Kesten E. Harris - The Green General

Kesten E. Harris

The Green General: The Explorer Book 3

Copyright 2019 by Kesten E. Harris

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Kesten E. Harris asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

Kesten E. Harris has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

First edition

This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy

Find out more at reedsy.com

Contents

Thank you for buying my book, now dont forget to rate and review it! Also, be sure to check out my website and sign up for my mailing list. That way, youll get updates on my future books as I work on and release them.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KestenEHarris

Website: https://kesteneharris.com

Mailing List: https://mailchi.mp/7a1aba4c8cc6/kesten-harris-mailing-list

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KestenEHarrisBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KestenEHarris

The Star of the Show

B

linding lights shone down on me. I accidentally glanced at them, causing them to burn splotches into my eyes. It turned out that stage lights were brighter than Id thought. A desk stood to my right. A man was seated behind it, engaged in deep conversation with a few people who were holding tablets. The conversation concluded with the people walking away. Apparently, a lot more went into talk shows than Id realized. And I didnt see the point of any of it.

I glanced at the audience. Live audiences were excessively dangerous thanks to the Aggressive Intellectuals, so this audience was somewhat transparent, flickered a little, and occasionally disappeared. Its members sat, laughed, and stared like they were really there, but they werent. They were holograms. They werent real.

None of this was.

Someone called for everyone to get ready; the show was about to begin. The man behind the deskthe host, straightened the small microphone attached to his space suit collar as he stared into a camera. Another man counted down from five and ended by pointing at the host.

Welcome back to Chad Takalot Live! Im your host, Chad Takalot, and, today, a very special guest is joining us! You could call him the Epsilon Explorer, the Hero of the First Division, or the kid who needs a haircut. If you asked him, hed probably say he preferred to be called Wander Locke.

The flickering people clapped and cheered at the mention of my name. Of course they did. Any other reaction would have been awkward. I managed a smile and a small wave in response.

Thanks for having me, Chad, I said in a forced tone. No one would notice. As long as I didnt insult one of his sponsors, I was good. Youre right, by the way. Id really prefer to be called by my actual name. I didnt even start the Epsilon Explorer thing.

That horrible nickname had come about because of President Frost, who was also behind this interview and all the other ones. She sure liked showing off her new toy. It had been a month since Id come back from Epsilon, but it felt like it had happened yesterday. All the events that had transpired were still fresh in my mind whether I was awake or not...

Dont you think?

Huh? I snapped my head up.

Chads expectant gaze told me that he had just asked a question. I hadnt heard it because Id zoned out. Again. I looked out at the fake crowd and found that every eye was on me. I couldnt hear the audience members thoughts, but I could imagine them. My hands fidgeted as I pictured their disappointment.

Chad let out a shaky chuckle. Didnt get enough sleep, kiddo? He looked into the camera as the audience laughed. If only he knew how horrific my nights really were. I said that, even without your Epsilon Explorer title, youre still a pretty big deal. Not everyone gets to spend as much time with President Frost as you do. Its like youre her son, dont you think?

Rage flooded me. It took everything in me to prevent my lashing out. I couldnt ruin my image: perhaps I hated my title, but it might prove useful. Every time I took a deep breath, it helped a little less. I did it anyway and felt only a smidgen of my rage diminish.

Yeah! I said with far too much enthusiasm. I had to tone it down. Its crazy because, even though I unfortunately lost my parents to the AI last year, President Frost makes me feel like I still have a mom. I shuddered at the crowds awwing. My sentiment was fake, but it had done the trick. What else did people like? They liked jokes, and I used to tell those. The only downside is that I cant get a coffee without someone recognizing me! Its like, I know Im the Epsilon Explorer, but cant I just get my vanilla latte?

I smiled from cheek to cheek as the crowd laughed. Yup, nothing had changed. All Id done was visit the most dangerous planet in the galaxy. If the people of the galaxy found that funny, then who was I to correct them? I could just pretend that things were fine forever. Made no difference.

My mouth went dry as I tuned out Chads latest monologue. There was a glass of water on the desk. I reached for it with my right arm...

Oh, thats right.

My chest heaved as I looked down at my arm. All that remained was a stump. My destroyed space suit sleeve barely hid it. That was why I couldnt pretend. Id been missing part of myself ever since Id left Epsilon. Sometimes I could still feel my arm, as if Id never lost it to that red AI. That was why the reminder stung so much.

The rest of the interview was a complete blur. I dont remember a word either of us said. I just remember a lot of laughing and applause. None of it was earned.

When I regained focus, I found myself sitting in President Frosts cruiser. The inside was as purple as the outside. This thing held twenty seats, providing more than enough room for me, Frost, and her six bodyguards. One of them was actually driving the cruiser. Frost and I sat side by side in the seventh and eighth seats. She hummed to herself as she scrolled through her phone. I peered out my window and watched the buildings drift by. I wasnt thinking of anything in particular. My mind was encased in fog.