Star Runners 2: Revelation Protocol (4 page)

"Yes."

Austin looked at him. “That must be the tour where you got all your warm fuzzies about flying for the Legion.”

“Right,” Ryan said, allowing a crooked grin.

Austin knew he shouldn't press the issue. The experienced pilots on Tarton's Junction never spoke about the specifics of their past tours. Not in detail at least. This left him piecing together fragments of information and snippets of stories to form a disjointed narrative of life on tour in the Legion Navy. Like Ryan had alluded to, it sounded like hours of boredom highlighted with moments of action and danger, only to repeat the cycle until the tour ended. But maybe he could get some more information from Ryan while they had coffee. 

The door at the back of Atlantis control widened, revealing the institutional white decontamination room. Staff in tight-fitting white uniforms with silver trim motioned both of them to separate tables floating above the steel floor. Austin did as instructed and allowed the attendant to begin the examination. They took a blood sample, looked in his eyes and typed into the tablets attached to their arms. The exam took only a few minutes.

"Enjoy your leave, Lieutenant Stone," the attendant said behind a white mask. "You are free to go."

"Thank you. I will."

They jumped off the slabs and walked into the next room. A familiar hum droned inside. The shiny tubes lined the floors. Two Star Runners in Excalibur red flight suits stepped out of the nearest tube, nodded and walked into the decontamination room.

"Let's get this over with," Ryan said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. He turned to the crew. "Both of us bound for Base Prime." 

One shorter crewmember stepped toward Austin and motioned to a tube. Austin sighed and folded himself into the tight space, the intensity of the hum increasing. The crewmember slammed the hatch. Austin forgot gum. Nubern gave him gum the previous time he traveled in a tube. He panicked for a moment but convinced himself it wasn’t a big deal. Light surrounded him and flashed, his stomach dropping and twisting. He shut his eyes.

The hatch slid open.

"Welcome to Base Prime, Lieutenant," a voice boomed. "If you will please step out of the tube."

Austin opened his eyes, a migraine piercing his brain. The pain intensified so much it felt like a hot knife was stabbing his eyeball. "My head's killing me." Austin pressed the palm of his hand to his eye, trying to relieve the pressure.

"You're still new at this, sir." Two hands gripped under his armpits and yanked him out of the tube. "It'll pass shortly."

With his eyes still held shut, the hands led Austin to a wall. He leaned back and rubbed his temples with his index fingers. The dull roar of a crowd walking and talking as they passed around him pulsated in his head. He heard voices on speakers and the servos of a thousand machines. 

"You look like hell," Ryan said.

"I feel like I'm going to puke."

"Did this happen to you the last time?"

Austin thought back. "Not this bad."

"Chew some gum. That should help."

Austin nodded and slightly opened his eyes. "I'll remember that next time. Why doesn’t this happen to me on a curve?”

“Because you’re in a ship.”

Austin shook his head. “And?”

“The ship’s shields create an atmosphere around you. That protects you from the feeling of the curve. In these tubes, it’s all you.”

His stomach turned. “I get it.”

Behind Ryan, people scurried in countless directions like a stadium parking lot after a game.

"This place sure hasn’t changed. Come on, man," Ryan said, placing his hand on Austin's shoulder. "Let's get you through customs and out for some fresh air."

"Sounds good."

Ryan led him slowly through the crowd. Austin's stomach ceased tumbling, and the pounding in his head lessened. They stood in line for ten minutes leading to customs. A man with thick brimmed glasses and a curved nose shaped like a vulture’s beak sat behind the desk, asking Ryan a few questions Austin did not hear. Ryan turned over his laser pistol and stepped into what looked like a mobile fitting room. When he came out, dark blue jeans and a ratty T-shirt replaced the Lobera uniform. He looked ten years younger.

"Next!"

Austin blinked and stepped forward. "Sorry. I have a headache."

The man stared down at him through the thick glasses. "I don't care. Business?"

"No, I'm on leave."

The man sighed and stared at the ceiling. "What is your business here?"

Austin swallowed. "I'm a Legion Star Runner on leave. I am returning home to Atlanta later today."

"Good for you. I need your weapon, wings and any other identification linking you to your service with the Legion."

Austin slipped off the wings and unbuckled his holster.

"Are you carrying any other Legion or off-world technologies or fruits, vegetables, living organisms or drugs?"

"No. Nothing."

“Did you have any artificial limbs, organs or other prosthetics installed while off-world that you’d like to claim?”

“Are you serious?”

The man lowered his gaze, causing his sharp nose to appear all the larger.

Austin took a half step back as if the man’s nose would collide with his face. “Sorry. No, I have no fake body parts.”

"Very well." He pointed to the fitting room. "Change there. Drop your uniform and other belongings in the silver box provided inside. It will be waiting for you upon your return. Next!"

"Thank you," he said.

He walked to the fitting room and shut the door behind him, placing his duffle bag containing the outfit he wore during his first day at Tizona on the bench. As he changed out of his uniform, he thought of Skylar coming to see him while he packed just before he left Tarton's Junction. It felt strange leaving her. They had arrived at the same time, but now he had graduated before she would have the chance. With what Ryan said, they could be sent to opposite ends of the galaxy within the next month.

He put on the dark green collar shirt Mom had given him and buckled his jeans. He took a deep breath and glanced in the mirror.

A familiar stranger stared back at him. The old reflection mirrored one from high school, although leaner with much shorter hair. He shook his head. He had worn nothing but Tizona blue for more than a year. The green shirt felt traitorous.

He dropped the uniform in the silver box under the mirror and stepped out into the flow of people.

"Come on," Ryan said as he walked next to Austin. "Let's go finish the rest of this and get that coffee."

*****

"Good, Lord that's good," Austin said.

The delightful, bitter taste of coffee washed around his mouth, igniting Austin's taste buds.

"What?" Ryan said, sipping on his drink. "They don't have coffee on Tarton's Junction?"

Austin shook his head and took another sip. "Not like this."

A cool breeze drifted past their table. The California sunshine beamed down, washing everything in a golden hue. Beautiful women walked past and waved.

"With military bases all along the California coast, the local women hunt this area," Ryan said with a smile. "You have a girlfriend?"

Austin winced. He didn't know how to answer the question. He and Skylar shared an awkward kiss earlier in the year, but he had grown close with Ryker since the rescue on Flin Six. He thought of Ryker's rehab, wondering if she had reached her destination. When he had a moment, he would have to send her a message.

"Man, forget I asked," Ryan said. "If it takes you that long to answer, I'd rather not know."

"What?" Austin blinked.

"If it takes you that long to answer, either you have too many women or you don’t like them at all.”

Austin shook his head. "It's not that. It's just a difficult answer."

"Oh, you don’t know who you like, huh? And they both know you like them? Nevermind, don't answer that." He glanced at his watch. "I need to catch a cab. I’ll pick up my Legion ride in the morning. Decided how you’re getting home?"

"Taking a tube back to my school and going home from there."

"Cool." Ryan handed over a stick of chewing gum. "For the trip. Hey man, stay in touch. I hope we get to serve together sometime."

“I thought we’d get a chance to talk more. I really want to hear more about your tours and what you’ve seen out there.” Austin thought of the limited stay he’d had on Tarton’s Junction. “I don’t mean this in a bad way, but I feel like I don’t know anything about my options after talking to you.”

“You don’t.” Ryan smiled and stood. “We’ll talk more soon.”

Austin stood and shook his hand. "Really nice talking with you, lieu—I mean, man."

"Yeah, being back takes some getting used to, but you'll manage. A bit of advice?"

"Sure."

Ryan stared at him. "I know I’ve already said it. Enjoy every minute you're here. I mean it; this will go by so fast. Soon, all of this will be nothing but a memory, a figment fading with the passage of time. They own you now, Stone. At least for the next five years." He looked up. "Out there will become your normal, your everyday life."

"Thanks, Ryan. I'll try."

Ryan held the handshake a moment before scooping up his bag. He slipped on a baseball hat that might have been red at some point and weaved through the sidewalk traffic. As Ryan waved to attract a taxi, Austin stared back at his coffee and took a deep breath.

Ryan was right; he needed to enjoy the sunshine, relish every moment. The sun warmed his skin, and he leaned back in the seat. He would send emails to Ryker, Skylar, and Bear when he got home to let them know he made it. He stared into the sky, his mind wandering.

An explosion ripped through the street.

The impact slammed Austin onto the pavement, his cheek slapping the concrete. Tables tumbled, crashing into splinters as a shockwave destroyed the sidewalk. People screamed and cried. Austin blinked, his vision blurring. He touched his ear and saw blood on his fingers.

Slowly, he stood in the space formerly occupied by the coffee shop table. Police ran toward a fire raging in the street while the rest of the crowd ran in the opposite direction. Austin squinted for a better view.

The fire engulfed a twisted piece of metal in the shape of a car. The vehicle had no doors, the paint melting off the side. Black text bubbled and cracked in the midst of the flames.

The taxi. Ryan's taxi had exploded in the street.

A hard knot twisted deep in his gut. A Legion Star Runner died on the streets of San Francisco. He glanced around, a sickening sense of paranoia engulfing him. Someone on this street targeted Ryan, and Austin would be next.

He hurried through the chaos of the crowd for the entrance to Base Prime, hoping safety awaited him. As he pushed through the crowd of screaming people, he pushed away the image of Ryan smiling and walking to the taxi.

A sweaty hand smacked his face.

    Josh blinked, the side of his head flashing with pain. His vision blurred. Before him loomed a bearded man with a scar running from the corner of his eye to his chin. The man leaned in close. Hot foul breath filled Josh’s nostrils. The foul figure laughed, turned to the other pirates and said something in another language.

    When he turned back, his lips curled back over his blackened teeth.

    “Saya rasa saya akan mengambil ini, Star Runner,” he breathed.

    He leaned forward and ripped the silver wings from Josh’s chest.

    Josh sprang forward in protest, but the pirate gestured with his pistol. Exhaling, Josh leaned back and lifted his hands slightly.

    As the wretched pirate attached the Star Runners’ wings onto his own chest, Josh looked around the destroyed interior of the freighter. Other passengers formed a line, marching at gunpoint out of the vessel. Small fires popped, seats burning from the brief firefight.

    Bodies, blackened and burned from the fire, had been shoved between the seats to keep the aisle clear for the exiting passengers. Among them, Fischer lay twisted in an unnatural shape between the chairs. Josh stared, unable to pull his eyes away from the man he had been speaking to hours before.

    The foul pirate yanked Josh to his feet and shoved him into line. He laughed, pointing to Josh and making sure the other pirates saw him. Josh didn’t understand, only obeyed and fell into line with the rest of the passengers.

    Josh fought against the nausea filling his stomach as he passed more destroyed bodies of the men and women who died as the freighter had been captured. He tried to make sense of the situation. Hours before, he couldn’t sit still because he would soon be home. Now, he would be at the mercy of a pirate gang.

    The petite woman in line before him trembled as they passed the pirates. They touched her straight black hair, sneering and cackling like hyenas. Josh hit one of their hands away but received a blunt shot to the back of his head for his troubles.

    Adding the growing lump on the back of his head to the other pains flaring around his body, Josh kept his eyes low and winced. The pirates led them through the hatch and into a large cavern in low light. The rocky interior stretched far enough to fit the freighter and several smaller fighters. Two openings to the cave flanked either side, both revealing a field of stars and asteroids.

They must have taken us to a hidden base somewhere, he thought. 

A ragged group of men worked on the far side of the cave, digging into the rock with pickaxes. Their skin appeared painted on their bones, their clothing nothing, but tattered fabric linked by strings. Pirate crews brandishing rifles and menacing swords surveyed the entire room from different points.   

    The pirate at the outer hatch pushed Josh down the ladder. They forced Josh into a line at the right of the ladder’s base. Pirates stripped all the passengers, piling the clothing near the closest wall. The lady in front of him went to the left with the other women and the elderly. She glanced back at Josh, her dark eyes wide, and smiled. Josh nodded, trying to project confidence, but the pirates quickly ripped apart their connection. They pushed her back into the group of crying women. 

    “What’s going on?” the man closest to him asked.

    A laser shot flashed, filling the cave with the sound of thunder. The man flew into the rock wall, sparks erupting from his chest.

    His eyes wide, Josh turned toward the direction of the shot. The foul guard sporting his wings stood at the edge of the line, his rifle trained on Josh’s face.

    “Cukup!”

    A voice boomed from the edge of the platform. All eyes turned to fall upon a well-dressed, middle-aged man. He stood with his hands on his hips, a flashy silver pistol in a black holster on his hip. He wore a red uniform with black trim and had his dark hair slicked back. The man appeared in stark contrast to the other rabble in the cave as he took a few steps in their direction.

    Dax Rodon.

    Rodon paused, pointing at the line of the women and the elderly.

    “Memindahkan mereka ke kawasan pegangan,” the man said. “Kita akan bincangkan kemudian.”

    The pirates led the women and elderly away at gunpoint. Some screamed and wailed. Others moved away with a quiet resignation, either too tired or frightened to fight back. While they moved away, Josh glanced at the man who had been shot for speaking. Smoke still swirled and lifted from his chest.

    The foul pirate yelled back to the leader and gestured toward Josh. The leader glanced in his direction and nodded. The eyes of the other prisoners looked toward him. Josh swallowed, taking a deep breath as his breathing quickened.

    He focused on the end of the rifle, the same weapon just used to kill an innocent civilian. The rifle jerked toward the pirate leader. Josh took his steps as if he had great weights attached to his ankles.

    He wanted to go home. It’s all he had wanted since being brought to Tarton’s Junction. He wanted to see his parents. He wanted to talk to Kadyn.

    He shuffled between the other pirates. Their stench was overwhelming.

    Two pirates stepped before Rodon.

    “Berlutut,” one pirate guard hissed.

    “I don’t understand,” Josh whispered.

    The pirate who had spoken laughed, holding his hand to his ear.

    “Apa?”

    A hard object smashed into the back of Josh’s leg. He tumbled to the rocky floor. A hand engulfed his skull and yanked him upright. Two pirates held Josh by the shoulders.

    Rodon took one knee in front of Josh and suddenly pulled out a yellow fruit that looked like an apple. He took a bite and stared at Josh. When he finished chewing, he smiled.

    With the fruit still in his hand, he pointed at Josh. “Star Runner?”

    Josh swallowed, hesitating. Rodon arched an eyebrow. Josh finally nodded.

    Rodon looked at the pirates and gestured with his free hand. The pirates placed a headset over Josh’s head. The earpiece buzzed.

    “Berkata-kata,” Rodon said.

    Josh shook his head. “What?”

    Rodon brought the back of his hand across Josh’s face. “Berkata-kata!”

    He tasted the salt of blood on his lip. It must be a translator.

    “English,” he said softly.

    The buzzing in his earpiece ceased. When Rodon spoke, Josh could finally understand.

    “They tell me you are a Star Runner?”    

    Josh swallowed. “Yes.”

    “Welcome, Star Runner. I am Dax Rodon.” He smiled. “We always revel in the chance to take a Star Runner alive and show him or her the light. Many of these you see around you were once sold the lie of the Legion. Welcome to your night of illumination.”

    Rodon finished the apple and stood, his hands once again on his hips.

    Josh sighed. “What do you want with me?”

    “Simple. Join us.”

    Josh contorted. “Join you?”

    “I need pilots,” Rodon said with a shrug. “I also need laborers who will be worked to death. I think you would like to live, no?”

    Josh glanced over to the workers on the far side of the cave. “I will never join you.”

    “Pity.” He nodded.

    The pirates kicked Josh forward and began beating him. The rifles pounded his body until he spit blood. They turned him over, smashing the front of his face. Josh cried out, but they didn’t stop.

    He did not know how long they pummeled him. When they stopped, his eyes had nearly swollen shut. He dimly felt hands lift him to his knees. Through tears and blood, he saw Rodon kneeling down in front of him again.

    “Now that you’ve had time to think about it,” Rodon said, “I ask again; will you join us?”

    Josh wanted to say he would—he did not think he could survive another beating. But he faintly remembered his survival training and knew the pirates would only torture him to reveal weaknesses in the Legion forces. He would be forced to fight his own people.

    “I …” he breathed, his mouth filling with blood. “I … will not betray the Legion.”

    Rodon took one more bite of the fruit and tossed it at Josh’s face. “Such a waste.”

    He stood and folded his arms across this chest. Rodon sighed, glancing at his men. “Do what you will with him. Help him understand what happens when he turns us down. If he survives, we can use him in the workforce. Come on! We have work to do.”

    A boot slammed into Josh’s rib.

    “Whoa!” Rodon yelled. For a moment, Josh thought he would be spared the torture. “Get my translator before you continue.”

    The pirates removed the headset. Soon, the beating continued. Josh lost consciousness, the world fading away into darkness.

*****

The walls looked like rock covered in oil, the beaten surface glistening in the dim light. Josh laid on his back, unmoving as he surveyed his surroundings. The room was too small to lie flat, so he rested his feet on the wall in front of him. His muscles ached. His stomach twisted and turned, protesting the days without nourishment. The green slop delivered yesterday slithered and bubbled. He tried to eat despite the fact his food moved, focusing on his hunger. It tasted like a mix of vomit and lemon juice. He gagged, swallowing the lukewarm liquid before it lingered on his tongue.

He lost track of time.

Mom and Dad definitely knew he had disappeared by now. The Braves’ game had come and gone. He imagined the disappointment on their faces when they had to go without him, if they had gone at all. If he dies today, they will never know of his death.

Voices echoed from beyond the rusted metal door of his tiny holding cell. With his translator gone, the conversations meant nothing, gibberish whispered by goons. If they kill me, please let it be fast.

A man called, the voice closer than before, but in a foreign language. Josh sat up, resting on his elbows. The man called again, this time in a harsh whisper.

"Hello?" Josh asked in a raspy voice, grunting as he pressed against the metal gate.

"Dzina lanu ndi ndani?”

Josh shook his head. "I don't understand."

"Mungandiuze dzina lanu?”

Josh sighed. "I am sorry. I can't help you."

He leaned back against the gate, the rough surface scraping his neck. Heavy equipment rumbled from somewhere down the hall. An engine fired, rattling the walls and gate as if a ship landed. After a moment, the engine ceased. Voices yelled followed by a commotion.

Josh stretched his legs in front of him as far as he could. His stomach ached. His head pounded. He crossed his arms over his chest and continued listening to the strange noises of this dreadful place. His mind wandered, drifting like a loose buoy in a restless ocean.

Losing awareness, he thought of his best friend. Austin probably watched from Tarton's Junction when the Saber had been attacked. A memory flashed of Austin staring at the photo of Marilyn Monroe at the coffee shop when they were in high school. Kadyn, beautiful Kadyn, with her wild hair the color of sweet caramels, enjoying one of her fruit-filled, overpriced drinks.

He opened his eyes, feeling the welts from his arrival beating across his body subsiding. His skin felt sweaty, slippery like plastic. A chill shot through his body.

He thought of a spring day when he and Kadyn sat and watched Austin play baseball. The sunlight beamed through her hair, surrounding it with a halo of light. Kadyn took one popped kernel at a time, chewing slowly as she watched the game unfold. She said chewing slower forced her to eat less, and popcorn was nothing but empty calories. He sat quietly, nodding and listening to her voice. He had dated cheerleaders, dated the so-called hot girls in high school. His time with empty relationships had passed. Kadyn was special.

His tongue scraped across the dry roof of his mouth. What he would give for a glass of ice water. He opened and closed his mouth, trying to work the spit inside his mouth. 

Whenever he could, he went to Austin’s games with her. The game’s lasted at least two hours, and he usually said nothing to her. She had beauty, brains, and confidence. He was intimidated. He also didn’t know if she liked Austin. Their relationship always seemed deep, but it didn’t materialize. Austin never made a move. He should have asked Austin about his feelings toward Kadyn. Now, he would never get the chance to tell her anything.

He remembered their last conversation.

“I’m going to the Falcons’ game on Sunday,” he had said.

Kadyn turned, staring at him under her red-rimmed sunglasses. “This weekend?”

“Yeah. My family’s going. I haven’t been in a while.”

Kadyn had smiled at him. “Huh, I’ve never been to a pro football game before.”

“Really?” he had asked, the memory hurting his heart. “You should go sometime. They’re awesome.”

A coldness shot through him. Idiot.

He should have told her then, opened up to her in the way he always wanted to. Everything had moved so quickly that final Christmas when he won the scholarship to LSE. He barely said goodbye before he left for San Francisco.