Legion

by Devin Cain

  "Talk to Kris about it. Devil, give Kris all the ship’s specs, as well as the copies. What they need, their loads, and everything else she needs. We also need to find someone to take the raw materials off our hands, which we brought with us. With three ships, that’s quite the haul, no?"

  Levi nodded again and gave me a thumbs up.

  "Count it done. With Samson to guard me, there’s no way anyone will think about double-crossing us."

  "Good luck, everyone. And see you back here tomorrow afternoon."

  "Hey boss, anything in specific to bring back for you and the lady?" Samson asked.

  "Ohh, I like him more and more," Gremory chuckled. "Bring us back a couple of crates. You know what, right?"

  He smirked, nodding at Gremory.

  "Your wish is my command, Captain."

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  The space station Europa was in one word enormous. Hundreds of docking stations for bigger, and docking tubes for smaller ships were strategically placed all around its body. Massive arrays of gun batteries and missile installations sat atop and below the cone-shaped habitat. Glass domes revealed massive plantations, tree lines, and parks, along with industrial complexes. It truly was a piece of marvel to behold.

  The lift brought us down to the station, where a woman in her forties waited for us. At least that’s what she looked like because the wrinkles under her heavy make-up didn’t remain hidden to my eyes. Her black pencil skirt and pure white blouse told as much about her. She was as plain as they got, but it wasn’t all that bad, I thought. Sometimes less was more.

  "Hello, Mr. Cain. I mean, Admiral Cain. I mean--"

  "Hey, it’s alright, miss--" I cut her off and roamed her body with my eyes in search of a nameplate or tag or anything at all.

  "Oh, it’s Trish. Just Trish is fine, Admiral," she replied.

  "Very well, Trish. Can you take us to our shuttle? I want to get down to Earth as soon as possible."

  "Certainly, Admiral. Mind if I take a slight detour to show you the station? At the very least, you’ll get some mighty interesting ideas on how to implement such wonders yourself."

  "How long does it take to fly down to Earth? I want to rest up before the meeting," Gremory asked as she twirled her arm around mine. The woman glanced over her scantily clad body, and to my surprise, managed not to sneer.

  "An hour, Lady Death. If you would rather go down, I’ll take you on a direct route."

  "Please do so," Gremory replied, waving her off. I couldn’t help but smirk. The woman hadn’t wronged us in any way, but I wasn’t impressed by the way she looked at Gremory.

  Trish remained silent for most of the way as we passed through glass corridors and walkways. She still managed to show us a good part of the station, especially the botanic gardens. I was sure she still wasn’t taking us on a direct route, but I didn’t care. Surely, the way everything was set up looked mighty interesting.

  "Devil, are you taping this?"

  "What do you mean with taping?"

  "For future reference. Are you recording it or whatever?"

  "Hah! Just fooling with you! Of course I am. I’ve scanned the station and have more or less gained a blueprint to it, or let’s say a ninety percent blueprint. I can’t go into the smallest detail from outside."

  "Good. We’ll probably need this stuff in the future. Oh, and make sure to relay my message to Levi. Have them buy seeds and saplings for all important fruit and vegetables, buy enough cattle to start a large farm."

  "Already relayed," Devil replied. "Kris is already on it. Oh, and I think you should reward the woman better, she’s holding everything together in your absence, you know?"

  "Huh? When did you start caring about anyone but yourself?" I asked.

  "Since now. She’s ordered some neat stuff to outfit me with. I feel-- obliged to look out for her, at least until she falls out of favor with me."

  "Whatever you say, my man. Oh, and can you have the ships rearrange so that we can set up a few of these gardens and animal pen’s?"

  "Not on Devil, but I will on the other two."

  "Good enough. We’ll need two commanders in charge of the troops on the other ships. I doubt that Khavvrin can control them while we’re jumping systems."

  "She’ll take care of it. What do you think about Gregor and Brown for ship two? Gregor can be the Captain as you offered him earlier, while Brown can be the Raid Leader. As for ship three, we could have BC Aiden become the Captain and have Gene be the Raid Leader. Heather can go with him and be a doctor. That’s all she ever wanted from what I know. "

  "Tell her I’m gonna take real good care of her when I’m back," I said and broke off contact.

  "Like hell you will," Gremory scolded and slapped my arm. It was a comical sight, but she’d gotten the message over loud and clear.

  "Is something wrong, Admiral?" Trish asked when she noticed me standing around.

  "Nothing. I was talking to my ship. Please, lead the way."

  I looked down at her shapely ass when Gremory turned her head to check one of the domes out. It sure swayed nicely from side to side. The skirt was almost too tight for her body, but it hadn’t stopped her from showing off. Women, you couldn’t help but love them.

  "Here we are," she said after a while longer as we stopped before a massive elevator door. "It will bring you down to the shuttle bay. I wish you a nice day, Admiral, my lady."

  "Likewise," I replied dryly and turned to the elevator. I wanted to feel solid earth beneath my feet again and smell the fresh air. If everything went to shit, at least I’d be down there with her by my side.

  Gremory stayed quiet for most of the trip down to Earth. It wouldn’t bother me so much as usually she’d say what’s wrong, or attack me in a way, but not this time. I had no idea what was playing out in her head. Somehow, she could read some of my thoughts, but I didn’t have that ability in turn.

  The images of our argument down on Beta came back as the ship lurched during atmospheric entry. Still, we both remained quiet. I was afraid that it would break the tranquility of the moment, and that she’d maybe get angry. So I decided to enjoy the silence for a while longer.

  Incredibly tall towers and military installations were visible even from this high up. Countless lights were strewn all over the European continent, with more becoming visible as we approached Brussels. Something in my guts twisted around, threatening me to throw up. I hadn’t thought it ever possible that I’d be in the same room with the man who owned my apartment complex, even less with the Earth Council, but life could change nudged in the right direction.

  "Say, do you think we’ll make it out of here alive?" Gremory whispered. Shocked, I turned to her and frowned.

  "Why wouldn’t we? Do you think they’re going to be so stupid and attack us? We got Doomsday trained on this very city."

  "Exactly. What if the government provoked us and sacrificed millions to get rid of such a danger?"

  New doubts crept up my mind. Had she been brooding over this all the while, and if it was so, I felt bad for her. Why did she have to take it all on herself and not share the worry with me earlier?

  "We can both fly, so we’ll no problem escaping. Khavvrin is up there with our guys and girls defending our property, so I wouldn’t worry too much."

  "I guess. Sorry, I can’t help but be worried. I’ve endured shit for a long time, and now when everything has started coming together, we’re here again, right where it all began."

  Gremory turned her back to the sleek, metallic wall and took my hand.

  "Passengers, we’ll be arriving shortly at the Brussels spaceport," a voice over the speakers boomed. "Please gather your belongings before we land. Anything that stays behind after you disembark becomes the property of the Brussels department of appropriated goods. Have a nice day."

  "Figures. Steal from people any way you can," I murmured eyeing our baggage. "Any idea what we can do tonight?" I asked, placing my hand over hers.

  "Go dine in a
fine restaurant, see a movie and then relax in the bathtub in our hotel. We could call it our first date."

  I couldn’t help but smile as I nodded slowly, holding her gaze for a long moment. God knew we needed some normal time for ourselves. After everything was said and done, the weight was on our shoulders, and if we had a chance to make it go away for even an hour, we’d take it.

  When the ship landed, and the doors opened, I was again surprised by the welcome committee. A full battalion of soldiers had created a corridor that led straight toward the hotel. At their head stood a short, stocky man dressed in fine military robes. His lapels and collar were adorned with rank insignias which I didn’t quite recognize.

  "Admiral, how has the flight been?" he asked, offering me his hand to shake.

  "Good, I guess. And you are?"

  "General Dyson, in charge of our Earthern defense forces. I’m very sorry about the display of force, but I assure you, they’re not here for you. But we do have to take precautions and take care of ourselves, both against foreign and domestic enemies. I hope you understand."

  "Yes, General. But I truly would have appreciated it a great deal more if my lady didn’t have to lay eyes on these weak, despicable creatures." I was going overboard, I knew it, but I had to get it across that they wouldn’t be able to strongarm us into anything.

  "I see," he replied, his voice lower than before. "We will keep it in mind. But please, do me a favor and don’t insult these men. They’ve dedicated their lives to defending this world."

  "Very well, General Dyson, I will refrain from any more insults as a courtesy to you. If you would, my lady and I would like to rest up before the meeting."

  "Why of course! Welcome back to Earth, Admiral," he smirked and motioned for us to move on. The soldiers stared at us with disgust, but not a single one of them moved so much as a finger. At least they were trained and disciplined.

  Walking past the rows of soldiers in green and gray uniforms, I looked up at the sky. It was blue as ever. At least one thing hadn’t changed.

  "Sir, someone will be there to pick you up at seven-thirty in the morning. Please be ready by then," a young man in an officer’s uniform said, bowing slightly. "I would appreciate it."

  I nodded at the man who couldn’t have been older than me from how he looked, and put my hand on his shoulder.

  "No worries. They can’t blame you if I get out of hand, no?"

  He smiled awkwardly and nodded.

  "Admiral, I wish you a good stay. Until tomorrow."

  The hotel stretched before us like a miniature city. Row upon row of buildings went on as far as the eye could see. The orange and yellow served much to brighten the place up, but to me, it looked like a glorified prison. The only thing lacking were the prisoners, or in this case, the civilians; there weren’t any around.

  "Wonder where they’ll put us," Gremory said as we entered the lobby.

  "We’ll see soon enough," I murmured.

  Fifteen minutes later, we got situated in the most luxurious suite the complex had to offer. We had a whole floor of pure goodness to ourselves, along with an infinity pool that seemed to stretch into the horizon. Racks of clothing, underwear, shoes, and all kinds of accessories were arrayed in rows. Gremory’s face lit up as she saw the dresses. I couldn't help but chuckle at her girlish behavior.

  "I’ll have someone take them all up to Devil," Khepri whispered. I couldn’t help but smirk at the thoughtful goddess. She sure was a blessing sometimes, especially when dealing with said parasite.

  Gremory pulled out a strapless, bubblegum-pink dress that ended just above the knee. She swirled around, holding it to her body and giggled.

  "What do you think?" she asked. I didn’t need to think much, as she’d done it all for me. Her smile told me everything, even more than I needed to know.

  "How about you try it on?"

  "How about you help me try it on?" she replied and wiggled out of her smart suit. Now that was something she didn’t need to ask me twice. The fine silk was smooth to the touch, and it hugged her body perfectly. Gremory was sure a sight for sore eyes, especially wearing fine, expensive clothing and jewelry.

  In the end, she wouldn’t take no for an answer, so I put on a black suit combined with a blood-red shirt. I wasn’t the type to stand out in the crowd, so I tried to blend in whenever possible. But again, she wouldn’t have it.

  Clothed and ready to go out, we got a cab and drove into Brussels. The scenery was like in one of those movies. Skyscrapers, enormous flashing billboards, roads filled to the brim with hover cars, pedestrians of all shapes and sizes, some over-clothed, others almost naked. It sure was a strange place to be. There was one thing they all had in common, however: money. Even if it was just a string of silk hanging over their shoulders, it screamed money. This was one thing that would never change, the difference between the poor and the rich.

  We stopped in front of an enormous establishment, fully built from black and white marble stone. Golden plated windows and doors shone in the evening light. It was one of those places I’d never be allowed to enter during my previous life, even less dine inside.

  "Good evening, sir, and madam," a middle-aged man wearing a tuxedo said as he approached. "Can I see your members card?"

  "I don’t need one. I’m an Admiral in the fleet," I said, trying to gauge his reaction. In truth, I didn’t want to give him trouble, but making fun on a couple of Eartherners shouldn’t be that bad.

  "I see," he replied with a smirk on his face. "Henry, get the boys out and take care of this-- gentleman. He’s clogging the line."

  I didn’t know what it was with lackeys who thought too highly of themselves, but he just rubbed me the wrong way with his attitude and the sneer on his face. Whatever, I could strong-arm my way into any establishment, so it wasn’t like it mattered.

  The brute of a bouncer strode toward us, cracking his knuckles and neck. But when he stopped only a couple of feet away, his face first went pale, and then he fell to his knees.

  "Lady Death! I’m so sorry! Please forgive me, and this old fool for making you wait!" he begged, pulling the old guy to his knees. It finally seemed to dawn on the man as well who she was. I felt slightly insulted at them not cowering in fear before me, but it couldn’t be helped.

  "You’re lucky the Admiral here is in a good mood, or you’d be dead by now with your guts all over the place," she said, her voice cold as steel.

  "B-but I don’t know him. There is no known Admiral as young as him, or we’d have recognized his face!"

  "You’ll hear about it soon enough, no worries. For now, how about you let us in so we can dine in peace?"

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  After dinner, we headed straight back to the hotel for a swim and some much-needed rest, or rather alone time with Gremory. As luck wouldn’t have it, my tapper buzzed uncontrollably until I finally answered annoyed beyond measure.

  "Admiral," Kris’ voice came from the other side. "We have an issue. Levi and Samson found someone we could deal with. They’re good enough to take off our entire load and supply us with everything we need, including saplings, seeds, and livestock."

  "But?"

  "But they want to meet you and negotiate directly. They want to become ‘shadow allies’ Levi said. It must be within thirty minutes, or the deal is off. And we’ve wasted all day to find these guys."

  I groaned and sat upright on the edge of my bed, then looked back at Gremory who shrugged. The sheets rolled down her shoulders, revealing all that I was about to enjoy but couldn’t as she moved around.

  "They better be worth it. I was about to have the time of my life."

  "It is, Admiral. And if you deem otherwise, I’ll offer myself as a substitute for lady Gremory. Anyway, here are the coordinates."

  "Yeah, yeah. You wish, little girl," Gremory laughed. "Keep your tapper on, and we’ll be there shortly." She leaned in and broke the connection. "Shall we gear up before we go in?"

  I nodded and lea
ned in close, smelling her spicy perfume.

  "Yeah, and once we’re done, we won’t have the time for a last round of love. I need my beauty sleep, after all."

  She snorted and burst into laughter.

  "Right. You’re so ugly that no amount of sleep can make up for it. In any case, come on. I’ll lead the way."

  The cool night did wonders to my internal dilemmas. There was nothing quite like flying through the air as the cold wind slammed in your face over and over again, and your wings flapped steadily to keep you afloat.

  By the time we came close to the industrial district, I had pushed all thoughts aside except one: get this over and done with. We had no idea what would await us, even though Levi and Samson were already there.

  "We’re a minute out, Cain. I propose we land atop the roof opposite the entrance where I can provide cover for when you go in."

  "Sure, though I doubt they have anything that could even scratch me," I replied.

  "I wouldn’t be so sure," she added. "They use alien tech all the time to upgrade our own."

  "I see. In that case, if something was to happen, don’t let anyone escape," I said, dropping from the roof right in front of a large building entirely made from red brick. Windows made up a good part of the upper part of the wall. A massive, metallic double-door was slightly opened, spilling light into the street.

  "Admiral," Samson’s voice rang out in the silent night from my left. He stood by an open hatch and waved for me to get it. There was no way I could fit through the rather small opening, so I did the next best thing and punched a hole in the wall.

  To my surprise, everyone remained calm as I walked through the new opening. A group of seven people sat around a large, round table playing cards and drinking. Levi sat among them, drinking and laughing, right next to an empty chair. It must belong to Samson, I thought.

  "You can’t expect me to fit through that hole, no?"

  "Yeah, my bad," Samson replied. "Anyway, can I introduce you to these gentlemen?" he said, motioning for the three men sitting opposite where I stood.