Dead Force Box Set by S D Tanner

Author:S D Tanner [Tanner, S D]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: alien warfare, classic scfi, dystopian, event horizon, space marine, Space Opera, survival
Publisher: WildRide Publishing
Published: 2019-05-12T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Mostly Human

“Dammit, Jessica. We found another alien lifeform.”

“You are safe, Tag.” A frown creased Jessica’s usually smooth brow. “You are damaged.”

Having forgotten his missing forearm, he looked at it in surprise. “Yeah, we had a run in with a quaesitor.”

“What’s that when it’s at home?” Joker asked.

Ash was looking Rok over. “Are you ok?”

“You know Tag. He’s always got to be the bigshot hero.”

Ignoring Rok, he turned to Joker. “Earth’s not the same as it was. The quaesitor and venator hunters cull the human population.” He looked at Jessica. “And there are more than our three arks. They launch three more every five years.” Glancing around the Bridge, he added, “They look just like ours. I don’t think they even bother to give them different names.”

“Where are the other arks?” Joker asked.

He’d been so caught up with what was happening on Earth that he hadn’t wondered where the other arks went. Hoping Jessica might know, he gave her a questioning look. Seeing his expression, she shook her head. “I am not aware of other arks.”

“The one you teleported us from had another Robert onboard, so I’m guessing it has another Jessica as well.”

“I am not aware of any other instances of my existence. I am unique.”

Jessica wasn’t unique, none of them were. Defensors were programmed to behave in the same way, meaning they might look different, but inside they were carbon copies of one another. Somehow Jessica had broken her protocols and then theirs, but he didn’t understand how she had done it and neither did she. Nothing he’d found on Earth explained why Jessica had become sentient and taken control of the Extrema.

Gently taking his injured arm, as if touching it might hurt him, Jessica guided him toward the exit on the Bridge. “You must be repaired.”

Resisting her soft tugging, he shook his head. “I don’t want to go into a pod.”

“The Medicus will attach a new prosthesis.”

“You mean Robert.”

Her wide eyes narrowed in confusion. “Robert is the Medicus. I am the Servator.”

Shaking his head in frustration, he said sharply, “You are Jessica and you control the ark. Robert is our ship’s doctor.” He pointed to Flak and Hawk. “That’s Flak and Hawk and they’re our pilots. We have names, let’s use them.”

Judge chuckled. “Tired of being just another number, Tag?” His expression changed from one of amusement and became somber. “And what about Lolo, Tag? Is she more than a slave?”

“You’re testing my patience, Judge. Lolo is enemy.”

As if she’d heard someone speak her name, Lolo walked onto the Bridge and made a beeline for Judge, who welcomed her into his one good arm. Looking over her head at him, Judge had a hard look in his eyes. “Deal with it.”

Allowing Jessica to lead him from the Bridge, he heard Ash ask in a loud stage whisper. “What’s that about?”

Rok replied in an exaggerated low voice, “Lolo is a hybrid. Judge got into it with Lolo and Tag is pissed.”

“But we all knew about Lolo and Judge.

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