Planet Killer by Lindsay Buroker

Author:Lindsay Buroker [Buroker, Lindsay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Speculative
Amazon: B07Z9YR7HW
Goodreads: 48509566
Published: 2019-11-20T16:00:00+00:00

Kim shifted from foot to foot, anxious to get out of the shuttle bay and off Stardust Palace Station. Bonita had led Bjarke out of the area—thankfully putting an end to the angry conversation between Bjarke and Asger that had floated back through the bay, past the ships that Kim, Casmir, and Casmir’s twelve-crusher army were hiding behind. Asger remained in the bay—Casmir’s access to the station’s security cameras were allowing him to give updates of things beyond Kim’s sight. He was speaking with Qin at the base of the Dragon’s cargo ramp.

“How do we get rid of him?” Kim whispered to Casmir. “Them,” she added. Qin might be as likely to fight Rache as Asger.

Casmir was leaning against the wall next to her, his gaze unfocused as he concentrated on the network security cameras—or read a comic book. It was hard to tell. “How much time do we have? If they’re still there when Rache gets here, we may have to just tell them to stay back.”

Kim spread her hands, palms up. She’d sent a message earlier and gotten the vague response of Today.

“You were programmed with the Star Kingdom Royal Bodyguard Manual?” Zee asked quietly.

“I was,” came several soft replies.

“I have seen you practice defense on the knight, but there are times when we may be asked to be the aggressors. It is Casmir Dabrowski’s wish that we not take human lives. Is this understood?”

“Yes. Casmir Dabrowski is the maker. His will must be fulfilled.”

Kim raised her eyebrows at Casmir. He only shrugged.

“There are many ways to disable human opponents without killing them,” Zee went on. “We will employ those techniques when necessary.”

“What about rendering other crushers, robots, and androids inoperable?” one of his new buddies asked.

“If it is determined that they are the enemies of Casmir Dabrowski, and a threat to our mission, we will need to remove them from the fight. It is not necessary to do so much damage that they will be forever inoperable.”

“When I first met you,” Kim murmured to Casmir, “I wouldn’t have guessed that you would end up building a loyal robot army.”

His eye blinked. “Are you sure? I think my parents could have predicted this when I was four and making vroom vroom noises as I drove my first robot cab around the kitchen floor.”

“It wasn’t so much that I thought you lacked interest as… initiative.”

“Or megalomania?”

“That too.”

“That’s one of my fifty words for describing comic book villains, you know. Which I hope I’m not in danger of becoming.” Concern wrinkled his brow. “I just didn’t want to program them to obey Jorg. Or Jager. Or anyone with an inordinate amount of control over the lives of my friends and family.”

“Understandable.” Kim refrained from adding if a bit creepy. She found the robots quietly discussing their battle tactics—with Zee setting himself up as general—discomfiting, but she wouldn’t add to Casmir’s concerns by saying so. She hoped they truly were all willing to obey him and didn’t develop a recalcitrant independence.

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