Reaper stared at the table. The major stared at Reaper. Nobody said anything for a minute.
“Snake, you and I will go the first round,” Lieutenant Aok said, smiling at him, “and if I find you going easy on me it will not go easy on you.” Snake knew he was in for a rough one. Reaper looked up at the major.
“What time is training going to start, ma’am?” he said. She looked at him.
“You never call me ma’am,” she said, surprised.
“I was informed I needed to change my ways.”
The mess had filled up since they came in. Natalia came in and saw him and ran to him. He was still sitting so her arms wrapped around his neck when he leaned towards her for a kiss. Some of the survivors saw her and then saw him and walked over, standing around the whole team.
“You don’t have your armor on! Stand up and let us look at you.” The old man who had helped him out on the ship was speaking. Natalia let him go and he stood up. They all shook his hand.
“We will let you get back to your friends,” he said. “If your officer gives you some free time, would you come visit us? We have been playing that trivia game and need a referee.”
“If I get some time off I would be happy to share some of it with all of you.” He sat back down. Natalia sat next to him.
“Sergeant Major, would you take the team to the gym and get everyone ready for some hand to hand training,” the major said. “Get the rubber knives out. Reaper, Lieutenant and I will be along shortly.”
“Yes ma’am,” he replied.
“Natalia, go with Uncle Matt. You can put your training cloths on too,” the major said.
“Yes ma’am,” she said and took Matt by the hand. When she had left, the major turned to Ben.
“She seems like a child,” she said, “but Dr. Matthews thinks she has to be about 13. He thinks at some point she suffered a mental episode of some kind and her mind just stopped maturing or it reverted back. Her body is getting stronger and he has started giving her some growth hormones. She may have a growing spurt sometime in the near future.”
“All we can do is nurture her. Her mind may take some growing spells as well,” Reaper added.
Reaper and the lieutenant sat and listened to the major. She gave them a recap of the week they were gone. “Now finally,” she said, “you two will not hold back today in the gym. Short of killing someone or maiming, I want you to show us what you really have.”
“Major, you have seen both of us fight and spar. There is nothing else to see,” the lieutenant said.
“Oh really?” she answered. “I don’t think so. This is no joke.”
“You’re right, Major, this is no joke,” Reaper said. “I did hold back on Anubis with you. Lieutenant, go meet the others. I need to talk to the major.”
“No, Lieutenant, sit right there and don’t move,” the major said. “I give the orders around here.”
“Yes ma’am. Sitting and not moving,” the lieutenant said.
“Go ahead, Reaper, enlighten me,” Andrea said.
“Fine,” he replied. “I thought you were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen and I didn’t want to hurt you. I never felt threatened either, so I just let you do whatever you were itching to do to me. Even when it was apparent you wanted to hurt me, I let you.”
She sat silent for a minute. “When we go into the gym there is no holding back. Do you two get that?” she said finally.
“Yes,” the lieutenant answered. Reaper was silent. “Let’s go,” he said and walked off by himself.
The major and lieutenant walked together. “He doesn’t want to make you look bad in front of the team,” the lieutenant said.
“Why does everyone think I’m going to lose?” Andrea said.
“Because you are. Are you more ferocious than the long-fanged tiger or a pissed-off Allith? Because if you’re not, you aren’t going to win. He has killed both of those with his hands in the past two months.”
“He didn’t kill a Allith in hand-to-hand. It’s not in his report.”
“I know it’s not, but the mother and children he saved stood and watched him kill one with his katana.”
“He said he shot them both with his pistol.”
“Yes, I believe he did put it that way. I can tell you 100 percent that family is telling the truth, Major.” She tapped her temple and the major knew.
Reaper walked into the gym with the major and lieutenant right behind him. Matt had all of them out stretching and warming up. Natalia was watching and trying to do what they did. They changed and joined them. Reaper cleared his head and went through the stretching routine his sensei had taught him years ago. He did some warm-up punches and kicks. Then he danced and threw punches.
The major stretched her 120 lb. body at angles the team didn’t know existed, except for Ronnie and the lieutenant. She ran through a routine of kicks and punches.
Reaper and the major got set, and the sergeant major told them to go. Reaper was posted and not planning on moving around. The major, on the other hand, started circling him like a predator stalking prey. He pivoted and changed his stance out of boredom. She came at him with a combination of slashes and punches. He slapped them away like swatting at a fly. She spun and kicked and followed that with another two kicks. He slapped them all away, slapping her ankles instead of her foot. Two punches and a kick, then she dropped, trying to take his feet out from under him. He lifted his foot up and the kick went by, not touching anything. Now she was a little frustrated with him. She thought she would yell at him as she attacked.
“I thought I told you not to hold—” was all that she got out. She hit the mat hard flat on her back. She saw the fist coming for her face and couldn’t get her hands up in time. She felt the air past her ear as he hit the mat. Another loud thud, then he was standing three feet away.
Everybody had gotten so bored watching her punch and kick and him blocking, that a couple of them missed when he twisted and clotheslined her in mid-air, throwing her to the mat. He waited for her to roll over and get up when he attacked again. He grabbed her and swung her over his hip, slamming her down on her back again on the mat. He walked away and let her get up. He started to dance and move towards her. She came at him with a combination of punches. He batted them away and saw his opening. He punched her in the shoulder so hard it spun her around. He grabbed her and kicked her feet out from under her and she bounced off the mat a third time.
While she was getting up he motioned for Gunny to come out and play. Gunny ran at him. It looked like he just wanted to barrel him over, until he caught a foot to the chest, stopping him cold feet, flying out from under him. Gunny hit the mat hard. Ben motioned for the lieutenant to come over. The major thought it was a good time to hit him while he was distracted, but he moved. Using almost the same throw, he caught her arm and bounced her off the mat again.
The lieutenant moved in like the major originally had. Reaper was having none of it; he went for her. She kicked high and he caught it under his arm. He punched her inside thigh and kicked her other foot out from under her, and she hit the mat hard. He walked over to Gunny. Gunny threw a jab that was slow. Ben caught the fist and twisted the wrist, dropping Gunny to his knees. He punched him hard in the diaphragm and he doubled over onto the mat trying to breath. The lieutenant was up and limping a little, and the major was up and moving like molasses. He walked up to the major and put his arms in front of his face. She punched his forearms then his body and left her head unguarded. The elbow to the forehead put her down. She would have a nice goose egg there for a couple of days.
Reaper looked around. Two were down and just the lieutenant was standing. He motioned for Snake to come out. Snake said, “Fuck you, I’m not coming out there.” Reaper was on him in a second. He grabbed his collar and the front waistband of his pants, lifted him out of the chair and threw him onto the mat. “What did you say to me?” Reaper said in a low deadly voice.
Snake had heard that voice before. He thought he w
ould take a punch and go down and stay down. While he was thinking, he did take a punch right to the side of the head. He got what he wished for.
Hillbilly and Mumbles ran at him at the same time the lieutenant did. Now it was getting interesting, he thought. Hillbilly went high and Mumbles went low and the lieutenant came in from behind. Mumbles hit him around the waist, wrapping his arms around him. He tried to lift him up until the elbow came down hard into his back, followed by a fist. He let go and dropped to his hands and knees. Ben grabbed Hillbilly’s arm and threw him into the lieutenant’s kick, knocking them both down.
The captain came through the gym door with six marines behind her. She walked out on the mat and got in his face.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she asked with a concerned look on her face.
“Orders,” he said.
“You have orders to beat your team senseless?”
“My orders were to not hold back, ma’am.”
“Is there any witness to this order?”
“Yes, ma’am, the lieutenant was present when the major said it.”
Matt walked over. “He is telling the truth,” he told the captain. She just looked at him and then Reaper.
“Does anyone here need medical attention?” she asked.
“No, I think just some bruises and a knot or two,” the sergeant major answered.
“You see Captain, as usual I didn’t follow orders,” Ben cracked. “I did hold back. Ronnie!”
“Yes sir.”
“Get some ice packs and take a look at everyone.”
“Yes sir, and smelling salts for Snake?”
“It’s much more peaceful with him like that. Help him last, Ronnie.”
“Yes sir.”
The major lay on the mat listening to the captain and Reaper talk. She sat up and looked around. Six members of the team were in some state of distress.
Reaper walked up to where the major lay, grabbed her arm and put it around his neck while scooping her up in his arms. He carried over to the chairs and sat her down. He turned to look for the lieutenant. She was two steps away and sat next to the major. Matt helped Gunny and Mumbles get to a chair. Hillbilly wasn’t really hurt; he got up and went and sat down. Snake lay knocked out on the mat.
“So even the lieutenant was an easy knock down?” the captain asked
“Captain, the lieutenant is learning she has desire and some skill,” Ben said. “She is just acceptable in some arenas. If you’re thinking about her fighting with your sailors she looked really good because they really sucked.”
The rest of the day went by fairly uneventful. The major was quiet and lost in her own thoughts most of the day. Ben didn’t ask; he knew she would talk to him sooner or later about whatever was on her mind.
He got some food for the both of them and brought it back to his quarters. She ate quietly. He took her plate when she was done and put them both on the table by the door. He took her hand and stood her up. He helped her out of her cloths and into a shirt. They lay down together and she laid her head on his chest. It was her favorite spot.
“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you,” she said.
“It’s okay,” he said. “No one had any serious injury.”
“Do you forgive me?”
“Of course I do,” he said.
“I asked for it,” she said. “I hurt all over. It’s a good reminder.”
“Everybody there is a lot tougher than what they showed today. If you’re done testing me, we can get on with solidifying this team.”
“I’m done,” she said.
The general and the admiral were on the large vid screen in the conference room again. Reaper sat in his black shirt and cargo pants. He had the major on one side and the captain the other. Emily sat next to the captain. He hoped this would go better than the last time. The major would do all the talking for the team.
“I see we now have a face to go with the reputation,” the admiral started things off. “Good, let’s get down to business.”
“There is a Trillond destroyer class ship that should be there today. I know it’s tough just sitting and waiting but it’s almost over. They will take all the civilians off your hands as well as the prisoner you have in the brig. They will depart for Trillond Prime, at which time you will depart on a hunting trip.”
General Grey took over. “We want you heading for Hyson, but at sub-light speed. Reports we have been getting from independents out along the border is that battle cruiser is still in our system with a small escort of Allith ships. They seem to be visiting planets with livable conditions and the Allith are leading them around like real estate brokers. We all know what this means. The Alliance is putting together a battle group and sending it your way, but it is probably a week out at best. We want you to find the battle cruiser and shadow it the best you can. We have sent the last known coordinates and as far as we know it could still be there. Captain, you can play cat and mouse, but get the hell out of there if gets to close.”
“If there are any communications from that ship,” the admiral added, “Emily needs to be our voice and you will contact Command as soon as it happens. So far it has made no aggressive actions leaving that to the Allith raiders. There will be supplies on the Trillond ship for you, Captain. We want you to be prepared for an extended stay in that quadrant of the galaxy. Review all the details you have on the battle cruiser and the images of the unknown species.”
“Captain, a Trillond destroyer dropped out of FTL,” the XO said. “They should arrive our location in about an hour.”
“Thank you, XO. Notify the watch in charge of the survivors to start getting them organized for transport.”
“It looks like you will be off hunting in a matter of hours. Captain,” the general said.
“Captain! We have a Battle Cruiser with group of smaller ships on our long range sensors,” the XO reported.
“Bring her around and put us on the other side of the planet, XO.”
“Yes sir,” he answered.
“Have the Trillond destroyer change course and meet us behind the planet. Maybe they haven’t picked us up on their sensors yet. The planet will hide us and buy us time,” she ordered. “General, Admiral, once the destroyer is gone we will stay and monitor their progress. XO! Battle stations until further notice.”
They could hear the alarms ringing throughout the ship and the sounds of people moving fast in the corridor.
“Lieutenant Chavez, do you copy?” the captain said into her com.
“Yes Captain, I copy.”
“The Trillond survivors should all be there. Get them loaded on the shuttle Reaper brought in and take them to the Trillond destroyer. It will be really cramped, but for a two minute hop it will be fine. Take the corporal with you. They have supplies for us; get them and get back here.”
She turned to Emily. “I want you on the bridge monitoring all communications. The captain may get busy, so you will be the link to Command. Right now there is a whole bucket full of unknowns.”
“Chavez, what’s your status?” she said into her com.
“We are disengaging from the airlock, Captain. We will get into position to dock immediately when they arrive.”
The Trillond destroyer opened its cargo bay doors and Lieutenant Chavez landed the shuttle. The survivors all left in an orderly manner. Several of them had messages written for Reaper and Lieutenant Aok. Lieutenant Chavez accepted and agreed to hand-deliver them. They loaded the supplies and were back on the Warhammer in less than 30 minutes.
“Captain, they have been delivered and we are back. We have the supplies and there are a number of crates marked to the attention of Reaper or Lieutenant Aok only.”
“Copy that. Have the crew set them aside for now.”
All eyes in the conference room were on Reaper. E’Aria, where are you? he thought.
I’m here, Ben.
We have some crates from the Trillond destroyer marked for us. Anything I should know?
Some new tech and weapons and some treats from home for me. He could feel her excitement over the treats.
“What! It’s some things I ordered for the team,” he said.
“What sort of things?” the admiral asked.
He leaned over to the major this time. “I don’t know what’s in the crates. I told the lieutenant to find us different tech and weapons that would aid in our missions. She says it’s tech and weapons and some treats from her home world. Plus, I don’t think it’s any of her damn business.”
“General,” Andrea said, “if you look back at your notes you will find were we asked approval to source some specialized gear which you approved. You know what happened with the mission so we haven’t had a chance to even check on what was ordered.”
“Yes, I remember, Major,” General Grey said. “When we are done, check everything and get back with me.”
“Yes sir, I’ll see to it.”
E’Aria, go get our crates and put them in my room, Ben thought. We will be done in a few minutes.
On my way.
“General, one more thing,” Andrea said. “The Colonial Military did not expend one credit for whatever is in those crates. Reaper spent his own credits to supply the team with some new hardware. I will report to you what we have purchased, but I don’t see that it is anyone else’s business other than maybe the captain here, as it is her ship.”
“You’re right, Major. Private shipments just need to be declared with the captain for safety reasons.”
“Thank you, General.”
“Captain,” the major asked, “before we are shit deep in aliens would you inspect our hardware please? We may need to use it in the very near future.”
“No problem, Major.”
Reaper leaned back and whispered to the captain. “There might just be something in there for you.” She elbowed him.
“All of you, except Emily, are dismissed,” the admiral said. The general looked at the admiral for an explanation. She ignored him.
The Chronicles of Benjamin Jamison: Call Sign Reaper Page 28