Space Chase (Star Watch Book 5)

by McGinnis,Mark Wayne

  “That’s admirable, son. But unless you have military experience—”

  Ryan cut him off: “I do have military experience. Also, don’t forget who it was who left about a thousand pounds of Picket brothers tied up back on Alaster-Rei.”

  Nan said, “Even so, Ryan … I think you should let Jason handle this. It’s pretty much what he does.”

  Something immediately occurred to Jason that complicated things. If he left the Pacesetter II, Nan wasn’t capable of piloting her. She wouldn’t know what to do if the little fighter started to drift into the constant stream of passing asteroids. He couldn’t trust her life to an autopilot system—not here. Then he had a bold idea, but was it one he’d be willing to bet the safety of his ex-wife’s life on?

  “Talk to me about this robot of yours … how competent a pilot is it?”

  “Two-ton comes across a little … strange; its AI was developed by Donald Koffman. It’s … he’s … like nothing I’ve ever seen or heard of. It’s the same AI that piloted my van to the planet through the asteroid field.”

  “Okay,” Jason said. “Now I’m going to bring him into our open channel, so hold on. Robot? Two-ton?”

  “I’m here,” Two-ton said.

  “Ryan says you’re an excellent pilot.”

  “Ryan’s biased. I saved his life earlier today.”

  Ryan said, “Two-ton … this is serious. This is not the time to be a smart mouth.”

  Two-ton said, “Yes, I can pilot with the best of them. As an AI, I’m programmed to a level that exceeds any artificial intelligence within the sector. And far beyond any human … no offense.”

  Jason believed him, or it. “Okay, I’m going to bring another into this open channel. Hold on, everyone.” Jason hailed Ricket, back on the Jumelle.

  “Go for Ricket.”

  “Okay, Ricket, in a second I’m bringing you into an open channel. I want you to talk to the robot … Two-ton. Ensure he’s … it’s … capable of piloting the Pacesetter II. Can you do that?”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  “Okay, everyone, Ricket is now here with us too.”

  Ryan said, “I’ve heard of you.”

  Two-ton said, “You’re a living god.”

  Ricket said, “Two-ton, please allow me a moment while I assess, through your suit’s diagnostics port, your artificial intelligence matrices. With your permission, I’d like access to your core … both your read and write functions.”

  “Go for it, Ricky-D.”

  “This will only take a moment,” Ricket said.

  “Let me know when I should turn my head and cough,” Two-ton said.

  Both Jason and Ryan laughed, though Nan remained quiet.

  Several moments transpired. Ricket finally said, “Thank you, Two-ton. First of all, you are not what I expected. Captain, this AI has a very high-functioning artificial brain. Far beyond that on the Jumelle; perhaps even the Parcical. I look forward to studying the machine code. Its originator, Donald Koffman, didn’t use intermediary languages. There’s no middleman program going on here—very clean, and incredibly sophisticated.”

  Somewhat exasperated, Jason asked, “Ricket, can he … it … fly the Pacesetter II?”

  “It can now, Captain. I’ve uploaded what it will need; the complete Caldurian flight operations instructions set.”

  “All right, here’s what’s going to happen first. We’re close to both other vessels. Within twenty-five hundred miles from the van. About a thousand miles from the tanker. Both are now within range. So Two-ton and I will swap places: The robot will phase-shift here, into the Pacesetter II, and I’ll phase-shift into the van. You okay with that, Nan?”

  “I’m fine … just hurry! Don’t forget there’s a young woman in that tanker ship with a crazed maniac.”

  Up on the fighter’s HUD, Jason recognized both the Paotow Tanker, as well as the consignment freight van, somewhat farther behind it. Both were moving along the same designated winding pathway through the asteroid field. Their life icons next came into view on his helmet’s HUD. The one in the van was Ryan and the two in the Paotow Tanker were Orloff and Wendy. He was relieved to see she was still alive.

  “Two-ton … take a seat somewhere. I want you in the right position when I phase-shift you over here. And Nan, I’ll see you soon. This shouldn’t take long.”

  “I’ve heard that before,” Nan replied. “Just be careful … bring them both back in one piece.”

  “Here we go, everyone,” Jason said. He timed it so his phase-shift proceeded Two-ton’s by three seconds. He flashed away.

  * * *

  Jason phase-shifted into the CF van’s small cargo hold area. Without hesitation, he spoke into the open channel. “Two-ton … are you in place?”

  “It’s a bit of a tight fit … but yes, Captain, I’m here. Did you know there was a strange lady sitting in the back seat?”

  “Yeah, well keep that lady safe or I’ll be pulling your arms off and bashing your head in with them.”

  Jason hurried down the short flight of stairs and entered the cockpit. Standing, and wearing a battle suit, Ryan was at the controls.

  “Can we go, already?” Ryan asked, his impatience with the situation clearly evident.

  “Look, I know you want to get over there and save Wendy. Just give me a few minutes. Let me at least show you how to use your battle suit’s wrist plasma cannons.”

  * * *

  Jason was three minutes into his highly truncated course on Ryan’s use of his battle suit’s integrated weaponry, following a cursory overview of phase-shifting. Jason now was doing double-duty—working with Ryan, while keeping abreast of events in space via his HUD readings. The kid was smart, picking up on the subtleties of the segmented suit far quicker than most. His military training was apparent, which somewhat placated Jason’s reservations about bringing him along onto the tanker. He was well aware that Ryan’s first instinct would be to simply rush in and rescue the girl, then shoot a well-placed plasma bolt into the oldest Picket brother’s head. Only experience teaches you to use caution and care; rushing in, unprepared for the unexpected, could yield devastating results. Jason had seen it happen: Thinking you have a situation well in hand when suddenly a new reality comes along and bites you in the ass. That’s how people needlessly die.

  “Hold on, Ryan, I’m being hailed by the robot.”

  “That tanker has fucking guns!” said Two-ton.

  “Slow down … what’s happening? Is the Pacesetter II being fired on …?” Jason’s words fell short as he viewed for himself via his HUD screen. Shit! “Time to go!”

  CHAPTER 48

  Ryan watched as Captain Reynolds, a distressed expression on his face, barked off orders to the robot. Telling it not to return fire, as Wendy was still on board the tanker and the fighter’s plasma guns were powerful.

  Jason spun around and looked at Ryan. “We’re going right now.”

  Ryan nodded.

  “Remember what I told you about the battle suit’s integrated plasma weapons? Be careful not to shoot Wendy … or me, for that matter. We phase-shift on three … two … one.” They flashed away.

  Ryan had to blink away the effect of the incredibly bright-white flash. Such a strange experience, this phase-shifting thing, he thought. They were in the middle of the main lower compartment. He watched the captain do a three-sixty as he surveyed their surroundings, hesitating when he took in the now-exposed trophy wall bulkhead. Shaking his head, Jason said, “I think I knew that rhino-warrior.”

  Ryan looked at his HUD and started toward the stairway. He said, “Both life icons are upstairs.”

  The captain, hurrying, got in front of him, and quickly climbed the stairs, taking them two at a time. Ryan hesitated—distracted by his HUD readout. Then, recovering, ran up the stairs and caught up with the captain halfway down the narrow passageway. He saw Orloff in the compartment—on the left at the end. Wendy’s earlier jail cell.

  Captain Reynolds, reaching the closed
hatch first, said, “He’s got it locked.”

  Ryan watched as the captain readjusted his stance—setting his feet farther apart—and pushed then leaned into the heavy door. Although the hatch held steadfast, its entire surrounding metal bulkhead began to creak, and then bow forward. A moment later, the hatch crashed inward, with only one hinge intact enough to keep it from falling completely free. The captain glanced back, and said, “You got to love ’em, kid … nanites make all the difference.”

  Looking past the captain into the dark confined space, Ryan saw Orloff Picket, standing tall, wearing a battle suit. Well, now I know what happened to Larry’s missing SuitPac device, Ryan thought.

  In the soft glow behind Orloff’s visor, Ryan could see his face. No better expression came to mind other than Orloff looked completely at peace. Ryan watched as one of the life icons began to blink off and fade from view. Right then … right there … he knew Wendy was dying!

  The crazy mountain man’s arms were both fully extended toward them. Orloff fired continuously non-stop. At any other time, at such close range, even their protective battle suits would have meant the end for them, but the captain did the unexpected. In a flash of bright-white light, they phase-shifted mere feet away—and right behind Orloff.

  Ryan then noticed Wendy’s naked body, sitting slumped in the corner of the compartment, and quickly lost all interest in what the captain was doing, or even Orloff Picket. Dark purple finger marks, bruises, surrounded her neck where she’d been strangled. Ryan fell to his knees and pulled her into him—cradling her tightly in his arms. Bright plasma bolts strobed behind him, illuminating not only the small compartment, but Wendy’s fixed, lifeless, stare. Orloff had taken the life of the one person he truly loved; the only one he would have sacrificed everything for, including his own life. But now she was gone … gone from him forever.

  Ryan, holding Wendy, watched Orloff stagger toward the open hatchway, just before he crashed down onto the deck, face first. The back of his battle suit was full of scorched, blackened, plasma strikes. He didn’t move after that. On Ryan’s HUD, the mountain man’s life icon blinked then disappeared. He too was dead.

  The captain moved to Ryan’s side, his battle suit in the process of retracting into his SuitPac device. “Get back, Ryan … let me work!”

  Reluctantly, Ryan released Wendy’s lifeless body to let the captain take over. Jason laid her prone on her back, then placed the SuitPac device over her belly. He pressed the two inset buttons and the battle suit began to segment-out, covering the entirety of her body.

  The captain looked up at Ryan: “No guarantees … but sometimes these suits can bring a person back from the brink.”

  The words had no sooner left his lips when he espied something: not in the dimly lit compartment, nor out in the passageway, but on his HUD. A once-extinguished life icon was illuminated somewhat. Very faint—but blinking. Ryan retracted his own battle suit to lie down next to her, bringing his face close to hers. Behind her visor, Ryan watched as her eyes fluttered several times before opening. She reached for her throat, attempting to swallow.

  “You’re going to be okay,” the captain told her.

  Wendy nodded, but cringed at the movement. Her eyes found Ryan’s. In a scratchy voice, she asked, “Orloff?”

  “He’s dead.”

  EPILOGUE

  The three space vessels floated in place, their propulsion systems inactive. Holding, they were midway through Orloff’s intricate spatial passageway. One that progressed from Alaster-Rei—between thousands of loops and turns—and through millions of ice rocks within that unique, tightly clustered, asteroid field. At present, they were positioned close to one another; close enough that one could clearly see the other ships when looking out through a canopy or window.

  For the trek that would lead them out of the asteroid field, Jason changed who would be traveling in which ship. Nan and Ryan would continue in the Pacesetter II. Although reluctant to leave Wendy’s side, Jason convinced Ryan that she would be in good hands. He was sure Nan and Ryan had a lot of catching up to do and this would be a good time for that. Jason also noted Ryan was more than a little excited about being behind the controls of the sleek little red fighter.

  Jason also decided he would pilot the Refurbished Paotow Tanker solo. The robot was needed on the Consignment Freight Van—its AI necessary in navigating safely through the asteroid field. Wendy, still wearing the battle suit, would stay below, fast asleep on Ryan’s bunk. Once the van was close enough, Wendy would be phase-shifted directly into the Jumelle’s Medical—where Dira was waiting, ready to move her into a MediPod unit.

  Jason watched from the tanker’s cockpit, as first the Pacesetter II moved away, and then, a moment later, the CF van followed right after.

  Jason rarely contemplated feeling alone, or even lonely. He liked his own company too much for that. Hell, he could be perfectly occupied with only his own thoughts for entertainment for hours on end. But right then, on board the creaky old vessel, he did feel alone. The Paotow Tanker seemed far larger now—with the other vessels gone. The energy that existed on board here was palpable, both dark and foreboding.

  Jason smiled at his own foolishness. Taking a seat in the pilot’s chair, he continued to stare out the forward observation window into the blackness beyond, and at the constant blur of large objects, moving past the tanker on every side. A cold shiver ran up his spine as he looked around the murky cockpit.

  Chuckling to himself, he thought, Get a grip, man, though his thoughts continued to wander. He thought about Orloff’s hulking body, now secured in one of the storage compartments, and about the mounted corpses—displayed below on the lower deck—on Orloff’s heinous trophy wall. And then Jason inhaled the rank odor—putrid smells that permeated the entire ship. Would permeate the ship until it was destroyed. Turned into a fireball—with nothing but space dust remaining. Soon! Very … soon! he thought.

  He was being hailed. “Go for Captain.”

  “Captain, this is Ryan. I wanted to thank you for saving Wendy’s life … and mine.”

  “Don’t mention it,” Jason said. “Just Star Watch hard at work for your tax dollars.”

  “Captain?”

  “Yeah, Ryan?”

  “What are we going to do about the other three brothers? Brent, Payne, and Larry? I left them tied up, down there on the planet.”

  Jason grimaced as he took another look around the dreary cockpit. “Yeah … I should probably retrieve them. Although, they certainly don’t deserve it. I’ll see you later … back on board the Jumelle.”

  The End.

  Want more? How about right now? Turn the page to read two sample chapters of Mark’s upcoming new SciFi series, GALAXY MAN … coming in December, 2016.

  Thank you for reading Space Chase—Star Watch, Book 5. Find out what happens next—stay tuned for Star Watch, Book 6. There’s lots of action still to come and I hope you’ll come along for the ride! Mark Wayne McGinnis.

  If you enjoy these books, please leave a review of Space Chase on Amazon.com—it really, really helps!

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  COMING SOON!

  GALAXY

  MAN

  Written By

  Mark Wayne McGinnis

  INTRODUCTION

  Everything changed with that amazing, singular, discovery on Mars.

  The year was 2029. It was the second manned mission, Explorer Zheng He, a combined U.S.–Chinese cooperative, decreed to reach the red planet and establish a far larger—far more elaborate—base than the first. The new site: Musk-Horizon, adjacent to what had become known as the Hidden Valley. It was here, where thick mudstone strata from an ancient evaporated lakebed—rich with river- and stream-related deposits, and a mere seventeen feet below the Martian surface—that the alien spacecraft was dis
covered.

  In history, there had been other such monumental discoveries—discoveries that not only change the then current human condition—such as the discovery of fire, or the use of weapons to hunt with or ward off enemies, or that of the wheel—which single-handedly, inexplicably, transformed ancient societies, prompting early man to stray from what was known, what was safe, to venture forth. To explore. This was such a discovery.

  It took three and a half years to bring key components back to Earth. As scientists from around the world evaluated the highly advanced technology, especially the vessel’s unique exotic-matter propulsion system, it was quickly evident that space transportation would forever be altered. It was designated Zinton Tech—Zinton being the name of the originating alien race. In one fell swoop, science and technology had been catapulted hundreds of years forward. Soon … those distant twinkling stars and their accompanying planetary systems would be within reach … and … as with the advent of wheel … things would never, ever, be the same.

  CHAPTER 1

  Dusk. Like a Cimmerian veil of purples and pinks, it quickly encroached upon the surrounding foothills, spreading next across the valley of short-grassed prairie land. A dark figure leaned into the buffeting, oncoming wind, pulling the collar of his leather coat closer around his neck—not against the cold as much as against the fine gritty sand, twirling and whirling around him. A gamey smell of livestock and manure, also hay and other aromas he wasn’t sure about, permeated his nostrils. It was a small planet, colonized twenty-seven years earlier, for one purpose only—producing beef: hundreds of millions of pounds of beef annually.

  The dark figure gazed off to his left and saw five or six groupings of cattle—mere blots on the landscape at this late hour, and from such a long distance.