other very well. I have to agree with Commander Volk in one respect. Recent occurrences have enhanced his reputation, even among his own crew who know him so well and should have had fixed opinions of his character. I think that when it got tough on Seven B, he held things together for them. That elevated him in their eyes. The crew respects him, trusts him—even if they don’t like him in the ordinary sense.”

  “That’s a solid referral, Massoud, although I didn’t need your opinion to confirm my own. In fact, I’m thinking of requesting him to be my next first officer. I know it would be a sideways step for him,” Patel lifted her hands in acknowledgement, “but he could quickly get promoted to Captain, Second Class. I believe it’s desperately important to take experienced officers and prepare them for the next step. We have to bolster our ranks and cut out the dead wood.”

  “You can request your first officer?” Massoud enquired, wide-eyed.

  “Unofficially, yes. After dumping Rear Admiral Volk’s son on me, I get to take some liberties in selecting his successor. In fact, after I’ve pushed Teloc through the system, I thought I’d take a look at you. I might have to train another fleet brat in between, you understand.”

  Massoud stared at Patel incredulously. “You do plan ahead, Captain, and thank you for the compliment. However, I’m unsure of my own future status. Once again, I admit Commander Volk was right. My personal situation may keep me grounded for years.”

  “I’ve a child too.” Captain Patel opened a holo-image of a gangly teenager tossing a zappo ball. “His father cares for him while I’m in space and is delighted to get a break when I’m on leave. Some people would judge me harshly for saying that I’ve the best of it all. Nine months of the year in space and three months utterly and totally devoted to my child—all with the knowledge that he is lovingly nurtured in my absence. Perhaps you can make a similar arrangement with the father of your child?”

  “I don’t know. He has restrictions too. I don’t know how it will work out. But I’m thrilled to hear you say you’d be willing to work with me, even though it is improbable.”

  “You have potential. I saw how you handled yourself on the bridge of the Constance. A good first officer has to challenge her captain—but only in extreme situations, of course,” Patel noted with a wry smile. “You need to become a little more distant with your people. That’s clear. But it’s a fault that can be corrected, and it’s easier done on a larger ship with a larger crew.”

  Patel paused for a moment, observing Massoud. “So, back to my original thought. What do you think? Would Capt. Teloc Third Class be willing to become Commander Teloc Second Class for a while?”

  “You’ll have to ask him, but I think he was considering retiring within the foreseeable future.”

  “Ridiculous.”

  “No, he’s approaching thirty years of service. He’s a lot older than he looks. Gnostians age very slowly. He was talking about going into teaching, perhaps at Denison University if he could get a position in the geology department.” Massoud was aware that she was talking very freely about Teloc and that it felt wonderfully natural.

  “He wants to grub around in rocks for the rest of his life?” Patel said, with something approaching a sneer.

  Massoud shrugged. Neither woman could understand such terrestrial interests.

  “If there’s a war, the admiralty may not release him,” Patel mused. “I will try to recruit him when the time comes and see what happens. Naturally, he will have to resolve these accusations against him first.”

  Capt. Patel knew how to drop a bomb. Massoud gaped at her openly; she did not know how to dissemble on such short notice.

  “What accusations?” Massoud demanded when she had half-gathered her wits.

  “Oh, just accusations. They won’t necessarily become formal charges.” Patel took another sip from her glass. Massoud sensed Captain Patel was toying with her, but she could not resist.

  “What accusations?” she repeated.

  “Three in total—dereliction of duty, assault, and use of excessive force.” Patel observed Massoud attentively.

  “These come from Speck, I can tell. Why would anyone listen to him?”

  “Actually, your medical chief requested the investigation. I am obliged to pursue it regardless of its origins.”

  Massoud blanched. She was finally getting to grips with the game Captain Patel had been playing.

  “I have heard some of these notions from the doctor before, and I believe they are unfounded. I admire the doctor very much and I owe him my life, but he has been under a lot of strain.” Massoud was desperate to sound objective. “He had a difficult time on Seven B. You may have heard some of the details. He’s taken a few facts and strung them together into an unwieldy and improbable story.”

  Captain Patel nodded. “And how do you explain your injuries, Commander Massoud?”

  “Firstly, and to be explicit, the captain did not harm me on Seven B.” She looked Patel straight in the eyes as she said this, sincerely believing her own words. “Time was so short in the escape pod, I abandoned the proper sequence for release, and initiated the mechanism before bei
ng fully secure. That may seem foolish, but I was convinced I didn’t have time to do otherwise. I suffered injuries to my upper body at that time. I later received a cut while bathing in a stream; that was how I became infected and ill. I believe that the doctor can corroborate that my bruising and wrist injury were old enough, when he first saw them, to be consistent with this. I also had newer marks from a time when I slipped and Teloc caught me to prevent me from falling. His grip was too hard, but it was better than a bad fall.” Massoud looked unwaveringly at Captain Patel while she repeated this lie. “I think that answers the points that the doctor presented to me. What else was there?”

  “Excessive force against this man Speck. He was already subdued when Capt. Teloc kicked him in the ribs and fractured them.”

  “It’s wise to presume Speck is never subdued.”

  “I assure you I’ve made my own enquiries. This is the one allegation I fully believe. However, I will report otherwise. If my own people had gotten their hands on Speck, he would have ended up in worse condition, and I would have protected them. Captain Teloc was quite restrained, by Terran standards. But by Gnostian standards, he was totally out of control. All the better for him, in my opinion, to know what outrage is. However, the third accusation is the most serious—dereliction of duty. I’m afraid I’d have to possess a subtler knowledge of fleet regulations to make a judgment on the validity of this allegation.”

  “That suggestion is bizarre, totally unbelievable. You have eighteen witnesses—and that includes the doctor—who can testify to the contrary.”

  “The charge does not relate to his behavior on board the Constance or on Delta Alpha Seven B. It dates to the time he reported for duty when he knew he was about to suffer a disabling condition.”

  “The fleet allows people to serve with all sorts of medical conditions. It’s commonplace. Why is this even an issue?”

  “Because he was the ship’s master. He’s held to a higher standard. You know this is true, Massoud. If the culinary tech’s kidneys fail, it’s not a major event. If a captain cannot serve, it’s a crisis.”

  “I was licensed to master the ship, Captain. There would have been no crisis.”

  “Tell that to legal counsel, Massoud. See if it helps.” Patel leaned forward. “Look, this thing could go in either direction. The predictability of this Gnostian madness will be key. The fact that he, and other Gnostians, are subject to it is not the issue. The fleet has to accept that, since they admit Gnostians to the service—and they will continue to admit them, because there is a need to reinforce Gnost’s commitment to the Alliance, especially now. But Capt. Teloc has previously taken leave when he was subject to this condition. The question is why he thought the condition made him unfit for command previously, and not on this occasion. Do you know what he was thinking?”

  “Honestly, no. It’s a mystery to me. But I want to be clear on this point too. I never felt that his condition was a threat to the ship’s welfare. You may not know how it works on science ships, Captain, when the ship’s master is also a scientist. When we survey a planet, the scientists spend much of their time on the ground. That applies to the captain too. He literally spends weeks off the ship during the survey. A medical event lasting a week or so is nothing compared to that.”

  Patel considered what she had heard. “I feel for him, I really do. Fortunately for me, we’re close to base and I can hand this business over the admiralty for further investigation. I didn’t want to deal with this ugliness, but I couldn’t dissuade your doctor from making a formal complaint. I thought there was something a little ill-spirited in the matter, something I could not quite put my finger on. Is there animosity between him and Capt. Teloc?”

  “Not on Teloc’s part, but the doctor is a disappointed man, and he sees that to be the fault of others.” Massoud refrained, with difficulty, from saying more about the doctor. “I am really quite incensed about this, Captain. I think it’s very unjust. I think the crew of the Constance would agree with me.”

  “I will remind you that this interview is subject to the conventions of an investigation, and that I expect you to behave accordingly and in a manner suited to your rank.”

  “Yes, of course, Captain. I will not share my thoughts with the crew. May I ask if Teloc is aware of the allegations?”

  “Yes. Even a Gnostian must feel the strain of it.” Patel glanced to the seat that Teloc had so rudely vacated.

  Massoud wanted to say something that would make it all go away. She thought of trying to convince the doctor to drop his complaint, but that would be useless. A matter like this had a life of its own once it had taken its first breath.

  Patel interrupted her thoughts. “You are loyal, Massoud, but do not allow that to cloud your reason. You should be absolutely honest about what you witnessed of his behavior while he suffered his insanity. If he did you harm, you should speak of it.”

  “Teloc would never harm me. I’m sick of that sick suggestion!” She bristled at Patel’s words before she realized that she had been manipulated again. She bit her tongue, but it was too late.

  “Well,” said Capt. Patel, rising from the table, “if Capt. Teloc is dismissed from the service, there will be one consolation. He will be able to care for the child.” Massoud blanched. “Don’t worry,” Patel added. “I only just figured it out. You really should be more consistent in using his honorific. When you say his name, a little something enters your voice. Oh, and I was sincere about wanting to see both of you advance your career, with me if possible, but making plans is clearly premature. I wish you a good evening.” Capt. Patel left the room.

  Massoud was immoveable for several minutes. Her instinct to protect Teloc was in overdrive. Capt. Patel’s perceptiveness was startling, but not a significant concern. Within a few days, the paternity of her child would be known, and the gossip machine of Denison Base would shift into overdrive. However, the allegations against Teloc were serious. He was a proud man and a private man. The thought that notoriety and shame would be attached to his name was unbearable to her, and from his behavior tonight, it appeared to be unbearable to him. His outburst was beyond anything she would ever have expected of him. She could only conclude that he was in significant distress.

  She left the officer’s mess and headed towards his quarters, but the route was busy and she wanted to be discreet for his sake. So, she went to her own cabin and paced indecisively for a time. She went to bed resolving to leave him in peace, and immediately changed her mind.

  “Comms, is Capt. Teloc alone?”

  “Yes.”

  “Send him this audio message. Begin. Teloc, it’s me, Elizabeth. Are you alright?”

  She did not expect a response, and it was no surprise when her slate remained quiet. She sank into her bedding in an attempt to find sleep, but she was up on her elbow instantly when the comms system chirped. Teloc’s two-D image appeared on her screen. He was also lying on his bunk, his posture free of the stiffness and formality that characterized the captain’s normal demeanor. Elizabeth felt as if she was seeing Teloc for the first time in weeks.

  “Teloc, are you alright?”

  He turned his face to her. “Elizabeth, my behavior this evening was unacceptable.” His voice was uneven.

  “No, no, not at all. Everyone understood. It was Volk’s behavior that was unacceptable. Everyone thought poorly of him.”

  “I will apologize to Capt. Patel in the morning.”

  “Teloc, you are too harsh with yourself. There is no need to apologize.”

  He remained quiet for a long instant, but some unhappy emotion played on his face.

  “Elizabeth, there is something wrong with me. I do not know what to do, or who can help me.” He suffered a brief silence, before continuing. “I have always been a little unusual, a little too emotional—for a Gnostian, that is. It is a trait that has troubled me from childhood. It was, in part, the reason I joined the Alliance Fleet. Of course, I did not share that with anyone. My application would nev
er have been approved if I had. When applying, I noted that the geological exploration of Gnost was complete and that I wished to expand my scientific experience by surveying new planets. That was only part of the truth. I remained silent regarding my wish to leave the restrictions of Gnost and live among people who were more emotional than I. I sought out a society where my emotionalism would be undetectable, with the intent to hide my weakness amongst the weakness of others. Now, my tendencies have become extreme. I still experience feelings to an intolerable degree, even though the myash has been over for some time. I struggle to maintain my composure, almost constantly. I think I need medical attention.”

  “We’re only a day or two from the Denison wormhole. I’m sure they’ll make us all see head-shrinks when we get back to base. Maybe that will help.”

  “Unlikely. I will report my symptoms and they will tell me that my feelings are normal. They know nothing of Gnostian psychology.”

  “Perhaps the embassy can help you find a Gnostian doctor who can help. You don’t need to struggle with this alone, Teloc.”

  He looked at her with intense gratitude. “I knew you would understand and not dismiss my concerns. However, it is improbable that there will be a Gnostian doctor on Denison who can treat me. Psychiatry is not a common profession among my people. We do not admit to illness of this type. There is a stigma. Mental illness stands in opposition to our esteem for reason and logic. I would have to travel to Gnost for diagnosis.”

  Elizabeth was pained. “If that is what is best for you, you should do it. I can’t bear to see you suffer.”

  “I have promised to participate in our child’s upbringing. I do not wish to break my promise. If I am diagnosed as being mentally ill, I will not be allowed to leave Gnost. I will become a ward of the state, or of my parents. The government cares too much about how our planet is perceived to allow a mad citizen to wander the galaxy. Only a select few are given permission to travel, and they are to be exemplars of our society.”