Evolution: Age of Expansion - A Kurtherian Gambit Series (The Ghost Squadron Book 3)

by Sarah Noffke

  “We’ve got one missing,” Julianna informed them.

  “Then he’ll be that way,” said Eddie, pointing to the back of the building.

  Pip, did you see which way he went?

  I didn’t. He disappeared before I could track him. Backing up footage now, but the Brotherhood soldiers are wearing special equipment to avoid detection, as I said before.

  “Shall I lead the way?” Julianna asked her two companions.

  Eddie shook his head, then pointed toward the opposite end of the alley where the dead Kezzin was lying on the ground. Without another word Julianna nodded, letting him know that she understood.

  She raised her gun and walked backward, scanning the rooftop and the opening of the alleyway, then paused and listened to the sounds of this place. Air whistling. Old wooden boards creaking. Heavy breathing, but not hers or Eddie’s. There was someone else here.

  A gun cocked.

  Julianna opened her eyes and whipped around. “Eddie, move—”

  The soldier came out of the alley ahead of Julianna and fired.

  Julianna slid to the opposite wall and shot back at the enemy soldier. He returned it, but then took Julianna’s shot directly in the head and collapsed.

  His bullet missed her, whizzing by her head and going farther into the alley.

  “No!” yelled Knox. In a swift movement he pushed Eddie out of the line of fire, knocking him to the ground and covering him with his body.

  “Fuck!” exclaimed Eddie, pushing himself up and rubbing the back of his head. “That’ll leave a mark.”

  Knox staggered to his feet beside Eddie. He cupped his bicep and there was blood on his fingers when he pulled them away.

  Julianna ran to the boy’s side. “You’ve been shot!”

  Eddie’s eyes widened when he saw the wound. “Knox!”

  “It just grazed. S-sorry,” said the former gunrunner. “I should’ve been faster.”

  “What the hell were you thinking, man?” asked Eddie, holstering his gun and gently taking Knox’s arm to look at the wound.

  “He was thinking about saving you,” said Julianna, surprised and relieved at the same time.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Gun Barrel, Planet Ronin, Behemoth System

  Eddie yanked the bandana off his neck and tied it around Knox’s arm. “Are you all right?” he asked, grateful that Julianna was guarding them so he could tend to Knox.

  Although breathless, Knox nodded. “It went through. I’ll be okay. I think.”

  Eddie frowned. “What were you thinking, pushing me out of the way? You could have gotten yourself killed.”

  “If I hadn’t you would’ve been shot,” answered Knox.

  Eddie stared at the spot he’d been standing in, which was squarely in the middle of the alleyway. The bullet would have hit him, no doubt about it. He could’ve even died.

  Eddie tied the bandana tightly, making Knox grimace with pain. It was for the best, since they needed to stop the bleeding. “Just don’t make this a habit, okay? You let me handle it next time.”

  “Hopefully there won’t be a next time,” said Knox weakly.

  “There always is,” said Eddie, pulling his gun back out of his holster. He turned to Julianna, who was still on guard and scanning the area. “What does Pip think?”

  “That you’re lucky as hell,” said Julianna, glancing at the wound in Knox’s arm and then at Eddie. There was a new expression in her eyes he hadn’t seen before. Did she look relieved? Relieved he hadn’t taken a bullet to the chest? “And he says we’re clear, as far as he can tell.”

  Eddie blew out a sigh of relief and turned toward the rear alley. “No more pushing yourself, Gunner,” he said to Knox. “Take it easy for the rest of this trip.”

  Knox laughed despite a bit of pain. “Sure, I get ya.”

  Eddie flattened himself against the wooden building when they neared the end and looked at the space across from the structure, checking that all was clear. Then he spun around, gun out, to ensure no more soldiers were in hiding.

  “Up there,” said Knox, pointing to a set of stairs at the back of the building that led to the second floor.

  Eddie took the lead again, listening for waiting Brotherhood soldiers at each step.

  “Oh, fuck,” said Julianna.

  Eddie saw what her enhanced vision had already discerned. The back door’s lock had been blown off and the door was half-open.

  “I thought you said Axel shot trespassers,” said Eddie, looking at Knox.

  “Seems like he did,” said Julianna, pointing with her gun at the body lying just inside the doorway. She stepped around them and kicked open the door all the way. Another Kezzin lay farther inside.

  “A-axel…” Knox stammered and tore around Julianna straight into the second floor. She reached out for him but dropped her hand, giving up before she’d even tried.

  Eddie launched forward to stop Knox, but Julianna held up a hand to halt him. Knox was already in the main room of a loft building.

  “It’s too late,” she said in a whisper.

  Eddie mouthed, “What?” and narrowed his eyes, gazing down the narrow hallway that led into darkness. It took several moments for his eyes to adjust and the figure sprawled on the ground to come into focus. Knox had knelt and was shaking the body, rocking its shoulders.

  “Do you suppose?” asked Eddie, letting the question hang quietly in the air.

  Julianna slowly nodded and her eyes slid to the side vacantly, indicating she was speaking with Pip.

  A moment later she straightened, looking tense. “We’ve got company. There’re Brotherhood ships in orbit, and they appear to be waiting for us.”

  Eddie nodded. He didn’t like what he was going to have to do next, but it couldn’t be helped. “Gunner, we’ve got to go.”

  Knox looked up, eyes wide. He seemed to have forgotten where he was. After a long few seconds he pushed to his feet and walked to where Eddie was waiting.

  “We’ve got company,” said Eddie. “We need to get back to the ship.”

  Knox wasn’t shaking, but Eddie was certain the boy was rattled. Before they continued, Eddie placed his hand on his new friend’s shoulder. “I’m sorry we didn’t make it in time.”

  “I am too,” muttered Knox, “but at least he didn’t suffer, right? Or is that just something people say to make themselves feel better?”

  Eddie didn’t know what to tell him. Knox had lost so much, time and time again. He pointed to the stairs, suggesting that Knox go out behind Julianna.

  Without another word Knox complied, and Eddie quickly followed.

  ~~~

  A hot wind blew hard, knocking sand into their faces, and Julianna put her arm over her face to shield her nose and mouth. She waited until the two had caught up with her.

  “Protect your face. Looks like a dust storm is starting,” she ordered.

  Knox, using his good arm, pulled the bandana he’d been wearing around his neck up to just cover his nose. Julianna’s eyes shot to the rag tied to Knox’s arm and she realized Eddie didn’t have his bandana anymore. It was only a thin piece of cloth, so one wouldn’t think it would be that important, but in a dust storm it might be the difference between breathing and suffocating. She yanked her bandana off her neck and thrust it at Eddie. He looked up, bemused.

  “No, I’m good,” said Eddie, pulling his cowboy hat down over his eyes.

  “You’re only human. Take it.” She refused to accept the bandana back. “I’m going to speed off and get the ship ready. Be prepared to jump in and take off when you get there.”

  Reluctantly Eddie consented, covering his mouth and nose with the cloth. The wind had kicked up, making visibility poor. Julianna gave them one last look before she streaked off, losing them at once as she headed farther into the storm.

  ~~~

  “What did she mean by ‘you’re only human?’” asked Knox as he marched against the wind. It was impossible for them to sprint as Julianna had. They w
ere striding straight into forty-mile-an-hour wind, and the dirt it threw up made it feel like they were walking into sandpaper.

  Eddie only shook his head at the question, unwilling to speak as the dust storm continued to pick up. Knox asked a lot of questions, and he figured there would be many more. There had to be, because Eddie wasn’t getting rid of Knox, not after he hadn’t hesitated to save his life. Some people were taught to be good, and then there were those who were born that way. As far as Eddie could tell, Knox was definitely the latter.

  Living outside of Federation space had kept Knox from knowing much about the civilization or culture of the bulk of humanity. He knew about ships and guns, but his concept of technology would be minimal. That was what happened when one wasn’t raised in Federation space. He’d understand in time, but for now Eddie would ease him into it.

  Visibility was so poor that part of Knox’s face was obscured, and before long they’d need to take shelter. Now Eddie understood what Hatch had meant about the weather in Gun Barrel. This place was meant for cowboys, who were tough enough to survive it.

  Eddie grabbed Knox by the arm and pulled him close to the nearest building, under the porch eaves. It provided a bit of relief but not quite enough so he pushed forward again. He felt as though they were making no progress at all. They weren’t even halfway down the main road, and the storm was still growing in ferocity. Was Julianna back at the ship? It was smart that she had returned, but what if they couldn’t make it in time?

  Knox, beside Eddie, was holding onto the side of the building and looked like he might blow away at any moment. Eddie could relate. He stomped forward, clapping his boots down but making no audible noise over the howling wind. He pulled his other boot to meet it, feeling as though he were walking through quicksand. Again he picked his foot up to step forward, but he was blown backward several inches instead. He got low to the ground to try a different tack, hoping to make progress.

  Knox had been knocked off his feet, too. His face was covered in sand, and his eyes were like little green beams peering through the brown covering.

  “Don’t give up!” Eddie bellowed, crawling next to Knox on the wooden boards of the walkway. “We can do this!” The bandana flipped up, caught by the wind, and before Eddie could secure back on his face a mound of sand zoomed down his throat, instantly making him gag. He tried to breathe, and realized his nose was nearly stopped up from the harsh sand. They couldn’t make it any farther.

  Beside him Knox nodded. “We can do this,” he said repeating Eddie’s words but more softly.

  The wind sounded like a shrieking siren and they could hardly make out the next few feet, but beside them was a door. All Eddie had to do was bust through it and they’d have the shelter from the harsh storm, but he looked toward the ship.

  They couldn’t desert Julianna. She’d wonder where they were, and if they had made it into a building. He tried to move forward once more and again was pushed back by the wind, and his gaze returned to the door. If they didn’t get to shelter, they were going to die. Julianna would understand, and she’d find them once the storm passed.

  Eddie tried twice to stand, but the wind battered him back down each time. Finally he threw all his weight into the effort and ran at the door, but it didn’t budge. It had been reinforced—that was clear—probably to better withstand the storms. It would take more strength than he had remaining to bust through it. He pulled his body back to throw it into the door again. He had to try…

  “Captain!” Knox yelled from behind him, sounding like he was far away despite only a few short meters’ gap between him.

  Eddie turned, shielding his eyes. Knox had hunched over, but he was pointing at something. Blinking, Eddie tried to understand what Knox was motioning to, but the storm was thick, offering them only brief moments of visibility.

  Then, through the blinding wall of brown, Eddie saw a color. Blue at first, but then white. Light glistening, reflecting off something…

  Something in the air.

  The Q-Ship came toward them out of the cloud of sand and hovered over the main road only two meters from the walkway.

  Eddie ran in that direction, grabbing Knox as he did and pulling him into the Q-Ship through the open hatch. Julianna had already retreated to the pilot’s seat.

  Once the two men had made it inside the door closed automatically behind them, sealing them away from the storm. Julianna glanced over her shoulder at Eddie and Knox. “Sorry I took so long,” she told the two of them.

  “Just in time,” Eddie wheezed.

  ~~~

  The Q-Ship rose higher as Eddie and Knox coughed and sputtered on the floor, and Julianna whipped her head over her shoulder. The two were coated in a thick layer of grit, as if they’d been dipped in oil and then a vat of sand.

  Those guys were nearly goners. Fucking dust storm, Julianna said to Pip.

  You’d be pretty sad if something happened to the Captain.

  Don’t tell me about sad, Pip.

  I know what sadness feels like.

  Let’s save the existential talk for later.

  Julianna sped the Q-Ship through the atmosphere and out into orbit.

  Monitoring for Brotherhood vessels. There were two before, but they’ve changed locations.

  Yes, why don’t you do your job and stop making false observations?

  You don’t like me as much since I evolved to an AI, do you?

  What did I say about dumb observations?

  That you like them? teased Pip.

  Eddie was now spitting clumps of dirt onto the floor. He was going to be no help for a bit longer.

  I need you on the guns.

  Need? I like it when you say that word. It makes you seem—

  Like I’m not going to kick your ass?

  That wasn’t exactly what I was going to say. By the way, you’ve got two Brotherhood ships cruising your way.

  So do you, so fire away.

  Julianna spotted the approaching ships and jerked the controls to the side, spinning the Q-Ship in a half-circle. They nearly collided with one of the ships, but that offered more angles for Pip to fire. Three shots connected, but only caused surface damage.

  Eddie and Knox had rolled during Julianna’s acrobatics and were currently knocking around in the cargo area.

  “Teach, get the two of you strapped in already. This ride is only going to get bumpier,” said Julianna.

  “Sure thing,” wheezed Eddie. “We’re just back here dying.”

  “Stop being so dramatic.” Julianna now had both ships on her ass firing at her. She jerked to one side and then feinted, swerving farther the same direction. Flying the Omega was about like walking, just as natural and easy. The controls were intuitive. Hatch had built the perfect ship so far as Julianna was concerned, and she’d use it to kill every Brotherhood soldier she could find.

  Once they were a good distance from the enemy she twisted the ship to the side, turning it around. Pip fired a bunch of rounds, many grazing the other ships but again not taking them out.

  Fuck, Pip, where did you learn to shoot?

  I think what you’re saying is that you’d prefer the Captain to be in the copilot’s seat, teased Pip.

  That’s not at all what I said. Your understanding of language is horrible. Get an education!

  Eddie slammed into the chair next to Julianna. Over her shoulder she spied a strapped-in Knox, although he was still coughing wildly.

  Eddie looked at her with his face still caked in dirt. “Ready to kick some Brotherhood ass?”

  “I thought you’d never come to the party.”

  “Oh, am I off the guns then?” asked Pip from overhead, feigning annoyance. “I’ll just go take a nap.”

  A missile hit the side of the ship and knocked them all forward from the blunt force.

  “Why don’t you keep an eye on enemy fire, Pip,” yelled Julianna.

  “Right, I can do that. Fire headed for port side,” Pip informed her.

  Jul
ianna put the ship on its side to avoid the worst of the attack, then activated the thrusters and barreled between the two Brotherhood ships.

  Eddie rolled out a spray of bullets, hitting one of the vessels’ wings and sending it spiraling out of control toward the planet’s surface.

  “He’s gonna feel that shit in the morning,” said Eddie. He tried to laugh, only to wind up coughing.

  “Yeah, and apparently that pissed off his buddy,” she said, looking at Eddie.

  She angled the ship so that the guns in the back were directed at the Brotherhood ship.

  Eddie grabbed the weapons controls again and focused on targeting the incoming ship. When the vessel crossed their stern just as anticipated, Eddie punched the trigger and loosed a number of rounds at the small flyer, and multiple direct hits forced the little ship to fall back at once.

  “Whew! That’s what I’m talking about,” said Eddie, his voice still scratchy from the sand.

  A red light blinked on. “No partying just yet,” said Julianna. “We’ve still got a problem.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Omega-line Q-Ship, Behemoth System

  “If you’re gonna tell me you left something in that piece-of-shit town, forget it. I’ll buy you a new…whatever it is that you lost,” said Eddie, trying to wipe sand from his face without getting it in his eyes. He needed a shower. A beer too. Actually, scratch the shower—he’d rather just have the beer.

  “No, it’s the ship,” said Julianna, peering at the controls and gauges.

  Eddie’s vision, blurred by sand and whatever else the storm had thrown at him, couldn’t make out much at a distance but he squinted, trying to determine what she was staring at that was a problem.

  “It’s the fuel lines,” said Knox from the back.

  Julianna turned around, surprised. “Yeah, it is. How’d you know that?”

  “The fucking fuel lines? What’s wrong with them?” asked Eddie.

  “I’m guessing one of those attacks severed them somehow,” Julianna said, still looking at Knox. “How’d you know?”

  He shrugged. “I can feel the lag in the ship. The way it’s doing it reminds me of when I have a blockage in one of my lines. The ship is getting fuel, but something is blocking it. Maybe the hose is bent from external damage on the ship.”