“An armed patrol?”
“Absolutely.”
“I shall contact you shortly.” I terminate the connection and immediately contact Fullstein. “Apologies, but I have a family emergency and need to remove myself from the schedule temporarily for personal leave.”
“For how long?”
“I do not know yet. At least a week. I would not be asking this were it not truly an emergency.”
“Very well. I shall amend the schedule.”
“Thank you. I will update you as quickly as possible.” As soon as I end that conversation, I throw some belongings into a rucksack and run from my quarters.
I have a doctor to see about a ship.
Chapter Twenty
Olarte
When I reach the berthing arm at the opposite end of the station from where I usually work, I experience a brief moment of panic when I do not see anyone manning the control booth to allow me access to Dr. H’looder’s ship.
Please let him be here!
His ship has a dedicated berthing arm that only his ship, and his escort vessels, are allowed to dock at. Unfortunately, this is the one dock on the station my supervisor access pass will not gain me entry to.
Dr. H’looder is very important to Maxim Colonies. While he isn’t the space station’s commander, he certainly ranks higher than the space station’s commander within the Maxim Colonies hierarchy.
I frantically punch the com button, hoping to attract someone’s attention, all while praying his ship is actually here. In my hurry to speak with him, I did not check the berthing logs for other sectors to see if his ship is present.
Moments later, a female Carmidian I do not recognize appears behind the protective glass screen enclosing the control booth.
“I’m terribly sorry about the delay,” she says. “I was indisposed, and we had no appointments on our schedule today. How may I assist you?”
I hold up my access badge so she can see it. “I must speak with Dr. Mafer H’looder immediately.”
“Is he expecting you?”
“No, but this is an emergency, and I must speak with him!”
“Please scan your badge.” She motions with a tentacle to the scanner in front of me.
I do. Meanwhile, I am fighting the urge to pound on the window of the control booth with both hands and demand entry.
After a moment where I am sure she is studying my identification profile, she nods. “Please wait here while I confirm if he will see you.”
A privacy shield slides shut inside the booth, blocking any sight or sound.
What feels like five hours later, but is probably only five minutes, an entry hatch next to the booth slides open, exposing a passenger-sized entry airlock. On the other end of the airlock stand two armed Guyardien security personnel, both wearing Maxim Colonies uniforms. While I do not recognize these two particular ones, I remember seeing internal advisory communiques that H’looder had some working for him, and they were to be allowed full and unfettered access to any berthing sectors if they were on official business for Dr. H’looder.
“Follow me,” the larger of the two says, turning and striding away while the other waits for me to pass.
I follow, the second Guyardien falling in step behind me.
When we reach Dr. H’looder’s lab, where three more Guyardien security officers bar my entry, the first officer holds out his hand. “Your bag stays out here. And we must search it.”
I immediately hand it over without any hesitation, well aware why they are taking such precautions. Veraci are very fragile beings. I mentally remind myself to stay still and make no sudden moves while in the doctor’s presence.
I am quite sure the security team would not hesitate to take me down should they perceive a threat from me.
