The Pike Chronicles - Books 1 - 10

by Hudson, G. P.

“I know, but how can I refuse Mr. Jansen?” said Seiben. He understood her frustration, but he couldn’t tell her the truth.

  “It’s not right. What about Alina and Otka? They’ve barely spent any time with you.”

  “I won’t be gone as long this time.”

  “There are other freighter captains. Jansen should pick one of them.”

  “This freight is very valuable. That Mr. Jansen wants me to take this trip, rather than someone else, is a great honor. He is also paying me well for the trip. Three times my regular wages.”

  “We don’t need the money. The girls need to see their father. I need to see my husband.”

  “It is only this once.”

  That set her off. “No it isn’t,” she snapped. She wagged a finger at him and said, “If you do it this time, Jansen will expect you to do it again.”

  “And what would you have me do? Say no? Lose my job? Where would that leave us?”

  “We could leave the station,” she said, her tone softening, pleading. “We could emigrate to one of the planets. The kids could feel what it’s like to truly be outside. To breathe in fresh air.”

  “The air on the station is fresh,” said Seiben, defensively. “It’s constantly filtered. It’s probably cleaner than any of the planets.”

  “You know what I mean,” said Darla. “We could start a new life. This isn’t the only place to live in the universe.”

  “And what would I do there? There isn’t any demand for freighter captains on the planets.”

  “Do you have to haul freight?”

  “Would you have me carry passengers then? Perhaps I should become a tour guide?”

  “My point is there are opportunities there, so long as you are willing to look for them. We don’t have to be trapped on this station.”

  “We aren’t trapped. We have a good life here.”

  “Do we?”

  “Yes, we do. All our needs are provided for. The children are getting a great education. I have a good position.”

  “A position that leaves no time for your family. And what about the last time? Those raiders could’ve killed you. You put yourself at risk every time you go out.”

  What would she do if she knew the risk he was taking with this mission? “Nothing would’ve happened. Even if Jon wasn’t there Mr. Jansen would’ve paid the ransom and they would’ve let us go.”

  “And if he didn’t pay? Then what.”

  “Don’t be silly. The cargo and freighter are worth more than the ransom. Of course he would pay.”

  Darla stood there pouting. He knew he couldn’t change her mind. She was a planet girl and always would be. She could never fully accept this life. He pulled her close and gave her a hug. She relaxed a little but he could tell she was still mad.

  “Once I come back from this run I’ll arrange for some extra time off. We’ll take a vacation. Maybe we’ll visit one of those planets you’re so fond of. One with oceans and beaches.”

  “The girls would love that,” she said, succumbing to the compromise.

  The knock at the door interrupted them. Seiben threw his hands up. “Can we not find a moment of peace?”

  He let go of Darla, walked to the door and opened it. Three men stood there, dressed in black. For a second he thought they were DLC security personnel, but didn’t see the DLC insignia, or any other for that matter.

  “Who the hell are you?” said Seiben.

  One of the men pulled out an energy weapon, pointed it at Seiben’s head and said, “May we come in?”

  Chapter 38

  They reached Seiben’s building without further incident. Were the attackers still in pursuit? Jon didn’t know. Perhaps they didn’t want to try anything else out in the open. He could only assume that they were waiting for a more discrete opportunity. Either way he had to warn Captain Seiben. They needed to leave their apartment and go somewhere safe, at least until they knew what was going on.

  They got into the glass lift and took it up to Seiben’s floor. Looking out of the elevator onto the city everything seemed normal. Yet every hovercraft floating above them could be a threat. Every person walking below an enemy. Every window in the buildings around them hiding a sniper.

  He didn’t know his enemy, and that left him feeling very vulnerable. Hell, he didn’t know this city, this station, or this region of space.

  They got out of the elevator and walked down the hall to Seiben’s apartment. Before they reached his door Jon put Anki down and put a finger to his mouth, telling her not to make a sound. He gestured to Breeah to stay back with Anki. Breeah nodded and pulled out the gun from her waistband. Jon did the same and headed toward the door.

  He stood beside the door and knocked on it. His fears were realized when weapon fire ripped through it. He backed up and waited. The door opened and a man stepped out, weapon drawn, his arm sweeping the hallway in a wide arc. Jon fired. The man dropped.

  More gunfire burst through the open door. How many more men were inside the apartment? Had they killed Seiben? His family? There was no way of knowing without going in.

  “Mr. Pike,” said a voice from inside the apartment. “I have Captain Seiben. I have his wife. And I have his little girls. Cute kids. But not for long. Unless you come through that door.”

  Jon turned to Breeah. “I need your help,” he whispered. “I’m going to go in and draw their fire. When they start firing at me I want you to take them out.”

  “What about Captain Seiben and his family?”

  “Don’t shoot them.”

  Breeah frowned, but nodded her agreement.

  “I’m not a patient man Mr. Pike,” said the man. “I am going to shoot one of these little girls now.”

  “Wait,” said Jon. “I’m coming in.”

  Jon turned to the doorway, took a breath, and dove in. The men inside were waiting and fired immediately, barely missing him. He moved as quick as he could through the room. So long as the gunfire chased him it meant they were no longer facing the door.

  Breeah appeared in the doorway and fired, hitting the first man in the head. She fired at the second, but he managed to duck. He jumped up, holding Alina in front of him, and pointed his gun at Breeah. She couldn’t fire without hitting the little girl.

  The man fired at Breeah and she jumped back behind the wall. The man pointed the gun at Darla and fired.

  When Breeah had fired Jon had changed direction and headed for the gunmen. He didn’t want to risk hitting the little girl so he didn’t fire his weapon. He had to disarm him first. He lunged for the man’s weapon as he aimed it at Darla. Then he heard the gun go off.

  He had hit the man’s arm and knocked it upwards, hoping the shot would miss. He hit it again, breaking it. The man dropped his gun to the floor, and dropped Alina, trying in vain to strike back. Jon easily blocked the strike, grabbed the arm, and broke it too. He was surprised when the man fell to the floor with Captain Seiben on top of him.

  “You filthy scum,” yelled Seiben. “I’ll kill you.” Seiben sat on top of the man clubbing him repeatedly with his heavy fists. After the second blow it was clear the man was unconscious, but Seiben kept hitting him.

  Jon figured Seiben deserved some revenge so he let him get a few more punches in. He looked back and to his relief saw that Darla was still alive. The shot had missed her after all. Then he turned back to Seiben and said, “It might be better if you didn’t kill him. We might find out who sent them.”

  Seiben stopped and looked up at Jon, a look of confusion on his face. He seemed to realize what Jon was saying and nodded in agreement. He looked down at the unconscious man and spit. Then he got up and went to his family. He took two steps toward them, turned and looked back at the man like he had an idea. He took a step back and unloaded a powerful kick to the man’s groin. The force of the kick moved the man’s body several feet.

  Jon cringed. “Was that really necessary?”

  “Something for him to remember me by,” said Seiben.

  Chapte
r 39

  “I don’t understand how this could happen,” said Jansen, his eyes intense.

  Jon studied Jansen’s face, but couldn’t get a good read from the display. He didn’t think Jansen was behind the attack. What motive could he have? There was no way it could be the Kemmar. That left Durril Tai.

  “Well it happened,” said Jon. “The raiders had to be behind this, which means you have a leak.”

  “Impossible. How could they have found out about the mission so fast? Or coordinate such a quick response?”

  “I don’t know, but it’s the only explanation.”

  “Captain, surely a man with your particular talents has many enemies.”

  Jon didn’t like Jansen’s smug tone. “Even if that was the case, nobody knows I’m here.”

  “It is possible, though. Someone could have tracked you here.”

  Jon considered Jansen’s words. Could it be the Kemmar? Would they hire human mercenaries? Considering the isolationism in the colonies, it would be easier to use humans than Kemmar. Did they somehow manage to track his escape pod? If so, why not just capture it in space?

  “I don’t think so,” said Jon. “The only answer is the raiders. Otherwise why would they come after Captain Seiben?”

  “What’s he talking about?” said Darla, sitting behind Jon on the couch with her two daughters.

  “Nothing dear,” said Seiben, nervously.

  “You’re lying. What’s going on? What’s all this talk about raiders coming after you?”

  There was a knock at the door and Seiben jumped up to answer it.

  “Wait,” said Jon. “I better check it out.”

  Seiben rolled his eyes. “Ok, go ahead,” he said, and went back to his chair, smacking the armrest with his hand as he sat. He watched Jon approach the door, avoiding Darla’s furious eyes.

  Jon felt guilty about Captain Seiben. The mission was Jansen’s idea, and Jansen was the one forcing Seiben’s involvement, putting him in danger. Still, he felt responsible somehow.

  Jon gripped the energy weapon in his right hand, pointed it at the door, and stood off to the side.

  “Who is it?” said Jon.

  “Kulberg. Mr. Jansen sent me.”

  Jon looked back at Jansen’s face on the display. “Should we be expecting Kulberg?”

  “Yes, he’ll be arriving any minute,” said Jansen.

  Jon lowered his weapon and opened the door. Kulberg strode in with his two guards. Arrogance poured out of the man. From the fake smile on his face, to the way he carried himself, everything about him rubbed Jon the wrong way. But it wasn’t just that he disliked him. Something about him instinctively set him off, warning him of some hidden danger.

  “I’ve come to take your prisoner,” said Kulberg, flashing Jon his PR smile.

  “He’s right over there,” said Jon, pointing to the now conscious man propped up against the wall.

  Kulberg looked at his guards and said, “Take him.”

  The two men walked up to the man and grabbed him by the arms. That woke him up and made him scream. The guards let go, a look of confusion on their faces.

  “Sorry about that,” said Jon. “I might have broken his arms.”

  The guards shrugged. They hooked their hands under his armpits and picked him up that way. The man groaned as they walked him forward, his head hung low, dragging his feet.

  “Kulberg looked at Jon and smiled again. “Don’t worry, Captain Pike, we’ll find out what’s going on.”

  “Good luck,” said Jon.

  Kulberg studied Jon for a moment, as if deciding how to respond, but said nothing. He simply turned and left, the guards following, dragging the prisoner with them.

  Chapter 40

  The black vehicle lifted off the roof. Its jets swung around, propelling it forward. It sailed away from the crowded city, gliding quietly, a dark blemish in the cloudless blue sky. Beneath it the towering structures disappeared and were replaced by trees and green grass.

  Inside the craft the four men were silent. The two guards were in the front, one piloting the vehicle. Kulberg sat in the back with the prisoner. He hadn’t taken his eyes off him since they left. The man was a joke, thought Kulberg.

  “Explain to me again how your team of so called soldiers, high priced soldiers I might add, managed to fail so spectacularly,” said Kulberg.

  “We-”

  “One man,” continued Kulberg. “One man, a woman and a child. How hard could that be for a team of skilled mercenaries?”

  “That’s no man I’ve ever seen,” said the prisoner. “I’ve never seen any man move that fast. And the woman. She fights like a professional.”

  “What about the little girl?” mocked Kulberg. “How many of your men did she kill?”

  “The girl didn’t fight.”

  “Well aren’t you lucky. Who knows what would’ve happened if they let the little girl loose on your men.”

  “Sir, I’m telling you the truth. These ain’t no ordinary people.”

  “You know something? I’m tired of listening to your excuses.”

  “Next time we’ll-”

  “There is no next time. At least not for you.”

  Kulberg reached into his jacket and pulled out a small handgun. He pointed it at the man who looked back with terror. Kulberg waited while the man tried to move away, pushing with his legs until he fell off the seat onto the floor. There was nowhere for him to go.

  “You want to get out?” said Kulberg. He pressed button beside him and the side door slid open. “Ok, out you go.” Kulberg pushed the man with his foot. The man kicked back, trying to protect himself. Kulberg leaned in and fired the weapon point blank into the man’s leg. Screams filled the cabin. Kulberg fired a second time, into the man’s other leg.

  “Broken arms and wounded legs,” said Kulberg. “That makes you twice as useless.” He returned the gun to his jacket, reached down and seized the man’s ankles with his hands. He lifted till he had him upside down, then threw his legs out the door. The man tried to move his broken arms, but didn’t have a chance, and his body followed his legs out of the vehicle.

  Kulberg closed the door and accessed a panel. A display lit up in front of him and Durril Tai’s face appeared.

  “Is it done?” said Tai.

  “We encountered some unforeseen resistance,” said Kulberg. “This man is more formidable than we first assumed.”

  “I see,” said Tai. He paused for a moment and then said, “No matter. Move forward with the poison pill.”

  “Understood. Leave it to me.”

  Chapter 41

  “Picking up Space Force beacon, Sir,” said the Chaanisar officer.

  “Have the Kemmar located the escape pod?” said Colonel Bast.

  “Yes, Sir. Kemmar cruiser has dispatched retrieval craft. They have secured the escape pod and are returning to the cruiser.

  Bast knew this would come sooner or later. “Sound battle alert.”

  A klaxon sounded throughout the ship alerting of the upcoming battle.

  “Helmsman, initiate jump. Get us in between the Kemmar cruiser and the escape pod.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Ready weapons. Fire on the retrieval craft the moment we land.”

  Chief St. Clair stood beside him, watching the viewscreen intently.

  “We will prevail, Chief,” said Bast, unwavering confidence in his voice.

  “There’s not a lot of space between that cruiser and the escape pod,” said St. Clair.

  “There is enough,” said Bast.

  “Initiate retrieval operations the moment we land.” He looked over at Kevin and said, “We will block the Kemmar with our ship while we retrieve the escape pod.”

  “Ballsy move, Colonel.”

  “Ballsy?”

  “Yeah, ballsy. It’s a compliment.”

  Bast nodded. “Then we will endeavor to continue making ballsy moves, Chief.”

  St. Clair flashed a mischievous smirk.

&
nbsp; Bast liked Chief St. Clair. The man was a warrior. As tough as any he had seen. But he was also a good natured person. He wondered what his childhood was like. Likely a happy time. He had tried repeatedly to remember something about his own childhood, but nothing came to him. There was only the Juttari. Only the Chaanisar.

  They jumped and the Kemmar warship filled the viewscreen. The Chaanisar energy weapons fired and easily disposed of the Kemmar retrieval craft.

  “Target the Kemmar cruiser. All weapons. Fire at will.”

  Energy weapons and missiles burst forth like merciless daggers, landing unopposed. The Kemmar warship had obviously been surprised by the attack. Explosions rocked the cruiser causing damage to its armor plating and some of its systems.

  “Kemmar cruiser is returning fire.”

  “Keep firing,” said Bast. “Launch countermeasures. Activate point defense system.”

  Missiles streaked towards the Chaanisar ship, glowing red like celestial demons. The Chaanisar ship spit out a cluster of drones, which scattered. They burned with disproportionate heat for their size, broadcasting the Chaanisar ship’s signature. They fooled most of the missiles, making them chase the drones instead of the ship. The ones not pulled off course were destroyed by the point defense perimeter. A wall of exploding shells.

  The two ships faced each other broadside, pounding one another like two ancient wooden ships of the line. Red and blue energy bursts lit up the void, pulverizing the hulls on both sides.

  “Maintain position between them and the escape pod,” said Bast. “What is the status of the retrieval operation?”

  “Grappling drones are underway, Sir.”

  On the other side of the Chaanisar battle cruiser several drones raced toward the escape pod. Once within range they fired their grapplers, long arms with magnetic claws on the ends. The claws seized the escape pod, and the drones overpowered it, forcing it to follow them back to their ship.

  “Kemmar cruiser is changing course,” said the Helmsman. “They’re turning toward us. They’re trying to ram us, Sir.”