Page 32 of Agrippa's Acceptance

The ship stopped dead and Agrippa could feel her heart following suit.

Anatu sighed. “Little Big Ship said story first.”

“Sergeant, remind me to kick your butt later,” Colonel Farnham said.

The sergeant told a fantastical story about a man living for days in the belly of a whale.

To their relief Little Big Ship started up and landed in the hangar, exactly as they planned.

Amelagar leaned down and kissed her. A quick hard kiss. “Stay behind me.”

She nodded and weapons ready, they stepped out into the enormous hangar space.

They found one clone on the bridge, oblivious to what was happening with his ship and crew. Colonel Farnham shot him without hesitation.

Amelagar sneered at the body. “I wish I could say that was one less clone.”

Amelagar kill the remaining three clones without mercy. It chilled Agrippa to see how mercilessly and without hesitation he killed them. It reminded her of how he killed the Captain.

No one sounded an alarm. It was only when they got to the bridge that they found two clones obviously bored and half drunk.

The marines despatched them and Agrippa swallowed bile. She would never get used to such casual killing of people.

With the clone ship now enslaved and aiding them, they stood looking down at the clones in the cryo pods.

“It is murder,” Agrippa said, but she couldn’t mourn them and she knew he others could hear her lack of sympathy over how the clones died. Maybe she was turning into a monster.

“Remember they are clones.” Amukkan didn’t even try to sound as if he cared. “Their replacements are being grown on Tunria as we speak.”

It was when they reached the engine room that their mission almost fell apart. A clone, much more alert than the bridge officers, issued a command and an alarm sounded. It cut off almost immediately.

“I hope that was our Little Big that stopped that alarm.” Sergeant Scott shot the clone who aimed his weapon at them. Sergeant Bjorn raised his voice when the engine room were cleared.

“Anatu, I know you can see this. This is why the clearance of a room need to be practiced.”

No answer and he smirked.

“We will use the bigger ship, for day to day living but Little Big Ship will monitor the clone ship all the time.”

“LBS, how did you get us away from the other ships unseen? This was too easy.”

Colonel Farnham nodded in agreement. Amelagar, you’ve been telling us how dangerous those clones are, but this makes twice you have stolen one of their ships right under their noses.”

Before Amelagar could answer, the ship shuddered. Anatu’s voice came over the intercom.

“Sergeant Scott, you meant to say Little Big Ship and not LBS?”

The ship shuddered again.

Sergeant Scott did not miss a beat. “Nah, he’s one of us. Our buddy. Buddies give each other nicknames. That’s why the others call me Scotty and my friend here Blackie.”

Silence.

“Ask him if he wants to be our clever buddy LBS?”

Silence, then Anatu said. “LBS likes that name.”

They could hear the sigh in her voice. “He is ready for a story now.”

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