No Technology Is Invincible (The Death Prophecies-Book Four 4) by Saxon Andrew

issue by just going somewhere else. I don’t think that is a viable option on a starship.”
    “Then the question that needs to be asked is, do you like me?”
    “I guess.”
    Gabe looked up and rolled his eyes, “Just what does that mean?”
    “I’ve been chasing your records at the Academy and I looked at what you did there numerous times to give myself the urge to do better. I must say that you were quite remarkable in some of your essays.”
    “So you respect what I’ve done.”
    “Yes.”
    “Is there anyone else you happen to respect?”
    “I have a great respect for the Prophet and his teachings.”
    Gabe leaned forward in his chair, “You know that the Prophet didn’t put much stock in his Ten Death Prophecies and invited Essay Connor to add to the list.”
    Gabby’s face turned serious, “I read that in the old records that Essay Connor left behind. However, I believe that the Prophecies came from something outside the Prophet and they were intended to guide us. The Prophet was more than he believed, Admiral.”
    Gabe nodded, “I happen to agree with you, Captain. Tell me why no one likes you.” Gabby took a deep breath and slowly blew it out. “You don’t have to answer this question if you don’t want to,” Gabe added.
    Gabby shrugged and began saying, “Since I was old enough to start talking, I realized that I am socially inept. My conversations didn’t fit with what was being discussed and I said all the wrong things at all the right times. My mind has great difficulty getting in step with those around me. My parents took me to numerous therapists to help with the issue but nothing changed. I decided before I started going to school that if no one wanted to be around me, I was just going to have to accept that I will live alone. So, I decided to become an overachiever and put all my focus on being the smartest human on the planet.”
    Gabe stared at her and saw himself as a child. He was also an outcast because of his high intellect. “Well you’ve accomplished that. You have the highest academic scores at the Academy.”
    “Thank you, Sir.”
    “That’s not entirely true.”
    Gabe looked up, “What do you mean, Poul?”
    “She does have the highest scores but she and you are tied for the record.”
    Gabe shook his head, “That’s not possible.”
    “Check it yourself.”
    “Poul, one of my professors gave me an A++ score on an essay and using that grade on a subjective essay was outlawed by the academy. That score makes it impossible for anyone to tie my scores.”
    Poul was silent and Gabe looked at Captain Bartoli. She had turned back to her panel and he saw her face was red. “Captain, what is the ship’s computer talking about?” Gabby continued staring at her panel and Gabe pulled up the Academy’s site on his wrist unit. He checked the historical standings and saw that Poul was right; he and Captain Bartoli were tied at the top. He looked at her and said, “How did you do this?” Gabe paused and said, “No, why did you do this?” Gabe waited and Gabby remained silent. “Captain, this is a direct order; why did you do this?”
    Gabby sighed and turned from her console to him. I’m totally unprepared to discuss this but I’ll just limit myself to the facts.”
    Gabe nodded, “That would be good.”
    “After you convinced Admiral Connor to allow me to go back to the Academy and graduate with my class, I mentioned to Professor Hilo that I would have never done that if our roles were reversed. I suggested that you didn’t know my scores wouldn’t count if I left early. He said you knew that.”
    Gabe nodded, “I did.”
    “I told him that your accomplishments must not have meant very much to you and Professor Hilo said they meant a lot to you.” Gabe nodded. “I suggested to the Professor that you were a better person than I am.”
    She was silent and Gabe said, “What did he say to that?”
    “He said I was right.”
    Gabe stared at her in silence and