Free Star Force 12 Demon Star by B. V. Larson, David VanDyke

smart you are, how many academic degrees you hold and how much faster than humans you learn. I don’t see how it would be all that hard for you to teach yourself about our cybernetic systems during the time you’ve had aboard.”
    “In that, you are correct, Captain Riggs. I could acquire those skills, but I have better things to do. You are welcome to examine my meticulous research logs and determine for yourself that I simply have not taken the time away from more important tasks.”
    “I doubt you logged your crimes. You’ve had plenty of time to do these things, being a clever lobster.”
    “I cannot prove a negative, but under your own laws, I do not need to. I am innocent until proven guilty. Besides, what possible motive would I have for performing these actions? I am one Crustacean stuck among you disdainful humans. My life is sufficiently miserable right now that I logically have no desire to make it worse by interfering with your semi-competent attempts to return us to civilization. In point of fact, I have more motivation than anyone to get home, in order to rejoin my kind and get away from you humans.”
    I stomped my heavy foot on the deck, creating a pressure wave in the water and causing Hoon to flinch. My voice rose, translated by my suit and spoken in the Crustacean language by the external speakers.
    “You lobsters act so superior and rational,” I said, “but you hold a grudge as well as the next biotic. I’ve read the histories. I’ve even reviewed some communications between you and my father. You blamed him for what happened to your home worlds when it was clearly your own damn fault for changing sides every time it seemed to be to your advantage. Your people betrayed biotics everywhere instead of standing shoulder to shoulder with us. When I showed up, you saw a chance to take it out on me.”
    Hoon scuttled half to the left, and then back half to the right. He was like a sheep looking for escape from wolves. “The first attempt on your life occurred long before we met, Captain Riggs.”
    “Depends on what you mean by ‘first.’ I had some very odd and rather deadly things happen to me long before I graduated from the Academy, things that wouldn’t be that hard for a lobster with brains and money to arrange.”
    “Grim bigotry!” Hoon declared. “Is your dislike for aliens so great you’ve lost your mind?”
    “No, Hoon, I’m seeing things very clearly today.”
    “I insist upon a formal court,” he said. “I must say at this juncture that the situation appears clear to me. You’re the one holding a grudge. Following the treaty between our peoples, I’ll presume this visit constitutes notice that I’m under investigation. I therefore invoke my right to counsel and refuse to say any more.”
    I took a step forward, with Kwon following suit. I wanted to find the culprit who had killed Olivia and who had tried more than once to kill me. If it had just been me that would be one thing, but the fact that Olivia and others were considered collateral damage was beyond irrational. It had to be the work of someone not wholly human. Alien in fact as far as I was concerned. I could feel the rage I’d kept in check for so long boiling to the surface.
    “Laws and regs are pretty thin out here, Hoon,” I said. “If you come clean right now about anything you’re involved in, I promise not to invoke the death penalty. If we end up proving your guilt, though, we might have to manufacture a whole bunch of butter-flavored sauce for your funeral.”
    Yeah, I was that mad. I admit it.
    Hoon’s tone finally began to take on some humility. Perhaps it was starting to sink in how close he was to becoming a crew-sized pot of lobster bisque. “Your disgusting threats to consume my flesh have no additional power to frighten me as I don’t believe in an afterlife. Nor do I respond emotionally to your taboos. However, as I do not wish to be unlawfully tortured or executed, let me assure you that