Skot worked this out. "If I had agreed to conceal the baby magnet, then—"
"I would have let you do it. And provided any other implied rewards. But not the hostage information."
He waved one hand in negation. "If I had agreed, then you would not have been exposed. But if I insisted on the truth, after proving myself, you could tell me all of it. So either way, you would still be safe—if you actually can justify breaking the rules."
"Brace yourself," Melody said. "I'm sorry the test had to be so brutal, but I must admit I am not Solarian, so am not really interested in—" She flickered her eyes down toward her bosom. But she felt uncomfortable, because in this healthy young body she was interested in human love, as her experience with Dash had shown. Solarian romance was more a function of glands than of intellect. "I had to know you were galactic and loyal. Because—"
"Well, I still have to report—"
"Because I have been using the Tarot readings to detect other hostages. Nine of your fellow officers are Andromedans."
He stared at her. "Impossible!"
"I know of only three who are loyal: you, Llume of Spica, and Captain Boyd. I still have three to test, but—"
"All the men you have tested—hostage? I just can't believe that!"
"You can verify it with Llume. I haven't told the Captain yet. I want to test the rest, and then give him a complete report."
"You're telling me even my bunkmate Hath is—"
"Hath of Conquest was the first I verified. Work it out for yourself: What normal Solarian male speaks in terms of the serpent-patina of reproduction? That's typical of Sphere * of Andromeda!"
Skot considered. "You know, you're right. He's changed, recently. I thought he was just out of sorts, but he does act a bit like an alien. Hardly noticeable, but I've known him for a long time."
"Are you willing on the basis of this, to withhold your report on the little magnet? At least until you are sure? I'm trying to win over the magnet loyalty to my side, which is the Milky Way side, in case there is a showdown."
Skot shook his head in confusion. "You place me in a very difficult position. I don't know where my loyalty lies. If what you have told me is true—but I'm not at all sure it is true."
"Then just keep your mouth shut until you are sure— one way or another. On the one side is the mere abridgment of a nonsensical ship's regulation; on the other is serious peril to our entire galaxy. While you are in doubt, you have to weigh the consequences of each direction of error."
He sighed. "Yes."
Melody smiled again. She knew she had acquired an inflexible ally who would be subverted by neither threat nor temptation. "It is an immense comfort to know there is another loyalist among the officers," she said frankly.
Beanball progressed rapidly. That was probably a survival trait among his kind. Melody didn't know what type of predators existed on the magnets' home world, but obviously early speed and power helped. The little ball learned to hover unsteadily, and could move about the edges of the cabin near the floor. It was instructive to watch him, sometimes he went too far into the center and lost control. Then he spun crazily and dropped nearly to the floor before regaining equilibrium. He appeared to operate more by repulsion than by attraction; otherwise he would have hovered near the ceiling. Of course attraction would have snapped him right into floor or wall, while repulsion kept him conveniently afloat at his natural limit.
Slammer hovered in place, seeming to give off fatherly emanations of pleasure.
Finally she got the last three officers interviewed. All were hostages. It was time to report to the Captain.
But first she had a council of war with Llume and Skot in her cabin, the only place where privacy was assured. Slammer might not care what electronic eavesdroppers were elsewhere, but he was well aware of the need for secrecy here, and could locate any telltale devices.
"Of twelve upper-level officers below the rank of captain, ten are hostages," Melody summarized the situation. "Tiala and nine males, all officers. There is no doubt in my mind; is there in yours?"
Llume buzzed her ball on the deck. "None. My observations concur: all are hostage."
Skot shook his head grimly. "I have doubt, but not enough. I have to go along with your estimate."
"Obviously they have concentrated on this ship," Melody continued, "because it commands the segment fleet. There simply can't be this number of hostages on other ships! They have chosen to remain concealed until receiving the signal to proceed overtly. That suggests that the hostaging is not complete. They would have struck already if they were sure of their power." She paused, not liking this. "Probably they infiltrated this ship first, but need to work on other ships of the fleet. When they are ready, they will kill Captain Boyd and the three of us, then use ship and fleet to intimidate Outworld itself and disrupt segment resistance. The key is right here, because the armed might of Etamin is here. So we must act— now, before they do. The Captain's authority, backed by the magnets, should enable us to make a clean sweep of this ship. After that, we'll see about the fleet. But we have to convince the Captain without giving it away to the hostages prematurely."
"I could conduct you to the Captain for an interview," Skot said. "That would be according to protocol."
"But I'd like you both present, as witnesses," Melody said. "You are officers, while I am only a civilian visitor. I need your endorsement."
"If we all go, the hostages might become aware," Llume said. "They surely know who they are, and that we are not of them."
"Yes. In fact, we'd better not remain here in conference long," Melody said. "Suspicion means death."
"I hesitate to suggest this," Skot said, turning slightly red. "But maybe a complaint— You are a beautiful woman, and someone might—that is—"
"Someone might make an advance?" Melody inquired, smiling.
"Understand, it would not be—well, you could complain to the Captain, with Llume as witness—"
"Brilliant!" Then Melody paused. "But Slammer would—"
Skot frowned. "I had forgotten that. Sorry."
"Unless the female attacked the male," Llume suggested.
"Yes, that would do," Melody agreed. "Skot turned me down before. I really was very pleased that he did so— no offense, Skot—but I understand rejected human women can become very angry. I might use the magnet to corner him, then—"
"And I would be witness on his behalf," Llume said.
Skot looked doubtful. "I'm not sure—"
"Oh come on, Solarian!" Melody said. "One kiss won't hurt you that much. And it would certainly be a case for the Captain's attention, since I'm not of the ship's complement."
"But you and the Captain...."
Just how much news had spread about the ship? Had that single episode forever defined her as the Captain's mistress? "Yes, he would certainly want to know! Maybe we had better rehearse it," Melody said mischievously. "You are just entering the lounge, here, and I jump out at you and—" She made a fine leap and planted a firm kiss on his open mouth. He had to put his arms around her, lest she fall. "And you try to push me away, but I cling—"
"Unlimb that man!" Llume cried against the wall. "You belong to the Captain!"
Just so. "Uh, let's make a minor alteration in the dialogue," Melody suggested, embarrassed.
"The Captain shall settle your hash!" Llume said.
Melody paused. "That still does not quite—"
"This is a matter for the Captain's attention!"
"Beautiful!" Melody exclaimed, satisfied at last.
"Now, would you disengage," Skot pleaded. "Before I"—his arms tightened about her—"before I forget...."
Melody disengaged quickly. There were unkind aspects to this game.
They lined up before Captain Boyd, in his office: two in Solarian form, one in Polarian, and the magnet. "Request privacy in this matter," Llume said formally against the floor. "Concerns protocol."
Dash eyed Skot. The Lieutenant's uniform was in dis
array, the Imperial Outworld blazon smudged, his hair mussed. "So I see." He waved a finger through the control field on his desk, and the door clamped shut. There were different kinds of doors on the ship; this was one of the swinging variety. "We are securely private, now."
Melody stepped forward. "This is no complaint, Captain. It was a ruse to gain private audience without suspicion. We have a crucial report to make."
"No complaint?" Dash inquired, brow lifted. "Slammer?"
The magnet bobbed affirmatively. It hadn't occurred to Melody that Slammer was also a witness, but of course he was. Good. That was one report the Captain would trust.
Dash focused on Melody. "This must be a serious matter."
"I have ascertained that all your top officers except those present are Andromedan hostages," Melody said, anticipating his incredulous amazement. He would take a lot of convincing!
"You are very clever," Dash said. "How would you like to marry me?"
Melody shook her head. "Perhaps you did not understand—" She halted. "What?"
Dash stood up and walked smoothly around the desk. He came to stand before her, ignoring the others. He put forth his hand to touch hers, and their auras overlapped. As always, there was the electric thrill. The sensation was so wonderful it made mental concentration difficult. "I realize my aura does not match yours," he said. "But there are other things I offer. Travel about the galaxies, incarnation in a hundred unique forms. We can make love while winging through the warm mists of Zulchos, or swimming the nether-fen of Pemch. We can explore the tunnel library of Cluh, where every book is a complex of odors, sleep aboard the candy clouds of Hiaa. And we can read the Tarot in an Animation Temple—together."
The thing was ludicrous, this proposal of permanent mating amidst the crisis of the ship. It was completely out of context. It was essential that immediate action be taken against the hostages, lest ship, fleet, segment, and galaxy be destroyed. Yet the force of the Captain's aura, mind, and personality were such that she had to consider his proposal seriously. She wanted to throw herself into his human arms, to marry him—never to be separated.
But in a moment her knowledge of herself reasserted itself. She was no young buxom Solarian girl, but an old Mintakan neuter. Like the girl of cinders of Yael's story-memory. She might dance with a prince—but at midnight she would revert to reality. You cannot fit my script, Melody thought sadly. And I dare not fit yours. Even though she desperately wanted to.
Dash had almost chained the lady—but failed because she was not a lady.
Perceiving her negation, Dash disengaged and returned to his desk. "There is one you did not test," he said, "with your Tarot."
Melody was the incredulous one, not he! She had not yet had a chance to tell him of her technique! "You knew what I was doing?"
"I know Tarot. I must admit that you are more proficient in it than I, however. It has been a pleasure to watch you perform."
"But if you knew—you must have known about the hostages yourself! Why didn't you tell me?"
Dash leaned back in his web-seat. "Let me approach this obliquely. Let's assume the Andromedans wish to subvert a galaxy by transfer infiltration. They possess the technique of involuntary hosting. Unfortunately, it still requires a more intense aura to suppress that of the host-entity, and it is also possible to counter hostage infiltration by the use of really intense auras. Thus the program is vulnerable. What do you suppose the Andromedans should do to safeguard their effort?"
It was Skot who answered. "Eliminate the Milky Way galaxy's highest auras."
Dash turned to him. "But how should they do that? They don't even know the identities of those auras, and obviously lack the facilities to make a thorough search. Especially in the face of increasingly determined counterespionage."
Now Llume joined the game. "They could set a trap. Bait it and wait for something to swim in." She paused. "But what would be bait for an aura?"
Suddenly Melody felt a cold premonition. A trap baited for high-aura entities....
"Very clever, Dash," she said crisply, though there was horrible pain inside her. "Or should I say, — of Andromeda?"
Skot jerked erect. "What?"
"The lady is remarkably perceptive," Dash observed calmly. "In addition to having the highest aura in two galaxies. I consider it a privilege to have captured her."
Skot stared at him. "You, Captain—hostage?"
The Captain nodded. "Indeed, yes, Skot of Kade. I am Bird of Dash, or a Dash Boid, as you might render it. Bird, boid, boyd, however you wish, for we are winged in our natural state." He turned to Melody, and now there did seem to be a birdlike quality to his quick motion. "As you see, you are confined here, with my magnet, in my power. Your situation is hopeless. But Galaxy Andromeda is prepared to offer you most enticing terms, for we are great admirers of aura."
Melody snorted. It was a gesture the human respiratory apparatus was good at. "I doubt you can offer any enticing enough, bird."
"To begin with, the lives of your two friends," Dash murmured, glancing meaningfully at Skot and Llume. "And of course your own."
"At the price of our galaxy?" Melody demanded. She knew without asking that neither Skot nor Llume would capitulate to such a personal threat.
"You could actually salvage your galaxy," Dash said. "With your help, we could master the Milky Way with the expenditure of much less energy than presently projected. Since we propose to recoup that energy of conquest from the substance of the Milky Way, we would thus salvage a significant portion, perhaps ten percent of the total energy mass of the Milky Way. That is well worth your consideration, Melody of Mintaka."
He knew her identity! What an effective trap this had been! The best efforts of the segment loyalists had only procured her aura for Andromeda. Yet she could not accept defeat. She knew she lacked the straight raw courage Skot had, but she had to resist somehow. "If I yield to you," she said, "my galaxy may die. If I oppose you, my galaxy may live. We defeated Andromeda once before."
"And you might defeat us again—were you free to oppose us. But this is not among your options." Dash made a little winglike motion with his two hands, as of options flying away. "You may join us, and salvage an amount equivalent to the entire segment of Etamin. In fact, I believe I can commit my galaxy to sparing that very segment in exchange for your voluntary services. Or you can suffer immediate destruction. I believe you are reasonable enough to select the lesser penalty—for yourself, your friends, and your segment."
He stood up again, moving in quick spurts, his gaze flicking about, his posture almost strutting. "And I hardly need to add, I would be extremely appreciative on the personal level. You are the finest Kirlian entity I have encountered, and you have a most remarkable mind considering your age and experience. I have prevailed upon the Dash Command of Andromeda to delay overt hostilities solely to enable me to obtain your cooperation. This is how important you are. My proposal of marriage between us is sincere. It can be arranged, with auras like ours."
Again, Melody was horribly tempted. She would never again encounter an entity like Dash; she was certain of that. There were probably several higher male auras somewhere in the two galaxies, but he also had high intelligence and competence, and was not otherwise committed. She had waited all her life for a male like him. But if he were to learn her true age and status, he would find her a good deal less attractive. Only as Mintakans could they merge—and then, only once.
On that slender, almost irrelevant thread her decision was made. She knew that in her heart she had betrayed her galaxy, but circumstance rather than personal strength enforced her loyalty. "No."
Dash sighed. "I do this with extreme regret, but you are too dangerous to set free. Slammer—"
"Sir!" Skot cried.
Melody glanced at him. A weapon had appeared in one hand—a Solarian laser pistol.
Dash shook his head. "You cannot possess a genuine metallic weapon. There was no signal as you entered."
"I entered para
llel to the magnet; my weapon was masked by that."
"Shrewd. But you cannot react faster than a magnet, and your weapon will not hurt Slammer."
"True. But I can burn off your mouth before you can complete the order."
What affected Melody most, even in this tense situation, was her realization that neither was bluffing. Dash really would order the magnet to kill, and Skot really would fire his weapon. Melody herself would not have had the nerve to do either, despite the stakes. As a conspirator, as a warrior, she was a washout; she understood what needed to be done, but lacked the gumption to do it. She felt weak, as though about to fault. This was not the first time she had reacted to news of a threat with foolish weakness, yet—
"Stand up!" Yael cried. "If you fail, we're all dead!"
Shamed for the moment, Melody stiffened her spine, and fought off her faintness.
Dash would not be balked. "In a moment the magnet will realize that you are threatening me. Then it will act anyway."
"No. It is assigned to protect Yael of Dragon. I am not threatening her."
But Dash was threatening her, Melody knew. How would Slammer react to that? Could she somehow...?
Dash nodded. "It seems I underestimated you, Skot of Kade. You were reserved as our lone nonhostage, in case Etamin made a surprise verification of aural identities before we were ready to act. It appears that was our mistake."
"I don't get it," Yael said. "Why doesn't the Captain just touch that button on his desk to call for help?"
The distraction of the question helped to firm Melody's wavering resolve. "Because if he makes one move toward the desk, he'll be shot. All he can do is talk— and if he says the word 'Slammer' he'll be shot anyway."
"Then why doesn't Skot just shoot him now and be done with it?"
"Because then we'd all be locked in this office with a murder on our hands and ten angry hostages outside. We have to deal with Dash without overt violence— somehow."
"I'm glad you know what you're doing," Yael said.
Of course Melody had no idea what she was doing. She had formulated the rationale of the tactical situation only when challenged to do so. What a mess she had gotten them all into! A professional agent would have found some better, safer way to deal with the crisis. Melody could only watch.