The Last Spartan 2: DJ's Mission

by A. E. McCullough

  “The subject of your search is on level twenty-two of the Market section in a deli.” Datum shunted a map of the station to the wayward android with the target’s location marked.

  UR-L8 whistled its excitement. “Many thanks for your assistance.”

  “It is a pleasure to serve,” replied Datum before shifting her attention to her next queue.

  UR-L8 moved back into the traffic flow of pedestrians but now it had a destination. The small three wheeled android weaved through the mass of bodies with a purpose. It would be able to complete its mission…finally.

  Chapter 2

  Retired Staff Sergeant Scott DeJarnette sat in a booth of the small deli and stared at his pitiful lunch. It was actually a very appetizing looking salad but then, he hated salads. To him, this was rabbit food. He wanted meat, potatoes, bread, pasta…real sustenance, not this healthy stuff.

  Cathy, the curvaceous brunette who owned and ran the Cat Box Deli, smiled at him when she noticed that he hadn’t touched his lunch. “DJ, is something wrong?”

  Picking up his fork, DJ took a deep breath before taking a bite. “I hate salads.”

  Not having any customers to wait on at the moment, Cathy slid into the opposite side of the booth and leaned forward slightly showing off her god given wares. “Then why did you order it? You know I have some wonderful sandwiches.”

  DJ nodded. He did know that. Which was the primary reason he came to this diner, the other reasons weren’t so simple. The Cat Box was a regular deli. No androids. No automation. Nothing fancy, just a simple, plain deli. Cathy made everything by hand right in front of her customers. The menu consisted of soups, sandwiches, salads, burgers and fries…good old traditional ‘American’ fare. This was the only restaurant in all of Haven that specialized in this type of food. It reminded him of home and the times he spent with his family before the war.

  Realizing that Cathy was genuinely concerned with his dislike for her food, he leaned back and slapped his plump belly. “Recent events have convinced me that I need to lose a bit of weight.”

  Cathy flashed him a mischievous grin. “Don’t lose too much. I think you look like a big cuddly teddy bear.”

  Before DJ could follow up on her innuendo, a small boxy android came rolling into the deli. There was nothing unusual about androids running errands for their owners but this one unconsciously dredged up some old memories of his life before the war.

  DJ studied the rolling black and yellow android. It wasn’t much bigger than your average trash can. Its body was black with yellow outlines highlighting certain areas and all hard edges. Two stout legs were attached to its side while its third wheel was on its base giving it surprising mobility and stability from the classic tripod design. Its head was actually oval and could swivel a full circle to bring its camera and sensors to bear on anyone and anything nearby.

  DJ couldn’t help but think that it looked like the babysitter ‘bot that he’d bought with his ex-wife the year his daughter was born but that was long ago and far away. He shook his head to clear away the painful memories and turned his attention back to Cathy who was still smiling at him. He’d been striving to put the past behind him, the war, his time in prison and even his failed marriage. Besides his ex-wife’s lawyers had made it very clear that he wasn’t welcome in Kaitlyn’s life. If he wanted to stay on probation and out of the military prison which awaited him, he could only contact his daughter on her birthday. It wasn’t right or just, but Megan had remarried a Titan Avionics executive and he had the credits and influences to make it happen.

  DJ was about to restart his conversation when the boxy android rolled up to his table.

  “Pardon the intrusion sir but would you happen to be retired Staff Sergeant Scott DeJarnette?”

  DJ cocked his head to the side. “Aye…that’d be me.”

  The black and yellow ‘bot rocked back and forth with excitement. “Thank the Engineer you have been located. This unit has a message of upmost urgency for you.”

  DJ looked at Cathy and back to the android before asking, “Do I know you?”

  The android rolled backwards a bit. “My apologies sir. This unit’s designation is UR-L8. I am the guardian of…”

  “Kaitlyn DeJarnette!”

  UR-L8’s oval head moved back and forth. “Negative sir, Kaitlyn Thomas. In the years in which you have been absent, this unit’s mistress was legally adopted by the current male counterpart of her genetic parental unit.”

  At that statement, DJ unconsciously clenched his fists and ended up bending his metal fork into an ugly looking semi-circle. Realizing what he’d done, he dropped the ruined eating utensil and flashed Cathy a brief smile. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Cathy gently laid a hand on his. “I’ll leave you two alone. I’m here if you need me.” Flashing him a brief smile, she returned to her duties but continued to cast wary glances their way.

  DJ nodded but didn’t reply as he turned his attention back to UR-L8. “What are you doing here? Is Kaitlyn with you?”

  “Looking for you.” The android’s head shook back and forth. “Negative.”

  “Huh?”

  “I was answering your queries sir, in the order you asked them. It would be easier if you let this unit deliver its message.”

  DJ was anxious but realized that UR-L8 was correct. Whatever message it had for him might hold answers to his questions. As UR-L8 shifted its position and focused its holo-emitter on the table, a small holographic image of his daughter came into being. The image was only about six inches tall but it was in full color and very detailed. The first thing he noticed was how grown up she was becoming. Quickly doing the math in his head, he realized that she was twelve and on the cusp of becoming a woman. The second thing he noticed was the dark purple and black bruises which covered the right side of her face.

  “What the fu…” DJ stopped mid-word since Kaitlyn started talking.

  “Hiya Dad. I’m not sure when you are going to see this but I need your help.”

  Shifting her head ever so slightly, the bruising came clearly into focus.

  “I know when you see this you’ll be angry but I’m alright. It’s just a bruise. I’ll heal. Mom is worse. I know you don’t want to hear that but Roger beats her all the time.”

  She pointed at her face. “I got this because I tried to stop him.”

  Kaitlyn paused and chewed her lip for a moment before continuing. “He wasn’t always like this. Something happened to Roger over the last eight months but sometime around the assassination attempt on the President, Roger’s temper just got worse and worse. Soon after he started drinking more and more and that’s when the beatings on Mom started. Yesterday was the only time he’s ever hit me. Of course, I kicked him in the balls just like you taught me. Personally I don’t think he liked it too much, especially since it was in front of some of his flunkies. When they tried to grab me, I broke one of their noses. You would’ve been so proud of me. As punishment, he’s grounded me to the housing complex and completely cut off my access to the Core-Net.”

  Kaitlyn paused once again and looked around her room. “I’ve made my mind up. I don’t want to stay here any longer. I know what the courts have said and I know what Mom wants but I can’t stay here. So, I need you to come get me. I’m sending UR-L8 to find you and deliver this message. It’s the only way I can think of contacting you. I know you won’t let me down, you never have before. Be careful Dad… I love you.”

  With her last words, the hologram ended and UR-L8 moved backwards a few meters.

  That’s when DJ noticed the slight pain in his hands. Looking down, he noted that during the short message he had gripped the edges of the aluminum table with his hands and squeezed. Unfortunately, the table was now bent in an upwards fashion on both sides.

  Standing up quickly, DJ tossed Cathy a cred-stix and mumbled, “Sorry about the table.”

  Cathy’s eyes were wide when she looked at the table and back at him. “Umm…ummm….�
�

  DJ didn’t even cast a backwards glance as he rushed out of the deli with UR-L8 right on his heels. His mind was already formulating plans and going over different scenarios he might encounter. None appeared to be better than any other. As an ex-Marine, the straight-on frontal assault was always his favorite. However, in this instance he knew that would only land him back in New Leavenworth. Shaking his head, DJ plowed through the busy thoroughfare. If the pedestrians got out of his way before he got to them, great…if not, he shoved them aside. Nothing this side of him being in a coffin was going to keep him from his daughter.

  Chapter 3

  The Nemesis was in dry dock at the moment and was going through a very comprehensive retro-fit.

  A dry dock was a hold over term from the years before space travel. For the ‘wet’ navy, a dry dock was a place where ships would be pulled out of the water for major repairs and/or maintenance. It had a similar meaning for starships. On Haven, the dry docks were actually the highest docking ring of the station which only had one entrance and exit which allowed a very limited number of ships inside. There was also a long waiting list to use this area since it was the only place in this sector of space where certain repairs could be completed and heavy maintenance equipment were located. Evidently, Iaido had called in some favors with the powers that ran Haven and had the Nemesis moved to the front of the list.

  As DJ approached the ugly starship, he ignored the praying mantis-like workers which were swarming all over the hull of the Nemesis. He had fought both against and alongside the Mantodea over the years and had found them to be tough opponents or loyal friends. Personally, he preferred the friendship aspect of the insectoid species. He only halfway noted that the Mantodea had completely removed one engine and were in the process of stripping off the hull plating which made up the ship’s armor.

  Entering the cargo hold of the Nemesis, DJ stopped long enough to grab his duffle bag from a locker on the starboard bulkhead before bounding up the ladder which led to the living quarters of the ship.

  UR-L8 halted and whistled. “Pardon this unit’s inefficiency master but this unit will not be able to navigate those stairs quickly.”

  DJ paused at the hatch and looked down at the boxy android. “Ladder, not stairs, you’re on a ship but don’t worry about it, I won’t be long. I just need to grab a few things before we head to Titan.” And the ex-marine disappeared through the doorway

  “Certainly sir,” responded the little android even though the human he was tasked with assisting was gone. Seeing nothing else to do besides wait, UR-L8 casually rolled around the cargo hold until an internal query chimed. It was both a verbal and data stream query.

  The little android chose to use the verbal aspect to answer. “How may this unit be of assistance?”

  “Who are you? And why are you in my cargo hold?” demanded Pax.

  “This unit’s designation is You-Are-Ell-Eight. I am the guardian of Kaitlyn Thomas and temporarily tasked with the duty of assisting retired Staff Sergeant Scott DeJarnette.”

  Even as Pax continued to question the boxy android, she was accessing any and all information on Kaitlyn Thomas. Her first instinct was to run a worm program through the android’s system but once UR-L8 identified itself as property of the Marine, she stopped. She had witnessed some of his rampages over the last eight months and didn’t want to enrage him against her.

  “Since you are a guest of the Marine, I will grant you limited access to the Core-net and I will inform the Captain of your arrival.”

  UR-L8 whistled. “This unit thanks you for your kindness.”

  * * * * *

  DJ was pulling clothes out of his closet and stuffing them unceremoniously into his duffle bag when Athena walked in. The ex-Marine did a double-take as she entered since Athena was absolutely beautiful and he couldn’t help but let his eyes roam up and down her body.

  At barely five foot tall, Athena was well proportioned for her size with a small waist, well defined hips, firm buttocks and medium sized perky breasts. She was dressed in a form fitting red flight suit that was unzipped down to her sternum which greatly accented her breasts. Her raven hair was pulled back into a UNCF regulation style ponytail which hung loosely off her collar. Her button nose and crooked smile broke hearts whenever she was seen in public.

  DJ just shook his head and thought, not for the first time, too bad she was an android and went back to packing.

  “Going somewhere?”

  “Out.”

  “You need to pack to go out? That doesn’t make sense.”

  “Since when do I have to make sense?”

  Athena nodded. “So true but I was sent to deliver a message. The Captain wants you to stop by before your departure.”

  “Tell Iaido that I’m busy.”

  Athena shifted her stance from the more relaxed ‘at ease’ stance to the more rigid ‘parade rest.’ The subtle shift in posture was enough to inform him that visiting Iaido before he departed was not a request. Athena might look like a runway model but he knew that she was tougher than she looked and extremely deadly. She was one of those androids that weren’t bound by the ‘Three Laws’ but instead had a morality code. The big thing about the morality code meant that if her programming could justify it, she could use force…all the way up to and including deadly force if necessary. Disobeying an order or allowing someone to disobey an order given by her Captain would fall into that category.

  DJ nodded. “Okay. You win. Tell Iaido I’ll be there in moment.”

  “I am pleased with your decision.” She flashed him her infamous crooked grin. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

  DJ did a quick look around his small cabin, it was a wreck. He had never thought of it as anything more than a place to sleep. The only real personal item he’d even placed in the cabin was a picture of his daughter. Outside of that, it was just the same drab grey it was when it was assigned to him. But now that the cabin was empty, he realized that it had become home and it hurt to leave. DJ swallowed hard. He thought he’d gotten past this during his time in New Leavenworth. In prison you don’t get attached to anything. Guards would move prisoners to new bunking areas just for fun. Not once in the five years he spent inside or the years following had he ever gotten attached to somewhere…not until now.

  Somewhere in the back of his mind came his daughter’s voice. “I need you to come get me. I know you won’t let me down, you never have before.”

  DJ grabbed his duffle bag and threw it over his shoulder. “Let’s go see Iaido. Times a wasting.”

  Athena nodded and led the way forward to the Captain’s Quarters of the Nemesis. DJ didn’t expect to see UR-L8 inside but there it was standing next to his friend and probably the deadliest man alive.

  Iaido Achilles Spartan looked to be in his mid-thirties although DJ knew that he was probably closer to fifty. At six foot tall and two-hundred and twenty-five pounds, he was well-built but not overly muscular. Whenever he smiled he seemed to have a kind face, however his steel grey eyes always seemed to peer into your soul. His bald head and tribal tattoos on the base of his neck blended well with his neatly trimmed coal black goatee and mustache; however the large scar which ran vertically down the left side of his face bore testament of a rough life.

  DJ looked around the small cabin. This was the one berth on the vessel which was actually three adjoining rooms. The outer office or what Iaido called his study was comfortably furnished but not outlandish. The hatches to the left and right were closed and probably lead to his bunk area and private office. Of course this was only speculation since DJ hadn’t been beyond this point.

  Iaido was sitting on the couch reading something on a datapad when he entered; there were several other such pads lying on the coffee table within easy reach. When he didn’t speak, DJ cleared his throat.

  Iaido looked up and grinned. “I see you are heading out. You-Are-Ell-Eight has informed me of the situation you are facing. I don’t have all the details, just th
e highlights.”

  “Don’t think you can stop me, nothing can.” DJ shook his head. “Not you, not Athena, not the Haven Wardens and certainly not Titan Avionics.”

  As Iaido set down the datapad he was reading, DJ caught a glimpse of the headline. It was a news article from Utopia, the main planet of the Confederacy which was on the far side of the Milky Way, which read ‘Billionaire’s Bizarre Murder-Suicide by Trophy Wife Perplexes Investigators. Fortune Missing.’

  Iaido picked up a different datapad and stood up. “You misunderstand me. I don’t want to stop you, I want to help you.”

  That got DJ’s attention and he cocked his head to the side. “Now that’s different but the Nemesis is under repairs. I can’t wait for her to be space worthy, so I’ll just grab a transport to Titan.”

  “And then what? Kick in the doors, grab your daughter and waltz back out? Do you really think that you’re going to be able to hop a transport out with the adopted daughter of Roger Thomas under your arm? I don’t think so. Titan Avionics controls all of Saturn and her moons not the Coalition…don’t think otherwise. I’ve had a few bounties there over the years and every time I’ve been there, I’ve ruffled the Sheriff’s feathers. Enough so, that I’m on their no-fly list. Not that it stops me when I’m on a hunt but it does make dealing with the local authorities more difficult.”

  Iaido typed a few more notes into the datapad before handing it to his friend. “Here is a list of my contacts in the area and what they are known for and expected costs. I have also highlighted the best leads for your journey.”

  The ex-Marine took the offered information and stammered, “I…I….”

  “What flight certifications do you hold?”

  DJ shook his head slightly. “Only level one, not much use for big transports in the Marines or starfighters for that matter.”

  Iaido nodded, picked up another datapad from the coffee table and typed in a few things before handing that to him also. “On the lowest level of Haven, you will find hanger fifty-one. Epista’tis is expecting you.”