by Isaac Hooke
“Well if Zoltan was a Phant,” TJ continued. “That explains why the robot we found outside the alleyway on Lang had its memory circuits wiped. The Phant could have seeped inside unnoticed, proceeded to take control of the AI, and issued a wipe command before departing.”
“That,” Manic said. “Or my previous theory that the robot wiped its own core to prevent its knowledge from falling into enemy hands still stands.”
“Surus here has a proposition for us,” Rade said.
All eyes turned to her.
“I told you I had hunted down every last Phant in Tau Ceti, the system of the First Alien War,” Surus said. “My task has since expanded. As you now realize, not all of the aliens remained in Tau Ceti after the war. Several eluded capture by hitching a ride in robots and Artificials and escaping to other systems. I have taken it upon myself to hunt down the last remaining Phants in the region. Red, Purple, Blue and Black alike. I, and a few other Greens who remained in your space in secret.
“I need a team of dedicated men and women to help me in this task. A team I can call upon whenever my network of eyes and ears detects signs of a potential Phant presence. This first mission was merely a proving ground. I fought with you all before in Tau Ceti, and knew you were once good, but I needed to determine whether you still were. I was pleasantly surprised.”
“Wait a second, are any of the galactic governments going to lend us aid, either in terms of troops or funding?” Lui said. “And if not, why not, considering how dangerous these things are? I watched Shaw’s debriefing: this Zoltan freak tried to deploy a retrovirus that would have transformed a portion of Guangdong’s population into those slugs we saw aboard the station, while killing the rest. Two million people, killed without purpose.”
“Actually,” Surus said. “It wasn’t without purpose. Those slugs would eventually grow into the Great Formers you fought in Tau Ceti, creatures that slowly transform the crust of planets into geronium.” Starship fuel. Phants also fed on it. “And as for the galactic governments, no they won’t lend aid. The Sino-Koreans funded my hunt in Tau Ceti when their system was actively infested. But when I cast the last Phant into the Tau Ceti sun, the funding dried up. That said, all human governments have agreed to send military aid if we can bring them proof of a nest of Phants, but it’s up to me to hunt them down individually until then.”
“So wait a second,” Lui said. “You’re telling me the human governments are doing nothing at all to deal with Phants possibly hidden in their midst?”
“I didn’t say that,” Surus replied. “The governments are relying on their politicized intelligence services to ferret out Phants. To their credit, the human governments have found several already. Just last year the Russians caught two trying to work their way up the ranks of the Spetsnaz, and six months ago, the United Systems captured a Phant inhabiting a high ranking Artificial general. But I do not believe these intelligence services are good enough. I have certain abilities that no service has. I can detect when a Phant is in the same city or aboard the same starship as I am, for example.”
“So how exactly is this going to work?” Manic said. “You said you want us to help you out whenever your spy network detects a potential Phant. Are we going to be on call, or something?”
“Not exactly,” Surus said. “If Rade accepts my offer, I’ll become a permanent member of your crew, and pay a monthly retainer. You’ll be free to accept other clients, but the moment I detect a Phant, you agree to drop everything as soon as contractually possible, and make capturing the Phant your priority.”
Rade ran his gaze across the men. “So, what do you say? Anybody want to hunt aliens?”
“Hell ya!” Bender said.
“Hunt aliens...” Fret said. “And yet, Surus is an alien herself. She admitted she’s a Green Phant.”
“The Greens are our friends,” Rade said.
“So they say,” Fret replied. “How can we really trust someone who is a traitor to their own race?”
“We’ve been at war with the Reds, Blues, Purples and Blacks for countless millennia,” Surus said. “We do not consider them part of our race any longer.”
“All right, and what if you have to capture a rogue Green one day?” Fret said. “Will you do it?”
“If we discover that one of the Greens who stayed behind is violating our rules,” Surus said. “I won’t hesitate to throw him into the core of a star, yes.”
Rade rubbed his eyes for a moment. “Listen. I plan to accept Surus’ offer. I won’t force any of you to continue now that our mission statement has essentially changed. Like Surus said, while we’re still free to accept other clients as they come up, hunting down Phants will be our priority. If any of you want out, I’ll completely understand. I’ll buy out your shares and send you on your merry way, no questions asked. No ill will. In fact, I don’t expect all of you to stay, and I’ll respect the decision of anyone who wants out.”
“It’s a grand, multi-system bug hunt,” Bender said. “Thank you thank you thank you. You’re a lonely ex-MOTH’s wet dream! Count me in. Where there are bugs, I bring spray.”
“I would like to kill Phants,” Harlequin said. There was a slight uncharacteristic rage in the Artificial’s voice. Rade supposed Harlequin hadn’t liked having his AI core commandeered.
“I’m in, of course,” Tahoe said.
Everyone else expressed similar enthusiasm in turn. All save Fret.
Rade gazed at him. “What about you, Fret? Do you want me to buy out your shares? Remember, no ill will, and I respect your decision.”
Fret regarded the others seated around him and sighed. “No, I’m coming. You’re my brothers. I can’t abandon you now. Not after everything we’ve been through. Do you remember what we often said on the Teams? ‘Brothers to the end.’ I believe those words, in my heart and soul.” He lowered his gaze, and voice, as he continued: “We have to stick together in this life. You’re all I have.” He was quiet a moment, then looked up. “Besides, someone’s got to keep Bender out of trouble.”
“Yeah yeah,” Bender said.
Once again Rade was heartened at the show of loyalty, and he found himself momentarily tearing up. He quickly dismissed the emotion. Now wasn’t the time.
Shaw stepped away from the wall. “I’m out.”
The room had fallen completely silent. A pin could have dropped and everyone would have heard.
Rade stared at her in disbelief, and pain. “But, Shaw—”
She looked at him, her features stern, serious. Then Shaw broke into a smile. “Just kidding. This is the mission of a lifetime, the client of a lifetime. Of course I’m going to accept. Welcome aboard, Surus.” She extended her arms and gave the alien a hug.
“We’re now officially bug hunters!” Bender said. “All bugs across the galaxy, you’re on notice: we’re going to spread your guts across the stars! No bug will be spared. We’re going to leave a trail of upturned carapaces and crimped legs in our wake.”
“Bender brings up a good point,” Surus said. “I don’t intend to restrict our mission necessarily to Phants. If we detect other potential alien threats to humanity, we must hunt them down, too.”
“See!” Bender said. “This Surus is my kinda alien. So how about bankrolling a bigger ship for us, huh Surus bro? Or sis I mean. And some new toys.”
“Your ship is good enough as it is,” Surus said. “Small, inconspicuous. In fact, it’s perfect for our needs. If you’re a Phant hiding out on a small colony world and a large supercarrier enters the orbit of your planet, the odds are you’ll flee the first chance you have. But if a vessel class favored by pirates arrives? You won’t bat an eye. And as far as new toys go... I will supply them on an as-needed basis. For example, at the moment your AI core is in need of special shielding tech to prevent it from ever being corrupted by a Phant again. I will pay for and supervise the installation of said tech at the first opportunity.”
“If there are no other questions,” Rade said. “You’re
all free to go.”
It was time to iron out the specifics of the deal.
THE FOUR SK destroyers left orbit, dragging the Tiger behind them; the damaged corvette was destined for repairs at a dry dock on the third planet, to be paid for by the Persians. The latter group had gotten in touch from the Hóuzi Hǎi system. They had successfully boarded the Camel, and were due to arrive in a week. They planned to remain in the system until both the Tiger was repaired, and the SKs cleared their colony of drones and bioweapons. Rade offered to expedite the latter process for a fee. The Persians accepted. What he didn’t tell them was that he had to return to the planet anyway to recoup his Hoplite investment.
Rade set a course for the binary suns of the current system first. There was something he had to do.
He stopped at the inner terrestrial colony along the way to replenish propellant and geronium levels, restock the Argonaut’s depleted Hellfire and booster rocket supplies, and to give his crew much needed liberty. He, Shaw, Surus and Harlequin continued toward the two stars to complete the final phase of the mission.
Rade had specifically purchased one Hellfire without a warhead, and Surus laid the container housing the Phant inside. When the Argonaut had obtained the closest possible safe orbit around the binaries, Rade ordered the missile fired into the blue main sequence star, and then the ship began the long fight to escape the gravity of the suns.
He was in his stateroom with Shaw when Bax announced: “It’s time.”
Rade stood facing one bulkhead, then held Shaw’s hand. He tapped into an external camera on the starboard side. The view was of the blue sun. Bax had zoomed in on the Hellfire, or rather, its debris—the missile had broken up in the heat—and filtered out the brightness of the background star.
Rade watched the debris vanish into the flaming corona. That was the only way to truly kill the inter-dimensional Phant: trap it inside the core of a sun, where it was unable to escape the immense gravity. Over the next few millennia it would eventually starve to death from lack of geronium.
“What a way to go,” Rade said.
Shaw’s fingers tightened around his. “I can only imagine how terrible it’s going to be for that thing. Trapped in the star, alone for a thousand years or more before it dies. Even after what it did, I feel sorry for it.”
“Well I don’t,” Rade said. “Not a whit of pity. It deserves every last moment of suffering. No one touches my Shaw.”
He sensed motion beside him and dismissed the external video feed. He turned toward Shaw. She was facing him, looking into his eyes.
“Would you ever leave me alone like that?” Shaw said.
“Never.”
She wrapped her arms around him and gripped him close. “Love you.”
“Love you back,” Rade said without hesitation.
Shaw gasped softly, and squeezed him tighter.
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postscript
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about the author
USA Today bestselling author Isaac Hooke holds a degree in engineering physics, though his more unusual inventions remain fictive at this time. He is an avid hiker, cyclist, and photographer who sometimes resides in Edmonton, Alberta.
acknowledgments
THANK YOU to my knowledgeable beta readers and advanced reviewers who helped smooth out the rough edges of the prerelease manuscript: Nicole P., Sandy G., Amy B., Lance W., Myles C., Lisa A. G., Gregg C., Jeff K., Mark C., Jeremy G., Doug B., Jenny O., Bryan O., Lezza M., Gene A., Larry J., Allen M., Gary F., Norman H., Eric, Robine, Noel, Anton, Spencer, Trudi, Corey, Erol, David, Charles, Walter, Lisa, Ramon, Chris, Scott, Michael, Chris, Bob, Jim, Maureen, Zane, Chuck, Shayne, Anna, Dave, Roger, Nick, Gerry, Charles, Annie, Patrick, Mike, Jeff, Lisa, Jason, Bryant, Janna, Tom, Jerry, Chris, Jim, Brandon, Kathy, Norm, Jonathan, Derek, Shawn, Judi, Eric, Rick, Bryan, Barry, Sherman, Jim, Bob, Ralph, Darren, Michael, Chris, Michael, Julie, Glenn, Rickie, Rhonda, Neil, Claude, Ski, Joe, Paul, Larry, John, Norma, Jeff, David, Brennan, Phyllis, Robert, Darren, Daniel, Montzalee, Robert, Dave, Diane, Peter, Skip, Louise, Dave, Brent, Erin, Paul, Jeremy, Dan, Garland, Sharon, Dave, Pat, Nathan, Max, Martin, Greg, David, Nancy, Ed, David, Karen, Becky, Jacob, Ben, Don, Carl, Gene, Bob, Luke, Teri, Gerald, Lee, Rich, Ken, Daniel, Chris, Al, Andy, Tim, Robert, Fred, David, Mitch, Don, Tony, Dian, Tony, John, James, David, Pat, Jean, Bryan, William, Roy, Dave, Vincent, Tim, Richard, Kevin, George, Andrew, John, Richard, Robin, Sue, Mark, Jerry, Rodger, Rob, Byron, Ty, Mike, Gerry, Steve, Benjamin, Anna, Keith, Jeff, Josh, Herb, Bev, Simon, John, David, Greg, Larry, Timothy, Tony, Ian, Niraj, Maureen, Jim, Len, Bryan, Todd, Maria, Angela, Gerhard, Renee, Pete, Hemantkumar, Tim, Joseph, Will, David, Suzanne, Steve, Derek, Valerie, Laurence, James, Andy, Mark, Tarzy, Christina, Rick, Mike, Paula, Tim, Jim, Gal, Anthony, Ron, Dietrich, Mindy, Ben, Steve, Paddy & Penny, Troy, Marti, Herb, Jim, David, Alan, Leslie, Chuck, Dan, Perry, Chris, Rich, Rod, Trevor, Rick, Michael, Tim, Mark, Alex, John, William, Doug, Tony, David, Sam, Derek, John, Jay, Tom, Bryant, Larry, Anjanette, Gary, Travis, Jennifer, Henry, Drew, Michelle, Bob, Gregg, Billy, Jack, Sandra, Libby, Jonathan, Karl, Bruce, Clay, Gary, Sarge, Andrew, Deborah, Steve, and Curtis.
Without you all, this novel would have typos, continuity errors, and excessive lapses in realism. Thank you for helping me make Bug Hunt the best military science fiction novel it could possibly be, and thank you for leaving the early reviews that help new readers find my books.
And of course I’d be remiss if I didn't thank my mother, father, and brothers, whose untiring wisdom and thought-provoking insights have always guided me through the untamed warrens of life.
— Isaac Hooke
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