Read Dragonback 02 Dragon and Soldier for Free Online Page B

own goal here wasn't simply to survive
basic training, either. He couldn't afford to trip over some scheme of
Alison's while he was trying to break into the Edge's computer records.
One way or another, he had to find out what she was up to.
    And so he waited, and watched, and tried to be patient. And on the
fifth day, that patience was finally rewarded.

    "The targets are set up over there," Sergeant Grisko told them,
pointing as the trainees filed by the weapons table that had been set
up in the woods. Through the trees, a hundred yards away, Jack could
see a ragged edge of rocks. "Go pick a firing position and have at it."
    The trainees fanned out through the trees. Gingerly hefting his
Gompers flash rifle, Jack headed off toward the right flank. "This is a
different style of weapon than the one carried by the Brummga we saw
aboard the Havenseeker " Draycos murmured from beneath his shirt.
    "That one was some kind of machine gun," Jack told him. "It fired
bullets. Little projectiles, driven by small explosions."
    "I understand the concept."
    "Okay. This thing is a chemically pumped laser. Big difference.
Hurts just as bad if it goes off in your face, though."
    Draycos stirred against his skin. "You seem uncomfortable with it."
    "Try scared to death," Jack growled back. "Two hours' worth of
training, and we're supposed to know how to fire these things?"
    "You are not familiar with this weapon?"
    Jack snorted. "You kidding? I don't even like looking at it."
    "Yet you were carrying a hand weapon when we first met."
    "I was carrying a tangler," Jack corrected tartly. "There's about
fifty light-years' difference between that and one of these."
    "You!" Grisko called from behind him. "Dragonback!"
    Confused, Jack swiveled around. "Sir?"
    The sergeant was standing back by the weapons table, his fists
resting on his hips. "Someday, if you're really, really good at this,
maybe they'll issue you a weapon with a vocal rangefinder chip," Grisko
told him. "Until then, don't talk to your gun. It won't talk back."
    Jack felt his ears reddening. "Yes, sir," he said. Turning around
again, he stalked off through the trees. "Thanks, Draycos," he muttered
under his breath. "Like I needed more trouble."
    "My apologies," the dragon said quietly.
    Jack sighed. "Forget it."
    He got a few more steps before Draycos spoke again. "I am still
confused."
    "A tangler is a nonlethal weapon," Jack explained tiredly. Draycos
could go off on bunny trails of his own all day, but once he got an
idea or question stuck between those pointy ears, you couldn't shake it
loose with a pry bar. "That means it doesn't kill anyone. Hey, you used
the thing—you saw what it did."
    "I understand the difference," Draycos said, a little stiffly. "I am a K'da warrior. My surprise is that someone from your former profession
would not be familiar with many different styles of weapons."
    Jack shook his head. "You've got it backwards," he said. "Someone
in my former profession couldn't afford not to be choosy about
his choice of guns. Ever hear of felony murder?"
    "No."
    "A felony is a major crime," Jack explained. A few trees ahead, he
could see a section of jagged rocks. It looked like as good a place as
any for target practice. "Like armed robbery or kidnapping or
something."
    "Or murder," Draycos added quietly.
    Jack shivered. He'd already seen what Draycos and his K'da warrior
ethic thought about murderers. "Anyway, felony murder is when someone
dies while you're committing a crime like that."
    "Even if you did not intend for it to happen?"
    "Even if it wasn't even your fault," Jack said. "No matter how it
happens, if you were the one committing the crime, you can be charged
with murder. That's why Uncle Virgil and I never, ever carried weapons
that could kill."
    "Interesting," Draycos said thoughtfully. "K'da and Shontine law
requires intent to be considered. Is this universal in the Orion Arm?"
    "On most Internos planets it is," Jack told him. "A lot of the
alien worlds do