Steel Apocalypse

by Rodney Hartman

  Refusing to take the obvious bait, Jake grinned. “My dad used to say luck beats skill any day.” He held out his right hand. “My name’s Jake Striker. I guess we’ll be spending some time together on the freighter before we get to Lastreo. We might as well get along until we get there.”

  The female leader kept her right hand on her blaster.

  After a couple of awkward seconds, Jake lowered his hand back to his side. I shoulda wore my blaster. Didn’t think I’d need one at the spaceport. This’ll be the last time I’m caught without it.

  The lead female wrapped her hand around the grip of her pistol as if preparing to draw.

  What’s she planning on doing? Murdering me here to get rid of some of her competition before the tournament starts?

  The soft buzz of an electric motor sounded from Jake’s rear. He recognized the noise as the control motor for the array of plasma rifles Tilley had installed under the cockpit’s windscreen for use against personnel.

  Good ol’ Maggie. I shoulda known she’d be covering my back.

  The lead Trecorian looked past Jake’s shoulder and slightly up before taking her hand off her weapon and fastening the security strap across the butt. Strangely enough, she smiled. “My sources indicated your Paladin was modified for a crew of one. They were obviously wrong. I see you’re not as big a fool as I thought.” She held out her right hand. “I’m Lieutenant Casey Bistoria.” She gave a nod toward her companions. “These are my cousins, Ensigns Freeta and Dresh Bistoria.”

  With nothing to lose, Jake shook the woman’s hand. Her palm was calloused as if it had spent a lot of time wrapped around weapon and flight controls. “Pleasure to meet you. Like I said, I’m Jake Striker.” Releasing his grip, he jerked a thumb at the Paladin. “You were right about my cat. It’s designed for a single pilot. Maggie, my AI, has my back.”

  Lieutenant Casey Bistoria frowned. “You named your computer. Why?”

  Jake shrugged. He was well aware Maggie was more than a little unique when it came to UHAAV tactical computers. “I’ll introduce you to her sometime. I’ll let you figure out why.”

  A spaceport transfer hover-shuttle pulled up. Out stepped Tilley and Jason followed by two females wearing blue utility suits with unit insignias matching those of the Macron’s flight crew.

  “Well,” Jake said. “I guess that’s our cue to get busy loading our cats onto the freighter. I’m told it’ll be a two-month, four-hyper-jump flight to Lastreo. I suppose I’ll be seeing you around, Lieutenant Bistoria.”

  The lieutenant nodded. “I’m sure you will. By the way, you can call me Casey. We might as well be on friendly terms until I destroy your Paladin and knock you out of the tournament, Mister Striker.”

  Definitely cocky, Jake thought. I kinda like it. “Just plain ol’ Jake.” He laughed. “And we’ll see who’ll be doing the knocking.”

  Chapter 10 – Two Pilots

  ______________________

  Growing up as a land-bound copper miner, Jake had dreamed of one day exploring the stars. What little free time he’d had during his youth, he’d spent repairing equipment with Tilley or researching starships and how they worked. Early on, he’d discovered that starships had two types of propulsion. Using normal hyper-drive, they could travel at speeds up to ten thousand times the speed of light. Although incredibly fast, it still took weeks, months, or even years to travel between one point in the galaxy and another. That’s where hyper-jumps came in. As navigators at the base near Aretillo’s spaceport had explained it to him, the galaxy resembled a balled up piece of paper. One point in the fold could touch another point on the other side of the galaxy. A starship’s hyper-drive was able to jump between those points to save time. Unfortunately, hyper-jumps were hard on engines. Typical starships could only make twenty hyper-jumps before requiring an overhaul. As a result, most space travel required a combination of days or weeks using the hyper-drive to travel between convenient folds. After that part of the trip, the starship would make a quick hyper-jump. Then, more often than not, the hyper-drive was used to get to the next fold.

  By early morning on the third day after leaving Trillian, Jake laid in his bunk unable to sleep. He’d been assigned a cabin with Tilley and Jason. With little to do, he’d been cooped up there almost the entire time. Although free to travel between their quarters, the dining hall, and the cramped cubicle the freighter’s crew called a lounge, they were denied movement anywhere else. What little conversation they’d had with the crew was rude and to the point. Tilley and Jason had both tried their best to get into the cargo bay to check on the Paladin and Maggie, but there was always a guard at the entrance to deny them access.

  A high-pitched wheeze that was an octopod’s version of a snore broke the silence of the dimly lit room. Giving up on additional sleep, Jake jumped out of bed and dressed. As he tiptoed toward the door, Tilley rolled over in her bunk.

  “Where you goin’?” she whispered. “Breakfast ain’t for another two hours.”

  “I’m going to make another try at getting into the cargo bay to check on Maggie,” he whispered back. “I can’t sleep anyway.”

  “It’s a waste of time, but suit yourself.” She pulled the blanket up around her neck. “As for me, I like getting a chance to catch up on my beauty sleep. I’ve got a feelin’ the days are coming soon enough when we’ll be working like pactars twenty-four seven.”

  Jake had a feeling his mechanic was right. Leaving her to rest, he went out the door and into the narrow, metal-lined corridor. Since the freighter was sparsely crewed, the hallway was as empty as he’d expected. He made his way to the lower levels of the starship, passing only two crewmen along the way. They frowned as he passed but didn’t try to stop him.

  Guess they figure guards are stationed at all the important places. I suppose they’re right. I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be a long two-month trip to Lastreo. The crew pretty much sticks to themselves. Heck, I haven’t even seen the captain or the first mate. For that matter, I haven’t even been able to find out the name of the ship.

  Lost in his thoughts, Jake soon found himself on the bottom level of the freighter. He turned the corner of the corridor, expecting to see a less than friendly guard at the bay door. He saw no one.

  That’s strange. There’s always been someone there. I wonder where he is.

  Glancing back the way he’d come and seeing no one, he made his way to the hatch leading to the cargo bay. The door was partially ajar.

  A chill ran up Jake’s spine. Maybe someone’s taken out the guard and is inside the bay planting explosives. The crew confiscated our blasters when we came aboard. I need a weapon. Maggie might be in danger.

  Spying a crowbar leaning against the bulkhead, he grabbed it and opened the hatch the rest of the way. The overhead lights of the long open area were on. The bay’s deck was littered with stacks of metal containers held down with cargo straps. To one side of the bay were the two UHAAVs, both still in their storage positions to save room. Bands of metal straps held the cats’ legs and weapons appendages in place. Chains ran from the UHAAVs’ tie-down points onto the deck, securing the cats.

  A movement near the Trecorian’s Macron caught Jake’s eye. He tightened his grip on the crowbar.

  The slim figure of a dark-haired woman with purple streaks in her hair turned his way. Her natural curves were readily apparent beneath her gray flight suit, but Jake barely noticed. His eyes were on the Deloris model phase pistol in the woman’s right hand.

  As soon as Lieutenant Casey Bistoria saw Jake, she lowered her weapon. “It’s you. I thought maybe Freeta had failed to keep the guard’s attention.”

  “What’s that about the guard?”

  Casey smiled. “Yeah, you know, one of those big goons that’s normally stationed outside the hatch. All Freeta had to do was bat her eyes a few times to get him to go with her to some place more private. She’s good. I figure I’ve got an hour to check out my cat.” She eyed him suspiciously. “What are you doing
here?”

  “Same as you. Only I doubt batting my eyes would’ve gotten me past the guard.”

  “No doubt. You’re cute and your hair’s delicious, but I don’t think you’re his type.” She nodded at the makeshift weapon in his hand. “Was that how you were planning on getting past him?”

  Jake glanced at the crowbar. His face grew warm. Setting the metal bar on a nearby container, he shook his head. “No. I thought maybe someone had taken out the guard and was trying to sabotage our cats.” He pointed at the blaster in Casey’s hand. “How you get that past the crew. They took all our weapons.”

  Flashing a quick smile, the Trecorian lieutenant said, “Ask me no questions, and I’ll tell you no lies.” She glanced at the open hatch. “I’ve already been down here twenty minutes. Like I said, Freeta’s good, but even she can’t hold the guard’s attention for more than an hour. If you want to check out your cat, now’s the time to do it.”

  Seeing her logic, Jake said, “Good point.”

  “By the way, why do you bother with that piece of junk? The last one must’ve rolled off the assembly line fifty years ago. They do make newer model cats, you know.”

  “Actually, it’s been fifty-five years,” Jake grinned. “And yeah, I’ve been told there are newer cats out there. In fact, my old commander told me repeatedly. But this Paladin was specially designed to work with Maggie. She’s a one-of-a-kind AI.” He patted the stored leg of the Paladin. “I don’t know how my grandfather came up with the credits to modify this baby to work with Maggie, but he did. The cost must’ve been astronomical. I’d never be able to afford to retrofit another model to work with her.”

  Casey frowned. “An AI’s an AI. Some are more advanced than others, but when it all boils down to it, they’re just a computer. I’ve had several in the last six years. They’re just hardware with a lot of programming.”

  Shaking his head, Jake glanced at the Paladin before looking back at Casey. “Maggie’s more than a computer. She’s my friend.”

  Casey laughed. “You’ve obviously got to get out more. Suit yourself though. It’s your funeral when we get to the tournament. My Macron can take out your Paladin with her eyes closed.”

  A little angry, Jake turned his back on the Trecorian and climbed on top of a stack of convenient containers near the access hatch. “Maggie. Open the door. I want to get inside and give your diagnostics a once over.”

  The access door popped open.

  “Hey, how’d you do that?” said Casey.

  Jake looked back. “Do what?”

  “Open the hatch. The freighter’s loadmasters shut down all electronics and unhooked all the batteries. It takes a good twenty minutes to cold start a cat’s computer system. I’m still waiting for my Macron’s AI to reboot.”

  Jake shrugged. “I told you Maggie was special. Why don’t you come inside and meet her?”

  With some hesitance, Casey jumped on top of the container next to Jake using the anti-grav unit attached to her belt.

  “I’ve got to get me one of those,” he smiled.

  Casey laughed. “Well, this one’s mine, so hands off.” She nodded at the open access door. “Shall we?”

  Jumping across the short span to the hatchway, Jake landed inside. The cockpit was already lit. A hand-sized version of Maggie sat cross-legged on the pilot’s control console facing the access hatch. Her eyes were an angry blue. “It’s about time you came and checked up on me. It’s been over sixty hours. You know I get bored when I’m alone.”

  A thud behind Jake announced the arrival of the Macron’s pilot.

  Taking a seat in the pilot’s chair, Jake glanced back at Casey and gave a nod toward the copilot’s seat. “Make yourself comfortable.”

  Taking a quick scan of the inside of the cockpit, Casey’s eyes focused on the hand-high Maggie. To the Trecorian’s credit, she was able to keep any surprise off her face as she sat down in the copilot’s chair.

  “Maggie, this is Casey. She pilots the Macron. Casey, this is the one and only Maggie I’ve been telling you about.”

  Casey eyed Maggie. “Why bother with a hologram? If you’re the cat’s tactical computer, you can communicate using the intercom and run everything with internal controls.”

  Maggie’s hologram laughed. “Where would the fun in that be?” She nodded at the chair Casey occupied. “I usually sit there. I’ve found it makes carbon-based life forms work better as a team if I look like one of them.”

  “You’ve found?” said Casey. She glanced at Jake. “You do know this is strange, don’t you? You’re AI’s programming is making it act like it’s in charge.”

  “Programming?” said Maggie. Her eyes had started to lighten up but reverted back to their angry blue. “Maybe your AI depends on some pimple-faced programmer writing code in his momma’s basement, but I do my own thinking, thank you very much.” She turned to Jake. “What’d you bring her on board for? I know I hinted you needed to get laid, but I didn’t mean one of your competitors.”

  “What?” said Casey as she sat up in her seat and glared at Jake. “If you think I’m going to—”

  “Hey,” Jake said, feeling his face growing downright hot. “I didn’t even know you were in the cargo bay when I came.” He pointed at Maggie. “As for you, watch your mouth. Casey seemed impressed you didn’t have to reboot. I wanted her to meet you and see that you’re way better than any run-of-the-mill AI.”

  Maggie’s eyes turned a lighter shade, then she looked at Casey and smiled. “Well, in that case, it’s a pleasure to meet you Lieutenant Casey Bistoria of the 147th Mechanized Regiment of the duke’s royal guard.”

  The word surprise didn’t come close to describing the look on Casey’s face. “How’d you know I was in the one-forty-seventh? For that matter, how do you know my full name?”

  After giving a shrug, Maggie placed her elbows on her knees and smiled catlike. “Oh, I know lots of things. I hacked into your Macron’s tactical computer before the freighter’s crew switched it off.”

  “You did what?” Jake asked. “I didn’t authorize you to—”

  “Oh, pish-posh. If I waited for you to tell me every little thing to do, I’d never get anything done. I wanted to find out a little about our competition.” She looked back at Casey. “I’m impressed. Your crew and you have been in some hard fights. You’ll be tough to beat.”

  Casey leaned forward in her seat. “You don’t seem like any UHAAV tactical computer I’ve ever dealt with before.”

  Smiling, Maggie said, “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  After a quick glance at Jake, Casey turned back to Maggie. “How’d you hack into my cat’s AI. Its security is the best in my regiment.”

  Maggie stood up and stretched, then paced the length of the control console before replying. “Oh, your security’s good.” She stopped walking and gave Casey a smile. “Took me almost two nanoseconds to break it.”

  Casey frowned. “What else can you hack into?”

  “Lots of things.” With a laugh, Maggie pointed at Jake. “Ask him how he likes gambling.”

  Giving Jake a quizzical look, Casey started to open her mouth.

  “Never mind,” Jake said, beating her to the punch. “It’s a long story. Let’s just say Maggie’s got a knack for hacking into other computers.” He grinned. “Now do you see why I’m not all that anxious to upgrade to a better cat?”

  Maggie’s face lost its smile. “Now that hurts, Tiger. What do you mean by something better than me? Haven’t I taken care of you through thick and thin? Haven’t I—”

  “Hey,” said Casey. “You two are worse than an old married couple.” She turned to Jake. “I see your point about your Paladin.” She stood up. “Now if you don’t mind, I need to go run a diagnostic on my Macron and get her shut down again before the guard comes back.” Without waiting for a reply, Casey exited the access door.

  A couple of seconds later, Jake noticed the Trecorian pilot using her anti-grav belt to make her way up to th
e now open door of her Macron.

  The hand-high image of Maggie standing on the console disappeared to be replaced by a full-size hologram of her sitting in the copilot’s seat. She had a devious smile on her face. “You like her, don’t you, Tiger?”

  “Naw. I mean…well—”

  Maggie laughed. “Don’t sweat it, tough guy. I like her too. There’s only one problem.”

  Jake looked at his AI. “What’s that?”

  Maggie smiled. “In about two months you’ll be trying to kill each other. I calculate that would put a strain on any romantic relationship.”

  Glancing out the windscreen at the Macron, Jake nodded. “I’ve got a feeling you’re right.”

  Chapter 11 – The Escort

  ______________________

  After traveling five weeks using the ship’s hyper-drive and making three hyper-jumps, the freighter’s crew lightened up enough to tell Jake the name of the freighter. She was the Solaris. What little contact he’d had with the lower-level officers was brief and to the point, with no time for chitchat. He still hadn’t seen the captain or the first mate but figured that was just the way it was going to be.

  The only bright light during his time aboard the Solaris was Casey. Jake wasn’t sure whether their growing relationship was due to his witty copper-miner charm, the fact that they had a commonality of being cat pilots, or sheer lack of available partners. All he did know was that the two of them often found themselves together playing games, watching videos in the passenger lounge, or finding secluded spots where they could be alone and talk, among other things.

  As the fifth week on the starship came to an end, Jake found himself sitting in the passenger lounge on a couch next to Casey, staring out the steel-glass window at a large planet with an atmosphere of roiling purplish gas.

  “I wonder why the captain bothered stopping here after that last hyper-jump,” Jake said. “It doesn’t look like it’s inhabited.”