Fledge Read Online Free Page A

did that week, let alone assume I have an eating disorder."
    "Good, then we'll have eggs for breakfast."
    "Knock yourself out, Ashur." Just stop fucking talking to me, I don't add.
    He gives me a look of superiority, like he won the argument or something, then pushes back his chair and exits the room through the door I thought was the bathroom last night.
    I stub out the cigar and go back to bed watching the newscreen. It's all in English but it shows a lot of stuff that makes no sense. Winged people fighting each other. Killing each other actually, in what looks to be an advertisement for an upcoming arena fight of some kind. Some more winged people having a party. Some people with no wings in what looks to be a government session. Some personal interviews. I just sit there in disbelief. I didn't watch the screens much at home, only when on the road, but it's all a little too familiar. I traveled hundreds of millions of miles, I'm on a totally different planet, habitat, whatever, and still the news is filled with the same shit. Violence, parties, and politics. The irony isn't lost.
    Ashur returns a few minutes later with eggs and toast and beckons me to the table. At least it's real food and not that shit Tier tried to feed me in the cave. It doesn't look horrible, but my head shakes out a no as he slides the plate in front of me. I keep the disgusted look as I meet his eyes. "If you make me eat that I'll throw up."
    He shrugs and takes his seat, shoving food in his mouth before he even settles. "It's good, real eggs and everything. Tier said you only eat fresh food, so lucky us, right?" He shoots me a smile.
    "Tier would have no idea, Ashur. He saw me eat a total of three meals."
    "He's the resident Junco expert, like it or not, what he says goes. Might as well enjoy the food, Fledge food is like military field rations."
    I force myself to eat three bites and push the plate away.
    "Ya know, you don't have to make everything so difficult, Junco. You can have it made here, if you want."
    "And what would I have to do in order to have it made?"
    "Follow the program," he meets my gaze, "and just do what you're told for once."
    "For once? You're an asshole." I let out a deep sigh, get up, and go flop down on the bed and bury my face in the pillows. "I'm sorry I came here."
    I hear him set his fork down and push back from the table and look up to see what he's doing. His head is in his hands. A gesture that reminds me of Tier when he was thinking out at the cabin, right before he told me that he killed my father.
    "Ya know something, Junco, we're probably all sorry you came here. Except one person, maybe. And that's Tier. So for fuck's sake, try and do what you're told for his benefit. The guy's sitting in prison for saving you and" – he lifts his head and stares at me with bloodshot eyes – "and if I had it my way, Junco, I would have killed you myself in order to save him from that."
    He stands up and walks to the door. "If you need something, I'll be outside until Layla comes."
    Good job, Junco. Making friends already.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Layla is busy getting the equipment ready as I watch from the table. "Ashur's mad at me." It slips out because I can't stop thinking about what he said.
    Layla talks to me under her breath between curse words directed at the control panel. "Well, Junco, Ashur is not the sanest guy in the Cluster. He's always been a little touched, don't take it personal."
    "He said he should have killed me to save Tier."
    She looks up this time. "What?"
    I shrug with my hands. "That's what he said." I watch her face as she processes this, expecting her to say something, but she doesn't. She just looks back at the machine, apparently in agreement with the guy who's a little bit touched.
    I change the subject because the thought of both of them wanting me dead to save their friend is a little too unsettling. "So what does this test do anyway?"
    She curses for a few more seconds