The Intruder Mandate_The Farthest Star from Home_a military sci-fi suspense novel by William Cray

Author:William Cray [Cray, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-01-04T07:00:00+00:00

18

Radiation Exclusion Zone

Habitation Dome 11

Duran made quick work of Celeste's apartment door lock, thrusting the heavy door open as the mechanism disengaged. The sudden wisp of air from the overpressure system filled his nostrils with the flowery scent of Celeste's home as he barged in. The lights were down and Duran moved like an invader, relying on speed to avoid any additional entrapments Celeste may have in waiting. He stretched out for her with his mind, searching for a sign of her presence. The only sound in the apartment was the gentle ambient music she left playing when they left. The walls in the main room shifted pastel colors every few moments even in the darkness. The balcony blinds remained closed and the doors pulled to. Nothing appeared disturbed.

Duran lowered the gun after clearing the rooms; losing the focus that had driven him through the pain racking his body. He tensed briefly as emergency vehicles traversed the streets nearby.

Duran lowered the lights, and peered through the heavy blinds, watching the column of vehicles pass. The only people still at the club were fools and the unfortunate.

He hadn’t known what to expect when he arrived here, but it was time to deal with Celeste one way or the other.

She had set him up by clouding his mind. She had delivered him to the Intruder, unbalanced and distracted. Innocent people had died as a result. The blood was on her hands. Celeste was responsible for the innocents. It was time to settle matters.

Duran cleared all the remaining rooms in the apartment, slower this time, starting with the wing of converted rooms he had ignored earlier, Duran found stairs leading to other levels of the living space she claimed. Each room unmasked another aspect of Celeste. One room was set up as an erotic playpen, which Duran bypassed, not wanting to dwell on the strange devices and contraptions she used in her performances.

Performances.

She was a capable role player, sensing what men wanted and sleeveing the role into her body, becoming what any man would desire. Another room was a gathering of little playthings and trinkets. There was a collection in another room that was arranged in a kind of childish altar. From the pictures and gifts, it was obvious that she adored the affection, but he wasn’t sure if she could return it.

He finished his sweep. The apartment was empty so he made his way back to Celeste's candlelit room, which still flickered in the dark.

Walking into the washroom, Duran striped off his torn shirt, examining his fresh wounds. His nanites hadn’t started repairing the cuts and scraps of the fight. His medical interface indicated that they were focused on the more serious shock damage to his ribs and legs, repairing broken blood vessels and stressed ligaments. Duran looked at his left hand, swollen and purple with damage. After using it as a cudgel against his assailants, it was almost useless,. Flesh and blood was still etched into his fingernails. He had ripped a man’s throat out, and still he fought on, air escaping in a bubbling whistle.

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