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Dedication

To Meredith

For inspiring me to start writing as a kid

And for being the voice of reason

Contents

Dedication

 

The Coalition of Multinational Corporations

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Acknowledgments

 

About the Author

Also by S. J. Kincaid

Back Ads

Credits

Copyright

About the Publisher

THE COALITION OF MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS

THE INDO-AMERICAN ALLIANCE:

 

European-Australian Block • Oceanic Nations •

North American Alliance • Central America

 

MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS

(and sponsored Combatants):

Dominion Agra

SPONSORED COMBATANTS: Karl “Vanquisher” Marsters

Nobridis, Inc.

SPONSORED COMBATANTS: Elliot “Ares” Ramirez,

Cadence “Stinger” Grey, Britt “Ox” Schmeiser

Wyndham Harks

SPONSORED COMBATANTS: Heather “Enigma” Akron,

Yosef “Vector” Saide, Snowden “NewGuy” Gainey

Matchett-Reddy

SPONSORED COMBATANTS: Lea “Firestorm” Styron,

Mason “Specter” Meekins

Epicenter Manufacturing

SPONSORED COMBATANTS: Emefa “Polaris” Austerley,

Alec “Condor” Tarsus, Ralph “Matador” Bates

Obsidian Corp.

SPONSORED COMBATANTS: None

 

 

THE RUSSO-CHINESE ALLIANCE:

 

South American Federation • Nordic Block •

Affiliated African Nations

 

MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS

(sponsored members unknown):

Harbinger

Lexicon Mobile

LM Lymer Fleet

Kronus Portable

Stronghold Energy

Preeminent Communications

CHAPTER ONE

“YOU’VE GOTTA SEE this watch, Tommy. The inscription says ‘Property of Sanford Bloombury, 1865. ’ Imagine that. Some guy was wearing this thing before we even had electricity. ”

Tom slid off his virtual reality visor and blinked as his eyes adjusted to the dimness inside the bustling casino. The bright lights of the nearby video displays flashed over the smile cracking Neil’s worn face—and glinted across the gold watch dangling from his hand.

“Huh. ” Tom didn’t really get why his dad was showing it to him. “Is this watch thing worth a lot or something?”

“Worth a lot? Tom, this watch has been passed down from father to son for generations. It’s a precious family heirloom, and it’s got a lot of sentimental value. Not to our family, of course, but definitely to that banker’s. ” He jabbed his finger over his shoulder toward the bald man he’d beaten at poker a few minutes earlier. “So I hope it means something to you when I say that I want you to have it.

Happy fifteenth birthday. ”

It took Tom a moment to process his words. “You’re giving it to me?”

He couldn’t remember his dad giving him a present for his birthday .  .  . not on his birthday or anywhere near it, at least. He seized the watch eagerly. The VR visor slipped from his hand, and Neil caught it before it could clatter to the floor.

“This is fantastic, Dad!” Sure, he had absolutely no need for a watch, what with the precise, satellite-tuned chronometer in his brain that measured time down to one two-thousandths of a second.  .  .  . It was one of the many perks of having a computer in his head. Getting a present was still awesome, though.