Birthright: Book I of the Temujin Saga Read Online Free PDF

Amaadoss’s laboratory. He had been secretly monitoring the lab from the computer terminal in his office all day, waiting for the good doctor to take a break for sleep and leave his incompetent assistant to man the lab alone. Then, with half of the station asleep, he had filled the lab’s atmosphere circulation module with a potent, yet harmless, sleeping gas.
    As the admiral approached the door to the laboratory, the security orb on the wall sprang to life. The dim hallway was filled with a pulsating red light.
    “Identification please,” the security system intoned.
    “Ohrb, Admiral. Level six security clearance. All access.”
    The red beam scanned him. “Identity confirmed. Good evening, Admiral Ohrb.”
    The laboratory doors slid open with a hiss, but the admiral never heard it over the ear-splitting Folaxian pop music blaring from within. Ohrb bolted inside and the doors slid shut behind him. He looked around and saw Jiri slumped over in his chair at the computer terminal, a cup of cold rayaak dangling dangerously from his limp fingers. A long, sagging tendril of the thick liquid finally lost the battle with the station’s artificial gravity and snapped, falling to the floor in a thick, viscous glob.
    Ohrb approached Jiri cautiously and pulled back on the Glynfarian’s shoulder. The lab technician’s head flopped over the back of his chair and the admiral grinned as a thin line of purple-tinged saliva streamed down Jiri’s pale cheek.
    “Pleasant dreams,” said Ohrb.
    He pushed Jiri’s chair aside and his fingers flew over the console. Finally the music faded out and a low ringing filled Ohrb’s strained ears. With that obstacle overcome, the admiral crossed the lab to the counter where the gestation tube and the three Replodian canisters sat. Two of the cylinders were darkened, the water within them cold and still.
    The final cylinder glowed with the radiance of the larva inside it, the water still boiling within the glass casing. A thin data cable stretched from the base of the cylinder to the side of the gestation tube containing the two human embryos. A holographic display below the tank glowed in the gloom of the darkened laboratory. Ohrb lowered his body into the squat chair designed for the much taller Amaadoss and gazed at the data flashing on the monitor:
     
    REPLODIAN LARVAE TRANSFER
    Unit 3000572694-001 Progress COMPLETE
    Unit 3000572694-002 Progress COMPLETE
    Unit 3000572694-003 Progress 72%
     
    Ohrb punched in a series of commands and a new screen popped up:
     
    REPLODIAN FUNCTIONS AND PROTOCOLS
    Unit 3000572694-001 - Bio-Chemistry/Medical
    Unit 3000572694-002 - Espionage/Combat Tactics
    Unit 3000572694-003 - Science Officer/Engineer
     
    A sneer curled the admiral’s green lips as he scanned the screen. The espionage and combat tactics unit would have suited his purposes better, but the science officer would do just fine. He punched in another string of commands and his smile broadened when the new screen appeared:
     
    UNIT 3000572694-003 MISSION PARAMETERS
    Protect host, Codename: Alexander.
    Perform assigned duties to further the effectiveness of the mission and assist fellow operatives whenever possible.
    Construct, maintain, and refine any and all weaponry, facilities, and support materials necessary to ensure success of mission.
     
    “No, no, no,” Ohrb’s fingers flew across the holo-keys. “These commands will never do. I’ll have to fix some of this language.”
    After a few moments, the admiral stopped typing and sat back in his chair to admire his handiwork.
     
    UNIT 3000572694-003 MISSION PARAMETERS
    Destroy host, Codename: Alexander.
    Destroy fellow operatives.
    Destroy all materials and facilities related to Project Alexander.
     
    “There,” said Ohrb. “That’s much better.”
    He punched the button to return to the main screen and checked the transfer progress.
     
    REPLODIAN LARVAE TRANSFER
    Unit 3000572694-001 Progress COMPLETE
    Unit 3000572694-002 Progress