Rogue Galaxy, Episode 1: The Captain and the Werewolf by J. Boyett

him, at least, at least for as long as it would be needed. Farraday felt that he'd managed to hold back one valuable piece of information, which was that actually, if Dobbler were able to perform the feat Farraday wanted, he could name his own price. Mustn't let him know how completely he had the captain in the palm of his hand.
    “All right,” began Farraday, “listen, Dobbler....”
    They were interrupted by the doors swishing open and Blaine stepping through. As they closed again Farraday was trying not to grimace and wishing he'd ordered the guard not to let anyone in.
    Blaine glared from the captain to Dobbler and back again, clearly struggling to control herself.
    “Commander,” said Farraday. “I thought you were going to take over for me on the bridge.”
    “I left Beach in charge, sir. It seemed like something important must be going on, sir, for you to call me out of our work in the Tubes.” Of course, if she'd needed clarification she could have contacted him via communicator.
    Dobbler spoke up: “Commander Blaine, I was just telling Captain Farraday that—”
    “No one's spoken to you, Dobbler,” she snapped.
    “Actually, I was speaking to him,” said Farraday. He felt his rage bubbling, goaded almost into a quiet frenzy by his fear for Jennifer, his fear of what he'd be forced to do to her if they didn't get her out of those Tubes. “Wait for me on the bridge, Commander.”
    “Sir, are you sure I can't help you here? Maybe in an advisory capacity?...”
    “I don't have time for this,” Farraday snapped, and turned back to Dobbler. Seeing the startled, calculating way the ensign was studying him, Farraday felt he'd screwed up—the kid now had a glimmer of how important to the captain whatever he was about to ask was.
    “I've read your file,” said Farraday. His manner now was brisk, without the chatty friendliness of before. “You're from Bone World. Right?”
    “Born and bred, sir.”
    “And you used to wrangle para-apes. Correct?”
    “Both in the wild and on the rodeo circuit, sir. We start young on Bone World. Would've gone into it professionally if I hadn't chosen the Fleet, sir.”
    “What a loss for the rodeo,” said Blaine wryly.
    Farraday ignored her. “I understand a para-ape isn't all that different from a werewolf. And the psychic link you use to lasso yourself to the para-ape from afar and track it—that should also work with a werewolf?”
    Dobbler had already seen where this was headed, and he seemed very game. “That's what they say, sir, though I've never had a chance to try it out.”
    “Well, you're going to get it now. Head to Requisitions, get what you need, and meet me at the Thompson entry on Deck Three in fifteen minutes.”
    Blaine started to speak: “Captain, if I may—”
    Farraday cut her off: “You help me bring Lieutenant Summers in safely, Ensign Dobbler, and I'll forget all about your little misadventure on Kimball.”
    Blaine tried again: “Captain!”
    Farraday kept ignoring her. “And if you fail, no deal. Understood, Ensign?”
    The kid was grinning and bouncing in his seat, barely able to wait for Farraday's dismissal. “You don't have to worry about that, sir! I'm not going to let you down.”
    “All right. Get going, I'll meet you at the Tubes.”
    Dobbler sprang up, snapped a salute at the two offices, and bolted out of the conference room. The security guard shouted after him, and Farraday called, “It's all right! Let him go!”
    He stood. Avoiding Blaine's eyes, he moved toward the door, saying, “All right, Commander, I'll be indisposed, so you'd better get to the bridge....”
    “A moment, sir,” said Blaine, and placed herself in front of him.
    When he looked at her she was startled by the danger in his eyes. “Out of my way, Commander.”
    “I'm sorry, sir, but I need to talk to you. You can throw me in the brig if you like. Not that I'd have to stay in there very long, it looks like.”
    Farraday sighed, then expelled a