“So, like me, you think Ludendorff told Gorgon what to do?”
“I’m keeping an open mind on the subject,” Maddox said. “That allows me to see what is there instead of what I think I should see.”
Riker appeared dubious. He opened his mouth to say more.
Maddox raised a hand and held up the index finger. “If you would, refrain from speaking for a time so that I may process my thoughts. I believe I should be at the top of my game for the next interview.”
The sergeant closed his mouth, grinning a moment later. He was used to the captain’s cavalier manner. Realizing Maddox was tense—going into high gear—seemed to put the sergeant at ease.
Maddox noticed the change in his aide, but refrained from commenting. He concentrated on Ludendorff. The professor was supposed to be the smartest man alive. Ludendorff had played his own game on Wolf Prime against the New Men. The professor had an inordinate curiosity about aliens, the ancient Adoks, the Swarm… What did Ludendorff think about the builders of the Nexus? And the gigantic, fifty kilometer vessel in the ion storm…what would Ludendorff think about it? Who could have constructed such a craft? Was it old like Victory or new like an enemy star cruiser?
If any person could know about such a ghostly ship beforehand, it would certainly be Ludendorff. If anyone could envision where such a vessel would be in the middle of an ion storm, it would be the professor. And if anyone could trick the crew of Victory to be near the magnetic storm and the passing mystery craft at exactly the right moment, it would be the smartest man in the universe.
A grim smile stretched the captain’s lips. He could appreciate a man purposefully engaged in his own affairs, blithely unconcerned about anyone else. He often operated in such a manner. In fact, Maddox would do so during this interview. The professor could have come to him and explained matters. Instead, Ludendorff had worked around his authority. It had left Gorgon dead and had endangered Meta.
Remember, Ludendorff helped us against the New Men. Without the disruptor cannon, Oran Rva would have destroyed the Fifth Fleet and possibly Victory, too. Yet, the professor seems to have put our mutual endeavor aside. I would be wise to do the same.
Maddox planned his line of inquiry, finally stopping before the professor’s hatch. He turned to the sergeant.
“Be a good fellow and trade me weapons.”
Riker drew his stunner, handing it butt-first to the captain. The sergeant accepted Maddox’s long-barreled gun in exchange.
Maddox switched the stunner’s setting to low. Then, he composed himself, put a hand on the latch and spoke into the air, telling Galyan to open the hatch.
In a moment, a click sounded.
Maddox swung open the hatch, charging through into Professor Ludendorff’s room.
Ludendorff sat at a table, with a stylus in his left hand. He was medium-sized and wore a soft blue shirt with black slacks and shoes. The collar of the shirt was open and he wore a gold chain around his neck. The older man was bald, with deeply tanned skin and a prominent hooked nose.
The professor looked up. The intelligence in his eyes shined like twin diamonds with a hard and priceless quality. He wrote on a tablet, with various items spread out on the table.
“Really,” Ludendorff said, sitting back. “This is rude. You could have knocked first.”
Maddox approached the table, with the stunner aimed at the professor’s chest.
“You must have ordered Galyan to lock the hatch earlier,” Ludendorff said. “I would like to know why you—”
Maddox pulled the trigger. The stun hit the older man in the chest, knocking him off the chair. Ludendorff twitched on the floor, one of his feet kicking a table leg, knocking it over. The contents clattered onto the floor.
Keeping his distance, Maddox kept the stunner trained on the prone man. He respected the professor’s deadliness. He would fire again if the man tried to reach into his pockets or reached inside his shirt perhaps.
The seconds passed as Ludendorff breathed harshly. Finally, the professor rolled onto his back and focused on Maddox.
The captain gave the older man the same advice Riker had given him a half hour ago after being stunned.
Ludendorff closed his eyes, resting.
Maddox continued to watch him.
“You have a reason for such savagery?” the professor finally hissed.
Maddox said nothing, letting the man’s anger work to his advantage.
The professor opened his eyes, staring at Maddox. “What am I to conclude from this?”
Still, Maddox said nothing.
“Come, come,” Ludendorff said, testily. “Let us act like reasonable men. Your actions are unseemly.”
“Sten Gorgon is dead,” Maddox said.
The professor’s eyes brightened. A moment later, they lost their luster as if he deliberately hooded their intensity.
“This is terrible news,” Ludendorff said. “How did it happen?”
“That’s one question. Another is why you sent Gorgon to free Per Lomax.”
“You must think poorly of me to ask such a thing.”
Maddox stunned the professor again. It left the older man gasping, his eyelids fluttering.
“Please,” Ludendorff finally managed to gasp. “My heart isn’t strong enough to withstand repeated charges.”
Maddox made a show of changing the stunner’s setting. “The first two shots were at the lowest setting. Now, I have put it to a mid-range stun. You would be wise to take this change into consideration.”
“Are you going to kill me, Captain?”
Maddox said nothing.
A subtle change came over the professor. All humor vanished, leaving a deadly knot of intent that made him seem more dangerous.
“Perhaps if you informed me of your game, I could join you in it. At the moment, I am at a loss of what you’re trying to achieve.”
“I am wary of you, Professor. You tricked the New Men on Wolf Prime, something difficult to do. I believe it more than possible you can trick me. In fact, I think you already have. These shots are to show you my respect for you.”
“I would rather have your contempt then.”
“Why did you free Per Lomax?” Maddox asked.
“Obviously, I didn’t.”
“Why did Gorgon free my captive?” Maddox asked.
“I would like to know myself. Your accusation seems…impossible to me. Sten Gorgon committed this wild deed? Your actions show me you must believe what you’re saying. Otherwise, I would take it as a silly hoax.”
“Let us be frank, Professor. Gorgon couldn’t have timed Victory’s appearance near a spatial anomaly. I suspect you did all this so Per Lomax could board the ghostly vessel.”
“You should explain what you mean,” Ludendorff said. “I can make nothing of these strange allegations. What ghostly vessel are you referring to?”
Maddox gave the professor a quick rundown of the magnetic storm, the ghostly vessel, the hole, the last pulse and the jumpfighter winking brightly near the strange craft before it disappeared.
“You have me at a grave disadvantage,” Ludendorff said. “These things are fantastic and inexplicable. I can do many things, but I am not a techno-wizard able to conjure explanations out of the air.”
Maddox decided to try one more time. “Why did Gorgon free Per Lomax?”
“I have no inkling, Captain. The idea seems as preposterous as your shots against me.”
“You’re lying.”
Ludendorff scowled thunderously. “You young pup! I demand an immediate apology. How dare you accuse me so slanderously, especially after stunning me twice?”
“That is how you should react if you were innocent,” Maddox said. “I applaud your performance, Professor, but I do not accept it as legitimate.”
“After all that I’ve done for you and Star Watch, this is how you repay me?”
“You’re welcome,” Maddox said.