Broken Episode One Read Online Free

big because of cutting-edge journalism
and her willingness to track down stories, no matter how
dangerous.”
    Her father snorted. “I love you, kid, and I always
will, but one of these days you’re going to have to wake up to the
real galaxy.”
    Mimi’s cheeks started to turn red. She took several
steps away from her father, ready to storm off.
    “Now hold on, that came out wrong. Mimi, you’re the
smartest most capable kid I have, and I believe you’re capable of
anything.”
    “I’m your only child,” she pointed out dryly.
    “A scarce resource is the best resource to have,” he
quipped. Then the hologram of his face shifted to the side as his
smile almost threatened to drop from his mouth. “But seriously,
listen to me. I taught you to always bounce back, and by god you
learnt that lesson. But there’s another lesson you need to learn,
Mimi, and that is you can’t do everything on your own. And that’s
okay. Accepting this job with the galactic news is okay. It doesn’t
matter how you get your foot in the door, it’s what you do once
you’re there. Now you’ve got the morals and guts to be a great
journalist. Better than Verity. But, kid, you’ll never get there
alone.”
    “I can’t accept your help, dad,” she said. “I have
to do this on my own.”
    “Why? Why don't you want my help, Mimi? Is it
because of those fools at the Academy you once called friends? Is
it because you want to prove to them you don’t need me? Well wake
up, kid, because they aren't doing it on their own. Carinthia has
been schooled since she was born on how to become an Academy
officer. Her success isn't due to her will and stamina; she's just
had more opportunities than others. Now maybe she doesn’t realize
that, maybe she thinks she got to where she did on her own. But
she's a fool if she thinks that. Nobody gets to where they are on
their own.”
    “I … I just need to do this, okay, dad?”
    “You’re not going to give in, are you? Even if I go
ahead and set this job up, you’re never going to do it, right?”
    She nodded.
    Her dad closed his eyes and shook his head. “Mimi
Chester, you’re a hard one to bargain with. I’m glad you’re not my
competition.”
    Biting her lips, she smiled.
    “I'm giving up for now, but not forever. And neither
am I going to let you pay for your apartment all on your own. You
won’t be able to afford a place so close to the Academy, and we all
know that’s where the real stories happen. So call this an
investment, I’ll help pay your way as long as you keep trying, kid.
I want you to find a story that will blow them all out of the
water. That will make your doubters rue the day they thought you,
Mimi Chester, were anything but brilliant.”
    Her smile blossomed into a full-blown grin. “Thanks.
But really, I think I should start paying my own way with the
apartment. I looked into it, and I can get a place out in
Australia.”
    “Australia?” Her dad’s voice went up like a kazoo.
“That’s on the other side of the world from the Academy’s main
campus. Plus, full of snakes, right? And sharks, heaps of
sharks.”
    “I can take the super-fast transport to the various
Academy campuses whenever I need to. It won’t be that much
trouble.”
    “No. Stay where you are. Like I said, call it an
investment. I want to see you come up with a story that will rattle
this galaxy. Find some secret, uncover some conspiracy. But keep
safe,” her dad warned quickly.
    “What, seriously? You don’t want me to hop a
transport into Barbarian space?”
    Her father’s face visibly paled.
    “Relax, I’ve always been a careful person, and I’m
not about to stop.”
    “Right. Seriously, though, when I said I want to see
you uncover some grand secret, just ensure it’s a safe one. Maybe
you can find out what Admiral Forest’s favorite color is, or
something.”
    It was her turn to snort. “That isn’t exactly going
to earn me journalistic fame.”
    “Right, right. Just be safe,