The Airship: A Futuristic Dungeon Core (The Laboratory Book 2)
Page 18
What was there to decide? It appeared that she had already won.
"If anyone here were going to act against you, it would be I. However, I choose to accept matters as they stand," said Wolf.
"We agree," said Ophelia.
Sylax tilted her head at Wolf. "And you will, of course, be my champion. To explain the situation we find ourselves in to those of you unaware, we have claimed the nine sockets of the city. I claimed the Central Core and propose myself as ruler of Aefwal and a Duchess of the Scholarium. However, two of the other sockets were claimed by my agents and some by other factions which are... unavailable to me."
Wolf nodded. "The city is locked down for one week while we resolve matters amongst ourselves. Otherwise, we'd pick our war back up where it left off."
Doctor Batavius stepped up beside Candice and spoke quietly. "Right now you are technically one of her highest ranking agents, which insulates you and others from the effects her Command core."
That would explain why she needed agreement at all. She couldn't just brainwash us all into doing as she commanded.
Sylax said, "And I'm the strongest of all of you individually. If you do anything terribly stupid, I’ll rip your heads off quickly and the guts out of anyone you care about slowly—and amuse myself with their screams until the sockets open again," Sylax said.
"Oh, do give us something besides the threat of the stick," Zora said.
"I like the stick," Sylax said. "But fine. A piece of gutter trash once declared herself to be the Queen of the World to me. A royal title that filth like her was thoroughly unworthy of, but for someone worthy like myself one must wonder what you all can do? You've all proved yourself to be capable adversaries just to be standing here. Unite behind your better and serve my whims, and in time you'll have your part of it."
It was a speech that inspired no one.
I could feel my systems starting to come online elsewhere. I wasn't housed in the airship any longer. Cameras were coming alive in buildings, on streets, District Three. It had been the research corridor of the city, no wonder I felt drawn to it.
There were miles of labs and testing facilities. Workshops just waiting for my command.
"I pledge my support," James Wolf said, dropping down to a knee.
"We pledge our support," Ophelia said, doing the same.
If I didn't do the same she'd kill me quickly and kill Anna slowly.
I could play her game, for now. Then I could be District Three.
But not a person in this room thought the struggle was done. It was just beginning.
"I pledge my support," I said, dropping Candice to a knee.
Coming Soon
The District
Emma started out as an AI in control of an underground complex but now she has control of an entire district of a city run by a madwoman. Plots will be hatched, insults thrown, and science done as new factions rise to power and struggle for dominance.
Afterword
When I wrote The Laboratory I wasn’t sure if anyone would enjoy it or not. I was combining a lot of different things from the ideas of dungeon core to superheroes to some of the over the top violence and craziness that seem to be a major theme of my books.
I said if people loved it and wanted more I’d do a sequel and I’m a man of my word. This one comes in a little longer than the first (and the future volumes are going to be longer yet). I have big plans for where to take things, and directions to take this series that I haven’t seen anywhere else. If you stick with this series it will be a wild ride.
The date this publishes is also the one-year anniversary of the publication of my first book, Dungeon Crawl. I wasn’t sure how that one would do either, but because of the success of my Crucible Shard series I was able to quit a day job troubleshooting phones and become a full-time author.
I’m a few days back from Las Vegas where I went to a conference for authors. I got to be surrounded by some truly brilliant people who have been at this a lot longer than I have (and cleaned up at the slots to boot). From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I wouldn’t be here and doing something I love if it weren’t for readers. I hope I bring you a fraction of the joy you’ve brought me.
Skyler Grant
Also by Skyler Grant
The Crucible Shard
Liam lives in a world where gamers are held up on a pedestal and their competitions are high entertainment where only the elite get to complaint. When he enters the virtual world himself he finds reality is far weirder than he could ever have anticipated, and when sometimes you think you are the hero you really wind up being the villain. Brutal action, real character development over the series, and many plot-twists.
Book 1: Dungeon Crawl
Book 2: Spawn Campers
Book 3: Corpse Run
Book 4: Gank
Book 5: Area of Effect
Book 6: DLC
Book 7: Endgame
Audio
Book 1: Dungeon Crawl
Book 2: Spawn Campers
Book 3: Corpse Run
Book 4: Gank
Book 5: Area of Effect
Book 6: DLC
Cyberpunk with a heroine who kicks tail and a world that is brutal. Corporations fill the role as culture and the Network is a vast virtual landscape people use to escape the horrors of a decaying Earth. Unfortunately humans bring their horrors with them.
The Persephone Saga
Book 1: Persephone Falling
Book 2: Persephone Rising
Book 3: Persephone Ascendant (coming soon)
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