Theodore by Marcus LaGrone Read Free Book Online Page B

were eight
years old?”
    Theodore grinned, “Sword, long sword, side sword, rapier,
ax... you name it.  I had the advantage that my father both taught me the
basics and he was also the advanced instructor for the town.  He is very good! 
I've only been doing sport rapier for a year.  My first semester they tried to
get me to fight épée.  That... that was just silly!  That's a game not a
sport!  I was sixteen so they were worried about liability and all if I fought
rapier.  That made my dad laugh.”
     Bill grinned, “I'm pretty sure next week the Major is going
to give us a long and glorious lecture about Live Steel!  Apparently, you Taiks
made quite an impression on him earlier in his career.  He served in the 798 th  CSOG--Combined Special Operations Group with the Shukurae.”
    “My father never served off planet.  He'd never even left
the Highlands until my family visited me at school a year ago.  I've a few
distant cousins that served off world, but no one that I ever really knew
growing up.”
    “Never left planet...”  Bill grinned, “To me that sounds
quite odd!  I've bounced around so many different planets, I can't even keep
track.  Must be a very different lifestyle.”
    Theodore shrugged, “Eh, it's about the same most places: get
a job, raise a family...”
    Bill shuddered, “Don't say 'raise a family' too loud, my
mother might hear!   And she's 200 light years away!”
    Theodore laughed, “See, things aren't so different after
all!  My Second Mother keeps pestering me to find a nice girl and at least be social...”
    “Oh, he's found a girl,” smirked Maurice over
Theodore's shoulder.  “She's...”
    Bill drew himself up to his full, and quite substantial
height and glared at Maurice who suddenly went very quiet and dismissed
himself.
    “Wow!  I think that's the first time I've ever seen him shut
up quite so quickly!”
    “You're welcome!” grinned Bill.
       “Excuse me,” interjected an older man in a rather elegant
business suit, “but you are Theodore Blackford that fought so well at
today's fencing match, aren't you?”
    Bill rolled his eyes and laughed while Theodore just smiled,
“Yes, sir.  I am.  What can I do for you?”
    “I have a business proposition for you... Now, yes, I know
you are a minor and any official business arrangements will require involving
your father, but I think you will be very interested in what I have to say,” he
finished with a grin.  This human was a consummate professional: sharp and with
a polished grin that was hard to read.
    “My First Mother will be more interested in the final
details than my father,” grinned Theodore.  “But I'm perfectly willing to hear
what you have to say.”
    “Excellent!  If you would please, I have a table by the
window,” he gestured to the far wall and lead the way while still bantering on,
“You have poise, presence, speed and skill.  Top all that off with an old world
charm and humility... Oh dear...  'Humility' doesn't come across as too
race-centric does it?” 
    Theodore smiled as he shook his head, “We are working across
languages and cultures; I find no offense in the word.  In fact, just the
opposite: it implies a level of comfort of association not normally offered to
outsiders.”
    “We will have to add 'eloquent' to that list,” he replied
with a broad smile.   “Sit!  Sit!  Relax while I try to bring you up to speed.”
    Theodore smiled as he sat in the seat opposite to the man,
“But, if you could please... You do have the advantage of me...”
    A good gut laughed came as a reply, “There is that old world
charm I mentioned!  And yes, bad my manners:  my name is Alexandre Phebeson.  I
would offer you a drink, but you hardly seem to have put a dent in your present
lemonade.”  He paused as he collected himself, “You are a unique young lad; you
are an off-worlder with both scholastic and athletic talents far in advance of
your age.  You are in the unique