The Plague Forge [ARC] by Jason M. Hough Page A

me.”
    Whether or not this comment was an insult, Tania wasn’t sure. She decided to let it go and simply waited.
    A thin, compassionate smile crept onto Ana’s face. “Come to the armory after you speak with Karl. I’ll help you pick out some gear.”
    “Thank you,” Tania said, surprised. Between Karl and Beram she’d been instructed on how to break down, clean, assemble, and shoot just about every gun the colony had available, but there was an implied offer of tacit friendship in Ana’s invitation that took Tania off guard. Skyler’s lover had all but outright avoided Tania in the past. Yet she knew a peace offering when she heard it and accepted it gladly.
    Tim stumbled out of the climber car behind her. He had a backpack in one hand and a briefcase in the other. He’d chosen to wear a jogging suit, comfortable on the space stations and in a climber, sweltering here on the ground.
    “See you later then,” Ana said, and walked away.
    Tania watched her go while Tim swatted at mosquitos, a task made all the more awkward by the gear he carried. “Karl better heal quickly,” he grumbled as he smacked the back of his neck, his backpack now lying on the black alien disk at their feet. He inspected his hand and frowned in disgust.
    “Let’s go find him,” Tania said, and led the way to the infirmary.
    Karl sat on the edge of his bed, his broken leg outstretched before him. “I’m not saying you’re not ready, Tania. I just think it’s unwise for you to go.”
    “Why?” she asked. “Not that I need your permission, but I’ve trained hard. Ask Beram.”
    “He’s given me regular reports,” Karl admitted. “I suspect you could break my other leg right now if you wanted to.”
    Tania shrugged, forced her voice to remain casual. “Waste of a strike; you’re already hobbled. I’d go for the bones on the top of your good hand, which is exposed and in easy range, in case you had a gun or a knife hidden somewhere—”
    “Jesus,” Tim said. He stood by at her right.
    “At the same time I’d kick Tim in the stomach and flip him on top of you. By the time you two even knew what happened—”
    Karl held up that good hand in defeat. “Okay, all right. Beram’s done his job well, obviously.”
    “Obviously,” Tim echoed.
    Tania smiled victoriously. She tried to ignore Tim’s slack-jawed expression and kept her focus on Karl. “I think,” she said, “Beram should start working with Tim next. He’s the weak link now.”
    “No kidding. Sign me up,” Tim said. “Wait, did you just call me weak?”
    Karl winced, tried to scratch his leg, and gave up. “But this mission, it’s not about training Tania. It’s about you not being here.”
    She’d expected this argument. Indeed, she’d already had it with Skyler, Tim, and Zane. “You guys are plenty capable of making decisions without me. Tim will be down here until you’re healed, and Zane is improving every day. Besides, I’ll be with Vanessa and Pablo, who’ve more than proven themselves in Ireland. Skyler can’t be in two places at once, and with your condition I’m the next-best choice to lead the expedition.”
    He opened his mouth to speak but Tania waved him off. “We have no idea what we’ll find out there. I’m a scientist, I’ve got experience in the field—Hawaii, and in the rainforest here—plus I’ve been inside the Key Ship. I know what we’re looking for.”
    Karl frowned. A light rain began to tap against the tent above them, and the sunlight dimmed as clouds began to cross the sky.
    “On a lighter note,” Tim said, “we brought Russell Blackfield down with us.”
    A dark scowl crossed Karl’s face. He shifted on the bed again as the news settled. “I suppose it’s for the best. It’s too easy to sabotage a space station, and down here at least he can be put to work.” His focus moved back to Tania. “There’s no talking you out of this venture into the Clear?”
    “No.”
    He nodded for several seconds.