Annihilation - Tommy's Tale (Annihilation Series (Book Four)) by Saxon Andrew Read Free Book Online

two Algeans walked up to Tommy and the smaller of the two thought, “Good morning, Your Highness. We are pleased to be here for our education.”
     
    Tommy looked at the two and said, “Good morning. Have either of you been given names yet?”
     
    The shorter one again answered, “As you probably know, we don’t receive our names until we return home at the end of our education.”
     
    Tommy knew the answer to what he was about to ask but he was curious to see if they did, “Why is that?”
     
    The taller Algean thought, “Because so many of us are killed during our education that it doesn’t make good sense to waste a good name.”
     
    Tommy smiled and said, “Why do so many die?”
     
    The shorter one said, “Because we let our curiosity put us in circumstances that are often quite dangerous.”
     
    Tommy looked at them and said, “Is that what happened when you destroyed a megaship?”
     
    The two looked at each other and the taller one thought, “Well, sort of, I tried to understand the workings of a black hole reactor and the black hole fell out onto the ship’s deck.” Tommy just stared at the Algean and the obviously nervous plant said, “It took forty five minutes for the ship to be consumed, so everyone escaped successfully.”
     
    Tommy shook his head, “You couldn’t resist taking that reactor apart, could you?”
     
    The poor Algean said, “I promise, I tried my hardest not to do it but I gave in to the temptation.”
     
    “Did you learn anything?”
     
    “I actually did but it’s going to take a few months for the information to work its way through my mental storage.”
     
    “Well I hope whatever you learned is worth a billion credit starship.” Tommy looked at the two adolescents, “Well, let’s get our rules straight. First thing, I need a name to call you even if your own people don’t grant you one.” He looked at the shorter Algean and said, “Your name is Twig.”
     
    The shorter one seemed to contemplate the name for a moment and thought. “Ok, I will answer to that name.”
     
    Tommy then looked at the taller adolescent and said, “Your name is Sprig.”
     
    The taller one said immediately, “You can name me whatever you choose. I’m just happy I’ve been given another chance.”
     
    Tommy leaned back in his chair and said, “I know that ultimately your mentor will be Atlas. However, before you will be safe enough to take on board Atlas we must fill some of your mental storage to reduce the power your curiosity has over you. I know that you are powerless to really stop your studies. This is how we will try to make it safe while you learn. A crewman on the ship will be assigned to be your companion at all times. If they say no to what you want to study, then that means no. There will be hours during the night shifts where you will not have a crewman assigned. That is when you will process what you learned that day.”
     
    Sprig looked at Tommy and said, “Captain Dodd has already told us that we will have a crewman assigned to us.”
     
    Tommy froze. Then he said, “Who told you that?”
     
    Sprig seeing Tommy’s reaction said, “The Captain of the Dorg-Ross.”
     
    “What is the Captain’s name,” Tommy asked?
     
    The two Algeans looked at each other and Twig said, “Captain Cassandra Dodd.”
     
    Tommy stood up and thought, “Atlas! You didn’t tell me Cassandra Dodd was the captain of the ship I’ve been assigned with these adolescents.”
     
    Atlas thought, “Oh, crap!” Then he thought to Tommy, “Tommy, you have been assigned to the highest rated ship available at this time. The high ranking of the two adolescents and you made fleet control choose our best ship.”
     
    “Well I’m not going to do it. I’ll make them choose another.”
     
    Tommy, you might want to think that through.”
     
    “Why!”
     
    “Tommy. Do you have any idea of the power of your opinion? If you reject this ship then it will be given a black mark