Too Close to the Sun (The Sun 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

implant a tracer-tag into his body and then let himself be taken during the Harvesters’ last raid.”
    It was suicide, pure and simple. “Who in God’s name was crazy enough to do that?”
    “I was.” The computer responded.
    “What do you mean, you were. You’re a computer.”
    “No. I assure you, I am quite human.”
    “Impossible.”
    “On the contrary. My name is Nicoli Alexandres Romanof. I’m a colonel with the United System of Planets’ Security Forces.”
    “I’ve never heard of you.” She had no idea who might and might not work for the S.F., but that wasn't the point.
    “You wouldn’t have. I specialize in covert assignments.”
    “And you're currently undercover? As a computer? Give me a little credit, please,” she snorted, thoroughly disgusted.
    "It's not important that you understand how it's possible that I'm able to interface with the ship's computer," the voice said. "The only thing you need to understand is that I'm on a mission and I won't tolerate any interference from a common thief. So if you can't cooperate, I'll find a way to get rid of you."

Chapter 3
     
    “You can kiss my ass.” Unlatching her safety harness, Angel stood up. “You,” she stabbed the air in front of the old man, “and your computer-friend are certifiably crazy. Whacko. Do you hear me?”
    Ignoring his bemused expression, she stormed off the bridge, past the hatch and down the short hallway until she found the sleeping quarters. Since she didn't have control of the ship - and couldn’t leave it - she might as well have a look around.
    The first door she came to was unlocked, so she went in. While the cabin definitely was not on par with a Vista 250 luxury suite, it wasn’t bad. Soft beige, tan and coral tones gave the room a calm, spacious feel. Immediately to the right of the doorway was a small table with two chairs. Above these, set into the wall, were the intercom and recycler. A small bed stood against the right wall and opposite that was the door to the decontamination unit, or the D-U as it was better known.
    Curious as to what amenities she might find inside, she palmed open the door. The D-U was a small room with a bio-waste unit and lavatory on one side and the shower stall on the other. It used the standard lightweight cleaning solution known as Supercleanze to deliver a fine, cleansing mist that dried quickly.
    Angel stepped out of the D-U to check out the room's only closet. She rummaged through the hanging shirts and pants, catching the faint musky odor of their owner still clinging to them. It was a distinctively masculine scent that sent her imagination down interesting and not often traveled paths. Unable to resist, she took another deep breath and sighed before reluctantly shutting the door.
    She would take this room. At least until they reached a space station or someplace where she could disembark. Having made the decision, she left the room to explore the rest of the ship, making sure to check out every nook and cranny as she went. When her stomach growled, she remembered that she hadn’t eaten and went to find the galley.
    It was as small as the rest of the rooms, but definitely state-of-the-art with its Cosmos Food Genie and pre-set menu selection pad. She entered her selection of a Holwraith meat and Zantl cheese sandwich on whole grain bread, and a glass of Aldenberry juice. Less than two minutes later, she was back in her new quarters, eating her food and letting her thoughts wander.
    So much had happened – the encounter with Tony, the terrorist attack, losing her ship, stealing this one. And then, the coup-de-grâce – held prisoner by a computer that claimed to be human? It was enough to make her wish she'd learned how to hack into computer programs.
    But she hadn’t, so now what? How did one out-think a computer?
    Maybe she didn't have to. That voice coming from the ship had claimed to be a man. A colonel with the S.F. What had it – or he – said his name was? Romanof?