by Jay Riverton
The Discover Scouts
By Jay Riverton
CONTENTS
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
About the Author
Copyright © 2019 Jay Riverton. All Rights Reserved
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Riverton Publishing
Beacon, New York
[email protected]
Visit the author's website at www. johnrossthompson.com
First edition
Cover by Rebecacovers
https://www.fiverr.com/rebecacovers
Ebook formatting by Kindle Create
To my family and friends.
"Where we're going we don't stop. We just go."
- Dad
Chapter One
The Landing
The battlefield was covered in mangled bodies and blood. Two armies fought each other mercilessly; one a human militia equipped with guns, and the other a hunched, big, furry, dark, and animalistic alien species. While the humans’ guns’ red lasers illuminated the field and took down the aliens, the aliens jumped onto the humans and tore them apart as if they were pieces of paper. The humans were obviously losing. No matter how much they shot, the aliens still outnumbered them and were much fiercer and faster. There’d be no way to kill them all.
“Retreat!” Lycanere yelled. He was human, tall, muscular, and only fifteen with dark brown skin and dreadlocks peeking out from underneath a helmet on his head. He adjusted the helmet and held his gun close to him as he turned around and charged back to the human base: a large, black complex within a luminescent purple dome-shaped force-field.
He kept his eyes on his retreating army around him. He watched as some of them would stop, turn, and shoot at their oncoming pursuers as if they thought they could still win this fight.
“Don’t waste your ammo! Just run!” he yelled.
Lycanere listened to the screams of his people as the aliens pushed on and killed them; jumping onto their backs and ripping them apart.
He’d been through this too many times already. He hated hearing their screams. Don’t look over your shoulder, he thought as he ran. He didn’t want to see them dead again. Don’t look over your shoulder. He didn’t want to see that he’d lost again. Don’t look over your… but he did. Yet, instead of seeing his people, he saw an alien running full bore at him only a few yards away.
“Shit.” He turned back to the base. He could make it there in a few seconds. He’d been trained for this. But when has my training ever worked.
He could hear the alien behind him as he dashed towards the force-field. Three feet away. Two feet away. One foot away.
Down.
It was on his back.
Lycanere ripped off his mask.
He was back in the game room sitting on a large white metal chair stuck to the ground, electrical impulses rippling through it, with the white mask in his hands. He looked up at the large screen in front of him, the words “GAME OVER” scrawled across it in blood red. It switched to a high score screen full of the top ten scores beside three initials. Every single score was prefixed with the word “LOSS.” The top score read “LOSS – 180 MIN – MAD” and the second “LOSS – 175 MIN – LYC.” Three of the other scores read LYC and the rest MAD. His new score flashed on the screen. “LOSS – 178 MIN – _ _ _.”
“L. Y. C,” he said aloud. The initials appeared on the screen as he said each one. He watched his new score take the second-place spot and push one of MAD’s off the screen.
He exhaled and accidentally gazed up out of the large window behind the game screen into the empty and quiet vastness of space. He turned away immediately, not wanting to be reminded of his future so soon, and looked around the game room. It was full of many white metal chairs, masks, and screens. There was no place better on the ship than this.
The room’s only door slid open, and Scout Master Mike entered. He was middle-aged and just as dark as Lycanere. He held a sandwich wrapped in plastic wrap in his hands.
He approached Lycanere, his eyes on the game screen.
“Beating Conqueror’s War isn’t gonna get you outta here,” he said.
“Doesn’t matter. I’m never gonna win or pass that MAD guy.”
“Girl, and you have the second highest score on the ship, Lyc. The game’s hard.”
“That’s an understatement. It’s not even realistic, they randomize the alien’s physique every time. It’s always something different.”
“When is war ever realistic?”
Mike handed him the food.
“Thank you.” Lycanere unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite.
“You gotta stop skipping lunch, brother.”
“You’re still bringing me food, aren’t you?”
Mike rolled his eyes. “You need to familiarize yourself with the others. Ostracizing yourself will only make it worse once you—”
“I’ll be fine.”
Lycanere turned back to the screen. Mike reached over and turned it off.
“One more game, Mike,” Lycanere pleaded.
“Not enough time. We’re landing soon.”
“Enough time for me to lose.”
“You’ve already won to me, Lyc.” He gave Lycanere a side-hug and rubbed his arm.
Lycanere stayed quiet. His best friend Reggie had won, being the only person in the universe in the last forty years. Yet, he wasn’t here with Lycanere right now, despite who he was. That’s because he won, Lycanere knew.
Mike placed a hand on Lycanere’s shoulder. “I just wanna let you know that, no matter what happens here, we’re still kin.”
“Not blood.”
“Don’t matter. We’ll always be Rats, so we’ll always be brothers. Working together ‘til the end.”
“I’m a—”
“Wolf. I know. But you’re still part Rat, and that means you’re my brother and I will love you like one ‘til the day I die.” He hugged Lycanere again. “I don’t care if you’re a failed colony unifier, and neither will anyone else here. So, you shouldn’t either.”
Mike’s watch beeped and he glanced at it. He nodded and walked back towards the door which slid open again. “Come with me. Scout’s Honor is only ten minutes away.”
Lycanere approached the older man. “How long will we be there?”
They exited the room into a steel and silver hallway with barely enough width for them to walk side-by-side.
“A few days. We’ll get you coupled, name you Discover Scouts, and then go to Jovial-10 to drop you all off. Then, you’ll be there for the rest of your life.”
They reached a door at the end of the hall and it slid open. There was a ramp descending into a huge room in front of them: the unloading dock. Children and teenagers filled the room. There were sixty of them in total, including Lycanere.
“Coupled?” Lycanere said.
They make their way down the ramp.
“Yeah, if you were at lunch when I explained it…” he stopped and exhaled, “You and some girl, I apologize in advance, have been chosen to be coupled together. You’ll impregnate her and your babies will roam Jovial-10. It’s our whole ‘normal’ thing we push. Parents love it.”
“And if I don’t want to be coupled?”
Mike sighed. “I know you don’t want to be, but just do it, please. For your parents. If
you don’t, you’ll get put in the Reformation Tank, and, trust me, you don’t want to be there.”
“Is there any way to avoid being coupled?”
“I mean, you could choose to be a Scout Master like me. Then, you don’t have to do that whole coupling thing, but then you’d have to go around the universe taking unwanted kids from their parents… and that’s just not fun. I mean, you could still have kids if you want. Or, you can be like me and sign that right away.”
“Because you’re a Scout Master?”
“No.”
They pushed through the crowd until they reached the front of the ship where a ramp-wall faced in towards them.
“I know you, Lyc, and this place isn’t you. You shouldn’t be here. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry or not, I’m still stuck doing this for the rest of my life.”
“I know. I don’t want to do this to you. Hell, I didn’t want this done to me. But it happens, and we’re stuck with it until someone can change that.” He looked into Lycanere’s eyes. “I’d advise you to only do what your heart says while here. Your troop needs you, and Corporate values you much more than they do me. You’re the big mission, Troop 10, the colonizers of Jovial-10, the two-sunned mega-earth. Our A-team.”
“A-team? Is there a B-Team?”
Mike shook his head. “No, not yet. We run off of the hexadecimal system here. A is 10, B is 11, and so on up to Z being 35. Therefore, your troop, Troop 10, is our A-team. Troop 11, when it’s made, would be B-Team, and so on.” He turned from Lycanere. “The system’s kinda important to know if you ever wanna be a Scout Master. Just in case of an emergency or anything like that. Never know when you’re gonna need a gun.”
The ship rumbled as it landed.
Scout Master Mike patted Lycanere’s shoulder. “Time to make you into a Scout.”
The ramp-wall dropped down slowly, Lycanere tense as his new future awaited him. When the ramp hit the ground, the fresh outside air flew in and hit them. In front of them were a group of Discover Scouts. They all wore the same thing: tan hats and button-up uniforms with nametags on their left chests over a badge reading “Reformed Scout,” their troop numbers, being one through nine, on their right arm, and a plastered smile on all of their faces intermingling with their dead eyes. They all looked the same though they were physically diverse, their smile and eyes digging into Lycanere’s mind. He shuddered uncontrollably.
Scout Master Mike awkwardly laughed and brought his mouth to Lycanere’s ear. “That’s why you don’t want to act up here.”
Lycanere looked at the scenery beyond them, trying to divert his attention from the braindead Scouts. Behind them were purple trees and a large semi-circle of ten log cabins. It would’ve been the perfect picture for a camping brochure.
Scout Master Mike stepped forward in front of the Reformed Scouts. “Hello, my Reformed Discover Scouts! Please, make your way inside, collect our lovely scouts-to-be’s items, and bring them to their appropriate dorms. Any questions, find me.”
The Reformed Scouts all moved together and made their way into the ship. Lycanere and his new troop moved to the side, away from them. They stared at the Scouts as they moved past them like drones.
“Everyone else, follow me!” Scout Master Mike yelled. Lycanere took one last look at the Reformed Discover Scouts before descending out of the ship. He made his way across the purple grass to Scout Master Mike who stood in the center of the semi-circle. The others followed.
Once all of Troop 10 was in front of him, Scout Master Mike smiled and cleared his throat.
“Welcome Troop 10 to Scouts’ Honor! This is our only stop before going to your new home on Jovial-10!” His excitement was matched with silence for a few seconds.
“I’m sorry for interrupting, Scout Master Mike, but what was wrong with them back there?” a girl asked. Lycanere glanced at her. She was young, probably his age, and short with dark brown hair and almond shaped eyes. She smiled and blushed once she saw Lycanere’s eyes on her. He faked a smile in return and looked back to Scout Master Mike.
“Well, Miss Lee, those are the Reformed Discover Scouts,” Mike said. “If you do not follow the rules here, I will have to make you into one of them. It’s not all bad, though. You won’t have to leave this place if you’re reformed, and just look how beautiful it is here!” He spread his arms, a forced smile on his face. He looked down at the obviously terrified Troop 10 and frowned. The Reformed Scouts were making their way out of the ship to the log cabins, ignoring them.
“I don’t want to do that to you, so please don’t make me. You think I like seeing that? You think I want to be a part of that?”
“Then, why are you?” another girl asked. She was younger, no older than thirteen. She had light brown hair and was even shorter than the last girl, but she dressed as if she were mature. She wore a loose, low top and small shorts, and she held an electronic cigarette in her hand.
“Sadly, Miss Lowe,” Scout Master Mike said, snatching the e-cig before she could bring it to her lips, “Just like you guys, I was forced into this. I guess we could empathize for each other now, can’t we?” No response. He sighed.
“This can’t be ethical,” Miss Lee said.
“There’s no ethics out here. If you don’t follow the rules, you get reformed. Don’t like that and you can put it up with my bosses at Corporate. Simple as that,” Mike said. “Now, let’s go take a tour! I promise, it won’t take too long. We haven’t done much to this planet yet. Don’t have the money to.”
He swooped his hand around the direction of the log cabins.
“You’ll live in these. Six to one cabin. Today, you’ll be randomly put in them. After the coupling tomorrow, you and your partner get to choose two other couples to live in these with. You will also share your homes on Jovial-10 with those two couples, so, I suggest you start meeting people now.”
“What’s after the coupling?” Lycanere asked.
“The consummation, of course. That’s why the women had to take that pill so they’d all be ready and fertile for this special event. Corporate believes that it’ll be better to raise the next generation together as a troop on Jovial-10. A minimum of thirty babies… all the same age at the same time… Marvelous.”
He awkwardly laughed and walked off down a path in between the center of the log cabins towards the trees. “Next up, the Reformation Center.” Lycanere and Troop 10 followed.
Miss Lowe ran up beside Lycanere, dragging Miss Lee alongside.
“Martia Lowe, thief, United Colonies of Earth.” She groped his bicep instead of shaking his hand.
“Hi,” Lycanere awkwardly said.
“And this is my friend.” She nudged Miss Lee.
“Kakine Lee, Pilot of Universal Researchers of Zevlon-6,” Miss Lee said. She stuck out her hand and Lycanere shook it. He looked into her brown eyes, beautiful and alluring, and the image of Reggie came to his head. Reggie had similar eyes. Reggie, the epitome of leadership and being a Wolf. There was nothing Reggie had that Lycanere didn’t want.
They entered the path amongst the trees. It was narrow, just enough space for the three of them to walk side-by-side. Lycanere could already see the end of the path coming up.
“And you?” Martia asked.
“Lycanere Robinson. Wolf of Quoryine’s Moon Colonies.”
“Wolf?” Martia said, nudging Kakine again. “Never heard of them.”
“Never heard of thief either,” Lycanere said.
“That’s because it’s not a job,” Kakine muttered.
“It’s why I was sent her. I’m a jack of all trades and people got mad that I used that to my advantage. You name it, I can do it,” Martia said.
“Yeah? Beat Conqueror’s War then,” Lycanere said.
“Videogames are for nerds,” Martia said. “But I’m pretty sure Khaki could do it. She’s been telling me all day about how good she is in a cockpit.”
Lycanere looked to Kakine. She blushed.
“It’s a battle s
imulator. Give me a ship and no one can take me down,” she said.
“Well, if you can fly a ship that well then why are we still here?” The voice came from behind them. They turned and saw its owner: a teenage boy whose skin was burned, scaly, and a mix of dark brown and red. He walked with a limp and one of his arms was crippled and stuck to his chest. Lycanere could tell he’d once looked normal and handsome.
Martia jumped at the sight of him. “Ugh! What the hell happened to you?”
He looked to Lycanere and ignored Martia. “Pirelavs Copher. Chemist of Horus’ Sunspot. Pleased to meet you all.” Lycanere shook his hand. He turned to Kakine and shook her hand as well. Lycanere watched Martia roll her eyes and look away from the burned boy.
They exited the path and entered a large clearing.
“Wow,” Lycanere said.
In front of them stood a long and large rectangular wooden abode. Only one floor, it was a beautiful masterpiece with columns and arches that Lycanere never imagined encountering. The columns were each carved into shapes of different planetary systems, and the arches were asteroids with burning tails. Breaking off from it were two more forest paths, one going east and another west. Mike stopped and turned back to the troop as they all filled the clearing.
“This is the Reformation Center. It’s where we’ll meet and eat. Trust me, the food isn’t as good as this place looks.” He laughed, but no one joined. He sighed and glanced down at his watch. “Speaking of, dinner’s in four hours. Can’t wait.” He waved his hand towards the west path. “Come on! Let’s go!”
“Wait,” Martia said. She pointed to the east path. “What’s that way?”
“More cabins. Where I sleep. The usual.” He walked on. Kakine looked to Lycanere as if to question if they should follow. Lycanere nodded and walked on.
“I’m just sayin’,” Pirelavs whispered, “You can fly a ship, so let’s steal the one we came in on and get out of here.”