The Valiant - Michael Jan Friedman [7]
Sommers harumphed. Of all the nerve, she thought. She checked the viewscreen again to make sure everything was all rightwhich it was. Then, purely out of force of habit, she glanced at her monitor.
And gasped.
Something wrong? inquired Gardenhire, who had stopped halfway to his assigned task.
The helm officer stared at her monitor, her blood pumping hard in her temples. There was nothing there, she assured herself. Its blankcompletely and utterly blank.
No, she said. Everythings fine.
But she wasnt at all certain of that. A moment earlier, she thought she had seen a face on the monitor screen. A mans face, with curly blond hair and a thick mustache.
Agnarssons face.
Captain Tarasco regarded the handful of staff officers he had summoned to the Valiants observation lounge. I think you all know why were here, he told them.
Weve heard the rumors, said Tactical Chief Womack, a sturdy looking woman with short, straw-colored hair.
But rumors are all theyve been, said Pelletier, the perpet-ually grim-faced head of security. Id like to hear some facts.
A reasonable request, the captain noted. Heres what we know. During our attempt to get through the phenomenonBig Red, as some of us have taken to calling itAgnarsson lit up and collapsed. But unlike the six who shared his experience, he survived.
He more than survived, said Gorvoy, picking up the thread. He became a superman. Without even trying, Agnarsson can absorb information at astounding rates of speed, pluck thoughts out of peoples minds even move objects through the air without touching them.
According to Lieutenant Sommers, Tarasco remarked, Agnarsson manipulated her helm controls from his bed in sickbay. And to add insult to injury, he projected his face onto her monitor.
Womack smiled an incredulous smile. Youre kidding.
Im not, the captain told her.
There was silence in the room for a moment. Then Pelletier spoke up. You want a recommendation?
Thats why I called this meeting, Tarasco replied.
In that case, said the security chief, I recommend you place Agnarsson in the brig and put a twenty-four hour watch on him. And if he tries anything like tugging on the helm again, you have him sedated.
That sounds pretty harsh, McMillan observed, his eyes narrowing beneath his bushy, dark brows.
Were out here by ourselves, Pelletier reminded them, in the middle of nowhere, with no one to help us. We dont have the luxury of waiting until Agnarsson becomes a problem. We have to act now.
I think youre forgetting something, said the engineer. Geirrod Agnarsson is a person, just like the rest of us. He came out here of his own free will. He has rights .
Believe me, Bill, the security chief responded soberly, Im not forgetting any of that Im just thinking about the welfare of the other eighty-one people on this ship.
So its a numbers game, McMillan deduced.
It has to be, Pelletier insisted.
If I can say something? Hollandsworth cut in.
Tarasco nodded. Go ahead.
The science officer looked around at his colleagues. Were all assuming that Agnarsson is going to use his abilities to hurt us to work against us. Im here to suggest that he may decide to help us. In fact, he added, I think he already has.
What do you mean? asked Womack.
When I was lying in intensive care, said Hollandsworth, recovering from my burns, I felt as if there were someone there with meencouraging me, helping me to heal. At the time, I didnt know who it was, or even if the feeling was real. But now, I think it was Agnarsson.
The captain looked to Gorvoy. Is that possible?
The doctor regarded Hollandsworth. He did recuperate a little faster than I had expected. But then, everyones different.
Then it is possible, Tarasco concluded.
Gorvoy shrugged. Who knows? The man can read minds and move objects around. Maybe he can help people heal as well.
Talk about your godlike beings, Womack breathed.
Hes no god, said the chief engineer, dismissing the idea with a wave of his hand. Hes just like you and me.
The security chief chuckled bitterly. Except he can steer the