Drifters' Alliance, Book 3 Read Online Free

you’re going to have problems.”
    “Gus can handle it.”
    “Gus can handle the electronics. He can’t handle the mechanics.”
    If what I know about shadow science is right, if the myths are to be believed, this is a lie. “Sure he can. He’s got both of you in his head, right?”
    “Yeah, but he can only use one consciousness in one body at a time, and you need two bodies down here to use both consciousnesses.”
    My head is spinning.
    Shadow-Tam turns the corner and moves down wall six. “The ship’s already barely functioning as it is. You can’t afford to lock me away.”
    “And I can’t afford to let you work down here without supervision!” I scream at the back of his head, beyond frustrated. “So where does that leave me?!”
    Macon’s comments about me being set up to win this ship are making more sense with every passing second. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that someone out there hates my guts enough to orchestrate this entire thing, and is watching all of this roll out and laughing his ass off. Hell, whoever it is is probably broadcasting it as some sort of reality entertainment for the universe to enjoy. It makes me sick to even imagine it — being the star dupe in the con of the century.
    He crouches down and pauses in response to my yelling at him, probably waiting for me to stab him in the back. After a couple seconds he looks over his shoulder at me. “Gus supervises me all the time. You don’t have to worry about it.”
    I gesture at all the crap on the ground around us. “Yeah. He’s doing a fabulous job of that, I can see.”
    Tam has the decency to look a little chagrined. “Sometimes I get frustrated. It’s all part of the process.”
    I press my hands over my ears, careful not to nick myself with my blade in the process. “Shut up. I don’t want to hear that garbage.”
    “It’s not garbage, Captain.” His voice is bleeding through my fingers, much as I don’t want it to. “It’s my life. It’s who I am now.”
    I let my ears go and point my knife at him. “Shadows are fucking monsters, and I don’t want to hear another word about your so-called life, okay? Just shut up and walk. Not another word.”
    He turns and does as I asked, every step leaden and deliberate. His boots kick loose parts strewn on the floor off to the side indiscriminately. I maintain a safe distance, watching his arms for any sudden movements toward our equipment, telling myself I’ll throw this knife into his spine to keep him from destroying anything. But he does nothing outwardly threatening, and we reach the engine room’s workspace without incident, sparing both of us that nightmare.
    Gus is waiting with streaks through the grime on his face. He’s been crying. “You’re okay,” he says to Tam, sighing with relief.
    “No, Gus. I’m not okay,” Tam says, disgusted. He looks away, and fixes his gaze on a spot on the wall.
    I take the long way around Tam and end up at the door. Facing them, I speak to Gus, the only semi-sane person in the room besides me. “Both of you are to report to the brig immediately.”
    “Adelle can’t run this room by herself,” Gus says.
    “Adelle is not a her !” I scream, sounding a little unhinged but unable to stop myself. “It’s a fucking compubot! It doesn’t get to be a her , and that doesn’t get to be a him !” I jab the air in Shadow-Tam’s direction. Great. Now I’m defaulting to actually believing what he says is real.
    Gus’s eyes go wide but he nods, his voice very calm. “You’re right. About Adelle. I’m sorry.” He puts his hands out like he’s surrendering to someone with a gun. “I’m just saying that the compubot is not capable of managing the engine room. You need hands.” He holds his out for me to see, wiggling his fingers for effect. “Two sets of them.” He looks over at the shadow version of his brother. “You need me and Tam.”
    “Too bad we don’t have Tam, then, isn’t it?” I stride over and grab