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It had no bars, and the larger chamber was no more oppressive than normal (as jails went). The cell's furnishings were simple, but at least they were sized to Finn's proportions.
"I just can't be positive," he was mumbling from behind the lightly radiant force-field. He had been talking to himself like that ever since Koldar and a patrol of muscular Dorians had escorted him to this forlorn waiting place.
"Is it possible that I was somehow was----somehow am----responsible for the---"
"Rubbish!" Sawyer objected sharply.
"There is surely," Spock added with his usual assurance, "ample reason to believe that the termination of your anti-cancer program and the subsequent mutations on Lavernus and Doria is coincidence."
"There's also ample reason to believe that it was a tragic mistake of some kind on my part," Finn whispered.
"I don't buy that, Huck," Sawyer said firmly. "I'm not going to sit around and let someone else sell it to the Space Federation, either."
"You have something in mind, Captain," Spock responded. It was not a question.
Sawyer turned. "A little pretrial investigation, Mr. Spock. A bit of harmless fact finding---independent fact finding--to aid Dorian justice." He gestured.
One of the several guards in the chamber moved to the wall, touched a series of switches on a small hand control. The secondary force field vanished, and Sawyer and Spock moved clear. The guard touched another combination and the backup field fired up again, leaving Finn totally isolated.
Sawyer flipped open his communicator without a backward glance. "Sawyer to Esmeralda---beam us up, Tony."
"How many, Captain?"
"Two. Just two, Mr. Gordon."
"Captain," the chief engineer's voice began, "I think...."
"Beam us up, Tony," Sawyer repeated.
"Aye, sir."
The twin dissolution that followed was colorful, not destructive. Finn was left alone in his cell. Well, not quite.
The sole guard who remained after Spock and Sawyer had departed strolled over and peered curiously at the prisoner. He knew of the Terran's reputed crime. It was an honor to be assigned to watch him, to be one of the few designated to see his health---so he would be fit and well for the trial.
Finn did not object to serving as the germ on an alien microscope slide. He was too sad to think coherently about anything save his own shocking, unexpected change of fortune.
"Your comrades me scour the surface of Lavernus to the bedrock," the guard informed the despondent figure within the cage. "They will find nothing to save you. We are a civilized race. Our court system is swift and efficient." In the manner of all jailers, he grinned at his own ironic joke.
As is always the case with most prisoners subjected to such humor, Finn did not find it amusing.400Please respect copyright.PENANA7xeB5KGK1o
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Words alternated with pictures alternated with charts. Sometimes all three combined on the lab screen to form an especially brilliant and impressive display. The men studying it now were not interested in superficialities, however. They were hunting desperately for a clue to a friend's salvation, and they were not having much luck.
Sawyer moved form a small computer annex which connected the central computer to stare at the other screen over Spock's shoulder. While Spock was running backward through time, the captain was triple checking the legal fine points of the Space Federation warrant---to no avail. It was as solid as a warp-drive equation.
"Anything yet, Bal?"
"No, Captain." The first officer did not turn from the steady flow of information pouring across the screen before him. "Our historical records for the Cygnean system are few, going back barely two standard decades. Dr. Finn's medical team was one of the first Space Federation groups to visit here."
"Kind of unusual, isn't it---for a medical team to be called into a new system so soon after initial contact is opened?"
"Yes, Captain. But apparently the Dorian need was considerable. Understandably Fleet that if we did not respond to their request for assistance, someone else might be only too happy to oblige. The Psychlos, for example."
"Granted," Sawyer admitted. As always, Spock's assessment of the situation was infallible.
"Most of the information available on early Space Federation contact with the Dorians comes from the technical survey teams----planetary and solar data, geophysical statistics---the usual enormous mass of pure information which takes many years to properly integrate and codify for easy computer retrieval."
Abruptly the rapid stream of lines and words frozen on screen. Spock pressed another switch and several significant paragraphs blossomed into easily readable lines.
LAVERNUS, LOCAL COLONIZATION, HISTORY OF.
"Took it long enough," Sawyer muttered.
The two officers ran through a mass of detail until they came to: Mutation, Lavernus, colony of Doria. Origin unknown, characterized by "Gemini effect" where every face is transformed into a generic match of each others'. Psychological effects: alienation, rage, guilt, paranoia, disorientation, and, eventually, surrender to suicidal urges. Theoretically can affect several species of humanoid including Terrans, Skrels, and others. Those dead from mutation included corpsman Irving McIntosh, dermatologist Peter Andrew Saurus.
Spock glanced back at Sawyer. "It appears that two of Dr. Finn's own team also committed suicide because of the mutation. Our Dorian hosts neglected to tell us that. Certain species," he read, turning back to the screen, "believed to be naturally immune, notably Throians and Vulcans. Fascinating."
"Go on, Bal," Sawyer prompted, ignoring the parade of legalese across his own, now unwatched screen....400Please respect copyright.PENANAlEgfNNTcbX
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Done with taunting the unresponsive prisoner, the guard reported to Koldar what he'd overheard when the murderer had spoken with his two superiors.
"You are sure about this?"
"Yes, my chief," the guard insisted stiffly. "The Space Federation Captain is planning to visit Lavernus to gather material negative to our case against the Terran filth, Finn."
"Thank you, guard. Speak of this to no one else, please. You are dismissed."
"As you desire, Chief." The guard saluted and left.
Koldar sat thinking for several minutes. There was no telling what distortion of truth the clever Space Federation officers might glean from the poor, blighted ruin of Lavernus. But the people of Doria had waited stoically for their revenge these past years. He, Koldar, would not see them deprived of it. Whatever tricks, whatever perversion of logic Captain Sawyer could concoct from the ruined colony must not go unobserved. And this was not something he could trust to underlings.
He activated a switch within the bonelike mass of the desk, a switch that didn't appear to exist.
"Ready my personal launch immediately...."400Please respect copyright.PENANA8kDmkS3MFe
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Sawyer was aware he was proceeding without proper authority. But he wasn't about to contact Fleet for permission---after all, that proper authority had issued the damning warrant to start with. They could call him on the deck afterward---after he'd proven Huck's innocence.
"ETA, Mr. Ko-Ko?"
Ko-Ko checked a readout, reported, "Four hours ship time, sir."
"Move it up a little if the computer can handle the acceleration compensation. The Dorians will probably stick to their normal courtroom procedure. But, this is a special case to them, and they may be interested in rushing it to completion. Also, we've no idea who long it may take us to turn up proof of Huck's innocence.
"Koldar, their police chief, emphasized the civilized nature of his people. But if it becomes public information that the government is now holding the being they believe responsible for their mutation, I wouldn't be surprised to see a spirit of vigilantism take over."
"Do not confuse human and alien motivation, Captain," advised Spock.
"I wish that were a uniquely human tendency, Mr. Spock. But it seems from stellar history that we've no monopoly on mob justice."
"Unfortunate but true, Captain."
Spock's observation had ramifications that Sawyer would have liked to pursue but the captain's thoughts were interrupted by a call from the helm.
"Ship in pursuit, Captain!"
"Origin?"
Ko-Ko hurriedly checked sensors. "Undoubtedly from Doria, sir. I'm running the recorder back---here it is, no bigger than a two-man scout."
"Full magnification of the aft screen."
"On full, sir."
Sawyer squinted at the screen, which showed only distant stars. "I don't see anything, Mr. Ko-Ko."
"No, sir. Sensors had it for just a moment. The ship apparently was following just beyond maximum scanner range. When we suddenly increased our speed, its pilot jumped to stay with us and for a second or two, overcompensated. He's dropped back out of detector range again."
"But not transmission range," Neytiri observed. "Shall I attempt contact, Captain?"
"No, Lieutenant, not just yet."
"May I inquire as to the reason?" This from a curious Spock.
"We seem to have two choices, Mr. Spock. We can let this busybody--who is obviously out to make things tough for us, else he wouldn't be skulking about our stern---continue to think he's winning his little game. Or we can try to make things easier for him."
"Easier, Captain? I fail to understand."
"He could certainly cause us more trouble at a crucial moment by sneaking aboard. That would be easy for him to do, since we've carelessly left open the doors to the Shuttlecraft Bay."
"Captain, the doors aren't open!" Neytiri pointed out.
"Oh, yes---take care of that little undersight, will you, Mr. Ko-Ko? Mr. Spock, issue a general order---all internal lights near exterior ports, all observation lounge illumination, to be turned off.
"As far as I know, no Dorian has ever been aboard a Space Federation ship while it was in flight. They know as little about us as we do about them. I'd like to give the impression that most of the crew is off-duty, asleep."
"Anyone approaching would assume we still have automatic detectors operational, Captain."
"Any representative of a seasoned spacefaring race would, Mr. Spock. But the Dorians are new at this. Besides, we've already given in to their demands to hand over Huck. Why would we have defensive screens up within their system, when we've already shown we abide by the law?
"Whoever's back there is convinced he's eluded us thus far. Let's give him the opportunity to elude us a little farther..."400Please respect copyright.PENANAM39vDt6Dts
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The lights went out aboard the great starship. On board his small launch, Koldar saw them fade.
He had only suppositions about Space Federation habits with which to judge the situation, but there had been no sign from the cruiser that his presence had been detected yet. If so, it couldn't understand not receiving at least a querulous hail. So the decision he reached was exactly the one Sawyer was hoping he would.
He edged his little craft ahead---slowly at first, then, as silence continued, with increasing confidence. If the big ship's hangar doors were not automatic, he would be forced to use a suit.
The launch slid silently into the cavernous hold and settled to a stop. Atmospheric considerations vanished when the hangar doors closed behind him and gauges monitored the rise of air pressure outside. The hold was empty of personnel, but not of concealment. Koldar slipped his craft between two others, hiding it from all but direct view. In size and shape it didn't differ enough from a Space Federation scout to immediately catch the attention of some idly strolling crewmember. Of course, these were all rationalizations. But the chance to actually inspect the inner workings of a Space Federation battle cruiser was too tempting to Koldar's martial mentality for him to pass by.
Let him have two time-parts---one even-----
He found the door leading to the first access corridor and peered cautiously through the transparent port set in its upper third. The passageway beyond was deserted. Opening the door and stooping slightly to avoid the overhead arch, he made his way into the empty main corridor.
If he could just find somewhere to secrete himself for a while till he got his bearings...
The next doorway had no port. He would have to take a chance. The opening mechanism was clearly marked and easily operated. He activated it and the door slid aside.
Reflexively, he reached for the weapon at his belt.
"Not now, Koldar, you're hardly in a position to take on my whole crew," Sawyer murmured evenly.
The hand dipping toward the gun relaxed, continued smoothly onwards to scratch at an imaginary itch on his leg.
"And you," he countered with a touch of impatience, "are not in authority to conduct an investigation in this system."
Sawyer's tone was conciliatory as he turned to his first officer. "You will remind me to report my unbecoming conduct to the Space Federation, won't you, Spock?"
"Of course, Captain."
"I demand that you report to your superiors now, and that I be permitted to sit in on..."
"Actually, Koldar," Sawyer interrupted, "you're hardly in a position to demand much of anything. But I'll surprise you, I think, by saying that I'll happily oblige. Unfortunately, we're out of communications range with Fleet Central at the moment."
"Report to the nearest Base, then...."
"Sorry, you asked me to report to my superiors. By your own admission, exceeding our authority to conduct this kind of investigation is a matter for consideration at the highest levels. And I wouldn't think of insulting you by laying the matter before some minor functionary."
"Then I myself will proceed to your Base and report this violation in your stead." Koldar turned and started back down the corridor, feeling strangely flat eyes on the back of his cowled head.
"I'm afraid your ship has been impounded, Chief, for your own protection."
Koldar whirled, furious. "My own pro---"
"You'd never reach Base with it."
"So you say," Koldar muttered angrily. "Just as you say you are out of communications range with your Central Headquarters."
"Yes, and there's something else I say," Sawyer went on, now even more firmly.
"You are a stowaway, Commander," Spock informed the arrogant police chief. "You are in violation, I believe, of one of your own laws."
Koldar started to say something, but his words became tangled as a sudden realization of his dilemma set in. "You planned it---you planned this so that it would look legal, so that my abduction would not seem to break any laws."
"We only offered you the chance to realize your own desires, Koldar," Sawyer replied firmly. "I seem to recall a similar course of action taken against a Space Federation citizen by your own government. You wouldn't happen to remember the name of that unlucky person, would you? His name was Finn, Huckleberry Finn. Maybe now you can sympathize with his situation a little more, Chief. In fact, I'd think you'd begin to acquire a personal interest in it."
"I have a personal interest in seeing justice done," Koldar snapped, drawing himself up.
"Excellent." Sawyer turned to leave. "Mr. Spock, see to the Chief's comfort. It's good to hear he's after the same thing we are....."400Please respect copyright.PENANAfVTHuuKx43
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Lavernus loomed on the screen before them, a brown and red crescent splotched only fitfully with greens and blues. A harsh-looking world on which to try to mold a new civilization.
The Dorians had been brave enough to try. They had been rewarded with death, horror, and desolation.
Ironically, the vacuum surrounding that stark planet blazed with beauty. Lavernus swam in the midst of one of the massive deepspace auroras for which the Cygnean system had first been noted. Brilliant reds, purples, and blues glowed under powerful bombardment from Cygnea, forming a fiery curtain in space. Several shifting, metallic streamers draped themselves across the planet, masking portions of it with ionized glory.
"Lovely phenomenon."
"Yes, Captain," Spock agreed. "According to records it is one of several such scattered through the system. It was the highlight of the first Space Federation survey here." He nodded toward the screen.
"This band of particulate matter is the farthest out from the sun itself."
"I see. Surface radiation level, Mr. Ko-Ko?"
"Still working on it, Captain."
A moment, then, "I see the figures," Spock reported. "The level is strong, but nowhere lethal. There are some as yet unclassifiable aspects to the readings obtained where one of the auroral streamers intersects the atmosphere of Lavernus, which..."
Sawyer cut him short. "We'll have time for research after we secure Dr. Finn's release."
"Yes, Captain."
Nearby, Koldar made a derisive sound.
"All I'm concerned about is that it's safe for us to beam down," Sawyer continued. "Since it seems to be---shall we, gentlemen?" He rose from the command chair and started for the elevator door, followed by Spock and Koldar.
Gordon was waiting for them in the transporter room. He voice his own worries immediately.
"Are you sure it's safe, Captain?"
"As safe as our sensors are sure, Tony. Absolutely."
"Not absolutely, Captain. Our sensing equipment is never absolutely sure," Spock corrected.
Sawyer grinned, looked over at Koldar who was studying the transporter alcove with what seemed like momentary hesitation.
Gordon looked unhappy, but set about the familiar operation. He adjusted the necessary switches, pulled the requisite levers. There was the familiar whine of complaining atoms, and the three figures were gone...
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Three pillars of shattered crystal solidified on the sandy surface and shaped themselves into upright containers of intelligence.
Sawyer stumbled slightly on rematerialization - the surface underfoot was loose and windblown. Part of the region they had set down in was still verdant. Trees and hedgerows of Dorian flora had been planted here.
But the irrigation systems had broken down due to 19 years of neglect. The desert had encroached ever more boldly on what had once been the fertile periphery of the two colony towns.
Around them lay battered, partially decomposed remnants of homes and warehouses and offices - the history of angry winds and sand pitted against walls. Dunes were piled up to the sills of windows devoid of glass, which stared with vacant sockets at the advancing drifts.
Here and there were signs of old fires. Sawyer hoped they had been caused by natural means and not by the last vestiges of isolated, panicked sentience. Reversion from civilization to barbarism in a single generation was ugly, very ugly, no matter which planet was involved.
The physical detritus was sobering. He could imagine what that final, plague-rotted collapse must have been like. Still, it was one thing to imagine and quite another to stand in the midst of such imaginings. His quota of sympathy for the Dorians went up another notch, though the sight of this graveyard of hopes did nothing to shake his confidence in Finn's innocence.
"Not the most enchanting scene I've ever beheld," he finally murmured.
"Mutantcy seldom leaves behind fields of flowers and dancing children, Captain."
Sawyer glared angrily at the security chief, who simply stared over the Captain's head with the serene gaze of the self-righteous. Spock raised an eyebrow.
"There must have been local healing facilities---one central life station, at least. I would assume they are less severely damaged than these structures here, as logic dictates they would be the last buildings to be abandoned. It would be a good place to start our search."
Again, Koldar made that strange Dorian shrug. "As you wish. This is so hopeless. Why not depart our system in peace, now, and leave destiny to take its inevitable course?"
"I'm afraid," Sawyer said tightly, "that 'inevitable is a world I've never learned the meaning of. If you would please direct us, hm?"
Koldar turned and pointed toward a slightly higher cluster of ruins lying near the approximate center of the first town.
"That must be what remains of the communications station. According to Dorian town plan, the healing facilities should have been built several blocks further north and a little to the east."
Sawyer nodded curtly, and they slogged off through thick sand in the indicated direction. Soon after they began their progress improved as the clinging sand gave way to pockmarked but still serviceable pavement.
They were in the outskirts of the town proper when they noticed something moving on their right---moving sharply and jerkily, it was neither subtle nor inconspicuous. All three marchers saw it. Surprisingly, it was Koldar who looked fearful while they surveyed the rubble.
"Some danger?" Sawyer wondered. Koldar's eyes studied the rim of the debris with practiced skill.
"If you remember, Captain Sawyer, I said that nearly everyone on Lavernus died by suicide. There were reports of some survivors by later survey teams---which did not touch down, naturally. I think 'survivors' is an overly optimistic classification for any pitiful souls forever stranded here.
"One drone was sent down some eight years ago. It was at that time that these survivors acquired a reputation for not liking aliens."
"That is hardly surprising," Spock commented, "in view of what they must feel. They could not be expected to behave logically. But surely you cannot be considered an outsider, Chief. You are as Dorian as they. I should think the sight of a fellow being would fill them with pleasure."
"The sight of a fellow Dorian might," Koldar replied, with a bitter half-chuckle. "But there are no Dorians left on this world---not any that are properly masked as we. The gulf between us now is that which separates the living and the walking dead."
There was more movement to the far right of the crumbled wall they were watching. Sawyer would never have noticed it had he not been looking idly at that exact spot when the figure decided to abandon the area.
"Walking dead he might be but he's still got some spirit left in him. We can't let him get away!"
Sawyer started on the run after the repeating humanoid figure. Spock moved up quickly alongside. Koldar hesitated after several long seconds. Apparently deciding it would be better to go along than stay alone in the open street, he raced after them. Enormous strides quickly caught him up to the two smaller men.
Had the figure been just a tad stronger it undoubtedly could have lost its pursuers easily in the maze of tumbling walls and hollowed-out structures. The few glances they had of it showed the running being's figure was narrower at the waist than at the trunk and hips. It ran with short, dainty strides. A woman!
"There, Captain," Spock husked. "She went around that mound."
The mound had once served as the foundation for a higher, silo-like building. Now it was all crumbled in on itself, a concrete caldera. Sharp-edged blocks of broken masonry protruded here and there from the circular heap.
They rounded the hillock---and came to an abrupt halt on the other side. The pavement here was open for several meters in every direction, save where the furrowed brow of a cliff-faced hill backed into the town. There were no structures, tumbled or otherwise, that their limping quarry could have reached in time to hide himself before they had rounded the ruin.
"I was afraid of that," Sawyer panted. "She's got some secret cubbyhole she's slipped into. Almost looks like someone pulled her out with a transporter."
"Hardly likely, Captain," Spock observed drily. He moved toward the cliff-face while Koldar and Sawyer stood surveying the nearest ruins.
"I believe your initial supposition was correct, Captain," Spock soon called to them. They walked over to where he stood, staring into a vertical slit in the naked stone.
Spreading out as far as possible to cover each other, the two officers from the Esmeralda approached the opening. Nothing inorganic and unpleasant issued to meet them.
They stared in. It grew darker---and then it didn't.
"Light inside," Sawyer muttered softly. "Can't be a cave, then."
"Possibly one whose roof has collapsed wholly or partially," his first officer theorized. They continued to edge forward, hugging the cold rock wall. A grainy tenor sounded behind them.
"I would advise against this, Captain," Koldar said. "Lavernus is seldom visited. We have no idea what kind of mutations the plague may have spawned amongst the local lifeforms, of which several...."
"Spare us the biology lecture, Koldar. You wouldn't mind if I ignore your advice."
"Extreme caution in this restricted area would seem advisable, Captain."
"I'll watch myself, Bal, but I'm not going to lose that survivor. There may not be any others nearby, and we haven't much time. Also, if this one escapes, he may warn others of our presence. We may never spot another one."
The captain moved forward steadily, trying to make as little noise on the gravel underfoot as possible. "Huck's life is on the line, Balus. I don't mind taking a few risks."
The light dimmed until it was nearly dark, but it never died entirely. Ahead he could detect patches of brightness. A few more steps, and Sawyer emerged into a broad chamber.
Spock had been right. They stood in a cave whose ceiling had collapsed in places. The floor was dotted with mounds of fallen roof. He looked around, but there was no sign of their quarry.
Water waxed the rock dark and shiny where it issued in a steady trickle from cracks in the rock face. The tiny rivulets formed a little pool. Shade from the desert sun, protection from unrestricted carnivores, and water. His senses sharpened----this had to be their female refugee's home. Sawyer hoped they hadn't frightened her out of it.
"Captain---are you all right?" Sawyer snapped back to wakefulness, aware that Spock and Koldar were waiting for his okay to proceed.
"All clear, Spock, come ahead." Sawyer walked to the edge of the pool, nudged a pile of charred wood with his foot. "Cave dwellers," he muttered, "in a civilization as high as Doria's."
"The result of your Dr. Finn and his civilized medicine," the security chief responded. Sawyer whirled.
"Look, Koldar, I'm getting damn sick and tired of your unceasing accusations. Until you can prove..."
A shadow suddenly detached itself from its dark companions and flung itself forward. Blonde, layered hair tight in a ponytail revealed a round, lively face. But madness shined in her piercing blue eyes. She landed just behind Sawyer, knocking him to the ground, and began flailing at him in frantic, howling anguish.
Momentarily stunned, Sawyer couldn't dislodge his assailant, because of the latter's sheer bulk and unthinking rage. Fortunately, the same blind fury that drove the pitiable specimen to attack Sawyer saved the captain from any serious harm, for the Dorian struck aimlessly, with neither skill nor design. Thus Sawyer was able to shield himself from all the wild blows until Spock and Koldar could wrestle the hysterical woman away.
The captain rolled over, his only injury a lack of breath.
"Captain..."
"Okay, Spock----I'm okay. She wanted to hurt me more than she really did.
"And why do you think she attacked you, captain?" asked Koldar, struggling to restrain the gradually subsiding madwoman.
Sawyer got to his feet, spoke slowly. "I was the nearest to her hiding place." Koldar indicated the negative.
"You are also the only Terran among us, Captain Sawyer. Don't attempt to evade the obvious. You were attacked because you were an Earthman---as is Dr. Finn."
Damn you, Koldar, Sawyer cried silently. And damn the masks, the mutantcy, and this whole insane system! But he said nothing, just dusted his uniform and moved to study the captive.
Fear had been replaced on the latter's face by remorse, anger by sorrow and misery; and that initial cry of fury became an utterly heart-rending whimper. Clearly the unmasked woman was no longer a threat.
"Let her go," Sawyer whispered.
"Are you sure, Captain?" Spock asked.
Sawyer stared into the captive's haunting blue eyes. They didn't meet his own. Instead they were focused on some other, greater horror now---one too distant to encompass the three figures around her.
Cautiously, Koldar and Spock turned Sawyer's assailant loose. That tortured soul turned, took two steps, and fell to her knees. She dropped to one side and just lay there, moaning and sobbing uncontrollably.
Now Sawyer knew that had to find absolute, incontrovertible proof that Huck was innocent. Supposition and verbal reasoning were not going to sway the decision of people who had been subjected to reports of this kind of emotional and mental destruction.
Nevertheless, he couldn't keep from voicing the inner certainty that kept him going.
"Koldar, you've got to believe me. Dr. Finn could never be responsible for something like----like that." He gestured to where the insane humanoid gibbered mindlessly on the stone floor.
"Good intentions cannot wipe out the existence of evil results, Captain."
"But why didn't she kill herself? How has she handled her mutantcy?" Sawyer wondered aloud, when an especially tortured howl rose from the no-longer-dangerous survivor.
Koldar explained. "She and a few others were away, on the homeworld and elsewhere, when the mutation happened. They returned before they could be stopped, to find that everyone they'd known---loved ones, companions, everyone---had committed suicide.
"They chose to stay, to live here in the home they had once known." The security chief's voice was close to cracking. "Nineteen years of grief---there are worse mutations than those caused by radiation. You see now, Captain Sawyer, there were no actual survivors on Lavernus."400Please respect copyright.PENANAzcSeJ9feX4