Only Human (Themis Files, #3)(70)
[Vincent, I have a million Chinese soldiers just itching to shoot at something.]
I wouldn’t come anywhere near us if I were them. This place is about to get ugly.
[You’re going to fight Lapetus?]
More like Lapetus is going to fight us. As soon as they recharge, I’m pretty sure they’ll take a swing at us. You sound worried. I thought that’s what you wanted.
[You’re gonna win, right?]
Well, one of us will.
[You better win. I want Lapetus.]
Now you’re just being delusional. They’re going to beam as far away from here as they can if they feel they’re losing. We’ll do the exact same thing. No one is going to “win” if that’s what you mean by winning. No one is getting a second robot out of this, Katherine.
[A girl can dream, Vincent.]
A girl can dream and eat her knish with both hands.
[I was serious about the VX gas, you know.]
No you weren’t. You only think you were.
[Dear God. I sense some serious mansplaining coming.]
Not really. I’d use the same slightly condescending tone if your name was—is there a male version of Katherine? No, really! I can be condescending to everyone. Come on, Katherine. You just threatened to kill me! You, and the Americans for that matter, just didn’t think it through. I told you you’re not getting a second robot out of this. Why? Because they’ll leave before you can get your hands on it. They can only do that if they’re alive. That’s why this completely insane fail-safe they have in place is useless. They won’t kill their pilots because if they do, you’ll grab Lapetus. Same reason you won’t use that gas. It would mean turning Themis over to them. You’re not gonna do that because you’re intelligent, incredibly smart, and wise. Did I say smart?
[You and I are gonna have a talk when you get back here.]
I have to go now; my daughter is about to punch me in the face.
[I don’t mean to rush you or anything, but Pyongyang isn’t going to sit still all day, even if you are.]
Alex, are you ready for this?
—No.
—Good. Overconfidence is bad.
—Then I’m doing great.
—That makes two of us.
—Didn’t you beat that robot before?
—No, that was another one. This one was kicking the living shit out of me and Eva. It came this close. Rose stopped it from killing us.
—That is not particularly reassuring.
—Well, Eva couldn’t handle it either.
—How old was she?
—Ten, but that’s not the point.
—What is the point?
—I—
—Wait! I think I saw her finger move.
—She’ll come at us soon. I wish I knew how. Eugene—General Govender—taught her military tactics.
—Was she any good?
—Apparently. What was that move he said she liked so much? Blitzkrieg? No, that’s not it. Flanking maneuvers!
—What is—?
—Oh, crap!
—Where’d they go?
FILE NO. 2196 (CONTINUED)
MISSION LOG—WARRANT OFFICER EVA REYES AND LT. BARBARA BALL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, MECHA DIVISION
Location: Aboard Lapetus. Seoul, South Korea —Ready for what, Eva?
—Can you put us right behind them? Say thirty, forty feet?
—Yeah, I think I can do that. Just tell me when.
—Can you punch it in now and press go when I tell you to?
—Yep. Eva, I gotta tell you, I’m a little nervous about this.
—Does it help if I tell you I’m also scared shitless?
—You fought one of these before. I haven’t.
—Yeah. I was inside Themis, fighting…this guy, actually. I was just a kid.
—How was it?
—It didn’t go well if that’s what you mean. I don’t remember much. I was trying to hold on to the robot, to Lapetus, but I wasn’t strong enough. I felt so small, I was so small. I was scared out of my wits, shaking. I was absolutely convinced I was going to die.
—Your father saved you?
—Not really, no. He…
—What?
—He was standing where you’re standing now. He got out of his station, walked up to mine, and he held me. He held me so I wouldn’t let go, but mostly so I’d feel safe. One last big hug. He also thought we were gonna die, but he wanted me to feel safe.
—Did you?
—Yeah. I did. I always felt safe around him.
—Eva, I…
—That was a long time ago. A lot’s happened since then. He— —Eva, I’m not judging you. Family’s fucked up. I don’t really care what kind of issues you and your dad have to work out, but I really, really don’t think this is the place for that. I don’t think you should be here. I think you’re endangering the mission, endangering me. Especially me. Not to mention this could start a war.
—What is the mission? They told me it was “to prevent Themis from providing support to the People’s Liberation Army.” I’m not fluent in military talk, but I assumed they meant we should kick her ass and make her leave. Am I wrong?
—No, you’re not wrong. That’s what they want us to do.
—Then, Barbara, and with all due respect to the moron you normally ride with, you have a much better shot with me here than with anyone else. As for starting a war, I didn’t come here looking for trouble. To be honest, I didn’t want to come here at all. I only signed up hoping I could use Lapetus to get back home.