Epic: Book 02 - Outlaw Trigger Read Online Free Page B

Clarke’s news. A Type-2 scout. Tactical observation. Jayden would have someone new to partner with. Varvara wasn’t going to like that at all. “Who’s our demolitionist?”
    “ Maksim Frolov,” Clarke answered. “And that’s all I know.”
    That was all that needed to be known. Demolitionists all fell under the same category. They made things explode. All other details were moot. “Esther Brooking and Maksim Frolov,” Scott repeated. He was already eager to spread the word.
    “ They’ll arrive at 2100 tonight,” Clarke said. “Let the unit sleep—they can meet them tomorrow morning. You will pick them up.”
    “ Not a problem, sir.” It made sense for Scott to meet them. Dostoevsky and Max weren’t exactly public relations specialists. And as for Clarke, if there was anything that could possibly be done by someone else, the captain usually found a way to make it happen. “What’s the forecast?”
    Clarke smiled. “It’ll be raining stair rods. Nothing says ‘welcome to Novosibirsk ‘ like miserable weather.”
    Scott laughed. It had been the same for he and his friends. When they’d arrived at Novosibirsk from Richmond , frigid rain had met them. “Weather Mike knows what he’s doing.”
    “ That he does,” Clarke answered. “That he does.”
    “ I’ll take Galya with me tonight, if that’s not a problem with you.”
    “ As you wish. She’s an epsilon—she needs to do some of these things. You can let her run the morning session one day this week, if you’d like.”
    “ I might do that,” Scott said. Galina did well with workouts. She was as thorough a person as Scott had ever known. With that thought, he caught himself on the verge of a laugh. Galina was his subordinate. Somehow, that didn’t seem right.
    “ Well, that’s enough chinwag for now,” Clarke said as he rose from the table. “I’ve got two laps to run.”
    “ I’m one minute behind you, sir.”
    Clarke laughed as he trotted out of the cafeteria. “You’ll be more than one minute behind me, lieutenant!”
    Scott chuckled at Clarke’s taunt. It wouldn’t even be close. There were only two men who could push the former quarterback: Dostoevsky and Becan. Scott’s mind then focused on the commander. Where was Dostoevsky? It was unheard of for him to miss a morning session. It was unheard of for him to be late at all. Scott glanced up as his teammates started away.
    “ Remmy, yeh comin’ or wha’?”
    “ I’m coming,” Scott answered, as he waved his bread. “Few more bites.”
    “ Leave him alone,” Oleg said. “He is best lieutenant in Novosibirsk !” Becan scoffed as Oleg followed him outside.

    Scott finished his bread, then proceeded to meet his comrades on the track. Just as he’d predicted, catching up with Clarke was no bother at all. He lapped him with little effort. Once laps were finished, Scott allowed David to lead workouts. Afterward, the operatives gathered together for their true breakfast. The drudgery of the initial wakeup was vanquished, and conversation was lighthearted and free. Scott told the crew about Esther and Maksim, and as expected, they met the news with cheer.

    They returned to Room 14, where the rush of the showers began. Within an hour, the operatives were cleaned, dressed, and customarily scattered throughout the base. Morning session always ended that way. Later they would meet for lunch, and then they would find something to pass the time until dinner. That was how it worked, in the warm discomfort of their prison-cell home.
    Only Jayden complained.



3

    Monday, August 1 st , 0011 NE

    EDEN Command

    Judge Leonid Torokin hated receptions—even those held in his honor. But receptions for others? He hated them more. So naturally, his hate for this one ran deep.
    “ Good evening, comrade,” Judge Dmitri Grinkov said in Russian, a pseudo-sincere smile on his face.
    “ Good evening indeed,” replied Torokin. Grinkov was as close to a friend as Torokin had on the High