The Cross of Mithras Vol. 1: EOD Operation Welcome to Hell

by Douglas Howell

  Mad Dawg, without saying a word, got up to leave. He suspected that they already knew the true fate of Little John, but he just wanted to leave. It would give him the chance to think about what they said. He also wanted to take a hot shower so that he can feel better physically.

  “How are those robotic helper hands?” Omori asked in a curious manner.

  “Fine. Why do you ask?” Mad Dawg asked.

  “Who do you think made them?” Omori responded.

  Mad Dawg stood there in the doorway for a moment looking down at his hands. He wanted to tell her thanks, but he couldn’t. His pride wouldn’t let him. He looked at her struggling to tell her.

  “You’re welcome.” Omori said. Mad Dawg acknowledge it and then left.

  “So what do you think?” Joseph asked Sayaka after the door closed.

  “He’s beginning to see things our way. After he think about we said for awhile, we should tell him what happen to Little John. But do you think we should try to see how far we can take him down our pathway?” Omori asked.

  “If we continuously play the role of good host, and keep on giving him the type of Intel that we have been, I’m certain that he’ll probably start to see things our way. It also wouldn’t hurt to fix his ship. So let’s see how far we can take him.” Lenkov said. Sayaka nodded her head in agreement.

  Over the course of the next few hours Mad Dawg was doing a lot of thinking about what Parker did. At the same time, Joseph had Chester (accompanied by a armed guard) with several EOD engineers go over to Galactic Prime. Chester had to cooperate with the engineers as they removed the computer core along with the backup. He also had to assist them as they started to make repairs to the ship. When he was allowed to return back to the ship, he found out that he was given a room with an armed guard. He was then told that he had to talk to Mad Dawg about them repairing the ship.

  “Chester… what are you doing here?” Mad Dawg asked when Chester came to see him.

  “Sir… I think that they were trying to recruit me.” Chester said after the door shut and he came near to where Mad Dawg was.

  “Why do you think that?”

  “First of all sir, when Ms. Omori asked me to surrender she was wearing a black-and-white dress. She looked very beautiful and…” Chester was saying. It caused Mad Dawg to laugh out loud.

  “Yeah I bet. Chester… you’re an ignorant fool. You know that.”

  “What!? All I’m saying is…”

  “Yeah I know what you’re saying. You saw how beautiful she is and then she had you eating out of the palm of her hand.”

  “No sir that’s not true!”

  “Of course it’s true. You’re single.”

  “What does that have to do with anything sir!?”

  “Plenty. Do you seriously believe that she dresses up like that just to ask someone to surrender? Shut up! Let me finish. She only dresses up like that because both her and Joseph knows that it can have an effect upon guys who are single. As for married guys? If they’re happily married then they typically have the attitude of look but don’t touch.” Mad Dawg said. Chester laughed a little at the thought of him desiring Sayaka.

  “Sir, no offense, but that’s bullshit. I don’t fancy the thought of having her. I don’t fantasize about her!” Chester said. He was deeply annoyed by the thought of having sex with Sayaka.

  “So… you’re telling me that you would NEVER want to have a woman who is as beautiful as she is? Is that what you are saying?”

  “No sir that’s not what I am saying.”

  “So you do fancy the thought of having a woman, not Sayaka, but a woman who is as beautiful as she is. Is that right?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Now you know why she dresses up like that. Because there is a small part of you that desires to have a woman as beautiful as she is. It’s a form of distraction. Distracting you from being successful in your negotiations.”

  “In other words, she is a cold heartless manipulative bitch.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far. It was Joseph who came up with that idea. If the rumors are correct, then he came up with as a form of a joke. Look Chester… the best most efficient way to negotiate with them, when she pulls that stunt, is to show her respect and to let her win with class. Why do you think it’s better to let a happily married man negotiate with them?”

  “You mean someone like you sir.” Chester said.

  When Chester said that it reminded Mad Dawg that his depression is partly to blame. He started to feel bad about the way in which he feels, but he needs a miracle in order to make him feel better. And he’s fixing to get it.

  “Sir, they also took me and some EOD engineers over to Galactic Prime and they took the computer core and the backup computer core.” Chester said.

  “So. What does that have to do with them trying to recruit you? Taking the computer core is standard procedure. Both sides does it. It’s done to prevent anyone from using the ship after it’s abandoned. The only time when it’s not done is when the ship has value.” Mad Dawg said.

  The computer core and it’s software is not considered valuable. When the alert that signify that the crew is surrendering was announced, all important data was automatically erased. Both sides does that. It’s done because it gives the crew extra time to sabotage any equipment that is deemed too valuable to fall into enemy hands.

  “I already know all of that sir.” Chester said.

  “Then what is it that they have done to convince you that they are trying to recruit you?”

  “They wanted me there because they wanted to know what type of damage that was done to the ship. They were there to repair the ship. And from the looks of it… to make it combat ready.”

  Mad Dawg was too confused to say anything. Why in the universe would they repair Galactic Prime? Yes it’s obvious that they want something, but whatever it is it must be extremely important. If it’s not treason that they want, then what?

  There was a small part of Mad Dawg that felt better. A feeling that said that his depression is coming to an end. But the confusion remained. He couldn’t help but to think about why did they repair his ship and what do they want.

  After several moments passed by they heard the doorbell ring. Chester went to the door to answer it. The guard assigned to watch him told him that it was time to leave. Chester then left with the guard and was taken back to his assigned quarters. When they got down the hallway, the guard posted at Mad Dawg’s door sent a text message to Sayaka. She then sent a message back and the guard then told Mad Dawg that both Lenkov and Omori wanted to see him.

  “What do both of you want to talk about this time?” Mad Dawg asked both Joseph and Sayaka.

  “We just learned the true fate of Little John. There was a second symbiote, but it was dead. It seems that Ms. Adnrwal’s sister gave Parker a jar with a liquid in it called, Liquid Death. She said that it’s supposed to have the capability to bring the dead back to life. It is also some form of a weapon where it can kill with the most smallest of drops. First of all let me tell you the following, to the EOD, as you probably already know, it’s useless as a weapon since we have poisons that are far more efficient than that.” Lenkov was saying.

  “What about the possibility that it can bring the dead back to life? Are you saying that particular part of it is useless?” Mad Dawg asked.

  “You already have the answer to that. The EOD doesn’t save lives, it takes them.” Omori said quite bluntly. The bluntness threw Mad Dawg off.

  “But it’s life giving properties could greatly improve the quality of life.” Mad Dawg responded.

  “You must understand the following. As you probably already know both of us are not true killers. So we’re ruthless, but we’re not evil.” Lenkov was saying.

  “So what’s the difference?”

  “Ruthlessness has it’s limits, evil does not. Evil would have kill you and your crew without mercy. Ruthlessness doesn’t care if you live or die, but it will not kill you when it can g
ive you a chance to surrender.” Lenkov said.

  “Ruthlessness has a better understanding of life and death than goodness.” Omori added.

  “That’s bullshit.” Mad Dawg responded.

  “Have you ever directly or indirectly kill someone who deserved it?” Lenkov asked.

  “Haven’t we all?”

  “But would you give them their lives back?” Lenkov asked.

  “No.”

  “If you bring back the dead of those who never deserve to die, then it would become a fad. Once it becomes a fad then those who deserve to die will come back as well. Don’t forget that it’s in human nature to abuse power. Now imagine giving the corrupt and powerful that type of power over life and death. What’s more, you don’t know how it would effect those being brought back. It could turn them into something far worse than what they were before.” Omori said.

  Mad Dawg knew that she is right, but the lost of his daughter, and the thought of bringing her back to life, prevented him from accepting that Sayaka is right. He wanted to say something but couldn’t. Both his heart and his head was strongly conflicting with each other.

  “I know that it must be awful hard for you to accept it, the lost of your daughter, Liquid Death, the thought of bringing your daughter back to life, but there is something that you should know about it. Accordingly to Captain Adnrwal’s sister, it can’t bring back a decaying corpse, but only those who have recently died.” Lenkov said.

  It hurt Mad Dawg to hear that. To him it felt like he lost his daughter all over again. He didn’t’ cry over it, but it still hurt him. The feeling didn’t last long since he didn’t have that long to get his hopes up. He realized that it was just wishful thinking on his part.

  “To make a long story short, Captain Parker said that Mrs. Ydxx’od’omaa used the liquid to bring that symbiote back to life. She then put Little John in a trance to bring out Double Shock’s memory, skills, etc. Parker said that she used the symbiote to switch the minds of Little John and Double Shock, but Little John’s soul was in the way. She then used Liquid Death to kill Little John and she used it to bring him back to life. When she took Little John’s life, all that he ever was, his soul, his memories, his skills, everything, was gone. But when she brought him back to life, all that Double Shock ever was, including his soul, came back instead. It was Double Shock who stole that ship. He also placed a note in Parker’s wallet. It said that the hive is no longer in control of him. Double Shock mentioned that the symbiote can be removed.” Omori said.

  “How do you know that the hive wasn’t making him say that?” Mad Dawg asked.

  “Well if that’s true, then we are all in a world of hurt. A second hive with futuristic EOD technology. What could be more nightmarish?” Omori responded.

  “It is our belief that Double Shock planned on using that liquid to bring back the Hau’rino Empire.” Lenkov added.

  “So how does the EOD High Command feel about that?” Mad Dawg asked.

  “What do you think? High Command sees value in them. But only after they had develop fully as a civilization would High Command order that they bring it into the EOD world.” Lenkov said.

  “Why? Can’t stand strong civilizations that can oppose them?” Mad Dawg asked.

  “You got it.” Omori said.

  “Look… I’m not stupid. I know that both of you want something from me. What is it?” Mad Dawg asked. Both Joseph and Sayaka smiled when they heard that.

  “You’re right, we do want something from you. We can’t do it, so don’t ask, but we want you to go to Golden Hyperion and eliminate someone for us.” Lenkov said.

  “Who is it?”

  “Captain Dawson.” Omori said.

  “Who’s that?”

  “The current CO of the EOD Defense Force of Golden Hyperion.” Lenkov said.

  “Now hold on second! You mean that both of you have committed treason against the EOD and you want me to do your dirty work!? Aw hell no! You do it, you eliminate him!” Mad Dawg said.

  “We never said that we committed treason.” Omori said.

  “Then why do both of you want him eliminated?”

  “We can’t tell you. It’s better that you don’t know.” Lenkov said.

  “Then why should I help you then?”

  “If you don’t then you and your men will be sent to a EOD prison.” Omori said.

  “Hey don’t get me wrong, I don’t’ mind taking out some EOD scumbag, no offense, but I would like to know why me and my men are risking our lives. Wouldn’t you sir?”

  “It would not be in your, and I mean you personally, best interest to know.” Lenkov said.

  “Why!?” Mad Dawg said. He was starting to get very concern for himself and his crew.

  “If we tell you then you will be sent to a EOD prison and we will let your people go free. And if you don’t cooperate with us… we will let you go free but your crew will be sent to a EOD prison.” Omori said. The shock was profound when Mad Dawg heard that.

  “Why can’t you tell me!?” Mad Dawg almost yelled.

  “We don’t trust you enough to stay quiet.” Omori said.

  “What!? I will stay quiet! You have my word!”

  “We can’t take the chance. Deal or no deal, we’re not going to change our minds.” Lenkov said.

  Mad Dawg was so thrown up inside that he broke down and cry. The thought of never seeing his wife again. The thought of his entire crew spending the rest of their lives in a EOD prison. The pain within him was more than what anyone could know. Mad Dawg couldn’t allow his crew to be sent to a EOD prison, nor could he live without ever seeing his beloved wife ever again. The conflict within him grew by each passing moment.

  “Alright. I’ll cooperate with you. But you still need to tell me why me and my people will be risking their lives.” Mad Dawg said after several moments. He was crying so deeply that his nose was running.

  “Where do you live at?” Lenkov asked.

  “Why do you want to know that?” Mad Dawg said still crying.

  “Because the prison that we’re going to send you to is a second Earth called… Andromeda. It’s our home world. When you get there both you and your wife will be treated like one of our crewmembers. Neither you nor your wife can leave the surface, but both of you will have freedom of movement. You can own property, run a business, live your life the way that you would on the Earth. It’s just like any other type of colony out there.” Lenkov said in a compassionate way.

  “What do you mean your ‘home world’? The EOD don’t let any of their people own a planet.” Mad Dawg said. When he heard Joseph said what he did, Mad Dawg stopped crying.

  “We found it and kept it a secret. I hacked the computers of astronomers in order to hide it. Only our crew knows that it exists.” Omori said with a smile.

  “Here… have a look.” Lenkov said as he gave Mad Dawg a PDA.

  Mad Dawg couldn’t believe it. Andromeda looked like a cross between Golden Hyperion and the Earth. It almost look like the Earth in it’s natural state. He always wanted to retire to a place like that. Who wouldn’t? He could see why they would keep it a secret.

  Mad Dawg, like the vast majority of Captains, live within three months of anywhere that they travel. For him, he lives only 15 weeks from Golden Hyperion. He didn’t know how to feel. But the thought about the hive being somewhere out there, and what happened to Mrs. Ydxx’od’omaa, convinced him that maybe it’s better this way. After all, Andromeda is the home world of the Hammer of Doom and the ship that bears their name. Mad Dawg’s depression, at that moment, came to an end. And now he can’t wait to see his wife again.

  “We live at Nova Ventura in the city called San Lucas.” Mad Dawg said.

  “Where?” Omori asked.

  “I know where it is. We have one person who’s stationed four days from it. The colony was settled by people from California.” Lenkov said.

  “So what’s the information that’s going to get me… and my wife… sent to Andromeda?
” Mad Dawg asked both of them.

  “Remember how you asked us about Infernus?” Lenkov asked Mad Dawg.

  “Yes.”

  “The name Infernus is a intentional misnomer of a second Earth. We have reason to believe that there is a connection between Golden Hyperion and Infernus. Whatever that connection is, there appears to be a massive conspiracy against the EOD by elements within both the Council and High Command.” Omori said.

  “Like what?” Mad Dawg asked. There was a part of him that was glad that there might be a civil war fixing to erupt within the EOD.

  “Like I said before, both the Council and High Command will go to any lengths to conceal the fact that the planet exist. They had a group of scientists create non-intelligent androids in order for those androids to create, and run, a massive factory that produce nanoprobes. They also had to create another group of non-intelligent androids to man a group of transport vessels. One of our contacts was ordered to liquidate the scientists afterward.” Omori was saying.

  “Why were they killed?” Mad Dawg asked.

  “Our contact was not informed of the reason nor did he asked questions. Do you remember that news story about a ET civilization that created nanoprobes and was consumed by them?” Lenkov asked.

  “Yes. Are you saying that, the nanoprobes that those scientists created were the ones that consumed that alien civilization?” Mad Dawg said.

  “That’s actually what I am saying.” Lenkov responded.

  “Why would the Council do a thing like that?” Mad Dawg asked.

  “The nanoprobes that consumed that planet created a type of nanoprobes that can hide Infernus. And that is why 7.5 billion people lost their lives.” Omori said.

  “Just when you thought you heard everything evil about the EOD...” Mad Dawg said.

  “There are eight other places like Golden Hyperion. That is where those transports where headed to. But we have no idea what they were carrying. Regardless of who won, High Command ordered that all survivors are to be liquidated.” Lenkov said.

  “You see… if you don’t help us your people will die just like our people. No survivors.” Omori said.