The Last Spartan 2: DJ's Mission

by A. E. McCullough

  As always, Stephanie wondered about her mysterious handler. In the five years that they had worked together, not once had she ever seen or talked to him. But he’d never let her down and always seemed to have a full understanding of whatever situation she was thrust into. Besides, if it hadn’t been for his foresight and guidance, she wouldn’t never made it off of Kepler-22 Bravo alive.

  Even as she pondered this, the data concerning the side job came across her SANDD. There wasn’t much information, just a location for a meeting. Hitting the confirm button, Stephanie punched in the new destination on her skimmer’s autopilot controls and the inter-planetary shuttle shifted course.

  If he wanted El Gato to work a side job, then El Gato would be ready. Closing her eye, Stephanie imagined her ‘El Gato’ persona and the nanites in her system went to work.

  Nanites are self-replicating microscopic androids which can be programed with a variety of purposes. Her nanites were the crowning achievement of the CIA – Coalition Intelligence Agency – scientists. Their primary purpose was to modify her outer appearance without permanent damage or need to go under the scalpel. Just like magic, her hair began to shorten and darken until it was raven black. Although, she did add a streak of purple just for the fun of it. Even though she couldn’t see them at the moment, she knew her eyes had become crystal blue and her nose had shrunk on itself, becoming rounder and more of the traditional ‘button’ nose.

  Not caring if anyone in a nearby transport could see her, Stephanie stripped down and slipped into her tungsten alloy bodysuit which was, once again, a wonderful achievement by the CIA scientists. The bodysuit was sleek and sexy with the look and feel of black leather but was made from the hardest metal alloys known to man. Woven in the fashion of ancient chainmail, each ringlet was so small that they couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. This process created a suit of incredible flexibility which gave her full range of motion while imparting protection from most ballistic and stabbing weapons. Once she was dressed for her meeting, she called up maps of the zone on her computer. It was time to find every route in and out of the meeting area.

  She knew if she failed to plan, then she was planning to fail. Not this kitty.

  * * * * *

  Once Kaitlyn returned to her room, she made sure it was locked and rushed to UR-L8’s side and gave the boxy android a big hug.

  “OMG! Where have you been? Did you find my dad? What did he say? Is he coming? Well?”

  The black and yellow robot back pedaled a few feet and tried to make sense of all her questions. “This unit is pleased to return to your side. I must say, you have grown one-point three inches in my absence.”

  “Thanks now spill it!”

  UR-L8 had been Kaitlyn’s companion long enough to understand her mannerisms and what she meant from her brief command. Focusing its holo-emitter on the nearby table, it began transmitting its message.

  When the image of her father came into view and began to speak, she couldn’t help but hold her breath.

  “Hiya squirt. I just wanted you to know that I’m on my way and nothing will stop me from rescuing you. I can’t say exactly when or how but if UR-L8 gives you this message, then know that I’m close. Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice and pack light. Love you.”

  Wiping away tears of joy, Kaitlyn went to her closet, pulled out a suitcase and began to pack. She knew she would only be able to take one bag, so now came the difficult decision on what to take and what to leave behind.

  * * * * *

  When Jagger Jax woke up the first thing he noticed was pain.

  Stun Batons operate on the simple principle of overloading the body’s central nervous system with a vast electrical charge. This in fact causes all the muscles in the body to contract violently all at once. Which has the side effect of leaving the stunned person sore and tired when they wake up, which was another reason they were favored by LEOs galaxy wide.

  “Ughh,” was about all Jagger Jax could manage.

  DJ handed him a glass of water. “Drink this, it’ll help.”

  “Remind me not to do that again.” Jax downed the water before slowly rolling his neck and back, trying to loosen up the tense muscles. “For the record, those things suck.”

  “I agree but sometimes they’re useful.”

  “I bet. I just don’t want to be on the receiving end again, ever.” Jax looked around the room. It was comfortably decorated and way out of his price range. “Where are we?”

  “We are currently Mocha’s guests while he makes arraignments for a meeting with someone named Absolem.”

  That got Jagger Jax’s attention and he sat up a bit straighter. “The Cartel boss? Why are you wanting a meeting with him?”

  DJ once again explained his cover story of being hired by Kaitlyn’s biological father and his intention of kidnapping her from the Titan Avionics executive. To Jax’s credit he didn’t interrupt or shy away from the inherent danger that went hand and hand with DJ’s goals. When the bounty hunter finished, he waited to see what the ex-thief would say before continuing.

  “And you are telling me this, why?”

  “I have a proposition for you.”

  “Thanks, but you’re not my type.”

  DJ grinned at the sarcastic answer. It reminded him of his time in the military. Besides, it was far better than the self-pity Jax had been wallowing in earlier.

  “Actually, I want to offer you a job while I’m here on Titan. Although what I have planned is technically illegal and might land you on the wrong side of the Saturn Sheriffs.”

  Jax shrugged. “No worries. You know my history; I’ve fractured a few laws before.”

  “True.”

  “The two real questions are what does it pay and what do you need me to do?”

  DJ nudged the bound and unconscious form of Fisher. “Whatever bounty we get from this scumbag plus ten thousand credits.”

  “Done.”

  “But I haven’t told you about the job.”

  “Falcon, I have less than fifty credits to my name and the only work I’ve been able to get is unloading freighters and even then only two nights a week. No one wants to take a chance on me, honest or dishonest work.”

  DJ slapped him on the back. “Done. We’ll figure out some way to keep you on the right side of the law. Trust me.”

  Jagger Jax cocked his head to the side and paused for a moment. “Trust is earned not given. However, you have already given me more of a chance than anyone else. That counts for something.”

  DJ nodded. “It’s a start.”

  “However I must warn you, Absolem will not be happy to see me or have me around.”

  “Mocha warned me as much but I will tell you the same thing I told him, my dealings with the Cartel boss will be strictly business. He cannot tell me who to have or not to have on my team. When you jumped in on the fight downstairs, you earned the right to be here.”

  “Thanks Falcon, that means a lot to me, it really does.”

  “Don’t mention it. Now, what can you tell me about Absolem? My intel on him is very sketchy.”

  Jax poured himself some more water as he began to speak. “Well first off, he’s a Geometrid.”

  “A what?”

  “A Geometrid. Imagine a fifteen foot blue caterpillar, add above average intelligence and no morals and you have the general picture of a Geometrid.”

  DJ nodded. “Never heard of them before but this is a huge galaxy.”

  “Actually, from what I understand they’re reasonably common in the Andromeda galaxy but are rare in ours.”

  “What is this one doing here? Other than running the Cartel.”

  Jax shook his head. “He doesn’t run it, he’s just an underboss but he is in charge of all criminal activities around Saturn and Jupiter. I’ve had dealings with him in the past.”

  “Mocha mentioned that he can be bribed.”

  Jax nodded. “Yes. Spice is his one weakness that is if you don’t count his fondness for bloodshed.�
��

  “Mocha knows of a dealer receiving a shipment of something called Moonbeam.”

  “I know the spice. It’s a purple powder derived from some sort of flower on Andromeda. It’s rare and expensive. So I’m betting we are gonna jack the shipment from the smuggler and use it to bribe Absolem.”

  DJ nodded. “Sounds like you’ve done this before.”

  Jax grinned. “I told you I fractured a few laws in my youth.”

  There was a knock on the door. Without hesitation, DJ pulled the captured Graver Mk3 from his belt and passed it to Jagger Jax. The former thief immediately did a quick peek to see if the gun was loaded and moved to the side of the doorway. From the way he moved and handled the weapon, DJ knew that Jax was experienced with the sidearm. Stepping forward, the bounty hunter drew his own weapon and opened the door.

  It was Mocha.

  The chocolate shaded casino owner stepped in with his hands held up and palms empty. “I’m unarmed and bring news.”

  DJ holstered his weapon and signaled for Jax to do the same. “What’cha got for me?”

  “Just what I promised.” Mocha began to reach into his belt pouch but hesitated when he saw the two warriors flinch. Considering that they were both armed, he moved with exaggerated slowness and pulled out a datapad. “Your meeting with the freelancer is scheduled for midnight and your meeting with Absolem is set for three in the morning. Plenty of time for you to pay a visit to Needles to give him my message and liberate him of the spice.”

  DJ took the offered datapad. “You realize that if this goes sour or you betray me, then a mutual friend of ours will not be pleased.” Judging from the way Mocha’s face paled, he understood the threat. “I plan on transmitting the details of our arraignments to him just in case. If you are on the level and I fail, then you are clear. If not…”

  Mocha raised both hands. “Everything is kosher, I swear. Now I can’t guarantee that the freelancer or Absolem will listen to you but those are out of my control.”

  “Agreed. You can rest easy Mocha. If you are right and this Needles character is just a smuggler who isn’t affiliated with the Cartel, then we’re good.”

  “He isn’t. I swear.”

  DJ nodded to Jax. “Let’s go.”

  Jax nodded and lifted the bound man. Throwing him over his shoulder he said, “What do you want to do with the prisoner?”

  “Cargo. Once captured a mark becomes cargo to be transported safely and securely to the authorities.”

  “Huh?”

  “Bounty hunting has its own lingo and traditions. For now, follow me.”

  “Just to let you know, I’m not the greatest at taking orders.”

  DJ snickered. “Sounds like something I said to a friend of mine not too long ago. But don’t worry, this sounds like the beginning of a great friendship.”

  Without another word to the casino owner, the two warriors walked out of Mocha Delights. DJ knew that he wasn’t home free, yet. He had entered the casino with only the smallest inkling of a plan but at least now he had a plan of attack and more importantly, help. Only time would tell how the rest of the night would play out.

  Chapter 11

  They paused at the front door of the casino while Jagger Jax put on his breathing apparatus and DJ fitted one on their prisoner. Even though the Coalition had built a terraforming plant on Titan nearly a half century ago and it had been running non-stop for that whole time, the atmosphere was still too nitrogen rich for humans without some sort of oxygen device.

  DJ flagged down a yellow cab but before the cabbie could pull up, a familiar red cab cut him off.

  Tony leaned out the window. “Hey there Marine, looks like you could use a ride.”

  DJ nodded. “As a matter of fact, we do.” Opening the back door to Lucille, DJ asked, “Can you pop the trunk?” Seeing the hatch open up, he added. “Put the cargo in there and hop in.”

  Jax followed directions without comment and they were soon underway. Once the doors of the taxi were closed, he popped off his mask. “God, I hate these things.”

  Tony nodded once. “I know what you mean, even after all these years of being on Titan I can’t stand them either.” Shifting his attention to the bounty hunter by angling the rear view mirror slightly, “How’d your meeting with Mocha go? Profitable?”

  “Yes. He was shocked to see me again and sent his dwarfs to test me. They didn’t enjoy the rumble.”

  Tony slapped his steering wheel. “Oh my god, I wish I could’ve seen that. They’ve thrown me out a few times. It would’ve been fun to see them get their backsides handed to them.” As Tony swerved to avoid a slower moving cabbie, he asked, “Not that I’m complaining, but where to?”

  “The Sheriffs must have a jail on Titan. We need to get rid of some excess cargo.” Tony nodded and switched lanes without a word. Jagger Jax seemed lost in thought, so DJ took a moment to look out the window at the amazing landscape that was Titan.

  They were currently flying over a huge lake of liquid methane. He knew from his research that is must be the Kraken Mare, the largest lake on Titan. Mocha Delights was actually located on the eastern shore in one of the relatively new settlements which dated back about twenty years or so. Judging from the map displayed on his HUD, he guessed that they were heading toward the island named Mayda Insula, the site of the first settlement on Titan. The island was totally enclosed in a bio-dome and the location of the largest population on the moon, including the home of the Titan Avionics executives.

  As they approached the bio-dome, Tony slowed down and pointed out different options. “Okay Falcon, this is the closest entrance to the jail but only TA cronies and LEOs are allowed access. Since you’re a hunter, will they let you through?”

  “Only one way to find out.”

  Tony nodded and pulled up to the ramp. When DJ reached for his cred-stix Tony stopped him. “Nope. This is on the house. My transport for Earth leaves in two days. Until that time I’m at your call, here’s my contact code. Call me when you need a ride.”

  DJ nodded. “Thanks Tony and good luck.”

  Jax raised an eyebrow at that but didn’t ask. Right now, he was just the hired help and he wasn’t going to rock the boat when it came to dealing with the Falcon.

  Once they retrieved their cargo from Lucille’s trunk, Tony pulled off and disappeared over the hydrocarbon lake. Without pausing, DJ moved to the entrance and inserted his bounty hunter credentials to the reader. Seconds later, the airlock opened and the two warriors stepped inside. It took less than a minute for the pressure to stabilize and the inner door to open, allowing access to the first settlement on Titan.

  From their vantage point halfway up the bio-dome, Titan City looked just like any other city within the Coalition with the exception that the sky was a dome of translucent panels. There was an untold number of buildings and walkways that stretched off into the distance. Even at this late hour, numerous people could be seen going about their busy lives.

  DJ whistled. “I didn’t realize that Titan City was this large.”

  Even as Jax pulled off his heavy coat and mask he nodded. “Yep. Only the wealthy and influential people live here. The workers and peons of Titan shuttle to and from the other settlements to here daily. This is the center of Saturn, so to speak. The T.A. fat cats keep this dome as close to Earth-like as possible.”

  With a flick of his eye, DJ brought up his chronometer. They had less than an hour before his meeting with the freelancer. Of course, Mocha didn’t have much information on the thief other than she was talented. Calling up a map of the area, he led the way to the headquarters of the Saturn Sheriffs. Finding the building wasn’t hard since it was clearly marked and if it wasn’t for the lighter gravity of Titan or the gleaming bio-dome panels, DJ could easily forget that he wasn’t on Earth.

  The numerous deputies that were coming and going from the station all stopped and stared as they passed. Walking up to the counter, DJ took the bound prisoner from his companion and roughly droppe
d him in a nearby chair. “I’m an intergalactic registered bounty hunter here to drop off a prisoner.”

  When the red-headed beauty turned to face him, whatever DJ was going to say next was lost.

  Slender of waist and large deep blue eyes captured his complete attention. Dressed in the form fitting black with red highlights uniform of the Saturn Sheriffs, she looked stunning. When he didn’t continue, she cleared her throat and said, “Your credentials please.”

  DJ swallowed hard. “Sorry. Here you go.”

  She inserted the data crystal into the reader and verified his documentations. “Ah yes, the Red Falcon, I heard you were in town.” She looked up from the computer and glanced over at his companion. “And you are the notorious thief Jagger Jax, are you not?”

  DJ glanced over his shoulder at his partner. “You weren’t kidding when you said everyone knows you.”

  Jagger Jax nodded. “Yep. It’s a curse.”

  The red-head asked, “Are you saying that you are innocent of your crimes?”

  Jax shook his head. “Nope, not one bit but I have been unconditionally pardoned for my crimes. And I’ll have you know that most of the horrific crimes I was accused of wasn’t me.”

  From the look the deputy gave him, DJ could tell that she’d heard that claim before. Not wanting to get into an argument with the beautiful deputy, he reached down and grabbed his prisoner by the scruff of the neck. Looking at her nametag he said, “Deputy Cunningham, this is Harry Fisher. He’s a bail jumper from Earth.”

  She looked back at the computer. “I don’t see any documentation of warrants for him on your crystal.”

  “No ma’am, there aren’t any. He decided to try and shoot me in the back while I was at a local nightclub. Once he was subdued, I ran his image through the system and found the active warrants.”