The Lost Starship Read Free Page A

appeared not to hear. “During the duel, I struck the top of his right hand with the viper stick, ma’am. The discharge had no visible effect.”
    “Captain, I expect my pe ople to maintain greater awareness during a mission. I would also appreciate more mental acuity than you’re currently showing.”
    The fa intest of frowns appeared on Maddox’s face.
    “ Caius Nerva had huge muscles,” the brigadier said, “did he not?”
    “He did indeed, ma’am. In truth, that surprised me. Nerva didn’t seem like the type to train rigorously. It’s clear he ingested muscle-enhancers, but he would have still needed to lift several hours a day.”
    “ Those taking the Methuselah Treatment do not have their limbs lopped off to attach bionic appendages,” the brigadier said. “They have regrows…like a lizard developing a new tail.”
    “The top of his hand—”
    “Captain,” the brigadier said in a warning tone.
    Maddox fell silent.
    “I expect my people to listen when I speak,” she said.
    He stared at her.
    “ Caius Nerva had big muscles. You admit as much.” When the captain refrained from commenting, the brigadier said, “Look at this.” She lifted a clicker from the desk and pressed a switch.
    A holoimage appeared between them. It showed Caius Nerva in a swimsuit at what must have been a beach party.
    Maddox frowned. The man looked much slimmer than he remembered. He glanced around the image at the brigadier.
    “ For your duel,” O’Hara said, “for the entire night, he more a bodysuit.”
    Maddox ’s frown deepened.
    “ If you look closely enough,” she said, “there are certain telltale signs.”
    “But—”
    The brigadier held up a single hand.
    Maddox ignored it. “Ma’am, I’ve seen bodysuits. He wasn’t wearing one.”
    “I don’t believe you’ve seen the newest model from Tojo 5, the Samurai Deluxe. It hasn’t hit the market yet. It is totally lifelike, as you can attest.”
    “The stunner shot proves you wrong, ma’am. Such a bodysuit as you’re implying would protect the wearer from the stun.”
    “It did ,” she said.
    “I saw the man fall.”
    “Yes, because Sergeant Riker wisely set his weapon at the kill setting. The stunner hit didn’t injure Caius Nerva. The force of it knocked him down. The viper stick did the rest when it struck his face.”
    “Why would Sergeant Riker set his stunner for kill?”
    “For the best of reasons,” the brigadier said. “He suspected that Nerva wore a bodysuit. Realizing that, the sergeant knew the stun wouldn’t harm your opponent. Your man was trying to knock Nerva away from you. Rest assured, none of this is conjecture. I’ve already spoken to Riker. He has admitted everything.”
    Captain Maddox drummed his fingers on the armrests. “The sergeant didn’t say anything to me about this.”
    “ Don’t blame him for that. Your man deduced it during the duel. Your impetuousness uncovered that much, I suppose.”
    “The suit sweated,” Maddox said.
    Brigadier O’Hara sighed.
    “Ah,” Maddox said , realizing that was part of the deception. He turned his head, staring at a model starship inside a glass case. “The sweat fooled me, as it was meant to do. The designers intentionally made a skin-perfect bodysuit.”
    “ That it fooled you, Captain, is a testament to the designers. Usually, you are more observant. This time, your emotions blinded you.”
    Squinting, Maddox continued to stare at the starship model.
    “ Despite your youth, I expect much more from you, Captain,” she said.
    Maddox appeared not to hear.
    “The part I don’t understand,” the brigadier added, “is how you managed to fend off Nerva’s attacks. I watched a rerun of the duel. Your sergeant’s bionic eye under his patch recorded everything. I had a specialist study Nerva’s reaction times. In his bodysuit, Caius Nerva’s speed was beyond phenomenal. You should not have been able to parry every strike.”
    Maddox stopped breathing. He had tested