Resist the Red Battlenaut Read Free Page B

Investigative Service--the MIS--was already handling his case. Why the hell would a CORE officer have anything to do with it? As far as Scott knew, CORE hadn't even been deployed on Chelong III.
    "I've read the report," said Perseid. "It's a pretty amazing story, if it's true."
    Scott bristled. "It's true." He matched Perseid's stare with unblinking intensity. "Every word of it."
    Perseid nodded slowly. "You're saying this thing was invisible to the naked eye of a seasoned Marine Captain equipped with the latest optical viewing technology."
    "Yes, sir," said Scott.
    "Yet you were able to see it."
    Scott nodded. "Yes, sir."
    Perseid stared silently for a moment. "You're also saying it left absolutely no trace of itself. No spent ammo, no tracks, no video or data record."
    "Except for a blip on the radar, yes, sir."
    Perseid nodded and looked around as if to make sure no one was listening. When he turned his head left, Scott realized a fourth scar was visible--a bare strip amid the dark stubble on the back of his scalp, a semicircle running from the crown of his skull to the nape of his neck.
    "Well, guess what?" Perseid leaned closer and dropped his voice. "You're wrong."
    Scott couldn't help glaring. "Negative, sir." He was sick and tired of people acting like he was somehow to blame for what had happened to Rollins. "I have never been more right about anything in my life . My memory is crystal clear."
    "I'm not questioning your memory, Corporal," said Perseid. "I'm talking about the evidence ."
    "The evidence supports my story," snapped Scott. "The wreckage of Captain Rollins' Battlenaut shows scoring from lasers with significantly higher power than those mounted in my armor. I may have been firing weapons when the Captain died, but nothing in my arsenal could have blown apart a Battlenaut like that."
    Suddenly, Perseid slapped his hand down hard on the table. Scott had been about to say something else, but he clamped his mouth shut instead.
    "You might have been there, Corporal," said Perseid, "but you don't know everything about the evidence ." He raised his eyebrows, and then he got up from his chair. "Would you like me to show you what you don't know?"
    Scott stared at Perseid but couldn't get a good read on him. If Perseid meant to do him harm--if he was trying to entrap him somehow--Scott couldn't tell. The only thing he knew for sure was that he had to play along. He couldn't say no to a CORE officer...and even if that was an option, he wouldn't do it. He couldn't walk away without finding out what Perseid knew about evidence related to his case. If there was more to the story of what had happened on Chelong III, he had to know what it was.
    "All right." Scott downed the last of his cold coffee, plunked the mug on the table, and got up from his chair. "If you've got something to show me, then show me."
    For the first time, Perseid managed a slight smile. It looked like it took an effort. "As long as you don't have anywhere better to be right now."
    "No, sir," said Scott. "Not at the moment."
    Perseid started for the door. "Then let's get this show on the road, Corporal."
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    *****
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    Chapter 3
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    Perseid led Scott to a wheeled transport in front of the canteen--a sleek black car, low to the ground, with tinted windows. It looked more like it belonged on a race track than a military base at the edge of a war zone.
    Perseid hopped in without a word, and Scott followed. He thought briefly about saying how cool the car was, then decided not to. Why stroke the god's ego? It was probably big enough already.
    Perseid started the engine and pulled out of his parking spot. "So you're from Tack." It wasn't a question. "In my experience, Tackers are the biggest pains in the ass in the galaxy."
    Scott kept staring straight ahead and shrugged.
    "That's been my experience," said Perseid, "as a native-born Tacker myself." Then, he jammed the accelerator pedal to the floor, and the car took off at a high rate of speed.
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