Shattered Galaxy Box Set by Bartlett Scott

Author:Bartlett, Scott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mirth Publishing
Published: 2020-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

5

“Huh?” the sentry says. “Fairfax? I don’t think a Fairfax would have anything to do with a place like this.”

“You’d be surprised.” I’m surprised myself, to find that this Fallen knows about the Five Families. One of them, at least. “We’re going to let you go,” I tell him, and a wave of evident relief crashes over his face. “In return, I want you to bring this message to Otto: we’re willing to work with him to bring Rile down. We want the same thing—to end his grip on Sheen City. There’s no reason for us to fight each other.”

“Yes.” He gives an eager nod. “Okay. I’ll tell him.”

“Do you think he’ll agree to work with us?”

“Definitely. Why wouldn’t he? It only makes sense.”

“Mm. All right, then. You’re free to go.”

The sentry nods, smiling like he can’t believe his good fortune. He turns to collect his laser rifle from X3B, but the bot shakes his head. “Right,” the man mutters, then takes off through the jungle at a jog.

Soren’s lowered himself onto a thick log, and when I’m sure the sentry’s gone, I turn a glare on him. “How the hell did you let that sentry get by you?”

His face darkens. “He took an angle I didn’t expect. The plan was to take them alive, right? If I’d shot him I might have killed him, and I doubt wounding him would help negotiations with Otto, since that’s apparently the tack you’ve chosen for us. Without consulting me.”

“You’re too busy versecasting to be consulted. Your head’s in the Subverse, Soren. So much that you let that sentry get by you. You’re a Troubleshooter, for Fount’s sake.”

“Yeah, and you had X3B helping you take yours. Listen, Joe, if my task had been to kill that bastard, he’d be dead. But we wanted him alive. That complicates things, and you know it.”

“Yeah. I guess it does. Sorry.” I let out a sigh.

Soren nods. “It’s fine. Maybe we’re letting the jungle get to us. I for one am looking forward to getting off this Fount-forsaken planet.”

I nod.

“Hey, when did you become such a diplomat, anyway?”

“I didn’t.”

“You don’t think your chat with that sentry was a fine work of diplomacy?”

“Hell no.” I lean back against the tree that held both lookouts just fifteen minutes ago. “He agreed to carry the message way too quickly, and he was too optimistic about the chances Otto will agree, especially after telling us the guy doesn’t like Guardsmen. He’ll be back with an ambush party, not one that’s ready to negotiate.”

“What was the point of all that, then?” Soren’s brows are drawn downward, but the interest in his voice rings like a bell. He’s already getting excited about the versecasting potential, I can tell.

“Look where we’re standing. A wide hollow in the ground, surrounded by trees. This would be the perfect place for an ambush target to be standing. And since this is where that sentry saw us last, he’ll lead Otto and his men directly here.”

Soren grins. It’s

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