Part 17 (1/2)
”Like juggernauts, man. Their speeds are insane-”
”He'll send the L2 fleet out to do battle with them.”
Lynx gestures. ”And be ready to fire this thing's motors if that fleet gets shattered.”
”They'll follow him to Mars,” says Linehan.
”They'll have a lot to keep them busy in the meantime.”
”But eventually-”
”What makes you think he'd stop at Mars? Mars? This thing's got some serious engines. He could go to ground in the rings of Saturn-or make a break for deep s.p.a.ce, try to run this all the way out. At least lead them on a good chase.” This thing's got some serious engines. He could go to ground in the rings of Saturn-or make a break for deep s.p.a.ce, try to run this all the way out. At least lead them on a good chase.”
”With a f.u.c.k-sized entourage keeping him company,” says Linehan.
”And guess who gets to get in there and stop him.”
We need to take control of this s.h.i.+p,” says Jarvin.
”Precisely what we were thinking,” says Sarmax.
”Sure,” says Spencer, ”but under what terms?”
Both men look at him. He shrugs.
”It's a fair question,” he says. ”Sarmax here is a member of Autumn Rain. And for all we know, you are, too-”
”I'm not,” says Jarvin.
”You sure about that?”
”Anyone who's sure about anything is a fool. Same with all this member member bulls.h.i.+t you're on about. Like everyone in the Rain went to the same country club. So Sarmax was part of the prototype. So what? Whose side are you on now, Leo?” bulls.h.i.+t you're on about. Like everyone in the Rain went to the same country club. So Sarmax was part of the prototype. So what? Whose side are you on now, Leo?”
”Mine,” says Sarmax.
”My kind of thinking,” says Jarvin. ”You guys up for a three-way partners.h.i.+p?”
”For sure,” says Sarmax.
”So quick to agree.” Jarvin looks amused. ”You can always take me out when we've hit paydirt, huh?”
”I wasn't thinking-”
”Well, it's about time you started.” Jarvin gestures at Spencer. ”Maybe he and I will take you you out.” out.”
Sarmax laughs. ”Give me a break-”
”Why should I? It's not like your track record for team-ups is the best. You and Carson and Lynx sure b.a.l.l.sed up the reunion, huh?”
”That was Carson,” says Spencer. ”He pulled the plug-”
”Shut up,” up,” says Sarmax. says Sarmax.
”I could have predicted that,” says Jarvin. He turns to Sarmax: ”You should should have predicted that.” have predicted that.”
”I thought he'd at least wait until we'd won before going for the big backstab.”
Jarvin laughs. ”Carson's got a knack for devising schemes so complex you can't even figure out what his angle is.”
”How do you know so much about us?”
”He's got the file, doesn't he?” says Spencer.
There's a pause.
”And the one we took from you was bulls.h.i.+t?” asks Sarmax.
Jarvin smiles.
”And you still have the-”
”Of course I still have the real one.”
”And we've got the fake one,” says Sarmax. ”f.u.c.k.” ”f.u.c.k.”
Spencer shakes his head. ”But those schematics of the Himalayan black base were real!”
”Which ought to tell you something,” says Jarvin.
”It tells me you gave us the real scoop on the Eurasian base and the fake scoop on the Rain-”
”No,” says Jarvin.
They look at him.
”I held back nothing.”
Maschler's drawn a sidearm.
”What's that for?” asks the Operative.
”To encourage you not to do anything stupid.”
”Why would I do that?”
”You've been known to around Claire.”
”Just stay calm,” says Haskell. It hadn't occurred to the Operative to be anything else, but maybe everyone's way ahead of him. ”Let them do what they're here for,” she adds.
”What the h.e.l.l's going on?” on?”