“It’s pretty common actually,” Gunny Tveit said. “Check your military history, Phillips.”
“I’m with Kal,” Ty said. “If this ship was full, why not take another?”
“Why waste fuel taking two when one would suffice?” Jules said.
“Besides, there’s no reason to endanger more than one vessel,” Tveit said.
“We’re being endangered?” Nick said.
“Yeah, but we don’t count,” Kal said. “We’re expendable, remember?”
“I do,” Nick said, deciding to change the subject. “You didn’t have to volunteer to sleep out here with us, Sarge.”
“Yes, I did,” Gunny Tveit said. “We’re a team. No special treatment, that’s my philosophy.”
“Well, I, for one, am glad you’re here,” Ember said. “Those goons from Team Thirteen are bound to cause trouble.”
“There won’t be trouble,” Gunny Tveit said. “Not from any of you. No matter what they do, just smile and be polite. They’ve earned a little latitude, and we’re the new kids, so don’t get into trouble.”
“Even if they start it?” Kal asked.
“Just smile and be polite,” Gunny Tveit. “Hazing is a normal part of military life. Don’t make a scene, and they’ll grow tired of it.”
“I hope she’s right,” Ty said. “But that Calloway is a real piece of work.”
“He’s been after Nick since the sparring match,” Ember said.
Nick shot her a dirty look. He didn’t like it that Ember was speaking out of turn, or revealing his problems to anyone. She looked down, but Nick knew she wasn’t sorry for speaking up. Ember was a strong-willed woman, it was one of the many things he admired about her.
“Look, we’ve four days on this ship just to reach Uni Five,” Gunny Tveit said. “Tempers are bound to flare up. We’re in an infantry platoon’s space. Recon teams are full of big egos. So we stay together, keep our heads down, and stay out of trouble. That’s an order.”
“I wonder what Thirteen’s staff sergeant is telling them,” Kal said.
“Doesn’t matter. We don’t engage,” Gunny Tveit said. “No matter what.”
Chapter 23
Two days into the journey, Gunny Tveit was at her breaking point. At every turn, Donny Calloway had insulted Nick and the entire Recon team. While Master Sergeant Florez and the other NCOs kept to their private quarters, Gunny Tveit was left to ensure that a riot didn’t break out in the common room.
The large space had been quickly divided. A table was pushed into each corner, for each of the three Recon teams. The center space was reserved for the infantry platoon, who were constantly complaining about the intrusion of the Special Forces teams. Tempers flared often, and it took all of the gunnery sergeant’s charm and authority to keep violence from breaking out.
“Sarge is going to be worn out by the time we reach the system,” Ty said.
“We need a way to blow off some steam,” Nick said. “We could spar, but we’d reach the system with half the teams in the medical bay.”
“Or the morgue,” Kal said.
“No room for a foot race,” Jules said.
“I feel like a kid on the longest road trip ever,” Ember said. “How is it possible that we aren’t there yet?”
“Don’t make me pull over,” Ty said in mock anger. “I will turn this space ship around right now.”
“I suppose a trivia challenge is too much to hope for,” Jules said.
“Hey, wait a second,” Kal said, suddenly excited. “I was messing around with the programs on my helmet, and there is a simulator on there.”
“So?” Ty said.
“So, it’s probably possible to have virtual reality combat games,” Kal said.
“You want us to play video games?” Ty asked in disbelief.
“Well, yeah, sort of. We could have a marksmanship challenge and see who the best shot on board is,” Kal said. “This ship is bound to have weapon simulators. We can have one round of moving targets and one round of long-range shooting. It would take a really long time, but everyone could watch the action on the view screens while the participants use their helmets in a virtual gun range.”
“It’s not a bad idea,” Ember said.
“I’m game,” Nick said.
“Okay, so go find us some weapon simulators,” Kal said. “I’ll set up the VR range. Jules, you get Gunny Tveit on board. Ember and Ty can be in charge of the brackets.”
“Roger that,” Nick said.
He got to his feet and made his way quickly across the common room, moving toward the hatch that led to the corridor from which he could access the Ready Room. He was almost to the door when someone grabbed his arm.
“Where the hell are you going, Private?” Donny snarled. “Enlisted personnel aren’t allowed to roam around without an escort.”
“Sorry about that, Sergeant Calloway,” Nick said. “I was going to find weapon simulators. Dragon Team Seven is putting on a marksmanship contest.”
“Dragon Team Seven doesn’t exist, Private,” Donny said angrily. “You don’t get to call yourselves that. I doubt you’ll make it through training.”
Nick wanted to hit the arrogant veteran, but he took a deep breath and stayed calm. Donny still had a hand on Nick’s arm and made no move to release it. Nick waited patiently, but the people around them were starting to move back. The tension in the common room was coming to a head, and Nick wasn’t sure how to defuse it. If Donny Calloway had been warned not to fight, he was ignoring the order.
“Why don’t you drop and give me twenty push-ups right now, Private?” Donny Calloway said.
“Look, we don’t have to do this,” Nick said. “Just let me go.”
“I said hit the deck, Private!” Donny shouted. “And make it thirty. Count them out.”
Nick could do thirty push-ups, but he hated giving in to the vindictive sergeant, who only wanted to humiliate Nick. Still, a quick glance showed that Corporals Gorman and Hicks had Gunny Tveit occupied. So, Nick stooped down to the floor.
“You look right at home on your knees, Private Nichols,” Donny said with a chuckle. “I’ll bet you’ve had lots of experience.”
Nick was furious, and the other marines were starting to laugh at him. But he forced his pride down and started doing push-ups, counting each one.
“Louder, Private!” Donny bellowed.
It took several minutes to complete thirty push-ups, and when Nick looked up again, Ty and Kal were right behind Donny.
“Sergeant,” Kal said. “I believe you’re needed in your section.”
“Shut your mouth, or you’ll be joining Private Nichols,” Donny growled. “Who told you to get up?”
Nick had been rising and suddenly stopped, one knee still on the deck. His hands were shaking with anger, but Donny had no intention of letting the show of his dominance end.
“Now thirty sit-ups,” he snapped. “On the double!”
“What’s going on here?” someone said from the spectators who had gathered around Nick and his tormentor.
“Stop sticking your nose where it doesn’t—oh, excuse me, Master Sergeant,” Donny Calloway said.
“Why has this marine been given extra PT?” Florez demanded.
“He was trying to leave the common area,” Donny Calloway said. “When I questioned him about it, he was disrespectful and belligerent, Master Sergeant.”
“Well, enough of this foolery,” Florez insisted. “We’ve got two more days on this tub. I don’t want anyone making trouble. Is that understood?”
“Roger that, Master Sergeant,” Calloway said, but he looked at Nick with unconcealed hatred as the words left his mouth.
“Master Sergeant,” Kal said. “We were hoping to put together a shooting tournament using our helmet’s VR capabilities. With your permission, of course.”
“Sounds like a good idea,” Florez said. “That’s showing initiative, Private. I take it you can set it up?”
“Yes, Master S
ergeant,” Kal said.
“And your friend was going to get the weapons simulators?”
“Yes, Master Sergeant,” Nick said. “Straight to the Ready Room and back.”
“Very well,” Master Sergeant Florez said. “But don’t go alone.”
“I’ll go with him,” Donny Calloway said.
“Fine,” Master Sergeant Florez said. “Let’s get this underway. We could all use a distraction.”
Ty shot Nick a knowing look. There was no doubt that Donny Calloway had something vile planned in the Ready Room, but Nick was tired of playing nice. He gave Ty a tiny shake of the head and followed Calloway out of the common room.
Nick had no doubt that Donny was going to do something. It was the way of bullies. They enjoyed making their victims feel scared, but Nick wasn’t scared. He was tired and angry. All he cared about was getting past the pettiness of Donny’s beef.
They walked down the corridor in silence, but once they were in the Ready Room, Donny’s arrogant swagger returned.
“I saw your little girlfriend run to the master sergeant,” Donny said. “That’ll cost her. Don’t think I’ll just let it slide.”
Nick suddenly whirled around and came face to face with the older man. There was just the slightest bit of hesitation in Donny’s eyes. It was there for an instant, then banished by the older man, but Nick saw it.
“You want a piece of me?” Nick said. “I’m right here, old man. I beat your ass once and I’ll do it again. But if you go anywhere near my teammates, I’ll kill you.”
“Big talk for a baby in his big-boy uniform,” Donny said. “I doubt you have the guts to kill a spider. You sure as hell aren’t ready for me.”
“I’m ready. Give it your best shot,” Nick said.
Donny smiled, but it was forced. Nick knew what was coming before the older man made a move. Donny started to turn away, but then lashed out with a haymaker punch. Nick considered just taking the hit, hoping it would satisfy the older man’s ego-driven anger. But Donny wasn’t weak, and Nick knew the punch could injure him, so he swayed back out of range of the blow. Donny was strong, with a thick chest and wide shoulder, but his arms were shorter than Nick’s.
The Ready Room was crowded with equipment, and Nick tried to move away, stay on the outside of Donny’s range, but he nearly stumbled over a crate of ammunition. Donny came charging in like a wild bull and landed two body blows, but Nick’s armor absorbed most of the power in the punches.
Regaining his footing, Nick slid closer to Donny and caught him with a judo throw. The older man went down hard but held onto Nick. They were both on the floor, scrambling for position. Donny was in his element. The man had years of grappling experience over Nick, and he was soon on Nick’s back, his muscled arms scrambling for purchase across Nick’s throat.
Most fights, in Nick’s experience, ended quickly. One person gets hurt, or gets the upper hand almost immediately, and there isn’t much time for thought or strategy once the punches start flying. But as Nick fended off the older man’s attempts to choke him, Nick realized he was in a dangerous situation. If Donny sank the choke hold, he wouldn’t just give up when Nick tapped or even when Nick passed out. He would kill Nick, that much was certain. Donny had lost all control, and Nick couldn’t give him even the slightest opening.
Pulling away from Donny wasn’t an option. Perhaps he could have gotten to his feet with Donny on his back, but it was doubtful, and trying would only leave Nick exposed to the vengeful man’s vicious attacks. Instead, Nick arched his back then kicked off the floor, flipping over backward.
The unexpected move allowed Nick to break free from Donny’s hold on him. They were face to face, with Donny on the bottom and both stretched out in opposite directions. Nick started to roll to his right, but when Donny moved in the other direction, Nick reversed his momentum, pressing the weight of his body down on Donny’s head. Nick’s arms shot under the older man from either side, his hands locking under Donny’s chin. Nick pulled and Donny made a gagging sound. Nick released the pressure but didn’t break the hold.
“You’re beat,” Nick said. “Stop struggling, or I’ll choke you out.”
Donny tried to buck Nick off his back, but the younger man was ready for him. Nick lifted his hips off the floor, straightening his legs and driving his upper body down on Donny’s back. When the older man tried to squirm away, Nick tightened his grip, making Donny gag again as Nick’s hands pressed into Donny’s windpipe.
“Back off, man. Last warning.”
Donny tapped the floor with his free hand. It was the universal signal for surrender in a close fight, and Nick let go. He was rolling off the older man when Donny grabbed his arm and flung his legs across Nick’s chest. Nick tried to get away, but Donny had his arm like a dog with a bone. He held tight, flexing his hips and pressing down with his legs until Nick’s arm was fully extended.
“Rookie mistake,” Donny gloated. “This isn’t a sparring match. There are no rules, you idiot.”
Nick tapped but Donny didn’t let go. He cried out, “I submit. I’m done!”
But Donny wouldn’t let go. Nick knew what was coming and there was no way to stop it. Either the bone or the joint would give. He was young, his ligaments and tendons still flexible enough to take the brunt of the arm bar without damage, but his radial head snapped. It sounded like a plastic toy breaking, almost like it wasn’t real. But the pain that exploded in Nick’s arm was.
Nick screamed in pain. Donny held the arm bar for a few excruciating seconds, then released him. He shoved Nick away and got to his feet. A moment later, a Proxy stuck his long, bald head into the room to see what was happening. Nick was on the floor, holding his arm across his chest, his teeth clenched in pain.
“What happened?” the alien asked, his voice sounding strangely jolly from the universal translator at his throat.
“One of the crates fell over on him,” Donny lied. “I think it might have broken his arm. Help me get him to the med bay.”
Donny yanked Nick to his feet and pushed him roughly to the door. The alien looked surprised but took hold of Nick, who staggered a little but didn’t have trouble walking. Donny stayed behind them and, at the door of the med bay, took up his lie again.
“A crate fell,” he said. “It hit my friend, and he collapsed on the floor. I heard a snap. I think it might have broken his arm.”
Nick’s arm throbbed with pain and robbed him of any strength he had. He was furious, but there was nothing he could do, no way to avenge the wrong. The Proxy physician took Nick inside and scanned his arm with some type of medical apparatus. Then he gave Nick a shot and the pain subsided. He was sitting on a small bed, and the alien helped him lie back.
“You do have a broken bone,” the alien said. “But I can fix it.”
He lifted Nick’s arm, which sent pain raging through him despite the narcotic he’d been given. The alien settled the arm into a boxy device that hummed when it was activated. The pain subsided again, and Nick felt as if he were weightless. His entire body felt as if it was vibrating slightly, the sensation was rather calming.
Donny moved close when the physician stepped away. He bent down low to Nick’s ear.
“Go along with the story, or I’ll crack more than your arm. And I’ll get my hands on your friends too, starting with your little girlfriend.”
Nick wanted to say something, but his mind was too detached. Donny straightened and went to the door. Nick could hear him telling someone the story, and he knew it was a lie, but at that moment he simply didn’t care. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. He was drifting away in a fog of relief. His eyes closed, and he fell fast asleep.
Chapter 24
“There he is!” Kal said loudly.
“Hey, Nick, you okay?” Ember asked.
Nick looked from one side of the little bed to the other. Ember and Kal were on his right, Gunny Tveit was on his left. His friends looked relieved, Gunny Tveit looked angry.
“Leave it to
Nick to find a way out of that crowded common room,” Kal said. “How’s the meds in here, buddy?”
“Leave him alone,” Ember said.
“What’s going on?” Nick asked.
“Why don’t you tell us,” Gunny Tveit said. “Your arm was broken. Do you remember that?”
Nick remembered everything. His head was still a little foggy, but he had no trouble recalling what had happened. Still, he didn’t answer at first.
“We know what happened,” Kal said. “Donny Calloway is full of it.”
“Private Phillips, would you please leave the med bay,” Gunny Tveit said in a voice that made the request an order.
“Yeah, okay. Sorry, Sarge, I just lost my temper,” Kal said.
“I’m okay,” Nick said.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” the Proxy physician said.
The alien removed Nick’s arm from the boxy machine, which Nick noticed was no longer humming. He expected the movement to cause pain, but it didn’t. The alien pressed on Nick’s forearm with its long, delicate fingers.
“Any pain, Private Nichols?”
“No,” Nick said. “It feels way better.”
“Yes, the bone calcifier can mend slight fractures like the one you experienced rather quickly. But be warned, you may still suffer pain, especially when putting weight onto the limb thusly.”
The alien mimicked a pushing motion.
“Can you rejoin the team?” Gunny Tveit asked.
“Of course,” the Proxy physician said. “The pain will diminish over time.”
Nick sat up. His head was just swimming a little, but he was hungry and ready to get out of the med bay.
“Not too fast,” Ember said.
“I’m fine,” Nick said.
“There’s no rush, Nichols,” Gunny Tveit said. “We’re in the system, but still several hours out of orbit. Why don’t you tell us what happened?”
“I made a mistake, that’s all,” Nick said.
“The kind where crates fall?” Gunny Tveit asked.
Uncommon Loyalty Page 15
