Exin Ex Machina by G. S. Jennsen

Author:G. S. Jennsen [Jennsen, G. S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction - Space Opera, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Sci Fi, Spaceships, Sci-Fi Romance, space travel, Space Exploration, Science Fiction - General, science fiction, Science Fiction And Fantasy, Science Fiction - High Tech, Sci-fi, scifi romance, sci-fi space opera, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Space Warfare, science fiction series, Science Fiction Romance, Scif-fi, SciFi-Futuristic Romance, Space Ships, space opera, space adventure, space fleet, Space Colonization, Science Fiction - Adventure, Science-Fiction, space fleets, scifi
ISBN: 9781732397705
Publisher: Hypernova Publishing
Published: 2018-06-05T18:30:00+00:00

30

* * *

Parc studied the ceiling of his cell. Not that there was anything interesting about it. A dimple here, the beginnings of a crack there, but on the whole as bland as a ceiling could be. Not at all like the ceilings at The Chalet. They had character. Years of pranks that got out of hand, short-circuiting electronics—intentionally and otherwise—and the occasional detonating explosive had left their mark on the ceilings, walls and floors of his home. Former home now, he supposed.

No, mostly he studied the bland ceiling for the lack of anything else to occupy him.

His hearing had concluded three hours earlier. Started three hours earlier, too, as it must have been one of the shortest hearings on record. With no Rep to argue technicalities and no facts to dispute, since he’d previously stipulated to Justice’s proffered statement of events, it became as simple as a brief reading of the charges, his guilty plea being entered, and the Justice officer pronouncing sentence.

It should worry him, getting sent to Zaidam Bastille. He’d heard the same horror stories as everyone else. But it couldn’t be as bad as they made it out to be. Most of the prisoners were on ice at any given time, making it more of a storage facility than a prison. And it wouldn’t be long before he got a little R&R and reemerged a new man.

He’d miss all the tinkering he’d been doing lately—he figured Justice would ensure his new persona wasn’t overly interested in slicing and modding. And his buddies in NOIR…the friendly competitions, the late-night coding races, the pranks. Especially the pranks, like reprogramming Ryan’s pets and snickering at the results. Impressing Nika, or earning a big grin from Perrin. They were going to be so bored without him around, because he’d been the life of the party…

…hadn’t he?

“Detainee #M47011, stand and prepare for restraining and transport.”

He looked over to see two security dynes standing on the other side of the glass wall of his cell. They might be the same ones that had escorted him to and from the hearing, but who could tell?

It wasn’t as though he’d brought any personal possessions with him, so he simply stood and waited. “Where am I going?”

The glass slid open to allow the dynes inside. “You are being transferred to Zaidam Bastille.”

“Already?”

“Your sentence has been pronounced and will be executed upon.”

“Yeah, okay. I get that.” He winced as the restraints wrenched his arms a mite too snugly behind his back. The dynes at Justice had never seen an algorithm for gentleness.

They led him down a couple of back hallways, then up a lift and down another hallway, before they finally entered a rectangular room. Three d-gates were situated against the far wall, and long queues of detainees snaked toward each of them. Narrow force field walls kept each queue straight and orderly—and if they didn’t, the combat-armed mecha guarding them did.

The dynes deposited him at the end of the center queue, pivoted and left.

The room was nearly as quiet as his cell had been.

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