Tombstone Read Online Free PDF Page A

companion.  He
was tall, dressed in a neatly-pressed gray uniform, and he was holding out a
small metal cup.  “Those stun guns give you quite a headache.”  He smiled
sympathetically.  “This will help.”
    I straightened myself out.  I was still sitting, but at
least I was halfway up.  I took the cup and downed it in one gulp.  If these
guys wanted to harm me they’d had plenty of chances.  I felt better almost
immediately; it was like the fog in my head just cleared away.
    “Welcome to Camp Puller.”  I was about to say something, but
he beat me to it.  “I’m Captain Sam Jackson.”  He paused and smiled.  “And you
are a very resourceful young man who, among other things, has nothing but a
scar where his implant was.”
    I leaned back nervously.  My first thought was, they will
figure out who I am and send me back to the farm.  For that matter, just
removing the implant was highly illegal.  He must have read my mind, because he
laughed softly.  “Don’t worry; we’re really not interested in whatever you’ve
done.  You were stealing from us, and we don’t care.  We’re certainly not
concerned with what you did to anyone else. Or the fact that you removed your
implant.”  After a brief pause:  “We’re not cops.”
    I looked up at him, feeling better but still groggy. 
“You’re a Marine?”  I took a good look at him.  I guessed he was about 35,
though I wasn’t sure.  He could have been younger or, with a rejuv treatment or
two, quite a bit older.  His hair was light brown, neatly trimmed, and his face
was pleasant, relaxed.  He certainly didn’t match my expectation of a Marine. 
The Corps had a reputation for producing savage fighters, but this guy looked
like someone who spent his day in front of a workstation.  I laugh when I look
back – now I realize that Captain Jackson could have dropped me in half a
second, despite the fact that he was ten centimeters shorter and at least 20
kilos lighter.
    “Yes, I'm a Marine.”  He could tell what I was thinking, and
he smiled again.  “Surprised I’m not three meters tall with weapons growing out
of my arms?”  He reached out and dragged one of the chairs closer to the cot. 
“We have a few things to discuss.  Why don’t we start with your name?”  He sat
with the chair turned around, leaning against the back.
    “Jax.  Darius Jax.”  I’d been thinking, I’m not going to
tell this guy anything, but my mouth opened and my name came out.  It’s not
like they couldn’t find out anyway.  I got my implant out, but I couldn’t
change my DNA.  I was in the main database just like anybody else.  Besides, I
had the strangest feeling he was trying to help me.
    “Interesting name.  I’ve seen a lot of guys come through
here, but you’re the first Darius.  Persian king, right?”
    I had no idea what he was talking about.  My education at
the time was almost non-existent.  The government didn’t waste resources
educating Cogs and Croppers.  I’d had an hour a day of online classes at the
farm, but it was nothing but basics.  I wasn’t entirely illiterate, but ancient
history was well beyond my knowledge base.  I didn’t even know what a Persian
was.  Years later, at the Academy, I was finally able to answer his question. 
Two famous Persian kings, actually, the second enjoying the dubious privilege
of facing off against Alexander the Great.
    When I didn’t answer he just continued.  “Doesn’t matter. 
Let me get right to the point.”  He straightened up slightly in the chair. 
“I’m here to offer you a chance to join the Corps.”
    “What?”  The word just blurted out.  I hadn't been sure what
he was going to say, but that was certainly not what I was expecting.
    “You heard me, Darius.”  There was a smile on his face – he
was enjoying this, the SOB.  “I’d like to make a Marine out of you.”
    “Why would you want me?”  About half a dozen responses came
to my mind,