“Every detail,” Mitchell confirmed. “They’re perfect mimics. Friends, family, colleagues—no one can tell the difference through normal interaction.”

  “There must be some way to identify them.”

  “Colonial science division was working on a detection method before we lost regular contact. Your briefing includes their preliminary findings.”

  I nodded slowly, already calculating the challenges. “When do I leave?”

  “Three days,” Mitchell said. “Enough time for every detail of my misconduct charges against you to vanish from your record completely.” Her tone made it clear she recognized the convenient timing of our new arrangement.

  “Three days…” I repeated. “Enough time for a lot of files to be deleted. All right. I’ll be ready.”

  She handed me a sealed data packet. “Preliminary briefing materials. Review them thoroughly. This isn’t like Jarl, Tanner. On Trond, the enemy could be anyone.”

  “Including the people who asked for help in the first place,” I noted.

  “Precisely.” Mitchell’s expression turned serious. “Don’t trust anyone once you’re on the ground. Not the colonial administration, not the security forces, not even other Earth personnel who may be stationed there.”

  “Sounds lonely.”

  “It’s necessary,” she replied. “If the Selk have infiltrated as deeply as we fear, any human could be a duplicate.”

  I pocketed the data packet and turned to leave. As I reached the door, Mitchell spoke again.

  “Tanner?”

  I paused, looking back.

  “Despite our... differences,” she said carefully, “I don’t want to lose another agent to a colony world. Be cautious.”

  I studied her face, searching for sincerity and finding something close enough. “That almost sounds like you care.”

  “I care about the work,” she corrected. “And about not having to explain another agent’s death to the oversight committee.”

  It sounded as honest as anything she’d ever said. “Fair enough,” I replied. “I’ll try not to die. Bad for both our careers.”

  Her slight nod was the closest thing to agreement I was likely to get.

  ***

  The city sprawled below my balcony, a maze of towering structures and glowing light strips extending to the horizon. Aircars moved in orderly lanes between the buildings, their headlights forming streams of white and red in the gathering darkness. My apartment was on the eighty-seventh floor of an aging high-rise that was still tall enough to see over most of the surrounding buildings.

  I swirled the whiskey in my glass, the amber liquid catching the city lights. It was the good stuff, expensive enough to make me reconsider my drinking habits but necessary after the day I’d had. The data packet Mitchell had given me lay open on the small table beside me, its contents as troubling as they were fascinating.

  The Selk were unlike any threat I’d encountered before. Not straightforward like the Tyrant on Jarl, not a clear enemy that could be confronted directly. These were infiltrators, wearing the faces of friends, hiding among the population they were subverting.

  I took another sip of whiskey, letting the burn spread through my chest. Below, an advertising blimp drifted between buildings, its holographic display highlighting the latest consumer products in garish colors. The apartment was quiet aside from the distant hum of the city and the occasional rattle of the ancient air conditioning unit.

  This was Earth—no longer crowded, but past her prime. It was trashy, but familiar. It was nothing like the colony worlds where I spent most of my time. Here, the dangers were known quantities. Criminals, corrupt officials, the occasional rogue AI…

  On Trond, I’d be facing an enemy that could be anyone. It could wear any face.

  I thought of Jarl—of the people I’d left behind, like Kelda, with her fierce mind and spirit. Had I made the right choice in returning to Earth? In making my devil’s bargain with Mitchell?

  My implant phone buzzed, the sensation uncomfortable against my skull bone. I activated it with a thought.

  “Tanner,” I answered.

  “Final clearance came through,” Phil announced in my head. “Medical and administrative. You’re good to go for Trond.”

  Phil Jenkins had been missing from the lab when I’d launched to Jarl. He was one of the few people at XCU I genuinely trusted. His position in technical operations gave him access to information most others didn’t have, and he’d proven his loyalty during more than one mission.

  “Thanks, Phil. Anything else I should know?”

  He paused. “Mitchell had the transmission lab running diagnostics for three days straight. Something about ensuring ‘optimal integrity’ for your journey.”

  I smiled grimly. “Making sure I arrive in one piece? How thoughtful.”

  “Or making sure you arrive exactly where she wants you to. Be careful, Tanner. Something feels off about this one.”

  “When doesn’t it?” I asked philosophically.

  “Just... watch your back, okay? After what happened with Dom...”

  He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to.

  “I’ll be careful,” I promised. “Keep digging, but don’t take unnecessary risks. If Mitchell suspects you’re helping me...”

  “I know, I know. Plausible deniability. Don’t worry about me.” He paused again. “Good luck out there.”

  The connection terminated, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I finished my whiskey and poured another. The bottle was significantly lighter now.

  The night had deepened, the city’s lights growing brighter against the darkness. Somewhere out there, beyond Earth’s polluted atmosphere, beyond the solar system itself, Trond waited with its lush forests and hidden dangers.

  Mitchell was playing an angle, that much was certain. The deal done in the dark, the sudden mission to Trond—it all felt too fast and neat. But what choice did I have? She’d just bring Livy back out of whatever closet she was hiding her in.

  No, I’d play along for now. I’d go to Trond, find these Selk creatures, and complete the job. All the while, I’d keep pulling threads, uncovering the truth about XCU’s operations, about Brandt’s and Mitchell’s bullshit. Dom deserved that much. The colonists deserved that much.

  I raised my glass to the sprawling city below, to the distant stars beyond, to the worlds where humans struggled to build new lives far from Earth’s crowded shores.

  “To the game,” I toasted to myself. “And to playing it better than they expect.”

  Tomorrow I’d begin preparations for Trond. Tonight, I’d allow myself this moment of reflection, this breath before plunging back into the dangerous currents of colony politics and XCU manipulation.

  I called Tina—twice. But she didn’t answer.

  Maybe she’d been poisoned by Livy and Mitchell. Maybe she believed whatever story they’d told her about me. I could hardly blame her for that.

  Shrugging, I let the whiskey warm my throat. It went nicely with the cool night air on my face.

  Whatever waited on Trond—alien doppelgängers, colonial conspiracies, Mitchell’s hidden agendas—I’d face it head-on. It’s what I’d always done. It’s what I’d keep doing until I found the truth, or the truth found me.

  Either way, this new game was just beginning.

  THE END

  More SF Books by B. V. Larson:

  Rift Warrior Series:

  #1: The Techborn

  #2: Ghost Signal

  #3: Depths of Tamil

  #4: Tyrant of Jarl

  The Undying Mercenaries Series:

  Steel World

  Dust World

  Tech World

  Machine World

  Death World

  Home World

  Rogue World

  Blood World

  Dark World

  Storm World

  Armor World

  Clone World

  Glass World

  Edge World

  Green World

  Ice World

  City World

  Sky World

  Jungle World

  Crystal World

  Throne World

  Rebel World

  Rage World

  Demon World

  The RED COMPANY Series:

  First Strike!

  Discovery

  Contact

  Invasion

  Steel Rain

  Star Runner Trilogy:

  Star Runner

  Fire Fight

  Androids and Aliens

  Rebel Fleet Series:

  Rebel Fleet

  Orion Fleet

  Alpha Fleet

  Earth Fleet

  Star Force Series:

  Swarm

  Extinction

  Rebellion

  Conquest

  Army of One (Novella)

  Battle Station

  Empire

  Annihilation

  Storm Assault

  The Dead Sun

  Outcast

  Exile

  Demon Star

  Starship Pandora (Audio Drama)

  Visit BVLarson.com for more information.

  * * *

  [H1]Tanner seems to know (or guess really well abt) a lot of ‘inside’ info…

  Maybe add Renn telling him to go get briefed at start of chapter 5?

 

 

  B. V. Larson, Tyrant of Jarl (Rift Warrior Book 4)

 

 

  Thank you for reading books on GrayCity.Net
Share this book with friends