Star Runners 2: Revelation Protocol (5 page)

His body ached worse than it had following the Gauntlet in the mountains of northern California. His joints complained with each movement, his muscles burning. He knew his body was shutting down. He had not eaten a proper meal since his imprisonment. The clock fought him with each passing moment. Seconds became minutes; hours became days.

He allowed his mind to wander again, reliving the memories of Mom, Dad and friends he would never see again.

*****

"Dzina lanu ndi ndani?”

Josh jolted from a restless sleep. "I told you. I cannot understand your language. I can't understand you!"

"He wants to know your name," a different, deep and rougher voice said.

Josh sat in silence for a moment. He wasn’t sure if what he heard was real. It had been a long time since he heard someone speak English. The silence continued, and the only sounds became his beating heart and rapid breath. I must be going crazy.

"Well?” the voice asked again. “Your name?"

Josh jolted. He paused a moment to catch his breath. "My name is Josh."

"Dosh."

"No. Josh."

"Ah, Josh. You speak Earth tongue very well."

The voice spoke in another language for a moment, apparently translating as a conversation ensued. Josh stared into the darkness as he listened.

"Earth is a long ways from these space lanes,” the voice finally said. “How did you learn this tongue?"

Josh thought a moment. Should he reveal his identity to voices whispering in the dark?

He turned his head in the direction of the voices. "I spent many years there. You?"

"I have as well."

Josh frowned. “You lived there?”

“Worked there.”

Worked? How could someone work on Earth and end up a captive of the Tyral Pirates a thousand light years from anywhere? The man speaking from down the hall had to be lying, or there was more to his story.

"I don't know your name," Josh said.

"Delmar Wain."

"What do you do?"

"I transport things."

Josh blinked. "What? Like mail?"

"Sure. The mail."

Josh sighed. "You're a smuggler."

"Of sorts.” Delmar paused before sneering, “Not all of us are fortunate enough to be a Legion Star Runner."

Josh’s eyes widened. “Who told you that lie?”

Delmar snorted in the dark. “I know everything that happens on this rock, pilot.”

“How’s that?”

“I listen.”

In class, Josh learned about the dangers smuggling posed to the Legion space lanes. Legion agents struggled to root out such corruption on core planets, but it was nearly impossible on dark worlds. He never considered smugglers operated on Earth.

“How long have you been here?” Josh asked.

“We’ve been in this spot for at least … how do you say it? A month?”

Josh brought his knees to his chest. “Have they done anything to you?”

Delmar paused for a moment. “Not directly. Most of us have been waiting here in these cells. A couple of weeks ago they used me and some others to help strip a stolen freighter and fighter, but nothing recently. A group was taken away just before you arrived, and they didn’t come back. I don’t know where Rodon took them. Lots of machinery coming through each day.”

“Machinery? Like what?”

“I’ve only heard it. Could be freighters. I don’t know.”

"Where are we now?” Josh asked. “Do you know?"

"No," Delmar said, grumbling. "Definitely with the Tyral Pirates, but they will sell us to slavers soon."

Josh winced. “Great.”

"Or they will work us to death."

A light shot into his right eye.

"Ow!" Austin yelled. "I told you already-I'm fine!"

"We are just being careful, Lieutenant, and this is the quickest way to tell if you have a concussion." The nurse lowered the light and planted her hands on her hips. "You were very close to the explosion."

He glared at her.

With a bandage covering his face where he had hit the concrete, Austin did not want to tell her about the ringing in his ears in fear of the admission leading to another test. He had enough tests. He wanted answers.

An hour before, two agents in plain clothes claiming to be of the Legion Earth Intelligence Force arrived on the scene of the explosion and escorted him back to Base Prime. Once past security, the EIF escorted him into a small room with bright fluorescent lighting and launched into a series of questions about the incident.

Did he notice anything unusual?

Did Lieutenant Bean seem distracted?

What was the last thing he said to you?

After forty-five minutes, they brought him to the infirmary where the nurse started poking him.

A tall, thin lieutenant colonel with a tablet tucked under his arm marched through the infirmary door. He scanned the room, seeming relieved when his dark eyes fell on Austin.

"Lieutenant Stone, I am Lieutenant Colonel Roberto Ginn," he said in a deep voice as he approached. "I am sorry, but your leave is going to be delayed. Will you come with me?"

Austin glanced at the nurse who nodded approval. Ginn led him through two secured doors guarded by armed Marines into a dimly lit control room. A dozen staff monitored holographic images. The cool blue light washed in a palette of neon colors emitted from the holograms. In addition to the twelve staff, two Lobera Star Runners sat hunched over holographic stations.

Ginn gestured to a station near the door. "You have a secure link. Please advise if you need anything."

Austin blinked. "Pardon me, sir, but a link from what?"

"I am not privy to that information. Please sit and log in. Your connection will be completed shortly."

Austin slid into the cold, black chair uncertain. He put on the headset and glanced at the screens on the far side of the room. It appeared to show the local San Francisco news. Three stations showed images from the street Ryan's taxi disintegrated into a burning wreck of twisted metal. The caption indicated officials thought terrorists had carried out the attack. Perhaps that was true, but terrorists from where?

The holographic projector at his station purred to life. The image materialized into a familiar face.

"Thank the maker you're alright," Captain Jonathan Nubern said.

"I can't say the same for my traveling companion," Austin grumbled, his hands shaking. He balled them into fists and dropped them out of view of the screen.

Nubern stared off camera. "I know. Lieutenant Bean was a good man. We don't have much time. Since I am your CO, I was asked to share some information with you.”

The image flickered as the visual message caught up with real time; the standard delay when conversing over light years. Austin had grown accustomed to it when he was on Tarton’s Junction, but now it infuriated him.

“I have some disturbing news to share, and I don’t have much time,” Nubern said. “I wish I had more time to educate you during flight school, but this was unexpected.”

“Time? Educate me about what?”

“About the dangers.” Nubern leaned into the camera. “There is much more going on in Quadrant Eight than I have been at liberty to tell you.”

Austin swallowed. “Like what, sir?”

“Later.” Nubern shook his head sharply. “You and your contacts are in danger. Here’s what we know: An unknown force is targeting our Earth-bound Star Runners. The effort might be spreading to other planets, but we're not sure. Several incidents have occurred in recent days."

A rotten feeling twisted in his gut. "My contacts? What incidents?"

"Lieutenant Bean was one of many Star Runners targeted in the past twenty-four hours. Any person contacted by you while on Tarton's Junction could be a target. A few pilots have had family members die in strange accidents or simply vanish. Right now, we don’t know why or even who is doing this. All of your communication has been and probably continues to be hacked." He moved out of view momentarily to grab his tablet. "Your mother and someone named Kadyn, correct?"

Austin thought back, his mind racing as reality fell over him. He regularly sent messages to Mom and Kadyn during flight school. "Yes, sir. My other contacts were on the station."

"They need to be warned, Lieutenant,” Nubern said, his eyes the color of ice. “Not via phone or radio, but in person. They must be taken to safety. Command has provided all Star Runners currently on Earth authority to enact the Revelation Protocol."

Austin blinked. "I didn't know command has ever given such an order."

Nubern shook his head. "They just did. Find your contacts. Keep them safe.”

“Shouldn’t we send someone else?”

“It’s standard for a loved one to enact Revelation Protocol if at all possible. We’ve found it is easier to accept coming from someone comfortable. Besides, things are a bit unstable at the moment—many of our agents are busy. I promise you won’t have to go alone.”

“Someone is coming with me?”

“You will meet up with the staff available on campus.”

Austin tightened his fists and bit down on his bottom lip. The Tyral Pirates killed his friend, they nearly killed him during his training. Dax Rodon slipped through his fingers after nearly killing his mentor and Ryker. Rodon had to be behind these latest terrorist attacks, but how? How was it possible pirate scum continued to outwit and outfight the Legion Navy?

“Humor me, sir. Do we know anything at all? Or are we at the mercy of these pirates? Again?” His tone revealed more sarcasm than he had intended. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

Nubern stared at him. “Watch yourself, Lieutenant. We don’t know this is the work of pirates, yet. Your concern should be warning your contacts as soon as possible. Time is not on our side here.”

Shaking his head, Austin realized he would have to immediately tell Mom and Kadyn the truth about his school, his new life and the fact his new life has put them in danger. All of it.

"Sir, how do I tell them?"

"You'll figure it out. For now, I want you to take a tube to the Tizona Academy in Georgia, and an officer will escort you to retrieve your contacts and bring them to a secure location. Once you and your contacts are secure, we will decide the next step. I don't have to tell you time is not on our side. Be careful and keep your eyes open." He glanced at his watch. "Get moving, son."

“Yes, sir.” Austin nodded and placed his hand on the headset.

"Lieutenant?" Nubern asked before Austin moved away from the desk.

"Yes, sir?"

"Be careful."

The screen darkened, leaving Austin alone in a bright sea of holographic images. He sat in silence. His heart pounded in his chest as he considered the information Nubern shared. Austin wanted to ask Nubern about the questions brought on by his conversation with Ryan. He wanted to get the real information from his mentor, try to set his mind at ease about what he had gotten himself into by joining the Legion Navy. 

There would be time for conversations later. Any time off he looked forward to enjoying had once again been taken from him. Now, his world and those he cared about on Earth were in danger. 

*****

Despite his mind causing him to view his surroundings as a threat, nothing happened on the tube trip to the Georgia swamp. Either the chewing gum he remembered this time worked or he finally had grown used to the process. The entire trip, he continued thinking of his Mom and Kadyn in danger. His skin felt clammy. His mouth dry.

The air stuck to his skin when the tube hissed open. Two security officers in Tizona blue rushed him out, grumbling something about the number of personnel coming into this junction.

Three Legion naval officers awaited on the airboat at the dock alongside the wooden shack on stilts. Just as it did the first time he had seen it, the shack appeared as if it had been in the middle of the swamp for a hundred years. The crumbling roof and split boards covering the walls disguised the tube station below.

Austin said nothing to the officers, only offering a nod as he sat down. The boat rocked as he boarded. He leaned back in the seat, forcing his mind away from the car bomb claiming Ryan Bean. The pilot had been there and then, a moment later he was gone. He could still hear the explosion, smell the fire burning in the streets of San Francisco.

The boat’s engine upset the silence, sending birds cawing through the trees in the afternoon light. Austin jumped at the sound, his heart thumping in his ringing ears. He watched the black water pass by the boat, the hull splitting the green pond scum on the surface. The smell of rotting wood hung over the swamp. The sun cast long shadows across the familiar water Austin hoped he never had to taste again.

“Where you are coming from?” asked an older officer sitting across from Austin, his brow wrinkling his white hair. His brown eyes stared at Austin.

“San Francisco.”

“No.” The man shook his head. “Where were you stationed?”

“Tarton’s Junction,” he said. “I was heading home for leave.”

The older officer frowned. “I’m sorry.”

“So am I,” Austin said. “Where are you headed?”

The man shrugged. “Tizona campus. I’m in logistics. I was working in deep cover down in Brazil when I got the call to report here.”

Austin frowned. “Deep cover?”

“I’m a Legion officer working on Earth just like anyone else. I report to work, do my job and go home.” He gazed off into the swamp. “I’ve never been called away from my home and family before. Do you know what’s going on?”

“Just a little. They are recalling officers all over the planet.”

“Not good.”

“No, sir.”

The boat nearly crashed into the dock. A security officer saluted when they stepped off the boat. Austin hurried down the short uneven dock. The officer gestured to a golf cart. Austin and the three other officers boarded in silence. The security officers started the golf cart along the rough path back to campus.

“Our newest arrivals are heading back to campus,” the officer said into a radio on his shoulder.

“Copy,” Security Chief Javin Sharkey’s voice hissed from the radio. “We are waiting on the Grand Lawn.”

The path meandered through the trees. Strands of moss tickled Austin’s face as they moved past. The cart rumbled over wooden bridges swaying in the grim light of the swamp. Austin folded his arms across his chest to fight off a chill. 

When the trees parted and revealed the Grand Lawn of the Tizona Campus, the Terminus Building looked smaller than Austin remembered. To the left, off by itself like a storage shack, he saw the simulation pod building. Despite his feelings at the moment, he smiled slightly at the building, remembering how he felt the first time he sat down in one of the pods. He saw the dormitories in the distance and beyond the physical training field, all devoid of activity. He thought of Skylar and her constantly running across the field. He probably owed her for the early training, or he might not be here now.

Security lights flickered to life, beaming halos of light onto the paths winding through the campus. Just like the physical training field and the dormitories, the Terminus Building seemed deserted as the golf cart approached, passing the statue of the Tizona sword at the edge of the Grand Lawn. The cart’s brakes screeched to a halt in front of the Terminus Building.

A stocky, muscular man stood at the base of the stairs, his arms behind his back, his face hidden in the fading light. Austin knew who it was before he heard the voice.

"Good evening, gentleman. I am Security Chief Javin Sharkey. Classes are not in session at the moment. Feel free to move around the campus and speak freely. Some of you are here to lie low for a while until all of this is sorted out. Commander Pierce will provide a briefing now that you all are here. Lieutenant Stone?"

Austin stepped off the cart and stood at attention. "Yes, sir."

"Our field agents here at the school are all on assignment at the moment,” he said, his eyes boring into Austin’s. “Since your situation is time sensitive, I will be escorting you to Atlanta."

"You're going to drive me?"

"I was going to let you drive. It is about a five-hour drive, after all. We'll use one of the school cars at the gate. Before we leave, Commander Pierce would like to speak to you."

“Commander Pierce?” Austin asked.

“You know him as President Pierce.” Sharkey looked at the other officers. "Officer Archer will look after the rest of you and lead you to your quarters."

Sharkey led Austin through the Terminus Building. The classrooms remained dark, and the floors had been polished to a high sheen. They entered the common area, and Austin gazed at the tall windows, the fading light revealing the trees beyond. Three officers sat at computer terminals. One glanced at him as Sharkey led him up the stairs to the president’s office.