Stardoc (48 page)

“Additionally, I will allow you unlimited access to my complete research database. This will clarify and resolve issues that will otherwise taint your existence.”

“Taint my existence,” I said. “I’m confused now. Wasn’t that what you did?”

“If you do not surrender, you will be pursued. The Allied League of Worlds has offered a generous bounty for your delivery to Terra.” He named a sum that made my eyes widen.

“That much?” I put down my tea and got to my feet. No wonder the crew was upset. “You must have called in a lot of favors to get the League to agree to that,” I said out loud as I found my robe and pulled it on. “Or did you take out a mortgage on the estate?”

“Cherijo, you are my property.”

“Really?” I turned around and smiled at Joseph Grey Veil’s stern image. He’d forgotten that I was encoded with some of that unyielding determination, too. “I don’t think so.”

“Think on this.” He said it as if he’d heard every word I’d uttered. “If you choose not to surrender, the League will take whatever measures are necessary to capture you.”

Here come the threats, I thought. “They have to find me first,” I told the display.

“The League’s resources are virtually unlimited. They have allies and treaties in a thousand different systems. They will track you down.”

“You hope.”

“Any planet that gives you sanctuary will be invaded. Any ship you travel on will be targeted. Anyone who helps you will be considered an accomplice and eliminated. You will be hunted down like an animal until you are apprehended.” He paused, giving me a moment for that to sink in.

It sank in. Reever was right, this was no laughing matter.

I could see worlds being occupied and terrorized by the League. Ships exploding in the midst of battle.

People being systematically exterminated. My father would stop at nothing to get his hands on me.

“No,” I said. I reached for my server of tea, and saw that my fingers were trembling. I snatched them back, and glanced up at the display. He was smiling at me, his dark eyes glittering with a strange, terrifying anticipation. What had Reever said? He must be unbalanced.

“They will bring you back to me.” You must never allow yourself to fall under his Influence again. An unexpected surge of renewed confidence burned through me. Maggie was right. I hadn’t come_ this far by giving into fear or Joseph Grey Veil’s threats. I wasn’t going to start now. Maggie hadn’t raised a coward, and this fight was just beginning.

“Enjoy your freedom while you can, Cherijo.”

Before his image faded from the display, it shattered. There was an immensely satisfying explosion of sound. The saturated console sparked and sizzled, then went dead. Wisps of smoke rose from the shorted internal components. Shards of vid screen and server littered the top of the unit and the floor around it like plas confetti.

No big deal. Consoles could be replaced. I had plenty of servers. I’d just make more tea.

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