The Bad Company™ Boxed Set (Books 1-4)

by Martelle, Craig

  “Thank you, Sue. I’ll owe you one.”

  “You and everyone else,” she replied. “If you get beat up while you’re out there, Spires Harbor is here to patch you up, good as new.”

  “That’s your advertising hook. Good as new. Take care, Sue.” Smedley closed the channel. “Clifton, whenever you’re ready.”

  “Gate engine is charged. Executing. Gate is forming,” helm stated as he went down his checklist. “Thrusters engaged. Easing over the event horizon. Next stop, Onyx Station.”

  The gate shimmered and the ship slipped through. After a moment of disorientation, space reappeared. In the distance, a massive station stood like a spindle, a beacon in deep space. The station was well lit and well attended. Ships circled it like bees around a hive, waiting for their turn to dock and deliver their materials. Hangar bays encircled the lower half of the structure. Some looked large enough to fit the War Axe.

  “Are we docking inside?” Terry asked, incredulous at the size of the station. “Was it that big last time we were here?”

  “It has always been that size, TH,” Micky said as he mindlessly stroked the orange cat purring in his lap

  “And this is where everyone gets off and scatters to the four winds.” Terry pursed his lips, blowing out a long stream of air.

  “Did they get that Dark Tomorrow stuff under control?” Char asked, eyeing the station as the War Axe closed.

  “Nathan was comfortable that it was, but he’s keeping us in the loop. He’s got a couple different groups that he can put on the problem. I want to hear more from him about who these interstellar studs might be.”

  “What if they’re women?”

  “Stud muffins?”

  Char shook her head and laughed softly.

  “We better go see our folks off,” Terry said and started for the hatch.

  “Why?” Char wondered. TH stopped.

  “I always send my people out with a pep talk.” Terry looked at the deck and then the overhead as he contemplated. Once certain that he was right, he headed off the bridge. “Smedley, hold the shuttles until I can get there and say my piece.”

  “I better go and see what the current gonorrhea lecture looks like.” Char nodded to the skipper and followed Terry out.

  “I heard that! I’m not giving an STD talk.”

  “Not again, you mean!” she yelled into the corridor. “Thank God.”

  Terry was waiting at the top of the stairs for her. “I miss them already.”

  “I know. Me, too. Let’s do what we need to do, have a good sendoff for Kae and Marcie, then get back to Keeg for the last of the new recruit training. I have high hopes for that group. Yollin, Ixtali, Asplesians, and a menagerie of other aliens along with the Harborians, who are almost alien.” Char took Terry’s hand, as they did when walking together.

  The stairwell on the War Axe was wide, accommodating the hand-holding couple as they descended.

  “It throws our mech plan out the window. We’ll need independent designs for some of their body shapes. The Ixtali have four legs?”

  “Four and two sets of mandibles.”

  “I feel like they should give me the willies, but they don’t. It’s the cantina scene in Star Wars, but this is real. If I’m drinking a beer, I don’t care who’s next to me. Just don’t bump me or I’ll have to take off your hairy alien arm!”

  “I know you think that the bounty hunter shot first.”

  “All that matters is I’m willing to shoot first if someone points a blaster at my face.”

  “I would expect no less,” Char conceded.

  When they reached the hangar bay, they found the warriors and a few members of the crew waiting on their ride to Onyx Station.

  “I heard they have a suite with a chocolate shower,” Char stated abruptly, as Terry’s steps had quickened at the sight of his people with crossed arms and tapping feet. He noticed Clodagh Shortall off to the side with one of the warriors. They were locked in a hug, faces smashed together.

  Char slowed, acting as an anchor to hold Terry back. “What the hell is going on over there?” he asked, pointing at the couple while looking over his shoulder at Charumati.

  “What do you think?” she asked with a shrug.

  “But, he’s a private and she’s a lieutenant.”

  Char stared at her husband from beneath raised eyelids. “They are adults, and we’re a private conflict solution enterprise. The War Axe is our ride to where we’re going. She’s one of the crew. So what, TH? Don’t sap their fun because you’re in a pissy mood.”

  “Why would you think I’m in a pissy mood?”

  “Because you are.” Char didn’t elaborate before changing the subject. “Do you have any idea how much money you’ve made off Nathan because of your non-swearing?”

  “I have no idea. I’ve been kind of busy,” Terry replied.

  “You could probably describe it as a few years of your salary.”

  Terry finally stopped trying to pull away. “What?” A smile slowly spread across his serious face. “You mean that I’ve got money? But I don’t really care about that. We have what we need.”

  “Are you sure we have everything we need?”

  “I’m now sure that you don’t think so,” Terry replied astutely.

  “Terry Henry Walton, you lack a hobby.”

  “I’d love to play golf, but there aren’t any courses out here. Aliens are such sticks in the mud.”

  The warriors continued to tap their feet as they waited. Some harrumphed, others coughed. Clodagh and Private Gefelton continued what they were doing without pause.

  Char drew a canvas in the air with her hands. “Imagine, a brew pub with a golf course and batting cage simulator. A dancefloor with some music. Happy hour. Hot wings. And beer.”

  Terry blinked quickly to fight back the tears. “A brew pub. My own brew pub with a computer-simulated golf course using real golf clubs. That might be the best gift in the whole universe.”

  “It’s not a gift. You’ll have to pay for it with your money. I’m going shopping. And there’s nothing to pay for, anyway. We need to talk to all kinds of people. I have appointments scheduled with a lawyer, an accountant, and of course, with a pub regarding a franchise.”

  “A lawyer?”

  “Do you think that just because we’re in space, we no longer have laws? This is business. You signed a contract with the Bad Company. We all did. Pull up your big boy pants and see if you want to run a bar.”

  “Pull up your frilly panties and join me!”

  “You know they’re not frilly.”

  “You got that right.” Terry grabbed Char in a bear hug, picked her up, and swung her around. “What are we waiting for?”

  He gently set her down before jogging to the impatiently waiting group. “BRING IT IN!” he bellowed, looking pointedly at the couple. They separated and joined the others.

  “Liberty is about escaping the day-to-day grind,” Terry started. “Go out and enjoy yourselves. Make the most of your time off, and then come back when your vacation is over.”

  “A month?” one of them ventured.

  “Two weeks and meet back here at Onyx Station. Don’t make us leave without you because we will, and then there will be hell to pay. Give me an oorah on three.”

  Terry counted down and the warriors cheered. It was their first real liberty since the Force de Guerre went to space, too many lifetimes ago, and became the Bad Company.

  Kaeden and Marcie joined the cheer at the end before the group ran for their shuttles.

  “Mind if we join you for the ride to Onyx?”

  “Indeed.” TH waved at them to follow as he headed toward the same shuttle he always used. Char nodded knowingly. “You can tell me about your goals for the army that you’ll build.”

  Chapter Ten

  Alameda, Earth

  The factory looked the same. Just like the sky and the bay. Everything looked the same, but nothing felt the same.

  “Have we been gon
e that long?” Petricia asked.

  “Maybe we have. There’s something off about this place. Ted? Can Plato sense anything?” Joseph asked.

  Ted was storming toward the factory, a brisk two-mile walk away. “Uncle Ted?” Cory asked.

  He slowed until he stopped, his head hanging and his chin resting on his chest.

  “You feel it too, don’t you?”

  “Plato can’t find anything. He continues to search and analyze,” Ted relayed.

  “But you feel it,” Cory stated.

  “I don’t know what I feel.”

  Cory wasn’t surprised at Ted’s revelation. There were too many different emotions bombarding him. She put a gentle hand on Ted’s shoulder. A soft blue glow appeared from between her fingers.

  Ted remained still. When he finally looked up, his eyes were clear and his face relaxed. “Let’s get to the plant and talk with Kailin.”

  “I’m looking forward to seeing my nephew,” Cory replied.

  “You not only have a gift, you are a gift, my lady,” Joseph told her. Dokken barked and panted happily.

  I couldn’t agree more, the dog added. When he reached the pavement, he stopped. Can we stay on the grass?

  Cory pointed to the massive buildings that housed the gravitic engine factory and dirigible construction facilities. “We cannot. We’re going over there.” She kneeled next to him to make it easier for him to see where she was pointing.

  If that’s where you’re going, I’m going there, too. But we’ll be back because our ship is here. Maybe we can cover the decks with grass. Ted could do it if he wanted to. Make him want to.

  Cory chuckled. “I’ll ask because it’s important to you, but not now. We have some things to focus on first. I need to find my daughters.”

  Dokken nuzzled her hand. Of course. I got distracted for a moment. It won’t happen again. Shall we?

  The large German Shepherd trotted ahead, turned, waited for the humans to start walking, and then ran farther.

  “The longer I’m here, the more it feels familiar. Maybe our lives aboard the sterility of starships and space stations have changed our perceptions regarding the chaos of nature.” Joseph kept his eyes moving as he watched the world around them.

  “Look, a dog,” a rough young man said as he stepped from the shadows. A group of his fellows appeared on both sides. “What’s with the blue eyes, honey?”

  “Get out of our way. We have things to do,” Ted said gruffly, waving dismissively.

  “I think you grossly underestimated what you’ve gotten yourself into. Leaving is your best option. Nothing else will turn out in your favor.” Joseph looked into the mind of the young man, before exploring the minds of those around him. They didn’t care. They were a gang and harassing people was the least of their crimes.

  Dokken growled and bared his fangs. Ted sighed and shook his head. Joseph stretched his fingers and cracked his knuckles. He didn’t want to see the others embroiled in a fight not of their choosing.

  I will be their champion, he thought.

  Cory cocked her head, looking confused. “Why would you do this?”

  “We take what we want. Come on, boys. Kill that dog while I introduce myself properly to Miss Blue Eyes.”

  Onyx Station

  Nathan Lowell’s office was nondescript. “As president of the Bad Company, I would have expected something a little more opulent.”

  “Why?” Nathan asked as he stood to shake Terry’s hand.

  “To make sure you negotiate from a position of power,” Terry answered.

  “I always negotiate from a position of power.” Nathan smiled easily and made his friends feel welcome. They took seats on a couch and in over-stuffed chairs. “We have a few minutes before your destroyer leaves for Belzimus.”

  Marcie and Kaeden looked at each other. “We thought that we’d be based out of here.” Marcie stood and started to pace.

  Terry appreciated her style; it reminded him of someone he knew.

  “You will be, but like me, you probably won’t spend much time here. What you’ll be doing will be more hands-on until you have the feel of your front line leadership team.”

  “Are we going to have to earn their respect?” Kae asked. Everything stopped within the room. The fidgets, the pacing, even the breathing.

  “There has to be more to your question,” Nathan said.

  “I don’t want to have to beat anyone senseless, but are we going to have some ass-munching Klingon challenge me to a duel?”

  Terry bit his lip. Char elbowed him to keep quiet.

  “The army that you’ll be building is made up of people who look and act human. But they most assuredly are not. I think you won’t be surprised by the broad range of personalities you find on Belzimus.”

  “What do we call them?” Marcie wondered.

  “Belzonian. Even the women. I guess that would be the difference between them and humans. You generally won’t be able to tell the women from the men because they’re hermaphrodites. Maybe that’s why you can’t tell them apart, because there is no apart to tell.” Nathan checked his monitor to make sure it was off and he wasn’t broadcasting. “They like to spread their DNA as wide as possible in order to ensure their species remains strong.”

  “What the butt-hugging nut-roll does that even look like?” Terry wondered.

  “An orgy, or so I’ve been told,” Nathan said, quickly looking away.

  “Why does that matter?” Kae asked.

  “You’ll find that there’s no jealousy there, not because of sex. They are still envious of position and rank and stuff like that, but not from what tends to distract humans the most.”

  “I’m starting to like the Belzonians,” Marcie offered. “We transmitted our recommended organization chart based on what we’d seen. What do we need to change?”

  “The only thing I saw was the reliance on existing structures. I believe you’ll be better off if you move the leadership laterally, make them uncomfortable enough to learn the new way. If they stay in a position they think they know, they’ll do it how they think they know it, if that makes any sense.”

  Kae and Marcie both nodded. “It does,” Kae replied. Nathan stood and held out his hand.

  “That’s it, huh?” Kae said.

  “That’s it. Time to go.” They shook hands, while Terry and Char waited by the door. After the hugs, Marcie and Kaeden strolled out. The door closed behind them.

  “That’s it, huh?” Terry parroted. “Better them than us. A legion of warriors who like orgies.”

  “A new chapter, TH. Marcie and Kaeden will be briefed extensively by Lance Reynolds, since they are going to be working directly for him from now on. They need to get there and get to work. Those people aren’t going to organize themselves. We have too many places they need to go and too little time to get them there.”

  “I’d suggest the Bad Company’s Direct Action Branch could fill in the gap, but we’re spent, as you well know,” Terry answered.

  “I’m not going to do that to you. You went on a mission that I demanded you take, and then you lost one of your own. That was a high price to pay.”

  Terry and Char looked at Nathan without saying anything. They couldn’t disagree.

  “No buts. The power supply has a great value. In the end, no one will remember the price paid, only the cool toy that they’ll soon take for granted.”

  Terry finally looked away. He saw a scuff on his boot. He licked his thumb and buffed it out.

  “I hear that an All Guns Blazing franchise has just opened on Onyx Station,” Char said.

  “Your appointment with Rivka is in ten minutes, so you had best be on your way.”

  “How much money did you lose?” Terry asked. He sat up straight and listened intently.

  “More than I’m willing to admit. You have defeated me, Terry Henry Walton. I thought you were completely incapable of controlling yourself. You’re a Marine, for fuck’s sake! Fuck, fuck, fuckity, fuck. Can’t you hear th
ose words forming in your mind, ready to explode with color and imagination from the mouth that has issued a million orders over the years? Give it to them hard and dirty, Patton said. You are this generation’s Patton, TH. You want to fuck bomb the unwashed shit-suckers out there.”

  “I’m not Patton. I’d say that I’ll take that in cash, but that’s not how things work in this Star Trek universe of yours. Post the credits to my account, my friend. Tips are always appreciated.”

  “Tips? Don’t bet against Terry Henry. That’s the best one I have.”

  “Rivka?”

  “She’s recently arrived as an intern.”

  “An intern? You have got to be kidding me,” Terry said.

  “I know you wanted to say ‘shitting me,’ so let it out, Terry. Let the inner you blossom before us.”

  “No can do, Nathan,” Char said, stepping between the two men. “His self-control is what’s going to pay for the franchise. I don’t want to lose that now, so we’ll be off. But an intern? I hope she knows what she’s doing.”

  “She’s more than meets the eye. I call her the Queen’s barrister, if that means anything.”

  * * *

  Kaeden and Marcie returned to the hangar bay. They spotted a number of sleek ships as well as a wheeled vehicle. “Space-fighters and cars? I wonder who those are for.” Kae pointed toward a cordoned area of the deck.

  “It doesn’t matter. Our ride is this way.” Marcie motioned in the opposite direction.

  “Clearly not one of Ted’s shuttles,” Kae lamented.

  “He’s had the technology up and running for a whole week now. It’s going to take a long time to get out here.”

  “But we know people. Maybe we can get the FDG moved up the priority list?”

  “Is that what we’re going to call this group?”

  “Do we get to name it?” Kae’s lip twitched upward to form a half-smile. “I’ll have to think on that one.”

  “Don’t hurt yourself,” Marcie quipped. “Something like the Etheric Federation Peacekeeping Force.”

  “We need something intimidating, but supportive, like Bad Guy Ass-Kicking Army.”