by REM
“We fire another round and take off,” said Josh.
“Okay,” Searcher One responded.
“Now!” said Josh.
Both stepped out from behind the tree and let loose some rounds. Then they turned and ran their asses off.
Thfft! Thfft! Thfft! Arrows kept flying in their direction, some wide, others dangerously close. Josh was praying he didn’t get hit. He and Searcher One were running so fast they had little trouble catching up to Skirm and the Bodens.
Josh couldn’t believe his eyes when looking to his right and seeing a Bigfoot moving at the same pace about fifteen yards away, while staring at him with big round eyes. It was obvious the creature must’ve been stalking them for some time. Josh reached for his blaster, raised it right, and fired two shots. Both missed. He fired a third.
“Ruuuuuh!” the Bigfoot cried out, after being struck in its quad. It swung its arms wildly above its head and veered off out of sight.
Bloody hell, thought Josh. Heavy breaths, legs pushing through brush, and arrows flying were all he could hear—until finally, the shooting stopped.
Josh and the team kept running as hard as their tired bodies could muster, till they busted through a wall of tall plants and vines, and saw a small shuttle in an almost equal-sized clearing.
They halted. Josh was as shocked as the rest.
“It’s a transporter,” said Tich.
“And not one of ours,” said Skirm.
Josh inspected the surrounding jungle. “This clearing seems specially crafted, just for this ship,” he said.
Searcher One appeared to be weighing Josh’s opinion.
Skirm turned to Tach and said, “How bad are you hit?!”
“Straight through my shoulder. No arrowhead, just a sharp tip. Didn’t hit anything major.”
Skirm rummaged through a small sack he’d brought slung over his shoulder and across his body. “I can seal the bleeding with medi-foam, and we can pull it out later. Okay?”
“That’s fine,” said Tach.
Josh felt as if he’d seen the transporter before. It took him a moment until—Neton moon, he thought. “This is a Notle shuttle. I’m almost certain of it,” he said.
“I’ve never even seen a Notle on Skurier,” said Tich.
Skirm was tending to Tach, but said, “I’m surprised Pax and I never detected it. We run a program that alerts us of all aerial activity on the planet. That way if one of us is not watching the radar live, we can review the reporting at the end of the day.”
“We should maybe have a look inside,” said Searcher One, trying to see into one the transport windows.
“For us to break into it and search it would take too much time,” said Skirm. “Better if I just send a crew out tomorrow with a transport-hauler to fly this thing to our facility. Then we could do a thorough investigation of the craft, maybe even a registration trace.”
Searcher One looked up at the sky, then nodded.
“I bet this thing could travel low to the ground at night and not be detected,” said Tich.
Josh glanced at Tich and was surprised to see the Boden had managed to grab and carry both detection devices. “If my hunch is right, this craft belongs to Notles who are aligned with the Mercen world, and may even be used by Mercens, not Notles,” said Josh. “We might not have found any missile launchers or silos, but this shuttle find is disturbing. It lets us know that undetected Mercen activity on Skurier is definitely possible.”
There was a moment of silence amongst the group.
“C’mon. We need to get moving,” said Skirm.
Josh and the others followed Skirm’s lead.
Hours later they arrived back at their transporter on the western edge of the eastern jungle. They flew off to Pax’s facility.
Chapter 9
Day four. Josh awoke to a knocking at his door. He cracked his groggy eyes, already knowing who it could be. Just like old times, he thought, getting up and marching over to open the door. Just as he’d expected, Skirm was standing with a tray of food in hand. The first few days on Skurier, Josh and the searchers had been instructed to the cafeteria instead. Josh figured the room service probably had something to do with the deaths of Searchers Two and Three.
“Brought you breakfast, how Comm and I used to do before. Thought it’d be best since Searcher One informed us he’d be eating in his room.”
Josh felt a bout of sorrow at the thought of Searcher One. “Thanks,” he replied.
Skirm nodded.
“Say, what were those creatures shooting arrows at us yesterday? They looked like some variant of Hemlin.”
“That’s exactly what they are,” said Skirm. “We call them Red-eyed Hemlins. They have upper bodies similar to a human’s, where normal Hemlins only have our heads. Until last night, we’d thought them extinct.”
Josh was partially in thought when asking, “Why did they attack us?”
“Eh, most likely because we were trespassing on their land. But who knows? They’re known to be far more aggressive than normal Hemlins.” Skirm handed Josh the tray. “Don’t want this to get cold.”
“Yeah,” said Josh, looking down at the covered plate and wondering what was inside. He knew the meals were sometimes much different than the food he was accustomed to eating on the M.N. Rampage. Hope it’s nothing weird for today, he thought.
“I’ll see you a little later,” said Skirm, turning to go.
“All right.” Josh closed the door and brought his food over to a small table that was just big enough for his tray. He started to sit—but stopped midway. I should maybe check with Searcher One first, see how he’s holding up after losing his friends, and what our plans are for today.
Josh exited his room and walked two doors down on his left to where Searcher One was staying. He gave the door a solid knock and waited for it to be answered. After getting no reply, he knocked on it again.
“Come in,” said Searcher One, in a low, lifeless-sounding tone.
Josh opened the door and saw Searcher One sitting at a small dresser, eating his food with his head down. He walked to within a few feet from the searcher, closing the door behind him. “Morning.”
Searcher One bobbed his head a bit, not even looking in Josh’s direction.
“I’m really sorry about your friends… I came to see how you were holding up.”
Searcher One paused for a moment, almost looking in Josh’s direction, but not. “I’ll be fine,” he said, drearily, then reached down to slice a piece of food and fork it into his mouth.
Josh thought Searcher One seemed partly okay, but extremely depressed with his lazy mannerism and hunched shoulders. There was a suicidal vibe in the air. “What will we do now?” he asked.
“We finish our job—that’s what we do. Jim and Bobby’s deaths won’t be for nothing. Their lives were for the sake of Creston. That’s why they died… that’s why we might die.”
Josh could feel the searcher’s pain deep in his own chest. “The eastern jungle shouldn’t be nearly as dangerous as the far eastern jungle. Skirm has a fear-whistle that most of the creatures there have been trained to fear.”
Searcher One nodded slowly. “We leave at O-six-hundred hours.” His eyes never left his plate.
“Okay.” Josh placed a hand on the searcher’s shoulder.
Searcher One turned his head slightly toward Josh, but never looked at him.
Josh’s empathetic gesture was brief. He turned and walked out of the room, back to his own. He ate his meal, which reminded him of tapioca pudding with scrambled eggs, and had just enough time to get dressed before meeting up in the front courtyard with the others. Josh felt honored in seeing that Tich would be coming along, in spite of his brother being hit by an arrow the day prior.
Their exploration of the eastern jungle took up more than half the day, but left time for the group to re-search a small region to the south, and still make it back to Pax’s facility with waning daylight to spare. When flying in for a landing,
Josh saw where a missile defense launcher had arrived and been set up along the south side of the factory. A Creston crewman had been ordered to stay at the facility for as long as the equipment remained on Skurier.
Josh walked down from their transporter with Searcher One, Skirm and Tich by his side. They stopped in the courtyard, where Josh offered Tich his hand and said, “Thank you for coming. You’re a good Boden.”
Skirm seemed pleased by the gesture, and Searcher One offered his hand too.
“Skirm,” said Josh, twisting toward him and placing a hand on his shoulder while shaking his hand.
“Any time,” said Skirm. “You’re as much of a friend as anyone else I know.”
Josh smiled.
After all of the pleasant exchanges, Josh walked with Searcher One to the dormitory and up the stairs to the hall where they were staying. “We depart at noon tomorrow. A fleet from the southern cruiser will be hovering the planet to escort us home,” said Searcher One.
“Got it,” said Josh. “I wonder what this will mean, not finding any nuclear weaponry. Was our intel faulty? Were the Mercens bluffing? Or what if we just missed finding it somehow?”
“We searched all of the most likely spots,” said Searcher One, with his customary seriousness. “For all we know the Mercen deterrent could be terra-fume instead. Our two detection devices would’ve picked that up too if we came across any, but that agent could be concealed far easily than a missile delivery system. I think there’s a good chance Commander Clint will send a second search team to Skurier. In fact, I’m going to recommend it personally when I debrief.”
Can never be too careful, thought Josh. He nodded. “That’s probably a good idea.”
“I’m going to take a shower and have dinner.”
“All right, man. I’ll see you for departure.”
Searcher One turned for his room with his head down. It was the first time Josh had seen the searcher appear sorrowed since he’d spoken with him at breakfast.
Josh went into his room, unzipped his jacket, and tossed it on to the bed. Hell of a week, he thought, letting his eyes drift around the room, till stopping at the light coming from his window. He walked over to it and gazed outside. Strange black birds with fat beaks and wide tails flapped from the courtyard. Clouds of dirt blew up from the ground from gusts of wind.
Josh stared at the rocky cliffs, then to the dry flatlands atop the canyon. His gaze shifted from near to far, settling on what appeared to be a humanoid, possibly human, who was staring in his direction with what looked to be binoculars. Josh squinted, trying to get a better look, but whoever it was at least a quarter mile away. Maybe someone from the northwest town? he thought, wondering if what he was seeing was even real. His curiosity bubbled to a point where he just had to know.
Josh turned from the window and hustled over to his luggage. He unzipped the suitcase and rummaged through its contents for a small pair of binoculars he’d been given by Searcher One on day two of their mission. Where the heck is it? he thought, stopping for a second. Oh yeah. Josh walked to a sole dresser and picked the binoculars up off its surface. He hurried back over to the window and held them to his eyes.
Where the hell did he go? thought Josh, looking to where he’d seen the figure, then scanning for possible travel routes. I don’t see where he could’ve gone… It took nearly a minute of hard gazing before Josh finally gave up. Oh well. He glanced at his watch. About time to meet up with Pax in the sim room. I’d better get going.
Pax was waiting at one of the simulators when Josh arrived. “There you are,” he said.
“Sorry I’m late. Thanks for doing this.”
“Uh-huh.”
Josh smirked. “So is this trick as good as the danger flip?”
Pax shrugged. “Depends on the situation.”
“Is it dangerous?”
“Yes. Another desperado, last resort type of maneuver.”
“No tricks for when things are level and both pilots are jockeying for the advantage, eh?”
“No. My tricks are meant to save your ass when you need it the most. The element of surprise is greater when you’re at a disadvantage.”
“Okay, let’s see what you got,” said Josh, sitting down to a simulator. A map popped up on his screen showing open space. Open space, huh? he thought.
“Nothing fancy, just a straightforward display. I’m going to give you my rear at about a quarter klick. Take me out!”
“Certainly.” Josh adjusted himself comfortably in his seat. When the sim started he flew his module out from a hangar and picked up Pax’s craft immediately on radar. It was idled out roughly three miles away. Josh headed straight for him. Once he was within a quarter klick, Pax’s craft turned and shot off in the opposite direction.
Josh chuckled a bit inside. Let’s see what this old timer’s got for me now. I’m ready for anything. He accelerated his module to max speed and began gaining on Pax’s craft at an extremely gradual pace. “Whatever it is you’re going to show me, Pax, you better do it soon or you’re going to be toast.” Josh couldn’t hold back a smirk while dancing his targeting circle around Pax’s vessel, trying to line up a shot. If he’s not going to danger flip, I don’t know what he thinks is going to work on me. I hope I don’t embarrass the old chap.
He watched Pax’s craft roll twice—hard right.
Josh cut after it. Solid move, but this ain’t Space League.
Pax’s craft rolled hard right twice for a second time.
Josh made another sharp veer, keeping on its trail. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a wee bit disappointed, he thought, working his control stick harder to line up a shot. His targeting circle was just about in place.
Pax rolled hard right.
Josh was ready for it, and curved his module without missing a beat. He knew the second roll was coming and squeezed his trigger with his ship swerving at the proper angle.
Pax cut left instead of going into a second roll. He made a short and swift 180—launching missiles at Josh’s craft.
Shit! thought Josh, jerking in his seat in order to slap a hand down on his mini-missile button—but seeing twin flickers simultaneously from Pax’s craft. A buzzer went off from his simulator, with flashing orange light signaling he’d been hit.
Josh was stunned, something he was getting more and more used to feeling in deep space. Holy potatoes, he thought. That was fuckin’ dirty…
“Overconfidence in having the superior positioning is what makes this maneuver work. You probably thought you knew my every move, or that I was the weaker pilot because I was depending on standard rolls. Then comes my sudden thrust—missiles to shake you up, lasers to shut you down,” said Pax.
Josh shook his head, and grinned. Brilliant. “I’m not going to lie, that was pretty sexy, Pax. What the heck do you call that?”
“The triple cross maneuver. Third cut’s a doozy.”
Josh chuckled and saw Pax’s coy smile when the older man stood from his simulator. “That’s it? You don’t want to go some more?”
“It’s like I told you before, kid. Dueling a pilot as talented as you, I’ll lose every time once the tricks run out.”
Josh felt humbled by the compliment.
“Plus, I’ve got something else I want to show you. Come with me.”
“Sure,” said Josh, already wondering what it could be. “What is it?”
“I’d like you to see for yourself before I tell you.”
“All right.”
Pax led the way down the main office corridor, into the factory, and out of a side door to a small yard with a large shed. They entered the shed and stood at its doorway. The inside was pitch black, until Pax switched on the lights. A black missile lay on a steel table before them.
Josh curled his brows, inspecting it closely. “That’s not like any Creston missile I’ve ever seen,” he said.
“That’s because it’s not from Creston.”
Josh kept looking over the tail fins, wings, and canard
s of the missile. “Notle?”
Pax shook his head. “Mercen.”
Josh widened his eyes. “How in the world did you manage to come across a Mercen projectile?”
“You remember that shadow fighter you saw with Skirm and Nalee the last time you were on Skurier? Well, we traveled to the eastern jungle and brought this back from the fighter. We would have transported the entire craft, but it was in a tight spot. We didn’t feel like putting in all of the work to get it out at the time, though we may do so later.”
“What do you plan on doing with it? Creston missiles are just as good. The only real value I see in it is that it looks cool.”
Pax slid his jaw to a side with his hand brushing through his chin stubble. He gave Josh a wise eye, one squinted and the other wide. “So Creston has developed shock weapons now, huh?”
Josh stared at Pax as if dumbstruck. He looked at the projectile and thought, Wow, we’ve got one of their shock missiles. “You sure it’s what you think it is? And are you planning to take it apart to learn the technology?”
“We’re certain it’s a shock missile. There were two of them. We tried disassembling the other out in the flatlands knowing that Mercens protect their tech. Just as we suspected, the tampering led to detonation. That’s how we know exactly what this is.”
“Well, what are you going to do with it?”
“It’s going back with you on your transporter when you return home tomorrow. Your commander is already aware of its presence on Skurier and will be expecting the shipment to arrive.”
Fucking Clint, thought Josh. What doesn’t he know?
“Your commander will know what to do with it.”
Josh nodded. “You already told Searcher One?”
“Yes.”
They looked at the missile for a moment longer, before Pax smiled and said, “Up for a short poker session before turning in? Skirm and the Bodens are hoping you’ll join. You beat us pretty bad the last time we played. They don’t want you leaving the planet without getting their revenge.”
Josh smirked, feeling deeply amused. He made Pax wait for a moment before saying, “Yeah, I’m in.”
