by L Bowers
“Krawtesh?” I repeated the foreign syllables as best I could. He nodded and smiled.
“Great,” Jones said. “We know each other's names. Now what?”
“That’s a great question. I wish I had an answer.”
As it turned out, Krawtesh had an answer. He pointed at Jones, then me, before pointing up. I nodded and smiled. “Yeah, we’re from up there.” I pointed to the sky while nodding.
“How do we tell him we’re from the future?” Jones asked.
“I’m not sure we should. There’s no telling how us being here will affect things. Getting him to understand we came to the past might raise too many questions. Things we shouldn’t tell him.”
“Then why are we here?” Jones asked. “There has to be a reason for it. Could it be something to do with the meteors?”
Krawtesh barked something in his guttural language, which pulled Jones’s and my attention back to him. He pointed at himself, then to the stairs. The rest of his party was already walking down. I nodded, and he turned and walked. He went three steps before stopping and looking at us.
“I think he wants us to follow,” I said.
“I don’t have anything better to do. Although I can’t help thinking I should have told you I had to wash my hair instead of coming out for this date.”
I chuckled. “Maybe you should have, but I’m glad you’re here with me. It motivates me to find a way back. Let’s follow and see where this goes. Maybe I’ll have to save him from another would-be assassin.”
It was at that moment when I decided to think long and hard about becoming a professional psychic. Alien people in long orange robes with golden suns embroidered on the chest jumped high above the crowds. They landed on the lower sections of the pyramid as the group of aliens on the stairs stopped. The orange-robed group dashed up while fanning out. The aliens on the stairs turned and ran, and several of them screamed.
“It’s more of those people like when I was in the past before, like the woman who stabbed me with her knife,” I said.
“Should we intervene?” Jones asked.
“I think we should. Krawtesh might be able to give us answers. And he doesn’t seem violent. I think that goes a long way to establishing him as a decent go. I hope.”
Jones didn’t wait for me to give the word to strike. She leaped, allowing her Lenashal’s bunny feet to manifest and aid her. I followed right behind as I let Aspen’s wings propel me up, then glide back down. Jones hit the ground first between the attackers and their targets. Two stopped short, but the rest kept going. They ran by Jones, or through her as she tried stopping them. Those that stopped engaged in battle.
I dropped in front of the people that went by Jones. Like with her, they ran through or by me. I couldn’t affect them at all. If their targets weren’t trained combatants, and I didn’t think they were, they would die. As my body spun, my mind swirled the problem around. One thing I knew for certain was that inaction would get me nowhere, so I ran after them.
The alien attackers were fast, but with Aspen’s help, I was faster. As I passed through a couple of them, I tried swinging my arms out to see if I could hit one but remained unsuccessful. There was one person I could manipulate, and the thought caused a plan to grow.
Sprinting harder than before took me to Krawtesh with enough time to grab him and turn him around to face his pursuers. When they were close enough, I swung a squirming Krawtesh around and hit the closest attacker with his feet. The woman fell back into the man behind her. He shoved her to the side and continued up.
Keeping a firm grip on the alien, I pulled him back and out of the line of fire as the attackers swung long daggers. Krawtesh seemed to get the idea and went limp in my arms. When I swung him around and missed, he didn’t skip a beat as I continued around and thrust him forward. Krawtesh locked his knees and let his legs go rigid. Blood the color of grass erupted from the next attacker’s shattered face.
That left three that hadn’t fallen unconscious or run off. I spun my living weapon once more, but the target held up his blade ready to intercept flesh with steel. I had to fall back to keep my charge from being sliced open. He landed on me, and the three pounced. Rolling put Krawtesh under me and allowed the attackers to hammer the tips of their blades against my armored back. Fortunately, I kept rolling, which let the blades pass harmlessly through me to hit the ground.
Manifesting wings allowed me to use them to push off the floor and spin back the way we had come. Krawtesh’s legs slammed into the backs of two of the attackers. While the blow wasn’t hard enough to do any damage, it did knock them off balance. Utilizing the opening, I thrust him forward and hit the third assailant in the head. Krawtesh pumped his legs and kicked the woman three more times. She crumpled to the floor and rolled down the pyramid.
The man’s weight took its toll on me. Breathing became difficult as I pulled him away from the last two. My muscles burned from exertion and I wanted nothing more than to lie down and take a long nap. That was something Krawtesh wouldn’t survive, which would make it the deadliest nap ever. I chose not to, and felt pretty good about my decision.
We continued backpedaling, with my charge using his legs to help us move back faster. The pair came at us at a slow walk, moving side-by-side as they stalked their prey. The guy on my right grunted and fell forward as another body in the assassin’s colors slammed into his back. A foot clipped the woman still standing, which caused her to stumble.
I dashed forward and grabbed Krawtesh by the wrist, and hoped he knew enough to make a fist. As his hand connected, the woman was struck from behind in her lower back. the simultaneous strikes bent her at an unnatural-looking angle. I raised Krawtesh and slammed him down onto the woman’s chest, ass-first. She crumpled under his weight and a loud crack came from her body as she hit the deck. The woman didn’t move after that.
I set Krawtesh on his feet and held him as his legs were shaking too much to keep him upright. Jones joined us, still carrying one of her attackers. She used the man like a club to beat both of the last attackers Krawtesh and I fought before she tossed the body back down the pyramid's slope.
I smiled at the woman I desperately wanted to call my girlfriend. “Why is it you look hotter than ever when you’re beating someone?” I asked.
“Because violence is hot. Probably why I kinda want to have your babies right about now.”
My jaw hit the floor and fear hit me like a freighter moving at one quarter the speed of light. She chuckled and patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry, it’ll pass soon enough. I’m nowhere near ready to open the baby factory. And no way in hell am I pumping out anyone’s kids before they put a ring on my finger.”
Krawtesh patted my other shoulder and nodded. I took it as a sign that he was good to stand unaided and let him go. He took a couple of steps up the pyramid to gain some distance from the downed attackers. A flurry of alien sounds left his mouth as he looked from me to Jones. When he was done, he went silent for a moment before frustration, or what I thought was a frustrated look, crossed his features.
“What do we do now?” Jones asked.
“I wish we could understand him,” I replied.
Krawtesh waved for us to follow him as he turned and started back up. I held Jones’s hand in mine and took a step.
Sudden darkness and lack of a step caused me to stumble and fall forward. Jones bumped into me, which shattered my tenuous grip on balance and sent us both to the floor.
7
Goshawk
Jones pulled me to my feet. “Are you okay, Ray?”
“Yeah, Angela, I’m fine,” I replied while brushing myself off. “It would be nice to know what causes us to go back and forth, though.”
“I don’t know about us doing all that back and forth, since it was my first time. But we do have to find an answer to how and why.”
“It was only my second time, Angela. So yeah, I think we can both say we went back and forth.” I waved my hand between us in a chopping motion.
“It doesn’t matter. All that matters is us finding the answers, like you said. Will you help me?”
She took my right hand in both of hers and stepped close. “You’re still the non-aug that risked his life to save mine. I said I would follow you to hell and back, Ray. That hasn’t changed. It will only change if you do something monumentally stupid and wreck what we have. Unless that happens, I’m Team Goshawk all the way.”
“Team Goshawk.” I chuckled. “I like that.” I stepped closer while wearing a sly grin since I hoped to end this date the right way. “You know, this is sort of an end to our date.”
Jones leaned back and raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? And I guess that means you should get a kiss before we go our separate ways?”
“I was hoping that would be the case.” My grin faded to a pathetic half-smile. “I mean, that’s how dates usually end. Don’t they?”
Jones grabbed the front of my armor and pulled me in so close that our lips were a hair away from touching. “That’s the way this one will end.” Before I could reply with one of the many witty comments or cries of joy on the tip of my tongue, she kissed me.
There was no tongue. As kisses went, this one was fairly chaste. It would have been the equal of any kiss I received from grandma as a kid, if not for one simple fact. Jones—Angela—was a hard woman. Her body was made of cords of muscle wound tighter than a brand-new spring. What emotion she showed was usually as tough and coated in a swear word or three. So, the tenderness of her kiss spoke more about how she felt than any tongue tango we could have performed.
“Hey! You guys have to… Oh,” Kopf said. Jones pulled away, and we both glared at Kopf. “I didn’t mean to… What I mean to say is…” He scratched his head. “Boy, this is awkward. Look, I’m sorry for interrupting, but we received a signal. The last group of jarheads is out there, and they need our help.”
“Maybe next time you lead with that,” Jones snapped.
“There’ll be a next time?” I wore a lopsided, shit-eating grin.
Angela stepped back and gave me an appraising look for a moment. “Yeah,” she spoke in a soft tone. “I had a lot of fun.” She bit her lower lip and her eyes traveled the length of my body before she continued, “We should find more time to ourselves, and soon.”
My grin grew wider, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it. “Yeah, we will.”
“Aw,” Kopf said. “Young love. Ain't it grand?” He cleared his throat. “The time for playing house is over, you two. We need to move. Lupita is in a shuttle and headed this way as we speak.”
“He’s coming?” I hoped they didn’t catch the hitch in my voice. “Why is he coming back down?”
“Don’t know.” Kopf led us back to the barracks area of the building. “All I know is that he is, and he wants everyone here and ready when he lands.”
Every man and woman that comprised the two squads was up and moving around. The room was full of various conversations that tore into each other like warring armies. There were too many different groups speaking all at once to make out what anyone was saying. I didn’t have to put up with the loud drone of voices since the high-pitched whine of engines came into hearing range.
All talk died as every head turned to face the entrance. Not a minute passed after the ramp thumped to the ground when Sergeant Lupita stormed into the building. “Goshawk!” he shouted.
My heart dropped to my ass. The last thing I wanted was his undivided attention. As I walked briskly to my superior NCO, I remembered the way he promised to make my life hell. It hadn’t been a joke, and he looked and sounded like doing so had become his life’s ambition.
“Yes, Sergeant?” I stopped in front of him.
He looked me up and down with an expression like a man that had bit into a lemon that held the record for being the sourest. His jaw muscles flexed a couple of times, and I could have sworn there was actual fire burning in his pupils. “I have a group of Marines here,” he jerked his thumb over his shoulder toward the dropship. “They’re all haunted by those freaky animal things you got inhabiting your filthy body. Against my better judgement, someone with shiny rank insignia has decided to put all you freaks into your own unit. Even worse, they decided you need to be in charge.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a fist that he shoved into my gut. “Take this. There will be a ceremony later.”
I put my hand under his, and his fingers opened, dropping something into my palm. When Lupita pulled his hand away two, sergeant’s chevrons lay in my hand. It took a couple of seconds for the neurons in my brain to make the connection needed to understand what had just happened.
“I’m a sergeant?” I looked up at him.
Sergeant Lupita rubbed the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger. “This dumb shit is supposed to lead Marines into combat,” he mumbled. “Yes, you’re now a sergeant, and you’ll lead a squad of Marines with those freaky animal things inside them. Do you understand the words I’m saying? Nod if you do.”
I nodded. “Of course, he can follow simple instructions now,” Lupita mumbled. “Good. Then get those on your uniform and get ready to meet your new team.” He turned and marched away.
“Congratulations, Sergeant,” Standish said as he came over to us. He punched me on the shoulder. “Apparently, there isn’t time to pin those on you the right way, so we probably can’t pin you the wrong way, either. The punch will have to do.”
I swallowed hard at the thought of being pinned. As I understood it, the grunts had a tradition of pinning the rank insignia to the newly promoted without the backings, which allowed the points to dig into the skin. Then they would line up and take turns slamming their helmets into the rank insignia as the newly promoted walked between two lines which were referred to as the Crucible.
“Yeah, too bad,” I said. “Maybe next time.”
“Ha,” Standish said, which was weird since he could have laughed like a normal person. “I know all the Marines in the room with Lenashal. I’ll gather them while Lupita brings in the rest.”
“There are more Marines already here with Lenashal?” My amazement was clear in my voice.
“As easy as it was for us to come by them, you don’t think others have while fighting on this planet?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “That’s a good point. I won't keep you, then.”
“Aye, Sergeant!” Standish shouted while giving me a mock salute. He turned and marched off in a parody of a march and a run combined, while chanting “hut, hut” repeatedly.
“There’s something wrong with that guy,” I said.
“Probably a lot of somethings,” Jones added. “It’s why we work so well together. Couldn’t be the misfits if we were perfect.”
“Speaking of misfits,” Kopf joined us. “I think we need a unit call sign and battle cry. Something like… I don’t know. The Lenashal will rise again. Or give me bunnies or give me death. Assuming we make Jones our mascot.”
“I am so going to mess you up.” Jones took a menacing step toward Kopf.
“Wow.” I stepped between them. Jones stopped, but she cracked her knuckles while keeping her eyes locked on Kopf. “Let’s worry about greeting the newcomers and figure out the rest later. Besides,” I cleared my throat. “Team Goshawk has a nice ring to it.”
Jones’s scowl dropped and became a look of bewilderment while Kopf slapped his knee and laughed. “Oh,” Kopf saw the expression on my face and stopped laughing. “You’re serious?”
“Better not be,” Jones said. “That isn’t going to happen.”
“Excuse me,” a woman said from behind me. “I’m looking for Sergeant Goshawk?”
I turned to face the newcomer. “Goshawk, and that’s me.”
“Sorry, Sergeant. I’m Corporal Thompson. Sergeant Lupita said to report to you as our new squad leader.”
“Oh.” I held out my hand for a shake. “Nice to meet you, Thompson.”
While I shook her hand, another Marine approached. This one was a short, stocky man
with dark skin and a crew-served automatic rifle strapped to his back. “You Grasshop? Lupita sent me this way and said to check in with you.”
“The name is Goshawk,” I replied.
Another Marine joined him. “Lupita said to look for Ghoul Hope. You know where I can find him?” The latest addition asked.
“Ghoul Hope?” I asked. “Now I know he’s messing with me. My name is Goshawk, and I’m in charge of the new squad of Lenashal Marines.”
As I spoke, a group of Marines joined us. I did a quick head count, and saw an additional nine people added to my team. Leading three augs was nerve-wracking enough, but now I was up to eleven. The FML term came to mind as I thought about trying to be their platoon sergeant.
“I think the first thing we need to do is have you stow your gear,” I said. “As I understand it, we have contact with a group of Marines that need extracting. Standish, find a place for their equipment while I see what I can find out about this op.”
Thankfully, he refrained from the ‘Aye, Sergeant,’ thing that time and did as I asked. I took what was probably too long watching the Marines walk away to get their gear from the dropship. Last thing I wanted to do was approach Lupita for any reason.
“You’re the same rank now,” Jones said. “No need to let him get to you anymore.”
I turned away from the entrance and looked at Jones. “You think he’ll see it that way?”
“No, not at all. To him, you’ll always be the POG playing at Marine.” POG—personnel other than grunts. She tapped an index finger against the chest of my flak vest. “You’ll have to remind him that you’re now the same rank, and while he might not respect you, he has to respect the rank or set a dangerous precedent for everyone here to see. I have faith in you, Ray. Stand up for yourself and you can’t go wrong.”
“Thanks for the sage advice and vote of confidence. I’ll talk to him and see what the mission parameters are. The sooner we get moving, the better for those guys and gals still out there.”