Proving True
Chapter 19

When I wake, there’s an email from Master Kreq.

I have had a holotranceiver installed in the dojo. I am sending its counterpart into the quarantine area for you. You know the class schedule. This is not ideal and it’s very similar to trying to learn judo by reading a manual and watching a video. But with the holography system I will be able to see what the two of you are doing. I presume Lieutenant Landers will be with you as a training partner. We will also be able to communicate in close to real time. I’ll see you in class. –Kreq.

I forward it to Shawna and compose a thank you note to him. The hard part will be carving time out of our schedules for it. Shawna replies almost immediately with a similar concern. I think for a minute and reply to her:

Maybe we can convince Freddie that it’s a viable alternative to PT. We can do our “day jobs” while everyone else is at his grunt stretch and groan sessions. I think I can sell the idea to him.

It turns out Shawna is a faster saleswoman than I, no sooner have I begun my sales pitch to Freddie at breakfast than he waves me off. “Shawna ambushed me with the idea this morning,” he says filling his coffee cup. “Given the way tempers are heating up, I’m concerned about further education in a martial art, but she made some very persuasive points. I’ll tell you like I told her: If either of you do anything to the other to jeopardize this mission, I’ll have your lungs for breakfast and your guts for garters. As long as we’re in agreement with that, you have a deal.” He holds out his hand, I shake it.

“Deal,” I say, sitting at the table across from him. “Any updates?”

Freddie holds up a finger as he closes his eyes and bows his head. Is he praying? When did Freddie get religion? But I’m not one to belittle others for their faith. In fact I need to work on my own. After about a half minute, he looks up and reaches for the salt and pepper for his eggs. “The brain bug has been identified which has been a big step. As of this morning fifteen people have been incapacitated because of it. The ship is also, as you know, on APE until they can figure out an immunization or something. Then finding a way to get the damn thing off the ship. On other ships it would be a matter of putting something on the air handlers, but some of this ship uses photosynthesis, so they’re going to have to find a way to exterminate them. Anyway, the medical types think that if they can kill the beastie in the host early enough, the damage can be undone. Well, not really ‘undone,’ but the brain may be able to rewrite itself back to a functional resemblance of itself. I don’t know the details, I kill people for a living, remember?”

“Stow it. You can hide behind that mindless killer shtick with other people, but I know there’s a brain behind that butt ugly mug of yours.”

“Stop it,” he says picking his coffee up again, “I’m getting all misty.”

I grin and wink at him. We finish our meals in relative silence.

As it turns out, Shawna and I are only able to holoattend one class. We’ve received an accelerated departure time. We, the whole mission team, suit up and get the System Defense Boat loaded. Athena has downloaded and installed the specifications for the SDB as well as the 20-ton pinnace it contains. It’s essentially a lifeboat for the mission and if we have to use it as such, something very bad either has happened or something unpleasant is expected. Star Chaser will park outside the solar system for this planet rather than drop into orbit as initially planned. The Captain was concerned that whatever attacked Gallagher might be waiting for a bigger target. I can’t fault his conclusion. In fact, Freddie and I each kick ourselves for not having considered it before. As we finish the loadout, Shawna and Athena are in the command area for the SDB finishing the preflight checks. Freddie looks around the crew cabin with his hand out and his thumb up. Everyone returns the gesture. Satisfied, he takes his seat and buckles in. “Okay, girls,” he calls to Shawna and Athena, “let’s go!” The Boat separates from all its umbilici and flies from within the protective enclosure of Star Chaser.

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