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

Percy didn’t ponder for long. His answer was unsurprising.

“If I ever was, it passed through me without saying hello. Never saw it growing up, didn’t know what it looked like. My descendancy is more about loyalty and tradition. Love, not so much. Holds you back. Kills your leverage. Or so they taught me.”

“Yep,” Michael replied in a cloud of smoke. “That’s the Chancellory’s secret sauce. ‘If you don’t love them, it’s a lot easier to kill them.’ I learned that on Earth, and I mastered it when I put on this uniform. But here’s the rub, Muldoon. I was in love with Sam long before I became a killer. I murdered people for the Solomons. Now I murder people for the Chancellors.

“But guess what? I still love Sam. She’s four hundred sixty-five light-years away, and I love her more than ever. She’s my only reason for living. Shit. The only reason I deserve to live.

“So, I’m gonna ask you something important, and I need you to be honest. OK? I’m trusting you’re not just my brother, but you’re my friend.” Percy put down his half-full glass. Michael knew the next sixty seconds might decide his fate.

“When we were on disposal duty a few days ago, you told me you hoped I’d have my chance at saving Sam and killing Brother James. Did you mean it?”

“Of course.”

“To do that, I’d have to be part of the invasion fleet. Yes?”

He shrugged. “Naturally, Cooper.”

“Suppose the Admiralty barred me.”

“Why would they do that?”

“Dunno. Maybe I’d be a distraction. Or maybe they don’t wanna risk a combat hero who looks like me.”

“But … wait. Didn’t the Supreme Admiral give you an exemption?”

“She did, but times change. I’m just one dude, and a pretty goddamn inconvenient one, to boot.” He pushed the bottle aside and locked in on Percy. No more pretense. I have to know.

“Muldoon. Percy. Have you heard anything at all about what’s going to happen to me when we’re finished here? From the others? Nilsson?”

Michael saw a spark of recognition in those clumsy eyes. Percy stiffened and scanned the Commons.

“Look, Michael. When I was assigned to share quarters with you, Nilsson told me to provide regular reports about your activities.”

“What do you mean?”

“He wanted to make sure you weren’t working against us. He seemed worried about sedition.”

“That tracks. I did fight for the Solomons. Anything else?”

“Nothing about the invasion, which is damn odd because we’re offloading staff through the Anchor.”

“How do you know?”

“Nilsson assigned George, Carver, and Learner to four-hour lab rotations. George said she signed out five support staff this morning. Alayna said she might not be hooking up with me again until Praxis.”

“Hold up. Maj. Nilsson is running ops on Level 1?”

“I’m sure he’s following orders like the rest of us.”

“But whose orders? Don’t you think it’s damn strange? If we’re evacuating, why keep quiet?”

Percy tapped off his pipe and stowed it.

“Respect the chain of command.”

“Oh, yeah? And what if the chain is being broken?”

“Again, Michael. Not my worry. Yours either. Just play it cool. Our orders will come down soon enough. You’ll see.” Percy fidgeted, his body language shifting before Michael’s eyes. “Look, thanks for the drinks. I need to take a shower. Alayna gave me a damn fine workout. See you for chow in a couple hours. Yes?”

“Chow. Sure. See you then, Percy.”

Michael felt a sense of dread the instant Percy walked away. Others in the Commons seemed to be minding their own business, but he wondered how many were also in on the secret evacuation. How was Nilsson managing this under Cabrise’s nose? Why?

Michael left the half-empty bottle behind and followed his suspicions. He didn’t believe Percy was headed for the showers.

Indeed, Percy turned right upon exiting. The public showers were left, thirty meters, around two right-angle bends and adjacent to the sleeping quarters. Why are you lying? Michael stayed well behind.

He wasn’t stunned when Percy arrived at Maj. Nilsson’s office. The lieutenant stood outside for a moment, twiddling fingers, as if uncertain of his decision. He tapped his forehead to open a stream but not a cube. Seconds later, the office door slid open and Percy entered.

Michael was twenty meters from Nilsson’s office. Beyond it, medpod. Around the next rough bend? Aldo’s executive office. Maybe it was time to drop any pretense and openly meet with Cabrise. At this point, what did he have to lose?

Someone else made the decision for him. A massive right arm looped over his chest as if to grab him in a chokehold.

“Now. I need you right this minute, Cooper.”

Shit. Col. Rachel Broadman spun him around in her usual opening move to foreplay. He didn’t have a chance to respond. She leveled her lips against his and pressed.

“You’ve been putting me off for a week,” she said. “No more, Cooper. The Colonel needs to be serviced. Yes?”

“I will,” he said between kisses. “I promise. But I have to …”

“No, you don’t. I checked the shift schedule. We need to fuck now. Do not make this difficult.”

She grabbed his wrists and pulled him backward toward the sleeping quarters. He recognized those savage eyes – deadlier during sex than combat. Rachel preferred her lovemaking nasty and violent; Michael found it equal parts exhausting and addictive. Indeed, he hardened as she towed him to his quarters.

“Is Muldoon inside?”

“No, Broadman, he’s not, but this ain’t the time to …”

She slapped the printlock. “Time to strip the sheets, 3-L-T.”

Rachel pushed him inside. He stumbled and turned. She filled the doorway, her arms swung wide, like a predator equipped to strike. Michael made the mistake of thinking he might yet talk her down. As a result, he didn’t anticipate what came next.

Rachel launched an aerial assault, her body