Hammer's Commandos (Hammer's War Book 4)

by James McEwan

  “Neekni,” the big man said.

  “Eve,” was all that Thad said. Eve covered the distance between the two in a flash. With one hand she twisted the gun out of his hand with such force that she broke most of his fingers. With her other hand she gripped him by the throat and lifted him off the ground. The big man’s eyes bulged as he struggled fruitlessly.

  With his good hand, he tried punching Eve in the face. He was use to beating on women but he had never met a woman like Eve before. His second punch landed squarely on her cheek and Eve didn’t even flinch. The man howled in pain as that punch shattered the bones in his other hand. With two broken hands and quickly passing out from lack of oxygen. He stopped struggling and kind of slumped. Eve tossed him down as if he was made out of feathers.

  He landed in the soft sand in a crumbled heap of a defeated man. He got his breath and watched as Thad walked up to him, and Thad's wounds closing and healing right before his eyes. “Malak Al-Maut, Malak Al-Maut,” he repeated over and over as he tried to crawl backward toward the door.

  Even though Thad understood most of the spoken languages in the known universe this was an older form of Arabic and he didn’t know the word. “Malak AL-Maut?” He questioned.

  Eve started searching her data base of languages, but it was the woman who spoke first, “it means angel of death, he thinks you are Malak AL-Maut and you are here to take his soul to the next life.”

  Thad smiled a wicked smile and he chose to use this to his advantage. He walked up to the cowering man bent down and talked softly to him, “Yes my friend, I am Malak AL-Maut and your soul is in great peril. Now where you wish me to take your soul is up to you. Do you understand me?”

  The man nodded fiercely. "Yes, Yes. Just tell me what you want. But please, I beg of you don’t take me to Jahannam. Please, anywhere but Jahannam,” the man groveled as he now was reduced to a mass of tears as he begged for his soul.

  “Good, I am looking for two women with red hair and they were with a man, another woman and a cat. Have you seen them?”

  “Yes, yes, Yiska took them, he took them to Qasr Burqu'.”

  “Qasr Burqu?” Thad repeated not understanding what he was saying.

  “It’s his desert fortress,” the female responded.

  “Oh, okay,” Thad said, then he stood back up to his full height and turned to face the woman. “I'm assuming that the door leads to somewhere with food and maybe a shower?”

  “Yes, it is an oasis station fully stocked. Come I will prepare some food for you,” she answered.

  “That sounds fantastic,” Thad said. He wanted to keep moving, however, even with his advanced genetics he needed to eat and it had been a couple of days now. “Lead the way,” he said but then he realized something, “I’m sorry I don’t even know your name.”

  “Sabella,” she said with a smile on her face.

  “Alright, Sabella, lead the way please,” Thad returned her smile. “Eve would you,” was all he had to say.

  “I’m on it,” Eve said as she grabbed the man by the back of his robes and lifted him on to his feet. “Walk and don’t try anything stupid.” He was too scared to do anything but stumble forward.

  As they were walking down the stairs Thad was curious, “So Sabella, you don’t seem to be afraid of me. Don’t you believe that I am Malak AL-Maut?”

  She giggled a little, “No, I don’t think you are Malak AL-Maut, I don’t know what or who you are, but I don’t think the angel of death would take to lightly to being sprayed in the face with water. Let alone laughing about it.”

  “Good point,” Thad replied as he thought it over.

  Once inside the oasis Sabella showed Thad where the showers were. She then laid out a clean white robe, the kind that they wore when they were in doors. While he was showering she couldn’t help herself and she took a quick peak at him after he had removed his armor, gear and clothing. Smiled to herself for a moment before leaving to prepare food.

  Meanwhile Eve tied the man’s broken hands in front of him. She knew the kind of man he was and she felt no sympathy for him. She made the bindings as tight as she could without cutting off the blood flow. The man screamed when she tightened them. She then instructed him to sit on the floor with his back to the wall and not to move nor to talk. He complied and sat quietly with the occasional whipper as he adjusted his broken hands to try to get them in a more comfortable position.

  Thad finally finished his shower and entered the room dressed in the white rob Sabella set out for him. He had a white fluffy towel in his hands and he was drying his hair. At the same time, Sabella brought a tray full of meats, cheeses, and fruits to them. “Here, please eat my masters.” she said as she presented the tray to them.

  “Oh dear, we are not your masters,” Eve said.

  “Oh, but you are now. You have beaten my old master in combat and that means all that is his is now yours, including me,” Sabella said.

  Thad picked up a date and said, “Alright then. If we are your new masters, then the first thing I am going to do is set you free. Sabella, I release you from any and all bindings, oaths, or any other nonsense that would keep you enslaved. Sabella, you are a free woman, you may go and do as you please.” He followed that by popping the date into his mouth.

  Sabella stood there shaking and dumbstruck as tears filled her eyes, “Really?” she asked hoping this was not some cruel joke the Divine was playing on her.

  “Really really, sweetie,” Eve said while Thad was busy stuffing more food into his face. “We don’t believe in slavery and you can bet that if there are other slaves at this desert fortress Thaddeus will set them free as well.”

  “I take it back you are angels,” she said as tears of joy streamed down her face. “You just wait, I’m preparing the greatest meal you shall ever enjoy.”

  “You’re welcome and thank you, Sabella,” Eve said as Thad had his mouth full. “However, Thaddeus will have to enjoy it as I do not require food nor rest. But I still need to wash. Could you point me to the shower and find some clean clothing for me as well please?”

  “Yes, yes, my mas…,” she caught herself, “my friend.”

  “That would be so kind,” Eve said as she looked toward Thad for clearance.

  “Of course go. I got this,” Thad said in between bites.

  “My goodness Thaddeus, you are eating like a man who hasn’t eaten in days,” Eve chided him for the manner in which he was eating.

  “But I haven’t,” Thad said as he gave her a look of confusion.

  “Well, that is still no excuse for poor manners,” she continued to give him a hard time.

  “Go shower woman!” he said loudly, but playfully. Eve smiled at him, then left him to his food. Thad sat down on one of the few chairs, he put his feet up on a crate, and with the tray of food in one hand he looked at the man, “Now, tell me everything you know about this Qasr Burqu place.”

  Chapter 25

  St. Claire stood on the bridge of the Eden, his hands behind his back. He stood pondering his next action. He was one jump away from the target world. He had his team primed and ready, and a little girl with powers of unknown potential to confront. He understood her want and desire to help, but he all so understood she was still a child.

  He had made his choice, set his course and asked Eve to open a channel to her room, “Ruby, I know you are on board. Please come to the bridge. We have lots to discuss young lady.”

  In her estate room, Ruby was sitting on her bed playing with her dolls, but not like a normal child. Ruby didn’t have to touch them to play with them. She just thought about it and they moved on their own as if some unseen hand manipulated them. She heard his voice over the intercom. In that instant the dolls dropped to the bed as lifeless as they were before she started to play with them. “Damn it,” she said to no one.

  A few minutes later she made her entrance on the bridge, “Um,” she hesitated, “Uncle Dom, are you mad at me?” She had learned to shut out others minds and not
read their thoughts without their permission. This was hard for her to do, but she did it none the less.

  St. Claire turned around to face the young girl that she had become. She was so close to changing from a young girl into a young woman it was scary. He looked down on her large grey eyes and most of the anger he felt just melted away. He stepped over to the command chair and sat down. “Come here and have a seat,” he patted to his lap. Rudy slowly shuffled over to him. He could see that she was unsure, “It’s okay. I’m not mad,” he said to reassure her.

  “Okay,” she said and climbed up on his lap and gave him a hug. He returned the hug.

  “I’m a little disappointed but I get it that you want to help,” he said as she let the hug go.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t ask, but I know you would have said no,” she said looking up at him.

  “You’re right I would have and with good reason. We are going into some very dangerous space. We don’t know what we are going to run into and I am responsible for everyone’s safety, even yours. Your little stunt of stowing aboard really complicates things,” he said.

  “I know, but…” Ruby started to say.

  “But nothing young lady, you have put yourself in grave danger and you have put the mission at risk. This is unacceptable under any circumstances. But it is what it is and now we have to deal with it,” St. Claire said sternly yet kindly as he could.

  “I’m sorry Uncle Dom,” she said as she hugged him again and put her head on his chest.

  “I know you are, now let’s remember not to do anything like this again, got it?” St. Claire said.

  “Okay,” she said as she continued to hug him.

  “Now we are about to jump one more time and then it is game on. I have a feeling that you will not stay on board with Carl no matter what I do, am I right?” He asked her.

  “I can’t just sit back and do nothing. I have powers Uncle Dom and if I can do anything to help my family then I want to help,” she replied.

  “I know sweetheart, I know. So Eve is already fabricating a suit of armor for you. You will wear it and stay next to me the whole-time got it?” St. Claire told her.

  She popped off his lap and jumped up and down, “I promise, I promise. Oh thank you Uncle Dom, thank you.” Ruby squeezed her hands out of excitement as being able to help.

  “Don’t thank me, you are going to see some horrible things and for that I am sorry,” he replied.

  “You mean death and killing?” He nodded his head, “Don’t worry Uncle Dom. I have seen death before. I have even killed before if you remember.” Ruby reminded him.

  A shudder ran up and down his spine as he remembered. How could he ever forget a whole group of armed men dead at the hands of a little girl who snuffed out their lives with a mere thought?

  “I remember,” was all he could say. “Now, you better get to the armory. Eve should have your armor ready about now and you need to button up soon.”

  “Okay,” she said as she headed for the door.

  “Oh, and Ruby,” he said to stop her from leaving.

  “Yes, Uncle Dom?”

  “Don’t be mad at Eve she didn’t break your confidence, it was your grandmother who figured out you were on board and told us,” St. Claire said.

  “Okay,” was all she said before turning back toward the door. She skipped off the bridge happy to know that she was going to help find her family.

  “God help anyone who gets in that little girl’s way,” St. Claire said after she left.

  “Let’s just hope she doesn’t blow up a star or anything while you are planet side,” Eve’s voice said softly over the bridges speakers.”

  “We can only hope,” St. Claire responded.

  Ruby entered the Eden’s armory. It was a room on the ship that they had built to not only house the weapons and equipment for the Hammer’s use, but it also had a full fabrication set-up and could make just about anything that they required. The armory was not same as the make shift armory that the Commandos had set up in the cargo hold. This one was a part of the Eden, not an afterthought.

  Ruby found Kára in the armory waiting for her. She reached out and touched her mind.

  “Hello little one,” Kára communicated.

  “Kára!” the name came with a burst of emotion and love.

  “Welcome little sister. And welcome to becoming a shield sister. It is about time that you learned the ways of combat. We don’t have much time to train you, so let’s get you into your armor and get started.”

  “Shield sister?” Ruby questioned.

  “It is what we call a young Eli woman when she joins the battle family and becomes a shield maiden. Normally you would have gone through years of training and beaten your first foe in combat before given the title of shield maiden, but you, my dear, are special and I know that you have taken life in combat before and I believe you have earned it. Now no more questions. Get your armor on to begin training.” Kára’s voice said inside her mind.

  Ruby smiled and ran over to the fabrication booth. The green light of the matter control beam had just finished and shut off. The white display light switched on indicating that the item was completed and ready for use. There before her was a full set of the special Alliance powered armor that the Commandos wore, only it was her size.

  She pushed the retrieve button and the rounded glass enclosure rotated out of the way and the armor, and the stand it was sitting on, slid out of the machine. Ruby pulled one of the gauntlets off the stand and then she turned to Kára. She was so excited that she forgot that she didn’t know how to put it on.

  Kára smiled as she understood even without any need for communication. She walked over to her and said out loud, “Come on little one let me help you.”

  After a few minutes Kára placed the helmet on her head and clamped the seal. As soon as the seal was locked the suit powered itself up and a heads-up display flashed in front of her face. “Oh, that’s cool,” she said inside Kára’s mind.

  Kára laughed and replied, “If you think that is cool, wait until I can get you a set of proper armor.”

  “Proper armor?” Ruby didn’t understand as she thought she was wearing a set of proper armor.

  Kára smiled at her through her face shield, “No little one. A proper set of Eli armor.”

  “Like yours?” Ruby asked.

  “As far as I know there are no more like mine anywhere in the universe, but there are plenty of really great Eli armor out there. We just need to get you a set as soon as we can. Now let’s get to the holodeck. You have an appointment with Sergeant Mendoza since he is going to instruct you in the operation of your armor,” Kára said as she grabbed Ruby by the shoulders spun her around and marched her toward the door.

  “You are not going to teach me?” Ruby asked as they walked down the hallway.

  “Sorry little one, I have no idea how that armor works. You need someone who does.” Kára explained.

  “Oh, but you are going to be there, right?” Ruby asked.

  “Every step of the way,” Kára said holding her hand. She gave it a little squeeze.

  They entered the holodeck and it was set to the Commandos training program. They found themselves standing in a re-creation of their training facility back on Earth. They were outside on the armor familiarization course. A series of obstacles designed to allow the trainee to run through every test and situation for their powered armor. Standing at the beginning of the course was Sergeant Mendoza in all the white gleaming glory of his powered armor. Other than the size and few markings like his rank and operational number, their armor were virtually identical.

  “Welcome to Hammer’s Commando’s Miss Ruby. You may be an unofficial honorary member of the team, but as far as I am concerned, you are part of the team now. That means you will be treated like any other member. No special treatment. You screw up and you will have to do it again and again until you get it right, understand?” Sergeant Mendoza said over the suit comm.

  “Yes Sir,
” Rudy said enthusiastically as she threw up a salute. However, since she didn’t know the power of the suit yet her hand swung up fast and when it connected with the helmet it struck with much more force then she intended. It made a loud clanging sound as she was knocked off her feet and on to her back.

  Sergeant Mendoza stood over her looking down at the surprised little face behind the face shield. “Two things. First do NOT ever call me Sir. I work for a living. You can call me Sergeant. Second, the mark 17 suit has a lot of power. It is best to start slow.” He reached out his hand. She took it and he helped her back on to her feet. “Now shall we begin?”

  “Yes Sir,” she said again which earned her a stern look from Mendoza, “I mean Sergeant.”

  Chapter 26

  Freya, Fiona, Lex, and Commander Cotton Paw watched as the seemly never ending dune sea finally gave way to more rugged terrain. Their caravan left the soft sand behind them as they climbed higher and higher into the reddish-brown mountains that lay before them. It had been two days since they had left the oasis. They moved mostly in the early morning and just as the sun was setting. The coolest parts of the day. The rest of the time they sat under guard inside temperature controlled inflatable round tents. They were given food and water, but no one spoke to them and they were struck every time one of them tried to talk to their captors or to each other.

  There was one especially cruel guard. He was a big man just over seven feet tall. He was the largest of the entire group that held them. He was also among the darker skinned people in the caravan and he had scars that covered his face. Once he removed his robes and stood only in what looked like a cloth diaper wrapped around his waist and covering his groin. He was built with muscles that seemed to have muscles of their own. His body was also covered in scars. It was painfully obvious that this man was no stranger to pain.

  He loved to use a Ralnai Neutronic whip and had used it several times. He had set it to the highest setting possible that wouldn’t leave scars. He would come to them every night before they were allowed to sleep and he would whip the three women. They understood what Yiska was trying to do. He was trying to break them, to make them docile and subservient.