RED KNIGHT
a STAR FRONTIERS Novel
by Layne K. Saltern
"I haven't been able to do a detailed examination of the body yet," I said. "But it's quite obvious he was hit with a high powered energy beam, probably a laser."
"Look at these marks in the wall," said Voar. The south wall had been nearly melted through to the dining area. "His attacker missed four times."
"This shows he was shot at from the north."
"From behind these bushes maybe?"
"Very possible. I remember Commodore Tulk'n searching these bushes when we first found the admiral's corpse. He must have noticed the same thing."
Voar pointed to the black soil from which the bushes sprouted. "Look. This section of dirt is softer than the rest."
"Like it's been disturbed and smoothed over," I remarked. My fingers dug into the soil, probing underneath. When my hand came back out, it was holding a tiny silver disk.
"Looks like a mechanical gear," said Voar. "But there's no telling how long it's been there."
"Actually, with an envirokit there is. Metal like this corrodes over time when placed in steady contact with the chemicals present in the soil. I can tell you just from looking at it that it hasn't been buried here for more than a couple days."
A high pitched scream cut our conversation short. The screaming continued, varying in tone to convey different levels of suffering.
"That's coming from the dining area!" exclaimed Voar.
Two seconds got us to the nearest door: locked!
"Step back!" ordered Voar. He aimed his laser rifle at the door and with one shot reduced it to melting slag. The air steamed with the heat of the laser bolt.
The dining area was empty except for a Yazirian form: Venta Krenny. . .or what was left of him. An ankle had been twisted up to a pointed ear. His arms were crossed impossibly beneath his upper back. The back was disjointed in several places.
Voar cringed and looked away.
"Twisted like a pretzel," I muttered.
I drew my pistol and darted from table to table, looking for anything.
The others were pounding on the remaining doors. Voar released the inner lock and let them in.
Tulk'n spoke first, or rather yelled. "I demand a meeting right now!"
"Talk here," snorted Thibaut through a twisted mask of hate. "We're not going anywhere!"
"Tell us what you know about this, Thibaut!" said Tulk'n, his voice seared with accusation. "You two have been talking a lot lately. Did he learn something he wasn't supposed to know?"
I couldn't tell if the Human was going to blow into rage or tears. Either one would have been violent.
The Vrusk continued. "This is too much for coincidence if you ask me!"
"Tulk'n, don't!" I ordered.
Thibaut left the room in a storm.
Tulk'n started to follow, but I caught his arm.
"Tulk'n, we can't attack each other like this."
He yanked his arm free. "I'm not trusting anybody. Not until we have this Red Knight in a cage. Why don't you do something useful and find out who the Red Knight is?"
My eyes hit his like steel.
"I intend to."