Eradicate by Alex Albrinck

Author:Alex Albrinck
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fabinarium Publications LLC

* * *

“There are others in the sphere,” Micah told Miriam. “They are additional friends and allies. However, they’re not able to take advantage of Roddy’s lesson, but are quite familiar with the layout of the space station. They are going to take this ship and begin doing some reconnaissance to try to assess where our targets might be before the rest make the trip.”

Miriam nodded. “You’re assuming we have means of reaching the space station without this ship.”

“I assume nothing.”

“We have ways of making the journey.”

“I thought you might.”

She chuckled. “We should probably meet the others, lest we accidentally injure an ally as we attempt to assassinate our adversaries.”

“Alliteration noted,” Micah murmured. He paused. “One of our number is recently returned from a mission to the space station, where she successfully wrested control of the Ravagers and gave it back to us.”

“I don’t want to Ravage anyone.”

Several of her friends chuckled, and Miriam waved a hand to silence them.

“We’ve recoded them so they’re now harmless. But that’s not why I mentioned it. Her efforts left her badly wounded and scarred, and though she’s able to fight now, she looks… different.”

Miriam shrugged. “I don’t much care how she looks, or if she’s earned scars in battle.”

“We decided to adopt a bit of potential psychological warfare against our enemy. So we made her up to look like… an old ally of ours, but the most bitter enemy of theirs.”

Miriam frowned. Then looked puzzled. Then: “Wait. You don’t mean…?”

“I do.”

“Bring them out.”

John and Mary exited first, followed by Sheila. Her appearance—mimicking a woman named Hope Stark—had the intent Micah had intended on the Old Timers. They all went still and silent, staring at Sheila, who seemed oblivious to the unusual reaction. But it wasn’t Sheila’s reaction that mattered. If this group of Old Timers, people who’d personally known Hope Stark, would react in such a manner to seeing a clone of their old friend and ally… “I see by your reactions that Sheila’s appearance, as a psychological warfare idea, has merit. Everyone, please meet Sheila Clarke. She’s joined by John Smith and Mary Light.”

Miriam and the others greeted John, Mary, and Hope-sorry-Sheila in turn, with minimal small talk, and reasonably controlled gaping at Sheila’s appearance. If she’d not been a robot, if she’d truly been in her human body masking the physical injuries incurred aboard the space station, the overt and intense focus on her appearance would leave her baffled, flustered, and self-conscious. As it was, she simply shook hands, asked the name of each person greeted in that fashion, and moved on smoothly to the next.

John moved away from the throng toward the sphere. “Mary, Sheila… we should probably get moving. The rest have important matters to discuss. And we have a space station to survey and sneak aboard.”

The two women stepped away. Mary stopped for a brief embrace and casual kiss from Roddy, trying to avoid an amused smile as she sensed several of their new allies try to mask their disappointment.

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