The Chronicles of Benjamin Jamison: No More Lies (Book 3)

by Thomas Wright

  I touched my com as soon as Shawna had left. “I know you’re listening,” I said. “If you expect me to chase you all the way to Cjittan, then don’t waste your time looking back. I’m okay with you wanting a knight in shining armor coming to your rescue. I guess that’s what women like you want, or maybe it’s jealousy that I’ve done this before for others and you wanted the same. I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I’m not crawling back to you.”

  “You think this a game, Benjamin?” Taz asked. A quick response; she must have been waiting for my message.

  “I think this has been a game the whole time for a queen who is bored and needed a diversion. I wanted to believe it might somehow be real.”

  “Even your human women like to be chased, feel wanted, have their desires fulfilled. Is it so wrong for me to want you to pursue me now the way I’ve pursued you?” she retorted. “I won’t look back, Benjamin. It seems I’ve misjudged you and your feelings for me.”

  “I just think you’re scared,” I told her quietly. “Last night must have meant something to you. I think I’ve already proven myself to you, and you can either accept me or not. But I am not going to be manipulated and tested every time you feel insecure about your decision to be with me.”

  “Goodbye, Benjamin.”

  “I guess it is.”

  Shawna had returned, holding plates. “I don’t know what these are, but they smelled good so I got us two each,” she said with a smile.

  “Thanks, Shawna. It does smell good.”

  “You okay, boss?” she asked. “You seem distracted.”

  “I’m okay, Shawna, just thinking.”

  “About your queen?”

  “She’s not my queen, Shawna. Let’s eat. Secure the major and check the shuttle’s fuel supply. I think we will leave tonight and meet them somewhere. I don’t feel like just sitting around. Once we’re on our way, we’ll check in with Genius and let him know.”

  Chapter 45

  “It’s about damn time! Did you try to find out just how slow the Warhammer would travel?”

  “Someone’s in a mood,” Aisling said.

  “His girlfriend dumped him,” Shawna said. “You should have spent the last eighteen hours with him, Captain. I offered him everything I could think of — and you know me, I could think of a lot — and he just told me to leave him alone.”

  “Where is the Claymore?” I asked angrily.

  “It’ll be here in about half an hour, just calm down.” Aisling said. “Thank you for what you’ve done for me, Benjamin.”

  “Thank my team and your crew, Aisling, they did a great job.”

  “I hear you have a prisoner for me?”

  “Yeah, he’s in the back.”

  “Any ideas as to what I should do with him?”

  “Yeah, kill him,” I offered.

  “There has been enough killing, Benjamin,” Taz said.

  “One more isn’t going to make a damn bit of difference. You’re the captain. He mutinied and took your ship. He killed Win, Commander Holmes and a lot of other good men and women. If your heart isn’t in it, Aisling, I’ll take care of it,” I said. I was pissed.

  I walked to the back and grabbed the major by the front of his shirt, pulling him up to a standing position. He was awake and not as cocky as he had been a couple days ago. Aisling and Shawna stepped into the shuttle, watching me. I was pissed at having to do this for her, but I wasn’t taking the chance he might get away.

  “Major Drummond, you’ve been judged and found to be lacking,” I told him curtly. “You’re a piece of shit and a disgrace to the uniform. Make your peace with whatever god you serve.”

  My arms moved so fast that Aisling and Shawna didn’t realize what had happened until the body was falling to the floor, the major’s head facing the wrong direction.

  “Shit,” Shawna mumbled.

  “There you go Aisling, one less decision to have to worry about,” I said.

  “You dealt with this for eighteen hours, Shawna? You’re lucky he didn’t do that to you,” Aisling said.

  “Get ahold of my ship and get it here now!” I said, and walked off the shuttle.

  “Why didn’t he just do that back on the planet?” Aisling asked.

  “Captain, he was giving you the right to pass judgment for what they did to you and the crew. Even if you didn’t want the major’s death on your hands, your crew would have, and you would have lost their respect if you didn’t do it for them,” Shawna said. She paused. “Good luck, Captain. I wish you and the crew all the best of luck.”

  zzz

  “Shuttle is inbound, boss.”

  “Good. He’s in a mood,” Shawna answered.

  “You’re not the boss,” Genius said.

  “He handed me his com, laid down and went to sleep, five minutes after twisting Major Drummond’s head around,” she explained.

  “Shit,” he replied. “I’ll tell Lorelei to keep her mouth shut.”

  “Is she piloting the shuttle?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good call,” Shawna said. “I’ll wake him and hope he’s not still pissed at the world.”

  “Shawna, give me my com,” I asked.

  “Sure, boss. The shuttle will be here any minute.”

  “I heard.” I sat up, stretched and walked out of the Warhammer’s shuttle, which I had spent the last two days in. Looking out the back of the Warhammer, I could see the Taz’s shuttle approaching, just a speck moving in the black. She must have met the Claymore and left it with them.

  Shawna stood next to me, watching it but not saying a word. Aisling walked up beside me and slipped her arm around my waist.

  “I’m sorry, Benjamin,” she said.

  “For what?” I replied.

  “For not doing my duty, and letting you add another scar to your soul.”

  “It’s okay,” I said. “The scars are stronger than my armor.”

  “So are you going after her?” Aisling asked.

  “Yeah, I think I am.”

  The End

  Epilogue

  “Is it true James?” President Larson asked.

  “Yes Sir, General Gray, Senator Sims and a number of individuals that included an informant are missing or dead.” James Wilson answered.

  “Off the record I don’t see it as much of a loss, someone pulled that thorn out of our side. It’s too bad we can’t officially thank them. Do we know who is responsible.”

  “Our sources say it was Benjamin Jamison.”

  “He is an old man James you expect me to believe that he caused all that destruction.”

  “Not the old man sir, his grandson. He is named for his grandfather.”

  “Do we know his motives?”

  “Sir, we believe he is tracking down individuals who are responsible for the death of his family twenty plus years ago.”

  “Is that so, are you telling me the train wreck wasn’t an accident?”

  “It wasn’t an accident Sir, and young Mr. Jamison whether by skill or luck found some of the individuals we believe to be suspects in the bombing.”

  “The individuals he didn’t locate James, are they with or against us.”

  “Depends sir, I would say against.”

  “In that case see that the names somehow find their way to young Mr. Jamison would you James.”

  “Yes sir, consider it done.”

  zzz

  “How long till we catch up to them?” I asked.

  “Geez, would you get off my bridge!” Lorelei yelled. “Benjamin she can’t outrun us we will catch them tomorrow.”

  “Any word from Aisling?”

  “Yes, Everything us under control. The crew is settled and any of the Majors crew that we didn’t kill are in the brig.”

  “Captain we have a transmission from Taz.”

  “Put it on the screen Binda.” Lorelei said.

  She was dressed like a real Queen again, just like when I first met her. I watched her look at everyone on the
bridge then finally her eyes came to rest on me. She wore the silver and gold armor over a sheer white gown. I was happy the armor covered her more vital areas or Genius would have had a problem sleeping tonight. A crown sat on her head, it was silver and gold with insects adorning it, their eyes were precious stones.

  “Captain, forgive the intrusion I wanted to talk to the owner of your ship but it seems he is not accepting my transmissions.” Four heads turned in unison to look at me. I put my hand to my ear and realized my com was in my quarters.

  “It is no intrusion; I apologize it seems it wasn’t on purpose.” Lorelei said. “Judging by the look on the owners face.”

  “Hey I sent you a dozen messages yesterday and you didn’t answer one damn message. So stop your whining.”

  “Yes you did Benjamin and they were all so endearing. Would you like me to play some of them for the crew?”

  “Is that why you called us, I’m sure it doesn’t matter what I want.”

  “Yes, very true and no I want you to stop your pursuit and change course.”

  “And if I refuse.” I asked.

  “Then I will bar you from my world and feel sorry for your crew as the Claymore drifts in space dead, out of fuel. You’re not very good company when you are upset and bored.”

  “Taz, don’t do that to them. Your angry with me, let me come aboard and you can lock me up in the bowels of the ship until you see your way to letting me free.”

  “I may take you up on that but first I have a job for Reaper Inc. if you will consent to letting the company use your ship.”

  “What kind of job?” I asked suspiciously.

  “The kind that pays Benjamin, fuel and credits. A situation has developed and the government of Cjittan would like to hire you and your crew. You will go to these coordinates, a ship will bring your passengers and you will deliver them and provide security until the talks are completed.”

  Great, they were all looking at me again. “Send over your offer and any special needs these passengers may have along with the coordinates. If we’re there tomorrow, then you know we’re taking the job.”

  “Lorelei full stop, Binda cut the transmission.” I said. Taz heard me and started saying something when the monitor went blank.

  “Why did you do that.” Lorelei asked way to calmly for the color of her face, she was angry.

  “Lorelei when the job comes over discuss it with the crew then counter offer. You and Binda crunch the numbers. If I wake to find myself at the coordinates tomorrow, then I’ll know we have work to do and the crew is happy.”

  “Benjamin did your girlfriend sucker you and by you I mean us in to coming this far to lay this on us.” Lorelei asked.

  “This is why I made you Captain nothing gets past you. Its why she didn’t answer my messages yesterday too.”

  “Boss, she is asking for you should I put it on the screen.” Genius asked. Binda and Lorelei were in deep conversation and ignoring Taz’s incoming transmission.

  “Nope, just let it ring.”

  zzz

  “That is one big ass ship, sorry I can’t help it, it’s just so big.” Genius said.

  “Should we tell him we’re here or let him sleep?” Binda asked.

  “Let him sleep, we will collect the diplomats and get going.

  “What did I miss?” Lorelei asked walking on the bridge.

  “Nothing shuttle is departing BAS in five and will be here in 8 minutes.”

  “BAS?” Binda inquired.

  “Big Ass Ship, come on Binda get with the program.” Genius teased.

  Let’s go meet our passengers then set course for the fuel depot then on to our final destination.

  zzz

  “I would like to welcome you to the. . .oh shit.”

  “Do you think they will fight.” Binda asked.

  “Either that or the other word starting with F, Binda, she looks very determined.”

  “Least she knows the way.” Lorelei said.

  “In her sleep.” Binda added.

  “Half naked.” Genius threw in. His crewmates looked at him. “What not my fault she came and went so much to his room and didn’t take a robe or clothes with her.”

  zzz

  The water rushed up on the shore washing the sand back in to the ocean. It was blue green and clear to the bottom. Taz wore a white bikini, her skin oily and golden brown. She rolled off the sand on top of me kissing me fiercely, “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too, are we through playing games and ready to get down to business.” I asked waking up

  “Yes I gave all the information to the Captain she said. . .”

  “Not what I was talking about.” I said putting my finger across her lips to hush her up then moved it.

  “Oh yes I thought you would never ask.”