Shorty
Page 5
Paranoid jerks.
Anyone who crosses them is risking annihilation not even a Goliath class warrior could take. That’s how a major power like UCOW defends their assets—big guns and sneaky tricks.
I’m pretty stoked they let me inside the walls this time. Sheila and Stacy enter through the south gate and pop their canopies.
“Hey, brother! You made it with your girlfriend,” Stacy says.
“Good to see you, sis. Thanks for helping me out with the Goliath.”
The Marines stare at me with wide eyes. “You fought a Goliath class mech warrior?”
I shrug, which they can see because my canopy is open per UCOW visitor regulations. “Just a thing.”
“He’s a tough little jerk,” Sheila says, brushing past me and dismounting her mech to check on Danielle, who the medics are prepping to rush to the base hospital. “I think she’ll be okay. The medical staff here gets a lot of practice.”
I’m bummed about Danielle. “I’ll stop by when she gets out. Tell her thanks.”
We all know I won’t. First of all, the pain in the ass gate guards probably won’t let me in, and second of all, I’ll be busy tracking down the mech I stole and salvaging the parts.
Stacy meets me at the feet of our mechs. On land, I tower over her. She’s small and I’m average-ish. A little more than average. Solid. Definitely big enough to beat the crap out of some shit-talking mercs in the bar for what they said about Danielle.
But not today. Another time. When I’m not hustling.
Stacy and Sheila each give me a hug.
“How are you really?” Stacy asks.
Shrugging and smiling at the same time, I pull them in for a big one.
They push me away and laugh.
“I’m Shorty,” I say. That explains it all.
About the Author
Scott Moon has been writing fantasy, science fiction, and urban fantasy since he was a kid. When not reading, writing, or spending time with his awesome family, he enjoys playing the guitar or learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He loves dogs and plans to have a ranch full of them when he makes it big. One will be a Rottweiler named Frodo. He is also a co-host of the popular Keystroke Medium show.
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