Ghost Squadron Boxed Set (Books 1-4): Age of Expansion - A Kurtherian Gambit Series (Ghost Squadron Boxed Sets)

by Sarah Noffke

  “You’re completely right,” said a voice. The three turned to see the general standing in the doorway, his gun held up and aimed, a hot anger in his eyes. “This time I’ll ensure you’re dead.”

  General Lance Reynolds shot only once. Felix fell back, hard on the ground. The bullet went straight through the center of his forehead. It was a decisive blow, quick and simple. And there could be no doubt.

  Felix Castile was dead. Enhanced or not, he was gone for good.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Landing Bay, QBS ArchAngel, Paladin System

  Julianna thought she’d never be fully awake again. She still remembered waking up to find Eddie pummeling Felix, and thinking it was a dream. More than ever before she had had to fight to stay awake. It was like trying to stay dry while stranded in the middle of a hurricane. Now the task was still excruciating, but mildly easier than before.

  The light shined in Julianna’s eyes, not even making her flinch.

  “How do you feel?” asked Dr. Parker, lowering the penlight he’d shined at her pupils. It had been so long since Julianna had seen a doctor, or even needed to. She tried to focus on his slicked back black hair, but her eyelids drooped against her permission.

  “I’m going to need you to keep your eyes open a little longer,” said Dr. Parker.

  Julianna widened her eyes and shook her head, trying to drive away the stubborn exhaustion. She looked at the doctor. He had black glasses that framed his slanted brown eyes.

  “So again, how do you feel?” asked the doctor, showing unending patience with Julianna. She felt like they’d been at his for hours.

  “Sleepy,” replied Julianna.

  “That’s normal, considering,” said Dr. Parker, lowering the pen light all the way. “Do you notice that your reflexes, speed or senses are back to normal?”

  “By that do you mean my normal or regular human normal?” asked Julianna.

  She noticed Eddie stir, lifting his head to look at her. He was stretched out on a cot and bandaged, although he said he really didn’t need them.

  “I mean your normal,” said Dr. Parker.

  Julianna stretched out one of her arms, like testing it. It was hard to feel anything over the fatigue that was blanketing her brain, wrapping snuggly around it. She opened her mouth but couldn’t find an answer. How did she know if she was alright?

  On the other side of the landing bay something hit the ground. Julianna swiveled her head in that direction. Hatch stood beside a damaged Q-Ship, a sort-of smile on his face. “She’s fine,” he called to the doctor. Then he reached out with his tentacle and picked up something tiny from the ground. He held it up and winked at her. Julianna squinted and just made out a tiny silver object. A needle. She heard the needle hit the ground.

  “Thank the stars,” said Eddie, throwing his head back down on the cot.

  Hello, said Pip in Julianna’s head. Can you hear me?

  What? Is that you? she answered.

  Oh good. You can finally hear me, said Pip in her head. That proves that you’re back to normal, whatever that is.

  Pip! A smile broke over Julianna’s face. The doctor looked at her, confused.

  “My AI is back,” she explained.

  I was here the whole time. You’re the one who is back.

  Right. No matter, I’m glad to hear your voice.

  What? What’s wrong with you? I don’t show that you’ve experienced any brain damage.

  Even Pip’s teasing couldn’t take the smile off of Julianna’s face. They’d made it. Despite the degen and Felix and all the odds, they’d made it. And hearing Pip’s voice after considering that it was gone from her head forever, was one of the biggest reliefs.

  I heard that.

  What?

  Your current medical state has made your filter more permeable.

  Do you mean you can hear the thoughts I just had?

  Yes. Your attempts at blocking aren’t working.

  Damn it.

  There was a brief pause. Hey, Jules?

  Yes, Pip.

  I miss you like a fat kid misses mac and cheese.

  That’s not how the phrase goes.

  I’m trying something new.

  It doesn’t work.

  Fine. Cake. I miss you like cake.

  What kind of cake? asked Julianna, watching Eddie sit up. He looked as tired as she felt, but was still giving her an amused expression.

  Red velvet, of course.

  Why of course?

  Because it’s fancy.

  Oh, she mused.

  And red is my favorite color.

  I had no idea.

  Sounds like you have a newfound opportunity to get to know me better.

  Maybe I will.

  And a lifetime to do so.

  Julianna tilted her head, bemused at the expression Eddie was giving her. He looked like he was trying to figure her out, like she was a complex equation.

  “What?” she asked him just as the doctor retreated.

  “What are you and Pip talking about?” he asked, testing his foot as he tried to stand.

  “Cake,” she said. “What’s your favorite type?”

  “Cheesecake,” said Eddie without thinking.

  The laugh popped out of Julianna’s mouth, immediately making her feel more awake. “What a strange answer.”

  “Why is that a strange?”

  She shrugged. “Just didn’t expect it to be something so indulgent and rich.”

  “What can I say, I have expensive tastes,” said Eddie.

  From the other side of the landing bay, Hatch’s voice cut into their conversation. “Do you know how long it will take me to install new armor on this ship?” His tentacles were waving over his head. Lars looked sideways at Knox, who seemed to be suppressing a smile.

  “One to two hours,” said Lars, sounding tentative.

  “Just because I’m incredibly efficient doesn’t mean I should have to fix your mistakes,” said Hatch.

  “If I didn’t lose the armor then I was going to be hit by a missile,” explained Lars. “What else was I supposed to do?”

  “Fire at the missile!” Hatch chided.

  “The guns weren’t working. The button was stuck,” said Lars.

  “Oh. Well, that might have been my fault,” said Hatch, bustling over to where Julianna and Eddie stood. “Glad you didn’t die, Lars. Sorry about that.”

  Lars watched, a bit confused, as Hatch retreated.

  “Did you really make a mistake on the guns?” asked Eddie when Hatch stopped right in front of them.

  “Hell, no,” said Hatch, waving a dismissive tentacle at him. “I ain’t made a mistake in decades.”

  Julianna eyed Knox, who was already busy at work, repairing the battered Q-Ship. He was always working, never taking a break even when he looked as exhausted as she presently felt.

  “It was Knox then?” asked Julianna.

  Hatch looked over his shoulder at the kid before turning back. “Yes, but it’s probably his first one. I would have expected a dozen more by now.”

  “So, you took the blame. That was nice of you,” said Eddie.

  “I’m not trying to be nice,” said Hatch. “I’m trying to keep his morale up. An unhappy apprentice won’t work as hard.”

  Eddie laughed. “Of course. I should have known it was something like that.”

  Hatch’s eyes moved to something at Julianna’s back. She turned to find the general quickly approaching. She saluted.

  “I’m glad to see you two are up and feeling better,” said Lance.

  “We’re fine,” Julianna answered, speaking for Eddie although she hadn’t meant to.

  “Thank you, sir, for what you did on Onyx station,” said Eddie. “Your timing couldn’t have been any better.”

  “Actually, I could have killed Felix years ago,” said Lance. “That timing would have been a bit better.”

  Eddie laughed. “Hindsight, right?”

  “Precisely,” said Lance.
“Now, if you three wouldn’t mind taking a trip with me, I have something to show you.”

  Unsurpassed, Paladin System

  The ship was…

  Well, it was dark. That was the best way to describe it. Eddie squinted through the blackened corridor, walking beside General Reynolds. Julianna and Hatch strode behind him.

  “How did you manage to seize this ship so easily?” asked Hatch. “There’s hardly any damage.”

  “We offered up a deal to the crew,” said Lance. “Most of them were mercenaries, so there wasn’t much loyalty to begin with, but with Felix dead, the crew had no incentive to keep fighting. In exchange for Unsurpassed, we offered each of them a shorter sentence. They’re to spend the next year assisting in the reconstruction efforts on Kezza.” He smiled, adding. “Under Federationship supervision, of course.”

  The corridors were spacious and from everything Eddie could tell the ship was incredibly well made. Lance turned when they were on the bridge. “Hatch, what do you make of this ship?”

  Hatch appraised the area, squinting too from the darkness. “It’s got potential, although lacking many of the Federation conveniences that we’re all used to.”

  The general nodded, his hands behind his back. “But that’s something that we can fix with time.”

  “Fix?” asked Julianna. “Do you mean this ship, Unsurpassed is ours?”

  The general nodded. “That’s why I ordered you not to demolish it in battle. As I mentioned before, I need ArchAngel back for other business. Unsurpassed is more than enough to hold Ghost Squadron, with room to grow. It’s powerful, strong, equipped and I’m prepared to give you the resources you need to upgrade it.”

  Eddie stared around at the darkened bridge. It was a beautiful ship. And with Hatch’s help, it would be even better. More importantly, it would be their ship, his and Julianna’s. Something they could put their mark on and truly own.

  “However, I don’t like the name Unsurpassed,” said Lance, grimacing. “It brings up bad feelings connected to a bad man.”

  “Yeah, I agree,” said Julianna, thinking. “We’ll have to figure out something else.”

  Lance held up a single finger, pointing toward the ceiling. “I think I might have a solution for you.” The lights on the bridge all came to life, making the space suddenly bright. Monitors all around the area flickered with activity. The strategy table in the middle of the space lit up blue, showing their present location. The whole bridge took on a new, vibrant life.

  “I called an old friend,” began Lance, “and he agreed to help us out. I think you’ve all met. Please say hello to your new ship, Ricky Bobby.”

  Julianna’s mouth popped open. Surprise mingled with pure joy sprang to her face. “Ricky Bobby! You’re here?”

  “Hello, Julianna. It’s good to see you again,” said her old AI. “I’m ready for our next adventure.”

  EPILOGUE

  Jaslene Corporation, Federation Border Station Seven

  Penrae straightened the collar of her crisp blouse in the reflection of the glass doors. Wearing tightly fitting clothes always took getting used to for her. Well, wearing clothes in general, really. It was a necessary evil, though.

  She eyed the image that stared back at her. Her hair was platinum blonde and curled tightly under at the ends, like a famous female who had once lived on Earth. Penrae thought for a moment. Marilyn something…

  She shook off the thought, realizing she’d been staring at her image for a whole minute. That would raise suspicions, which could ruin everything. Verdok was counting on her. The council and the elders had entrusted her with this task—her first big mission.

  When she swallowed to combat her nervousness, she noticed how strange her throat felt. The bones and cartilage produced a strange sensation as they moved.

  Focus, Penrae told herself, striding forward.

  A male dressed in a uniform opened the door for her when she was near the office’s entrance.

  “Good morning, Ms. Jaslene,” the doorman said with a sensitive smile. “What did you think of the game last night?”

  Penrae cleared her throat and tried to smile. It was such a weird sensation that she wasn’t familiar with yet. Verdok said she’d get used to this and faster with each time. She hoped he was right. “I thought it was great,” she remarked, bustling through the open door.

  The man’s smile fell. “Oh, but the Comets lost. I thought you owned the team?”

  Penrae straightened. Tensed. She turned to face him directly, reading his nametag ever so briefly. “Charles, you know I don’t care about winning and losing. I enjoy the sport of it all.”

  The grin returned to Charles’ face, this time wider. “That’s the spirit Ms. Jaslene. We could all learn something from you.”

  Penrae gave a curt nod and turned back for the elevators. That was close. Too close. She replayed Verdok’s words in her head. “Keep it brief. The less you say and do, the better.”

  The elevator was empty and for that Penrae was grateful. She held her briefcase close to her body, which was slender and curvaceous. Peering down, she chanced a glance at her chest. Boobs were such a bizarre thing that humans had. And this one had a full pair that made her small waist even more accentuated.

  However, she was grateful that the CEO of Jaslene Corporation had been a female. That was how Penrae had landed this mission. It wouldn’t be impossible for a male to pull off this role, but it would have been an unnecessary risk. It took less time for Penrae to adapt to a female human’s body, due there being a partial overlap in certain biological functions. Had she been required to perform the part of a male, it would have take more time to fully acclimate herself to the role.

  The doors slid open when the elevator arrived at the main floor. A female with auburn hair and round glasses gazed up from her desk. She glanced back down absentmindedly and then took a second look at Penrae, startled.

  “Ms. Jaslene,” stammered the female, standing and hurrying around the desk. “I didn’t know you were coming in today. You usually take Wednesdays off.”

  Penrae cleared her throat and kept her chin high. “I just had a last-minute affair to deal with.”

  “Is it the Murphy account?” asked the female, her voice high-pitched with nervousness. “I assured you I’d deal with it. Everything is fine now, I promise.”

  “No, it’s not the Murphy case,” said Penrae, her voice clear and deliberate. She strode for the door on the other side of the office—the one marked “Mary Jaslene, CEO.”

  “Oh. Well, is there something I could take care of for you?” asked the female, trailing behind Penrae. “I know you prefer to spend this day with your family, and I’m happy to—”

  Penrae swung around, her movements graceful. It was the same way she’d seen the real Mary Jaslene walk when she’d encountered her that morning. “I do prefer to spend this time away from the office, so please leave me to my work. I won’t need anything from you.”

  The female smoothed her pencil skirt, looking flustered. “Okay, then I’ll just go back to…” There was a strange look in the receptionist’s eyes like she was caught off guard by how the CEO was acting.

  Penrae smiled serenely at the woman, making her face soften. “Thank you. I’ve made a small error with one of the accounts and just want to fix it before it is noticed. You shouldn’t worry about it since it’s my blunder. And let’s keep it a secret, okay?”

  The female’s hesitation vanished. Her face broke with relief. “Of course. I thought you were double checking my work. Don’t worry, no one will hear about this from me.”

  “I trust your work implicitly, and that you’ll keep this in confidence,” said Penrae and then headed for the door at the end of the room. She strode across the space, taking each step carefully in the high heels. They were such an odd thing to wear, and her nervousness made her think she’d trip and fall on her face. That’s definitely not something the poised CEO of Jaslene Corporation would do.

  Penrae didn’
t let out a breath until she was inside the expansive office. It was set up exactly as Hendrix had said it would be, which meant that the safe was on the back wall behind the painting of a bird.

  All Penrae had to do was input the code and then she’d have what she came for. It was only a stack of papers, but those papers held the key. The Federation was hiding the Tangle Thief, and Penrae was going to help find it. Once the council was in possession of it, then they’d be unstoppable.

  Knowing she only had one chance to disable the safe before the alarm was triggered, Penrae reverted to her natural form. She slid across the carpet, her scales leaving behind flakes in the fibers. Shedding season was nearing and soon Penrae would have a new skin, more iridescent than the one before.

  She slithered to the painting, catching her image in the mirror sitting on the CEO’s desk. The female apparently looked into a mirror when talking on the phone to ensure she always smiled when she spoke. Penrae had learned this about the CEO when preparing for this mission. Her red serpent face with its large green eyes stared back at her. The Saverus species didn’t smile, which was why she’d practiced the gesture.

  The giant snake turned her attention to the painting on the wall, her small arms extending in the direction of the vault. This had all gone to plan, and soon she’d have the praise of the council. Soon they’d be that much closer to taking anything they so desired.

  Penrae’s forked tongue slipped from her mouth with a gentle hiss, a gesture reeking of her elation. The Saverus might be limited in their expressions, but the living forms they could shapeshift into were endless. Who needed to smile when they could steal the appearance of anyone in the universe?

  FINIS

  Author Notes - Sarah Noffke

  January 19, 2018

  After the last author notes, I feel like there’s a precedent set. And (aka Anderle) is all expecting me to pick up the mic in these notes and wax about how cray-cray he is and throw shade on him, prompting him to reply. However, I cordially decline to partake in such affairs at this junction.