“There’s an Imperial Task Force not far from here and we think they might be coming this way,” Middleton explained hesitantly, “didn’t the Stalwart tell you about this?”

  “Negative, the Stalwart did not inform Us of this,” the Prichtac said, her voice clearly wracked with anxiety. “They take their role as Our protectors very seriously; there have been several instances where We have learned that they withheld vital information of this sort from Us.”

  “Under what pretense did they withhold it?” Middleton asked neutrally, very much disliking this particular turn in the conversation.

  “They believe that We are unnecessarily paranoid,” the Prichtac said thoughtfully, “and that We allow Ourselves to be flummoxed by new information which might suggest a looming threat to our safety. This is, in point of fact, central to why We have invited you to participate in this communion. If you would please convey to Us the information you have received, We would be most grateful.”

  “Of course we’ll tell you what we know,” Middleton said, stone-faced as he considered the possible reasons for such a bizarre alignment of information flow—and none of those reasons instilled him with much confidence. “The Hesperia Minor star system, at coordinates—“

  “We are aware of the Hesperia Minor star system’s location,” the Prichtac interrupted tersely. “Our communion with our lost member, which you returned to us, confirmed its location.”

  “Right,” Middleton nodded before continuing, “well, we barely got out of that star system before being intercepted by Imperial warships.”

  “How many warships, and what are their classifications?” the Prichtac asked with overt anxiety in her translated voice.

  “Not enough to threaten this star system,” Middleton assured her, “especially if we can keep the Stalwart and the felines from tearing each others’ throats out. And if my working knowledge of Imperial fleet movements is even within spitting distance of reality,” he said, giving Snake Eyes a meaningful look accompanied by a barely perceptible nod—a nod which he saw Kratos bristle at when he noticed it—as he continued, “we’ve got a few weeks before they make it this far, assuming they don’t have direct intel that your world is located here.”

  The Prichtac’s skin tone shifted to a deep mauve, indicated that it was relieved to some degree by this news. Middleton only remembered a handful of color patterns and their meanings, but was glad that he had done as much research as he had in preparation of this meeting.

  “That is fortunate,” the Prichtac said with clear relief in her voice. “But this is still terrible news. We cannot possibly evacuate in less than sixty of your days; our ships are too far from this place to reach here in time for a total evacuation—”

  “Wait a minute,” Middleton said in surprise, “you have ships?”

  “Indeed,” the Prichtac said matter-of-factly before unthinkably adding, “and We have decided that you are to be entrusted with them.”

  “Hold up,” Middleton said, raising his hands haltingly as his eyebrows climbed for the rafters of their own accord, “let’s take this one step at a time…how many ships do you have?”

  “One hundred and thirty six,” the Prichtac replied promptly.

  Middleton’s jaw fell open, but it was Patterson who spoke first, “If you have that many ships, why aren’t they in orbit of your home world?! Why task a group like the Stalwart with safeguarding your world?”

  “This is a delicate matter,” the Prichtac said regretfully, “but We are rather less violent than members of your life tree. We are ill equipped, both physiologically and psychologically, for what you call ‘warfare.’ Consensus was reached during the Communion of Blue Star 1195 that our security would be better served by others, and We have consistently validated that consensus using what you call the ‘scientific method’.”

  “But self-defense is different,” Fei Long cut in, causing Kratos to snort in disgust at the entire line of conversation.

  “There is no ‘self’ among the Host,” the Prichtac said measuredly. “There is only the Host. To Our ongoing consensus, there is no difference between what you call ‘self-defense’ and any other expression of violence. And, unfortunately, consensus has been reached multiple times during the Host’s experience regarding Our inability to adequately defend Ourselves from predators. Had it not been for the Great Shattering, which nearly destroyed Our entire world 32,452,901 of your years ago, We would have been wiped out by natural predators bearing striking physiological similarities to what you call ‘insects’. The Shattering released vast quantities of sulfur into the atmosphere of Our world, and that sulfur was toxic to the predators—and to everything else except Our ancestors and the bacterial colonies they shamefully consumed in order to survive. Our evolution is due solely to a random cosmic event—an impact with an asteroid which yielded approximately 204,605 of your gigatons of energy, which in turn released a massive pocket of underground sulfur into the atmosphere—but try as We might, We simply cannot overcome our base nature. We have accepted that, in natural terms, We are prey animals. And that is why,” the Prichtac said as the translator appeared to suffer some sort of malfunction which caused her voice to rise several notes as she said, “you are our last hope.”

  Chapter XVIII: Baiting The Trap

  Middleton stood stunned by the Prichtac’s longwinded declaration and truncated history of its species. For several seconds no one in the room said anything, until finally the Prichtac slid forward.

  “We wish to entrust you with ensuring the safety of the Host, Captain Middleton,” she said serenely, “but We understand that this is not an insignificant request, and that your species does not achieve consensus as We do. We have calculated a high degree of probability that you will make a ‘decision’,” the word sounded foreign as the translator relayed it, “within one of your standard weeks, during which interval you are invited to remain our guests if you find the accommodations satisfactory. If you do not, We will happily convey you to the surface so that you might return to your vessel, but We do have two requests if you choose to return to your vessel. We would call them ‘conditions,’ but We do not wish to give the appearance of Our issuing an ultimatum, which We predict you would receive as what you call a ‘veiled threat.’ We can assure you that We would never want you to think We were threatening you.”

  Middleton replayed that last sentence in his mind a few times to confirm what he had initially interpreted as a not-so-veiled threat all of its own, but he could hardly fault the Prichtac for being nervous about safeguarding their entire species on the planet. And it was clear that they weren’t much for subterfuge, given the nature and timing of their proposal to essentially hand over their species’ security to someone they literally just met.

  “What are these ‘requests’?” Middleton asked after considering his reply and deciding to take the high road.

  “The first request is that you do not discuss our proposed handover of the Host’s security with anyone not presently within this room,” the Prichtac replied promptly, her eyestalks weaving more slowly and deliberately as the translator spoke for her, “since we predict with a high degree of confidence that the Stalwart will become violent if the handover is improperly executed.”

  Middleton wanted to groan out loud, but refrained in the interests of diplomacy, “I think we can both agree that we’d be best off avoiding that outcome if possible.”

  “We have achieved our first joint consensus,” the Prichtac said enthusiastically. “This is a significant event which will be forever celebrated by the Host!”

  “And the second…request?” Middleton asked, bracing himself in preparation for the dropping of the proverbial ‘other shoe.’

  “Our second request is that the member you identify as ‘Fei Long’ remain with Us during the prescribed one week interval. We, as a gesture of harmony with Our new protector, wish to assist this member of your…” there was a lengthy pause as the Prichtac apparently sought the right word, “’crew’ by facilitating the regeneration of his neural tissue. This regenerative process will require a significant portion of the one week interval to complete, and it is best if the process is uninterrupted.”

  Middleton considered the offer, but he was loathe to leave his most skilled crewman in the Prichtac’s custody—even if he was uncertain whether the young man was a long-term fit into his command.

  But ultimately he knew he had bitten off far more than he could possibly hope to chew when it came to the Prichtac, and he needed to take some time to clear his mind. As he silently considered the matter, his eyes drifted to Trixie, then to Kratos, and to Fei Long before Middleton’s gaze finally rested on Patterson. The seed of an idea sprang into his mind, and he finally had a firm plan in mind. What he had been thinking of as a cultivated resource, to be deployed at some future date, had just turned into a tactical asset which would very soon find its way onto the board—one way or another.

  In truth, he had begun to hope he was wrong about Snake Eyes. He hoped that she would prove herself unsuitable for his plan, but Middleton wasn’t the type to second guess himself. He had learned as a young man that his initial urges were almost always proven correct, but that didn’t mean he had to like what his budding plan entailed.

  “That sounds fine,” Middleton nodded firmly, “but I can’t leave Mr. Fei here all alone. I’ll—“”

  “Oh, please, Captain,” Trixie veritably squealed, “I can’t think of anywhere in the universe I’d rather be than here. I have so many questions to ask, and a week seems like too little time already!”

  Middleton resisted the urge to set his jaw as he nodded, “You can stay if you choose, Miss Serendipity. But you have to understand that we won’t be making daily trips here; if you stay, you stay for the whole week.”

  “Fine by me,” Trixie beamed. “This is the opportunity of a lifetime!”

  Middleton turned to Kratos, whose helmet was still fitted to his collar but the visor was up so that he could see the Tracto-an’s eye. Smirking as another thought came to him, Middleton gestured to Kratos’ empty eye socket, “They might be able to do something about that for you—if you ask nicely.”

  Kratos glowered at the giant slug, “I have learned to live without it. Besides, the scar is a reminder I would not willingly remove.”

  The Prichtac swiveled its upper body toward Kratos as its trio of eyes briefly locked onto his face. “We have experience regenerating individual organs for the Stalwart,” she said as her eyestalks resumed their hypnotic dance. “They likewise express a mnemonically-driven preference for the preservation of visible scar tissue after the organs are replaced, and We have become proficient at accommodating this preference.”

  “I…appreciate the offer,” Kratos shook his head firmly, “but I refuse. I am as whole as I need to be.”

  Middleton was genuinely surprised at Kratos’ refusal, and briefly considered pulling rank since the people under his command would be more valuable to him, and to themselves, with two working eyes. But he decided against it and shrugged as he said, “It’s your decision. But either way, you’re staying down here as security.”

  Kratos’ eye smoldered angrily, and from the edge of his vision Middleton saw a short-lived look of satisfaction cross Snake Eyes’ face. “And if I refuse?” Kratos asked dangerously, his posture matching his tone as he squared his shoulders and jutted his chin.

  “I don’t think that would be in anyone’s best interests, Kratos,” Middleton said, matching the other man’s tone as best he was able. But the extra foot of height, and hundred kilos of muscle and bone clearly tilted the board in Kratos’ favor when it came to a stare-down.

  The one-eyed Tracto-an narrowed his eye before scoffing and turning to the nearest chair, which he sat down in as though he owned the place.

  “Now that that’s settled,” Middleton turned to Snake Eyes, “I think we should get back to the ship.”

  “Agreed,” she nodded.

  “Can we communicate with our people down here?” Middleton asked of the Prichtac.

  “Most local frequencies are scrambled by our jammers,” she replied, “but there is a rotating band which remains open for emergency communications. We will provide you with those frequencies, and the cipher for using them, as a gesture of goodwill.”

  “That will be fine,” Middleton nodded. “Barring any emergencies in the interim, we’ll return in a week.”

  “We should begin our regeneration of your nervous tissues immediately,” the Prichtac said, turning to Fei Long after Captain Middleton and Snake Eyes had left.

  “Ok,” Fei Long agreed, standing and moving toward the Prichtac as anxiety swept through him, “how do we proceed?”

  “First, we must remove to a secluded area of this habitat module,” the Prichtac explained.

  Kratos stood to his feet, "I do not think that is wise.”

  “It is fine, Kratos,” Fei Long said, though his own trepidation had been strongly fueled by Zhongda’s incessant nagging. In a way, that part of their relationship had returned to its original form—back when he had been a wide-eyed boy who thought he had found true love with a young woman who clearly knew how to manipulate him into doing whatever she wanted. In fact, it was very much like the time she had called herself a warrior and he had been forced to verbally backpedal before she shoved him onto the bed. Her bulging muscles and powerful features sprang to his mind—

  And the next thing he knew he was on his hands and knees, yet again, as his mind felt as though it was on fire. He only vaguely became aware of the presence of Zhongda’s fingertips massaging his temples, and he tried to warn her off so she could remain hidden, but he eventually lost consciousness amid a stream of barely intelligible pleas for Zhongda to save herself.

  The shuttle lifted off from the surface of the planetoid as Snake Eyes expertly manipulated the controls, and a few seconds after lift-off they were slicing their way through the atmosphere en route to a rendezvous with the Prejudice.

  “Is that really wise?” Snake Eyes asked after setting the controls to automatic, which would take them to the Prejudice in about thirty minutes.

  “Is what wise?” he asked.

  “Leaving two of your most distrusted—and capable—people down on the planet together?” she said, as though it was patently obvious. Which, of course, it had been obvious to Middleton—but that was part of his plan. “There’s no way of knowing what they’ll get up to,” she pressed.

  “If I’m being honest,” Middleton said with a sigh, “I’m half hoping they force the issue for me. You saw Kratos’ insubordination back there…and I already told you about Mr. Fei’s mutinous actions,” he said in a tone that was fully infused with his genuine anger regarding said actions.

  “You can’t let them make that decision for you,” Snake Eyes shook her head shortly. “How long have you been in command?”

  “Two years,” he said with deliberate hesitance.

  “And you still haven’t learned that you need to grab people like them by the horns and throw ‘em around every now and then?” she asked incredulously before clucking her tongue and shaking her head in disapproval. “Must be a mighty soft patch of the galaxy you call home, Cube. You wouldn’t have lasted two days out here without that fancy ship.”

  “I was never supposed to be a ship commander,” Middleton said, knowing that much was at least partially true. Commodore Raubach had let slip that Middleton’s psych profile was ‘unsatisfactory,’ to put it mildly—another way of putting it was that he was much further down the psychopathy spectrum than even he had suspected.

  He knew that he’d never had much trouble considering himself and his fellow military servants to be anything more than tactical assets, whereas the vast majority of higher-ranking officers had deep-seated emotional entanglements which far outstripped anything Middleton had genuinely internalized during his career. But, to his tactical mind, the concept of a person and the concept of a tactical asset were entirely separate. One could be a perfect serviceman and a horrible person, while the reverse was equally true, so he had never been overly dramatic when processing the reality of life and death in the service.

  In the end, it was all statistics. And those statistics represented what had happened, as well as what was now possible to achieve, which he supposed meant he had insufficient empathy to be given genuine consideration for a command track. Were it not for the Little Admiral’s desperation for trained officers—and his Royalist thirst for good publicity—Middleton would have already retired and been living on some colony out on the Rim.

  But one thing he had learned during his time as a commanding officer was how to read people—a skill he had sorely lacked prior to assuming command of the Pride of Prometheus—and that skill was now being put to the ultimate test.

  “I guess you can see why I’m in this situation,” Middleton said wearily, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his eyes.

  “I think you need a capable first officer,” she said with a derisive snort.

  “I think you might be right,” Middleton grudged, knowing there was more truth to her words than he cared to admit.

  “Your engineer looks reasonably smart,” she said indifferently. “Why not give him the job?”

  Middleton shook his head, “Engineers can make fine XO’s, but in our situation I need him keeping the ship running more than I need help with the administrative duties. No,” he said with a short sigh, “it looks like I’ll be without a capable second for the time being. I think…” he said hesitantly, “I think that someone like you would make a good XO.”

  “Me?!” she blurted.

  “Yes, you,” he nodded, “but I doubt I could get it past the crew. In any event, you probably wouldn’t accept the job. And that would leave me worse off than when I am now since I’d lose one of the only people I can halfway trust.”

  “You’re trying to tell me that you trust me?” she scoffed. “Your brain’s all mucked up, Cube.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46