by Sarah Noffke
“What’s wrong with the way I’m dressed?” asked Eddie, looking down at his messy appearance. He wore a set of baggy clothes, which were now ripped in several places, and his thick, untended beard made him appear homeless.
“Is that a serious question?” asked Julianna. “You look like shit.”
“Okay, okay,” said Eddie, raising his hands. “But why would you come all this way just to see a guy like me? Did I piss off the wrong person in the Empire?”
“It’s the Federation now, but no, nothing like that.” Lance chuckled. “Quite the opposite, actually.”
“Right, well, what is it then? What would make a guy like you come all the way out to the middle of bum-fucking-nowhere just to see me? I mean, if I don’t owe you money and I didn’t piss you off, there has to be a good reason.”
“Because, Eddie,” said Lance, smirking. “You had fifty-seven confirmed kills during your service. You saved countless lives, and your men respected the hell out of you. Sure, you fucked up sometimes. Got into a few scrapes here and there. Spoke out of turn. But you kept those kids alive through the worst of it, and any one of them would give their life for yours. That’s what I found out when I went snooping. That’s why I’m here. I’ve been searching far and wide for the right person to do a job, and your name keeps coming up. ‘Edward Teach,’ they kept saying. ‘That’s the guy you want.’ Is that who you are, Captain? Are you the man they said you were?”
Edward stared at the General, this impossible figure from stories and myths. He was so composed, so relaxed, but there was a strength in his eyes. The kind that only people like Eddie knew. “I’m none of those things anymore.”
“Bullshit,” said Lance. “You’re a goddamn soldier.” He pointed to the aliens lying on the floor. “You didn’t just pick a fight with them. You raised your fist and you punished them, Edward. That’s what we do. They said they killed a dozen humans, and you taught them why they shouldn’t. That’s the kind of man I came to find. That’s the kind of man I need. Someone who knows what justice is, and who isn’t afraid to show it.”
“I’m not sure what to say,” Eddie admitted.
“Say you’ll come with us and hear me out.”
“Hear you out about what, sir?”
“A mission, son.” Lance took a step forward, placing his hand on Edward’s shoulder. “A mission to save the Etheric Federation.”
CHAPTER TWO
Passenger Lounge Six, QBS Atticus Finch, Lorialis System.
Eddie sat on the QBS Atticus Finch with his hands at his sides watching the home of the Trill Mining Co. and the Five Trees bar get smaller and smaller as they departed the system.
As the ship activated its gate drive, it prepared to transit, the planet became an instant blur, fading into the void like a pebble into the sea. It had been several years since Eddie had been aboard an Etheric ship like this one. He’d been out of the service for almost a full decade, never spending much time on any of the core planets, and typically hitching rides on cargo ships. It was simply too difficult to be around these types of vessels and not be actively involved.
Even now, the memories flooded him, reminders of a better time, back when he was still useful.
Not the wandering exile he’d since become.
What could General Reynolds possibly need a man like Eddie for? Didn’t he have enough soldiers at his disposal to do the job? What could one guy with a drinking habit and a bad haircut do that no other person could?
He scoffed, rolling his eyes. Don’t be an idiot, Eddie. Your hair is fucking phenomenal.
Eddie had hitched a ride on this cruiser all because a man claiming to be the head of the Federation had asked him to.
Maybe this was all a giant mistake, but Eddie didn’t think so. He had a feeling that everything the old man had told him was true—that humanity was under attack and it needed to be protected. After traveling across the outer rim of the galaxy for the last decade, Eddie could tell there was a stink in the air, a certain level of unrest building against the original Empire and the rest of the core planets. Pirates and smugglers had appeared in larger numbers; raiders were becoming more prone to attack. The people were afraid, and no one understood why.
But something told him that General Reynolds knew the answer to that question, and, right now, Eddie was willing to follow him to find out. Even if it was all bullshit, the truth was worth taking a chance on. It was worth uncovering, if only for his own curiosity’s sake.
The lights of the passing stars whipped by in a mesmerizing display, relaxing Eddie as he sank into his seat. He watched them fade in and out like falling raindrops, disappearing back into the darkness from which they came.
Docking Bay 17, Deck 25, Onyx Station, Paladin System.
“Follow me,” instructed Julianna, standing on the loading bay of the QBS Atticus Finch. The ship had only just docked with what appeared to be Onyx Station.
Eddie stared at her with an auspicious eye. She was quite the babe, this Julianna woman; tall and slender, with gorgeous, obsidian hair. He could tell she was beautiful the first time he saw her, even in the dimly lit bar. But here, with proper light, she was almost angelic, like she’d been molded by the gods themselves.
Eddie had heard of genetically modified humans, but he’d never actually met one for himself. Such a thing was reserved for higher-ranking military personnel or proven combatants that the Empire viewed as invaluable. The process, what Eddie knew of it, involved a long hibernation period inside a specialized pod, and resulted in enhanced abilities such as speed, strength, and increased reflexes, among several others. It also had the added effect of making you far more attractive. At least, those were the rumors.
In Julianna’s case, all of the above seemed to be true.
“Are you my escort?” asked Eddie, walking down the deck.
Julianna raised her brow. “We have a meeting with General Reynolds in five. Are you ready?”
“All work and no play, I see,” he remarked.
“Our mission is of the utmost importance. You understand that, right? This isn’t some pleasure cruise.”
“Are you sure? Because I packed a few pairs of shorts and some sunscreen,” he quipped.
“Try and fail to be clever later. We’ve got shit to do now.”
“Let’s hit it, boss,” said Eddie, tossing his duffel over his shoulder.
She led him through the deck and onto the station’s platform. Onyx Station was one of the largest in the Empire, with over six million residents across several species. Some people called it the ‘Etheric melting pot’; others said it was nothing but a suffocating box. The few times Eddie had been here, he’d found it to be a mixed bag. He enjoyed the variety of people and experiences, and there was always a new restaurant to try, but he also enjoyed his privacy, and Onyx Station wasn’t exactly built for solitude.
Still, it was worth a visit every now and then. He liked the hot dogs on the main deck; Bokey’s Pups, he believed the establishment was called. And then there was the Main Street Diner, the closest thing to Earth food you could get out here: burgers, soup, steak, eggs and hash—even spaghetti.
Eddie had never been to Earth. Humanity had long since left it behind. Oh, sure, people still lived there, but he’d never see them. Not in his lifetime.
The galaxy was his home. It always had been.
Eddie was born on an Etheric ship and raised by patriotic parents who knew what they believed. The two of them had met in the military, both of them pilots, and fell in love between missions. For Eddie, being a pilot was in his blood. It was part of his soul.
He had always liked fighting. It relieved his stress, gave his life purpose, and he liked helping people. Moreover, he was good at it. For all of those reasons, being a soldier made sense to him. It was the only thing that did.
“Hurry up,” prodded Julianna, turning to look at him as they walked through the deck.
He was trailing behind, unaware of the growing gap between them. “Slow d
own a bit. What’s your hurry?”
“We have to meet with General Reynolds in less than two minutes. You’re moving too slowly.”
He double-timed it to catch up. When he was finally at her side, he gave her a sideways look. “Happy now?”
She didn’t answer.
“You’re kind of a downer, aren’t you?”
“I just have a job to do, that’s all,” she stated.
“Doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it.” He grinned. “See? I’m having all kinds of fun.”
They reached the elevators, and the doors suddenly opened, as though the machine had been waiting for them.
“Inside,” she told him.
“That was…convenient.”
“I’m simply never late,” affirmed Julianna.
The doors closed and the elevator began its descent. “That so?” asked Eddie.
“I hope you can adjust to being a soldier again, Captain Teach. I understand it’s been a while since you last wore the uniform.”
“True, but you never really forget, do you?” he answered as the doors opened. “Even if you want to.”
She glanced at him and nodded. “No, I guess you don’t.”
They stepped out, making their way through a long corridor with silver walls. Each side was lined with offices, though a single desk sat in each of them. It seemed both natural and strange that no one should be on this deck, based on what he knew about the meeting he was about to have.
They rounded the corner, and Julianna stopped. “With ten seconds to spare. In here,” she directed, motioning to a closed door.
Eddie smiled. “You should know, my birthday isn’t until next month. I hope there’s no party inside. I’d still take some cake, though.”
Julianna rolled her eyes, and Eddie opened the door, revealing another office—although this one was certainly not empty, nor was it small. Unlike the others, this room revealed a man waiting with a cigar in his mouth, sitting back with his feet up on the surface of the desk.
“Ah,” said General Lance Reynolds, grinning his trademark smile, the same one featured on all the posters that were outside Federation recruitment centers. “Right on time, Captain Teach.”
***
“Weren’t you on the ship with us?” asked Eddie. “How’d you make it back here so fast?”
Lance tapped his cigar into an ashtray. “I took a shuttle before you docked. They make you wait too long when you bring a battleship in. I had shit to do.”
“Perks of being the boss,” mused Eddie.
“Pretty much,” said Lance.
“Are the reports ready?” asked Julianna.
“Not yet,” said Lance. “I need to review the latest intel before I hand it off to you. I’m thinking tomorrow morning. We’ll be able to get you both situated soon.”
“Understood.”
Eddie scratched his chin. “Sir, if you don’t mind me saying so, I haven’t agreed to anything yet. I’m only here because you asked me to listen.”
The General chuckled. “Of course, you’re right, but let’s wait and talk about that tomorrow. I’ve got a presentation lined up that I think you’ll want to see. In the meantime, why don’t you two go and have some fun? You can show Julianna around the station.”
“How do you know I’ve been here before?” asked Eddie.
“Do you really need to ask that question?”
Eddie smirked. Of course, General Reynolds, because of his intelligence chief, Nathan Lowell, probably already knew everything there was to know about him. His parents, favorite foods, ex-girlfriends, former residences. “Right.”
“Anyway, you’ll be happy for the extra downtime, if you decide to sign on for this job. Trust me. You too, Julianna.”
“Yes, sir,” she answered.
“Yeah, I get the feeling she could use a break,” remarked Eddie, glancing back at Julianna, who was still standing at the door.
“I’m perfectly fine,” she said.
“Still, go have a drink,” suggested Lance. “Bond, for shit’s sake. You’re about to be partners.”
“If you insist,” said Julianna.
“I’ll be happy to drink,” grinned Eddie. “You covering the tab?”
“Why not?” asked Lance. “Enjoy yourself.”
Eddie strolled into the hall to wait.
Julianna drew closer to the desk. “Sir, is this really necessary? It might be a better use of my time to assist you with the reports.”
“Not this time, Commander Fregin. Try to enjoy yourself, for once.” Lance puffed on his cigar and dabbed it one more time on the tray. “That’s an order.”
CHAPTER THREE
Desert Lounge, Deck 25, Onyx Station, Paladin System.
Eddie carried two beers in his hands, squeezing between two fat guys and a Yollin as he tried to make his way back over to Julianna in the corner.
“Excuse me, fellas,” said Eddie, forcing his way through. When he finally reached his target, he let out a short sigh. “Damn, this place is packed.”
“It is,” remarked Julianna.
“I don’t remember it being this crowded the last time I was here, but that was years ago.”
“The station recently took on several hundred new jobs. Since the Federation is expanding, colonization has significantly increased in this region.”
Eddie took a drink of his ale, gulping down a third of the glass. “Not bad,” he said, wiping his mouth.
Julianna did the same. “I’ve had better.”
“Well, sure. I didn’t say it was great.” He took another drink. “But it’s better than Five Trees.”
“That’s the bar we found you in, right?” she asked.
“If you can call it that. It’s mostly a front for smugglers and pirates.”
“I knew that part,” Julianna admitted.
“Oh?”
“I researched it on the way to pick you up. I also know why you were there.”
He drank the last of his glass. “I doubt that.”
“You went there looking to fight,” she said simply.
He chuckled. “Not just any fight. I was there for a specific one.”
“Was that the alien we took down?” she asked. “I believe his name was T’turk.”
“That’s the guy,” confirmed Eddie. “Heard rumors of an alien frequenting that bar. People said he was the one who killed the crew of the Valiant. I’d had my eye on him for half the night, but I wasn’t absolutely sure until he admitted to it. That’s when I knew he deserved an ass kicking.”
She nodded. “I read the report on the Valiant. Did you have a friend onboard?”
“No, I didn’t know any of them,” he said.
“Then, why would you take such a risk?”
“Because no one else was going to,” said Eddie. His eyes drifted to the table, and he cleared his throat. “I need another drink.”
Julianna paused, reaching for a pad, which she had strapped to her side. “Oh, is that so? Thank you, Pip.”
Eddie glanced at her. “Did you just call me ‘Pip’?”
“No, I apologize. I was talking to my E.I.”
“You have an E.I.?” he asked.
She nodded. “He’s extremely useful. You can meet him officially when you receive your new clearance, possibly tomorrow.” She looked at the pad, and then tapped the screen. “Oh, he suggests we check out the bar below deck. It’s called Wash-it-Down, but it’s off the books. No government personnel allowed.”
“They got any Blue Ale?” asked Eddie.
“Best rated on the station, Pip says.”
Eddie leapt to his feet. “Let’s do it.”
Wash-it-Down, Deck 13, Onyx Station.
Wash-it-Down was far below the main sections of the station. According to Julianna, this floor was filled to the brim with unsavory types—criminals, thieves, smugglers, and just generally unpleasant fellows.
Eddie didn’t mind it, and he wagered she didn’t, either. They could handle whatever bullshit came
their way.
Taking a seat in the hole-in-the-wall establishment, Eddie could see the decay in the walls. Leaks formed water spots in the ceiling. Every step they took on the floor was sticky and gross. Oh, and it smelled like absolute shit.
“Not a bad spot,” remarked Eddie. “I like it.”
“Let’s try the drinks first,” said Julianna.
They ordered two Blue Ales and a shot of whiskey. Julianna took a drink of the beer, and then flung back the shot in a single motion.
She grinned. “That’s better.”
Eddie did the same. The beer, unlike the stuff he’d had upstairs, had some thickness to it. It didn’t taste manufactured or fake. On the contrary, it was the fullest drink he’d had in weeks. “Damn. That’s good shit.”
“It seems Pip was right,” said Julianna. “Let’s have another round.” Eddie watched his new coworker place their order.
As she did, a set of aliens entered and took a seat in the back. They were Trids, a shark-like humanoid species, built for both water and land. Their skin had to be constantly moisturized, so they’d often be seen rubbing their bodies with a special chemical to retain their wet appearance.
“What kind of name is Pip?” asked Eddie, referring to the E.I.
“A good one,” said Julianna. “It was ‘Assface’ before that.”
Eddie chuckled. “You changed it? What happened? Was the name too offensive to someone?”
“No one tells me what to name my E.I.,” scoffed Julianna.
“Then, what was it?”
“A bet,” she said, taking a gulp of her drink. “If he won, he got to choose his own callsign. If I won, I got to choose.”
“I take it you chose ‘Assface’.”
“Yes, and I also chose ‘Pip’ a decade later. He hasn’t won a bet yet.”
“How often do you guys make bets?”
“Every ten years.”
Eddie blinked. “Ten years?” he asked, looking her up and down. “When did you get him? When you were five years old?”
“I’m older than I look,” she allowed.