by REM
“He’s a bit older. Think by five years or so if I remember right. Hoss seems to like him.”
“Yeah, I was thinking that earlier, when I saw them talking.”
Josh caught a glimpse of a streaking star. He stared in the direction for a moment until hearing Maya say, “So, Joshua, what happened with you and Jill on Nystavia? You guys hit it off?”
Josh looked toward his dash. “Nothing happened between us, if that’s what you mean.”
“I don’t believe that. I know something happened. I’m going to find out one way or the other, Josh.”
“You do that, Maya.”
“I will. She invited me to dinner tonight. I think that should be a good time to find out the truth.”
Josh struggled to suppress his laugh.
“What? What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, Maya. Nothing at all.”
“I’ll find out something.”
Yeah, that it’s you she’s after, not me.
A series of loud beeps sounded from Josh’s dash. He peered at his radar. “Whoa! That’s five shadow fighters I’m picking up.” He heard a faint gasp from Maya over the transmission.
“That’s a large group for where we’re at, Josh.”
“Aye. I don’t normally see so many this far north.”
“Me neither. What do you want to do?”
Josh checked to make sure his and Maya’s patrol lights were on. “We’re still in neutral space; theoretically they shouldn’t attack.”
“There haven’t been any recent Creston-Mercen conflicts that I know of,” said Maya.
“Then we stay put, see what they do.”
“Talk about nerve-racking.”
“Yep. Never did like the idle out procedure, but in this case our only other options are to fight or run, neither of which are good.”
“Agreed. Idle out’s the best call.”
Josh kept his eyes locked on the radar, as the enemy fighters flew closer and closer.
“They’ve changed course; they’re heading straight at us,” Maya transmitted.
“Classic Mercen behavior. A bunch of tough guys when they have superior numbers.”
“You’re right. But just keep cool.”
“Screw that—I’m taking them!”
“Josh!”
Josh snickered over the channel. “Just messing with you, Maya. Trying to loosen up some of this nervousness.”
“Ha. Ha. Well, you didn’t do a good job,” said Maya, snarkily.
Josh peeked over to her cockpit, which was only about fifteen yards away, and saw what he believed to be a smile on her face. He smirked before looking back down at his dash.
“They just broke fifty miles,” Maya transmitted.
“Yep,” Josh responded, still looking down.
A moment passed before Josh transmitted, “Here they come.” He could sense Maya’s tenseness, even though she didn’t respond. The dots on his radar got to a point where they were almost right on top of theirs. To his front-right, Josh saw traces of the dark crafts. The enemy fighters looked as if they were sliding through space, slipping in and out of visibility.
Space rodents, thought Josh, his eyes fixed on the shadow fighters. The enemy ships cruised by slowly at about forty yards in front of the Creston pilots, as if asserting their dominance.
“Yeah, fuck you, snakes,” Josh muttered over the transmission. He watched them fly out of sight, then followed their dots on radar.
“They really showed us,” said Maya, showing a bit of her tough side, which Josh knew to come out every so often. He saw the Mercen dots picking up speed, till after a while, the shadow fighters zoomed off radar.
Not more than ten minutes passed—the Mercen craft showed up again. The shadow fighters approached from the same angle as before.
“Looks like they’re making another pass,” Maya transmitted.
“Figures. Why not since they have the upper hand. They’re trying to rattle us, make us do something stupid.”
“Think we should call for some C.C.?”
“Nah, that’d probably only escalate things.”
“Might save our lives though.”
“I highly doubt they’ll attack.”
“Me too. But you never know.”
Zoosh! The shadow fighters shot across in front of the void strikers at max speed.
Josh flinched in his cockpit. He couldn’t see it but Maya had done the same.
“That was really close, Josh!”
“Reckless sons of bitches.” They don’t want any of this! They’d better stop with the tough guy shit!
“Maybe we should move.”
“I’m not budging, Maya. They’re not running us off. We’ll look like a bunch of Creston cowards in their eyes. We’re idled out in neutral space. There’s no reason for us to move. Pretty sure Clint would say the same.”
“We’re not going to look like cowards flying away from a five-versus-two, Josh. It definitely wouldn’t go down in history as some historic battle the Mercens have to remember.”
“We’re fine. Trust me, Maya. We’re only sticking to protocol.”
Maya didn’t bother to argue.
They stayed put and watched the Mercens disappear off radar—only to reappear yet again some six minutes later. The shadow fighters cruised past the strikers from the rear.
“That’s it! I’m calling this in if you don’t,” Maya transmitted.
“Whatever. I still think they’re only fooling, but I’ll contact the others anyway.”
Josh joined his and Maya’s channel to the one Nate, Hoss and Jill were using. “Maya and I’ve got five shadows fighters on the far north perimeter. They’re buzzing by us at close range while we’re idled out. They just made their third go around. We’re expecting a fourth. Recommendations?”
“Have they made any threatening advances, other than the fly-bys?” Nate transmitted.
“Nope, just the fly-bys. But one was awfully close, and at damn near max speed,” Maya responded.
“Do you feel as if they’d attack?” asked Nate.
“Not really. Think they’re just trying to rattle our nerves. But as Maya pointed out, never know,” said Josh.
“We can come C.C. if you really need it, though that might only make matters worse, unless we call for more strikers from the Rampage,” Nate transmitted. “Might be better just to let them have their fun.”
“Try flying another route. Get some distance from them,” Hoss transmitted.
“Yeah,” Josh heard Jill say.
“That’s what I recommended, but of course Josh doesn’t like tucking his tail,” said Maya. “See, Josh, you should listen to big hunk… I mean Hoss.”
Hoss and Jill chuckled over the channel.
“Suck it up, Josh,” transmitted Nate. “You guys be cool. Don’t give them any reason to attack. I’m sure it’s just what they want. They’re probably even recording.”
“Fine. Guess we’ll just fly a route. No big deal,” said Josh.
“You two be careful. Maya, if those Mercen step out of line—channel us immediately. We’ll be over there faster than ever, my little cuddle baby,” Hoss transmitted.
“Whoa, easy on the battle zone PDA there, big guy,” Josh transmitted.
Jill and Maya snickered.
“I’m with Josh on that one,” said Nate.
“Yeah, yeah. You and Reena have done much worse,” Hoss responded.
“We’re over and out,” said Josh, switching back to a two-way channel with Maya. “We’ll head northwest for a stretch then hook south.”
“Sounds better than sitting around here,” Maya transmitted.
They flew off, side by side with Josh slightly ahead. He and Maya zipped through space for hundreds of miles. The beauty of this vast darkness, and bright, colorful planets just never gets old, thought Josh, peering out through his cockpit.
Beep, deet-deet.
Josh glanced at his dash and saw one—then two dots show on radar. Before long
that number changed to five.
“You think it’s the same shadow fighters?!” Maya transmitted.
“If not, there’s a hell of lot of Mercen activity in this area. That would be ten different shadow fighters in this sector within the last half hour.”
“True. It’s got to be the same ones. They’re max speed. Should we do the same, keep our distance?”
“Negative. They ran us from our previous location. They’re not going to run us out of the Void Zone. Think of the message it would send.”
“This is nerve-racking. We never know if we’re dealing with that one Mercen idiot who might actually shoot. Their actions have already been belligerent enough.”
Josh twisted his lips. “I don’t like this either, but we’ve got to stay firm. Just be ready in case they actually do try something stupid.”
They kept their strikers at the same pace.
The Mercens pulled within thirty miles and slowed.
“They’re trailing us—but not breaking thirty,” Maya transmitted.
“Aye. Been that way for the last three minutes. We’ll try heading west and see if they follow.” Josh cut left with Maya keeping at his wing. Both watched their radar carefully to see what the enemy craft would do.
“Ugh, here they come,” Maya transmitted.
Josh saw the white dots bending in their direction.
“They just broke thirty!” Maya transmitted.
Fuckin’ A, thought Josh.
“Josh… What are we going to do?”
“Don’t panic. We’ve still got plenty of distance. Let’s see what they do.” Josh felt a surge of nervousness swim through his gut. Takes a five-versus-two for you chickenshits to act hard!
The white dots got closer swiftly on radar.
Then, to Josh and Maya’s surprise, the shadow fighters kept at a distance of roughly fifteen miles.
“A bunch of wannabe clowns trying to pressure a ridiculous advantage. I’m starting to think I’d dust each and every last one of them,” Josh transmitted.
“Don’t jinx the situation,” Maya responded.
The tense pursuit went on for a spell—until the five shadow fighters pulled off in a different direction.
Chickenshits, Josh thought, seeing their departure.
“Tough line of work. But like you always say, it’s what we signed up for,” transmitted Maya.
“That’s right,” Josh responded.
“We’re not going to live long out here, are we?” said Maya.
Josh could tell she was probably smiling, and chuckled over the channel.
A short time later, they received a transmission from Nate: “Reservists will be taking over soon. Regroup. We’ll be meeting up with them for a Cosmolis run.”
“Copy that,” Josh and Maya responded.
They met up with Nate, Hoss, and Jill, and flew for about two miles into the Cosmolis.
“Cut your thrust,” Nate transmitted. “We’ll wait here for the reservists.”
“Anyone else picking up a weird speck on radar?” Maya transmitted.
“I thought that was just a glitch on my screen,” Jill responded.
Josh heard Nate say, “Hmm,” while he was looking at his own dashboard, thinking, Yeah, what the hell is that?
“It’s not far. We should check it out,” said Hoss.
“Okay,” Nate transmitted, leading the squadron southwest for about half a mile.
They stopped their strikers at what looked like a giant floating disco ball.
“What heck is that thing?” asked Maya.
There was a moment of silence, during which time Josh scrunched his eyes and adjusted his neck, trying to make out what the object could be. He shook his head.
“Maybe it’s just junk,” said Nate.
“Or cargo that got detached from a ship,” transmitted Jill.
“Definitely odd,” said Hoss.
Beep, beep, dee, deet, deet.
Josh shifted his gaze to his radar. Five shadow fighters… Again? Can’t be the same ones.
“That’s five shadow fighters on radar,” Hoss transmitted.
The enemy craft were moving at near max speed.
“What’s the call?” asked Maya.
“If it’s the same Mercens who were harassing us earlier, we should just dust their asses,” Josh responded.
Hoss chuckled and said, “I’m up for that.”
“Five versus five; at least it’s fair now,” transmitted Maya.
“We’ll hang tight, see what they do. Battle spread formation, but stay idled. Patrol lights on,” Nate transmitted.
The pilots fanned out into position.
“They broke fifty,” Maya transmitted. A moment later: “They’re at thirty miles— but just slowed down.”
Josh saw the dots on his radar change into more of a cruising speed than a blitz.
“It might actually be the same shadow fighters Josh and Maya ran into,” Nate transmitted. “Doesn’t seem like they’ve come to attack.”
“It’d be quite the surprise if they grew a pair and tried fooling with a group of equal numbers,” Josh transmitted.
“This is the Cosmolis, not the northern or southern Void Zone. Slow or not, if they get much closer—you know we’re going to have to engage, Nate,” said Hoss.
“I know. We’ll give them until twenty miles. Get ready, guys,” Nate responded.
“Why don’t these jackass Mercens ever mind their own business!” Jill transmitted, sounding a bit frantic. Her nerves were obviously shaken by the prospect of a sudden fight. “Even numbers or not, we risk losing one of us!”
“Not with me here, Jill. Just fly defensively; give me time to pick them off,” said Josh. He watched the enemy dots on his screen make it to within twenty miles—then saw their speed increase dramatically.
“They’re coming in at max speed!” Hoss blurted.
Shwoo! There was a loud blast. Lasers flashed out from the floating sphere Josh and the others had been inspecting, like strobe lights at a concert.
A beam exploded against Josh’s striker, shattering his shield. One of the shots struck Maya’s ship too. Nate, Hoss, and Jill were lucky not to get hit. “Shield down!” Josh transmitted, his adrenaline rushing.
“Mine too!” said Maya.
Before anyone could fully react—alarms went off in Josh’s cockpit. Incoming projectiles… He saw specks of clustered flames growing larger as they closed in on him and his squadron.
“Missiles!” Nate barked.
Josh slammed a hand to his mini-missile counter button. His fellow pilots did the same.
Boom! Boom! Small explosions ripped through space in front of them—followed by a few booming clap sounds. Three clear, pancake-shaped blasts flashed out at different degrees, each covering about a quarter mile of space.
Josh felt the force of the middle blast crash over his striker. It knocked all power from his systems, except for his transmitter, and sent his ship flipping rearward fifty-odd yards till leveling out into a slight drift.
Maya suffered a similar blow.
The circuits throughout Josh’s cockpit sizzled as though they were frying. Not this shit again! They keep finding new ways to get me those shockwaves. “My entire system is out!” Josh transmitted.
“Mine too!” said Maya.
Josh peered to where she was drifting at his far left.
“Bloody hell!” Nate transmitted. “Spread out! Try to protect Maya and Josh!”
Josh’s radar was disabled, but he knew the Mercen craft had to be upon them. He watched Jill’s striker blaze out to a near quarter mile in front of his. Hoss did the same ahead of Maya’s striker. Nate soared at middle. Josh’s blood was pulsing hard. We’re sitting ducks, he thought, taking another glance over at Maya. Three versus five—I don’t know if we can win. Damnit, if only it were Kyle or Ace instead of Jill.
Josh saw hints of the dark craft cutting through space—and his crewmates soaring and circling their strikers in counter. It took
mere seconds before ships were slashing and hooking every which way. Lasers flashed out in all directions.
There was a burst of blue light, as a Mercen shield dispersed upon being struck by dual beams from Nate’s striker. Yes! thought Josh, seeing another bright flickering of light. A second shadow fighter’s defenses had been broken by Hoss. That’s it, boys! Get ’em!
The fighting remained muddled. Ships hooked and weaved desperately for position.
Watch out, Nate! thought Josh, seeing two shadow fighters double up on Nate, hooking at him from different angles.
Lasers flashed out from an enemy cannon and exploded against Nate’s striker. His shield broke instantly. Josh snapped his head from the sight, expecting the worst. When he turned back toward the fight, Nate’s ship was still in one piece, snaking and weaving to avoid being hit. Holy hell! Hang in there, Nate!
Thoot! Thoot! Lasers whizzed past Josh’s cockpit—and then again as he ducked to the side with his hands over his head. He felt as if his surging adrenaline were going to leak from his skin. Josh took heavy breaths, his eyes wide. I thought that was it… Thought that was the end! He let out heavily through his nostrils and stared back up at the fight. He jerked his neck in the direction of Maya’s striker, at hearing her voice cut in and out saying: “Hoss, one’s coming…”
Searing beams shot right above her wing. A second round grazed the top of her craft.
Josh flicked his wide eyes to where Hoss fired on the shadow fighter that’d been assaulting Maya. The big man forced it to veer off her course with another blast.
“Fucking snake!” said Hoss, his voice roaring over the transmission.
Maya… thought Josh, before looking over to where Jill had given up her rear to one of two shadow fighters riding her tail. He knew the fighter must have a target lock on her. Thoot! Lasers flashed out from the enemy craft.
No…
Beams thrashed into Jill’s striker, disintegrating her shield, and causing her ship to shake violently. A trail of smoke fumed from atop her striker’s rear fuselage, as well as a few cracks of electricity. “Lost radar! My targeting system’s a mess,” Jill transmitted.
“Come on! Work!” Josh muttered, clenching his fists and banging one against the dash. He knew Jill was lucky to have survived the last hit and was certain she couldn’t hold out against two shadow fighters for long. She falls, and there’s no way Hoss and Nate will survive. We’re all dead! “Fight hard, Jill! Don’t give up!”
