Free Dremiks by Cassandra Davis

completed in the past week. “Captain,” she summarized, “if all crew remember to turn on their personal medical chips so that I receive constant feedback on their health and welfare, I assure you that even the slightest scratch will be promptly treated and recorded.”
    Captain Hill, still unhappy that his military surgeon had been scrubbed from the mission at the last moment, was slowly attaining a comfort level with Dr. Ruger. Her outgoing personality, optimism, and medical professionalism soothed his lingering doubts. He smiled at her again. “Thank you for all your hard work, Doctor.” His eyes cut a few feet to the left of Dr. Ruger where Dr. Fortunas leaned backward in his chair. The white haired scientist, hands folded over his belly, nodded in acknowledgement of the captain’s perusal.
    “I assume you haven’t changed your mind and decided to allow me to run a few short, totally unobtrusive, experiments during our jump?”
    The captain said nothing, his features austere.
    “Mmm, I thought as much. Well then, I am the proverbial third wheel. I shall sit in my assigned jump-seat and take a nap while you all endeavor to not send us hurtling into the sun.”
    “We appreciate your confidence,” the captain said dryly.
    The officer’s mess and conference room was not a large space. Packed as it was with nine people, the temperature had already risen. The small table also made it very easy for the captain to notice when Lieutenant Price and Ensign Robertson began to fidget.
    “Very well, then. If there are no issues that need to be addressed here, I suggest we all return to our duties. Further reports and updates will be expected on schedule.” He tapped his tablet and made sure to make eye contact with Lieutenant Guttmann. The engineering department had a crucial timetable about which the captain required hourly updates. As the officers rose and negotiated past each other and toward the door, the captain remained seated.
    “A moment, Commander.”
    She was nearly to the door; standing right beside him, she looked down at the top of the captain’s head, unable to read his expression. She backed up and stood stiffly at the side of the table, waiting for the others to depart.
    “Anything I need to know about?”
    Maggie ran through a, disturbingly long, mental list of possible transgressions. If the captain was probing for faults, expecting her to blurt something out in a guilty fit, he would be disappointed. “Only what is in my reports, sir”
    Hill turned his head and looked up at her. He blinked so slowly that he was almost staring at her. His expression was blank, without a movement of lips or eyebrows. “Indeed.” He waited, hoping that his silence and stern expression would break her resolve and have her explain the eye-play between herself and Ryan.
    She stared straight ahead, standing stiffly but not quite at attention. She’d had a lifetime to practice avoiding probing stares and harsh glares. As long as she didn’t make direct eye contact and kept her expression neutral, the captain would be unable to ferret out whatever information he was after. It was an annoying game, but one that seemed to define their interactions.
    Hill stood. He waited a moment longer before mentally shelving the question until a later date. “I will be making a round of the decks at one hour prior to jump. Please assume officer of the deck status while I am away from the bridge.”
    “Aye, aye, sir.” She waited until she heard the door snap shut behind the departing captain, then, exhaled a long breath.
    One deck down, Dr. Fortunas stepped to the side and allowed Dr. Ruger to enter the science and medical area ahead of him. “Totally unobtrusive experiments?” Her tone indicated she doubted his assessment.
    “Unless you are a cockroach, in which case the experiments promise to be quite invasive.”
    Cassie shuddered. “I hate those things. Please make sure that none escape.”
    Fortunas chuckled. “Except for