Jupiter Rising by Zachary Brown

Author:Zachary Brown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Saga Press

14

* * *

We viewed the full message twice in silence. “Nice of them to warn us officially,” Ken said, “but do they know they’re dealing with bio-bombs?”

Anais gave him a sharp and slightly worried look. “Ah. So you figured that out. No, that’s not clear from the message.”

“Any demands? Prisoner releases, mutual cease-fire, anything?” Devlin queried.

“Nothing,” Anais said. He looked strangely satisfied at the question.

I stood upright and steady. “No, not this time. It never worked before, so this time they’re going to strike first and make demands after. There’s bound to be an escalation. That’s why it’s symbolic. It’s just the beginning.”

Anais turned to me. “You’ve got a good grasp of tactics. Pity about your loyalties—”

“What do you expect us to do?” Ken interrupted. He sounded completely fed up, way past disillusionment and out the other side.

Anais looked at me. “She won’t listen to me, but she’ll do what she can for you, and I think she’s got the insider’s edge. I want her to use it, no questions asked. I’m unleashing everything in my arsenal to shut this down. I don’t have a choice.”

Devlin cleared his throat. “Uh, sir, although Sergeant Singh is indeed a remarkable asset, we have no armor, no weapons, nothing.”

Anais slapped a hand to his forehead. “Of course. How could I forget.” He jogged back to the hopper and returned with two holstered pistols and a couple of comm buttons, which he handed to Ken and Devlin. “There you go. Can’t say I never do anything for you.” He glanced at me. “None for you. I can cover my ass where these two are concerned. You’re a little too high-risk.”

He turned back to Devlin. “Succeed and prove you’re more than a PR captain. Fail and we all die. See you in New York.”

He vaulted back into the hopper, signed a thumbs-up to the pilot, and they took off in flurry of dust and leaves.

“Not if I see you first,” Ken said with deadly calm as he buckled on the gun and settled it over his hip.

Devlin exchanged a glance with me. “Okay. Ken, let’s hit the road. Amira, anything new for us? I’d like to jump ahead instead of trailing behind for a change.”

“Yes. You’ll like this one. I think I know where they’re taking the Central Park bomb.”

+ + + +

I didn’t risk putting on the patch again. I needed another sixteen hours of sleep, but I couldn’t afford even half of that. Five hours later, I woke to the noise and smell of the Turnpike Tunnel. “Already?” I grumbled as I stretched as thoroughly as possible in the confined space of the backseat.

“Be grateful,” Ken said soberly as he navigated the traffic. “What if the Turnpike’s a target?”

I didn’t answer. The broad glass stripe that showed the Newark Spaceport on the Tunnel’s west side had just come into view. I watched it go past silently. “Lots of possibilities, Ken. For now, let’s focus on the Central Park destination.”

“Okay,” Devlin said, “but let’s be clear on something.

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