The Lazarus War Read Online Free

pointing up at the battered sign on the docking bay wall. “Civilian Docking, Bay Thirteen. Third in from the left.”
    There were plenty more squabbling soldiers shouting to each other about malfunctions and error messages at the immigration desk.
     
    The
Point
’s Civilian District had a reputation, and it was everything I’d expected it to be.
    Neither Gaia nor Christo, nor Buddha nor Allah, were home here: every available square metre of the space was given over to the God of Commerce. There was noise and light everywhere. Bars, clubs and taverns dominated the strip.
    “Where do we even begin?” Sheldon said. He rubbed his hands together.
    Billboard-sized view-screens broadcast the many pleasures that awaited new arrivals. A huge variety of virtual reality experiences. Simulated and real narcotics. Gambling halls. Floor shows. Strip clubs. The list went on and on, becoming almost numbing.
    I paused in front of a huge holo-projection of a figure in an armoured suit: a scar-faced man lifting a battle-rifle. He stood on a pile of dead but unidentifiable bodies – a mix of humans in black armour and stylised aliens. A handful of equally heroically-posed figures accompanied him, weapons drawn, faces contorted in hostile expressions. The words THE LAZARUS LEGION – JOIN THE ALLIANCE ARMY TODAY AND JOIN THE LEGEND scrolled across the projection.
    “Will you get a load of that guy?” Sheldon said. “He looks like a regular asshole. So angry…”
    The intention had probably been to create a classic piece of Alliance propaganda, but the effect was vaguely comical. I laughed at the tri-D as we passed by.
    “I’m sure that he has his reasons,” Lucina said.
    There were still banners and decorations displayed above the main concourse proclaiming HAPPY ALLIANCE DAY . I’d forgotten that we’d missed it – the day never meant much to me, and the Arcology doesn’t really celebrate it as such – but it looked as though it had been quite a celebration on the
Point
. That figured; there were lots of Americans out here.
    But not just Americans. The concourse was rammed with people, and every disparate strand of humanity was present – from squat, dusky-skinned Venusians to long-limbed Centaurians. My own background on the Arc suddenly felt sheltered and uninteresting.
    Takeaway joints sold every conceivable type of food. I smelled the rich odour of bento noodles, frying clone-meats and sizzling Centaurian insect-bites.
    “Maybe even Tan can find something from home,” Sheldon said.
    He meant the comment glibly, but I did wonder whether there might be some Afrikaans cuisine available. Before our arrival, I’d doubted that; now, standing amid the roil and tussle of the District, it seemed almost certain.
    “Man could get lost in a place like this…” Nate whispered.
    “Or get killed,” Lucina said. She looked decidedly bored by her surroundings. “We’ve got forty-eight hours to fill before our departure.”
    “Exactly,” Sheldon said. “So let’s not waste it talking.”
    “You’re still representatives of the De Hann Transport Company,” Daryl said, puffing up his chest in self-importance. “Try to remember that. Don’t let me down.”
    Lucina rolled her eyes. “What a loyal company man. But I suppose that my husband has a point.”
    This place was irrelevant to me. Every uniform that I passed stoked my anxiety, made me more on edge. I hadn’t travelled light-years across space to get drunk and blow it. I checked my wrist-comp. The chronometer had automatically synched to the
Point
’s local cycle. It was almost time. My mouth was dry, my heart beating just a little faster in my chest.
    “I should get going,” I said, lifting my shoulders in determination. “Maybe I’ll catch up with you later. Keep your communicators on.” I said that to the group at large, but looked at Nate. “I’ll find you.”
    Nate grabbed my hand and squeezed. “Good luck. I hope you find what you’re looking