Cabal of Lies
Page 40
Jia let out a quiet laugh. “I hadn’t thought of it that way.” She smiled at him, her expression softening. A contented sigh escaped her lips. “Is it strange that I feel relaxed about quitting my job to gallivant across the UTC, working for a ghost?”
“Focus does wonders for personal satisfaction.” Erik took another bite of duck. “I wish we had a sexier ship, but maybe we can raid some Talos accounts and buy ourselves something better.” He looked up from his plate, his gaze fixing on Jia’s soft lips. The words of the old woman from the park popped into his head.
Jia’s breath caught as if she could sense the change in his mood. “What is it?”
“I was just thinking about something someone told me before all that nanozombie crap happened.” Erik furrowed his brow and stared at Jia. “About complicating things.”
“Complicating things? Like having bacteria as friends?”
Erik chuckled. “Not quite. About feelings and the future.”
“Feelings?” Jia swallowed. “And the future?”
“I don’t know why we’re faking anything anymore. I can’t guarantee you anything, Jia. I can’t even guarantee we’ll be alive in a few months, but I’m changing my mind about dating for real.”
“I see.” Jia took several deep breaths. “I can’t say I’m disappointed. I’ve told you what I want. Why the change?”
“Because I’ve been trying to tell myself I’m protecting you.” Erik chuckled. “But what am I protecting you from? If we can go through everything we’ve gone through together, we can at least try things out and see where they go.”
“You and me against the universe?” Jia joked.
Emma winked into existence, her holographic form sitting in an empty chair at the table. “I’ll be the logical one, while you two are full of fleshbag hormones that make you say and do idiotic, foolish things.”
Erik groaned and scrubbed a hand down his face. “Talk about killing the mood.”
“What? You wanted to bang tonight?” Emma scoffed.
Jia blinked. “’Bang?’” A few seconds later, she burst out laughing.
Erik pointed his knife at the smirking Emma. “I swear I’m going to find a black hole and dump you in it.”
The Story Continues with Maelstrom of Treason
There is a new definition of danger when your enemy is in the military.
It's one thing when you go up against crooks, gangsters and businesses. It's a completely different situation when your enemy can send black-ops teams to end your existence
Now the path leads into halls of power beyond Jia and Erik's existing resources. Will they be forced to end their chase, or will others support them no matter the cost?
Jia and Erik need to uncover the truth – but is revealing the truth good for those around them?
---
Two years ago, a small moon in a far off system was set to be the location of the first intergalactic war between humans and an alien race.
It never happened. However, something was found many are willing to kill to keep a secret.
Now, they have killed the wrong people.
How many will need to die to keep the truth hidden?
As many as is needed.
He will have vengeance no matter the cost. She will dig for the truth. No matter how risky the truth is to reveal.
Go up and click Buy Now and prepare for the mystery that determined humanity’s future.
* * *
"An incredibly good fictionalized accounting of humanity’s future, and what Lin and Blackwell uncovered that shook the foundations of both the powerful and the elite." - UFE Interstellar News.
* * *
Pre-order Maelstrom of Treason for Delivery on May 29, 2020
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
March 7, 2020
Thank you for reading not only this book but through the end to these Author Notes in the back!
Where do we go from here?
Right now, this book will come out in April 2020. I’m busy editing book 06 as we fly from the US to the UK (London) for what is left of the London Book Fair week.
It’s going to be a bit sparse because the London Book Fair canceled the event. However, I’m a speaker at a live event on Monday, and while the concern is running full tilt in the United States, my wife and I have looked at the statistics, and here we are.
Note: We live in Las Vegas, and 80,000 people or more fly into the city every day. The fact that we aren’t already showing more cases in our city is shocking to me. Or, they aren’t being listed as Covid-19. I’m probably going to be safer in London.
This whole episode had me thinking when I saw a book called Zombie: Indiana (great title, Scott Kenemore.) You see, I come from Texas, and I think this is how a Zombie outbreak would happen down where I came from.
Large group of Texans at a BBQ, when one of the guys comes from a hunt complaining about some bad food he ate the day before. He comes up to three of his friends, sweating horribly.
One of his friends notices that George is quiet, and his health is subpar.
“George, you’re looking a little flushed, man.”
George looks up, his eyes all white. “Brainszzzz.”
“Awww hell, George.” Three pistols get yanked from their holsters.
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
The man shakes his head. “Dammit George, you still owed me $10 for beer last week.”
Game Over:
Zombies: 0
Texans: 1
Zombie patient 0 just eliminated. Zombie Infestation stopped.
Please resume your normal activity.
Having a zombie story set in Texas would make for a very short Zombie Apocalypse story indeed.
* * *
Editing tonight
So, back to flying over. It is dark outside, and I can only assume we are flying over the U.S., but we could be taking a trip over the Pole, I suppose.
OH!
(I rarely use the tv in business class, but I remembered that I could look at a map and pulled it up. Looks like we are going to go over Canada and then past Greenland.)
This explains why I need a blanket over my shoulders to stay warm so early into the flight. It is minus 53 degrees Celsius outside the plane at the moment, and it will get worse as we fly north.
I’m not looking forward to when we fly over Canada and I feel like an author-popsicle.
* * *
Where do we go from here?
If you are looking at the covers (aren’t they fantastic?), we just finished covers for stories 7 & 8 (preorders up now, Go buy, go buy!).
Well, to be fair, Gene Mollica and his team finished covers 7 and 8. There was very little “me” in that ‘we’ designing and creating ANY art whatsoever. I get credit for names and concepts only.
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My Job
Titles and Strategy are what I’ll claim I am responsible for. “Yes, we need Erik and Jia on the cover. Emma will be a
That’s my involvement. High-level everyone…where the big bucks are, #AmIRight?
Or I could express my job as High-level, where-those-who-don’t-have-a-lick-of-art-talent-for-designing-great-covers-work.
Hey, I am man enough to admit I can’t hold a candle to what Gene and Sasha accomplish. All I can say is thank goodness for Gene Mollica Studios and Judith for working on our side to accomplish the amazing art.
I look forward to seeing you at the end of Opus Z (hahahaha). Ok, ok fine. No Opus Zombie stories.
See you at the end of Opus X Book 06!
* * *
Ad Aeternitatem,
* * *
Michael Anderle
Books By Michael Anderle
For a complete list of books by Michael Anderle, please visit:
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