The Lost Planet (Lost Starship Series Book 6)

by Vaughn Heppner

  Just as she readied herself to lunge at him, Keith attacked.

  He came in fast, jabbing, shifting positions, trying a leg sweep. She jumped over his leg, but that left her vulnerable as she landed. He punched her in the stomach, sending her staggering backward.

  She knew what he would do. Thus, she jumped back farther to gain space. Then she lunged blindly, striking. Instead of hitting him, she tripped and landed on her face, thudding against the floor padding.

  Keith stood to the side, with his arms folded as he grinned down at her.

  “You’re too obvious sometimes,” he said.

  Valerie climbed to her feet. The good feeling had evaporated. She didn’t like people making fun of her, and she felt that was what Keith was secretly doing with his grin.

  “Now you’re serious, love,” he said in a joking manner. “Now I’m in trouble, eh?”

  Valerie shook her arms, twisted her neck until it popped and went into a new stance. She’d let herself get preoccupied. Keith never seemed to do that. The pilot seemed to live in the moment. Maybe that was one of his secrets. She thought too much. She brooded over problems and—

  With a shout of surprise, Valerie went flying through the air as Keith flipped her. She landed on her back with a thud.

  A moment later, Keith looked down at her, with his grin wider than ever. “I’ve been learning judo,” he said. “I wanted to surprise you. Are you surprised?”

  Valerie didn’t say a word as she climbed back to her feet. She’d let herself get distracted again. That wasn’t going to happen a third time. She was a better close-combat fighter than Keith. He shouldn’t be able to do this to her. She’d trained far longer than he had.

  Watching him, shifting to the left, striking to the right, she missed. He tried another of his sneaky maneuvers, but she was ready this time.

  For the next twenty seconds, they lunged and defended, neither able to get an advantage over the other.

  Some of her anger and embarrassment oozed away as they continued. Keith kept laughing, but in a good-natured way. He had a sunny disposition. He smiled a lot and he made some goofy faces at her. She almost had him twice, but his speed and reflexes saved him.

  She smiled while thinking about Keith. She’d been spending more time with him lately. He’d held her hand once. She’d liked that, but hadn’t let him hold her hand too long.

  Star Watch regulations didn’t prohibit onboard relationships, but it frowned upon them. It had various safeguards. Now that Valerie thought about it, the captain ignored almost every regulation regarding Meta. The captain pretty much did as he pleased in that regard.

  Keith surprised her again, and she went flying, thudding onto the mat on her back. This time, Keith followed the maneuver by landing on her chest.

  “I’m going to pin you,” he boasted.

  A surge of determination motivated Valerie. She fended off his first assault, wrestling like a wildcat.

  “Hey,” Keith said. He strained to keep her from reversing their positions.

  Valerie pushed. He pushed back. For a moment, they were in perfect equilibrium. Then, Keith did something with his left foot. She fell back. He landed on top of her and their faces were centimeters apart.

  “This is it,” he said.

  She strained against his pinning her. He leaned closer. Their lips almost touched.

  “Valerie, love,” he said in a husky voice.

  Valerie became very aware of his proximity, of his body pressing against hers. Suddenly, this didn’t seem to be close-combat training anymore. It felt more like—

  Keith kissed her. As he did, he released pressure elsewhere.

  Valerie went with the kiss. She liked it, until she wondered how this would affect their working relationship. Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe this would cause complications. It might even jeopardize the mission in some way.

  Without really thinking about it, Valerie used a new move Meta had shown her two days ago. She flipped Keith onto his back, looking down at him.

  He grinned up at her as if he expected her to kiss him back. He practically lay there waiting for it. She considered kissing him. She wanted too, but regulations—

  She jumped to her feet. “Why did you do that? That wasn’t right.”

  “Sure it was,” he said, getting up. “I know you liked it.”

  “That’s not the point. You don’t kiss your opponent.”

  “Valerie,” he said, stepping closer.

  She punched him harder than she meant to. It made him stagger back, and he tripped over his feet, sprawling onto his back.

  “I win,” she said.

  He blinked at her, seeming confused.

  Valerie almost admitted that she had liked the kiss. But if she did that, he would pursue her. They were on a mission. This wasn’t the Love Boat. This was Starship Victory. They were officers in Star Watch. They had a duty.

  Before she could explain any of this to him, Valerie spun around, walking away.

  “Hey,” he said. “Where are you going? It wasn’t that bad.”

  Valerie ran for the exit. Some of the other sparring couples stared after her. It made her even more self-conscious, which made her stomach feel funny.

  This was just great. Keith had ruined everything with the kiss. Now, they couldn’t be friends anymore. Why had he done that? Why—

  Valerie ran as fast as she could for her quarters, her skin burning as a full-force blush made her cheeks throb.

  ***

  Several hours later, Valerie walked briskly down a corridor in the science section of Victory. She’d been doing some soul-searching. Her conclusion was that she needed a second opinion.

  Valerie knew she was a stickler for the rules. Maybe she was taking this too hard. Maybe she could see Keith. Well, it didn’t have to be anything official. So he’d kissed her. Did that mean they were girlfriend and boyfriend? It didn’t have to go that far right away.

  The truth was that Valerie did not have much experience in these things. She bet Keith had had strings of girlfriends. He’d been an ace in a civil war. He’d owned a bar in Glasgow. He might be in his room right now carving a new notch on his belt.

  She wasn’t going to be just another woman for anyone. Sure, maybe she was overreacting. But she’d seen firsthand that the old ways of courtship were better than fooling around with every joker that came a girl’s way. People got into all sorts of trouble with casual relationships. When she settled down, it was going to be something special. It wasn’t going to be yet another man in a long line of lovers. That’s what sluts did.

  Valerie fumed. She wasn’t a slut. She was a good girl. If that’s how Keith thought about her—

  Her nose wrinkled. She would like to face Keith on the mat now. He wouldn’t flip her or even get close to pinning her. He figured she got distracted too easily. Ha-ha, she’d show him concentration like he wouldn’t believe. She would pound him, pin him and slap him across the face until he cried out for mercy. That’s what she should have done to him in the first place.

  “Valerie. What are you doing down here?”

  The lieutenant’s head snapped up and she almost took a close-combat stance.

  Doctor Dana Rich recoiled, although she smiled to show that she meant it playfully.

  “Are you going to hit me?” the doctor asked.

  “What? No!” Valerie said. “I…I was thinking about something else.”

  Dana nodded understandingly.

  Dana was wearing her lab coat. She was older than Valerie, with dusky skin and dark hair down to her shoulders. She was Indian—dot not feather—and she was as good-looking as she was brilliant. The doctor was the professor’s lover, the two seemingly made for each other. Once, Ludendorff had been her professor. Dana had been the only female student in the university on Brahma. Dana had run off with Ludendorff as he went searching for what would become known as Starship Victory.

  “Would you like to grab a cup of coffee?” Valerie asked.

  Da
na thrust out her lower lip for a moment before nodding. “Yes. I’d love a cup. There’s a cafeteria nearby.”

  “I know where it is.”

  “Before we go,” Dana said. “I have to know. Is this a professional courtesy call or did you just happen to chance by?”

  Valerie adjusted her blouse nervously. “I’m not coming here as Lieutenant Noonan making an inspection. But it isn’t a chance meeting.”

  “Oh,” Dana said, sounding cooler than a moment ago.

  Valerie wanted to hold it in, but it just tumbled out. “I need advice, Doctor. I couldn’t think whom I should ask…” She thought about Meta and the captain. “I don’t think I can talk to Meta about this. I-I… You seemed like the logical choice.”

  Dana studied her. “This sounds personal.”

  “Yes,” Valerie said, miserably.

  “Oh. You mean personal for you.”

  Valerie nodded.

  “Come, come,” Dana said, sounding relieved. “I would be glad to lend you my shoulder…ear…whatever. Let’s get some coffee and you can tell me all about it.”

  ***

  Valerie drained her third cup of coffee as she finished explaining the situation to Dana.

  The doctor had been more reserved in her drinking, stirring a half-full cup of cold coffee. She had nibbled on a pastry, barely eating any of it.

  “I have to watch my figure,” Dana had said after Valerie had stared at the pastry once too often. “The doctor likes me to keep slim.”

  Valerie set her empty cup in the saucer. She noticed that her hand trembled the slightest little bit. That was enough caffeine for her.

  “You like him,” Dana announced.

  “What?”

  “The signs are obvious. That’s why you’re…concerned.”

  “But…we’re Star Watch officers. We’re on a critical mission. Our behavior is highly inappropriate.”

  “Would you call the professor and me inappropriate?”

  “Of course,” Valerie blurted. “No, I mean—”

  “Shhh,” Dana said, patting one of Valerie’s hands. “I know what you mean. My father would think exactly like you. Maybe you’re both right. I’ve told the professor before that he should marry me. He just laughs and changes the topic. Sometimes I think I should leave him just to teach him a lesson.”

  Dana patted Valerie’s hand again. “But we’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you. My dear, if you’re worried about your professional behavior, I would take into consideration that you usually work in a different area of the ship. Keith is primarily a strikefighter pilot.”

  “He’s on the bridge sometimes.”

  “True, but—”

  “Oh, this is a fine mess,” Valerie said. She picked up the coffee cup and made to sip before remembering that it was empty. She set it back in the saucer.

  “I shouldn’t have practiced with him,” Valerie said.

  “You’re not in a nunnery,” Dana said. “You’re human. You’re young.”

  “Not that young anymore.”

  “My dear,” Dana said. “You are painfully young, and beautiful. I’m surprised you haven’t had this problem more often.”

  Valerie shrugged.

  “You’ve unbent a little,” Dana said. “I remember the first voyage—” She laughed before frowning, looking away.

  “Is something the matter?” Valerie asked.

  Dana did not answer.

  “I’m sorry,” Valerie said. “Here I’ve gone on and on about myself, not thinking to ask you if everything is all right.”

  Dana kept staring off into the distance.

  Valerie asked in a softer voice. “Is everything all right, Doctor?”

  Dana gave her an agonizing glance. Her eyes brimmed with tears. She wiped them roughly, shaking her head.

  “Everything is fine,” Dana said. “It is I who apologize. I am embarrassed.”

  “Dana. Don’t. I came to you. If you need something, I’d love to help. We’re friends. We’re a family, remember?”

  “Yes,” Dana said softly. “I do remember. I’m so glad you came to see me. I…I think you should talk to Keith. You should tell him how you feel.”

  “I don’t know how I feel…exactly.”

  Dana gave her a sad smile. “That’s what you work out together. My advice, my dear, is to keep being Keith’s friend. See what happens. Take the risk of getting hurt. If you never take a chance, never risk, you’ll end up an old lady with a houseful of cats. I do not recommend that for you.”

  Valerie nodded, filing away the advice. She was going to think this through carefully.

  “Enough about me,” the lieutenant said. “How can I help you?”

  Dana was silent for several seconds. “I’m not sure anyone can help me.”

  “Does… I hope I’m not prying?”

  “No,” Dana said softly.

  “Does this concern the professor?”

  “It does.”

  “In a romantic way?” Valerie dared to ask.

  “I’m afraid not.”

  Some of Valerie’s shyness evaporated as her professional side began to reassert itself. Was Ludendorff up to his old games?

  “What seems to be the problem?” Valerie asked.

  Dana did not speak for a time. She picked at the pastry, crumbling it, seemingly unaware of what she was doing. Finally, she looked down, and seemed surprised. She jerked her hands from the demolished pastry and wiped her fingertips clean with a napkin.

  “The professor is…distracted,” Dana said softly. “He’s alone in his workroom more than normal. He stares into space more often when we’re together. I talk to him, but he doesn’t pay attention. I’ve…I’ve spoken nonsense to him several times as a test to see if he’s listening. He just says, ‘Oh, how nice,’ or ‘hmmm, I see.’”

  “Don’t all men do that some of the time?” Valerie asked.

  Dana smiled sadly. “Of course they do. But this is more pronounced. I know him. When he’s like this…”

  “Yes?” Valerie said.

  “It’s a clear sign he’s agitated. Unfortunately, the only time I’ve seen the professor agitated is when he…well, when he has something up his sleeve, as they say.”

  “You think this concerns the so-called Junkyard Planet?”

  Dana’s eyes widened as she studied Valerie. “I’m a fool.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The captain sent you to do this, didn’t he?”

  “What?” Valerie asked.

  “I should have realized. You would never get romantically involved with the lieutenant. You’re too worried about regulations.”

  Valerie reddened.

  Dana kept staring at her, finally putting several fingertips against her mouth. “I’m sorry I said that.”

  “No… That’s okay.”

  “It isn’t,” Dana said. “You did come to me in good faith. You were just being…a good sister by asking how I’m doing.” She smiled. “Please don’t tell the captain what I said about the professor. I spoke to you in confidence.”

  “Dana…”

  “Please, Valerie. Let me confront the professor. Let me do this my way before you bring the captain into it.”

  Valerie was more conflicted than ever. She had come to Dana for help. Could she just betray the doctor’s trust?

  “All right,” Valerie heard herself say. It did not sit well with her, but that’s what friends did, right? “I’ll give you twenty-four hours to find out what’s going on.”

  Dana reached across the table, gripping one of Valerie’s hands. “Thank you. And this meeting was for the best. I might have dithered about doing anything otherwise. Now, I have to act. I’ll get back to you in less than twenty-four hours. I love the professor. I dearly do. But I have a responsibility to Star Watch and to the rest of the crew aboard Victory.”

  Valerie nodded, feeling a little better. Twenty-four hours, and then she could go tell the captain about this. Nothing bad could happe
n during the next twenty-four hours. She was certain of that.

  -15-

  Several hours later, Doctor Dana Rich paced back and forth in her room. She hadn’t told Valerie everything. She was certain Ludendorff was up to something. Why couldn’t the old coot act normally for once?

  Dana smiled wistfully. She’d been asking herself too many questions lately regarding the professor. Was her time with Ludendorff ending? She’d felt his distraction before. He had brushed it aside and told her not to worry. Now, she wasn’t so sure anymore.

  Yes, the sex was fantastic. The Methuselah Man did things to her that no one else could even come close to doing. He was a master in the bedroom, a lover like no other. He’d boasted before of how he’d trained her to match him in the boudoir. He had also said on more than one occasion that if he hadn’t molded her soon enough, she would have learned bad techniques and possibly never reached the heights she now regularly did.

  Dana sighed, hardening her resolve. She’d beaten the entire male chauvinistic Brahma System with their Hindu attitudes about women. She had thrived on Loki Prime, the prison planet. She had thwarted the professor before in the Beyond, back when they’d been in the Adok System. She loved him. It was possible she even needed him. But she couldn’t let him get away with whatever he was planning this time. He had such a narrow focus. This was about human survival, not—

  Dana made a half-strangled sound and resolutely marched for the hatch. She was going to confront the professor and find out exactly what kind of mischief he had planned this time.

  ***

  Dana pounded on Ludendorff’s hatch. She had been doing so for thirty seconds already.

  Finally, the hatch slid open and a slightly out-of-breath Ludendorff stared at her.

  “What seems to be the problem, my dear?” he asked.

  “Can I come in?”

  “I’ll come out.”

  “No,” she said, pushing him, causing him to stumble backward into his private laboratory.

  The professor caught himself, but by that time, they both stood in the large chamber.

  The hatch slid shut behind her, and that made Dana jump. She stared about the room. A long and much too sinuous machine snaked around the counters. She’d never seen anything like it. It must have been over ten meters long, Dana thought. The snakelike machine made odd sounds as lights flashed in various places. At the same time, the long machine squirmed as if it were alive.