Starmen (Starmen (Space Opera Series) Book 1)

by J. M. Hagan

  "Yeah?" she grinned. "I love the movies."

  "Excellent," he said. "Movie is always a good choice. Anything you wanna see?"

  "Hmmm...anything but a chick flick!"

  "We're on the same page," he said, nodding his approval. "I like it. Okay. In that case, I'll leave the movie choice to you."

  Erika grinned again. "You might regret that..."

  Jack shrugged. "We'll see." He started to back away towards the exit. Short and sweet – less chance of screwing it up!

  "I'll see you tomorrow," she said.

  "Yep." Jack gave a smile, reciprocating her warm stare, then turned away.

  She'd no idea his heart was pounding. Everything had gone perfectly. Now, he really was looking forward to Saturday night. I'm gonna have a victory beer!

  6

  November 19th

  17:58

  And there it was...the home of Erika.

  Erika...the girl he thought of every night before he went to sleep. The girl he thought of every time he woke up.

  Just as he was enlivened by how much he'd been dreaming about this moment, his nostrils flared at a foul stench. He looked down in harrowing surprise.

  Erika's home...the place where he stood in dog shit.

  "Ah, shit!"

  It's not a big deal? Of course it is. I'm gonna be Dogshit. Say goodbye, Jack! You're gone, man. All that remains of your dignity is on the bottom of your shoes. And it stinks! Nope – shut it, man. It's just poop.

  Jack knocked on the door. A few moments later, it swung open, and she came out with her keys in her hand.

  "You ready to go?" she checked, smiling at him in surprise when she found him over on the lawn, instead of on the porch.

  "Nope. Ugh...I'm gonna need a tissue. Maybe a whole lot of tissues." Jack coughed, his cheeks got red. "I stood in dog shit. But, hey, I hear its good luck."

  For a moment, he thought she was going to take that in a negative way. Maybe even get a little disgusted.

  "Yeah, sure, no problem," she said, like it wasn’t a big deal.

  See, idiot-me, I knew I was right! Jack Murphy came out smelling like roses.

  "Thanks," he called after her. "Hey! I took my shoe off when I went on your porch. I didn't get any on the driveway, either!"

  "Okay," she said, as she came back out with a handful of tissues.

  What surprised him the most was that she wasn't bothered when he wiped it all off. She even took the lid off the trash so he could dispose of the mess, then told him to go inside and wash his hands in the bathroom. He approved of her fragrant hand soap that smelt like orange chocolate.

  "So, you got a dog?"

  "Yeah," she said, rolling her eyes before crinkling her nose at him. "Sorry about that."

  "It's okay," he waved it off. "I'm just glad you were cool about it. Talk about making a good first impression."

  "You mean that in a sarcastic, self-deprecating way...or do you mean that as a compliment to me?"

  "Both."

  "Ah-ha. At least I know that was you being honest," she said, smirking.

  Jack giggled. She shone with a different light outside of work. He noticed it more and more as they made their way to the cinema in the taxi cab.

  As they talked, he felt them click every step of the way. By the time they made it to their seat, and the trailers were running, they'd already dispensed with small talk.

  "What do you want to be?" asked Erika, sipping from her straw. "You know...when you're older?"

  "I dunno? Movie star too much to ask?"

  She giggled. "No, not at all. After all, they don't expect every movie star to be muscular..."

  He sat up in his chair. "Did you just dis my physique?" he yapped. Then he flexed a slender bicep for her amusement. "I've got gains. See this little ridge here? Gains."

  Erika took out a piece of popcorn and hit him in the face with it. "Shut up," she moaned, sighing humorously. The room got dark and quiet. "The movie is about to start."

  Jack grinned as he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Then he took his phone out of his pocket to switch on silent mode and realised he had an unread text from his buddy Anderson.

  My Dad is away for business. Beer?

  Jack grinned. Anderson’s Dad was away most weekends.

  After my date...he replied, then put his phone back in his pocket.

  Another text came seconds later. He saw his phone light up in his pants. He checked.

  Claudia is coming too. How many beers have you got? Do you mind subsidising me?

  He was glad to hear she would be there, too. Claudia was a writer who worked part time at a local deli. They had all been friends since early childhood.

  Enough. I don't mind...so long as you've got the cash waiting!

  *

  November 19th

  20:02

  Location: Europa

  Cane had been looking over the data. Venec waited with his back against the wall, drinking, looking around in thought. After a few minutes, his patience left him.

  “Cane, c’mon, what’s the story?”

  Cane continued to read with wide eyes, as he answered, “The data speaks of a future war.”

  “Between the Federation and the Ishar?” Venec guessed. Many thought that war would come someday soon.

  “No. It speaks of a new enemy. One who is yet to rear his head.”

  “Who is it?”

  Cane opened the holographic projection that came with the identification file.

  It opened before them and they saw a humanoid alien. A male, with clear grey skin that suggested youth, impeccable brows, a clean shaven head, eyes like dark coals, and a slender build. He wore a dark black suit that covered him all the way to his neck.

  Everything about him seemed ordinary.

  “This guy?” Venec barked. “Doesn’t look like much to me…”

  “His name is, Vorjool,” said Cane. “He is from an unknown race in a distant part of the galaxy. According to this, like me, he is an explorer.”

  “An explorer?”

  “Yes. Apparently, he makes an incredible discovery. You remember the ruins I told you about on Selen? Well, there will always be unknown life somewhere in the galaxies. Somehow, within the next year, Vorjool manages to discover an entire fleet of warships, an armada left behind by a long dead species that was incredibly advanced. Not long after that, he arrives in Fringe-space. As we know, most of the Federation’s fleet are on stand-by in the border systems the other side of the galaxies, just waiting for the Ishar to make a move. Vorjool conquers a dozen central planets before they can even muster an adequate response. He digs in. Turns his worlds into fortresses. The conflict continues to the day when they travelled back in time, twelve years from now. Many billions of lives have been lost. My world, your world, they are both under his control.”

  Venec looked down in despair. Then in anger. “So, what are they asking us to do about it?”

  “The future crew have asked us to assassinate him before this happens. If we kill, Vorjool, before he makes his grand discovery, we avoid a war – the most terrible war, it seems, that will ever be fought.”

  “A tall-fucking-order, my friend,” Venec grumbled, leaning with his hands into the console as he reflected. “Killing someone, anyone, for whatever reason, is never something that’s easy to do.”

  Cane didn’t see guilt on his face. “You ever done it?”

  “No,” said Venec. “Known a lot of men who have, though. Worst I’ve done is bust a few heads. You?”

  Cane was surprised he’d even asked. He shook his head. “I’ve avoided hurting people my whole life,” he said, thinking of all the times when people had got on his nerves, or goaded him.

  Then, with shame, he thought about Siena, coming behind her with that gun. He told himself he didn’t intend to use it. But he had aimed it at her all the same. Fear almost drove him to something he could never take back – a step into the infinite dark.

  Thinking back on what could
’ve happened when his finger went to that trigger – even a slight lapse in muscular control could’ve set it off and killed her – he was glad he’d walked away with a broken arm, rather than a broken soul.

  “I am not up to this, Venec,” he admitted. “I can’t assassinate someone, even if he is the next, Amataius…”

  “According to this, he’s worse.” Venec approached him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Cane, it might not be up to us. These people – this Jack Murphy, and his friends – it will be up to them. All we have to do is guide them. They don’t know a thing about the galaxies, or any of our tech. You can help me show them the way.”

  He agreed with a nod. Then Venec went to the console to examine the information. “I assume they’ve sent along more than just his ID?”

  “Yes. We have a location for where he will be six months from now – Delta-2.”

  “The cityscape?”

  “Yes. That’ll be the last time he docks at any registered world. When he next emerges, he will already have amassed his fleet. Europa, list our mission parameters.”

  The holographic interface lit up with orange writing on a black backdrop.

  Mission Parameters

  Prepare for entrance assessment to Starman Guild

  Obtain citizenship

  Await target arrival in Mortron City, Delta-2

  Mission Objective

  Eliminate target

  “It makes sense,” said Venec. “Not only will becoming Starmen prepare them for their mission objective, but by becoming citizens as well, this new crew will be allowed to carry weapons on the surface of the planet. If, Vorjool, is armed illegally, and he draws on them, local police will likely take their side against him. Mortron City is notorious. Everyone has seen movies based there.”

  Venec was right. Some classic crime dramas came to mind that were frequently shown on broadcasted channels. Some days spent on-board ships between worlds as a passenger, all he had to occupy himself had been his viewscreen.

  “Yes,” said Cane. “Starmen are highly respected on worlds where crime is rampant.”

  “Well, we’ve got that down,” said Venec, pressing buttons to bring up a file related to the HC. “These programs were created by my father. He set them up for me, my training for the life of a bounty hunter. I’ve used them for practice over the years. We’ve got everything covered – weapon’s training, CQC, basic flight – and with the time we’ve got, we could turn these kids into weapons. There’s one thing we haven’t spoke of yet, though. Why are they here? The older ones said they have a mission, too.”

  Cane flicked away the HC file and returned to the mission report. He started reading through it and his eyes widened enough that Venec questioned: “What is it?”

  “My God,” Cane gasped. “The Overseers…”

  Venec searched his memory, and then grimaced with realisation. “The race that fought the Federation in the Fringe-wars 80 years ago?”

  Cane nodded. “The very same.”

  “But I thought they were gone; the Federal fleet eradicated their entire species years before I was even born.”

  “Or so the history books tell us,” Cane mused, thinking it over sharply. The people of Adanis knew well the terror of that conflict, millions of light years from Venec’s home-world.

  “My grandfather fought in that war. He told me that the Overseers were a terrible enemy. Their technology was very advanced. In many ways, we owe them thanks for what we have available today. Rovian scientists studied what they could salvage from them, the research led to incredible advancements in interstellar travel, weapon systems, and shield technology. But that wasn’t all. My planet served as a military base from which the fleet set-out. After one hundred years of constant war in the Fringe, the Federation could stand toe-to-toe with their best ships. But, on the ground, humans were at a major disadvantage. Their foot soldiers – the Dok’ra – were huge reptilian creatures. Their skin was like a layer of armour. They had the strength of ten men. So, the Rovians took their research elsewhere. My people, as an oppressed colony, were rounded up in the night. Among those taken, were my grandparents. They became victims of experimental genetic mutation.”

  Venec was awed. “Cane…I’m sorry. So, that’s why you are…well, you. You may not be a soldier yet, but just a few hours with you, and I’ve already seen enough to know that you are quite special.”

  He gave what could be considered a smile, though his eyes were sullen. “Not quite so special among my own,” he admitted. “I am rather average. Even in my height.”

  “These mutations – they worked. So, how come the Rovians didn’t use the procedure on themselves?”

  He let out a short, bitter laugh. “They believe themselves perfect already,” he said. “The people of my world are considered freaks. Some of us form unique abilities in adulthood.”

  “Abilities? What kinds of abilities?”

  Cane thought of the most famous of them. Then he thought of the people he knew with these powers, these exceptional people inspired him when he was a boy. He always dreamed that he would grow to adulthood and become someone important. It was the luck of the draw – and his luck had been out.

  On Adanis, the ones with abilities were at the top of society. They were the rich, the famous – and the only people considered to have worth. The rest were either soldiers, builders, or workers.

  Still, even to this day, he worried that he was worthless because of it. That was why he had to get as far away from home as he could.

  “Some can create energy with incredible destructive power. Others use telepathy, telekinesis, some can even levitate.”

  Venec was stumped. “You’re serious? That’s incredible.”

  “Yes. So incredible, in fact, that when you don’t have these abilities, on Adanis, you are considered worthless. My grandfather was a telepath. His mind was strong enough, even, to rival the mental powers of the Overseers. My father, and his brother, didn’t have these abilities. Often, they skip a generation. Growing up, all I saw were billboards and rallies – the recruitment drive for the Federal militia was on repeat all year round. Many of the elite warriors come from Adanis. The rest of us are builders, workers. In just three generations, the surface of my world has become a megatropolis. When I realised I wasn’t special, I decided I didn’t want to labour, or work in a factory, and I didn’t want to kill. So, I left.”

  “If all this is true, if the Federation defeated the Overseers before, and can do so again, how come these people from the future didn’t just ask the Federation to deal with the Overseers threatening Earth?”

  “In the files given, they mention approaching the Rovians for help when they travelled back in time,” said Cane. “It would take a dreadnought fleet several months to make it out here. The battle would see considerable loses, too. As they say, the rewards must outweigh the costs – in this case, they do not – the Federation instantly denied their request. After all, what are the lives of seven billion worth in the galaxies?”

  The human population of the galaxies was in the trillions, so many it was something which the Federation estimated, rather than had a solid figure for. Then there were all the other species out there, Venec’s race included. The galaxies truly were teeming with life.

  “I’m afraid that Europa is this planet’s only hope,” Cane revealed, feeling his heart rise. “They have accepted that their mission will most likely cost them their lives. But they are willing. Even I am, too, it seems.”

  7

  Jack walked her to her doorstep. “You sure you don’t wanna come with me?” he asked. “My friends are cool. You wouldn’t be the only girl, Claudia, is coming along, too.”

  “Who’s Claudia?” she asked.

  “Friend of mine. Known her ages.”

  “Oh, really?” Erika asked, her brow furrowed.

  Jack grinned. “Yeah. Not like that, though.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like…” Then he got a little red. Ah, c’mon, don�
��t make me say it…

  Erika forced the slightest laugh. “I didn’t ask,” she said, getting red enough to match him.

  Damn. Awkward. Save this immediately! “She’s more like a sister. So, anyway, a few drinks, a few laughs – you’re more than welcome to join us?”

  “I can’t,” she replied, running a hand down her hair. Her eyes were glinting in the porch light. Her lips glistened. “I’ve gotta work early tomorrow.”

  Jack stared into her eyes. He waited. She waited. Then Erika took a half-step in his direction as he eyed her lips. He set a hand to her waist, drew her in for a kiss.

  Her sapid lips were tantalisingly soft and wet. She opened her mouth fully into his, as she placed hands on his face. Her chill fingers were warmed by his flesh, and her touch was magnified, giving him gentle tingles. Jack slid his tongue gently over hers, one hand caressing her hair. As they were about to separate, Erika gently bit his bottom lip, and a warm sensation went through him.

  Wow…I’ve never had so much fun sucking face! Usually, the first kiss is the worst!

  “Thanks for a wonderful night,” said Erika, giving him a hug after.

  He chuckled. “Thank you for being awesome.”

  Erika smiled. “Honestly, it was no trouble at all.” She went to the door, running a finger along her lips, biting at one corner gently. “You free Wednesday evening?”

  Holy shit. I must’ve nailed that kiss!

  “Yep,” he said, fighting to keep his smile small.

  “Okay,” she said, opening the door and putting one foot inside. “Text me later?”

  “Sure thing. Have a good night.”

  “You too, Jack.”

  The door shut, and he walked away with a bright smile, hearing his heart beat.

  *

  After his date went so well, he felt like he’d achieved something. He went home and when he stepped inside he met Brigid in the living room. She was watching television; some crap MTV show she liked. When he smiled at her, she paused it.

  “How’d it go? Good, I hope?”