Tarik: Entry Level Warfare

by K. A. Kerr

  14 - Major Decisions

  * * *

  Tarik awoke to the view of a bright yellow sun. He smiled at it. The star reminded him of Sol. He would hate to admit it but he missed home. Even though it was crowded and busy he really wished he had the money to live there. Who knows after two years he could be a real asset back there. Odds were that he would more than likely be dead but he was an optimist.

  Tarik headed for the showers ready for a quiet day. He undressed and looked at himself in the mirror. His progress since joining the crew was incredible. He was trimmed and ripped. His was proud of himself and felt he had a right to be.

  Tarik walked to his normal stall and Goddess opened the door to the one next to it. Instead of walking past him and teasing him as she normally did she just stood with the door open. She stepped back into the shower and motioned for him to join her.

  For two beings who would be considered at the top of the physical form of their species they had the endurance to prove it. They were in the stall entwined for so long that the ship computer turned off the water on them twice for rationing. Being with Goddess was everything he thought it was going to be. Her anatomy was only slightly different than that of a human female. That slightly different part consisted of muscles which gripped and massaged him. When he came it felt like he was being milked for every drop.

  When Goddess left him he felt like he had ran multiple marathons. Today was going to be a good day. Not even another beating from Dav could take the smile off his face. He would let his mind drift back to it when he scrubbed sinks and toilets. When he did go running he almost ran over several people because he was lost in his own mind. Everything bad thing that happened in the past few months did not seem all that bad anymore.

  He did not see Goddess over the next few weeks which was kind of disappointing. He tried to make time to see her but even Mange said she was mostly staying in her room. Mange seemed to think the ordeal with the natives on the last contract really messed her up. Tarik was beginning to think that being with her was a mistake. He’d had one night stands before but this felt different.

  They docked at a small station to off load the cargo from the last contract. The station did not have much to offer but since Tarik had a few points to spend he hit some of the bars. The first night out he really enjoyed himself. He and Scout Three had gone to a nice restaurant. Some folks thought that they were lovers and had been shocked to find out they were just really good friends. Tarik wanted to take offense but he really couldn't, Scout Three was homosexual and there was nothing wrong with it so he shrugged it off.

  They were still docked when Dav called an all crew meeting. He hoped that they would pick up a replacement for Rye. He knew that Daze could use some help after the battle with the Kami.

  The Dome was filling up fast when Tarik took his seat. The bridge team was seated at their table but there was no conversation. The pilots were still filing in but Scout Three and Fighter one looked like they had been waiting for a long time. They were having an intense conversation but Tarik couldn't hear it over the rowdy group of mechanics.

  Three of the mechanics were locked into a loud conversation about how one of them almost blew up the ship. The mechanic in question was defending his actions saying that he knew if he inserted some component in backwards it would still work. The two accusing him were trying desperately to get him to admit fault but the third was not having it. Daze was listening in but only shaking her head. She must have known something about the situation that she refused to share.

  The combat table was unusually quiet. Goddess had walked in and sat down but had yet to even acknowledge anyone. Maybe the run in with the natives really had messed her up. Mange was in full immersion doing who knows what. Scipio was back on his feet and adjusting a pneumatic assistance device he had on his right arm while Games and Tricky talked by themselves. Lamb was already at the table which suggested the meeting had nothing to do with an upcoming contract. Razor was still in his roost and had not yet come down to join them.

  Early in the week Tarik had asked Lamb why Dav only did the contract meetings a few hours before they were to start. Lamb explained that security of the contract was always a priority. When Tarik prodded him for more information Lamb only said they had contracts leaked and stolen before. Corporate espionage was nothing new but he would have thought our contracts would be exclusive.

  The room stood as Dav walked in and took his place on top of the raised center table. When the smart screens did not descend Tarik knew this was going to be a very different meeting.

  “Alright everyone, take a seat and listen up.” Dav started but his normally commanding voice did not have the same energy. “I have some corporate news that many of you are not going to like. As of this morning our parent company has been sold to Dorm Six Exploration and Evaluation Services.”

  A ripple of hushed questions spread through the crew.

  “Quiet down because we are going to have many more questions that I’m afraid I don’t have all the answers for yet. I am going to tell you what I know and we can move on from there. Of the eight independently operated corps under our former parent, four of them have been sold off. That leaves Markterm protective, Goldhen flight, Yulride transport and scouting, and Caster protective all under DSEES. There will be some shuffling of personnel but we should not expect to lose any whole teams.

  “Under the new company we should expect longer term contracts and not the quick jobs we have all become accustomed to. We should also expect to work in concert with the other agencies under the DSEES umbrella. DSEES does have a backlog of contracts which means there will be plenty of work for the next few years. As most of you know DSEES has been in business for a long time and they run a good tight shop. We will still operate under my management but oversight will be provided by them.

  “That is the corporate speech I needed to give you. Now I’m going to add my piece to this. Over the past few decades we have built one of the most solid teams in all of the galaxy. I truly believe that too. We consistently out perform and in most cases we were the money maker for BCPS. I would lay down my life for any of you. With this buyout all of you will still have a job with me on the Beetle.

  “As part of the buyout DSEES only wants the best people and as such will only keep the best people who want to be here. They have offered a payout of two hundred thousand points to anyone who wishes to leave, no questions asked.”

  Another ripple of muttering passed.

  “I will tell you that with the contracts that we have coming up that is a drop in the bucket. If you wish to take the money and leave I will not blame you. I expect all of you to make this decision on your own and for your own reasons. For those of you wondering, this includes any side contracts and deals we have reached.”

  Dav took a survey of the crowd.

  “If you have questions I am sorry but that is all the information I have been given as of late. We leave port in four days and will make our way to Alpha Six station. You have until then to decide what you want to do.”

  Dav walked down from the table and kept his head down as he left. The rest of this was all on the crew. The Dome was so silent he did not think anyone was even breathing. Daze was the first to exhale a deep breath confirming his suspicion.

  Daze stood and addressed the room on her own accord.

  “I know I'm staying. For any of you pussies who want to bail. Hope to never see you again.” She curtsied and left.

  Tarik couldn't help but laugh out loud. Most of the room gave him a dirty look but a few people chuckled with him. Tarik already knew he was going to stay. He and Dav worked out a deal and he planned on honoring it completely. He knocked his fist on the table and headed for the door.

  The next three days passed quickly. He heard many rumors and possible outcomes but he was sticking to his guns here. He liked the Beetle and the crew. He sent a message out to the combat team proposing a group end of day meal. The station was small but there was a nice place t
hat served multiple species. He thought about inviting some of the others but he felt it necessary to build some team comradery.

  Tarik sat alone at table in the back corner of the restaurant. He was getting concerned when the group finally started to arrive. The trio of Scipio, Games and Tricky were the first to join him. Scipio no longer required the pneumatic assistance and was in much better spirits. Mange and Razor came a few minutes later. Lamb showed up with Dav much to Tarik's surprise.

  “I knew we would be down one so I hope you don't mind.” Lamb said before he sat down.

  “Goddess isn't coming?” Tarik asked.

  “She quit, took the severance package and left early this morning.”

  Razor was the only one who did not show surprise.

  “Wow. I thought she would stay on for sure.” Games said.

  “She must find a den.” Razor half growled.

  “Let's talk about it after we eat, huh?” Tricky asked.

  The group ate well that night. Razor put away more meat than Tarik thought a creature of his size rightfully should. Mange drank too much alcohol too early. Dav seemed like the meal had taken a load off stress off of him.

  Razor and Tarik talked to each other for a very long time. The wolf bird was old by Gorrex standards. He once had a pack of his own until he was deposed by his son. He was offered a position as his son’s beta but declined the offer. He felt the fight was too strong in him and his presence could undermine his son’s rule. Tarik told him his story and he was especially intrigued by the idea of mining. The Gorrex had no idea a young pup like Tarik would do anything but fight. Tarik asked why he had come to his aid when He was beat up and Rye was coming after him. Razor explained that he had been watching everyone for so long he knew Bink would be in soon and she wouldn't learn that Tarik had other allies.

  It felt good to bond with the Gorrex. He felt he did not have a good enough handle on their culture to be friends with one but Razor was a great being to be friends with. His initial run in with Gorrex had not been positive so this was redeeming.

  By the end of the meal everybody was feeling better. Dav and Lamb thanked him profusely. The old men said they forgot how much time like this could do to solidify a team. Even though they were down one it sounded like everything would be just fine. Tarik asked why everyone took meals at different time when even Dav said he wasn't sure anymore. The group closed down the restaurant that night. They stumbled back to the Beetle as a team, singing as they went.

  Tarik sat in his bunk wondering what could have driven off Goddess. He waited until he was sober and sent an inter-ship message.

  I hope you are well. I need to make sure you did not quit because of me. -Tarik

  Tarik watched the asteroids tumble for a few more minutes until sleep took over. Still thinking of Goddess he had pleasant dreams.

  When Tarik woke up he had a message waiting for him.

  Everything is great. I have left to give birth to our children. If your seed produces good offspring I will find you again in five years. Good hunting. -Goddess

  Tarik was so shocked he forgot where he was. He did not even know if he wanted children but if he did he'd at least like to be able to see them. He thought he and Goddess could have been an item. Then he felt like kicking himself for being an idiot. Dereft had their own way of doing things this is what happens when you project human morals on nonhuman beings. He sat and thought about it for an hour before he settled on his reply.

  If we have daughters let them know I will be there if they need me. If we have sons please let them know how to find me so they are not alone. -Tarik

  Tarik never received a reply and did not expect one.

  The Beetle shoved off for the next station and he wished for anything to take his mind off his potential children. He resumed his cleaning duties and heavy exercise routine. He would feel normal for a time and then panic at the thought of what his sons would go through. He talked at length with Scout Three to learn every detail. Scout Three told him much but when he saw it was not helping he stopped telling him anything.

  Tarik was off in his own world when he saw Daze come in and sit at her table. Tarik walked over to talk to her but she was blowing him off.

  “Hey what's the deal? I thought we were close.” Tarik finally asked.

  “We are but you and I have different ideas on who we are.” She replied.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You look at me as your little sister. At first I thought that would be a good place to start but nothing developed from there. Tarik I don't want to be your little sister. I want more, you don't. We can still be friends but I can't be that close to you if we think differently about our relationship.”

  “I didn't know you felt that way.”

  “And that is my fault for letting it get that way. I like you, but in a much different way than you like me. It's not a big deal but I am going to need time before we move forward. Whatever direction that is.”

  “It is a big deal. I should have picked on it before but I'm really bad at reading people; women in particular.”

  She stood up and held her partially eaten tray in front of her. “So I hear. I'll talk to you when I know what I want.”

  Tarik watched her leave unsure what the hell was going on. He looked up to ask his gods when he saw Razor was staring down at him.

  “Any ideas?” He asked Razor.

  “Find a Gorrex female. They will not be as confusing.” Razor growled a laugh after.

  “I'll take it under advisement.” Tarik said.

  His confusion only grew over the next few days. He would get so bad that he would forget that he was mopping floors and just stand with the mop at his side staring at the walls. He talked to Tilla and she prescribed him sleeping agents which only seemed to cloud his dreams.

  When they were pulling into Alpha Six he was thinking about asking Dav if the severance package was still available. He was so out of it he did not think he would be combat ready when they dropped in to the next contract. Dav must have read his mind because he asked that Tarik help take inventory on the docks. In the message he also hinted that he should take some time to clear his mind.

  Tarik wasn't sure what he meant for him to do so set upon his work first. He was climbing up stacks of crates when the silver shine of the Beetle caught his eye. He turned and sat on the crate thirty feet into the air. The old stained windows of the station did nothing to diminish her glory. Tarik saw people moving within the connecting tube. He could see Lamb and Daze talking. Mange had another box in his hand probably headed to the markets. His attention always drifted back to the beautiful shine of the Beetle. He just sat and smiled at his home.

  Tarik was not sure how long he had been sitting when his thoughts were interrupted by the crates violently shaking below him. When he looked down to find the cause he was greeted by an angry face of a Granuala.

  “What the shit are you doing?” Tarik yelled.

  “My employer released me. You bring the reason.” The Granuala roared back at him.

  “Grash? You better get away from me before I hand you another beating. You don't want to fuck with me today.”

  “Sexual relations are not required. These crates are for the new employer. Your thievery will bring your end of days by the master.”

  “Fuck you Grash! These belong to my ship.”

  “Horned bovine excrement is on the plate! You shall perish at the thought of my new employer.”

  Tarik was about to jump onto Grash’s head when he heard Dav.

  “Hey Tarik, I see you've met our new Jimmy.” Dav yelled from a walkway below him.

  “Tell me you're fucking with me Dav.” Tarik yelled back.

  “Get back to the ship we head out soon.” Dav laughed as he pointed Grash in the direction of the Beetle.

  About The Author

  So most of these things are so full of crap that you never get any idea of who is writing the book. I can see how it would make a difference if I
were writing high school history books but that is clearly not what I am doing here (if by chance you think I am, you may have bought the wrong book).

  Let’s just say I’m 33 and a CMTS engineer for a cable company. I’ve got the beautiful wife and two little one’s in the house, I am truly happy with the way life has turned out for me. It has been a long and dangerous road to get here but it was well worth it.

  I DO NOT run marathons or enjoy bike rides. Anyone who runs of reasons other than a dangerous animal chasing them is probably not sane.

  I wrote this book because I was getting tired of knowing what is going to happen a quarter of the way into what I was reading. I was not intending to release it to the public initially, but the engineer in me took over and thought why write something if nobody is going to see it?

  I do not have a website or Blog because this is just a fun hobby for me. If you like it go ahead and leave a review. If you do not like it, that’s cool too. If you do like my work enough I have setup an amazon author's page and you can be notified when I put out new work.

  Click HERE

  For those interested I have already begun to write a second book in this series. If all goes well it should be out in a few short months.

  K Luv U Bye!

  -K