Freedom, Humanity, and Other Delusions (Death's Handmaiden Book 3) by Niall Teasdale (best summer reads txt) 📕

‘Sir?’ Sebastian said, unsure of where to point his rifle.

‘I’ll do you a favour,’ Nava said. She could see Stefan reaching boiling point. Any second now. ‘I’m going to give you three choices.’

Stefan’s pistol was in his hand and coming up to aim. Nava watched it. Aim was not the right word; he straightened his arm so he could see roughly where the bullet was meant to go, but he did not take the time to actually use the sights. Still, at maybe three metres, there was not much chance he would miss. The bullet hit Nava’s side just under her ribs and would not have been a lethal wound even if her suit had not stopped it completely.

Nava raised her hand. ‘You could’ve let me finish the speech.’ Then she put a Magic Bullet through his right eye.

Yosozume Armed Courier, Beherbergen system, 236/8/10.

‘They say he’s going to live,’ Rhianna said as she walked beside Nava through the ship. ‘There may be brain damage and he’ll need to have his eye replaced if he wants binocular vision, but he’ll live to stand trial.’

Moving around on the Yosozume as it powered away from Beherbergen was a lot easier than it had been on the way to the planet. Out of deference for the two ‘wounded’ they were carrying, and because they were not in a hurry, they were accelerating at only one gravity. They were, apparently, going to take two jumps to do the interstellar section of the journey as well. It would take about two days to get home. Neither Kyle nor Kory were physically wounded now, thanks to Nava hitting them with Active Recovery on the way to Hausman City. Their mental wounds were another matter, but that was why they were returning to Shinden rather than seeing out their time on Beherbergen.

‘I should have shot him again,’ Nava replied.

‘It’s better this way,’ Rhianna countered. ‘He’ll be stripped of his rank and position. His family have probably already disowned him. He’ll be locked up for years and then cast out of the clan. The humiliation will be enormous.’

‘Better for whom? Seems like I’ll have someone trying to kill me when he’s eventually released.’

‘One, I doubt he’ll be able to afford a ticket to Shinden. Two, so what? You took on a regiment of troops and walked away without a scratch.’

‘I’m not actually indestructible, Rhianna. Catch me off-guard and–’

‘There are times when you’re off-guard?’

Nava let that one go. ‘I suppose I just prefer my enemies dead.’

‘And there are some twelve hundred Free Beherbergen troops who can attest to that. Well, twenty-eight hundred that can attest. The twelve hundred won’t be saying anything ever again. The militia were sending in troops to capture as many of them as they could. Free Beherbergen’s back is thoroughly broken. They’ll probably lose around half of their number. The mercenaries with them are more of a concern. You didn’t get any idea of where they were from, did you?’

‘Not really. They weren’t wearing any insignia I could see. Maybe the militia will figure it out after they’ve been through the camp.’

‘Maybe.’

The conversation stopped as they reached a ladder and started to climb. The sound of laughter was coming from above. Nava climbed through the hatch to find the rest of the rescue team, and those they had rescued, celebrating in one of the lounges. Kyle and Kory seemed to be in good spirits, but there was something distinctly shadowy around Kyle’s eyes. Kory’s too, to some extent, but he was a Greyling and maybe a little more mentally resilient.

Courtney spotted the two newcomers and raised her glass. Nava was guessing it contained alcohol. ‘We’re all here. The celebration can begin properly. I want to thank everyone properly for getting me my boyfriend back. In one piece too.’

Nava watched as Kyle looked away for a second and then turned back, smiling. She was not sure how many pieces Kyle was in, but he was definitely a little divided.

Epilogue

Admiral Aurora Trenton Advanced Training Centre, Alliance City, Shinden, Clan Worlds Alliance, 236/8/12.

It was about half past three in the morning when the shuttle landed at the training centre. There was a hospital there where Kyle and Kory would be undergoing a few checks before they started mandatory sick leave.

Despite the early hour, Fawn was waiting for them, dressed in her uniform and looking very official. Well, until she smiled after the salute. ‘Second Lieutenant Nava Greyling,’ she said, ‘I’m glad to see your mission was successful.’

Nava saluted and gave her a nod. ‘Thank you, First Lieutenant. We got together and wrote up a report on it while we were in transit. It’s probably in your mailbox by now. Might I suggest that any questions wait until after the medical checks?’

‘Your recommendation is noted and acceptable.’ Fawn relaxed. ‘The short report I got this morning suggested that you kicked a lot of ass.’

‘She was pretty amazing,’ Courtney said. She affected a deadpan tone similar to Nava’s: ‘“Oh, I’ll just distract them by killing them all.” Then she did.’

‘Not all of them,’ Nava said. ‘I think I’d have needed another couple of hours to kill all of them.’

‘She’s a walking artillery barrage.’

‘Huh.’ Fawn grinned and turned to Kory. ‘First Lieutenant Kory Greyling, how are you feeling?’

‘Physically fine,’ Kory replied. ‘I admit I may not be quite over the experience, however. I will be fit to give my mission report when–’

‘We’ll talk about that tomorrow. You’re staying here until the doctors have seen you. Second Lieutenant Kyle Maynard, once you’re checked out, you’ll be free to take your sick leave wherever you wish. I… suggested to command that you might be better off recuperating with your girlfriend than on a base.’

‘We’ll go to the mansion,’ Mitsuko said. ‘There’s plenty of space, both in the sense of beds to sleep in and country to walk in. We’ll all go. Might as well spend some of the summer holiday recreationally.’

‘That sounds like a plan,’ Courtney said. ‘You in, Kyle?’

‘Yeah,’ Kyle said.