“Good news is that we have the full backing of the GG on this one to do whatever we need to take down Aleron. I told them about the Relic. I think they might have laughed at me a month ago, but after what we saw on Mars and the book that helped us defeat the Voy, they want to make sure that this Fountain of Youth, if it is real at all, is contained and doesn’t fall into the wrong hands,” Major Valentine explained. “They asked about the book, by the way. The one that opened portals from other worlds.”
“I think it was destroyed in the fight,” I said without blinking.
Major Valentine stared at me.
I think she knew I was lying, but she also knew that that book didn’t belong in anyone’s hands. Not even the GG could be trusted with a weapon of such power.
After the Battle of Mars, I entrusted the book to Preacher, who hid it in Dragon Hold somewhere. As far as I knew, he and Bapz were the only ones aware of its whereabouts.
Madam Eternal warned us that using the book came with a price. If she was right, and I had no reason to doubt that she was, then we had yet to surrender our pound of flesh for using the ancient relic.
“That’s what I told them.” Major Valentine leaned back in her chair, rubbing at her tired eyes. “Anyway, the bad news is that Colonel Stryfe managed to get permission to use a Galactic Government satellite over Earth to track Aleron and his crew. They’re gone.”
“What do you mean ‘gone’?” Laine asked.
“I mean they’re out of the area,” Major Valentine explained. “They could be anywhere at the moment. We have the satellite searching a wider radius, but they’re not on the west coast or in the Badlands at the moment. I doubt they’ve taken a ride on a boat, but that still leaves north, south, or east they could have taken.”
“Well, what are we waiting for?” I asked, jumping to my feet. “If the GG is going to give us whatever we need, I say we get a dropship and some blasters and we go hunting.”
“I have something better.” Major Valentine smiled for the first time. “I can get us a unit of Shadow Praetorians to go with us.”
Shadow Praetorians were the GG’s elite fighting force. If they needed something done fast, they called in the Shadow Praetorians to handle the job.
As long as they were on my side, I had no issue with them.
“I’ll see about getting you your weapons and any gear you’ll need,” Major Valentine continued. “I’ll meet you at the hangar in forty minutes.”
Major Valentine led us out of the structure and toward the outside hangar bay. There was already a scarred man there wearing untraditional black Galactic Government armor. He wore the symbol of the GG on his right shoulder another symbol I didn’t recognize on his left. It was a menacing-looking ancient helmet.
He saluted the major as we approached.
“This is Sergeant Toy,” Major Valentine introduced us. “He’ll be coming with us along with the hardest humping Shadow Praetorian Unit this side of the known galaxy. He’ll see to whatever you need while I make preparations for Rival’s transportation.”
“Thank you, Zoe,” I told the major as she turned to go. “I know this is the last thing any of us wanted.”
“Sometimes life’s not about what we want, but what has to be done.” Major Valentine gave me a hard nod. “See you in forty.”
I turned back to look at Sargent Toy. He was older with buzz-cut hair and a scar across his right eye. He looked like he’d seen a thing or two in his day.
“Major Valentine told me you two were at the Battle of Mars.” Sergeant Toy eyed me and Cassie. “I was there with my unit for the second part of the fight. One second we were traveling like the hounds of Hades were nipping at our heels; the next, some kind of gate opened and we were above Mars. I still can’t explain exactly what happened.”
“We were on the ground from the beginning,” I told him. “I don’t think we’d be here today if it wasn’t for the support the GG brought. We were being overrun.”
“Just doing my job.” Sergeant Toy nodded. “Major Valentine told me you’d need food and your weapons. I picked up rations for us and the weapons you left at the Hole are in the dropships when you’re ready.”
“Thank you,” Cassie said, entering the rear of the dropship along with the sergeant and Laine.
I stood outside of the dropship’s ramp, taking in a long deep breath and exhaling again. I immediately liked Sergeant Toy and could tell why Zoe picked him. He was tested, shared a bond with us both being at the Battle for Mars, and he was competent.
We’d need all of those traits if we were going to make it through what came next. The sun was setting over the docking area. Dropships landed and took off at varying intervals. Soldiers ran to and from; loading, refueling, and working on various ships.
The occasional civilian was escorted back and forth from the launch pad under careful praetorian eyes.
My life was like a dropship. Always going, always coming. There was no rest and, to be honest, I wasn’t sure what I’d do with rest if it came my way. I didn’t know what would transpire in this mission, but I was positive I’d get X back and stop Aleron.
“You look like you’re having second thoughts,” Cassie’s voice interrupted me. “You can sit this one out if you need to. I wouldn’t blame you. Something tells me Rival’s going to be talking a lot on the way there and back.”
“No, I don’t think I could do that,” I said, turning to the Cyber Hunter with a smile. “You’d miss me too much.”
“Maybe.” Cassie grinned. “Maybe a girl’s wondering if you’re going to ask her on another date.”
“I know, our first one kinda got interrupted by an alien who lied to us, saying he was our son.”
“We’ll have that memory forever.”
“Don’t I know it,” I cleared my throat. “Cassie Evans, would you like to go on another date with me whenever we get a break from the madness our life has become?”
“Not the madness, the adventure,” Cassie corrected. “And yes, Daniel Hunt. I’ll allow you to take me on another date. Just no shapeshifters or so-called time travelers on the next one.”
“Can’t make any promises.” I shrugged. “Life’s a mysterious journey with me.”
“And that’s part of your charm,” Cassie finished.
Laine walked out of the back of the dropship carrying my weapons belt in one hand and a series of earpieces for communication in the other. She was also chewing on something.
“Here you go.” Laine handed me my belt that contained my MK II, axe, and knife. “Sergeant Toy said these earpieces can link us to the GG as well as Dragon Hold.”
“I’ll give the Hold a heads-up on the situation,” Cassie volunteered. She looked over at me. “You should get something to eat.”
“How did you know I was hungry?” I asked.
“Because you’re always hungry.” Cassie waved me inside the rear of the dropship.
She wasn’t wrong.
I walked into the interior of the GG dropship to see a pile of protein packs and water cartons. There were also sealed bags of dried food. It was an all-you-can-eat buffet of military rations.
I didn’t mind it and my stomach was in no condition to complain. I ripped open something that tasted like synthetic cheese and noodles and went to town.
Sergeant Toy took inventory of weapons and gear inside the craft.
Laine joined me perusing a wall of weaponry on the right side of the ship. The weapons ranged from hand blasters to rifles and grenades.
Laine touched a sniper rifle with a scope nearly as long as the barrel itself. Her hand stroked it reverently.
“Are you a marksman?” I asked, thinking back to what I knew of the woman. “I mean, I remember up close you’re pretty deadly with a dart gun.”
Laine blushed. “Right, sorry again about that. I—”
“It’s in the past,” I told her. “I get it. I was just giving you a hard time.”
Laine smiled gratefully. She spoke in a whisper so Serge
ant Toy wouldn’t be able to hear her further into the ship. “On my planet, women aren’t allowed to own weapons, much less train and learn how to handle one. My father always saw things differently. We’d go out onto the plains of Manitesh and hunt wild bromine together.”
“Sounds like you loved your father.” I nodded along with her story. “You should take the sniper rifle; it’s an Artemis 3000. If you know what you’re doing, you’ll be able to hit one of your—bromines from a full kilometer out. I think your father would like you to use it. Plus you’ll need something to protect yourself.”
Reverently, Laine lifted the weapon from its resting place on the wall.
“If you’re not familiar with the tech, I can—”
I cut myself off as I witnessed Laine shoulder the weapon, checking and adjusting the scope before detaching the clip and slamming it back in place.
“Never mind,” I said.
“For what you did for me, for my son, I owe you a life debt.” Laine eyed me seriously. “Nothing will happen to you while I’m behind the scope.”
“I hope nothing will happen to any of us,” I said. Even as the words left my lips, I knew that was wishful thinking.
Twenty-One
Sergeant Toy’s unit were actually a dozen of the hardest-looking men and women I had ever seen. They joked and ribbed one another like good friends and soldiers do, but there was no denying that every single one of them knew how to handle themselves in a fight and make sure the enemy bled first and most.
Major Valentine met us just before takeoff with six praetorian guards and a smiling Rival Mercer in tow.
The major was decked out in her mustard-colored armor with her helmet clipped at her belt. A bolster hung at her hip and a rifle on her back.
Mercer wore a pair of magnetic cuffs behind his back. Around his neck, a thin silver band blinked with a red light.
A black armor piece had been placed on his chest over his bright green jumpsuit.
When they arrived, it was no real surprise Mercer was the first to talk.
“Oh my.” He looked over at Major Valentine, batting his eyes. “Is this all for me? You shouldn’t have.”
The Shadow Praetorian unit exchanged glances to their CO, who ignored them all for the time being. The truth was Sergeant Toy didn’t know any more than them. He was following orders gearing up to go on a mission he would know more about only once we were in the air.
The praetorians marching along with Rival Mercer took their leave of the group once Rival stood securely in the hands of the Shadow Praetorians.
“Sergeant Toy,” Major Valentine called out.
“Ma’am,” Sergeant Toy answered.
“This is Rival Mercer. He’s not to be trusted, talked to, or left out of sight. At all times, it’s up to all of us to be cautious around him. He may not look like much, but he’s been responsible for the deaths of dozens, and those are just the ones we know about.”
“Understood,” Sergeant Toy answered, already making arrangements with his unit for shifts watching the prisoner.
“Not much to look at?” Rival repeated the major. “That’s not kind. I’m a person too. I have feelings.”
“We’ll get him secured until the time is ready for him to give us what he knows,” Major Valentine instructed as Rival was shown to a seat between a pair of the sergeant’s Shadow Praetorians who looked like they wanted to hurt him already.
“Please, is this really necessary?” Rival asked, rolling his eyes. “I think a bit of conversation might be stimulating on such a long trip. Maybe we can discuss your position on the finer arts, such as music or—”
Sergeant Toy strapped a helmet over Rival’s face that dampened any sound coming in or out as well as impaired his ability to see. The helmet didn’t look like anything except a smooth dome, but it sure did the job.
“Before we take off, I want you all to know what you’re getting yourselves into,” Major Valentine addressed the Shadow Praetorians. “The official stance is that Aleron Jacobs was killed while escaping the Hole. The unofficial stance is that he escaped and Rival Mercer knows where he is. Mercer has agreed to take us to him, but of course he demanded to go along. We should expect Mercer to try and escape at any given time. Don’t let him lull you into a false sense of friendship or security. He’ll slit your throat as soon as have a conversation with you about fine dining. Are we clear?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the entire Shadow Praetorian unit answered in unison.
“Our mission is to locate and eliminate Aleron Jacobs,” Major Valentine continued. “He’ll have plenty of support, so we should expect heavy opposition. With any luck, we’ll be able to get to the location he’s headed to before him and set up shop for a warm welcome. Questions?”
The Shadow Praetorians looked at one another, shaking their heads.
I couldn’t help but wonder how many questions there might be if they knew the whole truth. If they knew about X finding a Relic hidden by Immortal Corp, I was sure every hand would be raised.
The cold truth was that this was not my mission. Even if I felt like they all needed to know the truth, which I did, it wasn’t up to me. This was a Galactic Government operation, and as such, they controlled the flow of truth.
I strapped in along with the rest of those in the dropship as Major Valentine gave the go-ahead for the pilot to get us in the air.
The dropship rumbled and picked up into the air with a smooth roar of the thrusters on either side of the craft. In minutes, we were airborne, ready for Rival to answer the questions we were all waiting for.
Rival sat on the left side of the dropship, where a row of seats with safety harnesses faced the opposite wall.
Major Valentine sat across from Mercer along with me, Cassie, Laine, and a few Shadow Praetorians.
The rest of the unit flanked Mercer.
“Go ahead; you can remove his helmet now,” Major Valentine instructed the Shadow Praetorians sitting next to Rival. “We need our heading.”
The Shadow Praetorian on Rival’s left, a woman with dark hair streaked with red highlights, lifted the faceless mask off his head.
“Oh my goodness, it was so lonely in there. Thank you, Chesha,” Rival said to the female Shadow Praetorian. “May I call you Chesha?”
“Your handcuffs are magnetically locked,” Major Valentine answered for the woman. They’ll only open with my thumbprint. That collar around your neck is packed with enough explosives to send you to the next world if you stray more than ten meters from my location.”
Major Valentine lifted her right arm. Over her armored wrist was a blinking silver band that matched the same cadence as the light going off and on, on Rival’s neck.
“Oh my, all this trouble for little old me.” Rival looked around, abashed. “I told you I’d help you. All I want is Aleron’s head. He left me to rot and betrayed me after I gave him that information. I refuse to abide a traitor.”
“The heading?” I asked, unable to listen to more of Rival’s incessant chatter. “Where are we going?”
“Southeast,” Rival answered, looking at me with a strange smile. “We’re heading to the Swamp Lands.”
“The Swamp Lands?” Cassie repeated. The way she said the words, I could guess that wasn’t a good idea.
I wasn’t used to seeing Cassie out of her element or even worried, for that matter. The expression on her face now was one of trepidation and loathing.
“Oh, I like this game.” Rival chuckled. “This is the one where we just repeat one another, right? My turn. The Swamp Lands. Okay, okay, now you go.”
“Helmet.” Major Valentine looked over to the Shadow Praetorian, who was more than eager to replace the can back on Rival’s head.
“No, wait, I—”
The dampening tool went over Rival’s head again.
“No one’s been to the Swamp Lands, Galactic Government or other, since Earth fell,” Sergeant Toy answered the puzzled expression on my face.
“No one goes in or o
ut of those swamps,” Cassie agreed. “I’ve heard they’re filled with rolling mists that hide creatures not of this world.”
“Mutated animals?” I asked, trying to think of anything I knew of the area and coming up blank.
“Worse,” Major Valentine mused out loud. “But stories are stories, and if your intel still says Rival is telling the truth, then that’s all we have to go on.”
I glanced over to Laine, who nodded.
“Make a southeast heading for the Swamp Lands,” Major Valentine said into her earpiece. “You heard me right. Just do it.”
Quiet chatter broke out among the Shadow Praetorians as we received our final destination. I felt the dropship turn toward the desired heading.
“We should arrive in three hours, depending on winds,” the major told me. “If your team needs any kind of body armor, you’ll find some in the overhead crates near the rear of the ship.”
“Thank you,” I answered.
Cassie and Laine were already moving in that direction. The dropship rattled a bit and shook every so often. Through the oval windows that lined either wall, we could see the dark sky peppered with clouds and brilliant display of stars.
This high up, the tiny lights seemed innumerable, and in a sense, they were. If I allowed myself, I could get lost in the wonder of such a massive universe.
How many other races, planets, and species could live out there? The answer was, of course, impossible to know.
“Why is everyone so worried about this area?” Laine asked Cassie as they brought down large closed cases of lightweight armor. “The Swamp Lands?”
“The Swamp Lands are located in an area of what used to be Louisiana, one of the states in the United States of America,” Cassie explained. “When the Earth died, that section was covered with mist. I’ve never met anyone who has traveled to and from the area, but I’ve heard enough horror stories to keep out.”
“I’ve never seen you this rattled,” I said, placing on the plain black armor the Galactic Government had to offer.
“I’m always up for a good fight, but there’s just something about mist that creeps me out,” Cassie confessed, placing her black cloak over her shoulder. She clipped the helmet to her belt for now. Her augmented forearms would be weapons enough for her to use. “When you can’t see your enemy, that changes the game.”
Nemesis: A Near Future Thriller (Forsaken Mercenary Book 6) Page 13
