The Unfinished World (The Armor of God Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

Ezra Blanchard had doomed Roue to destruction, and humanity to extinction.
    “You’re more prepared than anyone else who’s faced him,” Tara Blanchard said. Her words of encouragement were honest and reassuring, but merely a whisper in a storm.
    “Remember everything we told you, and remember how to lie,” General Adams said. The leader of the Roue Military had been an invaluable asset for Zenith’s side. The tall, striking woman had always known of the existence of Zenith, and understood its importance for Roue’s survival. Ever since Akiva, Ezra, Garros, Jena, and Erin left Zenith, these two women had been Vivian’s tutors. They were sure she could play a key part in saving the facility.
    “What if he asks something else? Something I can’t answer.”
    “There’s nothing you can’t answer, Vivian,” said the director. “We know his strategy. We know what he knows—and what he doesn’t.”
    Vivian nodded. During the events of Ezra’s escape, three members of Zenith had been killed by Kat Covington, Besoe Nandi’s treacherous crewmember. She was glad Governor Heath had never found out about it; had he known about Kat’s betrayal, their campaign would come to a premature end in his favor.
    “I’m ready,” Vivian said, and the director fixed the collar of her uniform, knowing that Heath would somehow take advantage of the minutest imperfection in her demeanor.
    Vivian opened the door to the Conference Hall, and was immediately greeted by dozens of electric eyes and camera flashes. Behind them stood people who, under any other circumstance, would have never set foot on Zenith. This was an unexplored world for the people of Roue, and these men and women were the citizens’ eyes and ears.
    She sat down and placed her hands gently on her crossed legs. It was an elegant position Director Blanchard had taught her, meant to demonstrate openness and confidence. She did her best to also convey the same sentiments with her face.
    She smiled; it felt strange.
    “Can you state your name, please?” the fat man said, and Vivian could almost feel microphones coming closer.
    “Private First Class Vivian Poole,” she said, trying to sound confident.
    “You were one of the four final recruits of the Creux Defense Program,” he stated, mispronouncing the word Creux . “Is this correct?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “And the only one that remains, in here, as well. When was the last time you saw the other three?”
    He had immediately asked the question she was dreading to answer; the lie Director Blanchard had plotted was flimsy and could easily be picked apart, so she had to answer carefully. “Akiva Davenport and Jena Crescent left the same day of your first visit to the facility, sir, on a reconnaissance operation. Ezra Blanchard was discharged from Zenith soon after you destroyed his Creux.”
    He nodded in a self-satisfied way that angered her, like he was proud of having destroyed Besoe Nandi. “Where is he now?”
    Director Blanchard was looking at her, visibly nervous, and the feeling became contagious. Had she said the wrong thing, or did the woman fear she soon would? “His home, I suppose. I haven’t been in contact with him.”
    “Wasn’t he your friend?” he said, and she only shrugged.
    What followed was not an interview, but an interrogation. She was asked to describe technical specifications about her Creux in an attempt to find holes in her education, trying to prove that she had not been trained properly. Then, Governor Heath began to ask increasingly personal questions, some of which involved topics she had to deflect or completely ignore, such as the whereabouts of her parents, whom she didn’t even remember.
    General Adams had warned her about this tactic, which was key to Heath’s strategy; this man had researched Vivian’s past and would try to taunt and humiliate her publicly, hoping for a negative reaction that would prove that she was not fit to wield something as powerful as a