Free Dremiks by Cassandra Davis Page A

those I coat in chocolate for my staff, I assure you that all my bugs are properly contained.” He enjoyed her look of horror and added to the medical doctor’s agitation by winking at her.
    “You are incorrigible.”
    “Indubitably.” He stopped by his desk to pick up a data disk. “By the by, what is the story between our dear Vice Chancellor and Commander O’Connell?”
    Cassie blinked and then blinked again. “What? Maggie and Ryan Hill? What are you talking about?”
    “I thought, perhaps, there was a politically motivated association between them. Ryan seems quite tight with Admiral O’Connell. Never mind, obviously my old eyes are playing tricks on me.”
    Dr. Ruger harrumphed. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with your eyes, just your suspicious mind. If you’ll excuse me, I have to make sure I’ve completed the captain’s checklist. I’d hate to be thrown in the head for dereliction of duty.”
    Fortunas stared at her and then threw his head back with a shout of laughter. Still chortling and shaking his head, he explained, “I think you mean “brig” dear. “Brig” is the word for jail. The “head” is the bathroom.”
    She threw up her hands in exasperation. “Why do I even bother?” When she walked away Dr. Fortunas was still laughing. He motioned his assistant to his side and began to set up the few experiments the captain would allow him to run during a jump.
    ***
    Commander O’Connell matched her stride to Lieutenant Price’s. He turned his head and nodded to her. “Ma’am.”
    “I’m going for a run, Lieutenant. You’re welcome to join me if you like.”
    Price shook his head. “No, thank you, ma’am. I maxed out my last cardio-vascular test, you know. I find I can stay in top condition with a run just once every few days. Since you’re going for a run though, do you mind if I pop into the simulator? I need to shave another few seconds off my docking maneuvers. I know I topped the best scores in the fleet before we left, but I don’t want to get rusty. Someone might set a new standard while we’re out here.”
    Maggie didn’t know whether to be astounded that the younger officer had so blatantly bragged, to her face, about beating her records or to be amazed that he could be so obviously self-absorbed and not run into the bulkheads out of sheer oblivion. Every other time Price made a self-aggrandizing statement or issued a thinly veiled challenge, she told herself she was overreacting. At the moment, the commander was convinced the young man was just being an ass.
    “Yes, you’d best go on. I changed the difficulty setting on the docking simulation to better mimic real conditions. Beating a record in a simulator set on easy mode is hardly worth mentioning. I’ll see you on deck for your shift.” She nodded in dismissal and turned to head down the side corridor to her quarters. The almost palpable sense of Price’s irritation made the smile on her face a fraction more smug.
    ***
    “Captain Hill was most distressed that you decided not to attend his briefing.”
    Chancellor Trell waved a pudgy hand over the table in front of him, indicating that Ryan Hill should help himself to the assortment of sweets. “Tut tut for him then. I’m sure you filled in admirably. I hardly have time for his little militaristic power plays.” Trell wiggled in his seat, reminding Ryan of nothing so much as a fat larvae struggling to slide back into a safe home. “Ryan, the military will try to assert authority where-ever and when-ever they can. It is up to us to keep this mission on track.” He pointed a finger at Ryan. “You should be able to control your brother’s urge to dominate. He can’t command us. This is a civilian mission.”
    “I’ll do my best, Chancellor, but my brother can be most obstinate.” Declining sugar for his tea, Ryan crossed his feet and slouched slightly in his chair.
    Trell snorted. The sound was repulsive; Ryan could not help wincing. “This latest