Recollection: Age of Expansion - A Kurtherian Gambit Series (The Ghost Squadron Book 6)

by Sarah Noffke

  “Wouldn’t I?” Julianna asked matter-of-factly. “You may look like me, but you don’t know shit about what I’m capable of.”

  The Saverus morphed again. It was like looking at a watercolor painting while on LSD. It took on the form of Eddie.

  The imposter blinked back at them, hands up in surrender. “Hey, now. Julianna, you should shoot me. I’m not a bad guy, but I’m definitely not a good one.”

  Julianna lowered her weapon, sighing.

  “It’s a mindfuck game, Jules,” Eddie said, trying to console her. He’d been interrogating the Saverus for an hour and had gotten nowhere. The giant snake kept morphing into different humans it had encountered since being taken aboard Ricky Bobby. He and Julianna had really thought that, on the other side of the bars, they could resist the ploy, but it was incredibly tough to look at your partner crying and demand they answer your questions.

  Looking as defeated as he felt, Julianna swiveled around to face him. “Maybe we have to give this up for a while.”

  “Maybe we give it up entirely and throw this monster out the airlock,” Eddie said.

  The Saverus morphed into the dog figure of Harley, looking up at them with large, brown, begging eyes.

  “Fuck, when did it see Harley?” Eddie asked, throwing an arm at the thing.

  Julianna let out a weighted sigh. “He was with me when I delivered its food.” She pointed to the uneaten tray of roasted chicken and boiled vegetables.

  “That’s it,” Eddie declared. “Only you or I come in or out of here from now on. We don’t need it cataloguing others on the ship it can impersonate.”

  The Saverus shifted into the form of Lars, the only other person it had met, when it woke up on the Q-Ship, before being sedated. “I’m not an ‘it’. I’m a ‘she’,” the Saverus said, using Lars’s voice, which made the whole thing even creepier.

  “She. Oh, right,” Eddie said. “Because I want to ensure that I get your gender correct, you fucking snake.”

  “As you should,” the Saverus said, an entitled tone in her voice that sounded all wrong in Lars’s usually humble tongue. “And while you’re at it, you should know that I prefer my meat uncooked. And no vegetables.”

  Now that did sound like Lars, Eddie thought.

  “How about we feed you when you start talking? Tell us why the Saverus want the Tangle Thief,” Julianna said blankly.

  The Saverus shifted into the form of Eddie again. The imposter gripped the bars, pressing Eddie’s face between the metal. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know, Jules. Anything. But I can’t tell you that. Don’t you get it? I can’t talk. I’m bound by an oath older than you or me.”

  The real Eddie laughed. “Apparently you don’t know how old Jules really is.”

  “Wait,” Julianna stated, staring at the replica of Eddie. “What did you say about an oath? What does that mean?”

  Eddie shook his head. “Nothing that imposter says is real. What’s the point?”

  Julianna didn’t look deterred, though. “She slipped up,” she said to Eddie before turning her attention back to the Saverus. “You’re bound by an oath, is that right? That’s why you can’t talk?”

  “Well, and because she’s the fucking enemy,” Eddie stated at Julianna’s side.

  Ignoring him, Julianna said to the Saverus, “Your kind, what they are trying to do, will have horribly devastating effects on our galaxy. If they get ahold of the Tangle Thief, then—”

  “When they get it,” the Saverus said, cutting her off.

  “You’re not listening,” Julianna stated, shaking her head at the form of Eddie.

  Julianna turned to the real Eddie. “We need to know more about the Saverus. This is getting us nowhere. There’s something preventing this one from telling us anything.”

  Eddie agreed with a nod. There was something strange about this species, and more than the fact that it could become anything at will. “Maybe Marilla will know.”

  Julianna turned for the exit, Eddie at her heels. At the door, he turned around and cast a last look at the species that had created more headaches for him than all the alcohol he’d drank in his lifetime. “Just so you know, we will let you rot here. You can’t manipulate us. We will figure out how to make you talk.”

  The Saverus morphed into a version of Julianna and then collapsed. She extended her hands through the bars, sputtering out a cough. “I don’t have much longer, Edward,” the Saverus said using Julianna’s voice, her tone hoarse. “Save me. Please. Don’t allow me to die.”

  Eddie shook his head at the attempt to manipulate his emotions. Although he felt chill wrap around his insides, he pursed his lips.

  “Ricky Bobby, you might be the only one safe from this monster,” Eddie said to the AI.

  “I’ll keep a watch on the prisoner, and I’m more than happy to interrogate her when you have new questions,” Ricky Bobby said overhead.

  This produced a deep scowl on the Saverus’s face. An expression he’d never seen so prevalent on the actual Julianna’s face.

  “That’s a good idea, RB,” Eddie said, firing his finger at the ceiling. “Thanks.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Hatch’s Lab, Ricky Bobby, Tangki System

  “Do you want to work on the DeLorean?” Hatch asked Knox.

  The kid looked up from the shelves where he’d been reorganizing loose parts continuously over the last few days. He shrugged, his green eyes full of indifference. “If you want me to.”

  “Damn it, Gunner,” Hatch said, holding a blowtorch in one tentacle and the helmet specifically made to fit his Londil face in another. “The DeLorean isn’t like that and you know it. That was supposed to be our project. Something we did away from all the demands of Ghost Squadron.”

  Knox’s gaze drifted over to the far corner, where his father had set up a small workstation. “Maybe my dad will want to help you with the project.”

  Hatch had the urge to throw the blowtorch, but he knew that was a dangerous impulse that he must quell. “Cheng isn’t a mechanic, and you damn well know it. He’s a scientist.”

  Knox dropped a bolt into one of the container units and shrugged apathetically. “You used to work together, though.”

  “Yes, and he took care of the science end of projects while I handled mechanics,” Hatch explained.

  “So?” Knox’s voice sounded so unlike him, all of his normal respect absent.

  “So, with you, I’m able to focus on the science, because your mind is naturally wired for mechanics.” Hatch paused, waiting for Knox’s defeated expression to disappear. When it didn’t, he added, “It’s a nice balance. Better than what Cheng and I had, and look at what we were able to accomplish.”

  “Yeah, you created a device that tears the universe apart, and I lost it,” Knox said, his voice sounding dead. “Like I said, you need a different apprentice.”

  Hatch suppressed the urge to scream. He couldn’t fault the boy, not really. It was tough when someone you cared about was going through a major loss. Hatch wanted to tell him that things would get better and that experience told him that these things would pass. Instead he said, “And I don’t need a new apprentice. I’m not allowing you to quit on me, Gunner.”

  “Fine, but I don’t think you should allow me on the current project,” Knox stated.

  He isn’t looking for sympathy, it occurred to Hatch. He fears himself.

  Knox didn’t scare Hatch, though. He respected the hell out of the kid. Somehow, at the young age of ten, Knox had operated the Tangle Thief, which was impressive in itself. However, he had the sense to hide the dangerous device, figuring that bad guys were after it; unfortunately, he hid it so well that no one could find it, not even him.

  “You aren’t getting out of working on the Saverus goggles,” Hatch said, shaking his head before he fitted his helmet into place. “Now hand me that damn blood sample and quit sulking.”

  Knox’s eyes shot to the vial of blood from the Saverus they had imprisoned in the
brig, which Julianna had delivered to them.

  “I don’t have all damn day, kid!”

  Hatch didn’t like having to yell at Gunner, but someone had to shake him up and tell him to stop being a baby. That’s what he’d told his own kids growing up. Now they were off on their own and doing great things, hopefully because Hatch didn’t coddle them.

  Knox handed over the blood sample, a bit of interest in his gaze. “You’re using an aluminum alloy for the goggles?”

  Hatch’s eyes glanced at the goggles on his workstation, the prototype he’d created that would hopefully spot a shapeshifted Saverus. “Yeah, what of it?”

  Knox shrugged, a gesture he was doing a lot lately. “No reason.”

  “Oh, you asked, but have zero reason for the question. Yeah, that makes sense,” Hatch said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

  “Well, I get that the aluminum is lightweight, but due to the chemistry of the goggles, I’d think that something like a titanium alloy would be better.” Again the kid shrugged. “But what do I know?”

  Hatch peered at the prototype, his mind sifting through all the relevant data. Then he picked up the goggles and dropped them in the garbage.

  “Gunner, you know a hell of a lot more than you give yourself credit for. That’s why I need your help, but you’re going to have to get your head back in this game.”

  Gaping at the trashcan where the goggles now sat, Knox shook his head. “You’re starting over?”

  Hatch shook his head, pulling his helmet down in front of his face. “Hell no. We’re starting over. Now put on your welding mask.”

  “Uhhh…all right,” Knox said, and some of the heaviness was gone from his voice.

  Hatch had started the welding torch, when he heard someone calling his name from behind.

  “Doctor A’Din Hatcherik!” a voice yelled.

  Hatch switched off the torch and spun around. “What? What? What do you want?!” he fired. He pulled up the mask and immediately sank back an inch.

  Liesel Magner stared at him apologetically, holding a pad in her hands. She was wearing her usual getup, yoga pants, a loose, off-the-shoulder sweater, and, curiously, the new/old chief engineer also wore charger cables in her short blonde hair. Each day, she seemed to have some electronic or mechanical part incorporated into her outfit.

  He found this highly annoying. They were parts, not fashion accessories.

  “Sorry to interrupt you, but I wanted to have you review a new set of plans that I’ve drafted,” Liesel said, offering the pad to Hatch.

  The ferret, Sebastian, climbed down from Liesel’s back and disappeared into the spare parts storage. That’s where both the ferret and Knox spent most of their time lately.

  Hatch puffed out his cheeks, looking disinterested. “What’s this for? The gate drives?”

  Liesel shook her head. “I’ve already got the gate drives up and ready to go. Your instructions were helpful, and Ricky Bobby was a tremendous help.”

  “Thank you, Liesel,” Ricky Bobby chimed in from overhead. “I’m glad that I could contribute.”

  Hatch felt a tension in between his eyebrows. “Well, they can’t be up to Federation specs. I’ll fix that once I’m done here.”

  Liesel smiled, showing a row of perfectly straight, white teeth. “No need. When I say they are ready to go, I mean they are up to Federation standards. We’re ready to gate whenever needed.”

  “Oh, well, I’m sure you think so,” Hatch said, sounding not at all convinced. “Even still, I’ll check the drives before our next gate attempt.”

  “I assure you that’s not necessary,” Ricky Bobby irritatingly broke in. “I’ve tested the drives, and everything is in order.”

  Hatch pinned two of his tentacles to his side and grimaced. “I haven’t experienced a gate, so it’s impossible that you’ve tested them.”

  “It’s a computer simulation I’ve constructed,” Ricky Bobby stated. “I can upload all physical changes into the model of the ship and then test different situations.”

  Liesel’s perky smile widened. “Isn’t that brilliant? That’s how we could determine the best possible way to upgrade the existing gate drives. It took much less time than it should have.”

  Hatch grumbled to himself, turning back to his workstation. He’d picked Liesel himself, and yet this all irritated him. He’d wanted the best, but she was too good. And more irritating than that, she was…cute. Hatch respected Julie because she was competent and strong; Liesel was that, but she was also…something else that threatened him somehow.

  “Doctor A’Din Hatcherik?” Liesel asked at his back.

  Pretending to already be engrossed in his work, Hatch looked up like he didn’t expect to find her there. “Huh? What?”

  “The plans I drafted for an upgrade,” Liesel asked, handing him a pad. “I was hoping that you’d review them and give me your thoughts.”

  Hatch reluctantly took the pad from her. What he found was not what he expected. “You can’t be serious?”

  Liesel giggled. “I know it seems a bit…”

  “Aggressive,” Hatch filled in the word that she was struggling to find.

  “Yes,” she agreed with a nod. “I had the privilege to sit down with Jack Renfro and review the types of missions that Ghost Squadron has undertaken in the past. That’s where I got the idea for this project. It’s extreme, but I’d trust this kind of technology with the captain and commander. I believe they wouldn’t abuse it.”

  “You refused to install nukes in this ship under Felix Castile’s command,” Hatch argued.

  “Yes, because Felix was a man who would abuse such technology,” Liesel countered. “Jack expressed his concern that Ricky Bobby is ahead in speed and stealth, but lacks proper defense.”

  “That’s why we need rail guns and mains,” Hatch said, shaking his head at the chief engineer.

  “I don’t disagree, but apparently, we’re a little way off from securing that kind of ammunition,” Liesel said.

  “And you think you have the capability to do something like this?” Hatch pointed with his tentacle at the pad.

  Liesel reached down when Sebastian returned from the supplies area, a mischievous look on the ferret’s face. “It’s fairly straightforward. I mean, think of it this way, you may not be able to make a volcano, but all you need is vinegar and baking soda to create an explosion.”

  Hatch threw up four of his tentacles, aghast. “Can you believe this?” he asked Knox. “She thinks she can make a weapon with baking soda and vinegar.”

  Knox had taken the pad from Hatch and reviewed the plans. He looked up, a quizzical expression on his face. “Actually, the logic is sound, here. She’s not using lava to make a volcano—or a weapon, in this case. She’s using something much less sinister, but it will have similar results. It’s actually pretty smart, and would be incredibly helpful in a pinch.”

  “‘In a pinch’?” Hatch asked in disbelief. “Like if we wanted to level a city block? When did that become our call?”

  “We’re the good guys,” Liesel said, smiling as she took the pad back from Knox. “What about when the Brotherhood were trying to take over that small continent on Nexus? Wouldn’t it have been helpful then to immobilize their forces?”

  Hatch shook his head. “We don’t kill the innocent.”

  “Right,” Liesel agreed, folding her arms across her chest, thinking. “Well, how about when that ammunition supply needed to be destroyed on that moon?”

  “We jumped next to it and achieved fine results,” Hatch reminded her.

  “From reviewing the notes, it appeared that Ghost Squadron took out the whole moon, when just a small section comprised the ammunition area,” Liesel countered, which made Hatch’s head suddenly hot.

  “All I’m saying is this would be a precise, honed attack that Ricky Bobby could employ in a pinch,” Liesel concluded. “Just because we have bombs or bullets doesn’t mean we have to use them.”

  “Yeah, I guess I can see th
e relevance,” Hatch said reluctantly. “Fine. I give my permission for the project.”

  “I don’t believe that Liesel was looking for permission,” Ricky Bobby stated overhead. “As chief engineer, a position that you approved her for, she is neither higher or lower than you in rank.”

  Liesel’s face flushed pink. “Thanks, Ricky,” she said, looking embarrassed. “Honestly, having your blessing would be great. I wanted you to see the plans to endorse their effectiveness.”

  Hatch turned away from the engineer, hiding his own flushed face. “Yeah, fine. It all looks okay. But if it’s a complete screw-up, then I’m not a part of it.”

  “Fair enough,” Liesel said. “Thank you, Doctor A’Din Hatcherik.”

  Hatch waited until Liesel’s retreating footsteps faded away and then he turned for the back of his lab. His head wasn’t in the current project anymore.

  “Let’s take a break,” he said to Knox. “Shall we work on the '69 Corvette Stingray, or the 67 GTO?”

  “Uhhh… whatever you want, Doc,” Knox said, treading carefully. He could sense Hatch’s new sour mood.

  “Okay, Stingray it is, then,” Hatch stated, waddling over to the supplies area. His mouth fell open, and he had to stop himself from screaming.

  “Gunner, what did you do here?”

  The area was completely and revoltingly organized. All the bolts, screws, and other parts were each in their respective bins.

  Knox joined him, and his own mouth fell open. “Doc, I promise. I didn’t do this. It must have been…”

  Hatch narrowed his eyes. “That damn ferret.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Bridge, Ricky Bobby, Tangki System

  Finally! How long have I been tracking the Otterbots?

  He’d lost track.

  Jack Renfro tore around the corner, nearly running into the new Chief Engineer on his way to the Bridge.

  “Sorry,” he said as Liesel stumbled back, her pad falling from her hand. It clattered to the floor, falling face down.

  Jack stooped to pick up the fallen pad, knocking heads with Liesel as he did.