Free The Catalyst (Targon Tales) by Chris Reher

Dyona. Lieutenants McLaine and Be’al went into the building. I stayed in the shuttle. We kept it under guard until the pirates boarded us. Things got out of hand quickly after that. I'm sorry, sir."
    "Yes, we saw the video. The pirates opened fire after Captain Harlow refused to allow them entry into one of the rooms. Unfortunately, the Dyona was subsequently destroyed."
    She sighed. "All this over a shipment of water ash? The people were already dying by the time we escaped. Did you intercept any of the pirates? They took some passengers and crew off the ship before the air went bad."
    "I’m afraid not," Carras said. "What was Sethran Kada's involvement?"
    She glanced from him to the other officer before answering. "He arrived later, I think. I have... met him previously and he decided to take me off the ship. There was no time to save anyone else."
    "You know him?"
    She returned his questing gaze without wavering. "Yes, sir. We trained together."
    Carras nodded, apparently satisfied with her answer. "Do you know the intended destination of the tank?"
    "No, sir. We were to leave it with the Delphian on Magra Alaric. They just wanted safe passage out of rebel territory."
    "Who approved the escort?"
    "As I understand it, sir, the request was made directly to my CO according to our agreements with Pelion’s government. She’s supplied security for transports on other occasions, although usually for passengers."
    The Colonel tapped his fingers on the armrest of the chair. "You are temporarily relieved of duty, Lieutenant. But you are staying on Targon until we have discovered a way to deal with that organism."
    “I’m guessing that there is no intention of actually removing this thing from my blood until you’ve figured out what it is. Am I right?"
    “Very astute. We have classified the entire incident. I’ve taken this case and you will answer any further questions only to me. You are to have contact with no one other than hospital staff. No further communications from you to anyone else about this."
    "Yes, sir," she said, wondering why but not inclined to question command decisions. "Colonel, about Sethran Kada... I would not be here if not for his assistance. He risked a lot to assure my safety. I did not see him kill anyone or give orders aboard the Dyona . He may be a common pirate but–"
    "I assure you he is not a common pirate," Carras said. "He has been released from custody."
    This time, Nova could not help but voice her surprise. "What? Why?"
    "He’s a civilian. We have no evidence of anything but that he helped you escape the Dyona . And you confirmed that. The guns in his possession were not contraband that we were able to trace." He stood up.
    "Did he... did he leave?"
    "His ship is still on Targon." He paused before opening the door. "You may want to reconsider any future connection with that man. He is, as you know, at the very least a rebel sympathizer. Your record so far is flawless. Associations have a way of finding their way into your files."
    "Yes, sir."
    "Rest now, Lieutenant. We will return later to continue the debrief. I'm under orders by the good doctor to keep this interview short."
    She smiled at him, feeling at ease with the Centauri. "Thank you, sir."
     
    * * *
    Nova awoke hours later when a spill of light fell into the room. She blinked tiredly, watching a medic enter and increase the illumination just enough to see by. He stopped to peer at her for a moment before moving closer, to the side of her bed. She breathed evenly and slowly, her lids barely open. Something about his furtive movements seemed beyond the care someone would take around a sleeping patient.
    She shifted slightly and he stopped to wait for her to change positions in her sleep, perhaps unaware that she had pulled her blanket away from her legs. He reached into a pocket and withdrew something that he then placed onto her tray. When he turned to listen for a sudden sound in the hallway she saw the outline of a gun