Ben bowed slightly to the lead mantis and stepped out of the way. They straightened themselves and walked with their heads down, past him and down the corridor. They made some shrill calls and clicking noises. The teams came back out to the corridor and moved enough furniture to get behind it. The door to the room where the general was had been opened part way and three people were watching.
Ben stood in front of the barricade, watching the mantis trio. He could hear the sound of a lot of legs coming his way. Most of the bugs looked like beetles or roaches. One of them saw him standing there and made a run past the mantis, but it wasn’t fast enough. The mantis turned and brought its front leg down and through the beetle’s back pinning it to the floor. It shrieked and squirmed until the other leg came down and took its head off.
The mantis raised its legs and licked them off. He looked at Ben once more and left. He followed and saw what they were doing. They were all moving towards the hold. E’Aria and Lieutenant Strakowski had followed him.
“Put somebody down there to keep an eye on them,” he said. “Lieutenant, inform the captain that it looks like they are leaving. If they see a ship approaching, do not fire on it unless it scans weapons hot. I think it will be their ride.”
“How do you know what they are doing?” the lieutenant asked.
E’Aria laughed. “His gut tells him.”
“What she said,” Ben replied. “Now where are the admiral and the colonel holed up?”
“They’re in the mess. They barricaded it with tables.”
“Is this ship laid out like the Warhammer?”
“Yes sir, it is,” the lieutenant said. “They have about 25 crewmen in there with them. Some are there against their will.”
“Lieutenant,” Ben ordered, “go back to where the general is and get me a head count on my team and the condition of everyone. I know we have lost at least one. The captain here will ping you so you have her com. Let’s go Captain, we have some people to talk to.”
They found the mess. There were a couple of guards on the other side of the barricade of tables and chairs.
One laughed. “You weren’t really so tough now, were you.”
“I don’t think we have met,” Ben growled.
The other saw the red eyes and symbol on the chest.
“Oh shit, it’s Reaper,” he yelled, and he started backing up from the entry. Ben ran and jumped, kicking the table top and knocking it into the guard, who thought it was funny. He pushed on two other ones and the whole mountain of tables fell over. He pushed another out of his way and walked into the mess.
E’Aria had her pistol out and ready. Ben was just flexing his fingers in and out of a fist. He spotted the two he wanted and headed in their direction. The first two officers who tried to get in his way were on the floor. He didn’t even miss a step.
Then he stopped. “I understand some of you didn’t want to be here,” he said. “Is that true?”
Some were nodding their heads. “You need to leave now and stay away from the cargo bay,” he told them. “Check in with the captain so he knows you’re alive and get ready to leave.”
A major who thought he was going to try and take charge stepped towards Ben. “Who put you in charge—” was all he said before the big black fist connected with his mouth and broke his teeth off at the gums. It lifted him up and off his feet. He lay on the floor, spitting blood and teeth.
Ben looked around the room for the ones wearing the rail pistols. The admiral and colonel each had one. There were two other crewmen who had one hanging on their hip.
“Everyone with a pistol like this, you need to loosen the belt, drop it to the floor and move over by your leaders,” Ben said. “If you reach for the pistol, I’ll kill you.”
One decided to test this. Ben shot him. The hole was huge. Some of the crew were on the floor and staying down. One pistol hit the floor. E’Aria had hers drawn, covering everyone. She walked over and collected the two off the floor. The crew member stood by the officers like he had been instructed too.
The colonel and the admiral hadn’t moved. “I will give you two the count of three to drop the pistols, or I’ll shoot you,” Ben warned. Evidently the colonel didn’t know where the buckle was, because his hand was reaching was reaching for the butt of the pistol when Reaper shot and took four of his finger off. The admiral got so nervous she couldn’t unbuckle the belt. E’Aria walked over and unbuckled it for her.
“You!” Ben pointed to an ensign who was too scared to move. “Collect all these belts and pistols and take them to anyone in a black set of armor like this over by the bridge.”
E’Aria got the call from Lieutenant Strakowski. Matt, Snake, and Ronnie were uninjured. Gunny and Genius were injured but would live. Mumbles and Hillbilly were dead. They didn’t know were Andrea was. She had been taken by the colonel and his crew when they took their weapons.
“Where is Major Andersen?” Ben shouted. He looked around the room. No one would meet his eyes except the admiral, who stared defiantly now. Ben’s eyes landed on the sergeant who worked in the mess. He motioned with his head back behind him in the kitchen.
“E’Aria, if any of them move a muscle, shoot them. Shoot as many as you like if one of them moves,” he said. He walked behind the food tables and followed the sergeant to the cooler. He opened it.
She had been beaten, and her face was bruised and bloody. He picked her up gently and carried her. He sobbed and held her to him, kissing her face softly. He put his ear to her chest and heard her heart beat.
“Sarge,” he said, “can you get me some blankets?” He was gone a minute and back with three blankets. Ben wrapped her up. She still had her armor on and a thermal suit, so other than her head she was not freezing.
“Who did this, Sarge? Did you see which ones?” Ben asked.
“I saw the whole thing, sir. The one who you hit in the mouth, that major. He and the big sergeant out there held her while the colonel beat on her. The admiral stood there and kept asking her questions about who you are,” the sergeant said. “You’re Reaper, isn’t that right sir? They wanted to know who you are.”
“They’re about to find out, Sarge,” Ben said quietly. He carried Andrea out and E’Aria saw her and ran to her. “Who did this?” she asked.
“Call Ronnie and see if she can get free to come down here on the double,” Ben replied, standing and turning to the crowd.
“You! Sergeant and you!” he shouted. “Major Toothless, get your ass up off the floor. Colonel Stubby and Admiral No-Name. Let’s go, you’re under arrest for assault. You either come or I’ll shoot you right where you stand.” The four of them started moving slowly.
“Let’s go, pick up the pace,” he yelled. “Your fucking legs all work fine for the moment.” He kept insulting them as he herded them down the corridor. They were all so lost in thought they didn’t pay attention to where he took them until it was too late. He herded them right into the cargo bay, which was strangely quiet. He thought he was too late. But they started pushing back and he shoved them, stepped in and pulled the door shut behind him. They were looking at him like he was crazy, and he was. The rage inside had caused him to snap. He looked down at thousands of eyes staring up.
He saw the three mantis and said, “I brought you a snack for the road.” He laughed but it was off. One of them actually nodded. That wasn’t good. They really did understand. Good.
The major was the first to go over the edge. His screams didn’t last long. The sergeant took four punches to the face and was about to black out when he went over the edge. The admiral started begging and telling him how many people she knew and how rich he could be. She went out with one punch and he threw her as far as could. Something jumped and snagged her right out of the air. It seemed the colonel had lost control of his bodily functions, judging by the smell. Ben stood looking at him as he took his helmet off. He sat it down on the walk way and turned to look the man who had ruined his life in the eyes. The light went on after a fe
w seconds.
“You’re the Reaper?” Thomas gasped.
“No, dipshit, I just wear his armor,” Ben said. “Yes, I’m the Reaper. You are still stupid, and you smell like shit.”
“Maybe we can work out a deal,” Thomas said hurriedly. “I know who killed your family. It was no accident, that train wreck.”
“So you’re saying my family was murdered and you know something about it?” Ben said. “Does anyone else know anything about it?”
“Yes, there are a few who were involved that are still around,” Thomas answered, sounding relieved.
“Good, then I don’t need you,” Ben said. He hit Thomas so hard it broke his jaw. He hit him again and broke his cheek and eye socket. He beat his face to a black and blue bloody pulp. His teeth were mostly gone. One eye was closed, the other falling out of the socket.
Ben grabbed him, lifted him up over his head and threw him, almost going over the railing himself. One of the mantis flew up and picked him out of the air. It landed and the three ate Colonel Randolph Thomas. Ben stood and watched until the man had stopped screaming and thrashing. He turned and walked through the door to find E’Aria and Ronnie and Andrea. They were looking at his face.
“Oh shit, I forgot my helmet.” He opened the door and stepped through and picked it up. A mantis flew up from the floor and was three feet away. The women all took involuntary steps back. Reaper just stood looking at it.
Thank you for your parting gift, it thought. It is not often we get such a honor. We come and we feast but no one ever feeds us.
It was my pleasure, he thought, meaning every word.
That symbol on your chest is powerful.
It is the symbol of death, and I am its warrior.
That I believe, the mantis thought. The Allith said to watch for the warrior with that symbol. They said you would bring our deaths.
The Allith are a foolish race. They are not intelligent like you. I can bring peace as easily as I can bring death. It is what you come seeking that you get from the Reaper.
Speak to the Allond. They may be your enemy but they are honorable. They will tell you how we found peace instead of war and death. The Allith are fools and they know it is true also, the mantis told him. I believe you are correct, and now our queen will think on many things. She did not know your race had taken the path of the warrior. This has now been added to her knowledge. She has a millennia of knowledge that is passed from queen to queen that she uses to guide the hive. She shares that knowledge with only a trusted few. These drones you see here are a army of fodder to throw at our enemies.
It turned and flew out into space and the waiting ship. E’Aria just stood and stared at Ben. Andrea kept asking her what happened. Ben walked up picked her up in his arms and carried her. She laid her head against his shoulder and cried.
Chapter 29: Home
They got everyone off the ship and onto the Warhammer. The captains organized provisions and bedding. They would be fine until they joined up with the battle group in a couple of days. Ben carried Andrea onto the gunship and put her to bed. They caught up with the Claymore six hours later. He carried her into an empty room and put her back in bed. Ronnie had given them meds to help her heal and sleep.
E’Aria and her aunt found a quiet place to talk while she filled her in on what Ben had done with the Cjittan. The prime minister looked at Ben funnily for the rest of the trip. He was used to people looking at him with odd expressions. He wasn’t sure what she was thinking.
They met up with a Trillond Corvette, who took the prime minister and Mr. Antonio off their hands. Ben never did get to talk to his lawyer. The prime minister hugged him again and said she would be in touch.
E’Aria turned the Claymore towards Anubis and they were there two days later. During the two days, Ben had Nick find them a suitable property with enough hangar space to keep two of the four ships inside. The Claymore and the gunship would have the hangers unless the freighter or shuttle needed major work done. He didn’t want to draw any unwanted attention. He knew some would eventually come, but hopefully they would be ready for it. Nick paid cash and the previous owner was happy to give him the keys while the paperwork was being drawn up.
Nick and Val, Gus, Cindy and Jen, and the Vander Hoyts were all at the new property. They put the Claymore down right next to his and Nick’s freighter. He introduced everyone to Lorelei, Natalia and E’Aria. They already knew Andrea. The Claymore almost didn’t fit in the largest hangar. They did have enough room to get the two smaller ships in the other if they wanted to. His friends were all in awe of how he and his life had changed in a matter of months.
They went to Gus’s for dinner and some drinks. Natalia went to the Vander Hoyts for the night. It had been love at first sight.
He ate a double cheeseburger. Andrea wiped the grease off his chin and cheeks and took some of his fries while he was distracted. Jen and Lorelei hit it off. They were up dancing, having fun.
E’Aria sat quietly on one side of Ben. She looked the menu over and couldn’t find anything to eat. Gus had disappeared for about 20 minutes then was back and at the bar. A few minutes later, the cook brought out a beautiful salad. E’Aria eyes lit up as she tasted it. The cook was still standing watching her.
“This is very close to a salad we have on Trillond,” she commented. “The dressing is almost perfect.”
“We are going to be staying in quarters on either the shuttle or gunship for now,” Ben told E’Aria. “I will start looking for us a suitable place to live tomorrow. I’m going to take Andrea for a walk, and we will be back in a little while. Get to know Nick and Val; you will be working with them a lot.” She nodded.
She has things on her mind too. She is scared right now for you and retaliation by the Military. Her thoughts flowed so easily into his head; it was all very natural to him now.
I think there are a few things she doesn’t know. If it all goes sideways, though, what do you think about becoming a fugitive with me? Roaming the galaxy righting wrongs and all that? Ben asked.
I think my family will publicly disown me, she answered.
Yep, think about it. I’ll be back.
She could do nothing but shake her head
He grabbed Andrea’s hand. They moved through the tables and went out the front door. He didn’t say anything for the first few minutes.
“It’s a beautiful night,” he finally commented.
“It is,” she replied. “This planet has some beautiful weather.”
“I just needed some air and to hear the sounds of a peaceful night. It hasn’t been a very peaceful eight weeks.” He let go of her hand and put his arm around her. “You have been quiet since you woke up. I wanted us to have some privacy to talk.”
“Yes, I have been processing a lot about the last couple of days on the Warhammer and then the Morningstar,” she told him.
Ben looked around as she talked and thought they were in the right spot. He stopped walking. “You go first, then, and tell me what’s on your mind.”
“I’m sorry, Benjamin, sorry for every time I’ve been angry with you over your issues with authority,” she said. “They beat me, Ben, and they got a lot of good sailors and marines killed. They kept beating me and no one lifted a finger to try and make them stop. They just wanted to know your name. I decided they could kill me.”
“They were going to give you to the Cjittan to distract them,” he said. “I don’t know where they thought they would go, and they didn’t either because they put you in the cooler.”
She wrapped her arms around him and started crying. In between sobs she said, “You killed them, didn’t you? You took the four who were involved in hurting me and killed them.”
“They are heroes, Andrea. Their sacrifice may have stopped the Cjittan invasion. Even if it was unwilling, I was fair about it. I gave them each a few seconds to learn how to fly or for their god to grant them a miracle. Flying was too complicated, I guess, and their gods, whoever they are, must have b
een busy. The Cjittan were quite thankful and one told me so. It told me their Queen would think on all the facts before committing to a war.”
“E’Aria told me you killed a few of the Cjittan then faced three of them with no weapon.”
“Three of them tried to kill me and three of them didn’t,” he replied matter-of-factly, stroking her hair. “I have a reputation in the Galaxy, I found out. The Allith told the Cjittan that the one wearing the reaper on his chest was a bringer of death. I played that card with them, along with some gunslinger talk and they understood. My first question is simple. Are you staying here with me?
“Yes,” she said, drying her eyes. “I am transmitting my resignation tomorrow to General Grey.”
“Look around,” he said. “Does this spot look familiar?”
She looked around. “It looks different when you’re standing,” she said. She laughed figuring out what he was doing. “You brought me to the exact spot of our first kiss.”
“That first kiss started everything,” he said, “but this kiss is sealing the deal.”
The End
Epilogue
It has been two months since the Morningstar attack. Ben’s friends were settling into life on Anubis. They had not heard a word from any of their friends they had left behind. Andrea’s resignation was signed by the general and she received digital confirmation and documentation. Ben was hoping to hear from Emily. If they were still friends, he wanted her to do some off-the-record searches for him.
The Colonel’s last words were stuck in his head. Not just his family, but many other people were killed in the train wreck that took his family from him. He was surprised that Matt or Gunny or any of the misfits hadn’t tried to contact any of them.
E’Aria walked into the kitchen. She sat down at the table next to Ben. She poured herself a coffee. She was trying to develop a taste for it. Lots of sugar and cream was the only way she could drink it at the moment.
The Chronicles of Benjamin Jamison: Call Sign Reaper Page 36
