Neurolink by M. M. Buckner Read Free Book Online

when you play too rough,” she said.
    Dominic lost control. He gripped her wrists and shook her, and the Devi promptly rolled over and dove into the ocean.
    “Let me go! We’re gonna crash!” she shouted.
    Dominic had neglected to fasten his seat belt. When the craft inverted, he banged his head on the ceiling. He also let go of the major’s wrists. Her cybernails flashed into action in the light matrix controls, and she started putting the craft through underwater spins and cartwheels, pretending she had to fight for control. But as she slung him around the cockpit like a rag doll, Dominic suspected it was all show. Finally, the craft leveled out and rose into the air, and he sank gingerly into his seat. Somehow he’d managed to bruise his hip. It felt like he’d been shot.
    “Don’t do that again,” she said.
    He glowered at her. He was furious, but with himself. He’d stooped to violence, the resort of weak minds. That was not his style. His headband had gotten twisted around backward, and he put it right. In a carefully restrained tone, he asked, “Why did you cut me off from the Net?”
    “Cut you off? Nick, I’m trying to link you on . So you can speak to your dear old Dada.”
    He let the reflex of anger pass over him. The woman was watching him again, appraising him, he realized. He needed a cool head to figure out her game. Major Qi had seized an advantage by luring him into her own space. Now she’d increased her lead by cutting off his communications. She was trying simultaneously to deceive him, undermine his confidence and steal his information. Standard negotiation tactics. But what did she want? He needed to learn that before he could respond.
    From years of practice, Dominic knew how to temper his voice with manly sincerity. “Major, I believe we’ve gotten off to a bad start. I’m here to help the Orgs settle this trouble. Say what you want me to do, and I’ll do it. I know how to follow orders.”
    The major gulped and burst out laughing. “You’re good. Gig warned me. Yeah, you’re good.”
    “Honestly, Major—”
    “Cut the crap, Nick. Just call me Qi.”
    “As for that, I prefer Dominic.”
    Qi’s Asian eyes twinkled with mischief. “What’s in the briefcase?”
    Dominic opened the clasps. He assumed she already knew what the case contained. “This is my last Net node. Before you fry this one, may I ask a question?”
    She rested her hand on the case, and Dominic watched her cybernails prod the leather. “Yep, ask.”
    “I’m here at your request. Presumably, you need my cooperation. Correct?”
    She seemed to think about this. Or perhaps she was listening to Gig through an earplug of her own.
    “Because if you do,” he went on, “there are a few things I expect in return. Fair trade, you understand?”
    Qi grinned and thumped his shoulder with her fist. “Sure, Nick-O. I never meant to damage your gear. You can infralink your node through my console. C’mon. See what Dada has to say.”
    She opened his case and spoke a command for infrared linkage, and his Net node came alive.
    “Son! Answer me! Are you awright?”
    The NP’s talking head bulged out from the screen in holographic 3-D, and its eyes roved around, recording every detail of the Devi’s cockpit. The head looked exactly like Richter. Dominic was repulsed.
    “Where are you, son? Our scans lost you in the ocean. That craft is plain invisible.” The Richteresque eyes reeled around to peer at him. “They blindsided me, boy. The deal was, you and I would stay in contact. Now I don’t even know where you are. If things weren’t so sensitive, I’d sue the buggers. You hear me, Gig? Lurking bastard, say something.”
    Qi laid her hand on the briefcase and slowly pushed it closed. “So, Nick. Excuse me. Dominic. Do you really want to stay in touch with this bit-brain?”
    Dominic massaged a knot in his neck. He wanted to answer No. He despised the NP. He half despised his father for creating it. Most of