Breaking Through Read Online Free PDF Page A

there aren’t any. She never signed on to the contract; therefore, she was never recruited and doesn’t have a file.”
    “She’s in the system, sir. I checked before I came.”
    “Well, then, that’s admin’s fault for not removing her. The file is empty.”
    “How about a Nate Olson?”
    “Another Olson, huh? Brother? Same ability?”
    “Looks like it, sir. Says he was recruited to the Navy two years ago, the same time you tried to recruit Nautia. He’s mentioned in her files.”
    “I didn’t call in his draft, but I’ll see what I can find. You think you need another aquator? Because if he’s already Navy, I can put in for a transfer.”
    “No, sir. I’m just curious if there might be a connection between him and Nautia’s lack of control.”
    Melene sighs into the receiver. “I’ll see what I can find, Barton, but you might be heading for a dead end.”
    “I’d appreciate it, sir.”
    I hang up and pour myself some whiskey. Then I go through Cara’s notes one last time. It’s clear Nautia has everything I want for this mission. What’s also clear is that in her current state, the information is locked inside her head. I just have to find the key.
    And that key might lie with her brother.

“We’re training for three months on a ship ?” Britta grunts, lugging her suitcase behind her. “I get seasick.”
    I grimace. “Please tell me we have private cabins.”
    “I hope not,” Haskal says, swatting my ass as he jogs past me. “And I hope I get stuck with you.”
    “Ugh. I think I’d rather bunk with barf girl,” I mutter to myself.
    “You’d rather bunk with Barton,” Kray says close to my ear. “You’ve been ogling him since we landed.”
    I shoot him a glance over my shoulder. “Ogling?”
    “Major ogling.”
    “I don’t ogle anything, Kray. Unless it’s dipped in chocolate.”
    My best friend chuckles. “I’m sure you’d love to have a piece of Barton dipped like a cone.”
    “You know what I need?” I stop and turn to face the nosy mind reader. “A class on how to block you from my head. All the trainers do it, so obviously it can be done.”
    “Honey, I didn’t get any of that info from digging around in your nugget. I got that from the drool.” He wipes the non-existent saliva from my mouth.
    “Oh shut up.”
    Kray grins and nudges me up the ramp. Ahead of me, Gibson has Britta’s second and third bags suspended in the air in front of him. Why the girl brought three suitcases when the rest of us packed one is beyond me. The contract clearly stated we’re to wear Navy-sanctioned apparel at all times while on duty. On a ship in the middle of the ocean is a good sign we’ll be on duty more often than not.
    There are supposed to be five other Navy soldiers on board, but they must be somewhere else; it’s just us Specials lined up on the top deck, facing the ocean. Captain Barton walks out and stands in front of us. His sailor hat casts a shadow over his face, obscuring his expression. His lips, though? Those I see perfectly fine.
    “Ogle, much?” Kray whispers.
    “Rubberneck, much?” I fire back.
    “Welcome aboard USS Triton ,” Barton says, standing tall and proud. “She’s a state-of-the-art vessel designed for a crew of four. While here, you are soldiers, and I expect your conduct to reflect that standing. Understood?”
    I nod my answer, while beside me, Kray mutters, “Yes, sir.”
    “I didn’t catch that, soldiers,” Barton says louder. “Do you understand?”
    “Yes, sir,” we chime, some of us with more enthusiasm than others.
    I glance to my right. Gibson acts like he’s here for the Soldier of the Year Award. His chest is puffed out, his chin up in the air. Haskal’s playing the part too, though with less zeal than Gibson, and Britta’s going to piss herself when she realizes her cell phone might not get stellar reception in the middle of the Atlantic. Even now, she clutches it in her hand like she’s afraid Barton will toss it