by S. L. Viehl
“You can’t refuse me—”
I wanted to scream. “Can’t I? I still have all the evidence, don’t I? If you try to force me to come back, I’ll expose you. How do you think the World Nations would react to my speech?”
“You would only guarantee your execution.”
“If that’s what it takes,” I said. “My life. My choice.”
“You are in shock. These delusional—”
I’d never call this man my father again. “Good-bye, Dr. Grey Veil.” I deactivated the display and pressed my hands to my face.
There were no tears. He didn’t deserve any.
A summons from MedAdmin was waiting for me when I reported to the FreeClinic the next rotation.
K-Cipok frowned at me as I made to enter the exam area, and put out a tentative hoofed appendage to stall me. “Doctor, the order came from Dr. Mayer.”
“Notice, K-Cipok, I don’t instantly drop to my knees when you say his name.” I hadn’t slept, and the edge of my temper was tattered. Ignoring her pleading looks, I made to brush past her.
“Please, Dr. Grey Veil.” She made a low, beseeching moo. “You know how he is about—”
“Me?” I uttered a short, dry laugh. “I’m an expert on that subject. What the hell—I’m in the mood for a good fight.”
Dr. Mayer was not. When I entered his office, he rose to his feet and directed that I accompany him to HQ Administration. As in “Now, Dr. Grey Veil.” I followed in his wake, fixing my gaze on his rigid shoulders. He drove me over in his personal glidecar, and this time I wasn’t interested in being friendly.
Joseph Grey Veil worked fast.
A gathering of strange faces awaited us as we walked into one of the larger conference rooms. Everyone was wearing the formal robes donned only for occasions of strict protocol. They looked pretty silly, I thought. You’d never get me to walk around in one of those mini-tents. Ana Hansen approached me the moment she saw us enter. Her smile was as artificial as the lighting.
That was the first confirmation—I was in trouble.
One being rose from the center of a long table. He was vaguely humanoid, bright emerald-furred with innumerable short, whiplike arms that slashed the air as he addressed me directly.
“Grey Veil, Cherijo, Doctor?” I nodded. “The defendant has appeared. I now convene this hearing.”
The defendant? What, was Dad suing me?
Ana steered me away from Dr. Mayer to a smaller table where we sat down. She spoke low and fast. “I’m your appointed representative. Don’t do anything but answer their questions.”
Which meant, don’t volunteer anything, I surmised. Not a problem. I had no desire to confess that I was the result of an illegal experiment.
The members of the Council rose and individually identified themselves for the record drone. A Lankhi humanoid called Dsoo, an Ataderician who made a series of tonal belches instead of vocalizing, and two others who used nonverbal gestures. The one with the tendrils was called Z-cdew-nyhy, and seemed to be in charge.
“The Council will now hear the charges.”
I listened as the record drone sonorously listed four separate violations of the Colonial Charter: Aiding and Abetting Known Malefactors. Breach of Verbal Contract. Malpractice. Endangering the Lives of Fellow Colonists.
I was in serious trouble, and it had absolutely nothing to do with Joseph Grey Veil.
Ana got to her feet and started in the moment the drone finished. The absurd robes somehow looked stately on her as she paced before the assembled Council. Her smooth voice hovered somewhere between grave and outraged.
“Council members, this attack on Dr. Grey Veil is a deliberate orchestration of the lowest order. These charges have been brought solely to defame a distinguished new member of our community.”
“Defense counsel’s opening statement is so noted.” A tendril snapped in the air. “Dr. Grey Veil, how do you respond to these charges?”
I glanced at Ana. “Do I get some explanation of these charges before I respond?”
Z-cdew-nyhy fixed all of his eyes on me. “As to count one, you treated and aided two Hsktskt intruders—”
“Dr. Grey Veil was cleared of all charges in conjunction with that incident,” Ana said.
“Criminal, yes. These are civil charges. As to count two, Dr. Grey Veil defaulted on a verbal agreement made with the Bartermen Association.”
“Assumption of agreement,” the administrator said. Ana resumed her seat next to me, picked up a data pad, and waved it at the Council. “Check the incident records. Dr. Grey Veil never contracted formal barter with the Association.”
Z-cdew-nyhy’s fur bristled into stiff green spikes, but he maintained a bureaucratic monotone. “So advised. Count three regards the disposition and treatment of colonist Alun Karas, deceased.”
I assumed Dr. Mayer had personally filed that particular charge, the heartless bastard.
“Count Four refers to a recent procedure during which a dangerous amount of explosive toxin was deliberately released inside the FreeClinic facility.”
“The Binder,” I muttered to Ana.
“What Binder?” she whispered back.
A tendril cracked as the Council chief demanded attention.
“Ignorance of the Charter cannot be claimed. These are serious charges that individually represent grave concerns to Colonial Security. Collectively they portray an individual who poses a serious threat to the welfare of this settlement.”
Thoroughly disgusted by this point, I leaned toward Ana. “Do I have to sit here and listen, or do they deport me now?”
Ana compressed her lips. “Give me a chance,” she said.
Dr. Mayer was the first witness summoned to answer questions from the Council members. This was the perfect opportunity for the chief to get rid of me, I thought. He’d probably add a few more charges to the list to clinch it.
“Dr. Mayer, do the defendant’s actions constitute a threat to the general welfare of the FreeClinic Medical Facility?”
“No.”
“What is your opinion of her performance as a physician?”
“Dr. Grey Veil has performed her duties to the best of her ability and my complete satisfaction,” Dr. Mayer said.
My jaw almost hit the floor.
The Lankhi Dsoo scratched his lateral fin with a two-fingered hand as he said, “You seem distressed by this hearing, Dr. Mayer.”
My boss’s imposing figure was practically vibrating with unspoken contempt as he turned and addressed the humanoid. “Distressed? No, Council member. I find it insulting.”
Dsoo seemed perplexed by this. “But was it not a member of your own staff who brought forth most of these charges?”
“Which staff member would that be?” the chief demanded.
“Dr. Phorap Rogan. You were aware of his petition, were you not?”
Rogan? That sneaking, odious little—
“No.” Mayer’s voice had an edge that sliced through the air. “I was not informed.”
“Would you care to make a statement at this time regarding these charges?”
“I would. It is an insult that Dr. Grey Veil has been summoned before the Council without regard for protocol, to answer charges which constitute nothing more than pure slander.”
I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. No, it was definitely Dr. William Mayer who had made that statement.
“What did you do?” I asked Ana in a whisper. “Drug him?”
She smiled at Dsoo and said between clenched teeth, “Shut up.”
The Ataderician Council member belched out an observation, which was translated to: “The Council has been advised that Dr. Grey Veil is vastly underqualified in her present position.”
“Indeed?” One of Mayer’s platinum eyebrows arched. “Who has provided such . . . advice?”
“Dr. Phorap Rogan.”
Mayer uttered something inaudible that was not, I gathered, complimentary to Rogan. Dsoo leaned forward. “You
wish to dispute, Doctor?”
“I do.” Mayer’s eyes were glacial with contempt. “Dr. Rogan has used Dr. Grey Veil’s skills to cover his own ineptitude. His unprofessional behavior while on duty has subjected Dr. Grey Veil to countless indignities.”
“I’m going to kiss that man’s feet,” I murmured to Ana. “For several hours.” She camouflaged a chuckle with a cough.
The chief went on. “It is apparent that Dr. Rogan has personal issues which should be examined.” He swept the room with a glance. “Where is Dr. Rogan? Is he not required to be present and substantiate his accusations?”
“What about this charge of malpractice?” Z-cdew-nyhy asked. “Gross negligence resulting in the death of a colonist is a serious accusation.”
Mayer frowned. “Who charged Dr. Grey Veil with responsibility for Alun Karas’s death?”
Dsoo consulted his file display and rolled his eyes. “Dr. Rogan.”
“And the rest of this nonsense?”
The Council members exchanged silent looks before Dsoo answered once more. “All were filed by Dr. Rogan, with the exception of count two, which was filed on behalf of the Barterman Association.”
“I challenge Dr. Rogan’s charges.”
“Understood.” Z-cdew-nyhy’s fur smoothed out. “These charges will be suspended until such time that Dr. Rogan and Dr. Mayer appear before the Council.”
Ana leaned close to explain, “That means we don’t have to defend you on those counts until an investigation has been conducted.”
“Or I find Rogan,” I muttered back.
The Council chief continued. “As for the charge of Breach of Verbal Contract, Dr. Grey Veil, do you wish to speak in your defense?”
Ana nodded at my glance. I rose to my feet and addressed the Council.
“Yes, I do. While at a meal interval with two friends, who will testify on my behalf, I made a ‘wish’ during a nostalgic discussion. It was not a trade summons. No Bartermen were present. I have never contacted the Association to request such a contract. I admit I was ignorant of the methods used by the Bartermen to secure agreements, but I don’t believe it is their right to monitor personal conversations between others.”
“We are familiar with the zealous nature of the Association.” Dsoo seemed sympathetic. “Your case is not the first of this nature to occur.”
“The Council can be assured that Dr. Grey Veil will not venture to make another such unguarded verbalization—” Ana said, but I shook my head.
“No, Administrator, I can’t say that I won’t. Respect for personal privacy must exist in any society. In this case the Bartermen have violated my rights.”
“An interesting point, Dr. Grey Veil. The Council will take it under consideration.” All five members rose to their feet after a short interval of deliberation. “We find the defendant innocent of charge two, Breach of Verbal Contract. All other counts are suspended until further notice.”
The Council adjourned, and Dr. Mayer left the conference room before I could speak to him. Ana stayed behind to help me complete the requisite adminwork the Council needed.
“I’m not surprised that Rogan is behind all this,” I told Ana when we were finished. “What I can’t believe is that Dr. Mayer spoke on my behalf. He hates me more than Rogan does.”
“You’re wrong,” Ana said as she handed me my disc copies of the hearing records. “He contacted me and insisted I act as your representative after he received the summons order.”
I shook my head. “It was the perfect chance to get rid of me. Why did he do it?”
Ana smiled. “Ask him, Joey.”
A half hour later I found myself standing outside Mayer’s office, one hand extended to knock. Did I really want to know what motives the chief of staff had? The door opened unexpectedly, and Dr. Mayer eyed me with a distinct lack of enthusiasm.
“Come in,” he said, and held the door open wider. I walked in, sat down, and waited as he took his chair. “You’re here to find out why I defended you.”
I spread my hands out. “Can you blame me?”
Dr. Mayer sat back in his chair. “Your father contacted me. He requested that I discharge you and have you deported back to Terra. When he couldn’t persuade me to do as he asked, he began to make threats.”
Curiouser and curiouser. “When did this happen?”
“Yesterday. He claimed you left home without his consent and against his expressed orders.”
I made my response flat and matter-of-fact. “Dr. Joseph Grey Veil is no longer in a position of authority over me, Dr. Mayer.” The white-haired head inclined in agreement. “To be blunt—why am I still here?”
“You expected me to comply with your parent’s demands?”
“Dr. Mayer, you’ve been looking for any excuse to dismiss me.”
“Prior to my conversation with your father, I would have agreed with you. My position, however, has subsequently changed.” He adjusted his tunic as he straightened. “I don’t respond to intimidation tactics. Even when they come from the great Joe Grey Veil.”
My mouth unhinged. I’d never heard anyone refer to my father as “Joe.” Ever.
“When I received your transfer application, I originally rejected it. We are in desperate need of qualified physicians, but I believed your inexperience made you of little value to this facility. I was subsequently ordered by the Quadrant surgeon general to approve your transfer.” His expression told me plainly what he’d thought of that. “I took it for granted that your father had used his influence to secure this position for you.”
“He didn’t.” What the chief had said explained a lot, but not everything. “Dr. Mayer, what exactly did my father say to you yesterday?”
Mayer made a rusty sound that might have been a laugh. “He demanded a dismissal based on incompetence. He claimed you are delusional and in need of long-term psych evaluation and rehabilitation.”
“I recall you saying something along those lines when I reported the initial findings on Karas,” I said.
For the first time since I had met him, William Mayer appeared uncomfortable. “I have made several erroneous assumptions about you.” His lips compressed. “I do not habitually agree with your methods, Dr. Grey Veil, but I cannot deny your competency. You are an excellent physician.”
Praise from Mayer. What would come next? A marriage proposal from Rogan? “Thank you.”
“Don’t fool yourself into believing this issue has been resolved. Your parent is a powerful man. However, in the future, I will do what I can to support your tenure here.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Joe and I were students together at Medtech. He was a pompous ass, even in those days.” Mayer’s glance dared me to make the same observation about him. I didn’t twitch a muscle. “It was his work on the Exclusivity Act that made me decide to transfer from the homeworld.”
“You didn’t agree with it?”
“No. I don’t believe our species should isolate itself from the rest of the universe.” He rose to his feet. “I’ve been informed Trauma is in dire need of our services.”
“Let’s go.” I was more than willing to get back to work.
Mayer held up one hand. “If you see Dr. Rogan, don’t confront him about these trumped-up charges he filed against you.”
Given my temper and Rogan’s penchant for gloating, that would be virtually impossible. “Why not?”
Mayer actually smiled this time. It was an awful thing to see. “I’d like that particular pleasure for myself.”
Dr. mu Cheft stopped in during my shift to congratulate me. The facility grapevine had spread the tale of my skirmish with the Council, and Dr. Mayer’s support.
“Phorap must be spaced to try something like this,” mu Cheft’s fishy features were drawn in dour displeasure. “Still, Dr. Mayer can’t dismiss him.”
“Believe me, Daranthura, we’d be better off if Rogan left,” I said as I made a chart entry.
“There’s only five
of us now.”
“Rogan’s not much use without a medsysbank, you know that,” I said. “I could train an orderly to do what he does.”
“There’s a thought.”
I recalled Mayer’s former attitude about me, and decided even Rogan deserved another chance. “On the other hand, maybe we can train him to do his own work.”
“Compassion, Dr. Grey Veil?” Mu Cheft grinned.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” I said with a glare. “Still, everyone is entitled to make a mistake. Even Phorap.”
“You’re right, I suppose. It’s not as if we’re in a position to be choosey until we get better staffing.”
“Have you seen Rogan today?” I was curious to know if Mayer had confronted him yet. I was hoping I could watch.
“No, and he’s missed another shift. That’s four in a row.” Mu Cheft made an irritated sound. “Doubling up the rest of us. Dr. Dloh has mentioned spinning a cocoon for himself in the lounge.”
“He hates the cots.” I chuckled in sympathy. “They aren’t very comfortable for him.”
“I may demand my own immersion tank,” mu Cheft said before he left. I consulted the next chart and found Paul Dalton was waiting for follow-up treatment for lower-back strain. According to the notes, Dr. Rogan had done the initial exam several days ago, and the Terran reported no improvement.
I signaled Assessment. “K-Cipok, send back Mr. Dalton, if you would.”
Paul’s appearance shocked me. He had lost a substantial amount of weight and was limping badly. His cheerful grin was now a hard white line he managed to bend up at the edges when he saw me.
“Hey, Doc,” he greeted me, and then coughed and groaned. “Wouldn’t you know it, I threw out my back and now I’m getting a cold?”
“Trying to keep me busy, Paul?” I tried to tease, but I couldn’t keep the concern from my voice. I lowered a foam cradle, harnessed it, and suspended his body for examination. The muscles were tightly knotted in the lumbar spinal region, but that didn’t shake me as much as the scanner’s data when I completed the sweep.
Paul Dalton’s lungs showed signs of inflammation and multiloculated infiltrations.
