The Fortress in Orion Read Online Free

come to offer you work,” replied Pretorius. “ Real work, not this bullshit stuff.”
    â€œI got this way from what you call real work,” replied Ortega. “And then,” he added bitterly, “when it was over, the military wouldn’t take me back. They gave me a bunch of money and medals and basically told me to go away. I think it made them uncomfortable to look at me.”
    â€œNonsense,” said Pretorius. “You’re as good as new. Better, even. Could the old Felix Ortega lift a thousand pounds? And what do those eyes see? Infrared, telescopic?”
    â€œBoth, plus microscopic, and I can also see well into the ultraviolet spectrum.”
    â€œThen what’s the problem?”
    â€œThe problem is that I’m not a man anymore,” said Ortega. “I’m a goddamned machine.”
    Pretorius shook his head. “You’re an enhanced man, and the military was crazy to let you go. What’s in your head and in your heart is still Felix Ortega. The rest is just improvements.”
    â€œEasy for you to say,” replied Ortega.
    â€œYou want a list of every body part I’ve had replaced?”
    Ortega stared at him for a moment. “No.”
    â€œSo do you want to hear my deal?”
    â€œI don’t know,” said Ortega. “Why me?”
    â€œBecause with your enhancements, that’s four or five normal men and women I don’t have to take.”
    â€œNormal men,” repeated Ortega bitterly.
    â€œThat’s right,” said Pretorius. “And thanks to science, you’re a superior man. Maybe even a superman.”
    â€œI’d rather not be.”
    â€œI’d rather be happily married, working at a desk, going home every night, and looking forward to being a grandfather,” replied Pretorius. “But there’s a war on, and if we do our job, maybe some other poor bastard can enjoy those simple pleasures a few years from now.”
    â€œHow long will this take?” asked Ortega.
    Pretorius grinned. “The sales pitch or the assignment?”
    â€œThe assignment.”
    â€œThree months at the outside. If we haven’t accomplished it by then, we’re dead.”
    Ortega was silent for a long moment, then finally nodded his head. “I’ll do it.”
    â€œGood!” said Pretorius. “I’m glad to have you aboard.”
    â€œYou didn’t ask my price.”
    Pretorius stared at him. “Well?” he said at last.
    â€œWhen it’s over, if we’re still alive, I want a body and a pair of eyes that’ll pass for normal.”

3B
    Pretorius walked down the long line of cells. Finally the officer who was leading him came to a halt.
    â€œI’m sorry, sir,” she said, “but I’ll have to frisk you first.”
    â€œI turned over my weapon at the front desk.”
    â€œEven so, sir,” she said apologetically. “You have no idea how dangerous this prisoner is.”
    Yes, I do , thought Pretorius, as he extended his arms out and stood for the frisk.
    â€œYou’re sure you wouldn’t rather communicate with her via holographic video?”
    â€œI’m sure.”
    The officer gave him a Well, you’ve been warned shrug, proceeded another fifteen feet, and faced the prisoner in the cell.
    â€œStand back,” she said harshly and waited until her order had been obeyed. Then she drew her burner, held it on the prisoner, and ordered the cell door to slide open. Pretorius stepped through, and the door immediately closed behind him.
    â€œHello, Snake,” he said.
    The inmate, a slender woman barely five feet tall, with her hair clipped as short as his, walked over and gave him a hug.
    â€œHi, Nathan!” she said. “It’s good to see you again. Did you make my bail?”
    He shook his head. “There’s no bail, Snake. You were convicted, remember?”
    She frowned. “If you’re not here