KTF Part II by Anspach Jason & Cole Nick

Author:Anspach, Jason & Cole, Nick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Galaxy's Edge Press
Published: 2022-12-22T00:00:00+00:00

Keel entered the data center to find KRS-88 stripped down to its individual parts. Or at least what was left of those parts. Nearby, a red and puffy-eyed Garret was being consoled by Leenah and Andien Broxin.

“Didn’t go well, huh?” Keel asked.

Garret sniffed and shook his head.

“Well, don’t take it too hard, kid. You did what you could. At least you got a couple of supermodels hanging on either arm for the trouble.”

Leenah glared at Keel. “Inappropriate, Aeson.”

Garret chuckled through his tears. “Well… I am kind of enjoying the attention.” The code slicer stood and handed Keel a holochit. “We got through to him but…” Garret’s voice cracked, “I thought you might want to see… the end.”

Not really, Keel thought, but he took the holochit without saying so. “Thanks.”

“When a bot reaches full being,” Andien said, rising from her bench, “it’s a bit of a mixed blessing. They exchange one sort of immortality for another.”

“Save the New Age stuff for En Shakar,” Keel said. “We’ve got bigger mysteries to unravel. Like, how to not all die. We’ve got Prisma on board a Savage hulk ready to help us from the inside—”

“She shouldn’t have to be in that situation,” Leenah said, her anger controlled but visible just beneath the surface. “It’s not fair. She’s too young and she’s been through so much already.”

“Sayin’ it doesn’t change it, sweetie. She’s there, and refusing to take advantage out of some noble idea about the way things should be won’t do her or us any good.”

“I know. Just… venting.”

“We’ll all get a shot to vent on the Savages once they show up.” Keel turned to Broxin. “I told you what Kel Turner told the Legion. You buy that? Can we count on the Head Savage making a direct flight for Kima once they figure out that vault isn’t going to be handed over without a big fight?”

Andien gave a slow nod. “It fits what we know about Savage behavioral pattern. They have an intense, almost insatiable drive to eradicate any evidence of who they once were or what they once said. They live entirely in the present and future. This one, especially so.”

“Good. And then there’s the Dark Ones. I leave it to Ravi to figure that one out. But as for the Savages… I think we’ve got a plan.”

Andien looked skeptical. “Keel, these Savages are monstrous. Think of a legionnaire and put him in armor better maybe than even what you’re wearing, with weapons that Praxus and I are still theorizing over how they even function. Now game that out and include a Savage hulk that’s been hiding and improving for centuries. This needs to be a good plan. I’m talking, get the entire Republic fleet and every legionnaire available.”

Keel gave a shake of his head. “From what General Chhun told me, that’s not gonna happen. The Gomarii are hitting more and more worlds; no way the House is gonna authorize just abandoning all those Repub planets. The Legion commander himself probably wouldn’t do it, even though perhaps he should.

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.