watching her in medical from hidden cameras?
Nagasaki nodded as if her question demonstrated refined brilliance. “The answer should be obvious why I’m telling you. You survived the Special’s attack where everyone else died.”
Nagasaki was making an error coming to her with his scrambler. She would have to report the conversation to Argon.
“Venice’s incapacity has complicated matters,” Nagasaki told her. “It will lengthen the voyage considerably. That makes certain people nervous.”
Who?
Wexx wanted to ask.
And why are you telling me any of this? What is going on here?
“Their nervousness threatens the unity of the crew,” Nagasaki said. “I do not desire bloodshed or mutiny. That should be obvious. I desire to complete my task.”
Wexx took a step back. “Captain Nagasaki, I will have to report your words to Chief Monitor Argon.”
The man couldn’t smile, but the man could frown. Oh, he was good at that, frowning at her intensely. “That would be a mistake,” he finally said.
“No. Your coming here was a mistake. Taking out your scrambler was a mistake. I have taken an oath of service to Premier Lang.”
“We all have,” he said.
“I keep my oaths,” Wexx said.
A few minutes ago, she would have said such a thing was impossible, but Nagasaki’s features stiffened so his face became like a mask. How could she ever have thought the captain was an emotionless man? He seethed with well-hidden passion. Likely, all monomaniacs must.
“Doctor, I am a man of my word. It is outrageous that you should suggest otherwise.”
“Me?” she asked, her voice rising.
“I have come to you in good will. I wish to forestall what some might consider mutiny. The time frame has tightened, however. If you could revive Venice…”
The captain spoke about mutiny. That meant he stood with others who must stand against the NKV. That meant these others must stand against Premier Lang and
they meant to take over
Discovery
if they had to
.
After reading his bio, Nagasaki had seemed like the last man to mutiny against the order of the solar system. He hunted cyborgs. Why would he have anything to do with those who hated Premier Lang? Maybe as critical, how had conspirators managed to get aboard the Teleship? The security for this mission had been tighter than for anything else she knew.
“Doctor?” said Nagasaki. “I asked you a question.”
Had he? What had he—oh yes. He wanted to revive Venice.
“We cannot risk revival at this time,” she said.
“Why not?”
“Have you read my report?”
The small man seemed as rigid as steel, as if she had just insulted him in some manner. “I am the captain,” he said. “I keep watch over everything thatinvolves the safety of my ship. Of course, I have read your report. I would be negligent in my duties if I hadn’t.”
Nagasaki speaks of mutiny. That’s anarchy at its worst. Yes, I must report this to Argon.
“Do you know what caused Venice to react as she did?” Nagasaki asked.
“You don’t need a scrambler to ask me that.”
“Don’t I?”
Wexx had no idea what this insinuation meant.
“In your professional opinion then,” he said, “the shifter can no longer perform her service?”
Why is he so tense? What’s going on?
“You must answer my question,” Nagasaki said.
“Venice can’t shift again until we understand what caused her to kill the shift crew.”
“Will the other shifters hold up under the extra strain?” Nagasaki asked.
Wexx thought that a shrewd question. Jasper and especially Roxie were tiring under the stress of constant shifting. Venice had taken the majority of the load these past five months.
“Is there a real danger of another of the shifters breaking down?” he asked.
“Before Venice, I would have said no.”
“And now?” he asked.
“I believe it’s a mistake to push our shifters too hard. We must slow the shift schedule.”
“Do you think this was deliberate?” Nagasaki asked.
“I’m not
Nagasaki nodded as if her question demonstrated refined brilliance. “The answer should be obvious why I’m telling you. You survived the Special’s attack where everyone else died.”
Nagasaki was making an error coming to her with his scrambler. She would have to report the conversation to Argon.
“Venice’s incapacity has complicated matters,” Nagasaki told her. “It will lengthen the voyage considerably. That makes certain people nervous.”
Who?
Wexx wanted to ask.
And why are you telling me any of this? What is going on here?
“Their nervousness threatens the unity of the crew,” Nagasaki said. “I do not desire bloodshed or mutiny. That should be obvious. I desire to complete my task.”
Wexx took a step back. “Captain Nagasaki, I will have to report your words to Chief Monitor Argon.”
The man couldn’t smile, but the man could frown. Oh, he was good at that, frowning at her intensely. “That would be a mistake,” he finally said.
“No. Your coming here was a mistake. Taking out your scrambler was a mistake. I have taken an oath of service to Premier Lang.”
“We all have,” he said.
“I keep my oaths,” Wexx said.
A few minutes ago, she would have said such a thing was impossible, but Nagasaki’s features stiffened so his face became like a mask. How could she ever have thought the captain was an emotionless man? He seethed with well-hidden passion. Likely, all monomaniacs must.
“Doctor, I am a man of my word. It is outrageous that you should suggest otherwise.”
“Me?” she asked, her voice rising.
“I have come to you in good will. I wish to forestall what some might consider mutiny. The time frame has tightened, however. If you could revive Venice…”
The captain spoke about mutiny. That meant he stood with others who must stand against the NKV. That meant these others must stand against Premier Lang and
they meant to take over
Discovery
if they had to
.
After reading his bio, Nagasaki had seemed like the last man to mutiny against the order of the solar system. He hunted cyborgs. Why would he have anything to do with those who hated Premier Lang? Maybe as critical, how had conspirators managed to get aboard the Teleship? The security for this mission had been tighter than for anything else she knew.
“Doctor?” said Nagasaki. “I asked you a question.”
Had he? What had he—oh yes. He wanted to revive Venice.
“We cannot risk revival at this time,” she said.
“Why not?”
“Have you read my report?”
The small man seemed as rigid as steel, as if she had just insulted him in some manner. “I am the captain,” he said. “I keep watch over everything thatinvolves the safety of my ship. Of course, I have read your report. I would be negligent in my duties if I hadn’t.”
Nagasaki speaks of mutiny. That’s anarchy at its worst. Yes, I must report this to Argon.
“Do you know what caused Venice to react as she did?” Nagasaki asked.
“You don’t need a scrambler to ask me that.”
“Don’t I?”
Wexx had no idea what this insinuation meant.
“In your professional opinion then,” he said, “the shifter can no longer perform her service?”
Why is he so tense? What’s going on?
“You must answer my question,” Nagasaki said.
“Venice can’t shift again until we understand what caused her to kill the shift crew.”
“Will the other shifters hold up under the extra strain?” Nagasaki asked.
Wexx thought that a shrewd question. Jasper and especially Roxie were tiring under the stress of constant shifting. Venice had taken the majority of the load these past five months.
“Is there a real danger of another of the shifters breaking down?” he asked.
“Before Venice, I would have said no.”
“And now?” he asked.
“I believe it’s a mistake to push our shifters too hard. We must slow the shift schedule.”
“Do you think this was deliberate?” Nagasaki asked.
“I’m not
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