Baron, Scott - The Dragon Mage 08 - Warp Speed Charlie by Baron Scott

Author:Baron, Scott [Baron, Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Three

Sitting quietly in his thick-barred cell, Grundsch stared out the window at the blue skies of the world his people had once conquered. An entire planet, brought under their rule in a matter of weeks before they moved on to the next conquest. And now? Now it was back in the hands of its original inhabitants, and his kind had been scattered to the wind, their hive destroyed, their queen dead.

There would be no more Ra’az Hok. He was the last.

“I wanted to speak with you, Grundsch,” Cal said, his voice appearing out of thin air.

“I am not going anywhere,” the alien replied. “Speak as you wish.”

“Your situation has been discussed with the other AI minds overseeing this planet, and we all agree that the life on Earth is rebounding well. The war is long over, and people have healed.”

“So I’ve been informed,” Grundsch replied. “And mine are all dead.”

“Yes. But I’ve been thinking long and hard about your particular case, and I would like to make you an offer. I wish to free you on probation.”

The enormous Ra’az sat up straight, perplexed. “You wish to free me? Why?”

“Because we are all tired of death and killing. Because the war was so long ago. And because your advocates made quite a strong argument on your behalf.”

“Advocates? What are you speaking of? I have no advocates.”

“There, you are mistaken. Korbin spoke on your behalf, telling of your actions when his niece was in jeopardy. You had your freedom, Grundsch, your collar had been neutralized. Yet you not only stayed to fight, you were willing to sacrifice yourself for the life of the girl.”

“It was not intentional. It was a purely instinctive act,” he replied.

“But that instinct was the right one, and it is the reason I am offering you this opportunity. You should know, both Kara and Visanya also spoke on your behalf, each of them telling of not only your actions on that day, but also in regular life. You looked after Kara with great care, Grundsch, and that was something a control collar could not force upon anyone.”

“So, I am to be freed? To be turned loose on this world?”

“Within reason,” Cal replied. “You will be given a tracking chip so you can be monitored as a condition of this release. Though your people did a great harm to this world and many others, your friends believe that people can change. That you have changed. Prove them right.”

Over the next few hours, Grundsch was visited by med techs, who implanted the small chip in his calf, as well as representatives of the human, cyborg, and Chithiid inhabitants of the city.

He would be a free man, but he should know that there were still a great many with grudges against his kind. The populace had been informed of his release, and warned not to harass or attack him, and they would follow those edicts. But if he should step out of line, their restraint would evaporate.

Grundsch nodded his understanding.

“People

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