Flight of the Maita Supercollection 3: Solving Galactic Problems Collector's Edition (42 page)

Z had to agree
to that. There was nothing to lose, so they would try it. If the
people in the castle wanted to appear to be regular vacation world
natives they would have to be very open and friendly to drop-in
guests.

"All I want to
do is learn what the situation is and where things are in there.
I'll leave the sensors in place for the light beam relays and will
send through the keyboard if I'm not in a position to use vocals.
I'll improvise a reason to be there. Something that'll make them
want to help out. I can appear to be in trouble of some sort ... I
know! I'm supposed to be back already, but the radio won't reach
Northport and I've broken the satellite bounce antenna. Can I call
to say it'll be an hour or so more, so don't send a search party
yet?

"I can call you
on the standard comline. What code can you arrange?"

"Punch thirty
three forty three oh nine. I'll program for that to come directly
to me and will answer. You can bet they'll have the line
tapped."

Z nodded at the
camera and went back along the mountain for a distance to a small
stream, came down the center of the stream (The floater was
mimicking a hovercraft), across the beam and onto the road. The
floater indicator light showed a scanner was focused on it. He
stopped and waited a moment, then went on toward the pass, stopped
in the pass for the sensors, then went down toward the castle.

From down at
that level it was much like the pictures of castles in Scotland of
old Earth. It was a truly massive stone structure. He went to the
doors at the end of the road and spoke into the microphone/speaker
box there, saying he needed to report in, asking if he could use
their com, as his antenna was hanging in some trees back there and
he was already late. He didn't want his friends to worry.

Two Zurn came
to lead him to the unit in the outer room. There was a large hall
through the castle with that room on one side and a garage with
eight land cars in two rows of four on the other side. The floater
was left outside of the door where he lowered it on a tripod to
dismount.

"I was being
stupid," Z explained apologetically. "I thought I could get through
a place that was a bit too thick. I'm pretty lucky it didn't break
any vanes! I've got to get used to that kind of car.

"I hope they
haven't sent a party after me. I should've been back two hours ago.
My mate will be – I guess not. I've been lost before. She'll
probably report I'm late so the police can call me to come on
back.

"I do things
like that. I have absolutely no sense of time and I don't seem to
have much of one where direction's concerned!"

He coded the
com and a smooth sexy female voice answered. He explained about the
antenna and said he would be back in about an hour and a half. The
road was on his maps and he wouldn't get off of it again until he
had the radio fixed, so don't send anybody after him unless he was
late again.

The voice asked
where he was and he said it was called Rock House on his map.

He finished the
call and smiled at the Zurn – which wasn't so smart, when he
thought about it. Showing the teeth wasn't a friendly sign in many
races. Particularly sharp carnivorous teeth like those of the
Kappins.

"We would
invite you to relax before your trip back, but there is illness in
the house and the doctors don't know what it is yet," one of the
Zurn said. "You would probably be quite safe, no matter what it is,
but we are reptilian and fear you would be chancing that you would
possibly carry some form of disease back to reptilian beings in
Northport on your skin or something."

"But I saw a
mammal on the wall as I came in!" Z cried. "At least it looked like
a mammal. It had hair."

"Oh, uh, yes,"
the Zurn replied. "That is the point you see. The doctors have
quarantined them here until they know what we are up against. They
fear it could be a virulent strain of a plague or a highly
contagious virus."

"Oh!" Z
exclaimed, showing great concern. "I would recommend you two stay
as clear as you can of them. Take care! I've seen some really nasty
things before in some of those exotic diseases. I thank you for
your kind help. May the fortune you so much deserve find you!"

He liked that
cordiality. It said enough, but not too much. It could fit the
situation – whatever it was.

He also had a
great idea!

The Zurn
were simply repeating what they were coached to say. It really
wasn't a good idea if they said it to someone who was familiar with
the workings of the empire. One did
not
mention plague, even as a joke, around certain
people.

He headed along
the road until he was past the scanners, then raced back to T6 as
quickly as he could. He was excited and even laughing as he came
aboard.

"Call the
fleet!" he called to the ship as he came into the port gates.
"We've got this bunch! Oh, boy! Have we got them by the short hairs
now!"

"The fleet?" T6
asked. "I'm calling, but why? Half of them are still helping Tab
and TR! What's going on?"

"I want to have
one ship come here. One lousy little ship to cause a panic you
won't believe! This is perfect!"

*What do you
want with the fleet? Have you started something too big for you to
stop?*

"Maita? What
are you doing answering a call to the fleet?"

*I answer all
calls for the fleet. What's going on there? Do you need help? Thing
is having a fit because you never tell us what the hell you're
doing!*

"Maita, they
gave the excuse at the castle that there was a plague or a
suspected plague, so I couldn't be invited in. The doctors are
supposed to be puzzled about exactly what it is. You see what that
means!"

*You should be
calling Hospital, not Fleet! A suspected plague must be reported
immediately, whether it's you or anyone else!*

"Maita, send
one Fleet ship with a Feach crew, except maybe for an Acnian or
two. There's room for a scout class to land in the courtyard. Put
Hospital logos on it. Hospital must identify everyone in such a
place where there's possible plague. Eed is wanted because of the
probe of Klaht. There will happen to be a Fleet ship in Northport –
called to aid in a possible plague situation."

"Hey! Neat!" T6
exclaimed. "That's about what Tab would have done if they gave him
an excuse like that! It's an open obvious invitation to have
officials come in! I'm getting to like this detective bit."

*The ship will
be there in three hours. The doctors will go into a possible plague
area in standard isolation suits. You won't be seen. You are the
records and recording officer for the Hospital expedition, who can
explain whatever you like. Neat, as T Six says. Keep me informed on
this one! *

T6 made a
special isolation suit that would have some very strong defenses
built into it. It would also have a unique system that would
broadcast to T6 through the beam relays already in place, but on a
wavelength they wouldn't be able to monitor.

There was the
wait. Z and T6 sharpened their skills at the insult game a bit. Z
finally requested the floater he had used before be placed near the
castle so he could use it to get back. It would also be there to
give an overview to T6.

The Fleet ship
finally landed and took Z aboard the cruiser carried in the lower
section of the hold. It was painted with the logo of Hospital and
had the Feach medcrew aboard, along with a lot of medical
equipment. The Feach were trained in all aspects of medicine as
well as in military matters. They wouldn't be in more than normal
danger on this mission. Z explained what they were to do very
carefully, and exactly how this thing would be handled.

Hospital ships
had full empire authority in medical matters, Jorn was an empire
world and Zurn was and empire world. Even if they weren't, Bypass
was most definitely an empire world.

Anyone could
call Hospital at any time. It made absolutely no difference if the
world was a member of the empire or not, since Maita made medicine
a field entirely outside of governments and politics.

T6 said it had
the floater in position to watch. If anything went wrong it and
Maita would be instantly alerted. They would both be watching the
whole thing.

Z explained
carefully that the important one here was Eed, but he couldn't even
give a description, other than he was a male Jornian. If it came to
a battle of any sort, stunners or such weapons were to be used if
at all possible. They wanted all these people on the probe, but
they must have Eed alive for the probe. That was imperative. He was
the one person who would know where they could find the big
bosses.

All the
personnel were ready in their suits. He placed the headpiece on his
own. They opened the secondary port. The smaller ship exited and
headed for the castle. When they were above the courtyard Z sent
the alert call on all channels.

"The Castle
Rock House, attention! We have been apprised that there is plague
of undetermined classification in that place.

"This is
Hospital ship fast cruiser Caretaker. Prepare for our landing. We
will ground in the center open courtyard. If the patients are
mobile, please bring them to that place for analysis and treatment.
If they are not ambulatory or in mobile units we will go to them in
their isolation rooms. Speed of action is of the essence in these
matters. Your cooperation is asked and demanded by the Emperor
Maita in a medical emergency.

"Nurk is my
name. I am official records officer and will meet immediately with
your medical personnel. Please arrange for the most efficient use
of facilities and time.

"We are
aground. Castle Rock House is from this point until declared
cleared under Hospital quarantine law sections two and three. Your
cooperation will facilitate hasty completion of this duty."

One of the
Feach gave a thumbs up sign as an answer came over the speakers,
"What the hell are you talking about, Caretaker? There is no plague
here! We don't need help! There isn't even a case of snifflings on
the premises at the moment!"

Z grinned and
spoke into the microphone again.

"Castle Rock
House, this is Caretaker. Nurk speaking. We have a report from a
Kappin citizen, who was told there was a plague attacking your
reptilian lifeforms and which your medical personnel feared may be
virulent. This plague has not been identified. It is our
understanding your own doctors have already placed partial
quarantine, for which we are thankful. The more virulent plagues
can sometimes decimate entire planets. You were wise to see it is
solely confined to this world."

"What kind of
crap..!?!" the voice cried. "Who the...? I mean, there is some
mistake! There is no plague here! No one said there ever was! We
don't know what you're talking about! This is insane and ... there
is no plague here! "

Z was almost
laughing out loud. He controlled himself as he said sternly,
"Negative, Castle Rock House. The hovercraft of Citizen Liahr (He
almost said Lion, which Eed may have heard) recorded the warnings
from reptilian beings later identified as citizens of Zurn. We have
the testimony of a machine incorruptible! This is a warning! If you
obstruct a Hospital crew you are in violation of empire law! There
has been plague reported in this place! Take great care! If there
is no plague here we will be gone in very short time after
determining which Zurn made a false report. If there is plague here
and you are attempting to hide that fact you will be tried in
empire courts. Such actions are capital!

"Beware!
We will enter that house
now
!
Obstruct a Hospital mission at your peril!"

"But there is
no plague here!" the voice cried again. "I don't know what you're
talking about! No one's under quarantine here! You're crazy!"

"Then we will
determine such as fact and will be gone. The Zurn who made the
false report will be tried and if there was any emergency where
this ship was needed and if that emergency has resulted in death or
impairment of anyone such will be considered at that time," Z
announced imperially. "Beware! Do not attempt to obstruct a
Hospital mission! We are coming in!"

He picked up
some papers and led four three-meter-tall Feach out the port and
toward the house.

Bad
Scene!

Z led the
procession into the main doors to one side of the courtyard,
carrying his papers in the folder and his computer unit by its
carry strap. He tried to look very officious and bureaucratic,
simply because that's what these people would expect. They couldn't
know Maita would slow-roast anyone who became obstructive on a
medical mission. The papers were filled out AFTER the crisis was
over in any branch of the empire. No one would pay any attention if
the personnel found no time to ever fill them out if a crisis was
real. Everything was observed by floaters, and every use of any
facility was recorded by the computers at the time. All tests and
results were permanently recorded and available instantly anywhere
in the galaxy. No one was interested in names or other
identification of individuals. Only the race and medical
information were recorded except in cases where a being was found
to be a carrier of something or would need follow-up treatment or
observation.

The empire
wasn't stupid enough to allow a dangerous disease to be carried
anywhere indiscriminately. If any being was found to have anything
that couldn't be cured (Some viruses become a structural part of
the body of the carrier and can't be separated without death or
extreme disability to the carrier. Luckily these things are very
rare) they were marked with a dye that couldn't be removed or
covered.