RED KNIGHT
a STAR FRONTIERS Novel
by Layne K. Saltern
Everyone was in the sick bay when I entered. It was still the middle of the night. Someone had already given him first aid, but it was up to me to give him real medical attention.
A laser had apparently grazed his left shoulder, charring his exoskeleton.
"It doesn't look too bad," I said.
"You can be sure I chased him off the minute he showed up," said Tulk'n. "I'm not letting any psychopath catch me unprepared!"
"Either that, or he may be toying with you," I said. "Did you get a look at him?"
"No. I was just going to bed when someone broke my window and shot in at me. I rolled under my bed and fired back a couple times, but he ran off." Tulk'n looked me square in the eyes, almost accusingly. "Strange he should pick me."
"Could Commodore Tulk'n and I speak in private for a moment?" I asked.
We waited for the others to leave.
Tulk'n was the first to speak. "This is the last time I get in an argument with you."
"I had nothing to do with this."
He thought it over. "I believe you, but will the others? Thibaut and Krenny saw us fighting in the dining area last night, and you yourself said that whoever gave Zap his overdose was a trained medic."
"Maybe someone's trying to frame me?" I suggested.
"Are you going to do something about it?"
"Looks like I'll have to. I wish I had never come here."
"Running away isn't an option."
"I didn't say anything about running away."
"Kro'khan, you and I have got to find this guy and stop him."
"Yeah, whatever." I didn't like the "you and I" part.
I was on my way out the door when I bumped into Katrina. She was carrying a carefully wrapped package.
"Is Kel'krich in there?" she asked.
"Yes, but he's going to be all right. He doesn't need anything."
"I just wanted to see him. He asked me to come."
"Suit yourself," I replied, brushing past her like a storm wind.