A Million Suns Read Online Free PDF

floppy, but I don’t take it. “Our food supplies are dangerously low. This is a primary concern, but we’re running out of other necessities, such as clothing, as well.”
    I open my mouth to speak, but she continues in an even voice. “We have crime now. Never had it before. But now we do. Domestic violence, theft, vandalism. With Phydus—”
    And there it is. Doubt. They trust the drug more than me.
    â€œI’ll take care of the people,” I say, my voice firm. “You take care of the ship.”
    â€œBut Eld—Eld
er
,” Marae says, resting one slender hand on my arm. “Why bother? They don’t need to be anything but workers. We don’t need them to be anything else.”
    â€œI understand what you’re saying.” I grip the edges of the floppy.
    I don’t tell her that I’ve thought of all of this before.
    I don’t tell her that’s why I carry the wires to the Phydus machine around in my pocket every day.
    Instead, I say, “What we need is a police force. Like they had on Sol-Earth. I need people who I can trust, who can help me ensure that everything runs smoothly.”
    Marae stands straighter. “A poe-leez force?”
    This time, I’m the one who swipes the floppy and starts tapping on the screen. After a moment, I hand her an article about police and social sciences. She scans it briefly, then hands it to Shelby.
    â€œBasically, I need people who can help enforce the rules. Investigate crime, stop people from doing wrong. If there’s trouble, I’ll need backup.”
    â€œThe Shippers have always been obedient to the Eldest system. We will make sure the system does not fail. In whatever capacity it becomes.” She means: she’s willing to try using police instead of Phydus. I’m not confident enough in her words or my position to ask what will happen if my latest suggestion fails.
    I know the first-level Shippers better than nearly anyone else on this ship, even though I’ve only worked with them in the months since Eldest died. I can read their faces. Haile and Jodee and Tailor are nodding along with Marae, eager to accept this role. Prestyn, Brittne, Buck, and even Second Shipper Shelby look wary. I know they will follow Marae, though, even if they wouldn’t follow me. And while Marae sometimes still tries to boss me around because I’m younger, she never truly forgets my position as Eldest, even if I won’t take the name.
    This might just work.
    And, as soon as I think that, Shelby makes a noise of surprise. We turn to her. In her hands is the floppy she’d taken earlier. She holds it out first to Marae, but then she thinks better of it and hands it to me. The Shippers break their ordered line and crowd around me as I read the giant white words flashing across the black screen.
    Â 
    DO NOT ACCEPT THE OPPRESSION OF THE ELDEST SYSTEM
    THERE IS NO LEADER
    LEAD YOURSELF
    Â 
    â€œSomeone has hacked into the floppy network,” Marae growls. Her fierce eyes meet mine. “Is this what you meant by needing a poe-leez force?”
    â€œYes.” My voice lacks her passion. These words flashing across the screen say I am nothing, and for the first time since Eldest died, I think they may be right.
    Marae slides the floppy from my fingers and tries to swipe the screen clear. The last two words— LEAD YOURSELF —grow larger, filling the whole screen. Marae slides her fingers across the screen again. Nothing happens.
    â€œFrex!” I’ve never heard her curse before.
    The Shippers gather close to the screen. They look worried—Haile and Jodee start whispering to each other, and Brittne’s hand moves to her wi-com. Shelby’s eyes keep reading the phrase over and over, mouthing the words silently.
    â€œCalm down,” Marae snaps, and I—and every Shipper—focus our attention on her. “This is our first task as poe-leez. And we