The True Measure (Terran Armor Corps Book 3) by Richard Fox

Author:Richard Fox [Fox, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Publisher: Triplane Press
Published: 2017-11-01T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

“…and then I threw the dragon way up into the air and it flew away,” Jonathan said.

Roland smiled and looked down at his plate. He’d had more than one serving and felt like he’d eaten a bit more than what was polite, but the lamb chops had a spice to them that Roland had never tasted before, and the grain dish was savory and had an almost-cinnamon aftertaste. Wherever this Navarre planet was, the Ibarras had made good use of the local flora.

“That’s quite the story, son,” Nicodemus said.

“I’m all done eating,” the boy said. “Can you help me with gauss cannon targeting? Mom said you would.”

“I need to take Mr. Shaw back to his quarters,” Nicodemus said.

“But Mom said…”

“I can get back on my own,” Roland said. “Air cars are air cars. Right? The gu—people in charge of quarters won’t mind.”

Nicodemus looked hard at Roland, then glanced at the small shrine to Saint Kallen in the corner behind him.

Roland brushed his hand over the bare patch on his shoulder, making an implicit promise to the Saint that he wouldn’t abuse Nicodemus’ trust.

“Go get your gear on,” the Ibarran said to his son.

Jonathan scrambled off his chair and raced away.

“Your car should still be waiting,” Nicodemus said.

“Then I’ll get started on dishes.” Suzzana made to get up, but Nicodemus stopped her.

“We’ll let the Rosie handle it,” he said.

“You remember this.” She pointed at Roland and then to her husband. “Spoil your pregnant wife and life will be happier for everyone.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Roland said, standing up. “Thank you for having me over.”

“Sir,” Roland said to Nicodemus as he walked toward the exit. The Ibarran joined him and grabbed him by the forearm as the door opened.

“If you think I’ll go easy on you after this…” Nicodemus said.

“I didn’t think you would.” Roland frowned.

“Have a safe trip back.” Nicodemus waited until Roland had started down the hallway before closing the door.

Roland heard muffled conversations from the other apartments as he passed. Just how many families were here? He’d imagined the Ibarrans as little more than one giant army, creating entire strike groups from their crèche farms bent on whatever Stacey Ibarra demanded from them. To know that there was a deeper dimension, that they lived lives little different from the people of Earth and the colonies…

The pair of legionnaires met him without a word at the garage. They kept their weapons pointed away from Roland and their fingers off the trigger, but Roland could sense their alert nature. Even if he had the desire to try to escape now, he’d stand a better chance fighting armor while in his utilities and holding a butter knife.

A deep sense of uselessness and ennui came over him as the pilotless air car came up to him. There was no escape from the Ibarrans, he realized. He was nothing more than a nuisance for them now, having already given up what they wanted from him.

Resistance was useless. Without his armor, he was nothing as a fighter compared to those combat-built and -bred legionnaires.

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