Blood Type: An Anthology of Vampire SF on the Cutting Edge by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Nightscape Press
Published: 2013-12-08T05:00:00+00:00

~

Crispin sat up in sweaty sheets. He’d been having fever dreams about home again, although he hadn’t talked to his family more than once a year in the last five years.

He rubbed his face, stubble rasping, and remembered how he’d joined up the day after his decision. He’d said goodbye to his brothers, mother, and his father. The baby had been too little to really say goodbye. His father had been proud, blown up in the chest, and had slapped Crispin on his thin back. It stung, but made the tears he’d been fighting go away so Crispin was glad for the ache. He hadn’t hugged his mother, deciding he was too mature for that. She’d cried into the baby’s hair.

Crispin sat forward on the metal bed to flex an arm, feeling the tight sinews clench. Three square meals a day and hours of training had hardened him until he barely recognized himself in the mirror. He was still lanky, but firm like tightly strung piano wire. His fine brown hair had been cut short, so it never fell in his eyes. He had some new scars, too.

His hands, calloused and blunt now, pulled back the dressing that adhered to his side. A smooth red ribbon was all that was left of the laser shot that had taken him out. He’d been in full combat armor, slow but forceful, ransacking a moon base when the beam sliced through armor into his side. He’d still gotten to the command center, blasted through with his squad, and turned off the life support. With the hole in his suit he’d figured he’d go fast, but the durapatch they’d slapped over the wound must have held long enough to get back to the troop carrier and to the orbiting battle ship. All-in-all, not a bad time. He thought of how he’d share the exploit with the others. Maybe Crissy in Blue Squad would like to look at his scar.

A wolfish grin still flitted around his gray eyes as a medical technician entered followed by someone unfamiliar, but Crispin needed only to see the rank indicators lined in a row up his sleeve to jump to his feet.

“Sit down, no need for that in the clinic,” the man said gruffly. Crispin settled back into a sitting position since he’d been ordered to, but his back stayed straight. He gazed forward.

“Recovering nicely, I see. No surprise there. You’re always up for more action, eh? I’ve read your record, and you’ve been a trooper.” He didn’t take breaths between sentences or seem to expect any response from Crispin. “Thought you’d be interested in volunteering for something special.

“This medic can explain it all to you. Don’t ask me for the technical details. Knew all I needed to when they explained it could make a super-soldier. The best ever. That’s got your attention, eh?”

Crispin glanced over at the technician, a pale figure who fiddled with a digital tablet. Maybe he was checking Crispin’s status, or perhaps he was just nervous.

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.