A Little Arm-Tearing Should Do the Trick

The three of us stood on the deck of the Praveen, looking as uncomfortable as a stone pillow. We had to do it, but if Captain Cleeber gets mad about our accusations, there won’t be a happily ever after for us.

“Treason? Not possible!” Captain Cleeber said.

“This planet isn’t technologically advanced enough to manufacture a magnetic disruptor,” Alora said.

“I refuse to believe it. None of my men would share our technology with a primitive race. It’s against the law.”

Alora and I looked at each other, shocked by his Pollyanna view of his crew.

“Some people don’t care about the law. Are you intentionally being naive? Or are you unable to help it?” Alora said.

One day, I’m going to have to teach Alora how to be more tactful.

“There might be another ship nearby. Perhaps the Quar? They’re an uncivilized horde of brutes. They might have given Targon the disruptor?”

“They’re nowhere near this part of the galaxy.” Alora rolled her eyes. “Besides, I’ve calculated an eighty-four percent chance that one of your men gave the disruptor to Targon. We should begin investigating immediately.”

Captain Cleeber wanted to argue, but realized he hadn’t a leg to stand on, well, according to Alora, only sixteen percent of a leg to stand on, so he capitulated.

“Fine. If we must, then we need to start by informing Tanbit. He’s the Chief Enforcer.”

“Be careful. We can’t trust anyone,” I said.

“Tanbit!? I think not. I’ve known him for two decades. You won’t find a finer man.”

“I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but we shouldn’t trust anyone until we prove we can.”

Cleeber sighed, “I understand, Drew. I’m just struggling, that’s all.”

We made our way to the brig and found Tanbit discussing something quietly with another crewmate. They immediately ceased when they saw us.

“Captain, how can I help you?” Tanbit asked.

Cleeber turned his attention to the other crew member. “Doctor, I’m surprised to see you here.”

“Yes, I was just discussing a matter with the good Enforcer, and was about to get back to sick bay.” He nodded to us. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be on my way.”

“Wait,” Cleeber said. “What were you two talking about?”

I could see Cleeber’s suspicions rise, and to be honest, they looked as guilty as a cat near an empty bird cage.

“Oh, nothing, Captain,” Tanbit said, laughing nervously.

“Yes, Captain, it’s a benign matter. Too small to bother with,” the doctor said, adding his own nervous laugh.

Cleeber bore into them, staring menacingly. “Tell me, or you’ll both regret it.”

Their nervous laughter turned into fear. I could tell this side of Cleeber didn’t come out often. Beads of sweat formed, and they fidgeted uncomfortably.

“It’s really embarrassing,” Tanbit said.

Cleeber didn’t move a muscle.

“Alright, Worlan and I were trying to figure out a way to enter the reality chamber and mess with the locals.”

Cleeber raised his eyebrow.

“Nothing mean or harmful,” Doctor Worlan said. “Just a little joke, that’s all.”

“A joke?” Cleeber said.

They squirmed even more.

“We thought we’d program ourselves to be the Ladder God and command them to do silly stuff, like stand on their heads, chase chickens, and skip rope. You know. Harmless funny stuff.” Tanbit looked like he could faint.

Cleeber relaxed. “I can’t say I condone your plan, but right now I have a much bigger problem.” He paced for a while, his eyebrow raised, deep in thought.

Tanbit and Worlan moved from fear to concern.

Alora interrupted Cleeber. “Let me ask a few questions.”

Cleeber nodded.

“Which one of you imbeciles gave a magnetic disruptor to a local?! Spit it out, and I might not tear your arms off. You got three seconds!”

The Doctor and Enforcer stood dumbfounded, too stunned to say a word. They weren’t the only ones dumbfounded. Cleeber and I also stood shocked.

She stared at them like she was trying to figure out which one should lose their arms first. Suddenly, she backed down and smiled.

“Sorry to scare you, boys. I just needed to see your knee-jerk reactions. They’re not the ones. I’m programmed to spot a guilty person, but I have to get nasty to get past their facade.”

The entire group breathed a collective sigh of relief. Alora is one scary chick, I mean android.

“Is this true?” Tanbit asked. “One of our crew members shared technology with a primitive?”

“It looks like it, but I need your help to prove it, assuming you're not too busy playing god,” Cleeber smiled.

Tanbit walked to his desk and pulled up a three-dimensional screen. He flipped through files until he found what he was looking for.

“The ship keeps track of each person who leaves and returns. According to this, only fifteen have left since we arrived, and all of them have returned.”

“Then it has to be one of them,” I said.

“If it is one of us,” Cleeber said.

“We could sic Alora on them,” I said. “She’s effective.”

“Captain?” Tanbit said. “May I suggest a different approach? One that doesn’t involve arms being torn off.”

Alora actually smiled.

Cleeber nodded.

“I know five of these guys play Flak Florm on Monday nights. They’ve invited me several times. What if I join them and try to ascertain if one of them is guilty?”

“I don’t see how that would work. It’s not like they’ll blurt it out in front of everyone,” Cleeber said.

“I agree, Captain, but I plan on using the backdoor. To see if any of them are disgruntled enough to break the law.”

“Okay. I suppose it can’t hurt. But don’t let on that we’re investigating them.”

We left Tanbit and Worlan for Cleeber’s quarters. Monday was three days away, but it felt like an eternity. Knowing a traitor walked among us made me feel anxious, but all we could do was wait. I wonder why a Talmarian gave Targon the disruptor? The person had to know that it could only kill an android. They can't harm people. Why would this person want Alora dead?

The thought that someone wanted to kill Alora made me mad, but for now, I pushed the idea down and looked forward to Monday. Maybe Tanbit can find the punk, and then I might do a little arm-tearing of my own.