Read Zero for Free Online Page B

suddenly not smiling. “Let's get out of here.”
    ɵ
    “What happened to his bar?” Hugo asked as they drove back through the groundways towards the harbour.
    “ Jaeger's got a long list of enemies,” Webb said, frowning out of the windscreen.
    “ Why?”
    “ He fought on the other side.”
    “ In what?”
    Webb looked at him. “Governor McCullough’s Revolution.”
    Hugo blinked. “He fought against an independent Lunar State?” Webb nodded. “Why?”
    Webb shrugged. “He liked the moon the way it was. Lost him a lot of friends though.”
    “ Why does he stay?”
    “ It's his home.”
    “ And the bald man that was looking for you? What was that all about?”
    “ You know as much as me on that one, Captain.”
    There was silence as Webb steered them in and out of the traffic. It was coming up to the night cycle but the traffic on the groundways, walkways and flyways seemed as busy as ever.
    “Which side did you fight on?”
    “ In the revolution?” Webb laughed. “Jesus, Hugo. I was still dodging youth unit officials and stealing food from dumpsters on Lunar 1 during that whole mess. Only difference to me was that there were slightly more bullets to dodge. What about you?”
    “ I was still an under-cadet in the Academy. My parents and one of my sisters fought against the rebels though.”
    “ Did they make it?”
    “ My parents did. My sister didn't.”
    Webb didn't say anything. Hugo continued to watch the traffic.
    “Who's Harvey?” He eventually asked.
    “ Just another point,” Webb said, frowning out of the windscreen. He didn't offer anything else and Hugo didn't push. With the good food and strong drink swirling inside him and everything he had already seen and heard that day throbbing through his head, he was more than happy to leave it.
    ɵ
    Webb hung back and let Hugo precede him onto the Zero 's bridge. The new captain had done tolerably well, considering. At least he hadn't screwed up any connections or got them shot.
    “ Rami,” Webb bent over her at her workstation, keeping his voice low. “I think Marilyn might be in some trouble.”
    “ What else is new?” Rami said, not breaking in her typing.
    “ Think this might be real trouble. Splinter-type trouble,” Webb murmured, glancing over to watch Hugo as he walked up to More and started issuing launch orders. “Can you dig around and see what you can find?”
    Rami nodded, looking grave. “Although if she's gone to ground, I won't be able to find anything.”
    “ I'll be more worried if you do find something. Just take a look, okay?”
    “ Okay, Zeek,” Rami said, then she smiled at him. “I'm sure she's fine.”
    Webb nodded and straightened. “Find anything new on the moonframe?”
    Rami shook her head. “There's been a couple of upgrades since we were last here, but both routine.”
    “ Good. Buckle up. I think the Captain's taking us back to Command.”
    “ Command? Again?” Rami blinked.
    “ He has orders to report to Luscombe.”
    “ It's not gonna look good, docking at Service Command twice in two days.”
    Webb shrugged. “We'll manage. Everything okay on the checks?”
    “ All clear,” she said, closing down the reports on her workstation display.
    “ Commander?”
    Webb turned. Kinjo was stood there, panel clutched in hand and eyes flicking between Webb and Hugo. Hugo was bent over More's control panel watching the sub-lieutenant run the rest of the pre-launch checks.
    “All secure below?” Webb said, taking the panel from Kinjo.
    “ Yes, Commander,” she said. “How'd it go with Dolgorukov?”
    “ Well,” Webb said, checking a couple of reports and handing the panel back to the midshipman. “You stocked that cargo just right. He was pleased with the burn connectors.”
    He could see her fighting a smile. Then she sobered, glanced at Hugo and stepped closer. “How'd the captain do?”
    Webb sighed. “Still early days, Kinjo. Get yourself strapped in below. Sub and Bolt ready to go?”
    “