Anno Zombus Year 1 (Book 9): September Read Online Free PDF Page A

following shortly after.  The pair wanted to know what we discovered out there, if anything.  The Twin had heard a few things about these Righteous freaks from some of the other soldiers around, she was less than impressed.
     
    I couldn’t really say all that much, just that we were close to pinpointing their main encampment.  The Twin nodded at that, knowing full well that it may take some time to deal with them.  Tiny, on the other hand, had only complaints about how her trainees were not progressing fast enough to suit her.  Apparently, we were better students on the trip back from New Brisbane than The Boss’s troops.  Most of them, anyway.  She had a star student, she told us, a young man that almost had her the last time they sparred together.  Almost.
     
    noon
    Apocalypse Mum offered me coffee, which naturally I accepted, and invited me to sit down across from her at her desk.  The office was fairly Spartan, just the desk and a pair of chairs for one on one debriefings, and a couch upon which Apocalypse Girl lounged.  A couple of maps adorned the walls, most notable amongst them being the location we were due to scout in a few days.
     
    “Tell me everything you can,” She asked me.  “I know we’ve been through this before, but I need every last little detail that I can get in order to make an informed decision about these Visitors you’ve discovered.  The Invader Moon could have been passed off as natural celestial phenomena, after all our own moon is not native to our solar system.  The unusual approach vector, the fact that it slowed down before beginning its orbit, the fact that it has now settled into a position precisely 180 degrees away from our own satellite.”
     
    Taking a breath, she went on.  “The Invader Moon is about half the size of our own, also precisely half as far from the earth, yet it keeps the exact same orbit, opposite our own moon.”  She looked at me knowingly.  “I don’t suppose you’ve spoken to your Schrandfelths friend about any of this, have you?”  I told her that we hadn’t.  “The thing I need to know, most of all, is whose moon it is.  These Shadow creatures that you’ve assured me are native to our planet, how do you know for certain that it isn’t theirs?”
     
    “He didn’t speak to any of those Shadow guys, only I did that, Mum.”  Apocalypse Girl interrupted.  “The Shadow I spoke with was kinda weird, but I got the impression that they, or it, whatever, didn’t know anything about the new moon.  It sort of seemed like it is the entire species, not just one of them.  I dunno, it was fucking weird.  But, one thing is certain.  The Shadows aren’t hostile, only a little curious about us.”
     
    “Is there any way that you can get in touch with your alien buddy?”  Apocalypse Mum asked me.  I told her that it was a possibility, though from everything that had been going on, it was entirely possible that Fluffy’s entire species were keeping more than a close eye on all of us.  We needed to find out more about the other two species, I told her. “Ah yes, the Terraformers and the Mutators.  I think it is safe to say that both of these species are indeed hostile, even if your friends are not.  Besides, what can a janitorial species really do to help us out?”
     
    “In any case,” She continued, her musing over now.  “I would like you to try to get in touch with this … person that you know.  If you can convince it to meet with me personally, I would be more than grateful.”  I told her that I’d do my best, but that I would only do so if she guaranteed his safety.  She smiled, almost as sweetly as I’ve known her daughter to.  “It will be perfectly safe and secure here, don’t worry.  Sure, we have plenty of people that would love to dissect and study it in detail, but believe me they will not lay a hand on it.  I only want to interview it, find out what it knows about the other species’ plans for the