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Back Dark Stars Save as PDF
Chapters (51)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Part One
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. Part Two
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. Part Three
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. Part Four
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. Part Five
  46. 39
  47. Acknowledgments
  48. About the Author
  49. Books by Danielle Rollins
  50. Back Ad
  51. About the Publisher

I’ll let you fill in the rest.

Here we go:

Mission: Goldblum 2

Objective: Attempt to extend the EM’s protection to another living subject.

Let’s do this.

UPDATE—

OCTOBER 1, 2074

22:45 HOURS

I almost don’t want to write this. I know I’m a scientist, and I really should be impartial here, but I’m also an animal lover and this . . .

Well this is hard to get out.

Okay, here goes: I’m afraid that Little Jeff didn’t make it through the last experiment.

Right—Little Jeff is what I named the mouse. As a scientist, I really shouldn’t name test subjects, but I couldn’t help it. He looked like a little Jeff Goldblum.

And now he’s gone. I’d prefer not to get into the specifics of how he was killed but will say, only, that the exotic matter did not extend its properties beyond my physical person to keep him safe inside the anil. It seems, for some reason, that it couldn’t protect a living creature like it could an object.

I really wonder why this is. I have some theories, but I’m afraid each is less likely than the next.

17

NOVEMBER 8, 2077

Dorothy spent the rest of the day following Mac, watching as he turned first her gang, and then the city, against her.

It was heartbreaking. Devastating. Dorothy had stayed hidden, peering out from behind the half-crumbling columns and dark corners of the hotel, her heart sinking deeper and deeper as she watched how easily Mac turned her closest allies against her.

It was like watching a lion seeking out prey. He would wait until he found a Freak on his own, and then he would hobble up to him, all smiles and promises.

Would the Freak like a new set of weapons? A warmer pair of boots? Some expensive food or drink that could only be found in the Center? Mac would snap his fingers to show how easy it would be for him to obtain such things. That terrible smile would grow wider and wider, as he promised the Freak everything he wanted and more.

And, all the while, Regan Rose was a shadow behind him. Silent, menacing, her presence a clear message.

Quinn Fox isn’t in charge anymore.

It made Dorothy seethe.

By midday, Mac had won over half the Freaks, and Dorothy could see that he’d have the rest on his side by nightfall. They were already whispering among themselves, spreading the news that Mac Murphy was willing to give them everything that Quinn and Roman could not—or would not.

Dorothy expected Mac to remain around the hotel, to continue his campaign to turn her gang, but just when he seemed to have them all in his grasp, he just . . .

He left.