Walker came up behind him. “An ancestor of mine was in that battle.”
“Really? That’s interesting. I’m more of a land battle history buff, but I’ve always found Midway fascinating. Did he serve on the Yorktown?”
“Actually, he was on Admiral Yamamoto’s staff.”
He examined her for a trace of Asian ancestry. Her pale skin and causation features betrayed not a hint of Japanese DNA.
She smiled. “It’s a distant relative. That war was a long time ago. Ancient history.”
“Yes.” He returned his gaze to the painting. “Wonder if we’ll ever get a break. Hope we’re not going to spend eternity going from one war to another.”
“Oh, Colonel.” She patted his shoulder. “A man like you wouldn’t know what to do with peace. You’d bounce around your yard and house, maybe start a vegetable garden, but you’d always be restless.”
“I suppose you’re right. Though I did make a pretty good insurance agent once.” That was a white lie.
“I would’ve liked to see that. The leader of the Red Barons selling insurance?” She snorted and waved toward a sitting area. “Please, have a seat.”
Taking their seats, he dove into the issue at hand. “I gather you’ve reviewed the video my neural nanos recorded from the interrogation?”
“Yes.” She crossed her legs. “Quite troubling. It leaves no doubt that the Kitright arranged this entire war for their own benefit. The question now is what, exactly, do we do with this information?”
“Isn’t it obvious, sir?” He immediately regretted how that came out. “Sorry, sir.”
“No, no. Don’t be. Tell me, Colonel.” She leaned back. “What would you do if you were me?”
“I’d order a cessation of all offensive actions. Then I’d put Hido and me on the next shuttle to Alpha Gate as soon as possible. Once there, we’d board the oldest, most obsolete piece of crap in the Fleet to jump into Bearcat space and show them our evidence. Finally, I’d take the war to the real enemy.”
“That simple, is it?”
“Yes, I think it can be.”
She silently rose and strolled to her desk. He followed.
“The universe is more complex than you appreciate, Colonel.” She gestured toward the terminals. The mountain of information they displayed overwhelmed him. “We are winning this war. Our latest offensive was a huge success. The rope is tightening around the enemy’s neck. It will take months for you to get to Alpha. If we take our foot off, they will have a chance to regroup and counterattack.”
His eyes bulged. Could we really be that stupid?
“Sir—we’re fighting the wrong enemy. The Bearcats should be our allies now, they just don’t know it yet. From this moment on, every human and Bearcat death makes us weaker for the real enemy. Don’t you see? The Kitright want us to destroy each other. They must’ve feared the Bearcats, so they found us to fight them. Once we’re both weak enough, they’ll attack and crush us both. We must stop our attacks, otherwise the Bearcats will never believe us. Action will add weight to my words.”
She sat in her large leather chair. “Why not finish off the Bearcats, then take care of the Kitright? We can use the time to gather intel on them.”
We’re doomed.
“Because, there is no honor in that kind of victory. Besides, do you really think an enemy as clever as the Kitright will allow it to come to that? If the Bearcats are too weak, they will find a way to give them an advantage. The Kitright need us to exhaust one another. They are patient, and if we allow them the time, they will plan our destruction. We must place our foot on their neck. That way, they can’t fulfill their designs.”
She placed her fingertips together, rocking them back and forth. She reminded him of one of those super-villains from an old spy movie.
“What if we execute your plan and the Bearcats don’t believe you?”
“It’s a risk we must take.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.” He took a deep breath. Letting it out slowly, he continued. “If the Bearcats don’t believe us, we need to lie our asses off to the Kitright about our plans. Keep a huge reserve at Alpha and push the Bearcats to the brink. Once the Kitright show their hand, we make them pay.”
He smiled wide. “But, sir, can you imagine what kind of power the Bearcats and humans together could wield? We would be invincible! The universe would be ours for the taking. Half of everything is a hell of a lot better than all of nothing.”
She gently rocked back and forth. “One thing the ambassador said troubles me.”
“I found the whole damn thing troubling.”
“What do you think he meant by, “They were right to try and arrange your mutual destruction?” Who are they? And what was that stuff about not understanding the universe?”
He shrugged. “Probably talking about their leaders. The rest was a pile of BS to mess with our heads.”
Her rocking stopped abruptly, “Interesting arguments, Colonel. I will of course have to discuss this with UES leadership.”
“Of course.”
“Once a decision has been reached, I’ll let you know,” She leaned forward to work on a terminal.
He took the hint. Snapping to attention, he executed a smart about-face and marched out.
Chapter Four
Good-byes
The flat, deceptively barren landscape of Iowa during planting season doesn’t compare to the majestic vistas of the Colorado Rocky Mountains or the white sand beaches of Florida. However, to a farm boy, born and raised on the Great Plains, the neatly-prepared fields, about to burst forth with a miracle of abundance, radiate a special beauty.
The decision to move forward with Trent’s daring plan held the fate of three races in the balance. Its magnitude dictated the decision be well-deliberated.
Taking advantage of the break, he took a trip home to the fields he knew from his youth. Home’s innate ability to recharge one’s soul refreshed him like no other location in the cosmos.
He’d considered visiting Anna’s progeny. The likely prospect of forming new bonds, to only see them torn apart by war, convinced him not to.
The earth beneath his feet was no longer owned by him or his family. That minor detail didn’t matter. To him, this land would always be his.
Aimlessly strolling an unplanted, black-dirt-crusted field, he squatted to scoop a handful of soil. Holding it tight, he looked up to Amanda, leaning against the car on the road. Her unrestrained golden hair twisted in the wind. He knew she didn’t understand what the hell he was doing, nor did he expect her to. She was a city kid, after all, and city kids just don’t get it.
This land is special. It’s me. It’s who I am. So many memories. All, literally, a lifetime ago. No matter where I go or what I do, I’ll always be an Iowa farm boy.
“Well, Dad,” he said to the wind. “Bet you never guessed this is how my life would turn out. It’s what it is, as you would always say. I’ve tried to do my best with the cards I was dealt. I hope I’ve made you proud. There’s a lot of unpleasant work left to do. A lot of – killing left.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is good-bye. One way or another, I’ll be leaving Earth. I won’t return until those responsible for this war face righteous judgment. Chances are good that I’ll die on some distant, alien world, seeking that justice. If that’s my fate, so be it. I wanted to come here one last time.” He gripped the dirt hard and some leaked through his fingers. “This place means a lot to me; its essence permeates every cell in my body. I’ve carried it with me across the stars. I love you, Dad. I miss you, and I know that one day, maybe soon, I’ll see you again.”
Raising his hand, he eased his grip on the black earth. The signature Iowa wind carried it across the field.
Back on the road, Amanda kissed him. “Now can we hit the skylane and get to the beach?”
City kids.
***
The desolate, windswept surface of P-1425X appeared
hostile to life. Loose dust swirled in the atmosphere, dimming what most likely would’ve been a lovely morning sunrise.
Nathan York and Dr. Parker stood silently in their environmental suits, watching the diffused ball of light move higher into the sky.
“Not the most beautiful place I’ve been,” York said.
Parker rung her hands together. “It doesn’t look it now, but this planet used to be the proverbial Garden of Eden. Even now, there’s life here, but it’s only primitive bacteria. Something happened here to reset the evolutionary clock back to zero.”
“Fascinating, when you think about it, all the galactic history that came before humanity, that is.”
“And all that will come after it, Mr. York.”
“That is our goal, isn’t it? To make sure there is no after humanity. To make our species eternal.”
“Nothing is eternal.” She picked up a rock. “This was here eons before man learned to walk, it will probably be here after we’re gone. Even it will one day cease to be. Not even the universe can live forever.”
He sighed. Time to get on with it. People think I enjoy this part of my job. Little do they know.
“I’m sorry it has come to this, Doctor. The Director has given you every chance to show results. I’m afraid your time has run out. You’ve been in the secondary chamber for months and still have nothing tangible to show for it. I take no pleasure in this. I want you to know that.”
She glared at him. “That’s a lie and you know it, Nathan. You’re a sadistic son-of-a-bitch. You like killing, it gets you off.”
It’s good that people fear me.
“There’s no need to start insulting me. This is just business.”
Parker weakly tossed the rock onto the ground. “You’re lucky I have a family. Otherwise you’d be at the bottom of a mine shaft by now.”
“That’s why I don’t have a family. They tend to become expensive liabilities.”
She laughed. “Yeah, that’s why you don’t have a family. Tell me one thing before you do it.”
“What’s that?”
“Why is the Director in such a hurry? It will take decades to properly research what we’ve found. He’s a smart man and should understand this. Besides, the war against the Bearcats is going well, has been for a while. Do you really think we need this tech to defeat them?”
“Oh, my good Doctor, you have it all wrong. The Bearcats are not the intended target for this tech.”
Parker raised an eyebrow. “Ooh, I see. He’s really going to try and do it. He’s one ballsy bastard. I chalked up all those rumors of a secret agenda to be nothing but conspiracy theory bullshit. Can’t say I agree with the goal but have to respect the effort. Well,” she sighed “let’s get this over with, shall we?”
He pulled a gun from a side pocket, raising the barrel to her temple in one smooth movement. He completed the task without hesitation.
“Good-bye, Caroline.”
He walked away, leaving her remains to the winds of P-1425X.
***
Floating several meters under the ocean’s surface, surrounded by a thick batch of coral and sea life, Trent came as close to a Zen-like experience as he could get, given the mess of worry infecting his mind.
The extra oxygen-carrying capacity of the nanos allowed him to stay below the waves for over fifteen minutes. When the pressure in his lungs grew uncomfortable, he shot to the surface for a quick breath, then dove deep once more.
Beneath the waves, he felt weightless and surrounded, like the water was hugging him.
After repeating this routine several times, he swam to the isolated beach. He and Amanda had staked out the small Caribbean resort island of St. Maarten for an intimate location. Only a pair of beach chairs and a bucket of iced beers greeted him on the sand. A green-coated mountain dominated the background. An average person would’ve found the hike to this secluded point daunting, but for two soldiers of the Legion, it was a casual affair.
Collapsing into his chair, he reached into the bucket to pull out a clear bottle of beautiful, golden island-style lager. Popping the top with an enhanced thumb, he kicked back the cold, refreshing drink. As he finished the long draw, a mirage emerged from the surf.
The naked sea goddess slowly revealed herself while the waves slapped her bare skin. Mesmerized, he intently watched her every movement. With a mischievous grin, she tapped her bracelet, activating a set of strategically-placed squares of transparent holo tape. A projected red bikini flashed into existence, frustratingly hiding the most interesting parts of her anatomy.
“Spoilsport,” he cried out.
She giggled. “Someone might be watching.” She took her seat.
“That didn’t concern you at the lake,” he countered, referring to her infamous skinny dip before he was attacked by a storm of blow darts. His face contorted after remembering he’d never told her he’d been spying on her.
“Oh, honey. You think we’re playing checkers when I’m playing chess.”
He sat up. “You knew I was there?”
“I found you sleeping in the grass.” She shrugged and leaned back in her chair. “So I thought I might put on a show to step up my game of seduction.”
The confession left him slack-jawed.
She glanced over at him and her smile grew wider.
Narrowing his eyes, he asked, “When did you decide to start your little game of seduction?”
“Oh, don’t get your panties in a bunch. I always found you attractive. You were an officer,” she said, holding her face toward the sky. “But after our little detour following the Black Marble mission and our heart-to-heart talk in the shuttle bay, I didn’t care about regulations. I wasn’t going to let your rank stop me from having you.”
“Having me.” He laughed, waving a finger at her. “Why, you little vixen. My mother warned me about girls like you.”
She burst out laughing.
In a quick, acrobatic movement, she sprang into the air. Twisting, she landed on him, straddling his lap. Taking the beer from his shocked lips, she finished it in one gulp.
“Do you know what the best thing about this holo bikini is?” she asked.
“What’s that?”
Leaning forward, she brought her lips to within millimeters of his. “There’s nothing to get in the way.”
“What if someone is watching?”
“Then they’ll get one hell of a good show.”
Plunging the final distance, he passionately kissed her. Her salty lips tantalized him.
They made love on the beach like those were their last moments together.
***
In centuries past, the world was divided into categories of ‘developed’ and ‘developing,’ or the ‘first’ and ‘third’ world. In the latter half of the 23rd century, those terms no longer held meaning. All of Earth benefited from the bounty of mankind’s ingenuity.
Fusion reactors provided clean, cheap, and near-limitless power. Modern agriculture produced an unending supply of affordable, sustainable food. These factors, combined with political stability across the globe, allowed all to prosper.
Poverty existed only in relative terms. A poor citizen of the 23rd century lived a far better life than a rich one in, say, the 21st. For those who still found their station on Earth wanting, they could literally reach for the stars to start anew.
Trent and Amanda’s casual stroll through a local village illustrated this point well. Where once one would’ve found dirt roads and rundown wooden buildings in various stages of advanced decay, now they encountered clean walkways and structures built from composite materials, invulnerable to the tropical climate.
The couple walked hand in hand, surveying the various shops hoping to separate tourists from their money. Something shiny caught her feminine eye, and entranced, she moved ahead to examine a table of bracelets and necklaces. He stayed back to watch her.
She was radiant in her pink sundress, her wavy blonde hair tickling her shoulders. Seeing
her smile as she was trying on jewelry warmed his heart. For that moment, the war and all the sacrifices it demanded seemed a galaxy away.
I love that beautiful woman.
A group of four young men in their early twenties burst the bubble of serenity with whoops and hollers. He observed them loudly carrying on down the street with large drinks in hand. They kept to themselves until coming upon a trio of attractive young local girls. At first, the exchange reflected a mutual interest.
His attention wondered back to Amanda who was making a purchase.
“Get your hands off me!” shouted one of the young women.
One of the males, an Asian, had grasped the forearm of a girl. She tried to free it by jerking her arm in several directions. The other men, two white, one black, held her two friends at bay with extended arms.
With long strides, Trent approached the altercation. Amanda rushed to his side.
Stopping a few meters short of the group, he hoped to appear less threatening. “Why don’t you gentlemen move along? I don’t think these ladies are enjoying your company.”
Everyone froze.
He should’ve identified himself as a Legion officer. That alone might have ended the affair. Everyone knew of their capacities against the un-enhanced. He didn’t think to do so, however. He kind of expected they’d figure it out on their own.
He failed to appreciate how rarely Earth civilians came into contact with Fleet and Legion personnel. Despite the massive expansion of both services over the last eighty years, their combined numbers still totaled less than half a million. The vast majority of them were deployed at Alpha Gate and the colonies. Even counting veterans, the number of enhanced people on Earth measured in the tens of thousands, a tiny community on a planet of nine billion.
UES could turn out millions of Legion soldiers if it wanted, though the constraints of interstellar war would render their numbers moot. Getting such a force to the front required ships, extremely complex and expensive ships. This fact alone dictated that most war resources be funneled to the shipyards, not Legion barracks.
A curly redhead threw the first punch and Trent effortlessly dodged the uncoordinated strike. Another fist came from the black man. He would’ve avoided the hit if not for Amanda catching it midair. The attacker’s eyes went white.
The Last Revenge (The Last Hero Trilogy Book 2) Page 3