The Chronicles of Benjamin Jamison: Call Sign Reaper

by Thomas Wright

  “Thank you for your offer, Major,” the pirate said. “It is more than I expected. I think I speak for everyone here when I say we must decline.” A second later she yelled something and they all came at once. The woman and the big guy held back.

  The sergeant major stepped up behind the major and Gunny behind the ensign. Reaper stood in place, watching the woman and her body guard. The team spread out so they would have room to work. Gunny had slipped a set of knuckles onto his right hand and held his knife in his left Gunny’s knife had a blade about eight inches long with pointed teeth along three quarters of the spine. The pommel had a spike. Ensign headed for a pirate who had a sword. Gunny followed.

  The pirate knew he was up against a superior warrior with a sword. He just went for brute force. He made two overhand strikes, which E’Aria blocked with ease even though they drove her back a couple steps. The pirate must have thought he would be able to beat her down. He raised for another overhand strike and saw the katana was already through him. E’Aria pulled it out quickly and moved to find another target.

  The major paired off with the skinny guy who had been out to fight the ensign earlier. He had a knife in either hand. She was unarmed. He was fast, stabbing and kicking. She blocked each attack, taking the knife strikes on her armored forearms. She would fight back just enough that he would keep up the speed he was fighting at. He would burn out shortly.

  Gunny engaged an unarmed pirate. As they squared off, Gunny put his big combat knife away. They traded blows and stepped back, looking each other over. Gunny thought it odd that the pirate would go hand-to-hand with no weapons against a man in combat armor. As they engaged a second time, the man pulled a long slim knife from under his shirt. He stabbed Gunny through the unprotected space under his arm. The pirated laughed as Gunny gasped in pain.

  His laugh was cut short by a katana taking his arm off at the elbow. The man screamed and turned toward E’Aria. She shoved the katana through his heart and pushed him backwards as she pulled it out. The man landed at the feet of the woman and the big man. The sergeant major grabbed Gunny and pulled him back away from the fight. He left the knife in and had Gunny hold the wound as best he could. He left and made his way through the ship. He was sure they would have a med area where they might have some better supplies than the emergency kit on his belt.

  The major was pissed. The skinny guy came in the same way he had in his last three attacks. He stabbed with his right and instead of blocking it, she grabbed his wrist and twisted, slamming it against her knee with a crunch. Still holding his arm like a rope, she stepped back and jerked him towards her, then stepped forward, punching him in the throat, crushing it. She still hadn’t let go when he started to fall and she punched him again in the same place. She finally let go of his arm as he lay wheezing his last breaths.

  The big guy looked at the spike-haired woman and she nodded. He walked over and picked up the sword that the swordsman pirate had used. He took two steps in E’Aria’s direction then changes and headed towards Ben. Ben braced himself for the attack. He pulled his combat knife out.

  The pirate’s first attack was like the rest of them. Ben was ready for it. The pirate swung with his right hand and Ben blocked with his left Ben stepped in to stab under his arm. The pirate saw it coming and tried to twist out of the way, but the edge still cut him, a deep gash. Sparks flew off his arm as the blade hit the armor plate. Ben was working his way in the direction of the dead pirate,

  Ben saw the next strike coming. The pirate broadcast his every move. Ben stepped towards the pirate so close the hilt almost hit his arm. The strike did nothing but jar him. His left-handed punch to the pirate’s gut made him grunt and take a step back. Ben kept it tight, punching the body, then an upper cut to the pirate’s chin rocked him back a couple steps. Ben now had time to grab E’Aria’s short sword from the dead pirate’s leg. He put his foot on the leg and slid it out. He walked towards his adversary and attacked.

  It was over fast at this point. He took a couple of steps and leapt, bringing the sword down hard against the pirate. In the same move he brought the knife underhand hard into the man’s chest. He let go of the knife and pushed him back.

  The woman chose the major as her target. The major didn’t give any ground. She wanted to end this little experiment. She disarmed the pirate and went on the offensive. Four punches later, the woman was on the floor moaning.

  The big pirate came back at Ben with the sword but there was not much force in his swing. Ben batted it away and punched the pirate hard in the face. His legs buckled and he went down to his knees. Before he could do anything else, E’Aria cut his throat with the katana. She sent a thought to Ben. If he were to live you wouldn’t want him coming after you. No loose ends this way.

  The shuttle was waiting. The sergeants had climbed back on board with the pirate captain while Ben and the major fought the last two pirates. Dr. Mathews had a team ready for Gunny. Ben cuffed the female pirate and carried her to the shuttle. The major had pounded her face pretty well. He left the shuttle and searched the forward sections of the gunboat.

  He brought E’Aria with him. Technically he was looting, but he didn’t care. He took all the credit chips and any weapon that he had never seen before. He sent the shuttle on to the ship and asked them to come back in 30 minutes. He traded swords with E’Aria so they both had their own back. Most of the personal items of the crew were not much. He took a staff he found in the captains quarters as well as more credits and some jewelry that looked to be very valuable. There was a big broadsword in what must have been the big pirates quarters. He would have been the only one who could swing it.

  They found some small empty crates in the cargo hold and filled them with the things they collected. E’Aria had found a sword in one of the crew quarters. It looked like Ben’s katana but was even longer. The blade had wavy lines down the length. She put it over her back and it came down to the back of her knees. They couldn’t get the captain’s safe open so Ben cut it out with a torch. He figured if the captain left expensive jewelry out in his cabin, he had more expensive things in the safe.

  The major went with Gunny to surgery. The sergeant major was there also. The captain had seen Gunny get stabbed while watching on the vid in her day room. She came down to Medical when she knew they were onboard. The XO had the bridge now as she arrived at Medical.

  “How is he?” she asked.

  “Dr. Mathews thinks no major arteries were hit. He will probably make a full recovery. It’s going to be a couple hours at least, and maybe more if they can’t get him in the tank.”

  “Why did the two black knights stay on the gunboat?” The captain asked with a smile.

  “They were checking to make sure no one was hiding anywhere; and after that I don’t know,” the major said with a frown. She was a little irritated they hadn’t come back to be with Gunny and part of her didn’t want them alone together. She knew she was insecure. It had been so long since she cared for someone like she did for Ben. She still had to tell herself it had been less than two weeks since she met him.

  Chapter 10: Natalia

  Ben and E’Aria were ready when the shuttle arrived. They secured the airlock and moved the crates inside. They opened the outer door and moved the crates into the shuttle. Ben walked back in for the last crate when he heard a tapping sound. He took the broadsword off and handed it to E’Aria, who looked at him curiously.

  “Did you hear that?”

  She laid the sword across three seats and walked back out. “No, what was it?” She shut the outer door and went back into the gunboat.

  He heard it again. “There,” he said, “a tapping sound.” They walked back towards the crew quarters, moving slowly.

  They had just come through that area. The noise was coming from the female pirate quarters. They opened the door and it stopped. E’Aria opened the locker but it seemed to be intact. They heard it again and the sound now sounded like someone rattling a door. It was coming from under
the bed. Ben grabbed the bed and turned it over. There was a door cut into the floor and it had a lock. It shook again. Ben took his laser pistol and put it on the lowest setting.

  “I’m going to cut the lock off, so don’t push on the door,” he said. “It will be hot.” He didn’t get an answer. He fired the pistol.

  Ben used his knife to pry up the door. Once he had it far enough he grabbed it and flung it back. Huddled in a welded metal box was a young girl. By the smell of things she had been in there for a while. Her hair was matted and the gown she wore was stained and dirty. She took one look at Ben and fainted. Ben had E’Aria find the showers. He took some of the clothes from the locker and threw them over his shoulder He picked up the girl gently and went to find E’Aria. She yelled at him and he followed her voice.

  The shower was running and the water was warm. He stepped right into the shower holding her and let the warm water run over her. She woke up and started to struggle. He squeezed her a little tighter. “It’s okay,” he said softly. “We are not going to hurt you.”

  She started sobbing, collapsing against his chest. He held her and pushed the hair back from her face. “Little one can you stand? My team mate E’Aria will help you clean up, and we have some clean clothes you can wear.”

  She nodded and Ben put her down and stood by her to steady her. He stepped back and took off his helmet. She saw his long hair and handsome face smiling at her.

  “I will be outside,” he said. “Do you know if there is anyone else on this ship besides the pirates and you?”

  She shook her head. Ben was still standing in the shower when she turned around and let the filthy clothing fall off her shoulders to the floor. She had scars across her body from her shoulders to her feet where she had been whipped. Ben decided at that moment what he would do when he got back to the ship.

  E’Aria could find no clean towel to dry her with, so she just dressed her and twisted her hair to wring it out. They came out of the shower and met Ben in the corridor. They made their way to the shuttle. The girl seemed to be dizzy, having trouble. Ben didn’t know what from, so he picked her up and carried her. E’Aria opened the airlock and they stepped in. She shut the door behind them and opened the outdoor into the shuttle.

  Chavez did a double take when Ben walked in holding the girl in his arms. “Com Medical,” he said, “and tell them I have a young girl who is in need of treatment.”

  “Aye, Reaper, they’re picking up the com.”

  Ben told E’Aria to get their things to her room and that he would be by to collect his later. She nodded.

  “I will probably be in Medical if you want to come down after everything is secure,” he said.

  The shuttle docked and Ben went out the door with the child in his arms. She had a death grip around Ben’s neck. Ben told the corpsmen he would carry her to the med bay to get a room ready if one wasn’t already. Ben turned a lot of heads as he walked into the bay in his dark shiny gun metal combat suit with the grim reaper on his chest, carrying the young girl.

  The captain, major and sergeant major stood and stared. He still had his helmet on, so they couldn’t see the anger on his face. Nurse Tanaka was on shift and directed Ben into a room. He sat down, still holding the girl. Nurse Tanaka did not know who was in the suit and was very uncertain about what to do next.

  “Nurse Tanaka, would you take off my helmet,” Reaper asked. She stepped behind him and unlatched the buckles that held the helmet to the rest of the suit. When she saw the long hair and unshaven face she was relieved.

  Nurse Tanaka stood next to Ben as he relayed what he knew and thought. He told the girl to let go.

  Ben felt the fingers release and her arms drop. He stood and put her on the table. A crowd had gathered outside the door. Ben stood.

  “How is Gunny?” he asked.

  “He will be fine. Dr. Mathews has been working on him since he arrived,” the major replied.

  “That’s good news,” Ben answered. “Captain, have you interrogated the gun boat Captain and the female officer?”

  “Not yet, I was just about to head down there.”

  “I’ll join you. There are some things I need answers to,” Ben said grimly.

  She looked into the room past Reaper at the young girl. The nurse had just removed her clothes. She could see the welts, cuts, bruises and scars on her body. The major stepped around Reaper and shut the door.

  Ben followed the captain to the brig. The major and sergeant major followed along. The corporal on duty brought the room to attention when the captain stepped in.

  “At ease,” the captain said. “Sergeant, why don’t you and the corporal go get four coffees and make sure you have one or two yourself before you come back.”

  “Aye, aye ma’am!” They didn’t know what to make of Ben standing behind the captain. He had his helmet back on and visor blacked out.

  “Sergeant,” she continued, “I will be using my command pass code for the door and cells, so whatever happens, you will not be implicated in anyway.”

  “Aye, aye Captain.” They left

  “Major, will you and the sergeant major take up a position outside the door?” the captain asked. “I will accompany Reaper.”

  The major was looking at Ben; she didn’t say anything but she looked concerned. Ben just nodded to her.

  The captain punched in her code and the door locks retracted. Ben pulled the door open and the captain stepped through. He pulled the door shut behind him. The captain didn’t lock the door. She wanted the major and sergeant to be able to get in if she needed them.

  “The woman first,” Ben said.

  “Why?” the captain asked.

  “It will become clear once we get started.”

  She punched the code for the door and they stepped into the cell. Ben pulled the door shut behind them.

  “What’s your name?” the captain asked the female pirate. She was still bruised and bloody from her fight earlier with the major. She gave them a look and crossed her arms. The captain asked her again. She smirked at the captain and just sat there.

  Ben took two steps before the female could react and grabbed her by the wrist. He took his foot, pinned her to the wall by the shoulder and held her hand on top of the plate on his thigh armor. He pulled out his knife and forced her fingers open. She screamed as he pressed the knife against the knuckle of her little finger at the middle joint.

  “The captain has some questions for you,” he said. “You need to show some proper respect as well as answer each question, am I clear?” There were tears running down her face and her hand was bleeding all over his leg. Now we might get somewhere, he thought.

  “What is your name?” the captain asked again.

  “Lorelei,” the pirate answered. “My name is Lorelei.”

  “Lorelei, who is the person on the freighter that you had working for you?”

  She looked up at Reaper. I would tell her if I was you, Reaper thought.

  She looked at the captain. “The engineer’s mate is our man. He really is an engineer’s mate but was out of work. H’s a relative of Captain Scotch, the frigate captain.”

  “Is he the only one you had planted on that ship?”

  “No, we were worried the mate might not go through with it. He wasn’t really one of us after all. Just down on his luck.”

  “Who is the second one?”

  “The com officer,” Lorelei answered, seeming calmer. “We watched the bridge crew while they were on shore leave. Seems the com officer got himself stabbed while taking a roll with one of the local girls. They found his body the next day. A friendly bartender let the captain know he knew a man who was a com officer and was looking for work and that was that.”

  “Is that all? There aren’t any more?”

  “Yes that is all.” She was still looking at Reaper.

  The captain was looking at Reaper also. He had the prisoner pinned to the wall and holding her hand in a vice grip.

  “Where is your base
?” the captain asked. Giving up the two men was one thing, but giving up the base was something else.

  “You can go ahead and kill me now. That is something I can’t tell you.”

  “I see, that’s too bad,” the captain said. “Reaper, did you have something you wanted to ask her?”

  Ben moved his hand so fast Lorelei didn’t know what happened at first, and neither did the captain. Lorelei started screaming as blood squirted out from where her little finger used to be. Ben leaned forward and spoke like death. “Why was there a little girl locked under your bed?” Lorelei’s eyes grew wide and she opened her mouth but no sound came out. Ben forced the next finger open and placed his knife in the same place. He started to push down and she started screaming.

  “I’m waiting,” he said softly, “and when I am done with your fingers I will start on your ears and face.”

  “She’s the captain’s,” Lorelei gasped. “He likes young girls. He would make me lock them up in my room so the crew wouldn’t get to them.”

  “So she is not the first.”

  “No.”

  “Where are the others?”

  She looked at him. “Gone.”

  “Gone where? What do you mean by gone? Did he kill them?”

  She nodded. “When he grew tired of them he would kill them and have one of the crew put the body out the airlock.”

  He pressed down with the knife and was halfway through her finger when the captain said, “Reaper, please stop.”

  “The captain asked you where your base was,” Ben said, lessening his grip. “Are you going to tell her or do I finish this finger?”

  She looked at the captain and gave her some coordinates. The captain turned on her com recorder and asked her to repeat them. Then she shut it off. Lorelei was fading from blood loss.

  “Do you know where he gets the girls from?” Reaper asked.