by REM
Kyle smiled.
“Good—he needs a little straightening out,” said Reena. “That rascal ate all of my Boden candies last night, and was mouthing off when he shot me down in practice. Hold him down so I can get a few licks in too.”
Kyle’s face brightened more, his giggles longer-winded. “You’re only picking on me because you’re bigger. You wouldn’t try this when I’m an adult.”
Josh smirked and said, “That’s not getting you out of this one.” He jabbed and poked at Kyle till the youngster burst into full-on laughter.
“Hoss, help me out! Ace, Nate!” Kyle yelled.
Hoss grinned but didn’t get up.
Ace and Nate glanced at each other in advance of tackling Josh to the mat in fun. They were on top of him for almost no time—when the women rushed over in Josh’s defense.
“Get off of him!” said Reena, jumping onto Nate’s back. Maya did the same to Ace. Then Kyle hopped onto Reena. It wasn’t long before Hoss came over and spread out on top of them all.
Once their horseplay had ended, they all left the gym and split up. Maya went with Josh, who had decided to run simulations for the rest of the evening.
Midway through their session, Maya jumped up with her hands above her head. “I did it! I beat you, I beat you, I beat you!” If anyone had been watching, they’d have thought she’d just won a huge jackpot at a casino.
Blood rushed to Josh’s face, but he didn’t say a word.
Maya grinned triumphantly. “You’re so quiet. You bite your tongue?”
“What is that? One win out of maybe twenty since being on this ship?” he replied.
Maya wasn’t having any of it. She kept smiling feverishly and shook her head. “You know how it goes back in Space League, Josh. Doesn’t matter who wins the most; what matters is who wins last. So, at this very moment, I’m the champ, plus the better pilot, whether you like it or not. I bested you.” She laughed uncontrollably.
Josh swallowed as if he’d taken down a whole cherry, then tightened his lips like there was a bad smell in the air. “Your reign will be short-lived. The next sim is starting—let’s go.”
Maya moved her head slowly from left to right. “I’m done for the night, Josh.”
“Huh?”
“According to your old rules, you’d have to beat another contender before earning the right for a title shot, remember?”
Josh was visualizing his hands around her neck. “We’re not at Space League anymore, Maya. Those rules no longer apply. Come on, let’s get some more practice in, in case anything happens with the Mercen tension.”
Her lips resumed a cheerful arch. “I would, but I’m spent, Josh. Maybe we’ll see if I can squeeze you into my schedule later this week—after you’ve gone through all of the proper preliminaries, of course.”
Josh shot up out of his seat and lifted Maya over his shoulders. He jiggled her up and down until she was chortling like a mad woman.
“I’m going to report your ass to Rolly,” she managed to say, between giggles.
“We’re not leaving here until I get a rematch.”
Later that night, everyone from the 3rd squadron met at the counters in the lounge, with cups of forgotten-fruit juice.
“Cheers!” said Ace.
They all downed their drinks and entered a state of mental bliss. Everything around them changed into vibrant colors.
Good times! thought Josh, smiling at the group.
Chapter 12
Josh was torn from his sleep by a siren blaring and red light flashing throughout his room. The reality of the situation was hard to grasp in his current daze, which seemed as if he had awoken in the depths of Hell. A code red… he thought. A code red!
Josh sprung to his feet and dashed out of the door, down the hall, and into the lounge. Nate, Reena, and Kyle were already there, with Hoss, Ace, Maya, and Smokey quickly joining them. They all stared at the big screen, where a deep-red message was flaring: “CRESTON CRUISER UNDER ATTACK IN SOUTHERN VOIDZONE.”
“I can’t believe it,” Maya uttered.
Neither could Josh.
“We’re at war!” said Hoss.
Smokey squinted in disgust. “We’ll kill them all,” he spat.
One look at Reena and Nate’s expressions and it was clear to Josh that not everyone was as optimistic as Smokey. He read the smaller lettering below the main message: “M.N. Rampage has been placed on high alert. We need all pilots readied.”
“A lot of people are going to die,” said Maya.
Hoss placed a hand on her shoulder. “You can’t think that way, Maya.”
“They want a fight—we’ll give them a fight!” said Ace.
Josh turned toward the squad leader and nodded. “Yeah.”
After about a minute the alarm ceased, but the alert remained pulsating on the screen.
Officer Rolly rushed into the unit. “Listen up!” he shouted. “Get suited and eat whatever’s here. I need everyone down to the north flight deck in ten. We have to be readied for immediate action.”
“Yes, sir!” the group responded. At their turning to prepare, there was a series of loud beeps from the alarm. A newsflash moved across the bottom of the monitor: “2nd squadron has been sent to the southern Void. Space carriers F.M. Comet, and P.T. Stargazer have been called to the area, but won’t arrive for an ETA: 6 hours.”
“Go get ’em Dazzler,” said Kyle.
“Six hours? A lot of good that’s going to do us,” said Reena.
“Probably won’t even need them,” said Hoss.
“All right, get moving!” barked Rolly.
Everyone scrambled to get readied.
Once the 3rd squadron had made it to the north flight deck, Rolly ordered everybody into a waiting room, after which the officer sat at a desk in the corner and stared into a computer screen relaying battle information. There was a monitor attached to the wall that allowed the pilots to see updates too. The screen reminded Josh of a scoreboard in how it showed current casualties and damage reports.
“Why aren’t we out there fighting?” Josh let escape from his mouth.
Rolly brushed off the comment with a hand motion. He didn’t even bother to look in Josh’s direction.
“Clint knows what he’s doing,” muttered Smokey.
A few tense minutes passed, in which reservists Lauler and Henry joined the crew. Then a siren went off throughout the carrier. Red lights flashed all around, even in the room where the 3rd squadron was waiting.
Josh saw Rolly widen his eyes at the screen, followed by the officer picking up a phone and punching a button.
“Affirmative. Yes, sir,” said Rolly, nodding all the while. He slammed the receiver onto its hook. “There’s your answer!” he directed toward Josh. “We’ve got twelve shadow fighters that have just crossed into Creston space via the northern Void Zone. Our joint intel station on Fargo has indicated the enemy craft are headed this way. I want everyone to their strikers!” He looked at Ace. “You are to intercept the Mercen fighters before they can reach the Rampage. Let’s go. Go, go, go!”
The pilots hustled to their feet and raced out of the room. “The attack on the south is probably a distraction so the Mercens can hit the real prize, the Rampage,” said Nate, jogging to his ship.
“You’re right,” said Ace.
Josh climbed into his cockpit and fired up his striker. Seconds later, he and the rest of the 3rd squadron were blasting off into space.
“Route formation,” Ace transmitted.
Josh alternated between staring at his radar and gazing out to space. His heart pounded while trying to fathom he was fighting in a real war.
“Keep a keen eye out for the shadow fighters,” transmitted Nate. “Never know if they’ve got some new tech they’ve been saving up for the next big fight.”
“Aye,” said Smokey.
I’ve seen a lot of that lately, thought Josh, recalling the light-box on Captain Scope’s striker and the shock missile used during their s
ecret mission.
Roughly four minutes passed—the enemy crafts appeared on radar. “There they are!” transmitted Kyle.
“Battle spread formation!” Ace called out. “They’ve got a two-ship advantage—keep that in mind. Watch for rotations and shift quickly if one ours is in need. We got the better pilots—take ’em down!”
“That’s right!” said Hoss, trying his best to get everyone fired up.
“Fly toward me if you’re in trouble,” transmitted Kyle.
“They’re switching to a wall formation,” said Smokey, already knowing what to expect.
“They just broke fifty miles,” Josh transmitted.
“Hot damn, here we go. Break any which way you can on my mark,” barked Ace.
Josh gripped his control stick tight in preparation to maneuver. At that moment it was as if a heater had turned on in his cockpit. He felt a warm chill.
“Thirty miles,” said Reena.
“Wait for it…” Ace transmitted. Then… “Break!”
The pilots split off in all directions, in counter to the shadow fighters that had done the same. Josh watched the dark craft appear—then disappear into wild loops and crazy curves with the other Creston strikers. Holy Hell! he thought, shifting his stick into a wild corkscrew to avoid enemy fire. Lasers flashed in his peripherals. Everything felt chaotic.
Looks like you’re the lucky one, thought Josh, honing in on a shadow fighter to his front right. He veered in its direction at high thrust. The shadow fighter dove into a reverse spiral and swerved back around at Josh’s rear. What the fuck, thought Josh, thoroughly impressed. “Jesus, I can never underestimate these damn things,” he muttered.
Lasers zipped dangerously close to his cockpit from a ship to the side. Josh took the shots as a sharp reminder to be wary of his entire surroundings in such a messy conflict. Too close! he thought, yanking his craft in the opposite direction, with the first shadow fighter still on his tail. He then heard Nate say: “Behind you, Reena! Cut left! Cut left!”
Reena shrieked over the transmission. Josh could even hear her ship being struck.
“Reena!” Hoss blurted.
“Damnit,” said Ace.
“I’m fine! Shields are down, but no damage,” Reena transmitted. “He’s on me tight. I need some help!”
“I’m coming your way,” Maya transmitted, flying out from an S maneuver. “I’m firing a shot to try and clear him off of you!”
Josh rolled wide to escape another pair of beams flaring from the rear.
“Uh!” Hoss grunted through his transmitter. “I lost my shields! I lost my shields!”
Oh man, Josh thought. He eyed a shadow fighter trailing Henry and fired an errant blast at it. Worth a shot, he thought, weaving left and right to avoid being hit.
There was a boom! Josh jerked his neck to get a glimpse of the fireball. “That’s one down,” Kyle transmitted.
Atta boy! thought Josh, feeling his confidence surge. “Time to give this bad boy a taste of his own medicine.” He reverse dove into the exact same twisted U maneuver the Mercen craft had performed on him—and it worked. Josh swung in from behind and fired a shot that broke the shadow fighter’s shield, and also sent a stream of sparks discharging momentarily from its top—but the enemy ship had no problems flying.
Going to have to hit him again. The shadow fighter had started snaking when Josh heard another sudden boom!
“Aaah, no…” cried Lauler over the transmission. “Henry.”
“Henry’s down,” Hoss transmitted, in a sorrowed tone.
Josh heard a faint, “Oh my god,” from Maya in the background. Fuckin’ bastards! he thought, slamming the throttle with his lips tight and his gaze fixed.
“Stay focused! Stay focused!” barked Ace.
Smokey spit out seeds over the transmission.
Josh glanced to where Ace had just circled then gyrated to evade fire from two shadow fighters at his six. Shit, he needs my help, thought Josh, pulling off of his pursuit and blazing northeast.
Thoot! Thoot! Boom! Ace’s striker shook violently from a blast. “My shields are down—there’s two on me. I’m in deep trouble,” said Ace.
“I’m right behind you, Ace, coming in low. Dive, on my call. I’ll light ’em up,” Josh transmitted.
Ace slanted right to escape a close shot.
Thoom! Josh gave his thrusters all they had and zipped in the squad leader’s direction. “Now! Dive!” he shouted.
Ace plunged his striker. Josh fired away.
Kaboom! One of the shadow fighters exploded; the other kept hot on Ace’s tracks.
“I nailed one of them, Ace, but the other’s still on you,” said Josh. “I’m going after him.” At that moment his cockpit flashed red from lasers whisking by. Josh cut up and veered in the opposite direction of Ace’s striker to avoid getting target locked. He made another hard turn and attempted to shake the shadow fighter whose shield he had broken earlier. Damn this sucker.
“Had to pull off, Ace. I got one on me,” Josh transmitted.
“It’s fine. I can take it from here. I owe you one,” the squad leader responded.
Josh belted west and saw smoke pluming from a striker. “Who’s that smoking? I got you in my sights,” he transmitted.
Smokey’s voice came in over the transmission: “It’s me, young buck. I’ve been hit. Ship’s not going to hold up for long. There’s no way I’ll make it back to the Rampage—going to try to crash-land on Jaken moon over there.”
Josh eyed the tiny, charcoal-colored planet.
“Y’all come get me when you’re done,” Smokey transmitted.
“Will do,” said Ace.
“We’ll get you,” Nate transmitted.
“Don’t die on us, Smokey,” said Reena.
No! thought Josh, seeing a shadow fighter swooping in to finish Smokey off. He slammed his throttle and streaked toward it. I’m not going to make it… “Smokey, look out!”
Searing red flashed out from the shadow fighter’s cannons. Josh watched in what felt like slow motion as Smokey’s striker jerked sideways and evaded the shot. His jaw had dropped in disbelief before squeezing the trigger. Lasers zipped toward the Mercen fighter, forcing it to veer off course. “Your tail’s clear, Smokey. Just be careful landing that thing.”
“Thanks, young buck.” He spit out a shell.
Josh took another glance at the old pilot’s smoky ship descending, then steered back into the fray. He saw a burst of flames from across the fight.
“That’s another down,” transmitted Reena.
“Way to go, girl!” responded Hoss. But a moment later: “Reena, you got two coming at you for retribution! I’m trying to make it to you!”
Reena zigged and zagged from enemy fire until—Whish! A laser skimmed her ship. “Aauuh!” she cried out over the transmission. “They got my radar system! Half of my electronics have been knocked out!”
“Someone get to her, please!” Nate shouted.
“I’m coming, Reena! Hang in there!” Hoss transmitted.
Her striker shot up into a wide tangle with the shadow fighters. Hoss buzzed into the fight. Just as he did, a third enemy craft joined their circling. “Bloody hell!” he hollered, jockeying fiercely for position. “Ace, get in here, buddy! We need you!”
“I’m right here!” the squad leader responded, firing two shots that ignited one of the shadow fighters into a ball of fire.
Josh was swirling around with an enemy fighter when Lauler’s striker cut into view. His eyes widened—anger and fear webbed through his body—everything felt surreal. “Lauler, that’s a marked fighter on your tail; the same one that killed my friends.”
“I know what it is, kid,” Lauler responded. “And the dirty bastard killed my friend too!”
“I’m coming to help.”
Lauler had peeked over to where Josh was mixing it up with a shadow fighter and said, “Stay back, kid; I’ve got this.”
Josh swerved into a wide curl, thinking,
He’s not good enough. He’s going to die, and dove left subsequently to avoid enemy fire.
“Maya, watch out!” Kyle transmitted.
Oh God! thought Josh.
“Lost shields,” Maya blurted. “Kyle, can you assist?” Her voice was filled with desperation.
“On it,” said Kyle. “Try to hold on. There’s smoke coming from your left wing.”
Get there, Kyle! C’mon, thought Josh. There weren’t many pilots he’d rather have going to aid Maya than Kyle, but still he was worried.
Boooom! Light flashed through space from where Lauler’s striker had been exploded by laser fire.
Damnit! thought Josh.
“Lauler’s down,” Nate transmitted, unable to hide a shaky undertone.
“Ace, Kyle, one of you get on that damn redwing or he’ll shoots us all down,” cried Reena.
“Maya needs me,” Kyle responded.
“I got…” And laser fire was heard from Ace’s transmitter before cutting out.
“I’m taking that son of a bitch,” Josh transmitted, punching his throttle.
“No, Josh, let me,” Nate was quick to reply.
“Sorry, Nate—he’s mine.” Josh fired a wild shot to get the marked fighter’s attention, and then swerved away from the main fighting. Just you and me, you piece of shit. Come get your food.
The marked fighter blazed into pursuit.
Josh made sure to fly miles from the battle. Once distancing had been achieved, he swung his striker around and whorled into a head-on with the counter coiling shadow fighter.
Thoot. Thoot. Thoot, thoot! They exchanged fire, zooming past each other. Both curled back, trying to secure the upper hand, but had to swerve in opposite directions to avoid getting target locked. They twisted into awkward loops and quick cuts— then shot out from their knot with Josh at the rear.
“You like that, huh? No asteroids this time, lizard face.”
The marked fighter tore into an inverted dive and whipped right before yanking back up to the left and hooking behind Josh. Thoot! Twin lasers flared out from the Mercen’s cannons. One beam flew through Josh’s jet stream, the other blew a fin off the top of his striker.
Josh heard the explosion and snapped his head around to have a look. I’m hit! Just a stabilizer, no real damage. He rolled his striker into a diving slant. Hot damn, this son of a bitch is good. Josh bent left as shots whizzed past his ship. “Okay, sucker, okay!”
