Read Online Only Human by Chris Reher - Free Book Online

Feyd’s largest clinic
took an unnerving amount of time to be found. When she finally appeared on
Tychon’s screen she seemed to take some pleasure in instructing the Delphian
about managing his Human staff on Feyd. She glanced at the vital data that he
transmitted and assured him that the spores Nova had absorbed would soon be out
of her system. Her ability to use her neural interface would not be impaired.
Before also assuring him that the tab for her services would be sent directly
to Union administration, she forwarded a directive to have an additive to the
oxygen he was already giving Nova sent to the ship.
    Relieved, Tychon closed the connection and
returned to where Nova lay sleeping. He watched her for a long while, recalling
the lovely sight of her wading in the stream. He shook his head and resolved to
drop in on a friend at their next destination. Until then a cold shower would
have to do.

Chapter Three
    This was a hopeful day on Shaddallam, quite
likely the day that would blast through this uneasy tension like the first
crash of lightning at the end of a summer's heat wave. Tharron's foul mood
would break, finally, although some of those gathered here doubted that it
would be for the better. The rankless officers of Tharron's inner guard
whispered among themselves, daring to speculate on what was about to happen.
    They had cursed the day on which their
commander had learned of the legend. Since that day, he had focused all of his
attention and most of the few good agents he possessed on finding the truth of
the myth. While they had managed to carry on Tharron's smuggling and extortion
operations, no progress had been made in their fight against Union dominance.
They had lost their foothold on Aram for good this time and negotiations with
Feyd had stalled. The Targon scheme would surely end in disaster unless Tharron,
their figurehead, was there to turn their advice into orders.
    They all agreed, although the thought would
not pass their lips in fear of Tharron's spies, that the rebel leader was
obsessed with a fairy tale.
    Since hearing the legend Tharron had passed
but one order: Capture alive a person that would confirm the story. Not a
difficult order until one considered that the only person that could answer Tharron's
burning questions would have to be Delphian.
    There were no Delphians among Tharron's
men. His warriors were Rhuwacs, his pilots were traitor Centauri. His agents,
spies and advisors were Terran, Feydan and a very few K'lar. His household
staff were Shaddallam slaves. Delphians were barely cooperating with the Union
and would certainly never consider Tharron's employ.
    Tharron had fumed for weeks, taking out his
ill temper on his servants and advisors alike. It had proven impossible to
capture a live Delphian in combat. During the skirmish on Aram, one fighter
plane had been taken but her pilot had turned out to be Centauri. At last, in
order to appease Tharron, a detail had set out for Delphi. Pe Khoja had simply
landed in a rural area and captured a farmer alone in his field.
    Tharron's men were confident that this
prisoner would answer to Tharron. Their leader would finally realize that the
legend was, after all, just a legend. This madness would end and Tharron would
return to the business of reaping great profit from war-torn Trans-Targon.
    There were a few among his staff, so very
few, who did not share the others' disbelief in the story. Pe Khoja, the
Caspian, was one, Tamotsu Comori, the Terran, another. It was they who had
decided to abduct the hapless farmer, not because of the truth he would tell
but because someone like him would not know the truth.
    So today, all hoped, their troubles would
be over. Self-satisfied, Tharron's men stood in a loose semi-circle around
their leader who sat expectantly on a raised bench as if on a dais, the focus
of everyone's attention. As always, he wore a long, simply-cut robe reminiscent
of those worn by his nomad kinsmen on K'lar but made of far