End Watch (The Silent Wars Book 1) by Adrian J. Smith

Author:Adrian J. Smith [Smith, Adrian J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2024-04-23T00:00:00+00:00

After cleaning the rifles, Jade sat down next to Ley. The two women looked at each other for an awkward amount of time.

“Thanks for back there. You fight good,” Ley said.

“I’m sure you would have done the same if the roles were reversed,” Jade said.

“You learn to use those ballistic weapons in the military?”

“Guns.”

“Guns.”

“Well, to be technical, they’re M8A5 rifles.”

“Okay,” Ley said.

Another long, awkward silence followed.

“We still have these weapons where I’m from. The agency I work for specialises in infiltration and intel gathering. Part of our training involves knowing how to use every weapon.”

“Nice. Pity you don’t have one.”

“Too conspicuous. Anyone that saw me would remember. My primary directive is to infiltrate and gather information.”

“How do we know you’re not doing that to us?” Ley chuckled.

“Good point, but me telling you my mission would be highly irregular. Careless, even.”

“Or a shrewd move on your part.”

“I’m here for Reina, The Nine and their Institute. Nothing more.”

Ley held up her hands in mock surrender. “I’m just yanking your chain. We do that a lot around here.”

Jade grinned. “So, any siblings?”

“Not anymore. Stone worms killed him and my parents. It’s just me now.”

“I know that pain.”

“Same thing happen to you?”

“Kinda.”

Ley caught the look of deep sorrow that flashed through Jade’s eyes. “It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.”

“Nah, it’s good. Part of the therapy. Parents died a few years back. They didn’t agree with the Echo commanders’ new sanctions, and publicly announced it. Organised a protest. They were executed. I was made to pay for the cost of it.”

“They invoiced you?” Ley shook her head. “Wow, I’m sorry.”

“Reina is all I have. I can’t lose her too.”

Ley hugged Jade. The embrace was quick, as if it embarrassed Ley. “Here. You should have a copy of the survey map we got.” She compressed the file and sent it to Jade with a press on the screen.

She stood up and walked away before Jade could say anything. As she grabbed a food pack, she looked back. The woman with the red hair was mysterious. There was something she couldn’t put her finger on. Maybe it was like Eli said — Jade was a stranger in a strange land.

Every mining city was different, each having their unique culture or vibe. Same, same, but different. Ley inhaled, catching a stale scent. She sniffed her armpits. Sweaty but not what she was smelling. Taking her commpad from her pocket, Ley took a reading. In seconds, it beeped shrilly. Jade, Colter, Eli and Nox snapped their heads around at the sound.

“Nineteen percent oxygen,” she said, showing the numbers on the screen.

There was no need for anyone to say anything. All citizens in every mining complex on the sea floor and deep within the sea mounts knew what that meant. Safe oxygen level was twenty-one percent. Get much lower than fifteen, and they would start to run into trouble.

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