Endgame

Endgame by Ann Aguirre Read Free Book Online

Book: Endgame by Ann Aguirre Read Free Book Online
Authors: Ann Aguirre
night passes swiftly after that, but we don’t sleep much.
    The next afternoon, we’re all in the ready room, watching the result of the hearings. March senses my nerves and laces our fingers together. Sasha is sprawled on the floor, playing a game with Zeeka. Vel isn’t around; he’s in the storage bay, working on the shuttle. I wonder if he’s doing that on purpose—giving March and me so much space. I need to talk to him, I think.
    Loras looks resigned as we await the verdict. The pretty, dark-haired presenter on the vid stands outside an enormous, opulent structure that serves as the governmental hub, near the governor’s palace. Like the surrounding structures, it’s not of La’hengrin design, as it was built when the first wave of invaders occupied the planet. Loras growls beneath his breath.
    “Today, the Imperial board of governors are expected to rule on the final appeal for the widespread availability of Carvati’s Cure. This miracle drug is purported to restore La’hengrin autonomy and would obviate the need for any Imperial presence.” Maybe I’m imagining it, but she seems sympathetic to the cause. From her appearance, she’s an ONN—Omni News Net—talking head, not bribed by Nicuan authorities. That means we have a shot at some fair coverage on the bounce.
    Then, as we watch, a squadron of centurions march up behind her. Their uniforms shine in the sunlight; it’s not metal, but a synthetic polymer burnished to appear so. I glance at March, wondering if he ever wore that armor; I know he fought on Nicuan for many turns. Wrapping an arm around my shoulder, he shakes his head.
    I never worked for the same noble that long. Mercs becomeeligible to be promoted as centurions after ten turns in the service to the same house.
    I glance at him in sudden interest. Other than the story about how he left Nicuan, I don’t know that much about his time there.
You never stuck with any house?
    They paid well, but I hated them. So I had a tendency to get them killed.
    My brows shoot up.
On purpose?
    He shrugs, and I turn back to the screen, where the presenter is struggling with two centurions. “You need to come with us, ma’am.”
    “Why?” she demands. “This is violation of the Free Press Act, my diplomatic status as a journalist, and—”
    They stop playing nice, then. A centurion claps a hand over her mouth as the presenter thrashes, and the drone-cam changes angles, likely following its simple programming to stay out of reach and keep filming. The soldiers solve this dilemma by shooting it. Red light sparks, then the feed dies. They permit twenty seconds of static before a new presenter takes over in the same locale. I can tell by his haircut, however, that he’s Imperial personnel, not ONN.
    “The fringe group that has been harassing Imperial authorities for the last turn was formally denied this morning. The Imperial governors have chosen a course that is best for La’heng, offering the most stability in the region. In other news—”
    I sigh. “Well, Flavius warned me. I’d like to stick a knife in that rat bastard.”
    Loras cuts the power. “Looks like things are about to get interesting.”
    “What’re you talking about?” Sasha asks.
    He looks between Loras and me, his face a picture of innocence. This once, I don’t glance at March for guidance. Kids deserve to have answers to their questions if they’re brave enough to ask them. I fold myself down onto the floor next to him, so we’re on the same level. Zeeka already knows the story, but he seems just as attentive.
    “A long time ago, when the humans first came to La’heng, they covered the world in a chemical that changed the natives. It made it impossible for them to fight. So for their ‘protection,’humans took over. Otherwise, the La’hengrin would have been easy prey.”
    Loras takes up the narrative. “Since then, my people have been ‘protected’ by a number of species. They strip our natural resources and

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