RED KNIGHT
a STAR FRONTIERS Novel
by Layne K. Saltern
The admiral was examining the subspace radio with a techkit. "I'm sure the scrambling of our comm systems was deliberate. Otherwise, I would have it straightened out by now."
"I need something to study," I said. "I'll be right back."
Tulk'n had been out of the sick bay and moving around for seven hours now.
I had intended to get some reading material from my room, but I paused outside Tulk'n's smashed window instead.
He was whispering into his chronocom. "At 40 hundred hours tonight. . .just outside the library. . .all right."
I didn't have to wonder with whom he was talking.
I returned to the communications room.
"I thought you were getting something to study," said the admiral.
"Changed my mind."
I rubbed my face and winced. "Admiral, I. . .I'm starting not to feel so good. I don't think I can stay here anymore."
He looked me over. Concern softened his steely eyes. "That's all right. Lieutenant Tung should be back soon. Go get some rest."
I staggered out the door with my walker. Once I was out of the admiral's view, I set the walker aside and found myself running for the tunnel. I didn't want to make any noise, so I went through the tunnel on foot instead of using a bubblecar.
I emerged at the other end and took cover in the bushes. (The radiation leak in Katrina's room had already been repaired.)
There they were: Tulk'n and Katrina! They were sitting on a bench, each in the other's arms.
Why was I making myself watch this?
Tulk'n was saying something. I trained my ears and began recognizing his lines. He was reciting the same poetry I had let him see. The poetry I had been translating.
Katrina seemed hypnotized by the moment. Tulk'n leaned closer, approaching his head to hers. He kissed her, slowly, then more passionately.
I gripped my laser pistol, searching for a way to stop this, for a way to win Katrina back.
"Kro'khan!!!" The call on my chronocom spoiled my hiding place.
Tulk'n and Katrina both turned in my direction.
"Kro'khan?" said Katrina. She was furious. "What are you doing here?"
I tried to filter the two of them out of my mind by focusing on my chronocom. Zhelk was calling me, and he was badly hurt!
"Kro'khan!" he said through heaving gasps. "Someone in the bushes. A laser. . ." His eyes froze in place.
I ran--like the madman I was--all the way back through the tunnel.
I could hear Tulk'n and Katrina behind me, calling out: "Kro'khan! Kro'khan!"
Stop saying that name!
I got to the other side of the tunnel. Admiral Zhelk was lying on the floor. He was completely motionless. A closer look showed why. There was a black, charred pit where his chest should have been.
He was dead. And I couldn't save him.
I wasn't there to save him.
Tulk'n showed up and ran to the bushes across the area. He seemed to be looking for something.
Katrina started to scream.
My whole world of consciousness closed onto the dead man below me, the man I had let die. He couldn't be revived. Not with a missing chest. He was gone, and it was my fault!
My tears mixed with his blood as I collapsed onto the body. My mind screamed, echoing the same thing again and again: HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SO STUPID?