Shockball by S. L. Viehl Read Free Book Online Page B

and into the bay. He scanned the exterior compartment and performed the routine decon procedures before opening the hull doors. Before I could disembark, he took me in his arms.
    “Tell me you love me.”
    That surprised me. He never asked. “I love you, Duncan.”
    “I will not let you go, beloved.”
    I felt terrible. Guilty as sin. Because I was going to hold him to that promise.
     
    The Truman was evidently the latest and finest development in star vessels that Terra had to offer—only the best for my creator, of course—and its dimensions made it roughly about half the size of the Perpetua .
    “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cleaner ship,” I said as we walked down one sterile, empty corridor. The Lok-Teel Reever had sitting on his shoulder was going to have a rough time finding something to eat. “Or a more boring-looking one.”
    “You are spoiled by the Jorenians’ penchant for vivid decor,” my husband said as he swept the level ahead of us with a proximity scanner. “Gray is perfectly acceptable as an interior color scheme.”
    “They could have used more than one shade of it.” I sniffed the air. All star vessels had a particular odor. The Sunlace smelled vaguely floral. The Perpetua still reeked faintly of pulse weapon discharge.
    But this hulk didn’t smell like anything. Pure oxygen had more of an aroma to it. It was making me really nervous. Could it be that new?
    What’s wrong with this thing?
    Jenner’s yowl from inside the carrier got my attention. “Do you think it’s okay if I turn him loose now?”
    He’d already put down the Lok-Teel, which started climbing up the nearest wall panel, searching in vain for some dirt to eat. “Yes, let him out. He may detect something I cannot.”
    “Hey.” I glared at my husband before I bent down to release the carrier door. “He’s not a bloodhound, okay?”
    On one of the other ships, Jenner normally would have taken off like a shot. Instead, he sniffed once, then arched his back. Fur bristled. He hissed and tried to climb up the side of my leg.
    I’d seen him do it before. “Joe must have been on board sometime before he sent it from Terra. Jenner only acts like this around him.” I picked up my pet and winced as he dug his claws into my shoulder and chest and slammed his head against my chin, over and over. “It’s okay, pal. If nasty old Dr. Grey Veil shows up, Duncan will shoot him in the head.”
    Reever reached for a hatch panel. “And if I don’t?”
    I took out the syrinpress I’d taken to carrying in my pocket since leaving Catopsa. It pays to be overly prudent where Joe’s concerned. “Then I poison him.”
    The panel opened to a cross section, and Reever made a slow sweep with the scanner, from right to left. He stopped about halfway into the left region and held the scanner steady. Before I stepped over the threshold, the sound of footsteps made both of us freeze.
    “Who’s that?” I whispered, pressing myself up against a corridor wall.
    “It does not show as a life-form on the scanner.” Reever activated his weapon. “Don’t move.”
    “I don’t plan to.”
    The heavy thuds got closer. Reever hid just around the edge of the hatch opening, waiting, ready to shoot whatever stepped through. I held my breath. Jenner hid his face against my neck.
    “Life-forms detected.”
    A small, bipedal drone stepped through the hatch and halted between me and Reever. It was about half my size, encased in bright alloy, and had innumerable sensors paving its upper chassis. Vid receptors scanned me, then Jenner, then Reever.
    “Welcome to the Truman ,” it said politely. “Maintenance Unit Nine-Six-One. programmed to assist, How may I serve you?”
    “God.” I slumped against the wall and put Jenner down. Now he took off like a shot—away from Nine-Six-One.
    Reever scanned the little drone, then powered down his weapon. “Nine-Six-One, are you programmed to commit harm to any life-forms?”
    “Negative.”
    “That’s