The Betwixt Book One (38 page)

‘
You have no idea what the GAM would have done,’ the Commander
cut in, his breath growing shorter as time wound on. ‘They would
have had to investigate something like this. I agree, they tend to
bury things, catch things up in bureaucracy. But they aren't mad.
They would have looked into this, they would have.’

‘
And what if your faith in them is wrong, ha?’ Marty continued,
the same crazed look in his eyes. ‘Well, I wasn't willing to take
that risk. Sorry, Commander, but it is me the galaxy will remember
when they look to those that saved them from the Twixts. I'm not an
angel, I'm a mercenary leader, but that only means I've got the
balls to do what's right.’

‘
No, you're insane,’ I said quietly, choosing to stare up at my
mother rather than look at his face.

My thoughts were swimming again, a strange throbbing pain
growing in my temples. The after effects of the grenade and my
sedative were still messing with my system. The light just seemed
too bright, I wanted to turn away from it all and bury my face in
my hands.

But that would never last. I wouldn't be able to hide from
this. I was now the unwilling partner of my ex employer. He was
right, I would have no choice but to help him, if he was the only
person willing to fight the Twixts. Because, like it or not, my
greater duty lay with them.

Nothing had turned out as my mother had intended. Everything
was messed up, different, screwed. I wasn't a warrior, I was a
waitress. The galaxy had not prepared an army to fight the Twixts,
and it was unwilling to believe they even existed. And I was not
free to follow in her footsteps, to finally seek her out – I was
stuck in the hands of a mercenary leader.

If the balance of war between the People and Twixts was such a
delicate one . . . then I had just broken
it.

I felt the shocking truth rumble through me, destroying the
last vestiges of my hope.

We were going to lose this fight.

END OF
BOOK ONE

This
story is concluded in BOOK TWO, which is currently
available.

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