Edge Of The Stars_A Techno Thriller Science Fiction Novel by Andria Stone

Author:Andria Stone [Stone, Andria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-11-22T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Axel had suffered through three defining moments in his lifetime (four if he counted waking up in the hospital with augmented cyborg parts). The bitterness of the last one cut deep. It was still so fresh he could not bear to dwell on it.

The next one might happen soon. Yet, this time, not soon enough.

He splashed water on his face from the bathroom sink, closed his eyes, conjuring up a crystal-clear image of Valerie Parker opening her door while he shot her point-blank in the forehead. But he knew better. No matter how you visualized it, in the real world, it never played out that way.

He stared at his reflection in the mirror. He wasn’t looking at the old, familiar Axel Von Radach. He was looking into the eyes of a man hell bent on killing a rabid animal who also passed as a female member of his own species.

The bond he shared with Mark deepened with Axel’s newfound insight of the unrelenting need to seek justice for his brother’s murder. He’d lost control of his rage and taken it out on Mark. He’d sworn to keep himself in check and had failed. The guilt weighed on him.

The doctor’s mini dose of local anesthetic had worn off. The knife wound stung, but the nanites itched like pins and needles under his skin. He accepted it as penance for fighting with Mark.

Axel’s tablet pinged with an emergency tone. The same noise echoed throughout the house. He went to find the others. Everyone, even Ohashi, was huddled in the kitchen around Petra’s screens. Webnews feeds flooded their tablets with updates on an explosion at the Governor’s house. Sketchy reports stated Arencia’s family had been celebrating one of her grandchildren’s birthdays. No confirmation yet on injuries or fatalities.

Major Essex appeared on Petra’s screen, dark face beaming. “They’re safe. We wasted no time in sharing your last intel with General Lance. He took it upon himself to convince Arencia to go along with the cover story of an explosion while the MMC took her family into protective custody. She wanted to remain, but her daughters refused to consent unless they all stayed together. Ten mercenaries were taken into custody, plus the one found snoozing in the bushes near the warehouse. One’s still missing.”

His expression sobered. “The three named government employees have been charged with treason, their finances confiscated, neural chips were embedded, and they’re being haloed, probably for days.” He glanced away, shaking his head. “Mars is not Terra. They have zero tolerance for the slightest hint of any anti-government activity. I have my doubts about—well, not my problem.” He sighed. “Drones are monitoring both the warehouse and the Edenvale property in Meridian. Parker’s comm traffic is also being monitored.

“Here are two pieces of intel which didn’t come from you. An MMC cyber unit specialist stationed in Aurora, who went missing, has been found dead. He’s the prime suspect for the intel leaks. In the event someone new has replaced him, everyone in the unit is being interrogated.

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