Free Tech World (Undying Mercenaries Series) by B. V. Larson Page A

here.”
    “That was a sales pitch,” Harris snapped.
    “Well, I think there was a grain of truth in your pitch because that’s what I am. It’s in my nature to think outside the box and to cause trouble for those who don’t. Maybe that’s why I’ve moved up in rank quickly, and why I may well continue to do so.”
    Harris grunted unhappily. “God help us all.”
    We went our separate ways at the next intersection, and I found my way back to my quarters. Carlos was there to greet me—lucky me.
    “Here he is!” he shouted, throwing his arms wide. “My favorite backstabbing traitor! What was it this time, McGill? Did you spot a piece of rookie ass you couldn’t bear to gun down? Or were you dying to hear the centurion’s big-dog bark again? I know it’s been a month or more since you’ve been reprimanded. Things must have been getting dull in that swamp-shack of yours down in Georgia.”
    “Not really,” I said, grinning. “I killed three men in that shack the day I left Earth.”
    “I heard about that. Same old crazy. I hope you save a little of that for the shop-lifters on Tech World.”
    “Is that all there is going on down there?” I asked him seriously. “Shoplifting, smuggling, maybe a little tax-evasion? Is that what they want us to guard against?”
    Carlos shook his head. “Really, it’s worse than that. From what I can tell reading a few old online tour summaries from Germanica commanders, almost nothing ever happens on Tau Ceti. We’re for show, and that’s why those Germanica pukes have always loved the assignment.”
    “I’m pretty stunned to hear you read up on our mission world.”
    He shrugged. “Reports of my retardation have always been exaggerated—unlike those with your name on the top.”
    It was classic Carlos, but somehow I didn’t feel like punching him this time. I was too distracted by the results of my meeting with Graves.
    “You want to hear a shocker?” I asked him.
    “You know I do. You’re gay, right? I always suspected it. I’m going to win the Unit pool this time.”
    I couldn’t really see Carlos. I certainly wasn’t listening to him. I walked to the far wall of our small quarters and tapped on it. Obediently, the wall displayed Tech World. Our destination was a blue-gray planet that sparkled like a Christmas tree on the night side. An endless city they said, with a native population that was pushing a trillion humanoids. From space it looked interesting, but I could already taste the canned air.
    “You know that picture’s fake, right?” Carlos asked.
    I didn’t say anything, and he stared alongside me at our destination.
    “Graves said I was on his short list for promotion to veteran,” I told him. “But he canceled that because of the exercise.”
    “Ouch,” Carlos said. “That sucks for you. But you know, now that I think about it, I’m not the least bit sorry for you. In fact, the idea he’d been about to promote you again before he gave me a Specialist rank—man, that’s bullshit. You piss off half the legion every day, and I’m on his permanent shit-list. What I’d ever do?”
    I glanced at him. “For one thing, you never shut up.”
    “Well, yeah. But that’s not as bad as disobeying orders all the time.”
    “I don’t disobey orders—not often, anyway. I just tend to interpret them in my own special way.”
    Carlos rewarded me with a dirty chuckle. “Officers love that.” After a second, he frowned. “Do you really think my mouth is holding me back?”
    I nodded. “I’m sure of it. Free-thinking actions annoy them, but they partly admire initiative. What they really hate is a loud smart-ass.”
    Carlos grunted. “I’ve got to work on that.”
    Turning my attention from the glimmering projection of the world we were heading toward, I eyed him in surprise. I couldn’t recall Carlos ever accepting criticism much less suggesting he needed to mend his ways.
    I guess there’s hope for everyone.

-8-
     
    A month passed