Let's Make a Deal (Bob and Nikki Book 11)
rather strong, I should think.”“Sorry to inconvenience you.”
“No you’re not. I saw you grinning.”
“Guilty as charged, your honor.”
The one who tried to kill me said, “I had no idea, Commodore. They told me all the stories were just propaganda, that you were just another dumb monkey, who stumbled onto the mothballed fleet.”
I replied, “You did the best you could with the information provided to you. It’s hard to see how you could have figured out you were being lied to. You do, of course, realize that attempted murder is still going to be a little hard for me to overlook?”
“Yes, I understand that.” I said, “Gene, have you already got some of the Micks on the way?”
“Yes, Boss. Should be arriving any time now.” Sean and Paddy came through the door. “Hi, Boss. We got a call about a disturbance down here?”
“Surely did disturb me. Apparently, that fellow over there tried to poison me, with a throwing knife.” I looked around and pointed to it. “I’d get it for you, but I don’t care for the taste of the antidote.”
“No problem, Boss. Would you like for him to trip and fall on it on the way back?”
“I’d rather he didn’t. I need to have a long talk with him, a little later on. Just to make sure that happens, can you see to it that he doesn’t have any visitors?”
“Sure, Boss.”
The Ambassador spoke up. “You’re holding him incommunicado?”
“I don’t trust his friends here to let him live long enough to talk to me.”
Natti looked them over. “Probably wise, Commodore.” Dee and Beatriz walked in. Beatriz asked, “You needed us, Commodore?”
“Ambassador Dressi here, has come to negotiate with us, on behalf of the Oak Empire.” There was a shout from where the beaten Squirrels were standing. “Your negotiators are female? This is too much. We will take no more of your insults.” He jumped away from the Marines, and ran at me. I managed to get ahold of the top of his head, and hold him far enough away that he couldn’t land a blow. Dee said, “Sensei Mo has taught you well, Boss. What’s next, the eye poke?”
“I thought I would just let him wear himself out. I’m sure Gene is getting good footage, perhaps you can bribe him with assurances that we won’t release it.” Beatriz wiggled her wrist, and hollered, “Look out, Boss!” Having an idea what the threat was, I ducked behind Curly, who was still doing his best to get close enough to do me some damage. Beatriz shot the blade out of the air. I shouted, “I thought you searched these idiots!”
The Marine Sergeant said, “I finally see what’s going on, Boss. Those dang knives have the same density as bone. The way they wear them, right against the jawbone, makes it so we can’t see them on our scanners.”
“Open their mouths and look, then. Poke around in there with your fingers, if you need to. I’m tired of this crap.”
Dee was looking at Beatriz, astonished, when I turned around. “A Jim West rig, really? Just because you got beat on the draw once?”
“What can I say? Nunya likes to tinker.”
I said, “Wouldn’t it be easier to jump in the box, and get your reflexes bumped up a notch or two?”
Beatriz replied, “Then she would be complaining I cheated.”
“I’m thinking her ship has an autodoc, too. If she chooses not to use it, that isn’t your problem, now is it?”
Beatriz lit up. The Ambassador asked, “Do I understand correctly? You’re telling her she should go in the autodoc and get her reflexes improved, when she just shot a knife out of the air?”
“It would be easier than wearing that spring rig on her arm all the time.”
“You mean you think she should be able to do that at any time?”
“Not me, her. The last time the situation came up, she didn’t get a shot off. She was upset with herself. To tell the truth, I was upset with myself, as well. The knife only had one bullet scar. My assistant Chief of Security hit it. I must have missed.”
He asked, “How do you know she hit?”
“The knife was aimed at her son. She wouldn’t miss.”
“I see. Do you need this other fellow? I can give him to you as well, if you like.”
“I think I’ll just PNG him, make him stay on your ship.”
“PNG?”
“Persona non grata. Translates to ‘person not welcome’ or some such. Just means I don’t want him to set foot off your ship so long as you are here.” Dixie spoke up. “Boss, this one is safe, no poison on it.”
“Make sure it gets to the Armory. Whoever takes over for Nunya gets the job of figuring out how to make us some of those.”
“Understood, Boss. Jackie is going to hate me, you know that, don’t you?”
“Jackie is taking over the Armory?”
“Yes, Boss.”
“It’s in good hands, then.” I turned to the Marines. “March the one who threw the knife back to their ship, and make sure he stays there. Have the other two had cheek checks?”
“Yes, Boss. We found more souvenirs for the Armory.”
“Have you pushed the update on searching Squirrels to all the Marines in the fleet?”
“No, Boss. Commodore Mason’s detachment is in FTL. We’ll be sure they get it when they get in.”
“Good enough. I’ll need two of you to tag along, in case the two remaining fellows get frisky.”
“On it, Boss.” Two of the bigger bots stayed behind, and the rest headed out with the guy I had PNGed. One of the remaining Squirrels asked, “Do we get our weapons back now?”
I replied, “I suppose I will give you partial credit. I was born at night. It was not, however, last night. You get your