“Thank you, sir.”
“Just calling to let you know,” Havlock continued, “I’m popping over to that ship of fools to personally investigate the situation.”
Perez watched Havlock’s beater dash over from Protector to Candy Lady, lights flashing. “Aye, sir. I see you now.”
“While I’m over there, Freida, you’ll be acting squad captain,” Havlock said.
“Where’s Detectant Bergeron?” Perez asked.
“Alas, she is on another assignment,” Havlock explained. “Do keep it together for me, won’t you? I’ll be in touch if I need anything.”
“Aye, sir.”
“Thank you, acting captain. Havlock out.”
Perez marched toward her flight seat. “Alice, can you please do me a favor?”
Hopping after the detectant, Alice said, “Yes, ma’am.”
“Fingers crossed, Maxo’s compu-pad is working now like yours.”
“Could be. I haven’t reached out to him.”
“Please do so now,” Perez said, “and ask him to examine his compu-pad, including proximity data, and let us know what he finds. Time is short, so no fuss or muss.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“It’s a long shot,” Perez murmured, “but something isn’t right, and I will not be a pawn in anyone’s silly games.”
***
Maxo stepped all the way up to the F-9350’s windows and watched a beat boat approach. Behind him, he heard Duffy order the crew to obey her instructions and those of the CLF.
“We have nothing to fear,” she said. “Captain Havlock is personally investigating and will soon understand this situation is entirely Detectant Magnaveer’s fault. Then, we will be on our way.”
As Maxo shook his head, he heard his compu-pad beep and noticed Leo and Ariel had walked over to stand beside him.
“Are we going to Themis?” Leo asked. “I’m sure we can be a big help in the rescue and recovery efforts.”
“I know we can,” Maxo replied. He read the message from Alice and began to scroll to and tap various icons on his pad’s screen.
“Here we all are,” Ariel said, “and not where we’re truly needed.”
“Seems like everything,” Leo replied, “is always upside down these days. None of it makes sense.”
“If only,” Ariel added, “people would just listen to the universe.”
Maxo typed and sent a quick message to Alice. It read, “Was aboard the same slow boat you were but my cruise ended later, after a detour from Mars to a heading toward Candy Lady.” He leaned toward Leo and Ariel and whispered, “Please distract Duffy from me and Eli.”
Ariel winked while Leo’s eyes widened. “Easy, Lee,” she said to him. “Just follow my lead.”
“Thanks,” Maxo said, then waited to make his next move.
“Captain Duffy,” Ariel said as she and Leo walked over to the elevated console platform, “I’m very sorry I took Leo away from his duties earlier. I should have asked you first.”
“Yes, you should have,” Duffy barked.
“As it turns out, it was good he was there.”
“Why’s that?”
“Oh, Ariel,” Leo said, “Just lucky I guess.”
“I know you’re the expert on the Quantum operating system,” Ariel explained to Duffy, “and I’m just a glorified technician…”
“Get to the point, Ariel,” Duffy insisted.
“Leo noticed there was a fluctuation in the Trans-Holo synchronization,” Ariel explained. “It totally slipped my attention.”
“Good work, Leo,” Duffy said. “Did you run a sync diagnostic?”
“I did,” Ariel replied, “and that showed several issues that I think only you can properly address.”
“Are they urgent?” Duffy asked. “We have CLF coming aboard.”
“Speaking of which,” Zeke announced, “they’ve docked in the upper carriage bay.”
“I don’t know, ma’am,” Ariel said. “I just don’t want anything to meltdown and lose the converters or something along those lines.”
Duffy glanced around the bridge. “I suppose if we are in the grips of their F.S.-L.S. override,” she said, “there’s very little damage you all can do.”
“Perhaps best to check on the drive now, ma’am,” Leo said. “While you go with Ariel, I can go greet our CLF guest and bring him here.”
With a nod, Duffy said, “I agree, but please take Captain Havlock to my quarters and offer him refreshments. I will discuss the matter,” she paused to glare at Maxo, “in private with him before we come to the bridge.”
After Duffy, Leo, and Ariel boarded the elevator and its doors closed, Maxo walked over to Eli and sat in the flight seat next to him.
“Here’s my pad again,” Maxo said, handing it to Eli. “There’s proximity data in there that matches Alice’s pad for what looks like the same time you had us relayed through Candy Lady’s Trans-Holo interface.”
Eli put on his thick eyeglasses and examined Maxo’s compu-pad. “Who’s Alice?” he asked.
“She was the officer with me earlier.”
“Okay, thank you.” Eli read Alice’s instructions to Maxo and said, “Her pad must have coexisted too, just like yours. I mean,” Eli made circles in the air with his index fingers pointed upward, “theoretically.”
“I’m wondering if this data might be evidence to support your theory?” Maxo replied. He and Eli both furrowed their brows.
“How is this data generated?” Eli asked.
“It’s prox data…” Maxo began. He squinted then closed one eye to help him recall the technical details. “…So the data generate from corresponding with a nearby CLF communication device.”
“The CLF devices,” Eli murmured, “talk to each other. They keep each other apprised of their proximity within a certain radius.”
Maxo sighed, “Yes! That’s it exactly. That information can sometimes help to corroborate CLF testimony in court.”
“Hmmm,” Eli replied. He rubbed his forehead and studied the pad’s data displayed on one of his console screens. “There are two parallel prox data sets.”
Leaning in, Maxo asked, “What do you mean?”
“So, to me, it means your pad coexisted alongside Alice’s in proximity to a third compu-pad.” Eli pointed to the screen. “See this, that is a data set prefix identification number.”
“Ah, must be the I.D. for Alice’s compu-pad,” Maxo said.
Eli scratched his head. “Why do you say that?”
“Because it’s clearly composed like a CLF string,” Maxo explained. “See those digits there?” he asked, “next to the date and time stamp…”
“Yes…?”
Maxo tilted back in his flight seat and shook his head. “Those comprise a CLF badge number.”
“Oh, so that’s Alice’s badge number?”
“Upon closer examination, no.” He looked down at his laser pistol to make sure it was fully charged. “But I have a feeling I know whose badge number it is.”
While Maxo typed and sent an update to Alice, he also extended his apologies and thanked her for opening his eyes. Being Alice, she replied with a happy-face emoji, then confirmation of Havlock’s badge number. It was an exact match for the digits within the proximity data’s prefix identification number.
“Eli?” Maxo asked. “If you have a compu-pad’s prefix identification number…”
“Yes.” Eli replied. “Yes, I can.”
“You can access it? Is that what you mean.”
Eli laughed. “Yes.”
“Can you also,” Maxo smirked, “turn on its microphone?”
***
Duffy marched from the drive deck and boarded the elevator on the concourse. Whatever Trans-Holo malfunction had appeared earlier was nonexistent during her brief inspection of the system with Ariel.
“Crikey!” Ariel had said, “Just your mere presence solved the problem, captain.”
“Keep me apprised,” Duffy ordered.
Exiting the elevator one level below the bridge, Duffy entered a wide, semi-circular foyer. The décor here contrasted with the concourse’s spa-like setting, offering a room with fine wood paneling and marbleized flooring. No lilac scent here. Instead, Havlock’s musky cologne grew stronger as Duffy approached the entrance to her quarters. She paused to look at herself in an ornate oval mirror, brushed off her brown tunic, then drifted past her room’s sliding doors.
Inside, a short hallway led to a lobby, where Havlock was seated, sipping a brandy. The room’s décor matched the outer foyer, striking a pose resembling a manor house in the English countryside.
Havlock stood and gazed at Duffy, head to toe. “Come hither,” he said. “Oh, how I have missed you, Rayanna.”
A deck above Duffy’s quarters, Cassy and Peter had joined Maxo at Eli’s workstation.
“Are you hearing this too, Freida?” Maxo asked.
“Loud and clear, Maxo,” Detectant Perez replied from aboard Trident.
A series of sounds—like lips smacking and tongues lapping—lasted for close to a minute, then Havlock invited Duffy to sit and join him for a drink.
After brief chit-chat, Duffy said, “And who is this boy scout, Magnaveer, anyway? Coming aboard my ship—”
“What do you mean, your ship?” Havlock retorted.
“Pardon me, sweetheart,” Duffy replied. “Coming aboard the Colonel’s ship and seizing control.”
Everyone’s eyes on the bridge darted back and forth. Maxo stood and offered Cassy his seat. She then gave it to Zeke who had wandered over from the cargo stations with Ming.
“He’s a real wanker, that one,” Havlock said. “He was supposed to return to headquarters with that daft cow partner of his aboard their beater.”
“But instead of following your instructions,” Duffy explained, “he interrupts the training I was conducting, then gets it in his bald head he’s going to find D’Rump and stop him!”
Havlock laughed and said, “Well, that’s why I’m here. We need to get this ship back on track and underway to Porto Blago, all-fast ahead. Otherwise, we will lose valuable coin from transporting and selling the food barge’s cargo.”
Zeke laughed and slapped the seat’s armrest. “You did the right thing, detectant,” he said. “You chose to be mindful of your goals and your methods. By bringing a halt to your pursuit, suddenly the universe rewards you by handing you D’Rump on a stick.”
“And a couple of his underlings,” Peter added.
“I owe you for that, Zeke,” Maxo said. “As well as Leo and Ariel. You all talked sense into me.”
“We’re those worms going to use this ship to pirate food to the Martians?” Cassy asked.
“Sounds like it,” Eli said. “This transport has a lot of capability, especially in hauling and transferring cargo.”
“So, here’s the plan,” Havlock said.
Together, on the bridges of Candy Lady and Trident, crew members leaned into their respective communication panels. Even Aiden, who had returned with his catering cart to Trident’s bridge, paused to listen after handing Perez another box of carrot juice.
“First,” Havlock continued, “I will take you to the bedroom and bring us both to a spectacular climax…”
A chorus of mixed judgment—“oh my,” “didn’t need to hear that,” and “typical male ego”—arose on both bridges.
“…Second,” Havlock added, “I will arrest Magnaveer and release Candy Lady so you may secretly race to Porto Blago and the food barge.”
“Yea, I love it!” Duffy exclaimed.
“And finally,” Havlock concluded, “I will safely lead this squad of Caprices to CLF headquarters on the Moon and retire for the evening.”
Chapter 8
In And Of The Universe
While Maxo sat alone in Candy Lady’s briefing chamber on the bridge, Cassy rebooted her navigation computers and displays as Eli finished working on some rewiring of his communication panel. Peter rested in his flight seat. He smoked a digitized cigarette and flipped through messages on his compu-pad. There was no word from his friends on Themis. He feared they perished in the explosion and fought against the realization he would never see them again. Ming practiced at one of the cargo stations while Zeke, who stood next to him, offered suggestions that amused his apprentice.
“All propulsion is in the green,” Ariel announced from the drive deck. “Standing by for further orders.”
“Roger that, Ariel,” Peter said after sniffing and clearing his throat.
Eli rubbed his hands together then picked up Maxo’s compu-pad and walked to the briefing chamber. Once inside, he handed the pad to Maxo, who tucked it into his cargoloons.
“Thanks, Eli,” Maxo said. “You know, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help.”
Waving him off, Eli said, “I’m just glad to know what’s going on.”
“And we know what’s going on because you helped to crack this case.” Maxo stood. “It has been quite a day.”
“Especially for a Tuesday,” Eli remarked.
Maxo chuckled, then looked down at the front of his uniform, brushed off his tunic, and straightened his utility belt and holster. He buffed his badge with a sleeve and glanced at the shine on his boots. Smiling, he put on his silver astronautor sunglasses. “I’m guessing they are on their way up, so you best get back to your station, Eli.”
“Aye, sir, and just so you know…” Eli looked over his shoulder toward the bridge, “…we are all in agreement. We would have followed you to Planet Nine and back, if needed, to catch the Colonel, that fucking bastard!”
Eli ducked out of the briefing chamber and headed to his workstation. Maxo followed a few steps behind and proceeded to stand next to the elevated console platform. He had an unobstructed view of Duffy and Havlock as they exited the elevator a few moments later.
At first, they marched together toward Maxo, but Duffy stopped a pace or two behind Havlock as he faced off with the detectant.
“Nice sash and cape, Shin,” Maxo murmured.
“Please address me properly, detectant,” Havlock sneered. “You are in enough trouble already.”
“Captain Havlock,” Maxo replied, “I am prepared to turn myself in, but I ask that you please release Captain Duffy, her crew, and this ship.”
“Oh,” Havlock snapped, “why is that? Are they not suspected junkers?”
“Although I initially thought so,” Maxo tilted his head to the side to see Duffy, “They have been fully cooperative and, I now believe, there is not enough evidence to charge them.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Havlock tilted his head to mirror Maxo. “What you’re telling me, Detectant Magnaveer, is that you have failed today on so many levels.”
Maxo straightened his head and his slouch, putting his eyes well above Havlock’s head. “Yes, today has been an utter failure.”
“Your humility is pathetic, Magnaveer,” Havlock shouted. He stepped closer to Maxo and looked up at him. “You’ll never make captain,” he snarled. “In fact, your CLF days are over! Give me your badge and sidearm.”
Maxo removed his badge and handed it to Havlock, followed by his laser pistol.
“You’ll also want this.” Maxo pulled out his compu-pad.
Havlock grabbed the pad, prepared his handcuffs, and walked around Maxo. “Put your hands behind your back, Maxo, and don’t make me shoot you for resisting arrest.”
After he handcuffed Maxo, Havlock ordered him to sit on the floor. He giggled as Maxo tried to comply but lost his balance and stumbled.
“Oh, good thing you didn’t have your laser pistol,” Havlock said, “you might have shot yourself!”
The bridge crew remained quiet with eyes averted. In doing so, they did not notice Duffy glaring at them. She aimed her anger and disappointment toward each, one by one.
A human crew had been out of the question, so she recruited Digi-persons. They would be easier to control due to their inherent reliability and competence, plu
s she would be the only one fully certified on the Quantum operating system and its unique modifications engineered by the D’Rump Corporation. These factors, along with intimidation and threats, would be enough to make things work.
Or so she had believed.
What she failed to recognize and consider was an intrinsic similarity between humans and Digis. The latter, like humans, were both in and of the universe. They experienced and influenced the world around them. However, unlike many humans, Digis understood how their individual actions affected their experience and that of others in the universe. Selfish acts produced suffering—for the selfish and those around them. Goodness made life better for all. As human creations, Digis were imperfect, but as integral parts of the whole, they had a firm grasp of their individual responsibility toward others.
“Captain Duffy,” Havlock said, “I’m so glad we had an opportunity to deeply examine each other’s perspectives.”
“You’re so kind, sir,” Duffy replied. “I believe you just heard the detectant corroborate my claims of innocence.”
“Indeed, which is why I hereby release you with a warning only.” He escorted Duffy onto the elevated platform and said, “Your crew are quite fortunate to have you as their leader.” He applauded her and announced, “Please join with me, good crew, and give her a hearty round of applause.”
Light clapping stammered about the bridge accompanied by awkward glances.
“Now, I will not delay you further,” Havlock said, stepping down from the platform. He hovered over Maxo, then grabbed him by the elbow. “Get up, you twit.”
Maxo leaned to his side, rolled onto his knees, and stood. For some reason, perhaps due to the detectant’s towering frame, Havlock pointed the laser pistol at him. “Not necessary,” Maxo said, “but if you feel you must.”
“Silence! Not another word from you. Move!”
The bridge crew watched Havlock and Maxo disappear into the elevator, then they turned their attention to Duffy. She checked various console instruments and displays. “Prepare for departure,” she announced.
“Aye, captain,” Peter said. “Ariel reports all propulsion systems are in the green.”
Showdown at Jupiter's Edge: A Maxo Magnaveer Adventure Page 9
