Crucible of a Species Read Online Free PDF Page B

saw the professor turn to rummage through his briefcase.
    The midshipman froze when she saw him pull out a large workstation tablet and attach a short cord to the Coil. A chill ran down Janet’s spine, Oh my God! The tablet is his power source and controller all in one. He’s not going to wait for docking, the jerk’s going to set it off right now.
    No wait! That would be suicide! He can’t be that much of a kook!
    Janet climbed from the cramped confines of her seat into the aisle. The Professor was so intent on connecting the cable he didn’t even look up. She had to get control of either the tablet or the coil’s power cord but there was no good way to grab him so she leaned heavily on the back of his seat for support, “Hi Professor.”
    Bockheit jumped, his reaction pulling the tablet and cord away from her. Black, dilated eyes turned a fanatic’s hate-filled stare toward Janet. “Get away from me! I told you I was not any of your professors.”
    The midshipman reached out for the cord, “What are you doing with that coil? You know you can’t activate it inside the shuttle. I’d feel a lot safer if you would unplug it.”
    The others in the shuttle were looking up at the heated discussion so Janet decided to call for help, “Chief, can you help us?”
    The chief was thinking about last night’s ball game and the last thing he wanted on top of his low-level hangover was some starry-eyed midshipman badgering him this early in the morning. Ah Hell, Midi or not she’s technically an officer. Sometimes it’s hard to take these bushy tailed youngsters seriously but humor her I will.
    “Beggin’ your pardon, ma’am, but what is the problem?” The chief’s voice carried across the cabin as he reluctantly rose from his seat.
    “This civilian, Professor Bockheit. He has …”
    “Sorry Midshipman, you’re mistaken. Manifest and security clear him as Dr. Robert Sentros from the old NASA. I hate to question your …”
    Janet saw the tablet come to life from the corner of her eye. Bockheit activated a program and a coil controller app popped up filling the display. Her mind raced, It’s the same program we used in the lab and the controller started with all the settings needed for coil activation already entered. All he needs to do is enter one command and …
    Janet slid her arm from the seat back and onto his shoulder as she drove for the cord. She missed but managed to grab the tablet. Foul breath enveloped her as he screamed, “No! A few more minutes are all I need. Back off …”
    The chief was thoroughly confused. This was very irrational behavior even if she was a midshipman but he wasn’t about to be charged for laying hands on an officer. “Knock it off you two!” He bellowed.
    Someone pushed around the chief and grabbed Janet’s arm so tight she thought it was going to break. A part of her mind noticed captain’s bars on the sleeve as the hand twisted, breaking her grip on the tablet.
    That sleeve scared Janet more than the professor, Shit! Now I’ve gone and done it. How the hell am I going to explain myself out of this one. Well, as Dad always said, in for a penny, in for a dollar!
    Janet swung around in what she was sure would be a career-ending move. Her free hand glanced off the back of the fanatic’s head as she brought it across and into the throat of the senior officer. The force of the unbalanced blow threw her between the seats and on top of Bockheit who was squealing incoherently at this point. Janet grappled for the back of the seat and managing to twist around towards the professor.
    The chief had seen enough. He leaned forward grabbing the midshipman’s shoulder and pulled as best he could in the tight confines of the cabin.
    Bockheit reacted instantly by lifting his knee into Janet’s side but the blow had no force behind it and did little to stop her from grabbing the cord connecting the coil to the tablet. The fanatic screamed and swung the titanium tablet up and into her