BattleTech Legends: Assumption of Risk by Michael A. Stackpole

Author:Michael A. Stackpole
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
Published: 2016-09-25T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

Solaris City, Solaris VII

Tamarind March, Federated Commonwealth

9 April 3056

Kai Allard-Liao sat patiently in the combatants’ waiting room far below Ishiyama as Katrina Steiner-Davion gave Galen Cox a kiss. “That’s for luck,” she said loud enough to be overheard, “and so you won’t do anything foolish out there.”

Kai felt the last remark directed at him and he gave her a covert nod. She had spoken with him several times without Galen’s knowledge, expressing concern for Galen’s safety and winning Kai’s promise to protect him from harm. A lucky headshot by Ryan’s men or a piloting error could still get Galen killed, but Kai was confident he would be able to keep that promise.

“Duchess, Lady Omi Kurita and Mr. DeLon are waiting for you in the DeLon Stable box.” Kai smiled at her easily. “Your security detail knows the way. We will be with you shortly.”

Katrina looked at Galen. “Promise?”

“Your wish is my duty, Duchess.”

Katrina gave him another quick kiss, then turned away. Kai couldn’t see her face as she left the waiting room, but tears in her eyes wouldn’t have surprised him. Does she fear losing Galen as she has already lost the other people closest to her?

Galen shook his head as he fished his apprentice license from the breast pocket of his jumpsuit and clipped it to his lapel. “What was that all about?” he asked.

“Kommandant, you are too bright to have missed the fact that the Duchess Katrina is enamored of you.”

The distant thunder of war machines battling over them vibrated through the room. Galen shrugged helplessly. “Wanting what you can’t have isn’t a pleasant way to go through life.”

“As Victor and Omi have discovered.” Kai clapped his friend on the shoulder as they walked back into the South Side dressing room. “I think you understand that the situation could become rather delicate, but I wouldn’t be concerned about Victor’s reaction. He loves you both.”

“But is this a violation of the trust he has in me?”

“I’m not Victor, so I can’t really say, but if I’d entrusted one of my sisters to you, I’d be neither surprised nor displeased at a romance developing.” Kai steered Galen over to the well-lit dressing room where two big Red Cobra tongsmen stood guard. “In fact Victor might be very pleased that after tonight a career opens up to you that could provide both plenty of money and lots of positive exposure.”

Fuh Teng waited for Kai and Galen in the dressing room along with two others he introduced as grandnephews. Laid out in readiness were a pair of body suits, which were black except for the gold stripes that ran from the underside of the wrist up to the armpit, then down the torso to the outside of the thigh. At the knee the stripe crossed over to the interior of the shin and ended at the ankle of each leg. The head piece had been chopped off above the forehead level, with a gold band running around the brow. Everything else was black, with an opening for the face.

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