Saturn.”
“There’s no need for them to know until we know just what’s going on. Besides, they count on us to keep a watch on the colonies out that far. Until the Sands of Cronus reports what they’ve found, I’ll not endanger our standing with the terrestrial powers, which means maintaining their confidence or fear in us.” Michael replied sternly.
“Still, the men out by Saturn don’t seem to be the most reliable sort any more. Don’t you think we should at least send someone more reliable in charge of the investigation?”
“Wow! What good thinking!” Michael snorted. “You know, for a glorified bodyguard, you really try to take an active role in my decision-making. I tasked Barak Simeon with that assignment already. He was sniffing around on Cronus Station anyway.”
Telamon smirked, and leaned back, his head on a tree. Nestor walked into the garden, chuckling to himself, oh so slightly. “Boss men, I think you might want to go visit Arkadios in the infirmary. He seems to be inordinately pleased with himself and I just can’t tell why.”
Telamon and Michael exchanged quizzical glances. Finally, Michael gestured to Nestor. “Well, lead on, son. We don’t have all day.”
“Technically we do now…” Telamon muttered.
Michael elbowed his friend in the ribs. Following a still chuckling Nestor, they wended their way through the labyrinthine halls of the palace. After several minutes, they found Arkadios sitting in a bed, the one next to him filled by Kiyoshi.
Quickly noting a rather large detail, Telamon pointed it out to Arkadios. “You lost your arm.”
Arkadios grinned. “But I won.”
“ You lost your arm.”
“But I won.”
“Ok," Michael broke in. "Now as interesting as this conversation is, I’d really like to know why one of my bodyguards is sitting in the infirmary next to one of the Emperor’s bodyguards, and missing his arm.” Telamon noted that Michael looked a bit… perturbed, yes; that was the word.
“I can explain that,” Telamon volunteered. “Last night at dinner, the pup and the Samurai noticed that they would both like to test themselves against each other. Knowing this, I, being the helpful fellow that I am, talked to the head of the Emperor’s Guard who was sitting next to me at the time. Between me and him, we figured a time wherein the two could duel, I even slipped a note to one of the Knights of the Table. You know, Marcus isn’t really half bad, despite the company he keeps. I mean, he’s courteous and honorable and-”
“Back to why Arkadios is missing his right arm please.”
“Oh, right… well, Marcus volunteered to judge the event, Nestor went for support and… I guess its all Arkadios’ story from there.”
Arkadios related the fight from his perspective, albeit somewhat colored by the drugs in his system. At some point, Argentos had wandered into the infirmary. By the end of the tale, Argentos, Nestor, and Telamon were all laughing; Kiyoshi, while unconscious, was relatively untouched and still in good shape. Michael wasn’t nearly so pleased with either the event or the outcome. At least neither of them had died. At least the Emperor had a sense of humor.
10
June 17, 2289. The Forge, Block 2
I don’t know why I thought that this would be a good idea. Then again, is there a better way to learn the best way to use a long-handled hammer in combat? I was facing off against Jimmy; he did a little flourish with his hammer and pounded at my side. I stepped back and swung my own hammer in a counter attack, barely missing his shoulder. He was a tricky one, that much was sure. We exchanged blows for a little while, playing a game of give and take. He would give and I would take. The tip of his hammer brushed against my stomach before I could parry.
With the exception of Boar, who had inexplicably come down with a strain of influenza, my whole squad was practicing with the new practice hammers. To the left of Haywire and me, the twins,
“There’s no need for them to know until we know just what’s going on. Besides, they count on us to keep a watch on the colonies out that far. Until the Sands of Cronus reports what they’ve found, I’ll not endanger our standing with the terrestrial powers, which means maintaining their confidence or fear in us.” Michael replied sternly.
“Still, the men out by Saturn don’t seem to be the most reliable sort any more. Don’t you think we should at least send someone more reliable in charge of the investigation?”
“Wow! What good thinking!” Michael snorted. “You know, for a glorified bodyguard, you really try to take an active role in my decision-making. I tasked Barak Simeon with that assignment already. He was sniffing around on Cronus Station anyway.”
Telamon smirked, and leaned back, his head on a tree. Nestor walked into the garden, chuckling to himself, oh so slightly. “Boss men, I think you might want to go visit Arkadios in the infirmary. He seems to be inordinately pleased with himself and I just can’t tell why.”
Telamon and Michael exchanged quizzical glances. Finally, Michael gestured to Nestor. “Well, lead on, son. We don’t have all day.”
“Technically we do now…” Telamon muttered.
Michael elbowed his friend in the ribs. Following a still chuckling Nestor, they wended their way through the labyrinthine halls of the palace. After several minutes, they found Arkadios sitting in a bed, the one next to him filled by Kiyoshi.
Quickly noting a rather large detail, Telamon pointed it out to Arkadios. “You lost your arm.”
Arkadios grinned. “But I won.”
“ You lost your arm.”
“But I won.”
“Ok," Michael broke in. "Now as interesting as this conversation is, I’d really like to know why one of my bodyguards is sitting in the infirmary next to one of the Emperor’s bodyguards, and missing his arm.” Telamon noted that Michael looked a bit… perturbed, yes; that was the word.
“I can explain that,” Telamon volunteered. “Last night at dinner, the pup and the Samurai noticed that they would both like to test themselves against each other. Knowing this, I, being the helpful fellow that I am, talked to the head of the Emperor’s Guard who was sitting next to me at the time. Between me and him, we figured a time wherein the two could duel, I even slipped a note to one of the Knights of the Table. You know, Marcus isn’t really half bad, despite the company he keeps. I mean, he’s courteous and honorable and-”
“Back to why Arkadios is missing his right arm please.”
“Oh, right… well, Marcus volunteered to judge the event, Nestor went for support and… I guess its all Arkadios’ story from there.”
Arkadios related the fight from his perspective, albeit somewhat colored by the drugs in his system. At some point, Argentos had wandered into the infirmary. By the end of the tale, Argentos, Nestor, and Telamon were all laughing; Kiyoshi, while unconscious, was relatively untouched and still in good shape. Michael wasn’t nearly so pleased with either the event or the outcome. At least neither of them had died. At least the Emperor had a sense of humor.
10
June 17, 2289. The Forge, Block 2
I don’t know why I thought that this would be a good idea. Then again, is there a better way to learn the best way to use a long-handled hammer in combat? I was facing off against Jimmy; he did a little flourish with his hammer and pounded at my side. I stepped back and swung my own hammer in a counter attack, barely missing his shoulder. He was a tricky one, that much was sure. We exchanged blows for a little while, playing a game of give and take. He would give and I would take. The tip of his hammer brushed against my stomach before I could parry.
With the exception of Boar, who had inexplicably come down with a strain of influenza, my whole squad was practicing with the new practice hammers. To the left of Haywire and me, the twins,
Similar Books
