Rico obeyed.
Numbers and schematics rippled across the command screens as Nexus assumed control, inventoried the ship's offensive and defensive capabilities, and drew the ship steadily in.
Now Nexus could be seen without magnification. The central construct was a globe, and reaching out from it were innumerable black tentacles, each one clutching a ship. The design reminded McCade of the cephalopods of his native Terra.
The comparison seemed even more appropriate when a tube came snaking out to make contact with Void Runner 'smain lock.
Indicator lights flashed on and off as Nexus ran a final check on the ship's systems, locked out all of her weapons systems, and verified a positive seal with Void Runner 'smain lock. Like any sentient being Nexus had a well-developed sense of self-preservation.
Somewhere at the hub of the metallic maze an order went out and the heretofore flexible tube turned hard as steel.
Thanks to the tube's rigidity the ship would be held firmly in place preventing the possibility of collision with the vessels that surrounded it.
Lights flashed and numbers vanished from the screens as Nexus withdrew all but a tendril of its intelligence from the ship and turned that part of its attention elsewhere. There were many things to do.
McCade activated the intercom. "Maggie?"
"Yeah?" The chief engineer's voice had an edge to it as usual.
"Meet us in the lounge please." Roger.
All four of them were gathered in the lounge five minutes later. It was large enough for twice their number and, thanks to the money McCade had invested in it, quite comfortable.
McCade dropped into a chair and felt it shift slightly to accommodate the shape of his body. Rico and Phil did likewise, while Maggie killed power and lowered herself to the deck.
"Well, here we are," Phil said cheerfully. "Now what?"
McCade checked his cigar, found it was getting a bit short, and stubbed it out.
"Now we take a look around. Find out where the slave market is . . . and look for the children."
Maggie gave a snort of derision.
McCade smiled patiently. "Yes, Maggie? You've got something to add?"
"Only that your plan is stupid," Maggie replied evenly.
"Don't be shy . . . say what ya mean," Rico commented dryly.
"Thanks, I will," Maggie answered, eyes flashing. "If the kids are here, you want to rescue them, right?"
"Obviously," McCade said, somewhat annoyed. "What's your point?"
Maggie met their eyes one at a time. "My point is that we should prepare for success. Think about it. Lets say you find 'em, there's what, twenty or so girls unaccounted for? And the same number of boys? What're you going to do? Take 'em out at gunpoint? If so, you'd better come up with a battalion of marines, cause I've been here before, and if the owners don't stop you, Nexus will.
"Or," Maggie continued, "maybe you plan to buy the children. Tell me, Sam . . . have you got a couple hundred thousand credits stashed under your pillow? Lif paid the freight on Lakor . . . but what happens here?"
There was a long silence while McCade got up and walked over to the autobar. He ordered a Terran whiskey and, when it came, took a thoughtful sip. When McCade turned around there was a grin on his face.
"Thanks, Maggie. I guess I'm so used to rolling over and through problems, I don't always think 'em through. From the sound of things we couldn't take the children by force, and no, I don't have two hundred big ones stashed under my pillow. So, if the children are here, we've got a problem, and if they aren't, we don't. How about you and Rico taking a look around? That way we'll know if we need the two hundred thousand or not."
Maggie found herself nodding in agreement. McCade made the whole thing sound so reasonable there wasn't much choice.
The Void Runner 'slock hissed closed behind him. The tube was about seven feet in diameter, slightly ridged along its inner surface, and off-white in color. A yellowish light seemed to ooze around them.
Maggie
Numbers and schematics rippled across the command screens as Nexus assumed control, inventoried the ship's offensive and defensive capabilities, and drew the ship steadily in.
Now Nexus could be seen without magnification. The central construct was a globe, and reaching out from it were innumerable black tentacles, each one clutching a ship. The design reminded McCade of the cephalopods of his native Terra.
The comparison seemed even more appropriate when a tube came snaking out to make contact with Void Runner 'smain lock.
Indicator lights flashed on and off as Nexus ran a final check on the ship's systems, locked out all of her weapons systems, and verified a positive seal with Void Runner 'smain lock. Like any sentient being Nexus had a well-developed sense of self-preservation.
Somewhere at the hub of the metallic maze an order went out and the heretofore flexible tube turned hard as steel.
Thanks to the tube's rigidity the ship would be held firmly in place preventing the possibility of collision with the vessels that surrounded it.
Lights flashed and numbers vanished from the screens as Nexus withdrew all but a tendril of its intelligence from the ship and turned that part of its attention elsewhere. There were many things to do.
McCade activated the intercom. "Maggie?"
"Yeah?" The chief engineer's voice had an edge to it as usual.
"Meet us in the lounge please." Roger.
All four of them were gathered in the lounge five minutes later. It was large enough for twice their number and, thanks to the money McCade had invested in it, quite comfortable.
McCade dropped into a chair and felt it shift slightly to accommodate the shape of his body. Rico and Phil did likewise, while Maggie killed power and lowered herself to the deck.
"Well, here we are," Phil said cheerfully. "Now what?"
McCade checked his cigar, found it was getting a bit short, and stubbed it out.
"Now we take a look around. Find out where the slave market is . . . and look for the children."
Maggie gave a snort of derision.
McCade smiled patiently. "Yes, Maggie? You've got something to add?"
"Only that your plan is stupid," Maggie replied evenly.
"Don't be shy . . . say what ya mean," Rico commented dryly.
"Thanks, I will," Maggie answered, eyes flashing. "If the kids are here, you want to rescue them, right?"
"Obviously," McCade said, somewhat annoyed. "What's your point?"
Maggie met their eyes one at a time. "My point is that we should prepare for success. Think about it. Lets say you find 'em, there's what, twenty or so girls unaccounted for? And the same number of boys? What're you going to do? Take 'em out at gunpoint? If so, you'd better come up with a battalion of marines, cause I've been here before, and if the owners don't stop you, Nexus will.
"Or," Maggie continued, "maybe you plan to buy the children. Tell me, Sam . . . have you got a couple hundred thousand credits stashed under your pillow? Lif paid the freight on Lakor . . . but what happens here?"
There was a long silence while McCade got up and walked over to the autobar. He ordered a Terran whiskey and, when it came, took a thoughtful sip. When McCade turned around there was a grin on his face.
"Thanks, Maggie. I guess I'm so used to rolling over and through problems, I don't always think 'em through. From the sound of things we couldn't take the children by force, and no, I don't have two hundred big ones stashed under my pillow. So, if the children are here, we've got a problem, and if they aren't, we don't. How about you and Rico taking a look around? That way we'll know if we need the two hundred thousand or not."
Maggie found herself nodding in agreement. McCade made the whole thing sound so reasonable there wasn't much choice.
The Void Runner 'slock hissed closed behind him. The tube was about seven feet in diameter, slightly ridged along its inner surface, and off-white in color. A yellowish light seemed to ooze around them.
Maggie
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