Read Online Doom Star: Book 05 - Planet Wrecker by Vaughn Heppner - Free Book Online Page B

try,” Hawthorne said. He didn’t like the way the three bionic soldiers listened to Yezhov. Their faces were like masks. “But your chatter only shows your desperation. Your life is now being measured in seconds.”
    “I’ve served the Supreme Commander, and look how he rewards me,” Yezhov said. “In his growing madness, how will he reward you?”
    From his wheelchair, Mune made a sharp motion.
    The bodyguard with the gun trained on Yezhov holstered it and took two heavy strides to the Chief. The bodyguard put a hand on one of Yezhov’s shoulders, and squeezed with bionic strength.
    Yezhov cried out in pain, twisting as a small boy in the grip of an angry father.
    “Killing your technicians just now was ugly and brutal,” Hawthorne said. “I despise myself for ordering it. I wonder if another person could fight this war better than I. I do not wonder, however, if having you in charge would be better for humanity. Someone on Earth still has contact with the cyborgs, the same cyborgs that turned on us at Mars.”
    “Not guilty!” Yezhov shouted.
    Hawthorne shook his head. “Speak honestly, Chief, and you will live. Continue with your present tactics and you will lie on the floor of this room, dead.”
    Yezhov opened his mouth.
    “Think carefully before you utter another word,” said Hawthorne. “And know that I’ve decided on ruthlessness. I believe it’s the only counter I possess against your secret-police guile. The incident on Level Fifty-Three—” Hawthorne shook his head. “The decision to practice ruthlessness is difficult. But be assured of this. Killing you will not prove difficult.”
    Bent over in pain, with the bionic bodyguard gripping his shoulder, Yezhov looked about wildly. His eyes finally showed fear and approaching terror. He tried to squirm free. It only made the guard squeeze harder. Yezhov’s hands flew to the iron fingers as he desperately tried to pry them free—to no avail.
    “Yes, yes,” Yezhov said. “I signaled the technicians. Tell him to let me go.”
    “What did you signal?”
    Yezhov panted. “It hurts! He’s so horribly strong! Tell him to stop!”
    Hawthorne was disgusted with himself. This wasn’t his way. The fact that he’d doubted his bodyguards showed how shaken he was. Yet now was the moment. He could choose to be like the Shah of Iran, who ran away and allowed the wolves to devour his country. Or he could be like Napoleon Bonaparte and roll out the cannons, with the will to use them on anyone who stood against Social Unity. Hawthorne hardened his resolve.
    “Be glad that you’re still able to feel pain,” he told Yezhov.
    “No,” Yezhov groaned.
    “No more evasion,” Hawthorne said. “Begin talking, or my men will beat you to death with their fists.”
    Bent over, with the bionic man squeezing his flesh, Yezhov craned his neck and looked up at Hawthorne.
    James Hawthorne forced himself to look down steely-eyed at the PHC Chief.
    Yezhov shut his eyes, and he whispered, “I signaled them to begin Operation Inversion.”
    Hawthorne motioned the bodyguard as he told Yezhov, “Explain.”
    Yezhov cried out in relief, stumbling away from the bodyguard. He rubbed his shoulder, and bumped against one of the technicians’ chairs. With a groan, Yezhov sagged onto it. He looked up at Hawthorne. Rat-like, survivor’s cunning was visible on his face.
    “Why should I speak?” Yezhov asked in a cracked voice. “You’ll have me shot anyway.”
    In that moment, Hawthorne decided to maintain one facet of his old life. He would do what was necessary to hold power so he could save humanity. But he would keep one part of himself pure.
    “You have my word of honor, Chief, that I will not shoot you.”
    “How can I trust your word?”
    Hawthorne forced himself to stare at Yezhov, to stare at the monster who planted bombs in pretty women’s brains. Then he sent those women into enemy territory, to seduce Highborn and blow both her and her lover to death. What