Starshine: Aurora Rising Book One Read Online Free PDF Page B

reassurance and comfort. “Not to worry, I’ll take care of it. It’s what I do.” He decided it was best to leave when I’m not blowing up three million credit ships and two dozen terrorists with them unsaid.
    After all, he fully intended to try to return this ship in one piece.
     

     
    After Volosk had departed, Caleb remained by the river for a while. His outward demeanor was relaxed, save for the rapid tap of fingertips on the railing.
    He had been on leave ever since the post-op debriefs for the previous assignment had wrapped up. Whether the vacation had been a reward or a punishment he wasn’t entirely sure, despite Volosk’s vague hint at a promotion. Nor did he particularly care. He had accomplished what he had set out to do, justice had been served—albeit with a spicy dash of vengeance—and the bad guys were all dead. But it appeared it was time to get back to work.
    The serenity of the cool night breeze and river-cleansed air juxtaposed upon the pulsing thrum of the music and swelling buzz of the crowd made for an appropriate backdrop. Time to retune himself.
    He had enjoyed spending time with Isabela and her family, especially getting to play the bad uncle and fill Marlee’s head with rebellious and unruly ideas sure to drive her mother crazy for months. The little girl had spunk; it was his duty to encourage it.
    It had been a welcome respite. But it wasn’t his life.
    He pushed off the railing and strolled down the promenade to the bar area. The throbbing of the bass vibrated pleasantly on his skin as he neared. He ordered a local ale and found a small standing table which had been abandoned in favor of the dance floor. He rested his elbows on it, sipped his beer and surveyed the crowd.
    It was amusing, and occasionally heartbreaking, to see how people doggedly fumbled their way through encounters. All the cybernetics in the world couldn’t replace real, human connection, which was likely why physical sex was still the most popular pastime in the galaxy, despite the easy availability of objectively better-than-real passione illusoire . Humans were social animals, and craved—
    “What are you drinking?”
    He glanced at the woman who had sidled up next to him. Long, razor-straight white-blond hair framed a face sculpted to perfection beyond what genetic engineering alone could achieve. A white iridescent slip minimally covered deep golden skin. Silver glyphs wound along both arms and up the sides of her neck to disappear beneath the hairline.
    He smiled coolly. “I’m fine, thanks.”
    She dropped a hand on the table and posed herself against it. “Yes, you are. Would you like to dance?”
    He suppressed a laugh at the heavy-handed come-on. “Thank you, but…” a corner of his mouth curled up “…you’re not really my type.”
    Her eyes shone with polished confidence. She believed she was in control. How cute .
    “I can be any type you want me to be.” The glyphs glowed briefly as her hair morphed to black, her makeup softened and her skin tone paled.
    So that’s what the glyphs were for. A waste of credits born of a desperate need to be wanted. He gave the woman a wry grin and shook his head. “No thanks.”
    She scowled in frustration; it marred the perfect features into ugliness. “Why not? What the hell is your type?”
    He took a last sip of his beer and dropped the empty bottle on the table. “Real.”
    He walked away without looking back.
     

3
    ERISEN
    E ARTH A LLIANCE C OLONY
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    T WELVE SCREENS HOVERED in a grid pattern above Kennedy Rossi’s desk.
    She regarded them with a critical eye. Her head tilted to the left, then the right, on the off chance the shift in angle might reveal a new perspective. After further consideration she backed up to lean against the window. The distance allowed her to better analyze the overall effect. At least in theory.
    The desk was made of nearly transparent polycrystalline alumina glass. It displayed any information transmitted to