The False Admiral by Sean Danker Read Free Book Online Page B

confirmation of her suspicions. Maybe she’d been hoping to be wrong.
    As for the shuttle, that had been the oldest trick in the book. Rig the power cells to overload. No real explosives, so it looks like an accident.
    Much harder to do with newer shuttles.
    â€œYou’re bleeding,” Salmagard said.
    â€œMedical’s as good a place to go as any,” I sighed. “Because we aren’t going anywhere else.”

3
    TREMMA’S infirmary was outfitted to imperial specifications, with which Lieutenant Deilani was extremely familiar. Before she could learn to be a leader, she’d been forced to learn to be both scientist and doctor. Bio was a prestigious and demanding field, and the imperial academies were notoriously ruthless. It was the broad nature of her expertise and her lengthy training that allowed her to graduate as a second lieutenant, one rung up the ladder from most of the other freshly commissioned officers.
    For all the good it was doing her.
    The medical bay itself was a mixture of Ganraen and Evagardian stylings. New white fixtures stood out jarringly against the gray of the original Ganraen engineering. The room was cold, but at least the examination table was padded. I didn’t care for the harsh lights, but my eyes were drawn to the lockers filled with chems and medicine.
    Deilani didn’t hide her lack of enthusiasm for treating me. She dabbed at me with soothing antiseptic before spraying on an icy bandage that applied a mild anesthetic. It wasn’t a large cut, but it was over my eye, so we couldn’t just let it bleed. I could feel my suit beginning to mend itself, repairing the tears where I’d been struck in the back by shrapnel.
    â€œGive me your supply,” she said, putting out her hand, and wearing the expression of someone only acting under the direst duress.
    I decided to show a little trust in the hopes that maybe she’d send a little back my way. I handed over my hypos. She plugged one into a hand scanner, and her eyes narrowed. “This is high quality,” she said, giving me another look. “Very pure.” She frowned. “You’d almost have to be an admiral to afford this,” she mused, giving me another funny look.
    â€œIt was a gift,” I said. “You know how it is. Someone gives you something, it’s ungrateful not to use it. I’m not into that stuff.” I glanced at Salmagard. “Honest. I’m all about clean living. True story.”
    Deilani’s curiosity had vanished, replaced by familiar contempt.
    â€œI didn’t know what it was,” I went on. “I thought it was for my allergies. That’s how they get you.”
    I’d given myself only half a dose earlier. It wouldn’t hold me long. My eyes would start to look bloodshot. I’d probably be developing a little nervous tic soon. It would get worse fast, though.
    It’s true what they say: drugs and sleepers don’t mix. My body chemistry was a disaster. We were in serious trouble and I needed to be at my best. I needed Deilani’s help. It looked as though it was a good thing we had a doctor along after all.
    She made a noise of frustration and closed her eyes. “We’re going to have to shut this down here and now. A few more hits ofthis and you’ll probably go into shock this soon after coming out of a sleeper.”
    â€œSounds good.”
    She blinked at me. “That’s it?”
    â€œYou think I use it for my health? No. Lieutenant, chem me off, by all means. The sooner, the better.”
    She looked me up and down.
    â€œYeah,” she said. “All right.”
    She wanted me to have a miserable detox; what she didn’t grasp was that I didn’t care. My need for drugs had ended when the party did. I could handle any amount of suffering if it meant being free of my dependency. “Just don’t kill me until you don’t need me anymore.”
    â€œThen I’ll