New and Noteworthy
Here it is guys. A day late and a dollar short, but it is finally here. My weekly work of fiction that should have dropped last week but got pushed all the way to the end of this week. I present episode 2 of Requiem for the Fallen entitled All the Wrong Places. Tomorrow I will have the first episode up as a down load.
Despite taking so long to write I was honestly afraid that it wouldn't even be half as long as the first episode. It clocked in at just a little over 10k. So, not a bad little novelette. I hope that you enjoy it. The paint still isn't quite dry and it had a few rough edges that might need filing, but it's up and ready to go. I have quite a list of things to write and finish not least of which is the follow up to Blackthorn Knights. I'm 75% of the way through the rough draft. It'll likely take me a few more weeks to finish it but it's on the docket. God bless and enjoy.
Despite taking so long to write I was honestly afraid that it wouldn't even be half as long as the first episode. It clocked in at just a little over 10k. So, not a bad little novelette. I hope that you enjoy it. The paint still isn't quite dry and it had a few rough edges that might need filing, but it's up and ready to go. I have quite a list of things to write and finish not least of which is the follow up to Blackthorn Knights. I'm 75% of the way through the rough draft. It'll likely take me a few more weeks to finish it but it's on the docket. God bless and enjoy.
Requiem for the Fallen
All the Wrong Places
Requiem for the Fallen
All the Wrong Places
"What did you do to my poor baby?"
Jack hobbled up beside Judith. "Who's baby?"
She whipped her head to the side causing her hair to fly around her face. He caught a whiff of her shampoo. She smirked as she answered. "As many favors as I've called in already to get you space worthy? And as many favors as I'm going to have to call in to fix you back up? She's my baby too. And I should at least get visitation rights."
Jack smiled at her and put his hands up. "Ok, ok, fair enough."
He winced as the bruises on his face protested any movement of his lips.
Judith frowned and touched his cheek gingerly. "What did they do to my other baby."
He shook his head gingerly. "Nothing he won't recover from."
Her eyes gleamed as she asked "want me to kiss it and make it better?"
"Ruff! I'd love that but I'm afraid that the cure might kill me quicker."
She leaned in closer. "Oh, you can count on that. But you'd die smiling."
"Of that I have no doubt, but I also have a meeting with Charlie. And I promised Bell and Walsh that I'd walk with them to meet the TI agents in charge of their case. They arrived last night I hear."
She wrinkled her forehead. "Those two marines that you found? Only you could crash land on a desert planet and come back with two time travelers."
Jack shrugged. "What can I say, my life is just one long adventure."
He tapped his communicator. "Las, are Walsh and Bell ready to meet some time cops?"
His comm beeped. "Sure."
Jack rolled his eyes. Judith giggled. "Chatty isn't she?"
"You have no idea. It's non stop chatter on the bridge. She just never shuts up."
A moment later the two marines stepped off the rear ramp into the hanger bay. Close behind Bell walked Las. At just under five feet she looked diminutive next to Bell.
"Are you tagging along Las" Jack asked. In reply she shook her head and jerked a thumb back inside before walking away. Thran passed her on his way out. Jack looked back at Judith who shrugged her shoulders.
"Dammit, not you too!"
She laughed. "I have to get back to duty. Dinner later?"
"Absolutely. No dancing this time I'm afraid."
"Ha! Deal. My place. Since yours is kinda busted up at the moment. See you at ops in a few."
She winked at him as she skipped off. When she was out of ear shot Walsh let out a low whistle.
"That's one pretty lady you have there Cap. Girlfriend?"
Jack shook his head. "The one who got away actually."
"If she got away then she didn't go very far."
"Might as well be in another arm of the galaxy for all the good it does me. It's not space separating us."
Walsh cocked an eye at him but he chose to ignore it.
Thran interrupted before anything else was asked. "I thought that I would accompany these two warriors to their meeting. Often times peace is more dangerous than war and brothers in arms are even more important."
"I think that's a good idea." He tapped his communicator. "Al, it looks like we're all heading out. Do you have things covered here?"
"Of course" was the enthusiastic reply. "I've almost got the engines retuned. Marath is helping me here and I think Las is updating our Navigation and Tactical software."
"Good good. Call me if you need me."
Jack hobbled forward out of the hanger. In the corridor he took a left towards the administrative section.
"What should we expect" Bell asked.
"Questions. Lots of questions. How did you get here? Are you planning to try to go back? What are you going to do to integrate into modern society? They'll help with that last part."
"We don't know how we got here" Walsh said. "And I don't have a clue what to do now."
"Does this happen so often that there's a whole department to handle it" Bell asked.
"It happens. Used to not so often. Since the war things have been a bit wonky."
"I have heard Al and Thran talk about the war but I didn't get any details. What's the story?"
"A long one" Jack replied. He stopped in front of a hatchway. "We're here. Just answer their questions the best you can and it'll be over before you know it. I have a meeting with the Captain of this station. Just follow Thran's advice and I'll meet you three back at Alert later."
Walsh stuck out his hand. "Thank you sir. For everything. If there is ever a way that we can repay you we will."
The door slid open to reveal a small conference room. Inside at a long table sat two men. One was tall and thin. The other was short and plump. They both stood and straightened their suits as the marines entered. When Thran walked in behind them the plump one frowned.
"Have a seat gentlemen."
Jack cocked an eye at the agent as the door shut in front of him. Something about him seemed familiar. Shaking his head he limped down the corridor.
****
"Can you hand me that wrench" Al asked.
He heard clattering coming from his left. Straightening up from where he knelt beside the engines he looked over to Marath. Her dusky skin almost matched the black crew suit that she had changed into. He tried not to stare as he remembered the diaphanous robes that she had been wearing when they had first met.
She handed him the wrench and then wrapped her arms around her chest. Al felt his face grow flushed and he looked down.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare."
Her voice trembled just a little as she replied. "It's ok. I've gotten used to men staring."
He shook his head. "That doesn't mean that it's ok. It won't happen again."
Marath didn't reply but she did let her arms fall back to her side.
"What do you plan to do now that you're free of Sark" Al asked as he turned back to the engines.
Marath hopped up on top of the machinery beside him before answering. "I'm not sure. I don't know where to go now. I've been a slave for three years."
"You could always go home" Al replied without looking up.
Marath paused. "I can't. My family is gone."
"Gone where" Al asked distractedly.
"Dad died when me, mom and my baby sister were taken."
The wrench fell from Al's hands as he looked up.
"What happened?"
She shook her head. "I don't like to talk about it."
He tentatively reached out a hand and touched her shoulder. She jerked away causing him to pull back.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."
She shook her head again. "It's ok. It's just been bad for awhile."
"You don't have to tell me anything that you don't want to" he said.
She was silent for a minute. "I had just graduated from nursing school. I was all set to start working with my dad at his practice. As a reward he wanted to take us all on vacation to Raxon 7. On the way there we hit a rough patch that shut down our FTL. They were on us before we could escape. Dad tried to fight them off but they killed him. Just put him on his knees and shot him right in front of us. They shackled us and threw us in their cargo hold with a dozen other women that they had captured. A few days later they auctioned everyone off, including mom and Serath. Sark took a liking to me though and kept me for himself."
She shuddered and when he put an arm around her she didn't pull away this time. Instead she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"It's ok" he said quietly. "You're safe now. You can always stay here with us until you figure things out. Maybe we can even help track down your family."
"I don't know. I'm not sure what I want to do. And I doubt that we'd ever find mom and Serath now. Not after all this time."
"Hey, where is that confident woman who rescued us from pirates last week?"
She giggled and wiped at her eyes. "I did light that bastard up didn't I?"
"Heck yeah ya did! So cheer up. You're safe as can be now."
****
"Have a seat gentlemen" said the taller of the two agents. Bell mentally dubbed him Lanky.
The shorter one, Stumpy, frowned at Thran. "And why are you here sir? This meeting does not concern you."
Thran glowered back at him. "These two warriors have fought by my side. I am here to support them. You wouldn't try to forbid me from these proceedings would you?"
Stumpy leaned back in his seat away from Thran's looming form.
"We wouldn't dream of it. Please. Have a seat everyone."
Lanky leaned forward and set a small recoding device on the table before picking up his tab.
"Are you gentlemen ready to begin?"
Walsh and Bell looked at each other briefly. They unconsciously sat up straighter in their seats and folded their hands on the table in front of them.
"Yes sir" Walsh spat out.
Lanky nodded and began checking questions off of his tab. "What year and planet do you originate from?"
"Earth. 2015.
"What region of Earth do you originate from?"
"We both are, were, citizens of the United States of America and members of the armed forces on deployment to Afghanistan in the Middle East" Walsh replied.
"Do have any idea how you traveled forward through time?"
The two marines shook their heads.
"How? We have no idea how" said Bell. "Like we told Captain Baker, we were on patrol in the desert. Nightfall came and this weird lightstorm hit us. We hunkered down and when it was past we found ourselves on that planet that we were rescued from."
Lanky looked up from where he was typing on his tab. "How long were you on that planet?"
Walsh shook his head. "We aren't sure. The sun rose four times but the days seemed so much longer. That was one of the things that let us know we weren't in Kansas anymore. My watch ran for roughly thirty four hours per sun cycle."
Stumpy finally piped up with a question. "What did you see while you were on XP37?"
"Is that the what it's called" asked Bell. "Sand. We saw lots and lots of sand. We came across some ruins. Which were buried in the damn sand. We almost got eaten by giant scorpion lobster things. That came out of the sand. Hell I even dreamed about the sand. We both did."
Walsh nodded his head. "We had some odd dreams. Some nights I would dream that I was surrounded by people but I couldn't see them clearly. Once I dreamed about what the ruins would like new. Every night I heard the oddest song or melody whistling through the sand dunes."
Stumpy and Lanky both sat up straighter.
"Did you both have identical dreams" Lanky asked.
Bell and Walsh both shrugged and nodded.
"Sure" said Walsh. "I attribute it to isolation and stress."
Stumpy squinted at them. "We would like you gentlemen to come with us. We'll be taking you to Zero Station for further questions and tests."
"With all due respect, we would rather not" replied Walsh. "We had hoped to return to Earth. Captain Baker said that you would help us integrate into modern society."
"I'm afraid that Captain Baker is mistaken in this. I'm also sorry to say that Earth will have to wait. You WILL be accompanying us to Station Zero."
Thran spoke up for the first time since entering. "You would violate the rights of two men for what? To satisfy some curiosity? And I have never heard of Station Zero. Where is it located?"
Lanky put away his tab and picked up their recorder. "The location of Station Zero is classified. We cannot disclose that information to a civilian."
Stumpy smirked across the table. "Besides. These two marines aren't even Consortium citizens. What rights do they have? I believe they will be going with us wherever we choose."
Thran drew in a deep breath and was about to respond when the alarms started ringing.
****
The lift opened onto the command deck. Jack stood in the doorway looking around at the blinking lights and chirping monitors. Nostalgia and longing caused his hands to shake. It wasn't long before Kirby spotted him.
"Don't just stand there. Get in here. Jack how the hell are ya?"
"Oh, you know. Banged up. Me and my ship."
Kirby grinned. "Who's ship?"
"Oh hell, not you too."
"Hey, I'm not one to argue with Judith."
Jack just rolled his eyes. "Heaven forbid you stick up for your friend."
They both chuckled. "Well, friend to friend" Kirby said. "I think you need bigger guns."
"Maybe. Any idea where I can get those?"
Kirby grinned again. "I might know a thing or two. Step into my office."
Before they could move a crewman stopped them. "Cap, we have an anomaly approaching from the far side of the star."
The grin dropped from Kirby's face and he was all business instantly. "Any ideas of what it is?"
"Could be a gas cloud. We aren't sure yet sir. It just came on to sensors."
Kirby nodded absently. "Keep an eye on it and let me know if anything changes."
On the way to Kirby's cabin they passed Judith's station. Jack smiled at her. Before he got past her however he received a pinch on his posterior. When he jumped Kirby looked back quizzically. Judith however was a study in attentiveness to her station. Chuckling he hobbled through the open cabin door.
Kirby motioned to a chair in front of his desk which Jack slid into with a sigh. Kirby pulled out a bottle of whisky and held it up. At Jack's enthusiastic thumbs up he poured two tumblers worth.
"Tell me about Sark" he commanded while handing over Jack's glass.
Jack shook his head and sipped. "Man. That's some good whisky."
He took another sip. "He might be dead but I wouldn't count on it. Probably should have killed him when I had the chance."
Kirby took his own sip before replying. "Eh. What's one more pirate wanting revenge? Why did he try to kill you?
"Wales gave him some crazy ideas that I was involved with Epicus 3."
If Kirby's face was serious before it was somber now. "Epicus 3 huh? I've heard rumors. They true?"
Jack just sipped his whiskey.
"Okay then" Kirby replied. "Wonder what Wales was doing out that way? He's got a fancy new ship. I'd've figured it would be on the other side of Consortium space spearheading an exploration mission."
Jack shook his head. "No idea. All he said was that it was classified. Before he teleported out and left us to die."
"You find that a little strange" Kirby asked.
Now that you mention it, yes. At the time I was busy running for my life. Didn't think about it till now. But it does seem like a big coincidence."
Kirby was silent a moment before shrugging and taking another sip. "I guess I need to send out a squad to deter pirates."
"Are you going to send one to look for Sark?"
"I wish that I could" said Kirby. "I've been ordered not to approach that particular desert."
"By who?"
"Those two TI agents who are here to talking to your castaways" Kirby said.
"Since when did TI agents worry about abandoned planets?"
"No idea. And very rarely have I known them to relay orders to Fleet Officers. But they showed up with all the right paperwork to tell me to stay away from that system all together."
Before Jack could reply a comm whistled. "Cap, we need you in ops."
Kirby hit a switch on his desk. "What is it Johnson?"
"That anomaly has picked up speed and is headed straight for us."
Kirby rushed out into ops. Jack was slower and by the time he made it onto the deck Kirby had it pulled up on the main viewer. He stood in front of the screen, arms akimbo, studying the data coming in,
"What is it" Jack asked him. It was Judith who replied however.
"Whatever it is its growing closer rapidly."
"Any theories as to what it is" Kirby asked over his shoulder.
"It appears to be..... A fleet of small craft" Judith replied.
"Huh" Kirby said absently. "Well, let's signal them. Say hello and ask them to please not ram us."
Judith tapped at her screen and then waited a moment. "No response Captain. Wait, I'm reading an energy buildup. I think it's weapons charging. They're also increasing speed!"
"Well, so much for that" said Kirby. "Sound the alarm. Launch fighters and raise shields. Arm weapons. Order them to power down and break off their approach.
Jack slid up beside him. "Do you want me to launch Alert? We could operate as a support vehicle for the fighters?"
"Ha! I'm sorry friend. That poor rust bucket wouldn't make it out of the hanger much less survive a firefight. Let's just let the professionals handle this one."
"Blah, blah, blah" replied Jack. "Just keep talking old friend."
At her station Judith was busy relaying orders. "All pilots, all pilots. Prepare for immediate launch to engage possible hostiles. Repeat, prepare for immediate launch to engage possible hostiles."
Deep in Station 12's infrastructure pilots and engineers were bustling to get the small fighters launched. To the untrained eye it would look like barely organized chaos instead of the well drilled mechanism that it was. In less than ten minutes the first of the fighters were on their tracks to be launched into the void. System checks were completed and ordnance was loaded. The launchers were primed and at regular intervals fighters were shot out like missiles.
When they were clear the flight leader took over. "All fighters form up on me. We will attempt to engage the enemy at a safe distance from the station."
Jack could hear the constant chatter from where he stood on the command deck. On the screen it looked like the two closing forces were barely moving even though each side was moving many hundreds of miles per second.
"Flight leader" Judith asked "do you have the approaching ships on visual range yet?"
"We do ma'am. Relating telemetry now. They're ugly little bastards."
On the main screen popped up a closer image of the ships.
"Damn, those are ugly" Jack said. "And small too. They look like they could barely hold one person. How can they be this far out without a base ship?"
"That's an excellent question" Kirby replied quietly. "Judith, please warn the approaching, swarm, to stand down or we will engage."
Judith bent over her controls and spoke into her headset. After a moment of no reply she looked up and shook her head.
"Very well, inform the fighter squadrons that they are free to go weapons hot."
When Judith relayed his command the flight leader was silent for a beat before simply replying "yes ma'am."
At his command the weapons on one hundred small craft, small being relative, came alive. Target locks chimed and pulse cannons swiveled in their turrets.
"Engage."
With those words a wall of energy erupted from the Consortium craft. The response from the attackers was instantaneous. The swarm of ships simply dissolved. A few ships were caught but the vast majority simply were no longer there to be hit. Instead they leapt forward in erratic formations and quickly engulfed the fighter squadrons.
"Damn they're fast little buggers" one pilot cried out. He started to say something else before he was caught by multiple blasts from several angles. His ship exploded silently and he as gone. He was not alone however. The rest of his squadron soon followed him into oblivion.
The Consortium pilots junked and jived every direction but the tiny craft seemed to surround them. They fired constantly. Small bursts of energy that came from every direction. Their own weapons were cutting out chunks at a time but the numbers against them seemed limitless.
"Flight leader to 12, we're getting killed out here. I'm down a dozen pilots already. Request authorization to retreat."
Kirby frowned but nodded at Judith who spoke quickly into her mic.
"That's affirmative flight leader. Pull back to 12 to regroup."
"Roger that."
At his command the fighters pulled back together raggedly and turned for home. They faced a cruel gauntlet. The alien ships added a new tactic. Kamikaze runs. In the blink of an eye two or even three alien ships would collide with a fighter and send it reeling off into space. Cursing came over the comm channels from endangered pilots. The flight leader tried to keep control. Until his own ship was hit repeatedly.
Kirby stepped up to Judith's mic. "All fighters, disengage. Break free from as best you can. Rendezvous at position gamma."
On the screen they watched the desperate dance. Several fighters did break free finally to flee to position gamma which was located behind the nearest moon. Out of a hundred less than twenty ships were still shown as active.
Judith looked towards Jack. When he met her gaze her eyes were wide and he saw her tremble slightly.
"I can't believe what I just saw" she said.
Jack shook his head slowly. "I can't either. Even in the war we never suffered casualties like that. At least not in the first wave."
Kirby's focus was still on the main screen. His jaw was set and he seemed to standing even taller. "Send a signal to any nearby ships requesting immediate aid. And then brace yourselves. I think things are about to get bumpy."
Another blast hit the stations shields causing them to flare.
Judith called out "Minimal effect on our shields, but communications have been blocked. I don't know if our signal got out."
Shaking his head Kirby said "Have faith my dear. Weapons station. Do me a favor and start shooting these bastards out of my sky."
There was no response. Turning his head Jack saw the young crewman, Smith maybe, sitting at weapons staring glassy eyes at his screen. He was pale and breathing rapidly.
Kirby frowned. "Poor newbie. He's never been shot at before. Jack, take his station.
Jack whipped his head to look at him. Deciding that he was serious he rushed over to ease the crewman aside.
"Acquiring targets. Damn these suckers are fast. You know, I'm not even supposed to be at ops much less manning a console. This could get you severely reprimanded."
Kirby gave him a tight grin. "Well, we'll just leave that part out of the record. Now shoot something!"
"Pulse cannons at full. Firing. Minimal effect. These little things move fast.
"Well, let's sing them a song then" Kirby said.
Jack nodded to himself. "Aye. Bringing up missile locks. Singers away."
When a cluster of the tiny alien craft entered his target he stabbed at the fire control. The singularity torpedoes, nicknamed Singers, leapt across the distance at a tenth the speed of light. When their warheads ignited they created a small, short lived singularity that destroyed huge swathes of the swarming ships.
"Singers are swatting them out of the sky. Thank goodness their shields are as weak as their weapons. There's just so many of them."
"Keep firing" Kirby ordered." Comms, any response to any of our hails?
"Negative cap" Judith replied. "Still nothing in or out."
"Damn. Ok, do what you can do. Jack, how are we coming with the fly swatting?"
"More like spraying for wasps" Jack replied. "We keep knocking them down, but there is just so many of them." He paused frowning at his screen. "Something strange is happening to the shields.
Kirby turned and frowned at him. "I don't like strange. Elaborate please."
Jack furrowed his brow at the information flowing across the screen. "None of their shots pack much of a punch. Them being so small that makes sense. But something about their weapons leaves a trace of energy behind. Not a lot, but it's starting to build up and roll in waves across the shields. It's playing hell with our harmonics."
"Any danger of collapse" Kirby asked b
Jack checked his screen again. "There is a definite chance of collapse. Especially if they keep pumping up that wave."
"Damn. Ok, let's try this. See if you can reverse the polarity of the shields. Maybe that'll cancel out the buildup."
"You sure about that Cap" Jack asked.
"Sure? Hell no. But we have to try something."
Jack traced a cross over his chest. "Reversing the polarity now.".
As soon as he hit the button things around the command deck exploded. Sparks flew everywhere and screams punctuated the air. And then things got worse. The power went out. Along with the shields.
"Dammit. Power is out. Weapons and life support have switched to back up power" Jack yelled out. "Oh hell. Incoming. They aren't wasting any time. They're heading right for us."
Kirby was silent a moment before saying "Well, that didn't work. Shit. Judith. Get me those shields back. ASAP."
Jack set the torpedo targeting system to automatically fire at steady intervals. Spinning the dial on the pulse cannon targeting system he chased small clumps of ships across the sky firing as quickly as he could. Soon however the swarm was closer to the station than its torpedoes could safely detonate. Smaller beamed weapons took over. From a myriad of embankments they lashed out slicing individual ships into pieces. Still the swarm came on. Despite his desperate defense ships got through. Too many ships.
"We've got contact on the hull" Judith yelled.
"I suspect that they're trying to board" Jack commented.
Kirby walked to the nearest station and hit the all call. "All hands brace for boarding. I repeat, all hands brace for boarding."
"Yes" yelled out Judith. "Got shields back! No more are getting through, but we have close to a hundred on the hull."
"Damn" Kirby said quietly. For the first time he moved from his spot and hurried to weapons control.
"Ok, Jack I need another favor.
Jack looked up. "Anything. Just name it."
"We're still working with minimal staff since the war and as you can see a lot of them are fresh out of the academy. I need to draft that security officer of yours and those two marines."
Jack nodded. "I don't see them saying no right now. Where do you want them?"
"Tell them to go by the armory on deck 6 and then make their way down to engineering" Kirby replied. "If we lose engineering then we lose the station, but I need security out in the corridors repelling these bastards."
Jack hit the intercom button. He was met with shouting from the other end.
"Thran" he yelled.
The sounds of arguing stopped. "Yes Captain" Thran replied.
"We've got boarding parties incoming. Do you think Walsh and Bell would like to join us you in engineering to set up a welcoming party of our own?"
There was a brief pause. "We will be there shortly Captain."
"Good. Stop by the armory on Deck 6 and get armed."
"Do we know our enemy sir?"
"Negative. They came out of nowhere and have refused communication so far. Oh, and the lifts aren't working so you'll have to take service ladders. Hurry. I don't think we have long."
****
"You can't leave, we aren't done" shouted Stumpy.
"In case you haven't heard, we are under attack and have been asked to aid in the defense of the station" Thran replied in a measured tone.
"I'm sure that the crew can handle things" said Lanky.
Thran frowned at him. "Obviously the commander feels differently. We will have continue this at a different time."
The two agents looked at each other briefly before Stumpy demanded "we will accompany you to the armory and then to engineering."
"I don't believe that is a good idea" said Thran. "You should remain here. It will be safer for you."
Stumpy glared at him and bit out a reply. "If we are being boarded then you will need all hands available. And I would like to keep an eye on our assets."
"Very well then. I'm sure Captain Kirby will appreciate any help."
Poking his head out into the dimly lit corridor Thran glanced both directions before motioning for the rest to follow him. The five of them crept forward on the balls of their feet. Thran went first, then the agents, with Bell and Walsh bringing up the rear. After a few moments Bell leaned towards Walsh.
"What are we going to do?"
Walsh shook his head before whispering a reply. "I don't know. Maybe if we make it out of here we can smuggle aboard a ship to escape. Maybe Baker can help us."
Bell pointed a finger back towards the agents walking in front of them. "Maybe these two won't make it out alive. I'm just sayin."
Walsh shook his head again and made a shushing sound.
After a few minutes they reached the armory. Thran tapped in a code that Baker had given him and they slipped inside. Dim red emergency lights were all that they had to light up the cramped room.
Pulling down body armor and weapons Thran passed them out and explained the firing controls briefly.
"Are you ready for the dance of death" Thran asked.
"No, but let's do it anyway" Bell said in reply.
The two agents were impassive.
Stepping back into the corridor they started towards engineering. They made it a hundred yards before the attack came. The first thing that they heard was the buzzing. Before they could do more than glance around the aliens were on them. They came flooding around a bend in the corridor. Some ran. Many were leaping up to bounce off of the walls and ceiling. There was a shimmering effect behind them as they moved. They were firing blasts of yellow energy as they advanced.
"Back" yelled Thran as he shouldered his pulse rifle and fired. The first shot woke the rest of them up from the shock they were experiencing and they began firing as well. Step and fire. Step and fire. They reached an intersection and took cover around the corners. Thran and the Marines were on one side with the TI agents on the other. Thran pulled something from his pocket.
"Uhm, is that a grenade" Walsh asked.
"Indeed" Thran replied before launching it back down the corridor.
An explosion rocked them and caused their ears to ring. Glancing around the corner Walsh saw the aliens pulling back. The stopped firing and retreated back a few dozen yards. A pile of bodies littered the corridor.
"Think they've had enough" Bell asked.
"Unlikely" said Thran. "They will return to the attack soon. Be prepared."
"Should we move" Walsh asked.
Thran shook his head. "This is limited cover but I'm an unsure if we will find more substantial cover before we reach engineering. I believe that our best choice is to attack before we are flanked along one of these side corridors."
"Oh. Fun" Bell chimed in.
"Will they be any help" Walsh asked jerking his head towards the TI agents.
Thran shook his head. "I do not know. Are you ready?"
"Like Bell says, no but let's do it anyway" Walsh said with a grin.
Launching themselves up they advanced into the corridor. Firing as they went, leapfrogging each other. Walsh was surprised to see Stumpy and Lanky moving alongside them. The aliens were caught off guard. They fell back quickly before finally breaking and running. Stopping over the bodies they examined them.
"Ugly bastards aren't they" said Bell.
"They look like, well like wasps" said Walsh.
On the floor in front of them lay something like they had only seen in nightmares. Man height but with a segmented body and almost spindly limbs. Their faces were covered by a helmet and armor was worn over their chests. Bell rolled one over with his foot and they saw small, almost vestigial translucent wings.
"That explains that weird shimmering when they're bouncing around all over the place" said Walsh.
Thran opened his mouth to reply but before he could speak the one at his feet leapt up with a blur of wings and was on him before he could react. His rifle was knocked from his hands. Instinctively he reached out to grab his attacker when he felt something thud into his own chest armor. He pushed the alien back by his shoulders to see that it was trying to stab him with a stinger projecting from its lowest segment. He tried to turn and shove it away bugle could barely move it. Straining his arms were beginning to burn as it got inexorably closer and then the pressure was gone.
Bell stood over the body holding his rifle like a club. He thought for a moment, reversed his weapon and then shot it without blinking.
"Well boys, y'all about ready to move along" he asked.
"You three proceed to engineering. We will be right behind you" said Stumpy.
They turned to look at the TI agents.
"I thought you wanted to 'keep an eye on your assets'?" Bell asked.
"The way ahead seems clear" Lanky replied. "For now anyway. You should go secure engineering while you can. We need to examine the aliens."
"He is right" said Thran. "Come. We should move while we can."
When they had moved down the corridor Walsh asked Thran "what are we going to do".
"I am not certain. I intend to speak with Capt. Baker. He is friends with the station commander. Perhaps Capt. Kirby can be persuaded to interfere. Or perhaps our two TI agents will not survive this encounter" he said with the ghost of a grin.
Bell gave Walsh a smirk that Thran didn't see.
"That would give us time to smuggle you off station and into hiding" Thran continued. "Las might know people who can give you asylum."
"What's her story anyway" Bell asked. "She's a cutie."
"You always did like em small" Walsh said. "Tinker bell fetish much?"
"Yeah yeah yeah."
Thran looked up confused. Bell and Walsh started laughing.
As soon as they entered an engineer wearing an officers uniform stopped them to ask "Who are you and what are you doing in my engineering department?"
Thran saluted him. "We are the security team from the Alert. Capt. Kirby asked us to see to your defense."
The chief engineer rolled his eyes. "Great. Mercenaries. Well we don't need any 'private security' looking after us."
Walsh stepped forward. "Sir, I understand your reluctance. We've worked with private contractors before who were less than ideal. We just want to see that everyone gets through this in one piece."
"Trust us, you do not want to have those critters in here without someone watching your back" Bell said.
The chief engineer thought for a moment before grunting. "Fine fine. Just stay out of the way."
Thran called to Walsh and Bell. "Come. Help me shut this bulkhead and lock it. See that latch? Throw it."
Before Bell could shut the hatch he heard someone call out. "Wait please.
Bell looked up to see Stumpy and Lanky moving down the corridor. "Great look who finally got here."
Walsh raised an eyebrow at the sight of them.
Bell asked "Where have you been?"
The two stepped through the engineering hatch before Lanky replied "That information is classified."
"Of course it is" said Bell. "You know if we make it through this I swear that I'll.."
"If you two ladies are through bickering , we need to send a team to fix the power relays on deck 8. We need someone to go along as a guard" barked the chief engineer.
There was silence for a moment when finally Thran said "I will go and be their shield."
"I ain't sure that's a good idea" Walsh said. "We need you here."
"Someone must go with the engineers. They will not make it on their own."
Bell piped up "So send the chuckle twins."
"I do not trust them to agree to go much less do what is needed" Thran said. "They have an agenda of their own."
"Fine, we'll hold down the fort" Walsh said.
The team of engineers approached. Several of them were shaking. Two of them exchanged apprehensive looks. Thran brandished rifle. "If you gentlemen are ready then follow me."
When they were gone Bell addressed the TI agents "Will you two be of any use to us?"
They didn't reply but instead walked across the bay to an empty computer terminal to sit down.
"Assholes" said Bell.
Walsh stopped an engineer. "Can you help us lock down these hatches?"
As they locked down the reinforced hatch Bell said "I hope the others are ok. Are we sure we can't throw those two out of here before we close up shop?"
****
Marath sat up placing a hand on Al's arm at the all call announcing the boarding. "Do you hear that? We're being boarded."
"I heard" Al said shaking.
Marath jumped up. "There's going to be casualties. I should get down to medical and volunteer to help."
Al stood up beside her ."You can't go alone. I'll take you there."
Marath shook her head. "You don't have to do that. Besides, then you'd be leaving Las alone."
Al looked towards the ship. "I'm pretty sure that she can handle herself better without us."
Marath nodded once decisively. Al almost missed her tremble.
Al walked to the foot of the ramp and yelled "Hey Las, we're heading down to the med bay. You good?"
A moment later she stuck her head out and gave him a thumbs up.
"Ok, let's go" Al said.
The station continued to shake with impacts from alien weapons as the hurried down the halls. When they made it to a lift Marath looked at Al wide eyed.
"Do you think that we'll be ok?"
"We'll be fine. Don't worry. Stations like this held off the Raustreen on the frontier line for months on end during the war. I don't know who is attacking us but they're in for a surprise."
Suddenly a massive blast shook the station. The lift stopped and went pitch black.
Marath screamed. Al tried to put an arm around her shoulder but she began taking wild swings at him.
"It's ok. It's ok. It's just me" he said repeatedly until she stopped hitting him. As she sobbed he pulled her closer and stroked her hair.
"Shhh. It's ok. You aren't alone and no one is going to hurt you."
Finally with one last sniffle she asked "what do we do."
Pulling out a small flashlight he shone it around the lift.
"First we're going to see if those lift doors can be opened manually."
Wiping at her eyes Marath nodded. "I'm sorry for the meltdown."
Al gave her a crooked grin. "No worries."
Popping open a panel he found a hydraulic latch. When he tried to pull it down it didn't budge however.
"Hold this a minute" he asked while holding out the light.
Marath took it from him freeing up both hands. He put his body weight onto the latch and pushed for all he was worth. Muscles straining he quickly grew red in the face as the latch slowly moved down. Finally it clicked into place and the lift doors released. The lift was halfway down from one level. Poking his head out Al took a look around.
"It looks like we are one level up from the med bay. Well, half a level."
"Where do we go from here" Marath asked.
"We'll just cut over to the other side and take the emergency shaft down."
Al boosted Marath up onto the level before pulling himself up. Taking her hand he pulled her along. They made it a few yards before they heard the sounds of weapons. It was punctuated by shouting and the sound of running feet. Over it all they heard a persistent buzzing.
Al darted his gaze back and forth. "Quick, in here."
He pulled Marath behind him into an open storage bay. Releasing the locking latch the door slid shut on its hydraulics. Moving deeper through the stacks of containers the two of them huddled behind a crate.
Marath asked, "Do you think that we're safe?"
Al nodded. "I'm sure of it."
That was when they heard the screech of metal. Dim light shown in from the corridor and buzzing filled the room.
Marath clasped a hand over her mouth and whispered "Oh no. What should we do?"
Al shook his head. "Just stay calm. Keep your head down."
Looking around he saw a wrench. He grabbed it just as the crate that they were hiding behind was shoved aside. The buzzing intensified as the alien loomed over them. Without thinking he leaped forward and smashed it in the head with the wrench. The impact jolted up his arm. Distantly he could hear Marath scream. A sharp pain hit him in his side. Falling to his knees and then his hands he felt his control of his body going. Rolling to his back he saw the alien standing above him. A yellowish liquid dropped from a stinger at the base of its body. It raised that segment above his face but just as it moved Marath struck it in the back of the head. Reeling away she followed it smashing it over and over again. It fell but she continued to hammer it until it's helmet fell away and its head was ruined. Al felt his body begin to convulse. Marath's face swam into his view.
"Which way is med bay?"
"Down 1 level and over 2 sections" Al choked out.
Almost before he finished Marath was up and running dropping the wrench to clatter behind her.
****
"It sounds like they are almost through the bulkhead" Jack called out. The sound of energy blasts against the hatchway almost drowned out his words. "Security reports that they are everywhere."
Kirby replied "Yep. Sounds like. Everybody ready?"
Judith shook as she lifted her rifle. "I thought after the war I'd never need a gun again."
Jack said "Man I wish. I think I've needed one more since the war was over."
Kirby was stone faced as he said "Well folks, it's been a pleasure."
The hatchway exploded inwards. More energy blasts poured through as the aliens rushed in wings buzzing. Jack crouched behind his station and caught an intruder mid leap sending him reeling back chest trailing smoke. The aliens fired on the fleet personnel but here they had the advantage. With an engineering and design geared for war each station was double reinforced to serve as last ditch cover. The energy weapons that the aliens were using might play havoc with computers and electrical systems, but they were deflected away from the defenders. The aliens were not so lucky. They had to clear the entranceway while dodging return fire. Even with wings the majority did not make it unscathed. Unfortunately there were just so many of them. Soon the first crewman cried out when they were transfixed by a stinger. They screamed louder when the venom hit their system.
Jack glanced up to see Judith struggling with an attacker. Swearing he dashed across the room. A blast came so close that it seared his shoulder but he didn't stop until he slammed into the alien. They fell to the floor but Jack immediately rolled away from its attempt to sting him. The creature rose up to hover a foot off the ground. That was until Judith found her fallen gun and shot it. Her first blast took off its right leg sending it tumbling. The next blast caught it in the face. It twitched a moment and then was still. Silence fell. Sitting up Jack looked around to see the command deck clear of aliens. Well, living aliens at least. The cries of the wounded were all he heard until the comm unit came to life.
"Station 12 this is Lionheart. Respond."
Judith jerked her head up to look at her station. "Cap, a Consortium flotilla including the Sun Tzu, Mjolnir, Divine Wind and Bow of Artemis has arrived."
"Thank the lord Kirby whispered. "Lionheart, this is 12. Boy are you a sight for sore eyes. Is that you Wales?"
Captain Wales said "The one and only. Looks like you have some unwelcome visitors. Care for a hand?"
Kirby visibly relaxed tense muscles. "We'd love some help."
"How are your shields?"
Kirby glanced at Judith.
"60% give or take a few."
"Not great but holding" he said. "You thinking Hammer and Anvil?"
"That's what I was thinking if you are up for it" Wales said.
Kirby looked to Jack. "Any word from security on the state of the boarding parties?"
Jack answered from tactical where he had limped back to. "Security reports that the boarding parties have retreated. They're starting to pull back from the hull."
Kirby shuddered. "Ok Lionheart, give em hell."
"Roger that. Commencing Hammer and Anvil."
Away from the station the remaining swarms of alien fighters had dispersed under the fire from the flotilla. That flotilla was now spreading out to take aim at the station. As the small alien craft fled they were allowed to slip through the stations force field. But only on the side facing the Consortium ships. And that's when the Lionheart and her small fleet struck. The station rocked again as they were hit, this time by friendly fire. Shields that had been shored up by engineers held if only barely. The tiny alien fighters simply ceased to exist. Within minutes they were reduced to a small cloud of dust carried away by solar winds. When the flotilla stopped firing all was still for the first time in hours.
****
Lights flickered in the corridor as she ran. Luckily she hadn't ran into anymore of those things. Her heart raced from the exertion and her breath came in sharp gasps but she didn't slow down. Finally she saw the cross on the hatch up ahead. She barely slowed as it opened in front of her. Inside was chaos. Screaming wounded. Doctors yelling orders at nurses. Quite a few were sitting catatonic staring at the wall in front of them. Eyes darting around she grabbed a nurse dashing past her by the arm. The young woman pulled up short and glared at her.
"I'm sorry. My friend was stung by one of the aliens. He's seizing and he was too big for me to carry. I need antivenin and possibly epinephrine."
"Ma'am I can't just give that to you. A trained medic needs to administer that."
Marath grabbed her by the shoulders. "My name is Marath. I graduated top of my nursing class from Ruru University of Medicine and Technology. I would dare say that I am more qualified than you are. Now where are the damn drugs!?"
Shaking her head the nurse pointed to a cabinet before hurrying away. Still fighting to catch her breath Marath jerked the drawer open and found the drugs that she needed. Loading a needle she slipped it into a breast pocket of her jump suit before sprinting off again. Silently she prayed that Al would still be alive by the time that she made it back
She hit the entranceway at a run. Sprinting down the aisles between containers she threw herself to her knees to slide to a stop beside Al's motionless body. Without pause she slammed the needle down directly into his heart. The combination of antivenin and adrenaline caused him to sit up, gasping and convulsing. Marath dropped the needle and cradled him onto her lap.
"Ya know, there are much easier ways to impress a girl" she said.
Smiling weakly Al looked up at her. "You'll have to tell me what those are one day."
Al's communicator chimed.
"Al, where are you" Jack asked. "Are you ok?"
Al groaned as he reached for the reply button. "We're fine. We're in a storage bay not far from med bay. We had to hide from one of those things."
"Ok. Meet me back at the ship. Now that those things are retreating I want to get everyone back where I can keep an eye on them."
"Sure bro. Be right there."
Marath looked down at him. "I'm not sure we should move you just yet. And if we do I think that it should be to med bay."
Al waved his hand in the air in between them. "I'm fine. No worries. And if the big brother says meet him at the ship then that's where I need to be. Help me up?"
Sighing she extended a hand to help him up. As soon as he was upright dizziness hit him and he slid down the side of a container to sit.
"Oof. Give me a second."
After a moment he pushed himself off the floor to lean against the container.
"What is with you humans" Marath asked with a sigh.
"Just stubborn I guess. Come on."
Al limped down the corridor with one arm around Marath's shoulder and the other holding his ribs. Jack met them in the corridor outside of the landing bah.
"It looks like you are always propping up one of the Baker brothers" Jack said to Marath.
Marath shrugged. "Someone has to do it."
She looked a Al. "Were you serious about helping find my family?"
"Of course!"
Jack raised an eyebrow at him quizzically. In response Al shrugged his own shoulders and immediately winced. Just then the doors opened.
Jack whistled. A dozen alien corpses were piled around Alert.
Hoisting his weapon Jack walked forward. He motioned for Marath and Al to remain out in the corridor. Stalking forward he was halfway to the ship when movement to his right caused him to spin around. Las stood there holding up her hands. Her own weapon was slung over her shoulder.
"Been busy" Jack asked.
Las shrugged before turning to walk back up the ramp into the ship.
Jack started to yell for Al and Marath to come in when Thran, Walsh and Bell came flooding in. Crouched low they had their rifles up while they moved from crate to crate.
"At ease" Jack yelled out. "All clear."
Thran looked around at the corpses before asking "was this by your hand Captain?"
"Not me" Jack replied. "Our diminutive pilot apparently had some issues with these guys trying to come on her ship."
"Dayum!" Bell exclaimed.
Walsh shook his head. "Don't piss off your girlfriend bro."
"I would not refer to as your girlfriend without her express permission" Thran said quietly.
Bell was still looking around wide eyed. "I think that is sound advice."
A throat cleared from the entrance to the landing bay. Turning around they saw Stumpy and Lanky.
"Mr. Walsh. Mr. Bell. It is time. Come with us please. Our ship is waiting" said Stumpy.
"What's going on" asked Jack.
"None of your concern Captain" Stumpy replied.
"But it might be my concern" came another voice from the corridor. As he spoke Captain Kirby stepped inside. "So why don't you tell me what's going on?"
Stumpy frowned at him and started to reply but Lanky interjected. "These men will be accompanying us to Station 0."
Kirby frowned. "They don't seem too excited about that prospect."
Stumpy cut the air in front of him with his hand. "It's of no matter. They WILL be coming with us."
Jack jumped in. "I think not. Citizens have certain rights. Not being shanghaied is one of them."
Lanky smirked at him. "As we explained to Mr. Thran, they at not citizens and thus have no rights in Consortium space."
Shouting erupted from all corners. Jack could barely hear his own voice over the din until Marath joined in.
"What if they were married?"
Silence. Everyone looked at her. Across the angry circle of Jack saw Al's mouth fall open. He seemed to wilt at Marath's words.
Finally Stumpy asked "Married to who?"
"What if Walsh and I were married aboard ship on the way back to the station?"
Las, who had joined the group unnoticed by Jack, walked up to Bell and jumped into his arms. He caught her and looked down at her in surprise. She simply pointed at herself and then at him.
Stumpy visibly ground his teeth. "Then we would require copies of all records showing the appropriate dates and licenses. If the paperwork did not match up we would be forced to take Walsh and Bell, as well as arrest anyone who attempted to game the system."
Kirby spoke up then in a quiet voice. "Gentlemen, there ain't no need for threats. Or for shenanigans. It's simple really. Capt. Baker has already requested that Walsh and Bell be listed as members of his crew and that he would like to sponsor them for citizenship. He asked that of me as soon as we met this morning. Only reason it ain't been done already is because we had a minor issue to contend with. So, I'm afraid that I'm going to have deny you gentlemen the pleasure of incarcerating anyone without due process. So sorry for the inconvenience."
Jack caught himself gaping. Snapping back to attention he said "It's true. Mr. Bell will be serving alongside Thran as security. Mr. Walsh has asked to be trained as a navigator."
Stumpy and Lanky stared at each of them in turn. Then, exchanging another glance between themselves they turned and walked out of the hangar.
"Looks like we've managed to find you yet another enemy" Kirby said to Jack. Before Jack could reply he hit his communicator. "Kirby to Command Deck. Judith, would you start the paperwork on Walsh and Bell to get work visas?"
As he spoke he strode out of the hangar. Las gave Bell a smile and then hopped out of his arms to walk back up the ramp into Alert. Walsh pushed Bells shoulder and laughed as he walked inside too. Bell shook his head before following.
Al looked at Marath. "What was that about?"
She frowned. "I know what it's like to be taken against your will. I couldn't let that happen to someone else."
She touched his cheek. "Do you think Jack would hire me as medic?"
Al smiled and called over his shoulder, "Hey J, we need a medic?"
Jack gave them a thumbs up which caused Marath to smile.
"Think he'll give me an advance on my pay? I kinda only have two things to wear. And one is not very tasteful."
Jack walked over. "Ma'am. You saved my life. And for that Al will buy you an entire wardrobe."
Al rolled his eyes. "Oh ha ha. I guess we're going shopping."
Marath jumped up and down clapping her hands. When she let him go Al almost fell over. Catching him quickly she said, "Maybe that can wait until after we take you to med bay."
****
The lift opened in front of Jack. Kirby was leaning against the back wall staring towards the floor and chewing on his lower lip. As soon as he saw Jack he straightened up and grinned.
"Well get in here buddy! Where ya headed?"
Jack smiled in return and limped into the lift.
"Heading to level 3."
Kirby wagged his eyebrows up and down. "You got that date with Judith tonight?"
"Headed to her place now" Jack replied
"Good luck buddy. I hope it works out better this time round."
"Yeah, me too" Jack said. So, I've been doing thinking. Does it seem a bit fortuitous that Wales just happened to be in the area with a flotilla?"
"You just put your finger on my current mystery. There's no reason for a small fleet with that much firepower to be patrolling here. Not that I'm complaining mind you. But it's damn weird."
"The other mystery is those TI agents" Jack mused. "I've never seen that before. Why would they be so worried about two lost marines?"
"No idea buddy. I'm going to do some digging and see if I can't find out. Something big is going on. I'm sure of it."
The lift stopped and opened to deck three. Kirby smiled and clapped Jack on the back before giving him a thumbs up. Jack rolled his eyes as he limped out into the corridor. He hit the chime to Judith's cabin. While he waited he absently smoothed the front of his shirt. When the door opened he gasped.
There in the entrance stood Judith. She was in a maroon dress that fell well above her knees showing off long toned legs. Gold earrings sparkled from underneath her freshly curled hair.
"You look, wow" Jack stuttered out.
Judith spun in a circle. "You like?"
Jack gave her a lopsided grin. "I always have."
"Hush" she said with a playful shove.
"What's for dinner?"
"Spaghetti with meat sauce" she replied while turning to walk back inside.
"Ooh. Daring choice for a first date. What if you get some sauce on you?"
She looked back over her shoulder. "Then you'll just have to kick it off."
"I think that I can manage that."
"Good. Pour the wine while I fix the plates."
"Aye aye sir."
When the food was finished Jack refilled their glasses and leaned back contentedly.
Judith looked over her glass and said "You know that I've missed you."
"I've missed you too" Jack replied.
"It has been nice having you at the station lately and it's made me think about the past. Do you think that we should we try again?
"I don't know" Jack said. "I know I still have those feelings. But I also know that I will be gone a lot while you'll be here. Unless you'd like to come with me."
Judith shook her head. "You know that I can't leave here. The service is my home."
Jack took a sip of his wine before speaking. "Yeah, it was my home too once."
Silence reigned for long moments. The two of them took deep drinks of their wine to cover their discomfort.
Finally Judith spoke. "How about we just take this nice and slow? Friends. Maybe more one day?
"Friends for sure. And I would like the something more one day. But slow on the more."
Judith raised her glass. "Well, then here's to slowly more."
Jack raised his glass in return. As they clinked his communicator beeped.
"You didn't turn that thing off" Judith quipped.
Jack shrugged. "No one ever calls. I didn't think to."
He hit the answer button and Al's voice came from the speaker.
"Hey Jack. You busy?"
"Well, I'm currently drinking wine with a beautiful woman. Does that count?"
"Uhm" Al stuttered. "Sorry. We just got a call about a new job.
"What is it" Jack asked.
"A supply run to a colony on Paxonus."
"How long till we can fly?"
"She'll be ready to fly by the morning."
"Ok. Tell them we'll be there."
After he hung up he looked back at Judith. She set glass down on the table. Standing she held out her hand.
"Tonight, while I still have you to myself?"
Jack nodded as he stood. Taking her hand he let her lead him towards the bedroom.
****
The small ship hung against the blackness of space. Low slung it was not all that different from Alert although it was sleeker and more modern. On the cramped bridge sat the two agents that Bell had dubbed Stumpy and Lanky.
Lanky sat at the pilots station. Without turning to Stumpy he said "Holding stationary at the designated coordinates."
"Right on time" replied Stumpy. "The signal is incoming. Audio only."
He pressed a button and a distorted voice came over the comm unit.
"Do you have the two marines who were found on XP37?
"The marines were unobtainable but currently accounted for" Lanky replied.
"Do we know who brought them forward in time or why? And did you discover anything about XP37?"
Lanky and Stumpy exchanged a glance. "We are still uncertain as to the who or why. The two did report similar dreams to the others that we have investigated as. They did report on an auditory hallucination, a melody, that is new."
"That could bear investigation" replied the voice.
"We have news on the other issue" Stumpy interjected.
There was a brief pause. "Elaborate."
Lanky frowned at Stumpy. Stumpy ignored him as he said "The vanguard has arrived".
"Well then, it looks like we had better be ready."
All the Wrong Places
"What did you do to my poor baby?"
Jack hobbled up beside Judith. "Who's baby?"
She whipped her head to the side causing her hair to fly around her face. He caught a whiff of her shampoo. She smirked as she answered. "As many favors as I've called in already to get you space worthy? And as many favors as I'm going to have to call in to fix you back up? She's my baby too. And I should at least get visitation rights."
Jack smiled at her and put his hands up. "Ok, ok, fair enough."
He winced as the bruises on his face protested any movement of his lips.
Judith frowned and touched his cheek gingerly. "What did they do to my other baby."
He shook his head gingerly. "Nothing he won't recover from."
Her eyes gleamed as she asked "want me to kiss it and make it better?"
"Ruff! I'd love that but I'm afraid that the cure might kill me quicker."
She leaned in closer. "Oh, you can count on that. But you'd die smiling."
"Of that I have no doubt, but I also have a meeting with Charlie. And I promised Bell and Walsh that I'd walk with them to meet the TI agents in charge of their case. They arrived last night I hear."
She wrinkled her forehead. "Those two marines that you found? Only you could crash land on a desert planet and come back with two time travelers."
Jack shrugged. "What can I say, my life is just one long adventure."
He tapped his communicator. "Las, are Walsh and Bell ready to meet some time cops?"
His comm beeped. "Sure."
Jack rolled his eyes. Judith giggled. "Chatty isn't she?"
"You have no idea. It's non stop chatter on the bridge. She just never shuts up."
A moment later the two marines stepped off the rear ramp into the hanger bay. Close behind Bell walked Las. At just under five feet she looked diminutive next to Bell.
"Are you tagging along Las" Jack asked. In reply she shook her head and jerked a thumb back inside before walking away. Thran passed her on his way out. Jack looked back at Judith who shrugged her shoulders.
"Dammit, not you too!"
She laughed. "I have to get back to duty. Dinner later?"
"Absolutely. No dancing this time I'm afraid."
"Ha! Deal. My place. Since yours is kinda busted up at the moment. See you at ops in a few."
She winked at him as she skipped off. When she was out of ear shot Walsh let out a low whistle.
"That's one pretty lady you have there Cap. Girlfriend?"
Jack shook his head. "The one who got away actually."
"If she got away then she didn't go very far."
"Might as well be in another arm of the galaxy for all the good it does me. It's not space separating us."
Walsh cocked an eye at him but he chose to ignore it.
Thran interrupted before anything else was asked. "I thought that I would accompany these two warriors to their meeting. Often times peace is more dangerous than war and brothers in arms are even more important."
"I think that's a good idea." He tapped his communicator. "Al, it looks like we're all heading out. Do you have things covered here?"
"Of course" was the enthusiastic reply. "I've almost got the engines retuned. Marath is helping me here and I think Las is updating our Navigation and Tactical software."
"Good good. Call me if you need me."
Jack hobbled forward out of the hanger. In the corridor he took a left towards the administrative section.
"What should we expect" Bell asked.
"Questions. Lots of questions. How did you get here? Are you planning to try to go back? What are you going to do to integrate into modern society? They'll help with that last part."
"We don't know how we got here" Walsh said. "And I don't have a clue what to do now."
"Does this happen so often that there's a whole department to handle it" Bell asked.
"It happens. Used to not so often. Since the war things have been a bit wonky."
"I have heard Al and Thran talk about the war but I didn't get any details. What's the story?"
"A long one" Jack replied. He stopped in front of a hatchway. "We're here. Just answer their questions the best you can and it'll be over before you know it. I have a meeting with the Captain of this station. Just follow Thran's advice and I'll meet you three back at Alert later."
Walsh stuck out his hand. "Thank you sir. For everything. If there is ever a way that we can repay you we will."
The door slid open to reveal a small conference room. Inside at a long table sat two men. One was tall and thin. The other was short and plump. They both stood and straightened their suits as the marines entered. When Thran walked in behind them the plump one frowned.
"Have a seat gentlemen."
Jack cocked an eye at the agent as the door shut in front of him. Something about him seemed familiar. Shaking his head he limped down the corridor.
****
"Can you hand me that wrench" Al asked.
He heard clattering coming from his left. Straightening up from where he knelt beside the engines he looked over to Marath. Her dusky skin almost matched the black crew suit that she had changed into. He tried not to stare as he remembered the diaphanous robes that she had been wearing when they had first met.
She handed him the wrench and then wrapped her arms around her chest. Al felt his face grow flushed and he looked down.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare."
Her voice trembled just a little as she replied. "It's ok. I've gotten used to men staring."
He shook his head. "That doesn't mean that it's ok. It won't happen again."
Marath didn't reply but she did let her arms fall back to her side.
"What do you plan to do now that you're free of Sark" Al asked as he turned back to the engines.
Marath hopped up on top of the machinery beside him before answering. "I'm not sure. I don't know where to go now. I've been a slave for three years."
"You could always go home" Al replied without looking up.
Marath paused. "I can't. My family is gone."
"Gone where" Al asked distractedly.
"Dad died when me, mom and my baby sister were taken."
The wrench fell from Al's hands as he looked up.
"What happened?"
She shook her head. "I don't like to talk about it."
He tentatively reached out a hand and touched her shoulder. She jerked away causing him to pull back.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."
She shook her head again. "It's ok. It's just been bad for awhile."
"You don't have to tell me anything that you don't want to" he said.
She was silent for a minute. "I had just graduated from nursing school. I was all set to start working with my dad at his practice. As a reward he wanted to take us all on vacation to Raxon 7. On the way there we hit a rough patch that shut down our FTL. They were on us before we could escape. Dad tried to fight them off but they killed him. Just put him on his knees and shot him right in front of us. They shackled us and threw us in their cargo hold with a dozen other women that they had captured. A few days later they auctioned everyone off, including mom and Serath. Sark took a liking to me though and kept me for himself."
She shuddered and when he put an arm around her she didn't pull away this time. Instead she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"It's ok" he said quietly. "You're safe now. You can always stay here with us until you figure things out. Maybe we can even help track down your family."
"I don't know. I'm not sure what I want to do. And I doubt that we'd ever find mom and Serath now. Not after all this time."
"Hey, where is that confident woman who rescued us from pirates last week?"
She giggled and wiped at her eyes. "I did light that bastard up didn't I?"
"Heck yeah ya did! So cheer up. You're safe as can be now."
****
"Have a seat gentlemen" said the taller of the two agents. Bell mentally dubbed him Lanky.
The shorter one, Stumpy, frowned at Thran. "And why are you here sir? This meeting does not concern you."
Thran glowered back at him. "These two warriors have fought by my side. I am here to support them. You wouldn't try to forbid me from these proceedings would you?"
Stumpy leaned back in his seat away from Thran's looming form.
"We wouldn't dream of it. Please. Have a seat everyone."
Lanky leaned forward and set a small recoding device on the table before picking up his tab.
"Are you gentlemen ready to begin?"
Walsh and Bell looked at each other briefly. They unconsciously sat up straighter in their seats and folded their hands on the table in front of them.
"Yes sir" Walsh spat out.
Lanky nodded and began checking questions off of his tab. "What year and planet do you originate from?"
"Earth. 2015.
"What region of Earth do you originate from?"
"We both are, were, citizens of the United States of America and members of the armed forces on deployment to Afghanistan in the Middle East" Walsh replied.
"Do have any idea how you traveled forward through time?"
The two marines shook their heads.
"How? We have no idea how" said Bell. "Like we told Captain Baker, we were on patrol in the desert. Nightfall came and this weird lightstorm hit us. We hunkered down and when it was past we found ourselves on that planet that we were rescued from."
Lanky looked up from where he was typing on his tab. "How long were you on that planet?"
Walsh shook his head. "We aren't sure. The sun rose four times but the days seemed so much longer. That was one of the things that let us know we weren't in Kansas anymore. My watch ran for roughly thirty four hours per sun cycle."
Stumpy finally piped up with a question. "What did you see while you were on XP37?"
"Is that the what it's called" asked Bell. "Sand. We saw lots and lots of sand. We came across some ruins. Which were buried in the damn sand. We almost got eaten by giant scorpion lobster things. That came out of the sand. Hell I even dreamed about the sand. We both did."
Walsh nodded his head. "We had some odd dreams. Some nights I would dream that I was surrounded by people but I couldn't see them clearly. Once I dreamed about what the ruins would like new. Every night I heard the oddest song or melody whistling through the sand dunes."
Stumpy and Lanky both sat up straighter.
"Did you both have identical dreams" Lanky asked.
Bell and Walsh both shrugged and nodded.
"Sure" said Walsh. "I attribute it to isolation and stress."
Stumpy squinted at them. "We would like you gentlemen to come with us. We'll be taking you to Zero Station for further questions and tests."
"With all due respect, we would rather not" replied Walsh. "We had hoped to return to Earth. Captain Baker said that you would help us integrate into modern society."
"I'm afraid that Captain Baker is mistaken in this. I'm also sorry to say that Earth will have to wait. You WILL be accompanying us to Station Zero."
Thran spoke up for the first time since entering. "You would violate the rights of two men for what? To satisfy some curiosity? And I have never heard of Station Zero. Where is it located?"
Lanky put away his tab and picked up their recorder. "The location of Station Zero is classified. We cannot disclose that information to a civilian."
Stumpy smirked across the table. "Besides. These two marines aren't even Consortium citizens. What rights do they have? I believe they will be going with us wherever we choose."
Thran drew in a deep breath and was about to respond when the alarms started ringing.
****
The lift opened onto the command deck. Jack stood in the doorway looking around at the blinking lights and chirping monitors. Nostalgia and longing caused his hands to shake. It wasn't long before Kirby spotted him.
"Don't just stand there. Get in here. Jack how the hell are ya?"
"Oh, you know. Banged up. Me and my ship."
Kirby grinned. "Who's ship?"
"Oh hell, not you too."
"Hey, I'm not one to argue with Judith."
Jack just rolled his eyes. "Heaven forbid you stick up for your friend."
They both chuckled. "Well, friend to friend" Kirby said. "I think you need bigger guns."
"Maybe. Any idea where I can get those?"
Kirby grinned again. "I might know a thing or two. Step into my office."
Before they could move a crewman stopped them. "Cap, we have an anomaly approaching from the far side of the star."
The grin dropped from Kirby's face and he was all business instantly. "Any ideas of what it is?"
"Could be a gas cloud. We aren't sure yet sir. It just came on to sensors."
Kirby nodded absently. "Keep an eye on it and let me know if anything changes."
On the way to Kirby's cabin they passed Judith's station. Jack smiled at her. Before he got past her however he received a pinch on his posterior. When he jumped Kirby looked back quizzically. Judith however was a study in attentiveness to her station. Chuckling he hobbled through the open cabin door.
Kirby motioned to a chair in front of his desk which Jack slid into with a sigh. Kirby pulled out a bottle of whisky and held it up. At Jack's enthusiastic thumbs up he poured two tumblers worth.
"Tell me about Sark" he commanded while handing over Jack's glass.
Jack shook his head and sipped. "Man. That's some good whisky."
He took another sip. "He might be dead but I wouldn't count on it. Probably should have killed him when I had the chance."
Kirby took his own sip before replying. "Eh. What's one more pirate wanting revenge? Why did he try to kill you?
"Wales gave him some crazy ideas that I was involved with Epicus 3."
If Kirby's face was serious before it was somber now. "Epicus 3 huh? I've heard rumors. They true?"
Jack just sipped his whiskey.
"Okay then" Kirby replied. "Wonder what Wales was doing out that way? He's got a fancy new ship. I'd've figured it would be on the other side of Consortium space spearheading an exploration mission."
Jack shook his head. "No idea. All he said was that it was classified. Before he teleported out and left us to die."
"You find that a little strange" Kirby asked.
Now that you mention it, yes. At the time I was busy running for my life. Didn't think about it till now. But it does seem like a big coincidence."
Kirby was silent a moment before shrugging and taking another sip. "I guess I need to send out a squad to deter pirates."
"Are you going to send one to look for Sark?"
"I wish that I could" said Kirby. "I've been ordered not to approach that particular desert."
"By who?"
"Those two TI agents who are here to talking to your castaways" Kirby said.
"Since when did TI agents worry about abandoned planets?"
"No idea. And very rarely have I known them to relay orders to Fleet Officers. But they showed up with all the right paperwork to tell me to stay away from that system all together."
Before Jack could reply a comm whistled. "Cap, we need you in ops."
Kirby hit a switch on his desk. "What is it Johnson?"
"That anomaly has picked up speed and is headed straight for us."
Kirby rushed out into ops. Jack was slower and by the time he made it onto the deck Kirby had it pulled up on the main viewer. He stood in front of the screen, arms akimbo, studying the data coming in,
"What is it" Jack asked him. It was Judith who replied however.
"Whatever it is its growing closer rapidly."
"Any theories as to what it is" Kirby asked over his shoulder.
"It appears to be..... A fleet of small craft" Judith replied.
"Huh" Kirby said absently. "Well, let's signal them. Say hello and ask them to please not ram us."
Judith tapped at her screen and then waited a moment. "No response Captain. Wait, I'm reading an energy buildup. I think it's weapons charging. They're also increasing speed!"
"Well, so much for that" said Kirby. "Sound the alarm. Launch fighters and raise shields. Arm weapons. Order them to power down and break off their approach.
Jack slid up beside him. "Do you want me to launch Alert? We could operate as a support vehicle for the fighters?"
"Ha! I'm sorry friend. That poor rust bucket wouldn't make it out of the hanger much less survive a firefight. Let's just let the professionals handle this one."
"Blah, blah, blah" replied Jack. "Just keep talking old friend."
At her station Judith was busy relaying orders. "All pilots, all pilots. Prepare for immediate launch to engage possible hostiles. Repeat, prepare for immediate launch to engage possible hostiles."
Deep in Station 12's infrastructure pilots and engineers were bustling to get the small fighters launched. To the untrained eye it would look like barely organized chaos instead of the well drilled mechanism that it was. In less than ten minutes the first of the fighters were on their tracks to be launched into the void. System checks were completed and ordnance was loaded. The launchers were primed and at regular intervals fighters were shot out like missiles.
When they were clear the flight leader took over. "All fighters form up on me. We will attempt to engage the enemy at a safe distance from the station."
Jack could hear the constant chatter from where he stood on the command deck. On the screen it looked like the two closing forces were barely moving even though each side was moving many hundreds of miles per second.
"Flight leader" Judith asked "do you have the approaching ships on visual range yet?"
"We do ma'am. Relating telemetry now. They're ugly little bastards."
On the main screen popped up a closer image of the ships.
"Damn, those are ugly" Jack said. "And small too. They look like they could barely hold one person. How can they be this far out without a base ship?"
"That's an excellent question" Kirby replied quietly. "Judith, please warn the approaching, swarm, to stand down or we will engage."
Judith bent over her controls and spoke into her headset. After a moment of no reply she looked up and shook her head.
"Very well, inform the fighter squadrons that they are free to go weapons hot."
When Judith relayed his command the flight leader was silent for a beat before simply replying "yes ma'am."
At his command the weapons on one hundred small craft, small being relative, came alive. Target locks chimed and pulse cannons swiveled in their turrets.
"Engage."
With those words a wall of energy erupted from the Consortium craft. The response from the attackers was instantaneous. The swarm of ships simply dissolved. A few ships were caught but the vast majority simply were no longer there to be hit. Instead they leapt forward in erratic formations and quickly engulfed the fighter squadrons.
"Damn they're fast little buggers" one pilot cried out. He started to say something else before he was caught by multiple blasts from several angles. His ship exploded silently and he as gone. He was not alone however. The rest of his squadron soon followed him into oblivion.
The Consortium pilots junked and jived every direction but the tiny craft seemed to surround them. They fired constantly. Small bursts of energy that came from every direction. Their own weapons were cutting out chunks at a time but the numbers against them seemed limitless.
"Flight leader to 12, we're getting killed out here. I'm down a dozen pilots already. Request authorization to retreat."
Kirby frowned but nodded at Judith who spoke quickly into her mic.
"That's affirmative flight leader. Pull back to 12 to regroup."
"Roger that."
At his command the fighters pulled back together raggedly and turned for home. They faced a cruel gauntlet. The alien ships added a new tactic. Kamikaze runs. In the blink of an eye two or even three alien ships would collide with a fighter and send it reeling off into space. Cursing came over the comm channels from endangered pilots. The flight leader tried to keep control. Until his own ship was hit repeatedly.
Kirby stepped up to Judith's mic. "All fighters, disengage. Break free from as best you can. Rendezvous at position gamma."
On the screen they watched the desperate dance. Several fighters did break free finally to flee to position gamma which was located behind the nearest moon. Out of a hundred less than twenty ships were still shown as active.
Judith looked towards Jack. When he met her gaze her eyes were wide and he saw her tremble slightly.
"I can't believe what I just saw" she said.
Jack shook his head slowly. "I can't either. Even in the war we never suffered casualties like that. At least not in the first wave."
Kirby's focus was still on the main screen. His jaw was set and he seemed to standing even taller. "Send a signal to any nearby ships requesting immediate aid. And then brace yourselves. I think things are about to get bumpy."
Another blast hit the stations shields causing them to flare.
Judith called out "Minimal effect on our shields, but communications have been blocked. I don't know if our signal got out."
Shaking his head Kirby said "Have faith my dear. Weapons station. Do me a favor and start shooting these bastards out of my sky."
There was no response. Turning his head Jack saw the young crewman, Smith maybe, sitting at weapons staring glassy eyes at his screen. He was pale and breathing rapidly.
Kirby frowned. "Poor newbie. He's never been shot at before. Jack, take his station.
Jack whipped his head to look at him. Deciding that he was serious he rushed over to ease the crewman aside.
"Acquiring targets. Damn these suckers are fast. You know, I'm not even supposed to be at ops much less manning a console. This could get you severely reprimanded."
Kirby gave him a tight grin. "Well, we'll just leave that part out of the record. Now shoot something!"
"Pulse cannons at full. Firing. Minimal effect. These little things move fast.
"Well, let's sing them a song then" Kirby said.
Jack nodded to himself. "Aye. Bringing up missile locks. Singers away."
When a cluster of the tiny alien craft entered his target he stabbed at the fire control. The singularity torpedoes, nicknamed Singers, leapt across the distance at a tenth the speed of light. When their warheads ignited they created a small, short lived singularity that destroyed huge swathes of the swarming ships.
"Singers are swatting them out of the sky. Thank goodness their shields are as weak as their weapons. There's just so many of them."
"Keep firing" Kirby ordered." Comms, any response to any of our hails?
"Negative cap" Judith replied. "Still nothing in or out."
"Damn. Ok, do what you can do. Jack, how are we coming with the fly swatting?"
"More like spraying for wasps" Jack replied. "We keep knocking them down, but there is just so many of them." He paused frowning at his screen. "Something strange is happening to the shields.
Kirby turned and frowned at him. "I don't like strange. Elaborate please."
Jack furrowed his brow at the information flowing across the screen. "None of their shots pack much of a punch. Them being so small that makes sense. But something about their weapons leaves a trace of energy behind. Not a lot, but it's starting to build up and roll in waves across the shields. It's playing hell with our harmonics."
"Any danger of collapse" Kirby asked b
Jack checked his screen again. "There is a definite chance of collapse. Especially if they keep pumping up that wave."
"Damn. Ok, let's try this. See if you can reverse the polarity of the shields. Maybe that'll cancel out the buildup."
"You sure about that Cap" Jack asked.
"Sure? Hell no. But we have to try something."
Jack traced a cross over his chest. "Reversing the polarity now.".
As soon as he hit the button things around the command deck exploded. Sparks flew everywhere and screams punctuated the air. And then things got worse. The power went out. Along with the shields.
"Dammit. Power is out. Weapons and life support have switched to back up power" Jack yelled out. "Oh hell. Incoming. They aren't wasting any time. They're heading right for us."
Kirby was silent a moment before saying "Well, that didn't work. Shit. Judith. Get me those shields back. ASAP."
Jack set the torpedo targeting system to automatically fire at steady intervals. Spinning the dial on the pulse cannon targeting system he chased small clumps of ships across the sky firing as quickly as he could. Soon however the swarm was closer to the station than its torpedoes could safely detonate. Smaller beamed weapons took over. From a myriad of embankments they lashed out slicing individual ships into pieces. Still the swarm came on. Despite his desperate defense ships got through. Too many ships.
"We've got contact on the hull" Judith yelled.
"I suspect that they're trying to board" Jack commented.
Kirby walked to the nearest station and hit the all call. "All hands brace for boarding. I repeat, all hands brace for boarding."
"Yes" yelled out Judith. "Got shields back! No more are getting through, but we have close to a hundred on the hull."
"Damn" Kirby said quietly. For the first time he moved from his spot and hurried to weapons control.
"Ok, Jack I need another favor.
Jack looked up. "Anything. Just name it."
"We're still working with minimal staff since the war and as you can see a lot of them are fresh out of the academy. I need to draft that security officer of yours and those two marines."
Jack nodded. "I don't see them saying no right now. Where do you want them?"
"Tell them to go by the armory on deck 6 and then make their way down to engineering" Kirby replied. "If we lose engineering then we lose the station, but I need security out in the corridors repelling these bastards."
Jack hit the intercom button. He was met with shouting from the other end.
"Thran" he yelled.
The sounds of arguing stopped. "Yes Captain" Thran replied.
"We've got boarding parties incoming. Do you think Walsh and Bell would like to join us you in engineering to set up a welcoming party of our own?"
There was a brief pause. "We will be there shortly Captain."
"Good. Stop by the armory on Deck 6 and get armed."
"Do we know our enemy sir?"
"Negative. They came out of nowhere and have refused communication so far. Oh, and the lifts aren't working so you'll have to take service ladders. Hurry. I don't think we have long."
****
"You can't leave, we aren't done" shouted Stumpy.
"In case you haven't heard, we are under attack and have been asked to aid in the defense of the station" Thran replied in a measured tone.
"I'm sure that the crew can handle things" said Lanky.
Thran frowned at him. "Obviously the commander feels differently. We will have continue this at a different time."
The two agents looked at each other briefly before Stumpy demanded "we will accompany you to the armory and then to engineering."
"I don't believe that is a good idea" said Thran. "You should remain here. It will be safer for you."
Stumpy glared at him and bit out a reply. "If we are being boarded then you will need all hands available. And I would like to keep an eye on our assets."
"Very well then. I'm sure Captain Kirby will appreciate any help."
Poking his head out into the dimly lit corridor Thran glanced both directions before motioning for the rest to follow him. The five of them crept forward on the balls of their feet. Thran went first, then the agents, with Bell and Walsh bringing up the rear. After a few moments Bell leaned towards Walsh.
"What are we going to do?"
Walsh shook his head before whispering a reply. "I don't know. Maybe if we make it out of here we can smuggle aboard a ship to escape. Maybe Baker can help us."
Bell pointed a finger back towards the agents walking in front of them. "Maybe these two won't make it out alive. I'm just sayin."
Walsh shook his head again and made a shushing sound.
After a few minutes they reached the armory. Thran tapped in a code that Baker had given him and they slipped inside. Dim red emergency lights were all that they had to light up the cramped room.
Pulling down body armor and weapons Thran passed them out and explained the firing controls briefly.
"Are you ready for the dance of death" Thran asked.
"No, but let's do it anyway" Bell said in reply.
The two agents were impassive.
Stepping back into the corridor they started towards engineering. They made it a hundred yards before the attack came. The first thing that they heard was the buzzing. Before they could do more than glance around the aliens were on them. They came flooding around a bend in the corridor. Some ran. Many were leaping up to bounce off of the walls and ceiling. There was a shimmering effect behind them as they moved. They were firing blasts of yellow energy as they advanced.
"Back" yelled Thran as he shouldered his pulse rifle and fired. The first shot woke the rest of them up from the shock they were experiencing and they began firing as well. Step and fire. Step and fire. They reached an intersection and took cover around the corners. Thran and the Marines were on one side with the TI agents on the other. Thran pulled something from his pocket.
"Uhm, is that a grenade" Walsh asked.
"Indeed" Thran replied before launching it back down the corridor.
An explosion rocked them and caused their ears to ring. Glancing around the corner Walsh saw the aliens pulling back. The stopped firing and retreated back a few dozen yards. A pile of bodies littered the corridor.
"Think they've had enough" Bell asked.
"Unlikely" said Thran. "They will return to the attack soon. Be prepared."
"Should we move" Walsh asked.
Thran shook his head. "This is limited cover but I'm an unsure if we will find more substantial cover before we reach engineering. I believe that our best choice is to attack before we are flanked along one of these side corridors."
"Oh. Fun" Bell chimed in.
"Will they be any help" Walsh asked jerking his head towards the TI agents.
Thran shook his head. "I do not know. Are you ready?"
"Like Bell says, no but let's do it anyway" Walsh said with a grin.
Launching themselves up they advanced into the corridor. Firing as they went, leapfrogging each other. Walsh was surprised to see Stumpy and Lanky moving alongside them. The aliens were caught off guard. They fell back quickly before finally breaking and running. Stopping over the bodies they examined them.
"Ugly bastards aren't they" said Bell.
"They look like, well like wasps" said Walsh.
On the floor in front of them lay something like they had only seen in nightmares. Man height but with a segmented body and almost spindly limbs. Their faces were covered by a helmet and armor was worn over their chests. Bell rolled one over with his foot and they saw small, almost vestigial translucent wings.
"That explains that weird shimmering when they're bouncing around all over the place" said Walsh.
Thran opened his mouth to reply but before he could speak the one at his feet leapt up with a blur of wings and was on him before he could react. His rifle was knocked from his hands. Instinctively he reached out to grab his attacker when he felt something thud into his own chest armor. He pushed the alien back by his shoulders to see that it was trying to stab him with a stinger projecting from its lowest segment. He tried to turn and shove it away bugle could barely move it. Straining his arms were beginning to burn as it got inexorably closer and then the pressure was gone.
Bell stood over the body holding his rifle like a club. He thought for a moment, reversed his weapon and then shot it without blinking.
"Well boys, y'all about ready to move along" he asked.
"You three proceed to engineering. We will be right behind you" said Stumpy.
They turned to look at the TI agents.
"I thought you wanted to 'keep an eye on your assets'?" Bell asked.
"The way ahead seems clear" Lanky replied. "For now anyway. You should go secure engineering while you can. We need to examine the aliens."
"He is right" said Thran. "Come. We should move while we can."
When they had moved down the corridor Walsh asked Thran "what are we going to do".
"I am not certain. I intend to speak with Capt. Baker. He is friends with the station commander. Perhaps Capt. Kirby can be persuaded to interfere. Or perhaps our two TI agents will not survive this encounter" he said with the ghost of a grin.
Bell gave Walsh a smirk that Thran didn't see.
"That would give us time to smuggle you off station and into hiding" Thran continued. "Las might know people who can give you asylum."
"What's her story anyway" Bell asked. "She's a cutie."
"You always did like em small" Walsh said. "Tinker bell fetish much?"
"Yeah yeah yeah."
Thran looked up confused. Bell and Walsh started laughing.
As soon as they entered an engineer wearing an officers uniform stopped them to ask "Who are you and what are you doing in my engineering department?"
Thran saluted him. "We are the security team from the Alert. Capt. Kirby asked us to see to your defense."
The chief engineer rolled his eyes. "Great. Mercenaries. Well we don't need any 'private security' looking after us."
Walsh stepped forward. "Sir, I understand your reluctance. We've worked with private contractors before who were less than ideal. We just want to see that everyone gets through this in one piece."
"Trust us, you do not want to have those critters in here without someone watching your back" Bell said.
The chief engineer thought for a moment before grunting. "Fine fine. Just stay out of the way."
Thran called to Walsh and Bell. "Come. Help me shut this bulkhead and lock it. See that latch? Throw it."
Before Bell could shut the hatch he heard someone call out. "Wait please.
Bell looked up to see Stumpy and Lanky moving down the corridor. "Great look who finally got here."
Walsh raised an eyebrow at the sight of them.
Bell asked "Where have you been?"
The two stepped through the engineering hatch before Lanky replied "That information is classified."
"Of course it is" said Bell. "You know if we make it through this I swear that I'll.."
"If you two ladies are through bickering , we need to send a team to fix the power relays on deck 8. We need someone to go along as a guard" barked the chief engineer.
There was silence for a moment when finally Thran said "I will go and be their shield."
"I ain't sure that's a good idea" Walsh said. "We need you here."
"Someone must go with the engineers. They will not make it on their own."
Bell piped up "So send the chuckle twins."
"I do not trust them to agree to go much less do what is needed" Thran said. "They have an agenda of their own."
"Fine, we'll hold down the fort" Walsh said.
The team of engineers approached. Several of them were shaking. Two of them exchanged apprehensive looks. Thran brandished rifle. "If you gentlemen are ready then follow me."
When they were gone Bell addressed the TI agents "Will you two be of any use to us?"
They didn't reply but instead walked across the bay to an empty computer terminal to sit down.
"Assholes" said Bell.
Walsh stopped an engineer. "Can you help us lock down these hatches?"
As they locked down the reinforced hatch Bell said "I hope the others are ok. Are we sure we can't throw those two out of here before we close up shop?"
****
Marath sat up placing a hand on Al's arm at the all call announcing the boarding. "Do you hear that? We're being boarded."
"I heard" Al said shaking.
Marath jumped up. "There's going to be casualties. I should get down to medical and volunteer to help."
Al stood up beside her ."You can't go alone. I'll take you there."
Marath shook her head. "You don't have to do that. Besides, then you'd be leaving Las alone."
Al looked towards the ship. "I'm pretty sure that she can handle herself better without us."
Marath nodded once decisively. Al almost missed her tremble.
Al walked to the foot of the ramp and yelled "Hey Las, we're heading down to the med bay. You good?"
A moment later she stuck her head out and gave him a thumbs up.
"Ok, let's go" Al said.
The station continued to shake with impacts from alien weapons as the hurried down the halls. When they made it to a lift Marath looked at Al wide eyed.
"Do you think that we'll be ok?"
"We'll be fine. Don't worry. Stations like this held off the Raustreen on the frontier line for months on end during the war. I don't know who is attacking us but they're in for a surprise."
Suddenly a massive blast shook the station. The lift stopped and went pitch black.
Marath screamed. Al tried to put an arm around her shoulder but she began taking wild swings at him.
"It's ok. It's ok. It's just me" he said repeatedly until she stopped hitting him. As she sobbed he pulled her closer and stroked her hair.
"Shhh. It's ok. You aren't alone and no one is going to hurt you."
Finally with one last sniffle she asked "what do we do."
Pulling out a small flashlight he shone it around the lift.
"First we're going to see if those lift doors can be opened manually."
Wiping at her eyes Marath nodded. "I'm sorry for the meltdown."
Al gave her a crooked grin. "No worries."
Popping open a panel he found a hydraulic latch. When he tried to pull it down it didn't budge however.
"Hold this a minute" he asked while holding out the light.
Marath took it from him freeing up both hands. He put his body weight onto the latch and pushed for all he was worth. Muscles straining he quickly grew red in the face as the latch slowly moved down. Finally it clicked into place and the lift doors released. The lift was halfway down from one level. Poking his head out Al took a look around.
"It looks like we are one level up from the med bay. Well, half a level."
"Where do we go from here" Marath asked.
"We'll just cut over to the other side and take the emergency shaft down."
Al boosted Marath up onto the level before pulling himself up. Taking her hand he pulled her along. They made it a few yards before they heard the sounds of weapons. It was punctuated by shouting and the sound of running feet. Over it all they heard a persistent buzzing.
Al darted his gaze back and forth. "Quick, in here."
He pulled Marath behind him into an open storage bay. Releasing the locking latch the door slid shut on its hydraulics. Moving deeper through the stacks of containers the two of them huddled behind a crate.
Marath asked, "Do you think that we're safe?"
Al nodded. "I'm sure of it."
That was when they heard the screech of metal. Dim light shown in from the corridor and buzzing filled the room.
Marath clasped a hand over her mouth and whispered "Oh no. What should we do?"
Al shook his head. "Just stay calm. Keep your head down."
Looking around he saw a wrench. He grabbed it just as the crate that they were hiding behind was shoved aside. The buzzing intensified as the alien loomed over them. Without thinking he leaped forward and smashed it in the head with the wrench. The impact jolted up his arm. Distantly he could hear Marath scream. A sharp pain hit him in his side. Falling to his knees and then his hands he felt his control of his body going. Rolling to his back he saw the alien standing above him. A yellowish liquid dropped from a stinger at the base of its body. It raised that segment above his face but just as it moved Marath struck it in the back of the head. Reeling away she followed it smashing it over and over again. It fell but she continued to hammer it until it's helmet fell away and its head was ruined. Al felt his body begin to convulse. Marath's face swam into his view.
"Which way is med bay?"
"Down 1 level and over 2 sections" Al choked out.
Almost before he finished Marath was up and running dropping the wrench to clatter behind her.
****
"It sounds like they are almost through the bulkhead" Jack called out. The sound of energy blasts against the hatchway almost drowned out his words. "Security reports that they are everywhere."
Kirby replied "Yep. Sounds like. Everybody ready?"
Judith shook as she lifted her rifle. "I thought after the war I'd never need a gun again."
Jack said "Man I wish. I think I've needed one more since the war was over."
Kirby was stone faced as he said "Well folks, it's been a pleasure."
The hatchway exploded inwards. More energy blasts poured through as the aliens rushed in wings buzzing. Jack crouched behind his station and caught an intruder mid leap sending him reeling back chest trailing smoke. The aliens fired on the fleet personnel but here they had the advantage. With an engineering and design geared for war each station was double reinforced to serve as last ditch cover. The energy weapons that the aliens were using might play havoc with computers and electrical systems, but they were deflected away from the defenders. The aliens were not so lucky. They had to clear the entranceway while dodging return fire. Even with wings the majority did not make it unscathed. Unfortunately there were just so many of them. Soon the first crewman cried out when they were transfixed by a stinger. They screamed louder when the venom hit their system.
Jack glanced up to see Judith struggling with an attacker. Swearing he dashed across the room. A blast came so close that it seared his shoulder but he didn't stop until he slammed into the alien. They fell to the floor but Jack immediately rolled away from its attempt to sting him. The creature rose up to hover a foot off the ground. That was until Judith found her fallen gun and shot it. Her first blast took off its right leg sending it tumbling. The next blast caught it in the face. It twitched a moment and then was still. Silence fell. Sitting up Jack looked around to see the command deck clear of aliens. Well, living aliens at least. The cries of the wounded were all he heard until the comm unit came to life.
"Station 12 this is Lionheart. Respond."
Judith jerked her head up to look at her station. "Cap, a Consortium flotilla including the Sun Tzu, Mjolnir, Divine Wind and Bow of Artemis has arrived."
"Thank the lord Kirby whispered. "Lionheart, this is 12. Boy are you a sight for sore eyes. Is that you Wales?"
Captain Wales said "The one and only. Looks like you have some unwelcome visitors. Care for a hand?"
Kirby visibly relaxed tense muscles. "We'd love some help."
"How are your shields?"
Kirby glanced at Judith.
"60% give or take a few."
"Not great but holding" he said. "You thinking Hammer and Anvil?"
"That's what I was thinking if you are up for it" Wales said.
Kirby looked to Jack. "Any word from security on the state of the boarding parties?"
Jack answered from tactical where he had limped back to. "Security reports that the boarding parties have retreated. They're starting to pull back from the hull."
Kirby shuddered. "Ok Lionheart, give em hell."
"Roger that. Commencing Hammer and Anvil."
Away from the station the remaining swarms of alien fighters had dispersed under the fire from the flotilla. That flotilla was now spreading out to take aim at the station. As the small alien craft fled they were allowed to slip through the stations force field. But only on the side facing the Consortium ships. And that's when the Lionheart and her small fleet struck. The station rocked again as they were hit, this time by friendly fire. Shields that had been shored up by engineers held if only barely. The tiny alien fighters simply ceased to exist. Within minutes they were reduced to a small cloud of dust carried away by solar winds. When the flotilla stopped firing all was still for the first time in hours.
****
Lights flickered in the corridor as she ran. Luckily she hadn't ran into anymore of those things. Her heart raced from the exertion and her breath came in sharp gasps but she didn't slow down. Finally she saw the cross on the hatch up ahead. She barely slowed as it opened in front of her. Inside was chaos. Screaming wounded. Doctors yelling orders at nurses. Quite a few were sitting catatonic staring at the wall in front of them. Eyes darting around she grabbed a nurse dashing past her by the arm. The young woman pulled up short and glared at her.
"I'm sorry. My friend was stung by one of the aliens. He's seizing and he was too big for me to carry. I need antivenin and possibly epinephrine."
"Ma'am I can't just give that to you. A trained medic needs to administer that."
Marath grabbed her by the shoulders. "My name is Marath. I graduated top of my nursing class from Ruru University of Medicine and Technology. I would dare say that I am more qualified than you are. Now where are the damn drugs!?"
Shaking her head the nurse pointed to a cabinet before hurrying away. Still fighting to catch her breath Marath jerked the drawer open and found the drugs that she needed. Loading a needle she slipped it into a breast pocket of her jump suit before sprinting off again. Silently she prayed that Al would still be alive by the time that she made it back
She hit the entranceway at a run. Sprinting down the aisles between containers she threw herself to her knees to slide to a stop beside Al's motionless body. Without pause she slammed the needle down directly into his heart. The combination of antivenin and adrenaline caused him to sit up, gasping and convulsing. Marath dropped the needle and cradled him onto her lap.
"Ya know, there are much easier ways to impress a girl" she said.
Smiling weakly Al looked up at her. "You'll have to tell me what those are one day."
Al's communicator chimed.
"Al, where are you" Jack asked. "Are you ok?"
Al groaned as he reached for the reply button. "We're fine. We're in a storage bay not far from med bay. We had to hide from one of those things."
"Ok. Meet me back at the ship. Now that those things are retreating I want to get everyone back where I can keep an eye on them."
"Sure bro. Be right there."
Marath looked down at him. "I'm not sure we should move you just yet. And if we do I think that it should be to med bay."
Al waved his hand in the air in between them. "I'm fine. No worries. And if the big brother says meet him at the ship then that's where I need to be. Help me up?"
Sighing she extended a hand to help him up. As soon as he was upright dizziness hit him and he slid down the side of a container to sit.
"Oof. Give me a second."
After a moment he pushed himself off the floor to lean against the container.
"What is with you humans" Marath asked with a sigh.
"Just stubborn I guess. Come on."
Al limped down the corridor with one arm around Marath's shoulder and the other holding his ribs. Jack met them in the corridor outside of the landing bah.
"It looks like you are always propping up one of the Baker brothers" Jack said to Marath.
Marath shrugged. "Someone has to do it."
She looked a Al. "Were you serious about helping find my family?"
"Of course!"
Jack raised an eyebrow at him quizzically. In response Al shrugged his own shoulders and immediately winced. Just then the doors opened.
Jack whistled. A dozen alien corpses were piled around Alert.
Hoisting his weapon Jack walked forward. He motioned for Marath and Al to remain out in the corridor. Stalking forward he was halfway to the ship when movement to his right caused him to spin around. Las stood there holding up her hands. Her own weapon was slung over her shoulder.
"Been busy" Jack asked.
Las shrugged before turning to walk back up the ramp into the ship.
Jack started to yell for Al and Marath to come in when Thran, Walsh and Bell came flooding in. Crouched low they had their rifles up while they moved from crate to crate.
"At ease" Jack yelled out. "All clear."
Thran looked around at the corpses before asking "was this by your hand Captain?"
"Not me" Jack replied. "Our diminutive pilot apparently had some issues with these guys trying to come on her ship."
"Dayum!" Bell exclaimed.
Walsh shook his head. "Don't piss off your girlfriend bro."
"I would not refer to as your girlfriend without her express permission" Thran said quietly.
Bell was still looking around wide eyed. "I think that is sound advice."
A throat cleared from the entrance to the landing bay. Turning around they saw Stumpy and Lanky.
"Mr. Walsh. Mr. Bell. It is time. Come with us please. Our ship is waiting" said Stumpy.
"What's going on" asked Jack.
"None of your concern Captain" Stumpy replied.
"But it might be my concern" came another voice from the corridor. As he spoke Captain Kirby stepped inside. "So why don't you tell me what's going on?"
Stumpy frowned at him and started to reply but Lanky interjected. "These men will be accompanying us to Station 0."
Kirby frowned. "They don't seem too excited about that prospect."
Stumpy cut the air in front of him with his hand. "It's of no matter. They WILL be coming with us."
Jack jumped in. "I think not. Citizens have certain rights. Not being shanghaied is one of them."
Lanky smirked at him. "As we explained to Mr. Thran, they at not citizens and thus have no rights in Consortium space."
Shouting erupted from all corners. Jack could barely hear his own voice over the din until Marath joined in.
"What if they were married?"
Silence. Everyone looked at her. Across the angry circle of Jack saw Al's mouth fall open. He seemed to wilt at Marath's words.
Finally Stumpy asked "Married to who?"
"What if Walsh and I were married aboard ship on the way back to the station?"
Las, who had joined the group unnoticed by Jack, walked up to Bell and jumped into his arms. He caught her and looked down at her in surprise. She simply pointed at herself and then at him.
Stumpy visibly ground his teeth. "Then we would require copies of all records showing the appropriate dates and licenses. If the paperwork did not match up we would be forced to take Walsh and Bell, as well as arrest anyone who attempted to game the system."
Kirby spoke up then in a quiet voice. "Gentlemen, there ain't no need for threats. Or for shenanigans. It's simple really. Capt. Baker has already requested that Walsh and Bell be listed as members of his crew and that he would like to sponsor them for citizenship. He asked that of me as soon as we met this morning. Only reason it ain't been done already is because we had a minor issue to contend with. So, I'm afraid that I'm going to have deny you gentlemen the pleasure of incarcerating anyone without due process. So sorry for the inconvenience."
Jack caught himself gaping. Snapping back to attention he said "It's true. Mr. Bell will be serving alongside Thran as security. Mr. Walsh has asked to be trained as a navigator."
Stumpy and Lanky stared at each of them in turn. Then, exchanging another glance between themselves they turned and walked out of the hangar.
"Looks like we've managed to find you yet another enemy" Kirby said to Jack. Before Jack could reply he hit his communicator. "Kirby to Command Deck. Judith, would you start the paperwork on Walsh and Bell to get work visas?"
As he spoke he strode out of the hangar. Las gave Bell a smile and then hopped out of his arms to walk back up the ramp into Alert. Walsh pushed Bells shoulder and laughed as he walked inside too. Bell shook his head before following.
Al looked at Marath. "What was that about?"
She frowned. "I know what it's like to be taken against your will. I couldn't let that happen to someone else."
She touched his cheek. "Do you think Jack would hire me as medic?"
Al smiled and called over his shoulder, "Hey J, we need a medic?"
Jack gave them a thumbs up which caused Marath to smile.
"Think he'll give me an advance on my pay? I kinda only have two things to wear. And one is not very tasteful."
Jack walked over. "Ma'am. You saved my life. And for that Al will buy you an entire wardrobe."
Al rolled his eyes. "Oh ha ha. I guess we're going shopping."
Marath jumped up and down clapping her hands. When she let him go Al almost fell over. Catching him quickly she said, "Maybe that can wait until after we take you to med bay."
****
The lift opened in front of Jack. Kirby was leaning against the back wall staring towards the floor and chewing on his lower lip. As soon as he saw Jack he straightened up and grinned.
"Well get in here buddy! Where ya headed?"
Jack smiled in return and limped into the lift.
"Heading to level 3."
Kirby wagged his eyebrows up and down. "You got that date with Judith tonight?"
"Headed to her place now" Jack replied
"Good luck buddy. I hope it works out better this time round."
"Yeah, me too" Jack said. So, I've been doing thinking. Does it seem a bit fortuitous that Wales just happened to be in the area with a flotilla?"
"You just put your finger on my current mystery. There's no reason for a small fleet with that much firepower to be patrolling here. Not that I'm complaining mind you. But it's damn weird."
"The other mystery is those TI agents" Jack mused. "I've never seen that before. Why would they be so worried about two lost marines?"
"No idea buddy. I'm going to do some digging and see if I can't find out. Something big is going on. I'm sure of it."
The lift stopped and opened to deck three. Kirby smiled and clapped Jack on the back before giving him a thumbs up. Jack rolled his eyes as he limped out into the corridor. He hit the chime to Judith's cabin. While he waited he absently smoothed the front of his shirt. When the door opened he gasped.
There in the entrance stood Judith. She was in a maroon dress that fell well above her knees showing off long toned legs. Gold earrings sparkled from underneath her freshly curled hair.
"You look, wow" Jack stuttered out.
Judith spun in a circle. "You like?"
Jack gave her a lopsided grin. "I always have."
"Hush" she said with a playful shove.
"What's for dinner?"
"Spaghetti with meat sauce" she replied while turning to walk back inside.
"Ooh. Daring choice for a first date. What if you get some sauce on you?"
She looked back over her shoulder. "Then you'll just have to kick it off."
"I think that I can manage that."
"Good. Pour the wine while I fix the plates."
"Aye aye sir."
When the food was finished Jack refilled their glasses and leaned back contentedly.
Judith looked over her glass and said "You know that I've missed you."
"I've missed you too" Jack replied.
"It has been nice having you at the station lately and it's made me think about the past. Do you think that we should we try again?
"I don't know" Jack said. "I know I still have those feelings. But I also know that I will be gone a lot while you'll be here. Unless you'd like to come with me."
Judith shook her head. "You know that I can't leave here. The service is my home."
Jack took a sip of his wine before speaking. "Yeah, it was my home too once."
Silence reigned for long moments. The two of them took deep drinks of their wine to cover their discomfort.
Finally Judith spoke. "How about we just take this nice and slow? Friends. Maybe more one day?
"Friends for sure. And I would like the something more one day. But slow on the more."
Judith raised her glass. "Well, then here's to slowly more."
Jack raised his glass in return. As they clinked his communicator beeped.
"You didn't turn that thing off" Judith quipped.
Jack shrugged. "No one ever calls. I didn't think to."
He hit the answer button and Al's voice came from the speaker.
"Hey Jack. You busy?"
"Well, I'm currently drinking wine with a beautiful woman. Does that count?"
"Uhm" Al stuttered. "Sorry. We just got a call about a new job.
"What is it" Jack asked.
"A supply run to a colony on Paxonus."
"How long till we can fly?"
"She'll be ready to fly by the morning."
"Ok. Tell them we'll be there."
After he hung up he looked back at Judith. She set glass down on the table. Standing she held out her hand.
"Tonight, while I still have you to myself?"
Jack nodded as he stood. Taking her hand he let her lead him towards the bedroom.
****
The small ship hung against the blackness of space. Low slung it was not all that different from Alert although it was sleeker and more modern. On the cramped bridge sat the two agents that Bell had dubbed Stumpy and Lanky.
Lanky sat at the pilots station. Without turning to Stumpy he said "Holding stationary at the designated coordinates."
"Right on time" replied Stumpy. "The signal is incoming. Audio only."
He pressed a button and a distorted voice came over the comm unit.
"Do you have the two marines who were found on XP37?
"The marines were unobtainable but currently accounted for" Lanky replied.
"Do we know who brought them forward in time or why? And did you discover anything about XP37?"
Lanky and Stumpy exchanged a glance. "We are still uncertain as to the who or why. The two did report similar dreams to the others that we have investigated as. They did report on an auditory hallucination, a melody, that is new."
"That could bear investigation" replied the voice.
"We have news on the other issue" Stumpy interjected.
There was a brief pause. "Elaborate."
Lanky frowned at Stumpy. Stumpy ignored him as he said "The vanguard has arrived".
"Well then, it looks like we had better be ready."