Hammer and Crucible by Cameron Cooper

Author:Cameron Cooper [Cooper, Cameron]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Space Opera, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure, Military SF
Publisher: Stories Rule Press
Published: 2020-03-17T16:00:00+00:00

I left the three of them in the diner, with Juliyana holding their rapt attention while she went through all the evidence and suggestive documents she had on file. Although, the only ironclad proof of any wrongdoing was the transfer orders with my chop on them, alongside the real orders.

We needed proof, something that would stand up under the blaze of public scrutiny and not look like the pair of us—or Dalton, for that matter—were delusional from our long-term denial of Noam’s fate.

I was starting to have some ideas about that. The Supreme Lythion dropping into our laps as it had would open up our options in ways I was only just starting to encompass.

My room was as I had left it…only the bed was made. Oh well, I could live with that much intrusion. I went over to my travel sack, which was still sitting upon the wheeled platform on which it had arrived last night. My pad had more data I could add to the discussion back in the diner.

“Danny,” Noam said urgently, behind me.

I whirled, my heart shooting straight up into the infarction range. “Noam…”

He moved toward me, looking as real as the bed he was skirting. He held up his hands. “Now you’re here, we really need to talk.”

“You’re not here,” I told him. “You’re just my mind blowing a gasket.” I felt sticky and prickling and panicked. But I clung to what I knew—what I thought—was happening, for it helped me anchor myself.

“You’re right. I’m not exactly here,” he said. “But this is the only way for now I can reach you. You have to listen to me, Danny. They’re coming for you.”

More doom and gloom. More scary forecasts. I shook my head. “No. No more. I’m tired of this.” I made myself straighten despite my blood pressure making me hunch in and clutch at my chest. “I want you to leave, Noam.”

“No, you don’t. Not really.” His tone was wise and gentle.

“What more do you want?” I cried. “I’m doing everything I can to figure out what happened to you. I’ve…fuck, I’ve rejuvenated, stolen money to do it, and now the family want my neck. The Rangers are after me, and not just for the money, anymore. I’m tired of being smacked around by this, Noam. Every move I make, someone tries to swipe at me. I just wanted to die in peace, and now I have another ninety years of the empire dumping bullshit on me…”

Noam just looked at me, the corner of his mouth lifted. My heart ached. I’d seen that amused, tolerant expression so many times before!

“Did you go mad?” I whispered, my eyes prickling.

“Did you really give up?” he asked.

Truth time. I’d been here before, lately. “No,” I whispered and felt the veracity of it in my gut. “No, not really.”

Noam nodded. “That’s what I thought. Ask Dalton about Michael Powell Moroder.”

What the fuck…! I stared at him, my thoughts racing with more than the sensation of doom that always accompanied his arrival.

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