Golden Son Read Free Page A

puns.Pluto,ifanything,hasmadehimstranger.Andperhapsmorelonely.
    “Dominus.” ThehelmBlue’svoicedrawsmetothedisplay.
    “What’swrong?”Iask.
    Hiseyesareglazed.Distant,jackedintotheship’ssensors,seeingtherawdataofthedisplayIstare at.“Notclear, dominus .Sensordistortion.Ghosting.”
    Onthelargecentraldisplay,theasteroidsarethereinblue.We’regold.Enemiesred.Thereshould benoneleft.Yetareddotthrobstherenow.RoqueandVictrawalktowardit.Roquemotionshishand andthedatatransfertohisdatapad.Asmallerhologlobefloatsinfrontofhim.Heenlargestheimage andcyclesthroughanalyticfilters.
    “Radiation?”Victrahazards.“Debris?”
    “The asteroid’s ore could cause a mirror refraction from our signal,” Roque says. “Couldn’t be software.…It’sgone.”
    The red dot flickers away, but the tension has spread through the bridge. All stare at the display.
    Nothing.There’snooneelseouthereexceptmyshipsandKarnus’sdefeatedflagship.Unless…
    Roqueturnstome,facedrawn,terrified.
    “Flee,”hemanagesjustastheredsignalburnsbacktolife.
    “Fullpowertoengines,”Iroar.“Thirtydegreesplusourmidline.”
    “Launchremainingmissilesatthesurfaceoftheasteroid,”Tactuscommands.
    Toolate.
    Victragasps,andIseewithmynakedeyeswhatourinstrumentsstruggledtodetect.Oneshadowed destroyer emerges from a hollow in the asteroid. A ship I thought we defeated three days ago. Its engineswereoffasitlayinwait.Itsfronthalfistornandblackfromdamage.Nowitsenginesblastat fullpower.Anditstrajectorytakesitdirectlytowardmyship.
    It’sgoingtoramus.
    “Evacsuitsandpods!”Ishout.Someone’sscreamingforustobraceforimpact.Irushtotheside of the bridge where my command escape pod is built into the wall. It opens at my word. Tactus, Roque,andVictrasprintintoitsconfines.Iholdback,shoutingattheBluestohurryandunsync.For alltheirlogic,they’lldiefortheirships.
    I range about the bridge, screaming at them to activate their escape hatch. The helmBlue does, pressingabuttonthatcausesaholetodilateinthefloorofthepit.Onebyone,theyunsyncandare suckeddownthegravitytubeintotheirescapepods.
    “Theodora!” I shout, seeing her prying at a young Blue who still clutches his operations display withwhite-knuckledfear.“Getinthegorydamnpod!”Shedoesn’tlisten.NordoestheBlueletgo.I starttowardthemjustastheproximitysensorletslooseonefinalwarningblast.
    Allslows.
    Bridgelightsthrobred.
    IjumpforTheodora,wrappingmyarmsaroundher.
    Andthedestroyerhitsmyman-of-warathermidline.
    ClutchingTheodoratomychest,I’mthrownthirtymetersacrossmybridge,slammingintoametal wall. White pain rips across my left arm along the seams of the mending break. I’m slapped with darkness.Lightsdancethere,firstlikestars,thenasweavinglinesofsanddisturbedbywind.
    Redlightseepsthroughmyeyelids.Agentlehandpullsatmyclothing.
    Iopenmyeyes.I’mwrappedaroundadentedelectricalcolumnastheshipshudders,groaninglike anancient,dyingbeastsinkinginthedeep.Thecolumntremblesviolentlyagainstmystomachasthe destroyerfinishesshearingthroughourmiddle.Guttinguswithslowcruelty.
    Someone’sshoutingmyname.Soundfadesbackintobeing.
    Lights bathe the bridge, alternating shades of murderous red. Warning sirens. The ship’s swan song. Theodora’s delicate old hands pull at me, like a bird pulling at a fallen statue. I’m bleeding frommyforehead.Mynoseisbroken.Iwipethestingingbloodfrommyeyesandrollontomyback.
    Abrokendisplaysparksbesideme.Ithasmybloodonit.Diditfallonme?Abarliesbesideit,and myeyesdrifttoTheodora.Sheprieditoff.Butshe’ssosmall.Herhandscupmyface.
    “Getup. Dominus ,ifyouwanttolive,youhavetogetup.”Theoldwoman’shandstremblefrom fear.“Please,getup.”
    Groaning,Ipullmyselftomyfeet.Mycommandescapepodisgone.Inthecollision,itmusthave launched. Either that or they left me behind. So too has the Blue escape pod jettisoned away. The