Free CassaStar by Alex J. Cavanaugh Page B

“Out with it!”
     
    Glancing at his pilot, Trindel swallowed hard. “Sir, Byron didn’t use the teleporter’s power on our last two jumps,” he offered, the words tumbling out of his mouth in a rush.
     
    “ What do you mean?” demanded Bassa, assuming Trindel was searching for any excuse at this point.
     
    “ Our teleporter’s power was at zero when he made those jumps, sir.”
     
    Confounded, Bassa stared at Trindel. Such a feat was preposterous. Pilots could not fold space without the teleporter. Unless by chance …
     
    Bassa turned to his computer and pulled up the transcript from their flight. Requesting the power level of the teleporter at the time of each jump, Bassa eyed the screen with skepticism. The first jump had required sixty percent of the unit’s energy and the teleporter’s power only recharged to fifty percent by the time they performed the second jump. It was the final two jumps that caused Bassa to pause in bewilderment. The teleporter’s energy level rested at zero on both occasions, just as Trindel had claimed.
     
    Bassa glanced up at the two men. Byron appeared confused and his angry thoughts had subsided. The senior officer stared at the young pilot as he digested the full implication of this new development.
     
    Settling into his chair, Bassa retrieved Byron’s records. Searching through the history, he attempted to locate the young man’s last psyche evaluation. There had to be some mention of extraordinary powers that would explain jumps without using the teleporter’s power. However, the most recent testing had occurred over ten years ago and was noted as just above normal.
     
    Perplexed, Bassa began searching for any mention of additional powers. Byron’s record was lengthy, but most of it covered physical skill or disciplinary measures. Frustrated by the lack of information, Bassa scrolled through the pages. The content provided no answers, though. Nothing in Byron’s records indicated that he could teleport using his own power.
     
    Bassa leaned away from the screen in frustration. He regarded the young men with annoyance, although the feeling was not directed at them. Byron and Trindel appeared quite confused and continued to wait in silence. Bassa decided there was only one way to discover the truth.
     
    “ I am ordering you both to remain silent on this matter, understood?”
     
    “ Yes, sir!” they replied.
     
    Bassa nodded at the young navigator. “Trindel, you are dismissed.”
     
    He hesitated, glancing first at his pilot. With a nod, Trindel turned and beat a hasty retreat. Byron did not move, and Bassa thought he detected anxiety.
     
    Leaning forward, he reached for the com. “Chief Toka?”
     
    There was a pause before the flight chief responded. “Yes, sir?”
     
    “ How soon can you have 715T ready for launch?”
     
    “ I can have it ready in ten minutes, sir!”
     
    “ Make it happen, Toka.”
     
    Releasing the com button, Bassa retrieved his flight gloves and rose to his feet. “We’re going to test this ability of yours,” he announced to Byron. “Come with me.”
     
    Stepping around his desk, he gestured for the pilot to precede him out of the office. Byron complied, his apprehension at odds with his usual confident demeanor. Bassa wondered if he had at last found a means by which to break through Byron’s cocky shell.
     
    Upon entering the hallway, the young man hesitated. Bassa strode purposefully toward the teleportation pod, trusting Byron would follow. Determined to know the truth, he wanted to get Byron in the pilot’s seat without further delay. The boy followed without question and joined Bassa in the pod.
     
    Still dressed for flight, Bassa waited while the young man donned his suit. He sensed Byron’s growing nervousness and wondered if he was aware of how strongly his feelings were projecting. Other than confidence and resentment, the pilot never allowed his emotions to show. Since Bassa was unsure what triggered