Tap-Dancing the Minefields by Lyn Gala

Author:Lyn Gala [Gala, Lyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction
ISBN: 978-1-63533-762-4
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2017-11-14T05:00:00+00:00

TANK SIGHED his way to consciousness for the second time that day, stiffening when he felt a warm body under him.

“Good morning.”

Tank blinked and realized that Lev was in the bed, a book in hand, and Tank had managed to half sprawl over his lap. Crap. He’d fallen asleep crying. Again.

“Alex, can I take ‘Embarrassing’ for three hundred?” Tank joked as he rolled away and rubbed his tired eyes.

“Hey, you don’t need to be embarrassed. I’ve cried more than I really want to admit, and about half the time, I’ve cried on Clyde. For someone who claims to not know where to find an emotion, he’s better than most of my therapists.”

Tank looked over his shoulder, bothered by the idea of Lev hurting enough to go to a therapist. “Dr. Therapist Colonel Aldrich?”

Lev laughed. “Don’t say that to him.” With that, Lev turned serious. “When we were captured and on that gladiator ship, I cried on him enough that I really thought he was going to decertify me for field work. I felt pretty crazy, so I wouldn’t have blamed him if he’d put that in my file.”

“He’s not bad, but still, I should have talked to you.” Stones gathered in Tank’s stomach when he thought about how many times he’d let Lev make untrue assumptions. “And I definitely shouldn’t have stolen your card. I’m sorry I put you in the middle.”

“Don’t worry about the card. Clyde is more upset at the actual security people who got conned by a teenager. And as far as the lying goes, I think you told me more than I was willing to hear.” Lev put the book on the side table and scooted down so he was lying next to Tank, his hand coming to rest on Tank’s hip. “Why don’t you tell me one story now, something true.”

Tank had never talked to people about what he’d seen. His friends were there with him, and other people would have called him crazy. “I’ll tell you, if afterward you’ll tell me what you think really happened.”

“What do you mean?”

“My stories are all full of demons, but they don’t really exist, do they?” That was the only logical conclusion, although it hurt to admit it because it made all the pain and sacrifice worthless. Tank would rather hold on to his illusions, but it was too damn late for that.

“Probably not, although I’ve learned to avoid discounting the improbable.” Lev ran his hand over Tank’s side. “Deborah found evidence of a major incursion, something we call a hub. It’s where the aliens employ a large number of avatars and bring in more technology than usual in order to set up operations. They can’t exactly use their native currency to infiltrate Earth, so they’ll create hubs where they manipulate markets or steal money in order to fund their on-planet needs. I doubt New York has a hub and a demon invasion at the same time.”

“Given my luck, it might,” Tank said. He wrapped his arm around Lev’s waist and held on tightly.

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