In Enemy Hands Read Free Page B

emotionalism, she had nicknamed “Qwacka”—was a tall, slim machine, flanked by short featureless databanks. Nothing she saw in the lab even approximated its shape.
    She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Captain, but if I don’t have a Quantaflex, a Mark Five at the very least, then my trip here has been in vain.”
    She stood resolute. Some of her stubbornness must have shown in her face or her stance, because Jeen cocked his head in a most disarming fashion.
    “It’s late,” he said in a reasonable voice. “Why don’t I show you to your quarters and give you a chance to get settled? We can discuss this over dinner, if you’d care to join me?”
    Moon hesitated, wanting to say no, but the weight of her bag dragged at her wrist, reminding her that she was tired after almost a day and a half of continuous travel. And he was offering food. If it didn’t entail the usual pureed selection of bland mixtures slapped onto a tray, it would be wonderful. The alternative was standing her ground. But what would that achieve at this point? More discomfort?
    She was a logical person and knew an olive branch when she saw one.
    She conceded with a nod. “You’re right, Captain. We can discuss this later.”
    He smiled, obviously pleased, and it lightened his face, making him look more boyish.
    “Believe me, Dr. Thadin, the Republic is as invested in this project of yours as you are.”
    They walked through the doorway and turned right into another corridor, past a closed door to another at the end.
    “It’s keyed to your DNA,” Jeen explained as he stepped to one side.
    Moon put her hand on the reflective rectangular panel at eye level. After a second’s hesitation, the door slid open.
    “I’ll leave you to get comfortable. Will you be ready for dinner in, say, an hour?”
    “Yes, I think so.” The bag’s weight was starting to burn through her fingers.
    “I’ll see you then. Just ask anyone to direct you to the captain’s dining room.”
    “Thank you. I will.”
    With another smile and a quick nod, he left.
     
    Moon let the door slide shut behind her but didn’t relax. That was for more naive members of the Republic. With one last effort, she hoisted her bag onto the bed and walked around the quarters. Considering she was in a combat ship, the space she’d been given was expansive. Not only was there a small sitting alcove, but also her own private bathroom. There was even enough room for her to walk comfortably around three sides of the bed. She sauntered over to the opposite wall and pressed the small, upraised square on the bottom corner of a large panel. A view of what was beyond the Differential ’s hull sprang to view. They were at the edge of the local system, the preferred position from which to begin a hyperspace journey. The system’s planets looked like multi-coloured dots mired in black velvet. Somewhere, off to her right and a little behind her, she knew the system’s star burned. It was viable and life-giving—and outside her sphere of interest.
    Moon found another slide control next to the button. She quickly flicked through the other available scenes—tropical rainforest, searing desert, nebulae, ringed planets. Eventually, she toggled back to the natural outside view and left the screen at that choice.
    If she was not mistaken—her eyes scanned the cabin’s interior—there were no cameras inside her cabin. At least none that were obvious. Did this mean they trusted her? Or that they thought the ship was the perfect prison for her without the need for extra equipment? After all, she wondered with dry amusement, what could one female scientist do against more than a hundred well-trained soldiers?
    At least her thoughts were still her own. And just as well because, three years after he’d successfully escaped into thin air, she still wanted to wring Kad Minslok’s neck. Once, she had been an influential senior research scientist, naive yet content, working in the esoteric field of