Sword of Minerva (The Guild Wars Book 10) by Mark Wandrey (great books for teens TXT) 📕

in the intervening years, the younger Jim had also picked up a self-assurance Rick had never seen before. It suited a man who drove a 30-meter-tall war machine.

General Peepo was offering a one-million-credit reward for capture of the little aliens the Raknar pilots used to help operate the machines. Called ‘Fae,’ they were tiny, only half a meter tall, it appeared. One was in a file picture of Jim from before the war. Brown fur, huge blue-on-blue eyes, a long tail, and equally long, expressive ears. It seemed to be grinning, just like Jim. Something about the look suggested intelligence.

Rick considered breaking his old friend out of prison. The Æsir armor had capabilities Peepo’s people couldn’t imagine. Whatever Sato had in mind wouldn’t take more than a few more days, he figured. Maybe after the scientist was safely stashed away in Japan, Rick could hop a shuttle back to Brazil and kick some Veetanho ass. The thought made him grin.

The flat display built into the seat backs showed four and half hours to their destination. He searched around the seat and found a power receptacle. Plugging in, he was pleased to find its power output quite high. By the time they arrived at their destination, he would have over 90% capacity on the suit’s hybrid batteries. He plugged in, found some music on the Aethernet, and zoned out, listening to Drowning Pool. How could I forget how awesome this is?

The train made three stops: first in Shreveport, Louisiana; next in Little Rock, Arkansas; and then in Memphis, Tennessee. Each time it was 10 minutes sharp before the alarm sounded and the doors closed. Each time, he kept a careful eye on the train platform, alert for any sign of one of Sato’s old mystery friends.

Most aliens riding the train were gone by the time they stopped in Memphis. Now the passengers all looked like working men and women who couldn’t afford a shuttle flight, with a smattering of average people or families on a short trip. Nothing looked questionable or even shifty to him.

The train accelerated back to top speed. Just under two hours later, it slowed as they approached their destination.

“Sato,” Rick said and gently jostled the other man.

“Hmm?”

“We’re coming into the station.”

“Oh, right,” Sato said, stretching and yawning. He looked around, blinking. “Did I sleep all the way here?”

“Yes, but that’s not a problem.” Rick retracted his power adapter. “I got a full charge and listened to some music.”

“Good, good.” Sato stood and stretched again.

“We don’t have to stop here,” Rick said, feeling the beginnings of nervousness.

“Yes, I think you need to do this. But it’s your decision.”

Rick sat as the train continued to slow. Outside, the north side of Indianapolis slid past. He recognized Eagle Creek Park off to his right, then they whizzed over Interstate 65, now looking old and disused. Only a few more minutes. He realized he was being foolish.

“Yeah, okay,” he said. “It won’t take long.”

“There’s a restaurant just outside the terminal, still inside the station perimeter,” Sato said. “I’ll have Dakkar’s module moved to cargo transfer while you do what you want to do.” He reached up into the overhead and retrieved his shoulder bag. “Take as long as you need.”

The train entered the Carmel Terminal, the second largest maglev station in Indianapolis. A few passengers exited with them. Rick caught the cargo bots unloading Dakkar’s well-traveled module and had them move it to a secure area. There was a sign mentioning the food court.

Sato held out a handful of credits. “Let me know when you’re on the way back. I’m hungry anyway. See you soon?”

“Sure,” Rick said, taking the currency. “Don’t get adventurous. Remember, I have your laser.”

Sato nodded. Now that they were outside the lawless area around Houston, it wasn’t safe for Sato to continue carrying the holdout laser Rick had given him. Random searches weren’t uncommon in the United States Zone, and Carmel, Indiana was a quiet urban area. Rick had secured the weapon in one of his armored compartments, making it nearly impossible to detect.

Outside, he summoned a robotic flyer cab instead of a piloted one. Many didn’t like the robotic cabs, Humans still having more affinity to flesh than metal. Rick suspected he would find little compassion from his own species if push came to shove, though he was still predominantly flesh.

The cab dropped him off after a short flight, and Rick paid with cash. He walked away from the landing zone even as the cab was spinning up its turbofans and leaping back into the sky. He took a second to look around and find his bearings. A few things had changed. It was now late in the afternoon, and it was threatening rain.

He turned down one street, then another. A man out getting mail from his box stopped in mid-sorting and stared at the visage Rick presented walking down the street toward him. The man must have thought he was the source of the strange person’s interest.

“C-can I help you?” the man asked when they were only a couple meters apart.

“No,” Rick said and walked past without pausing. He could see the man following his progress via his rearward facing sensors. Probably going to call the police, Rick thought and turned at the next intersection.

His original plan had been to walk up to the front door, but after leaving behind a skittish local, who might have summoned law enforcement, he changed plans. Two blocks further down, he spotted a house he recognized. There was no sign of anyone, so Rick turned casually, walking across the lawn, and easily vaulted a low fence into the back yard. Immediately he was set upon by a large dog, growling and snapping at his leg.

“YIPE!” the dog yelped in pain and surprise as Rick felt teeth crack on his armored leg.