Of Hearts And Stars (Classic Editon) (The Cadet Starship Chronicles)

by West, Edward

  With the sensors smashed and disabled, Swift dropped back to the deck and rolled to avoid the walking tank's fist. The pilot, now furious that Swift outsmarted him, had to rely on what he could see through a viewing pane hidden on the front of the walking tank. In an attempt to partially restore his vision the pilot threw down emergency flares, and Swift appeared as if he were a vengeful spirit from a horror movie as his movements lagged between light, darkness; in and out of the red light of the flares.

  Swift moved in close again and struck a mighty blow to the side of the walking tank's leg, causing a crunching noise much like a sledge hammer bashing a car; the blue light from Wrath shining in bright contrast with the dim red light of the flares. The pilot, unable use his rifle at close range, swiped a heavy metal hand at Swift. Swift was able to dodge the attack, and turned to assault the same leg once more. He threw another punch, but as he used Wrath more and more, the punches decreased in intensity. His fist crashed upward into the walking tank's knee joint with uncanny accuracy, leaving it severely damaged. The pilot flew into a frenzy of melee attacks, and finally connected with Swift, sending him flying through the air. Having depended on Wrath so much, the weak shield he put up was all Swift could do to prevent his bones from shattering. He crawled behind a pile of overturned cargo crates, the muscles in his torso screaming in agony. The walking tank's mobility was greatly afflicted by Swift's assault, and the pilot found himself unable to position the WT to fire on Swift's exact location. Since 9800GT's lacked the free pivoting torso units of other models, the pilot had to improvise by having the walking tank hold the rifle sideways in it's hands and activating the proximity sensors. The initial shots were wide due to the awkward position of the rifle and lack of actual sight, but soon began to close in. The pilot was adjusting his aim based off the trajectory of his shots, where they actually landed, and the location of his target. It was only a matter of time until he blew those crates away and Swift with them.

  Things look incredibly bad, he thought, as he lay on the deck, trying to think and gather strength quickly. It would have been a good idea to not attack the walking tank and just wait for backup. It probably would have been a cool idea not to jump into dangerous fights period. Hell it would have been ninety nine swag if he were a normal student. Still that's pretty boring if he thought about it. And if he wasn't out fist fighting big friggin' robots, then just who would? Not Gin. Not yet at least.

  The rifle blasts were even closer now, and it was if he could feel the heat from each one crashing into the deck around the crates. Swift closed his eyes, and then it came. The inevitable explosion that meant the crates were now destroyed and that he was fully exposed. Disintegration came next, naturally, and Swift had no idea how that felt. At least it will be quick, he thought.

  Only it didn't come. He opened his eyes and the crates were still there. Swift rolled to a kneeling position, moving to take a peek. Black smoke funneled from a gaping hole in the hull of the ship. He could feel the vacuum of space pulling as the oxygen field engaged and the atmosphere stabilized. The walking tank's balance had shifted, which caused further damage to it's leg, and the pilot had to temporary halt his attack as he struggled to keep upright. Swift stood up and could now see LaCroix clearly through the hole in the hull; Pol's Voice pointing directly at him and the walking tank.

  Allie's voice came over the comlink “Swift shield your ears. In fact shield your entire body.”

  He could hear Pol's Voice charging up now, the wub wub wub heralding his doom. Swift began to charge up Wrath in order to create a shield against the devastating sound waves of Pol's voice, but with time running out he began to doubt Wrath's effectiveness in blocking the attack. A barrier created by AKE could keep out proton and light based energy attacks, however the physical damage from Pol's Cannon would easily punch through. It had all come down to this. Die from a walking tank or shaken apart by dubstep. Dubstep he had personally chosen for obnoxiousness. Creating a small hole in the barrier, Swift then took a deep breath, pulling the barrier tight around his body. Then he closed the hole and expanded it once more. Swift had recalled Wilson's argument that Pol's Voice would be ineffective in a vacuum, and got the idea to create a space with Wrath that was void of molecules for the sound waves to travel through. As long as the plasma didn't reach the barrier, he'd be safe from any residual waves entering the bay. As he closed his eyes to concentrate on maintaining the barrier, Pol's Voice struck like an earthquake, and he elevated himself off the deck for safety. Staying on the deck meant that he ran the risk of falling over, and thus being shook up like a can of paint. No thanks. Just as he thought he was at the end of his rope, however, it stopped, and he released the barrier with a gasp. That whole no molecule thing seemed like awesome sauce until he realized that no air molecules meant that he would need to hold his breath. It should have been obvious, but he had found himself distracted previously; with all of the almost dying going on and what not. When he opened his eyes he saw that the entire hangar bay was in shambles. The walking tank had collapsed and now was propping itself up on one shoulder. This was his chance to drag that pilot out and knock some sense into his or her skull.

  Swift began to charge towards the fallen mech, but had barely taken a step forward when the pilot raised the WT's free hand to reveal wrist mounted mini-missiles.

  “Really!?” he shouted in frustration.

  After all of this he was going to die anyway. Wrath didn't stand a chance of blocking even a single missile and he was too close to dodge them at all. Suddenly a loud thump echoed throughout the hangar bay, sending the walking tank's arm to the deck with a thunderous crash. There is only one person Swift knew of who could make that shot with such a powerful precision weapon.

  “Wow, thanks Revy!” Swift shouted into his comlink.

  There was no answer.

  “Revy, are you mad at me?” He asked.

  Silence followed by “I'm not mad.” in quite a chilly voice.

  “...Okay. Cause you seem mad.”

  “I'm not.”

  “Well thanks!” He tried again.

  No answer.

  Swift had a fleeting thought that perhaps the walking tank's missiles actually were not half as scary as an angry Revy. He took two bounding strides and jumped onto the back of the walking tank. As much as he wanted to tear the cockpit door off in the front, that would be impossible even with Wrath enhancing his finger grip due to the complex interlock system on the hatch. Instead he positioned himself behind where the pilot sat inside and cracked his knuckles. Then he took a deep breath and unleashed a volley of rapid fire punches, each one booming into the back of the walking tank until he heard the hiss of the cockpit door as the interlocks released. Satisfied, he hopped down and pressed his comlink.

  “Jay, start getting a fix on me. Once I subdue our ace pilot here get a lock on him and transfer us both.”

  -39-

  Swift turned to get a good look at the pilot, blinking rapidly; unable to believe his eyes “Benny!” he yelled as if he had seen a ghost.

  “Leo! It's been far too long!” Benny said cheerfully, as if he hadn't just piloted that killer walking tank a few moments ago.

  Benedict “Benny” Fisher was, at one time, Swift's best friend while he attended Arbalest Solar Academy. It was believed that he was executed by The Empire following the events of RP-750.

  “I...You're...” Swift was so overwhelmed that he could barely speak.

  “You thought I was dead?” Benny asked and added “Quite the opposite old friend.”

  “You tried... to kill me?” Swift asked, dumbfounded.

  “Now I don't remember you being this stupid.” Benny answered with a thin lipped smile “Of course I tried to kill you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because we're enemies.” Benny answered while gesturing to the rebel shift suit he was wearing “Duh.”

  Standing there in the crumbling ruins of the cargo bay, Swift silently watched a dead man mock him. He got the feelin
g that Benny was hell bent on being a troll, and that anything he said would be met with some wise crack or lame remark. After the initial shock of Benny still being alive wore off, Swift asked “So what happens next?”

  Benny threw his hands up and shrugged “What else? I'm going to end this heinous war!” He said.

  “We can end it together then!” Swift offered.

  Benny's smug expression then contorted into a hateful mixture of a cold smile and a hideous look of contempt in his eyes “Oh?” he asked and added “Not before The Empire sees my head parted from my shoulders! I don't think they'll mess it up twice Leo.”

  “We'll figure something out!” Swift pleaded.

  “We'll figure something out!? I'd still be at the academy if you had just shot. Her in. The head!” Benny put forceful emphasis on these last few words, and the memories they evoked stung Swift like daggers to the heart.

  “She was just a kid Benny.” Swift said softly.

  “So were we! Don't tell me you still haven't killed anyone yet? This is war!” Benny shouted.

  Swift shook his head and said “Death is an end with no resolution.”

  “You know what your problem is? You keep seeing your dead mother in every dying person you come across, and it scares the hell out of you.” Benny said coldly “You're just a coward.”

  Swift took a deep breath and exhaled. Gone was the pain and fatigue he had just felt. Now anger seeped into his mind as a curtain of white noise rose up between his consciousness and his thoughts “That's enough for now Benny.” he said flatly “You're coming with me.”

  “Maybe in a body bag,” Benny said, holding his hands up into the air “but never in cuffs!”

  Swift ignored this and launched himself at Benny, who had just enough time to put his hands up to block the flurry of jabs raining down upon him. He tried to counter with punches of his own, but these were parried without trouble. Swift feinted a body shot, and when Benny went to block, Swift switched targets to seamlessly slam a left hook into Benny's face. He immediately followed up with a right hook that sent Benny reeling. Just as Swift cocked back for a TKO, Benny emitted a burst of energy that lifted Swift off of his feet and sent him sprawling on the deck below.

  “Surprised are-” Benny tried to ask, but was cut off mid sentence as Swift appeared instantly in front of him. Before he could react, Swift hit him with two enhanced punches, the second was so vicious that he had to struggle desperately to keep conscious. Another burst from Benny threw Swift into the air once more. This time a cord of energy lashed out and whipped Swift onto the deck with brutal force. Benny staggered, spat blood, and then wiped his mouth.

  That was ridiculously painful, Swift thought. Trying to move was excruciating, and when he did so, he thought he felt a clicking, or rather shifting, in his side. He'd probably broken a bone, or two, or three. The fight with the walking tank had already taken it's toll on his body and now fighting with Benny had brought him to his limit.

  “I forgot” Benny said as he tenderly rubbed his swollen cheek “that you don't like to listen sometimes.”

  “Kuh.” was all Swift could say in his battered condition.

  “When I heard stories of the amazing Wrath of God, I knew that I absolutely had to create one of my own. After improving on your current specs I named it Atheist. Fitting name, don't you think?” Benny asked.

  Thoughts began to flow back into Swift's pain hazy mind. First off, he wanted to know how did Benny come to learn so much about Wrath? Also just when did he create Atheist? Does he fully comprehend the nature of weapons like Wrath and supposedly Atheist? Swift had a feeling that Benny did not and now had a plan. However he'd need an opening or he'd find himself whipped to pieces.

  “Honestly! After all of this time I had hoped that you'd become stronger.” Benny lied. He had been sure during testing that Atheist would destroy Wrath as well as Swift. He had been sure that there would be no hope. No chance. Benny raised his hand and said “You look so tired laying there little Leo. Maybe you should sleep.”

  A cord of energy snaked through the air and rose above Swift. This is so lame, he thought, getting swatted like a bug. Exhaustion and injury prevented him from dodging or blocking any attacks at this point, so he locked his eyes on Benny's and wished dreadfully that he could make heads explode with his mind. Yet, before Benny could land the deathblow he sensed movement at his side, and spun wildly to block an incoming round. Intense blue light flashed in front of his face as sparks began to fly everywhere; his eyes bulging in concentration, sweat forming on his brow and then trickling down his face as the anti-tank round got closer and closer to it's target. With his knees shaking and tremendous effort he deflected the round, sending it flying upwards and into the ceiling with another loud thump. More debris fell as the bay collapsed further and Revy cocked back the slide on Nine-breaker; preparing to fire once more. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Not only did Benedict, who was supposedly dead, come out of the walking tank, but he was attacking Swift with a weapon similar to Wrath.

  “Oh...” Benny said in a strained voice “Hello there Reveille. You can die too.”

  Benny sunk his energy cords into the back of the walking tank and manipulated the circuitry for the arm, causing it to aim it's mini-missile launcher at LaCroix's loading bay. The walking tank shifted once more and fell to the deck completely, giving Revy time to switch Nine-breaker from single shot to three shot burst. She didn't know if she could shoot down each mini-missile, but there was one thing she was sure of: Benny wouldn't come out of this fight with anything remotely resembling a skull. Seeing the current situation unfold, Swift knew that this was his one and only chance to stop Benny and save them both. Swift sprang to his feet with what little strength he had left and launched himself back at Benny for one last play.

  “That won't work loser!” Benny shouted as he turned to face Swift with a heated look of rage on his face. In return, Swift just looked him with pity and sadness, which only infuriated Benny even more “Don't look down on me!” He screamed.

  “Shut up punk.” Swift said and thrust a hand forward into the approaching energy field created by Atheist. Wrath and Atheist then began to resonate with each other. As one put out more energy the other drew it in. Benny quickly found that he could not halt his attack and began to struggle.

  Swift's eyes filled with fierce blue light as he spoke in a grim voice which crackled with electricity “Do you see now, how these weapons work? They can bleed you dry, and devour your soul.”

  Benny fell to his knees as Atheist continuously siphoned his energy “Stop!” he protested.

  Swift only pulled harder, causing Benny to roar in agony. Fatigue began to set upon Benny and that roar of agony soon became nothing more than a weak groan. The strain from trying to control both Wrath and Atheist consumed what little stamina Swift had left, and he felt the power becoming unstable. As he released his control over Atheist, the burst knocked them both back several yards onto the deck, exhausted and beaten.

  Jay was then able to get a lock on Swift, and immediately teleported him back to LaCroix. Allie was waiting at the platform, and caught him before he fell.

  “Jay...Benny...” Swift gasped painfully between words.

  Jay moved forward to help Allie carry Swift off of the platform “I know man.” he said “Revy told us, but you've gotta take it easy. You're pretty banged up.”

  “Bring him...back.” Swift struggled to make words.

  “Don't try to talk.” Allie cautioned but Swift shook his head.

  “Jay...” He said.

  “I tried, but I couldn't get a lock on him.” Jay replied.

  Just then Revy entered the teleporter room with a fierce look in her eyes and said “The rebels are preparing to pull off. They'll escape at this point.”

  Just as Allie and Jay had managed to sit Swift down he tried to stand up.

  “Swift!” Allied tried to stop him, but it wasn't necessary because he couldn't stand up despite his best ef
forts.

  “Pursue...them.” Swift said.

  Allie crossed her arms and said “Not an option. We'll send out a distress call. A fleet ship-”

  “I'm captain.” Swift took out a pair of shades, somehow unbroken, from his pocket and put them on “...deal with it...”

  Allied snatched the shades from his face, threw them on the deck, and crushed them with her boot “Don't you pull rank on me Leoric Swift! You need medical attention! We're done here. We're basing!” she said.

  The look of fury on her face was equally matched by the look of defiance on Swift's face “What I need is to save those hostages. What I need is to bring Benny back.” he said, and grabbed his sides, doubling over in pain. Revy couldn't bare to watch anymore and left the room. Jay then brought up a live stream of the captured ship and called their attention to it. One imperial ship, followed by another, and yet another came onscreen. They then proceeded to outmaneuver the captured ship before boxing it in. Swift leaned back in his seat with a sigh of relief.

  “This is the IFS Clear Light, what is your status LaCroix?” an imperial soldier asked over the communications link.

  “We're fine... Mission complete.” Swift said carefully as to not injure himself any further.

  Swift had broken four ribs, had a laceration on his liver and kidney, and one collapsed lung. On top of this, his pay was docked for not following student procedures in a combat situation. All in all, the imperial forces did arrive and rescue all of the hostages, but found no one fitting the description of Benedict Fisher among the rebels arrested.

  Fisher sat down in the pilot seat of his PFCC. The advanced phase cloaking technology that he'd equipped to it would at allow him a speedy, yet peaceful get away. Just as his thoughts and emotions began to wash over him a voice spoke up from behind.