The Spreading Fire by M. D. Cooper & James S. Aaron

Author:M. D. Cooper & James S. Aaron [Cooper, M. D. & Aaron, James S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Wooden Pen Press
Published: 2019-10-02T16:00:00+00:00

HARD OPTIONS

STELLAR DATE: 08.31.3011 (Adjusted Years)

LOCATION: Lowspin Docks

REGION: Cruithne Station, Terran Hegemony, InnerSol

The leader of the Anderson Collective sat low on a couch in the living room that had been his prison for the past two weeks. Recorded music from some stringed instrument played aloud, and Charles moved a finger with the sweeping melodies. He was clean-shaven and wearing a fresh shipsuit.

Ngoba stood in the entry to the living room and listened to the music for a while, wondering if it would tell him something new about the man who had chosen it. Music like this created enigmas. It might have been ancient, or a recent reworking of yet another interpretation. Ngoba found it bland.

He waved a hand to lower the volume. Only when the strings had faded did Charles straighten on the couch and look at Ngoba. He acted as if he was surprised.

“How long have you been standing there? You’ll have to forgive me. I picked my nose earlier. Did you see? I wiped it on your couch cushion.”

The funny schtick irritated him. Ngoba liked to play the affable criminal. He didn’t enjoy having someone beat him to the punch, forcing him into the serious role.

According to the people he had guarding Osla, the chancellor had been doing little but listening to music, eating, exercising, and sitting with his eyes closed. They were suppressing all but the most basic functions of his Link. If he had tried to access any external systems, the guards would have tracked the ping locations.

Ngoba sat in a chair opposite the affable chancellor. “You’ve been eating, that’s good.”

“What else am I going to do? I’m not interested in dying on Cruithne of all places. Without Link access, I can listen to music and watch vids. I’ve been teaching myself to meditate.”

“How’s that going for you?” Ngoba asked.

“Quite well. You know, I’d never realized now much useless noise was constantly bouncing around inside my skull until I had no reason to listen anymore.”

“You must be worried about what’s happening in Sol. About your people.”

Osla shrugged. “I have no control over that situation. Even if I knew what was happening, all I could do was sit here and pull my hair out.”

“They don’t know you’re here.”

Ngoba wasn’t sure Osla had been aware of that fact. It wasn’t until Cara left with the Amplified Solution that they became aware of the Collective groups scouring Marsian space for the ship, thinking their chancellor was still on board. Cara had dealt smartly with a few breaching attempts in just the last week.

Ngoba studied him. If Osla really knew nothing about what was happening throughout Sol, including the insurrection attempts on Cruithne, how could he be used to control them?

What if recordings were released, showing the man was alive and a prisoner without any indication of location or group holding him? Would that weaken Collective operatives, or simply make them more desperate?

What Ngoba didn’t like was the realization that he was planning various courses of action with the simple aim of wiping the smart-ass grin off Osla’s face.

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