by Sarah Noffke
A gentle mist streamed from the irrigation hoses that snaked through the field. Those planting jumped with alarm, many of them darting out of the field. The hoses hiccupped several times, but the flow of water continued steady and strong.
Hatch laughed as the field cleared out. “Blame the kid. It’s his fault you all got a shower,” he said to the workers racing in their direction. He looked at Knox with a sort of smile on his face. “Good work, Gunner. That irrigation system is going to really help this crop to recover.”
“Thanks,” said Knox, his pale cheeks glowing pink. “I just followed your instructions.”
“Well, I can’t do everything myself, now can I?” Hatch said, grimacing at a pair who were pushing a tractor in their direction. “Oh hell, they have another one for us to repair. No rest for the brilliant, and the dumb don’t need any.”
~~~
Knox’s head was under the hood of the old tractor when he heard the familiar laugh. He pulled his head up to spy the person he thought the laughter belonged to. However, Lars’ face was brighter than he’d ever seen it.
Lars had knelt, and was looking up at a young Kezzin. Knox supposed the child was his niece, and the pair behind her Lars’ family. So badly did Knox want to be happy for his friend. He’d read the hesitation in him when they were preparing to come to Kezza. Knox realized that returning to his home planet had been difficult for Lars. Knox couldn’t relate.
He’d never had a home to return to, not really. He and his Pops had moved around a lot since the beginning, but he’d never understood why. And then one day, Knox’s Pops had suddenly disappeared. He didn’t go to the store and not come back or anything like that. Literally, one moment he was there, in the other room, and then he was gone. There was no explanation, which is why after a week, Knox fled, an unsettling feeling in his chest.
That feeling had never disappeared. He didn’t know if it ever would. Something told him that if he ever found out the truth, then maybe it would. But that was a desperate hope because how does one find a man who vanished with zero clues?
A tentacle waved in front of Knox’s face. “Hey, who gave you a break?” asked Hatch.
Knox shook his head slightly and spun to face Hatch. He’d been staring at nothing for who-knew-how-long. His thoughts had taken over, gotten to him. That didn’t happen when he worked, made things.
“Sorry, Doctor A’Din Hatcherik,” said Knox, his face flushing hot. He’d just gotten praise from Hatch, and then a moment later was caught goofing off. Damn it.
Hatch’s gaze followed where Knox had been staring, and he blinked at the Kezzin family reunion before looking at the tractor. “Why don’t you go grab something to drink? It’s easy to get dehydrated on this lizard planet.”
“No, I’m good. I’ll get back to work,” said Knox quickly, leaning forward intently to replace the spark plugs in the old tractor.
“That wasn’t a request. It was an order, Gunner,” said Hatch, his voice strict. “You’re no use to me if you get yourself sick.”
Knox’s gaze, without his permission, shot back to Lars’ family. He had his arm around his brother’s shoulder, and a look of pure happiness on his face. Knox nodded, backing away. “Okay. I’ll be back in a few, though.”
“Take your time, kid,” said Hatch. He turned to the Kezzin and the Federation crew working around them. “Why don’t you lot clear off? We can’t work with all of you clogging up this space.”
Those around the field retreated at Hatch’s order, Lars and his family included.
CHAPTER TEN
Intelligence Center, QBS ArchAngel, Behemoth System
Chester rocked his head back and forth. Timbaland was a freaking genius. The new music coming out of Onyx Station didn’t compare. He preferred to listen to the Shock Value album rather than the techno crap in the background of the first-person shooter game he was playing.
Chester jerked to the side as if he were dodging the attack on the screen.
“No you don’t, sucker,” he yelled at the screen, firing off several rounds at the scoundrels he was fighting.
Swaying his shoulders to the music, Chester rocked his head. “I’m pretty sure you got your own recipe,” he sang along with the song. “Pick it up. Pick it up. Yeah, I like you. I just can’t get enough, I’ve got to drive through.”
Chester chanced a glance at Harley who was looking up at him like expecting a treat. “You’re right, Har, these are some sweet, sweet moves.”
Behind him, Marilla giggled.
He paused the game and spun around. “Oh, have you decided to quit pretending to ignore me.”
“I’m not ignoring you. Or pretending to do so,” she argued. Well, she lied. He’d caught her eyeing him in the mirror he’d positioned beside his front monitor. The mirror was a new addition, but he was certain her glances at his back wasn’t anything new. Or at least he hoped not.
“I know, I’m pretty distracting,” said Chester, picking up his shirt off his shoulders. “If it’s ever too much for you and your crazy work ethic, let me know.”
“Do you think I want to be relocated to a different work area? Maybe on the bridge?” asked Marilla with a playful smile on her face.
“Oh, heck nah. I’ll just quiet down. That tech support geek already moved out of here because of my antics. I get that I’m a bit much,” said Chester. He’d laid it on pretty thick when that dork had been in the office with them. He’d planned all along to get him to request a different workstation, leaving only Marilla and Chester in the Intelligence Center.
“You don’t have to worry. You don’t distract me. I actually find you pretty entertaining,” said Marilla, and motioned to Harley. “It appears he does too.”
“Well, good.” He spun back and resumed playing the game. “What’s your name?” he continued to sing with the song. “Girl, what’s your number? I’m glad I came. Can you take my order?”
“What is this?” asked the captain.
Chester spun around to find Eddie standing in the doorway. He was right on time, probably having gotten his meeting request as soon as he returned from Kezza.
“I know, he’s blatantly playing games on the job. You should fire him and then throw him out the airlock,” said Marilla dryly.
Eddie shot a look of surprise at the communication officer. “Damn, when did you get so feisty?”
“I believe it’s my influence,” stated Chester.
“Well, maybe I need to split you two up,” joked Eddie. “I can’t have you corrupting our sweet Marilla.”
“I’ve got you all fooled,” said Marilla, stretching to a standing position. “I’ve always been this way. You all mistake my quiet nature for niceness.”
“Oh, well, it’s not hard to fool me,” said Eddie with a laugh. He looked at Chester, his eyes wide on the paused game on the big screen. “And I’m not firing this guy. Instead, I want you to allow me to play. What is this?”
Marilla chuckled, slapping her hand on her leg to get Harley’s attention. The dog perked up and trotted over. “I figured you wouldn’t fire Chest. There’s no way you could replace him.” She left without another word, and Harley followed her.
Eddie watched her leave and then turned to Chester. “You guys are cute.”
“Like a couple of kittens curled up in front of a fire,” said Chester.
“Yeah, about like that,” said Eddie, reaching over and picking up the wireless controller sitting on Chester’s desk. “All right, I got to play this. Can I?”
“Knock yourself out,” said Chester, leaning back in his chair with his hands behind his head. “I’ll go ahead and tell you what I found out while you play, which I’ll warn you only begs for more questions.”
Eddie gave Chester a sideways skeptical look before unpausing the game. “I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Yeah, well, unfortunately I found just enough information to ask a dozen more questions.” Chester watched as Eddie took a fatal hit. He started a new game, tapping th
e controls hard with frustration.
“Go on then,” said Eddie.
“You’re a busy man so I’ll sum this up for you as best I can,” began Chester. “There is some sort of weapon that Felix has created. I have no idea what it is or who developed it, although I’m continuing to follow leads.”
“When not gaming,” added Eddie.
“Exactly,” said Chester, firing a finger at him. “What I found tells me that there’s one sure fire way to determine what this thing is.”
“Call the guy up and ask him?” joked Eddie, taking another hit. He was much better at live combat than the virtual kind, thank goodness.
“Yeah, you could do that, but I doubt he’ll tell you. I’ve been hacking all sorts of his systems, but hitting major firewalls. What I need is direct access to his personal accounts,” said Chester.
“Which we get…how?” asked Eddie.
“By going aboard Unsurpassed,” said Chester, brandishing a clever grin at the captain.
Eddie lowered the controls with an utterly confused expression on his face. “You’re kidding, right?”
Chester grimaced when Eddie was obliterated in the game. “I’m not kidding. My jokes are way better than that. I know it sounds farfetched, but I’ve been playing with the idea and think it’s a good one. Risky, yes, but solid.”
“You think because I’m enhanced I’ll go for something so insane, don’t you?” asked Eddie, restarting the game once more.
“I think you’re a man who wants solutions to problems. Our problem is that we don’t know what Felix has. All we can confirm is that he had something commissioned, my digging has told me that much, anyway.”
“And if we get aboard Unsurpassed and grant you access to his system, you think you can find what we’re looking for?” asked Eddie.
“I know that I can,” said Chester, proudly.
“There’s the whole problem that we could get caught, going onboard an enemy ship and all,” said Eddie, tapping the button on the control repeatedly.
“Believe me, a major concern for me. I don’t even have any combat experience, unless gaming counts,” said Chester.
“It doesn’t,” said Eddie, dropping the control down for a second time. “And you need to go on this suicide mission yourself? Explain.”
“The last time I checked, you’re good with a gun, but you can’t hack into a computer system to save your life,” said Chester.
“Why thank you. And no, I don’t think I can,” said Eddie. “I thought you said that if we got aboard Unsurpassed we’d have access to the records.”
“True, we’ll have access, but they’ll still be protected. You’re going to need someone skilled that can disable their security and hack into the system,” said Chester.
“Okay, that would be you,” said Eddie and then he grunted when he got killed yet again. He dropped the controls on the desk in front of Chester. “All right, so any ideas on how we’re going to stroll aboard Unsurpassed and hack into the systems?”
Chester picked up the control and started a new game. “Strategy is for you and the commander to figure out. You get me in there and I’ll get what you need.”
Eddie watched for a long few seconds as Chester wasted a few of the digital enemies with ease. “All right, chief. I’ll go and mull this over with Julianna. Keep doing what you’re doing. You’re brilliant at it.”
Chester took out a sniper and smiled broadly. “You got it, boss.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Cargo Bay, QBS ArchAngel, Behemoth System
“Don’t cry, it’s only a knock-knock joke,” said Pip overhead as Eddie entered the cargo bay. Hatch gave Knox a classic deadpan look to which the young mechanic simply shook his head. “Get it! Boo-who. Don’t cry.” Pip laughed loudly at his own joke.
Eddie shot a curious glance at Julianna. She shrugged and gave him a “You don’t want to know” look.
“Okay, I’ve got another one,” said Pip overhead.
“I’m fairly certain we’ve had our fill,” said Julianna. “Teach is here and we have to discuss the next mission with him.”
“I’ll make it fast,” said Pip, ignoring her. “Knock-knock.”
Julianna stared at Hatch, who waddled away, shaking a wrench above his head.
When no one said anything, Eddie said, “Who is there?”
“Little old lady,” answered Pip.
Eddie grinned, but the other three didn’t at all look impressed. They’d obviously been suffering from these jokes for too long. “Little old lady who?”
“Nice! I didn’t know you could yodel,” chirped Pip. “Ba-dum-tss!”
Eddie narrowed his eyes. “I don’t get it.”
“None of us do,” said Julianna, waving him over.
“Captain, will you remember me in an hour?” asked Pip.
Even more confused, Eddie shook his head. “Of course, you strange AI.”
“Shush it, Pip. We have real work to do,” said Julianna, her tone punishing.
“All work and no play makes Julianna a—”
“Can Pip be reprogrammed now that he’s a true AI?” she asked Hatch, cutting Pip off.
Hatched puffed his cheeks. “Certainly. I’m considering changing his software as we speak.”
Eddie laughed at the absurdity of all this. Pip was good for the crew, more lately than ever before. “I heard you mention the mission. You received the report from Chester? Did you flip? Pretty gnarly idea, huh?”
“It’s brilliant,” said Julianna, to his surprise. “That’s why I came here to meet with Hatch. However, we have another problem.”
“Of course we do. Lay it on me,” said Eddie.
Hatch cleared his throat, scuttling forward. He and Knox appeared to be building the next Q-Ship. “Sneaking onto Unsurpassed is a very doable mission, in my mind. However, in order to be successful, you’re going to need cloaking technology.”
“Yeah, I was thinking we’d use the personal cloaking belts again,” said Eddie.
“Yes, that would be the right approach. However, our crystal supply has been depleted. I used the rest of them when we created the last Q-Ship,” muttered Hatch, his attention half on the framework of the ship sitting before them. “We’re going to need more of the aether crystals if I’m going to keep building these ships, but also for any additional personal cloaks.”
Eddie nodded. “Tell us what you need us to do.”
“I tried placing an order for them, but it’s going to be several months,” said Hatch.
“Several months?” asked Julianna with alarm. “We can’t wait that long. Felix is up to something.”
“I figured you couldn’t. Also, the orders keep getting backlogged, so I’m guessing something is wrong on the mining end. I suspect as much at least, based on what I know about where they come from,” said Hatch.
“What about it?” asked Eddie.
“They can only be mined from a single planet called Berosia. It’s an incredibly underdeveloped world way out on the frontier,” said Hatch.
“We’re used to that sort of thing,” said Eddie. “So you need us to buzz over there and mine you some crystals, is that right?”
“I wish it were that simple. Mining isn’t an easy operation. It involves explosives,” said Hatch.
“Why didn’t you lead with that?” asked Eddie. “I’m all over this.”
“I understand that Lieutenant Fletcher has someone on his team who is skilled with explosive ordinance,” said Julianna.
“Yeah, they needed those to fight the Mamaths,” said Eddie, nodding.
“You’re going to need Fletcher’s team,” cut in Hatch. “That’s the other piece of this. I suspect that the reason the crystals are on backorder is that the planet is overrun with pirates. They know that the aether is highly valuable and many of them go to great lengths to steal and sell them on the black market.”
“Fight some pirates and steal some cloaking crystals,” said Eddie, slapping his hands together. “We can d
o all that. Then you’ll have what you need to make our personal cloaking devices?”
Hatch nodded, his gaze back on the Q-Ship as he drifted off into deep concentration.
“Captain?” asked Pip.
“Yes?” answered Eddie.
“Will you remember me in a day?” asked Pip.
“Of course, buddy,” said Eddie, giving Julianna a curious look. “What’s with these questions?”
“Knock-knock,” said Pip.
Eddie couldn’t help but chuckle. “Okay, I’ll indulge you one last time. Who’s there?”
“What? You’ve forgotten me already!” said Pip, laughing at his own joke.
Alpha-line Q-Ship, Berosia Airspace, Davida System
Berosia wasn’t an easy planet to get to, making the crystals even more valuable. The QBS ArchAngel had to gate twice, and still the planet was a good way off.
“I think we should consider jumping back to the ship,” said Julianna to Eddie.
He read the hesitation in her voice. “You’re worried we’re going to run into trouble?”
“I’m betting on it, based on past experience,” said Julianna. “Carnivore, this is Strong Arm. Do you copy?”
The comm clicked several times before Lars’ voice came over it. “Copy, Strong Arm. I’m right behind you.”
When given the option to stay on Kezza, Lars declined immediately. He said he’d enjoyed reconnecting with his family, but his duty was with Ghost Squadron. Since then, he’d appeared lighter, like a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Julianna suspected that many of his demons had been buried on Kezza, all for the better.
“I see that,” said Julianna. “We’re landing on the eastern side of the mountain straight ahead.”
The planet of Berosia was as Hatch had described it—completely undeveloped. It reminded Julianna of Sagano, with its thick forests and tropical climate.
“The mountain that looks like a lady’s face,” said Eddie, apparently trying to clarify. There was a row of mountains ahead.
“A human lady or a Kezzin female?” joked Lars.