Arach by C.M. Simpson (books to read for 12 year olds TXT) 📕

has proven in defeating the arach code infecting Mack’s ship, and he is on loan from his clan. Do not harm him.”

I heard Delight hesitate, going off-line to consult in muffled tones with members of her team. When she came back, she was able to give her answer.

“If you can keep him in the control room, and every other spider out of it, then I can guarantee his safety. If he wanders, or the arach are on the bridge when we arrive, I will not be able to guarantee his life.”

“We will do our best,” the queen said, and I knew I’d just received another instruction.

“I can hunt for remnants of arach software from here just as well as anywhere else,” Askavor added. “I will speak with Tens.”

“Fine.” Tens did not sound impressed.

I left them to it, and then Askavor gave an agitated chatter.

“They have launched the first wave of shuttles.”

“Shuttles?” I asked.

“A half dozen,” Askavor confirmed.

“First wave?” Delight.

“The first wave is tasked with boarding, as the queen’s ship comes into range to force dock. The challenge is for them to make three trips between their target and the queen’s ship before it starts docking maneuvers.”

“You are shitting me,” Delight said. “How long?”

As I listened to Askavor’s answer, I wondered how he knew the arach’s ship-to ship routine so well, and knew it was tangled somewhere in the same past in which he had learned arach coding.

“Not now,” the spider said, and I got the impression that he would be just as happy if it was not ever, but that he might tell me at a later time… perhaps—if the circumstances were right. I put that idea out of my head; there were more important issues at hand.

“Agreed,” Delight added, speaking to me, and then, to the queen. “Your Majesty, I look forward to meeting you to discuss how Odyssey might be of service to your world in the future.”

“I look forward to it,” the queen replied, and then turned to me. “Thank you, Cutter.”

With that, she vanished from inside my head, leaving me to farewell Delight.

“See you soon, kiddo,” Delight said. “Try not to get yourself killed.”

“Ditto,” I replied.

Try not to get myself killed? Who said I was going to get killed?

“She has a point,” Mack told me. “You do keep hurting yourself.”

I rocked up onto an elbow to dispute that fact, and then fell back, as pain lanced through my chest and down my injured arm. Fuck!

So, I changed the subject. It was better than watching myself bleed.

“Whatever, Mack. Let’s get this place locked down, hey? You and the other violent types got a plan?”

“Violent?” Mack sounded almost offended, and I looked up to see two vespis faces looking down at me from across his console. Their antennae were quirked in a way that suggested they weren’t happy. I didn’t bother trying to explain. It was easier just to move on to something different.

“Would Rohan be safer here or in one of the dropships?”

“Drop-ship,” Tens said, pulling himself away from the security scans long enough to answer. “Suited up, and out of sight. He can link into the ship’s systems from there, which might be useful if the arach compromise the bridge.”

“Done,” I said, and looked at the boy.

He was already getting to his feet, the dog standing by his side. Both were eyeing the vespis bodyguard with a wariness borne of experience.

“Your Majesty?” I asked, and she tilted her head towards the boy. “He needs an escort. Who do you suggest?”

“K’Tina,” the queen replied, and the bodyguard that had been assigned to me looked at the boy and his dog.

“I will keep them safe,” she said.

She looked even less impressed than she had before, but I guessed that didn’t matter. As long as she kept the pair of them safe, she could be as unimpressed as she wanted to be. I fixed Rohan with the sternest look I could manage from flat on the floor.

“Stay safe, and watch her back.”

The guardian vespis reared back a little, and I read surprise in its posture. Surprise, but not mockery.

“It means he must protect you as you protect him.” I paused. “Or as best he can. He is only young.”

“Hey!” There was reproach in Rohan’s voice, but K’Tina gave that rapid-fire buzz of vespis amusement.

“I understand. I am sure we will protect each other, to the best of our abilities.”

“That is all I ask.”

I stopped, suddenly aware of the silence in the control center. Unfortunately, Mack was the only person I could see, and he was sitting with his elbows on his console and his head in his hands. I twisted a little, trying to catch sight of more than him, Tovy, Rohan and K’Tina.

“What?”

“You’re awfully bossy for someone who’s not in charge.”

Not in charge? Since when?

And Mack started laughing.

“That was a joke, Cutter. You’re doing okay. Just don’t get too comfortable.”

Why the hell not?

“Because that’s my job you’re doing so well.”

“Thanks.”

I think. Still, he had a point. I was in charge—and he had put me there—whether he liked it or not. I could either step up, or fall down, and I was damned if I was going to fall.

“Do you have a plan, yet?” I asked, and a female vespis, whose voice I didn’t recognize, replied.

“We are ready to go.” Her voice hitched in what might have been amusement, but the tone was gone too fast for me to be sure. “Just give the word.”

“Word,” I said, so very much not entertained. “Go. I trust you.”

Mack pushed out of his chair.

“Where are you going?”

He came over to stand beside me, and I stared up at him. He looked damned huge from this perspective. That drew a smile from him.

“And you’d best not forget it.”

“What do you want, Mack?”

“I’m going to get you into one of the observation seats,” he said, referring to the chairs set in niches at the back of the bridge. “That way if we need to take emergency measures, you can be podded.”

His words reminded me