Jury Duty (First Contact) by Peter Cawdron
Author:Peter Cawdron [Cawdron, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-28T05:00:00+00:00
Colonel Buckley
Nick is on his hands and knees, cradling his head, unsure whether the blood dripping on the floor is Dmitriâs or his. He cries. Tears fall from his eyes as he rocks back and forth, trying to catch up with reality.
Colonel Buckley grabs him by the nape of his neck, jerking his head back and forcing him to look up.
âItâs not polite to ignore basic pleasantries. Whatâs your name, son? Your full name?â
The colonelâs voice is deceptive. Heâs from one of the southern states. His accent is relaxed, making his words sound soft and warm. At a guess, Nick would think heâs from Mississippi or Louisiana. Buckley smiles from behind a thin mustache, encouraging him to speak.
âNick. Nicholas. Nicholas James Ferrin.â
Nick stares at the overhead fluorescent lights, still trying to comprehend whatâs happening. Now that heâs upright on his knees, the colonel lets go.
Buckley strides around in front of him, speaking with a voice as bitter as the storm outside.
âDo you know why youâre here, Nicholas?â
âNâNo.â
âYouâre here to do your duty. You have a solemn duty to the people of Godâs sacred Earth, Mr. Ferrin. Do you understand me?â
Nick nods. He looks around. Computer monitors line the walls, displaying dozens of graphs along with video images from throughout the base. Most of the shots are of the lights above an external door somewhere, revealing frozen stairs leading down to the ice. There are a few internal shots, but theyâre of empty corridors. On one screen, he sees Adrianna kneeling next to a body sprawled out on the floor. The images are monochrome. The blood seeping from Dmitriâs chest is as black as coal.
âWâWhy? Why did you kill him?â
The colonel ignores Nick.
âYou have been called upon to serve your country, Nicholas. That is a noble endeavor.â
Jazz is down on her knees not more than ten feet from Nick. Her hands have been bound behind her back with a plastic zip-tie. Blood drips from her chin, running in a steady stream from a cut on her forehead. Bruises have formed on her cheeks. Their eyes meet. She mouths the word, âDonât.â
Bear is beside her, kneeling on the linoleum floor with his hands bound behind his back. His face is black and blue. Large welts have formed on his cheeks.
âYouâre here to serve on the jury, Nick. Can I call you that, Nicholas? Nick is much more informal and relaxed. Itâs more appropriate, donât you think?â
Nick nods, still trying to focus through the haze of pain surging through his scalp.
Thereâs a rhythm to Colonel Buckleyâs words. He speaks with deliberation. Every sentence is precise. Each word is pronounced with vigor.
âThereâs something I need you to do, Nick. As a member of the jury, I need you to authorize our response to the alien attack. Father has been disabled. Weâve got his core functions back online, but he needs your approval to proceed with our response. Do you understand me?â
Reluctantly, Nick nods.
Buckley walks over to Jazz. He places the barrel of his pistol under her chin, raising her gaze as he speaks.
Download
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.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J K Rowling(3130)
The Sentinel (Jack Reacher) by Lee Child & Andrew Child(3035)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by Rowling J K(2718)
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.k.rowling (eng)(2416)
Marauder (The Oregon Files) by Clive Cussler & Boyd Morrison(1683)
Better Off Dead by Lee Child & Andrew Child(1602)
The Other Emily by Dean Koontz(1468)
The Girl and the Mountain by Mark Lawrence(1322)
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy(1287)
Gild (The Plated Prisoner Series Book 1) by Raven Kennedy(1285)
The Captive by Fiona King Foster(1245)
The OP MC: God of Winning by Logan Jacobs(1229)
Marauder by Clive Cussler & Boyd Morrison(1177)
Hidden in Plain Sight by Archer Jeffrey(1176)
Near the Bone by Christina Henry(1168)
Ruthless Empire (Royal Elite Book 6) by Rina Kent(1161)
Fable: A Novel by Adrienne Young(1160)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Illustrated [Kindle in Motion] (Illustrated Harry Potter) by J.K. Rowling(1086)
Ancient Dreams Omnibus Edition by Benjamin Medrano(1073)