The Lost Colony (Lost Starship Series Book 4) (8 page)

-6-

Maddox blinked several times before rubbing the bridge of his nose. Carefully, he came around the bar, with his gun aimed at the apparition. The thing had all of Ludendorff’s features that had become so familiar during their time aboard the starship. Maddox could see the garments and the gold chain. The captain could also see
through
the phantom and the sofa behind the image.

“I’m quite real,” Ludendorff said in his smug voice. “You aren’t imagining this.”

Maddox had steely nerves, but the voice proved to be too much, particularly because he was alone. The captain’s trigger finger twitched. The gun went off, and a bullet plowed through the ghostly professor, smashing through the sofa and gouging the rug and floor below. Bits of stuffing floated in the air, one particle traveling through the professor.

The image hadn’t flinched at the gunshot, but it noted the event.

“Was that truly necessary, Captain?” Ludendorff asked.

Maddox licked his lips before clamping down on his emotions. He disliked the fact of the discharge and silently reproved himself for overreacting. He had never believed himself superstitious before this. He planned to pass any further tests of this nature from now on.

“You’re too quiet,” the image of the professor said.

Maddox cleared his throat, remembering more about Ludendorff.

The professor was supposed to be the smartest man alive. He had first met the man on Wolf Prime, where the professor had held his own against the invading New Men. Ludendorff had an inordinate curiosity about aliens, the ancient Adoks, the Swarm…and maybe the Builders too.

“We don’t have much time,” the professor said. “I can’t maintain the holoimage for long.”

“Holoimage,” Maddox said. “You’re a holoimage?”

“Of course,” Ludendorff said. “What else could I be?”

Maddox took a step back, glancing around.

“I’m quite alone,” the holoimage of Ludendorff said.

“How are you able to project yourself into my apartment?”

“It’s a nifty trick, to be sure. But in the end, the technical aspect isn’t as important as my message.”

“I’m not sure I can agree,” Maddox said.

“You’re too contrary, sir. Just for once—”

“For instance,” Maddox said, interrupting the professor. “How do I know you’re Ludendorff? Well, that’s not the right question. You’re not Ludendorff.”

“Oh, but I am, my boy, I most certainly am. That’s the wonder of the technology.”

“What happened to you at the Nexus?” Maddox asked.

“Perfect, my boy, just simply splendid,” the professor said. “You have a way of jumping to the right conclusion at the first go. It’s always impressed me.”

“You’re evading the question.”

“I assure you, I’m not. Now, listen closely. Our time is limited.”

“Professor—I mean the image of the professor. Anyone could be projecting a holoimage of you into my apartment.” Maddox snapped his fingers. “Is this Adok technology? Did Dana find something aboard
Victory
to do this?”

“I’m surprised at your line of reasoning.”

“Ah,” Maddox said. “Maybe this is Builder technology.”

The holoimage clapped its hands but failed to produce any sound. “Now, you’re thinking again. Keep going on that track, my boy.”

“What happened to you in the Xerxes System?”

“First, do you believe this is me speaking to you?”

“I don’t see how,” Maddox said.

“Nevertheless, how can I convince you this holoimage represents my true thoughts?”

“You want me to test you?” Maddox asked.

“It seems like the quickest way to gain your trust.”

Maddox studied the smug holoimage. The thing had Ludendorff’s manner down pat. Even so… “Who did you take with you from the Brahma System years ago?”

“You’re referring to Dr. Dana Rich, of course,” Ludendorff said. “Is she well?”

“No. She’s devastated by your disappearance.”

The holoimage frowned. “I’ve recently learned that someone put a Ludendorff android onto
Victory
in my place. Did the creature do anything…
vile
to poor Dana?”

“Your android tried to take over all of Star Watch,” Maddox said.

The holoimage blinked several times. “Did it indeed? How did it… No, you won’t tell me that. It would be restricted information. That means…” The holoimage looked away as if thinking. “Ah, it must have spoken about the Gilgamesh Covent to the Lord High Admiral. Am I right?”

The holoimage was spot on, but Maddox wasn’t going to tell it that. Maybe this was the reason for its appearance, to pump him for top-secret information.

The captain did say, “A gunman assassinated you before you could complete your deception.”

“Oh,” the holoimage said. “Did you witness the event?”

Maddox nodded.

The holoimage rubbed its chin. “Captain, let us quit this game. It’s proving too long and tedious. Do you believe me—?”

“Professor, I believe it’s impossible for you to communicate like this…unless the real Ludendorff is somewhere nearby.”

“No. I’m in the Xerxes System.”

Maddox raised his eyebrows. “Then this becomes doubly impossible. Are you suggesting you are communicating with me across many light-years of distance?”

“No, no,” the holoimage said. “That would be preposterous as you’ve suggested.”

“Then what is this?”

“My engrams were imprinted—”

“Like Galyan?” Maddox asked.

“Yes. That’s it. I think like the real professor. He sent me. He sent the androids earlier in Shanghai to guide you to him. You should have trusted the androids, Captain. Destroying them wasted time and it was foolish.”

Abruptly, Maddox holstered his pistol. On unsteady legs, he staggered to a chair and sat down.

“
You
authored the androids?” Maddox asked.

“I have just said as much,” the holoimage told him. “Captain, do you believe this is me?”

Maddox shrugged. Then, he straightened just as abruptly as he had sat down. “Yes! It’s you, Professor. Only you would try such a harebrained scheme.”

The captain had decided it was time to hear the holoimage’s plan. This back and forth wasn’t going to produce any worthwhile results.

“Good, good, you always were a fast read, my boy. I suspect you realize this isn’t me exactly, but a nearly perfect duplicate. I sent it from the Xerxes System because I’m physically trapped by automated Builder machines of advanced complexity.”

“Star Watch sent a flotilla to clear out the Xerxes System,” Maddox said.

“Did they now? That’s interesting. For their sakes, maybe even for mine—the real Ludendorff, I mean—I hope they’re successful. Clearly, it has taken time for the androids and holoimage projector to travel to Earth. You have no idea of the process involved.”

“Why don’t you explain it to me?”

“Lack of time prohibits me, my boy. I need you to help me at once. I’m physically trapped and I doubt any Star Watch flotilla will know enough to free me from confinement. In fact, I doubt they will survive the surprises in store for them.”

“You’re obviously suggesting I take
Victory
to the Xerxes System to free you.”

“Of course,” the holoimage said. “What other vessel could succeed?”

“A Star Watch fleet—”

“Yes, yes, of course a fleet could annihilate every drone and pulverize each booby-trapped asteroid, but I doubt the Lord High Admiral would send such a fleet to the Xerxes System at this time. Strategy dictates his next move. He must send a massed fleet to “C” Quadrant. He must liberate captured Commonwealth planets. As he does so, he will of course be searching for the Throne World. To win the war, Star Watch has to take the fight to the enemy and occupy the New Men’s homeworld.”

“What are the Throne World’s coordinates?” Maddox asked. “Surely, you know.”

“Of course, I know—” The holoimage blinked repeatedly. “The professor must have anticipated your question, the sly devil. The real professor did not impart the Throne World’s coordinates to me. I believe Ludendorff has the highest survivability quotient in the galaxy. I’m sure he will give you the coordinates once you free him from captivity. In a word, the knowledge you seek is a carrot to help goad you to action.”

“It makes perfect sense that the engrams of the professor should boast about Ludendorff’s greatness,” Maddox said quietly. “Tell me something, Professor, why use coercive androids to drug me and take me to the Lin Ru?”

“Secrecy, for one thing,” the holoimage said.

“The sting in Woo Tower had the feel of a kidnapping mission.”

“You were quite safe, Captain, I assure you. Each android allowed you to destroy it rather than harm you. Surely, you realize each of them could have easily incapacitated you.”

“I have a knot on the back of my head that says otherwise.”

“Could you explain that?”

Maddox told the holoimage how the first android had slammed against him, propelling him hard against a refrigerator.

“Ah, that’s perfectly understandable and explainable,” the holoimage said. “The android miscalculated. It must have been trying to disarm you lest you hurt yourself.”

“Of course,” Maddox said drily.

The holoimage hunched forward. “I know you think you’re very clever, Captain. And in many ways, your intellect matches mine, at least in the areas of security. But I am your mental superior in a host of avenues. You need me. Star Watch needs me. Do you know that Strand is a Methuselah Man, one of the originals just like me?”

“I’ve learned that, yes.”

“You have? Oh, splendid, splendid, this is better than I realized. Strand will defeat Star Watch if you give him enough time.”

“The Throne World seems to think otherwise.”

“They’re wrong, my boy. Star Watch needs me to help them find the Throne World, but more importantly, to capture Strand. I used to work with him, and then I let him go his own way when we disagreed. Now, I realize that was my greatest error. I have struggled these past months to make the supreme effort. Now, I need you to trust me enough to come and get me. Strand is free and I’m not. That could mean the end of regular humanity. I believe that would be one of the greatest catastrophes possible. It’s much too soon to rely on human survival with a genetically narrowed, mutated species.”

“You mean the New Men?”

“My boy, you have no idea of the real danger. I cannot tell you yet, but the New Men have a terrible Achilles heel. They need regular humanity; will need them for generations to come.”

“I’m tired of these oblique hints,” Maddox said. “What is their Achilles heel?”

“You must hurry to the Xerxes System with
Victory
and enter the Nexus. I’m inside at 12-3-BB. Can you remember that?”

“I already have,” Maddox said, “but I don’t know what your coordinates mean.”

“You will at the right time. Hurry, Captain, I don’t think I can remain lucid for many more months. I’m counting on you to reach me in time. If you fail, I doubt for humanity’s future. I hope I’ve convinced you of the seriousness of the mission.”

“No, I believe the opposite. I—”

The holoimage began to fade.

“Professor, you have to tell me more.”

“I see I’m going to need emotive reasoning. Very well, do this one thing for me, Captain. Ask Dana, ‘When will we see the New Hindu Kish again?’ She’ll understand the reference. Then, maybe, you’ll know that I’m telling you the truth. Good-bye, Captain, and Godspeed. I look forward to your arrival.”

A moment later, the holoimage was gone, the bullet hole in the sofa the only reminder that it had been there.

-7-

Sergeant Riker grumbled. He flew the flitter through the darkness, his eyes heavy with the need for sleep. Fifteen minutes ago, the captain had woken him from blessed slumber just after he’d finally nodded off after the long drive across Asia.

For insurance, and following his secret orders, Riker had called the brigadier’s office before heading to the flitter. The Iron Lady hadn’t been in. She was at home sleeping, as any normal person should be doing this time of night. Major Stokes had been on call.

“The captain is fit for duty, Sergeant,” Stokes had assured him. “The doctor gave him a pass. Is there any particular reason you’re calling me?”

Riker still didn’t know if he’d done the right thing calling the brigadier’s office. He plucked a tall cup of coffee from a holder and took a sip. It was still too hot, but it tasted mighty fine. He needed a caffeine hit if he was going to drive the flitter without crashing.

“I’m just checking in, sir,” Riker had told the major. That hadn’t been completely truthful.

“Couldn’t you have waited until later this morning, Sergeant?”

“It is morning, sir.”

“Are you getting cheeky?” Stokes had asked.

“No, sir. Thank you, sir. Couldn’t sleep, you know. I-I was troubled for the captain.”

“Ah,” Stokes had said.

The point was that Riker had lied to a superior officer. That was a foolish thing for an enlisted man to do, especially a sergeant of his long standing. But there were conflicts of interest here. Any reasonable person could see that.

Riker took another sip. He liked his coffee hot with plenty of additives, sugar being his favorite. The captain had told him on more than one occasion the evil of continuous sugar consumption. It rotted the insides, aged a man, according to the captain.

As he drove the flitter into Geneva, the sergeant snorted to himself. It was funny, really. He liked sugar and it rotted his insides, and he was the one who was going to live long enough for it to be a problem. The captain, on the other hand, lived too dangerously. The man might be a genius when it came to combat and intrigue, but the truth was that Maddox was too rash by half. Riker knew he was supposed to temper the captain’s worst excesses—

Why did I lie to the major?

Riker made a face. It wasn’t hard to understand. Captain Maddox was family. The sergeant had his two nieces in the Tau Ceti System but he hadn’t seen them for years. He expected they had kids by now. He should really go to Tau Ceti to see the young brats.

“Don’t have the time,” Riker muttered. He suspected that when he did have time, he’d be dead.

The nieces were his blood. He thought about them often, realizing why he did what he did in the service. It was old-fashioned duty, the need to protect. Old Sergeant Riker was a sheepdog, trying to protect his loved ones from the wolves out there.

Riker tapped the controls, taking the flitter down into Geneva. The captain was supposed to be waiting on the roof of his apartment dwelling. The man had barely gotten home and now he wanted to dash off on some fool mission he just thought of. It was inconsiderate of the captain to call so late— or rather, so early. It was hardly three A.M., Geneva time.

The sergeant exhaled through his nostrils before taking a long gulp of the sugary coffee. The jolt of caffeine would hit soon. He yearned for it, wanting the sleep gone from his eyes and sluggish mind.

Riker would be true to his blood, giving his life for his nieces if that’s what duty called for. He didn’t have to see them for that to tug at his heartstrings.

His Star Watch family, though, that was different. He believed in duty to country and unit. Even more, he believed in helping his military family.

The voyages in Starship
Victory
had forged an unbreakable bond between Captain Maddox, Lieutenant Valerie Noonan, Second Lieutenant Keith Maker, Dr. Dana Rich, Meta, Galyan the AI and himself, Sergeant Treggason Riker. They were family in the best sense of the word, struggling against the universe as a team.

Riker did not get teary-eyed over the concept. He was a military man who had fought with his family. He might present a dour face to most people. Others might think of him as a gruff old man, but the central focus of his ideals led him to view the crew of
Victory
as his family through thick and thin. If that was a cliché older than the hills of Earth, so be it. Riker never wanted to let the captain down, never wanted the man’s death on his hands because he hadn’t done his best.

But damn it, sometimes the captain made things difficult because he raced here and sprinted there as he tried to solve impossible puzzles. Sometimes, one had to lie down and go to sleep like a normal person.

Why did Maddox get into so many strange predicaments? It was enough to make a philosopher out of the sergeant.

He crumpled the empty cup and shoved it into the dispenser. Then, he adjusted the controls one more time, bringing the flitter onto the roof where Captain Maddox paced.

***

Riker peered at the captain in disbelief, having just heard his instructions.

Maddox appeared not to notice the scrutiny. Finally, the captain looked up. “Is there a problem, Sergeant?”

“The Mid-Atlantic, sir, in the flitter?”

“We’ve made the trip before.”

“Yes…but Dr. Rich will be asleep when we reach there.”

“No matter,” Maddox said.

“Couldn’t you just call her, sir?”

“I don’t see how.”

“The place is restricted, I realize that. Do you have permission to enter—?”

“Sergeant, you handle your end of the matter and I’ll handle mine.”

Riker hesitated just a moment longer. “Yes, sir,” he said.

The dome slid shut, the engine purred and the flitter lifted from the roof of the apartment building.

“Wake me when we’re a hundred kilometers from the landing site,” the captain said.

“You’re going to sleep, sir?”

“Are you tired?”

“I’m exhausted, sir. The trip from Shanghai took it out of me.”

“I suggest you switch on the autopilot and take a catnap.”

“I can’t do that, sir. I drank an express cup of Java.”

“That’s a pity,” Maddox said, crossing his arms and leaning against his side. Almost immediately, the man fell into a rhythmic breathing pattern.

He’s asleep
, Riker realized with frustration. The sergeant thought about putting the flitter onto autopilot, but he didn’t trust the flight mechanism. Maybe in a bigger ship, it would be all right. For this little air-car, he preferred to keep at the controls.

For a couple of hundred kilometers, Riker stared out of the canopy. Far beneath them, Europe slid past.

As the air-car darted over the Atlantic, Riker yawned. Despite the shock of caffeine, he was dead tired. His eyelids had become heavy.

Maddox continued to sleep.

Riker put a comm-jack in his left ear and a sub-vocalizer onto his throat. Then, he turned on the comm, sending a signal to
Victory
. The ancient Adok starship was in Earth orbit. A tech crew was aboard the starship working under Lieutenant Noonan’s direction. She guarded the scientists prowling through the vessel, keeping Galyan company and calming him when the AI became mulish over something.

“Hello,” Riker said so softly he couldn’t hear the words himself. He didn’t want to wake the captain.

“Sergeant Riker,” Galyan said in his robotic voice. “It is good to hear from you.”

“Likewise, I’m sure,” Riker said.

“You are with Captain Maddox, I see.”

“We’re heading to the Mid-Atlantic.”

“I suspect you are going to visit the doctor. I should inform you that she is in a restricted area.”

“That’s why I’m calling,” Riker said.

“I do not possess clearance powers,” Galyan said.

“I know,” Riker said. He also knew the alien AI had a fantastically powerful deductive probability analyzer. “I’m wondering why the captain plans to go there without preapproval.”

“You should ask him.”

“He might tell me to mind my own business,” Riker said.

“Would that bother you?”

“Not at all,” the sergeant muttered.

“One moment, please,” Galyan said. “Ah. Is that a joke?”

Riker felt himself redden.

“One moment,” Galyan said. “Oh. I believe you just lied to me, Sergeant.”

“Now, see here, Galyan. You have no right—”

“It is possible that you just lied to yourself. Why does the captain’s possible censure trouble you?”

“Galyan.”

“Am I intruding into areas I should not?” the robotic voice asked.

Riker peered out of the canopy. He had a strange family, all right. Sometimes, he wondered if he would have been happier working with normal Intelligence people.

“I will work on the clearance for you,” Galyan said.

“I don’t want you to—”

“It is my way of apologizing to you for intruding where I should have left things alone.”

“I just thought of something,” Riker said. “You can track us, right?”

“Of course,” Galyan said. “I have been doing so since I took your call.”

“Were you tracking the captain during his time in Shanghai?”

“Lieutenant Noonan said I must respect people’s privacy. Therefore, I was not.”

“I agree with her,” Riker said. “But…there’s something odd going on. I want you to track the captain for the next few days.”

“I am supposed to inform him of that first,” Galyan said.

“Even if we’re trying to throw a surprise party for him?” Riker asked.

“Valerie did not tell me of this party.”

“Oh,” Riker said. “That’s right. I wasn’t supposed to tell you.”

“Why not? Have I done something to upset the captain?”

Riker shook his head. Why couldn’t the AI make this easy? The Adok artificial intelligence asked too many questions.

“Galyan, would you just do this for me? I’ll explain later.”

“Yes, Sergeant, I will continue to track the captain. Would you like me to continue to track you, as well?”

“Yes,” Riker said. He thought about the captain’s androids and the brigadier’s order to have Maddox examined to make sure he was still human. If the enemy had stuck at the captain, might he strike at a lowly sergeant too? If an android took his place, it would be an easy matter to capture the captain—well, an easier matter, at least.

At that moment, the flitter’s engine simply cut out. It must have affected the batteries, too. The comm-unit quit. The air-car lost its motive flight with the loss of power. It plowed ahead a short distance due to momentum. Then, the flitter began to plummet toward the ocean.