by REM
When they neared the end of the corridor, Josh glanced into the final room on the right and stopped. “You’ve got combat sims in there,” he said, eyeing the taller machines of the bunch.
“That’s right,” said Pax. “I used to be a combat pilot.”
Josh looked at him with surprise. “For Creston?”
“No. Jinks, a small planet on the other side of the Void Zone, near the Mercen world. It was overrun by Mercen soldiers many years ago.”
“Did all of your people move to here?”
“No—most were killed or eaten, but we have a small town of survivors set up about two hundred miles from here on the other side of Hemlin City.”
“What’s Hemlin City? And why’s your facility so far from the rest of your people?”
“Hemlin City is home to the hemlins, who you’ll see in various parts of the planet. They’re like spiders, but have heads with human features. They’re friendly and have even learned to speak our language through A.L. devices.”
“Here,” said Skirm, pulling out a picture of a hemlin and handing it to Josh, who inspected it.
“As for why the facility is located here—it’s better that way, and that’s all I’m going to say about that,” said Pax.
Josh glanced up and nodded before handing the photo back to Skirm.
Pax continued speaking. “There are astounding amounts of mineral resources on this planet, and food; vegetation, meat. The main source of water comes from a storm phenomenon at the northernmost region of the planet. It constantly cycles water.”
Josh imagined the area and thought it sounded amazing.
Pax led the way into a shorter hallway connecting to the right, and then into the dormitory, which was a two-story building. Josh was taken to one of the rooms upstairs. “This is where you’ll stay,” said Pax, opening the door. “This is your key.” He handed it over.
Josh inspected the quarter and thought it much like the average Creston hotel room: clean, but basic. “This where all of your workers stay?” he asked.
“Yes. There are fifteen rooms, though we’re only staffing twelve at the moment,” Pax replied. “Skirm and I stay with another in a private sector.”
Josh nodded.
“I’ll come get you for breakfast tomorrow,” said Skirm. After that, he and Pax left.
Josh sat his pouch on a dresser and walked over to the window. Not a bad view, he thought, kicking of his shoes and lying back on the bed. I would have never guessed when I woke up today that by tonight I’d be shot down and on some odd planet in the Void Zone. Everyone on the Rampage must think I’m dead.
He lay pondering all that had transpired throughout the day until falling asleep.
The following morning, Josh awoke to a knocking at his door. For a moment he thought he was still on the M.N. Rampage, but then remembered his winding up on Skurier. “Yeah,” he muttered.
“It’s Skirm. I had breakfast brought up to you. Can you get the door?”
Josh hopped up and opened it. He was a bit startled at seeing the Boden holding the meal tray at Skirm’s side, but accepted it with a nod.
“You remember your way to the factory?” Skirm asked.
“Yeah.”
“When you’re finished eating and cleaned up, come on down.”
“Okay.”
Skirm turned away. The Boden went with him.
Josh brought the food over to a small table and sat down. Removing the plate cover, he saw what appeared to be jello balls, steamed spinach, and a headless rodent that had been skinned and glazed, though he knew they were not. Did Skirm cook this or was it that damn alien, he thought. Nevertheless, he was starving and dug right in.
After his meal, Josh showered and re-dressed in a sweat suit that had been left in a cabinet with others of different sizes. Then he departed for the factory. He passed by two firbles and a human along the way, but didn’t speak to either.
Upon arriving at the factory, Josh was surprised to see his ship had already been towed. Pax and some other guy were working on it. “Wow, you already brought it here.”
Pax grumbled. “Going decent so far; still think I can have you flying in a few days, maybe even two. I can’t dedicate too much of my time to it, but I’ll try to chip at it when I can.” He tossed a part into a bucket and asked the guy working with him for a tool. “See those crates over there?”
Josh looked to the many stacks lined against a wall.
“Mind loading those up into the transporter at left for us?”
Josh figured doing them alone would probably take at least an hour, but was in no position to decline. “Sure thing,” he replied.
By the time Josh had finished the job, Pax had wrapped up working on the Striker and walked over with the other gentleman. “You’re free to roam the facility, or leave it.” He smiled. “You’re a guest, not a prisoner, but if you do decide to go out, try to have someone go with you, since you’re unfamiliar with the planet.”
Josh nodded. “Will do, thanks.”
“If you need anything, don’t be afraid to ask anyone you see. They’re all decent beings.”
“Sure.”
Pax walked off with the other fellow.
Josh left the factory and happened upon a courtyard opposite to the one he had arrived at last night. There was a small group of workers crowded around two others, who were fighting with padded staffs on a padded mat.
“Hunga-hunga!” said a Boden watching, to a Boden fighting.
“Yun-tuh!” The Boden fighting swept his staff at the human’s head, then at his feet.
The human hopped the swipe and swung at the Boden’s temple.
A firble woman turned toward Josh and smiled. She extended her arm, inviting him to participate next, but Josh shook his head pleasantly in reply.
The fighting Boden swept his opponent off of his feet and held the tip of his staff to the human’s face. After that he offered a hand to help the beaten fighter up.
The firble looked at Josh again and said, “Come on. I want to fight you.” She was grinning.
We don’t pummel women in front of a crowd where I come from, thought Josh. “No thanks,” he replied.
The firble blinked a few times. She moved closer. Her eyes were lively and reminded Josh of a cartoon show he used to watch on Creston.
“Please,” she said. “No one will fight me. We can go light, okay? Easy swings—just fun.”
Have to admire her persistence, thought Josh, staring into her eager eyes. If it will make her happy… what the hey, I’ll do it. “All right,” he replied.
The firble woman’s cheerful expression brightened. She grabbed Josh by the hand, to his surprise, and led him over to the crowd. He exchanged glances with many curious faces and nodded humbly at a few.
“Put this on,” said the firble woman, sliding a head guard over his head. She did the same for herself. Both picked up a staff and eyed each other. Josh couldn’t believe she had the same cheesy smile. “I’m Nalee,” she said.
“Josh,” he replied.
“Ready?”
Josh nodded.
Nalee moved her shoulders and began probing for an opening to attack.
Josh took a defensive stance while circling with her.
Woosh! She lashed out with her staff.
Josh blocked it.
“Light, see?” she said, smiling.
A couple of onlookers chuckled.
Yep, light, thought Josh, swinging toward her waist.
Nalee riposted and whacked down on Josh’s shoulder. “Light,” she said, to more chuckling from the crowd.
Wow, she moves pretty good, but if she doesn’t stop saying “light,” I might actually have to pummel her! thought Josh, swinging at her thigh, then her chest.
Nalee evaded both and brought the tip of her staff down against Josh’s delt for a second time. “Light,” she said.
Okay, what’s really going on here? he thought, feeling embarrassment sink in upon peering up to the amused s
pectators. He wanted nothing more than to give it his all, but decided to keep things friendly.
Before Josh had fully recovered, Nalee lunged in and thrust her staff into his gut. “Light,” she said.
Josh tried to counter swipe, but she batted away his attempt and reversed motion, bringing the edge of her staff raking across the side of his head. “Light,” she blurted.
Her constant grin was beginning to feel more like a persistent taunt, even though Josh found it hard to believe. He tightened his lips and swung softly but quickly at her head, trying his best to catch her off guard.
But that wasn’t to be. Nalee jerked away, then forward, and slapped the right end of her staff against Josh’s ribcage. “Light.”
Josh’s temper bubbled. Let’s see if she knows this one! He grabbed his staff with both hands and charged her, holding it horizontally in front of his chest. Nalee held hers vertical in defense. Upon contact, Josh drove her back while sliding a foot behind her heel and tripping her to the ground. Once she was flat on the mat, he brought the staff over his head and came down with it thrice. “Light! Light! Light!” he said, each time his staff connected. Then he tossed the weapon off to the side and walked away.
The hits were measured, so that they wouldn’t actually hurt her, but still forceful enough to give Josh the pleasure of revenge. He pitched his head guard onto the ground. All’s fair in combat. Yep, that’s what Pax told me, he thought pleasantly.
Nalee shot to her feet and started after him. A few crowd members held her back. When Josh glanced over his shoulder and smirked, Nalee was staring at him with a still cheesy, but irritated smile. Her chest was puffed and she tried stepping from side to side to get past her restrainers. Unable to do so, she threw her staff at Josh and huffed some more.
Josh thought it was the funniest thing he’d seen in a long while, though he worried someone in the crowd might seek retribution.
Once he had made it indoors and into the long hallway by the factory, he glanced to the simulation room, then walked over to Pax’s office. The door was cracked open, but Josh still gave it a knock.
“Come in,” said Pax, who was sitting at his desk.
“Hey, is it all right if I use the simulators?”
“Of course, feel free. You are a pilot after all.”
“Thanks.”
Pax peered back down at the papers in front of him and Josh strolled over to the simulation room. He sat at one of the combat machines and started a session.
Josh had been practicing for well over an hour when Pax entered the room and stood behind him. The older man watched for a bit before saying, “Mind if I join you?”
Josh looked up and shook his head. “Not at all. They’re your machines.”
Pax smiled and walked around to the other combat simulator. It didn’t take long for Josh to notice the settings being changed to head-to-head combat.
Josh smirked and leaned to the side so that he could see where Pax was sitting. “I have to warn you, I’m pretty damn good, Pax. Not sure if you’re going to have much fun going head to head.”
“Let’s see what you got, kiddo.”
Asteroid map—go figure. Some guys will do anything to win, thought Josh. Dirty old man. He wanted to laugh, but didn’t. Damn, it feels good to be flying again, even if it is only on a simulator.
Josh flew his module into the asteroid field, keeping a keen eye out for Pax’s craft and waiting for his radar to sound. It took a moment, but Pax’s module zipped out from behind a massive rock and forced Josh to maneuver left into a wild tangle of loops and twists between the pilots.
Oh yeah! thought Josh. This old-timer’s still got some moves. Cut left, cut left, I dare you! He grunted faintly, shifting his control stick to the side.
Pax was the first to break off from their jockeying, and hooked around an asteroid before weaving through another two.
Josh stayed close on his trail. He fired a nervous shot that missed by a lot, then tried harder to line up a second. He heard Pax grumble from the pressure, but then heard him say: “You said you were better in open space, eh?”
“Yeah,” Josh replied, seeing Pax head for the edge of the asteroid field. Bold move, old-timer.
Swoosh… swoosh, sounded from the simulator as both modules sifted past rock after rock until Pax’s craft shot out from the asteroid field with Josh’s module right behind him. All of a sudden Josh saw the thrusters on Pax’s craft go dark. The ship flipped into an inverted 180. Red light flickered from its laser cannons. Before Josh could even react—a buzzer went off on his simulator and an orange light flashed, signaling he had been hit.
Son of a bitch. What the fuck was that? thought Josh. He looked up at Pax, who had walked over and had just finished adjusting his glasses.
“I take you’ve never seen anything like that,” said Pax.
“That’s because your last tactic can’t be done on a real aircraft. It’s a made-up maneuver you programmed into the sim in order to win. You probably even use it for gambling.”
Pax chuckled. “Oh, it can be done—I can assure you of that. But not by an ordinary pilot. It takes guts, nerves of steel to perform a ‘danger flip.’ You only get one short opportunity for a shot; after that your ship will flip helplessly until you can recover, leaving you an easy target for the enemy. You didn’t get to see that part because the sim ended, but I have recordings of times when my module has missed and flipped out of control. Here, have a look.”
Pax punched a few keys on the machine’s computer system. It didn’t take long for examples of control loss to appear on the screen.
Wow, that does look hard to pull out of, thought Josh.
“How long have you been flying the Void Zone, Josh?”
“Only a week,” he replied, glancing up.
“You seem like a smart guy, and you’re definitely a strong pilot, but you need to know there are many tricks and tactics performed out here in deep space that aren’t learned in any academies. You need to be ready for them. Never ever underestimate your adversary, even when you feel certain you’re the better pilot. Understand?”
Josh stared into Pax’s eyes for a second and nodded.
Pax tapped the top of Josh’s chair. “Keep at it. I’ve got to get back to work.” He left.
Josh turned toward the simulation screen. That’s got to be the craziest move I’ve ever seen, he thought. And I’m usually the one known for executing those. He loaded up a fresh sim of the same map and continued his session. Hours passed before Skirm came and got him.
There was lots of side work to be done in the factory and Josh was assigned tasks for almost the remainder of the day. For dinner he ate in a small hall with the rest of the workers while sitting across and down a few chairs from Nalee and her female firble friend. At one point Josh felt certain the firble friend was flirting with him. She had glanced at him repeatedly with faint smiles and twinkling eyes. Occasionally she would whisper something to Nalee and both would peek in his direction.
Josh gulped awkwardly at her interest and then tried his best not to make further eye contact, without being rude. He took a swig of what he assumed to be milk and thought, No way, man—I’m not ending up like old Smokey.
He did laugh however when Nalee told him: “Next time we go hard.”
After supper, Josh retired for the night.
The next morning, food was brought to his room. When he had finished eating, Josh went down to the factory and was put to work while Pax made repairs on the striker. It took nearly half the day, but once the tasks were completed, Josh made his way to the sim room for a session. His smile couldn’t have been brighter upon finding a Boden male using one of the combat machines. “Care to go a few rounds?” he asked.
The Boden glanced up and nodded.
Josh stopped. “You any good?”
The Boden’s cheeks rose as if unimpressed. He didn’t bother to look up from his screen when shooing Josh off with his hand and saying, “You will see.”
Josh smirked and sat down.
Seven simulations later, Josh had won their match without a single loss. In fact, he had thought them easy.
“You’re a very good pilot. Veeery good,” said the Boden, before exiting the room. Josh felt confident as ever, and wanted nothing more than to find another opponent to dominate.
It wasn’t long before he heard footsteps in the halls and saw Pax passing by. “Hey,” he called out.
Pax stopped and looked.
“Mind showing me your way of doing the danger flip?”
Pax smiled; then it looked as if he was thinking for a moment. “Yeah, I’ll teach it to you.”
Josh grinned. “And a rematch afterward? Best of five?”
Pax shifted his smile to one side and replied, “You’d beat me overall, kid. I’m just an old pilot with old tricks. Once those run out, all that’s left are tired reflexes.”
“You’ve still got some juice in the tank. Your reactions looked damn good yesterday.”
“Meh,” Pax replied, brushing off the compliments. “Plus, I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Josh nodded. “All right.”
Pax instructed Josh on how to perform the danger flip correctly, but warned, “It’s extremely high risk, versus high reward; land the shot and you live, miss the shot—you die. That’s why it’ll never be taught at a training facility. Ninety-nine percent of the time the maneuver’s simply not worth the risk. It should only be used as a last resort.”
Josh dipped his head. “Understood.”
“Practice landing the shot and recovering from the control loss. Remember, it needs to be timed right, preferably after a sharp maneuver or a sudden shift.” He paused for a moment to glance at his watch. “I’ve got to get going. Keep at it until you feel you’ve mastered it—but even then you’ll need to rehearse it regularly.” He gave Josh a pat on the shoulder and walked off.
Aside from food and restroom breaks, Josh practiced for the entire day and into the night, until it was time for sleep.