Read Online Starshine: Aurora Rising Book One by G. S. Jennsen - Free Book Online Page B

her teeth in frustration, inhaling a deep breath to swallow her initial response. “ ’I’ did not agree to the armistice—you know better. The Prime Minister and the Assembly did, because the simple fact is we were taking too many losses. It was against Alliance interests to get into a long and messy quagmire.”
“A ‘quagmire’? Is that what you call them murdering Dad? That’s cold, Mom, even for you.”
“Don’t you dare say such a thing. Your father died a hero.”
“So everyone keeps telling me. You know what? He’s still dead. They should be, too.”
Yes they should be. But David wouldn’t want—wouldn’t have wanted —it. “I’m afraid their fate isn’t up to me. But one thing which is up to me is your punishment. You are on home restriction until such time as I feel you’ve learned to be responsible. You can go to school and activities I have approved beforehand. Otherwise, the security system will not allow you to leave. If you get into trouble while at school, you will be holoing your studies for the foreseeable future.”
“I’ll just hack it.”
“Young lady, I have people working for me who are far better hackers than you. You will not.”
Alexis shrugged, threw her feet up on the dash and crossed her arms over her chest. “Right. Absolutely. You’ve got me.”

    Naturally, she had hacked the security system within the week; the tougher encryption subsequently added, two weeks later. And after that….
    She gave the Minister a tight, formal expression. “Well, she hasn’t taken my advice in quite some time. In any event, if you legitimately want her to accept the position, I’m afraid asking me to press the matter is not the tact you want to take. I think it best if you reached out to her directly.”
    He exhaled in a suggestion of weary acceptance and stood. She stood with him and accepted his outstretched hand.
    “Thank you for your time, Admiral, and your frankness. I’ll likely do that.”
    “Certainly, Minister. My door is always open.” It was a bald-faced lie, but one she had uttered at countless dinner parties and conferences, and she delivered it as smoothly as any greeting.
    Once he had departed, she drifted to the window. Fall came early here, and the sun had already begun its descent into the waters.
    Perhaps her suggestion to the Minister hadn’t been such a good idea after all. Please, Alexis, don’t tell the man to fuck off.
    She thought on it a minute, then turned on a heel and went down the hall to Richard’s office.
    A checkerboard of screens decorated his desktop surface and an aural hovered in front of his right eye. When she walked in he shut off the aural and smiled, though it was a weak attempt. “What’s up?”
    She didn’t respond immediately, instead pacing halfway across the room, hands clasped behind her back, before stopping to look at him. “You took Alexis back to the spaceport the other day, right?”
    “Yeah, I caught her on her way out. Why?”
    “Did she by chance say anything about the Deep Space Exploration offer?”
    He huffed a brief laugh. “Not anything you want to hear.”
    Her eyes squeezed shut in a grimace. “ Excellent . The Minister just left my office. He’s rather eager—disturbingly so, actually—for her to accept the post. I told him he should contact her, but now I’m not convinced it was the correct thing to do.”
    He gave her an understanding smile, this one genuine. “Well, I’m not sure it really matters. She left Earth yesterday morning.”
    She sighed softly. “Of course she did. Listen, there’s something else. Karolyn said he was receiving political pressure to name Alexis to the post. I don’t suppose you’ve heard any chatter about that?”
    “Miriam, I’m shocked you would imply we spy on domestic political affairs.”
    “No you’re not.”
    “Ha…no, I’m not. To answer your question, not a peep.”
    “Damn. I know you’re underwater right now with the Summit, but if you get a few