Greener Green II: The Balls Brigade

by Peter Sowatskey

  It was my turn to hesitate. Nothing to do but say, "Yes."

  "Very well. I have two potential pilots for you that could nearly reach that requirement. But there are drawbacks. The Brenesi essences that we rescued, some didn't want rescue, but the ones that did we gave bodies patterned after Junior. Young and tough, but having no idea of modern technology. They learn everything with one time exposure. They incorporate data instantly. The body style is almost fifty percent mass. The question is; do they want to go flying all over creation killing someone they never heard of? I suppose I could ask them in a manner which would guarantee acceptance. But I won't. I'll just ask them straight. It will take a week, or so to get a cross section answer. When you come out of your time drop you'll have it."

  I almost breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Many thanks."

  "You're welcome."

  Then she flicked a switch on her desk consol which resulted in us being inside a sort of bubble.

  "This you're to repeat to no one, in any manner. There's a second possibility. We, here on Med Deck, because of Paula giving broadcast sweep pick-up orders got some snake warriors in here alive. They weren't easy to handle. I won't bore you with what we did. The result is, when we combined two personalities of theirs we arrived at a third personality. Or maybe it's better expressed as an individual personality. Never-the-less, we could reason with this hybrid. We learned about procedures and places, going way, way back. That's because they have a genetic overlay, through which information is passed. When they're hatched they know all their parents did. This body type could do what you want done easily. In fact we think that's who is doing the ANNU KI flying. We think this because the ANNU KI person we had for a while wouldn't survive the bodily stress."

  "This is beyond what I thought us capable of. Have you asked this Hybrid about killing its forefathers?"

  "Yes. We got back, 'killing is killing, and who's next, what's for lunch'. I don't know whether we want to trust that degree of motivation with a powerful arms platform. What do you think?"

  "Gives one pause. I'd say not, at first reaction. Any chance of doing an overlay?"

  "The Hybrid throws off any attempt to overlay. Probably something engineered in. We'll find the right method of approach eventually. But who knows if that will be soon enough to make a difference."

  I almost shuddered when I asked, "It's unthinkable, I know, but could this Hybrid be erased and one of us injected."

  "Thought of that, once the Hybrid mentality is gone the individual soldier personalities take over and we gain nothing. The Hybrid has something which we can't pin point. You can take from our efforts the fact that the enemy pilot doesn't have a high intelligence. But how high do you need to depress a firing stud?"

  "Not very high. Let me think of this for a moment."

  I turned half away and ran possibilities through my head. The most insane ones came up against sensibilities. Maybe Adam and Eve were correct. We just didn't have it in us to do what was needed no matter what. I turned back to Betty and asked, "I suppose we don't want to develop a snake based life form of our own?"

  "You're wrong about us not having the 'guts'. We do. Or I have, at least. What you suggest is being done. But it's not simple. I have as many people involved as practical. I have a universe wide request for information out on this subject. My efforts are being duplicated, or surpassed on each ARK. By the way, number VI is nearing completion. You're going to be OK M.Verdai. I know that. So go do your cycles. I'm eagerly awaiting the outcome."

  She collapsed the bubble. I left not knowing which cycles she was talking about. Hell no, I wasn't going to ask. I went to the Lake in Central City and sat under an umbrella. I drank coffee so strong it should have required a prescription. I was 'nothing nobody' for a moment, just an observation post. It was nice.

  I don't know how long I sat, but inevitably the world began to gnaw at my solitude and I quit resisting. But I was hit with a desire to revolt. I went to a nearby dress shop. I was going to buy an outfit to wear to dinner. First time I'd ever thought about stepping out of a uniform. I picked out a casual mid-length dress and underwear. I approached the cashier and asked, "Do you need my Ranger credit card, or do I have an account aboard?"

  "Most certainly you have an account." She said, ringing up the items. "I hope you make us a regular stop on your shopping excursions."

  "That I'll do. Thank you."

  "Our pleasure. Let me give you a courtesy card for a very pleasant dinning spot, pleasant back ground band. I go there often."

  "Thanks again, bye."

  Outside, I couldn't figure out whether I had just been propositioned, or she was being professionally nice. Either way, it was a pleasant change to killing and mayhem.

  Back at XO Rafe's ship, Molly said something about the three of them combining to rent an apartment on the lake. Evidently working for the XO paid well. Good for them.

  In our shared quarters I bathed and put on my new outfit. Rafe was off somewhere. I looked subdued, good, casual, and splendid. I made sure the food was done and had a drink, awaiting arrivals. The twins were first, dressed in their about school attire. They launched into what their classes were about, history, interesting, math, ugh, computers, very relevant, karate class, infantile. I reminded them they had to learn what was being taught and not to do their style which was killing with no wasted motion. I enjoyed the role of parent.

  Colleen and Lillian arrived in fresh casual clothing. Both did a double take. Then they had me swirl around. Approval was had. Lillian wanted that store address. I wrote a note on the receipt, 'put it on my account'. The clerk would have a ball with Lillian. Colleen promised to get her there and back to the ship. All was well with the bay, but, some details, completed, come by tomorrow. Rafe arrived under a head of steam, saw me, stopped, and thought about changing, decided not to. We sat down to our first meal as a family with guests. Two hours later we had desert. How time flies with good company and well behaved youngsters.

  Two days later I went into the Time Drop with Lillian and company. We were going to save our cause. I was mainly concerned with saving me. I hated Rafe even less. What was I going to do if I didn't hate him at all? I had sixty days to figure that one out.

  OPERATIONAL AREA - MONESLAKIA - DISTANT OUTER RIM OF SOLAR SYSTEM

  TORKEN

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  The noise came from somewhere deep inside the cave. It was a cross between a cough and a growl, bad food, or maybe too big a bite. If only I could get close enough, unnoticed, I might get the bridle cap on the beast. Without it my problems wouldn't only be sore feet. The hounders would catch up with me sooner, or later.

  While I slowly moved toward the beast I listened for them in my mind. They weren't close enough for thoughts to seep through. But their presence was there aimed at me. Their desire was to bring me back dead in several parts. The thoughts from the beast were easy to filter in, food filling, almost full, sleep come, lovely sleep.

  It had been so occupied with filling its maw that it wasn't as careful as usual. But what did it have to concern itself with? It was at least seven times as big as me. Even though, sixteen years as a slave turning the grist mill had built me into a mountain of hard flesh.

  Around a corner ahead of me the beast was almost fast asleep now. I could feel its six legs loosen and its stubby spiked tail loosen. A moment passed, then shutting off my breathing and my inner turmoil, I crept around the corner to see that its head pointed away from me. Its shoulder spikes were barbed with metal, an Army trained creature this one. Trained to fight, whether under direction, or not. It's double seated (front and rear) shielded saddle was still on its back.

  With one leap I was up and slid the stolen obedience ring into the recesses behind its skull. Then I sent a thought through the ring embedded in my skull, thoughts of sleep, needed sleep. A part of its mind came awake and hated me for a moment before I could sooth it. Then it only sent despair and loss, so heavy I couldn't keep its sadness separate fro
m my own emotions. I set up an assurance cycle, which might make it feel less sad with time.

  Sitting myself in the front saddle seat I searched through the boxes built into it for weapons or food. No weapons, but some ration cakes, which I finished sooner than the beast, had downed its supper. I hadn't eaten in the nine days since my escape. I'd only stopped to drink water quickly and run some more.

  It had taken six years effort of playing the mind broken idiot until a careless recruit had left some slack in my night collar chain. There was enough slack to go around her neck, which broke like a twig. I'd taken her keys off her belt and unlocked all the collars I could get to. In the mad rush of thirty or so slaves, I'd escaped. The mind sensing, which had came to me through some un-bodied teacher told me that I was the only one still free.

  The beast was too full to move. I was too tired to see straight enough to direct it. So we both slept. He under, and me above, in the saddle, leaning against the front shield.

  The quietness of the insect noise outside the cave wakened me. It told me that day dawned. If I was going to continue northward and punish the unspeakable in my tribe which sold me into slavery I was going to need food and clothing. Not having coin for such I would have to kill some one. That I'd do as soon as I got to the town ahead, which I'd, been aiming toward these last three days. Only with the beast I'd get there tonight in comfort, instead of three days hence.

  I stirred my method of escape beneath me beating on its armored neck lightly.

  I spoke in its mind, 'move, come awake, move, and move'. Gradually it did. Once outside both of us drank our fill at the first stream. Then it got its six legged gait going at the pace it could maintain for days, if fed grain, or meat.

  We found no one in our way. When, at dark, we neared the town I put the animal to rest in a dense forest. The place was near a stream. It would kill something for sure when the evening call to water brought prey close to the stream edge.

  Telling it not to stray I went into the town, to the poorest section, then into a drinking place. It was so crowded no one saw me steal a tankard of ale from a fellows table that had probably gone outside to piss.

  I put on my slave face with cowl up, and crouched low. I went to an empty table and sat. Watching the crowd with bowed head, I searched for the one who was going to die.

  At the bar were four of the local Lords finest with a small thin stranger. The strangers mind was alien, with no fix in it. There were constantly shifting images which meant nothing to me. The largest of the 'finest' who towered over the rest, was almost my size. Getting him aside wasn't going to be likely.

  They all had their attention on a Sleen female. They were tall and striking and known to give men delights beyond imagination. They wouldn't leave her side. The Sleen were only slightly removed from the snakes they descended from, those who made the Southern swamp theirs. Only a time back a priest, or a devil, had come to the swamps and worked magic. Now the results walked, or slithered, among mankind, and alien, to an end none knew.

  About to find another bar, I noticed the big liegeman had his arm around the Sleen and she spoke only to him. Then they moved out a side door. I hurried out the front door, around the building corner, to see them enter a small grove nearby. Coming closer to the grove I was stopped by a momentary flash of blinding light, gone so quickly one couldn't be sure it had happened. I stopped just inside the grove, puzzled, but ready. The Sleen appeared in front of me carrying the large fellow's weapon belt with a large money pouch on it. That held two Needle Blasters for those who escorted aliens.

  She said, ever so softly, "I'm Melindi, my friends call me Melin."

  "What do your enemies call you?"

  "Enemies? What are enemies?" She asked with a hearty burp.

  I then understood to where the liegeman had gone. "Dumb question. Did you at least leave his clothes?"

  "Clothes not go in and these not too." She said, offering me the weapon belt off of which she had slid the money pouch.

  I took it and said, "If it pleases you stay here while I gather his clothes. As you see, mine are old and worn."

  "I stay. You large man."

  I thought to myself, ' Gods be damned, she's not ready for another meal, is she?'

  I exchanged my torn rags for the underclothes and fine uniform lying on the ground. It was as clean as the day it was made. It almost fit, but then it flexed as I moved, so the tightness didn't bother me.

  Back at the Sleen woman I asked, "Do you understand his friends will come and search?"

  "Understand. Go far away to other side of house."

  "Maybe that would do. But maybe they find you. Better to kill them all, now."

  "I no need them now."

  The whole discussion became pointless as I sensed his three friends approaching the grove, after placing their alien charge safely in a nearby corner. The Sleen saw my sudden turning and understood, "Mind see-ere, no?"

  No need to answer what hadn't been a question.

  I had never had a Needle Blaster in my hands, but I remembered the words of the old man I'd slept near to. He'd told me of many things, trying to hold his mind together. "Just push the slide forward with your thumb, pull the springy piece under your fore finger while pointing with your index finger, point-pull-release."

  I jumped out of the grove amidst the three and did as he'd said. Holes appeared in them as the silent red light went on and off. Blood only seeped out, the flesh being burnt to cinder hardness.

  Before anyone approached I gathered the alien by the scruff of its neck and held it while the Sleen collected the threes weapon belts. To the alien I said, "One sound and your necks broke." To the Sleen I said, aloud and in a mind shout, "You come with me!"

  She shrugged off my mind shout with amusement, and then said aloud, "May be best to leave for far. You go far?"

  "Far- far."

  The alien said nothing. Its mind just whirled with color and sound. Maybe I should have killed it then. For some reason I didn't.

  At the beasts waiting place I stirred it and we mounted. Me, in front, and the now bound Alien with the Sleen behind me. The beast and I both turned on our night sight and we moved Northward at a good pace. Early light stopped us. Then we went into a deep grove to rest.

  Before we went to sleep the Sleen asked, "You have a name?"

  "I'm Torken of the Moneslakians."

  That evening, before I stirred, before I was totally awake, I cast my mind about. The Hounders hadn't gotten to the town yet. But alarm set in because I became aware of new enemies on my trail. I supposed we'd made too big a splash. These enemies wanted the Sleen woman and the Alien alive. Me, I was wanted dead, and my head ring removed (somebody had watched us). I cast on the trail ahead and found what bothered me the most. Some other strong evil force with many minds wanted the three of us dead and burned. Nice to be noticed? Definitely not. The road ran through a valley beside a sizeable stream. If we went toward the cliffs that were left and right we might make it up them. Or we might be shot off of the cliffs like target shooting. I shook myself while prone; just to make sure I was together. I'd seen men stand straight up from sleep and be unable to defend themselves.

  I cast at the Alien, biggest surprise of all. His mind wasn't swirling. I walked to him, bound to a tree, and said, "Die today. Save much misery. You think?"

  "Haven't heard that one in decades. You for sure, and maybe us, will die today. Unless you learn to trust me, quickly. We don't have time for long discussions. I was learning your language. When I learn my mind is a puzzle. I came to this planet. The same way I, we, can leave."

  I said, "I don't drivel. I do. The beast goes along. I need it when I come back. I have many debts to collect. Has the Sleen agreed to go?"

  "Yes, she dislikes dying. Dislikes more the games played on her kind before dying."

  "Not pleasant games I gather. So, what do we do?" I asked, untying him.

  "Ahead a short ways is a wide spot in the road, for wagons to pass. We go there a
nd into my ship, up in the sky. When it is safer I set you down. What happens in between you must trust me with."

  There was truth in what his mind showed, overall, but the details were murky. My un-bodied teacher had not instructed me in Aliens. But this alien offered a choice.

  "You stay close by. We will walk in the darkness together if you deceive."

  "Trust me. We have little time. My ship is not the only one which flies."

  I roused the beast and got it going at its fastest pace, me, in front, and the two of them behind. We rounded a bend in the road to come to the wide part. Ahead, appeared a small house, with one side missing.

  The Alien directed, "Go right in and stop. The wall will close behind us."

  I sent to the beast, 'good cave, food inside, eat food, sleep not run.'

  It didn't pause. In we were. The wall formed behind us. We lifted into the air. I kept soothing thoughts flowing. Gradually the beast lay down with the promise of me bringing food. The Sleen and I got off. The Alien appeared to be in a half trance. I thought to not disturb him would be good.

  I looked around the house, nothing special. Benches were built along the walls so I went and sat on them, not dead yet. The Sleen sat close beside me. At my withdrawal she said, "Not hungry now, maybe not for a week or more."

  Great, I didn't have enough enemies. But if they were avoided, I was going to be dinner in eight days. I asked, "Don't you ever just eat like anybody?"

  "Did, odd times, too slow."

  "Don't you get taught table manners where you come from?"

  "No."

  Back on the menu again.

  We bumped against something and the Alien came out of his trance. He dismounted and said, "We are now tied up to a dock in the sky. My name is Elster. The dock is mine. We are safe for the moment. I must call my friends to come protect us. Then all will be well. I will do that and we'll have food and drink."

  I walked with him when he went to a cupboard and took out a device. He pushed a button and said, "Elster Bok calling ARK IV, contact person Betty, we're on board my dock over Moneslakia, need help, enemies not far behind. Thank You. We will be standing by, out."