Titan Fleet: The Invictus

by Jason J Black

  The last words from the robot were still resounding in Pace’s head, “Thank you for my freedom.”

  “You call this a test, you sick bastards? I should kill you all too!” Pace slams his red hot metal fist down onto the table. He stands composing himself for a minute, shaking his head in disbelief.

  A gentle hand touches the blue skin on his shoulder, and a soft voice whispers, “Now the universe is your home and mine.” Pace turns around and staring back at him is the red-haired woman. “My name is Megan Frost and you have excelled in your finals, as have I.” Blood is dripping from her forehead and mouth. “You see, we were chosen for something. I don't know what yet, but that grey-haired woman is the Prime Lady, so choose your words well around her.” Smiling at Megan, Pace looks down at her hand on the blue alien skin.

  “Don’t touch my filthy alien skin; I don't know if you will catch something.” He puts his hand caringly on her shoulder. “Thanks for calming me down though; it’s been a hard few weeks. You ok?” Pace asks Megan.

  “I am ok thanks; I just want to know why they tried to kill us in separate rooms, that’s all.” The two blood covered engineers look towards the Prime Lady for answers, and as the Prime Lady sits back down at her desk, the security team arrives and blasts the creature, that is still trying to get free, into a thousand pieces. Two maintenance robots start to clean the room of debris, and one begins to cut the chain off the robot hero.

  “Engineer Frost and Engineer Pace, it is simple, we had to test you both to see if you were up to the biggest challenge of your lives.”

  “Which is?” Pace is still red with anger.

  “For some time our planets resources have been dwindling - food, energy and metals. We think our way of life will end in as little as two years, if we don’t do something about this. A few years ago we sent out ten salvage class ships from our Titan fleet, and for a while supply pods were being sent back and forth, and things were slowly getting better. However, we now have just two ships left out there, The Forge and The Anvil, having lost contact with the other ships, and we have not had any supplies back in two months now, so we have pulled all our best resources together, and the very best in all aspects of our strengths, to send out our two last ships. We need the best out there so we can survive. That is where you come in. We had to test you this way to see if you can go up against the worst that space can throw at you, and those creatures are the worst we have seen so far. What we need is resources and fast. Think of your families and friends and home. It is your chance to shine and be our heroes.”

  “So who would you have sent out if I failed my test today, and why, oh why did you save that creatures life that almost killed me a couple of weeks ago?” Pace turns his back to the Prime Lady and leans against the table looking at the robot that had just saved all their lives. “That robot has more honour than you, and at least he wanted to keep me alive, and you could not even be decent enough to tell me your name. Why should I work for you?”

  “Enough!” bellows the Prime Lady, standing once again with now reddened cheeks. “How dare you turn your back on me, and for your information you should know my name and what I look like. I am the Prime Lady for crying out loud. You have two choices. Choice one, take 20 lashes for endangering the Prime Lady’s life, and spend the rest of your days being a test dummy in more of these rooms; or become a captain of a ship that can save the planet.” There are a few moments of silence before Megan turns to the prime Lady and says,

  “Well Lady Eve, I know your name and have all the skills too. I want it on record that if Pace does not take the job, I will dance at the chance of being captain.” Megan smiles at Eve then looks at Pace for his answer. Pace is already looking at Megan in distrust, but also with respect. He turns to Eve.

  “I will take the job, but I choose the crew if that works for you. No more tests!”

  Brushing off a print out, Eve hands it to Pace with a smirk.

  “You can choose four people. I choose the security detail and that is not up for negotiation. You fine with that?”

  Frowning at the paper, Pace asks, “Umm, any robot help included?” Still looking at the damaged robot being now towed away, Pace waits for the answer.

  “There are two bays per ship Pace, use them well.” Pointing at the robots foot as it goes out of view, Pace shouts with excitement.

  “Stop! I want him. Bring him back, oh and a medbot I met. I think her name was Padley.” Moving closer to Eve, Megan in a soft voice repeats the offer to be a captain, this time to the other ship. All the time she is thinking, this is in the bag for sure.

  “I’m sorry Megan, I have a captain for the other ship already, but it does need a first officer if you are interested?” Megan thinks for a second and likes the idea, but she is still too far away from her dream yet, but it is a good stepping stone at least, but before she can give Eve her answer, Pace with a smile on his face says, “I need her as my first officer. I’m sure that is what you were going to say Megan, wasn’t it?” Megan smiles at Pace and flicks her hair back. It floats on the air like a red mist.

  “I think it might work out for you.” Eve says, then starts to walk towards the hatch and beckons them both to walk with her.

  “You have just over a week to choose three more crew. I will send Chief Mortis along in the next few days, as soon as he arrives with his men. Go home and rest, and tomorrow you can see your ship. 0700 sharp. Dock one.” Eve and her two guards walk through another hatch and close it behind them.

  “So Pace, fancy some food? I’m starved. I know a nice little place near here. Come on, my shout.” Megan tugs at his arm and they walk arm in arm for a moment like old lovers, towards the restaurant.

  Chapter Five

  “I can’t remember the last time I had a girl on my arm for a dinner date,” laughs Pace. Once they arrive at The Stalactite restaurant, Pace opens the hatch and Megan walks in and is seated at a table. Pace sits opposite her, just happy to be out of the academy with a pass and as a new captain, which was unexpected. He pours Megan some water from the jug on the table and then himself. They both take a few moments to order their food, and look out over a drop and out through a cave mouth. The moss and other hanging plants glisten and sparkle like small stars.

  “You won’t regret it you know Pace. I am a hard worker and I like to get the job done, but just one thing before we set off into the stars. Just a word of warning; never, ever shout at me. I don’t tend to shout at people and I don’t expect to be shouted at. You remember that and we will be just fine.” As an afterthought she added, “I had a bad boyfriend once, say no more.”

  Looking up, with a mouthful of food ready to slide to the depths of his belly, Pace chews faster so he could answer, but then chooses to listen instead.

  “I don’t know what you think, as we have only just met,” Megan continues, “but I think we should have a united front when it comes to the crew, and I will always back you. I don’t like the idea of having gung-ho heroes on board, do you?”

  Taking a moment to eat a mouthful of soup Megan looks into Pace’s eyes. Pace looks back and is wowed by her beauty. Her blue eyes shimmered like stars in the night sky, her red hair glowed like autumn leaves, the way she moved, so gracefully was mesmerising. It is as if time stands still and everything in the universe is balanced again. He had not thought this way for some time now. Maybe he will see how things go for now, but the future, who knows, he thinks with a grin.

  “You know what I think? I think we think the same, and to be honest I’m a bit worried myself. Let us today make a promise that we always discuss with truth, and never hold anything from each other, and before you say it, I know we are not married, but we can’t afford to lose it out in space, we must lead by example. We will have a back-up plan should anything go wrong.” Almost choking on her soup Megan laughs and pats Pace on the hand.

  “Darling, I have had a lot worse offers in my time, and who knows, if we put up with each other long enough it might happen, but I expect
a big wedding and no expense spared.” Eating another mouthful, Megan feels a flutter in her belly just thinking of the wedding, and after all Pace is quite cute. Ok, the arm thing is a little different, but he seems nice and not too arrogant for her liking, space might be fun after all, she thinks.

  Pace is taken aback by Megan’s answer. Wow, he thinks to himself, this is what flirting used to be like, maybe I will hang on to this rocket ride and see where I end up this time.

  “Dear lady, I would take you to the stars and back if I could. Oh wait, are you busy say in around a week? How about we see where we end up, but I would hold on tight, I like my ship to fly fast and hard.” Pace beckons for Megan’s hand, standing up to leave, hoping she will take the offer, and to his surprise she grabs his hand, and with the other hand on her way out through the hatch, she swipes her gauntlet and pays the bill on the cash register as she passes by.

  “Well, I’m going your way, Captain, I think it may be fun trying. Maybe sometime we could flesh out some rules or something, if you are not too busy of course.” Flushing slightly red in the face and neck, Megan thinks to herself how much she has enjoyed herself, and she has hoped she has not gone too far this first evening.

  Pace laughs “You know what I think, Megan?” Turning to face her and gently taking hold of her other hand with his clumsy metal hand.

  “No, what?” she quickly replies. Looking into his eyes she knows she is not helping herself but she is grinning.

  “I don’t know how this has happened, but I, um, really like you and I hope you don’t think I’m being too forward, but I would love it if you would maybe consider another night out again sometime. Ah, I’m being odd, but we only have one life, and when you feel something good, I just have to say, and just because we will be sharing a ship, there is no pressure...” Pace knows he is waffling, but before he can could say another word Megan interrupted him with a small gentle kiss on his lips, which sends tingles down his spine, and with his eyes now open so wide, he kisses her gently back.

  “I take that as a positive yes then?”

  Megan, also feeling the love nods, and kissing him once more says, “A definite yes. You’re sweet Pace, but we will travel slow with this one and build something amazing, I’m sure.” They begin to walk the tunnel once more and are hand in hand this time, both with smiles on their faces, not knowing where this new adventure will take them both, but wanting to start the journey.

  Turning the corner, Megan stops and swipes her home card over a red coloured hatch, and letting go of Pace’s hand she steps towards the opening.

  “I loved tonight, but this is where we say good night Pace, but not good bye.”

  Kissing Pace once more she smiles and turns slightly to go in, but not before Pace says, “Me too Megan. Will you move in with me, I have a starship you know?” The two of them laugh at his joke and say good night, but as she closes the door she feels that she should have invited him in for a drink, but she thinks it might have been too much excitement for one day, and that it will be something great to look forward to tomorrow.

  Pace walks slowly back down the tunnel thinking of his day. It was a hard start to it, almost losing his life, but look how it turned out - just perfect. Perhaps in his parents day people would have thought they had moved for each other too fast, but certainly not now in modern times when resources are short and you are about to be blasted out into space, not knowing if you will ever return home again, and at least this could be a chance for him to have family, possibly.

  Chapter Six

  Beep! Beep! Beep! The alarm rocks the room once again, and the whirring of the air conditioning unit drones like an unwelcome song, over and over. 0500 and Pace is up like a flash and starts to get ready for day. Two hours seems so far away to see Megan, he thinks, surprising himself.

  He has a shave and is quickly reminded of the blue skin on his naked torso, which turns his stomach like sour milk, so he slings a towel over his shoulder and it is then out of sight, out of mind once more. Looking into his own blue eyes he thinks about when he was young and would pretend to shave with his father. Seems so long ago now, but still such a happy memory of the good old days when everything seemed so care free and safe, because there were no such things as monsters back then, and even if there were, Pace’s father would have saved them all, no question about that.

  Smiling and combing his hair, Pace then finds his tools and gauntlet and puts them on, because today he is going prepared, just in case. He opens the hatch and steps out into the tunnel, calm and ready for the day’s new challenges.

  Chapter Seven

  Megan’s eyes open slowly. The lights are just coming on as programmed, and there is the smell of cleaning fluids in the air from Megan’s efforts of removing the dust from the day before; she hates all this dust. She makes a cup of coffee and sits reading the Bio-Engineering Monthly magazine in which her name is mentioned several times for her achievements, even a small article on her efforts in saving a man’s life by bio-engineering him with alien DNA and robotic parts. She smiles and thinks she would have to tell Pace one day that it was her who saved his life, and also got him a place on the ship for a reason, but for now he did not need to know and it was top secret anyway. She puts the magazine down and she begins to get dressed, but today she is taking extra time to look nice for a certain someone which brings a smile to her day. She slides on her trousers over her smooth legs and pulls on a tight top to emphasise her shape, and applies her best red lipstick to match her hair. She grabs for her satchel, putting into it a selection of small tools, and heads for the hatch. As the hatch opens, and she steps out into the tunnel, she is confronted by a broad man in a long dark coat. He is much taller than her, and his muscled physique looms over her. However, his arrogance precedes him, as he looks down on her with a frown that could scare death itself. The man grabs her by the hair and wrist.

  “Said I’d be seeing ya again, didn’t I. You talk all tough on the wave don’t ya, but now look, I’m here and I found you easy this time.” Megan struggles, but to no avail. “Struggle all ya want girl, I said you were always mine and I meant it. Now where ya going, eh?” The man pulls tighter on her hair.

  “You’d better let go Deacon. We are over. I told you that a long time ago. Get over it.” Megan raises her voice in anger. Freeing herself from his grip on her hair, she is now facing him once again. This time she thinks she is stronger. “Now let go of my wrist because that’s enough now. No more!”

  Pulling Megan in close and clutching at her throat, Deacon laughs. “Shut it! You’re nothing! Shush!”

  Megan’s long red hair begins to have a mind of its own and comes to life. The ends turn into sharp spear tips, small but deadly, and her hair begins to rise up to her shoulders. Chocking and tears running down her face, the anger just pours out like never before. The tips of her hair fire towards Deacon like supersonic missiles locked onto a target. Over a thousand sharp knife-like objects attack Deacon in one go. It would be enough to take down anyone, and that is what happens as they impale the face, shoulders and hands of the unsuspecting Deacon. He loses his grip on both throat and wrist and is lifted up off the floor with ease by Megan’s hair. He screams out like a wolf in the night.

  “Ahhh! Let me go. Mercy.” He was dripping blood all over the floor and catching the attention of a local Enforcer, with his screaming.

  Megan says aggressively, “Mercy? What mercy did you ever show me?” She flings Deacon into the air with ease, ripping his face and hands to shreds, and then he drops like stone to the floor, writhing in agony. “If I ever see you again you will not live to tell the tale. I am no longer weak and people like you are a thing of the past, so stay that way.”

  The Enforcer, seeing and hearing all this first hand, gently places his hand on Megan’s shoulder and with polite voice says, “Excuse me Miss, is this man bothering you at all?” She turns and smiles at the Enforcer, but before she can say another word, he picks Deacon up off the floor and drags him away. Dus
ting herself off, Megan begins to shake a little, but is proud of herself for standing up to Deacon. Her hair bio-enhancement design works a treat she thinks, as she continues to walk towards the academy.

  Chapter Eight

  The hatches open one after one, corridor after corridor, until a sign for Dock One appears. Pace opens the hatch and walks into the hanger to be greeted by Eve.

  “This way Pace, a few things we need to go through.” Eve and Pace walk over towards two large star runner ships. Stood next to one of the ships, Megan is talking to Padley the med robot.

  “Good morning sir.” Padley holds out her hand to greet Pace. Pace returns the kindness with his hand.

  “Good morning, Padley, and a very good morning to you too, Megan. I hope you are well?” Pace awkwardly offering his hand, not going in for a kiss when that is what he wanted to do more than anything.

  “Good morning Captain. I am very well, thank you. I have started to order supplies for the ship and crew, and was just talking to Padley about what she would need. I trust that was ok with you?” Megan is just full of smiles for Pace.

  “All sounds great to me Megan.” Pace winks at her, before turning to Eve and asking about the ships in the dock.

  “Well Pace, there are two ships, the Robur and the Invictus, both are a little bit different, but essentially the same. We have tried to fit them with the best tech we can offer, but may I remind you that apart from the Fahrenheit, which is my flagship, these two are the only ships we have, so it is imperative you find resources, so we can build more ships and feed our people.” Eve walks with Pace and Megan and gives them a tour of the two ships inside and out. The Robur seems a little bit smaller but faster, but with less room inside, only enough for 16 crew members and one robot. It has a large crane arm on the top for heavy lifting, two salvo pods, and one shuttle runner for planet side work, but is does have the bonus of five engines instead of the normal four. The Invictus is no doubt the bigger of the two ships, but will be slower with only four engines. It has room for a maximum of 20 crew members, with space for two robots. It has a total of four salvo pods, which is a bonus, and two shuttle runners for planet side work. It also has an extra crane arm at the side of the ship, which is why it is slower than the Robur.