{"id":8741,"date":"2019-09-09T00:01:58","date_gmt":"2019-09-09T05:01:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jackofharts.com\/?p=8741"},"modified":"2019-09-16T05:45:14","modified_gmt":"2019-09-16T10:45:14","slug":"wolfenheim-emergent-ii-earc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/?p=8741","title":{"rendered":"Wolfenheim Emergent II eARC"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Wolfenheim Emergent is available at the following retailers<\/p>\n

Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Barnes and Noble<\/a><\/p>\n

Apple Books<\/a><\/p>\n

Kobo<\/a><\/p>\n

Smashwords<\/a><\/p>\n

The following is the electronic Advanced Reader Copy originally sent to my Beta Readers in December. Take a look, and if it interests you, the final version is available for purchase now.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Memory is a funny thing. We can lose it and never realize it is gone until we meet someone who fills that emptiness. How we react in a moment of revelation like that tells more about ourselves than when we come prepared. There are parts of my life I have not missed forgetting. And there are others I would dearly wish to have back now that I have learned what I\u2019m missing. The trick is finding a way to get what is lost without losing what is had. It\u2019s like having your cake and eating it too, and I happen to like cake.<\/p>\n

II<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Alarms blared as Director Malcolm McDonnell, Commodore Caroline Murphy, and Yarl Erik Torson followed their Arnam guide through the station\u2019s corridors. Hatches opened and closed around them, revealing other Arnam rushing to duty stations. Many of them carried weapons, and the closer the small group got to the hanger bays, the more and heavier the weapons they saw. One enterprising squad jogged through a crossing corridor, each of them carrying what looked like anti-tank weapons an entire Earth squad would have worked together<\/em> to move one<\/em> of.<\/p>\n

The Arnam were preparing for War, and they looked like proficient practitioners thereof.<\/p>\n

Another hatch opened and Erik\u2019s massive bulk strode into the hangar bay as their guide stepped to the side. Caroline and Malcolm gave the man a nod as they followed the Aesiran through the hatch, and then all three stopped for a moment.<\/p>\n

The hangar bay was larger than it had been when Malcolm had arrived. His Blackhawk fighter had been the only presence, and it had filled the hangar. The hanger was three times larger now, and a quick scan showed where the hatches he\u2019d thought were solid bulkheads had opened wide to reveal two more spacecraft.<\/p>\n

One was a small Earth shuttlecraft designed to hold maybe seven people, including the pilot. It was a boxy kind of practical, a standard utilitarian modern American design. Not as graceful as the century-old designs in his force.<\/p>\n

The other shimmered with the same rainbow of colors the other Aesiran ships in system boasted. She was slim and trim and looked ready to race at a moment\u2019s notice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is a beautiful fighter,\u201d Caroline said in an awed voice.<\/p>\n

Malcolm smiled and spun to look at his Blackhawk starfighter. She was turn of the last century cool. Painted flames danced down her massive engines and the flowing curves of her fuselage and fins made her sexier than any modern starcraft.<\/p>\n

\u201cBest fighter in all the worlds,\u201d Malcolm replied with pride.<\/p>\n

Dawn flickered into existence before them both and bowed. \u201cWhy, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI may have other thoughts on the matter,\u201d Erik said towards the cyber. Then he smiled. \u201cBut I would never argue them with a lady.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHandsome and<\/em> intelligent,\u201d Dawn said as she looked up at his massive frame. \u201cThe ladies must be falling over themselves to catch you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The big man gave her a bashful look and scratched the back of his neck before letting out a grumbling chuckle. \u201cI spend my time on trade missions for a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawn smiled and patted the arm she could reach. \u201cThe trick is finding the one worth being caught by, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust the one?\u201d Erik asked with a snort, and then turned towards Malcolm and Caroline. \u201cIt has been an honor to meet you. Perhaps our paths will cross in the future. Until then, may you have safe travels.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSafe travels,\u201d Malcolm returned and held his hand out.<\/p>\n

Erik glanced down at the hand for a moment, before palming it in his bear-sized paw and shaking Malcolm\u2019s world.<\/p>\n

It took more effort than Malcolm would ever admit to stop from stumbling when the larger man let him go.<\/p>\n

Then Caroline stepped past him and spread her arms out wide. \u201cCome on you big teddy bear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erik smiled and enveloped her in a hug that lifted her feet nearly a meter off the deck. He put her down far more gently than he\u2019d handled Malcolm, smiled at both of them once more, and turned to walk towards his shimmering shuttle.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou two got to know each other real well, I see,\u201d Malcolm said as the other man entered his ship.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you jealous?\u201d Caroline asked from his side.<\/p>\n

Malcolm shrugged. \u201cJust wondering what the competition is like.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caroline actually giggled. \u201cIf this were a competition, honey, you would never have a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOuch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m serious,\u201d Caroline said and turned to face him. \u201cHe\u2019s got the body of a god and the voice of an angel. He\u2019s got<\/em> to have a girl in every port.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Now<\/em> I\u2019m jealous.\u201d<\/p>\n

She hit him. It wasn\u2019t hard. Just enough to get the point across. Then she stepped closer and leaned against him to get another point across. He felt every curve of her body as she wrapped her arms around him and her breath tickled his ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome home with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was good. He had to give her that. She actually made him want to do it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think that would be a good idea,\u201d he said with all the amusement he could manage to inject into his tone.<\/p>\n

She put her arms on his shoulders and arched her back so she could look him in the eyes. That action also emphasized some of her other pleasing physical attributes. And he could believe that was a happy coincidence all the way to the chain gang if he wanted to.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be silly,\u201d she whispered. \u201cIt\u2019s a great idea. Come home with me and show everyone you\u2019re a loyal member of the Family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm shook his head. \u201cThey\u2019ll never trust me again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou made a mistake,\u201d Caroline said with an answering shake. \u201cBut you can get everything back if you come with me. Willingly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm sighed. \u201cWolfenheim was no mistake, Caroline. It was a plan I entered into willingly. They\u2019ll never trust me if I backtrack on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course they won\u2019t.\u201d Caroline\u2019s eyes grew sharp. \u201cBut they\u2019ll let you live.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm\u2019s breath caught in his chest at her directness. \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen don\u2019t play dumb with me, Malcolm,\u201d she said and patted his chest with one, very promising hand. \u201cYou\u2019re far too smart to do it justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think I\u2019m smart, do you?\u201d Malcolm asked and placed a hand on her wandering one. \u201cSounds promising.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re not being an idiot,\u201d Caroline returned with another playful smack that felt so familiar. Then she raised her eyes to his to let him know that every word she was about to say was completely truthful. \u201cBring back Wolfenheim, and they will you live. They\u2019ll leave you alone to live whatever life you want with whoever<\/em> you want to live it with.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounds<\/em> promising,\u201d Malcolm said with one raised eyebrow. \u201cBut it\u2019s a hard choice to make when I don\u2019t even remember what I lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

She sighed and sorrow filled her eyes. \u201cI\u2019m sorry you don\u2019t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

He placed his hands on her hips, like it was the one place in the universe they were meant to be. Like he\u2019d done it before. \u201cSo am I.\u201d<\/p>\n

She leaned forward to put her head into his chest. That felt right too. \u201cI\u2019ll tell you everything<\/em> if you come home with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked up at him and met his gaze. She didn\u2019t bat her eyes at him like one of those ridiculous ladies in the movies. This wasn\u2019t a trick. It was a promise that covered everything she said and so much more.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll tell you all about us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm smiled. \u201cI think I can imagine us pretty good on my own.\u201d<\/p>\n

She smacked him for that one. He deserved it. Then she bit her lip for a moment. \u201cTrust me, Malcolm, I know what your imagination is capable of. I would blow your mind wide open if I told you everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that sounds intriguing,\u201d Malcolm whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll tell you what they did to you,\u201d she said in a far more serious tone that her eyes echoed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I know what was done to me,\u201d he growled. \u201cThey took my memories. They raped my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caroline looked down for a moment and then met his gaze again with promise in her eyes. \u201cI\u2019ll tell you who<\/em> did it. And why. And if you come back with me, I\u2019ll even help you find justice<\/em> for it. You had a better life than you remember, Malcolm. Just come home<\/em> with me and I\u2019ll help you reclaim it.\u201d<\/p>\n

And that was why they sent her to bring him back.<\/p>\n

Even doubting that the Family really would forgive him, he wanted to go back with her. She wasn\u2019t playing him. Well, she was, and they both knew it. But she wasn\u2019t lying<\/em> to him. She meant every word. Every promise it implied. Everything that went with it.<\/p>\n

She would take him home, and they would be amazing.<\/p>\n

All he had to do was betray Charles. His oldest remaining friend in all the worlds.<\/p>\n

He let out a long breath and kissed her forehead. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but I just can\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d She stared at him with something close to exasperation in her stance.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause it wasn\u2019t a mistake,\u201d Malcolm said very calmly. \u201cWe weren\u2019t wrong. Me and Charles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEven Adam?\u201d Caroline asked with a hard look.<\/p>\n

That hurt. But he just nodded. \u201cEven Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe would be-\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Malcolm interrupted. \u201cI know. But I can\u2019t go back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou always were too proud,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was always too right<\/em>,\u201d he corrected.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout some things,\u201d she said and raised her eyes to his again.<\/p>\n

\u201cWas I right about you?\u201d<\/p>\n

She extricated herself from his arms and stepped away. He knew the answer before she spoke it. Her entire body projected it like a halo, and he wondered what he\u2019d done.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

She shook her head in exasperation. \u201cYou don\u2019t even know what you\u2019re apologizing for.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

She furrowed her brow, and spread her arms out wide.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine. What is it?\u201d she spat out in rapid succession. \u201cWhat can you possibly<\/em> be sorry about when you don\u2019t even remember<\/em> me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry I only ever saw your sister. I remember that much. You are worthy of being noticed, and I was a fool for ignoring you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou still are.\u201d Her look showed a mixture of a blush and appreciation for his flattery.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut even fools can learn,\u201d Malcolm said with a smile. \u201cI\u2019ll never ignore you again.\u201d<\/p>\n

She sighed and leaned back in to kiss him on the cheek. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll never stop chasing you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Malcolm said, and very carefully did not raise a hand to touch his burning cheek.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should consider what you want to do when I catch you,\u201d Caroline whispered and pulled her body tight enough to his that it was hard not to think about that eventuality in full, living color.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrust me,\u201d he said with a wry look. \u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caroline smiled. \u201cAny ideas you want to share with me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn public?\u201d Malcolm asked with a wink. \u201cOn an alien space station? I\u2019m not certain this is the best venue for that kind of conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caroline laughed. It was a crystal clear laugh that made him thrill from head to toe.<\/p>\n

He wanted to hear it again. So he gave her his very best smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you<\/em> have any ideas?\u201d he asked with a waggle of his eyebrows.<\/p>\n

Caroline pursed her lips for a fulminating moment before returning his smile. \u201cNothing worth talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was when she leaned in again and kissed him full on the lips. It was a good kiss. It was a long kiss.<\/p>\n

Malcolm\u2019s toes curled, and he imagined himself in a Saturday morning cartoon, steam coming from his ears while his body went hard and straight all over.<\/p>\n

They had kissed like this before. Deep, long, and passionately. Their lips fitted together like they were designed that way.<\/p>\n

And then there was her tongue.<\/p>\n

Yes, there would definitely be steam coming from his cartoon version\u2019s ears in any good story.<\/p>\n

Caroline stepped back, smiled, and turned to glide towards her shuttle in a hip-swaying gait that accentuated every curve of her body.<\/p>\n

\u201cCatch yah later,\u201d she said over her shoulder.<\/p>\n

She was good.<\/p>\n

Malcolm remembered an old saying about hating to see someone go while loving to watch them walk away. He was in love with watching her walk away.<\/p>\n

She was amazing.<\/p>\n

And that was going to be a problem for him. If he let her go like this, he would never regain the advantage. So he did one of the most difficult things he\u2019d ever done in his life. He stopped watching her walk away and took one, long breath before saying a single word.<\/p>\n

\u201cCaroline?\u201d<\/p>\n

She stopped and looked back at him with a gaze that promised\u2026everything. And nothing. It was amazing what she could say, or not say, with those eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm cleared the frog out of his throat so he could speak, and tried to act as naturally as he could. There was nothing casual about the question he needed to ask, but time honored traditions required that he act like it was.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust one hint. For old time\u2019s sake. Why do you still care what happens to me?\u201d<\/p>\n

She shook her head and swayed to the shuttle, making him think she was going to leave without another word. But she stopped as she reached the top of the steps and turned once more to rest one hand on the hatch as she looked at him.<\/p>\n

And then she finally spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou saved my life.\u201d Her lips opened to say something else, but she stopped herself and shook her head. \u201cI would be dead on the side of the road if you had not come that night.\u201d<\/p>\n

He could see it as she said it. Her body on the side of the road, her face broken and bloodied with an expression of pain and horror filling it. He didn\u2019t know if that was a century-old memory or today\u2019s imagination, but he could see it like it was real.<\/p>\n

Caroline shook her head and gave him a very serious look. \u201cYou have enemies who want you dead, Malcolm. I am not one of them. I owe you my life. I will protect you if just come home with me, but the farther you run, the harder you make it. You have to cooperate with me sooner or later, or your fate will be out of my hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know it already isn\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t,\u201d she said with a shrug. \u201cI might be the last person in all the Families who still believes in you, but if you choose to come home with me, I will stand with you all the way. They promised me, and I won\u2019t let them forget it. Win or lose, I won\u2019t let them have you again.\u201d<\/p>\n

And there it was. The final reason they sent her. She had skin in the game. And so did he. Win or lose, he knew she would be amazing. They<\/em> would be amazing.<\/p>\n

She was a path worth taking anywhere. And maybe one day he would. But that could not be today.<\/p>\n

She smiled one more time in recognition of his choice. \u201cYou be careful out there, Malcolm. Don\u2019t let me catch you until you\u2019re ready to be caught.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then she turned and stepped into her shuttle.<\/p>\n

He watched the hatch close behind her and stayed in place as her shuttle lifted off the deck and took her out of his life. Out of his sight at least. He doubted she would ever be out of his life again.<\/p>\n

He could live with that.<\/p>\n

Malcolm smiled and practically skipped towards his fighter. He whistled as he climbed up the ladder and jumped into the cockpit, in some of the best spirits he\u2019d experienced in longer than he could remember.<\/p>\n

That girl was good for a man\u2019s soul.<\/p>\n

The canopy closed and Dawn\u2019s holoform appeared atop the fighter\u2019s main console. She was the size of an action figure now, small enough to fit in the palm of his hand or to sit on his shoulder if she wanted to. She spent most of her time at this size sitting atop their fighter\u2019s main console, and right now she was giving him a measuring look.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess now we know why they sent her,\u201d she said after a few moments.<\/p>\n

\u201cYup,\u201d he said with a chuckle.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you happen to leave any other weapons laying behind they can send after you?\u201d<\/p>\n

He gave her a long look. \u201cJealous?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWorried,\u201d Dawn said as she lifted their starfighter off the deck.<\/p>\n

Malcolm chuckled again. \u201cDon\u2019t be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm let out a serious sigh. \u201cBecause this mission is bigger than me. And I can\u2019t let anyone get in the way of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m worried about,\u201d Dawn said and gave him a sad smile.<\/p>\n

Malcolm gave her another long look as she moved them out of the Arnam space station on thrusters. They entered open space and stars, and blackness surrounded them. Maneuvering thrusters spun them to face their squadron of starships, and he saw the blue fusion flames of interstellar engines at full burn in the distance.<\/p>\n

He gave a long look at the sensor display. It was small and two dimensional, but he could compare what he saw now with what he\u2019d seen on Normandy\u2019s<\/em> bridge. Now that he understood the patterns, he could see Arnam spacecraft retreating from the Shang advance. It was an orderly retreat, with many ships holding position and trading long-range fire with the invaders while others fell back. And then they would skirt back while other ships took up the front line for a few seconds.<\/p>\n

It was a constantly rotating front that meant no single ship was exposed to fire for more than a few seconds. It made sense. They were slowing the Shang invaders, keeping damage to their defense ships to a minimum, getting their civilian ships out of the line of fire, and consolidating their military defenses all at the same time.<\/p>\n

He could also see the numerous craft in the outer system scattering further out towards interstellar space. He watched a Shang squadron overrun one of them and erase it from his display with sickening suddenness. The others continued to run for safety. They would either escape the carnage coming for their system, or they would suck more Shang invaders out to hunt them down.<\/p>\n

Malcolm wished them luck either way.<\/p>\n

Malcolm felt his fighter\u2019s four main fusion engines come to life. Blue flames poured out of them and slammed him against the back of his seat as he and Dawn exploded out of planetary orbit. They shot past Caroline\u2019s slow shuttle like a rabbit passing a turtle on the straightaway, and flashed past the Austin<\/em>-class destroyers waiting for her in the blink of an eye a few seconds later.<\/p>\n

He zoomed the display in to see Caroline\u2019s squadron coasting close to the planet and falling behind his rapidly accelerating fighter. That was going to cost them valuable time and space if they wanted to follow him.<\/p>\n

He could see Wolfenheim<\/em>, Normandy<\/em>, and the rest of his little fleet accelerating away from the planet, but his velocity passed theirs as he watched and saw the range begin to shrink again.<\/p>\n

Malcolm glanced over to another display to see their fuel reserves dropping like a rock as their velocity became measurable as a percentage of the speed of light. The Blackhawks had always been short-range fighters, and even with the Peloran upgrades he\u2019d secured before they left Alpha Centauri, running after a fleet at full acceleration sucked hydrogen like a thirsty man in the Sahara. Dawn had decided the fuel expenditure was worth it though,, and Malcolm had to admit that he approved of her priorities.<\/p>\n

He considered his highly advanced skin to be worth far more than some elemental hydrogen he planned to burn off in the future anyways.<\/p>\n

He checked the sensors again to see the Aesiran trade fleet was less than a lightsecond away from Wolfenheim<\/em>, accelerating for the outer system on the same velocity and course.<\/p>\n

The closer he got to his home, the closer he got to them. That was probably a good thing now that he thought about it.<\/p>\n

Malcolm smiled. \u201cGet me Olivia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawn nodded and tilted her head to indicate she was communicating with Normandy<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Olivia appeared one of the displays a few seconds later.<\/p>\n

\u201cDirector?\u201d Olivia began with a wan look. \u201cYou appear to have led us into a rather rough neighborhood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Captain,\u201d Malcolm said and looked at the display showing his fleet. It was on a course that brought them closer to the Aesiran trade fleet. \u201cHave you talked to the Aesiran yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

Olivia shrugged. \u201cI may have suggested there is safety in numbers. And their captains may have agreed with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo we go out together?\u201d<\/p>\n

Olivia smiled. \u201cUnless you or their Yarl disagree, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI doubt that will be a problem.\u201d Malcolm frowned as a thought came to mind. \u201cWe\u2019ll need to deploy fighters, you know. Have you cleared that with the Arnam?\u201d<\/p>\n

Olivia cocked her head to the side. \u201cPlease, Malcolm. I have done this before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, Olivia. But if I don\u2019t keep you experienced in dealing with overbearing superiors, you might start to wonder what kind of rinky dink operation you\u2019re working for.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I already knew<\/em> what kind of rinky dink operation you were when you first approached me,\u201d she said with an amused smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cOuch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I still signed up.\u201d She aimed a dazzling smile at him. \u201cSo I guess I\u2019ll just have to take my lumps with the best of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the spirit,\u201d Malcolm said with a smirk.<\/p>\n

Olivia returned it with interest. \u201cNow if my overbearing superior will get out of my hair, I need to devote my attention to defending my fleet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOoohhh\u2026nice riposte,\u201d he said and smiled as he got back into the groove of their long relationship. \u201cBut what if your overbearing superior likes<\/em> getting in your hair?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen my overbearing superior will need to be careful or he\u2019ll lose his fingers.\u201d Her eyes sparkled as she delivered the good-natured warning.<\/p>\n

He tipped an imaginary hat towards her in recognition of her victory in their long verbal sparring matches and she faded out.<\/p>\n

Leaving him alone with Dawn again. She aimed a concerned look at him, and he knew he hadn\u2019t deflected her from her concern. And she was going to have her say, no matter what he said about it. So he let out a long breath and signaled for her to give him both barrels.<\/p>\n

Dawn smiled before accepting his challenge. \u201cI\u2019m serious, Malcolm. You need to look out for yourself some. The best stories have the hero winning the day and<\/em> getting the girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm smiled and remembered what Erik had asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust the one?\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawn sighed and looked<\/em> at him. \u201cYou\u2019ve worked with Olivia how<\/em> many years? And you\u2019ve never pulled the trigger. Why think about it now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou say that like I haven\u2019t thought about it before,\u201d Malcolm said with a smile.<\/p>\n

Dawn crossed her arms and just increased the voltage of her stare.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine.\u201d Malcolm let out a long breath and shrugged. \u201cWe work well together. I didn\u2019t want to destroy a perfectly good working relationship if everything went south.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawn raised a single eyebrow at him.<\/p>\n

Malcolm sighed again. \u201cFine. I still<\/em> don\u2019t. But\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawn smiled as he trailed off and a light chuckle escaped her lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Caroline?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Caroline,\u201d Malcolm repeated in a rueful tone. Then he snorted. \u201cYou know, I thought I was prepared for this battle, but I never saw her coming, did I?\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawn laughed. \u201cOh, she blew you clear out of the water, mister. I could see the steam coming out of your ears.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank God for extra innings.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you did recover with some well-executed fire.\u201d Dawn shifted into a more business-like pose. \u201cBut now that we know the weapons she brings to the field, you\u2019re going to need to up your game.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr change it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMmmmm?\u201d Dawn cocked her head to the side in a virtual question.<\/p>\n

Malcolm smiled at her. \u201cIt comes to mind, that not every weapon is good in every game. And in some games, they can even be a handicap.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawn made a show of scratching her chin before responding to him. \u201cSo we need to find a game she can\u2019t win.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d Malcolm shook his head at that. \u201cShe\u2019s too smart to play a game she can\u2019t win. What we need is a game both<\/em> of us want<\/em> to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawn chuckled. \u201cI can think of one<\/em> game you both want to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is a nice game to think about, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Malcolm said with a rueful grin.<\/p>\n

Dawn just smiled at him and waited.<\/p>\n

Malcolm sighed. \u201cI could spend the rest of my life playing that game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawn beamed. \u201cAnd that\u2019s the spirit I was looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm relaxed into his seat and let his mind wander over that game for a very long time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wolfenheim Emergent is available at the following retailers Amazon Barnes and Noble Apple Books Kobo Smashwords The following is the electronic Advanced Reader Copy originally sent to my Beta Readers in December. Take a look, and if it interests you,[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2309-wolfenheim-emergent-earc","uentry","postonpage-1","odd","post-author-medron-pryde"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8741","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8741"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8741\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8742,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8741\/revisions\/8742"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8741"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}