Cyber Viking Box Set

by Marcus Sloss

  I closed the device, left the desk, and walked to the forward view screen. The night sky was bright with the stars overhead. The trees underneath were broken apart by the occasional farm home.

  Suddenly I saw lights illuminating flickering on at a large farm home. There was a chicken barn behind the farm that piqued my interest. Well, saving people had merit too. But the chickens!

  “Hover us over that home please,” I said and Longoria banked the aircraft. “When are we getting a proper dropship instead of this animal hauler?”

  “Part of the in development plans,” Longoria said. She held up five dainty fingers that counted down. When she closed her hand into a fist I broadcast.

  “Howdy, Captain Eric Yang here of the US Army. At least I used to be. We got a base with showers, big homes, farming, and more. If you need sanctuary we have it,” I said. We waited patiently for any activity. “If no one comes out we will be back before the golden portal -”

  “What do you want?” A bearded burly man hollered from a window. I was surprised he even exposed his face.

  “To offer sanctuary to anyone and everyone. You can even visit before you decide to move,” I said.

  “And what guarantee you won't kill us who visit?”

  “I have Linda Growlen living with me, she was the president at one point,” I replied. “Outside of trusting my word, not much. Oh, I can send you a welcome video. It is legit what people get when they arrive.”

  “Send it how?”

  “Umm. Turn on a device, Gpad will work.”

  “Okay,” the man hollered back. “Thought those were dead. It's working. Can I message you when we decide?”

  “Yeah, I mean, I won’t personally answer because I got an army and nation to run, but someone will,” I said through the loudspeaker.

  I saw the man having an argument with someone.

  “Okay, uh… We will go if that is okay? We’re out of food besides eggs. Everyone is so sick of eggs, and the septic is overflowing,” the man hollered back.

  I frowned. I was light on guards and skeptical about being around people. I indicated for Longoria to cut the audio feed. “Seal the bridge. I am going to help. If I get in trouble I will hop into the bay and you haul ass out.”

  “Eric, Perci would not like this,” Sammie said meekly.

  I rubbed her ear the perfect way and she melted into my hand. “I know, I will be fine. I can’t see every human as an enemy because of one person.”

  “May I come then and watch your back?” Sammie asked, heading to a weapons rack by the communications station. She grabbed two small pistols to attach to her hips. The little mousy woman carried a great gunslinger vibe to her look.

  “Well, hurry up,” I said and she picked up the pace.

  We left the aircraft captain’s deck and there were a few crixxi below. They were supposed to be going home with us to rest, but I may have dragged them into a side quest. Welcome to flying with the boss. A quick inspection with my Gpad told me Randall was the senior one of the five.

  “Randall, follow me. Weapons relaxed for now,” I said, leaving them for the ramp.

  I heard snickering about Sammie’s booty as they joined us. The female troop in the group quieted them down.

  I smirked and was not offended. Sammie was naked with a skin tight armor covering that flowed with her body. It was not rigid in its ways. She had a great figure and technically was a side babe. Hard to squash catcalls over, at least for me to do it.

  “Thanks Joelyn, this body is off the market boys,” Sammie said to the group. “How is it going with Mills?”

  I butted in and said, “Mills as in, scout Mills that I dragged back from the desert?”

  “That’s the one,” Joelyn said nearing my left while Sammie flanked my right. “I have been trying to -”

  “Hold that thought,” I said pausing her. The burly man’s eyes went wide. “Easy now, these are my friends just like you saw in the welcome video. Every day, we grow in our diversity.”

  “Janie, it's like a porno crew just arrived in an alien spaceship!” the man shouted.

  “What!” a lady who was probably Janie ducked her head into a window. “Oh, that is the virum honey. Your balls and my breasts are starting to sag and -”

  I slapped my knee in laughter. “Please, you two are a riot. Excuse my weapons but someone tried to kill me with a grenade earlier. This is a mounamine and her name is Sammie. This is a crixxi and her name is Joelyn. These gents behind me are the muscle, literally,” I said thumbing Randall and the others over my shoulder. “We’re here to help you load up. Then we’re going to go cave diving to figure out what creatures are burrowing under Salt Lake City.”

  “But, I will look young again?” Janie asked, eyeing the girls.

  “Yup,” I retorted. “And we call the virum the DD virum. Double dick and double bust. Not quite but it is for some.”

  “You gotta be shitting me,” the man said, abandoning the window to exit the front door. Of course, he had to unbolt a dozen locks first that were all but useless. “I will get muscles like this? What about my kids, I got a fifteen year old daughter.”

  I fidgeted, not sure how to answer that question. “Good news or bad news?” I asked.

  “Both, obviously,” he retorted with a ‘duh’ gesture.

  “She will never get sick, be in perfect health, and turn immortal in a sense assuming she has zinc around. The bad news is when girls and boys hit puberty, they really hit puberty,” I said with a shrug. Letting him figure out what that meant. “We got rules to protect the young, but honestly, she will look much older. Sorry. Have your shotgun handy dad.”

  “I always do. Okay, what do we bring? Eric, you said right? Where are my manners Dale, names Dale.” I shook Dale's hand. He was in his mid-forties, his wife late thirties trotted out to shake hands. “We got more people in the storm shelter. A dozen of us rural folk holed up together. Only one big cockroach ever bothered us, killed it when it got into the chicken coop. It's almost like there is no invasion out here.”

  “Dale, you live in the middle of nowhere on dirt roads, so yeah. This is a great spot to avoid aliens. Not too far from our kickass base. Invite everyone in, and if you see black goop going into your body, congrats you’re immortal,” I said with a smirk.

  “You say some weird shit mister.”

  “I have a cat the size of an elephant,” I said, testing his reaction and he burst into a laugh.

  “Alright come on, let's go corral up the others. We got a few neighbors you should probably save too,” Dale said.

  Sammie cleared her throat for attention, we paused to see Janie petting her ear.

  “She is so adorable, I know, I know. Not a pet but I wanted to do that,” Janie said. “It was an urge.”

  “Watch the whole video, Mrs. Janie. Ear touching is intimate, Sammie is fairly understanding of humans’ curiosity,” I said and Sammie curtsied. “Please Janie, Dale, show us what you need to pack so we can get to Salt Lake City. I am getting married tomorrow so try not to make me late.”

  This triggered a long talk about marriage and immortality. I knew there was a smirking Longoria in AH1. We rescued a dozen folks who surprisingly didn’t stink. I even gave Dale a spare rifle he was really proud of.

  For once I had gotten to do what I wanted to. I went to someone’s home, offered them a better life, and they accepted without any bloodshed. Between freeing Ralph, and now this, I was feeling humanity was on the right track again.

  CHAPTER 9

  Before going to investigate the subterranean species under Salt Lake City I went home. I wanted to get an octosuit, some troops, and drop off the nearly thirty farmers we rescued. To my bitter end, I will never admit I found the hundreds of chickens too valuable to risk. It was always about saving people. I swear!

  The turnaround time was short with Nancy asking to come with me. I was surprised by this but had no problems with her joining the command deck. It was clear she missed me more than combat. The fl
ight back out to Utah was a solid twenty minutes of me sitting in a comfy chair with Nancy small talking from my lap.

  I snuggled into her while yawning a bit, I would need a good sleep after this to prepare for the coming blue gates and more importantly my wedding. Which was about all Nancy wanted to talk about. I didn’t mind. Her happiness was my happiness and I loved seeing her like this. My mind drifted onto what came next while we chatted.

  “Hey, boss,” Longoria said, breaking my thoughts. “We’re here. I am confused by the seismic and infrared readings. These tunnels all lead to a central cavern. Except I don’t know of a species that does this and the heat signatures are… odd. Most of the nomadic digging species don’t carve out a home.”

  “Huh, well, hmm -” I puckered my lips while contemplating what to do. “Set an ambush, we capture a trade mission maybe or someone ventures out for whatever reason?”

  Nancy frowned and said, “Could take hours or half a day. That is time you don’t have.”

  “Sure, but I can get a nap in,” I said with a stretch eyeing the bean bag chair in the corner. “A different team can replace us if nothing shows up. Come snuggle my lovely Nancy. You, me, and a giant bean bag of awesomeness. Awe, it smells like a dirty teenager, but is so comfy.”

  She giggled at my silliness. We curled up as one while Longoria and Elithen watched over the scene from our ambush point. I drifted off to sleep with a lovely princess in my arms.

  ∞∞∞

  I awoke to the sound of clapping. My body shifted with my arm flopping around trying to find Nancy. After my third failed attempt I realized she had gotten off the beanbag. A big yawning stretch was greeted by a surprise; a few actually.

  The first was Gronax was here and he was questioning a mole species called icrian. The horned warrior was intently trying to find out about the icrian’s dwellings. I rose from my slumber spot to see the sun fighting the horizon. Damn, I slept for five hours and it would be sunny out soon. Well, looks like we found the digging crew at least.

  I approached the demonix and patted him on the shoulder. “Update please.”

  “This is Mizzer, and we executed a snatch and grab when he was carrying zinc for the portal. He has a contract that prohibits him from talking if captured,” Gronax said and I frowned.

  “Wait, that is an option?” I asked.

  “Yes, the idea has merit but is broken by a simple claim,” Gronax said pointing at the translator buried under the scruffy shirt.

  I studied Mizzer. The being had sharp claws that reminded of a drill bit. Its mouth held molars probably for roots, and there were squinting beady eyes desperate to hide from the rising sun. There was a loot pile by the door of his gear. My foot shove the pile over and I saw some basic tools and trinkets. This confirmed my theory Mizzer was a worker and definitely not a warrior.

  “What do we know about the species?” I asked and Longoria cleared her throat.

  I nodded to acknowledge her.

  “These are a subspecies. We have not figured out what their protector is,” she said and flicked data to a back wall. Hundreds of species were populated on the view screen. “All of these are known to associate with creatures like Mizzer. Judging by the fact the humans above have not been raided, either the protector species is docile, was planning, or found the bases not worth their time. The only way to know would be to claim the prisoner.”

  “When did you get here?” I asked Gronax.

  “An hour ago. A few hundred of us arrived to back you up. Not that these guys require it, but this is where Lady Perci sent us,” Gronax shrugged. “There has been fighting with some subspecies of humans known as the hells angels. My disappointment is in missing the fighting, not protecting an esteemed servant of the Owlvini Alliance.”

  “Well, servant is a stretch,” I said puffing out my chest. I guess the term worked even if it was more than a tad offensive. “And yea, fighting the hells angels would be fun. Did they have alien tech?”

  “Enough that your main force is in Sacramento crushing a den of the vile beings. A General Jevon is soundly defeating them with a slow burn approach. That general is methodical and precise,” Gronax said with a huff. It was clear he was thrilled for battle and disappointed with guarding. “We demonix prefer to charge and smash. Hence why we are normally not generals.”

  “I will tell him that you think he is boring and bland. Your words will greatly honor his sense of worth. Jevon is astute in the ways of war and methodical in his execution,” I said and decided this Mizzer could wait.

  I checked over Jevon’s forces to watch the battle. The enemy was in twenty foot tall mech suits. The fire from them was fractured and useless as it pounded against a bright blue shield. Their focused fire against the deflector array helped sneak a few shots through but those were met by individual tank screens.

  Jevon’s lead tank slithered forward into the city. Block by block they inched forward. The moment the foe would cross inside a shield, the barrier would halt and focus fire would erupt from our oddly formed firing line. The defeat of the enemy, once complete, meant the shield moved forward again. Our forces were an unwavering, unstoppable tide of efficiency. I didn’t find watching the action to be boring even if Gronax was watching with a yawn.

  I closed the video overview to deal with my problem at hand.

  “Are you set to handle an assault should I claim this guy?” I asked Gronax.

  He gave a short nod and replied, “I only have a few soldiers set on the ground. Let me dig into defensive positions. There are some very dangerous species on this back wall. You should call for backup too,” Gronax said, indicating a few larger species. One was even a two hundred foot tall cyclops. Hmm.

  A klaxon went off in the bridge that Longoria quickly quieted. Sammie was on the displays updating an image.

  “Status,” I ordered.

  “They have arrived,” Mizzer said with an evil laugh.

  I whipped Big Sploosha up to remove his head and hesitated. He was restrained and confined. I could deal with him later.

  “Enemy ogra burrowing for the surface at a rapid speed. Fleeing now,” Longoria said with mild panic.

  The video display indicated large tunnel machines boring at a rapid pace for the surface, and based on the size of the drill a few hundred big creatures were coming soon.

  “Retreat!” Gronax yelled over his unit’s channel.

  “Six to Bastion, Salt Lake City forces are requesting reinforcements,” I said over the channel.

  AH1 was speeding away when the enemy arrived and breached the surface. The miner flew out of the ground and crashed down a grassy slope.

  Thirty foot tall creatures with brown hides hauled themselves out of the bored holes and onto the surface. They wore white shielding over dirty cloth clothing.

  I noticed shoulder fired weapons fling arrows of some kind straight for our hull with trailing ropes.

  The ping, smack, and tugging jerk stopped our forward flight instantly.

  “Land us!” Gronax screamed.

  “Flight controls are gone!” Longoria shouted. “Brace for impact!”

  My mind was always cool when chaos ensued. I bunched my knees and rocketed to a startled Nancy. AH1 careened for the dirt; it was inevitable we were crashing. I did the best thing I could. I wrapped my lovely princess up tight to hopefully help her survive.

  When my arms engulfed her, there was a sudden jolt and then blackness.

  ∞∞∞

  A lot can be said about the ability of the mind to go unconscious to help you sustain damage. The theory is, when your body goes limp, your tense muscles relax so you can absorb impact. That concept was stupid. Because when I woke up my body was screaming with agony.

  Nancy stirred under my body. She groaned while I moaned. Dead glazed eyes of Gronax stared at me for less than a foot away. He was squished under a folded wall, his body and the metal were contorted in a final pose.

  I went to push myself off of Nancy and realized I lost my arm. Unf
ucking believable. My cybernetic was gone, a smaller remaining nub dripped blood in a slowing amount. The pain must have been numbed by the virum when I was asleep because I didn’t feel a thing.

  Well, I still had one good arm. I found Big Sploosha beside my severed arm. I pried my fingers off the weapon to hoist it. Longoria was talking about something I was struggling to hear.

  “Watch out!” Her words rang into my skull.

  I spun to see her pointing at the view port.

  The front glass or the aircraft was cracked and partially broken holes let in fresh air.

  A massive hand reached in, clearing the glass as it tried to find someone. I leveled my weapon and waited. Deep down, as a warrior, I knew what was coming next.

  The hand retreated empty. I waited for it with a growing grin. No way was I wrong.

  A face appeared in the opening so large it blotted out the morning sunlight. When I was spotted the eyes widened in a panic.

  Big Sploosha unleashed a torrent of energy. Even without my arms power plant the round melted the eye, caved the skull, and twisted to explode out the side in a gory mess. The body thudded down and brain matter slurped out of the opening I created.

  I saw from my firing position we were facing away from where the enemy had burrowed. There was minimal fighting in this direction.

  The pounding of a heavy creature running caused the broken glass to bounce around me.

  Yellow rounds grabbed my attention as they laced into the legs of an ogra running for our position. My power plant was recharging unable to fire anything substantial at the moment. Shit, and ten other four letter words rang through my mind. A weapon was leveled to point directly into our crumbled captain’s station.

  I dove on top of Nancy again as white orbs stitched into our enclosed area. I heard screams from Sammie and Longoria. Ten more seconds went by when the enemy's white orbs ceased their fire.

  I waited another ten seconds until my weapon hummed and shone brightly telling me I was able to fire again. I hopped out of the airship and into the opening eager for vengeance.

  My target was going, moving on probably knowing there were enemies in this hiding hole.