Read Online The Immortal Game (Rook's Song) by Chad Huskins - Free Book Online

again.  Say that again .  You need to repeat yourself because I swear heard something else.”
    “If our friendship cannot survive—”
    “Shut up, I heard you the first time!”  Rook turns and throws his pistol against the flight controls, temporarily upsetting the harmony of half a dozen holo-screens.  Then Rook runs a hand through his hair, scratches his beard, starts pacing and fuming.  He leans against the fire controls for the particle beam and spits out a curse, then kicks the base of the seat.  “This isn’t happening.  This can’t be happening to me.  It’s bad enough that I…”  He thinks about Badger, what he sacrificed to make it this far.  “I thought I had someone.  A real partner.  What is this?  What are you ?”
    “I think you need to understand, this is part a paternal instinct in my peopl e—a natural game we play with our children, to teach them about the world and to keep their wits about them—but also part of something we do on a more subtle, sophisticated level with our adult friends.  It has a term, you might call it, ah, deception play .”
    “ Christ,” Rook whispers, running his hands over his face.  “Just when I think things are looking up, it turns out I’ve got a traitor on my crew!”  He is fuming, fighting to keep control.  The old paranoia from back in the asteroid field threatens to rear its head here.
    “I am no traitor.  It is instinctual for my people to test the Sight of each other on occasion, and the instinct is so deeply embedded that it often happens without forethought or planning—”
    “ Yeah, well, your people were morons! ” Rook roars, suddenly rounding on the alien.  His face has turned a dangerous hue.
    “You really shouldn’t be so upset.  In many ways, this is conducive with your own philosophy.”
    “What the hell’re you talking—?”
    “An opponent sharpens the mind.  Those were your words, were they not?”
    “Opponents aren’t the same as friends.  You trust friends—”
    “My people believe relationships are more complex than that.  A friend may be come an enemy at times, and an enemy may become a friend at others.  It happens frequently, the forging and breaking of alliances.  Nations learned all about it.  This is as much a part of evolution as natural selec—”
    “Friends teach other about compassion—”
    “I agree—”
    “They teach each other about commitment, and endurance, and perseverance—”
    “And blind spots,” Bishop puts in.
    Rook blinks, incredulous.  “ Blind spots?! ”
    “How else will you learn about your weaknesses?”
    He blinks again.  “Well, genius, if you ever do spot a weakness in my duties, you could try telling me what you—”
    “Telling you teaches you nothing.  As well tell the sword to sharpen itself.  Only pressure and heat temper the steel.  Only using it makes the hilt fit the hand over time.”
    Rook takes a deep breath, tries once more to collect his calm.  “Listen to me, amigo , and listen closely.  This is my ship, got that?  My ship!  And you don’t mess with her, understand?”  He walks over to Bishop, gets an inch from his massive face.  “Are we clear on that?  You can play your little games when we’re off this ship, but when we’re on it, the games flippin’ stop.  They stop!   Got it?  I cannot be worried about both you and the Cerebs, got that?  I can’t be worried that something’s going to go wrong on my ship, or that the readings I’m getting are falsified!  The deception play doesn’t exist on my ship, do you understand?  Do you copy?! ”
    Bishop is unmoved .  Eventually, though, he nods and says, “Compliance.”
    Rook sighs heavily, and turns away.  “Good enough.  Now get outta my sight.”  Bishop turns, and starts towards the cockpit’s exit, when Rook realizes something else.  “Hey, wait.”  The alien turns back to him.  “You said ‘compliance.’  But you also said that this deception play,