“We’re all free now,” her mother said and smiled without explanation.
Argyle ran out of the room and across the hall to her father’s study. At his mahogany desk she tore out the drawers. A file of papers flew up into the air and settled on the floor. She slumped to her knees.
She read through an armful of final warnings from the bank. A fistful of court documents until she felt the presence of someone watching her. She turned to see her mother stood in the doorway.
“Why didn’t you warn me we’re losing the farm?” Argyle asked with fading echoes of the rage that had consumed her.
“Your father didn’t want you to know.”
“He hated me that much?”
Her mother shook her head. “Out amongst the stars he wanted you to discover something he could never give you here.”
“Love?”
“Hope.”
Before Argyle left for space academy, the farm was all she knew. She couldn’t let go like this.
“This land is my heart,” Argyle said and fought back tears. “My blood flows like the river.”
“The heart failed,” her mother said. “The river dried up.”
“The livestock?”
“Fracking poisoned the water the animals drink, Argyle. You can’t ignore the stench of carcasses on the wind.”
She wanted to be sick. “I came a different route,” Argyle said.
Her mother glanced at Argyle’s helmet. “So I see.”
Her mother stared through the French doors and out across the farmland. A dust cloud weaved in between the cherry blossoms along the road leading to the farm.
“Here they come,” her mother said.
Argyle stood and watched the sheriff’s car pull up. A black sedan pulled up next to the Sheriff. Finally, she recognized the local locksmith’s Van.
“What can we do?” Argyle asked.
“We do what Valkyrie women are bred to do,” her mother said and stepped out through the French doors to the wide, white-washed porch. “Survive.”
Argyle joined her. She felt her mother’s tentative fingers entwine with hers.
“Valkyrie women look to the horizon, breathe in the new dawn,” her mother said, “and welcome better times.”
Argyle breathed in the stench of death across the land. “I took to the stars in search of hope,” she said.
“What did you find?”
“A second chance.”
She squeezed her mother’s hand and detected a new warmth in her mother’s eyes. But as her mother’s gaze settled on the Sheriff, Argyle sensed that warmth was not meant for her.
Sheriff McDermott, a man she’d known all her life, strode up to the porch. He touched the peak of his hat.
“Argyle, heard you were off planet,” he said in a low, respectful tone, but he was looking at her mother with smiling eyes.
Sheriff McDermott nodded to her mother. “Amelie, I think you know why these gentlemen are here. John here?”
“Hamish,” her mother said and let out a sigh that seemed to shudder with electric anticipation. “John’s dead.”
The sheriff nodded solemnly, but his eyes seemed to pop with the sudden relief of anguish. “I’m very sorry to hear that,” he said, but a light in his eyes said different.
Eyes that seemed familiar somehow. Eyes she recognized in the mirror each morning. They seemed transfixed on her mother in a shared secret moment of hope.
Argyle’s soul grew numb. I am not my father’s daughter.
Her mother’s hand felt like the clammy, suffocating grasp of death itself. Argyle yanked her hand away. Her mother turned to Argyle and her eyes betrayed the lie.
“At first I didn’t know why I came back,” Argyle said. “But now I know.”
Her mother’s face contorted in pain as she hesitantly glanced at Sheriff McDermott. “Argyle, I’m sorry. We’re both sorry.”
“You’re the reason my father hated me,” Argyle said to them both. “You took away my chance to feel a father’s love. I’ll not let you take my inheritance.”
A fat man with a wisp of a pencil thin mustache and wearing an ill fitted pinstripe suit, held out a formal notice to Argyle.
“I’m JP Snipe for the plaintiff,” he said. “By order of the court, I’m hereby taking possession of this property. You may take any personal property with you. If you cannot carry such, a fee may be levied for the duration of storage.”
Argyle took it and tore it in half.
The man turned to Sheriff McDermott.
“Sheriff, I expect you to do your duty by the bank.”
Sheriff McDermott spat at the man’s feet. “There are days when a man owes a greater duty to his heart,” Sheriff McDermott said.
“I can pay what’s owed,” Argyle said.
Amelie touched her daughter’s trembling hands with warmth.
“Not on a captain’s salary, Argyle.”
“Ma, I’m owed big,” Argyle said. “I just need time to collect.”
“It’s too late for that,” Snipe said and took the first step to the porch. “Contact the bank on Monday morning and speak with them.”
Argyle ran at the man and with one swift thrust of an open palm she struck out at his jaw, knocking him clean off his feet and onto his back.
She pounced on him and knew she was about to take out all her rage at her father against this slime stain on humanity.
Sheriff McDermott reached for his weapon. “Hold it right there, Argyle.”
She looked up and cried out, “I just need a little time, Sheriff. I just need...”
She never finished her sentence. The strangest feeling gripped her stomach. As if a whirlpool had opened up inside her. As if she were attached to an invisible chord. As if someone or something were tugging at it from a great distance.
Her lungs burned as she breathed in the icy, airless vacuum of space around the hull of the Ursu ship.
Someone thrust her head inside her helmet and activated her nano-ring. Her power-armor sprang to life and covered her body.
Commander Dax stared into her eyes. “Are you OK, Argyle?” he said as rainbow light coiled around his body and he vanished.
CHAPTER 27 - STAYING BEHIND
The strangest feeling gripped Dax’s stomach. As if a whirlpool had opened up inside him. As if he were attached to an invisible chord. As if someone or something were tugging at it from a great distance.
Valiant and the Ursu ship vanished. Dusty landscape rose up around his feet. He gazed out through vast doors of a shuttle hangar and through the environment seal dome. Where it shimmered, it leaked large pockets of air.
In rushed huge red clouds of dust, swirling at some two hundred miles an hour as it dumped down on the thousands of fleeing civilians. The dome seemed near to collapse.
Beyond the dome, red mountains in the distance rumbled with explosions. The unmistakable silhouettes of claw-shaped Lupos ships drifted over the mountains. Dax knew they had only minutes to evacuate.
This could only be Mars from his past.
Shuttles lifted off. One every minute. The pilots seemed to push their vessels to the limit. Taking off at near impossibly steep angles. Sending dust clouds high into the atmosphere.
All about Dax, people in environment suits shoved and kicked each other to be the first up the ramps to safety.
How is this possible? Did I ghost-warp?
And then Dax saw his son and all questions vanished as if escaping through the shimmering seal holes. He clung to his mother’s hand and one hand of an eight feet tall bi-pedal concierge robot.
The robot carried a dozen suitcases. When the group spotted Dax, Angie forced a smile and waved.
I’ve been given a second chance to save them.
“We waited as long as we could,” she said.
He could do nothing but stare at her dusty face. He felt transfixed by the way her matted blond hair stuck to her cheeks. She looked exhausted, but beautiful to him.
“You did the right thing,
” he said.
Angie shot nervous glances at the huge mass of bodies gathering at the shuttle ramps. He knew she was struggling with her claustrophobia. It was the reason they came to Mars in the first place.
To get away from the teeming masses of people everywhere on Earth. To raise Ben experiencing the joy and peace of wide open spaces, just as they had when they were kids. Even if it had to be beneath environment domes.
One day, they hoped to terraform Mars. As a family they’d enjoy fresh air as they tamed the new wild frontier and made it home. A dream no longer.
Now they were part of a vulnerable, frightened herd. Trapped under the collapsing air bubble as the enemy advanced.
Dax told Angie and Ben to climb onto the back of the Concierge robot. Dax looked up into the eyes of the robot and ordered it to head for the nearest shuttle ramp. He leapt onto its back as the robot waded through the crowd.
The robot shoved aside the frightened, angry mob of men and women carrying children. The Marines on the shuttle ramps and those sentries on the perimeter were outnumbered a hundred to one.
Who will protect them from the Lupos?
He forced himself not to think about it. He had to choose right this time.
Right for us.
A marine stood at the top of one shuttle ramp. “Only what you can carry,” he shouted and raised his rifle to Dax’s robot. “Room for humans only.”
“I am Lieutenant Dax’s family butler. Concierge service robot, model CSR-4U,” the robot said with an indignant tone. “You may call me BUTT-4U, but you may not order me to neglect my duty.”
The burly marine shoved his rifle barrel into BUTT-4U’s face. “Butt-boy, get off my shuttle,” the marine growled, “before I give you both barrels up your butt.”
“Is that what passes for wit in the space marine core these days?” BUTT-4U asked and jutted out its chin as if daring the marine to punch it. “It’s no wonder you’re running away like cowards.”
The Marine squeezed his trigger and fired a shot that tore off BUTT-4U’s left ear.
The robot held its ground and with a lopsided smile rolled its eyes. “Your sights are off, marine,” 4U said.
Dax leapt into the space between the marine and the robot. “I got this, Marine.”
Dax looked at 4U. At eight feet tall and capable of carrying several adults at high speed, it could be a formidable ground defense unit. He told the robot to wait at the bottom of the ramp.
The robot turned away and shuffled a few paces down the ramp. The gathering crowd surged up the ramp. 4U glanced over its shoulder at Ben and hesitated.
“Corporal,” Dax said, “this shuttle coming back for the rest?”
“That’s up to Defiant’s captain, Lieutenant,” the marine said and avoided Dax’s eyes.
Dax knew they wouldn’t come back. His mind flashed with memories of the slaughter to come. All these people will die... Can I live with myself if I leave them behind?
He avoided Angie’s intense, terrified stare.
“4U, I need your assistance helping these people,” Dax said.
The robot dropped the suitcases and kicked them down the ramp. “Part of the family they said... until they flush you out like yesterday’s dinner,” BUTT-4U groaned. “If I wasn’t fixed with a slave-control chip I’d...”
“4U got too much dust in its processors,” Ben said and wiped his wet eyes on the back of his sleeve. “I’ll miss you, 4U.”
The robot cursed under its breath.
Dax turned to Angie. A flash of anger crossed her face.
“You promised us,” she said.
“I’m sorry,” Dax said.
Ben looked up between his parents with wide eyes.
“Dad,” Ben shouted, “you’re coming, right?”
Dax knelt and hugged his son tight. His mind raced. Can I make the same mistake twice? Knowing what I know, I should go with them.
The marine at the top of the stairs called out, “We can take you three, Lieutenant, but you must come now.”
Four other marines fired shots into the air and pushed back the crowd to the end of the ramp.
Dax glanced up at Angie. He knew he couldn’t betray her again. This time he’d save them both.
He looked at Angie as she bit into her button lip so hard it bled.
“Of course I’m coming with you,” he said and stared into her tear filled eyes.
He straightened up and kissed Angie. “I just need to brief the commander on the ground.”
She grabbed his arm. He gently pried away the fingers as he smiled.
“I’ll come for you, Angie.”
An explosion ripped through the far hangar wall. Gunfire rang out from both sides. Space Marines fell as the unmistakable silhouettes of bi-pedal wolves rushed into the compound.
Dax turned to the Marine and shoved Ben into his arms. “Take my wife and son,” he shouted. “What’s your destination?”
“Moon base Fort Armstrong,” the marine said.
Dax felt a chill run down his spine.
“Angie, I need you to listen,” Dax said. “At Fort Armstrong there’s going to be an attack. Don’t ask how I know this. Keep a power-suit ring on at all times. Keep to the tunnels. Survive. Whatever it takes. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Zen, you promised,” she shouted and pulled at her hair.
“It’s my duty,” he said.
Her eyes narrowed. “It’s your duty to make me a widow? To leave your son fatherless?”
He grabbed Angie by her shaking shoulders. “I swear I’ll come back for you,” he said.
He kissed her passionately, felt her resistance subside, but all too briefly. He avoided her eyes, for he knew he’d never be able to leave them if he met her gaze. He turned and ran back down the ramp.
The ramp began to rise as the shuttle’s vertical take-off rockets rumbled. He leapt off the ramp, hit the ground and rolled. From a crouch he looked over his shoulder and caught Angie’s fierce look of betrayal.
For as long as he lived, he knew he’d never forget that look. The way it pierced his heart like a burning comet.
The shuttle rose fifty feet in the air when Dax turned to 4U. He clambered onto its back and ordered it to run through the scattering crowds of humans and head towards the advancing gunfire.
He tapped the back of the robot’s head and opened a port. He selected a protocol over-ride program from his skinphone.
“Violence suppressor removed,” Dax said. “Confirm.”
“Confirmed,” the robot said. “Permission to vent my frustration, Lieutenant?”
Dax pointed at the Lupos. “On them, please.”
Three Lupos soldiers broke away from their pack and surrounded Dax. 4U lashed out its arms and swiped a fist into the slavering jaws of the nearest Lupos.
“That’s for making me miss my flight,” 4U said.
A second Lupos drew its Falcata sword, ignited the red flame and leapt up at 4U. It slammed the edge of the Falcata into the side of the robot’s head. 4U lost its balance and staggered around in a circle as it reached up and grabbed the Lupos. It hurled the creature over its head and threw it at an approaching pack.
“That’s for making me abandon my duty to young master Dax,” 4U said.
A third Lupos drew its Falcata and leapt at 4U. But the robot kicked out and drove its foot deep into the Lupos’s chest.
“This is very therapeutic, Lieutenant,” 4U said. “I should have tried this years ago. Thank you, Lieutenant for liberating me.”
A Wolf pack aimed their rifles and fired. Bullets ricocheted off 4U’s chest.
“What now, Lieutenant?”
A Lupos tossed a thermal grenade at Dax.
4U caught it and threw it back at the pack. The explosion threw a dozen wolves high into the air and scattered their body parts over the heads of fleeing humans.
A human marine squad joined Dax.
“Neat trick,” the Sergeant said. “Got any more?”
Dax j
umped down from 4U.
“Where’s your Captain?” Dax asked.
“Dead Lieutenant,” said the Sergeant. “Guess that makes you in charge. What are your orders?”
Dax watched the crowd as the last shuttle cleared the dome. Their outstretched, pleading hands clenched into fists. They slowly turned to the advancing Lupos.
“We need to get the people to the mountains,” Dax shouted. “It’s the only safe place on this planet.”
From the corner of his eye Dax saw a Lupos aim a rocket launcher. A cloud of white smoke exploded out of the long thin tube.
“Lieutenant, get down,” 4U shouted and shoved Dax to the ground. 4U threw its body into the path of the rocket.
A loud explosion rocked the hangar. A thick cloud of dust and debris engulfed Dax. When it settled, what he saw convinced him he was no longer on Mars.
CHAPTER 28 - CHAIN REACTION
Dax felt a lump appear in his throat as he realized he was on the bridge of Defiant. Similar to the bridge of Valiant, but smaller, and darker. Everyone seemed relaxed as they sat at their stations.
He stared at the central screen monitor. He recognized the long shadows reaching out across the Moon’s northern pole crater of Peary. It was illuminated almost permanently through the lunar year. The ideal place for a Moonbase.
The home of Fort Armstrong.
The blond bearded Captain Lars Christensen rose from his command seat and looked Dax up and down.
“Going somewhere?” Christensen asked which a bemused grin.
Dax removed his helmet, but refused to disengage his power-armor.
“Give me a shuttle, Captain, please.”
“My friend,” Christensen said, “we spoke of this at the prisoner exchange, remember?”
Where a gleaming white dome should have glistened so bright Dax would need his tinted visor, now the crater was black, charred and nothing but steaming rubble.
“Now, I’ve kept my promise,” Christensen said, “allowed you to see it with your own eyes. But now we must leave here before the Vanguard patrol arrives.”
“You checked the blast tunnels?” Dax said.
Christensen’s look of pity enraged Dax. He placed a firm hand on Dax’s shoulder.
“People could be alive down there,” Dax shouted and shook off the hand.
Valiant (Jurassic War Universe Book 1) Page 16
