Read Online A Learning Experience 2: Hard Lessons by Christopher G. Nuttall - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christopher G. Nuttall
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handful of others into human service. God alone knew what the other old-hordes would make of him, if he ever had the bad luck to encounter them. He certainly didn't share their culture.
It was the only way to avoid exterminating them , Kevin thought, even though he knew most of the former Hordesmen would sooner die than give up their culture. And it may have worked out in our favour .
But he still found Chester creepy.
We need him , he told himself. None of the Galactics will bat an eyelid at a Hordesman serving as a bodyguard. And they will never take him seriously .
Jean cleared her throat. “We leave in two hours,” she said. “By then, I expect you to have transferred everything you require to this vessel. We will spend the four weeks in transit to the nearest gravity point examining your supplies and removing anything that might prove too revealing. You’ve all done this before, so I don’t expect any real problems.”
Unless they come from me , Kevin thought. It had been years since he’d left the office for real undercover work. Jean is being careful .
“Thank you,” he said. “I’ll be in my cabin.”
He nodded to the team – there would be time to train with them on the voyage – and walked through the hatch. His cabin was tiny; nothing more than an uncomfortable bunk, a pair of drawers under the bunk and a tiny basin to wash his hands and face. Water wasn't rationed on the ship – there was no shortage of water in space, if the recyclers hadn't been working – but there was only one shower on the ship. It was going to be a grimy trip.
Reaching for his terminal, Kevin sat down and started to compose a message for Steve and Mongo, to be delivered to them in the event of his death. He already had a will on file, but this was different. They had to understand his thinking or they would blame themselves for his death. It was strange, when he thought about just how poorly he’d fitted into the family at times, yet it was also gladdening. The bonds of family were tight.
It’s just a shame father couldn't see what we’ve done , he thought, as he finished the message and uploaded it into the system-wide datanet. Or would he have thought we abandoned our country for the stars ?
Chapter Six
In a formal protest lodged with the United Nations, the Islamic State of Western Arabia today accused the Solar Union of high-handedness, arrogance and cultural imperialism after fifty-seven young women successfully applied for asylum in the Solar Union. There has been no comment from President Ross, but medical records accessed by this reporter state that the women were repeatedly beaten and raped by their so-called husbands and fathers. He wishes the immigrants the best of luck in their new society.
-Solar News Network, Year 51
“Be seated.”
Martin obeyed, looking around the doctor’s office with interest. The walls were white plastic, gleaming under the light, while a single bed and a pair of chairs were placed against one of the bulkheads. A handful of hand-drawn paintings hung from the walls, drawn – he hoped – by the doctor’s young children. No adult would have drawn stick-figure images and called them art.
The doctor picked up a packet from the table, then turned to face Martin. “You are here to receive Level One Military-Grade Implants,” he stated. “In the event of you leaving us before completing your service, you will be liable for the cost of these implants, as they cannot be removed without risking brain damage. As you progress up the ladder, your implants will be enhanced to assist you with your new responsibilities. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir,” Martin said. His voice sounded nervous in his own ears, no matter how hard he tried to keep it steady. There were no shortage of horror stories on Earth about implants going wrong or being subverted. “I
It was the only way to avoid exterminating them , Kevin thought, even though he knew most of the former Hordesmen would sooner die than give up their culture. And it may have worked out in our favour .
But he still found Chester creepy.
We need him , he told himself. None of the Galactics will bat an eyelid at a Hordesman serving as a bodyguard. And they will never take him seriously .
Jean cleared her throat. “We leave in two hours,” she said. “By then, I expect you to have transferred everything you require to this vessel. We will spend the four weeks in transit to the nearest gravity point examining your supplies and removing anything that might prove too revealing. You’ve all done this before, so I don’t expect any real problems.”
Unless they come from me , Kevin thought. It had been years since he’d left the office for real undercover work. Jean is being careful .
“Thank you,” he said. “I’ll be in my cabin.”
He nodded to the team – there would be time to train with them on the voyage – and walked through the hatch. His cabin was tiny; nothing more than an uncomfortable bunk, a pair of drawers under the bunk and a tiny basin to wash his hands and face. Water wasn't rationed on the ship – there was no shortage of water in space, if the recyclers hadn't been working – but there was only one shower on the ship. It was going to be a grimy trip.
Reaching for his terminal, Kevin sat down and started to compose a message for Steve and Mongo, to be delivered to them in the event of his death. He already had a will on file, but this was different. They had to understand his thinking or they would blame themselves for his death. It was strange, when he thought about just how poorly he’d fitted into the family at times, yet it was also gladdening. The bonds of family were tight.
It’s just a shame father couldn't see what we’ve done , he thought, as he finished the message and uploaded it into the system-wide datanet. Or would he have thought we abandoned our country for the stars ?
Chapter Six
In a formal protest lodged with the United Nations, the Islamic State of Western Arabia today accused the Solar Union of high-handedness, arrogance and cultural imperialism after fifty-seven young women successfully applied for asylum in the Solar Union. There has been no comment from President Ross, but medical records accessed by this reporter state that the women were repeatedly beaten and raped by their so-called husbands and fathers. He wishes the immigrants the best of luck in their new society.
-Solar News Network, Year 51
“Be seated.”
Martin obeyed, looking around the doctor’s office with interest. The walls were white plastic, gleaming under the light, while a single bed and a pair of chairs were placed against one of the bulkheads. A handful of hand-drawn paintings hung from the walls, drawn – he hoped – by the doctor’s young children. No adult would have drawn stick-figure images and called them art.
The doctor picked up a packet from the table, then turned to face Martin. “You are here to receive Level One Military-Grade Implants,” he stated. “In the event of you leaving us before completing your service, you will be liable for the cost of these implants, as they cannot be removed without risking brain damage. As you progress up the ladder, your implants will be enhanced to assist you with your new responsibilities. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir,” Martin said. His voice sounded nervous in his own ears, no matter how hard he tried to keep it steady. There were no shortage of horror stories on Earth about implants going wrong or being subverted. “I
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