Prisoner of Earthside: A Novella (STRYDER'S HORIZON Book 2) Read Free

tall for his age, and his body hadn’t filled out just yet. He must’ve just hit the growth spurt.
    “I like the way you talk, lady.”
    Alice looked like she was going to deck him.  I hesitated as I thought of how long she’d be put away for, but luckily I didn’t think too long and yanked her back.
    I said, “Piss off, kid.”
    “Was joking, dang. You Burnsiders still get PMS or what?” He backed up against the building he’d been loitering near.  “Could’ve helped you, too.”
    Alice said some more offensive things. The teen laughed for a bit then started to take it personally.
    “You’re in love with a traitor. That’s why no one wants to help your greasy ass.”
    “What’d you say?”
    “Thom Crisp. They haven’t said nothing yet, but my dad says he’s a traitor, and they are keeping him here while the media plays him up as some hero. It’s all lies and bull shit. Colonial just wants us to think things are peachy and that the Red Empress will be defeated soon. Nobody can stop the Red Empress. She’ll come for Earthside soon enough.”
    I held Alice back with more than just a hand this time. “Kids these days,” I told her. “They’re all screwed up, it’s something in the drinking water. Let’s go.”
    Alice used some indistinct verbiage and the teen continued on as I dragged her down the street.
    “You’ll see. They sent him back to kill us all.”
    We were a block or two when Alice finally shrugged me off.
    “I’m fine!” She kept walking in the direction we were headed and didn’t go back to pummel the spoiled little brat, so I didn’t bother restraining her again.
    “People get suspicious when stuff like this happens. Everybody has a conspiracy theory about everything. It’s easier to believe the worst about some one than the best.” I was sounding like some schmaltzy sage for sure.
    “Thom wouldn’t. He was a piss ant drill-runner like you. He didn’t know jack about shit,” Alice said. “And he wanted to die. He would’ve let them kill him before he told them anything.” Her voice quaked and she brought her fingers to her mouth, blinked back tears and forged forward at a quicker pace. “They have to be keeping him somewhere important.”
    I tried to keep up with her, but I’d probably need to go collect Old Shepard from the border guards to do so. Then I realized there is only one place in Earthside that all us outsiders would think they’d keep someone important locked away, and that’s Templar’s Stairs. The pyramid structure sat near the center of Earthside, with a domed roof to let in light for an artificial rain forest.  It was an asylum for visitors to Earthside (not Burnsiders).  When celebrities or politicians came they were treated to first class accommodations and the true Earthside experience, which is to say they were blinded from the truth.
    Did it make sense to me that Alice’s Thom Crisp would be there?
    Not really.
    But some one who could help might be.
    By the time I reached the Templar’s Stairs Alice was arguing with another Colonial Officer at the gate.
    “My friend is in there!”
    “I apologize, miss. The Templar’s Stairs is closed to all unlisted visitors.”
    My stomach groaned with shame with the name I was about to use. I knew Alice would think less of me, but it was the only way we were going to get inside.
    “We’re here to service the Lord Gentry.”
    The officer smirked, then rolled his lips around his face and said, “I will have to dial up and confirm your appointment. Name?”
    “Kimberly Stryder.”
    “Thank you.”
    After a moment of the officer speaking in private he turned his ugly grin towards Alice and I. “The Lord Gentry would be most delighted to see you again, Miss Stryder. Please be careful, young ladies. He’s in a biting mood.”

3. BITING TONGUE, BITING WORDS
     
     
     
    I had not made eye contact with Alice since I spoke Lord Gentry’s name. What good was it? The Lord Gentry was known for his