Read Online Epic: Book 02 - Outlaw Trigger by Lee Stephen - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lee Stephen
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Ceratopians used to bomb us, but now they never do. Now they fly around as though they’re confused until we shoot them.” He smiled. “But that’s why we’re here. To learn what it is we don’t know. Then to win.” He walked out of the cell, casting a final glance to the scientist and the Ithini. “He won’t speak to you anymore today,” he said to the scientist. “He’s quite displeased.”
Torokin followed him out. “Do you make a habit of angering aliens?”
“ Only when the need to anger them outweighs my desire to speak peaceably. Enemy or not, we must be able to communicate. The Ithini don’t respond well to torture.”
“ None of them do,” Torokin said. “The Ceratopians can handle the pain, and for whatever reason, the Bakma don’t like to speak at all, torture or not. It is as if they are afraid. But afraid of what, we do not know.”
“ And yet, the Bakma willingly surrender in battle. It’s quite bizarre.”
“ Indeed.”
Archer smiled. “But there will be a time to discuss such things, and I’m afraid that time is not tonight.”
Torokin nodded. “You are correct.” He glanced at the guards as they walked past. “Have you become acclimated in the base?”
“ As acclimated as one can become on their first day here,” Archer answered. “But yes. The layout’s not hard to learn. I’ve been about.”
“ Will you sleep tonight?”
Archer laughed. “I suppose that I must. The excitement will die down, I am sure.”
“ It will,” Torokin said, “when you realize we are more politicians than soldiers.”
“ There’s nothing wrong with a good politician,” said Archer, “as long as he or she gets things done. Am I not correct?”
Torokin scrutinized Archer. Nothing about politics was good. Not one thing. “If you believe you are correct, then you must be.”
“ I believe that I am,” Archer answered, “because I believe in the power of a common goal. I believe that a common goal can overcome any obstacle. I believe that men can work together.”
Torokin felt his disappointment sink in. Archer was just as he’d thought. He wasn’t a soldier. He was a talker. And this was a war. “You had better get sleep, then, Judge Archer. Training for this job does not last very long.”
Archer smiled warmly. “I’m sure it doesn’t.” As he stood by the exit to Confinement, he extended his hand to the Russian. “It was good to see you again, Judge Torokin. I’m excited for work to begin.”
“ As am I,” Torokin said. “As am I.”
The two men bid one another farewell, then went their separate ways down the halls.
As for Torokin, the late night excursion failed to bring any alleviation of his restlessness. He entered his room nonetheless, locking the door behind him, and once again slipping beneath the covers of his king-sized bed—to once again attempt to enter the realm of dreams. To dream of the one thing he wanted to do more than anything. The one thing that brought him any sense of rest. To dream of war.
He never fell asleep once.
6
Tuesday, August 2 nd , 0011 NE
1025 hours
Novosibirsk, Russia
Morning
Varvara whipped up from underwater, her wet hair slapping her back with a splat. Her devilish grin slid to Jayden, as she slicked back the rest of her dusty blond locks. The nearby men gaped as she cavorted toward him.
Jayden cheered as she pulled him below.
Scott laughed from his perch at the edge of the pool. As promised, the Fourteenth was delivered from the chore of an outdoor session and taken to the gymnasium-sized swimming pool. The eight o’clock wakeup was an added bonus. He hated not sticking to schedule, but seeing his teammates having fun made it worth it. Even if they were a bit too impassioned for his taste.
Galina was leaning against the poolside next to him. They’d been observing the other operatives for a while. “You made them happy. This is why they love your week.”
Scott smiled. They did love his week. They loved it
Torokin followed him out. “Do you make a habit of angering aliens?”
“ Only when the need to anger them outweighs my desire to speak peaceably. Enemy or not, we must be able to communicate. The Ithini don’t respond well to torture.”
“ None of them do,” Torokin said. “The Ceratopians can handle the pain, and for whatever reason, the Bakma don’t like to speak at all, torture or not. It is as if they are afraid. But afraid of what, we do not know.”
“ And yet, the Bakma willingly surrender in battle. It’s quite bizarre.”
“ Indeed.”
Archer smiled. “But there will be a time to discuss such things, and I’m afraid that time is not tonight.”
Torokin nodded. “You are correct.” He glanced at the guards as they walked past. “Have you become acclimated in the base?”
“ As acclimated as one can become on their first day here,” Archer answered. “But yes. The layout’s not hard to learn. I’ve been about.”
“ Will you sleep tonight?”
Archer laughed. “I suppose that I must. The excitement will die down, I am sure.”
“ It will,” Torokin said, “when you realize we are more politicians than soldiers.”
“ There’s nothing wrong with a good politician,” said Archer, “as long as he or she gets things done. Am I not correct?”
Torokin scrutinized Archer. Nothing about politics was good. Not one thing. “If you believe you are correct, then you must be.”
“ I believe that I am,” Archer answered, “because I believe in the power of a common goal. I believe that a common goal can overcome any obstacle. I believe that men can work together.”
Torokin felt his disappointment sink in. Archer was just as he’d thought. He wasn’t a soldier. He was a talker. And this was a war. “You had better get sleep, then, Judge Archer. Training for this job does not last very long.”
Archer smiled warmly. “I’m sure it doesn’t.” As he stood by the exit to Confinement, he extended his hand to the Russian. “It was good to see you again, Judge Torokin. I’m excited for work to begin.”
“ As am I,” Torokin said. “As am I.”
The two men bid one another farewell, then went their separate ways down the halls.
As for Torokin, the late night excursion failed to bring any alleviation of his restlessness. He entered his room nonetheless, locking the door behind him, and once again slipping beneath the covers of his king-sized bed—to once again attempt to enter the realm of dreams. To dream of the one thing he wanted to do more than anything. The one thing that brought him any sense of rest. To dream of war.
He never fell asleep once.
6
Tuesday, August 2 nd , 0011 NE
1025 hours
Novosibirsk, Russia
Morning
Varvara whipped up from underwater, her wet hair slapping her back with a splat. Her devilish grin slid to Jayden, as she slicked back the rest of her dusty blond locks. The nearby men gaped as she cavorted toward him.
Jayden cheered as she pulled him below.
Scott laughed from his perch at the edge of the pool. As promised, the Fourteenth was delivered from the chore of an outdoor session and taken to the gymnasium-sized swimming pool. The eight o’clock wakeup was an added bonus. He hated not sticking to schedule, but seeing his teammates having fun made it worth it. Even if they were a bit too impassioned for his taste.
Galina was leaning against the poolside next to him. They’d been observing the other operatives for a while. “You made them happy. This is why they love your week.”
Scott smiled. They did love his week. They loved it
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