by Gavin Magson
“From what she told us Aiko has not given up tracking down your killer, even all this time later. She knows about the message you were sent from Ilya’s tablet, she even went so far as to plant a listening device on one of Henry’s staff to find out what happened to you and Ilya. The woman is relentless.” said Greg.
“Now that you are alive are you going to get in contact with her?” asked Lev.
Ajax finished his third beer, the cold, crisp taste like an old friend he had not realised just how much he missed. The thought had been bothering him, how would she react? Greg feinting was easily manageable, yet this was a whole other level. The crew were probably becoming used to being taken off-guard by his antics, but Aiko might freak out that he lived and reveal his resurrection to the world. He had no way of knowing how she would handle the shock.
“Maybe, but certainly not right now. It's been seven months, as I have been painfully reminded by the extra grey in Duke’s beard.” He chuckled as Duke cursed him out. “There are too many unknowns about Aiko right now. Major has promised that I will be given leave between assignments, though how much I don’t yet know. I’ll have a think on how best to approach her with this revelation. Make sure she knows Ilya is safe and Henry is no longer a threat to anyone; that might give her some peace. Perhaps it is for the best that she keeps thinking that I am gone.”
“I can’t tell you what the right thing to do is, but not giving Aiko extra hope now when you’ve pledged yourself to this Major is a sensible call. I hope that you’ll be back to see us all soon when you are given leave.”
The gentle snores behind them had come to an abrupt halt, causing the men to turn to face the bed. Ilya awoke from her slumber.
“What the fuck happened to me?” came her forever ladylike words.
Ajax smiled, rising from his chair to sink down to both knees in front of Ilya. She was still rubbing at her eyes whilst trying to stretch, seemingly unaware of his presence. When Ilya moved her hands she froze to the spot, eyes blinking rapidly.
“Is this some kind of cruel, fucked up trick?” she asked.
His grin was her answer. Ilya threw both arms around Ajax's neck in a tight embrace. She almost instantly howled in pain, her stitches pulling torn flesh tight and igniting her back with lancing pain.
“Calm down, Ilya, you have been through a lot and you need to be careful. I don't want you pulling those stitches out and injuring yourself even more.” said Ajax, his fingers brushing aside Ilya's fair hair.
“I won't. Henry told me you were dead, how is this even possible?”
“It might be easier if I just send out a public message to the entire city, everyone I meet likes to ask me how. A very rich man brought me back from the dead, and it is my intent to not throw this life away.”
Ilya chewed at her swollen bottom lip, the cut a surprise to her and causing a moment of pain. Her face contorted at his words, which left Ilya confused as she tried to process them. “Maybe one day you’ll stop speaking in these damn riddles. I don’t care how but I am so glad that you are all here. Onto another how; how did I get here?”
“I rescued you from Henry's mansion, left quite the number of bodies behind me. He won't hurt you again, trust me when I say that you can count on that. His mansion will probably burn long through the night, that old man sure knows how to start a fire.”
“Do you mean Rowan? Crooked nose, a head full of white hair and he shuffles his feet?”
“I’d have to say that is a perfect description. He stayed behind to patch you up whilst I took care of a little revenge. I don't know what happened to him, he didn't come with me to the Haven.”
Only at the mention of Ajax's revenge did Ilya truly notice the smell and sight of Ajax; she had been too overcome with seeing the man once more to register his gore speckled appearance. His usually brown hair was bordering on being dyed red, just like his clothes; both were smeared in drying blood. Only on closer inspection was she satisfied that the blood was not his own.
“What did you do to Henry?” her voice was full of curiosity and awe, not even slightest hint of being frightened.
“I don't think a lady like yourself should really be told the full, grisly details of the man's demise. Let’s just say that for someone so level and cool he sure lost his head easily.”
Ilya's face scrunched once more, her constant pain made complex thoughts far too strenuous as she tried to decipher the hidden meaning behind the man's words. She looked past Ajax, seeing Greg mime a sawing action across his own neck.
“You beheaded him?”
“Beheaded is such a strong word, I much prefer decapitation, it has a better ring to it.”
Just when Ajax thought Ilya was about to freak out a huge grin spread across her face; they had the old Ilya back, warts and all. Gingerly she hugged him again, careful not to pull at the stitches. Her back felt like it was ready to tear any second now, so Ilya released the man and laid back down.
Ajax had thought about this moment since he had woken up back in the laboratory and been told he had a chance to see Ilya again. He had so much he wanted to say to her, beginning with the truth. Just as his mouth opened a familiar vibration reverberated from his pocket. He answered the tablet.
“Ajax, I'm sorry but your hour is up. I need you back now.”
“I'll be right there, Penelope. Don't uncloak just yet.”
His face quickly changed to apprehension, his brief time with the crew ended too soon. Ilya thought she recognised the internal battle with his feelings that Ajax was currently battling. She closed her eyes, gently pursed her lips, and waited for his kiss. Ajax leant in, knowing the moment was just right. Despite all she had been through Ajax could smell the soft scents of an all too familiar perfume; Ilya’s favourite. He wanted nothing more than to finally kiss her, yet he could not. Instead Ajax planted a soft kiss on Ilya's cheek.
Ajax stood up, forcing his frustration not to show on his face. He straightened out his jacket and collected the cloak that he swung around his body. Ilya tried to rise from the bed, grimacing in pain as her stitches drew tight once more and laid back down with a huff of annoyance.
“Will we see you again soon?” she asked, keeping her expression neutral to hide her disappointment.
“I don't know; I wish that I did. Major was not specific on how long my first assignment will take, nor what it will entail. I don't know how long it will be before I next get to see any of you, and the thought is far from pleasant. It might be becoming a cliché for me, but I do owe this man my life. Without him I wouldn't be here again, and rescuing you from that bastard is worth repaying Major with my service. I promise that I will try my best to come back in one piece, and soon. Take care of her, Duke, you know what happens to men who mistreat Ilya.”
Ajax’s easy smile was enough to diffuse any tension the joke could have brought. Greg and Lev struggled to contain their nervous laughter as they glanced between the momentarily frightened Duke and the hulking figure of Ajax. With one last look at the four crew members, reunited once more, Ajax left his friends.
The door closed with a quiet click behind him; no one in the room moved for what felt like an eternity to them. Finally, when the tension had built for too long, Ilya broke their silence.
“I think that I love that man.”
“No shit.” said Duke, cracking a smile of his own at her pout.
Chapter 29
“You have awful timing, I hope you know that.” said Ajax, lowering himself into the passenger chair and sighing. He felt weary, more tired than he had felt in a long time; perhaps he had not yet fully recovered? The seat seemed far more comfortable now than during his journey into Konar City; Ajax could feel his eyes getting heavy.
“Why, what happened?” asked Penelope, guiding the ship out of the Haven's courtyard with practised precision.
“Ah, long story. You could have waited a minute more; it would have really benefited me. I'm sure you called not a second over my hour.”
Penel
ope did not answer straight away, focusing intensely whilst weaving between buildings and keeping the craft low. Ajax could see in the distance the smouldering glow that used to be Henry Steel's mansion, it's ruins still billowing smoke and steam from the water being poured upon it.
“Major can be very strict about things like this, I’m sure that you'll soon learn. I had to check in when we touched down and you went into that tavern, so I’ve no doubt that he’ll monitor how long you were gone for. Your fast progression is probably to blame for not knowing these kinds of things already.”
“Yeah, something like that. It makes sense, the guy does seem like a real hard ass at times; I’ll make sure to remain punctual.”
Penelope removed a hand from the controls and pointed at the side of her helmet, near the chin straps. Ajax got the message, her microphone doesn't turn off, which probably meant all of their conversation had just been heard by someone. Instead of feeling fear or dread, which would be more of a normal reaction for a man serving in Major's ranks, he simply laughed. Nothing could ruin the elation he was feeling at seeing Ilya and the crew once more, knowing she was safe and, to top it all off, finally getting his revenge on Henry for the pain he had caused.
He stretched out in the seat, slouching his body down a fraction to try and make himself as comfortable as possible. It didn't take Ajax long before he drifted off to sleep, his gentle snores carrying through the microphone.
In a room back at the military base a man chuckled as the transmission came through, his pen scribbling a brief note on the paper in front of him.
“Bastard can really sleep, can't he?” asked the man, his deep voice rumbling around the room.
“Can you blame him, Lord Lixion? I expected there to be several weeks of rehabilitation, once we finally managed to wake him; no one could have predicted that he’d be out in the field within two days. I'd go as far as to call him abnormal.” said Raúl, switching the camera feed from inside Ajax's room.
“What was your take on his actions last night, Major?” asked Lixion, turning his large frame to face the man.
“He exceeded my expectations, far exceeded them in fact. He returned with only one small flesh wound, there were no civilian casualties by his hand, and not a single exchange from the city’s police suggest they are aware of his presence at the mansion. You should have seen the report he filled out, he didn't gloss over any details. Henry Steel is no longer a threat to your aspirations, nor a distraction from Ajax carrying out his duties. I’d go as far as to say that he will make a fine asset.”
“Good, I like to have only the best men at my disposal. I hear rumour you will be sending him on a tour next. Is there any truth to that?”
Major chuckled, a forced laugh to buy him precious moments to think.
“I have considered sending him off world, and I believe that he will appear on Vax Seven when the campaign kicks off there. There is one more small task for him to carry out before his first deployment. When Ajax wakes up we'll prepare him for my assignment, and he should return in plenty of time to cut his teeth under General Sudas.”
“Sudas? That madman made general? I almost feel sorry for the Believers.”
“Aye, he doesn’t take prisoners and gets the job done, no matter the collateral. Whatever the politics are Konar isn’t ready to rebuff the Believers invasion force just yet, Sudas is organising twelve brigades to squash the Believer garrison in one fell swoop.
“Twelve brigades? How many men are we talking?”
“A little over sixty thousand, not including the local militias and mercenaries that will fight on our side. Vax Seven has been liberated several times over the last century, so it no longer holds anything of worth to either us or the Believers. Considering how much closer Konar is to Vax Seven than any Believer planet, reinforcements will take them too long once we have established a base planet-side. It's probably more a show of strength from them than anything else. All going well it won't be a long siege and I’ll have Ajax at your disposal shortly.”
“I hope you are right, after all it was my investment that paid for his new life and I don't want him out of action for too long. Who will oversee the campaign?”
“Colonel Minard will be commanding our forces.”
“Fuck, the man couldn't organise entertainment in a whore house with a sack full of credits. If he is the downfall of this man I'll kill him myself.” Major kept his expression impassive as Lixion’s rosy cheeks bloomed to a vivid crimson. “I might already have a job for your lieutenant when he returns.”
“He isn't a lieutenant just yet, Lixion, though he will be if he survives this battle.”
“Make him a lieutenant, that's not a request; I want to see how he’ll handle the responsibility, and what feathers he’ll ruffle doing so. I shall leave you gentlemen to it and will see you after Vax Seven is dealt with. Good day.”
Raúl didn't let on that he noticed Major hold his breath, knowing full well his temper could only be surpassed by few men; Lixion included. The lord let himself out of the observation room, taking care to turn and leave the two men with a lingering stare. They both exhaled when the door closed again.
“I really wish that he could be at least a little friendlier, damn bastard always has me on edge.” said Major, lighting up a half-smoked cigar.
“I know the feeling, Lixion seems to be getting worse every time he visits. You would think that he'd be happier now that Ajax is awake and fit for operations.” said Raúl, switching off several monitors that bathed the room in a pale light.
“That man won't be happy until he sits on Diamonds throne, and with his resources that might yet happen one day. Come on, it's time Ajax was awoken, he will never be ready for his next deployment at this rate. We’ll size him now for his lieutenants’ uniform, but he’ll be covert for my assignment.”
Raúl held the door open for Major, who failed to acknowledge his gesture, not for the first time. Raúl was used to this behaviour, after twenty years of working closely with the man he had certainly gotten to know him and how Major simply expected certain things to be done without praise.
The observation room was at the end of a short corridor, which forked off, the left path leading to Ajax's new quarters. They did not have long to walk; Raúl barely had time to be depressed by the freshly painted grey walls.
Major rapped his knuckles on the door, smoke collecting above his head as he puffed away enthusiastically on the cigar. Raúl could barely smell the damn things any more, he had breathed in enough cigar smoke in his time to be almost oblivious to Major's habit. When he thought the man would knock a second time the door finally opened, retracting sideways into the wall without a sound.
Major did well not to cough too much, the shock as Ajax answered the door naked catching them both off guard. Raúl patted the man's back, who was soon waving his efforts away as he choked back tears.
“Is everything all right with you, Major?” asked Ajax, genuine concern on his face.
“Just fine, wasn't expecting you to answer the door bollock naked. Get some clothes on, we need to fit you for your uniform and combat gear. What are you waiting for man, hurry up.”
Ajax didn't shut the door behind him, instead Major and Raúl turned away for decencies sake as Ajax rounded up some clothes.
His room consisted of a single bed in its centre, one wardrobe, one sink, one chair, one table. The brown table had a dark outline where once a terminal sat, the paint underneath preserved; Major had ordered it removed before relocating Ajax. It was an officer’s room, though he didn't want Ajax accessing their system; there was a lot he needed to keep secret, for now.
Ajax quickly reappeared, his clothes hastily thrown on but at least he was a little more presentable. Major turned on his heel, marching away whilst still billowing smoke.
“Why am I being fitted today? I thought you said I wouldn't be deployed for a while yet?” he asked. Major did not slow his gait as Ajax hurried to keep step.
“Unfortunately,
that isn't a decision I have the final say in. Once I submitted my report on your performance last night my superiors were adamant that you be made ready for deployment post haste. I managed to argue to rest you for a couple of weeks, but there is an assignment I will be sending you on first; it’s in the Outerlands. Leave the questions for now.” said Major, leading both men into an elevator.
Ajax paused for thought inside the elevator, attempting to process this information. He knew that working for a military man would likely see him sent into a conflict but being sent into the Outerlands was not something he had been anticipating. All he had known since being revived from stasis was battle, much like before stasis judging from the few memories that had returned to him; would the Outerlands assignment be more of the same, or would he have a change in scenery this time? He could not help but think of his time in the prison Justice One; Ajax’s blood ran cold.
The elevator doors opened, surprising the still sluggish Ajax as he had not felt any sensation of movement whilst inside the polished metal cube. He followed in Major's wake, Raúl trying to keep up with the tall men as they navigated a maze of corridors, all the same uniform grey, until Major finally stopped outside a set of double doors. The sign above read, “Dr V. Kendall”.
Major did not have chance to ring the buzzer before the doors slid open, a middle-aged woman peering at the stunned men as if their reactions were unjustified.
“Are you going to just stand there or are you coming inside?” she asked, not waiting for an answer before turning around.
Major followed her lead as the doctor walked back into the large room, Ajax and Raúl a step behind him.
Taking centre stage within the circular room was a peculiar machine, bearing a lot of resemblance to the fabricator David had used to fashion Ajax a suit for Ilya’s union. There was other equipment, most unidentifiable, laying around on every surface Ajax could see.
