The Wayward Prince (Mind + Machine Book 2) by Hanna Dare

Author:Hanna Dare [Dare, Hanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hanna Dare
Published: 2018-11-12T16:00:00+00:00

Ren tried the library next for distraction.

Like all current spacefaring vessels, the ship maintained a collection of printed books. The Singularity, in its initial attack on humanity, had erased untold databases containing not just technical knowledge, but science, history, and literature. What remained was hard-won, salvaged from corrupted files or reprinted from antique collections. The Commonwealth required that ships carry hard copies of repair manuals and star charts, and also encouraged the vessels to bring along other books as well, in hopes that spreading cultural knowledge around would prevent its loss. Ren was glad to see that this was another safety protocol the crew maintained.

On the shelves he could see the sober Earth classics that were standard issue on Arcadian ships, but also more recent additions — cheaply bound modern books with bright covers and titles that would have earned Ren frowns from his tutors if he’d been caught reading them. Jaime had recommended a series called The Luisa Lee Adventures, and Ren located the first book and pulled it from the shelf.

A few chapters in, he was ready to throw it against the wall. It wasn’t that the book was bad — he was enjoying the rollicking style — but it featured attacking robots, betrayals, and battles on the edges of cliffs. How had this become his life?

Instead of throwing it — because books, no matter the subject, were still rare and precious — he put it back and stalked out of the room, temper simmering.

Ren considered lifting weights but instead headed to the engine room. He’d always had a fascination for the workings of spaceships, or at least the mathematics of it, and he also suspected it was hard to stay in a bad mood around Simi. But he found when he reached the corridor leading toward the engine room — having to navigate its many safety hatches — that Sebastian was there too.

He was leaning casually against a wall, idly twirling an engineering cap in his hand while he talked to the more animated Simi. The fact that Sebastian could be so at ease — that everything for him was so very easy — had Ren gritting his teeth.

Simi caught sight of him, her smile widening and then faltering when she took in Ren’s expression. “Hey, Ren.”

Sebastian turned toward him, looking pleased. “Come to give the engines a royal inspection? Simi has them humming along; we should have you home faster than anticipated.”

Sebastian would like that. It meant he could dump Ren into whatever mess was awaiting him and then continue on his way. “The quicker you’ll get paid then, I suppose.”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow and studied him more closely. “I was thinking more of beating Zaria back so you could do damage control, but yes, credits in my account will be a pleasant side benefit.”

Simi sighed wistfully. “Payday. It’s been a while.”

Ren shook his head, anger focused on Sebastian. “You aren’t paying them? While they risk their lives? But of course you take advantage of your crew.

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