{"id":8812,"date":"2019-10-07T00:01:39","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T05:01:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jackofharts.com\/?p=8812"},"modified":"2019-10-07T05:15:07","modified_gmt":"2019-10-07T10:15:07","slug":"wolfenheim-emergent-vi-earc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/?p=8812","title":{"rendered":"Wolfenheim Emergent VI 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

We all have a destination we\u2019re approaching. If you\u2019re prepared you even have a plan to get there. I like to plan ahead, but we all have to learn how to deal with the curve balls that tend to impact any plan we make. Or those we don\u2019t for that matter. I planned the Wolfenheim Project to be a message to the aliens that we were coming. That they would not keep us locked up in our little corner of the galaxy forever. That we would never let them stop us. I was so melodramatic back then. But that was all part of the plan if you think about it.<\/p>\n

VI<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The hatch slid open and Malcolm McDonnell looked out upon Normandy\u2019s<\/em> bridge. The screen\u2019s forward view showed hyperspace\u2019s rainbow rivers flowing into a dark black morass. It was beautiful and mind-boggling at the same time. And it was the end of the line. Their final destination awaited, months and thousands of lightyears in time and space from Earth.<\/p>\n

Captain Olivia Wyatt turned a smile towards him and spoke in a calm soprano. \u201cYou may enter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy your command,\u201d Malcolm answered and stepped onto the bridge with Dawn on his heals. They quickly took their standard positions at the back of the bridge and leaned against the rear wall. Bulkhead. Whatever.<\/p>\n

Olivia\u2019s smile grew and she walked back to join them. She leaned back as well and scanned the displays showing Normandy<\/em> and her charges moving towards the star system that would be their home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just received Erik\u2019s report,\u201d Olivia explained and waved a hand towards the darkness staining hyperspace\u2019s rainbow colors ahead of them. \u201cHis scouts have detected nothing in system. Nobody waiting to ambush us as far as we can see.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cErik,\u201d Malcolm said with a teasing smile. \u201cHe called you himself, did he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did,\u201d Olivia said without taking her eyes off the displays. Though a slight blush put the lie to her unconcerned persona. She pulled in a deep breath and continued. \u201cHave I thanked you for giving me a Peloran hyperdrive to play with today?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d Malcolm returned, willing to let her change the subject again. He\u2019d already lost the over-under on when the two would admit the obvious, so he had nothing to win from pushing her buttons further.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell then, allow me to correct that error now.\u201d She paused for a moment, and her lips twisted in amusement. \u201cWhat we have right here is a virgin system. No colonies. No defenses. No hyperspace jammers. We\u2019re about to exit hyperspace directly into the planetary orbitals.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not going to be a problem for very long, is it?\u201d Malcolm asked with a wry look.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no. Your friend Charles hid a few surprises aboard Surprise<\/em> when he gave her to us that will take care of that issue real quick,\u201d Olivia answered. She aimed a wink at him before continuing. \u201cBut this is going to be an exciting ride for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm smiled. \u201cThe exciting rides are the best rides.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPrecisely.\u201d Olivia chuckled. \u201cYou ready?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith that warm up? Please.\u201d Malcolm waggled his eyebrows at her. \u201cI\u2019m filled with anticipation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Olivia turned back to her bridge crew with a smile of her own. \u201cLieutenant Lopez?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMa\u2019am?\u201d the helmsman asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cPrepare for surface action on my command.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSurface action on your command, aye Ma\u2019am,\u201d the helmsman answered immediately and ran his fingers across the helm controls.<\/p>\n

Olivia nodded in approval. \u201cLieutenant Jones?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMa\u2019am?\u201d the communications officer asked in a calm soprano.<\/p>\n

\u201cTransmit to fleet. Commence surface action, now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTransmitting \u2018Commence surface action, now,\u2019 aye Ma\u2019am,\u201d the communications officer reported and leaned to the side to listen to her earpiece. Then she nodded. \u201cAll ships confirm receipt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Olivia aimed a pleased smile at him. \u201cAnd now we get to enjoy the view.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always enjoyed the view from up here,\u201d Malcolm answered with a smile of his own.<\/p>\n

She cocked an eyebrow at him as a squadron of Avenger starfighters opened a dozen holes in hyperspace and rose to the surface of normalspace in sprays of rainbow energy.<\/p>\n

The frigates Crichton, Hammond<\/em>, Reynolds<\/em>, Parker<\/em>, and Cochrane<\/em> followed the fighters, arriving inside their defensive formation with perfection. Then the destroyers Philadelphia<\/em> and Rouen<\/em> breached the barrier with larger rainbow sprays.<\/p>\n

Wolfenheim,<\/em> Surprise<\/em>, and the remains of the captured Shang destroyer smashed through behind them, leaving Normandy<\/em> and her Blackhawk starfighters alone in hyperspace.<\/p>\n

\u201cLieutenant Lopez?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMa\u2019am?\u201d the helm officer responded.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommence surface action, now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCommencing surface action now, Ma\u2019am,\u201d he answered and ran his hands across his controls.<\/p>\n

Hyperspace rippled ahead of them as Normandy\u2019s<\/em> hyperdrive tore at the wall between them and normalspace. Rivers of multi-colored gravity snapped at Normandy\u2019s<\/em> deflection grid in protest, and the hardy ship vibrated under the assault. Then the very fabric of hyperspace tore apart and Normandy<\/em> exploded into normalspace with a wave of rainbow energy washing out in every direction.<\/p>\n

She released her hold on hyperspace and it lashed her with one last tendril of energy that set off nearly every alarm. Normandy<\/em> rang like a bell under the assault until the wall finally snapped shut once more<\/p>\n

\u201cRough ride,\u201d Malcolm whispered just loud enough for Olivia to hear him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had rougher,\u201d Olivia said as the consoles flashed with warnings and protests from all over the ship. Then she stepped away from the bulkhead.<\/p>\n

\u201cColor me intrigued,\u201d Malcolm said to her back.<\/p>\n

She paused for a moment and gave him a sly look. \u201cNot in front of the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then she left him behind and waded into the chaos of an entire ship\u2019s crew dealing with a far too exciting ride.<\/p>\n

A form flickered into existence next to him. It took possibly a second for the ship\u2019s holoemitters to build her body and arms one curve at a time. A black leather jacket and ratty black jeans snapped into focus shortly before the rosy face and short, brunette hair. Ariel\u2019s holoform pulled in a simulated deep breath and turned a smile towards Malcolm.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe came in a little too close to the planet,\u201d the ship\u2019s cybernetic brain reported as her captain dealt with the crew.<\/p>\n

Malcolm looked back and forth between Ariel and Dawn, once again amused by how similar they dressed and acted. They could pass for sisters any day of the week, which was probably truer than not considering cybernetic familial ties. He preferred Dawn\u2019s redheaded curls, but would admit that Ariel was an amazing brunette if pressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you break anything important?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe lost some capacitors when that last tendril hit us, half my sensors and other systems are blind, and I\u2019ll have a scar down my starboard flank until we can get it fixed.\u201d Ariel paused to give him a shrug. \u201cBut I didn\u2019t lose anything I can\u2019t fabricate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe shouldn\u2019t have tried coming in this close,\u201d Malcolm said as Lopez pulled them up and away from the planet under Olivia\u2019s orders.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t,\u201d Ariel said in a firm tone. \u201cTrust me. I confirmed the calculations before we went through. We shouldn\u2019t have come in this close.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Malcolm asked in concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t had time to fully diagnose the issue,\u201d Ariel said with a wince. \u201cAnd with so many of my systems down, it may take a while to do so. Whatever caused it, we aren\u2019t moving anywhere until I can get everything working again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you have any rough ideas?\u201d Malcolm asked.<\/p>\n

Ariel aimed an upraised eyebrow at him and snorted. \u201cI\u2019m a century old ship you found in mothballs and had retrofitted up<\/em> to the ability to survive a few thousand lightyear trip. Then I got shot up by a bunch of dirty Shang, and ended up having to strip a fair bit of a Shang destroyer to get the spare components to repair myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ariel waved at all the flashing lights on the bridge consoles. \u201cAnd now I just got shivered down to my timbers by a rough ride none of us were expecting. Pick<\/em> a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Malcolm said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be,\u201d Ariel returned with a melancholy smile. \u201cYou gave me a ship again. I may be a bit long in the tooth and battle scarred, but that\u2019s better than the alternative. And I will<\/em> be better. I can<\/em> fix myself. It just may take longer than I wish.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t have given this old girl to a better mind if I\u2019d tried,\u201d Malcolm said with conviction. Then he cocked his head to the side and gave her a wicked grin. \u201cWhich, come to think of it, I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou tried to give this ship to a glorified AI,\u201d Ariel said with a disgusted sniff.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith cybernetic support,\u201d Malcolm corrected.<\/p>\n

\u201cA fighter<\/em> cyber, not a warship<\/em> cyber.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm shrugged. \u201cI\u2019ll grant you there\u2019s a difference there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWorlds<\/em> of difference.\u201d Ariel turned to look at Dawn. \u201cNo offense intended.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNone taken,\u201d Dawn answered with a mischievous smile. \u201cI know not everyone is fast and nimble enough to maneuver a fighter in battle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd not everyone has enough processing power to control hundreds of thousands of tons of warship,\u201d Ariel said without missing a beat.<\/p>\n

The two cybers aimed some truly epic side-eye at each other and Malcolm tried to suppress a smile. Olivia turned a questioning gaze their way and they bestowed upon her a positively innocent pair of faces until she turned away. Then they raised their fists in front of Malcolm and bumped them together.<\/p>\n

Malcolm sighed and rolled his eyes at their display.<\/p>\n

Olivia finally nodded in approval and walked back to Malcolm\u2019s bulkhead. She aimed a pointed look at Ariel as she cut between them and leaned next to Malcolm.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a ride to remember,\u201d she said with a sidelong look at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best ones always are,\u201d Malcolm returned and raised an eyebrow at her.<\/p>\n

She smiled and nodded towards a display showing the colony ship next to them. \u201cWe\u2019re holding position off Wolfenheim\u2019s<\/em> flank, now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Malcolm muttered and let out a long breath. \u201cWe\u2019re alone?\u201d<\/p>\n

Olivia shrugged. \u201cAs alone as we can confirm. But I remind you, there are no hyperspace jammers here yet. Your Caroline could be preparing to leave hyperspace right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm nodded in understanding. It was the scenario they had expected all along. They could be alone. Or not. Their first warning would be an eruption of rainbow light from hyperspace.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou said Surprise<\/em> had some surprises that could change that?\u201d Malcolm asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Olivia answered. \u201cBut it will take time to deploy them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm nodded in understanding. They had to follow the plan as laid out then. Malcolm pulled in a deep breath and gave the order.<\/p>\n

\u201cOrder Wolfhenheim<\/em> to deploy her colonization pods into orbit, now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Olivia returned his gaze for a second before nodding. \u201cLieutenant Jones?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMa\u2019am?\u201d Lieutenant Jones asked from the communications center.<\/p>\n

\u201cOrder Wolfenheim<\/em> to deploy her colonization pods into orbit, immediately.\u201d Olivia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOrdering Wolfenheim<\/em> to deploy colonization pods into orbit, aye Ma\u2019am,\u201d Jones repeated for clarity and began whispering into her microphone. She nodded after a few seconds. \u201cOrder\u2019s received and acknowledged, Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm turned his attention to the forward screen focused on the Class One Colonization Ship and waited for the inevitable. Wolfenheim<\/em> came apart before his eyes. The massive engines that had pushed her across five thousand lightyears of space separated first, moving away on small plumes of blue flame to take up positions around her. The outer skin flaked off next, individual hull plates popping away from the superstructure under their own power. Maneuvering thrusters flared and the hull plates surrounded the starship like a swarm of bees protecting their queen.<\/p>\n

The colonization pods came last, first one and then another disengaging the bolts locking them into the superstructure before ejecting from the starship. More thrusters spun and pushed them into stable planetary orbits near Wolfenheim<\/em>. They continued ejecting until hundreds of them surrounded the denuded tangle of girders and structure members jutting out of a central core that was all that remained of the massive starship that had transported ten thousand colonists to a new home.<\/p>\n

It was a starship no longer. It had fulfilled its first purpose. Now it would fulfill its second purpose as the new colony\u2019s first space station.<\/p>\n

Lieutenant Jones frowned and concentrated on her station for a moment before turning towards Olivia. \u201cMa\u2019am?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Lieutenant?\u201d Olivia asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a message coming in from the surface,\u201d Jones reported and looked straight at Malcolm. \u201cMister John Clark suggests that you meet him down there, at your earliest convenience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm chuckled at her diplomatic language. He\u2019d known John Clark his entire life, and the man never \u201csuggested\u201d anything. And his earliest convenience meant immediately, if not sooner.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I have my marching orders,\u201d Malcolm said to Olivia.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess you do,\u201d she said with a smile. \u201cRide carefully.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI always do,\u201d Malcolm answered, brought a hand up to make a sloppy salute, and turned to exit the bridge. The hatch opened and Malcolm passed the Marine sentry guarding the entrance to the bridge from any crazed maniacs who decided to attack it with a respectful nod. Then he and Dawn walked back to enter the lift at the end of the corridor.<\/p>\n

Dawn leaned against one wall and smiled as the lift accelerated away from the bridge and sent them rocketing down through the old ship. The lift slowed to a stop as they reached a junction, and then they shot sideways. The lift came to a stop again and opened onto Normandy\u2019s<\/em> fully operational starboard hangar pod.<\/p>\n

Malcolm and Dawn stepped off into the long cylinder and stopped in their tracks as they saw the bald head and beaming smile of John Park waiting for them.<\/p>\n

\u201cPreacher?\u201d Malcolm asked in confusion.<\/p>\n

The older man nodded his head at Malcolm. \u201cIt is not every day I get to see John Clark.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm sighed. Long experience had taught him that Park did not like to explain himself, so he probably wouldn\u2019t get any more information if he asked. He could take it or leave it.<\/p>\n

And the simple fact was that John Park was worth taking anywhere.<\/p>\n

Malcolm nodded his acceptance and walked down the line of empty launch cradles. Dawn and Park followed him down to where his Blackhawk starfighter waited to fly. Malcolm stopped and smiled towards the older man.<\/p>\n

\u201cAge before beauty,\u201d he said and waved a hand towards the fighter.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the lips of a blind man,\u201d Park rejoined. Then he climbed up the ladder and swung himself into the seat taking up the cockpit\u2019s rear end.<\/p>\n

Malcolm rolled his eyes towards Dawn and scrambled up after the preacher. He dropped into the front seat, grabbed the ends of the five-point harness, and proceeded to lock himself in with a series of clicks.<\/p>\n

Dawn flickered into existence atop the main console as he finished securing the last belt, her action figure-sized holoform smiling at him. She nodded and crossed her arms as she commanded the starfighter to come to life around them.<\/p>\n

Displays lit up all around him on the console and the canopy as it slid back to lock into position. Systems hummed and beeped to life, the fighter twitched in its cradle\u2019s embrace, and green lights ran across the displays to proclaim them ready.<\/p>\n

Dawn gave him a single questioning look.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s fly,\u201d Malcolm ordered.<\/p>\n

Arms crossed once more, and the launch bay\u2019s hatch cover peeled away above them at Dawn\u2019s nod to reveal the dark and starry space beyond. Small reaction thrusters flared and the launch bay rushed past them as they shot into space. More thrusters came to life and spun the fighter to face the planet below them.<\/p>\n

Then the main engines came to a blue fusion life and pulled the Blackhawk into the planet\u2019s upper atmosphere. The deflection grid flickered as they cut deep into the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds and drew a flaming contrail across the sky behind them. Rushing air roared past them as the engines cut out for a second. Then they came to life again and shot blue flames ahead of them. They dropped below the speed of sound with a thundering boom that shook the fighter and sent a shockwave pulsing across the sky and pounding into the land below.<\/p>\n

A display blinked for attention and Malcolm looked to see a diagram of the landing spot John Clark had provided them. It was a wide flat area surrounded by a ring of hills and cliffs. Measurements flashed on the display. Width. Square kilometers inside the ring. A final statement blinked on and off when Dawn was finished.<\/p>\n

Asteroid impact crater.<\/p>\n

Malcolm nodded in appreciation as Dawn brought them around onto a final approach with waggle and a curving slice through the air to bleed off the last of their velocity. He looked out and part of the canopy zoomed in to show John Clark waiting for them next to a collection of prefabricated buildings. Malcolm grunted in amusement at the show they were giving the old man right now.<\/p>\n

\u201cBring us down right next to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow close?\u201d Dawn asked with a wry grin.<\/p>\n

Malcolm considered the question for a moment before chuckling. \u201cClose enough he can feel the heat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy your command,\u201d Dawn acknowledged. Then she crossed her arms and spun the Blackhawk down with several deft uses of the maneuvering thrusters. They floated to the ground with the grace of a butterfly. Then the gravplating cut out and the starfighter settled her massive weight down on her landing gear.<\/p>\n

Malcolm felt the local gravity pulling him down and took a deep breath. He opened the canopy and looked out to see the heat shimmering off his fighter\u2019s flank as it hissed and popped in an effort to dissipate the heat generated by reentry.<\/p>\n

John Clark stood far too close to the landing starfighter with arms crossed over his broad chest, glaring up at Malcolm like he would any young punk who\u2019d unwisely trespassed on his lawn.<\/p>\n

Malcolm fought the urge to clear his throat. Then he unlatched his five-point harness, clambered out of the cockpit, and slid down the ladder like the cocky young punk he\u2019d been in a younger life. His legs bent like shock absorbers and he smiled as he turned to look at the man he\u2019d flown five thousand lightyears to meet.<\/p>\n

John Clark had already been an old man when Malcolm first met him a century ago. The man had been old when John Park had first met him two centuries before that. He rarely claimed fame as one of the oldest Earthborn humans alive in all the worlds, but Malcolm saw that age behind the man\u2019s eyes. The man had first fought in Vietnam back when it was a nation worth talking about, and seen nations rise and fall for the better part of four centuries<\/p>\n

Generations of progressively advanced and expensive medical technologies had kept a few thousand or so of his generation alive. Most of them came from the most powerful families on Earth, though there were always outliers in even a group that small. Most of them looked ancient by modern standards as the oldest medical treatments had kept them alive but not saved their youth. The last time Malcolm had seen this man, he had been one of those who carried all those centuries on his slight frame and narrow shoulders.<\/p>\n

The John Clark standing before him now looked like a healthy pre-space forty or fifty-year-old man, complete with barrel chest and wide shoulders. Even most of his grey hair was gone, though it still peppered his light beard. He would probably reach thirty-five or thirty in another year, and lose the last of the grey and the bald spot that still fought to hang on to the top of his head.<\/p>\n

Peloran medical technology was amazing when it worked right. Now one of Hurst Family\u2019s oldest and most dangerous operatives worked for Malcolm McDonnell thanks to access to that technology, a few kind words by a preacher named John Park, and some grunts of approval from a brewer named Michael Callahan.<\/p>\n

John Park brushed past Malcolm and stepped up to wrap the older man up in a crushing bear hug.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to see you again, old friend,\u201d Park said with a beaming smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you,\u201d Clark said and thumped the Preacher\u2019s back hard enough to break lesser men\u2019s ribs. They laughed like old friends separated for far too long.<\/p>\n

Malcolm saw himself and Charles in that camaraderie. They were old men, joined together by friendship and a common goal. And if one was a century or two older than the other, that didn\u2019t matter as much now as it had in the past.<\/p>\n

They were Family Men, come together once more to form a united front.<\/p>\n

Malcolm blinked as the realization hit him a moment before the two older men sobered and turned watchful gazes towards. If there had been any lingering thoughts that John Park had \u201cjust happened\u201d to want to come on down, they died in that moment.<\/p>\n

The Family Men wanted to talk to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI read your report,\u201d Clark said in a low rumble.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re quick,\u201d Malcolm returned in hopes of keeping the conversation as light as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeed reading,\u201d Clark said with a laugh. \u201cEveryone should learn it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then Clark aimed a determined frown at Malcolm. \u201cYou truly do not remember what happened with Caroline Murphy?\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm shook his head and decided that candor was the better part of valor. \u201cI\u2019ve got a lot of blank nights from that time of my life. That\u2019s one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clark shared a long look with the Preacher.<\/p>\n

Park nodded.<\/p>\n

Clark sighed. \u201cThen we need to set this colony up as quickly as possible. And then you<\/em> need to get Caroline to join us when she catches us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do you<\/em> think we need her?\u201d Malcolm asked, though he had a sinking feeling in the bottom of his stomach that he already knew.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause while you have been playing house on Alpha Centauri, I have navigated Family politics. Caroline defends you very quietly. I\u2019ve heard her say you saved her life, though she\u2019s never gotten into the details. Now Danaka holds a serious grudge against you. I don\u2019t know the particulars, and none of my informants have ever discovered them. She doesn\u2019t like you at all, and the less said about you in their father\u2019s hearing the better for everyone. If they sent her younger sister to take you home, it\u2019s a safe bet Danaka follows in her wake, and she may not want to bring you home at all. Caroline may be your only hope of surviving a tragic accident out of a faulty airlock.\u201d<\/p>\n

And that was the sinking feeling right there. \u201cAnd here I thought they wanted me back home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clark chuckled. \u201cThat\u2019s what the carrot was for. To bring you back willingly. But you ran, and they\u2019ll have sent a stick to break your legs so you never run again. You hear me, boy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLoud and clear,\u201d Malcolm said and bit his lip. Then he glanced at Park. \u201cIt\u2019s a bit more blunt than we\u2019ve been talking, but I think it\u2019s close enough to what we\u2019ve been thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPreaching made him soft, kid,\u201d Clark growled with a playful look towards Park. \u201cUnwilling to say the hardest truths. But that\u2019s why you recruited me. So I\u2019m telling you right now that when Caroline catches us, you need to make that catch stick, whatever you have to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean I have to take advantage of her?\u201d Malcolm asked and felt a pang of guilt in his core.<\/p>\n

Clark cocked his head to the side and peered at Malcolm like an old wise crow. \u201cYou have feelings for her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d Malcolm nodded in acceptance of that point. \u201cI guess I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou guess?\u201d Clark asked in a hard tone. \u201cOr do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm weighed the question in his mind and saw Caroline\u2019s face in his mind. The flirtatious smile that promised much and hinted at so much more. He truly wanted to follow her down the rabbit hole. He answered the question with no hesitation in his voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood.\u201d Clark nodded in approval. \u201cYou\u2019re a little wet behind the ears, but she could do a hell of lot worse than catching you. And if using her makes you feel guilty, remember that getting her outside her father\u2019s plans could be real good for her health.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWould he really hurt her?\u201d Malcolm asked. It was a hollow question though. He knew the answer already.<\/p>\n

Clark just sighed and shook his head. \u201cIf it furthered his plans, Murphy would sacrifice his own sainted mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm nodded, but there was one thing he didn\u2019t understand. It was something he felt Clark knew, and so he asked one more question. \u201cWhat are<\/em> his plans?\u201d<\/p>\n

Clark shook his head again. \u201cThe only ones worth having, kid. He wants to be king.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm blinked in partial understanding, but far more confusion.<\/p>\n

Clark recognized both and laughed once more.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou embezzled Family funds in the name of your old friend, Charles, heir to the Hurst Family power and fortune,\u201d Clark said with a single finger aimed at Malcolm like a gun. \u201cAnd that might be the only reason Danaka has for keeping you alive. If she can drag you back to Earth with proof of everything you did, you have the power to overthrow Charles from his position, thereby leaving it vacant for someone like her father to step in and snatch it. And then he\u2019s a hop, skip, and a happy accident away from kinging himself over the dead body of a certain Mister Hurst we all know and not so much love.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d Malcolm said and his eyes went wide as he really understood.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Charles put everything at risk for this venture. Now we\u2019re going to have to be real careful about how we plant the landing. Or ashes, ashes, we all fall down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe never thought about that possibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clark snorted and shook his head. Then he smiled and looked around. \u201cWhy do you think I let you recruit me for this fine venture of yours?\u201d<\/p>\n

Malcolm felt a shiver go down his spine, but smiled back at the older man. \u201cWell, I was kinda hoping the medical benefits had something to do with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clark laughed and looked at his young arms. \u201cThe benefits are amazing, kid. I\u2019ll give you that. I haven\u2019t felt this young in centuries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then he aimed a serious look at Malcolm. \u201cBut I am a Family<\/em> Man. Always have been. Always will be. I will defend the Family with my dying breath. Do you understand me, boy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCompletely,\u201d Malcolm said with a nod.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Clark said with a smile and turned to look at the small town of temporary structures and the landscape beyond. \u201cThen you are now in the proper state of mind to pick a location for this fine little Alamo we\u2019re building.\u201d<\/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-8812","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\/8812","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=8812"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8812\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8813,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8812\/revisions\/8813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}