Storm Force: Book Three of the Last Legion Series Read Online Free PDF Page A

let us change?” Njangu complained. “You think I
like
going out in this costume? Makes a man too noticeable when he might want to slide out in an unobtrusive manner.”
    “But you’re with me,” Jasith said. “Which means you’re not only going to be pretty, but well behaved, too.” She slid out of the lim’s pilot compartment as she spoke, hand automatically extending a bill to the attendant with the casual arrogance only the very rich knew.
    “Good
and
pretty, both? How goddamned dull,” Njangu said. “I coulda called a shuttle and had a lot less hassle.”
    “But not the company of somebody as lovely as I am,” Jasith said. “Besides, one of my friends may be here and lonely.”
    “Jasith Mellusin,” Garvin said. “Pimp to proper patriots.”
    She kicked him accurately in the shins, then yelped. “That’s why sojers wear boots,” Garvin said smugly. “Heavy boots.”
    “C’mon, you two,” Njangu said. “Alcohol calls.”
    The Shelburne was D-Cumbre’s most exclusive hotel, the social center for politicians and Rentiers. Oddly enough, the management also welcomed the Legion’s Intelligence and Reconnaissance section. Or, if welcome wasn’t precise, no one from I&R had been barred so far, as long as her or his credits clinked.
    The main entrance was a sweeping semicircular drive, with low steps leading into the main reception area, with walls of tiny antique glass panes.
    As Garvin, Jasith, and Njangu went up the steps, the door slid open, and Loy Kouro came out, walking with the precision of the very drunk. Flanking him were two very large men. All three wore evening dress.
    The following happened very quickly:
    Kouro noticed Jasith and Garvin, and his face reddened.
    Jasith and Garvin pretended Kouro didn’t exist.
    As the two parties passed close, Kouro leaned over and said something in an undertone to Jasith.
    Her eyes widened, her face went white, and her hand came up to backhand Kouro.
    Kouro pushed her away, and she went to one knee.
    Garvin had Kouro’s arm, spun with it, twisting. The bone snapped loudly, and Kouro howled, clutched it.
    One of the large men hit a stance, launched a knife-hand strike at Jaansma. Garvin wasn’t there, turning away toward the second man.
    The second man lifted his hands into guard as Garvin stepped inside them, headbutted the man in the face, hit him hard in the gut with both hands, was away as the man went down, vomiting over himself.
    The first man snapkicked toward Garvin, was well wide of his mark, and Yoshitaro had the man’s foot in both hands and lifted high, brought his own foot up, and kicked the first squarely in the crotch.
    The first man howled, stumbled back into Kouro, who was intent on his broken arm, who screeched at the impact, stumbled back, bounced off the glass-paned wall.
    Kouro saw Yoshitaro, face in a grimace, a meter in the air above him, legs curled. Njangu lashed out in a flying-mare kick and smashed Kouro through the glass wall, landed on his hands, and rolled to his feet.
    Glass tinkled, and hotel employees scurried.
    “Son of a bitch,” Garvin said. “What’d he say to you, anyway?”
    “It doesn’t matter,” Jasith said.
    “Nope,” Njangu agreed. “I suppose it doesn’t. Not now.” He surveyed the damage. “Guess press-military relations have just hit a new low, hmm? Who the hell, by the way, were those two bruisers?”
    “Damfino,” Garvin said. “Rent-a-goons, maybe. Or sports journohs.” He kicked a bit of glass. “Good thing the Legion’s picking up our tab. I’ll bet this one’ll be expensive.”
    “It surely relieved my tensions and anxieties better than a simple old drunk,” Njangu said dreamily. “Pity the son of a bitch appears to be still breathing.”
    • • •
    “Brawling in public,”
Caud
Angara growled. “In dress uniform, to boot. Savagely attacking, without any reason, and hospitalizing the publisher of the biggest holo on Cumbre. Plus two of his aides.”
    “Yessir,” Jaansma