Ajax: Relinquished

by Gavin Magson

  “I see a lot of hurt in your eyes; this man obviously was someone close to you all. Why do you think he deserves anything other than his appointed tray?” she asked. “I have to bury loved ones on a daily basis, yet I grant them no preferential treatment.”

  “Ajax did a lot of things in his short life, chief among which was being a great friend. He saved my life, saved my business, and stopped all of us from returning to the slums in order to survive. I saw him defend the helpless when all else stood by, none lifting a finger against those that inflict suffering for their own amusement. He never once asked for anything in return; he was truly selfless. I want, no I need to ask this one thing of you, because he deserves for his final resting place to be at the top of the pile, above all others.”

  It was quick, Lev only had time to see it because of his lofty vantage point as Duke wiped away a glistening tear before it streaked down his craggy cheek.

  “I find it hard to believe that there is such a thing as a selfless person in this entire city, perhaps even in our system, yet your testimony intrigues me. What does it matter, I'm nearly dead and Konar can go rot for all I care. Top tray you said?” Linda cracked a toothless grin and keyed in a new set of commands to her remote.

  With a groan the tower began to fall once more, much faster than last time as it plummeted from its dizzying height. Greg stepped back and tensed for the unstoppable collision; he was stunned when it never came. With a high pitched squeal the tower stopped, its peak now visible to all four.

  When the top tray ejected Greg and Lev moved in closer, seeing for the first time in their lives an implant coffin. Only a fingertip in height and barely long enough to fit a tablet the tray contained two fixed clamps and a rectangular piece of paper. Linda removed the paper and then Ajax's implant from the box; only the implant she handed over to Duke.

  “I'll go fill this in and leave you gentlemen to your words. When you are done just clip the implant in place and I'll come back to finish up.” she said. Linda ambled away before anyone could speak.

  Only when the caretaker was out of sight did Lev open up his overcoat, out of the internal pockets he produced three bottles of Sal's home brewed beer. The hiss as three corks were pulled filled the air, punctuating the horrible silence. Duke gave a satisfied sigh after a long pull of the potent drink. It's rich, refreshing flavour was most welcome, the effect similar to seeing a lost friend from the slums once more both fit and well.

  “I can only imagine that this is what Ajax would have wanted, if we ever asked him how he'd like his funeral to be.” pondered Greg, speaking his thoughts out loud. Two nods showed their owners agreement.

  “Personally I think he would have liked to go out with a bigger bang, the man brought down a skyscraper to kill a handful of men after all. I just can't believe he is gone already, we only saw him the day before yesterday.” said Lev, pausing from his drink.

  Duke avoided their eyes, left deep in thought about the recent events. It was a minor miracle word had got to them while their ship was still docked, delayed from refuelling when three battle cruisers came in for some emergency supplies, all but emptying the docks fuel reserves. He had not seen one up close for a decade, to see three this close to Konar was an unnerving sight.

  He could not believe what the message had said, nor could Lev or Greg. They had merely sat stunned and confused in their chairs, awaiting some kind of sign to confirm it was a sick joke. The men had sat there for several minutes; none accepted the news that such an impregnable force could ever have been felled. Once it had finally sunk in they had rushed down to the surface, still convinced that they would find out that the message was incorrect. His implant was waiting for them in the Haven.

  Sal had burst into tears upon seeing the crew, a first for Duke to see the man so upset. He was glad Maria had not been present; she had grown so fond of Ajax he knew that she would have cried the loudest. Even Sarah forgot her feud and was visibly shaken, eyes red and puffy, no more tears left in her to cry. Duke had tried to comfort the woman, yet it seemed to have no effect on her. She muttered about forgiveness and he had left her to grieve.

  “I know he would have liked none of this,” said Duke, the bottle in his hand nearly empty. “He didn't have a chance to see any of us one last time; our parting was hardly anything of note. He would have wanted Aiko and Ilya by his side, perhaps to finally tell Ilya how she meant to him, even if he would have crushed Aiko in doing so. Ajax would have wanted to slay his killer first, even if it cemented his own death. The man could move a mountain if he needed to, such was his unstoppable nature. He would never have gone down with a fight, no doubt he didn't.”

  Lev and Greg held out their bottles, touching them together as they waited for Duke's to meet theirs. He did so, reluctant at first as he accepted that a fourth would never again join their toast.

  “For Ajax!” the three men cried out in unison. A faint chink came from their bottles as they met.

  They drained their drinks and Lev stowed the empties back in his coat, there was no hint of them hidden within the overcoat. Duke pulled out a scrap of paper from his pocket, which he carefully rolled around the implant and held them in his palm.

  “Any last words before I put this inside the tray?” he asked.

  “I don't think simple words could ever describe the loss we have suffered.” said Lev, his words surprised both his partner and Duke. “Ajax touched us all in such a short time, the bastard didn't half make an impression when he came spluttering back to life. He will never be replaced.”

  The captain clipped Ajax's implant into place, being careful to keep Ilya's note wrapped tightly around it so that it did not unfurl. He had searched Ajax's room for an hour to find it, and actually found some relief in the fact that it wasn't on his body when a Recycler turned Ajax's matter into its separate components. He had not once considered showing his two companions what she had written; it would only sully their memory and make this day even darker.

  “Goodbye my friend, you will be truly missed. There may never live a better man than Ajax Frost.” said Duke. He finally admitted defeat and let the tears run freely down his face, his emotions unchained.

  The End…

  The story will continue in Fire and Steel.