Part 27 (1/2)
”Wow. What's this thing called?”
The man pointed at a symbol on the device. The silhouette of a scorpion.
”Oh. Great,” Chris said. ”Scorpion. This thing is harmless though, right?”
The technician didn't reply. Did he think it was a rhetorical question? He reminded Chris of a scientist who refused to befriend a lab animal he was about to put to death.
Chris fidgeted while the tech hooked him up to the Scorpion. The number of physical connections it required surprised him. Apparently, the device didn't work exclusively through his link like a regular truth check. The man even put a seeking urine catheter into him, adding more discomfort to the whole procedure. Chris thought of Major Creighton and how the man had smoothed over this whole thing, made it sound so simple and straightforward. His trust of the major dropped a notch.
When the technician finished, he left the room. Chris felt thankful for that small thing. A voice spoke to Chris through his link.
”This is a lie detection device. I am the operator software. The use of this device has been authorized by the UNSF because it has been determined that the citizens of Earth are in imminent danger.”
”I understand.”
”What is your name?”
”Chris Adrastus.”
”Have you learned that the leader of the aliens has been at Synchronicity?”
Hrm. Not wasting any time.
”Yes.”
”Were you sent to Earth by an alien?”
”What? No.”
”Were you sent to Earth by the Chinese government?”
”No!”
”Do you know a woman named Cinmei?”
”Yes.”
”What is your relations.h.i.+p with this woman?”
”She maintained my quarters, was my servant.”
”Do you love this woman?”
”No.”
”How long have you known Cinmei?”
”Only since I came to Synchronicity.”
”How many times before have you worked with the Chinese government?”
”What the f.u.c.k? Worked with the Chinese ... that's not what I was doing!”
”Please don't avoid the question.”
”The question is bulls.h.i.+t!”
”Do you refuse to answer? There may be consequences.”
Chris took a deep breath. He reminded himself that the UNSF would probably be using high tech methods, even better than a civilian truth check. If he answered truthfully, he'd be vindicated.
”Zero. Zero times.”
”You did willingly work with her by your own account.”
”Only to escape the station. Not to gather intelligence for the Chinese. And I detained her as soon as I could. I set the course to come into a Western controlled area.”
”Do you believe that rape was necessary to achieve your objective?”
”I didn't rape anyone.”
”Cinmei says you raped her,” the operator said.
”She's lying. I took control of the s.p.a.cecraft. So I could bring the UNSF a warning. Look, you can do a truth check.”
”How much information about the alien technology have you learned?”
”Only what Alec told me. The creatures live in artificial bodies; they took over Synchronicity easily. They're fast and smart. They came in some kind of s.h.i.+p. I a.s.sumed it is from another star, a stars.h.i.+p.”
”Where do you keep information about the alien's technology?”
”In my head,” Chris replied.
”Which storage device?”
”No, I mean, in my memory. My natural memory. Not my link.”
Chris hoped that would end the interrogation. But they had only begun.
The next afternoon, a beautiful woman came into Chris's quarters. He quickly noted her long black hair and the fold of her eyes. Asian. He jumped up off the white sofa despite the fatigue of yesterday's extensive grilling.
”s.h.i.+t. Help!” he called out. He hopped over the back of the sofa trying to distance him from her. He requested help on the emergency channel of his link.
They sent an a.s.sa.s.sin to get me for killing her.
”Uhm, you a little nervous?” she asked. She did have an accent, but it didn't sound anything like Cinmei's accent.
Chris didn't respond verbally this time, but redoubled his efforts to make sure his link requests were of the highest priority.