Asylum: A Star Kingdom Science Fiction Adventure Novel by Lindsay Buroker

Author:Lindsay Buroker [Buroker, Lindsay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-04-28T16:00:00+00:00

12

Early morning found Kenji getting a ride in a police van across town toward a private walled landing area near Drachen Castle and Royal Intelligence Headquarters. He wiped his hands on his trousers, eyeing the imposing structures and the well-armed human and mechanical guards in the watchtowers.

If this freighter he was supposed to get a ride in got invitations to land across the street from the seat of the entire Kingdom government, Kenji had a hard time believing that all the thieves, smugglers, and pirates in the system weren’t aware of it. That name change and new ident chip Dabrowski had mentioned had better have been recent.

“Never been here before,” one of Kenji’s police escorts whispered to his colleague, peering out the window as guards halted their vehicle at the gate to check it. There was an espresso cart on the sidewalk, a robot barista serving coffee to uniformed castle and Intelligence staff.

“Our prisoner moved up in the world quickly, didn’t he?” the other policeman in back with Kenji said.

The two men eyed him with open rancor. The day before, the police had regarded him with indifference—he’d been just another petty criminal—but that had changed with the revelation of his last name.

For some reason, Kenji was reminded of the hostile look the policeman had given Mari when she’d asked to taste his latte. He’d called her an astroshaman freak. Had she had an opportunity to try such a drink yet? Kenji eyed the espresso cart. Maybe he ought to bring her one as a peace offering. He knew from recent experience what a relief it was to have someone treat him like a human being when nobody else did.

After the meeting the night before, Kenji had been returned to his cell, most of the policemen he’d encountered glowering at him along the way. But the bemused lieutenant had brought him a pillow, a blanket, a bottle of grape fizzop, and a pizza with a smiling robot drawn on the box. She hadn’t said so, but Kenji had known the gifts were from Dabrowski. Strange how much better that had made being stuck in a jail cell for the night.

“Your father really Kuchikukan Chisaka, kid?” one policeman said.

“Unfortunately.”

“Bet that was a real loving relationship.”

“He teach you how to be a good killer?” the other asked.

“He tried. I found it oddly unfulfilling.”

Under the pretext of peering out the window, Kenji scooted closer to the door. There was only one person left in line at the espresso cart, but how could he get the police to let him out for a minute? Offer to buy them drinks?

“Uh huh. Sure. Bet you killed a lot of people.”

“Innocent people.”

“They should be shipping you off to a penal asteroid right now.”

“And arranging for an accident to happen along the way.”

Kenji missed having Kay to talk to, Kay who had never condemned him, despite his dubious past and his sometimes questionable choices. Had Dabrowski been able to find him? Had he had time to look?

The police lieutenant

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