by Max Swan
“No, but we did discuss this mission being another act of stupidity from Command.”
“I see. Your service record says the Garan’s held you prisoner.” Paul kept his tone and body language as neutral as he could.
Blake’s eyes became cold and hard. “What the fuck has that gotta do with anything?”
Paul stepped back slightly. “I mean no offence Captain, but it is relevant given recent events.”
Blake moved up close to Paul all of a sudden, glaring at him. “Are you fucking implying I’m a Garan spy, you fucking piece of shit?”
Paul didn’t move, he kept his composure. “I’m looking at all the angles in my investigation, Captain. You even said that the list of suspects isn’t very long.”
Blake stepped back turning his back to Paul and pulled out a cigar and lit it. The stigma of being a former prisoner of the Garan’s had weighed heavily on him. He always thought Command never trusted him since, and the only officer who ever gave him a chance is Nadir. Blake said with his back turned, “Major, I was betrayed by a Greeter. Those cunt’s tortured me for six months, and they got shit. Despite that, I’m still looked on with suspicion.”
Paul did not change his neutral tone at all. “I’m sorry to have brought up what must have been a terrible time in your life. Even so, you understand why I need to ask.”
Blake swung around quickly blowing out a thick pall of grey smoke. “Look at my record since I returned to duty, and you’ll find it flawless. I hate the Garan’s as much as the next marine. No, more than any marine.”
Paul nodded, but inwardly guffawed at Blake’s response. Your service as an Engineer is flawless, Paul thought. I wonder whether you know how close you’ve come to being dishonorably discharged for insolence toward Greeter’s, he wondered? “I’ve reviewed the security footage of all the events leading up to the malfunction, and you did enter the qdrive housing several times before leaving Bolaris. Can you explain what you were doing?”
Blake shrugged. “When a Ship is in orbit, the qdrive is locked on low power to feed Ship, and to prevent anyone stealing her. Only the Keeper and the SSM have the clearance to unlock the qdrive, and it can only be done inside the housing.”
“So why so many trips in and out of the housing?”
Blake shook his head and sighed. “Unlocking a qdrive is a process, not just hitting a switch. If I had more engineers I wouldn’t have had to run back and forth like that.”
Paul nodded, understanding now. “You didn’t see anything suspicious inside the qdrive housing at all while you were in there?”
“No, but I wasn’t looking for anything suspicious either.”
“How do you think Lieutenant Huang reacted during the emergency?” Paul asked, tilting his head slightly.
“As the professional, she is. The gravity wave nearly did us in, but once we recovered we made sure the sludge was contained. Li and I worked our butts off for a week, until we unexpectedly dropped out of the Void. A week you spent drunk in your quarters, I’m told,” Blake wiped some sweat from his brow and looked at Paul with pure contempt.
He ignored the barb and pushed on, saying evenly, “Did she do anything or say anything that seemed out-of-place, given the extent of the emergency?”
Blake’s eyes narrowed. He yelled angrily, “If you think Li had anything to do with this, you’re fucking insane.”
Paul grimaced and raised his hand as a gesture of conciliation. “I’m not suggesting anything, Captain.”
Blake let out a deep exhale. “Well she didn’t do, or say, anything that made me suspicious.”
“Very well, thank you for your time and if I need anything further I’ll let you know.” Paul said turning off his palmcorder.
“I ain’t going nowhere, Major,” Blake said. Paul turned and walked back to the lift in Enginelab feeling worried. He had a Keeper who could’ve brought the bomb on board, and given it to the man who happens to be the SSM. Blake could’ve attached it to the qdrive before Lieutenant Huang had stepped out of the shower. Paul felt his stomach churn again as he entered the lift. We’re in serious trouble, he thought.
*****
He returned to the Bridge because he wanted to speak to Dexter. Paul and Dexter have been friends for many years and he never quite understood why they hit it off. However, over the years Dexter had proved himself a loyal friend, and vice versa. He found Dexter working away as he always does, with six monitors, showing six types of information. Busily typing and manipulating data at a rate that made Paul’s head spin.
“Have you come to question me?” Dexter said, stopping and turning to face him.
“Ah, you’re not a suspect at this stage, Dex.” Paul smiled.
Dexter raised an eyebrow. “Oh, so you have a suspect?”
Paul grimaced. “Worse than that, I have two, and I’ll need you to watch them while I’m away.”
Dexter jumped down from his chair and approached Paul. “I wondered how long it would take you to work it out.”
Paul rubbed his eyes saying, “Circumstantially they look guilty.”
“Working out the motive is what baffles me, despite the Captains history.”
“I don’t think Nadir is working for the Garan’s, or Blake for that matter. It’s Nadirs allegiances in the Keepers Guild that concern me,” Paul said.
“I’ve heard rumors of Keepers deliberately tampering with missions. However, I find it highly unlikely Nadir would take part in a suicide mission,” Dexter said, frowning deeply.
“There’s still so much we don’t know yet, Dex, and thanks to the predicament we’re in, we probably won’t know the truth until it’s too late,” Paul said, wishing he could get a drink.
“That’s true. I’ll do my best to watch your back as I know you will mine. That’s all we can do for now,” Dexter said, holding Paul’s gaze to show he meant it.
“So where’s the old man now? Do you know?” Paul looked over at the Keepers empty chair made of Ships flesh.
“He’s in his office, brushing up on his Engineering skills,” he said, chuckling to himself at thought of it.
“OK, I had better go talk to him,” Paul said with a sigh.
“Do you want me to call you in ten minutes, and give you an excuse to leave?” Dexter asked. He flashed a big smile at Paul, with a cheeky glint in his eye.
Paul laughed. “No, it should be OK. I’m sure I won’t last ten minutes in there anyway, before he throws me in the brig.”
*****
Paul left Dexter to his work and headed for the Colonels office. The Colonels door opened and Paul walked in to find him reading text on a palmcorder. Nadir looked up at him with those black eyes, Paul felt as if he were looking straight through him.
“I see it’s my turn to be interrogated,” he said unenthusiastically looking at the palmcorder.
“Captain Blake I presume?” Paul said rolling his eyes.
Nadir sat back with a sly smile. “Gordon eloquently described your questions. So take a seat, I’m curious about what you’ll ask me.”
Paul sat and activated his palmcorder. “Today I’m doing an informal questioning, to clarify some points.”
Nadir clasped his hands together, and said, “I’m at your mercy, Major.”
Paul nodded and begun. “The records show you boarded at 0400hrs, on the day of departure. What did you do after you boarded?”
“I melded with Ship to tell her of this rushed mission to take you back to Earth,” he replied evenly.
“Did you talk with anyone else before entering the Bridge to depart?”
Nadir shrugged. “Only Captain Blake, he always comes to say hello when he first boards Ship.”
“Looking at Captain Blake’s service record, it seems you have done a lot to keep his career going?”
Nadir seemed amused. “I realize he can be a handful sometimes, but he’s good at his job, and I like him. I can’t see how you could view that in any dubious way.”
“Ships manifest says you brou
ght a trunk on board, as well your regular luggage?”
“Yeah, so what?” Nadir lost his smile.
“Keepers don’t get their carry-on luggage searched, do they?” Paul sat very still to convey a neutral body language.
Nadir looked at Paul wide-eyed saying, “What the hell are you suggesting?”
Paul leaned forward staring intensely at Nadir saying, “You bring a strange trunk on board, Captain Blake visits you before we leave. A cynical person may view that as suspicious, given our current predicament.”
Nadir shifted in his chair. “I see. I suppose Gordon’s history as a Garan POW would add weight to suspicions of that cynical person? Your theory is circumstantial at best, and without a motive, no tribunal will take these allegations seriously.”
Paul sat back and crossed his arms. “You said you only spoke with Blake before leaving Bolaris.”
“So what?”
“Well, the communications logs show you spoke with Senator Kree on Bolaris, not long after you boarded, for about forty-five minutes. So you lied about Blake being the only person you spoke too,” Paul said, with a sense of satisfaction.
Nadir’s body jerked. “How do you know that? The communications hub is down.”
“I think you’re forgetting that all external communications are logged on to the computer database, and are accessible to security personal.”
Nadir looked down at his desk for a moment. “Oh,” he said, “I didn’t lie, I forgot. Senator Kree is a friend of mine. So what?”
“The same Senator who shared classified information with you about Colonel Abdul, I suppose?” Paul accused.
Nadir hesitated, and Paul knew he had nailed that. “As I said, he’s an old friend.”
Paul decided to reveal what he knew about Senator Kree and see what happened, “The same Senator whom has verified links with a Keeper faction accused of tampering with Corps missions in the past. Even sabotaging some missions to make some lose face in Command, so they could move their people into positions of power.”
Nadirs jaw dropped and he stared at Paul wide-eyed. “So you think I’m working for Senator Kree?”
“I’m not making any accusations, Colonel, I’m only asking questions,” Paul said evenly.
“Like hell you’re not,” Nadir said, crossing his arms.
“I will need to forensically inspect the trunk you brought on board, and any contents inside,” Paul said.
“It’s in my quarters, so feel free. I haven’t unpacked it yet. I have nothing to hide,” Nadir said looking bored.
Paul turned off his palmcorder. “This palmcorder holds all the interviews I’ve done so far, plus a report of my conclusions. If anything happens to me, it’ll be a record for Command if you get back home.”
Nadir stood making Paul follow.
“I understand, you’re doing your duty, and it’s nothing personal. All I can do is assure you that Captain Blake and I are innocent,” Nadir said, holding out his hand. Paul shook the old man’s hand, turned, and walked out. Nothing personal, he thought angrily as he walked toward the lift? Sure trying to kill me is nothing personal you fucking old cunt. Paul headed for the Colonels quarters to get the trunk. However, he knew the trunk wouldn’t reveal anything, as the Colonel is too smart for that.
*****
Later Paul arrived back to his quarters feeling as if he needed a drink. He placed his palmcorder down and headed straight for the vodka, and poured a glass. He felt hungry, it were now 2000hrs Ships time. He headed to his kitchen and opened the refrigerator and pulled out some food to make a ham sandwich. His doorbell rang.
“Oh fuck, what now?” Paul walked to his door and opened it. Lieutenant Huang stood there looking nervous, holding something in her hand. “Ah, may I help you, Lieutenant?” Paul asked, with a slight smile.
“I wonder whether I could talk to you?” she said fidgeting with the object.
“Ah, sure, come in,” he stepped aside to allow her to enter with the slight musky smell of perfume wafting as she passed. The Lieutenant walked in and sat on a large sofa. Paul followed and headed straight toward the liquor cabinet.
“Would you like a drink?”
“OK, but not Vodka. I’m not partial to it,” she said looking around the room.
“So what’s your poison?”
Paul noticed her left knee bouncing nervously as she said, “Um, do you have any beer?”
Paul stopped and looked at her for moment wondering why she’s so nervous. “I have some Regent Bitter in the fridge. Is that OK?”
“Yeah that’ll be fine. I have to say I’m surprised by the design of your quarters. I never took you for the romantic type,” again she fidgeted with the object
Paul sat next to her placing his drink on the coffee table, handing her the beer. “Oh? Well it’s not my design. The previous Greeter assigned to this Ship is the guilty party I’m afraid.”
She smiled, “Major Selwood. Yes, that makes sense.”
“Well what do I owe the pleasure of this visit too, Lieutenant?” Paul leaned back into the sofa and sipped his vodka.
Lieutenant Huang smiled briefly, and said, “Can you call me Li? Everyone else does.”
“OK, because we’re both off duty. How about you call me Paul? Uh, your visit tonight has nothing to do with my investigation does it?” She looked down at the object in her hands and grimaced, she handed it to Paul. He took it feeling amused, and examined the object closely. He sat up in his chair stiffly, saying firmly, “Where the hell did you get this?”
She suddenly looked haunted, “I found it today, in Enginelab. In Captain Blake’s toolbox.”
Paul placed his drink on the coffee table, and stood turning to look at Lijuan. “Why didn’t you contact me when you found this? You know he can deny it now you have taken it?”
Her hands and chin noticeably trembled. “I’m sorry, I panicked. Does this mean you’ll say I’m a suspect in your report?”
Paul’s head snapped back. “How do you know about my report?”
“I heard the Captain speaking to Colonel Nadir about it on his cell,” she confessed looking at her hands clenching and unclenching in her lap.
Paul sat, putting the remote on the coffee table. “In the old days they called evidence like this: ‘the smoking gun’. However, you shouldn’t have taken it from the toolbox, you know that?”
Tears ran down her cheeks. “I can’t believe he did it.”
Paul grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “This evidence could’ve been planted there to incriminate him, so don’t jump to conclusions.”
She looked at him eyes wide, wet with tears. “But Paul, that’s the remote for the detonator. How could I not jump to conclusions?”
“I want you to put a brave face on it for now and keep it to yourself. Let me deal with it. OK?” Paul said warmly to her.
She sighed looking into his eyes, “Thanks I knew coming to you would make me feel better.”
Paul leaned in speaking gently to her, “You look tired Li. Are you OK?”
She smiled slightly and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, great. I’ve been working like a dog since that damn bomb went off. To make matters worse I’m having trouble sleeping thanks to these horrible nightmares I’ve been having.”
Paul reached behind him and grabbed a box of tissues and presented it to her. “Well I’m sure Dex could give you something to help you sleep?” he said, as she took some and wiped her eyes.
She shuddered. “I don’t like taking that stuff. I can never seem to wake until it wears off.”
“Isn’t that the point?” Paul smiled.
She gave Paul a darting look and said, “Not if you’re having the worst nightmares ever, it isn’t”
“That bad eh? Yeah, I’ve been having bad nightmares too.” Paul confessed.
“What about?” she asked.
Paul looked own into his glass and laughed grimly. “My many failures, but mostly about my wife Sheena.”
Lijuan suddenly pulled
her hand away from him. “Oh, I didn’t know you’re married. You don’t wear a ring.”
“After she was killed, I couldn’t bear seeing that ring so I stopped wearing it,” Paul said, his eyes filling with tears. He chided himself for being so emotional in front of Lijuan. She reached over gently and lifted his head with her finger.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Paul,” she said softly. Leaning over, she hugged him. Her warm soft body on his is something he hadn’t felt in a long time. He couldn’t bring himself to be with another woman since his Sheena was killed. Lijuan broke the hold and leaned back to be facing him close. Her eyes were like pools of gold that he wanted to lose himself in. She leaned over and kissed him.
Chapter 8
Paul suddenly pushed Lijuan away from him and stood, heading for the liquor cabinet. Lijuan looked confused as he poured himself a fresh glass of vodka, and drank half.
“I’m sorry if—” she began
“I’m sorry too Li, but while you’re under investigation I cannot be close to you,” Paul said while he had his back to her.
“Am I a suspect?” she said incredulously.
Paul suddenly wished the floor would open, and swallow him. He turned and looked at her feeling his face turn red, “You weren’t until you brought me that remote control,” Paul said evenly.
“But I was only trying to help,” she stood and glared at him.
Paul looked at his hands thinking. “I think you’d better leave now.”
Lijuan continued to glare at him for a moment, silently she spun and left his quarters, slamming the door behind her. Paul sat, letting out a deep sigh and finished the rest of the vodka in his glass. He felt really attracted to Lijuan, but doubt stabbed at his mind. Lijuan wouldn’t be the first women to use feminine wiles to throw an investigator off the track, he thought. He pulled out his cell and pressed Dexter’s icon and waited.
“Hi, Paul, how’s things?” a cheery Dexter said as he answered.
“Shitty. I had a visit from Lieutenant Huang, and she presented me with the remote for the sludge bomb. She claims she found in Blake’s toolbox,” Paul said feeling his stomach churn.
“She brought it to you? How foolish,” Dexter said.
“It gets worse,” Paul closed his eyes, “She kissed me.”
“Oh!” Dexter said stunned. “She’s either naive, or calculating.”
“The security footage doesn’t show her entering the qdrive housing at any stage. So I can’t believe she’s involved,” Paul said rubbing his forehead vigorously.
