Impulse by Dave Bara

Historian. Lieutenant Commander Peter Cochrane, I presume?” he said.
    â€œYes, sir,” I replied. The “sir” might not have been appropriate, as he technically had no rank, but he was an imposing figure and the honorific just came out of me. I moved to shake his hand, but something about his demeanor stopped me after taking only a few steps.
    â€œHow much time do you have on the longscope, Cochrane?” he asked. I found myself responding instantly.
    â€œThe requisite two terms at the Academy, three hundred twenty hours of in-service training, and I’ve spent the odd hour on the ’scope since as an Academy Instructor on
Starbound
.”
    He looked put out at my response. “That’s not much, but it will have to do,” he said. He motioned for me to join him at a large wooden reading table. We stood opposite each other with the table between us. He looked at me with an expression that implied not the slightest interest in me as a person, but only in what I could do to assist him in his tasks.
    â€œI will be installing several new displays on the longscope, starting today,” he said. “And I’ve informed Captain Zander of the need for the upgrades.”
    â€œThen he’s approved them?” I asked.
    â€œCaptain Zander has no knowledge of what the upgrades do or why they’re needed. I told him only as a courtesy,” said Tralfane. That was certainly within his rights as
Impulse
’s Historian, but I found myself doubting that my friend Serosian would have behaved in the same way. Every impression of this man reminded me that he was
not
Serosian. “The upgrades will require you to stay clear of the apparatus for several hours during your shift on the bridge. Do you think you can manage that?” he said. I found the question demeaning in its tone but responded professionally.
    â€œIf you say you need the longscope, then certainly it’s yours. I won’t be disturbing you, or it, in any way during my time on the bridge, if that suits you.”
    He shook his head. “You don’t understand. I will not be on the bridge. I will be in my sanctuary. All the work will be done remotely. I need you to not touch the equipment for security reasons. Do you understand?”
    I nodded. “I do.”
    â€œGood,” he said. “The process between us will go much smoother once we have established boundaries. I expect that you will have no problems taking orders from me?”
    I hesitated. I already had enough people giving me orders that could cause conflicts. “As long as they’re about the longscope or your other equipment, no problems,” I said.
    â€œGood,” Tralfane said again, his face not changing expression in the slightest. “When you eventually log on to the longscope you will see displays that you cannot access. Ignore them. They will only be activated if I deem it necessary. Your part in that process will be to follow my instructions and carry them out precisely. Do you have any questions?”
    I found myself frowning at him and his importunate manner. “Only one,” I replied. “How will you let me know when the ’scope is clear to use again?”
    He brought his hands together above the table. “I will inform you. That’s all you need to know,” he said. I just stared at him a moment, expecting more. When nothing was forthcoming, I asked another question.
    â€œAre you expecting trouble when we get to Levant?” I said.
    â€œThat’s two questions, Mr. Cochrane,” he said. “And you already know the answer to the second one.”
    I looked at him but he remained completely impassive, like a stone monument standing across the table from me.
    â€œYou’re still here, Mr. Cochrane,” he said.
    â€œI am,” I replied, then I clasped my hands in front of me, matching his posture, and leaned forward. I wanted answers, at least as many as I could