by D. M. Pruden
“Obviously, Doctor Destin only just arrived and hasn’t inspected anything aboard the Fortuna.”
“Of course, this is understood, Mister Wong,” said Mr. Swan. “She may use the next hour to inspect and ensure medical’s readiness prior to your launch in five hours.”
Swan then addressed the group.
“I cannot emphasize enough that many other interested parties compete against us on this salvage operation. Through our intelligence network, we enjoy an advantage, but soon our competitors will learn what we know and initiate their own missions. Until the task is successfully completed, you are all under a communications blackout.”
The other man, Jhan, stood attentively a pace back of Swan, recording everything with his CI linked directly into a data pad in his hand.
With no request for questions, the meeting ended and the two executives and Charlie prepared to depart. As he walked to the door, he winked at me. I crossed my eyes at him like I used to in med school when I wanted him to lose his composure in a presentation. He smiled as he went out the door.
Once they left and people began to mill about, Schmaltz sauntered over to me, nervous. Before he could say a thing, a stern Captain Garrick approached us.
“Are you still here for some reason, Mister Schmaltz?”
“I was just telling Doctor Destin that I would be happy to familiarize her with things.”
Light perspiration shone on Schmaltz’s forehead and he spoke rapidly in the same way he did when lying to Tanza on Requiem. I frowned at him, but Schmaltz subtly shook his head and glanced in Garrick’s direction. I decided it best to follow his lead and addressed the Captain.
“Yes, imagine my surprise to see Norbert here of all places.”
Schmaltz squeezed his eyes shut like his finger had just been caught in a door and I realized I’d said something wrong.
Garrick raised an appraising eyebrow at us. “So, you two have met?”
“We knew each other as young children back in school on Terra, before my parents were transferred, that is. Now here she is, and a doctor at that.”
“That IS an unusual coincidence, Mister Schmaltz. Regardless, you can catch up after we launch. The primary thrusters still need your fine attention to get them running at spec. I will ask Mister Hodgson to escort the good doctor to the ship and give her the tour.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Schmaltz departed without another glance at me or the Captain. I turned back to face Garrick.
“Do you have particular concerns about the medical facility that require my attention, Captain?”
“Just make sure the bio-filters are in place and that the containment chamber in the research section is fully functional.”
I almost asked about the need for such high-tech equipment on a salvage expedition but remembered Schmaltz’s odd behaviour.
“Yes, Sir.”
Seemingly satisfied, he signalled Dylan Hodgson to approach and left to attend to other matters.
“Doctor, I believe I’m your escort for the next little while,” said Hodgson, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. I straightened my posture and gestured towards the door.
“Please lead on, Mister Hodgson.”
As he guided me down the corridor, I made plans to locate and question Schmaltz soon. Something was definitely off about this job and the sooner I discovered what made the normally unflappable Schmaltz nervous, the better.
♢♢♢
The medical facilities aboard the Fortuna were the most advanced I had ever seen. Everything was state of the art though some of the technology was unfamiliar to me. The familiar instruments I quickly determined to be fully operational and required no maintenance. I needed some time to research the unfamiliar equipment but didn’t want to bring up the manuals and start reading while Hodgson watched from the doorway.
“Can I help you with something, Mister Hodgson?”
“Nope.” He leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, an amused expression on his face.
“Are you not needed somewhere else?”
“Nope.”
I faced him straight on, hands perched on my hips. “Why are you still here?”
“My orders are to render any assistance you require, Doc.”
“Doctor.”
“Huh?”
“You will refer to me as Doctor Destin, or simply, Doctor. Is that clear, crewman?”
“Yes, ma’am. Er, I mean, Simply Doctor.” The grin on his face infuriated me. I gave him the dirtiest glare I could muster.
“I’m sorry. Doctor Destin. I was only fooling around.”
I frowned at him and returned to my inspection of the medical supplies.
The door slid open behind Hodgson, startling him. He turned, revealing Schmaltz, cradling his left hand, crudely wrapped in a bloody bandage.
“What the hell happened?”
I harshly addressed Hodgson, “Let him come in, you idiot.”
He stepped aside to allow Schmaltz entry, then resumed his vigil at the doorway.
“I dropped a spanner into an access panel and tried to catch it. Cut my hand on the opening.” He smiled sheepishly.
I carefully unwrapped the bandage and examined the injured hand.
“Hodgson. Your orders are to assist me?” I kept my back turned towards him, shielding his view of Shmaltz’s injury.
“Yes, ma’am. Er, Doctor.”
“Then leave, unless you can stitch a wound.”
I heard the door open and close. Schmaltz sighed and his shoulders relaxed.
“He’s gone.”
“What the hell is going on? This cut wouldn’t make a little girl cry, let alone require this much wrapping. And what is all this alleged blood?”
“Hydraulic fluid. I needed some kind of excuse to talk to you before it’s too late.”
“Too late for what?”
“You need to leave.”
“Why? I just arrived. What are you doing here, anyway? You’re supposed to be on Polaris, as I recall.”
“That job disappeared. For no damn reason. They said my references didn’t check out, but that was total bullshit. Before I raised a stink with them, this guy, Wong, approaches me at my front door and offers me another position. Amazing pay. Like you wouldn’t believe how much. I almost told him to take a leap, but the missus tells me to take the job, so, I do as I’m told...”
“Okay, okay, I understand. Now why should I leave?”
“Because these guys stole this ship.”
“Ridiculous.”
“I ain’t kidding, Mel. This ship used to belong to the Terran Science Corps. I was here when it arrived. I have no idea how things went down, but blood was on some of the walls and floors and it had blaster damage on the hull and in the engineering section. Me and Bogdan spent the last four weeks patching it back together.”
I looked around the room and saw the high tech equipment in a new light.
“Whatever these people are after, you want no part in it. Leave while you can. Before you learn anything that you’re not supposed to. Tell them you’re sick, or your cat has shingles or something. Please get the fuck out of here.” Fear reflected in Schmaltz’s eyes and his voice quavered.
I indicated his arm with the fake injury. “I’m going to need to put some real staples in this, or else they’ll realize something is up with you.”
“Didn’t you hear what I said? This ain’t a joke, Mel. They’re killers.”
“And what do you think they will do to you if they find out you’ve snuck in to tell me this stuff?”
He looked at me, dumbfounded.
“The Captain clearly didn’t want you talking to me, remember? This isn’t the first time we’ve run with a bunch of criminals. Hell, half the companies that fly cargo out of Luna are in with one of the crime syndicates. Everyone knows that. Who do you think Chambers was involved with on Requiem?”
“This is different. Nobody on our old ship was a killer. There wasn’t any blood staining the cor
ridors when we signed up there.”
“Well, there might have been if we’d have spent another week with Tanza,” I grinned at him.
“Damn it, Mel! I’m serious. This is a bad situation. I know it. What kind of people can get military tech like this?”
“Obviously, people with guns, according to you.”
“Exactly. They killed the crew and now we’re taking this up like it never belonged to the Terrans. If they catch us...”
“Schmaltzy, if I walk away from this gig, assuming they’ll let me, I will be turning my back on the only future I’ve got left.”
“I’m telling you if you don’t leave you could end up another smear in the corridor.”
“So why is it so dangerous for me to stay, but you’re not racing me for the exit?”
“I told you. The money is too good for me to turn down. Listen, when the Polaris job vanished, I tried to go back to Tanza. He laughed at me. I was seriously screwed and needed the work. This one came along just in time. These guys were the only ones besides my buddy on Polaris who didn’t look too closely at my credentials. I really had no other choice, Mel. You do.”
Of course, Schmaltz didn’t know what had happened to me since I’d last seen him. I debated over how honest to be with him.
“Tanza fired me.”
“What? Is he off his nut? Well, it doesn’t matter. You’re a doctor. You could work for anyone else. I can’t.”
I didn’t want to argue with him.
“Let’s just say that my options aren’t as many as you think.”
I retrieved the stitching kit and held up a hypospray for him to see.
“Now, do you want me to freeze it, or are you going to tough it out?”
Chapter 9
The med bay door opened to reveal Hodgson leaning against the opposite wall in the corridor.
“Ouches all fixed, Doc-tor?” I wanted to slap the grin off his face, but I addressed Schmaltz instead.
“Keep it clean the way I showed you and if you need any painkillers, come back. I want to examine it again tomorrow. Understood, Mister Schmaltz?”
“Er, yes Doctor.” He glanced at Hodgson for the briefest of moments, then hurried toward the engineering section. I directed my attention to Hodgson.
“Why are you still hanging around?”
“I have a hangnail.” He held up his pinky and grinned.
“It looks bad. I may have to amputate.”
He lowered his hand and became more serious.
“If you’re finished, I’m to take you to the Captain to report.”
“I need a bodyguard for that?”
Hodgson chuckled. “This is a big ship and I’m to be your tour guide once this medical inspection stuff is done.”
I relaxed on hearing that and followed him to the bridge where Garrick was in conversation with Shigeko Limn.
“Ah, Doctor Destin, you are here sooner than I expected.”
“Yes, Captain. The facilities check out and are one hundred percent up to specifications, including the items you particularly mentioned earlier.”
“Excellent. How is your first patient making out?”
My heart dropped to my stomach, but I managed to retain my composure.
“He’ll live, Sir. A minor injury which shouldn’t impede his duties at all.”
“Excellent, Doctor. Just to be clear; we do everything strictly by the book on this vessel. Please make sure your medical log is updated with the incident prior to our launch.”
“Of, course, Captain.” He was even stricter than Tanza and seemed to know everything happening on his ship.
Without any further comment, Garrick turned his back to me and resumed his discussion with Limn. I stood in place for a couple of seconds before I realized my report was over and I had been dismissed. I brusquely marched off the bridge, Hodgson following right behind.
Once the door closed behind us, I stopped and faced him.
“Can you please take me to speak with Mister Wong before we leave?”
“Uh, sure. I guess.”
His eyes took on a vacant look as he accessed his CI. Curious as to why his was working, I checked mine to discover it still inoperative. He informed me Charlie was in his office and ten minutes later, I was ushered into Charlie’s spacious and tastefully appointed executive suite by his administrative assistant.
“Mel, I’m glad you came by. I was worried I would not be able to see you before your departure.” He walked around his desk and greeted me with a brief hug. He invited me to sit and offered me a choice of drink.
“So, what do you think?”
“It’s all pretty overwhelming. I mean, the spaceship is the most modern one I’ve ever seen. There is stuff there...well, medical is a technical wonderland, that’s for sure.”
“It certainly is. I almost envy you, Mel. If I had kept up my skills I would have jumped at the opportunity to go myself.”
“Where did you get it?”
Charlie hesitated the briefest of moments. “I’m sorry?”
“The ship, where did it come from?”
“Rego operates a huge research wing as well as a shipbuilding subsidiary. The Fortuna came directly from the factory. It had been commissioned by the Terran Science Corps, but when we explained our requirements to them, they fully understood and agreed to receive the next one from the line.”
“I see.”
“Is there something wrong?”
“Oh, no. The whole idea of being on an expedition to recover an alien artifact is nothing I ever dreamed of.”
Charlie smiled and nodded enthusiastically.
“Just one question bothers me,” I said.
He leaned forward, concern on his face.
“What is it?”
“How do you know this thing we are recovering is alien? I mean, isn’t that a bit far fetched?” I smiled disarmingly. He relaxed and sank back into his expensive leather chair.
“You got me there, Mel. It’s the cover story we used to recruit people. What you are going after, while not as exotic, is important to the company. We didn’t want word of our actual intentions to leak out and tip off our competitors, hence the little fib.”
“I can understand that. So what are we after and where are we going?”
The smile vanished from his face, he leaned forward again and lowered his voice so much I needed to lean close to hear him.
“That information will be given to you after you launch.”
I thought about his answer.
“Okay, I can accept that, but why all the cloak and dagger stuff?”
“What are you talking about?” He smiled nervously.
“Oh, the secret base, the misdirection, my blocked CI, the sealed orders after departure. Even having the big goon follow me around. A little extreme, don’t you think?”
Charlie shook his head, “Hodgson’s not following you around.”
I stood to leave. “Fine. Whatever you say.”
“No Mel! Please sit?” He looked pleadingly at me as I poised above my chair. A moment of reflection later, I sat down again.
“The mission your crew mates and you have agreed to go on is of vital importance, not only to the future of Rego, but to several politically influential people. I can’t tell you more. We need to keep a lid on everything around this. I’m sure you can understand and forgive me a little for my evasive answers?”
I smiled at him. “They’re actually evasive non-answers, but, yes, I can appreciate your position. Forget I even asked.”
“It wouldn’t have been in your character to not ask. You were always too curious for your own good.” His eyes suddenly widened as he realized what he had said. I glared at him through narrowed eyelids. My fingers squeezed into the leather armrest of the chair.
“Mel, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to...”
“Forget it, Charlie.” I stood. “It was a long time ago and I’ve learned to live with the events around Carlos’ death.”
I walked out
of the office without looking back. I could forgive Charlie for a lot of things, but he had just lied to me and reopened an old wound I thought healed. I regretted my visit with him and felt like the biggest fool on the moon. Worse, I had reason to give Schmaltz’s paranoia some serious consideration. My life might well be in danger.
♢♢♢
After the disastrous meeting, I returned to the ship under the watchful eye of Dylan Hodgson. He completed my tour and orientation to the vessel then left me at my station to prepare for the launch. The final preparations kept me too busy to dwell on Charlie, but once strapped in on the bridge and awaiting the clearance for liftoff, there was plenty of time to consider Charlie’s lies.
He had never successfully lied to me before. In med school, something always tipped me off when he tried to and I’d made a habit of calling him on it. It became a running game between us. He randomly would try to lie and I would always catch him at it. He never succeeded in deceiving me. Ever. But today I caught him lying to my face twice without displaying any of his tells. The entire incident cast doubt on how well I thought I still knew my friend. It hurt to learn that I could not trust even him, given the history we shared.
I ignored the operational chatter as, normally, none of it applied to me, so it took a gentle nudge from Schmaltz to interrupt my daydreams.
“Doctor?” repeated Garrick.
“I’m sorry Captain. I couldn’t hear you.”
“Did the laboratory containment fields show any signs of power fluctuation during our launch?”
I reviewed the panel readouts in front of me and answered that all systems showed green. He grumbled something and returned to the routine of operations. I decided to be more careful and pay closer attention to the remaining deck conversations.
Once in orbit, the artificial gravity activated and clearance was given for us to go to our duty stations. I unstrapped and rose from my launch seat, prepared to experience near Terran G. To my surprise, I found myself still at lunar normal. I sent Schmaltz a puzzled look.
“Everyone is from Luna, so we are maintaining lunar gee.” I was glad I wouldn’t need to acclimate to stronger gravity. It was a logical thing to do if they wanted the team to be operating at peak efficiency from the start of the mission, rather than exhausting us during the first few days. I squeezed by Hodgson at the narrow entrance to the bridge without excusing myself. I got the impression that he purposefully made himself as large as possible just to feel me rub against him. To my relief, he no longer followed me about the ship, now having other duties to perform.
