The leader yelled, “Get them!” and the three men rushed forward. The one in charge bent to retrieve his blade and tried to turn it back on.
The middle man was fastest, and he closed in on Stan. Stan stood his ground, and when the man swung the small piece of pipe now in his hand, Stan blocked it with his prosthetic, making an obvious clang sound. He kicked the side of the man’s knee, and when the man dropped to his other knee in obvious pain, Stan caught him across the side of the head as hard as he could. The man was down for the count.
The big gang member on the far side thought he had an easy opponent in the five-foot-tall Leethog in front of him, even if he was holding a pair of boots. He led with his knife, a normal steel blade. The man misjudged the distance between them because of the extension in reach the boots gave Hank. He stepped toward Hank, and the heel of Hank’s boot caught the back of his hand when Hank whipped it around. The man felt bones break, and he dropped the knife. Before he could scream in pain, Hank brought the other boot up in an uppercut swing, shattering teeth and splitting the man’s lips. He hit him one more time in the side of the head for good measure, and the man dropped without uttering a sound.
Gunny’s attacker figured he could just fight toe to toe with the limping middle-aged man in front of him. Gunny blocked a wild right by the man and threw a left jab that connected sharply. The man put his hands up in front of his face—like he knew how to fight—to block the next punch. Gunny hit him solidly in the lower ribs with a left and followed it with a hard right hook when the man bent forward and slightly to the side. The man dropped unconscious, like Gunny had long ago in a combatives match against Harmon Tomeral. True to his word, Harmon had taught the move to the older marine.
The leader of the gangbangers turned and ran. Without thinking, Gunny took off to chase him down, but after the fourth step he jumped slightly over the pack he had thrown and shooting pain raced up the leg when he landed. He stopped himself with a grimace and watched the man get away. He slowly walked back over to the brothers, limping badly.
“Hank, call the authorities,” Gunny said through clenched teeth. “You can find the number on the Net.”
A short time later, law officers secured the three unconscious men and medical personnel revived them, checked them, and loaded them on emergency hovercraft to take them to the nearest medical facilities before locking them up. The lead officer took their statements.
“Wait, wait, wait,” the officer said, “Lemme get this straight. Youse beat the big one down with your boots? Did youse kick him or sumthin?’”
“No, sir,” Hank said, mindful he was speaking to authority. “I took them off and hit him with the heels. These are the boots I wear when walking on a hull. When fully suited, they can be connected to the suit’s power source and magnetized. The soles are heavy.”
The man whistled long and low, shaking his head. He looked over at Stan. “What did youse do? Whack one with that metal hand or sumthin?’”
“Yes, sir,” Stan said grinning. “But he dented it with that pipe, first. Now some of my fingers will not close. Unless I did that when I hit him. I am not one hundred percent sure which caused the damage, but I am getting a new one, so it is alright. Oh, and I did kick him.”
“Jesus, youse two…” the man said, shaking his head. He entered something into his slate and looked over at Gunny. “Alright, your turn, what did youse do to your guy?”
“I gave him the ol’ one-two, officer,” Gunny answered, nonchalantly.
“You mean youse hit him with your fists and did that?” the man asked. He looked down at his slate. “You say you’re from…Salvage System? I don’t know what kind of place that is, but I don’t know that I’d ever want to visit. If I did, I’d mind my manners, that’s for sure, ya know what I mean?”
“Hey, Sergeant,” one of his men, standing nearby said, “that’s that system the video shows. The one where they tore the invading fleet a new one and somebody put a sound track of really old music to it and put it on the Net. It’s awesome.”
“That was youse guys?” the sergeant asked, putting his slate away. “If those punks woulda’ known that, they would have let youse three walk right on by. Enjoy your stay on Mars. Try not to beat anybody else up.” He handed Gunny his card. “If youse do, make sure it’s somebody I can arrest. To tell ya the truth, I don’t want to have to try and put restraints on any one of youse three. It could be bad for my health, and I’m trying to make it to retirement.”
They finally got in the Mars Bionics Corporation’s hovercraft and the automated system took them to the corporate headquarters’ guest housing. After making sure the brothers weren’t going to have a pillow fight or anything else crazy in their room, Gunny went to bed. They had an appointment the next day after lunch, and he was eager to learn what could be done for the nerves in his legs.
* * *
Gunny, Hank, and Stan sat in the conference room with several human medical specialists, a Leethog doctor, the chief engineer, and the CEO of Mars Bionics himself, Jerock Guyland. The CEO set up the meeting with Gunny and the brothers after a long day of testing. Normally, he didn’t involve himself with patients and clients, but this was different.
“To sum it all up,” Jerock said, “The lower legs and feet you have are not bad. A little outdated, but not bad. The same goes for Stan. You can move your feet, rotate the ankles and move each toe. Stan could move his fingers before damage was done to the arm.”
He continued, “Now, they don’t have our patented synthetic skin, or in Stan’s case, fur matching his, but that can be remedied. We can even upgrade to the most modern prosthetics if you would prefer. Doctor Jiltron assures me he can fix the nerve issues through surgery. He has revolutionized the procedure with his technique. Doctor Alice will assist with Stan.” He used the shortened version of her Leethog name.
“If that means no more pain, then let’s do this,” Gunny said.
“But they will still be prosthetics,” said the CEO. “You know, you don’t have to keep using them. Replacing limbs with functional bionics is common here in Sol system. It has been for centuries.”
“Well, yeah, that’s what most people use in our corner of the galaxy,” Gunny said. “To attach limbs permanently costs quite a bit more than I have saved.” Stan and Hank nodded at the statement. They had plenty of credit, but they didn’t know if they could afford that type of procedure.
“First, let me assure you,” Jerock said, waving his hand dismissively, “your credit is no good here. I am covering all of Doctor Alice’s fees for her visit to the Sol System, and we will not accept a single credit from members of your fleet. Period. I may even set up a small operation in your system just for situations like this. I have plenty of employees that would like to rotate through and see a colony grow. It would be a break from their normal work.”
“I would go for a rotation,” agreed Dr. Jiltron. “I think my wife and kids would love it.”
“There is another option,” Jerock said. “It involves more…substantial surgery. It has been performed successfully several times now with military members here in Sol System, and on one officer of the law. It is not something that is widely spoken of, you understand. As a matter of fact, if you agree, what you will receive is an upgrade compared to theirs, and it is not to be discussed openly, either.”
“Yes!” Stan said. “I’ll do it.”
“Hold on there, Stan,” Gunny said, tilting his head a little and looking across the table at the CEO and specialists. “What exactly are we talking about here?”
At this, the chief engineer leaned forward. “With Stan, we would have to take his arm almost to his elbow and integrate the artificial limb with his nerves. We would replace the entire forearm and hand. It will have synthetic skin and fur. The new hand will have near-normal sensitivity.”
“You mean he will actually be able to feel his fingertips?” Gunny asked.
“Yes, well, his brain will think he is,” answered Dr. Jiltron. Dr. A
lice, the Leethog physician nodded along.
“What does near-normal mean?” Stan asked.
“It means you will have more sensitivity, not less,” the CEO said, smiling, “and the bionic hand will be much stronger than a normal Leethog hand. The metal alloy used is as strong as any in the galaxy. The skin will also repair itself if it gets cut, to an extent. If too much damage is done, then you just come back and see us.”
“Or the branch of the corporation we put on Salvage,” added Dr. Jiltron. He really wanted to go to a frontier planet, at least for a little while. It would be like a six-month vacation.
“I’ll do it,” Stan said, again. He and his brother were both nodding their heads and grinning.
“What about my legs?” Gunny asked. “How much are we talking about?”
“The nerves are damaged both below and above the knees,” De Jiltron said. “If we are going above the knee, then we are talking the entirety of your legs. We normally only replace the legs without going higher than the damage. That is what has been done for centuries. It is fairly common, as we have said. Instead, what we are proposing is the most advanced set of legs we have ever devised. We would replace them from the hips down, and even include the muscles in your buttocks.”
“What? Why?” Gunny asked, alarmed.
“As a member of the military, you are familiar with battle armor that is servo-assisted?” the CEO asked.
“I am,” Gunny said. “The marines can run faster, farther, and jump higher in them. Kicking in doors is no big deal either.”
“Precisely,” the engineer said. “In a singular fashion, the legs will be faster and stronger. In order for you to use them properly, the muscles in your buttocks will have to be able to keep up. Yours can’t. No humans’ can. So, we replace everything from the waist down.”
“Everything?” Hank asked, eyes wide, looking at his brother. They both started elbowing each other and hissing in laughter.
“Not that,” Dr. Jiltron assured Gunny. “You will be normal in that area. The last thing we need is your wife or significant other demanding to speak to Mr. Guyland about what his corporation did to you.”
“Well that’s something, anyway,” Gunny said leaning back and thinking.
“That is good,” Stan said. “Captain Opawn is a Task Force Commander. You do not want her coming here angry.”
“No, we do not.” Jerock laughed.
“How long will I be down?” Gunny asked. “And tell me about the power sources.”
“Four weeks,” said Dr. Jiltron. “We will be utilizing the best medical nanites in the galaxy for healing. The last few days, you will be getting used to your new limbs at full power. The limbs will have power cells that are rechargeable. We will, of course, provide extra cells, one of which you can store in a compartment in the thigh area and Stan will have an extra on the inside of his forearm. They last for days before they need to be charged.”
“I wish I needed one,” Hank sighed. “But I am glad my brother will be able to fly a ship again.”
“We replace damaged limbs here,” the CEO said. “We will not have any part in replacing perfectly good limbs. Some other corporations may do that, but not Mars Bionics. Sorry.”
* * *
Gunny woke up to two Leethogs staring at his face. They were closer than they needed to be, and his eyes crossed trying to see them. Stan held a cup with a straw, and Gunny sipped, thankful for the water. After swallowing a few times, he asked, “How long have I been out?”
“Over a week,” Hank said.
“We kept you sedated to give the nanites time to help you heal,” said Dr. Jiltron from the other side of the bed. “How do you feel?”
“A little stiff,” Gunny said. “My back aches a little from sleeping too long in one position.”
“That is normal. How do your feet feel?” the Doctor asked.
“Fine, I guess,” Gunny said moving a foot back and forth, “I…hey! I feel the blanket. I can feel the blanket with my toes!”
“You think you can,” corrected Stan. “That is what they told me about my fingers.”
“I don’t care if I really can or I think I can,” Gunny said with a grin. “I just know I feel it.”
“Tomorrow, we’ll have you stand,” Dr. Jiltron said. “We’ll keep your legs turned down until you get used to them. You will be surprised how strong they are.”
“Yeah!” Stan said. “Look at this.” The Leethog crushed the metal cup he was holding spilling water everywhere. “Sorry! Hey, that’s cold.”
“Watch the boots!” Hank said, jumping back. “They are my secret weapons, you know.”
Gunny looked closely at the cup in the Leethogs’ hand and realized he hadn’t even noticed the metal hand was gone. Stan’s hands looked the same. He lifted the covers and was amazed to see full legs with the same skin color as the rest of him. I wonder if they’ll tan, he thought.
* * *
“Why are we leaving in the middle of the night?” Stan asked.
“Because I want to see if our friend learned his lesson, or if he has a new group of thugs with him, waiting on more victims,” Gunny said, looking out the clear-steel windows of the hovercraft.
It had been a long month, but it was well worth it. Both Gunny and Stan were fully healed, and the bionics had integrated with their nervous systems with no real issues. They had both been assured, in time, except for recharging the power cells, they would hardly notice their new limbs weren’t part of them. They would notice whenever they used the limbs to their maximum potential, however.
“Well, I’m flying the shuttle,” Stan stated.
“That will be fine,” agreed his brother. “I will enjoy the ride.”
“Doesn’t look like he’s there,” Gunny said as they passed the front of the star port’s main entrance.
The automated hovercraft slowed to turn into the same place they loaded into it weeks earlier when Gunny saw the man. Gunny grabbed the handle for the door and the hover craft stopped immediately, causing the brothers to lean forward, unprepared for the emergency feature programed in the vehicle. They were stopped in the entry way to the parking area.
On the far side of the lot, the same thug was standing with his hand held out, but they were too far away to see if he had his knife. Six others were with him, surrounding two tall beings of an avian race. It looked like they were handing their belongings over to the men.
“You guys feel like another fight?” Gunny asked, stepping out of the hovercraft.
“Yes!” Stan said and got out right behind Gunny.
“Hold on!” Hanks said. “Let me get my boots off!”
As Gunny and the brothers approached the group, one of the avians saw them coming. Its look alerted some of the men. The leader turned and shouted, “You! You’ll pay for last time. There’s more of us now! Get them!”
The other six men turned toward them, which was a mistake, because the avian on the left sprang forward and dragged one of the thugs to the ground. As soon as the man hit the ground, the avian and its partner began stomping the man.
The largest of the group ran at Gunny. He wasn’t holding a weapon; his size had been advantage enough his whole life. His size didn’t matter when he caught a straight kick in the chest from Gunny. He dropped, wheezing with broken ribs, and Gunny ignored him.
Gunny turned and blocked a swing by the next man. He reached in and grabbed the man’s jacket and pulled him down, introducing the man’s face to Gunny’s rising knee. The locals may have been tough, but they’d never dealt with anyone who could actually fight. The leader, smarter than the rest and realizing he was still outmatched, turned to run.
While Gunny was fighting two men, Stan stepped toward a man holding a long, flat metal bar, with tape wrapped around one end as a makeshift handle. The man swung hard at Stan’s head, and he ducked the blow. He came up fast inside the man’s reach, grabbed an offending hand with his new improved one, and squeezed. Hard. Shattered fingers turned nerveless, and
he dropped the steel before collapsing to his knees, screaming in pain.
Stan looked over at his brother and saw he was handling his own. By this time, a second thug turned and ran, following his leader. Stan grabbed the discarded metal bar and flicked it with a snap of his wrist, sending it spinning the twenty feet into the running man’s back. It struck him flat, and he went down hard.
Hank was having a great time. Every time his opponent thought he had an opening to cut the smaller Leethog, Hank would whip one of his boots around and slap the man’s arm away. He saw his brother throw something out of the corner of his eye and figured it was time to stop messing around. He followed another arm slap with a serious blow from his other boot into the man’s side, then hit him hard in the head with the first. The fight went out of that one.
Gunny ran the leader down before he could get to the entrance of the lot. When he caught him, he shoved him into the side of a hovercraft. The man dropped his knife when he hit, and it quit humming when it bounced, just like the last time. Showing a little restraint, Gunny kicked the man, but not hard enough to kill him.
Gunny reached into a pocket and pulled out a card. It was a nice hologram card; they didn’t have those in Salvage System. “Hank, call the sergeant and tell him we have some more arrests for him, would you?” He handed the card over. “Let me get that back when you’re done. We might be back one day and need it.”
* * *
It was bright sunny morning, perfect for a run on the Beast. Gunny was waiting when Captain Brink walked up sipping a cup of coffee. “I tell you, I’m sure glad Bradford talked me into trying this stuff,” Brink said. “After last night, I don’t think I could function without it today.”
“Lightweight,” Gunny said laughing at the obviously hungover man.
“Whatever,” Brink said, taking another sip. “I don’t have years and years of building up a tolerance to drinking. Years…and years. Did I mention a lot of years?”
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