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  ‘I was just giving the team a final briefing before they set off,’ said Vickers. ‘Just the usual pep talk and to keep covered up at all times. The plan was to locate the bug nests and zap those with the insecticide. We can’t use a general spray over the whole jungle, because we need to keep other insects to maintain the ecosystem and pollinate everything.’

  ‘You have a list of names?’ Lake asked.

  ‘All on here,’ said Carver, passing him a Data Disc. ‘Including a copy of this footage.’

  ‘Thanks. Which one is Dando out of that lot?’

  ‘The one on the end, nearest the camera,’ said Vickers. ‘We are…we’re both too professional to let our personal lives interfere with our work. Besides…’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Venitia and I were estranged before Sam Dando made his play. Sam and I were still pals. There was no ill feeling between us.’

  Lake studied Vickers eyes and asked, ‘Still. It must have been awkward for a time. Such a close knit community. Population what…seven hundred and twenty nine?’

  ‘Minus those who were killed before Sam Dando,’ said Carver. ‘Keep watching the screen. The team are about to head off into the jungle.’

  Lake watched carefully. The screen was split into three with images from three directions.

  ‘Concentrate on the picture on the left,’ said Carver.

  The bio-team took a path together, sharing the spraying equipment. They kept disappearing in and out of the foliage as they went deeper into the jungle. After twenty minutes the team emerged into a clearing. One screen became the recording made by one of the team as they set about destroying a troglonite nest.

  Carver said, ‘Our understanding is that these bugs have nests that can go miles in all directions. Not particularly deep, but they do have a well-organised social system. They are all male, apart from the queens. They are the egg layers. A nest can have a hundred or more queens, and a colony can have thousands of workers, soldiers and foragers. They all have specific jobs to do.’

  Lake asked, ‘Are they all poisonous?’

  ‘No,’ said Vickers. ‘Only the soldiers. The workers make up the majority, but they generally stay in or close to the nest. The soldiers work with the foragers. They do the killing, then the foragers take home the spoils. The team are about to spray the nest. It’s a liquid insecticide that releases a toxic gas into the nest chambers, killing the lot, including the queens.’

  As the gas was released from the liquid, the ground suddenly became alive with the dying beetles. They covered the team, safe in their bio-suits, too weak to do harm. They were brushed off to die on the ground.

  ‘The team would go back the next day to reapply the spray,’ said Vickers. ‘Watch this.’

  The team were heading back with their equipment. They disappeared behind some bushes, and then they could be seen making their way through the jungle. Unseen by those in front, came a flash of something behind them. The thing was dark blue in colour, and moved oddly. It was impossible with the foliage to determine what it really was, and the image lasted no more than a few seconds, then it vanished.

  ‘At this point,’ said Carver, ‘The others had no idea something had happened. They were about to lock up the spray units when one noticed one of them was missing. Thinking possibly there had been an accident, they returned to the nest. This is what they found.’

  The hand that had taken the recording had been shaking. What they could see was the remains of a man in what was left of a bio-suit. It had been shredded in several places, allowing the troglonite bugs to attack the man inside. A few bugs were crawling out of the gashes in the suit, dying from the gas, but having had their revenge on a Human.

  ‘The bugs are tough and strong,’ said Carver, ‘But no way could they have ripped into that suit. That could only have been done by somebody with a sharp implement. Somebody slashed the suit and the bugs did the rest.’

  ‘Where’s the suit?’ Lake asked.

  Carver went to a large steel strongbox which filled one corner of his office, floor to ceiling. He stared at a retinal scanner and the door hissed open. The remains of the suit were in a black sealed bag, and Carver picked it up and handed it to Lake, before closing the safe door.

  ‘Who has had access to this?’

  ‘Just the medical team, not that they could do much about the body. All that remained was bone. Those little devils stripped everything off the body, including the brain.’

  ‘In just five or six minutes?’ said Lake.

  ‘Yes. The skeleton is in the medical centre in the mortuary. Normally, we dispose of mortal remains quickly, to avoid any possibility of diseases starting. I’d appreciate it if you would examine the body at your earliest convenience, so we may lay the poor fellow to rest.’

  ‘Understood.’ Lake stood up. ‘Commander Vickers. You realise I will have to talk to those involved? That includes your wife.’

  ‘Of course.’

  Lake assured Vickers, ‘Nothing heavy handed. I don’t want to blow my cover, so I’ll tread carefully.’

  ‘I’d appreciate that. Venitia is a wonderful woman. I still have feelings for her.’

  Lake picked up the bio-suit, folded it up and left Carver’s office.

  Chapter 6

  When he got to his room, Lake saw that his cases had been left outside the door. He opened the door and carried the cases inside, placing them on the bed. He checked each one to ensure none had been tampered with. They hadn’t. The piercing alarms had not been activated. He hung up his clothes and put the two cases in the closet. This left two more cases. One contained all a man in his line of work required, the other specifically for communication with his department. This smaller case he opened. It was pretty much inbuilt, with a few small items which he removed.

  One item, a pyramid shape of a translucent material he placed on a chair. The Data Disc Carver had given him, he placed in the slot at the top. Then, from the case he took a small container and took out another disc and inserted this one, also. Seconds later, a voice came from the pyramid.

  ‘Lake?’

  ‘Boss. Hearing me ok?’

  ‘Yes. Continue.’

  ‘Odd,’ said Lake. ‘Can you see the data from the other disc?’

  ‘Yes. Not a bad picture. What am I looking at?’

  Lake said. ‘They have a mutated troglonite bug infestation. They have to be ten times the size of any others I’m aware of. Fairly common on quite a few planets, I believe. Stowaways on early ships. Common knowledge. From what I gather, a nest of these stripped a man to the bone in about five minutes. And they were dying.’

  There was a pause, then, ‘So they killed the man?’

  ‘Not unless they were packing sharp knives. I’ll show you.’

  Lake got the suit from the black bag and held it to the pyramid. ‘See these slits? I’ve not had a chance to examine them yet, but the bugs, even these big devils, did not slit the suits.’

  ‘Interesting. So. Somebody slashed the suit to let the bugs inside?’

  Lake said, ‘That’s one theory. Boss. I need to spend time studying the data. Base layout, personnel, who were where and when. But before you go. I have a bug here. Can you let a genuine entomologist take a look at this for me?’

  ‘Scan it through.’

  Lake lay the bug on his hand so a sense of scale could be shown, then scanned it into the pyramid.

  ‘That’s a troglonite bug?’

  ‘A soldier,’ said Lake. ‘One nip from this and I’d be a dead man.’

  ‘Gives me the creeps just looking at it. I’ll have it looked at. Jeez. You get all the fun jobs.’

  Lake grinned. ‘Don’t I just.’

  ‘Good luck, Lake. Keep me in the loop.’

  ‘Goodnight, Boss.’

  Chapter 7

  Lake spent three necessary but arduous hours going over the records Carver had given him, making extensive notes. He realised he had only scratched the surface but he needed a break. Packing eve
rything safely away and resetting the locks on the cases, he showered, found a casual outfit and locked his room up. Knowing the layout of the Base, he went to the communal dining area and bar. Beer was the one guaranteed inconsistency on interplanetary travel. He needed a feed before he was brave enough to try this planet’s offerings.

  Because the Base worked continuously, food was always available. Not necessarily good, but available and free. Lake walked the line of covered containers. A young man stepped forward. Lake pointed at one container. The young man shook his head. Point taken. The next container. More head shaking. The third. A shrug. Getting warmer. Finally, the next two containers got the nod of approval and two bowls were filled.

  ‘Thanks, Kobo,’ said Lake, reading the man’s name tag. ‘Any beer I should avoid?’

  ‘All of them. But there is a dark brew that’s almost drinkable.’

  Lake nodded. ‘In moderation?’

  ‘Who is? Oh. Right. If you’re still standing after three, go home.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  Lake carried his tray to a quiet table away from the rest of the diners. He ate the food and wondered what Kobo’s taste buds had died from. The beer didn’t help.

  ‘Settling in?’

  He turned to see a pretty and familiar face. ‘Captain Casey.’

  The young woman sat down opposite him. ‘Get your bags ok?’

  ‘I did. Thank you. Care for a beer?’

  Casey shook her head. ‘I’ve better stuff on the ship. That and the fact I’m away in a couple of hours.’

  ‘No peace for the wicked. Where are you going?’

  ‘Varlindra. I’ve never been there before. Take about a month. The ship’s containers are full of helium three. Half of the load for Varlindra, then the rest of it for home.’

  Lake said, ‘Varlindrans. Nice people, I hear. Now that they’ve stopped trying to take over the galaxy.’

  ‘What about you? You never said a lot on the ride over here.’

  Lake said, ‘I’m here to try to sort out the bug infestation.’

  ‘You’re a bug man?’

  ‘Entomologist. Yeah. Bug man.’

  ‘Hurgh! Good luck with that. I have to go. Oh. Only drink the dark beer. Trust me on that.’

  ‘Thanks,’ said Lake. ‘Have a safe trip to Varlindra.’

  Casey got up to leave. ‘See you around, bug man.’

  Lake watched the young woman walk away, her tight uniform showing all of her curves, and sighed.

  Chapter 8

  In the nightmare, it was her face. It always started with her face. Both of them. The beautiful one and the scarred face. One he loved, the other he was responsible for. Both haunted him. Tilly Jordan had been his number two on a mission. She was also his lover. Talk in quiet times about having a baby together. Then came the drixolate runners. The most pernicious and addictive drug in the galaxy. It was simple. Swipe a victim’s skin with it, and bingo. Hooked for life. A regular dose to avoid a painful internal organ failure. Control of supply meant sky high prices. Victims did anything under the suns to avoid the pain. Can’t pay up? Sorry, you die. And not in a good way.

  Across fifteen planets, nineteen million had died. Lake and his team had been hot on the trail of the head of the organisation. They had finally cornered Grouch. Head honcho. Lake had hesitated one second too long. The single laser shot had almost killed Tilly. Grouch was dead two seconds later.

  Tilly had half her face blown off. Surgeons did what they could. It wasn’t enough. Tilly’s eyes were still a gorgeous cornflower blue, but the twinkle had gone. A reconstructed nose looked unreal. Attempts at replacing the lower half of her face had failed and she refused to undergo more surgery. Lake hadn’t abandoned her, his love too deep. But she wanted nothing to do with him.

  Tilly now hated him, and when her loathing for him got too much, she would contact him, make sure he could see her face, say nothing, turn the knife. Three years on, she was still doing that. His life, it seemed, was to battle the evil throughout the galaxy, and be haunted by the ruined face of the woman he loved, unable to move on. He woke up with that. Nothing new. He showered, dressed, and set off to the mortuary.

  ‘You want to see the body?’

  The medic had his hand on the handle. Lake hadn’t had breakfast. ‘Do this.’

  Out it came. Bones. Picked clean.

  ‘This it?’

  The medic said, ‘Impressive, yeah?’

  ‘The ability to strip a body this clean in five minutes? Does that disturb you?’

  The medic pushed the body back. ‘Me? Why should it. It’s a stiff. End of.’

  ‘Thank God for a lack of imagination, then. Marrow?’

  ‘What?’

  Lake shrugged. ‘In the bones. Marrow.’

  ‘No. All sucked out. Most of it, anyway. You’re the bug man, right?’

  ‘Entomologist,’ Lake corrected, trying to sound like a professor. ‘You can put him back now. Thanks.’

  The young man pushed the drawer back. ‘Can we get rid of it now?’

  Lake bristled at the way the man said “it”, as if it was a sack of garbage, but let it go. ‘Not just yet.’

  Without a thank you, Lake left the chilly mortuary for the dining area, filled a plate with food and got a beaker of reconstituted orange juice. He sat in a sombre mood, the residue of the nightmare about Tilly and the sight of the skeleton still on his mind. He hardly tasted the food as he considered what to do next. As he did this, he saw a familiar face. Needing an excuse to introduce himself, he drained the beaker and returned to the self-service counter, behind the woman in the line. She glanced at him, smiled briefly, then helped herself to a modest amount of food.

  ‘The eggs leave a lot to be desired,’ Lake said.

  ‘They usually do. You’re new.’

  ‘Lake. Victor Lake. Professor.’

  ‘Ah!’ said the woman. ‘The bug man.’

  ‘So everyone keeps telling me. I didn’t catch your name?’

  She picked up her tray and headed to a table. ‘I didn’t give it.’ She set the tray down, and looked back at him. ‘Sorry. That was rude of me. Please. Join me.’

  Lake took his juice and sat at her table.

  ‘Venitia Vickers. At least until the divorce is final. Records are dragging their feet.’

  Lake knew who she was, but couldn’t let her know he had been studying her file along with hundreds of others. ‘These things happen.’

  He decided her image on the records did not do her justice. She was a slim woman, thirty-six in a month’s time. Her hair was a mane of auburn waves to her shoulders, and her eyes were the deepest green he had ever seen. It was a simple procedure to enhance eye colour, these days, but decided her eyes were the real deal. From where he sat, the whole package was the real deal. It was understandable that Sam Dando had fallen for her.

  He could also understand why Deputy Commander Vickers still loved her. But he figured it was more than just about looks. Venitia had a presence about her; a charisma that glowed from her. Vickers had been upfront about Dando and Venitia. He couldn’t rule out Vickers killing Dando out of jealousy, but three others just to cover it up? He doubted that.

  ‘Those bugs,’ she said. ‘Can you get rid of them?’

  Lake shrugged. ‘If we could spray the whole jungle, it would be easier. We can’t kill off all the beneficial insects, though. That and the fact we would be spraying our food supply.’

  Venitia pushed the plate of half-eaten food away. ‘Something needs to be done. Those creatures have already killed four people.’

  Raven shook his head. ‘I had a look at the bio-suit. Those troglonite beetles may be big, but they couldn’t penetrate that suit fabric.’

  She glared at him with those green eyes. ‘I understand what you’re inferring, Professor Lake. But I refuse to accept anyone would deliberately kill Sam Dando. He was such a wonderful…’

  ‘Friend?’

  She got up to go. ‘Everyone liked Sam. Even my ex-
husband. This was a horrible accident.’

  ‘Once, possibly. Four times? I doubt it.’

  Venitia stared at him, raw emotion in her expression. ‘Get rid of the bugs and we get rid of the problem.’

  He didn’t reply, then he watched her walk away.

  Chapter 9

  Lake’s intention was to talk to Deputy Commander Vickers, and he was on his way to do just that when a man stepped in his way. It was Miller. The man in charge of the helium three extraction. His suit had the shabby look of one worn by a hands-on individual, patched up in several places, with years of indelible grime embedded into it.

  ‘I’ve been looking for you,’ said Miller.

  ‘And now you’ve found me. Can I help you?’

  ‘Oh, yeah,’ said Miller. ‘Get rid of the murderer and we’ll all be happy.’

  Lake said, ‘Sorry. I’m just a professor here to find a solution to the troglonite problem.’

  ‘Bullshit. Can we talk? Somewhere safe?’

  ‘This way.’

  Lake led the way to his rooms, let them in then locked the door. Lake knew his cover had been blown, so said nothing.

  ‘Are you sure this is safe in here?’ Miller asked.

  ‘Wait,’ said Lake.

  From his small case, he took out a device the size and shape of an old fashioned pen. Twisting it, he placed it on the table. Several beams of red light fanned out from the tip, searching every inch of the room. Seconds later, the lights retracted and the tip glowed green for a few seconds, then went out.

  ‘Clean-sweep,’ said Lake. ‘Ok. I’m listening.’

  ‘I’m guessing you already know about me. About all of us. Carver would have briefed you.’

  Lake sat on the bed, Miller took the only chair. ‘Your point being?’

  ‘I never bought it for one minute about you being a bug man. Sure. We need to get rid of those, but they’d send somebody from the D S I first, to find the killer.’