Gray Panthers Captain Short Blade

by David Guenther

  “If you want to make a coward’s escape,” Short Blade continued, his voice a little softer, “come to my shuttle and I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

  “Ah! There you are, Mr. Ambassador,” the wedding planner called out on his way over to the table. “Everything is going well. Guests will be arriving shortly.” As he drew closer, he got an uneasy feeling. “Is everything all right here?” he asked, eyeing Short Blade.

  “I want to make a change in the wedding ceremony,” Scotty replied. “My three comrades here will stand with me during the ceremony, the way it’s done on Earth. Gentlemen, where are we going to find tuxes this late?”

  “Why don’t we all wear our uniforms?” Jimmy suggested. “Short Blade, do you have yours?” Short Blade nodded. “Good. It’s settled, then. Guns and I are already dressed, so Scotty, why don’t you head into the house and get ready?”

  “Thank you all, guys,” Scotty said as he stood up. “I guess I was having pre-mission jitters. This is going to be the best day of my life. I just hope I can still fit into my uniform.” The smile on his face was sincere as he turned and headed back into the house.

  “Should we grab a bottle to loosen up before the ceremony, do ya think?” Jimmy asked.

  Guns shook his head no, starting to feel a little nervous about the ceremony himself.

  “Let’s go with Short Blade and check out his ride,” Guns suggested, pushing himself up from the table.

  The short walk to the landing pad was over a path of packed dirt that looked like it had been there forever.

  Jimmy let out a whistle as they drew closer to the Phoenix. “Wow! That is one frickin’ big-ass shuttle!”

  Short Blade let the entire ramp down, exposing the back of the shuttle. Guns headed in first, with Jimmy right on his heels and Short Blade bringing up the rear.

  “Good size cargo area here,” Guns remarked. After the cargo area there was a small but well-equipped mess. From there were four more hatchways. Three led to cabins and the other to the head. The passageway ended at the hatch to the cockpit.

  “How did you manage this, Short Blade? Do you need any partners?” Guns asked as he and Jimmy continued to explore.

  Short Blade was taken aback at the offer. He wasn’t sure if Guns was joking, but he decided it would be good for someone to have his back on those occasions when he had to leave the shuttle—and to alleviate the boredom.

  “I’ll make you an offer. You can both crew with me for a percentage of what I make on each trip. Between trips, you can help out at my ranch in return for a salary. You won’t get rich, but you’ll be comfortable. I already have Juan Ramirez and Ralph Dias running my ranch and a security force of twenty-one Jackas.”

  Guns looked at Jimmy and shrugged his shoulders to indicate his indecisiveness.

  “Sounds like the best game in town, Short Blade,” Jimmy said with a grin. “That include room and board?” They all laughed, happy to be a team once again.

  “Phoenix, record that on this date James Brewster and William ‘Guns’ Wright have joined the crew of the Phoenix, freely and without coercion. Under Galactic law, they are now my responsibility. Both have unlimited access to the Phoenix.”

  “Uh, Short Blade, what was that part about you now being responsible for us under Galactic law?” Jimmy asked, confused.

  “I’m responsible if you break any laws while on a planet that follows Galactic law. It also gives me the right, as captain of the Phoenix, to punish you as I see fit.”

  The men hesitated for no more than a split second.

  “Looks like you have two crewmen, Captain Short Blade,” Jimmy said smiling at the sound of that. He remembered when he and Guns were Short Blade’s chiefs, back when Short Blade first enlisted.

  “Shall we go make sure Ambassador Scholl makes it to his wedding?” Short Blade said.

  The men noted that he’d phrased it as a question, but it was the first order he’d given them.

  The chairs were already filled by the time the three of them made their way back along the path to the house and out to the back yard. As they joined Scotty in front of the portable alter, Guns noticed that the front row of guests looked like a who’s who of the Dixie government. The president and members of his cabinet were there, as well as the entire general staff. He glanced around and didn’t see any apparent security for the VIPs.

  The music started to play and Short Blade could see that Scotty was about to hyperventilate. The preacher and the bride were walking slowly toward the altar.

  “Get control of yourself, Scotty. If you faint, you’ll hear about it for the rest of your life,” Short Blade tried to whisper. The preacher reached the altar and held out Sam’s hand for Scotty to take. Sam gazed at Scotty, then past his shoulder at the groomsmen, and smiled brightly.

  “Hey, boys. It take all three of you to keep my man from bolting, eh?” Sam squeezed Scotty’s hand firmly, turned toward the preacher, and nodded for him to begin.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, we gather here in the shadow of death as we rejoice in life. All of us were reborn when our enemies were struck down. Now, in the celebration of life, Samantha and Scotty are joined as one in God’s eyes. Be fruitful and multiply. By the power vested in me by the government of Dixie, I pronounce you man and wife. May I have a witness sign the document, please?”

  “It would be my honor to sign as witness.” All eyes were on President Davis as he stepped forward and signed the marriage contract. “No escape now for either of you now,” he quipped.

  With the formalities out of the way, the preacher pulled out a large chalice of wine. Handing it to Scotty, he instructed him to drink as much as he thought he needed. When Scotty handed it back, the preacher refilled it and handed it to Sam with the same instructions. She demurely took several large sips.

  “Go now and perform your responsibilities to God and man,” he told them. They kissed and ran toward the house while the guests clapped loudly, many laughing till it hurt.

  Guns and Jimmy didn’t understand what was so funny. President Davis was standing next to them, so Guns leaned over and asked, explaining that this was the first marriage ceremony they had attended on Dixie.

  “The drink the new husband and wife take is a very strong aphrodisiac. Only our clergy are allowed to keep it. Given the amount that Scotty drank, neither he nor Sam will get any sleep tonight. The custom goes back to when we were first marooned on this planet. We decided that we had to be strong in numbers so we would never be victims again. Anyway, the party will go on as long as they are in their marriage bed. With what he drank, it’ll be a long party.”

  An upstairs light went on and everyone could see the shadows of the happy couple. Then the shadows disappeared, and a moment later Scotty opened the window and slingshotted something down into the party. A shriek of additional laughter burst out as an old gentleman held up a tiny thong for all to see.

  Short Blade figured this would be a good chance for him to try to accomplish his mission. His heart was almost bursting from nervousness as he addressed the president.

  “Sir, may I have a few minutes of your time, please?”

  Davis glanced down at the little Jacka in amusement and nodded his head yes.

  “Sir, I’ve heard that the government is in need of Flem juice for the construction of AIs. I happen to have some at the moment … if you’re interested, that is.”

  “How did you come to that conclusion, Captain Short Blade?”

  The shock of hearing that the president knew his name and rank rattled Short Blade, but he continued. “Sir, the whole galaxy watched what the Fire Warriors were able to do with only minimal crews on their ships, all because of the AIs. Now, every navy wants the same ability. Only Earth and Dixie have the ability to create the AIs, and until now only Earth has had access to the Flem juice.”

  Davis rubbed his chin as he listened. “What do you want for the juice, son?”

  “Sir, I’d like fifty of the devices. I can pay fifty units of
the juice in trade.”

  Davis looked Short Blade straight in the eyes. “Son, I’ve been a trader and politician since well before you were born. We’re not going to haggle like old women over vegetables. What do you have to offer, and what do you need?”

  Short Blade swallowed hard before speaking. “I need forty and have eighty juices to pay for them.” He realized that he’d just lied and was immediately ashamed of himself.

  “I’ll accept three juices for every AI I provide,” Davis replied. “Is that acceptable to you, Captain?”

  Short Blade did his best to appear to be agonizing over the deal. Davis watched him closely the entire time, gauging his expressions and body language.

  “Sir, I accept your offer. When can the transaction take place? Is there anything else I can do for Dixie?”

  Davis smiled, not knowing if the young Jacka was an innocent or extremely formidable. He decided the jury would stay out on that a while longer.

  “If you have payment, I’ll have the military bring you the AIs after the party tonight. I’ll also have one of my military officers get with you about any future procurements. Many would not understand our government doing business with you, I’m sorry to say.”

  “Sir, I will take thirty-three AIs on this trip. As a sign of my respect and appreciation, I want to give you a unit of Flem juice now, in addition to what I’ll pay for the AIs.”

  Davis decided that the small Jacka was someone he would trust to do business with again, even though he realized that the payment he would receive was more than the eighty units Short Blade originally said he had. He shook hands with Short Blade and rejoined his own group.

  Guns and Jimmy asked Short Blade how he knew the president.

  “I’ve never met him before. I knew he would be at the wedding, so I planned to try speak with him. I just made a deal that will help my ranch tremendously. I’ll explain it to you on our trip home. We’ll leave in the morning.”

  Short Blade was so excited, he wanted to load the AIs and head for home right away, but he remembered that Guns and Jimmy had trained him to hold his cards close to his chest.

  The president excused himself from the group he was with and sought out one of his most trusted officers.

  “I want thirty-three of the AIs we salvaged from the Gray Panthers shuttles brought here tonight after the party. They have to be in good shape. I don’t want any uniforms or government transports to be seen near the Jacka’s shuttle. When he returns to Dixie in the future, Captain Short Blade is to be given every courtesy. He’s also to be watched carefully. He knows things he shouldn’t. He also can get things we need. Colonel Carson, you will be his coordinator. Anything you need from off world, let him know and set a price with him.”

  The party grew quiet and guests pointed to the bedroom window as the sounds of copulation became louder. Everyone laughed and grabbed the strings of firecrackers, lighting them to cover up the sounds Sam and Scotty were making. It was part of the tradition of the wedding party.

  The noise of the firecrackers was soon overpowered by a loud noise from the south. In the dimming light of nightfall, four ugly black fighters could be seen heading for the plantation. The ground shook and glasses fell over as the fighters suddenly climbed in altitude and another group of four fighters flew over, barely above the trees.

  “Push it up! Push it up!” Guns and Jimmy chanted as Short Blade let out a huge roar of his own, startling those who were closest to him. Samantha popped her head out the window to see what was happening. A second later, Scotty also popped his head out the window as the two continued to gyrate together.

  “Damn! They made it after all! That’s the rest of my flight!” Scotty shouted. Sam shoved at him with her butt to back away from the window. He fell to the carpet and she climbed on top of him, forgetting all about the fighters.

  Davis joined in the cheer and laughter when he was told the fighters were Gray Panthers from Scotty’s old unit. The fighters continued to fly overhead for a few minutes more before departing, but the rest of the guests knew the evening ahead of them would be a long one.

  Culpepper Plantation, Dixie

  12 April 2129

  Short Blade was feeling little pain as he watched the transport back up to his shuttle. In the distance the party was quiet, though there was still much activity in the shadows. As the transport driver and his assistant popped out of the transport, Short Blade noticed they were dressed in civilian clothing. Both were wearing side arms and had carbines slung over their left shoulder. They nodded to Short Blade, and he directed them to where he wanted the boxes.

  Ten minutes later, the boxes were stowed in the Phoenix’s secondary cargo hold. Again, the men nodded and took the ninety-nine units of Flem juice.

  “Phoenix, can we test the AIs to ensure they work before we leave?” Short Blade inquired, realizing he could have been cheated.

  “I am recognizing thirty-three units. I have the image that was installed on all Fire ships. I can install each one as both a test and as preparation. These units were not made by the Dixians. They came from Gray Panthers shuttles that were shot down on Dixie.”

  “Will that be a problem?”

  “It will make things easier, as the specifications are identical to those already delivered to the Jacka.” Short Blade let out a sigh of relief. He wanted to depart while everything was looking good. He then groaned when he realized his crew was still out partying.

  “Phoenix, do you have locations for Guns and Jimmy?”

  “Guns is with Patricia Culpepper in the orange tree orchard across from the plantation. Jimmy is with Gabriella Culpepper beside the plantation house on top of a picnic table. Do you want me to contact them?”

  “No, let them have their fun. I don’t know when they’ll be around human females again. When they’re no longer occupied, let them both know that a transport will be at their hotel to pick up their belongings at 0500 and the shuttle will depart at 0630.”

  “Sir, a vehicle is coming toward us. It is a standard sedan type, with only a driver.”

  “It may be the officer President Davis spoke of.” Short Blade watched as a tiny woman got out of the vehicle and walk toward the shuttle. She’s the same height as me, at best, he thought.

  “Hello, … in the shuttle … hello?” Carson was both nervous and alert as she looked around in the dark, waiting for a reply.

  Short Blade poked his head out. “Come on inside. It’s a little cold out there for you, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it is a little cool out here,” Carson replied.

  “Come follow me.” Short Blade led her to the shuttle mess and ordered two hot chocolates. “Here, take this,” he said, handing the colonel the mug and gesturing for her to have a seat at the table.

  “Captain Short Blade, I was ordered to give you a list of things we need. At this time, the only thing I can think of is transfer gel. We can make it ourselves, but the product made by the Republic is of higher quality and cheaper to buy than it is for us to produce.”

  Short Blade decided to give the Dixian a little test.

  “I don’t think that will be a problem. If I could get a down payment of, say, one thousand bottles of the marriage wine, that would be very helpful.”

  The colonel was confused at first, but then she realized that Short Blade was testing her. It occurred to her that she could contact a distant cousin of hers who lived in a monastery that produced the ceremonial wine.

  “When will you be departing, Captain?” she asked.

  “We depart at 0630. I have deliveries I must make.”

  “I will see what I can do, Captain. Only a little of the wine is produced at a time, since there’s so little call for it, so I might not be able to get all that you need.”

  “I guess we’ll have to see how it plays out then, Colonel Carson.” Short Blade walked her to the hatch and turned to her with a smile. “I would say goodnight, but I see it’s already 0330. So, good morning, then.”

  The co
lonel smiled nervously and made her way out, waving back at Short Blade as she rushed for the sedan.

  “Damn, damn, damn. Dixie command, this is Colonel Carson, logistics. I need a shuttle immediately, priority 02. I also need two strong backs. I’m a half hour out of the city—just track my phone. Make sure there’s maximum space in the shuttle for an emergency cargo. This is a classified mission. Carson, out.”

  Calling the monastery wasn’t an option, as they refused to have any modern communication with the outside world. She hoped it wouldn’t get ugly if they refused to sell the wine to the government.

  She hadn’t driven far when she came upon an area where the trees on both sides of the road grew farther back away from the road. It seemed like an ideal place for a shuttle to land. She got out of the sedan and lit a cigar to pass the time while she waited. The cigar was one from Earth, and she preferred it to any she could get on Dixie. She’d traded one of her cigars with a Gray Panther for it. Perhaps she could work a deal with the little Jacka to get some more.

  The sound of the shuttle coming in forced her back to the present. She put out the cigar and placed it back in a special sleeve in her purse. She ran toward the shuttle before it fully landed, and the force of the downdraft almost knocked her over..

  “Get me to the Red Sky Monastery on the west coast, ASAP!” Carson instructed as she clambered on board. She felt the shuttle lifting off before she was even strapped into her seat. Once she was situated, she looked around and noticed a couple of big military security troops watching her.

  “Okay, I’m Colonel Carson. Don’t bother to remember that because when this mission is over, it never happened. We need to get a thousand bottles of ceremonial wine to a foreign government’s shuttle before it takes off at 0630. The monastery is not expecting us, and there’s a chance it could get ugly.”

  At the monastery, Brother Stahl was getting ready for his morning chores when he saw the shuttle coming in to land. He knew in his heart it was bound to happen, given the illegal sales of the ceremonial wines. As he walked to the huge front gate, a woman and two soldiers approached from the other side. The woman began speaking before he could even open the gate.