“You can socialize later,” Jason Blaze interrupted him. “If we survive the upcoming fight, that is,” he added in low voice.
Adrian raised his eyebrows. “A fight? What fight?”
“You didn’t think your Biozi pals would let you off the hook, did you?” Jason said. “Follow me.”
The restraints disappeared, freeing Adrian’s wrists and legs. He hopped on the floor, still a little bit dizzy, and followed the lieutenant. Before leaving the sickbay, he offered Talia a wave goodbye. “See you later. And thanks for…saving my life?”
Her smile grew broader. “You’re very welcome, Dr. Darus. Just doing my job. I’ll monitor your vitals remotely, but if you experience dizziness or any other symptoms, please return to sickbay.”
Adrian always found the interiors of military ships sinister, with their harsh artificial lights and ghostly holo-screens. He followed Jason through a narrow corridor.
“So, lieutenant, what’s the situation on Vega?” Adrian inquired.
Jason shrugged. “How’d I know what’s going on in the capital? We’ve been buried in deep space for months. Fighting the cockroaches and looking for you.”
Adrian refrained from pointing out that the Taar’kuun—called Biozi by humans—were not insects, and were not even related to insects. They were also unrelated to reptiles, contrary to what some people thought. The fact that their morphology bore some similarities with insects and reptiles didn’t mean that there was taxonomic relationship. But it wasn’t the right time for a xenobiology lesson.
“I hope you’re worth the trouble,” Jason added. “I must admit you’re different from what I’ve imagined.”
Adrian lifted his chin, as if that would make him taller. Jason had about ten centimeters on him. “And what did you imagine??”
“Dunno. More…impressiveness somehow. The first Taar’kuun to revert to human genome, the one who resurrected an entire species—you’re a living legend. Or so I thought.”
Adrian turned away, his lips curling down. “Sorry I’ve disappointed you. But you shouldn’t judge me by my appearance.”
“I know, doc,” Jason said in a softer tone. “I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just that we’ve been through hell to find you. And we’ve lost good friends and comrades along the way.”
They walked in silence for a moment. The corridors were empty, with no sign of human activity.
“We couldn’t let the Biozi set their claws on you,” Jason added. “Without you and your research, humanity wouldn’t even exist. We’d still be serving the Biozi. Damn, we’d all be like them. But the leaders of the Alliance gave up hope finding you. Secretary of Defense DeCourt declared you dead, and Admiral Winsley disbanded the search and rescue taskforce.”
“So why did you persevere?”
“Oh, ‘cos our captain is the most stubborn bastard in the galaxy—pardon my Galactic.”
A bridge’s double door parted before them. Adrian was surprised to see how narrow the chamber was, allowing just enough room for a dozen G-seats and a tactical holo-screen. He saw the captain from the back, an imposing silhouette standing in the middle of the bridge. Three golden stripes and a laurel glinted on his shoulders.
“Captain,” Jason called to get his CO’s attention.
The latter remained still, contemplating the screen, as if nothing else existed.
“Captain?” Jason repeated. “I brought you Dr. Darus; I thought you would be pleased.”
That wasn’t the right way of addressing a superior officer, Adrian knew. The discipline on this destroyer seemed surprisingly lax.
What sort of pirate ship is this?
The captain turned his head. He looked more Taar’kuun than human, maybe due to his age. Phenotypic restoration was usually slower in individuals who’d outlived a couple of centuries. The gaze of his dark eyes was hazy, as if he were only vaguely aware of his surroundings.
“Sir, I’m Dr. Adrian Darus.” Adrian stepped toward the captain, extending his hand. “I’m very pleased to meet you, and I’m grateful for—”
He stopped as his eyes met the captain’s. He had the feeling of staring into two black holes.
“Captain Hunt, CO of the ASC Remembrance.” The captain’s voice was husky and cold, well matched to his half-human, half-reptilian appearance.
Five other officers turned to face Adrian. They were all in their late teens or early twenties.
The howl of a siren interrupted the introductions. “Spatial distortions detected,” droned the onboard AI.
Captain Hunt turned to the holo-screen again. “Condition red. All crew to battle stations.”
Jason grabbed Adrian by the shoulder and pulled him toward an empty G-seat. “Hop in there and stay put, doc,” Jason instructed. “Don’t leave the seat under any circumstances unless ordered.”
Adrian obeyed without a word. Seatbelts strapped themselves around his chest, arms, and legs. Everyone on the bridge was already seated.
The screen showed a blade of light ripping through the darkness of space. The silhouette of a massive cruiser emerged from the wormhole. Adrian knew what that meant—his enemies had found him.
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Battlegroup Vega Page 27
