by K. A. Kerr
Rye and Daze jumped down beside him. Then they made their way over to the cockpit. Fighter Two’s radio was out but they could hear muffled screams from within. Wreckage was all around them, the only good news was that none of it was on fire.
“Control, this is Daze, salvage is not going to happen. We’re moving in to retrieve the pilot.”
“Roger that Daze. You only have seventy five seconds, get it done.”
Daze and Rye broke through the cockpit window. Fighter Two was in bad shape; the bar had punctured through the canopy and went straight through his stomach. The front of the cockpit had smashed into his legs. The women went to work; they cut the bar and almost had him free when Tarik noticed movement ahead of the war party. He reached down and grabbed a handful of gravel which he placed in the improvised ammunition port. He shook the rifle to pack in some more and then closed the port. He had a full charge on the blaster but he may as well top off.
“Control, I have what looks to be speed bikes moving in.”
“Tarik, cover the exfil. Fighter One, unleash hell. Rescue, get that man out of there now!”
The women had Fighter Two out of the cockpit, well the half of him that was going to come with them. The way the cockpit collapsed it had pressed his legs as thin as paper. They did not have time to saw the whole cockpit so Daze had to burn the legs off. Rye couldn’t carry the part of the man who was alive but Daze had him cradled like a baby. Part of the Calixi bar still poked out of his stomach. Tarik could only assume they couldn't cut any closer without the bar melting to his skin.
Fighter One, rained down godlike fire on the war party. Explosions echoed through the valley. The rhythmic thumping of Fighter One’s guns kept Tarik locked on the targets, he felt excited and focused. A small party had made it past Fighter One and started taking shots at the rescue party. Tarik fired back letting out an involuntary scream as he did so. He walked backwards with the rescue party behind him. He would do his duty and make sure they got out of this.
Daze was already back at the drop ship ramp; Tarik and Rye were still twenty feet away because of how out of shape Rye was. He wanted to scream at her but couldn’t risk losing focus. Tarik was still walking backwards firing at the small group of four that slipped past the Fighter. They were firing at them from the right side and were not very accurate. Fighter One was still launching ordnance at the heavy armor, but he pulled up to a higher altitude in case the ground forces had anti-aircraft weaponry.
Tarik had scored two hits on the group to his right when, he took a projectile round to the left of his lower back. The round caught him off guard and he fell face forward. He flipped over and pointed his rifle in the direction the shot had come from. He activated his shield until he could see more. Fire from the first group on his right hit the ground near his head sending dirt into the air. Rye was on the ground only three feet from the ramp but bleeding out of her hip and screaming.
“Control, Tarik, I’m pinned down.” He yelled into his mic over the sounds of Fighter One’s guns.
“Tarik, Fighter One. I’ve got ya.”
Fighter One rotated left and shot a missile at the mountainside. It wasn’t clean but it was effective, a small landslide came down the hill and Tarik heard screams coming from the area. Tarik scrambled to his feet and fired in the direction of the remaining two enemies from the first group. Daze had come down the ramp and was dragging Rye into the ship.
A Speed Bike had broken free and was headed directly towards him. Its front guns hit Tarik’s shield so hard it almost caused him to drop the rifle. He didn’t have a plan for this, so he did what any normal human would do; he tried to blow it up. Tarik threw a hand explosive at the bike and hit the rider directly in the face. Some would say that was the most skilled throw they’d ever seen but Tarik knew it was mostly luck. As the rider took the shot in the face the explosive went off and sent a flaming speed bike roaring past him.
Tarik managed to down one more enemy when his back foot hit the bottom of the ramp. He turned and made to run when a lucky shot hit him in the center of his back putting him on his face again. Tarik couldn’t move his legs so he crawled the rest of the way into the drop ship with his hands. When the door shut behind him he could wiggle his toes so he was thankful there didn’t appear to be a spinal injury. Daze rushed to help him to his seat; the drop ship was already moving back into orbit.
Tarik looked to the floor where Fighter Two was strapped into the eye bolts. The man was very obviously dead. Rye was strapped down to the floor her leg extended with a grazing wound that leaked bright red blood.
Daze sat down next to him, still checking him over for injuries. Tarik pushed her hands away. He felt fine except for a few scrapes and bruises.
“WHAT THE FUCK?” Daze finally screamed when she stopped messing with him, coming to the conclusion that he was going to be okay. She was stomping her feet and her face was red.
Tarik was wheezing and couldn’t calm her; he was having trouble breathing so he couldn’t say anything. Daze launched into a string of curses that would probably make Dav question the way she had been raised.
Tarik felt funny, like he’d eaten something that didn’t agree with him, he still couldn’t catch his breath. He coughed into his hand and when he pulled it back it was covered in blood. Tarik sat staring at the blood for a few seconds when Daze looked too. Daze looked down at his hand then back to his face and then back to the hand again.
He coughed again and more blood, and again more blood. He stopped and couldn’t catch his breath. One deep breath came to him which he used for a powerful cough. The cough produced more blood and some very pale pieces of phlegm. He looked at his bloody hand and watched it glisten.
Daze unbuckled and ran to the medical kit that hung from the wall.
Tarik started another coughing fit; he stopped trying to cover his mouth. The blood was shooting out of his mouth now and droplets were falling on the body of Fighter Two and Rye.
Rye lifted her head to see what was happening and was showered with blood Tarik was involuntarily sending out of his mouth. She screamed and cursed at him but he really didn’t care.
Daze came back with something in her hand and unbuckled Tarik. She pulled him to the ground and Tarik saw black creep into his vision.
He lay up looking at her and wasn’t sure what was going on. He felt like he was underwater, if he could just get his breath he’d be fine. He tried to sit up and was pushed back down by Daze. She was yelling at him but it all sounded fuzzy. She injected something into his arm, he felt numb when the black filled his vision.
8 - Loss
* * *
Tarik felt warm, like he fell asleep on a beach in a lounge chair. He was still tired but he wanted to stretch. He tried to extend his body but felt locked into place. He opened his eyes but was blinded by the bright lights. He tugged at his arms but could sense they were being restrained by the wrist. He pulled harder and tried to kick his feet but they didn’t work either.
“Calm down Tarik, everything will be fine.” He heard Tilla say in a soft voice.
He tried to open his eyes again but the bright light was too much.
“Lights.” was all he could get out. His throat felt like he had been forced to swallow hot coals.
“I will dim them but the doctor will need to turn them back up again shortly.”
Tarik opened his eyes again and he was in a medical pod. His body was seated and restrained in multiple places. He tried to make sense of it but last he remembered he was in the drop ship and having trouble breathing.
“Don’t try to talk again, you need time to heal. The doctor will explain soon.”
Tarik tried to look for her but he couldn’t even move his neck.
“Is he awake yet?” he heard the doctor ask. Tarik did not think the doctor did anything on time.
“He is doctor; he asked the lights be turned down.” Tilla replied.
“Not that it matters much; I’m done working on him. His talking is a g
ood sign though.” The doctor moved to the side of Tarik. “Your body has been through quite the ordeal I’m afraid, Tarik. You were struck twice during the firefight. Do not speak, just blink if you remember the fighting.”
Tarik blinked with both his eyes slowly and with purpose. He remembered the fighting but after the injection is what he wanted to know about.
“The first shot hit you in the kidney; your armor stopped that shot although it did produce some internal bleeding. That shot was not the main issue however.
“The second shot to hit you in the back bruising your spine. It would have left your legs numb for the most part but that isn't the main problem. The round you were struck with was a burrowing round. Are you familiar with them? Blink if you are.”
Tarik had no idea what a burrowing round was, he could guess but wanted to have it explained to him. Tarik stared blankly at the doctor urging him to continue.
“A burrowing round is delivered by a standard projectile. After the initial impact a payload with a small batch of microbots drill through armor and into your body. When the microbots lose power they detonate and release whatever they may contain. In your case the burrowing microbots contained a blister agent. Because of where you were stuck and your armor already weakened by the first round the microbots made it to your right lung.
“You should consider yourself lucky. If the shot had hit you directly in the spine or over more to the left to hit both lungs you would be very dead. The quick actions of Mrs. Daze saved your life. Had she not recognized the symptoms and given you the neutralizing injection the blistering agent would have spread. Do you understand what I have explained?”
Tarik blinked hard with both eyes, he felt tears starting to form.
“The chances are that you will not live long with only one functional lung. Our parent company will likely have you separated shortly since you have become combat ineffective and there are no support roles for you to fill. I will let Dav brief you further, I believe he is dealing with them now.” The doctor finished.
“Give him a sedative and keep him under until Dav comes to speak to him.” He instructed Tilla. “And tighten the restrictions on his vocal implant; his talking could break the temporary airway blocker. We don’t want the damaged lung to spread any residual agent to his good lung.”
When the doctor left the room Tilla came over to stand near him. Tarik had tears streaming from his eyes. Tilla stroked his forehead then muzzled against his face with her snout. Tilla let him cry some more before she put him to sleep. Just before dozing off he came to the conclusion that the doctor had shitty bedside manner.
Tarik awakened to the voice of Dav and Daze talking amongst themselves. He did not know how much time had passed but he felt well rested which was a small joy in and of itself.
“Shh. I think he's waking.” Dav said to Daze.
“Tarik, open your eyes young man.” Dav said to him.
Tarik did as he was told. He tried to say hello but words just wouldn't seem to come out of his mouth.
“Glad your back. Daze is here with me, I will let her speak first since our matters are going to be private.”
“Hey Tarik.” Daze said in the easiest voice her high energy body could muster. “Listen, the flight crew and support teams wanted to let you know how much we appreciate what you did down there. Flight Two didn't make it but everyone else did. Even Rye wanted to say how happy she was that you were there. She is a little pissed off that you coughed blister agent on her face but the damage was only cosmetic. And really it's not like you could do much damage to that face.
“We know you military guys are supposed to be badass but that was some full on crazy shit covering us by yourself.” Daze had force herself to calm down; she sat on her hands to help rein herself in.
“You did great and you were doing it all as your first mission which you didn't even know about. That takes some real balls Tarik. You didn't even hesitate when you were walking backwards like Bang Bang Bang and then the Fighter was over top of you! Then the bike came in like Rmmmm and you threw the explosive and hit the guy in the face so he was like ahhhh” Daze lost her control and started with her sound effects and hand motions she was about to spin around with the pretend gun until Dav put a hand on her shoulder.
Daze sat back down, crossing her legs and arms. “So we want you to know that we really would love it if you stayed around. Not just like don't die and all that, but like stay with us on the ship. You kicked some serious ass down there.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
Tarik couldn’t speak but his hands were free again so he tried to signal to her what he wanted to say.
He pointed at her, made a motion of the blood coming out of his mouth. He made a tugging motion on his chest then an injection into his arm. He hoped he was conveying his thanks that she saved him with the injection.
“Yeah I saved you with an injection, that’s nothing compared to what you did.” She stood up and smiled at him. “I really didn't know you could have steel testicles but you dropped them right on their foreheads.”
Daze’s face turned serious, much like her father's. “Scout Three wanted to tell you that he will never forget that it’s because of you he has something left of his lover. He’s really torn up but he’s thankful that we have a body to have a service for and a face to kiss one last time.” She was starting to cry, so she turned and left.
Tarik didn't think he did all that well. His form was sloppy when the firing started. He didn't account for Rye being so slow. He could count an easy twenty mistakes without even watching the footage. More than anything he didn't ask the right questions. I guess in the eyes of the grease monkeys just firing a rifle made you a badass.
Dav made sure that Daze left before he put on his serious face.
“We have some very important decisions to make. Let me preface everything I’m going to say next with this. That was some next level courageous and brave shit down there. When the time came you saved the lives of your crewmates. You put aside personal differences with Rye and protected her when your friends were already safe. She slowed you down but you stayed with her. Half of this ship won’t recognize it but that is the mark of a true warrior, your selflessness is now the quality I will remember most about you. It was also pretty damn stupid. Lamb is furious with me for sending you down there and not redirecting the combat team to assist but there wasn’t time. I let the contract get the better of me. Then I encouraged you to ignore his second rule putting yourself in danger to protect my daughter. It was foolish of me and I hope that you can forgive me.”
Tarik blinked, he would have gone willingly no apologies were needed.
“Now for the business side of this. Lamb and I sent the footage to our parent company and TRDR along with our notes. TRDR said that your part had nothing to do with their contract and did not have any further comments on the matter. Black and Cook Protection Services, our parent company, admitted that you had done very well for a new hire. They agreed that you should stay on but that you need to pull all of your scores up to a seventy average before they can sign off on you. This means you’re on probation and out of the active contract pool.
“They will give you a severance package and give you a basic lung replacement. If that is the route you want to take nobody here will blame you.”
Tarik stared at Dav, They wanted him to quit?
“I pushed for them to give you a middle management level lung replacement which would get you back on your feet soon. They denied that but did say they would pay for twenty percent on an executive level lung replacement. Executive lungs cost around one point one million points, which I seriously doubt you have.”
Tarik was in shock, he didn’t know anyone who was that rich.
“I didn’t think so, so Daze took it upon herself to run a collection drive for you. Everyone on the ship passed on their bonus for the last contract. That got us to two hundred seventy thousand points. Scout Three is giving you all of the inheritance he received
from Fighter Two and everything he had saved up; minus two thousand points he is using for Fighter Two’s funeral services. That brings us up to five hundred ninety thousand; I assumed I could count you in for sixty thousand points. Still well short of our goal but close enough.”
Tarik stared at him questioning what he meant by ‘close enough’. These types of operations didn’t offer payment plans for insufficient funds. Executive implants were reserved for the people who could afford them.
“Tarik if you would agree to a two year exclusive contract with me I will pay for the remainder.” Dav stood up. “I want you to think about it; Doc won’t put you under again. Think about it and I will be back tomorrow.”
Tarik didn’t want to think about it, he already knew he would stay. If everyone on the ship was willing to help him out he knew he could trust them more than any rig crew he’d find next. He felt at home here, he wouldn’t run out on them.
Tarik had been sleeping for far too long and needed to get back to work. He was still restrained in his chair, with only his hands free. That didn’t mean his mind was locked in place.
Tarik pulled up the videos from the contract. He poured through each video feed of the combat team. He took notes as he saw fit and came to the conclusion that if they had executed perfectly they could have completed the operation forty five seconds faster. It wasn’t that they had done badly; he just wanted to know how much better they could have been.
His next video feeds were from the flight teams; their movements didn’t make any sense to him so he just moved on.
Finally, he pulled up the rescue team footage. He didn’t want to relive his own mistakes just yet so he went through Rye’s footage first. There really wasn’t much to say; Rye was slow, her movements were cumbersome, she had no training for battlefield situations and it showed. It would have been fair to say that they would have been better off without her there. Daze however performed like a complete professional. She knew her choices and executed properly. She could have been faster back to the drop ship but she also hadn’t done any combat training he was aware of. Overall with some help daze would do well as a battlefield medic or something similar.
