Artemis Slade & The Renegades: Road to Redemption

by Art Gulley Jr.

  Jones' voice drew me back from moment of introspection. "Who?"

  A mischievous grin tugged at her lips. "The person whose political contacts allowed me to track you down after your departure from Lazon, and follow your stellar progress in the Corp."

  "And that person is?" I prompted wondering why she was dragging this out.

  Jones' grin deepened. "My brother; Councilor Josef Adams."

  I stared at her for a moment then threw my head back and laughed. "This just keeps getting better and better! First I find out I have a mother who now tells me that the man I've looked to for half my life as a surrogate father is actually my uncle; unbelievable!"

  "So you see," she said cradling my face again. "You were not as alone in the universe as you thought you were."

  I withdrew her hands from my face and placed a gentle kiss atop her forehead. "No, I guess I wasn't," I muttered shaking my head from side to side. Boy; this is going to take some getting used to."

  The Commander's expression changed into one of regret. "I can imagine it will. I'm just sorry for the hardship you've had to endure because of my career choice."

  I gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze."You can't blame yourself for that. Sometimes shit just happen. And besides," I said favoring her with a teasing wink. "Considering what you went through to keep me safe, and in spite of all that's happened since, I think I turned out pretty good."

  A look of pride filled the Commander's...my Mother's eyes. "You turned out perfect." A wistful sigh escaped her lips. "I just wish your father was here to be a part of this long awaited reunion."

  "Yeah me too," I sighed picturing the smile that I knew was on Jerrod Arten's face in whatever afterlife his spirit had made it's way to.

  "But enough of that," my mother said sternly, her Commander facade dropping back into place as she untangled herself from our mutual embrace and settled back into the chair behind her desk. "It's time for us to discuss your next assignment."

  "What?" I cried feigning shock at her declaration. "But I've just had a life altering experience! Don't I get a just-discovered-my-long-lost-family break before you thrust me back into hell?"

  Commander Jones released an amused snort. "Of course not. My son you may be but you're still a Renegade, and we Renegades don't get breaks. Besides," she said smiling at the plaintive wail that escaped my lips. "Tianna got the impression that you wanted to help the good folks of Brick Town throw off the oppression of Reston's corporate regime."

  My eyes widened with delighted surprise. "Are you saying that bringing down Cole Deshlar is my next assignment?"

  A dangerous gleam apppeared in the Commander's eyes. "I am. I take it you're interested?"

  "Oh hell yeah," I cried thinking of the less than warm welcome I had received from Deshlar's boy band during my first visit to their quaint little village. It was time to bring a little Renegade justice to Brick Town!

  But that's a tale best left for another time!

  The End....for now.

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