The Lost Destroyer (Lost Starship Series Book 3) (4 page)

“Heard who?” Maddox asked.

“Sten Gorgon was telling Per Lomax things.”

Maddox’s eyes shined with interest. “Like what?” he asked.

Meta slid her gaze to Maddox before her eyes darted elsewhere. “I don’t remember what they said.”

Maddox didn’t press, but filed the information away for later.

“As I heard their voices,” Meta said, “something happened in my mind. I could feel a door opening in it. I knew I could help Per Lomax. The next thing I remember, I stood before them. Gorgon stopped short. The New Man studied my eyes. Then, the oiliest smile I’ve ever seen slid onto his face.”

Meta shivered. “I remembered the smiles Baron Chabot used to give me back on, back on…”

“The Rouen Colony,” Maddox said.

“Yes,” Meta whispered. “Because of Per Lomax’s nasty smile, the door in my mind began to close. I think Per Lomax knew that. He whispered to Gorgon. The slarn trapper went for his knife. I charged and hit him harder than I’ve ever hit anyone. Sten catapulted off his feet and slid along the floor. I knew he was dead. My fingers hurt like Hell.”

“And?” Maddox asked.

“Per Lomax told me to follow him on his quest.” Meta shook her head. “I can’t remember after that. I refused to join him. The bastard spoke words that did something to my mind. I headed back to my room. I remember weeping and arguing with myself.”

Meta stopped. She looked up with agonizing eyes. “What’s wrong with me? What did the teacher do to me on the star cruiser?”

Maddox hugged her once more as a terrible anger burned in his chest. He was going to make the New Men pay for trifling with Meta. The enemy used humans the way others used shoes or credit cards.

Her arms tightened around him.

Maddox held her for a time before releasing her, guiding her back to the bed.

Why had Gorgon helped the New Man? What had the slarn trapper told Per Lomax? Had he worked alone or had he worked in conjunction with Professor Ludendorff?

Maddox put his hands on Meta’s shoulders. “You should sleep. You’re tired. I’ll be back shortly.”

“Don’t leave.”

“I don’t want to, but I must. I need answers.”

Meta searched his eyes, finally nodding. She let her robe slide off and twisted under the covers, pulling them up to her chin.

Maddox bent down to kiss her on the forehead. Her arms burst out from under the covers, clutching his head, pulling his lips down onto hers.

“Good luck,” she whispered when he pulled free.

Maddox nodded, watching Meta close her eyes. Then, he headed for the hatch. The professor loved having his mysteries. Maddox distrusted that about the man. It was time to confront Ludendorff and find out just who he really was.

-4-

“Captain,” Riker called.

The two of them marched down the corridors toward Professor Ludendorff’s quarters, with the captain in the lead.

“Hmm,” Maddox said.

Riker hurried even with the captain. “If Gorgon aided Per Lomax, wouldn’t it stand to reason that Ludendorff knew about it?”

“So?”

“So the professor has another slarn hunter with him and two archeologists,” Riker said. “These aren’t your regular run-of-the-mill archeologists, either, but hardy survivors of Wolf Prime. A case could be made that Professor Ludendorff is one of the most dangerous men alive.”

Maddox silently agreed with that. Yet, he said, “Without the professor, Star Watch wouldn’t have
Victory
. Ludendorff also rid Galyan of the ancient Swarm virus and helped fix the disrupter cannon that freed the Fifth Fleet.”

“I don’t dispute any of that, sir. My point is that Gorgon was Ludendorff’s man, one of his bodyguards, if you ask me.”

“A judicious guess as to Gorgon’s real purpose,” Maddox admitted.

“So it all boils down to this, sir. If Gorgon acted under the professor’s orders, the question becomes: why would Ludendorff help Per Lomax escape?”

“That’s what we’re attempting to find out.”

“Are we, sir?”

“State your objections plainly, Sergeant. Precision is critical in these matters.”

“If Gorgon worked under orders from Ludendorff, that means the professor aided humanity’s worst enemy, one of the New Men. It could be we’re walking into a trap. Now, I’m aware you’re not worried about four suspects against the two of us. But you should be as Ludendorff is possibly more dangerous than yourself, sir.”

Maddox halted. Trust the sergeant to play the odds. Riker made good points. “Galyan,” he called.

A few seconds later, the holoimage appeared before them.

“Where are Professor Ludendorff and his three remaining assistants?” Maddox asked.

Galyan stood motionless before responding. “Each of them is in their separate quarters.”

“Those are next to each other, yes?”

“Yes,” Galyan said.

“Lock the hatches. Under no circumstances are you to open any of them except at my command.”

“It is done,” Galyan said. “The hatches are locked.”

“How is your search for Per Lomax going?” Maddox asked.

“I have gone through sixty-four percent of the hidden areas of the ship.”

“Report to me the instant you’re finished,” Maddox said.

“Yes, Captain.”

“Also, at my command—although you don’t need to appear—unlock the professor’s hatch for me.”

Galyan nodded, waiting for further instructions.

“That will be all for now,” Maddox said.

Without a sound, the alien holoimage vanished.

The two Star Watch operatives continued down the corridor.

“Why do you think Ludendorff would help a New Man escape our custody?” Riker asked.

Maddox had been wondering just that. “The professor is an enigma. I suspect the reason would be something neither of us presently expects it to be.”

“So, like me, you think Ludendorff told Gorgon what to do?”

“I’m keeping an open mind on the subject,” Maddox said. “That allows me to see what is there instead of what I think I should see.”

Riker appeared dubious. He opened his mouth to say more.

Maddox raised a hand and held up the index finger. “If you would, refrain from speaking for a time so that I may process my thoughts. I believe I should be at the top of my game for the next interview.”

The sergeant closed his mouth, grinning a moment later. He was used to the captain’s cavalier manner. Realizing Maddox was tense—going into high gear—seemed to put the sergeant at ease.

Maddox noticed the change in his aide, but refrained from commenting. He concentrated on Ludendorff. The professor was supposed to be the smartest man alive. Ludendorff had played his own game on Wolf Prime against the New Men. The professor had an inordinate curiosity about aliens, the ancient Adoks, the Swarm… What did Ludendorff think about the builders of the Nexus? And the gigantic, fifty kilometer vessel in the ion storm…what would Ludendorff think about it? Who could have constructed such a craft? Was it old like
Victory
or new like an enemy star cruiser?

If any person could know about such a ghostly ship beforehand, it would certainly be Ludendorff. If anyone could envision where such a vessel would be in the middle of an ion storm, it would be the professor. And if anyone could trick the crew of
Victory
to be near the magnetic storm and the passing mystery craft at exactly the right moment, it would be the smartest man in the universe.

A grim smile stretched the captain’s lips. He could appreciate a man purposefully engaged in his own affairs, blithely unconcerned about anyone else. He often operated in such a manner. In fact, Maddox would do so during this interview. The professor could have come to him and explained matters. Instead, Ludendorff had worked around his authority. It had left Gorgon dead and had endangered Meta.

Remember, Ludendorff helped us against the New Men. Without the disruptor cannon, Oran Rva would have destroyed the Fifth Fleet and possibly
Victory
, too. Yet, the professor seems to have put our mutual endeavor aside. I would be wise to do the same
.

Maddox planned his line of inquiry, finally stopping before the professor’s hatch. He turned to the sergeant.

“Be a good fellow and trade me weapons.”

Riker drew his stunner, handing it butt-first to the captain. The sergeant accepted Maddox’s long-barreled gun in exchange.

Maddox switched the stunner’s setting to low. Then, he composed himself, put a hand on the latch and spoke into the air, telling Galyan to open the hatch.

In a moment, a
click
sounded.

Maddox swung open the hatch, charging through into Professor Ludendorff’s room.

Ludendorff sat at a table, with a stylus in his left hand. He was medium-sized and wore a soft blue shirt with black slacks and shoes. The collar of the shirt was open and he wore a gold chain around his neck. The older man was bald, with deeply tanned skin and a prominent hooked nose.

The professor looked up. The intelligence in his eyes shined like twin diamonds with a hard and priceless quality. He wrote on a tablet, with various items spread out on the table.

“Really,” Ludendorff said, sitting back. “This is rude. You could have knocked first.”

Maddox approached the table, with the stunner aimed at the professor’s chest.

“You must have ordered Galyan to lock the hatch earlier,” Ludendorff said. “I would like to know why you—”

Maddox pulled the trigger. The stun hit the older man in the chest, knocking him off the chair. Ludendorff twitched on the floor, one of his feet kicking a table leg, knocking it over. The contents clattered onto the floor.

Keeping his distance, Maddox kept the stunner trained on the prone man. He respected the professor’s deadliness. He would fire again if the man tried to reach into his pockets or reached inside his shirt perhaps.

The seconds passed as Ludendorff breathed harshly. Finally, the professor rolled onto his back and focused on Maddox.

The captain gave the older man the same advice Riker had given him a half hour ago after being stunned.

Ludendorff closed his eyes, resting.

Maddox continued to watch him.

“You have a reason for such savagery?” the professor finally hissed.

Maddox said nothing, letting the man’s anger work to his advantage.

The professor opened his eyes, staring at Maddox. “What am I to conclude from this?”

Still, Maddox said nothing.

“Come, come,” Ludendorff said, testily. “Let us act like reasonable men. Your actions are unseemly.”

“Sten Gorgon is dead,” Maddox said.

The professor’s eyes brightened. A moment later, they lost their luster as if he deliberately hooded their intensity.

“This is terrible news,” Ludendorff said. “How did it happen?”

“That’s one question. Another is why you sent Gorgon to free Per Lomax.”

“You must think poorly of me to ask such a thing.”

Maddox stunned the professor again. It left the older man gasping, his eyelids fluttering.

“Please,” Ludendorff finally managed to gasp. “My heart isn’t strong enough to withstand repeated charges.”

Maddox made a show of changing the stunner’s setting. “The first two shots were at the lowest setting. Now, I have put it to a mid-range stun. You would be wise to take this change into consideration.”

“Are you going to kill me, Captain?”

Maddox said nothing.

A subtle change came over the professor. All humor vanished, leaving a deadly knot of intent that made him seem more dangerous.

“Perhaps if you informed me of your game, I could join you in it. At the moment, I am at a loss of what you’re trying to achieve.”

“I am wary of you, Professor. You tricked the New Men on Wolf Prime, something difficult to do. I believe it more than possible you can trick me. In fact, I think you already have. These shots are to show you my respect for you.”

“I would rather have your contempt then.”

“Why did you free Per Lomax?” Maddox asked.

“Obviously, I didn’t.”

“Why did Gorgon free my captive?” Maddox asked.

“I would like to know myself. Your accusation seems…impossible to me. Sten Gorgon committed this wild deed? Your actions show me you must believe what you’re saying. Otherwise, I would take it as a silly hoax.”

“Let us be frank, Professor. Gorgon couldn’t have timed
Victory’s
appearance near a spatial anomaly. I suspect you did all this so Per Lomax could board the ghostly vessel.”

“You should explain what you mean,” Ludendorff said. “I can make nothing of these strange allegations. What ghostly vessel are you referring to?”

Maddox gave the professor a quick rundown of the magnetic storm, the ghostly vessel, the hole, the last pulse and the jumpfighter winking brightly near the strange craft before it disappeared.

“You have me at a grave disadvantage,” Ludendorff said. “These things are fantastic and inexplicable. I can do many things, but I am not a techno-wizard able to conjure explanations out of the air.”

Maddox decided to try one more time. “Why did Gorgon free Per Lomax?”

“I have no inkling, Captain. The idea seems as preposterous as your shots against me.”

“You’re lying.”

Ludendorff scowled thunderously. “You young
pup
! I demand an immediate apology. How dare you accuse me so slanderously, especially after stunning me twice?”

“That is how you should react if you were innocent,” Maddox said. “I applaud your performance, Professor, but I do not accept it as legitimate.”

“After all that I’ve done for you and Star Watch, this is how you repay me?”

“You’re welcome,” Maddox said.

“What?”

“I am repaying your former help by letting you live. Otherwise, I would have already killed you as a dangerous traitor.”

“Bah!” Ludendorff said. “What nonsense. You’re one of Brigadier O’Hara’s coldblooded hounds. I know your type. You think you know everything. If I—”

Maddox raised the stunner for a third shot.

The professor fell silent.

“You’ve clearly decided to maintain a role of innocence,” Maddox said. “That leaves me with no choice. Good day, Professor.” The captain backed toward the door.

“Wait,” Ludendorff said.

Maddox paused, with the stunner aimed at the man.

“You haven’t told me who killed Sten.”

“That’s true, I haven’t.”

“I see. You want to play it that way, leaving me in the dark. Am I under arrest?”

“Good day, Professor.” Maddox backed away, slipping through the hatch and closing it. “Galyan,” the captain said. “Lock the professor’s hatch, and keep it locked until I say otherwise.”

The lock
clicked
shut.

“What did he say, sir?” Riker asked.

Maddox stared at the hatch. He had purposely told Ludendorff as little as possible. The man was too bright. The less the professor knew, the less he could use in some devious manner later.

Finally, the captain held the stunner butt-forward to Riker. The sergeant hastily drew Maddox’s gun, and they exchanged weapons.

“The professor claims innocence,” Maddox said.

“Do you think he is?”

“Most certainly not.”

“Could you be wrong, sir?”

“That is what I want to determine. Come with me, Sergeant, and be ready to draw and fire at my command.”