Tyrant on the Trailblazer by John Thornton

Author:John Thornton [Thornton, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781095826379
Published: 2019-06-01T22:00:00+00:00

10 Power Struggle

The Ida biome looked much as Buttercrest thought it should. It felt like home as she looked out over the vista from where they had entered. Forcing open the passageway from the constituent joint had been a bit of an ordeal, but her two companions had done the task with diligence and speed. That passage was now welded shut behind them.

The sky tube shone down with the same warm yellow light she recalled from her home. Drawing in a deep breath, she savored the smells of the lush wooded areas, farms, and ornamental gardens. She wished she could see the river, but where they had entered the habitat it was at ground level.

Glancing up, the sweeping flight of numerous birds caught her attention.

“The brahminy kites!” Buttercrest said out loud as she saw the reddish-brown body plumage on the gliding birds. That contrasted with their distinctive white heads and breasts. Ever since her childhood, Buttercrest had always loved to lay on the grass or on the porch and watch the birds as they soared high in the air.

Belvoir snapped back, “What? You mean those red-backed eagles?”

Buttercrest’s heart beat rapidly and fear flashed through her mind as she thought she was exposed. But she just touched her naked face, turned, and glared at Belvoir, “May I call them what I want, or are you able to read my mind and know my thoughts?”

“I just…” Belvoir muttered and looked away. “After those religious wacko’s birds dropped bombs… well, I just—”

“You just what?” Buttercrest pressed, placing a bit of menace into her tones. “I need your approval to comment on something? Here? Really? Here? Must I endure more indignities or will you get me to where I can make myself presentable?” Again, she tapped her face where the red stripe was missing. It was a calculated gambit, but Buttercrest felt that somehow the facial decorations and cosmetics played an important role in this Trailblazer’s society. “Well?”

Belvoir took a step back, but Leicester intervened saying, “Butterfield, we will get you immediately to Hazel Tower. There we can set things right.”

Carrot or stick? Buttercrest wondered and then said, “I understand much has transpired for us all. I hope we do not have to repeat this anytime soon. You said my forces were gathering, but I must prepare.”

“Exactly right,” Leicester said and glanced at Belvoir who stepped even further away. “We will get you to the CCO and from there we can assess all that has happened.”

Buttercrest remembered how Janae and Kenneth had spoken about situations being altered and just plain different while the android Ape had discussed multiceiver failures and other things, therefore, she decided that an offensive play might be more effective in establishing her dominance.

Therefore, she spoke with a low but firm voice, “Much has transpired, and while you two seem to be as I remember, we must be very careful of subtle alterations. Suspect every single person. All of them, and anything—I mean anything within our forces—which show any signs of disloyalty.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
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.