Birthright: Battle for the Confederation- Consequence by Ryan Krauter Read Free Book Online Page B

In the name of all the stars in the universe, Web knew it was Halley.  There was something about her stance, the way she held her head up and ran her hand through her hair to straighten out the mess a bit.  He wanted to jump up and wrap her up in a the biggest embrace of his life, but he couldn't.  First, it would tip off the Primans and they'd use it against them in a heartbeat; it was safest to not admit knowing her.  Second, he still didn't trust Mithus.  Third, he needed to be absolutely sure it was Halley seated behind him; he couldn't make assumptions or take any chances.
                  He knew what he had to do, and only hoped Mithus hadn't seen him twitching with excitement at the idea of Halley being there with him.
                  "Hey Mithus," Web said casually to the man, still sitting across the table from him.
                  "Yes?"
                  "Remember when I told you about that friend of mine?  The one with the temper and destructive tendencies?"
                  "I believe you mentioned a volcano."
                  "Yup, that's the one.  I was just thinking about her.  I'll be honest; she was more than a friend.  We dated for a bit, but it got very weird.  She was actually a complete and total psycho, overcontrolling and possessive.  She once beat a coworker into a liquid state because she thought I had a crush on the other woman.  She was a thief, too; she'd steal anything that wasn't bolted down.  Once we started dating, she completely let herself go.  She didn't shower for weeks.
                  "I once asked her if she wanted to try new things in bed, and she said she wasn't interested.  Later, I found out she'd bagged the entire incoming flight school class at the local Confed airbase; men, women and an asexual life form on an exchange program.  I still don't know how the hell that happened."
                  "Alright," the battered woman from the other bench spoke up, voice cracking from a dry throat and disuse over the last two days.  "I deserved that, but you should shut it now, Web, or I'll still give you a beating."
                  "That's a hollow threat because you know I'd like it."
                  Web was nearly vibrating as he tried to control himself.  He couldn't show the Primans anything to indicate his concern for Halley; they were watching, no doubt, and he couldn't put her in jeopardy that way.  Still, he slowly spun around on his bench to look at her.
                  She'd turned, too, and with a grimace pushed herself to her feet to face him and Mithus.  She flashed a quick, short smile at Web, then it was gone.  
                  "Im really trying to not jump all over you right now," Web said as quietly as he could.
                  "You better not," Halley replied.  "Besides," she said as she ran her tongue across a couple teeth, probing their integrity, "I have a bruised jaw; one of your slobbery kisses would hurt too much."  She extended her hand towards him.  "How about a firm handshake?"
                  Web replied with a hand gesture that was recognized as rude and demeaning on at least twenty planets he knew of.  "How about this instead?"
                  "A handshake will have to do, sailor," she replied, and Web could tell she was holding back a smile as well.  They shook; her touch made Web dizzy.
                  "Mithus, nice to see you alive," she said calmly.
                  "You too, Halley."
                  She looked at them, surveying the yard and any Primans she could lay eyes on.  "Ok, I'm using up the last of my nanites' batteries.  Talk soft and don't move your lips much; I'm generating a weak damping field.  How long was I out?"
                  "You came in two nights ago late," Web stated.  "We didn't see you