Three - Michael Jan Friedman [39]
It was Sebring. And Kovajo had kept his word about punishing Vigo’s colleagues. The human had taken a hard beating, if the bruises on his face were any indication.
As Vigo moved to help his comrade, the intruders put the energy barrier back up again. Sebring waved away the possibility of assistance as he got to his feet.
“Are you all right?” Vigo asked.
Sebring winced as he explored an angry welt under his eye. “I’ll live.”
“Did they ask you about the shuttle?”
“Uh-huh. But I didn’t know what you did to it, so it was easy not to say. Have you seen Runj?”
Vigo shook his head. “No doubt, they’re giving him the same kind of treatment they gave you.”
“For his sake,” said the human, “I hope not.” He glanced through the barrier at their guards, who were [114] monitoring their conversation. “So who are those guys?”
Vigo shrugged. “I don’t know.”
But that wasn’t true. He knew one of them—and he knew also that he needed to say so. The information might prove useful to Sebring at some point.
“Actually,” he amended, “Ejanix seems to be one of them. I believe he’s been working with them all along.”
Sebring looked at him. “Ejanix ... ?” He made a sound of disgust. “That must be how they got in here so easily.”
Vigo nodded. “So it would appear.” He sighed. “He was my friend ... or so I thought.”
“Some friend,” said Sebring.
Vigo wanted to disagree with his colleague’s tone. However, Ejanix had made it clear where his loyalties lay, and it wasn’t with his former student.
The question was ... why? What could possibly have compelled Ejanix to align himself with the likes of Kovajo?
The question burned in Vigo like fire.
Chapter Nine
AS JOSEPH AND GERDA IDUN made their way to the mess hall, she fell silent for a moment. Then she said, “Your engineer seems to be a most thorough individual.”
“He’s thorough, all right,” the security officer agreed. “He also happens to be one of the smartest and most resourceful people in his field.”
“That’s good to hear,” said Gerda Idun, “considering my fate is in his hands.”
Joseph looked at her, remembering her remark about the Gnalish in her universe. “So there’s no Simenon on your Stargazer?”
“Unfortunately, no. But I wish there was. I’m sure he would be a help to us in any number of ways.”
“He’s certainly a help to us,” said Joseph. “Even if he isn’t the easiest guy to get along with sometimes.”
Gerda Idun laughed. “I won’t tell him you said that.”
[116] “Thanks,” he said. “The last thing you want to do is tick off your ship’s engineer. The next thing you know, the temperature in your quarters drops sixty degrees and the intercom is piping in Vulcan love poetry.”
Gerda Idun laughed again. “I’ve never heard any Vulcan poetry myself, but it doesn’t sound appealing.”
“Believe me,” said Joseph, “that’s an understatement.”
As they continued down the corridor, he was reminded that he had been meaning to ask her something. This seemed like as good a time as any.
“Tell me,” Joseph said, “is there a me on your ship?”
Gerda Idun looked at him. “A Pug Joseph? I’ll say there is. He’s the second officer, a man known for his efficiency, his resourcefulness, and his courage.”
“Really?” he said. “I mean ... wow. That’s great.” Efficiency, resourcefulness, and courage. He liked the sound of that. “I mean really great.”
He smiled the rest of the way to the mess hall.
Nikolas hadn’t been forced to look very hard for the newest Asmund on the ship.
It was true that she didn’t have a communicator badge, so the computer couldn’t readily identify her whereabouts. But Joseph had been assigned to keep the woman constant company, and he very definitely had a badge.
Which was why Nikolas had decided to visit the mess hall at a time when he would normally have been getting some sleep for his next shift.
Catching sight of Joseph and his charge, the ensign [117] waited for his chance. He saw it when Gerda Idun left the replicator slot with her food, leaving Joseph to punch in his order.
Moving quickly and unobtrusively to the security chief’s side, Nikolas said, “Lieutenant?