Misfits Read Free

the station as Brunner himself--in combat dress was examining
the pack minutely.
    "Tech Brunner," the Scout said. "You will of
course be familiar with the commercial version of this Stubbs
MicroRanger from your training." He used his chin to point at the
backpack. "The Scouts will supply this unit on loan to the station,
if, in your professional opinion, it will be useful to your work.
The station may then lend-lease the unit to Klamath--or to someone
representing the legitimate government of Klamath. There is--…
melant'i at work--… in that direction."
    Brunner eyed the offered weather machine.
The redheaded soldier was bent close, hands prudently behind her
back, winged brows pulled together into a frown. "This is no
commercial unit, Scout."
    "Indeed. In comparison to the commercial
Stubbs--… This one is quite a bit more powerful, and has some
additional useful features--we will of course supply the manual.
Among the upgrades is the ability to transmit very long distances.
It may also be set to do precision positioning and multi-remote
queries on its own and to act as relay. Is this capability worth
the risk to equipment which costs on the order of a dozen cantra to
put in place?"
    "Worth how much? Maybelle's beard! And I'm
supposed to just lug this around in an active zone?"
    Startled, Brunner looked back to the
apparent halfling who'd been studying the Stubbs.
    As Liaden as she appeared, the language she
spoke was Terran and the accent was--backworld, at best.
    "That's not your problem--…" began the
commander but the halfling rushed on:
    "Liz, this thing could buy Surebleak with
change left over, couldn't it? Didn't you say you can buy a ship
for--…"
    The Scout laughed out loud, and cocked an
eyebrow at the tall Terran at his side.
    "I see you have found us willing transport,
Commander."
    She snorted, made a vague waving motion
toward the young soldier.
    "Put it on, then we'll see if you've got a
worry, right, Corporal?"
    The soldier's face was very unLiaden in its
mobility and willingness to display emotion. The expression of the
moment, if Brunner read it aright, was a cross between disdain and
awe.
    "That an order?" she asked warily. "I can't
much afford to pay this back if I drop it wrong--…"
    "Order," confirmed the commander, though not
as sharply as she might have done. "Now, Redhead."
    "Yes'm." The soldier bent to the pack.
    "The question remains, Tech." The Scout's
voice drew Brunner's attention. "Is it worth the risk to the
equipment to have the corporal carry it in what she properly names
an active zone?"
    Brunner sighed, shoulders rising in one of
the all-encompassing shrugs that formed a great part of station
lingua.
    "You wish to argue philosophy, Scout?
Equipment is to be used in the pursuit of information. This station
exists to gather what information we can regarding the unique
events upon the planet's surface."
    Jack snorted. "See, I told you! Sure he
wants the Stubbs onworld. You want the Stubbs onworld. The
commander here, she wants the Stubbs onworld--…"
    "Hey, it ain't that heavy, really, is
it?"
    The discussion stopped as all eyes focused
on the corporal and her burden. She stood as tall as she could,
which was not very, and extremely straight, which was--… admirable,
given what she was wearing on her back. The unit's stand was still
deployed, and she casually flipped a trip-switch on her left side,
retracting it. Reaching to another switch, she said, "This one,
right? The antenna?"
    The Scout nodded. "But not here. The unit
will begin transmitting on antenna deployment and I suspect it
would give a jolt to the local receivers at this range, even if all
it does is protest the lack of its key."
    The corporal grinned and gave a half-salute,
with a cheery, "Yes, sir!" She moved her shoulders against the rig
and strode away at a good clip, as if testing new boots. Out the
door she went, down the corridor a dozen steps, then a quick circle
back.
    Brunner watched the girl-soldier with