The Red: First Light by Linda Nagata

Author:Linda Nagata
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3, pdf
Tags: science fiction, military fiction, thriller, hard science fiction, near future fiction
ISBN: 978-1-937197-14-8
Publisher: Mythic Island Press LLC
Published: 2013-03-03T05:00:00+00:00

As I come in, Moon looks at me in relief. “L. T., Mr. Weber is here to see you.”

Elliot turns to look me up and down, from my buzz-cut scalp to my robot feet. “Shelley. I couldn’t believe that was you out there tonight. You were still in a wheelchair the last time I saw you.”

I fake a smart-ass grin, because if I look worried he’s going to ask why. “I think the prosthetics have proved themselves. I’m not a super-cyber, comic-book warrior, but I can keep up. My official certification should be coming through. I’ll be field qualified, and that means Kendrick’s program will get a big grant.” I cross to the stairs, hauling the M-CL1a and my dead sister. “So how long are you here for? You’re not going back this morning?”

He falls into step beside me. “No, no. I still need to do an interview with you—a short interview,” he quickly adds, when I start to object. “Come on, it’s just a human-interest piece on the star of Dark Patrol. The army wants it done. They’re pushing this prosthetics program. It’s why I’m here.”

There are other reasons he’s here, going back to a 2AM phone call.

We start up the stairs. I say, “It’s hard to believe you’re writing propaganda pieces for the army these days.”

He pauses on the landing, giving me a measuring look. “I know you’ve got a lot going on, Shelley, but I am not your enemy.”

Maybe that’s true. I hope it is. But I’m not going to let him lay on the guilt. I keep going. “Things aren’t simple,” I tell him. “Not with you, not with the army.”

Maybe I’m getting through. “You think I’ve got another reason for being here?” he asks as we reach the top. “Okay. You’re right.”

I keep going, until I reach the door of my room. The dead sister is getting damned heavy so I open the door and set it down inside. Then I turn back to Elliot.

He says, “I’ve heard a rumor—”

I hold my gloved hand up, palm out, and he stops. I tap a finger by my eye to remind him what’s there. “Don’t say it, if you don’t want the army to know it.”

“If they don’t know it, they’re more screwed up than even I give them credit for.” He crosses his arms, lifts his chin, as if daring me to argue. “I think the idea started with Dark Patrol, but there’s a rumor running wild, Shelley, that the linked combat squads have been infiltrated—hacked through their skullcaps.”

Out of instinct, I adopt my stonewall expression. “Where did you hear that?”

“In the Cloud. No fixed point. It’s one of those things people talk about... and it got me thinking. At Kelly AMC, when I came to see you, you weren’t too sure why you’d wanted me there. You were starting to regret it. Do you remember what you asked me?”

I do, but I deny it with a shake of my head.

“You asked, ‘Did I sound normal when we were talking?’”

“And what was your answer?”

He scowls.

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