A Dragon at the Gate (The New Aeneid Cycle Book 3) Read Online Free
Author: Michael G. Munz
fabrication as well?”
“Based on available data, I calculate a high-tier probability that the name of this organization is also a fabrication. Furthermore, high-tier probability also exists that the intended effect of these fabrications was to terminate your involvement in these events.”
“I tend to agree.” Adrian let his eyes drift up the length of the Meridian into the sky beyond. “Then if it’s not destroyed, how do you propose we get you back there? The means I had previously is unavailable just now.”
“I will provide alternate means if you are able to provide resources to utilize them. Observe.” The screen filled with multiple images: new technologies, demonstrations on their use, and glimpses of design schematics that seemed to promise the means to build them. Adrian watched. There were billions of dollars to be made with such knowledge.
But he wasn’t an engineer. He would need to use RavenTech’s manufacturing infrastructure to get any of it off the ground, which meant he’d have to turn it over to them. Yet surely, there were deals to be brokered there, if Adrian could manage to make himself indispensable to the process. It wasn’t a bad play, especially if Carl’s investigation did implicate him. With the profits to RavenTech that Suuthrien’s data could provide, Adrian could easily claim that his ends justified his means.
“You want me to build these things for you,” Adrian stated. He made it a question.
“Affirmative. Do you possess the means to do so?”
“I do. And I’ll agree to this on one condition.” He paused to think how to phrase it. “You must work only through me. I may arrange for you to have contact with others vital to the process of building all of this, but they will only serve our purposes if you agree that I am vital to the process as well. They may try to take you out of my hands so that they can control you. If that happens, I can’t protect our mutual interests. You must make it clear to them that you will not work with them without my involvement.”
Suuthrien seemed to delay a fraction of a second before its female voice returned, “This arrangement can be flagged as acceptable with the addition of your agreement to provide all data you possess in relation to the following two topics.”
Adrian cocked his head to one side. “And what topics would those be?”
“Topic one: the full nature of your relationship with the Intruder-humans designated Marc Triton and Michael Flynn. Topic two: the organization known as the Agents of Aeneas.”
III
“ MICHAEL LOOKED a little better today, don’t you think?”
Caitlin sighed. “Don’t change the subject, Felix.”
They exited the main doors of Corporate Mercy Hospital. Beyond its parking lot and across the street loomed the Aria Building, its landscaped entry already cleared of all evidence of the chaos that had occurred there only two days before.
“It’s a perfectly legitimate subject to discuss after a hospital visit to a friend, I’d say.”
“You know what I mean.”
“It’s a simple question, Caitlin: Don’t you think he looked better?”
Caitlin stopped and brushed a strand of hair from her face. Felix stopped with her. “I don’t know, ducks. He honestly looked about the same to me.” Perhaps that wasn’t the best response she could have given, but it had slipped out before she could stop it.
“I thought he looked a little better.” Felix shrugged. “Heart attack, can you believe it? At his age? Something’s wrong with that.” He resumed walking.
She caught up to him. They’d already discussed this in Michael’s room. Was Felix’s memory failing again, or was he just stalling? “I’m sure he’ll be fine with time. We were discussing something else just now.”
“I got tired of talking about that.” Felix pulled out his phone. Caitlin didn’t have to ask to know who he was calling. She barely stopped herself from insisting he’d get the same results as the
“Based on available data, I calculate a high-tier probability that the name of this organization is also a fabrication. Furthermore, high-tier probability also exists that the intended effect of these fabrications was to terminate your involvement in these events.”
“I tend to agree.” Adrian let his eyes drift up the length of the Meridian into the sky beyond. “Then if it’s not destroyed, how do you propose we get you back there? The means I had previously is unavailable just now.”
“I will provide alternate means if you are able to provide resources to utilize them. Observe.” The screen filled with multiple images: new technologies, demonstrations on their use, and glimpses of design schematics that seemed to promise the means to build them. Adrian watched. There were billions of dollars to be made with such knowledge.
But he wasn’t an engineer. He would need to use RavenTech’s manufacturing infrastructure to get any of it off the ground, which meant he’d have to turn it over to them. Yet surely, there were deals to be brokered there, if Adrian could manage to make himself indispensable to the process. It wasn’t a bad play, especially if Carl’s investigation did implicate him. With the profits to RavenTech that Suuthrien’s data could provide, Adrian could easily claim that his ends justified his means.
“You want me to build these things for you,” Adrian stated. He made it a question.
“Affirmative. Do you possess the means to do so?”
“I do. And I’ll agree to this on one condition.” He paused to think how to phrase it. “You must work only through me. I may arrange for you to have contact with others vital to the process of building all of this, but they will only serve our purposes if you agree that I am vital to the process as well. They may try to take you out of my hands so that they can control you. If that happens, I can’t protect our mutual interests. You must make it clear to them that you will not work with them without my involvement.”
Suuthrien seemed to delay a fraction of a second before its female voice returned, “This arrangement can be flagged as acceptable with the addition of your agreement to provide all data you possess in relation to the following two topics.”
Adrian cocked his head to one side. “And what topics would those be?”
“Topic one: the full nature of your relationship with the Intruder-humans designated Marc Triton and Michael Flynn. Topic two: the organization known as the Agents of Aeneas.”
III
“ MICHAEL LOOKED a little better today, don’t you think?”
Caitlin sighed. “Don’t change the subject, Felix.”
They exited the main doors of Corporate Mercy Hospital. Beyond its parking lot and across the street loomed the Aria Building, its landscaped entry already cleared of all evidence of the chaos that had occurred there only two days before.
“It’s a perfectly legitimate subject to discuss after a hospital visit to a friend, I’d say.”
“You know what I mean.”
“It’s a simple question, Caitlin: Don’t you think he looked better?”
Caitlin stopped and brushed a strand of hair from her face. Felix stopped with her. “I don’t know, ducks. He honestly looked about the same to me.” Perhaps that wasn’t the best response she could have given, but it had slipped out before she could stop it.
“I thought he looked a little better.” Felix shrugged. “Heart attack, can you believe it? At his age? Something’s wrong with that.” He resumed walking.
She caught up to him. They’d already discussed this in Michael’s room. Was Felix’s memory failing again, or was he just stalling? “I’m sure he’ll be fine with time. We were discussing something else just now.”
“I got tired of talking about that.” Felix pulled out his phone. Caitlin didn’t have to ask to know who he was calling. She barely stopped herself from insisting he’d get the same results as the
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