Titanborn by Rhett C. Bruno

Author:Rhett C. Bruno
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2016-06-21T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

A tram carried us through the core of the moon and to the bustling security headquarters at the other end of the station. It made the one in New London look antiquated. The screens were larger and many were holographic panes able to be touched and manipulated—the newest in telecommunications technology. There were also, of course, floor-embedded viewports, which currently displayed a stunning vista of Saturn’s Rings.

“This way, sir.” The officer led us into Director Sodervall’s private office. It was a sizable space, filled with all manner of clutter. It was evident that he was a very busy man with responsibilities extending well beyond keeping tabs on me. No wonder he didn’t have time to bother with the Cogent Initiative.

The director keyed some commands into the console built into his desk, and then a large, holographic screen was projected in front of his viewport. He returned to my side to watch what was about to be displayed on it. Zhaff was behind us, and I could feel his warm breath on my neck as he leaned in close.

“What’s going on?” I asked the director.

“Just watch,” he replied evenly.

He set the recording to play. The feed was grainy, but I could distinguish what appeared to be some manner of soldier in heavy white armor standing in front of an air lock. An orange circle was inscribed over his chest plate, and his visor was tinted enough to make it impossible to discern his face. The camera trembled a bit, which meant that there was likely someone on the other end holding it.

“The Children of Titan?” I questioned. Director Sodervall nodded with austerity.

Inside the air lock there were at least a dozen Earthers banging on the glass of a circular porthole and screaming. A similar number of pale, long-faced Ringers were lined up in seats set on either side of the rebel soldier. They were watching, though they didn’t look like they approved of what was happening. Their eyes bulged with dread, and even though most of their mouths were covered by sanitary masks I could tell by the way they drooped that many of their jaws were hanging open.

“We are descendants of those chosen by Trass—Titanborn,” a voice deepened by some sort of distortion device said. It was coming from the soldier at the air lock. “We tire of being owned; of rotting in your q-zones as you suck our home dry. Retribution is coming. This is what happens to those who steal from our Ring. From ice to ashes.”

Without warning, the armored soldier at the air lock pressed a button on its control panel and sentenced every Earther inside to death. The outer seal came open and in seconds the winds of Saturn reached in to yank them all out. Then the video went to static.

“That happened an hour ago on an old gas harvester named the Piccolo,” Director Sodervall said irritably. “Somehow they’ve been able to broadcast that video all over this station.”

The Ringer on Earth flashed through my mind, aiming my own pistol straight at me.

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