by J. M. Hagan
He looked over the rest of his profile and mumbled, “They’ve some hacking skills, too,” with a pleased look. “Mara – send for Jack Murphy. Tell him to get here, double-time!”
*
“This test is designed to sharpen reflexes and test your stamina. We have 120 seconds to reach the top. Don’t lag too far behind,” Malora said, putting on her goggles. Jack did the same, and the computerised lens searched for targets right away.
They marked Malora with a green outline, and the whirling disks overhead with red.
Malora charged off the starting ramp when the bell sounded, and shot a whirling disk ahead of her. Then she raced up the steps to the bridge. There was a wide gap in the middle, and she leapt over it, rolling as she landed on the other side, and fired her pistol at a target coming for her head. This girl is good!
Jack followed her, leaping high and landing on his feet at the other side of the bridge. They sprinted for the ladder. “Cover me,” she commanded, as she started her climb.
A target came shooting from the left. Jack shot it out the air and it blew to pieces on the way down.
“Come on,” said Malora, having reached the gangway. Jack scaled the ladder and they rushed along to the ladder at the other side.
Jack heard sounds of mechanical activation to his right. He looked and saw a turret that had come out from the roof overlooking their position. A burst of laser fire came their way, and he shot the automated gun three times before it could hit him.
“Nice shooting,” said Malora, as the turret deactivated.
They shot another half dozen disks on the floor above, and then they made a final dash for the safe-room.
Two turrets dropped down directly in front of them, and Malora dropped on her belly. As she returned fire, a laser took Jack in the shoulder, and he lurched to the side crying out in pain. It felt like it was burning him. His muscle ached from within something fierce.
Malora shot them both out, and then she hurried to put her arm around him. “Come on!” she yelled, pulling him toward the finish line.
When they crossed it a few seconds later, the timer ceased. Jack dropped on his backside, holding his aching shoulder.
“That hurts like hell,” he admitted, grimacing in pain.
“It’s supposed to,” she said, smiling at him as she viewed their time. “We did well. Four seconds to spare.”
“We could’ve done it quicker. I slowed us up,” he admitted sourly.
“Don’t worry. You took a hit, but you kept going. That counts for something.”
Jack managed a short smile, but he was in too much pain to show happiness beyond that. I should’ve done better.
Malora reached down and gave him a hand up. “Okay. That will do for now. You should be proud.”
“I’m reasonably happy with my progress,” he said, and she laughed at the disappointed wrinkle in his brow.
“Relax. These tests are supposed to bring out our mistakes. Now that you know how painful the training lasers can be, I’m sure you’ll do better avoiding them in future.”
“Don’t get shot. Lesson learned.” Jack smirked, still holding his shoulder.
*
Location: Maji-Onda Station, CQC Dojo
Anderson tried picking himself up while Jeriko stood over him shouting. “This is CQC training. You won’t tap your enemy on the forehead and see him drop! Get on your damn feet!”
He was actually afraid. Not nervous, like he had been when he first began fight training. But trembling in fear. His side was sore from the kicks Jeriko had landed beneath his ribs. Beneath his eye was a lump of red swelling. It had only been two minutes since they began, and he’d already taken more of a beating than he ever had in training with Cane and Siena.
Anderson clenched his teeth and put fists into the ground to push himself up.
Jeriko snarled. “That’s more like it! Let me see it again!” He thrust toward him and swept to the side, then crashed against his shoulder so hard that Anderson was flung headlong into the ground with his teeth clattering.
This guy is gonna kill me! Why couldn’t I have been partnered with Siena? Even Claudia would be doing better!
“Wait! Wait!” he cried, eyes screaming, as Jeriko strode toward him.
“Get up! Never stay down for a second, even if your leg is broken! Do not give the enemy the upper hand!” He reached down and scooped him up. Anderson, in a fury, struck him across the cheek, and Jeriko staggered away in pain.
“Excellent!”
Anderson swallowed, and trembled looking into his dark eyes that had been blazing, but now the fire was dying out.
“You are quick, but you lack the conviction of a fighter. It’s in us all, somewhere deep down. Every species was hunted at one time, but they were also predators. We all have a killer instinct, and its only when our lives feel threatened that it surfaces.”
Is this for real? Jeriko is crazy. I thought he was actually going to kill me…
“You need to realise that your life is in real danger the moment you enter any fight, against any opponent. Even a dwarf could kill me, with the right tool and the will to use deadly force. I take every moment of this job seriously, from the outset. That is why I am number one.”
Anderson nodded sharply. “There’s no denying that when it comes to CQC,” he said, knowing that Jack was way too laid back to beat someone this ferocious in a fist fight either. “But I’m a pilot. Battle-tested for the first time less than a week ago. I took down four fighters with a combat drone.”
“A drone?” Jeriko grunted. “Impressive. So…that footage on Media-1 was real?”
They already ran with Cane’s story?! “When did you see it?” he begged.
“Before we came here. They ran with it on the morning news.” Jeriko folded his arms strongly. “So the Dok’ra have truly returned?”
He nodded. “Unfortunately. You know…they’ve been chasing us for months.”
“You’re serious? How many are there?”
“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “But it’s the last of the military. A species battling extinction is gonna fight with everything they have left. So, we felt it was pretty important that we let people know.”
“I’m sure you got paid handsomely for the footage, too?”
Cane got paid? Anderson shrugged. “I don’t know. Honestly, I know as much as I’ve told you. One of our crew, Cane, dropped it off yesterday. We haven’t heard from him since.”
Jeriko laughed. “Smart move. He’s probably split. You might wanna check up on him. Another lesson for you – don’t trust anyone. Not even family. Trusting family will get you killed.”
Anderson nodded slowly. “That was bleak as hell,” he muttered, in fascination of his sternness.
16
Location: Maji-Onda Station, Security Wing
Jack got the call to Fischer’s office shortly after he finished training with Malora. By then, he’d already seen the Media-1 broadcast.
His face was all over the viewscreens located throughout the station. They’d taken a still of him as he fired his weapon at the Dok’ra. It was the most bad-ass picture he’d ever featured in, and as he walked through the thoroughfare on route to the security wing, he received a lot of recognition.
He grinned at more than one pretty woman, and even a pretty alien…although the tentacles on her head were a tad confusing, and raised some questions about what he could find attractive. Then he took a hover cab to avoid the busy market.
When Jack entered his office, Fischer was waiting at his desk. He didn’t get up. “Sit down, Murphy,” he said.
Jack took a seat in front of him. “So…how come you called me here, Chief?”
“Well, Mr Murphy, I prefer a one-on-one. That’s why I called you in alone, and not your friends. Consider yourself a representative for the crew of Europa. So, what were you before you came here, Murphy?”
I was in stock replenishment. My résumé speaks for itself. Low quality, highly affordable me
rchandise, sir. Toilet paper, bubble-gum, you name it, and the chances are I’ve put it on a shelf.
Jack swallowed, nodding. “Military.”
Fischer gave a nod of agreement, then continued. “Mr Murphy, I’ll put it to you plainly – your crew is the most impressive team of candidates I’ve ever seen, in all my forty years working for the guild.”
Jack blinked. Then harrumphed. “…Really?”
“Yes.”
He swallowed. Stern as he appeared, Jack didn’t expect that he gave compliments freely, or often.
“I’m kind of overwhelmed. I mean, I – we – really have been giving it everything – everyday – but I never expected to hear you say something like that, Sir.”
“Understandable – but don’t let it go to your head. The minute you do, you’ll be in decline. I’m telling you this because, frankly, the guild is taking notice. They have high expectations of you.”
“…Excellent.”
“But enough of that. The future isn’t here yet. You still have to pass the final assessment. I see you trained using Alpha-98?”
Jack grinned. “Yes. It’s much more efficient than the standard training simulations they use today. In my humble opinion.” Although it isn’t really my opinion, but Cane’s. I still remember our first day of training like it was yesterday. We performed horribly.
“I agree, son. Very good.”
“Thanks, sir.”
Then Fischer rotated his chair and switched on the viewscreen by a button on the desk. The news story came on. Well, I knew this was coming…
“I’ve watched over this a half-dozen times, Murphy. You and the crew handled yourselves well.”
“Thank you, sir,” Jack said, beaming in delight.
“Wipe that grin off your face, son. Never look that happy in front of anyone. When other people see you’re happy, they just wanna bring you down.”
Jack swallowed, retracting his lips. “Good advice, sir.”
“Murphy, I want you to tell me everything you know about the Dok’ra. In particular, where these bastard who attacked you came from?”
Fischer paused the video when it got to the single quote Cane had given when dropping the tape off.
There are more of them out there than you realise…
Jack proceeded to give an account that left out everything to do with Earth and time-travel, and especially Vorjool.
With a gentle nod, Fischer accepted his story. “You wanna know how my father described the Dok’ra to me?”
Jack, noticing the contempt on his face, hesitated to nod.
“He called them – a species of incorrigible brutes that are interested solely in serving their master’s will. A species like that, it doesn’t surprise me there are still a few around. Let me put it to you straight, Murphy, if they’re out there, I want them dealt with. You put it in writing that you think there are thousands more of them out there, and I guarantee that Captain Lu will persuade High Command to send a dreadnought fleet to sweep the area.”
“You’re serious?” Jack asked, feeling relieved. That would clear the way home.
“Deadly,” Fischer coaxed him, with a strong tone. “The footage is probably all we’ll need. But if you give written testimony, it will help.”
Jack shrugged, grinning. Then he remembered Fischer’s earlier advice and soured. “Get me a pen, Sir,” he said.
17
Location: Maji-Onda Station, Markets Level B1
After training with Siena, Claudia had some free time to finally explore Maji-Onda for herself. Before she left the training area, though, she had taken a stun baton from the armoury. As a Starman Cadet, she was authorised to carry a range of melee weapons.
She progressed through winding corridors with merchant stalls and barking peddlers of a dozen races. Some with blue skin, some with purple, some humanoid, some with tentacles in place of arms.
The deeper she got into the station, the less relaxed she felt. The surroundings got rustier, dirtier. There were side doors in the corridors that had people living in them. There were blankets and boxes, thermal units with people sitting in front of them. She felt like she'd wandered to the bad side of town.
Then she saw a sign for a gun shop. Claudia walked inside to browse the wares within. It was a small shop without shelving. The floor was an open space save for two tall lamps in the corners that shone a challenging blue light.
The counter was lit up brightly by lighting, a human male stood resting his elbow at the other side. Behind him was a display filled with chrome pistols.
He turned her way in boredom when he heard her approaching footsteps. Then his eyes got piercing as he looked her over. There was a ring in his nose, tattoos all over his bare, muscular arms.
"What can I do you for?"
"I just wanted to browse."
The attendant waved his hand over a node at his side without taking eyes off of her. A holographic display appeared. "Well, then, pretty, let's have a look."
Claudia would've squirmed in the past when presented with the unrelenting, creepy gazes of slime like this. Something else had taken hold, though. She wasn't worried. What she wanted to do was bust his head.
"Sure," she said, smiling, leaning into the counter.
Her smile brought a sleazy grin from him in reply. He leant next to her, even shifted over a little so they were closer. She could smell grease and sweat off his shaved head.
"Looking for anything in particular?" he asked.
"Something small...fully automatic."
"Wow, girl, you must be gonna do some hurtin'?"
She shrugged. "I don't go looking for trouble."
"I'll bet you don't," he said, running his tongue over his bottom lip, taking a glance at her slight cleavage. Then he scrolled along the screen and several results appeared.
"Slovarian...repeater," she read aloud the rovian words for the first item on the list, and looked to the sleaze ball for validation.
"Yes," he said, giving a toothy grin. "I thought you sounded a little off. You're new to the galaxies...aren't you?"
The way he said it, the look in his eyes, sounded alarm bells in her head. Claudia leant off the counter and then stood akimbo. If he tried anything, she was going to beat him over the head with her electro-baton so fast that...
"Rick, Mae – get on out here."
Her stomach knotted as another strong looking guy and a woman not much older than her came strutting out from the back of the shop. She was scantily clad in leathers; her eyes heavy with eye shadow. Her tawny skin shimmered. The other guy wore shades and a large gold chain around his beefy neck.
"Jo, what have we got here?" asked the girl of the attendant.
She hopped up onto the counter, then swung her legs over one by one, not caring that they could see right up her skirt. Claudia backed away, hearing the door close shut behind her as Rick pushed a button behind the counter.
She glanced over her shoulder, feeling her pulse spike at the sight of the locked metal door.
Mae approached her, brazen eyes fell on Claudia darkly, seductively. "Oh, my, she is pretty. Look at those green eyes..."
Claudia felt cold thrills sail along her spine as she got a whiff of Mae's smoky breath. Rick and Jo remained behind the counter, Rick with his arms folded, his eyes hidden behind the shades while Jo watched on in depraved excitement.
Mae's hand went to the strands of hair on Claudia's shoulder, she felt the colour leave her cheeks as Mae took the liberty of stroking the ends gently. "A fine mane."
She brought the back of her hand gently to Claudia's cheek. The second her cold knuckle made contact, Claudia shoved her hand away.
Mae gave a grin veiled with contempt. "That soft, almond skin of yours...I knew there was some fire beneath it."
"Open the door," Claudia demanded.
"Nope," said Jo, and his grin fell away. "My, my, my...you chose the wrong store today, girly."
"She'll fetch a fair price," said Rick, the words came out li
ke his throat was a smoky crater. "100, 000...maybe 120,000, even, if she's unspoiled."
Mae came closer to her again. Claudia backed away. She advanced until Claudia's back was against the wall. Her palms sweating, her brow quickly running with perspiration.
"I like spoiling things," whispered Mae, and her breath went into Claudia's mouth. She took out a knife from her back. Claudia's fists clenched at her sides.
"Then it's coming out of your cut," snapped Rick. Jo brushed Rick's concerns away with some laughter. Then he leaned on the counter again to enjoy the show.
"Don't worry," said Mae. "One day, not so long ago, I came through that door, just like you."
"I doubt you were ever like me," Claudia defied her, even with the knife set under her chin.
"Snarky, ain't ya?" She looked to her friends in amusement. "Did you hear that? This bitch thinks she's better than me..."
As Mae returned her attention to her, Claudia grabbed her knife hand by the wrist, then clawed at her right eye. A red trickle took Claudia’s cheek, and Mae screamed as blood squirted from the lid.
She twisted her arm, whirling her around, and then set the knife against her throat.
"Open the door!" Claudia screamed.
Jo didn't have that same look anymore, and Rick uncrossed his arms, almost leaping over the counter at her.
"Open the door, or I'll slit this bitch's throat!"
Mae, holding her bleeding eye, cried out in agony. "She put my eye out! She put my fucking eye out! I can't see!"
Claudia put the blade to her throat so hard it sliced her and blood ran down her neck in thin lines.
"Shut up!" Her eyes went back to the others. "Open that damn door!"
Rick was still half-ready to leap over the counter while Jo seemed to be thinking things over. Silence followed from them all except Mae, as she continued squirming in pain and discomfort. Each time she kicked or tried to break away, Claudia pressed that knife harder against her raw flesh.