Star Runners 2: Revelation Protocol (16 page)

He watched Cyclops meeting with the guards near the fighters. After several minutes of talking amidst the gusting wind, the guards broke off and loaded equipment into the fighters. Dread filled his chest.

They were leaving.

No more cargo containers, freighters and no more fields to work meant the pirates must be leaving the prisoners on the planet. The prisoners would die in the fields. Either the pirates would fly overhead and execute them from the air, or Cyclops and his men would leave them to rot on this planet. The fields the prisoners had tended would wait until the pirates returned. If the pirates were lucky, a harvest would await them when they brought more prisoners in to do the work.

Josh sat in the dirt. Realizing Dax Rodon had probably done it this way for years.

He looked at the two fighters. One way or the other, he would die here if the pirates fled.

He had to make a move tonight.

*****

After settling into the prisoners’ sleeping area, Josh watched the guards. Four relaxed near the fire, the boxes on the landing pad loaded into the cargo bays of the fighters.

Most of the prisoners collapsed where they stopped, too exhausted to work any longer. Their resting bodies filled in the land between the field and the landing pad. The guards didn’t force the prisoners to their sleeping area this night.

Josh’s muscles ached, his back flaring up as the wind scraped against it. He winced.

Night fell across the plains.

One of the pirate fighters took off just after sunset, blasting the silence and disappearing into the distance. Josh glanced back to the landing pad, he didn’t see Cyclops. He must have left.

Without their commander around, the guards passed around a bottle, all four of them keeping their guns within close reach. Josh figured they must be waiting to leave in the morning. Studying the scene in front of him and noticing the lack of transport, he realized he was right: The guards would either kill the prisoners from the air or leave them to starve.

Josh tied a rag around his forehead to soak up the sweat, and stared out across the space between the camp’s dump and their landing pad.

Time to go,
he thought.

Waylon had gone to sleep. Without disturbing him, Josh moved back to the field to find a rock. He searched in the darkness and found a small, sharp stone. Using his fingernails and the stone, he worked on sharpening the root as fast as he could manage. He pulled back strips of the root until it came to a point. Pushing the root against his palm, he decided it was as sharp as he could make it. He should have paid closer attention in his survival training.

He kept low to the ground, trying to avoid the flickering light of the flames playing across the dead grass. Two guards leaned far back in their metal chairs, their mouths hanging open. Their breath formed clouds of mist over their heads like ghostly halos in the crisp night air. The remaining guards stared into the fire, their eyes blinking slowly. One guard sat on a stump, his head leaning forward toward the fire, the nearly empty bottle against his boot. The other pirate leaned back on his palms, staring into the night sky.

The winds brushed the taller grasses. Prisoners groaned and snored in the night, too tired to contemplate escape, too sick to think.

Josh moved from row to row, making his way back to Waylon. The men smelled almost as bad as the filth of the garbage pit. The same garbage flies buzzed around the men, some filling festering wounds while others hovered over excrement from men too tired to move to the latrine.

In the darkness, he nearly gave up finding Waylon until he saw the large frame at the edge of the camp. Waylon stared into the darkness, his elbows resting on his knees as Josh slipped up behind him.

“What do you want?” Waylon asked without turning, his voice weak.

“I want to leave,” Josh said. “And now is the time.”

Waylon exhaled. “I thought you were dead, friend.”

Josh studied his surroundings. “Where is the rest of your crew?”

Waylon gazed into the darkness. “Acks’ll probably not make the night.”

He made a silent count. “You’re all that’s left? How?”

Waylon shrugged. “We’ve been out here too long living off too little and asked to do too much. It was only a matter of time.”

Josh remembered what he had seen earlier on the landing pad. “We don’t have time for this. The pirates are leaving. My guess is they’ll be gone by morning and either kill us or leave us here.”

Waylon shrugged. “Either way, I’d thank them. I’ve had enough of this.”

Josh thought of the Barracudas. Delmar had acted somewhat impressed with their credentials, and Josh wondered if the reputation of the smuggling group had merit.

“There are others, right?” Josh asked.

Waylon blinked. “What do you mean?”

“Others in your group, you know, back from where you came from. The Barracudas?”

Waylon thought for a long moment. Perhaps he considered if he could trust Josh, or maybe he wondered if acknowledging Josh’s question would violate a sacred trust among smugglers. Whatever the reason, Waylon’s face softened.

“Yes, there are others,” he said, his tone neutral. “We have a base of operations in Quadrant Eight. They are my family.”

Josh leaned toward him. “Then escape with me. Take me to your people and we can avenge our time here. Do it for your men, do it for Delmar. Do it for yourself. When we first met, I told you I would be able to fly us out of here. Well, now it’s just you and me. Help me get us out of here.”

Josh pointed to the landing pad. “Cyclops left earlier on a fighter. Those two fighters are our only way off this planet. It’s now or never.”

Waylon sighed. After a moment, he balled his fists and clenched his teeth. “What’s the worst that could happen? We’re gonna die here anyway. What’s your plan?”

Josh froze. “I’m not sure, yet. I think there are only four guards left.”

He looked at the light in the distant sky, the black night beginning to transition to dawn.

“Whatever we do,” Josh said, “we have to move fast.”

Austin drifted in and out. His consciousness came in like the tide and washed out the same way. Voices called to him.

Austin heard the soft drone of computers, possibly an air conditioning unit rumbling to life.

“Keep resting,” a familiar voice said.

He tried to pry open his eyes, ignoring the flash of pain from the light in his face, but gave up the fight. He couldn’t feel the rest of his body. No pain, no comfort, nothing but the sting of a cut on his cheek. His head fell to the side and the darkness returned.

When he opened his eyes this time, an unfocused white light surrounded him.

He sat up. The last thing he remembered—

He jolted, his eyes clamping shut.

He remembered the fire; the flames circling him like a fiery nightmare. The laser bolts hitting his body. The Phantoms closing in on his position after murdering Sharkey. Mom on the forest ground, her body damaged and broken. Kadyn gone. Flaming embers falling from the treetops.

His arms refused to move. After a struggle, he opened his eyes again. To his left, two chairs lined the wall of the white sterile room. A bright light pulsated above. With an effort, he turned his head to the right. A kind face moved closer, staring down at him.

“Nubern,” he whispered.

“Easy, son. I came here as quickly as I could.” He squeezed Austin’s shoulder and studied the wound on his face. “You’ve had a time of it.”

Austin blinked. He surveyed the room.

“It’s just us for now,” Nubern said, reading his thoughts. “You’ve been transported to Base Prime in California. You’ve been here for two days. The transport provided air support during your attack in the mountains. I called to you at the time, but you collapsed. We brought you on board and here we are.”

Nubern smiled. Austin shook his head, not remembering anything the captain had said.

Nubern sat. “With the exception of your head, your muscles have been incapacitated while your skin regenerates and heals itself. You had half a dozen direct laser burns. The doctors are allowing your body time to repair.”

Nubern glanced at the monitors behind Austin. “Given your condition at the time, we decided it best to wait until we tube transported to Atlantis. You were … fragile.”

Austin nodded. “Mom? Kadyn?”

Nubern’s face grew icy. “Your mother’s wounds were severe just like yours. She is in isolation at the moment under observation by our best doctors. It looks like she’s going to pull through. Both of you were shot to hell.” He sighed and leaned back. “Your friend on the other hand is suffering from PTSD and two laser burns. Her mental state is crumbling. Physically she’s recovering. This happens when people experience trauma. Also, some people can’t take the realization their planet is just one of thousands in the known galaxy. It will take time. Of course, the Revelation Protocol is usually carried out with less excitement. She is currently being given sedatives to help her sleep.”

Austin winced, knowing the next information would be difficult to hear. “Sharkey?”

For the first time, Nubern broke eye contact and looked at the bed. “He didn’t make it, son. We found him in the middle of four dead mercenaries. He didn’t go without a fight.”

Nubern looked back at Austin, his head nodding slowly.

Austin’s throat swelled as a tear rolled down his cheek. “He saved us.”

“That he did,” Nubern said, his voice cracking.

“Who are they? Do we know for certain?” Austin asked, thinking of the mercenaries in the woods.

Nubern gazed over his bed. “EIF is sure they are Phantoms. A highly trained outfit comprised of ex-military from all across the galaxy. They are deadly. They are expensive. Even if Dax Rodon is behind this, I find it hard to believe he could afford such a … luxury.”

Nubern blinked and looked back at Austin.

“Now we have to get you rested. We’re not out of this, yet. I came here because the situation for Quadrant Eight is worse than we first realized.”

Austin sighed. “How could it be worse?”

Nubern took in a slow, deep breath. “One of our scouts picked up Tyral Pirate activity in the Amade Cluster. Lots of it. Fighters and tugs pulling large amounts of containers through. They didn’t stay long. We launched a scouting mission, but the tugs and containers left before our ships arrived.”

“What’s in that system?”

“Nothing much. Only habitable planet is one with grasslands full of a whole bunch of nothing.” Nubern shrugged. “Smugglers have been known to use it in the past. We’re in the process of sending a scout to the surface to do a little recon planet side.”

Austin frowned. “What does this have to do with Quadrant Eight?”

“Mix the intelligence with what’s happening in the Amade Cluster with the fact our disruptor for this system was recently hacked.”

Austin blinked. “Disruptor?”

Nubern smiled. “It’s a piece of technology utilized in dark world systems like this one. What it does is simulates flares from the local star in the event something needs to be hidden. While you were out, people on Earth thought they were battered by a series of solar flares. It was actually our disruptor that had been hacked. Also, we lost contact with four more pilots on Earth. The rest are safe and accounted for.”

Austin chewed on his bottom lip. The attack on Lieutenant Bolin in San Francisco seemed to kick off the recent series of attacks against Legion forces on Earth. The Phantoms targeted him, his family and killed Sharkey. Now, they hacked a disruptor to simulate solar flares smacking into Earth. Why?

“We still don’t who they are?” Austin asked.

“We don’t know who hired them, but they are definitely Phantoms and they targeted only Star Runners and their families. The rest of their plan is unknown. We don’t know if the Phantoms had anything to do with the disruptor.”

“They had to,” Austin said. “Why would anyone want to simulate solar flares?”

“Lots of reasons, actually, but none of them make any sense.”

A chill tickled the back of Austin’s neck. “Like what?”

“It would be used to disguise your troop movements, mask communications. Perhaps to hide large ships if you didn’t have a shroud capable of masking them.”

“You’re talking about an invasion.”

“Yes.”

“Of Earth.”

Nubern shook his head. “That’s why this doesn’t make any sense. A mercenary outfit wouldn’t have the means to carry out a full-scale invasion. Besides, why would they? Even with superior technology, they couldn’t hope to hold the planet after Earth’s response.”

Austin stared at the white wall. “What if it’s not an invasion but the early schemes to prepare the way for one? You know, for a force more powerful?”

Nubern reached over and squeezed his arm. “Listen, we are working on this. Right now you need to sit back and rest. You’ve been through quite an ordeal.”

Nubern glanced at the tablet in his hand and frowned. “I’ll be back to check on you later this afternoon.”

“Captain?”

Nubern hesitated. “Yes, son?”

Austin swallowed. “Thank you for coming for me, sir. I am sorry about … how I acted during our last conversation.”

“We all have doubts at times. Get some rest.”

Austin swallowed. “Can you tell me what you meant?”

Nubern frowned. “Meant?”

“You said there were things going on in Quadrant Eight you wanted to tell me about. I think I deserve to know.”

Staring at the floor, Nubern sighed. “There is no simple answer and this is a controversy that has nearly tore the Legion in half. We are usually not permitted to talk about it, but given what has happened you deserve to know.” He sat at the end of the bed, his eyes still on the wall. “Things are going much worse for the Legion than is generally known. Decades ago, it was recognized the Zahl Empire was expanding much faster than the Legion. It was quickly evident we would be in danger should the empire ever decide to start a war again.”

“Why did they expand so fast?”

“You’ve touched on the basic argument. Since the Zahl Empire doesn’t believe in a planet’s sovereign right to develop at its own pace, they take all inhabitable worlds they come across. They believe it is the creator’s destiny they bring their light across the universe. Some try to resist, but it doesn’t last long. They have several factions in power in the Zahl government, some are war mongering and desire to carry out their expansionist policy. With the Legion’s policy of allowing dark worlds to naturally expand, we expand on a much slower scale.”

Austin thought of the secretive recruiting measure of monitoring an online game. “Has the Legion considered more direct measures?”

“And that is the argument. Or, rather, it was.” Nubern cleared his throat. “See, there was a movement within the Legion government to reverse our hands off policy. With tensions growing each year and the Zahls building up their defenses along the border as well as the relentless pirate activity, we needed recruits and we needed them as soon as possible. The Legion needs manpower in order to protect its space. The game was our best recruitment tool in years.”

“Why not just come out and say it at Tizona?”

“Because that would break our government desire to allow Earth to naturally develop. We have to wait until you are off planet.”

Austin eyed him. “And what about the enlistment terms?”

“You’ve heard about that?” Nubern asked. When Austin nodded, Nubern pursed his lips. “I see. Yes, you will be given your assignment and expected to sign a five-year enlistment.”

So it was true, Austin thought. “And what happens then?”

“You will receive your assignment.”

“And where will it be?”

Nubern’s brow wrinkled. “Difficult to say. I wouldn’t presume to guess. Most likely, it will be a carrier task force on the border or perhaps along the Fringe. I beg you, son, to please consider this carefully before you agree to the terms.”

“Why?”

“Because you will not be back here on Earth for a long time, perhaps the entire five years.”

“Oh.” Austin frowned.

Nubern looked at him. “I would like to point out, though, that the Legion protects Earth. Without it and Star Runners like you, the rest of space would be in Earth’s orbit.”

“That’s happening anyway,” Austin snorted.

“I can’t argue with you there,” he said. “It’s why we need to take care of this situation.” He stood. “I’ll let you rest. I’ll be back soon. Think about what we talked about. You won’t have to make a decision until you get your leave … whenever that is.”

Nubern exited the room.

Austin stared at the doorway long after Nubern left. The image of the burning forest flashed in his mind. He shuddered and tried to think of happier times, of Mom and Dad at home. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shake the thought someone targeted him and his family. But it was more than that, despite Nubern seeming unconvinced, something lingering at the edge of Austin’s mind.

Someone targeted Earth.

*****

Bruises spotted her face and arms, mixing with red scrapes and burn marks. Her chest lifted and fell in deep, calming breaths, much different than when she gasped in pain on the burning forest floor. Austin leaned forward in the wheelchair, pressing his face against the glass to stare at his Mom. He wanted to go in there, but the Legion doctors said she needed another day in hibernation for her body to recover.

“She’s going to be okay, Lieutenant.”

Austin smiled at Nubern, who hurried through the infirmary halls with his tablet in hand as always. He nodded at the nurses he passed, seemed in control despite the current events.

“I know, sir. I’m looking forward to speaking with her tomorrow.” He gestured at the wheelchair, floating above the floor. “Speaking of recovery, I’m ready to get out of this thing, too.”

“I’m told that’ll be tomorrow after the last bout of tests.” He tapped Austin’s shoulder. “Laser burns are nothing to take lightly. They eat away at the flesh, and it takes time for the tissue to rebuild itself.”

Austin snorted. With Earth’s current technology, it would have taken months of skin graphs and who knows what else for the burns to heal. “I’m feeling much better, like I could get out of the chair right now.”

“You probably could,” Nubern admitted, “but I would wait until tomorrow.”

Austin nodded and looked back to his mother. He wanted to have a moment to hear her voice, tell her everything would be fine.

He thought again of his arrival on Earth and the conversation with Lieutenant Bean. “Captain? May I ask you something?”

Nubern frowned. “Of course.”

Austin glanced down at his hands. “Why did you recruit me?”

“What?” Nubern blinked. “Why did I recruit you? You had the necessary skills to become the great Star Runner you’ve become. Why?”

Austin shrugged. “The other pilot I sat next to on the way in was coming home to decide if he wanted to re-enlist or not. He told me some things.”

“Ah. And what were these things?”

Austin swallowed. “He said the Legion recruited pilots who were dreamers or who had nothing to lose.”