The Fortress in Orion Read Online Free PDF Page B

stepped through. A narrow beltway transported him past a dozen offices until he came to a large glass-enclosed office that theoretically overlooked the city but actually just looked at other skyscrapers.
    A beautiful, exotic blonde woman—so beautiful and so exotic he doubted that she was quite human—sat at a desk.
    â€œHave a seat, Colonel,” she said, and a chair instantly moved across the room to him. He sat down, and it promptly carried him forward until he was positioned across her desk, staring into her pale blue eyes. “The retina scanner has already identified you, or you would not have been allowed access to this floor, but I would nonetheless like to know your name.”
    â€œNathan Pretorius,” he replied.
    â€œAnd you are here for . . . ?” She let the question linger in the air.
    â€œWhy don’t you tell me?” he said.
    She stared at him and frowned. “Just what do you think I am, Colonel Pretorius?”
    â€œI really don’t know,” he answered truthfully. “I suspect you’re not entirely human.” He paused. “But I’ve been told what you can do .”
    â€œYou have doubtless been misinformed,” said Circe. “I am an investment counselor.”
    â€œI’m sure you’re that, too,” said Pretorius. “But I ran a thorough check on you before I made the trip here to see you. I know you have gone under the names of Cybele, Vacuna, and Epona before you started calling yourself Circe; a friend named Felix Ortega worked at the same carnival as you when you were calling yourself Saunders; I know you copped a plea on Sarazan II, where you promised to leave the system and never return in exchange for no jail time; and I know that you’re no more a financial advisor than I am. My guess is that you’re vetting the customers to see which ones actually have cash to invest and which are just looking for market tips.”
    â€œYou’re thorough, Colonel,” she said. “I’ll give you that.”
    â€œCall me Nathan.”
    â€œLet’s keep it formal until I know what you want of me.”
    â€œDon’t you know already?”
    â€œI’m not a mind reader, Colonel,” said Circe. “I read emotions—but if you spoke to Ortega, you know that.”
    â€œAnd what do my emotions tell you?” he asked.
    â€œThat you’re very tense, that you want me to agree to something, and that you’re not thrilled with your surroundings, though I can’t tell if that is just this building or extends to the whole planet.”
    â€œThe planet.”
    â€œAnd of course, since you’re in the military, you want me for something.” Suddenly she smiled. “And the second I said that, your emotions intensified.”
    He withdrew the small security cube from a pocket and activated it. “I’m putting together a very special team. I think you’d be a valuable addition.” He returned her smile. “You might even live through it.”
    â€œNow you’re lying.”
    â€œWell, I hope we both live through it.”
    â€œWhat does it concern?”
    â€œAssassinating five highly placed traitors in the Democracy’s government.”
    â€œThat’s a lie,” she said promptly.
    He smiled again. “Yes, it is.”
    â€œWhy are you wasting my time telling me lies?”
    â€œBecause I wanted to make sure you could spot them.”
    Suddenly she looked interested. “Proceed, Colonel.”
    â€œWe’ve developed a clone of General Michkag,” said Pretorius. “Not a surgically altered being, not an android, not a turncoat Kabori who looks like him, but an actual clone.”
    â€œInteresting,” she said, leaning forward.
    â€œThe team I’m putting together has been charged with the task of kidnapping or secretly killing the real Michkag and substituting the clone in his place. And before we leave the poor