Crimson Son 4: Legacy (Crimson Son Universe, #4) by Russ Linton

Author:Russ Linton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: superhero, superhero novels for adults, young adult, science fiction, alternate history, cyberpunk, adventure, men's adventure, military, snark, hacker
Publisher: Russ Linton
Published: 2019-04-27T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“THERE YOU ARE,” JACKIE said brightly as she waltzed into the command center.

Yes, thought Eric. Incredibly perceptive of you. I am here. Always here.

The fruit of Ember’s loins strolled over and stood at his side. She seemed endlessly curious and hopelessly bored. Eric didn’t mind her so much, but right now wasn’t the best time for a chat.

China, always fucking China. They’d made a serious play for Afghanistan, opening their door into the Middle East. He’d had high hopes this time a year ago that he’d already sealed the deal there with the people on the planet most likely fed up with being the world’s shooting range. Hiding in the mountains, making a meager living while big armies shit on their doorstep, Afghans were ripe for the Collective’s message.

But noooooo. The Chinese had arrived and started handing out truckloads of paper money. Yuan filled the streets there like escort service pamphlets on the Vegas strip.

Speaking of Vegas.

Eric didn’t know what Titan and Cantor were up to, but they’d been busy little rogue CIA agents. Tracking rogue Augment sightings for Spence, he’d had plenty of reports of an immense, sunburned, sweaty fucker in Africa they’d nicknamed Kubwa Otjize. Travel covert all you want, when you go full erection and find yourself swaying above the jungle canopy, people kind of notice.

They had to be there because of Xamse. But working for or against? That was the million Salarium question.

“What’s the score?” Jackie had pulled up a chair and she reclined, propping her feet on the main console. Several old wrappers and a microwave crisping sleeve tumble toward the floor but never making it.

Eric’s ears popped, the air blurred. The trash had disappeared mid-fall and he heard a rustling in the wastebasket across the room. Jackie hadn’t moved.

“Score?” Eric raised his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

“How’s our team? You know, the one on their second mission?”

That. He hadn’t forgotten. His central monitor was devoted to their progress. Marut Air couldn’t be delayed by the weather, but the weather, as inconspicuous as it might be, was generally slower than a jet. Spencer had been paranoid as balls though so that’s the ride they took.

“They’re finally closing in on the target zone.” He indicated the central monitor. Comms off in flight, he’d been tracking them with NOAA and regional weather satellites. “Should be on the ground in ten.”

A news report coming in from China caught his eye. He couldn’t make out the words, but he recognized the squat, blocky building instantly. If he had time to play darts, he’d have printed off a picture of the Ministry of Public Safety months ago and swiss cheesed it full of holes.

Swiss. Patty melt. Can’t microwave a good patty melt. Americans had to have come up with that gooey grease ball.

“What’s it like being the King of the Collective?” Jackie asked.

Eric shook himself, reaching for the focus which had left him. He cranked up the volume for the Chinese newscast in his headset.

Had his loss of focus happened before or after Jackie came in? She wasn’t bad, really.

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