Alien Honor (A Fenris Novel) (25 page)

“Can these jolts cause permanent damage?” Argon asked.

“If Cyrus continues to hold down the button, in time it will kill Jasper.”

Cyrus shook his head. “I’m not a torturer.”

Wexx turned to him. She wore her white lab coat and maintained an air of medical authority. “No one is calling you a torturer. You are the only one who can sense and intervene in time. This is to save ourselves and save Sol.”

Cyrus scowled at Jasper. The fat man wore briefs around his loins but was otherwise naked. The telepath needed to work out sometimes—he was too flabby, his skin too splotchy. Tight straps crisscrossing over him ensured his immobility.

“I’ve seen things like this in Milan,” Cyrus said. “I swore never to have any part of it.”

“We could order you to do this,” Argon told him.

Looking at Jasper hooked up like this made Cyrus think of Spartacus on the cross. “You can order,” he said, “but I’m not going to do it.”

“Surely you understand that this is critical,” Wexx said.

“So you do it,” Cyrus said.

“That’s the point. I don’t have the ability to resist him. I cannot do it.”

“He can do it,” Cyrus said, jerking his thumb at Argon. “That’s what monitors like to do anyway.”

Argon turned a solemn face to him. “There are hard moments in life, hard choices. I do not approve of torture. But there is a time and place for everything.”

“I ain’t going to do it,” Cyrus said.

“Can’t you understand yet?” Wexx said. “You’re a Special. That means you have certain responsibilities to perform. No one else can do this. The chief monitor might be able to resist Jasper’s mental domination, but he won’t be able to feel what’s going on as well as you can.”

Cyrus stared down at the deck plates.

“This is a grim chore,” Argon said. “We must save the Teleship. We need to know what he knows. You will not harm him if he cooperates. You will only
punish him if he attempts to help the aliens. How can you refuse to help us do this? It is not rational.”

“Sure,” Cyrus said, staring at the weave on the deck plates. “You have good points. I don’t deny that. I’m not like the rest of you. I grew up in the slums. But I’ve seen torture before in order to get information out of someone. I’ll fight Jasper, if you want. But I’m going to only tell you this one more time.” He looked up at Wexx and then Argon. “I’m not going to press the button that shocks a helpless man. Trick him, sure. I’m for that. But there’s something too inhuman about doing as you suggest. Besides, it’s what they did to Spartacus.”

“I can’t believe this,” Wexx said. “You were raised in the slums. Your kind does this to others all the time.”

“My kind?” Cyrus asked.

Wexx blushed. “It was a slip of the tongue.”

“Just ’cause I was born and raised in the slums doesn’t make me any less human than you.”

“I will take the control,” Argon said.

“He needs to do it,” Wexx said.

“No,” Argon said. “I don’t think so. The Specials need to help each other, or stick together. Cyrus, go in the other room. You can watch through the one-way mirror.”

“You’re supposed to go there,” Wexx said.

“Doctor, you have a good idea,” Argon said. “Now how do you propose to force Cyrus to torture Jasper if he doesn’t want to?”

“It isn’t torture,” she said.

“Whatever you wish to call it,” Argon said, “how do you propose to force Cyrus do as you wish?”

“You have to listen to reason,” she told Cyrus.

“It’s your reason, not mine,” Cyrus said.

“Don’t you want revenge against him?”

“Not on your terms.”

“I can’t believe this,” Wexx said.

“Go,” Argon said quietly.

Cyrus floated to the next room, catching the edge of the entrance and swinging himself inside. Had he made the right choice? Yeah, everything was at
stake and Jasper was a prick. But there were some things he simply believed. You don’t torture someone. If a man was evil enough, you killed him. He’d seen tortured men before. It chilled him just thinking about it. It was horrible, and it not only hurt the tortured but it twisted the one who did it. He wanted to leave medical and let them play their cruel games without him. But Sol might be at stake, so he would watch and help mentally if he could. If they pressed the torture switch too much… well, he’d wait and see what happened then.

Wexx still seethed, if one counted how she clenched her teeth. Argon continued to speak to her. Finally, she injected Jasper with something and stood to the side, waiting. Chief Monitor Argon towered on the other side of the cot, with the switch in his big hand.

Time ticked by and Jasper began to groan.

Cyrus had never been in stasis. He’d heard it could be a painful process waking up. He’d heard from one of his instructors that too much stasis sleep harmed psi-talents.

I wonder why that is?

Finally, Jasper opened his eyes. Wexx smiled down at him and she began to explain the situation.

From his spot behind the one-way mirror, Cyrus could see everything. Jasper listened, glanced at Argon, looked at the leads attached to his flabby chest, and then turned carefully to Wexx.

“You can probably guess what those do,” Wexx said.

“Why is Cyrus watching behind that mirror?” Jasper asked.

“If I need help—”

“You’re angry with him,” Jasper said. “Ah, he refused to shock me.” The telepath raised his voice. “That’s very noble of you, Cyrus. Why don’t you come out here where I can see you?”

“No,” Wexx said. “He’s going to remain behind—” Wexx looked up angrily as Cyrus floated out of the room and near the cot. “Can’t you ever do as you’re told?” she asked.

Jasper grinned up at her. “He’s a slum dweller and you hate him. Why is that, Doctor?”

“You will exit her mind or I shall begin the pain,” Argon said in a deep voice.

From the cot, Jasper nodded. “Done. I’m out of her head. Are you satisfied?”

Argon’s big thumb twitched onto the button.

For a second, Jasper groaned and twisted on the cot as power surged through the pain centers.

“Let us set the record straight,” Argon said, who let up on the pain switch. “We are serious and we hope you realize just how much. If you fail to cooperate, I will kill you by keeping my thumb on the switch. Cyrus may have objections to killing a traitor such as you through these methods. For me, the task will be a pleasure. And the more painful your death is, the better I will enjoy the process.”

“You hate me,” Jasper said through gritted teeth, “I understand. My kind is the wave of the future, the future that the Highborn lost.”

“That you are attempting to antagonize me does little to assure me you will cooperate with us,” Argon said.

“Maybe I don’t like being shocked.” Jasper said. “Did you ever think of that?”

“Neither do we enjoy your attempts at mental domination.”

“What I did doesn’t hurt like that,” Jasper said.

“Please, Chief Monitor,” Wexx said. “I would appreciate it if you allowed me to question Jasper. He belongs to Psi Force and—”

“I’d like to point out that this setup violates several Psi Force strictures,” Jasper said. “I want to lodge a formal complaint.”

Dr. Wexx picked up a computer slate and composed her features before facing the telepath. “Special Second Class Jasper, we are attempting to assess your collusion with the alien psi-masters of New Eden.”

Jasper laughed and glanced at each of them in turn. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“If you would look at the screen, please,” Wexx said. She tapped her slate.

The long-faced alien with a metal
baan
and tall collar appeared on the screen. With another tap, Wexx focused the shot on the rearward alien pressing his
baan
against two discs. She played out the first battle with the habitat and then the second battle with the teardrop-shaped battleship.

“Did you notice their ability to stop the laser for a time?” Wexx asked.

“We’re actually in the star system then?” Jasper asked. “We made it to New Eden?”

Wexx gave him a wry look. “We will do the questioning today, not you.”

“Show me the system in its entirety,” Jasper said.

Wexx hesitated before complying. The screen showed the system planets and star. Then Wexx showed him a close-up of each planetary body. Several larger habitats became visible around each gas giant, as did the destruction to AS 412 III, the farther Earth-like world.

From the side, Cyrus watched Jasper. The telepath seemed surprised and drank in the details with his eyes.

“I don’t believe it,” Jasper finally said.

“Can you be more specific?” Wexx asked.

“I’m not sure I trust the chief monitor with the kill switch,” Jasper said. “I’m afraid he’ll either torment or kill me if I speak my mind.”

“Don’t you possess a conscience?” Argon asked. “Don’t you care that you’ve jeopardized the entire ship with your greed? You should be mortified at what your treachery has wrought and willingly tell us everything.”

“Are you mortified at treating me like a mutant?” Jasper asked angrily. “Does it horrify you that I and the other Specials have felt like outcasts our entire lives? You should willingly absolve me of all so-called treason in order to show me you repent of your former misdeeds.”

“This was a mistake,” Argon told Wexx. “We should put him back in stasis.”

“You have a point,” Wexx said slowly. “Yet… he, too, has a point.”

Argon stared suspiciously at Jasper. “I told you to keep out of her mind.”

“I’m not in it,” Jasper said. “But I doubt you can believe that. Go head, kill me.”

Argon lifted his big hand, with his thumb poised over the switch.

“No!” Wexx said. “Please, Chief Monitor, you must refrain from your judgments. Your worldview is radically different from Jasper’s and his from yours. I request that you inflict pain only if Jasper attempts mental domination upon me. Otherwise, I ask for your silence and restraint.”

“It doesn’t take a telepath to realize that he’s never going to forgive me,” Jasper told Wexx.

“I’m not sure that’s the question,” Wexx said. “Do you want to live or do you desire death? That’s what you need to consider.”

“I’m listening,” Jasper said. “Make your pitch.”

“Were you in communication with the aliens?” Wexx asked.

“The answer is obvious. Yes.”

“What did they offer you?”

Jasper shook his head. “It wasn’t that simple. The connection was brief and weak. I did get a sense that they lived on a bucolic world, a literal Eden of forests, glens, and huge butterflies. I also sensed a primitive society and them as elders or wizard-priests, if you will. I tried to calm their fears concerning us.”

“Why didn’t you tell us about this contact?” Wexx asked.

“No. I’ve seen the fear reaction all my life. Those like Argon think we’re mutants. They would have wanted to bomb the aliens out of existence. I couldn’t permit that or even take the chance.”

“He lies,” Argon said. “He is a traitor and colluded with the aliens. This story of his, it must be a pure concoction.”

“You’ll never shift out of this system, if that’s what you’re thinking,” Jasper said. “From what the Doctor has shown me, you know they need a radio or other link to help pinpoint us from a distance. How do you think they reached out so far the first time to Venice? It happened when we used the tele-ring. The moment you turn it on, the alien psi-masters, as you’re calling them, will reach out and mentally attack the ship.”

“Then we must self-destruct,” Argon said. “We have no other choice.”

“What are you talking about?” Jasper asked. For the first time, he showed what appeared to be genuine surprise.

“I think we should let Jasper peek into my mind,” Wexx said. “Let him see that you mean to destroy the Teleship if you think the aliens will capture it.”

“That’s criminally insane,” Jasper whispered.

“Call it what you will,” Argon said. “It is what I will do.”

“And you have
me
hooked to this thing?” Jasper asked Wexx. “He’s the mental patient.”

“I’ll ask you the same question as before,” Wexx said. “Do you want to live or do you want to die?”

“Of course I want to live,” Jasper said. “What kind of stupid question is that?”

“If you desire life,” Wexx said, “you must help us escape from New Eden.”

“How do you propose I perform this miracle?” Jasper asked.

“The answer should be obvious,” Wexx said.

Jasper snorted. “It’s always up to the telepath in the end. Do you realize how many like Cyrus I hunted down and located for Psi Force? They would have never found all the talents by themselves. I did it. I’m the one who allowed Psi Force to grow to its present size. And do you know what they did for me, what they gave me for all my hard work? Nothing but to call me a second-class Special. I’m tired of being the mutant. Maybe death is preferable.”

“You don’t mean that,” Wexx said.

Jasper stared up at the ceiling. To Cyrus, it seemed the telepath worked at keeping his features neutral.

“Suppose I agreed to help you.” Jasper said. “What would that look like for me?”

“We would hook up a similar system as this one,” Argon said. “I would hold the pain switch as we shifted. You would use your telepathy to protect Cyrus as we attempted to jump out of range of the psi-masters.”

“I’d already figured out that part,” Jasper said. “I mean criminally or legally or however you want to say it. I’d want you to drop all charges of mutiny and sedition against me.”

“The charges are already recorded on the ship and security logs,” Argon said.

“So alter them,” Jasper said. “That shouldn’t be too hard.”

“No. What you suggest isn’t possible. It would also be a crime against Premier Lang’s trust.”

“It’s possible if you want my help getting home,” Jasper said.

Argon looked away.

“Is that such a large price to pay for being able to warn Sol about these aliens?” Jasper asked. “I made my play and failed. That happens often enough in life. In some systems, the loser still gets to walk away with his life and freedom. That’s all I’m asking for.”

“I suspect a more nefarious reason,” Argon muttered.