The Engineer (The Last Horizon, #2)

by Will Wight

“Were you really going to attack the Karoshans?” I asked. “An enemy fleet entered our system!” Lemon declared. “We will not stand idly by! When you squeeze the lemon, you get the juice!” Omega doubled over cackling.

“Try it!” Lemon shouted. “When you hold onto a lemon, you’ll find that it burns!” Omega staggered in place. “Lemon, are you single? I think I may love you.”

Lemon sneered at Omega. “I’m in a relationship.” “I will duel for you, sweet Lemon!”

Raion wiped a tear from his eye. “I underestimated you, Omega. I’ll cheer for you in the duel.” “Fine,” Lemon said. She sighed. “Normally we do pistols at dawn. Stun rounds, of course. If you manage to stay out of prison, I can put it on my calendar for next week.” I eyed her. “Is that the duel format for Advocates?” “No, it’s for people dueling over me. When I was still in school, they used force-blades, but bystanders got hurt.” “You have a fascinating history, Lemon,” I said.

The Last Horizon, like a smooth bird of prey, rose into the air to face Starhammer. Its plates shone purple, and an all-purple Horizon manifested in midair. “Starhammer of the Advocates,” she announced. Then she grinned. “Run for your life.”