The Cyber Chronicles IX - Precipice Read Online Free PDF

they do.
No, they're your responsibility, not mine."
    "Estrelle would
give her left arm to marry an Overlord."
    Fairen
reddened. "I'm not looking for a wife, especially one who's ten
years older than me."
    "She's pretty,
though, and you need company."
    "Not hers."
    "You don't even
know her."
    Fairen shook
his head. "Nor do I want to."
     
    ****
     
    Sabre gazed out
of the screens at the glowing, pearly orb of Myon Two. Kole had
left seven days ago for Omega Five, a journey that would take him
ten days. The cyber had spent the time mostly with Fairen, sparring
in the exercise room, talking, playing VR games and watching
vidimages. Fortunately, no other emergencies had arisen to force
Fairen to leave. Sabre had enjoyed the relaxation, and Fairen had
enjoyed the company, but worry about Tassin gnawed at Sabre. He
wished there was a quicker way to send her a message so she would
stop worrying about him.
    Once again they
waited for more prisoners to arrive, everyone assembled in their
positions around the Scorpion Ship's command centre. Fairen
remained in his private rooms, and would join them when the
prisoners arrived. The transport ship had docked with Scorpio a few
minutes earlier, and footsteps came from the door. Fairen's guards
marched twelve men in and stopped them some distance from the dias.
A minute later, the four torches around the pedestal burst into
flame, the lighting dimmed, and Fairen entered and settled upon his
throne. He sat immobile for several long, tense minutes while the
silence stretched and Sabre swore he could hear the sweat trickling
down the Myonars. Fairen raised a hand and beckoned.
    "Host Research
Department Head Parvan Vorgid, approach." His deep, distorted voice
reverberated around the room.
    Parvan shuffled
forward and bowed. "My Lord."
    Fairen pointed
at the ten tough looking enforcers who had accompanied Parvan and
Prello. "Are these the men you sent to Omega Five to abduct the
former cyber known as Sabre?"
    "Yes, My
Lord."
    "Who told you
to send them?"
    "Cybercorp Head
Prello Gardan, My Lord."
    Fairen beckoned
to the portly, middle-aged man. "Prello Gardan, approach."
    Prello obeyed,
his florid face tense. "My Lord."
    "Who told you
to capture the free cyber?"
    "I don't know,
My Lord."
    Fairen cocked
his head. "How can you not know?"
    "I received a
message, coded as a Myon Two management order, but there was no
name on it. It was marked top secret."
    "The order came
from Myon Two, then?"
    "All orders
come from Myon Two, My Lord."
    Fairen nodded.
"Of course they do. My patience grows thin, it really does. All
this cloak and dagger foolishness. I want to know who ordered the
capture of the free cyber."
    "I don't know
My Lord, I swear."
    The young
Overlord gazed at Prello, or at least faced him, since no one could
see his eyes, and tapped on the arm of his massive chair. "I tell
you what, Prello. I'm not going to judge you now. I'm tired of
touching filthy minds. You will find out who sent you that message
and bring me his name. You have two months. If you fail, you will
be judged. Step back."
    Prello bowed
and retreated, looking relieved.
    Fairen rose,
tugging off his left glove. "Parvan, I will judge you now."
    "I was just
following orders, My Lord!"
    "I don't care.
I'm tired of excuses, reasons and subterfuges. I will summarily
judge and execute all who were involved. If you have the name of
the one who gave Prello his order, I will delay judgement."
    "I don't know,
My Lord, but I've done nothing wrong!"
    "Did you know
Sabre was my friend?"
    Parvan gulped,
shaking his head. "I... I heard rumours, but nothing definite, and
I couldn't disobey!"
    "A lie. You
knew, and you disobeyed me, which carries the penalty of death. You
would have done far better to have resigned when you received that
order, but you carried it out, and, in so doing, condemned
yourself. But you thought you could get away with it, didn't you?
Someone told you how to remove an Overlord's bracelet. Who was
it?"
    "Prello,