Predator: Flesh and Blood by Michael Jan Friedman & Robert Greenberger

Author:Michael Jan Friedman & Robert Greenberger [Friedman, Michael Jan & Greenberger, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction, General
ISBN: 9785557523059
Google: Ez4gIQAACAAJ
Amazon: 1595820477
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
Published: 2007-10-14T23:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

The views on the multiple-screen setup had stopped entertaining Derek Ciejek some time earlier—and for good reason. Somehow, against any odds worth betting on, his cousin had avoided destruction at the hands of the Predators.

With morbid fascination, Derek had watched as the aliens left the forest and traced the humans to the mountain. He had cheered out loud as each of Andar’s men was taken down, one after the other. He hadn’t left his seat for a moment, reluctant to miss even a single small act of mutilation.

Marlene and his other employees had drifted in and out of his cabin, incapable of sharing his lust for mayhem. Snacks had been brought to him so he wouldn’t have to get up. He concentrated strictly on switching drone angles, looking for the most satisfying and entertaining perspective on the bloodshed.

The drones’ signals had become more garbled the deeper they went into the mountain, but Derek hadn’t left his seat then either. He could still make out what was happening, so he hung in. Such was his hunger for violence.

He didn’t like it when the Predators spotted one of the drones and destroyed it. However, that was a risk he had assumed from the beginning. Besides, with nearly a dozen other drones still in operation, there would be plenty for him to see.

Then matters had gotten out of hand.

He had actually begun screaming at the screens when the Predators allowed their human prey—Andar among them— to board the mining machine. Briefly, his fury had turned to glee when Laban was clipped with a plasma burst. But before long, he had plenty of reason to get angry again, as the mining machine began to dig a hole through the mountain...

And kept going until it was out of sight.

Grabbing a glass, Derek hurled it at one of the screens as hard as he could. On impact, both glass and screen shattered in an explosion of jagged shards.

“Stupid son of a bitch!” he shrieked at his cousin.

“He was never stupid, sweetie,” came the unexpected reply.

Whirling in his chair, Derek saw Marlene standing in the doorway. “Whose side are you on?” he demanded.

“Yours, of course,” she told him. “Which is why I’m reminding you of the truth. Your cousin’s not stupid.”

“Okay, if you’re so damned smart—where’s he headed now?”

“To the reading of the will. After all, he’s got a reason now to claim his share—and you’re it.”

“What? He doesn’t know I’m behind any of this.”

“Oh,” said Marlene, “he knows, all right. Did you see his expression change when he was talking with the others—right after he shot down one of your drones? He went from fear to suspicion to hatred in a matter of moments. Trust me—he knows.”

Derek swore beneath his breath.

He hadn’t imagined that Andar would ever live long enough to attend the reading of the will. He had just assumed that the family fortune was his alone—not just after he sprang his trap on Andar, but long before.

Which was why he had made deals with other syndicates.

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