The Coded World by A.R. Knight
Author:A.R. Knight
Format: epub
TWENTY-FOUR
COLD BLOOD
Delta didnât so much lead us as carve a path. With Betaâs blades backing her up, the vessel leapt down the stairs several at a time, bisecting the haphazard flexi-mechs, couriers, and a couple more hulks remaining in our way. I stayed back with Fang, both of us choosing the occasional moment to snipe a perfect shot. For once I felt our progress inexorable, the outcome already certain.
Alphaâs flexi-mech army had disappeared, scattered to the Fabrication Lines, to elsewhere on Starship, or, as a glow down and to our right revealed, the outside. Alpha re-opened Starshipâs exit with the dawn and natural light spread across the Conduit.
âThink heâll run?â Kaydee asked as we hit the next level, only a couple away from our goal, the Bridge.
âIf heâs smart,â I said. âSo no, probably not.â
âHeâs lived this long,â Kaydee countered.
âNarrow escapes add up, right?â I replied. âHe wonât get away every time.â
I felt a hand on my shoulder, saw Fang looking at me close again.
âTalking to your mind?â She asked, more concern in those words than I expected.
As if she thought I had some grave illness.
âDiscussing plans,â I said.
We stepped through some sparking remnants, a flexi-mechâs feeble parts marking our path. The spastic metal on metal cutting sounds guided us too, punctuated here and there by a knifeâs ringing impact.
âPlans for what?â Fang continued.
âAlpha.â
She nodded, âGood. So long as it stays that way.â
âFocused on the objective?â
âFocused on what we need you to do.â
Another strange statement. Another human putting mechs in their lower-than-thou place. I wrote it off, just as I had with Val. After Alpha, weâd leave Fang and their little group behind.
âMade that decision already, huh?â Kaydee said.
Made it after meeting Pravda. The man had ego to burn, salved it by blaming us. Not even Val would go that far. My programming pushed me to help the humans, but it didnât specify which ones.
Iâd choose the group treating me better than dirt.
âNot that they did at the start,â Kaydee muttered. âGuess they learned, though.â
After Iâd earned their respect, sure. I just didnât care to try earning Fangâs.
We hit the Bridgeâs level alive. The half-moon platform extended out from Starshipâs bow, serving as a welcome to Starshipâs most important room. A clean welcome too: the cherry red barriers leading to the Bridge itself werenât even up.
Only Alpha, alone on the platform, facing us. Un-armed.
âMy favorite friends coming back for more?â Alpha asked as our quartet spread around him. âI thought I left you outside?â
Delta glanced at me, gave a short nod. The code exception worked: she had no blocks. Now the only choice was whether we sliced Alpha up or asked him a few questions first.
âYou left holes,â I said. âWhat areââ
The shot canceled my voice, its bright blip blinding me for a moment. The energy traveled, struck Alpha right in the chest. A second and a third followed, each one blasting into Alpha until he collapsed, smoking, to the ground. Fang peppered the vessel twice more until I wrestled the pistol away.
Download
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.
Sita - Warrior of Mithila (Book 2 of the Ram Chandra Series) by Amish(53739)
The Crystal Crypt by Dick Philip K(36384)
Cat's cradle by Kurt Vonnegut(14705)
Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han(14429)
Ready Player One by Cline Ernest(13920)
The Last by Hanna Jameson(9773)
Year One by Nora Roberts(9273)
Persepolis Rising by James S. A. Corey(8916)
The remains of the day by Kazuo Ishiguro(8347)
Never let me go by Kazuo Ishiguro(8257)
Red Rising by Pierce Brown(8208)
Dark Space: The Second Trilogy (Books 4-6) (Dark Space Trilogies Book 2) by Jasper T. Scott(7881)
The handmaid's tale by Margaret Atwood(7414)
The Circle by Dave Eggers(6814)
Frank Herbert's Dune Saga Collection: Books 1 - 6 by Frank Herbert(6669)
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood(6448)
Legacy by Ellery Kane(6369)
Pandemic (The Extinction Files Book 1) by A.G. Riddle(6154)
Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty(5789)
