by Sarah Noffke
Penrae looked down at her empty hands. The vault was in the corridor where she’d dropped it.
“I can get it to you,” she said, not wanting to let Julianna down.
“Hurry. I’m in the main room.”
~~~
The guards stood outside the door the trespasser had disappeared through.
Mon shook his head at the other men. “That human had no idea where was he was headed,” he said, handing the others headphones from where they were stored beside the room.
“Think he’s sound asleep by now?” one of the other guards asked.
“Probably, but let’s give it another minute,” Mon said with a laugh.
They’d normally just bust in there and capture the trespasser, but, unluckily for this guy, they’d been given orders to quickly eliminate anyone interfering with the day’s mission.
~~~
Julianna let out a huge sigh when Penrae hurried over, carrying the vault. Her face was pale, and one pant leg was covered in blood, but otherwise, she looked unharmed.
The door to the vault stuck slightly when she tried to open it, but it came open with a bit more effort. Julianna dropped the client into the vault and was flooded by a huge wave of relief.
She pressed her hand to her comm. “Black Beard, we’ve secured the client. We’re ready to go.”
There was no answer.
I’ve downloaded the location of the receiver from the tracker, Pip informed her.
Oh, good. That was fast.
Well, I’m pretty talented.
Send over the coordinates to Ricky Bobby and inform them we’ll be back soon. She reached out to Eddie again over the comm. “Black Beard, do you copy?”
Once more, the comm remained silent. Penrae gave Julianna a cautious stare.
Pip, will you check on the captain? Julianna asked him. It’s important, she added a moment later.
Yes, of course, he answered.
Julianna directed Penrae to the exit, and they snaked their way to a less traveled corridor, where the lights were dimmer. They needed to get out of the building and to the Q-Ship.
The captain appears to be passed out, Pip stated.
Julianna halted. What? How?
His vitals show he’s fine, but sleeping, Pip said. In a patch of plants, he added a beat later.
Those can’t be normal plants.
I suspect you’re right.
Piiiip, Julianna said, drawing out his name.
Yes, Jules? he asked innocently.
Pip, she bit on the word now.
Yes, yes, fine, fine. I’ll go and save the day.
~~~
Mon eyed the door handle. He didn’t have much combat training, which was why he was glad the invader had run straight for the comatose-fern room. “Alright, take this guy down to the holding cell, and we’ll deal with him there. No blood on the plants.”
The others nodded before clapping their headphones over their ears.
The world went silent as Mon opened the door.
Something charged through it, bowling Mon over. He was shoved back into a large case, the air knocked out of him.
The man who should have been asleep threw a foot across one of the guard’s faces, knocking him to the ground. When two more guards raced for him, the intruder reached out, grabbing them by the chin with either hand, and sent them flying several yards. Like he had eyes in the back of his head, the trespasser then reached for his gun at his waist and spun around to the guard charging at him. He shot once, killing his would-be attacker dead.
Mon hadn’t dared to move, only stared paralyzed at the man who appeared almost robotic in his actions.
The trespasser pivoted and faced Mon, a mechanical sort of smile on his face. “See you later,” the man said, firing at him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Saverus Ark, Planet Savern, Tangki System
Where is he? Julianna ordered.
He’s on his way, Pip answered, sounding bored.
Julianna started the preflight checks, her mind buzzing with adrenaline.
There are two more guards at the exit. Hold up while I show them how I tap dance.
Pip, just get out of there.
‘Tap dance’ is another way of saying ‘kick some ass’.
Julianna let out a heavy breath. She initiated a connection with Ricky Bobby.
“Strong Arm here. Do you have the coordinates for the Saverus fleet?”
“Yes, Strong Arm,” Jack’s voice came over the comm. “We’re waiting for your arrival.”
“The Saverus have to be onto us at this point,” Julianna murmured.
“I fear you’re right.”
“I think you better head off without us.”
“Okay, I think that’s a smart move. We’re set to gate,” Jack responded.
“The Saverus fleet is huge and well stocked,” Julianna said, tapping her fingers on the controls.
“And they’ll shift to look just like us, but we’re prepared,” Jack said.
“And the flyers?” Julianna asked. She should be onboard Ricky Bobby when they attacked the fleet.
“Everything is in position,” Jack assured her.
“Okay, we’ll meet you there,” Julianna stated, inputting the coordinates so they could gate after leaving Savern’s atmosphere.
How much do you like the captain’s face? Would you like it with a few more scars? Pip asked.
Don’t play games with me, Julianna warned.
I’m only kidding. He’s pretty much unharmed, except for a kick to the groin, but it couldn’t be avoided.
The hatch door opened, and, like a robot, Eddie strode into the ship.
Soldiers ran after him, their weapons pointed. Julianna wanted to race to Eddie, but instead she remembered her training and lifted the Q-Ship into the air, avoiding the spray of bullets from the ground forces. She flew the ship swiftly up into the heavens, where a battle she needed to be a part of was soon beginning.
Unclassified System, Saverus Fleet
Ricky Bobby cloaked as soon as it reached the coordinates for the Saverus fleet. A large battlecruiser hovered in the center, surrounded by a dozen ships of various sizes. This pocket of space was where they’d planned to relocate Savern, not even caring that they’d be destroying an entire galaxy.
“Ready the mains,” Fletcher stated, his eyes intently on the radar.
“Weapons are ready,” Ricky Bobby said overhead.
“Fire on the main ship on my command,” Fletcher said, knowing they only had one chance before the Saverus realized they were there and started their own attack.
“Three, two, one, fire,” Fletcher commanded.
Three explosions spread across the Saverus ship.
“Their shields are holding,” Ricky Bobby stated. “They’ve deployed single fliers.”
“Deploy Black Eagles,” Fletcher ordered.
The line of Black Eagles streaked through the air, firing at the Saverus’s ships. It didn’t take long for the enemy fleet to take on the appearance of the Black Eagles.
“Use your radar, pilots,” Fletcher stated. “Pretend you’re flying blind, and prepare for another attack.”
He exhaled, running his hand over his forehead. He knew that Ricky Bobby was more prepared for this attack than the first, but he wasn’t sure if this was a battle they could win.
The Saverus’s fleet is just too damn big.
~~~
Eddie shook his head, slow to wake.
“How do you feel?” Julianna said, preparing to jump the ship.
“Like I’ve been asleep for a year.” Eddie stared around disoriented. “How did I get out of there?”
“You can thank Pip for that,” Julianna said.
“Forget about it,” Pip stated dully.
“Are you prepared to be on guns?” Julianna asked.
Eddie straightened, nodding. “Yeah, I’m good to go.”
“Great, because I have a feeling this is going to be a fast and brutal fight
.”
~~~
“We’re taking a lot of hits,” Lars yelled over the comm.
Fletcher had wondered if the Kezzin was up for flying so soon after being injured, but telling him ‘no’ didn’t seem like an option.
“There are too many of them,” Escrema stated, her voice breathless.
Fletcher could see the pilot was right. There were at least four times as many enemy fliers on the radar as they had.
“The main ship’s shields are holding at fifty percent,” Ricky Bobby reported.
The only advantage that they had was that their own battlecruiser was still cloaked, but it would soon be visible on radar, and then Ricky Bobby would be taking hits from all sides.
A Q-Ship sped dangerously close to the bow of the ship.
“Hey, there, Ricky Bobby,” Julianna’s voice said over the comm. “How’s it going?”
“Glad you could make it,” Fletcher said, his voice heavy.
“Give us the big picture,” Eddie said.
“Our fliers are taking a serious hit, and our weapons are quickly depleting. I’m not sure we can do much more damage to their main ship,” Fletcher said, hating the defeated tone of his voice.
“Has communication with the fleet been established?” Julianna asked.
“I’ve got a link ready,” Ricky Bobby told her.
“We need to make them surrender,” Eddie stated.
“How can we do that, when we’re unprepared to win this fight?” Fletcher wanted to know.
“They’ve located our position. Prepare to take hits,” Ricky Bobby warned.
“Fuck.” Fletcher gripped the side of the strategy table.
“Hey!” Hatch yelled, waddling onto the deck. “I might have a solution.”
“Go on, Hatch,” Julianna urged.
Hatch’s eyes lingered on Fletcher before looking to the radar. “You have the client from the Tangle Thief in the vault, correct?”
“That’s correct,” Eddie answered.
“I’m guessing that the receiver is in the battlecruiser,” Hatch stated.
“Right, and you said if the Saverus were successful, that the Tangle Thief would make room for the planet, keeping their fleet safe,” Julianna said.
“That’s correct,” Hatch chirped. “But—and I’m not completely sure about this—but if the client is dropped onto the same location as the receiver and then gets activated, the two should cancel each other out.”
“Meaning that there would be no transport?” Eddie asked.
“Correct,” Hatch said.
“But, then, what would happen?” Julianna asked.
“A giant goddamn explosion,” Hatch answered.
“So you’re telling us that if we…” Julianna trailed off.
“That’s right, Julie,” Hatch confirmed. “I can tell you how to recalculate the client.”
“It would blow up their entire fleet, though,” Eddie reasoned.
“Not before giving us all time to get away,” Hatch said, his voice boiling with excitement.
“But it would blow up their entire fleet,” Julianna repeated.
“Your point?”
Julianna sighed. “Give us a minute.”
~~~
After a brief discussion, Eddie flipped back on the comm. “Ricky Bobby, patch us in to the Saverus.”
“You’re connected,” Ricky Bobby said.
“Saverus, this is Ghost Squadron,” Julianna’s voice rang out clear and loud. “We’ve stopped your plan to take Savern. We have your ships surrounded, and the means to annihilate you. You have two options: stay and continue to fight us, or retreat and live peacefully amongst us. We don’t want to see this turn into an extinction.” Julianna stared back at Penrae, who gave her a nervous smile.
The line remained quiet for a long moment.
“We haven’t been stopped, only delayed,” a voice said with a hiss over the comm.
“Saverus, if you stay on your current path, you will be destroyed,” Julianna warned. “I encourage those of you who don’t want this to end badly to leave.”
“Our own will not desert the Elders,” the voice said.
However, many of the medium-sized ships began moving out of formation and putting distance between themselves and the main ship.
Julianna looked up at Eddie with surprise. “They might have sense like Penrae, after all.” She continued her message. “Elders, we’re giving you one last warning. If you continue to fight, you will be destroyed.”
“You don’t have the means to do that,” the thin voice taunted on the other end of the line.
Julianna severed the connection and shook her head. “I really fucking hate being underestimated.” She gave Eddie a knowing look, and he nodded.
“Fletcher, gather our ships and prepare to gate,” he ordered. “The rest is up to us.”
“Copy that, Black Beard,” Fletcher replied. “I’m bringing the Black Eagles home.”
~~~
Julianna had set the calculations on the client exactly as Hatch had instructed her. It was crazy to realize that this small device could have such an incredible impact. It just proved again that small things should not be underestimated.
The client had been loaded into the drop shaft that Hatch had installed without knowing if it would ever have a use.
“Can you get a little closer?” Eddie asked, operating the release for the drop.
“You know I can,” Julianna smirked, steering the Q-Ship over the surface of the Saverus battlecruiser. Being this close was risky, but they wouldn’t be there for long, and by the time the radar picked up their presence, they’d be gone.
“Initiating drop in three, two, one,” Eddie said and pressed the button.
From the bottom of the Q-Ship, railgun technology shot the client, landing it on top of the battlecruiser. It clung to its surface, magnetized to the ship.
Julianna pulled the Q-Ship up and activated the thrusters, speeding as far away as she could in the ten seconds that followed. The only ship that remained in the open space was the large battlecruiser. She activated the jump, sending the Q-Ship on a path back to Ricky Bobby.
She knew what would happen to the battlecruiser, and she was glad she wouldn’t have to see it get blown to bits.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Loading Dock, Ricky Bobby, Tangki System
Julianna picked up the ball that Harley dropped at her feet, and waved it in front of his face, taunting him. “Do you want this?” she teased.
He watched the ball intently, his tongue hanging out one side of his mouth, and a smile in his eyes. She was grateful that even after the upgrade, he hadn’t lost his free nature.
Of course I want it, Harley said.
She threw the ball, sending it to the other side of the loading dock, and Harley took off speeding after it.
Eddie smiled at her as he approached, his hands pressed into his pockets, and a coy look on his face.
“What?” she said, a growl in her voice.
“Nothing,” he sang.
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“Which part? The part about how I knew you’d warm to the dog, or that you look cute throwing a ball?” he asked playfully.
She whipped around, mock anger on her face. “Teach, don’t mess with me.”
He waved his hand, pretending he’d been burned. “Back to last names, are we? Come on, Freggin, you know I’m only playing with you.”
She smiled, not able to even pretend to be mad. ‘Teach’. It sounded so strange calling him that now. It felt like it had been a lifetime since she’d first met the idiot before her.
That’s what she used to think he was, but over time, layers had been revealed. Eddie was anything but an idiot.
“How’s Pip, after the whole procedure?” Eddie asked.
Tell him that I’m fine, but I hear that having an AI removed could have lasting effects on one’s manhood, Pip said.
Julianna rolled her eyes. I’m not saying that.<
br />
“He seems to have recovered just fine, although I probably won’t hear the end of him wanting another body,” Julianna stated.
My own body, Pip said. Next time, I want my own body.
How do you know there will be a next time?
Do you want to talk about my little confession? Pip asked, ignoring her question.
I was thinking of erasing that from my mind, to tell you the truth.
Hatch is working on that technology, Pip said casually.
You’re not really in love with me.
No, but I’m protective, all the same. And I didn’t like being in the captain’s head. Sue me for biting off more than I could chew.
We’ve all had desires that later we reconsidered.
You see, that’s what I love about you. You’re so levelheaded.
Would you stop using that word?
Which one? ‘Love’? I think what you mean to ask is will I teach you how to say it.
That’s not what I mean.
Eddie had picked up the ball that Harley retrieved, and thrown it again. He gave Julianna a sideways glance before offering her another smile.
“What?” she demanded, sensing he was holding something back.
“I was just thinking, maybe we could take a little getaway.”
“A getaway?” she questioned. “Are you serious? We just crossed three systems yesterday.”
“I meant more of a vacation,” Eddie said, looking shy for maybe the first time ever.
“A vacation?” she asked.
“Yeah, it’s this thing that people do when they want to take a break from working,” Eddie said with a laugh.
“I know damn well what a vacation is. I just never felt much like taking one before.”
“Well, maybe things are a little different now,” Eddie said, holding out his hand to her.
She eyed the extended hand, thinking of the mission they’d just completed, the lives they’d saved. “There are still people to help, and bad guys to stop.”
Eddie dropped his head and sighed. “Yes, Jules. That will continue to be the case for the next thousand years. I only meant that maybe you were up for rewarding your efforts now. Taking a few days off to recharge your batteries.”
“But what about—”