MERCS: Crimson Worlds Successors Read Online Free PDF Page A

years together, she hadn’t prevailed in every struggle, certainly—nothing close.  But she’d won her share, including this one.
    Indeed, when they’d decided to have children, her medical colleagues had expected her to artificially inseminate and use an AI-controlled crèche to carry the child to term.  As a Marine on reserve status, she had access to state of the art healthcare.  But she’d shot that idea down immediately, declaring she was going to do this old style—every step of the way.  She was fifty-eight years old, but the Corps’ program of rejuv treatments had slowed the aging process throughout her adult life, and she was the physical equivalent of a healthy, fit woman in her mid-thirties.
    After a quarter century of almost non-stop war, Sarah had declared her intent to slow down and experience a life that didn’t involve constant stress and bload-soaked rituals under the harsh lights of the operating room.  She’d seen enough shattered men and women to last a lifetime, and then some.  All she wanted now was to live like a normal Atlantian, a peaceful life by the sea, with a family she could hold onto.  Erik knew her memories of childhood were as nightmarish as his own, and he was determined that she would finally have the peace she craved.
    “I’d never have married you if sleeping through the night was that important to me.” She laughed softly.
    Cain looked at her and smiled.  They’d been together twenty-five years when they’d finally gotten married.  Erik hadn’t cared one way or another.  He intended to spend the rest of his life with her, and that was all that mattered.  Most rituals and social customs meant very little to him.  Cain judged people on their actions and behaviors, and he placed almost no value in society’s artificial constructs.  But many of the colony worlds, newly freed from the yoke of their parent Superpowers, had begun to revive old social customs, and Sarah was determined to become a normal Atlantian any way she could.
    Their wedding had been a simple affair, with only a few friends.  General Gilson had wanted to bring them to Armstrong so the Corps could host a massive celebration, but they had politely refused.  Cain’s thoughts were already on empty chairs, places where old friends should have been, but weren’t.  He had a way of seeking out the dark side of even the happiest occasions, and he didn’t want to feed that tendency.  In the end, it had been a good day, and virtually everyone Erik and Sarah cared about had come.
    “Well, you certainly knew what you were getting by then.”  He leaned back and closed his eyes.  She had her hand on the side of his neck.  Her touch still had the same effect on him, even after thirty years, driving away the demons, at least for a little while.
    “I certainly did.”  She smiled for an instant, and then her eyes widened and she moaned softly.  She put her hands on her belly and turned and looked over at Erik.  “Ah, not to interrupt the conversation…but, in my expert medical opinion…it is time…”
    Cain leapt to his feet.  “I knew we should have had you in the hospital,” he stammered, putting his hand on her arm and leading her up the path.  He was nervous, tense.  His combat reflexes were responding, and he could feel the adrenalin pumping through his blood.  “Let’s go.”
    She laughed softy.  “Relax, General Cain.  This isn’t a Marine operation.  People have been managing this for a long time.”  She turned and walked slowly back toward the house.
    Erik followed closely behind.  Through all the years at war, he had never imagined this day would come.  In a few hours he would be the father of twin boys.  He thought about what they would be like, who they would become.  He imagined many men dreamed of their sons following in their footsteps, but that was Cain’s worst nightmare.
    Please, he thought.  Let them be doctors or scientists or engineers…or let them