The Last Spartan 2: DJ's Mission

by A. E. McCullough

  DJ and Jax dove for cover as the door behind them exploded in a million pieces.

  Even as Jax raised his Graver Mk7 and prepared to fire, the other two men in their underwear, armed only with knives, charged. Logic told him that the man with the disruptor was the greater threat and his primary target. Jax waited the milliseconds needed for the internal targeting systems of the CSA armor to lock on before firing. Just as he was about to squeeze the trigger, a picture of the same man in a UNCF uniform popped up in the upper left hand corner of his HUD with the tag underneath – Commander Alexander Cline: Active Duty.

  Jax held his shot and raised his weapon. “Hold your fire! Parley!”

  Alex paused in his second shot. He knew the armored soldier in the red Confederate Scout Armor had him dead to rights and chose not to fire. Alex yelled, “Check…check!”

  Both SWAT officers stopped their charge and DJ also held his fire. He didn’t lower his weapon but glanced over his shoulder at his companion. “You know these people?”

  Jax shook his head. “No, but you do. Evidently you tagged their image recently and the suit’s AI finally found their information.” He pointed at the two furthest away, “That’s Commander Cline and Lieutenant Evans.” He gestured at the other two. “You don’t have anything on them though.”

  Alex stepped forward. “They’re with me. I’ll vouch for them.”

  As the Coalition Commander made his introductions and gave a brief rundown of their situation and story, DJ found himself only vaguely listening. He couldn’t help but check out the body of the blonde lieutenant. She was a real looker, especially since she was only wearing black lace panties and a bra. But it was more than that; it was her posture and attitude which he found sexy. She wasn’t acting timid or trying to hide her exposed flesh but standing tall and proud. Suddenly, her eyes went wide.

  DJ didn’t ask or hesitate but dove into Jax and knocked him from his feet.

  Virginia had done the same thing, knocking Alex and the two SWAT officers aside even as blaster fire erupted behind them. Scrambling to the only cover in the room, the interrogation chairs and table, the companions found themselves pinned down by a roving patrol of SIS officers.

  DJ passed off his captured Ŝkorpion Vz99 to the blonde, while Jax passed off one of his Graver Mk7s to the Latino police officer. They were still one pistol short but at least five of them could return fire. The volley of blaster fire went on for several minutes without anyone scoring anything more than a glancing hit. Spurgeon suggested that he make a suicide charge with the knives in hopes that it created an opening for everyone else. Only the Commander’s direct order prevented him from trying it and to be honest, Alex was contemplating it. Everyone knew that the longer they stayed pinned down, the probability of escaping dwindled.

  Unexpectedly, two of the SIS officers blew apart and showered their companions with blood and guts. As they turned to face their new attacker, Sponge Bob charged and the companions let loose with a massive volley. Seconds later, the roving patrol lay dead.

  In the silence that followed a mountain of man in the grey uniform of a Confederate Sergeant stepped through the carnage that covered the vestibule and into the room. “Hello Scott.”

  DJ nearly dropped his blaster when he heard the voice. “Holy shit! Pete! What the hell are you doing down here?”

  Pete shrugged. “It’s a long story but let’s just say that I was looking for the blonde behind you.”

  Virginia blushed slightly at being singled out but still stood tall. She graced him with a smile and said, “Hello Sergeant, nice to see you again.”

  “You too Lieutenant. After discussing the situation with my superiors, we have decided to cut our losses with the Admiral and have already moved the Merrimack beyond the reach of the Coalition. I was ordered to sabotage the Horus,” he paused and winked, “but your untimely escape prevented me from accomplishing that mission.” Sgt. Allen turned his attention to Alex. “Commander, there are three things you should know. One, you’ll find your equipment down the hall in the last door on your left. Two, while you are there make sure you search through the computers and download the encrypted file named Arizona Experiment. I think your superiors will find it interesting.”

  When he paused Alex prompted. “And three?”

  “Have your ships check out the base on Hamura but don’t bomb it. The workers there are basically slaves and no matter their crimes were on Terra, no one should be put through the hell those men have been.”

  Alex nodded. “Thank you but why?”

  “Why what? Why am I helping you or why am I a Confederate?”

  “Yes…both.”

  Sgt. Allen nodded toward Virginia. “She can answer your first question and Scott the second.”

  The chronometer on Pete’s wrist chimed. He turned back to his friend and held out his hand. “I wish I had more time to catch up but my ship is departing soon. You should know that your daughter is in the factory Control Room with the Admiral. Also in case you’re interested, Kassinger is in the Conference Room meeting with the new Pirate King.”

  The two old friends shook hands. “Thanks Pete.”

  “No problems. Don’t worry; I suspect we’ll meet again.” With that, the huge Confederate Sergeant turned his back on them and disappeared down the hall.

  DJ faced Jax. “I need my belt.” Without question, Jax unstrapped the dual holster rig and passed it over. DJ undid the holster for the Ŝkorpion and passed it to the blonde. Once he had his own holster strapped on, he held out his hand to Spike. “My gun.”

  Spike did a quick peek and clicked on the safety before passing it over. “Thanks.”

  DJ just nodded and did his own quick peek on the weapon before holstering it. “That bastard has my daughter. One way or the other, it ends here and now.”

  Jax nodded. “After I escort these guys to their equipment, I think I will go and have a talk with Kassinger. Besides, I have unfinished business to handle with Mörder.”

  “Sounds like a plan to me. See you topside.” DJ turned and jogged off.

  Spike spoke up. “I bet that was his daughter that Pridgen was carrying when he came in. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

  “There was nothing you could’ve done about it. You know, I almost feel sorry for the Admiral when DJ catches up to him…almost.” Jax shrugged. “Come on, let’s get your gear. I have an appointment to keep.”

  The five of them headed down the hall and found their equipment exactly where the Confederate said it would be. Quickly donning their armor and uniforms, they grabbed their gear and weapons.

  Once she was dressed, Virginia handed her commanding officer a data crystal. “Here sir, this is all the data we need to prove the Admiral guilty of treason, embezzlement and several other charges. Plus, it proves that he built a second Dreadnought at a secret location at the behest of the Confederate government.”

  Alex raised an eyebrow. “How is it that they didn’t confiscate this?”

  “They were unaware that I had it.”

  “And just where did you hide it?”

  Virginia’s only answer was a big grin.

  Before Alex could pursue the subject, Spike interrupted. “Commander, do you think you two could make it topside by yourselves?”

  Alex turned back to the SWAT officers who seemed much more daunting now that they were back in their black SWAT tac-armor. “Why?”

  Spurgeon answered. “Kassinger tortured the person we were assigned to protect.”

  “And we want justice.” Spike turned to Jax. “That is, if you don’t mind the help.”

  Jax nodded. “I would love the company.”

  Spike grabbed a couple of plasma rifles off the racks and passed them out. “A little extra firepower never hurts.”

  “That is so true,” replied Alex as he took a rifle. After a moment, he shook hands with the two SWAT officers and the bounty hunter. “Good hunting.”

  After a moment of goodbyes, the three armored warriors headed off
to confront the Sheriff. Once they were out of sight, the two Coalition officers turned back to the task of hacking into the factory’s computer. There was something on this system that Sgt. Allen thought important enough to mention.

  * * * * *

  When the bag was finally ripped off of her head, Kaitlyn blinked away the bright light. It was so blinding that she couldn’t see at all. However, when she caught a whiff of her step-father’s cologne she didn’t need to see to know that she was in trouble. Once her eyes adjusted enough so that she could see, she looked around. Judging from the amount of display screens and panels with buttons, switches and lights, she guessed that she was in some sort of control room. Then her eyes landed on the only figure in the room, her step-father. He was sitting in a chair looking at the displays as they showed the ruins of a burning house.

  Without turning around, Roger pointed at the screens. “I’m sorry to report this to you but there seems to have been an explosion at the house that leveled the building. Early reports have come in that your mom was home at the time. I’m not sure but the authorities have called and asked me to come down and verify her body.”

  Kaitlyn looked at the burning mess that was once her home and in her heart she knew that he wasn’t lying about her mother’s demise. “You bastard, I know you’re responsible, somehow.”

  “True but that doesn’t change your situation. Now that your mother is dead, in such a tragic accident, I don’t need you. So the question remains, what do I do with you?”

  Kaitlyn was about to respond with a smartass comment when she spied movement on one of the upper screens. Her heart leapt into her throat when she recognized the intruder as her father. He was moving through the corridors of the factory with some big guy in red armor at his side. And if he was on the screens, than that meant he was in the same building as her. She wanted to run out of the room, screaming at the top of her lungs for him. But, if anything, she realized that she needed to give him time to find her. It was time to stall.

  Glancing back at Roger, he hadn’t noticed where she’d been looking and she needed to keep it that way. Kaitlyn kept telling herself, stall…stall…stall. Trying to keep her voice steady she asked, “What are my options?”

  Roger’s lecherous grin told her the true answer even though he said, “I’m sure we can come to an understanding. You are, after all, a beautiful young woman and I have needs that you can fulfill.”

  Kaitlyn nearly gagged just at the thought of him touching her. Standing as tall as she could, she drew back her shoulder and raised her hand-cuffed hands in front of her. “That’s never gonna happen at least not while I’m alive.”

  Roger stood up and unbuckled his gun belt and let it fall into his chair. “That can be arranged. However, I doubt it will come to that.” He began moving slowly toward her and she involuntarily backed away. “You know, I think after I’m through with you, I’ll sell you on the Black Market as a sex slave. It’ll be fitting punishment to your mother.” He lunged at her and missed. “Officially you will have died in the fire with your mother.”

  Kaitlyn knew that once he got his hands on her, she was as good as dead but she had to try and stay out of his reach. The second time he lunged for her, she dodged to the side and lashed out with a kick. He must’ve been expecting it and easily batted it aside. He countered with another grab but she leapt to the side and a grand game of cat and mouse ensued. It took every bit of her Parkour skills to stay out of his grasp. Eventually they both knew he would win. It was inevitable. There just wasn’t a big enough area to allow her to escape him. Finally, as she dove aside he got a hold of her hair and pulled her up short. She couldn’t help but scream in pain and fear as he lifted her up to his eye level. She tried to struggle but his grip was like iron. As he leaned in, her nostrils were filled with his cheap cologne once more and she wanted to puke.

  “Now little girl, your schooling is about to begin.”

  However, the sounds of an explosion outside the door stopped him.

  Chapter 20

  DJ had to dodge several roving patrols of guards, both SIS and basic security, in his journey. They all seemed to be on high alert, with weapons drawn and scanning everywhere. If he hadn’t been wearing the liberated SIS uniform, he would’ve had to fight his whole way down. As it was, he was able to bluff his way past three different patrols. He paused when he finally reached the proper hallway according to the factory map on the mini HUD displayed on the SIS sunglasses.

  It was a long hallway with only one door about halfway down the length. The problem was that it was guarded. Not by SIS, Deputies or Factory Guards but by two military-grade androids. He’d seen similar models during his time in the Corps. He knew that these ‘bots wouldn’t be limited by the Three Laws like UR-L8 or even by a morality code like Diana. They would be programmed to follow orders, plain and simple. If the Admiral had left orders not to be interrupted, nothing this side of their destruction would allow him to be disturbed.

  DJ’s first option was to try and bluff them. So he changed his stride to a more militaristic pace until he reached the door. Stopping in front of the first android, DJ abruptly turned to face them.

  “I have an urgent message for the Admiral.”

  Android One responded with the basic line he’d been expecting. “Entry not permitted.”

  DJ nodded once. “Understood. But I have an important dispatch for the Admiral.”

  Android Two parroted the answer. “Entry not permitted.”

  “Understood.” DJ waved a data crystal in front of the android’s optics. “My orders were to bring this immediately to the Admiral.”

  “Entry not permitted,” responded Android One.

  “I was ordered to give this to the Admiral and report immediately to Sheriff Kissinger. But I cannot do that as long as I still have this dispatch. Can I leave it with you and you pass it to the Admiral when he’s available?”

  Android One turned his head to his counterpart and the two must’ve corresponded electronically because seconds later it responded with, “Compromise accepted.”

  DJ grinned as he surreptitiously pocketed the data crystal and handed the android an entry charge, which was in effect a small grenade. What made them different was the direction of the main force of the explosion was limited by the design of the charge casing and the timer. The timer could be set anywhere from ten seconds to five minutes. DJ had set the timer for twenty seconds.

  “Thanks, you’re a life saver.” He snapped a salute to the two androids, sharply turned away and marched off down the hall.

  The limited functionality of the androids’ programming didn’t allow it to question the legitimacy of the request, nor was it programmed for curiosity. Not even when the device it was handed flashed red and began beeping as it counted down the last ten seconds signaling imminent detonation.

  DJ was about ten steps down the hall when he heard a young girl’s scream. In his soul he knew it was Kaitlyn and it took every ounce of willpower and control to keep up the ruse and continue down the hallway. Those last five seconds seemed to take an eternity.

  When the entry charge finally went off, DJ drew both blasters and rushed back to the door. Considering the shaping of the explosion, he had only expected the entry charge to take out one of the androids but was shocked when both were torn apart by the explosion and the door had been blown open. Even as he hurried past the ruined metal guardians, one part of his mind wondered at the destruction, not that he was complaining. That’s when it registered on him that that his entry charges were designed for use with his HAVOC armor; the Bodytank needed a really large hole for entry. As a testament to the androids’ tenacity, one of them was still trying to move; even though it was missing its legs, one arm and half its head was blown off. DJ triggered one round from his left handed Graver Mk7 through the top of its head and leapt through the smoke.

  He expected to find the Admiral and Kaitlyn but he wasn’t expecting to find two more android guards. Luckily for him, they were
n’t armed with blasters but with energy lances; which was basically a six foot long stun baton. DJ was able to get off one round from each blaster at the androids before they closed the distance and engaged. Neither round scored a solid hit; one was wide left and the other ricocheted off its metal skin.

  He lost both pistols in the first few seconds of combat. Fortunately for him, the SIS uniform was insulated against the stun properties of the energy lances. That’s not to say that the lances were useless against him. If one of the androids landed a strike on his unprotected head, it would incapacitate him. If nothing else, considering that the androids were extremely strong just the impact of the staff against his body hurt.

  But DJ was a Marine. He was a warrior and no stranger to combat. Rolling forward, he put the Parkour skills he’d learned long ago in the Corps to good use. Dodging left or right, constantly moving and rolling, DJ avoided any major strike from the androids. Drawing his twin powered gladii, he began to counter-attack. He would block and dodge or parry and slash, all the while moving closer to his true goal…the Admiral.

  * * * * *

  Roger had paused in his sexual assault when he heard the explosion. However, seeing the girl’s father rushing inside was a surprise and he immediately reached for his gun, but it wasn’t there. Even as he watched, the ex-Marine was not only holding his own against his android guards but moving closer and closer. He knew that the odds were against him getting close enough to attack but then, the ex-Marine had beaten the odds just getting to this isolated room.

  While Roger was distracted, Kaitlyn pulled her legs up to her chest and waited for her shot. She instinctively knew that she would only get one shot at this and she needed to make it count. Just as he shifted his weight away from her, she lashed out with both legs as hard as she could and caught him at just the right time to knock the bastard off balance. As he fell away, he released his grip on her and Kaitlyn rolled away.

  Roger felt himself flying through the air and clenched up before he landed…hard.