by REM
“An ex-boyfriend?”
She smiled, shaking her head. “No, just a really nice guy I’ve known for most of my life.”
“Ah.” Josh waited a moment and said, “You remind me of a sweet little secretary.”
“A sweet little secretary?” Jill replied, laughing.
“I know, that sounds weird.”
Jill nodded.
A server walked up and sat a couple of huge mugs onto the table, along with soft pretzel bites, and mustard dip. “Two Apocalypses, and an order of pretzies,” said the guy, smiling, then walking away.
Josh scrunched up his face while widening his eyes, as if to say, “What in the fuck?” Last time a huge drink called a Thor, this time an Apocalypse? He smiled faintly. She drinks like a damn man.
Jill grabbed one of the mugs and took a deep chug.
“You certainly do pick some strong, manly drinks. You sure you’re not packing a penis under there?”
Jill spit out what alcohol was in her mouth and burst into laughter.
Josh chuckled, before taking a sip from his glass.
“No, Josh. I’m not packing one of those,” she said, wiping at her mouth with a napkin, trying to keep from laughing further.
“Okay, just thought I’d check.”
“For heaven’s sakes.” Jill grabbed a pretzel bite and dunked it into the mustard. She was used to hanging around male pilots and didn’t take any offense to the remark. “So, tell me, Josh, what made you sign up for Space League and submit yourself to the rigmarole of Creston-Mercen conflict?”
“Truthfully?”
“Truthfully.”
“I wanted to be the best pilot there is… and I feel like I’m right on track.”
“Competition’s really stiff out here. There’s a lot of great pilots on this ship, not to mention the Mercens.”
“Yes. And I’m doing everything I can to take what makes them great, and incorporate those qualities into my skillset. I’m essentially feeding off of my peers, getting better with each passing day.”
Jill reached for another pretzel.
Josh did too when she was withdrawing.
Jill shook her head while chewing and said, “I admire your determination.”
“Thank you.”
“With the constant tension surrounding the Void Zone, I’d say it doesn’t always matter how good a pilot someone becomes in the long run. It’s only a matter of time before a front line pilot’s number’s up—unless you’re both good and lucky.”
“That may or may not be true, but either way, somebody’s got to do it.”
She nodded.
Josh drank from his mug to try and keep pace with Jill. I’m just going to ask her, he thought. “So do you have anyone waiting for you back home?”
“Nope. I’m single as could be.” She ran a hand through her hair. “But before you take that thought any further, hot shot, I think there’s something you should know.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
Jill gave a cheeky grin. “I’m into women.”
“No way.”
“All the way.”
Josh looked her over as if searching for clues he might have missed.
“I hope I didn’t mislead you by asking you to have a drink with me earlier.”
He smirked. “You did, but it doesn’t matter much. I’m sure you’re going to make a great friend either way. I’m just going to be a horny ship dweller.”
“Maybe we can share Maya.”
Josh’s grin widened. “Not unless we can jump Hoss.”
“Good point.”
“She’s a good friend of mine. I could honestly never look at her in that way.”
“She’s a cutie.”
The pair continued their conversation until each had finished their drinks. Then they moseyed down to the third unit to turn it in for the night.
Early the next morning, the 3rd squadron flew out from the north flight deck. “You boys be careful over there,” Ace transmitted.
“Roger that,” Hoss responded, breaking off northwest. Josh and Tor followed at his wings. They’d been assigned to patrol the secret route the Mercens had used to sneak into Creston space, since the Creston cruiser was covering the southern Void. Ace and the others were sent to monitor the north. Rolly had made it clear there would be no entering the Cosmolis.
“Think we’ll find anything?” Tor transmitted, over their three-man channel.
“Not after the whooping we laid down on their base yesterday,” Hoss transmitted.
“I doubt it,” said Josh. “Without their terra-cannon, or a massive fleet, I just don’t see the point of them trying to enter Creston space.”
“You never know. They could try to hit Creston with a lesser, but still highly destructive blast like they did Talee,” said Tor.
True, thought Josh. “But they’d have a hard time breaching our defenses now that we’ve discovered their route, and base.” Or at least I hope.
“We are spread thin because of the Hard Line build-up,” Hoss transmitted.
“Yeah… and I guess they could also have another secret route,” Josh responded.
The pilots blazed through space, till they arrived at the co-ordinates Commander Clint had passed on to Captain Scope the night prior.
“We splitting up or staying grouped?” Josh transmitted.
“Let’s stick together,” said Hoss.
They flew east for well over a thousand miles, eventually hooking back west. They made this lap twice. Once reaching Commander Clint’s co-ordinates for a third time, Hoss transmitted, “Shall we idle out here for a bit?”
“Aye,” Josh responded.
“The Mercens aren’t crazy enough to try traveling this route again so soon. We should definitely just kick back around here,” said Tor.
“All right then,” Hoss transmitted, gliding his ship to a stop and rotating toward the east.
Josh and Tor did the same.
“I just had a new stack of muscle magazines arrive from the transporter shipment last night. This is the perfect occasion for me to get caught up,” Hoss transmitted.
Josh could hear the glossy paper crinkle over the transmission. He said, “Crap, I forgot to bring something. Guess there’s always music.”
“Portable movie player is the way to go,” said Tor. “Valiant Wings, remember that one, Josh?”
“I do,” said Josh, looking at Tor setting up the device in his cockpit. He chatted with his crewmates for a bit, until their attentions had been fully drawn to their entertainment. At that point, Josh leaned back and closed his eyes. The battle for the terra-cannon played in his head. Then the flight mission that took place the night before it.
Josh let his mind drift for quite some time. After envisioning the moment when Ven’s striker blew up—Josh opened his eyes. He glanced in his crewmate’s directions and saw that Hoss was still reading his magazines and Tor was still watching a movie. He tapped his transmitter. “Hey, guys, perhaps we should patrol deeper into Creston territory, maybe even check out the liquid planet.”
“That’s a waste of time, Josh. We’re comfortable here. Why would you want to do that?” said Tor.
“I don’t think anyone’s checked the base since we hit it. And come to think of it, we didn’t even bother to search inside,” Josh responded.
Hoss had lowered his magazine and was listening attentively.
“What do you think could honestly be on that base? Its sole purpose was to host the terra-cannon, along with enemy fighters,” said Tor.
“We don’t know that,” said Josh. “They might’ve had other uses for the base. There could be Mercens on it right now.”
Hoss had furrowed his brows. “That’s actually not a bad idea,” said the big man. “I’d be interested in going there. It falls in line with our current assignment. Tor, are you for it?”
Josh stared over at his old training buddy’s cockpit.
“Sure, amigo. If it’ll make you fellas happy.”
Tor the team player, thought Josh, smirking. “Tor would never skip out on his Space League comrade.”
“I was only being polite. It’s not like he had a choice,” said Hoss, chuckling over the channel. He lit his thrusters, soared up, and hooked west.
Josh and Tor were right behind him.
“I’m kind of curious to see what the Mercens have on that station,” Hoss transmitted.
“They wouldn’t keep anything of high value on a base that could be compromised so easily in enemy territory,” said Tor.
“Never know,” Josh transmitted. “Might be some left over terra-fume, or maybe some new tech lying around. Possibly even their attack plans, or alternate flight routes. Our assault was sudden and unexpected.”
“We’ll see,” said Hoss.
“Last thing I want to find is terra-fume. I have no desire to be eaten live by a toxic cloud of microscopic terra-mites.” Tor muttered.
They zoomed through space for thousands of miles.
When coming up on the liquid planet, Josh transmitted, “There she be.”
“Keep alert,” Hoss responded. “They could have a salvaging crew already on the planet.”
“Or an active surface-to-air cannon," Tor transmitted.
“Tomlin and I knocked down any remaining ground defenses they had,” Josh transmitted.
“There could be reserve cannons that weren’t visible at the time. Keep cautious,” said Hoss.
“Roger that,” Josh responded.
Their three-man team buzzed into the liquid planet’s atmosphere, watching tensely for laser fire. The base was mangled, half turned to slag by the previous attack, remnants of its former structure remaining. They coasted onto its damaged landing platform, then hurried down from their strikers drawing their blasters. Hoss took the lead.
“The majority of this base is underwater. They only used the surface for defense cannons and fighter landing,” said Hoss.
The three pilots scampered across the deck toward the central part of the base.
“There’s an opening on the right side,” said Tor, pointing to a flat, one-story structural segment.
Josh kept scanning for any signs of hostiles.
They reached the entrance and crept inside of a small room that’s roof had been partially desecrated. Jagged metal was sticking out as well as hanging inward. There was a narrow ramp leading down into the core of the base. Josh could see a scant amount of green light from below.
“Let’s investigate,” said Hoss, placing a foot onto the ramp and stepping slowly. Josh and Tor were about a foot back, but right at his sides. They moved down the ramp—then stopped abruptly at sound of a faint clink.
“You hear that?” Tor whispered.
Hoss nodded.
“Yeah, I think something might be down here,” Josh whispered, staring into the dimly lit area below.
Upon reaching the bottom of the ramp, he scanned around at the circular computer room, which extended into another rectangular room that had large pillars obscuring its view. There were also two corridors connected to the round area, one to the front left, the other to the front right.
“I can’t see what’s at the far end,” whispered Hoss, moving his neck to try and get a glimpse behind the pillars.
“I’m getting a bad feeling about this,” said Tor.
Josh almost wanted to laugh at seeing the wide-eyed expression on his buddy’s face, but the situation was too serious. “I think we’re walking into a trap,” he whispered. “Anyone here would’ve heard us land.”
Hoss lowered his brows and turned toward the far end.
There was a faint shoof, shoof, like the sound of sliding feet.
Josh snapped his head toward the corridor on the left.
Thoot! A laser flashed out from the far end of the rectangular section and flew between the pilots—only about an inch from Josh’s waist. They scattered to the floor. Follow-up shots whisked in their direction. Josh even saw one flash out from the corridor on the left where he’d heard sliding feet. Fuck, that was close! I don’t even have a mitigating vest this time!
Hoss and Tor fired back from behind a computer station. Josh was isolated to the left of them, crouched behind a section of thick metal. He waited until his crewmates had let off another round, then popped up and fired at the Mercen down the left corridor.
“I can’t tell how many we’re dealing with!” said Hoss.
Josh eyed the multiple beams exploding against the computer station and wall. “At least one down the left corridor and three at the far end pillars!” he said. He waited for Hoss and Tor to start firing again, to send more shots zipping down the left corridor, and a few more toward the pillars.
“This is going to be a rough fight. Maybe we should pull out,” Tor shouted, as sparks burst around where he and Hoss were hiding.
Hoss looked as though he was thinking. He gripped the handle of his pistol tight with both hands. “Creston could be at stake. We’ve got to see this through! Watch your asses!” Hoss slid up and fired two shots.
Josh could feel the big man’s intensity. He’s right, he thought, sticking out his neck and shooting some more. These filthy snakes are always popping up, like freaking parasites!
Thoot, thoot, thoot! Thoot! Thoot! Thoot, thoot! Lasers flashed back and forth between the Mercen soldiers and Creston pilots. Josh sprung up and squeezed off multiple beams down the left corridor.
“Aaaiiieee!” a Mercen cried out from inside the hall.
“It’s wounded! I’m going to finish it off!” said Josh.
“No! Wait!” said Hoss, ducking down after firing.
It was too late. Josh had darted for the left corridor. He kept crouched close to a side wall with his weapon aimed, waiting for the hurt Mercen to try and make a move. Looked like I blew off his right hand. Josh could see where the corridor ended about thirty yards down. There didn’t appear to be much, aside from rows of loaded shelves along each side of the walkway. It reminded him of moving through a Creston library. Where you hiding, you little shit? Have to be careful he doesn’t shoot me through a crack or something.
Josh kept as low and quiet as he could manage. It took him only a second more to notice the damaged blaster lying on the floor. He’s got to be right around here. Just as Josh stepped in front of an aisle on the right—the Mercen lunged forward and batted the pistol from his fist. It thrust a hand to Josh’s neck and drove him back almost ten yards against the nearest wall.
“Uuh!” Josh let out. His head thumped back into the metal. He swung his right elbow across the Mercen’s face, forcing it to stagger rearward a few steps. Only then did he see the full extent of the Mercen’s missing hand. Purple fluid leaked all over its torn up wrist.
The creature swung a backhanded left that drove Josh to the tips of his toes and had him plopping back against the wall like a rag doll. Josh watched the Mercen rush forward, and sidestepped out of the way. The Mercen crashed against the wall and snapped in Josh’s direction. It charged him, taking a stiff left to the face. Josh tried following that punch up with a crossing right, but the Mercen batted his fist and kicked him away to the floor.
Josh scrambled to his feet only to have the Mercen grab his neck and throw him to the right. Josh tumbled to the floor. Thanks, you dumb shit! he thought, reaching to where his gun had landed, then squeezing off two shots into the Mercen’s chest. As it staggered back, he fired one more that tore through the side of its head.
Josh pushed up to a knee—and after that to standing, his pistol still aimed at the Mercen’s corpse. Only good Mercen’s a dead Mercen, he thought, feeling uncertain on whether that was actually true.
He stared at it for another second or two and then hustled toward the end of the corridor, while trying to gauge if there was anything of Creston value along the way. Nothing of any real importance, as far as I can tell, he thought, upon making it to as far as he could go. Got to get back to Hoss and Tor.
Josh rushed through the corridor and out int
o the circular computer room. Hoss and Tor had pushed their way just about to the pillars. They twisted toward Josh with their guns aimed.
“It’s me! It’s me!” said Josh, holding up his hands. “I took care of the Mercen down the corridor.”
“We got the ones out here,” said Tor.
“There were two,” said Hoss.
Tor and Hoss turned back around to continue into the section of pillars.
Josh eyed what looked to be some sort of computer tablet. It was lying on a flat at one of the computer stations. He strode over and picked up the device. This could be holding some sort of intel, he thought, remembering the smaller but similar item that had been recovered by Bor and Scope on the Neton moon. Let’s hope so, he thought, still staring at it.
“Look out!” Hoss shouted.
Josh turned toward the far end of the room. A Mercen barreled out from behind a pillar and thrust an object into Tor’s stomach. Then it swiped the gun from Hoss’ grasp. Josh couldn’t believe his eyes when hearing his old buddy cry out and double over to the floor.
Aaaah! Josh fired two shots that sent internal fluids flying out from the Mercen’s skull. He dropped the tablet onto the flat, and ran over to where Tor was curled on the floor with both hands on his midsection. Hoss had already kneeled down to his side. “Tor, shit! How bad is it?!” said Josh. He saw the thin pipe lodged inside of his friend’s stomach.
“Don’t pull it out! Leave it in!” said Hoss.
“I know, I know,” Josh responded.
Tor was grimacing tight, and squirmed at the slightest touching of the stake.
“I don’t think it hit anything major!” said Josh.
“We need to get him up to the strikers. I have a first aid kit in my cockpit,” said Hoss.
“Under his shoulders isn’t going to work. He needs to keep his hands to the wound,” said Josh.
“Just help me lift him. I’ll carry him out myself once he’s in my arms.”
“Okay.” Josh tucked his pistol into his thigh holster and slid his arms under Tor’s body to help Hoss get him up.
Hoss ran for the ramp just as soon as he was standing.
