by Paul Rix
YESTERDAY’S TOMORROW
An Oz Garrett Novel
COPYRIGHT
First published by P&J Books 2021
Copyright © 2021 Paul Rix
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
Paul Rix asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
Cover designed by MiblArt.
First edition
DEDICATION
To all my family and friends -The year 2020 has taught me to share my time with those people in life I truly value.
Chapter 1
The sun was setting on the remote hillside on the planet Vadia, as a flock of golden magpies screeched their way across the darkening sky on their way to whatever nesting sites were hidden away in a nearby wood. Oz Garrett and Levi Murphy ignored the sound as they worked in solemn silence, hurrying to complete their activity while daylight remained. Neither man paid attention to the strong wind bringing bitterly cold air down from the distant snow-capped mountains. As their clothes flapped in the breeze, they stooped to collect small rocks from a large black crate before placing them with care on the chest-high rocky cairns they had built on the isolated hillside.
An ominous gray cloud passed in front of the pale sun, causing Garrett to shiver involuntarily. He glanced around, briefly registering the oncoming storm clouds before his focus returned to the pile of rocks in front of him, his mind blocking out any emotions and thoughts other than that he had to complete the task at hand.
A collection of mementos, most of them charred and ragged, sat haphazardly in various gaps in each of the rocky piles. Personal reminders of happier times, yet telling a story of the tragic circumstances that had recently befallen a father and daughter.
It was Murphy who, after ten hours of hard labor, broke the silence, stepping back to contemplate the structures. Over six hours had passed since either of them had uttered a word. "It's a sobering thought that two people who were so vibrant and full of life have left so little to show they ever existed."
Arching his back to ease the stiffness in his muscles, Garrett stepped back to stand by Murphy's side but said nothing. He was afraid that at any moment he would break down and be consumed by the dark emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. There had been several moments during the day when memories of Mercy had almost breached his defenses, and he'd wondered at the futility of building monuments in such a remote location. Was it what she would have wanted, or was he doing this to assuage his own guilt?
Brushing away the strands of hair blowing into his eyes, Garrett finally replied, his voice a hoarse whisper, barely audible over the sound of the wind. "That's not true, Levi. They left a lifetime's supply of memories. The colonel was a force of nature that brought us all together. And as for Mercy…" Garrett's voice cracked as he bowed his head.
Less than two hundred meters away, the blackened remains of Garrett's former house were a stark reminder of why they were here today. The bitter odor from the wreckage hung heavily on the air. It had been only six weeks since the devastating fire that had taken Mercy, ripping her existence from Garrett's universe. Within the twisted metal, gray clouds of ash floated up and, carried by the wind, swirled in small eddies tens of meters into the air before coming to rest across the verdant pasture.
Garrett couldn't bear to look at the ruins of the home he had only fleetingly shared with his wife for one miserable night. Memories of Mercy's death were still far too raw. He could hear the echoes of the flames that had roared through the house. He couldn't help but imagine the mournful sound of the wind through the twisted remains were her screams from that dreadful night.
He could remember the intense heat on his face from the inferno that had taken everything that mattered to him. He hated the flames for preventing him from saving the most important person in his life. They had shattered his dreams in a matter of seconds. There had been no time for goodbyes. Every day he replayed the events in his mind a thousand times, searching for anything he could have done differently. And every time he wished he had never brought Gideon Wang, his friend-turned-assassin, back to the planet. Perhaps Mercy would have survived and given birth to their son. They would have grown old and lived fulfilling lives.
The entire experience only showed how fragile friendships really were. Those closest could easily break the trust that had taken years to become established.
The heat of the fire had been so intense as to incinerate Mercy's body. The devastation had forced him to employ technology to filter through burned remains of the house to recover her ashes. Those ashes were now sealed inside a simple clay jar within the rocky cairn on the left. He had carefully stacked the rocks around the jar, slowly building an eternal monument to the woman he had loved.
In the case of Colonel Sherman Lane, there had been no corpse or remains. He was somewhere halfway across the Stellar Cluster on Drani III. Garrett doubted the Brotherhood had given him a proper burial. Instead, the colonel had probably been left in the thick forests, his body likely ripped apart and eaten by the local wildlife. Hardly a fitting end for such a great man and friend.
Murphy had spent the afternoon attempting to mirror what Garrett was doing. His pile of rocks was distinctly taller and less refined than Garrett's, although not by design.
"Is this enough?" Garrett asked, wiping a tear from his eye.
"Enough for you or them? The colonel and Mercy don't care." Murphy placed a consoling hand on Garrett's shoulder. "I think this is a fitting memorial for the pair of them. They were inseparable when they were alive and now they'll be together for eternity. What more would you want?"
"I honestly don't know. I keep second-guessing every decision, wondering what Mercy would want. We never talked about death. We both thought we were invincible and would grow old together. I'm a total mess without her. And as for the colonel, he was someone I could speak to about any issue. He would have known the right words to say."
Murphy frowned before speaking. "You're wrong. They would have exactly the same doubts as you if the roles were reversed."
"Thanks, Levi. But we both know the truth. The Stellar Cluster is a far emptier place without them in it. I don't think I can go on without Mercy."
"Of course you can. You know that's what she would have wanted."
"What she wanted was to stay alive and for me to keep her safe."
"She knew how to look after herself. From what you tell me, she saved you. You cannot waste the opportunity she gave you. Her sacrifice has to mean something."
Garrett knew Murphy was right, even if it was difficult to accept. Mercy had been one of the fiercest competitors and battlers he knew. Along with her fitness, speed, and strength, she'd had the sharpest tactical mind of anyone he'd worked with in the Marines. She must have known that she was going to be killed by the thermic grenade, yet her only thought was to protect and save him.
It was an unbearable truth to accept.
Freezing rain fell, bouncing off the rocks. It seemed appropriate to complete the mournful scene. Within a minute, the rain had soaked both men to the skin. "I'll wait for you in the transport," Murphy said, turning to step through the knee-length grass back toward the re
ntal copter less than one hundred meters away.
Garrett stood motionless against the elements. The rain streamed down his face, mixing with the tears that now flowed freely before washing them away.
Lost in his memories, he was unaware of time passing. The sky was pitch black when he finally moved away from the cairns, the only light coming from a bright spotlight on the copter that cast long shadows across the grass. As Garrett took one last look at the memorials, he promised he would return one day. He was undecided when that would be.
Murphy was waiting patiently for him with a set of dry clothes. Garrett accepted them with a cursory nod and changed into them as Murphy set the controls of the copter to return them to the spaceport.
As the copter rose rapidly into the night sky, the cairns and the hillside disappeared from sight, swallowed by the inky blackness. Garrett closed his eyes, trying to remember Mercy's smile, but the memory kept eluding him.
Chapter 2
After returning to their hotel to freshen up, Garrett and Murphy met at the rooftop bar, ninety-eight floors above the bustling streets of Townsville, Vadia II's second city. It was almost ten o'clock yet traffic noise and the melodic beats from a party somewhere far below reached the bar as Garrett found a table that afforded them a scenic view across a city of almost one million people.
The rain had stopped, but the air felt heavy with moisture. Low clouds scudded by overhead, reflecting the multicolored lights of the streets and buildings, casting an eerie glow over the rooftop.
"Just the one beer for me," warned Murphy.
Garrett sighed. He was ready to drink all night, although not by himself. This wasn't going to be much of a wake, but he respected Murphy's decision.
He raised his glass anyway. "To the memory of Colonel Lane and the fine squad of bounty hunters he brought together. May they all rest in peace."
Murphy followed suit, raising his almost full glass to the forbidding sky. "Except for that bitch, Enkona Reynolds. I hope she's burning in hell, alongside Wang."
"I have to believe they are. If there's any justice in the universe. Otherwise, what's been the point of our lives."
Murphy shrugged and took another sip from his glass. "Look, Oz. I know you're going through a hard time at the moment. But you don't have to be alone. On my way here, Marcus Hill from the guild contacted me. Someone recently killed two of his team in an ambush, and he's in the market for replacements. I told him I was in, and I know he'd take you in a heartbeat."
"Thanks, Levi. But I don't think so. Not right now."
"Don't dismiss it. Hill has taken on a large bounty and is on the trail of two bolters wanted for child trafficking."
"I said no," Garrett snapped, slamming his glass onto the table with a loud thud, beer sloshing over the rim and splashing onto his hand. The noise was louder than he'd intended, but he didn't apologize as he ignored the surprised looks from Murphy and the few people sitting in nearby booths. Taking two deep breaths, he recovered his composure. "Bounty hunting is in my past. I gave it everything for years, helping to recapture countless villains. But is the Stellar Cluster a better place for all the sacrifices I've made? There are as many criminals now as when we started, if not more."
"What about all the victims that sought justice from the legal system? We provided closure for hundreds of people who may have otherwise missed out. They still need your help."
"There will always be victims," Garrett replied, before downing his drink and ordering another one from the robo-server. "It's human nature for a section of the population to be gullible and to rely on others to help them out of the holes they dig for themselves. Perhaps it's time for self-reliance. What's that old concept they taught us in school? 'Natural selection'. That was it. Let everyone fend for themselves and weed out the weakest. Survival of the fittest." Suddenly aware that his voice was getting louder, he paused and drank half of his newly arrived beer.
Murphy leaned forward, lowering his voice so that only Garrett could hear. "That's grief talking. I'll let it pass for now. But you need to sort your head out, Oz. Colonel Lane's life's work was to support the victims who couldn't help themselves. We all bought into it, including you. Thousands of people have seen justice served because of what we did. Don't you dare sit there and say that counted for nothing or that victims of crime deserve what they get. That's horseshit and you know it. I'm trying to help you."
"I don't need help. I'm not a victim and can take care of myself. That's all that matters. I appreciate your concern and I consider you as my best and only friend."
"We're more than that. We're brothers and look after each other. You're fooling yourself if you don't consider yourself a victim. They committed the most heinous crimes against you and your loved ones. It concerns me you don't see it."
"The only victims are the ones who aren't with us today. Out of bad luck, I'm a survivor. It should be me that's underneath those rocks. Not Mercy. Not the memory of Colonel Lane."
"You need time to grieve. I understand. If you don't want to work with Hill, take a break. Get away and deal with your demons. With time, you'll find a new perspective and you'll be able to make sense of everything that's happened. Perhaps then you'll be able to move forward and strike out on a fresh path."
Garrett stared at his glass for a moment before drinking the remaining ale. Within seconds, the robo-server brought him a fresh beer, which he swiftly drank. Deep down, he knew Murphy was making perfect sense. He just didn't want to admit it to himself. Whether it was the alcohol or lack of sleep, he felt he could not make any rational decision and he was too stubborn to ask for help.
Levi's soothing tones broke into his thoughts. "I'm worried about you, Oz. I've been where you've been. If you're not careful, you end up in a very dark place where you'll discover parts of your character you don't even know exist. They'll drag you down further into a spiral of self-destruction. You've seen me at my worst, surviving on alcohol and illegal stimulants. Is that really where you want to end up?"
Garrett continued to stare at his drink. "That's not me. I'll be able to handle it."
"That's what I believed. I thought that by compartmentalizing all the different aspects of my life I was taking control. Yes, I could keep my emotions in check. I kept any issues I wasn't happy with locked away. Do you know I didn't shed a tear at my parents' funerals or when comrades fell in battle? I ignored my spiraling levels of debt by finding new lines of credit. I can see similar traits in you, Oz. You keep a tight lid on your emotions. One day they're going to escape and overwhelm you."
"Thanks for the psych session, Levi. Do you charge by the hour?"
"Just sharing years of experience and hoping you avoid my mistakes."
Garrett finally looked up and shrugged. "I know. And I am grateful to have you here and on my side. I'm still finding my way around this mess. And no, I don't want you to end up finding me in some dimly lit gambling den in a backstreet or on the lower decks of a Transit Station."
The edges of Levi's lips curled up into the weakest of smiles. "I've managed it. Every day is a challenge, but each morning I feel blessed for finding the inner strength to improve. You'll regain your fighting spirit too once you find the right motivation."
"Can we find something else to talk about now? Your lecture is becoming tedious."
Levi downed the rest of his drink, waving away the robo-waiter who tried to offer him another beer. "Are you going to head back to Lafayette? Spend time with your brother?"
Shaking his head, Garrett said, "I can't remember how many years it is since we spoke. I don't expect Seth would welcome me back with open arms, and I don't think we'll ever make peace."
"Where will you go?"
"I honestly don't know. Anywhere that isn't Vadia II."
"That's what I thought," Levi said, with a knowing look. "I've used some of Lane's credits to purchase a more modern spaceship. It's larger than your current ship and has a greater range. Before you object, I thought we could take it for a spin.
Maybe visit Vakia for some R&R."
"What about Hill?"
"Oh, I'm sure he can wait a week or two for me."
"I don't know."
"Oz, the ship is yours, you bonehead. All I'm asking is you show some gratitude by taking me for a ride."
"I don't need a new ship or your sympathy."
"And I don't need Lane's credits. If you don't like the ship, I can get a refund. Give it a try."
"Where was it built?"
Levi smiled. "That's the best part. It's from the Celeste shipyard. You've always bragged about your home city building the best spaceships."
The information piqued Garrett's interest. "What's it called?"
"Raptor."
"Good name. I like it. It's assertive."
Levi stood up and yawned. "I need to get some rest. I'll meet you back here at seven for breakfast. Then I'll take you to see your shiny new toy."
"We'll see."
"Be here. That doesn't mean drinking through the night."
"One more. I promise. Then I'll hit the sack."
As soon as Murphy had disappeared, Garrett signaled the waiter-droid and ordered another beer with a whiskey chaser. Why waste time trying to sleep when it only brought nightmares?
Chapter 3
Garrett arrived at the spaceport three hours before sunrise, having slipped out of the hotel without saying his goodbyes. He had remained at the rooftop bar all night, working his way through countless beers and various spirits. At some point, he had decided that what he needed was time on his own, away from anyone who would judge or lecture him on what he should be feeling.
“I’m sorry Levi. I know you mean well.”
His autonomous cab landed in front of the main terminal building, an imposing steel and glass structure that rose one-hundred-and-sixty floors. The building provided accommodation for the various pilots and crew that arrived on Vadia and who wanted a break from their ships.