The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (mini ebook reader .txt) 📕

though the bullies be miles away. Now your own brother. You see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice. Although I first counseled you to consider a pensive approach, I concede my error. Valentin respects strength through confrontation. You must make him feel danger.”

“If I can’t hold my own against him, my mission’s got no shot.”

Ignatius grabbed a faded beach ball from the surf. “You are a man of singular purpose, James; show Valentin your conviction.”

     James stiffened his shoulders and raised his chin – eyes locked upon Valentin’s.

“Don’t worry,” James said. “I’m not gonna kill you now.”

Valentin grunted. “Or later. You have no place here.”

James took a half-step toward his brother.

“Next, you’ll tell me how I made a tragic mistake coming to this universe. You’ll look me over head to toe and ask if everybody on my Earth is so scrawny. Then I say, ‘Sure are, but they’d kick your ass ten ways to Sunday.’ I reckon it’d be all downhill from there.”

Valentin flinched. “I see you rehearsed, big brother. Nothing else to do inside the tube. Yes?”

“Nothing except …” James gazed at his right hand then turned his palm toward Valentin. “Wonder how quickly I could end you.”

The peacekeeper leaked a smile. “No sane man releases an animal from its cage if he thinks the animal will kill him.”

“He might,” James said, “if that was the only way to kill the animal.” He tapped his temple. “I know more about what’s going on here than you ever will, little brother. You got no clue.”

Valentin closed to arms-length. “You are an abomination, hidden away by zealots trying to pervert the Chancellory.”

On the beach, James and Ignatius smiled as they shared the sunset. “Well done,” Ignatius said, raising a glass of white wine. “You baited him right into it.”

On the Scramjet, James locked both hands behind his back.

“Zealots?” He said. “You mean our parents? I can’t wait to meet Emil and Frances. Tell me about them.”

Valentin’s eyes narrowed and his chin tightened.

“They never mentioned you. Not once. What makes you believe they have any interest in seeing you now?”

James couldn’t believe his success. “Never said they wanted to see me. They will anyway.” He paused for a beat. “Dude.”

Valentin blinked first, glanced to his right, where the other two peacekeepers stood in rapt silence.

“What is … dude? A code?”

James felt giddy. “Seriously?” He took another step closer. “I’ll tell you someday. But right now, little bro, I got a question for you. How come a fellow like me crosses one universe to another, and not an hour later, he’s staring at a brother he never knew? What you figure to be the odds for us to meet like this? Collectorate has what, like, forty planets? That’s one big damn coincidence, huh?”

Valentin rolled his eyes. “Your return was scheduled.”

“Were you always on the welcome home committee?”

“And you are implying …?”

“Hell, I ain’t implying a goddamn thing, Valentin. You and me are standing here because somebody else has big plans. I think we’re being played like two Alabama rubes. How about it … bro?”

Valentin closed to within inches of James. Although only three inches taller, he dwarfed his older brother.

“Play your magic trick,” he said. “Turn me to ash.” He continued when James did not unlock his hands. “I thought as much. Listen to me, you arrogant pretender. Admiral Perrone recruited me because he believed if the Jewel became noncompliant, a family member should destroy it to protect the descendency. He has full confidence I will kill you at the earliest, necessary moment.”

James nodded. “Sure. You go on believing that, bro. But I got news for you …”

The shadow appeared to James’s right, as if emerging all at once from a fog. Rear Admiral Augustus Perrone stepped from his cloaked command office, cup of café in hand.

“Squabbling brothers,” he chuckled. “You remind me of so long ago with Maximillian. We found ourselves in the most vicious fights over who would be first to claim a command. He almost killed me once. Max always held a blade better than I.” He faced Valentin. “Meeting your elder brother has not changed your resolve.” He flipped to James. “He proposed killing you almost instantly after acknowledging your identity. Not a welcoming gesture. Yes?”

James pursed his lips. “He don’t understand he’s being played.”

“Ah.” Perrone sipped his café. “But you, James … you, the interloper … have a deeper insight into some grand machination?”

“I recognize this much, Admiral. Twenty-four hours ago, a man like you woulda scared the shit out of Jamie Sheridan. But that kid ain’t around anymore. Near about every-damn-body he grew up with is dead, and I killed some of them. Whatever you got, have at it. I’m ready to play.” He glared at Valentin. “I reckon we both are.”

Perrone laid a firm hand upon Valentin’s shoulder.

“And you, Specialist Bouchet?”

“I want his head,” Valentin said through gritted teeth.

“And why?”

“To hand it to my parents, to remind them I am their only son.”

“Revolting, albeit spirited.” Perrone sipped café. “I think James is smarter and more dangerous than you realize, which would make the prize more deserving. Yes?”

“Sir?”

Perrone stepped away. Just before he re-entered the cloak, he admired the brothers.

“Ah. Family. Pain and grief. Yes? Young gentlemen, in less than an hour, one of you will be dead at the other’s hand. All things considered, I am not sure where the advantage lies. Surprise me.”

Valentin’s searching eyes showed hesitation: A warrior caught off-guard by receiving exactly what he wanted.

“A gift horse,” Ignatius whispered against the winds of the Gulf of Mexico. “He will be suspicious. The seed of doubt you planted will be your greatest weapon.”

“I’ll need every weapon I can find, and maybe something else.”

“Yes.” Ignatius