Vengeance of Sukesh: John Mason (Legend of John Mason)

by Barbara J Robertson

  “I called them en route to the hospital, John. Dave said they heard about the attack an hour ago. He was happy I called, and let him know we were all right.” Admiral Mason took off her gloves and put them into the trash. Mason took the trash, his soiled and torn uniform, and went into the corridor to toss it into the incinerator. He came inside and got another bourbon, with some ice, this time.

  “Ladies?” He asked.

  “Yes. I’m nearly sober, John,” his Admiral said. “You made me go back to work.”

  “Sure. One more and I’m heading for the showers, too,” Admiral Hanson said. They sat and enjoyed their drinks, happy to be alive and well. Mason was quiet.

  “Thank you, Admiral Hanson. Thank you so much for taking her place,” he said sincerely. Mason bowed his head, and looked at her with great gratitude.

  “Yes, Esther. Thank you for taking my place,” Admiral Mason said, bowing her head.

  “You are most welcome. I will tell you, Mason, I had to threaten her, didn’t I, Rachel? She was ready and willing; a true leader. I respect you for that.” She took a slow sip of her bourbon. “Well, time to get the stench of death and destruction off me. Here’s to many more happy endings,” Admiral Hanson said, downing her bourbon, and left.

  “Let’s see if we can reach Victor,” Mason suggested. He wiped off his dirty wrist comm link, and sent a text to him, that his Mommy was all right, but could not come home to him tonight. Victor responded immediately, and Mason showed Rachel: “We are OK at Auntie Sarah’s. Thank you, John Mason. I love you, Mommy.”

  “He feels so important whenever you text him, John. Thank you for giving it to him.” She went to him. “I’ve been dying to hold you,” she said. He held her on his lap and kissed her very tenderly. She put her head against his neck. “Today could have turned out very differently, John. Our destinies have been intertwined,” she realized.

  “Since the first day we met, our destinies were intertwined, Rachel. We made history together on the Hesperia; we made history today; and we’ll most likely make history again. I am thankful we are together, at last. Together…” his voice trailed as he kissed her again.

  Rachel went in to take her shower, and Mason got out a clean t-shirt for her, all he found to offer her there. He popped a couple of aspirins from the first aid kit. His head wound was aching, and his entire left side was now starting to throb in pain, as the adrenalin wore off. He heard the shower stop, and handed Rachel his robe and the t-shirt, then turned down his bed.

  She came out wearing his robe and t-shirt, and looked beautiful. Rachel was alive and well, safe with him and smiling. She quickly ran to his arms, and they covered each other in kisses and caresses, savoring each other, knowing how close each of them came to their own death today. Rachel surrendered to him completely, and submitted to his every desire. Mason took her one way, then another, barely stopping to recover from one orgasm to the next position. Their passion for each other and lust for life permeated the night. Breathless and more than satisfied, they nestled into each other’s arms and fell into a deep sleep.

  The Joint Chiefs received their reports from Hanson and Mason half an hour early. The reinforcements came the next morning, along with the damage assessment teams. Additional medical personnel were sent to them, and four extra security details. Right behind them were six new shuttles, full of fresh ammo and defensive weapons, a medium sized cargo transport packed with new laser cannons, and a new communications array. Admiral Hanson controlled the dome’s opening herself from the sixth level engineering deck. Mars X was refortified by noon.

  There were discussions several years ago about a massive defensive shield for the Mars colonies. Given the importance of the Great Vault Project to all mankind, as well as the recent devastating attack on the base and its personnel, the commitment was made to begin installation of a Mars X defensive shield, then one for Colony III.

  The shuttles returned the Great Vault research team’s senior team leaders to Colony III for several days’ rest and recuperation while their facilities were cleaned, their computers repaired and rebooted, and everything sanitized. The crystals were left untouched in the thieves’ boxes, leaving their replacement to the research professionals. The transports took wounded officers and crew home; their tour on Mars X was completed, with honors.

  Earth Command decided after receiving the damage assessment reports to keep Mars X as an underground base. Only the control tower and hangars would be rebuilt now, no offices, restaurants, or other such frills. The Great Vault was too important. Besides, Colony III featured everything anyone could want or need in the service and support categories, and was so close. An underground tram line was considered to alleviate opening the dome so many times a day for shuttle traffic, and it would be built within the next two years. With those decisions to revert to an underground-only base, and not rebuild the topside buildings, over three hundred construction workers were sent home via the troop transports. They were happy to get out of there alive after the big attack.

  XXVI

  Admiral Hanson wanted all repairs to her underground base completed by the time she and Mason returned from his graduation ceremony. Everything was planned for the remaining construction crews, down to the hourly work details. Mason got everything ready for the construction supervisors, and went to his quarters to consider his graduation speech, a much more challenging task for him.

  He pulled up the last UT commencement speeches; the shortest one lasted thirty-six minutes. Most talked about the future, the beautiful tomorrow the graduates could have, etc. The long speeches were boring and tedious. Famous and would-be famous old men and women droned on and on, as the graduates pretended to pay attention. Mason wanted to be different. What did the graduates really need to know from him? What would they take away from his speech? He remembered being 20-22 years old; everyone older felt they had the right to run his life. Mason wanted his speech to be worth remembering.

  Admiral Mason left work to pack for their trip home the next day. Everyone was excited to be able to go home, even for a few days. Mason arrived at the hangar early to run the full series of pre-flight checks on his fighter. He checked each bomb, torpedo, missile, and laser cannon ammo pack to make certain its mechanism was in full locked status. As he was hanging upside down double-checking his plasma torpedoes, a familiar voice asked, “Permission to come aboard, Major Mason.”

  “Permission granted, Admiral Hanson,” he replied. She laughed to see him hanging upside-down, and went to the co-pilot’s chair, tossing her gear bag into a netted hold on the way.

  “Beginning flight systems checks,” she said, and began the full series of detailed systems checks as Mason joined her, and sat in the pilot’s chair. “All systems check 100%. Fuel cells at 98%. We’re ready to go whenever you say, Major Mason.”

  The sound of running feet proceeded, “John Mason, John Mason; do I get to co-pilot today?” Victor stopped abruptly upon seeing Admiral Hanson in the co-pilot’s seat. “Hello, I’m Victor. Remember me, Admiral Hanson?” He held out his hand to her.

  “Hello, Victor. I remember you,” she said with a big smile, and shook his hand.

  “Hey, buddy. I’ve got an entire fighter full of co-pilots today. Let’s help your Mommy,” Mason said, unbuckling. He trotted to the aft ramp, and took Admiral Mason’s bags from a first class petty officer who was helping her load up. He took his baby, John David, and helped her walk up the steep ramp to the forward-most seat. She waved at Admiral Hanson.

  The fighter took off, slower than usual, because of his precious cargo. Within a minute, they made hyper-speed 6, and held. Taking full advantage of her time alone with her base XO, Admiral Hanson got her com tablet out, and spent the next few hours going over the repair and reconstruction plans for her base. “Several transports have been filled, and workers sent home. How many do we have currently on base, Admiral?”

  “We still have two hundred thirty construction workers, Mason. Fifty-three maintenance; forty license
d murderers in the mess hall,” she said, scowling. “Fifteen in the hospital; sixty techs; thirty-one in the Great Vault; eighty-one in engineering; ten pilots; forty-seven officers; three hundred crewmen; one hundred ten security forces, and ten controlling the brig. The URE research scientists in their holes are still about 400. That’s about 1400 now, including your 40 Space Marines.”

  “We’re down six hundred? How many did we lose in the attack? I thought the casualties were moderate, given the situation,” Mason asked.

  “So did I, but the unions petitioned Earth Command to return three hundred workers home. We lost everyone in any topside building, and the tower. There was a total of two hundred eighty killed, and another eighty wounded,” she disclosed. “A devastating attack, Mason. I’m glad the damage assessment teams came the next morning. Usually those guys show after most of the damage has been cleared away. But they got an eyeful this time, by God.”

  “Will it reflect on you in any way, with our base complement now down six hundred?” Mason asked, with concern in his voice for her.

  “It sure as hell better not. I gave the Joint Chiefs your virtual attack simulation and damage estimates. They were forewarned. Your attack plan was almost too perfect, in retrospect. With the exception of the Great Vault computers sabotage attempt, it’s as if they followed your attack plan to the letter. You didn’t have anything included about the north corridor, though.” She added firmly, “We warned them, and asked for more help; several times.”

  They sat in silence, making notes on their com tablets. The comm link light began blinking, and Mason responded. “They want another mid-flight refueling exercise in ten hours. Every time I fly! I wonder why. Any clue, Admiral Hanson?”

  She thought about it. “No clue; but let’s request a delay on the exercise and see what they say, Mason.” He did as she recommended, and the exercise was cancelled. “Now, that was really unusual,” she commented, and typed onto her com tablet.

  “Better get a little rack time in, Admiral Hanson. I’ll bring out some food in a couple of hours for all of us,” he suggested. She nodded, unbuckled, and took the seat behind Victor.

  The autopilot light began blinking. Mason came off autopilot, as the Mars control tower advised him to slow for a mid-flight refueling. “On whose orders, Mars tower? We are on a trajectory to Moon Base, and have plenty of fuel. We do not need a refueling,” Mason stated.

  Admiral Hanson was in her seat in a flash. “Admiral Hanson to Earth Command, on Major Mason’s fighter to Moon Base.” She relayed Mars tower’s instructions to them.

  “Admiral Hanson and Major Mason. No in-flight refueling orders have been issued from Mars tower or Earth Command. Continue on course to Moon Base. We are investigating. Earth Command out.”

  “Sukesh is interfering with tower traffic control now. He must be nearby. Has to be on Mars, or Space Station 4. My money’s on SS4. I’ll bet he’s in control of SS4 now,” Mason said pointedly. She listened to him closely.

  “Admiral Hanson to Earth Command, orange alert. I recommend you demand command authorization codes from all traffic, inbound or outbound from Mars, Moon Base, SS4, and Earth. Notify Admiral Worthington immediately. Reply on secure channel only. Hanson out.” Her brow was deeply furrowed as she keyed something into the comm link.

  “Stay sharp, Mason,” she cautioned.

  “Admiral Worthington to Admiral Hanson. What is your situation?” She relayed exactly the two notifications of refueling exercises, and the supposed Mars tower response.

  “I recommend the Mars control tower be secured and locked-down, Admiral Worthington. Too many flights in the inner system for this type of horseplay, sir. It may be a test, to assess our response and readiness,” she advised him.

  “We will implement your lock-down request, Admiral Hanson, and begin an immediate investigation. Worthington out.”

  “So much for a nice, boring flight, Mason. If Sukesh is monitoring the comm links, he’ll probably withdraw any plans for aggression until he’s gathered more strength and materiel,” she surmised. “The bastards’ figured he might try something. That’s why they loaded us with full weaponry. Dammit!” She said, and then looked to see if Victor was awake. “Sorry—bad habits.”

  “Let’s go in shifts, war time protocol, all right, Admiral?” She nodded, and Mason went to his wife.

  “I heard all that, John. Are we going to be all right?” A worried Admiral Mason asked.

  Mason knelt and smiled at her. “Sure, Admiral Mason. I’ve got one of the best war bird pilots in the fleet at the controls now. Don’t worry, we’ll be fine. If you feel better about it, you can take a transport from Moon Base after we land there,” he offered.

  “We’ll stay together, John,” she said, and took his hand.

  “That’s my Samba Queen,” he whispered in her ear. Mason put a blanket over both her and the baby, and tucked her in. She reached up for him, and kissed him passionately. He felt his cock rise. “It’s all right, Rachel. We’re all right,” Mason reassured her, and she kissed him again. “Go to sleep now.” He made a quick trip for a soda and returned to his pilot’s seat, trying to hide his erect cock.

  “I put a sandwich out for you, Admiral,” Mason said to his co-pilot. He quickly sat down.

  “Want to tuck me in?” She whispered in his ear, laughing at his erection.

  “Not on your life!” He quietly answered, and buckled in. He could only laugh, and get back to flying the fighter.

  The flight was uneventful the rest of the way to Moon Base, smooth and without any questionable comm link chatter. Victor even got to co-pilot, while sitting in Admiral Hanson’s lap. He was fascinated, watching the moon get closer. He never let go of the wheel, and was stone silent. When he got down, Victor thanked her, and gave Mason a hug. Then he sat down, buckling himself in.

  “He is a very smart, attentive boy. He took it all in, no distractions,” she commented.

  “Yep. His Father was a genius. His Mother is near-genius, as well. I guess Victor will be a genius, too, when he finds his niche,” Mason commented.

  “If I may ask, who was his Father?” She enquired.

  “Admiral Victor Baines, Rachel’s first husband,” he answered. “The best man I ever knew.”

  “I should have known; no wonder. I served with him on a destroyer for two years. He was the navigator. He could plot a course in his head faster than the navi computer could. Nice man,” she said. “I was a fighter pilot at the time,” she added.

  “I was his Prime Marine on the Hesperia,” Mason explained. Admiral Mason heard everything, of course.

  Moon Base control tower brought them in for the landing, and everyone got out and stretched their legs while the fighter was refueled. After the regulation stretch, they re-boarded, and left for the remaining three and one-half hour flight to Houston.

  Admiral Mason came up and sat in the jump seat with John David. She looked at Mason and smiled, and he knew she’d heard his last conversation. “Will you be flying back with us, Admiral Hanson? John says you’re the best war bird pilot in the fleet.”

  “Ha! I don’t know about that, Admiral Mason, but I have seen a lot of action, that’s for sure,” she admitted. “I have to meet with the Joint Chiefs about our attack. How long that grind session will take is anybody’s guess. At least I can attend Mason’s graduation,” she said.

  “You’re welcome to join in our family’s celebration afterwards, if you have no other plans, that is. I know Dr. Baines would love to see you again,” Admiral Mason invited.

  “I may take you up on that invitation, Admiral Mason. Thank you,” she added.

  They were overjoyed to be home. Caitlin and David were there to meet them, with a hot supper all ready. Victor covered his grandparents with kisses, and Rachel hugged them and cried to see them again. They commented on John David’s growth, and how much taller Victor was. “There’s supper all ready, and a cold beer in the fridge for you, John. Or wine, if you prefer,” Caitlin said. He loved
her cooking.

  They ate their fill of delicious roast lamb and potatoes, salad, and fresh bread. Mason took seconds, knowing Victor loved cleaning his plate for him. He invited them to come to Mars Colony III with them for a visit.

  “Oh yes, Momma! The apartment is huge! We have plenty of room. Please come!” Rachel begged. Mason noted she really missed her parents. They’d helped her so much after the baby’s birth. He could only come home one or two nights a week. She had to be lonely.

  “You can fly to Mars with us in my fighter. I know an influential Admiral,” he said with a smile. “You will have to transport home, although it’s not a bad ride, but longer. We’ll get the cabin for you, so you’ll be more comfortable,” Mason offered, and they gladly accepted.

  Mason needed to sleep. He slept only 4 hours the whole three-day trip. He excused himself, showered, and went to bed. His family was up half the night visiting and enjoying each other’s company. Her parents heard about a pirate attack on the base, but nothing else. She couldn’t comment, and that told them a lot. Rachel could not tell them about her recent traumatic experience, and how Admiral Hanson took her place wearing the explosive vest.

  Mason slept most of the night; unusual for him. “We’d better get up, John. You’re the star today,” Rachel said, gently waking him. Mason shaved off his thick goatee, leaving a nice, well-trimmed moustache, which he rarely wore. Rachel noticed it immediately.

  “You look so debonair, John. How can I let you loose among all those co-eds? Promise me you won’t smile at them!” She teased him. She loved his moustache. “You did this today just to make me jealous, didn’t you, John?” She asked him playfully.

  “I did it to not feel like the “old guy” getting his degree,” he admitted.

  Everyone went to the university campus in Admiral Mason’s shuttle. The commencement began with traditional music, as three hundred or so bachelor degree, masters’ degree, and PhD recipients walked to their places in the stands. It would be a long, hot afternoon. The salutatorian and valedictorian each delivered their speeches. The guest speaker delivered a long speech about tomorrow. The bachelor degree students received their diplomas quickly, and retook their seats.