Read Online Dark Star by Lara Morgan - Free Book Online

his room lights were still on. Better to go out to see him than have him knocking on his door. He stashed the reader and chit in his hiding spot and went out to the kitchen.
    His father was sitting at the long glossy table, a plate of steamed vegetables in front of him. He was reading something on one of his company holos. He regarded Dalton with a faintly disappointed expression. “You’ve been out late again.”
    Hello to you too, Dalton thought, but he only said, “I was catching up with some of the Hover Hockey boys.”
    “I thought you hadn’t been playing because of your leg.”
    “I haven’t, but they’re still my friends.” Dalton slouched down in a chair at the other end of the table. “There’s no law against seeing your friends, is there?”
    Jebediah said nothing. He was a well-built man, not quite as tall as Dalton, but he had an air about him that made him seem the tallest, most dominant man in the room. His hair was dark, cut short and styled well, but streaked through with grey at the temples. Unlike most Centrals, he had no patience for cosmetic enhancement. He let his age show. A deep furrow was etched between his eyebrows and fine lines radiated from his eyes and across his forehead. It only made him appear distinguished, formidable. Charismatic, people called him. Dalton called him other things. Tyrant. Cold. Impossible to please.
    “That bike accident has put you a long way behind, son,” his dad said. “Don’t fall into the party scene and throw all your previous hard work away.”
    “I’m not in the party scene; it was a few drinks with friends.”
    “And what does your coach think about that?”
    “He’ll be fine.” The coach would accept whatever excuse he gave. He was a Curtis and it was family money that kept the team afloat. Which was lucky because he hadn’t seen his hockey team mates for weeks, and if his father dug too deep, he might find out there hadn’t been a bike accident either. He’d injured his leg when he was shot in Gondwana Nation helping Rosie destroy the base. But if his dad really was with Sulawayo’s rebellion, or the leader of it, he’d know he’d been up there. He would know everything. So why hide it? What was his agenda? An ache built on confusion and weariness stung the back of his eyeballs, and Dalton went to the cool unit for a drink. “So where’s Pilar?” he asked.
    “Gone to bed. It is late, son. And your mother?”
    “Sleeping.” Dalton shut the cool unit and leaned against it, playing with a plascan of juice.
    His dad studied Dalton over the rim of his wine glass. “Did you see her when you came in? Is she clean?”
    “You had one of your men search her at the door, don’t you know?”
    But his father wasn’t rising to the bait. “It’s for her own good. I have to protect her from herself.”
    “I suppose you know best.”
    His dad put down his glass then rested his elbows on the table and folded his hands together. “Everything I do, everything, is for the good of this family, for the good of everyone. I know you don’t always like what our company does, but sometimes we have to make hard choices, son. We are building a better world and that is not an easy task.”
    Dalton pressed his lips together. He wanted to ask his father if he thought he’d been doing the right thing for his other son when he’d left Chris out in the MalX-infested ruins of the old city, but he kept silent.
    Jebediah exhaled and said softly, “It seems there are some who are out to destroy us though.”
    A beat started at the base of Dalton’s throat. “I thought there always was.”
    “This is different. That Rogue Waver put out a broadcast, not that long ago actually, claiming I am involved with Helios. You didn’t see it?”
    “I’ve been off Grid.”
    “And probably best you stay off for the time being.” Jebediah was watching him closely. “Despite the Waver’s complete lack of evidence this will cause problems. The Senate and UEC will