Catalyst by Kincaid S. J

Author:Kincaid,S. J.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

HarperCollins Publishers

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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

MEDUSA VISITED HIM during Applied Battles and he told her all about Blackburn’s theory about Cruithne. She took it in grim silence.

“What are you thinking?” Tom finally said, where they sat next to each other in the cockpit of a simulated starship.

“I think if this is true,” she said quietly, “then we need to make Vengerov pay.”

“There’s no proof. Just probable cause and a big coincidence. Oh, and Blackburn found something called ‘put options’ where Vengerov bet money against some of the companies impacted by the fallout in the week before Cruithne. So there’s that.”

Medusa’s gaze slid to his. “So if Joseph Vengerov did this, he did it solely to distract everyone and take the heat off his companies?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

Her eyes gleamed. “Then let’s remind them why they distrusted Obsidian Corp. in the first place.”

They didn’t kill people together, of course. Vengerov was still riding on his reputation as savior of Earth, but Medusa and Tom dipped into servers, ensuring footage from Vengerov’s drones spread over the internet, interfacing with the computers of people in the media and posting from their computers new questions about the safety of Obsidian Corp.’s hardware and Vengerov’s integrity.

Even though a few reporters backtracked, and several claimed innocence, using the accounts of public personas succeeded in reviving in the media the questions about whether to dismantle Obsidian Corp. Tom saw the military regulars discreetly turning to the TV and internet feeds in the mess hall, checking on the growing scandal, muttering to one another about the tycoon funding both sides.

All Tom needed was some sort of proof Vengerov had been behind Cruithne. Put that before the eyes of the public and Vengerov would be finished. For good.

WHEN CHRISTMAS BREAK neared, Tom faced a dilemma. His father was missing, and staying in the Pentagonal Spire didn’t appeal with Mezilo threatening to dispatch all the vacationers to a boot camp. Since cadets had classified identities, they weren’t allowed to go stay with their friends. Wyatt’s parents, for instance, weren’t allowed to know Tom’s name.

Tom had only one choice. He approached Olivia Ossare about striking out on his own.

She sighed and shook her head. “Tom, you’re not eighteen. I can’t authorize you to spend the time by yourself.”

Tom slumped in his seat. Yeah, there was that.

“But I know you can take care of yourself, and I know you’ve saved up a stipend. If you were officially in the custody of one of your parents, I imagine you could get away with simply staying in the general proximity over break.”

Hope flashed through him. “So if my mom’s in New York City . . .”

“You would need to check in with her to make sure the official transfer in custody from the military to your parent has taken place.”

He leaned forward. “And if she doesn’t care where I go?”

“Then that’s her prerogative. As your parent.”

“So I can’t get in trouble if I’m not with her beyond, say, the first few minutes?”

“She would be the one in trouble,” Olivia pointed out.

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