Android Winter by Michael La Ronn

Author:Michael La Ronn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Author Level Up LLC

Morning came, and X watched quietly as Xadrian and two guards entered.

The guards fired a shot into the ceiling, waking up Shortcut and Jazzlyn.

Xadrian shouted, “Get up!”

“Was a gunshot necessary?” Jazzlyn asked, rubbing her eyes.

Jeanette entered, carrying a large tray. On it were porcelain plates covered with cloches. An android guard set up a stand and Jeanette set the tray on it. She slid a plate into Jazzlyn’s cell, and another into Shortcut’s.

X eyed Jeanette suspiciously. “What is this?”

“We’re almost to our destination,” Jeanette said. “These two need to eat before we go.”

Jazzlyn removed her cloche, revealing a hearty breakfast: eggs, an orange juice pack, toast with three types of jelly on the side, sausage links, and a ramekin filled to the brim with grapes and pieces of pineapple and melon. She licked her lips, then looked up at Jeanette. “Somehow I find it hard to believe that this isn’t poison.”

“If I wanted to poison you, you’d be dead,” Jeanette said. “Eat. Both of you. I can’t have you fainting on me today.”

Shortcut sat in his cell with his head down.

“That includes you,” Jeanette said, standing at his cell door.

“I’ll eat when you return Brielle,” Shortcut said.

“I’m not negotiating,” Jeanette said.

Shortcut pushed his tray aside. “Neither am I.”

Jazzlyn’s lens lit up and she scanned the breakfast trays. “There’s no poison here. The food is safe.”

“Finally, someone who praises my cooking,” Jeanette said. Xadrian and the guards laughed. “Now shut up and eat.”

“What did you do with Brielle?” Shortcut asked.

“Eat.”

“What did you do with her!” Shortcut yelled.

The android guards pointed their guns at Shortcut and Jazzlyn.

One of the android guards shouted, “Eat, or eat bullets. Mama’s just looking out for you.”

“Just do it, Shortcut,” X said.

Reluctantly, Shortcut picked up his toast and took a huge, spiteful bite.

“You have five minutes to eat,” Jeanette said. “We’re touching down in ten.”

“Where are we going?” Shortcut asked between chews.

“You and your questions,” Jeanette said. “It’s a miracle you can put up with him, X. Enjoy your meal.”

Shortcut and Jazzlyn scarfed down the food and the guards took their trays.

“Where do you think we are?” Shortcut asked.

“Don’t know,” X said. “The ship has a signal jammer. We’ve been traveling for nine hours, so we could be anywhere by now.”

They felt the ship descending. Through the window in Jazzlyn’s cell they watched the clouds dissipate, and a huge plain appeared below. Rivers and streams snaked across the dark brown terrain.

“I can’t make this place out,” Jazzlyn said. “This looks like any place I’ve ever been.”

The ship landed with a large thud and everything came to a stop. The sails powered down, and they heard Jeanette’s voice on the intercom. “Attention, everyone. We’ve arrived. All family members are needed to transport our prisoners to the destination.”

The hallway doors opened and the android guards entered, unlocked their cells, chained the group together, and forced them onto the deck.

“Hurry up,” Xadrian said, prodding Shortcut.

Brielle stood at the top of the stairs in chains. Xadrian connected her to the front of the chain next to X, and she looked sullen.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.