Ghost Squadron Boxed Set (Books 1-4): Age of Expansion - A Kurtherian Gambit Series (Ghost Squadron Boxed Sets)

by Sarah Noffke

  “Then why does he still sleep?” asked the other familiar voice.

  “Don’t you remember? You had to wake up on your own. You had to break out of it, kind of like being reborn,” said the other person.

  “I don’t remember that, but it’s been a long time,” she said, her voice cool and calm and almost amused.

  Eddie longed to push away the glowing darkness and drink something that would wash away the metallic taste in his mouth. To move his body…which… WHICH… His body felt different, brand new. Better than new—enhanced.

  His eyes sprang open at once, and the light was so blinding he clapped his hands over his eyes. He’d had no idea that all he had to do was open his eyes. He’d been trapped by his own eyelids.

  His hands now covered his eyes, which felt too tender to ever take in light again.

  “Well, lookee there. Our baby bird has hatched,” said Julianna with a laugh.

  “Each one is different. I never see the same rebirth from the Pod-doc,” the man beside her said in an amused voice.

  Eddie peeled his hands away, and the light became a bit easier to take with each passing second. “I-I-I…” he stuttered, trying to find his voice. “I’m alive?”

  Julianna peered down at him with a broad smile on her face, and her eyes twinkling. His vision felt brand new too, as if he were seeing her for the first time. “Well, you almost weren’t alive anymore, but now you are. It was touch and go there for a long time, but we brought you back.”

  Eddie tried to push up, but found the task a bit difficult. His body was new, and it felt different. Everything seemed to take more effort on his part. “I’m alive?” he repeated.

  “Yes, you definitely are,” said Julianna. She offered him a hand and a smile. “Welcome back, Captain. We did what we had to, so they made a few changes to you. Hope you don’t mind. It was that or death, and I wagered you weren’t ready to rest yet.”

  FINIS

  Author Notes - Sarah Noffke

  December 19, 2017

  One, two, three! I declare an Author’s Notes war (like thumb war lol)! MA always gets to write his notes last, after reviewing mine. Which means he gets the last quip, however, I’ll just keep writing books and see who is laughing last. Wait…never mind. That’s not how that works.

  So let’s discuss what’s on everyone’s mind. It’s not the tension simmering between the Captain and the Commander in this series. It’s not that amazing fight speech that Julianna gives. Man, that’s going to stay with you for hours, am I right? Great job to whoever crafted that Shakespearean gold. And it’s not even the fact that Eddie is now upgraded. It’s that Ricky Bobby scene. Am I right?

  Author insight: MA and I, sat down and hammered out that scene because it’s one of the few things that connects this series to the main one. We discussed the parting of ways between RB and Jules (that’s what I call her, because this two name business is just too much. I won’t even call my Michael by his name. I just call him And, which is hella confusing. And I digress. Bringing RB back for a resolution was a really fun time to collaborate and tie things together between the series. I also loved the opportunity to show the layers in Jules. I’m all about character development. I’ll ponder on how a character ties their shoes because I think it’s important and then I gloss over fight scenes.

  I remember sending the Ricky Bobby scene to And. He cut it down, like a paper factory preparing for next year’s Christmas card production. Anyway, I cried. Stomped around. And then I remembered that we’re co-writers. Emphasis on co. We discussed and found a good balance. It was a growing moment because the perfect version was something in between what I had and what he wrote. So that’s how this works. We color on each other’s work. And just when I think And made my picture of a Care Bear all messed up, I realized he’s highlighted its features.

  I swear I don’t do drugs. This is just my mad ramblings when they let me talk unfiltered. And I haven’t even started cursing yet.

  For fuck sake! It’s time to thank some awesome readers who wrote our book for us. We often ask for input on names, drink ideas, or ideas in general. I’d like to thank the clever Natale Roberts for suggesting we use Douglas Adams as a drink. Oh and the Singapore Sling was all Barbara Twrawick Hasebe’s idea. The bar scene with the brick wall is because of Lisa Frett’s genius. And speaking of a genius, Micky Cocker is my new naming guru. She named Knox Gunnerson, Axel, Sabien and Alleira and many more. Randy Barber gets all the credit for the nipposes ouzo (great story, dude!). Great call there. And many of the ideas we included were due to the great input given to us by Ron Gailey, Tim Adams, Alastar Wilson, Lisa Frett and Charles Wood.

  Okay, I guess I’ve rambled on here for long enough. I know you need time to roll that Jule’s speech around in her head and reflect on your own purpose because of those words.

  It’s your turn, And!

  Drops mic and walks away.

  Author Notes - Michael Anderle

  Written December 20, 2017

  The Author walks on stage, watching the diminutive blond author walk off the stage in the other direction as he continues onstage, waving at the crowd. Stopping at the middle, he looks down and raises one eye-brow. Bending over, he picks up the mic Noffke dropped and turns it over, looking for a big dent.

  There isn’t one.

  He looks up and surveys the audience, the barest hint of a smirk is playing on his lips as he starts talking.

  “So, three authors go into a bar.” He smiles as he raises his eyebrows, “I know!” He shakes his head. “I am just as shocked and appalled as you are right now,” he continues, waiting for a few chuckles to die down. “Can you believe that not one of those sumbitches come out? Why you ask?” He smiles broadly and throws out a hand, “Because those fuckers are still in there drinking and having a good time!”

 

  And they get that is how we are as authors.

  Well, those that I’m working with. I can’t speak to the ‘authordom’ at large. I have watched different groups of people over my many years and I’m fairly sure that the creative bent that helps us be authors affects the greater proportion of authors to be different.

  Sometimes, it affects us in ways that kinda suck, but kinda work. The massively introverted author who can’t stand crowds, but is yearning with all their heart for a lifetime to just fit in with their own people.

  For some, it causes emotional problems that we suffer with through our full life.

  For others, they are the direct opposite.

  For a few, we find our tribe, and our acceptance amongst our tribe. Whether it is two of us partying in San Diego for a work weekend (and hell yes, I would write that trip off on the jet boat. Because I would use that experience in my books) or a handful.

  Or a hundred, or even fifteen thousand (20booksTo50k on Facebook).

  I was blessed to read a fan comment on a Facebook post this afternoon that spoke to how they felt they had found a tribe in the LMBPN family of authors (Kurtherian and Oriceran groups specifically.) This post made my afternoon.

  My co-authors, collaborators, and just plain friends are all over the world. We are united by loving to read stories, and some of us by writing them. Further, we love the fact that we, the Indie Outlaws, are able to do something cool for others.

  And we fucking do it.

  We continue to give away Kindles, connect to Vets, support troops, and engage with you because we need it too.

  If we lose our energy, you are there to lend us some of yours. If we are reaching for the finish line, you encourage us to write and to cross it. When we think our latest story is inadequate, you give us the feedback we need.

  I said all of that to say Thank You for a fantastic 2017!

  I could not have done what I did with these collaborators, without you supporting us and giving these stories a chance.

  Ad Aeternitatem,

  Michael


  CHAPTER ONE

  Planet Sagano, Behemoth System

  Heat blasted Eddie as he ducked under fallen trees, staying in a crouch as he sprinted through the burning jungle. The fire at his back was growing in intensity, even though the crews had been fighting it for days.

  A loud crack jerked his attention overhead. The fire had overwhelmed a large stand of trees, that had fallen in on each other until the largest chose the direction they were going to fall. Eddie rolled to the side, dirt and ash raining down on him as the burning trees hit the ground exactly where he’d been.

  He didn’t pause, dashing forward to clear the next part of the conflagration. His vision blurred from his incredible speed, and his feet hardly felt as if they touched the soft ground before rising again.

  Flames licked the side of a building, having jumped from nearby branches, but Eddie sped up the ladder to the house on stilts. Entering a burning building was one thing, but entering one that was held up by wooden poles in the middle of a forest fire was something else entirely. None of this seemed at all like a good idea.

  Too bad he didn’t have a choice.

  Eddie opened the trap door at the top, which slammed over as he spilled into the jungle hut. As he scanned the room, smoke burned his eyes. The living space and kitchen were combined but there were some rooms at the back, so he ran in that direction while wiping tears from his eyes.

  He kicked the first door open and searched the room, which was empty. The structure rocked, probably from the fire consuming the front of the house, which was where the next set of rooms was located.

  Without hesitating, Eddie darted for the next room and rammed his shoulder into the door, ripping it off its hinges. He still wasn’t used to his enhanced strength. After all, he’d only had this body for a short time. No one there either.

  Eddie pivoted to the adjacent wall and shot his foot straight at the door. The interior was empty at first glance, and fire and smoke spilled through the open window. Eddie covered his face from the blaze and was about to head for the next room when something caught his eyes.

  Between the wall and the bed on the far side of the room was a small boy.

  Thank the fucking stars! Eddie thought, relief swelling in his chest. “Come on!” yelled Eddie, extending a hand to the kid, who was about four years old. The boy’s large eyes stared at the intruding fire, and his face was swollen and red from the heat.

  “It’s okay! Come on, pal,” Eddie urged him. He dashed forward and scooped the kid into his arms, disregarding the intense heat on that side of the room. “Hold on to me.”

  The child clutched Eddie’s neck tightly and wrapped his legs around the man’s waist.

  Eddie ducked as low as he could with the boy attached to him, and ran toward the ladder. He could hear the boy sobbing, although it was barely audible over the sound of the fire destroying the house. He wrapped one arm around the child’s back and shielded his eyes from the smoke with his other hand.

  “It’s going to be all right,” Eddie screamed over the crackling flames.

  The boy vibrated with terror as Eddie carried him back to the trap door. The house rocked forward this time, and Eddie lost his footing and slid. The floor was at an angle now, and the stilts weren’t going to remain upright much longer. Eddie realized that they were at the lowest point of the house, so if it fell they’d be crushed in the burning destruction.

  Eddie threw their combined weight forward to make up the ground they’d lost when the building tilted. He pressed his boots hard into the floor, it felt as though he were trying to climb a slick mountain.

  The fire had overtaken most of the main living area and was closing on them fast. Without a second glance, Eddie struggled to the ladder and clumsily crouched, then located the first rung with his boot. It was harder to manage with the boy clenched to his front, but there was no time to change positions.

  “Hold on tight,” Eddie ordered. “We’re getting out of here!”

  The child nodded against his chest, his face pushing into him hard. Eddie climbed down the leaning ladder. The fire had crawled under the house and was eating at two of the four stilts. Overhead, the wooden floor throbbed.

  A loud crack shook the structure, and the house dropped two feet. The boy’s body tensed against Eddie’s torso as his gaze flew to the righthand stilt, which had splintered and was barely holding.

  The house groaned, fire spreading over the floor above them.

  Making an impromptu decision, Eddie leapt backwards, wrapping his arms around the child as they plummeted down.

  Eddie landed with a crouch, still holding the child. In an instant, he hunched over and started running, the crackling fire at his back.

  A tumultuous crash echoed behind them. The house was leaning aggressively forward and it started to fall, so Eddie kicked it into high gear and barreled away faster than he had ever run before. The heat from the fire seared his back, and smoke and fire shot from the building as it crashed to the ground behind him. He’d barely made it out! He kept running as trees toppled toward him in the wake of the collapse of the burning house.

  The rush of heat made Eddie’s skin feel like it was melting, but he kept his head tucked and pressed the boy against him as he sped back the way he’d come. Only a little farther, he said to himself, unable to say anything aloud. He wasn’t out of breath from running, but rather from the smoke he’d been inhaling since this started.

  Fire had taken over most of the jungle, and it was closing in on them. Eddie leapt over a burning log since he couldn’t see a clear path around it, then ducked under a curtain of vines and leaves, smoking and singed at the ends. Soon the entire area would be engulfed.

  Carrying the boy jostled Eddie’s body oddly, but his weight didn’t slow him down. The threat of burning to death was motivation enough for him to hurtle through the flames.

  Finally, Eddie burst into a clearing where the ground was already charred and the tree stumps were smoking but not afire. This was where it had all started. He halted, and after heaving in a giant breath he tried to unclasp the boy’s hands from behind his neck. For a little guy he was strong, and clearly not willing to let go.

  “Hey, buddy. You’re okay. You’re safe,” said Eddie, patting the kid on the back gently. The child relaxed a little and slowly pulled away, staring at him with large brown eyes. He cried softly, tears glistening on his cheeks.

  “That’s it. Take a breath. It’s okay,” said Eddie.

  “Dracott!” a woman yelled in the distance. She ran in their direction with her brown hair flying behind her.

  The boy whipped his head around, and another sob emerged from his mouth. He pushed away from Eddie eagerly, dropping to his feet and sprinting for the woman. “Mommy!”

  When the two met on the charred ground, the woman grabbed her son. She was shaking and crying as she clutched the boy, pinning him into her chest.

  Eddie strode toward them, seeking refuge from the heat of the fire at his back. In the distance he saw the team, who were still trying to quell the stubborn fire which had destroyed many homes and much animal habitat in the area.

  When Eddie approached the boy and his mother, Dracott’s arms were wrapped around his mother’s neck and his head was resting on her shoulder like he was ready for a nap after the whole ordeal. The woman rubbed her son’s lean back, tears still puddling in her eyes.

  “Thank you, sir. I cannot thank you enough for what you did,” she said, her voice vibrating with relief.

  Eddie smiled at the mother and son, finally reunited.

  Julianna approached with a sly grin on her face. She didn’t seem relieved to see him safe.

  “You’re absolutely welcome,” said Eddie to the woman. “Now, you two should get as far from the fire as possible. Dracott inhaled a lot of smoke.”

  The woman nodded and carried her son away.

  “You weren’t worried about me, were you?” Eddie asked Julianna when she paused beside him to stare at the retreating family.
<
br />   “When did I have time to worry? I was timing you,” she joked.

  A laugh popped from his mouth. “What was my time?”

  “Two minutes and ten seconds,” answered Julianna.

  “And you didn’t worry even a little bit?”

  Julianna cut her eyes at him. “Maybe toward the end, but I knew you were going to get that boy to safety one way or another.”

  “Poor kid! He was terrified.”

  “Yeah, fires like this bring chaos. It was a shame that he got lost, but at least you jumped in to save him,” said Julianna.

  Eddie surveyed the burning jungle. “What do you think? Is there more we can do here?”

  “The fire crew said they could use an extra few hands on the eastern perimeter. They’re trying to fence in the fires there,” said Julianna.

  Eddie rubbed his hands together eagerly. They’d had Pip monitor the radios for disasters on nearby planets so Eddie could swoop in and do something brave to break in his newly-enhanced body.

  “I’m ready! Let’s do this,” said Eddie, ambling forward.

  “You think you’re going to get this adventuring thing out of your system soon?” asked Julianna from beside him.

  “Does it ever wear off—having these enhancements?”

  “No, not really. Not for me, anyway,” said Julianna.

  Eddie grinned. “Then no. What’s the point in having this body and not using it?”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Felix Castile’s Office, Unsurpassed, Tangki System

  The red light from the screen on the wall cast an eerie glow in the office. Felix narrowed his eyes, his lips pushing out in a slight grimace. He’d been staring at the image on the screen for a full minute, and it still didn’t make sense. That was a rarity for him.

  He swiveled to face the scientist sitting on the other side of the desk. “Explain exactly what I’m looking at.”