Gunship - The Series

by John Davis

  Normally he was excited when landing here, even if only to refuel. Paulie's was here, and piss poor drink aside, they at least had a stockpile of it available.

  This time was different though. Dalton's mind wasn't on the alcohol. He watched Sasha sit on the lap of Adam Michaels, their overwhelming love for one another very obvious. Dalton was sick and tired of the Hunters. He was tired of running, tired of the Colonial war effort and had started to wonder if there was a Sasha out there waiting for him. How would he ever know if he was constantly on the run from a nation of undead. And now Roman was a fucking Hunter too.

  “Guess now is as good as any time to tell you Adam. I plan on staying here when you two pull out.” Dalton said with a serious tone, one he rarely used. Sasha turned first, quickly standing to her feet and offering to take the controls so Adam could talk to his friend.

  “What are you talking about?” Adam asked quickly as he walked to the rear of the shuttle to sit with his friend. “I know the loss of so many friends has taken its toll.” he added.

  “That's what has me thinking,” Dalton said with a touch of sorrow. “Running all the time, the war. It's not my fate man.” he added.

  “Come on man, this will pass. You and I are like brothers.” Adam replied.

  “We are brothers, in every sense of the word,” Dalton said as he turned back to Adam. “Which is why I need you to understand, something else is out there waiting for me. I can feel it.” he added. A moment of silence fell throughout the shuttle as both men dealt with the inevitable. Dalton was leaving Adam's crew to go his own way.

  “I gotta find my Sasha. She's out there somewhere and between you and me I hope she has just as nice of an ass. She doesn't have a sister does she?” Dalton asked in a hushed tone as both men laughed a bit.

  “I'm not ever going to find her running from the Hunters or fighting this damn war. Hell, I never wanted any of this. I did it because I think so much of you.” Dalton added with much more seriousness attached to his words.

  “I understand,” Adam replied with a solid head shake.“At least let me buy this round of drinks at Paulie's as a thank you.” Adam added.

  “Damn straight. Hell, if I knew it took leaving to get my drinks paid for I woulda' done it a long time ago.” Dalton replied with a wide grin. Adam just laughed a bit, putting his hand onto the shoulder of Dalton out of gratitude, petting Whiskey for a moment as he turned to make his way back to the pilot's area.

  “I'm sorry.” Sasha said gently as Adam sat down beside her, the shuttle on its final moment of landing.

  “No need for that,” Adam said, reaching over and holding her hand. “I make it a rule not to feel bad for the end of things, but rather happiness that I ever had a chance to experience them,” he added. “Besides, this is hardly the end. Just the end of a single chapter in what is going to end up being a long story.” Adam said, turning to face the love of his life.

  Adam, Sasha and Dalton sat at their usual table in Paulie's bar the entire night. Talking about friends lost and experience gained. They laughed for the most part, though a little crying followed when talking about the life and death of Kelly, Steiner and Kato. Adam also found the time to tell the story of Luck one last time, which prompted Dalton to order another stout drink. The laughs continued as though they were family, Whiskey sitting directly at Dalton's side with the best display of loyalty imaginable.

  It seemed blurred into a single night, though several nights later Dalton sat at the same table. Drinking and laughing by himself as Whiskey stood in the same spot by his feet.

  “That guy? The homeless one at the rear of the bar?” Cambria asked of the bartender as they both stood there, staring at the broken man tightly tucked into his brown coat.

  “That's the one. Knows more about smuggling than everyone else in here combined. Be a big help to you all.” the bartender replied.

  “Well he looks down on his luck. May be able to hire him at a fraction of the going rate.” Cambria said.

  “Down on his luck? This son of a bitch is buried under the casino.” Tank replied.

  “Guess if we plan on smuggling, this is what the future holds for us one day.” Skulls added, his loose fitting leather clothing moving just a bit.

  “The hell it does. Not me, I got too much game for that.” Tank added as they all watched Dalton pour a bit of ale onto the floor for his loyal dog.

  “Wish me luck.” Cambria said, taking the rest of her liquor in a swift shot before slamming the small glass to the bar and standing to make her way to Dalton's table.

  “Mind if I sit?” Cambria asked politely.

  “Darlin' with hips like yours, you can do whatever the hell you want to.” Dalton replied with a grin.

  “Alrighty.” Cambria said with a smile, slowly placing her perfectly sculpted body onto the small wooden chair. Barkeep says you are the man to talk to about hiring onto my crew. If I can buy you a drink and...” Cambria said confidently, cut off abruptly by Dalton.

  “I'm in.” he replied.

  “You're huh?” Cambria said, taken back by his willingness to work a job he knew nothing about.

  “I just hit on you and instead of the usual slap to the face, you smiled. After which you offered to buy me a drink. I'm in. Consider me hired.” Dalton said.

  Cambria smiled a bit, still trying to read the man wrapped in a lipstick stained coat of brown armor.

  “Care to know what my crew plans to do? What your job entails?” Cambria asked.

  “Don't matter much either way, I've done it all. And twice if it was fun the first go 'round.” Dalton replied with a grin.

  “Alright then. Order whatever you want and when you are done here, just head outside. I Captain the “Outer Heaven” and her crew,” Cambria replied softly. “I'll tell the barkeep to put it on my tab.” she added, standing slowly and noticing Dalton's eyes shift from her own to her perky breasts.

  “Will do Captain,” Dalton replied as she smiled a bit and turned to walk away. “Now there goes a real damn woman right there Whiskey. She let me flirt with her, looks good as hell and even bought the booze. This could be love.” Dalton said in a low voice as he watched her ass bounce slightly, making her way back to be seated at the bar.

  Whiskey barked loudly, gaining the attention of Dalton.

  “Bullshit. I done laid claim to her, find your own.” he added, looking into the sad eyes of his lust filled pooch.

  “What'd he say?” Tank asked as Skulls looked on.

  “He's in.” Cambria replied, motioning for another shot of Paulie's finest.

  “Nice. So he knows we plan to smuggle?” Tank asked.

  “Nope.” she replied.

  “Well he at least knows we plan to work in The Drifts, right?” Tank asked.

  “Nope.” Cambria replied.

  “Well what in the hell did you tell him?” Tank asked in disbelief. “Nothing, I just bought him a drink.” Cambria said, glancing back at Dalton who seemed to be in a deep discussion with his loyal dog. She saw a playful charm about him, almost child-like. She also knew seconds after meeting him that when it was on the line he was the type that would get things done. Exactly what their crew needed. She turned her attention to the window behind the bar, watching the rain fall elegantly onto the ships outside, including her own. The adventure of the Outer Heaven was about to begin, and though she had no idea where smuggling would take them, she looked forward to every moment of it.

  “So I don't understand why we are coming back here if I pulled a gun on two of Kraid's most trusted?” Adam asked as Sasha piloted the shuttle down onto the snowy surface of the Benzan home world.

  “Benzans have disagreements all the time, you are still one of us and...” Sasha said, catching sight of bodies laying all over the ground and partially covered in snow.

  Adam saw her grief instantly, taking over the controls as Sasha began to cry loudly. These were her people, and from the looks of it most had been slain by the Hunters. The shuttle touched down onto th
e crisp snow of a nearby field as Sasha hurried to the exit of the ship.

  “Wait.” Adam said, unable to stop her from making her way outside. He slowly exited to see Sasha standing there, crying as the snow fell from above. Hundreds of bodies lay slain on the ground; nothing short of a massacre.

  Adam walked up behind Sasha slowly, placing his climate jacket onto her and wrapping both arms around her waist tightly.

  “Let's resupply, refuel and get out of here. I'll take care of everything, you need to get back on the shuttle. No need to see this.” Adam said.

  As his words hit the cold of wide open air, Adam and Sasha both caught glance of someone opening the lodge door, prompting Sasha to begin running into its direction. Adam had started to ask her to wait, but instead pulled his sidearm and sprinted behind her; knowing full well she wouldn't stop either way. It was a woman in the doorway of the lodge, a Benzan woman.

  “It's Sasha and Adam!” the woman said loudly.

  The Benzans inside, which included the women, children and five heavily armed escorts, lowered their weapons as Sasha and Adam entered slowly.

  “What happened? Where is Kraid?” Sasha asked as Adam tried to catch his breath, not used to the cold planet's air. A few of the Benzan women began crying as one of the escorts shook his head, letting Sasha know Kraid had been slain by the Hunters. It took several moments to sink in. Her former lover and the leader of her people was dead. A vast majority of her people lay slain in the bloody fields of snow right outside and it was only a matter of time before the Hunters returned.

  “We need to go. Now. The Hunters will send a return party to scout the planet, and if we are here they will end us.” Sasha said, trying to appear calm.

  “Go where? We have nowhere left to run.” one of the soldiers replied, feeling bad for his slain brothers while a bit lucky that Kraid had selected him as one of the few to protect their women and children.

  “There is something. I need the escorts to come with me, the rest of you pack any kind of supplies you can. Weapons, food and anything vital to survival,” Sasha said, the survivors taking a moment before dispersing to collect any needed supplies. “Come.” Sasha said as Adam and the five Benzan soldiers followed quickly behind.

  Their shuttle had flown for less than ten minutes when Sasha descended it back onto the frozen tundra of their homeworld. “It's here. Something Kraid had been working on with a few of his closest,” Sasha said. “In case of an emergency, and I think this qualifies.” she added.

  As they all exited the shuttle slowly, Sasha led them into what looked like a large cavern. The first thing that stood out to everyone was the cavern had an open view to the snow filled sky above. Then, their attention quickly shifted to the reason Sasha had brought them here. A ship. A very large ship, which seemed to be outfitted with capable weapons. It was a pale shade of black, the words North Star painted onto the front.

  “Kraid said it would hold a few hundred people if need be. Its navigational unit has information on another existing Benzan colony,” Sasha said, turning to the group. “But it's a travel into uncharted space. A long trip from what little Kraid spoke of it.” she added.

  “Why have we not heard of this before?” one of the soldiers asked of the large ship.

  “Because he planned to leave you, as well as most of the other Benzans behind in the event of emergency. It's the reason he and I parted ways,” Sasha said, glancing at Adam for a moment. “I could not be with a man who thought so little of our people. Every single one of you is important to me, and you will be important to the Captain of the North Star. Adam Michaels.” she added.

  “Captain?” Adam asked, stunned.

  “Yes. You are the only surviving Benzan that bears a golden weapon, signifying Captain. And if any of you take issue with the fact, let him speak now and remain behind to fight the Hunters on his own.” Sasha said, turning to the soldiers.

  “No. We have no issue with Adam as the ship's Captain.” one of the soldiers said, all five showing a loyal face to the smuggler.

  As the group of soldiers boarded the Benzan shuttle to return to the survivors, Adam and Sasha stayed behind to prep the ship; as well as make love in the most romantic fashion imaginable. Their souls became one for the next several hours aboard a ship that soon would embark on its quest to find other Benzans.

  A perilous quest, but one that not only had to be taken in order for their kind to survive, but one that both Adam and Sasha looked forward to. They would begin a life together without a war pulling them down or the thoughts of ex-lovers hindering them. Completely free to love and live their lives. Adam held Sasha softly in his arms as the Benzan shuttle arrived once more, full of survivors on its first of many trips to come; the lovers helping the surviving Benzan women and children aboard their new home. At least their new home for a long time to come. They would all escape the clutches of a war torn solar system...though they would soon fall into the clutches of yet another. One much more brutal.

  “Speak to me of your failures! Who is this you dare bring before your queen?” Victoria shouted as Vladris and Sarah Blaine approached with purpose.

  “Your successor.” Vladris replied sharply, pulling his blade with speed and slashing upward; Victoria's severed head rolling onto the stone floor of the throne room. Victoria's two stationed guards rushed to her aid, seconds later joining her in the afterlife as the blade of Vladris bit sharply into the core of their flesh.

  His unmatched skill with a blade would soon enough be put to the test by Roman Raines. However, there would be no test today. Vladris knew as well as every Hunter in the palace that he was the elite of all present.

  “My queen,” Vladris said, kneeling as Sarah Blaine slowly sat down in the throne chair, her skin having quickly flushed to little pigment as the Hunter venom was doing its job. She was as beautiful as ever, even if undead. “I will protect you with my life from this moment forward.” Vladris added.

  “Good. Rise warrior, we have work to do. Together.” Sarah said, her voice having changed drastically from serene to unnerving.

  As Vladris walked through the palace, he did so with resolve. He knew that Sarah Blaine would be a strong queen. Someone finally worthy of his unwavering loyalty. Entering the living area of the Hunters, dozens of them catching sight of him, Vladris threw Victoria's severed head to their feet. “Let any of you who would stand against me do so now,” Vladris said, drawing his still pulsating sword, a crimson fluid running down the edge of it. “We have a new queen. A much stronger queen. Either you agree to bow before her, or you stand against me and we settle the matter right now, in true Hunter fashion.” he added, daring any of them who were brave enough.

  Several minutes later he entered the throne room once more, nearly fifty Hunters behind him as they all knelt to their new queen. “The Hunters before you are the very strongest. We are loyal to you my queen. The others will follow without question.” Vladris said.

  “Rise warriors. For now we begin our rise to power.” Sarah said calmly, bringing a grimacing smile to the face of Vladris and the rest of the elites, including Kraid.

  The union of Legion and Theron forces had pushed General Ortega's soldiers to their breaking point. Tameca City was nothing more than smoldering wastelands as Lord Riven forced his army forward, his attempt to end the assault against their regime. He was nearly successful and knew it. He felt it in his bones as they had formed a massive group outside of the large warehouse that General Ortega had secured the wounded refugees. Lord Riven's feeling of victory instantly turned to nothing more than the black smoke that rose into a sky full of Gali war ships. Help had arrived for what few Colonial soldiers that remained. And the Gali had spared no expense, throwing every able bodied soldier into their effort as the sky quickly blackened out, ships blocking every speck of sunlight and landing with haste.

  “Sir, help has arrived!” Lieutenant Scott yelled loudly, prompting General Ortega to join the refugees as everyone looked through the dingy glass wind
ows and places where windows once sat.

  The Theron began pounding their weapons into the sky, though their best effort did little to slow the Gali as ships began landing, full of troops with hearts full of payback. They too had seen the horrific video feeds broadcast from Tameca and arrived bearing no offer of quarters. They were there to execute every single person involved with the Legion, Theron descent or otherwise.

  As the young man who had listened to General Ortega stepped up to a small window of his own, he saw them. The huge Husk warriors exiting their shuttles by the hundreds, firing chain style machine guns as they cut through the Theron soldiers; exposing them for the cowards they were. General Ortega was given his first communication since being left on Tameca's surface. Paul Lassiter was dead and Sarah Blaine was missing. Effectively leaving Ortega in charge as the ranking Colonial officer.

  “Sir, we have captured the Legion's leader.” Lieutenant Scott said following several hours of widespread gunfire throughout Tameca city. Ortega nodded, though his thoughts remained with Adam Michaels. General Ortega knew in his heart that Adam had killed Lassiter and taken Sarah Blaine. Soon enough the search for Adam Michaels would begin. However, the battle at hand was his first priority. Ortega glanced around the room, looking into the faces of the refugees who had lost so much. Family, homes and lives. They had been crushed.

  “Sir, where should we take him for processing?” Lieutenant Scott asked as two Colonial soldiers held Lord Riven in restraints. General Ortega looked into the eyes of the soulless man, the person directly responsible for such a massacre.

  Colonial code would call for a trial by jury, a lengthy legal fight to convict a person who had been responsible for such war crimes. But Colonial code was of little concern to General Ortega, who would soon become commander. As everyone in the room looked on, General Ortega drew his sidearm and fired a single shot, hitting Riven between the eyes and removing a great portion of the back of his skull in the process. “The shallowest grave you can find.” Ortega replied, his soldiers dragging the corpse outside. It was soon strung up for all to see, a reminder to everyone that justice had prevailed and Tameca was, and would always be, a world where free people lived.