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Which was the only part that did make sense to Jacqueline. As she listened to the latest discussion, this one in the lounge, it finally came clear to her that the alien ship, the Visitor, wasn't really bigger than, say, one of Saturn's moons. The ingestive orifice itself was slightly smaller in diameter than the orbiting macro-C-Gate sent in desperation to face and challenge the hurtling construct. On the order of eight hundred feet across, if she had that part right.
But from that opening issued an immaterial trumped-shaped field, glowing with the impact of spaceborne particles. It was this field that sucked in space-time, matter and all, presumably covering some matter to energy before spitting it all out the other end, since every major ingestion produced an increase in the thing's ability to accelerate. Approaching the inner system in velocity grew to equal and then exceed that of the Earth in orbit. "So that in the macro-C-Gate," Ben commented, "really had to pour on the coal, to intercept before the Visitor could gobble up the moon. Well, they're assuming that was just plain too big for it." He shrugged. "But what happened then, I don't understand at all."
Senator Perry nodded. "That's because they're not telling us the whole story." He looked at the readout sheet he held. "As our macro-C-Gate neared the Visitor, this says, the ingestive field flickered and died so our construct landed----or maybe docked----face to face with the thing's forward orifice. The aliens' drive gave one hellacious burst of thrust and then went dead."
He set down the sheet. "After that, all we're told is that maybe the whole big ship died, too. Crews are working to get into it and find out."
"And that's all?" said J.M. Colt.
"Officially, yes. Rick Berman sent me a note saying that it wasn't our highly touted crew of experts that did whatever was done. The true credit, he says, goes to D.C. Clarke. If the brass-bound brains ever declassify the information."
"Clarke?" Ben frowned. "I have the highest respect for that woman, but what could one person do?"
"Beats me," said Perry. "I have no idea."
But Jacqueline did! She knew she should keep it to herself, yet she couldn't. "Sure you do, Senator!" He stared at her. "You were there. The very first time."
For long seconds the old man's face went blank; then he started laughing. "Oh hell yes! She told you about that, did she?" And, "Yes, of course; that would work. And no wonder they're not spreading it around. You keep your lip zipped, young lady." but then he shook his head. "No, that's silly. As silly as classifying the information in the first place." He looked around. "But until the lid comes off officially, we don't tell it outside this ship."
Given his go-ahead nod, Jacqueline related how the misaligned Warp Drive prototype gave 3-fingered D.C. the nickname she so hated. "It aged her finger a hundred years in less than 1 second. I bet she fiddled the macro-C-Gate's drive, so it did the same thing to the Visitor."
Ben looked dubious, but he didn't argue.
From one corner Paul Stamets spoke. "You know---if putting the fields out of phase one way speeds time, then the other way would slow or even freeze it for whatever was in range. So she could have done that, too, if she'd thought of it."
Perry shook his head. "Could, yes----but to what purpose? You'd be spending full power just to delay the showdown. And when you let up, you'd be right back where you started.
Stamets blushed. "It was just an idea."
The senator blinked. "And very innovative, too. Don't let me throw ice water on good thinking!"
Visibly, Paul perked up again. "You know? I'm going to check theory and figure out how she did it."429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhENBlL9S78
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Jacqueline's next waking came feverish and nauseous, her gut cramping unendurably. Hikaru Sulu's diagnosis was fast and simple: "It's some kind of flu bug---and a mean one." Between shaking with chill and burning up, heaving her socks up and suffering the most agonizing and interminable diarrhea she'd ever known, Jacqueline couldn't disagree.
And that was before the uncontrollable coughing set in.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMbALkQw3j
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"How could she get this?" Sitting across a galley table from Hikaru Sulu, Ben knew he sounded accusatory but couldn't help it. "She had her flu shots, and...."
Then he realized, ten years ago she'd had those shots. Not by her own time, but by Earth's, where each winter brought a new strain, some more virulent than others. And, come to think of it, everyone aboard was in the same boat. But still: "Nobody's been having the flu here!"
"It could be me." He hadn't noticed young Talia Winters sitting off to one side at a nearby table.
"How? You had your shots. You looked a little feverish when you got here, but that didn't last."
"I was exposed, though. When I visited some of my family on Earth, just before reporting to Bolt Park. And had the flue shots afterward. So I did get a mild case, and must've been still carrying the bug when I got here."
"Then how come nobody else has caught it?"
Ben spoke too soon; a short time later Hikaru was called away to have a look at Cayla Paulsen. And over the next few days the Delhi flu, that had ravaged Earth two years earlier, began cutting a vicious swath through the duty roster.
Ben himself got off relatively easy; whatever strain his own most recent shots had been for, must've been a near relative of this one. But for the next week and more, he and the few healthy people stood a lot of double watches.
When he got around to think of it, he sent Earth a request for the new flu shots be C-Gated to Arrowprize every year as soon as available. To have on hand in case of need, any time new people came aboard with a fresh virus. Hey it just might work!429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1x8mwogexf
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Both crises having passed---the 2-year-old Visitor scare and the ship's freak epidemic---the continuing stream of follow-up stories from Earth began to get on Ben's nerves. The Gror'iel, the aliens from the Visitor ship (except that they called it something that translated as Environ) weren't dead after all. Sorely diminished, yes, but now with a chance to survive.
And the effort and resources that had been rushed into action to stop the Visitor were being diverted to help assure that survival----a tradition, Sisko reminded himself, that dated back to World War II. Human teams had boarded the Gror'iel Environ, met the aliens and somehow talked with them, come to terms that enabled cooperation.
He wondered why he could muster so little interest in such momentous happenings, finally, after centuries of hoping and fearing and wondering, the human race had learned it wasn't alone in the universe. But Sisko found no thrill in that learning.
Finally he decided it was because this was wholly Earth's discovery. And he was no longer an Earthman. That planet lay some eight light-years behind him; if at this moment he outGated at Bolt Park, he would have been gone approximately twelve years. By the time Arrowprize reached destination, there'd be no one at home he could relate to; his own daughter's classmates would be doddering or dead.
Most of the people oncraft seemed very hup-hup about the whole historical smorgasbord: alien threat foiled, then Mankind finds Brotherhood from the stars. Well, something like that. Ben envied them; they were having a lot more fun than he was.
Part of his malaise may have been from contagion; these days Marlena showed an unsuspected moody streak. Nothing Sisko could pin down: no flights or open disagreements, no obvious pitfalls to be carefully avoided. It was just that she had, somewhere along the way, holed up inside of herself. The way it was with Ben, he really needed to get her out, but he didn't know how.
He waited until the schedule showed a tie w hen both would be off watch and well rested, then subtly---he hoped---proposed they have a quiet meal together for a change. With so much enthusiasm as she showed for anything these days. Marlena agreed.
He scrounged through recent additions to the galley supplies and assembled the makings of a festive spread. He fussed over the wine list and finally set aside a bottle each of his two top choices. And well in advance he advised Jacqueline of his desire to be totally alone with Marlena for those few hours.
To Nyota Uhura who had that particular watch he said, "I want a big favor. During your next best shift, don't let anyone call me for anything that's not a clear and present danger to t he ship itself. Can I depend on you for that?"
"Of course." She looked curious but didn't ask.
So Jacqueline was all set. And nervous as a boy on his first date.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpHTncrl3d
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"Oh sure; I understand. You people have a good time." But Jacqueline felt let down. Certain things were bothering her, and she'd been thinking it might help her to talk with somebody.
This stuff didn't wear on her constantly. It had begun while she was sick----light-headed with fever and having altogether too much thinking time----but physical recovery hadn't ended it. She'd wake up earlier than she wanted to, and these ideas would start in on her and she couldn't get back to sleep. Enough times like that could work up to earnest worry.
What chafed, mostly: why was it, what was it about her that made this chicken hawks zero in on her? Sure; in the very early grades, she and all the other kids were given the message that when a strange adult got predatory toward a child in a sexual way, it is not your fault. And if anybody went to put hands on you in some way they shouldn't, just say no and tell someone. She believed those things because on the face of them they were correct. But, still....
Arthur's mindless attack had shocked her, frightened her out of any kind of calm reason. Yet after a time, within herself, she'd laid it to rest. She knew she'd never encouraged him in any way because she could barely manage to be civil towards him.
So she'd come to terms with that calamity as an isolate event. But then here came Osric Harcrow trying more or less the same goddamn thing! Well, she'd coped, come away with no thought of aftereffects. All's well that ends well, right?"
Wrong! In the back of her mind where she wasn't looking, the 2 incidents fused together into something nasty and painful. On the order of anyone who unerringly attracts twisted men has to be sending out the wrong signal.
What Jacqueline needed was some fresh input.
But maybe Ben wasn't the right one, anyway.
Then who was? J.M. and Marlena were booked, Cayla after Osric Harcrow had her own stab wounds healing. Talia too new and too young, no other woman Jacqueline knew well enough. And no man at all.
Leaving a totally blank slate; Jacqueline had nobody to talk with save herself. With a paradoxical feeling of relief, she made a cup of tea and sat down with it. Very well....
Digging in one's head requires various tools, ranging from agonizing concentration to detached semitrance, all driven by the need to know, to understand. Or, thought Jacqueline, shaking her head clear after a long, intensive bout of introspection, maybe it's all just a pile of shit. Either way she was stiff in the muscles and sweaty as could be. So, soaking out in a hot shower, she considered what she thought she might have learned.
Most of her effort, both physical and emotional, had been towards liberating herself from this load of guilt or shame or bullshit. The results, in terms of logical answers, were very concise.
Arthur would screw anything that wriggled if it wasn't fast enough to escape him.
Osric had a thing for young girls and here on the ship she was the only game in town.
So all that applied to Jacqueline herself was, she likely the only person unlucky enough to meet both of them in the same lifetime.
Warm and mocha-latte from the shower, she had the best sleep she'd had in days.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNt9BEO8jo
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Why Ben felt he was walking on glass, he had no idea. Hey, this was Marlena Moreau, they were pretty damn well in love, and he had a menu coming up that would make a mummy drool.
Not being a mummy, Jacqueline expressed her appreciation less crudely. Dinner went well, she evidently enjoyed his choice of wine although they were only halfway down the first body by coffee time, and she spoke freely enough.
But only about superficial matters. He still had the feeling she was sitting on something he should know about, and he had no idea how to get at it, no way to read her mind.
Marlena seemed to read his, though. "Ben? With all that's going on, back home, do you find yourself wishing we'd never left?"
Not you, too! Carefully: "What do you mean?"
"There's another race, another species, running loose in the universe. And back on Earth everybody's getting to know about them, some even meeting them. But not us."
Her face took on a stricken look. "Dammit, that's what we set out to do. And the stay-at-homes---it all falls into their laps, instead. They get to meet the aliens and we never can; the Environ has to be already out of the solar system. It's not fair, Ben---not far at all!"
She'd come up standing. He went around the table and held her, steered her over to the big sofa, gathered their cups and glasses to sit handy in front of them on the coffee table. Beside her, he thought first and then said, "If our people don't put C-gates on that Environ they're dumber than I think. Hey, once we reach destination and people get started on colonizing, assuming the planet-finder folks got the right info off their six-billion-mile scatter array, you and I can take a leave and go any damn place we want to. Earth, other ships' destinations which should be established colonies by that time, and why not this Environ thing too, while we're at it? So..."
Marlena shook her head. "We'd be back numbers, Sisko. Out of date. Museum pieces. Can't you guess how much Earth will change in---how long will it be? 70 years? Close, anyway. You and I go back to Earth then, they'll be very nice to use but you bet your sweat we won't be considered operational. Ornamental is more like it. Charmingly quaint." She made a snarling face. "I'm not putting myself in that position. Not ever."
Because she was simply adding detail to his own misgivings, Ben had absolutely nothing in the way of rebuttal. Instead: "You think we made a mistake, coming on here?'
Abruptly she clung to him, her face against his neck. It didn't feel well, so she wasn't crying. "I don't know. I thought I had it all worked out before I applied for training. And during all the stages when people dropped out or got dropped, and I stuck, I came on here feeling great about it, and that's how it's been, until---until those fuckin' aliens turned up. And now I just plain don't know."
His arm tightened around her. "You too, huh?"
As she pulled away to look at him he saw she was blinking back tears. "Damn you, Ben. You could've said something!"
No, I couldn't!
They were about five minutes short of going to bed with more enthusiasm than they'd had in some days, when Nyota beeped the intercom. "Captain! You'd better get up here! And watch yourself; they're..." The speaker clicked off.
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Sent by watch officer Uhura to see if any mail had arrived at Earthass. Cayla Paulsen was within a few feet of that terminal when its receiving space flared with brilliant colors. Blinking against afterglow she saw three bulkily wrapped figures emerge, masked and goggled, each holding some kind of hand weapon.
"Hold it right there!" The man in the lead, the short one, waved his odd-looking gun. Corman! Got a make on this one?
"Just a minute." The one addressed punched buttons on a small hand viewer, then said, "Cayla Paulsen. From Stargazer, cadre 2-A. We've got 'em, Alan!"
"Not yet." Alan came towards Cayla. "All right, where's Janeway? And how many of you are there?"
"I....she...." Normally level-headed, Cayla was jarred totally off-balance by these looming demons. "What do you....?"
"Ah, get a move on." Alan gestured. "To control. Nobody's going to zap us; we'll take care of that department. Corman, Seamer, watch our flanks."
Numbly Cayla led the way. She hadn't even checked for mail.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivxT337Fot
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When Nyota saw Cayla being herded at gunpoint she grabbed at the intercom and yelled for Ben Sisko, but within seconds her hand was knocked free of the talk switch. "All right," said the short man, after his partner's viewer correctly identified Nyota and Alfred Nightgazer for him. "You belong here. Now who all's aboard that doesn't? Janeway's people. Besides this one."
His gesture indicated Cayla; Nyota said, " It's not her doing; she was brought here. and others. One's C-Gated back to Earth already: Osric Harcrow. And the rest....." She gestured towards the local C-Gates. "They're on ice in there."
Peeling off goggles and hood, the short man exposed a ruddy face and incongruously cheerful expression. "So you folks took care of Old Iron Boobs all by yourselves? Looks like we've had a trip for nothing."
"Not quite," said Ben Sisko, entering.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpiWIS3Vm0
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Having no idea what awaited him, Ben approached the bridge warily. Once he saw the strange getups with just one man's face showing but no guns really pointing at anybody, he stepped inside. "Those suits will come in handy some days from now; she's put the watch to sleep twice, so far. But it's not Janeway; it's Yasmin Armiger. Janeway's out cold, along with Willard Tucker and Carter Richards. And," he remembered, "our own captain, Jonathan Archer." With that, he introduced himself.
"Alan Burns," said the short man. As the other two shed their own masks and goggles Sisko saw they were younger than he'd expected. Jake Corman, blondish and thin-faced, Erin Seamer his opposite in both of those respects. Burns turned to Cayla Paulsen. "Look, I'm sorry I for the tough-guy act. We didn't know what to expect here; you see?" And then to Ben: Armiger, huh? That's a poser. Any idea why?"
"She didn't say." Putting a little irony into it. "Anyway, you must have some idea yourselves---or you wouldn't be here. Did you get word from Stargazer or Yamato?"
Burns laughed. "From Byron York. He and Chou Tao went through Yamato like a knife through butter, got home just in time for the big Gror'iel fracas." He sobered up. "So we knew Kathryn Janeway and her own cadre set up to take Stargazer all the way in, and intended to C-Gate unwanted replacements elsewhere. We couldn't know where she'd taken over and where she didn't, so we had to put a containment team out to each vessel. I drew this one."
"Well," said Ben, "somebody has to get lucky. I don't suppose any of you commandos could use some coffee?"
And quarters, and bedding, and spare clothes, and some smooth-soled shoes to wear on the living areas belt...
For a start, after consulting Burns's preliminary report to Earthmouth, he led the way to the transfer ring.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1i5GGmSwRC
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Refreshed, Jacqueline dressed and fixed herself a fast snack from the fridge before reporting for duty at Ship's Supplies. As she passed the common-facilities corridor she saw Ben escorting three bulkily clad strangers. For a moment she paused, but Odessa was expecting her so she kept right on moving. Whatever was going on, she'd find out later.
Cheerful as always, Vangelos gave greeting and handed her a list: towels, bedding, and so forth. "Round up this lot and take it along to the VIP suite, will you? If nobody's home it might be a nice touch to do the beds, but if they're in, just make sure they know where the stuff's kept. Got it?"
"Sure." Assembling the items didn't take long. They made a sizeable bundle but not a heavy one; a bit awkwardly but with no great effort she packed it to the rear transverse, along it and past Earthmouth, and then forward 2 doors to the suite proper.
She touched the door-chime button but heard nothing from inside. In case they had it turned down she rapped gently; still no response, so she let herself in with Odessa's passkey and found nobody there.
Rather tidy people, the senator and his companion; a few things lying around here and there, but not much, and no dirty dishes. The bathroom door was ajar; she placed clean towels on the racks and put the reserves on the proper shelves, then carted the other things toward the bedroom.
That door was shut, and now as she approached she heard sounds from within. After one moment she stopped, embarrassed and undecided. Because she knew sex when she heard it.
This was louder than daddy with Dolores years ago, when they'd all have to share a hotel room at one of his departures or arrivals and she was supposed to be asleep but was not, not yet. But not a patch on the whooping of Dolores and Arthur who seemed determined to entertain passing drivers.
Nevertheless it was beyond doubt, and Jacqueline wanted out of here before her intrusion could be noticed. But---oh jee-zus, it would be anyway; the towels. No help for it; she set the bedding on the bathroom counter, grabbed up the used towels, and made for the door posthaste. Upon reaching it, from behind her there came the sound of indrawn breath.
She didn't look back. Obviously there was no point in trying to close the door without making any noise.
On her way back to Supplies she thought about the situation. Not the fact, surprising to her, that Senator Perry at his advanced age was still doing it, but the other part. Why had her accidental intrusion evoked obvious turmoil? She had not meant to spy, and she simply wouldn't say a word to anybody about any of it. If that wasn't good enough, well tough shit.
After all, they could have put the bolt on.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoVPDIO4tG
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She found Odessa issuing the same kinds of supplies, plus clothing, to the three strangers, and was co-opted to do a little gofering for the cause. Between jobs, Jacqueline listened, and after a while had a fair idea of the containment team's agenda. Alan Burns, the short guy in charge, barely acknowledged when Vangelos introduced her; he was too busy talking, concentrating on the point at hand. The other man, Corman, did smile and shake her hand, and the round-faced woman Erin Seamer now and then engaged her in fragments of conversation.
Ben showed up shortly before the issue was complete, and all six of them pitched in to carry it to the quarters Sisko assigned. Jacqueline, it turned out, had part of Burns's things, and as she piled them on a bed he said, "Thanks, Jacqueline. I appreciate the assistance." So he'd been paying more attention than she thought.
She grinned. "Sure," and left with Odessa, who headed not for supplies but to the galley. Break time. After the skimpy breakfast, Jacqueline enjoyed 2 biscuits and a cup of tea.
Until she saw Tonia Barrows walking straight toward her.
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Oh shit! Jacqueline's solar plexus hit free-fall as the woman approached, tight lipped and aggressive, stopping so close that Jacqueline had to look up to see her face. "I gotta talk to you."
So Jacqueline was stuck. First, though: "You'd better get on back, Odessa; I'll be along when I can." Because even if Barrows didn't want privacy for this, Jacqueline surely did.
As Vangelos cleared earshot the woman sat. "You owe me an explanation, young lady."
All right, tell it true. "I had stuff to deliver. Nobody answered the door---chime or knock, either one. Your...." Barrows tried to butt in but Jacqueline wasn't having it. "Your bolt. It was off, so the passkey worked, should have meant nobody home." She paused, but now the other seemed willing to listen. "When I heard different, I got out as fast as I could."
"Is that all?" Not quite so rigid now.
"Except that I haven't said anything, and I won't."
With just one deep breath the woman relaxed. "Thank you. That's what I needed to know." Puzzled, Jacqueline probably looked it; Barrows said, "People make jokes, cruel ones. It's not fair."
"No'm."
"And...." The woman gestured. "A child----I was afraid you'd be telling..."
"I won't; I already said that."
"Yes," Barrows nodded. "I'm sorry I misjudged you."
"That's okay." It wasn't, not wholly, but what can you say? Anyway, the senator's companion had backed off now, so let go of it. Jacqueline stood. "I've got to get back to Supplies now."
Without waiting for an answer she walked out fast. At least now she knew why being overheard was such a big crisis.
To Odessa Vangelos's questions she said only, "Just a mixup, was all; nothing important. Forget it.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQOBGYQ8Pi
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"You don't need any barricades or anything," said Sisko. "There's three of you and one of her, you padded against the darts and her not. You may want to spread out a little, divide her attention, but frankly I don't see how you could flub it."
"He's right," said Erin Seamer. With the bulky "armor" off, now as they sat in the lounge the youngish woman no longer reminded Ben of a teddy bear. Strongly built for her height, but not chubby. "This job's easy." Jake Corman nodded.
"I know," said Burns. "I want to make sure, that's all. For example, what if some of the others are awake by now?" Then he realized, and shook his head. "Yeh, yeah; instantaneous for the subject transmitted. For a minute there, I forgot."
"Easy enough," Senator Perry said. "C-Gates do get confusing."
The exchange gave Ben an idea. "Our vidcam record, Armiger and the others out of one C-Gate and into the other, it's all in the computer. You want to be really prepared, let me show you something." He called it up on the room's large-screen entertainment terminal, skimmed to the flare of disappearance, and backed up two seconds, freeing Yasmin Armiger in combat-ready crouch. "See there? I figured out where she's watching; she's primed for anybody coming in that door."
"So?"
"When they outGate again, she still will be."
Burns nodded. "Right. One of us should be there, to hold her attention while somebody else pots her from the side."
A bit like shooting fish in a barrel, Sisko thought---but wasn't that what Security was all about?
"The important thing," said Perry, "is to bring this hicky-hole business to a close. We want some answers out of those people. I know I do." And no one argued otherwise.
Burns wasn't done fretting; his optimistic face hid a world-class worrybug. "Let's be sure we've got all the ID's straight. Jake?" Corman passed him the handviewer. "Now then; Willard Tucker, did you say? Are you sure? Take another peep."
This was a waste of time and Ben said so. "Why bother? They're all in the monitor copy; you can check 'em yourself."
He backed up and reran, freezing and zooming for better view when one and another face appeared clearly, until Burns nodded. "Okay: Armiger, Janeway, Tarmeron and Burcham, Sladek. With your Captain Archer. Harcrow and Paulsen left flat. Only it's not Harcrow."
"You mean he was some kind of an imposter?" J.M. sounded dubious. "Then where's the real one?"
Rising to pour a warmup for his coffee, Burns grinned. "He never existed." Settled again, he said, "You're a cabinet secretary, see? And your nephew's going to the slammer, this time for sure. So you pull strings with some people who run the UN witness protection plan. The setup's odd, but luckily the kid has some useful ship skills. Because your brother had him sent out on macro-C-Gate work one year, up where his hobby couldn't land him in hot water. So our possible political embarrassment jumps bail and vanishes, and Osric Harcrow with a full set of stamped credentials shows up just in time for I forget who got real sick all of a sudden. We suspected something, but I didn't know for sure until I saw that picture."
He spread his hands. "14 years later he comes back. Even if he's recognized, the statute's run out. Which it has, now; by the time we guessed what might have happened, it was already too late to get him back in time to indict him. And hell; on Stargazer he was cut off from his hobby, anyway.
Sisko cleared his throat. "What kind of hobby?"
"Modeling young girls, right around puberty."
"I see." Ben stood. "If you'll excuse me...."
"Oh, hey---!" Burns yelled after hi m. "I didn't mean...."
But Sisko didn't give a flat shit what he meant.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJbrX9cMrP
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"What's the matter?" Barging into Supplies and hauling her out of there with just minimal courtesy, hotfooting the two of them to her quarters and now closing the door behind them, Ben wasn't acting normally. Confused, more than a little angry, Jacqueline blurted out: "What's going on, anyway?"
"Osric Harcrow." He sat, so she did too. "Something happened between you two. What was it?"
Oh boy. She and Odessa had pretty much run out of work, so that part was likely okay. But still....She answered, "Nothing much; I said so already. And why's it so important now?"
"The man's a known molester, that's why; picks on young girls, right about your age. So I want to know: did he try anything? How far did it go?"
She hadn't intended to say anything at all, but now she had to. Well: "It wasn't like Arthur; he never even touched me!" Only the robe, when he grabbed her shoulder. "All right, he said some stuff and I thought for a minute there he was coming at me---but nothing like Arthur! And once I saw what he really meant, I sent him off!"
"Sent him off?' For a moment his face went to pure doubt, then his expression cleared. "I guess you must have, at that. I never did understand why he wanted off the ship so fast. But what kind of leverage could you use on a man like that?"
So okay, tell him. Jacqueline smiled. "You."
Ben didn't even try to argue. After 1 second he nodded. "All right; case closed. How about I heat up some pizza?"
It wasn't lunchtime yet. Oh, well. "Fine."
He overzapped it a little drippy. Messy eating takes longer; after a while he started telling how Osric Harcrow was really someone else's cover ID. It all sounded pretty much like "Phoenix February, Spy Guy," on the holos, but so did half the political news, especially speeded-up 25 to 1. So she guessed the story was likely true. Or near to it.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbaohrLlBq
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Since a variation of the 4th decimal place of Arrowprize's velocity could shift its time ratio several percent, prediction of Yasmin Armiger's next emergence could barely be exact. Using a grade of math Ben could not do in his head, the main computer periodically integrated the effect of such fluctuations and adjusted drive-thrust to compensate over the long haul, but these after-the-fact corrections didn't necessarily hold for a given interval.
So once again the local C-Gate vigil was set to start well before the action was really expected. Alan Burns hadn't anticipated the situation. "I thought we'd only need to hold Alert for a few hours." Well, it couldn't be helped. "So we'll do it with 2 rather than 3. Each of us at the ready for eight hours on and 4 off. That should...."
Sisko cleared his throat. "Those suits aren't exactly tailored, are they? Why can't one of the regular watch use whoever's off guard duty? When the changes coincide, t hat is. Come to that, I'm pretty fair with handguns myself. And since the darts are harmless, there shouldn't be any hesitation, qualms, whatever, like you might expect from amateurs."
The final part cleared Burns's frown. "All right. Make those assignments in advance; somebody the suit fits and can shoot." Murky syntax, but Ben got the drift.
So, 12 hours into the alert he put on the padded suit and goggles in place fast when needed. Alfred Nightgazer and young Talia Winters, left unprotected, had their orders: when the Ass flared, get behind their consoles and hit the deck. Which, in 0G, meant grabbing the proper handholds, swinging forward and around and down, and then holding on.
After 2 practice tries they had the drill down well enough. Even Burns, from his chair with its legs hastily spot-welded to the deck alongside the corridor door, in the "target" position, approved.
Then, same as the month before, it was sit and wait.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iZLwAgSdV
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Playing anisotropic rotation pool with Cayla Paulsen, Jacqueline fidgeted. She hated being left out of things. Cayla had come off alert-status watch, relieved by Talia Winters of all people, and here Jacqueline was stuck well away from all of the excitement. Why, she couldn't even call Ben on the intercom; orders were, none but official calls into the bridge and those had better be important! She put too little stick into her shot; a vector product of forces nudged her slow-moving cueball amiss.
Assessing the lie of the table, Cayla shook her head. "Let's cap it for now; this is no game to play jittered. I'm a little strung anyway, waiting through the whole watch for Armiger to pop out and zap or get zapped." She racked her cue; Jacqueline---glad to quit but not wanting to say so--followed suit. "Why not watch some holo for a while? Or better yet, maybe just talk?"
Jacqueline didn't really want to. The run-in with Harcrow had been hard enough to keep under her hat; now, with what she'd learned from Ben, there was just too much she had to ride herd on, not to say the wrong thing. But: "Okay."
While Cayla got some coffee Jacqueline mixed juice with a fizzy soft drink, half and half, then added apricot sorbet to make a float. They sat at a small corner table, and after a brief silence Cayla said, "I think I need to talk about Osric."
I don't. But, "What's there to say?" That was safe.
"Did I tell you, he came in at the final minute? He hadn't trained with us or anything. But my pairmate, Peter Baker, got terribly sick. Just two days before we C-Gated. They took him away to a hospital, and---here's the funny part----Osric was flown in the same morning. With all his shots up to date, his gear already issued, as if they'd known ahead of time that we'd need somebody. And he wasn't even on our list of alternates. So we had to do the group marriage thing again, and everybody took for granted I'd move in with Osric, so I did, because who else was there?" She shook her head. "But it was never quite right."
And no wonder! But the way Cayla sounded, she thought she was to blame. Jacqueline sighed. "Look---I don't know how much I should say. But something we just found out: the guy wasn't a real crewman; Harcrow isn't even his name. He's a bad apple in some bigshot's family, and they faked him onto your ship to keep him out of jail." She reached for Cayla's hand. "None of this was your fault; you just got caught in the middle, that's all." Maybe not as bad as Peter Baker, though; what had those people used to put him out of action? And for how long?
At any rate, "Just be glad you're done with it for now.'
Slowly, Cayla nodded. "Yes, I am. And thanks for telling me" She frowned. "How did you find out?'
"Oh, I get around. Uh---like I said, I'm not sure I was supposed to say anything. So keep it between us, okay?" Then: "Oops! I'm due in the galley. Nick said if I was late a second time..."429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCbNDRX37W
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"......get her to give up without having to drop her," Erin Seamer was saying, "we wouldn't have to wait so long, to ask questions." It made sense to Sisko, but whatever Alan Burns intended to say was upstaged when the Ass flared, then faded to show Yasmin Armiger crouched before four limp bodies.429Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86YEzefbrQ
Miraculously, to Ben's way of thinking, nobody got trigger-happy as the woman blinked, looked around, and lowered her gun. "Somebody figured it out, huh? Well, I couldn't blank the whole watch with just two darts left, anyway." She didn't seem particularly concerned, saying, "Fastest six years I ever spent. Or is it eight? In and out, I lost track."
"Six," said Ben as Armiger reversed the gun and held it out by the barrel. Paying Burns no heed she walked to Sisko at the command console.
"You'll want this, I guess. Am I under arrest?"
Now Burns put in. "That depends on what you've done, what your actions add up to. I came out here to stop a takeover. But it was Kathryn Janeway we were after, not you."
Armiger gestured. "Well, you've got her."
Burns nodded. "So I see. What we'd like to know is why."
One hand pushed back the frizzy blond hair. "Let's just say I got fed up with the bull bitch keeping every man on the ship on call for her personal harem. Decided I couldn't put up with three more years of her, all the way to destination. And...."
She stopped. "That's enough. I'll have to tell the whole thing for some deposition or other. Damned if I do it twice."
Burns looked like pushing, but Ben spoke first. "That's our captain you've had on ice there. Until he wakes up, I have command. Welcome to the Arrowprize."
He gestured towards the still-drugged quartet starting to drift a bit in 0G. "Do we haul these down to the belt, or wait and let 'em come along under their own power?"
"We take them," Ben said. "Except for your man, I want them under restraint when they wake up."
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