Read Online First Admiral 02 The Burning Sun by William J. Benning - Free Book Online

suddenly felt like his head had exploded as he was flung violently forwards onto his face. Stunned and dizzied, Jed then felt a vicious stabbing pain in his ribs as a well aimed kick was delivered to his torso. Being flung onto his back, Jed saw Micky with a heavy lump of wood in his hands.
    “Hold him!” the hollow and distant sounding voice of Micky demanded as powerful hands dragged him to his feet pinioning his arms behind his back.
    A split second later, Micky stepped forward and rammed the end of the piece of wood into Jed’s stomach, doubling him over in a world of agony. No sooner had the impact of the wood registered in Jed’s abdomen than Micky swung the lump of wood upwards to connect with Jed’s face. For a few seconds, the world of Jedithram Prust disappeared into a loud BANG followed by darkness as he hung limply between the two boys who held him. As he came to, still unable to stand up, Jed started to curse his carelessness and with an effort of will instituted full force-shielding on his Personal Environment Suit before any more damage could be done.
    “Listen closely, Caudwell,” Micky Stewart hissed in Jed’s ear, “they tell me that you’re the tough nut round here, but as far as I’m concerned you’re a loser; d’ya hear me?”
    Unable to respond, Jed just stared blankly at his assailant.
    “That’s right, loser, you’re finished,” Micky continued, “this school’s mine now, and as for taking Emma Wallace to the dance? Forget it, loser. I’m gonna take her away from you just because I can, comprendo? So, just remember who’s in charge around here, loser.”
    Aching badly from the attack, Jed said nothing and felt himself being dropped to the ground. Lying on his side, Jed sent a thought-command to the microscopic machines in his Personal Environment Suit for medical assistance. A few seconds later, the pain from his beating was gone as tiny machines stimulated his brain to produce large doses of painkilling chemicals. The machines also began to produce the phoronic radiation that would start the healing process for his damaged muscles and tendons before he could teleport up to the Ranger and proper medical attention.
    Staggering to his feet, Jed picked up his bag and began to lurch his way to the next lesson. The pain relief and the image of the PES would get him through that lesson. The First Admiral would pick up the incident at the next shift change, but Jedithram Prust vowed that any payback was going to be delivered by him.
    “I thought you said this Caudwell was a tough nut?” the arrogant voice of Micky Stewart echoed in the distance.

Chapter 9
     
    The Imperial Palace, Bardan
     
    Empress Lullina sat back on her onyx and white throne and yawned. Shifting her weight from one side of the throne to the other she felt the tedium of the situation even more acutely in her aching legs and buttocks than she did in her mind. Arranged in a loose semi-circle before her, the Military Advisory Council went through the motions of reporting the current status of the Empire to the bored, yawning Empress.
    Required by ancient Bardomil law, the Military Advisory Council had no real authority or influence over the absolute power of Lullina, but she kept the tradition going mainly as a convenient means of keeping watch over the most powerful aristocratic families in the Empire who filled the ranks of its senior Officers. In days gone by, more than one Bardomil ruler had fallen foul of the leading military aristocratic families; many were related to the Empress, and as such were potential distant claimants to the throne. In reality, they were simply conduits for her orders to the vast Bardomil Imperial Armed Forces.
    “…and finally, Your Imperial Majesty, may I present Junior Fleet Officer Batarrien?” the elderly General who spoke for the Council indicated.
    “Proceed!” Lullina said with a formal stiffness, inwardly rejoicing that the current routine ordeal was almost over.
    With a