Path of Ranger: Volume 1

by RJ

  The first message that popped up was an offer to register. A large text document appeared next to it with the terms and conditions. JB was tempted to rush to sign up at once so he wouldn’t need those external patches anymore, but he didn’t want to sign up without studying that document carefully. He didn’t trust the future people yet. JB put aside the registration message for the time being.

  The interface felt odd, all those floating objects were icons for programs, files, messages and other stuff, which had cluttered the area pretty quickly. The most irritating was an animation of a brown box with a yellow tape on it. It jumped up and down all the time, distracting him from everything else. So he tapped on it to make it stop.

  It appeared to be a mailbox. The desktop cleared out and the mail letters covered all of the space. The box itself got squashed and trashed away. The mutant tapped on the first letter in the spreadsheet. It was a ‘Ranger’s Manual.’ Those probably were the things that Nea had left for him. JB left them open to read soon, but first he got back to his meal.

  The beep signal called JB for dinner. He opened the steamer to find a large piece of white meat lying on the plate, surrounded by salad leaves. The weight of the product had increased. Once the hungry mutant took the dish out, a shell with the flavorings revealed. The bottles were transparent, but not labeled. JB picked the one with a red substance inside, which reminded him of ketchup.

  When the food was served, the man decided to give the TV another chance. He sat on the couch and put the plate on the coffee table in front of him. Nostalgia for the old times came on him suddenly. JB wanted to see something that could remind him of the old fashioned TV.

  “HBO,” he called. Nothing happened. “Fox?” Still nothing. “CNN?”

  The program switched to another news channel. The layout was familiar: two anchors behind the desk, talking. But the setup was completely different. Apparently it wasn’t local news, but global Galaxy news, and the hosts weren’t humans. Grey-skinned aliens of large size and with cat-like eyes. The acleemans. The topic was the war, just like on the previous channel. JB decided to watch it this time. If there indeed was such an important war, he should better know something about it.

  After half a night of sitting in front of the TV and surfing the web, JB found out quite a few things about that war. The conflict was ongoing between the GU and another, non-ally species. A hostile one.

  It all started during the expedition of one of the scout groups beyond the edge of the local galaxy sleeve. They found a solar system there, which was called ‘Funtox.’ There were two stars in that system: Funtox-Alpha and Funtox-Beta, surrounded by five planets. The scouts were led by the legendary Captain Crumus, a rahtiong. They landed on Funtox-2. That was where an unknown kind was found.

  The information about that event wasn’t consistent, at least those public sources weren’t. It didn't surprise Bridgers, though, since every at least half-meaningful event gets flooded with trash by anyone up to it. Yet, JB found some documents that interested to him. A part of the captain’s personal log. It contained a description of the hostiles, their machines, locations and other things.

  It all had started when the team camped up on the planet. They weren’t expecting it to be inhabited, so no permissions were asked for. After a few days of research, the equipment went glitchy, soon it broke down all the way. Unknown creatures showed up next. Each of them seemed to have its own force field. They could move objects without touching them, or dissolve them. Crumus took them for the reason of equipment malfunctions.

  The aliens seemed as humanoids at first. Their body structure and size looked alike. But with a closer look, scouts noticed the differences. There was thick dark purple skin, large dark-blue eyes, long pointy ears, a flat, pressed-in nose. They were hairless but had lots of skin tails growing from the head’s top. Strong arms and legs, wiry bodies. The joints were penetrated with outgoing spikes. They also had double wrists, with the halves opposite one to another, each had two fingers on it. As outfits, they used compact space suits. Their faces were half covered with the masks.

  The first encounter ended with the attack. The aliens destroyed all of the data from that expedition. All that was left was a short signal from the black box. When the attack started, Crumus managed to switch the black box to transmission mode. But he had no time to send a message. Just a short piece of video footage was transmitted. Those five minutes showed enough: the destruction of the camp, the coldblooded murder of the crew and its captain. Those images showed exactly how hostile that race was.

  One of the strangest things in Jerry's opinion was that the enemies had known the human language even before the first encounter, which was proven by that very same record. After the first event, there were many more following, the hostile fleet raided Galaxy Union’s solar systems and never got in contact. Several GU systems were occupied by the enemy within first few years of the war. They were far more advanced in technology, combat experience, physical strength, and intelligence. A rumor was spread that they called themselves ‘frolls.’

  In the first years of the war the government took that hostility as a misunderstanding. Many tries to contact the enemy had taken place, but they were useless. Frolls not only didn’t care for a peaceful resolution of the conflict but cruelly murdered all of the delegates.

  The last straw was the attack on Procyon and Gamma-Theta solar systems, which was the primary energy source of the GU. The human space fleet came close to being destroyed in the process until acleemans and rahtiongs came to help. It was the first win for the GU’s side over frolls. After that event the escalation got worse, frolls went on the path of total intergalactic war.

  When finished studying modern history, JB got on his primary task for the night – looking through the materials left by Nea. He had never left his virtual space once for the last four hours. The thirst tormented him. The mutant returned to the kitchen side. There was no sink or any kind of water source. Then he tried a new trick, which he could add to his cooking skills. He pronounced out loud:

  “Drink!”

  The screen on the fridge turned on to show a spreadsheet with different beverages. Once again, JB was faced against bunch of unfamiliar names, so he picked one by the picture, that one reminded him of Coke. After the button had been tapped, a glass bottle dropped out into the fridge socket. It was full of dark brownish fluid inside. The water meter had taken another five hundred grams from his account.

  JB tried it. The taste was indeed Coke-like. A thought of wonder flashed through his mind how they hadn't changed the flavor over a thousand years.

  The mutant got back to his work area. The “Space Ranger Craft” instructions were already opened for him to read.

  The Preface.

  Welcome, Cadet. Today you have taken a step forward. The Republic is proud of you. By joining the rows of rangers, you shall make a valuable contribution to our civilization’s struggle against the times of sorrow and change them to better days. The experience and knowledge gained by you shall be an important part of your future skills, and shall provide great aid to your life. We have shown that the Galaxy Union is a prospering civilization during a time of peace. Now we need to prove ourselves as adamant to war, even if facing the most dangerous enemy. Today you are fighting for yourself, for your family, for each and every one of your comrades, no matter where they are: near you, or on the other end of the galaxy!

  A ranger is a free-will pilot operating in cosmos space, providing activity and services with the prime purpose of contributing to the Galaxy Union’s prosperity.

  JB kept on reading. Being a bit dulled by all of the ceremony parts, he started scanning the documents faster, to get just the essentials.

  The Rangers Association’s structure was more flexible than a regular army’s and its field of activity was wider. Yet, JB recognized a military basis in it. The main purpose of the program was to assist the GU in its resistance against the enemy.

  Rangers weren’t obligated to serve
as a soldier and to take a part in battles. There were three main directions established within ranger’s craft; military, civil entrepreneurship, and piracy. None of them had been made by law but shaped historically.

  The first one meant that a ranger would join the fleet during tactical combat operations against frolls. This type of activity covered a broad range of actions, from space and planetary battles to providing medical services on the battlefield. A special status was granted for such volunteers as supernumerary soldiers. It was the riskiest type of ranger craft. Therefore, it had the larger compensation values.

  The second direction meant a free entrepreneurship. Rangers weren’t bound there in what activity they would want to conduct, trade operations or asteroid mining, or anything else that fell within the law. This kind of craft was the most common one.

  The last type of rangers’ activity was covert. It wasn’t regulated by law. In fact, it was illegal. The piracy. Along with possibilities opened to free-will pilots, it unbarred a way for criminal minds to abuse the program for their dark purposes. The pirates robbed, raided, killed and terrorized the residents of the Galaxy Union. They were fierce and dangerous. The government had zero-tolerance for such individuals.

  Soon JB passed the introductory part and got the pages of the craft’s history.

  As it appeared, the ranger’s craft had been established since the first success in space scouting. It took a rare character to venture for a mission of conquering far space, putting one’s own life on the line. The first brave men who managed not just to step forward, but also to prove that free pilots could contribute irreplaceable aid to the civilization were Sean and Steven Gellard. The brothers plowed through space in times when the GU was still in the beginning stage.

  The legendary feat by Gellar brothers was a rescue of Bellatrix solar system from the pirates’ raid. The namiamificans that lived there were peaceful race, without their own fleet or an army of any kind. They were attacked by the famous pirate Boonbumtor, with his fifty ship group. The system was powerless at the time. When Gellar brothers showed up, they destroyed Boombumtor’s crew with only two small B-class ships at their disposal. That was the beginning of the movement.

  What had started as a simple mix of courage and curiosity became a profession. Rangers appeared everywhere afterward. And, as their leaders Sean and Steven Gellard had founded the one and only institute in the whole Union which had authority over rangers. That organization was called the “Order of Rangers”.

  The brothers along with the other members of the Order wrote a list of directions and recommendations for the rangers – the “Ranger Code”. At first it started as a summary of tips for the pilots, helping to operate in space. Then, over the time, the Order of Rangers was integrated into executive government. Ranger Code became an obligatory law for all of the pilots. It got shaped and modified for the government’s benefit, changing the self-purpose which the Gellard brothers had put in it from the beginning.

  As a result, “The Twelve Rules of Ranger” laws were issued.

  “The Twelve Rules of Ranger”

  First Rule: The Order of Ranger is an exclusive agency, which has an authority over rangers. Only the Order of Rangers can give direct orders to space rangers.

  Second Rule: a ranger cannot show aggression towards other citizens or residents of the Galaxy Union.

  Third Rule: a ranger can protect his life and his property against pirates, other rangers, or any other party, even if it shall lead to the destruction of the other party.

  Fourth Rule: piracy on the ranger’s side shall be seen as misconduct of the ‘Second Rule.’ Rangers that conduct pirate activity shall be excluded from rangers’ rows and shall be given a ‘pirate’ status.

  Fifth Rule: any objects found in open space, if they aren’t marked as property of other parties, can be claimed as ranger’s property.

  Sixth Rule: rangers can conduct a scouting craft. In the case of discovering a space object valuable to the Galaxy Union (e.g. a planet, an asteroid, a comet, etc.) the ranger is up to choose to which race the object shall be entitled to.

  Seventh Rule: in the case of joining military operations against the Galaxy Union’s common enemies the ranger shall be given a temporary military status. And he shall be entitled to benefits and permissions equal to the pilots of regular forces.

  Eighth Rule: a ranger is obligated to pass annual reports on its activity to any of active ranger centers.

  Ninth Rule: a ranger’s achievements in its professional activity shall be evaluated in R-credits. The collection of R-credits shall upgrade the ranger’s qualification level. With the upper levels, a ranger shall be given higher access to classified information. Ranger levels are varied from one to ten.

  Tenth Rule: the minimal rate of R-credits annually earned by rangers shall be established by Order of Rangers each Earth year. A rate of payment for R-credits shall be decided commonly by the Order of Rangers and the Galaxy Council. In case a ranger does not reach the minimal rate of R-credits for three years of activity his ranger status shall be removed.

  Eleventh Rule: a ranger who reaches the fourth level, shall gain a ‘group leader’ status. Such pilots shall be allowed to form their own ranger-groups. The size of the group cannot extend ten ships.

  Twelfth Rule: the combat ranger can leave the battlefield any time he chooses in order to save its own life.

  Reading about the ranger craft made JB lose track of time. The night had passed and the sunny morning came along. There wasn’t much of a difference inside the room, though, because of the lighting control.

  Against all his resistance, space ranger program had interested the big guy. It seemed like an exciting adventure after all. Only now he could fully appreciate how fortunate he actually was, being brought to the future. Compared to these new possibilities his old life looked flat and pointless.

  The sound of a closing door drew JB’s attention. He instantly shut down the projection and turned back. Nea came in. Her indelicacy surprised the mutant at first. After all, one should ring before entering someone’s apartment at least. But then he caught himself on a thought that maybe that wasn’t the case anymore, and there was no such custom in the future.

  The girl had brought a large white bag. She walked straight to the cadet, stood in front of him, and confidently looked into his eyes.

  “Good morning, JB,” she said cheerfully.

  There was something different about her that morning, JB could sense that. Nea was glowing, even though she tried not to expose that.

  “Hey. Care for some coffee?” JB said and took a sip.

  “No, thanks,” the woman replied. Then, she glanced at his transparent mug. “That’s not coffee, by the way. An essence from the phorongian bugs’ juice. Good for the skin,” she explained. JB stretched the mug away from his lips and put it on the table. “I’ve brought you some new clothes. It’s time to get rid of that garbage you’re wearing.”

  Nea scanned him from head to toe once again. Not even taking the damage into account, JB’s outfit would be suited to a twelve year old rather than a grown man.

  “Why?” the mutant asked dejectedly. “Why do you wanna trash my things? Do you have any idea what kind shoes this is?” he pointed at those red leather gumshoes. “These are pure leather, red 'Converse Death Star.' Made for motorcycle riding. You think they make such things these days?” the big guy wouldn’t let the woman put in a word. “No, they don’t! In fact, they never did! Because, these are not Converse, but fakes. My man, Lucky, made those stitches himself.”

  “Oh, really?” Nea commented sarcastically. “Tell you what… You may take those shoes to the clone center and they would sensitize exact duplicates for you. Just like new, and made with way better materials. Very affordable also.”

  “The shoes stay.”

  “What about the pants?” she asked. “Those have seen better days for sure.”

  “What’s wrong with you, woman?!” the mutant’s resentment went to a n
ew level. “If you just had an idea how many times I used to fall off my bike and stay unharmed thanks to those pants.”

  “Didn’t you ever consider driving better or change the kind of transport?”

  “This conversation ain’t getting us anywhere,” JB turned away.

  “Okay-okay. Don’t be such a baby,” Nea eased a bit, trying to calm down JB. “Maybe you would at least change your t-shirt, this one has too many holes in it. I’ve brought you a brand new one. Here, look.”

  She took out a small cubic box from the bag to throw it to JB. After he had pulled out the shirt, the pack sprang, folding. The mutant looked at the shirt in disgust.

  “The dude doesn’t wear the sleeves,” he said. “And what about that ‘A’ symbol thing on all those clothes of yours?”

  “It’s the logo of Atlantis,” Nea explained. “If you like sleeveless shirts better, it may be…”

  The woman was interrupted by the view in front of her. JB was forcefully tearing off those sleeves, like an animal, to turn that brand new piece of cloth into something like his own shirt. It was cleaner, though. Just as the new shirt was ready, he took off the old one to toss it on the table, next to the torn-off sleeves. That was the first time Nea got a look at his bare torso. Ink and scars covered those massive muscles of his. Such sculpted brutality was certainly a rare thing for a girl like her to see.

  “Your body,” she spoke when stepping towards him. “So much pain. And your muscles aren’t symmetrical. You have never used the stimulators, indeed.”

  “No, I haven’t,” the big guy said being frozen in front of the girl.

  Nea came closer, she gently brought her palm to his chest. JB was watching as she almost touched him, and he knew what was supposed to happen the moment she touched his skin. A weakness would strike through her body that instant. She was a second away from finding out what he really was. Common sense advised the mutant to stop her. But he kept standing still. The warm hand of the woman softly laid on his chest. Her fingers started feeling one of the scars on the left side of his chest. A few seconds passed, Nea seemed fine. That was the first time gibsonium allowed another being to get in direct contact with Bridgers.