Lyir’s mother arose from her seat to confront Dollon, acting like she was going to wash dishes, but Lyir knew better. Washing dishes is the very last she does at the end of long day; it was too early for her to be doing that. Lyir slowly picked at his food and kept his ear toward the kitchen to listen in.
“Are those ‘things’ the same ones that took your brother’s life?” she asked in lower tone of voice.
“Those things allowed me to get you some more food,” Dollon said. “And pay your bills.” His hands poured a small glass of vodka to drink and handed her an Earth-based credit chit.
“Our bills are all up to date.”
“Then you can use this credit chit to replace that awful TV,” he said, then downed his drink. “Maybe get those Holo TVs the rest of the world has upgraded to.” Lyir’s mother remained silent as Dollon snorted and then took a seat at the dinner table. “So, Lyir, what are you learning in school this month?”
“Romeo and Juliet, written by a human named William Shakespeare.” Lyir said.
“Is that so.” Lyir could sense that Dollon didn’t care. “Hey, Eupiar how’s your schooling coming along?”
“I dropped out yesterday,” she casually replied.
“You what?” Pernoy snapped her attention to Eupiar.
“Really.” Dollon said, this time with a certain level of interest in his voice. “So what you’re saying is you’re free to help me out more often?”
Pernoy shouted toward Eupiar who never once removed her eyes away from her screen. “Eupiar! Why…couldn’t you have at least told me?”
“School is boring.”
“You were getting good marks!”
“I’m part Hashmedai. They’ll never give me the marks I worked hard for.” Finally, her slim teenage body looked away from her screen. “And yes, Dollon, I could help.”
HLF HEADQUARTERS, NORTHERN CANADA, SOL SYSTEM
Hannah Grey’s slender body rested on the soft and comforting feel of her queen-sized bed. She wore a black gothic nightgown. Then again, everything she had in her wardrobe had some kind of Lolita gothic look to it. Her gown blended perfectly with her long raven black hair and the black satin bedsheets, pillows, and blankets. She had spread her arms out from side to side, and her fingers were pointed upward to the ceiling.
And then her lips slowly began to move.
Another one of her clairvoyant chants was incoming. Tetsuya Ishihara was ready to take notes as per Hannah’s direct orders, on the rare chance she forgot what was said.
“Forty trillion kilometers one way, forty trillion the next, eighty trillion in total. Right ascension for A, fourteen hours, thirty-nine minutes, thirty-six point four, nine, four zero, zero seconds. Right ascension for B, fourteen hours, thirty-nine minutes thirty-five point zero, six, three, one, one seconds.” Hannah took a breath, and then continued, with no emotion in her voice. “Into the Explorer they went, on the Seeker they returned. Five travelers: the first one, the second, the lover, the jealous one, and…an unknown.” Hannah paused as she tried to process the identity of the unknown. “Who is she? Why is she there? I don’t recall her existence. Life or death? She is an unknown.” Her body dashed upward to sit up, with her eyes wide open; she took a long deep breath and then said, “They…have arrived.”
“Who has?” Tetsuya asked.
Hannah’s head little by little tilted toward Tetsuya. With a smile on her face, she revealed their names: “Chloe, Sarah, Chris, Gavin, and the unknown.” Her face twitched somewhat as she brushed her hand down her neck, slowing reaching down between her breasts, then her belly. The unknown needed a name, any name. Ah yes, that name will do for now. “Ella, yes, her name is Ella.”
“Your orders?” Tetsuya asked, shutting off the recording feature of his holo pad.
Hannah’s smile transformed into a malicious grin. “Kill them all!” she shouted and then returned to her resting position. While examining her waving hands, she added, “Chloe and Gavin must survive, however.”
Read Uprising of the Exiled to learn more.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Table of Contents
Also by Eddie R. Hicks
Foreword
Prologue
1. Foster
2. EISS agent 19, Codename: Test
3. Chevallier
4. Williams
5. Foster
6. Foster
7. Chevallier
8. Williams
9. Foster
10. Foster
11. Chevallier
12. Williams
13. McDowell
14. Foster
15. Chevallier
16. Williams
17. Williams
18. Chevallier
19. Williams
20. Foster
21. Nereid
22. Williams
23. Chevallier
24. Williams
25. Foster
26. Foster
27. Rivera
28. Kostelecky
29. Bailey
30. Kostelecky
31. Chang
32. Bailey
33. Rivera
34. Pierce
35. Foster
36. Foster
37. Eve
38. Foster
39. Chevallier
40. Foster
41. Chevallier
Epilogue
Afterword
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