Authors: Vaughn Heppner
Maddox turned
toward the sound just as everyone else did. He spied three marine air-cars. Ah. They must have gained security clearance. The combat vehicles were obvious, with their camouflage paint and the gun turrets on either end. A loudspeaker clicked on.
“I REQUEST THE IMMEDIATE PRESENCE OF CAPTAIN MADDOX
OF THE STAR WATCH!”
A woman
standing some ways behind Maddox screamed. It had the shrill distinctive sound of someone witnessing something horrible.
The captain
felt the small hairs rise on the back of his neck. He sensed the attack before he turned.
I shouldn’t have taken my eyes off
Nerva
.
The duel hadn’t officially ended
. In that regard, the air-cars meant nothing. As quick as a cat Maddox twisted around to face Nerva.
The captain
took in the scene faster than his body could react to defend himself. Nerva had already picked up the dropped viper stick. The man didn’t bother to pretend anymore. He used his right hand, the supposedly numbed one. It certainly meant that Nerva had a specially treated prosthetic right arm, one immune to a viper stick’s discharge. Nerva began a slash. There was no way Maddox could lift his own weapon in time or dodge the blow.
Instead of
taking the full brunt of a viper stick discharge—ending up permanently paralyzed at best, killed by proton shock at worst—Maddox heard a stunner fire. A blot of nearly invisible force struck Nerva in the chest. Because of the stunner’s high setting, the blast knocked the man backward. His viper stick still slashed, but higher than it would have, several inches back and with less force and speed. The combination allowed Maddox to twist out of the way.
Then
, Nerva was down on the trampled grass, panting. The shock of the stunner’s blast must have disoriented him. It certainly stole his concentration. His arms continued to move downward toward him. The right hand pulled the viper stick directly onto his prone body.
A
security officer roared with outrage, likely at the stunner shot.
As
Maddox stumbled backward from the inertia of dodging the viper stick, he watched fate handing out its verdict.
Nerva
’s viper stick fell on top of him, striking his chest, neck, chin and face. It discharged with double force. Caius Nerva groaned and went rigid. Then, he exhaled a final time, dying from proton shock.
A marine air-car lowered, its antigravity pods humming as it turned toward the spectators.
“CAPTAIN MADDOX, THE BRIGADIER REQUESTS YOUR IMMEDIATE PRESENCE!”
Ignoring the
vehicle, Maddox glanced to his left. Sergeant Riker, his aide, held the offending stunner in his gnarled fist. The old man had just saved his life. The sergeant had also legally ended his own. The man was Maddox’s second. For killing the enemy duelist, any jury would demand the sergeant’s immediate transfer to a prison planet.
Dropping his
viper stick so it hissed and writhed against the ground, Maddox approached the sergeant. He didn’t worry about Nerva’s security personnel, not with the marines landing.
“Sir?” the old man said helplessly.
“I didn’t mean for his viper stick to strike him. I was just trying to stop him from crippling you. Anyone could see there was a pause in the duel. He took unfair advantage of the air-cars.”
“I’ll get you out of this
, Sergeant. Not to worry.”
Riker reversed the grip o
f the stunner, handing it to Maddox. Tired resignation filled the sergeant’s voice. “I don’t know how you could possibly help me, sir. I just killed Octavian Nerva’s heir. I’m doomed.”
Riker was right.
The sergeant
was
doomed. But Maddox refused to leave Riker to his fate. The problem was that he had no idea how to save the man.
Captain Maddox fought the urge to shift uncomfortably on his chair. He had been sitting here, anticipating the worst, for what felt like hours. Instead, he maintained his rigid posture before the large desk.
He was in
Star Watch Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The air-car had rushed him here. All the Star Watch marines knew was that the so-called New Men had struck again, hard. The Fleet was on high alert.
Maddox frowned. The marines had taken
Sergeant Riker to a detention center deep underground. Likely, that was for Riker’s immediate protection.
The
Nerva security personnel would have already informed Octavian Nerva about his son’s death. The tycoon might demand a trial. It was more likely his magnificence would want a bloodier solution.
The
Methuselah Treatment was greatly extending the age of those who took it. Some recipients had already reached three hundred years of age. Such elders were rare, as the process was ongoing and incredibly expensive. The treatment had its drawbacks, as well, at least according to certain psychologists.
Those who reached such extended ages often experienced stagnation and magnification of character traits and behaviors. In Octavian Nerva’s case, he’d been punishing those who angered him for so long that nothing short of torture satisfied him. Thus, to avenge his son’s murder, he would undoubtedly hire man-hunters to kidnap Sergeant Riker, and the magnate would probably come after Maddox, as well.
He and the sergeant could conceivably face a prolonged existence on a hidden habitat orbiting Saturn or Neptune. Certainly, Octavian Nerva would visit them to test new forms of agony against their persons.
Because of this, Sergeant Riker was in the deepest cell
possible. The marine guards were supposedly incorruptible, but Nerva might go to considerable lengths to investigate the truth of this belief.
Captain Maddox
could not afford to consider these details as he waited before the desk. Instead, his mind had fixated upon news of the New Men.
Behind
the large synthi-wood furniture, Brigadier Mary O’Hara of Star Watch Intelligence massaged her forehead. Many called her the Iron Lady. She had gray hair, a matronly image and never lost her temper. It was possible Maddox’s duel had tested her famous calm. A sigh escaped from her compressed lips.
Believing it was time to explain,
Maddox cleared his throat.
B
rigadier O’Hara looked up sharply, her glare like whips.
The words died on Maddox’s lips.
She blinked several times. Each flicker of her eyelids seemed to lessen the intensity of her stare. Finally, she appeared to have regained the composure of the Iron Lady.
“This is a fine mess
you’ve dumped into my lap,” she said.
Maddox nodded, saying, “I take full responsibility for
it, ma’am.”
“First, Captain, let me say that your words are meaningless.
Like it or not, Sergeant Riker will soon be leaving for Loki Prime.”
The extreme jungle world was the worst of the prison planets. Sentencing to such a
habitat had replaced the old-fashioned death penalty.
“Given that,” the brigadier continued, “
I fail to see how your so-called
responsibility
comes into play.”
“
Sent into exile? Ma’am, that is ridiculous.”
“
Is it, Captain?”
“
Quite,” Maddox said. “Caius Nerva had a prosthetic arm.”
“
No,” the brigadier said. “Now, you’re being ridiculous.”
Maddox appeared not to hear.
“During the duel, I struck the top of his right hand with the viper stick, ma’am. The discharge had no visible effect.”
“Captain, I expect my pe
ople to maintain greater awareness during a mission. I would also appreciate more mental acuity than you’re currently showing.”
The fa
intest of frowns appeared on Maddox’s face.
“
Caius Nerva had huge muscles,” the brigadier said, “did he not?”
“He did
indeed, ma’am. In truth, that surprised me. Nerva didn’t seem like the type to train rigorously. It’s clear he ingested muscle-enhancers, but he would have still needed to lift several hours a day.”
“
Those taking the Methuselah Treatment do not have their limbs lopped off to attach bionic appendages,” the brigadier said. “They have regrows…like a lizard developing a new tail.”
“The top of his hand—”
“Captain,” the brigadier said in a warning tone.
Maddox fell silent.
“I expect my people to listen when I speak,” she said.
He
stared at her.
“
Caius Nerva had big muscles. You admit as much.” When the captain refrained from commenting, the brigadier said, “Look at this.” She lifted a clicker from the desk and pressed a switch.
A holoimage appeared
between them. It showed Caius Nerva in a swimsuit at what must have been a beach party.
Maddox frowned. The man looked much slimmer
than he remembered. He glanced around the image at the brigadier.
“
For your duel,” O’Hara said, “for the entire night, he more a bodysuit.”
Maddox
’s frown deepened.
“
If you look closely enough,” she said, “there are certain telltale signs.”
“But—”
The brigadier held up a single hand.
Maddox ignored it. “Ma’am, I’ve seen bodysuits. He wasn’t wearing one.”
“I don’t believe you’ve seen the newest model from Tojo 5, the Samurai Deluxe. It hasn’t hit the market yet. It is totally lifelike, as you can attest.”
“The stunner
shot proves you wrong, ma’am. Such a bodysuit as you’re implying would protect the wearer from the stun.”
“It did
,” she said.
“I saw the man fall.”
“Yes, because Sergeant Riker wisely set his weapon at the kill setting. The stunner hit didn’t injure Caius Nerva. The
force
of it knocked him down. The viper stick did the rest when it struck his face.”
“Why would Sergeant Riker set his stunner for kill?”
“For the best of reasons,” the brigadier said. “He suspected that Nerva wore a bodysuit. Realizing that, the sergeant knew the stun wouldn’t harm your opponent. Your man was trying to
knock
Nerva away from you. Rest assured, none of this is conjecture. I’ve already spoken to Riker. He has admitted everything.”
Captain Maddox drummed his fingers on
the armrests. “The sergeant didn’t say anything to me about this.”
“
Don’t blame him for that. Your man deduced it during the duel. Your impetuousness uncovered that much, I suppose.”
“The suit sweated,” Maddox said.
Brigadier O’Hara sighed.
“Ah,” Maddox said
, realizing that was part of the deception. He turned his head, staring at a model starship inside a glass case. “The sweat fooled me, as it was meant to do. The designers intentionally made a skin-perfect bodysuit.”
“
That it fooled you, Captain, is a testament to the designers. Usually, you are more observant. This time, your emotions blinded you.”
Squinting,
Maddox continued to stare at the starship model.
“
Despite your youth, I expect much more from you, Captain,” she said.
Maddox appeared not to hear.
“The part I don’t understand,” the brigadier added, “is how you managed to fend off Nerva’s attacks. I watched a rerun of the duel. Your sergeant’s bionic eye under his patch recorded everything. I had a specialist study Nerva’s reaction times. In his bodysuit, Caius Nerva’s speed was beyond phenomenal. You should not have been able to parry every strike.”
Maddox
stopped breathing. He had tested himself because of his possible secret, to see if it could be true. Here was conclusive proof, was it not?
No, no, this cannot be
. There must be another explanation
. Disguising his unease, Maddox spoke casually, “I practice, ma’am.”
“Please,” she said. “Do not insult my intelligence.”
“I have a dueling bot at home. Extended bouts help keep me toned.”
She studied him.
Inwardly, Maddox readied himself for the accusation. Outwardly, he appeared serene.
She
pursed her lips before pressing the control, making the holoimage disappear. Opening her desk, she deposited the unit in a drawer and shut it with a click.
“I imagine
Octavian Nerva’s man-hunters will be coming for you as well,” the brigadier said. “You uncovered the fraud and helped to kill his son. His money and influence gives him reach into the Star Watch, perhaps even into Intelligence. You must leave Earth, leave the Solar System.”
“Not without Sergeant Riker,”
Maddox said.
“That is out of your hands, I’m afraid.”
Maddox hesitated. He couldn’t believe the brigadier had dropped her inquiry about his ability to defend himself against Caius Nerva. Why had she said anything then? He would need to think about this, but not right now.
“Why did you send the
combat cars for me, ma’am?” he asked.
She put both hands on the desk
as if to brace herself. A diamond wedding ring glittered on a finger, reminding Maddox that the Iron Lady was married. The ring was her only indulgence, a huge diamond, almost garishly so. Rumor said she was deeply in love with her husband of many years.
“There’s been another attack,” she said.
“You mean the New Men?”
She scraped back her chair as she stood. “I’m attending an emergency meeting of the
Admiralty. You will accompany me, Captain, as my aide. I will desire your input afterward.”
“You flatter me,
ma’am.”
“I
do no such thing,” the brigadier said. “The Commonwealth and the entire breadth of Human Space will require every advantage we can muster in this emergency. Under normal circumstances, I appreciate your unique outlook, and I wish to make use of it. However, this last indulgence with the viper sticks doesn’t do you any credit, Captain.”
He
’d stood when she did. “When does the meeting begin?” he asked.
“In fifteen minutes.”
“Will Admiral Fletcher be there?”
“I don’t want you to
talk
, Captain. Stay in the background. Listen. There’s no need for Fletcher to notice you. You’re in enough trouble as it is. So am I for this mess you’ve given me.”
Maddox
said nothing.
“Now
, follow me,” she said. “We’re taking a combat car so we can get there on time.”