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

window for all to see. Three faces – two men, one woman - about the age of her deceased father stared back at her, their brows raised as if seeing a fabled beast for the first time.

“Rayna, may I introduce Leonard Mauritius, Barbara Quinton, and First Admiral Josephus Fierston. Everyone, this is our second Jewel, Rayna Tsukanova. As I’m sure you’d understand, she is struggling to adapt to protocol.”

“I do not struggle, Admiral. Why are these people important?”

“As I explained earlier, they represent a valuable alliance of presidiums and the Guard. They will be able to manage our future. The Bouchets committed countless crimes against humanity. Once they have been prosecuted and their assets redistributed, we will take the appropriate next steps. You were listening as we discussed the plans for the Jewel hybrids? Yes?”

She glanced at Misha, who seemed helpless in his new role.

“I heard, but you are not one to choose for us.”

Barbara Quinton spoke sharply from the cube.

“Augustus, we talked about this issue of non-compliant Jewels. You heard my concern. Does this one need to be reconditioned?”

“No more so than you, Barbara,” he said with a wink. “Rayna speaks her mind. As does Emil’s son. We cannot deny them their voice. The stakes are enormous. They will follow our lead when the time comes.”

Rayna kept the laugh to herself and faced the allies in the cube.

“I do not know you, so how do I trust?” She nodded to Perrone. “He is most confident man. Always he smiles. Very happy today. I think he smiles too much. Do you trust admiral?”

“With respect, young lady,” Barbara said, drawing Rayna’s ire, “you are not here to question our motives. We know what is best for the Chancellory.”

“I do not care what you know best. I will not see you again. You are fools.” She turned to Perrone. “This man is biggest fool.”

As she pivoted, Rayna heard squabbling, offended voices. Misha’s eyes flashed shame, but Ophelia gave away nothing, her stoic eyes flittering back and forth between the Jewel and Perrone. I was right about you, Rayna thought. You are shapeshifter. What is your plan?

A moment later, dissenting voices died down for Perrone.

“Col. Onyx, our young Jewel is no doubt exhausted. Please escort her and Misha Tsukanov to the designated guest quarters. I have sent details to your stream stack.”

The officer, who said nothing throughout the tour but kept one hand close to his sidearm, offered a side-nod and tapped his amp. When he faced Rayna with a barren expression, she wondered how quickly she could take him in a duel. He was as draped in muscles as the other soldiers, but she decided he lacked imagination and dared not think he might lose to a girl. She took comfort in her shashka, which remained pouched against her chest.

“In the meantime,” Perrone told Ophelia and his instreamed allies, “I wish to unveil the most stunning piece of Emil Bouchet’s treachery. Would you agree, Dr. Tomelin?”

“Stunning,” she said, above a whisper. “Yes.”

Rayna noted the timid reply and wanted to hear more, but Onyx motioned for her to retreat. Misha suggested they comply.

“Behind the doors of this next laboratory,” Perrone said, “you will witness the greatest single threat to the elimination of the Chancellory. I have kept this information from you until today for fear of its implications.”

He droned on as he moved toward the double doors, Ophelia at his side. Rayna sensed what lay beyond the doors, but she focused her attention on a single word Perrone used: Fear.

She opened her mind, and Mentor was there for her.

“This will be our greatest challenge, their fear of us. Da?”

“I’d venture to say yes,” Mentor replied. “Clever, dearest.”

“We will have two choices, James and I. We can make them trust us by following orders. Or, we can give orders. Then they will fear us.”

“True. They will also move against you.”

“The stupid ones will. The cowards will do as we say. They will be like Doroshenkos. James and I will be Vasily Shkuro.”

Mentor sighed. “I thought Vasily Shkuro had no honor.”

“He does not.” She turned to Mentor. “But he defeated my family. I will not be defeated again.”

The tall man smiled. “No. I rather think not. If I might make one last pitch to be around when you give these orders? I …”

Mentor stopped, as did everyone else. Rayna, Misha, and Col. Onyx swung about. The double doors opened, but the way through was blocked.

Eight armed soldiers flanked the tallest peacekeeper Rayna saw since crossing the fold. Perrone was irate.

“Major Marshall, what on Earth is this?”

The voices on his cube fell silent, and the images blinked out.

“What this is,” the major said, “is the end of the line, sir. In the name of the Unification Guard, under powers granted to me by The Foundation Treaty, and with permission of the residing Marks Presidium, it is my duty as Major Sexton Marshall to relieve you of command and to detain you on charges of gross neglect of thirty Chancellory bylaws and illicit abuse of the power of the Admiralty to affect treason and murder. Please relinquish your sidearm, sir.”

Rayna tensed. She couldn’t hope to take out a phalanx of peacekeepers plus one more at her side. She thought of every move as the admiral backed away from the major.

“I will relinquish nothing to you, Sexton. You were my most trusted officer all these years. You …”

“Yes, sir. And I took my cues from the master.” Marshall looked beyond Perrone to the others. “The rest of you are free to go. Dr. Tomelin, I have sent Bouchet’s instructions to your stream stack.”

Ophelia pivoted without a word. Col. Onyx lowered his sidearm and strutted toward the phalanx.

“It’s over, Augustus,” Marshall continued. “Your amp has been nullified. We will