by REM
“She looks salvageable,” said Skirm. “Let’s just hope the fleet-core hasn’t been damaged.”
Josh didn’t think the ship had been struck anywhere near where the fleet-core was stored, but kept his fingers crossed nonetheless.
Once they were standing alongside the ship, Skirm inspected it for a moment and said, “Okay, let’s extract this core and get the hell out of here.”
Josh was staring at the skeleton of the ill-fated pilot before turning to nod. “All right, let’s do it.”
Comm pulled out a thin toolkit from a slot on the back of his jacket that Josh hadn’t even noticed was there. Skirm also retrieved some tools from his pack. “Nalee, can you keep a watch out for us?” asked Skirm.
“Sure,” she said, mashing the button on her cylinder and ejecting her staff.
It took the three males about twenty minutes to reach the fleet-core compartment. When they finally took the part out, all were of the opinion that the core wasn’t damage, but they wouldn’t know for sure until getting it back to the factory for a system check.
A cloth was placed over the part and Comm lifted it onto his shoulder. “I will carry it,” he said, being the strongest of the four.
Skirm nodded. “Thanks.” He looked at the others. “We ready?”
Josh nodded, along with Nalee.
“Then let’s get out of this wretched jungle and back to the transport,” said Skirm. He glanced at his watch. “Cooks are serving Florn bird for dinner tonight, and I don’t want to miss that.”
Nalee grinned, after which the group took their first steps toward returning to the transporter.
Thoot! Thoot! Josh heard laser fire—and saw bits of Comm’s stomach splatter through the air. “Aaah!” the Boden cried out, crashing to the ground with the fleet-core falling onto his back.
Thoot! A blast flashed past Josh’s head. Everyone turned and dove for cover.
“Holy hell!” barked Skirm.
Josh saw him too. There was a lone Mercen standing in tall plants about thirty yards off. Josh drew his blaster and fired back. Skirm aimed his rifle while lying flat to the ground and let loose some shots.
The Mercen evaded them all, but instead of ducking for cover, it started moving toward them for a closer shot.
Thoot! Thoot! Thoot, thoot, thoot! They exchanged fire until the Mercen was forced to crouch down at a halt.
“Get behind the ship! Now!” ordered Skirm.
Nalee dashed for the craft while staying low. Josh dove and rolled behind the striker.
Skirm remained in place, providing cover fire for the two.
Thoot… thoot, thoot! A blast struck the ground right in front of Skirm’s head and caused dirt to fly up into the air. Skirm rolled away and tried making it to the ship.
Josh stepped out and fired twice, but had to pull back to escape a blast that sent sparks flying from the ship. “Where the hell did he come from?!” said Josh.
Skirm’s head shook upon making it to his side. “There shouldn’t be any Mercen on this planet.”
“Comm,” Nalee said sadly, looking over to the fallen Boden.
“That bastard!” Skirm shouted. He stepped out from the side of the striker and fired.
Thoot! “Aaah!” he cried, jerking back and dropping to the ground from a laser blast that had grazed his already injured arm.
Nalee rushed to his side.
“I’m okay, I’m all right!” said Skirm, assessing the burn.
Josh tightened his lips. I’ve got to do it! he thought, squeezing the handle of his gun. He raced around the side of the striker and fired continuously.
“Josh!” Nalee cried out.
Thoot! Thoot! Thoot, thoot, thoot, thoot, thoot! Josh exchanged rapid fire with the Mercen, each walking toward the other fearlessly. Josh dodged left, then in another direction and kept squeezing the trigger. Thoot! Thoot, thoot!
“Urgh!” the Mercen let out, after being struck in the gut.
Thoot! Thoot! Josh sent two more beams thrashing into the Mercen’s body before it collapsed dead to the ground. He stood over it and fired a few extra shots until hearing beeps indicate his gun’s energy was depleted and needed to recharge. I hate these damn things, he thought, staring down. Then he walked over to where Nalee and Skirm were knelt at Comm’s corpse.
Josh hadn’t known beforehand if a firble could cry, but knew now upon seeing the lone tear run down Nalee’s cheek. Cromm was a good soul, at least as far I can tell from the little time I’ve spent with him.
“He wanted to do a good deed and died because of it,” Nalee said sadly.
Skirm’s expression was somber too. “We’ve no tools for digging, and there’s not enough rocks around for a proper burial. We have to leave his body here.”
“But he will be eaten by the coys,” said Nalee. “He deserves better than that.”
Skirm’s head shook. “There’s no other choice.”
He’s right, thought Josh.
Nalee scrunched up her face angrily. “The coys will not have him,” she said, sliding out a puck-sized device.
Skirm’s eyes widened. “What are you doing with a detonator? Where’d you get that?”
“I’ve had it for years now. I kept it for an emergency. You and Josh get the fleet-core, I’ll take care of this.”
Skirm didn’t argue; instead he nodded at Josh to help him with the fleet-core. Both picked it up and walked off side by side.
Nalee pressed a few buttons on the detonator and shoved it into Comm’s upper body. After that she hurried to catch up with Josh and Skirm.
They’d been walking for just under a minute when Josh heard a big boom!
“His dignity is safe now, even in death,” said Nalee.
Things were quiet for a gloomy stretch until Josh glanced at his gun and said, “My blaster depleted back there. I sure hope we don’t run into any more creatures.”
Skirm nodded. “Aye.”
It wasn’t long before all three stopped and stared to the northwest.
“That striker wasn’t the only thing to crash in this jungle years ago,” said Josh, eyeing the broken shadow fighter.
“The bastard you shot must’ve been living in this jungle the entire time,” said Skirm.
“I don’t doubt it. Mercen are extremely resourceful, and intelligent,” said Nalee.
They lingered at the crash site for a moment, then continued on.
The group stopped a couple more times so Josh and Skirm could rest their arms, but had no trouble making it back to the transport ship. All boarded, and Skirm flew the craft home to Pax’s facility.
Nalee helped Josh haul the fleet-core into the factory while Skirm went straight to Pax’s office to fill him in on everything that had gone down in the far eastern jungle.
When dinner rolled around and all of the staff were in one place, Pax broke the news to everyone about Comm’s death. The normally chatty environment became one of quiet eating.
Shortly after nightfall, a candlelight vigil was held in Comm’s honor. Josh couldn’t believe how hurt he felt for a being he had barely known. He lay in bed thinking about Comm and their entire journey into the eastern jungle for some time before falling asleep.
Chapter 9
Josh awoke and sat up in his bed. He peered around the room, feeling as if something wasn’t right. After a light rubbing of his groggy eyes, he kept still and stared at the front door. No morning breakfast knock, he thought. I guess it makes sense since Skirm is injured and Comm is gone.
He threw back the covers and got out of bed. It took him about twenty minutes to get showered and dressed. Then he was out the door, en route to the factory.
Josh had only made it downstairs and past a corner when running into Skirm.
“I was just on my way to get you,” said Skirm. “I had to stop by the medical room to get my shoulder looked at again.”
“Ah, I was wondering where you were.”
“Come on, let’s go have breakfast in the food hall.”
“Sure thing; I’m starving,” Josh replied.
There weren’t many eating when they arrived.
Once they had finished, Skirm accompanied Josh to the factory. Pax stood wiping off his hands as they walked in.
“She’s all fixed up and ready to fly,” said Pax.
Josh smiled, staring at the striker. He noticed it had a gleam to it.
Pax could tell what he was thinking and said, “I had the guys polish her up. She’ll be rolled out front by the time you come back down with your stuff.”
“Thank you… thank you so much!” said Josh.
Pax looked pleased. “Just make sure you don’t let those slime bags get the drop on you ever again. You hear?”
Josh nodded.
“Which reminds me, I turned on your tracking beacon. Perhaps you should wait for a Creston fleet to fly close enough to receive the signal. There could be shadow fighters lurking the Cosmolis. They patrol here often.”
“Yeah, I know,” Josh replied. “But I really need to get back to the M.N. Rampage.” He just couldn’t wait. “I won’t let Mercens get me again. If it wasn’t for that asteroid field, I still don’t think I would’ve been shot down.”
“Well, you’ve had a lot of practice on asteroid fields in your simulations now, eh?”
“Yes, I should be good,” Josh replied.
“Comm always did want to be a fighter pilot again,” uttered Skirm.
“So, he actually did fly attack craft, huh?” asked Josh.
“Yeah, he did,” Skirm replied. He waited a moment and said, “Say, maybe you should stay until your squadron can come get you. There’s a strong chance you’d run into a band of enemy craft if you leave now. It won’t matter how good a pilot you are if that happens.”
Josh smirked with his chin raised. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll be fine.” He didn’t truly feel certain about what he’d said, but was set on departing as soon as possible. In the worst-case scenario, I’ll just outrun them, he thought.
“You’ve got brass, kid, the kind any recruiter would swarm to. Just be careful your best asset doesn’t become your worst decision,” said Pax.
“When will you be leaving?” asked Skirm.
“Twenty minutes? I just need to grab my stuff then come back down.”
Pax and Skirm shared a glance before Pax nodded and said, “All right. The ship will be out front by the time you return.”
Josh headed for his room.
Once in his quarters, he rounded up his blaster and a few small items he’d taken out of his pouch over the course of his stay. When done, he glanced at the time. I’ve still got twelve minutes, he thought.
Josh walked over to the window and looked outside. Less than a week, but I’m still going to sort of miss this place. He gazed at the dry and rocky surroundings, then to the sky. He remained that way until seeing there were only a few minutes left.
When Josh arrived out front of the factory, Pax and Skirm were standing at the side of his striker. Nalee was with them. “Were you going to leave without saying goodbye?” she asked.
Josh smiled and gave her a hug. “Goodbye, Nalee. It was nice meeting you.”
“Come back and visit us sometime,” she said.
Skirm nodded. “You’re always welcome.”
Josh extended an arm to Skirm for a shake. He then offered his hand to Pax. “Thank you again for all you’ve done.”
The older man brushed it off. “Eh, I had fun doing it. Take care of yourself out there.”
“I will.” Josh climbed into the cockpit and waved. Seconds later, he closed it and blasted off.
Pax and the others watched the ship until it could no longer be seen.
Hell yeah, back in action, thought Josh. Deep space, I can’t live without you. Now let’s just hope we don’t run into any shadow fighters before making it out of this damn Cosmolis. He mashed the throttle and zipped out from Skurier’s atmosphere.
A mere ten seconds or so had passed by when Josh noticed two fast-moving blips on his radar. You’ve got to be kidding me! Shit, the sound’s out on my radar. There was no doubt in his mind the two unidentified objects were Mercen craft—and they were already upon him.
He could see traces of the dark fighters coming in high from the front. Josh knew that veering away would give the enemies a huge advantage, so instead he climbed to meet them and spiraled into a crossfire. He punched his trigger, letting loose two wild shots solely to scatter them up.
Both shadow fighters dove evasively, but still sent lasers flaring past Josh’s ship.
Woosh! Josh curved his striker around to re-engage. The Mercen fighters counter circled to where all three ships became tangled in more loops than a ball of yarn. Josh swung down behind one of the craft and fired a blast. There was a burst of light where the beams tagged the shadow fighter near its engine—then flickering from its dissipating shield.
Damnit, not enough! thought Josh, yanking his stick to the side and cutting with the second fighter hot on his tail. He rolled right, then left. Two shots flashed past his cockpit. “Yeah?!” Thoom! He blazed straight up at maximum thrust, then twisted into a hooking dive and fired at the enemy’s three o’ clock.
Both beams struck the shadow fighter dead center. Its shields fizzled away. “Hot dog! Luckiest Mercens ever.”
WOOM! Josh’s striker shook wildly, knocking all the air from his stomach and causing him to hit his helmet against his seat. He jammed the control stick at an angle and coiled into a sweeping dive. Red light flashed on a monitor, indicating his shield had been broke. Son of a gun, he hit me! I can’t underestimate these goons. This isn’t a game, Josh! No more screwing around.
Beams zipped by his void striker. Josh brought the ship streaking up at a slant and bent around into another wild, three-craft tango. At coming out of a tight curl, he pressed the trigger. Lasers struck one of the shadow fighter’s upper wings and exploded the ship.
That’s one! thought Josh, glancing at his radar to make sure of the second fighter’s location, then seeing a third craft closing in. He peered in the newest craft’s direction, where hints of the black shadow fighter could be seen. Wow, this is going to be a long session, he thought, hoping in the back of his mind that the added fighter wasn’t the red-winged, despite how badly he wanted to avenge his friends. Got to remember the damn sound is out on this radar system.
Josh raced toward the third fighter. He’d learned from previous encounters that Mercen were too proud to back down from such a challenge. In doing so, he allowed the craft trailing him to get much closer than would normally be allowed. Yep, they sure in hell don’t teach this at the academy, he thought, weaving with complete concentration.
Josh waited for the right moment to give both shadow fighters a clear shot—then rolled hard right into a dive. Lasers from the third Mercen blazed past the fighter who’d been at Josh’s rear. The beams from the second shadow fighter flashed into the third Mercen’s craft and broke its shield.
“Rrr-eh,” Josh growled, seeing neither enemy ship was destroyed. He swung back in the shadow fighters’ direction. I’ve got to end this fight before any more ships are called. Hell, imagine that; shadow fighter after shadow fighter, just to take down little old me.
A missile shot out from one of the dark craft.
A missile versus a striker? You know better, thought Josh, punching a key and launching his mini-missile counter system.
The enemy projectile had only flown half the distance when it exploded into a clear, pancake-shaped blast, the force of which rippled over Josh’s striker, as well as the shadow fighters.
Now that’s new, thought Josh. His dashboard blinked and sounded as if the ship’s systems were frying. He watched the radar blackout, then the targeting screen jitter to a blur. Must be some prototype for when shields are down. But wait, their shields are down too.
A laser shot missed Josh’s ship by a wide margin. “Yep, definitely affected.”
Josh fired an errant
shot of his own.
The shadow fighters broke off from each other in opposite directions. Josh curled his striker to pursue the one on the right, who hooked at Josh from a side angle. Thoot! Thoot! Both fired and missed before trying to outmaneuver the other.
Josh felt certain he was going to secure the rear position, when the second fighter swooped in from behind and forced him to pull off in a different direction. Damnit! He tried checking his rear, but without radar Josh was practically blind in that direction.
Thoot! Lasers flashed at his striker—then more, wider out. Josh zigzagged like crazy and soared into a whorl. He was hoping to shift positions with the shadow fighters, but the Mercen craft didn’t miss a beat.
The lights on Josh’s radar blinked a few more times before returning to normal. Thank heavens, he thought, pushing the throttle until his ship was streaking at almost top speed. Time to toast these suckers. He checked his rear and heard a boom!
One of the shadow fighters exploded, then the other. For a split second, Josh had no clue what to think—until Ace transmitted: “Where the hell have you been?”
“It’s a long story,” Josh replied, seeing the two strikers on his radar.
“Everyone thought you were dead,” said Kyle. “You’re lucky Ace and I were patrolling the southern void and picked up your tracking signal.”
“Nah, I would’ve had them, kid. I dusted one before you guys even showed up.”
“I hope you have a really good excuse, or you’re definitely getting sent back to Creston,” said Kyle.
“Fall in. I’m reporting this,” said Ace. “Kyle and I will escort you back to the Rampage.”
Josh slowed his striker and joined formation at Ace’s rear wing.
The three Creston fighters zoomed off for the mothership.
When Josh and company landed on the north flight deck, Officer Rolly was already there. “Come with me,” he said as soon as Josh had climbed down from the cockpit. Josh could feel the anger burning beneath the officer’s stern face, and was led up to Commander Clint’s quarter without Rolly saying a single word.