Jasleen didn’t head to the cargo area right away. There were still a few things she needed to do to get security squared away before the coronal mass ejection reached them. Things that Steen’s secret toy, whatever it was, wouldn’t help them with.

There was also something else gnawing at her since the meeting in Teague’s office. She needed answers. They needed answers. And there was only one way to get them.

Teague was hesitant to confront Dr. Leneski because the two of them were old friends, but Jasleen had no such compunction. It meant going over Teague’s head, but she was willing to do whatever was needed to maintain the safety and security of everyone on Luna.

She moved with purposeful strides down the corridor, getting in touch with her small team with her slate, making sure they were ready for the CME. She assigned each of them a section to check and told them to notify her when they had done so. Then she headed for the main science blister.

Mike Leneski was alone when she entered. She rapped lightly on the open door with her fist.

He looked up from his slate, his bushy eyebrows reminding her of the storms currently coiled over the North American continent back home.

“Chief,” he said, smiling pleasantly. “What can I do you for?”

“It was you,” she said, stepping into the room and over to his desk in three quick strides.

He looked up at her, an emotion playing across his features for a brief moment. Surprise? Guilt? The next moment it was gone, replaced by Leneski’s characteristic swagger.

“Was what me?” he said, placing his slate on his desk.

“Daedalus. The logo on the airlock door in the middle of nowhere. You’re on their board of directors. It was you all along.”

“Jazz, I really don’t know what you’re talking about. I consult for a lot of companies. I’m on a lot of boards. Now, what is this about? What airlock?”

“Chief Baswani,” she corrected, hand on her sidearm. Only Mira got to call her Jazz. “And I’m talking about Proteus.”

At this, he seemed to blanch, then recovered, belching snarky laughter. “Fine. You found me out. You visited the airlock. Very clever. I figured no one would find out this soon. I guess I underestimated our chief of security.”

Leneski reached under his desk for something when the lights went out, followed by a brief muzzle flash and a loud bang.

When the backup power kicked on, Jasleen had taken cover in the doorway, firing off a shot that lodged in a titanium strut over and behind Leneski’s head. He popped out from behind his desk to take another shot, surprisingly fast for an aging scientist, and she spun and ran out of the blister, the bullet striking the door frame where she had been just seconds earlier.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Damn. He’s a good shot too. When did this bastard take marksman training?

“I don’t want to hurt you, Jazz.” Leneski stepped carefully into the main area, his tall, lithe frame casting eerie shadows in the emergency lights. Jasleen had taken cover behind a crescent-shaped workstation. She bristled at the nickname but stayed put.

“Here. Let me prove it.” She watched as he tossed his gun away. It floated slowly to the floor, where it landed with a thunk. “See? Now we can be friends again. I don’t want to hurt anyone. I’m sorry about Morrison. That was…unintentional. The other casualties will be as well. Can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. I can only promise as few of them as possible.”

Jasleen rose from behind the workstation, aimed, and squeezed the trigger, emptying the weapon into Leneski. He staggered backward, jerking as each bullet struck. She did not miss a single time, every round finding a home. She stood and reloaded.

Leneski slumped but remained standing, his eyes downcast. “Are you done?” he said after a long moment.

Jasleen watched in silent horror as, one by one, each bullet worked its way out of its wound and fell to the floor with a hollow ping. The wounds filled with silver and glazed over, becoming something like skin again.

Leneski fixed her with a thin, predatory smile. “You see, Jazz? You can’t hurt me.”

“You’re not Leneski,” she said, her weapon reloaded and aimed at his head. “That shit has done something to you.”

Leneski nodded. “It did indeed. It made me better. It will make us all so much better.”

Leneski was on her then, faster than she could blink. He knocked her gun from her hand, grabbed her by the arm, and jerked her up and over the workstation in one swift move. The next thing she knew, she was flying across the small space. She collided with a desk, sending it flying. Only the lesser lunar gravity kept her from being seriously injured.

Jasleen pushed herself up off the floor, but before she could regain her footing, Leneski was standing over her, grabbing her by her ponytail and yanking her upright. He punched her in the stomach, doubling her over and knocking the wind out of her. Then he casually pushed her forward, sending her careening head first into the bulkhead.

Jasleen’s world spun, black dots filling her vision. She bit the inside of her cheek, tasting blood. She spat it out, leering up at Leneski. From somewhere far away she heard an alarm bleating, distant shouting.

Leneski held his hands up, palms toward him, wiggling his fingers in a come at me gesture.

Jasleen leaped upright and ran at Leneski like a freight train. She gave him a solid right hook to the jaw. He staggered back from the inertia but was otherwise unphased. She hit him again and again, realizing that he was letting her. Not only was she having little to no effect, but the bastard seemed to enjoy it.

She switched tactics. Using the lighter gravity to her advantage, Jasleen leaped into the air, kicking Leneski in the face. She landed and spun, delivering a roundhouse that he caught, wrapping his too-powerful arms tightly around her leg as he lifted and spun her around. He released her, and she crashed into his office doorway, her head bouncing off the doorframe hard.

“See what I mean about it making everything better?” said Leneski, stepping toward her. “Before Proteus, I’d be dead right now. There is no way in hell I should be able to best you. And yet I am.”

He reached down, grabbing Jasleen by her hair again and hauling her to her feet. “I’d love to stay and play, but I have a schedule to keep, and the fact that you know about Proteus and my involvement tells me I don’t have any time to waste. Someone should be along in a moment to collect you. You’re a prize specimen. Until then, I’m afraid it’s lights out.”

Leneski struck her with his fist, and everything went dark.