Hera Read Online Free PDF

sought
her longgun.
    “You cannot go out.” Commander Nekut’s bass
voice, sharp and curt, hit Hera like a whip.
    She turned around to face her. “But,
Commander—”
    “You’re still being tested, hatha .
Being an elite corps is not easy. Proving your loyalty takes time.
You are not to go out in a city inhabited by mortals unless I judge
that you’re ready.”
    “I am ready!”
    “I’ll tell you when you are.”
    Dammit . “Do the police kill unarmed
civilians, Commander? Do they kill mortals without asking
questions?” The words slipped from Hera’s mouth before she could
control herself.
    The Commander merely raised a dark eyebrow.
“What are you implying?”
    Hera heaved a sigh of relief. So it was not
true. “Nothing, I...”
    “Mortals have no rights. They are not human.
They are not civilians , hatha . They are animals,
older, antiquated forms of life. You have learned about the crimes
they committed against us in the past. They have not changed. We
are the new humans.” Nekut smiled, her eyes kind. “The world is
ours and we must keep the order. Terrorists are threatening the
peace and our police are only investigating and arresting certain
insurgents for questioning. Is that clear?”
    Bile rose in Hera’s throat. The medals on
Nekut’s shoulders gleamed and swirled like faint stars. Hera bowed
her head and closed her eyes. “Yes, Commander.”
    Yesterday she would have trusted and accepted
her Commander’s words on faith alone. But not today. Not
anymore.
    She would see for herself. “I apologize. Of
course, you are right.”
    “Once Regina matures inside you, you shall
see.” Nekut’s blue eyes burned now with passion. “Everything will
be clear.”
    When Regina matured, special hormones would
spill into her body, changing her behavior, changing her way of
thinking. It was Regina’s blessing.
    For the first time Hera realized it was not a
blessing; she would become Regina’s puppet and she could not let
that happen. “I’ll take the next transport back, if I may.”
    Nekut patted Hera’s shoulder. “Do that. And
forget all these questions. All will be answered in time.”
    Today , Hera thought as Nekut left the
room. I want the answers today .
     
     

Chapter Two
     
     
     
     
    T wo hours later,
Hera was prepared to meet the truth. She had scouted the complex,
taken stock of the placement of security cameras, and managed to
disable the one overlooking the southern fence. Wearing her long
leather coat, longgun holstered at her hip, steel cable wrapped
around her waist, she was as ready as she would ever be. Now she
had to hurry before someone noticed the lack of feedback on their
monitors.
    She sneaked around the guard’s cubicle and
found her distracted, having a chat with a pretty hatha ,
Moira – a dark-haired, slanted-eyed Gultur. Good, no need to engage
Plan B, which included lots of improvisation, shots being fired and
a bright future in a prison cell.
    Hand resting on the grip of her longgun, Hera
strode out into the yard, keeping her gaze straight ahead and
hoping she looked like a Gultur with a purpose, which was, after
all, the truth.
    Not expecting the gate to be unlocked – and
it looked padlocked even from afar – she turned and headed to the
south side. She eyed the tall chain link fence, which was topped
with barbed wire, and smirked.
    This would have been a bloody mess, had she
not come informed and prepared.
    Shrugging her coat off, she threw it up and
over the barbed wire, covering it. Grinning, she reached up with
her gloved hands, finding hand- and footholds in the mesh fence,
and climbed up. With careful movements, she gripped the wires
through the thick leather. Once she was sure she would not be
sliced to pieces by the sharp barbs, she pulled herself up and
passed one leg over the wires, then the other.
    She was outside.
    With a flip of her hand, she freed her coat
and jumped down to the hard cement, wincing at the echoing thump.
The unpainted, concrete