Beta Earth: Between Worlds 2.0 Edition Read Online Free Page A

you are the new leader around here.” Tooth’s face fills with supreme joy.
    “Lotta changes will be made, you know.”
    “Your choice. Got nothing to do with me now.” Shane says with a casual stretch. 

Chapter 7
    Mission Pt. 1
     
    Time: Afternoon.
    Location: Earth—an abandoned factory in an undisclosed location between Sprawl 15 and City District 8.
     
    Akari stands in the middle of the training ground holding two guns. She is silent, waiting with her eyes closed. She listens intently and hears the sound of light footsteps. Suddenly she turns and fires.
    Her bullets are deflected. Akari continues to fire on the near blur of an object running around the room, but none of the shots land. Clave has developed an interesting evasion style. He keeps low to the ground, using his left hand to balance and his right for the sword.
    This allows him to scramble freely around the room dodging Akari’s shots. Akari eventually runs out of bullets, “Good, but I can tell from here your balance is still off. You need to work on your coordination.”
    Clave stands behind Akari poised to attack. Akari drops her gun. Just as she does, she surreptitiously takes out another and fires it at Clave. He deflects the two shots and moves in striking range of Akari.
    He delivers a swift swing at her and she effortlessly swipes his sword away with her gun. This causes him to lose balance and stumble. Akari points the gun directly at Clave’s face and after a moment’s pause. She whacks him lightly on side of his head, “Much better, boy. Your improvised evasion technique has greatly increased your speed.”
    Akari tosses her empty gun onto the table, “But you won’t be able to stop anyone with those half-assed swings. Each movement should be decisive and strong. You should have broken through my gun and taken my hand off.”
    “Whatever, crazy lady.” Clave softly mutters. Akari catches the remark.
    “Maybe it’s time for—” Her communication band interrupts her. “Never mind. Break time boy.” Clave collapses to the ground with relief.
    “She is unstoppable, I swear,” he says softly while composing himself. Akari answers her com band. It’s Agent Damon.
    “We are ready to proceed with the mission,” he says.
    “Details?” Akari asks as she walks over to a bucket of water. “Matthew Vellian, an influential businessman and powerful lobbyist in City District 11, is suspected of doing business with the Syndicate. He is well connected and very knowledgeable in our law system. Arresting him with all our evidence gathered so far would be ineffective. So, he must be dealt with in another fashion … before he can make contract with the Syndicate.” Akari removes a cloth from the bucket, rings it out and wipes her face.
    “Why is Clave needed for this mission?”
    “It’s very important that his activities end in this next encounter. We have suspicion that the agreement will supply the Syndicate with designs for U.F. battle suits. Vellian knows his life is in danger. So he has chosen the location for the meeting with the Syndicate rep carefully. It’s a civilian-populated building. We will need a separate cell to infiltrate the building and dispose of him.”
    “Understood.” Akari replies.
    “Akari, is the boy prepared to complete a mission of this caliber?” Akari clinches her cloth tight.
    “Yes, without a doubt. However, surviving this mission is another matter—”
    “You will have permission to scout a new pupil should that be the case. I will send you the mission logistics within the hour.” Agent Damon disconnects. Akari tosses her cloth without looking. It lands gracefully into a nearby bucket of water.
    “Clave, break time is over! Now we fix your subpar coordination.” Akari says. Clave moves to the middle of the room and starts to stretch.
    “What’s going on?” he asks.
    “They just gave you your first mission.” Akari replies. Clave looks down at his hands. He slowly closes them and then