The Valiant - Michael Jan Friedman [11]
Agnarsson, it seemed, wasnt there.
Carlos Tarasco paced behind his center seat, wondering if Pelletier and his people had caught up with Agnarsson yet.
He saw now that the security chief had been right. Agnarsson was too dangerous to remain in a medical bed. He had to be incarcerated, for the good of everyone on the ship.
And even that might not be enough, the captain reflected. If the mans powers kept growing, if he became too big a threat, they might have to consider even stronger measures.
Is that how you treat a man who followed you out into space ? someone asked, his voice echoing wildly in Tarascos head.
The captain whirled and saw a strapping, blond figure standing at the threshold of the open lift compartment. Somehow, its doors had slid open without Tarascos hearing them.
Dont look so surprised, said Agnarsson, stepping out onto the bridge. Pelletiers security teams were looking for me everywhere else. This was the only place I could go.
Knowing that the engineer could read his mind, Tarasco tried not to think about the weapons he had secured for himself and his bridge officers. He tried not to think of how those officers would be slipping the pistols from their belts to use them against the man who had been their comrade.
But he couldnt help it.
Agnarsson must have caught the captains thought, because he whirled in Gardenhires direction. The navigator had already drawn his laser and was aiming it at Agnarsson.
With a sweep of his arm, the engineer sent the weapon flying out of Gardenhires grasp. But by then, Womack had drawn her laser as welland while Agnarsson was disarming the navigator, Womack was pressing the trigger.
A bolt of blue laser energy speared the engineer in the shoulder, spinning him into the bulkhead beside the lift doors. Agnarsson lifted his hand to strike back at Womack, but a second beam caught him in the chest, knocking the wind out of him.
A beam from the barrel of Tarascos pistol.
Fighting to stay conscious, Agnarsson glared at the captain with his gleaming silver eyes. wont forget this , he thought, each word a reverberating torment in the confines of Tarascos head.p>
Then Womack fired a second time and Agnarsson slumped to the deck, looking woozy and deflated.
Tarasco stayed alert, just in case his adversary wasnt as disabled as he looked. But before he could even think about squeezing off another shot, he saw something happen to the engineers eyes.
Miraculously, the silver glow in them faded. They became the blue of summer skies, the very human blue that Agnarsson had probably been born with.
For a fraction of a second, Tarasco wondered if they might have cured the engineer of his afflictionif all it had taken to drive the phenomenons energies out of him was a good laser barrage.
Then the light in Agnarssons eyes returnedand with it came a restoration of his incredible strength. He planted his hand against the bulkhead and tried to stagger to his feet, shrugging off the punishment his body had absorbed.
But Womack wouldnt have any of itand neither would Gardenhire. They fired their laser pistols at the same time, knocking Agnarsson senseless. And when he crumpled this time, Tarasco was ready.
Take him to the brig, he ordered.
Instantly, his officers moved to comply.
CHAPTER 4
Did he give you any details?
She shook her head ruefully. He couldnt. Agnarsson overheard us at that point and interrupted.
Tarasco sighed. Id love to know what Gorvoy came up with.
He might have made some notes, Coquillette suggested.
Or crunched some numbers, the captain agreed. Either way, there would be a record of it in the database.
He tapped a bulkhead pad to activate the intercom. Tarasco to Gardenhire, he said into the grid below the pad.
Gardenhire here. Hows everything going down there, sir?
Agnarssons under control, the captain assured him. Ive got a job for you, Lieutenant. Id like you to see if you can find a file the doctor was working on when he was attacked. It had something to do with the victims of the