The Lost Patrol (14 page)

-21-

The captain wanted to pace but forced himself to sit at the head of the conference table at the special meeting he’d called.

Instead of the senior ship officers, he met with Valerie, Riker, Keith, Meta and Galyan. He could trust these five more than he could any of the others. After the incident with Marine Sergeant Hank Towns, Maddox believed anyone could be an android.

“I realize there must only be a few more androids on the ship,” Maddox said. “Yet, the fact two could successfully kidnap me implies they had help.”

“What exactly happened to you?” Meta asked. “We haven’t had time for you to tell us.”

Maddox told them now, going into detail, wondering if he’d missed something important. In the past, he’d primarily relied upon himself. With this cloudiness, he took the others a little deeper into his confidence. It wasn’t enjoyable. He preferred the lone wolf approach to problems.

“I agree there must be more androids aboard,” Galyan said. “I have just finished analyzing their kidnapping methods. The flickering lights were a symptom of powerful electromagnetic frequencies surging through the area. Those surges kept me from noticing that I’d lost contact with you, Captain.”

“Just a minute,” Valerie said. “We have to consider the fact that androids kidnapped our captain.” She turned to Maddox. “They planned to alter your memories, sir. How…how do we know the androids haven’t done that before?”

Everyone stared at Maddox.

Could that be the reason for his cloudiness? Had the androids already altered his thinking?

“What are you suggesting?” Riker asked the lieutenant.

“I don’t mean any disrespect, sir,” Valerie told Maddox. “But how do we know you’re still capable of being captain?”

Meta bristled. “Who else should be the captain?”

“No one else,” Valerie said. “I’m just asking a question. Has someone tampered with the captain’s mind? If so, what does that mean for the rest of us?”

“I have studied the captain,” Galyan said.

Maddox raised his hand while shaking his head.

Valerie looked back and forth from Galyan to Maddox. “Why has Galyan studied you, sir? We have a right to know.”

Maddox did not agree. It was one thing to fully confide in Galyan. Could he confide fully in his family? He’d always relied on his excellence to see him through. He wasn’t like everyone else. Normal people were envious of him, hating his difference. His excellence had been his shield. To lose that shield…

“I’ve been feeling tired lately,” Maddox said, knowing he had to say something. “It really isn’t worth talking about. I asked Galyan to monitor me for a bit… The AI is giving me a medical examination, if you will.”

“Tired in what way?” Valerie asked. “Are you feeling overworked?”

“Lieutenant, when I want—”

“Sir,” Valerie said. “Please forgive me for interrupting you. But regulations call for a thorough mental and physical examination by the ship’s senior medical officer if any of the senior crew feels that the captain is acting suspiciously.”

“Thank you for informing me,” Maddox said.

“I can request the senior medical officer to give you a mental examination, sir.”

Maddox held Valerie’s gaze as a dull ache began behind his eyes. He finally massaged his eyes. As he did so, an animal-like intensity at being trapped took hold.

“Maybe you need a rest, sir,” Valerie said.

Maddox took his fingers from his eyes. He hated that he’d shown weakness just now. This would be the last time he’d allow himself such a luxury. He would solve his dilemma, doing whatever he had to. If the Spacers had done something to him…

“What I
need
is a way to test the crew without lowering morale,” Maddox said. “We must find the remaining androids before they strike again. If Marine Sergeant Hank Towns could be an android…”

“He fooled me,” Riker said.

“You still haven’t told us why Galyan has been observing you,” Valerie said.

“Lieutenant, I am not in the habit of explaining myself to anyone.”

Valerie glanced at the others. Finally, she said in a pleading voice, “This is different, sir. This is the greatest Patrol vessel in Star Watch. We have a responsibility to one another—”

“
Lieutenant
,” Maddox said, bringing her up short. “If you wish to make a recommendation to the senior officers, you are welcome to do so. Until then, you will follow my orders to the letter. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Valerie muttered. “Doesn’t anyone else notice the captain is acting strangely?” she asked the others.

No one responded.

Valerie waited a few seconds longer, finally folding her arms and looking away.

“I have an idea about the androids,” Riker said.

Maddox nodded for the sergeant to continue.

“Make up a space fever of some kind,” the sergeant said. “Give it an exotic name. That always seems to help. The new space fever means everyone has to undergo a thorough examination. Maybe that even means a few armed Marines in the examination room. We say the fever can make people do strange things.”

“Yes,” Maddox said. “Meta, I want you to oversee the screening.”

“Gladly,” Meta said.

“What about the doctors?” Valerie said. “They’ll know we’re making it up.”

“Yes,” Maddox said. “We’ll have to tell them. Lieutenant, I want you to oversee the scheduling. Keep a lookout for slackers. The androids will undoubtedly do everything they can to avoid the examination.”

“What about sabotage?” Valerie asked. “Maybe the androids will try to destroy
Victory
once they realize we know there are more aboard.”

“We’ll test the Marines first,” Maddox said. “We need a core of combat specialists to help us corral the androids. This is the perfect time for a red-alert drill. Until we’ve tested everyone, we’ll travel under battle conditions.”

“That’s going to put everyone on edge,” Valerie said, “especially if we’re on red alert too long.”

“Better a little strain than the androids remain free,” Maddox said.

Valerie looked as if she wanted to add something more. Finally, she stared at the table, remaining quiet.

“I have a question,” Keith said.

Maddox nodded.

“What’s going on with the Spacer in detention?” Keith asked. “Who is she?”

“Shu 15,” Maddox said.

“Why is she here?”

Maddox noted the pilot’s eagerness. He thought about commenting on it and finally shrugged. Shu had been in detention for some time. Maybe it was time to see her.

It was odd now that he thought about it. He would have thought he’d gone to see Shu before this. Had he delayed for some unknown reason? The idea was disconcerting. He wondered if that meant she had something to do with his cloudiness.

Maddox rose abruptly, ending the meeting. He held Riker back and told Galyan to come see him in a few minutes.

“What’s up, sir?” Riker asked, once the others had filed out.

“We have a possible situation,” Maddox told him.

“Of what nature, sir?”

“The Spacer,” Maddox said. “I’m beginning to wonder if she’s behind the androids.”

“Sir?”

“It’s time to devise our plan of attack.”

-22-

Galyan reappeared in the conference chamber.

“I am still working on discovering the android’s kidnapping methods,” the holoimage said. “The surges baffle me as to how that could have severed our connection without my noticing.”

“We have another priority,” Maddox said. “It concerns Shu 15. Do you have any theories as to what her internal devices do?”

Galyan blinked rapidly before saying, “I have been analyzing my initial scan of them and have come to several conclusions. I believe one device is a power source.”

“I thought they both ran off her bodily electrical discharges,” Maddox said.

“That is true,” Galyan said. “I suspect one of the processes acts as a disguise as to the true nature of the device. My calculations lead me to believe the one is a power source for the other.”

“What does the other do?”

“I suspect several functions. One of those functions is likely detection. That was how Shu knew the hidden New Man was about to attack you while aboard the
Marius III
. Another function is to send impulses.”

“Impulses of what nature?” Maddox asked.

“I have begun to believe the device affects neural connections in the brain.”

“In the Spacer’s brain?” Maddox asked.

“Yes.”

“What about in other people’s brains?”

“Yes. There too.”

“Could the device have worked against my brain?” Maddox asked.

“The present differences in your brain are minute.”

“But you have noticed differences?” Maddox asked.

Galyan blinked rapidly. “Yes, sir, I have.”

“Why haven’t you told me about this before now?”

“The differences are minute, hardly noticeable. I doubt they could have affected you in the manner you’ve described to me.”

“Yet I’ve told you I’ve been affected. There is a difference in my brain, slight as it may be. Shu’s internal device might be capable of having caused that. Are you beginning to see why I’m upset with you?”

“I am,” Galyan said. “It is perplexing. I do not understand why I hadn’t informed you earlier. It is possible someone has tampered with my AI core.”

Galyan’s eyelids fluttered faster than ever. “Yet I do not detect any internal tampering. The only possibility is that the probability of the tiny neural differences in you did not rise high enough for me to feel it worthwhile to inform you.”

“I have a question, sir,” Riker said.

Maddox turned to the sergeant.

“Why would the Spacers want to alter anything about you, however slight?”

“I have no idea,” Maddox said. “Galyan, if the Spacers did as you suggest—”

“I have not suggested the Spacers did anything to your neural connections, sir,” Galyan said, interrupting. “I have merely pointed out that it is an extremely slight possibility they did so. I am still unconvinced this is the answer to your worry.”

Maddox tapped his chin as he studied the holoimage. “Very well,” he said. “Let us suppose the Spacers have minutely altered my neural connections. Is the situation reversible?”

“I do not know,” Galyan said.

“How could Shu’s device stimulate my brain neurons so they fire normally?”

“I have no way of knowing that with one hundred percent assurance unless I tested the device.”

“Wouldn’t you first have to cut it out of the Spacer to do that?” Riker asked.

“Yes,” Galyan said.

Maddox became thoughtful.

“Maybe you could convince the Spacer to stimulate your neural connections,” Riker told the captain.

“Supposing I could convince her,” Maddox said. “What would prevent her from doing the reverse any time she wanted?”

“Nothing, I suppose,” Riker said.

“Yes…” Maddox said.

“I just thought of something, sir,” Riker said. “You said something about the androids acting a wee bit dumber than ordinary. Could the Spacer have caused that?”

Maddox examined Riker in wonder. “Galyan, what do you think of that?”

“Yes,” the holoimage said. “It is theoretically possible.”

It shocked Maddox that he hadn’t already seen the possibility. That was the final straw.

“Galyan,” Maddox said. “I’m going to question Shu. The sergeant will join me. You will monitor her the entire time. If she attempts to use her internal devices, you will direct sonic blasts at her until she falls unconscious.”

“What about you, sir?” Galyan asked. “You’ll be in the same room with her.”

“I can take care of myself. You simply render the Spacer unconscious if she uses her internal devices.”

“I’m still not one hundred percent certain her device did anything to your neural fibers,” Galyan said.

“What is your percentage of certainty?”

“I now give it a seven percent probability, sir,” Galyan said.

“We’ll go with that,” Maddox said dryly. He glanced at each of them in turn. “Let’s go.”

***

A cell door buzzed. Maddox pushed through with Sergeant Riker following him.

Tiny Shu 15 sat at a table in an otherwise bare room. This wasn’t her regular cell. Two Marines had brought her into the interrogation chamber several minutes ago.

“Hello,” Maddox said, as he pulled out the only other chair, sitting down across from her.

The sergeant leaned against the closed door.

“Hello, Captain,” Shu said cheerfully.

If the prolonged stay in detention bothered her, it didn’t show. In fact, she looked as good as ever. Her clothes even had a freshly laundered quality. Her features were sharp and her demeanor pleasant.

“I trust the food has been adequate,” Maddox said.

“You took the time to give me Spacer cuisine,” Shu said. “I appreciate that, Captain. I have to admit, though, that I am surprised you’ve taken so long to see me. But I’m sure you had your reasons. Are we almost to the Xerxes System?”

“I don’t recall telling you we were headed there.”

“You didn’t,” she said.

Maddox waited, betraying nothing.

“But it’s the obvious move for Starship
Victory
,” Shu said.

“Is that why the Visionary wanted you to come along?” Maddox asked.

“Of course,” Shu said.

“Then you admit that your fall from the airship wasn’t an accident.”

“I staged it, yes.”

Maddox hid his surprise, although he recognized her change of behavior. She no longer acted like a fawning maiden but more like the Provost Marshal he remembered from Shanghai.

“It finally makes sense why the Visionary didn’t request your body,” Maddox said.

“Captain,” Shu said. “I’ve just admitted we staged the incident so you would take me along. Not only you but also all humanity needs me on Starship
Victory
. This is the most important mission you’ve ever taken.”

“More important than finding the Builder’s Dyson sphere?” asked Maddox.

“Considerably more important,” Shu said.

“Or stopping the alien Destroyer?”

“Maybe not as important as that,” Shu said. “Still, this is a critical voyage.”

“Why?”

“I can’t tell you yet. But I do hope my candor makes you realize that you can trust me implicitly.”

“I realize nothing of the kind,” Maddox said.

“Hmm,” Shu said. “I was afraid of that. Tell me…” She hesitated for a long moment before finally asking, “Have you undergone any unusual incidents yet?”

“What kind of incidents?”

“Captain, must we beat around the bush? You must trust me.”

“Trust is a two-way street, Provost Marshal.”

Shu looked down at her hands. “I’m not a Provost Marshal, as I’m sure you’ve already divined.”

Maddox leaned back. He hadn’t expected any of this. Could Shu realize that he suspected the Spacers had tampered with his mind? Was that why she’d admitted to her mission? Had she done so in order to divert him?

“What is your exact title?” he asked.

“I am a First Class Surveyor.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m a special agent,” Shu said, “a cross between a Patrol officer and an Intelligence operative.”

“Like me.”

“I’m not
di-far
, but otherwise that’s true.”

“You’re sticking to the
di-far
idea?” Maddox asked.

“Oh yes. You are unique, Captain. It is one of the reasons the Visionary wanted me to join your expedition.”

“What are the other reasons?”

Shu leaned forward, speaking earnestly, “Captain, I promise to explain everything in time. But I can’t afford to just yet. I have to know your plan. Otherwise, I can’t counsel you properly.”

“That isn’t a serious proposal,” Maddox said. “You want me to tell you our plans but you’ll keep yours secret from us.”

Shu looked away, nodding after a time. “I see your dilemma. It’s a keen one. But human survival rests on our making the right decisions. The Swarm, the New Men—if you guess wrong or…”

“Veiled references don’t impress me,” Maddox said. “I suspect that more is going on than I realize or maybe even understand. For instance, you have Builder devices inside you.”

Shu held herself perfectly still. Then, her head swiveled around until her goggles aimed at him.

“I could have the devices removed,” Maddox said.

Shu’s features tightened.

“I need to know exactly what they do,” Maddox said.

Shu said nothing.

Maddox tapped a finger on the table. “What did the Visionary do to me on the Spacer airship?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Shu said.

Maddox smiled briefly. A shark would have smiled more kindly. “I am going to have your devices removed from you, Surveyor First Class.”

“That would be a sinister act,” Shu said. “I’m sorry, but I cannot conceive of you as an agent of evil.”

“Conceive of me as you wish. Someone tampered with my mind. That was a heinous accomplishment. I have come to believe that either you or the Visionary were responsible. Galyan is reasonably certain that he can learn to control your devices. Once he does so, he will counteract your neural sabotage—”

“Captain, please, these are reckless charges. I am your friend, probably the best one you’ve had in some time.”

“Then tell me truthfully, Surveyor, did a Spacer tamper with my mind?”

Shu peered at him through her goggles. “Who leapt before the New Men’s assassin aboard the hauler, taking the full blast of his gun’s discharge?”

“You did that,” Maddox said.

“You never even thanked me.”

“Thank you,” Maddox said.

“You’re quite welcome. I think that should be sufficient to prove my good intentions toward you. I could have died.”

“Is that so?” Maddox asked drily.

“You think the Spacers are in league with the New Men?”

“It’s possible.”

“Please, Captain, that’s ridiculous. The Spacers loathe the New Men as creatures of Strand and Ludendorff. The New Men are abominations.”

“That would make me an abomination, too,” Maddox said.

“No! That’s not true. You’re
di-far
. You’re—”

Maddox slapped the table, stopping her flow of words. “Did the Spacers tamper with my mind?”

Shu hesitated, finally nodding.

“The Visionary did so?”

“No.”

“You did it?” Maddox asked.

“It was for your own good,” Shu said.

Maddox exhaled. “Can you reverse the process?”

“It’s possible.”

“A moment, please,” Maddox said, standing. He motioned Riker out of the way and exited the cell. After closing the door, he summoned Galyan.

The holoimage appeared before him.

“I’m going to modify my former order,” Maddox said. “You will monitor the Builder devices in her as she adjusts my condition.”

“You don’t want me to use a sonic blast?”

“Not unless you feel she is attempting further harm,” Maddox said.

“I understand.”

Maddox expanded his chest. Knowingly letting another tamper with his mind… After this was over, he would make sure Shu could never do this to him again.

Without another word, Maddox reentered the room, sitting back down across from Shu.

“Can you use your Builder devices to fix my alteration?” he asked.

Shu nodded.

“If you practice further harm—”

“Captain, the process was never intended to harm you.”

“Lowering my mental acuity wasn’t a personal assault upon me?”

“You view it as a New Man would,” Shu said. “I find that telling and chilling.”