Looking over at Charlie who was standing next to the Eorian’s table, Trinity started to ask the obvious question but remained silent to avoid distracting the Sterilian at a critical moment. Charlie must have sensed her unspoken request because he looked over at her and shook his head. Opening his mouth to reveal a double row of serrated teeth, the Sterilian pointed one of his four arms at Telsa and hissed his answer. Mechanical sounding words came out of a small box attached to a belt at the lizard’s waist.
“Woman fine,” Charlie said. He pointed at the professor saying, “He dying. Nothing we can do.”
“Charlie’s right,” said Sergeant Ron. “We’re mechanics, not healers, and this is a recon ship, not a medical transport. Your friend is so far gone now I think it would take a trained wizard scout healer to save his life. Our robo-doc may be able to keep him alive for a few minutes longer, but I’m afraid that’s about it.”
“We should try to get him to a medical facility,” Trinity said stating the obvious but desperately needing to do something. The Eorian was her responsibility. She was the one who’d initiated the battle, not the professor.
The Defiant’s captain shook his head. “Believe me, I would if I could. I’m not heartless, no matter what some people might say. As it so happens, I’m making for the nearest dimensional fold now. Even at max hyper-speed, we’re still twelve hours away. Like I said, the Defiant is a recon ship. We’re not one of those larger class ships that have the energy to create their own jump points. I’ve got a limited number of options that I can do.”
Trinity wanted to argue, but she had nothing to base an argument on. She doubted the Defiant’s captain wasn’t being cruel. He was just stating facts as he saw them. They weren’t going to be able to save the professor’s life. Not for the first time, Trinity started to second-guess her decision to attack the professor’s guards. She immediately shoved the thought aside. She was experienced enough to know second-guessing never did anyone any good.
Sergeant Ron walked over to Telsa’s table and looked up at the display. “Your little friend’s doing well. If the robo-doc wasn’t keeping her unconscious, she’d probably be moving around by now. Her Power reserve seems to be trying to heal the radiation damage to her body. At least it’s healing her enough that we’re going to be able to save her life.”
The old man’s statement caught Trinity by surprise. She sized the Defiant’s captain up gaining a newfound respect. “You can sense her Power reserve?”
The old man grinned. “What? Are you one of those people who think only wizard scouts can sense things like that? Both Charlie and I could’ve been wizard scouts if we’d had a mind. We decided long ago to work for a living instead of eating out of the government’s trough for the rest of our lives. So yeah, I can sense her Power reserve. I can sense yours too for that matter. What of it?”
Trinity grinned. She wasn’t insulted. Although she’d never met them personally, she knew both Sergeant Ron and Charlie by reputation from her years as a cadet at the Intergalactic Wizard Scout Academy. “I heard you were an ornery cuss, Captain,” Trinity said. “I guess I heard right.”
The ship’s captain eyed her before returning her grin. “And I heard you were a hard-headed wizard scout who doesn’t take crap off anyone. I guess I heard right too, eh? By the way, don’t call me, Captain. I don’t like officers, not even civilian ones. I’m a sergeant at heart. I work for a living. I may own and pilot this ship, but I ain’t no officer.”
Thinking back, Trinity tried to remember all she’d heard about the Defiant and her crew. Both Sergeant Ron and Charlie were on-again off-again mechanics at the Empire’s Academy. They had been off on some adventure in the Defiant when she’d attended the Academy, but she’d heard plenty of stories about them from the senior cadets while she’d been there. For some reason, the Academy’s commandant, Wizard Scout Thomas R. Jacobs, had cut the two of them a lot of slack on their duties at the Academy.
“Why are you here?” Trinity asked deciding to take the direct frontal approach to getting information.
“Well…,” said Sergeant Ron raising a hand to scratch at his beard. “Officially, Charlie and I just happened to be in the area, but that ain’t exactly the truth. The commandant passed on a request from the central computer for us to stand by in case we were needed on that desert planet. Obviously, we were.” The Defiant’s captain smiled. “If I’d known how much trouble you were going to cause, I’d probably have refused.”
Trinity took the old man’s last statement with a grain of salt. From what she’d heard, Sergeant Ron never let a little bit of potential trouble influence his decisions. She concentrated on another part of his comment. “You said a request. Was it a request or an order? It’s a long way from the Academy on Velos to this Creator-forsaken part of space. I need to know why you’re here.”
Sergeant Ron’s face darkened slightly, and his voice took on an edge. “First off, I said it was a request, and I’m not in the habit of lying. The Defiant is a privately owned vessel. Neither the Empire nor anyone else can order us to do anything. We were guaranteed a sizeable sum of credits to stand by within striking distance of that planet. As it so happens, my ship’s in need of a few major repairs. Since my bank account’s nearly empty, I made the command decision to comply with the request, so here we are. Savvy?”
Before Trinity could answer, an alarm went off on the display above the professor’s table. The indicators for the Eorian’s vitals began fluctuating wildly.
Turning to Charlie, the Defiant’s captain said, “Better wake the woman up. I don’t know how close the two of them are, but if it was me, I’d want to say goodbye.”
The Sterilian pressed an icon on the computer display near Telsa’s table. A metal appendage stretched out from the robo-doc and inserted a needle into the grad student’s arm. As soon as the needle was removed, Trinity noticed the short female’s eyes flutter and open.
“Wha… what’s happening?”
Telsa tried to rise but almost immediately fell back on the table. The robo-doc inserted another needle full of liquid into her arm. Trinity noticed color come back into the woman’s cheeks. The professor’s grad student sat up and swung her short legs over the side of the table. Her eyelids fluttered. She leaned forward and began to fall. Trinity caught her and raised her back into a sitting position.
“Take it easy,” Trinity said. “The radiation from that nuke nearly did you in.” She motioned in the direction of the professor. “Your self-heal saved your life. I’m sorry to say the professor didn’t fare as well.”
“My self what?” Telsa asked. She started to say more, but her eyes caught sight of the Eorian. Understanding came to her face. She immediately jumped off the metal table and staggered to the professor’s side. After looking at the medical display, Telsa looked up at the others in the room. “He’s dying. Do something.”
“We’ve done all we can,” said Sergeant Ron in a voice that Trinity thought sounded kinder than any tone she’d heard him use so far. “All anyone can do now is say goodbye.” Glancing at the Sterilian, the Defiant’s captain said, “Charlie, wake him up. He may have something to say.”
Moving his right-upper arm, Charlie touched on icon on the medical display above the professor’s table. The robo-doc moved closer to the professor and reached out with a snake-like appendage. A jet of air shot out of the tube in the direction of the professor’s nose. Trinity detected a pungent odor in the air. She noticed the professor’s eyelids open and close several times before finally remaining open. His dilated pupils seemed to look around the room before locking in on Telsa.
The Eorian must’ve noticed the concerned look on the face of his grad student. He sighed and gave a weak smile. “Ah. So it’s my time. I’m sorry I involved you in this, Telsa.”
“You’re going to be all right, Professor,” said Telsa. She wiped at her eyes with one hand, but she didn’t cry. “We’re going to get you to one of those wizard scout healers. Everything’s going to be
fine. You’ll see.”
The professor looked around at the other faces in the room. When his gaze fell on Trinity, she tried to keep her expression blank. She had a feeling she was failing miserably.
The professor looked back at Telsa. “It doesn’t matter, little one. I’m old even for an Eorian. I’ve had a good life. Now it’s time for you to do what I’m no longer able.”
This time Telsa lost control slightly and choked back a sob. “Do what? I’m just your student.”
The Eorian smiled. “No longer, little one. Now you must be the teacher.” Raising a clenched fist, the professor opened it to reveal a small data disk. Trinity recognized it as the one he’d taken from the tattooed man. “Take this, Telsa. I couldn’t solve the riddle, but maybe you’ll succeed where I failed. The existence of the Empire may depend on you.”
“What are you talking about, Professor?” said Telsa trying valiantly to hold back her tears. “Whatever it is, you’ll figure it out. I’ll help you. Everything’s going to be all right. You’ll see.”
The Eorian smiled one last time before taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. His open hand fell across his chest. The data disk tumbled toward the floor, but Telsa didn’t waste time trying to catch it. Her eyes immediately went to the medical display. An alarm went off. Almost immediately, several appendages from the robo-doc reached out and touched the professor’s chest.
“Stand back,” came the mechanical voice of the robot.
Trinity reached out with both hands and pulled Telsa away from the table. The short woman struggled trying to reach the Eorian, but the grad student’s strength was no match for Trinity’s battle suit.
A high-pitched whine filled the air. The professor’s body jerked as the robo-doc sent an electrical charge into the Eorian’s chest. The indicators on the medical display continued to show a flat line. The whine filled the air again. A second later the professor’s body jerked even more violently. The indicators continued to remain flat. Twice more the procedure was repeated. Finally, the appendages retracted into the robo-doc, and the whole conveyance slid back into the wall of the infirmary.
Trinity looked at Charlie and Sergeant Ron. By silent agreement, they left the room together to give Telsa some privacy. Before she walked out, Trinity bent down and picked up the data disk dropped by the professor and slipped it into her pocket. Trinity knew the young woman might not be interested in the disk at the moment, but she had a feeling that would change later.
Walking out the doorway, Trinity slid the curtain shut behind her. The thick cloth did little to suppress the sound of sobs coming from the room.
Chapter 3 – Change of Mission
____________________
Sergeant Ron, Telsa, and Trinity stood around the holographic display in the communications room. A meter-sized form of a muscular, blonde-headed woman stood on the communication console. The woman wore the uniform of a special operations captain.
“I’m sorry to say you screwed the pactar on this one, Trinity,” said the blonde woman. “The Imperial High Command is livid. You were only supposed to pinpoint the location of the professor for a follow-up mission, not attempt a rescue all by yourself.”
Trinity pressed her lips tightly together to prevent any words from coming out. She’d already said all she needed to say. Besides, she knew it wasn’t Captain Stevens’ fault. The captain knew the score. Field agents had to make split-second life and death decisions. Trinity knew she’d made hers. Now she’d have to live with the consequences.
While military discipline kept Trinity silent, Sergeant Ron was under no such obligation.
“Well it’s always easier for some fat-assed, rear-echelon, high mucky-muck to say what should’ve been done when they’ve got all the time in the galaxy to make a decision,” said Sergeant Ron. “I’d like to see one of them out here trying to make a decision in real time when someone’s shooting at them. I’ve got a feeling they’d change their tune real quick.”
Trinity thought she detected a hint of a smile on the gruff special operations captain’s face, but it disappeared before she could be sure.
“Regardless, Sergeant Ron,” said Captain Stevens, “the damage is done. The professor’s dead and so are all our leads. The intel boys and girls have analyzed the information from the copy of the data disk you sent us. Most of it is just theoretical gibberish from what they tell me.”
Telsa grew red-faced. “It’s not gibberish. Professor Jaskok was a great scientist. Just because your people aren’t smart enough to figure it out doesn’t make it gibberish.”
The hint of a smile appeared on the captain’s face again before disappearing. “That may well be, young lady, but the end result is that our intel can’t figure it out. Can you?”
“Uh,” said Telsa. “Uh, I’m just a grad student. I’ve helped the professor off and on over the last six years, but he didn’t discuss what was on the disk with me.”
The holographic image of Captain Stevens frowned. “I see. Well, you’re the closest thing to an expert we’ve got, so I’m unofficially making you a part of this operation until further notice.”
“What?” said Telsa. “I’m a scientist, not one of your tin soldiers. I’ve got a life of my own. I need to call me parents. They’ll be worried.”
“Your parents have already been contacted,” said Captain Stevens. “As far as your life goes, it’s on hold for the time being.”
“Uh, sir,” Trinity said. “I’m not sure what you mean by part of this operation. What operation is that? I thought the mission was over. I failed. End of story, right?”
Captain Stevens narrowed her eyes and stared. Trinity was rarely intimidated, and she wasn’t now, but she’d learned to respect the special operations captain over the last couple of years. The woman was a no-nonsense commander who cared about her troops. Trinity had always had a high regard for leaders like that.
“The mission’s not over ‘til I say it’s over, wizard scout. As it so happens, one fact our intel did get out of the data you sent was that something big is happening on Cavos in the Octavo system. You’re going to go there and find out what it is, and you’re going to take the professor’s grad student with you.”
“Hmm,” said Jennifer over the battle helmet’s external speakers. “Cavos is currently in the middle of a political mess bordering on a civil war. Based upon the information in my databanks, the Empire has a division-level force of peacekeepers on the planet trying to keep the two factions from annihilating each other.”
Captain Stevens nodded her head. “That’s right, and from what I hear, it ain’t working out so well for the peacekeepers. Due to significant losses of senior officers, the acting division commander is currently a Major Jerad Criteron. He’s a good soldier from what I hear, but his peacekeepers are undermanned and outgunned. He’s requested a regiment of UHAAVs and two battalions of infantry to reinforce his troops.” The holographic image of Captain Stevens turned slightly to look directly at Trinity. This time the special operations captain definitely smiled. “We’re going to send him you instead.”
“Ha,” Trinity said. “I’ve got a feeling that isn’t going to make the major none too happy.”
Captain Stevens’ eyes gave a twinkle. “I’ve no doubt you’re right, wizard scout. Nevertheless, you’re all we’re sending at the present. Once you get on the planet, you’ll provide Major Criteron with whatever assistance you can when you’re not trying to find out how the political situation on Cavos involves the professor’s data.”
“I’m no scientist,” Trinity said. “I’m a soldier. I won’t be any help trying to analyze the disk.”
“Don’t I know it,” said Captain Stevens. “That’s where your young companion here is going to help you out.”
Telsa frowned. The short woman folded her arms across her chest. “I didn’t say I’d do it.”
“I don’t remember asking if you would,” said Captain Stevens in a voice indicating non-compliance wasn’t an option. “Unless yo
u plan on walking all the way back to the Imperial University on Risors, I suggest you get your head into your professor’s data and help Wizard Scout Trinity out the best you can. The faster you two figure this thing out, the quicker you’ll get back to your friends and family.”
Trinity noticed Telsa’s face turning beet-red. Before the short female could reply, Trinity beat her to the punch. “How are we supposed to get to Cavos, Captain? Are we being teleported there?”
The holographic image of the captain shook her head. She raised an arm and pointed at Sergeant Ron. “This fine gentleman is going to take you there.”
“The devil you say,” said Sergeant Ron. “I don’t take orders from you or anyone else. I’ll be spending most of the credits I earned pulling these two’s fat out of the fire to get the Defiant back in shape. I’ve got radiation dust in every crevice on the outside of the ship. I’ll probably be spending weeks getting it all cleaned out.”
“Then a nice leisurely vacation on Cavos will give you time to get your little recon ship all spic and span, won’t it?” asked Captain Stevens without a hint of a smile.
“The answer’s no,” said Sergeant Ron. “I don’t take orders from the Imperial High Command or anyone else. I’m not in the military anymore. I’ve got my own priorities.”
The image of Captain Stevens flickered and winked out. It was replaced by the image of a man wearing the black and gold of an Intergalactic Wizard Scout Academy TAC officer. Trinity recognized the man immediately. He was Wizard Scout Thomas R. Jacobs, the commandant at the Intergalactic Wizard Scout Academy. He’d been the commandant when she’d graduated from the Academy twelve years ago. She had a feeling the man would be the commandant until the day he died. He was somewhat of a hero to most wizard scouts. She had a lot of respect for him.
“Commandant,” said Sergeant Ron.
Trinity Unleashed (Wizard Scout Trinity Delgado Book 1) Page 5
