Reboots: Diabolical Streak by Mercedes Lackey;Cody Martin

Author:Mercedes Lackey;Cody Martin [Martin, Mercedes Lackey;Cody]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: dragon jousters, darkover, brainship, bard’s tale, elves on the road, elemental masters, bardic universe
Publisher: Phoenix Pick
Published: 2014-03-07T05:00:00+00:00

They sat quietly for a few minutes as he sipped at the water. Lori watched him the entire time, and Humph did his best to avoid her gaze, occupying himself with his thoughts. Lori was the first one to break the silence.

“We shouldn’t be here,” she said. “I don’t mean here here. I mean messed up with these damn humans.”

“It’s kind of their galaxy now, darlin’. We’re just living in it.”

She sniffed. “Oh yes. They’re the ‘normals.’ We’re the ones that—aren’t. Humans always have been trouble right from the time they started to put thoughts together in their little ape-brains. And they can’t see anything without wanting to use it, own it, exploit it, or run over the top of it. Look what they’ve done to you and me! We were minding our own business, never causing any trouble, and then—bam. Geased. Used. Enslaved.”

“You’re going to learn to get over it sometime, kid. Shit happens, then you deal with it.” He sighed. “I’ve been out in the world a lot longer than you have, so maybe it’s just that. But you can’t hold onto that kind of hate; there’s no money in it, for starters. Besides, it’s not like our kind is exactly blameless in the annals of history; there’s a reason that Norms have stories about the boogeyman, boggarts, and even little siren frauleins. That reason isn’t particularly cheery. If you’re preaching revolution, you’ve got the wrong boggart.”

Suddenly, and without warning, he missed his partners. If Skinny Jim and Fred had been here…he’d have had not one, but two foils to fend off Lori. He’d have had someone to keep an eye on Harry at all times. Skinny Jim didn’t even sleep; he’d have had someone he could trust to stand watch while everyone else did.

He’d gone decades without having partners; he’d always been convinced he didn’t need them, didn’t need anyone, and now look. A handful of months with those two lugs cluttering up the office and he felt crippled by their absence. Is this what it’s like for Norms?

And where were they? Were they even still alive? Or—at least, what passed for alive in Jim’s case? He’d always been told that Paras who worked together for a long time or had some sort of bond could at least tell when something Bad and Permanent had happened to each other, but he’d never been in the position to find out. Mostly he had put that down to an old wives’ tale; more than a few Paras got caught up in their own bullshit and myths. Now he hoped that it wasn’t. Still, it was better if Jim and Fred were in the wind or taking dirt naps than in the clutches of whoever the hell was after him, that much he was certain of.

Lori pressed on, undaunted. “Fine, fine. I’ll put away the placards and slogans. But more immediately…shouldn’t we ditch Harry? If we didn’t have to worry about him, we could disappear, lose ourselves out there. We’ve got enough money to get by, at least for awhile.

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