Read Online Rath's Gambit (The Janus Group Book 2) by Piers Platt - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Piers Platt
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committee?”
She turned back to him and raised an eyebrow. “They see only what we want them to see. We’ll just have to be more cautious about what goes in our next report.”
“If they audit us ….”
“We’ll deal with that if and when it happens,” she told him.
“Yes, ma’am.”
* * *
The waiting room outside Senator Lizelle’s office was unusually quiet, Dasi noticed.
Usually there are a bunch of people waiting. I guess his calendar isn’t that full today.
On the couch next to her, Khyron’s leg tapped nervously, and she could see him chewing his lip. Smiling, she reached over and gently put her hand on his knee to calm him.
He stopped jiggling his leg and flashed her a nervous smile. “Sorry.”
A secretary passed through and smiled at them, then recognized the young woman. “Oh, hi Dasi! I didn’t realize you were his next appointment.”
“Hi, Selna,” Dasi replied. “Yeah, we’re scheduled for eleven.”
“Working on another press release?” the secretary asked, pausing at the senator’s door.
“Always. But we’re actually here to see him for something else.”
“Well, his last conference call was running a bit behind, let me see if he’s ready – I’ll be right back.” She knocked discreetly and then let herself in.
Across from Khyron and Dasi, a viewscreen simulated the exterior view from their position in the station. Dasi watched as a shuttle whisked past, banking and then heading for the Dauntless, one of six ancient battle cruisers that were still tethered to the asteroid at the heart of Anchorpoint. The ships had long since been converted to serve as the home of the Federal government, their guns decommissioned, fighter bays repurposed as offices and living quarters.
“What if he doesn’t go for it? You’ve only been here a short while, it’s kind of presumptuous of us,” Khyron pointed out.
“Stop worrying! He’ll like it,” Dasi said, smiling reassuringly. “I think.”
The young man grimaced. “What’s taking so long?”
“I don’t know – his schedule showed a Security subcommittee meeting. It’s closed door, members only. Very hush-hush.”
“Why all the secrets? It’s not like we’re at war ….”
“We could be, with all the conflict in the Territories these days,” she lectured him. “It’s committees like this one that keep us safe.”
The door swung open. “He’ll see you now,” the secretary told them.
The senator was pulling a plate of food out of a dumb waiter when they walked in, the privacy screen on his window disappearing to show a view of the constellations twinkling beyond the space station. Unlike in the waiting room, Dasi knew the view to be genuine – Lizelle ranked highly enough that he had earned an outer office with a real window.
“Come in, please!” Lizelle gestured to the food. “I hope you’ll excuse me, just grabbing a late breakfast. Or is it an early lunch now? Whatever. I always forget to eat, and then I get grumpy.” He strode across the room, and clasped Khyron’s hand in a firm handshake. “You must be Khyron.”
Khyron smiled, but Dasi could see his forehead was beaded with sweat. “Yes, sir.”
“Taking good care of our Dasi?” Lizelle asked, still gripping Khyron’s hand, raising an eyebrow with mock seriousness.
“I – I think so, sir …,” Khyron stuttered, looking to Dasi for help.
But Lizelle laughed. “I’m just giving you a hard time. But do take care of her – she’s already helped my public relations team make great strides. And it’s been what, two years?”
“Eighteen months, sir,” Dasi corrected.
“Is that all?” he asked. “Sit, please. What can I do for you today?”
The young couple shared a look, and then Khyron took a deep breath. “I’m a programmer, sir – I have degrees in computer science and applied mathematics. And I’ve been working on an artificial intelligence program that I think has some interesting
She turned back to him and raised an eyebrow. “They see only what we want them to see. We’ll just have to be more cautious about what goes in our next report.”
“If they audit us ….”
“We’ll deal with that if and when it happens,” she told him.
“Yes, ma’am.”
* * *
The waiting room outside Senator Lizelle’s office was unusually quiet, Dasi noticed.
Usually there are a bunch of people waiting. I guess his calendar isn’t that full today.
On the couch next to her, Khyron’s leg tapped nervously, and she could see him chewing his lip. Smiling, she reached over and gently put her hand on his knee to calm him.
He stopped jiggling his leg and flashed her a nervous smile. “Sorry.”
A secretary passed through and smiled at them, then recognized the young woman. “Oh, hi Dasi! I didn’t realize you were his next appointment.”
“Hi, Selna,” Dasi replied. “Yeah, we’re scheduled for eleven.”
“Working on another press release?” the secretary asked, pausing at the senator’s door.
“Always. But we’re actually here to see him for something else.”
“Well, his last conference call was running a bit behind, let me see if he’s ready – I’ll be right back.” She knocked discreetly and then let herself in.
Across from Khyron and Dasi, a viewscreen simulated the exterior view from their position in the station. Dasi watched as a shuttle whisked past, banking and then heading for the Dauntless, one of six ancient battle cruisers that were still tethered to the asteroid at the heart of Anchorpoint. The ships had long since been converted to serve as the home of the Federal government, their guns decommissioned, fighter bays repurposed as offices and living quarters.
“What if he doesn’t go for it? You’ve only been here a short while, it’s kind of presumptuous of us,” Khyron pointed out.
“Stop worrying! He’ll like it,” Dasi said, smiling reassuringly. “I think.”
The young man grimaced. “What’s taking so long?”
“I don’t know – his schedule showed a Security subcommittee meeting. It’s closed door, members only. Very hush-hush.”
“Why all the secrets? It’s not like we’re at war ….”
“We could be, with all the conflict in the Territories these days,” she lectured him. “It’s committees like this one that keep us safe.”
The door swung open. “He’ll see you now,” the secretary told them.
The senator was pulling a plate of food out of a dumb waiter when they walked in, the privacy screen on his window disappearing to show a view of the constellations twinkling beyond the space station. Unlike in the waiting room, Dasi knew the view to be genuine – Lizelle ranked highly enough that he had earned an outer office with a real window.
“Come in, please!” Lizelle gestured to the food. “I hope you’ll excuse me, just grabbing a late breakfast. Or is it an early lunch now? Whatever. I always forget to eat, and then I get grumpy.” He strode across the room, and clasped Khyron’s hand in a firm handshake. “You must be Khyron.”
Khyron smiled, but Dasi could see his forehead was beaded with sweat. “Yes, sir.”
“Taking good care of our Dasi?” Lizelle asked, still gripping Khyron’s hand, raising an eyebrow with mock seriousness.
“I – I think so, sir …,” Khyron stuttered, looking to Dasi for help.
But Lizelle laughed. “I’m just giving you a hard time. But do take care of her – she’s already helped my public relations team make great strides. And it’s been what, two years?”
“Eighteen months, sir,” Dasi corrected.
“Is that all?” he asked. “Sit, please. What can I do for you today?”
The young couple shared a look, and then Khyron took a deep breath. “I’m a programmer, sir – I have degrees in computer science and applied mathematics. And I’ve been working on an artificial intelligence program that I think has some interesting
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