The Way Station Gambit (The Contingency War Book 2) by G J Ogden

Author:G J Ogden [Ogden, G J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ogden Media Ltd
Published: 2019-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

Casey Valera sat on the workbench in the workshop with her head in her hands, palms pressed tightly over her new silver simulant eyes. She had been this way for several minutes, after waking up to the reality of what she was. The first person she had seen was Commander Sarah Sonner, who had backed away to the side of the workshop to give the newly awakened simulant some space, though she still watched her keenly, trying to predict her actions. Casey did not yet know of her super-human strength, though Sonner was deeply wary of her abilities and did not want to appear a threat, especially since she had been responsible for killing another version of her. Taylor had entered soon after, using his own simulant legs to sprint from his quarters with inhuman speed, and it had been his sudden and shock appearance that had set Casey into a spiral of denial.

“This can’t be real... it just can’t be...” Casey was saying to herself, over and over again. Taylor had tried to comfort her, tried to empathize as only he could, but despite the connection they had made inside the DMZ and inside each other’s minds, the real-world reality of Casey’s new life was simply overwhelming.

“You’re just going to have to give her time,” said Sonner, as she tentatively stepped to Taylor’s side. Both had their backs pressed to the wall of the workshop. Unusually for Sonner, her tone and manner were comforting and encouraging, rather than prickly and impatient. “She’ll come around. She’ll have to.”

“I know...” said Taylor, though it was half-hearted. What Sonner had said was logical, but it was not true that accepting her new reality was the only option for her. Taylor had managed to accept what he was, perhaps because his desire to rescue and wake his crew members was more powerful than the hopelessness that had threatened to consume him. Casey had not yet discovered her purpose, and he recognized the well of despair that was opening up beneath her. Casey had always been the brightest and most optimistic person he had ever known. It didn’t matter if his memories of her were the real Taylor’s or even if they were manufactured by the Hedalt – the Casey Valera he knew loved to live. But this was not the Casey Valera that he had known. This was a unique Casey Valera, born for the first time, and so he could not begin to fathom what was going on inside her head.

“We should get off this station as soon as possible,” Sonner added, conscious that they had spent too long in one place already, and especially in light of the recent excitement. Ship docking and departures had not been suspended, but once the constabulary had fully regained order and discovered the theft of a simulant – the property of Warfare Command – it was entirely possible, and even likely, they would ground all ships and begin a search. “I’ve already requested a departure slot, and thanks to our friend Sub-Deck Chief Mallor, we’ll get bumped to the head of the queue.

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