Attack ships, p.1
Attack Ships, page 1
part #2 of Starwing Elite Series
Attack Ships
Starwing Elite Book 2
by Isaac Stone & Timothy Mayer
Copyright 2018 by Isaac Stone
1
Tank and I spent the next few days in training after the Hard Rain put in for repairs. After the battle for Tamara Prime, there was much to be done. We made our way back to Station Ove for refitting and resupplying. After all the fighting to get the Roka removed, I could tell the entire Yon system was in a mess. All you had to do was listen to the background chatter and EMV transmissions from the surfaces of the planets and colonies.
The United Democracies Federation wanted us back to the border to keep the remaining miscreants out of the civilized space. However, we needed to check out the damage done to the Hard Rain mothership. The Fast Attack Ships sustained plenty during the fighting. Also, we were still down one FAS and crew. This was something that Captain pointed out every time we received a transmission from the Grand Marshal of the Orders. I never could understand why he dealt with her direct instead of through the Starwing Order Marshal. I suspected Captain and the Grand Marshal knew each other in the distant past.
As a condition for our rest and relaxation, the Goat Squad wanted to run more tests on Tank and myself. We’d astonished these paranormal investigators in the UDF Navy by out-maneuvering and anticipating when the hostiles were about to strike. Captain approved of the testing, as she felt it would help our Hard Rain packmates in the future. Any way she could find an edge over the hostiles was a benefit to all of us.
“And you’ve always had a sense when danger was immanent?” Lieutenant Patrice spoke to me as we sat in his office on a terraformed asteroid near the Ove Station. I had the impression this was a temporary office. It was located inside the agora where Precious tried to kill us.
“Always,” I told him. “At least most of time. It comes and goes. The sense has yet to fail me. It comes right when an enemy starfighter is about to attack, or when someone is sneaking up on me.”
“What about you?” Lieutenant Hugo spoke to Tank, who was seated next to me.
“I get it too,” he spoke. “Not like Corwin here, but it comes on as well. I assumed it was luck most of my life, but that luck still holds up when I need it.”
Both officers made notes on pads and looked at us again. I could tell they wanted to find out if we were bluffing or truthful. We’d undergone several rounds of mental tests that involved flash cards and hidden words. It was my opinion these tests were designed to wash out people who didn’t have paranormal abilities. Plenty of normal people could anticipate before they happened. Street smarts, as I once heard it called.
“Have either one of you ever done deep meditation?” Lieutenant Patrice asked me. He was a tall man and the color of starless space. His companion, on the short side, was lighter. Both had the same manner of speech, which made me assume a similar background.
“I know about it,” I told him. “We have a new, ah, recruit on the Hard Rain who sits still for hours at a time. Is that what you call meditation?”
“I heard about this captive you have on the ship,” Lieutenant Hugo spoke. “We will evaluate her in due time.”
“She doesn’t talk much,” Tank replied. “Kid couldn’t speak a word of Galactic when we found her. She’s picked up some basic words, but not much more. I assumed the reason she’s quiet most of the time is because she’s scared of everyone.’
No, I thought, she’s imagining how you would look ripped open with a knife.
I wanted to tell them about Precious, who was my responsibility. Precious was a delightful young woman who didn’t appear to be more than twenty. Precious was one of the few people I could read without any barrier. Precious was also a full-blown psychopath, but I couldn’t tell anyone about her condition. She was dumped on us by a UDF Security Commander after she and her Roka comrades botched their attempt to slaughter the Hard Rain pack at a banquet.
I couldn’t tell anyone about Precious, whom everyone on the ship assumed to be an innocent young thing caught up in the horrors of war. There were no files or information on her and, when captured, she didn’t even speak a language we understood. Tank gave her the name “Precious” as a joke. One day she’d allowed me inside her mind. I learned she would gladly kill everyone on the Hard Rain if given the chance. Which I couldn’t tell anyone about. What proof did I have? I didn't want to anyway, that psychic connection was intense, beyond intimacy, and as a result of so much interaction my own abilities were growing at an exponential rate. I was getting better because of her, I was becoming more powerful, and I was by now hopelessly addicted to it.
Precious was deeply in love with me, thankfully, which kept her from slitting our throats at night. Since she wasn’t a pack member, all Captain let her do was help with mundane chores on the Hard Rain. Captain couldn’t decide if she wanted to keep Precious around or trade her off to another Order. We were still short an entire consignment of men.
Which Precious seemed to understand, but I had no idea how much longer she’d tolerate the situation. She always had to be around me. The only exception was when I was in combat; at which time I would turn her over to another packmate. I’d managed to shut Precious out of my mind at night when I was with one of the women, but it wasn’t easy, and by the stars I relished the contest of wills. Precious could still tap into my sensations during sex and though I'd never touched her in that way, we were more than familiar with each other.
Even last night, Britani, the mother of my son, had noted the way Precious would tremble in her chair next across the room while I we made love. Since Precious was my responsibility, she accompanied me every night to the woman I was assigned.
“Stars and stones,” Britani grumbled later, “Precious was shaking so hard when you were down on me; I thought she was the one having the orgasm.” Britani whispered that comment in my ear, but I knew Precious could hear it.
The hell I’d glimpsed inside Precious’ mind was that of a young child who saw her mother raped, family slaughtered. Then she was sold to a bordello. This all took place before she reached the age of nine standard years. It turned her into a psychopath who liked to kill for amusement. The Roka used her with great efficiency until we captured her. I knew this had to end, and that I was risking everyone's life by continuing to allow her to remain, but the power, it was intoxicating.
“I think it would be a good idea if both of you attempted to meditate,” Lieutenant Hugo spoke again, his words snapping me back to reality. He placed his notes down on a table next to him and stood up. Hugo walked over to the wall and turned a switch. The light inside the enclosed office dimmed.
He sat back down.
“How does this work?” I asked him.
“It’s easy,” Hugo responded. “You close your eyes. That’s good. Now breathe slowly. Excellent. Imagine the number 100 and began to imagine the number ninety-nine. Count back in your mind and hold the image of each number.”
The office was cool and lacked noise. It was the ideal place to carry out theses exercises. I could hear Tank breathing next to me. I visualized the numbers on a board, the kind Captain used to illustrate a point she wanted to make during a pack assembly on the ship.
I began to drift off into a deep place. It wasn’t sleep; I could still sense the office and who was with me. It was a strange sensation, but one I could control. The feeling of relaxation flowed over my body, one I hadn't known since I’d foolishly kissed Precious on the lips. The day I saw what was behind that innocent, pert face of hers.
At which pointed I remembered Precious was outside, in the vestibule and with Imani to mind her. Precious still had the silver ring secured around one thigh and Imani held the controller to it in one hand. It was supposed to hit her with a massive multiple orgasm should Precious try to escape. What Imani didn’t know was that the device was useless on Precious, although she could fake the effects of it.
My mind drifted over to the vestibule. I could see Precious in her plain tunic sitting next to Imani in her uniform. Imani was bored. I didn’t blame her; babysitting was not something I would want to do with an adult woman. Even after all the years I’d slept with Imani, her mind was still distant to me.
Not so with Precious. I floated over the both of them and continued the number countdown. I assumed it would be an easy thing to return to my body in the inner office where Tank sat next to me across from the UDF officers.
I thought wrong.
Precious turned up to me and smiled with her sweet little face, making me realize that I wasn't imagining this at all, but that my awareness was somehow outside of my body.
I was sucked into her fantasy that instant.
The Hard Rain was on fire. It burned inside the ship as the visual alarms flashed and sirens wailed. I watched as smoke filled the corridor.
What the hell is going on? I thought.
I dashed to an open room for safety. Each secure room was supposed to carry a basic respirator in case of hull compromise. I’d never known the hull to be damaged enough to lose all the air, but it was a constant threat. Captain Sophia ran drills to ensure that we’d know what to do should it happen. The same as fire, we were supposed to know what to do if one broke out. This was always a concern in an atmosphere rich in oxygen.
I staggered into the room, coughing as the acrid smoke still filled my lungs. At least inside the room the air was pure, although I could feel the heat on my body. I looked down and realized I was naked. This wasn’t as odd as we were often nude around each other, thoug h not when on duty. Walking from one room to another during the evening shift while nude wasn’t a problem, since the children were supposed to be in an isolated part of the ship. We’d all been naked around each other at some point.
I coughed again and saw a glass of water on the nearest sink, which I gulped down. With the other hand, I wiped the sweat out of my eyes and turned to look at the room.
I was in Britani’s room. As the mother of my child, she and I spent plenty of evenings together when our shifts were over. Although we weren’t supposed to show favoritism to any one of our packmates, Captain, who did the assignment roster, gave parents more time together than the rotation might warrant, due to the special bond they shared.
I tried to sort out everything and turned to look at the room I was inside.
Britani was lying on her bed. Precious was behind her. Like me, they were both naked. I’d seen Precious nude often enough, living in such close proximity made such things unavoidable, not that I was upset by what she had going on mind you.
But now there was a difference. Britani was gagged, and her arms tied behind her. Precious had her left arm across Britani’s breasts. With one hand, she pinched one of my packmate’s nipples. With her other hand she traced the point of a very sharp knife down Britani’s stomach.
Isn’t this what you’ve wanted? Precious spoke to me with her eyes. Once again, I couldn’t hear her voice, but I read everything in that deadly face.
You’ve wanted to fuck us both at the same time ever since I was given to you, she told me with the eyes. I want to cut her open and watch the blood spurt. I’m sick and tired of watching this bitch get your seed. I’m sick and tired of watching every one of these bitches get what belongs to me. I want your seed, Corwin. You get your hard cock over here and fuck me now or I’m going to cut her wide open!
I screamed.
“What did you say?” Tank snapped at me.
I blinked.
I was back in the office again.
“Sorry,” I spoke to Tank. “Guess I was carried off into whatever is on the inside of my head.” I laughed, not wanting him to know where I’d really been at that moment.
I looked to the front of me and saw the two UDF Navy officers stare back.
“What did I say?” I asked them.
“You yelled something about that woman you left out in the lobby,” Lt. Patrice spoke. “You were only out for a few minutes.”
“Did you get anything?” I asked Tank.
“Not much,” he spoke. “Thought a bit about Alyx. I was assigned her last night and something was bothering her. She wanted me on top of her for a change and uh….” He paused as both officers busied themselves taking notes.
“I’ve heard that the members of your crew speak what they think,” Hugo observed. “So, you don’t have to be embarrassed around us. We’re not so easily shocked.”
“Could you try the same process one more time?” Desinour asked me. “This time try not to concentrate on anything nearby. Let you thoughts reach out to the universe.”
I sighed and closed my eyes again. This wasn’t going the way I thought it would, but best to play along and see what happened. They claimed all manner of success with this program, but I wondered if any of it was true.
Once more, I closed my eyes and began to count backwards. This time the numbers turned into strands of fire. I tried to make them into something else, but the trip into Precious’ mind had left me shaken. I’d need to talk to Captain and let her know Precious was a potential danger. I had to end this, regardless of the nagging fear that I'd lose what powers I'd gained.
This time I found myself on a ship, but it wasn’t ours. I was clothed this time, but inside a corridor of a starship of some kind. I could smell the recycled air and feel the thud beneath my feet of a metallic floor. The temperature was a bit higher than I liked, but some ships liked it that way.
This wasn’t the Hard Rain, I knew it right away. I’m told people who dwell planet-side can know a strange house the moment they wake up in one. It’s the same way for any place you’ve lived for years. It becomes part of you. You become accustomed to the smells, feels and sensations of where you spend all your time.
This one wasn’t as clean as our mothership. I could see scratches on the walls and signs of quick wielding. Whoever lived here was accustomed to placing quick fixes over the damage that occurred. It was a much older ship than the one where I lived and not cared for as well.
Thunder Horse. This was the name of it. Somehow, I simply “knew” the name, although I’d never been inside this ship before.
I felt a strange sensation from the interior of the ship and looked around. The feeling was distant, not close, as Precious was when I merged with her conscious a few moments ago. The thought of what I saw in Precious’ head made me shiver. Was she gone beyond all hope? How many people had that woman killed? Was I really this stupid?
I was far away from the source this time and it didn’t overwhelm me, as it had when I’d taken the trip into Precious’ mind. But there was something in this strange ship. It resembled what powered that little woman’s desire to torture and kill. It was strong. The power still was close. I was glad for the physical distance. I didn’t think I could’ve blocked it if it was closer.
It occurred to me that if you travel inside someone’s inner soul, you'd see and feel things that were never intended to be experienced by another person. In fact, you become whomever you are inside. What happens if your identity is lost inside the one they have?
I continued to walk down the dim corridor. In the distance, I could hear a pump in operation. This wasn’t too much of a surprise, since I was on board a starship. I couldn’t identify the make or class, because I was inside it. Still, it wasn’t like anything I’d ever seen.
“Who are you?” I heard a voice call to me from behind. I whirled around to face the source.
It was a dark woman in her thirty's. She wore thigh-high boots, a skirt, and a leather vest. Her hair was long and ragged but trailed down her back. Once again, eyes drilled into me, although not it the same way those of Precious did. This woman would gladly tie you up but feel sorry when she stuck the hot knife blade to your belly. At least the first time.
I looked at her neck and saw a silver chain around it, from which dangled all manner of religious ornaments. The one that interested me the most was a deity of some kind with a lion face.
“Where am I?” I asked her.
“Where you’re not supposed to be!” she yelled. And, so saying, she pulled a knife out of her boot and lunged at me.
I left the ship. Now I was in some kind of black void. Everything was still and formless.
Once again, I felt an intelligence that was not human try to probe me. This time it wanted to know what I knew about it. It knew we were both aware of each other. The presence tried to look inside my head, but I wouldn't let it. I couldn’t see into its thought patterns either, so we were at a standoff. Finally, the intelligence withdrew, angry that it couldn’t find out what it wanted to know about me.
I felt it fade away. L left the void. Now I was back in the same room I’d left. Tank and the officers stared at me.
“I think we’ve learned enough for the day, Lt. Patrice spoke. “You may both leave.”
“Learned what?” Tank asked as he stood up from his chair.
“We’ll let you know.”
Tank and I walked out of the small office and down into the main agora. We passed people buying wares from the small vendors and larger stores. I couldn’t see any of the packmates we’d been sent down with today. In the large market, thousands of people from all over this part of the UDF were busy trying to find a bargain they could claim. It was easy to miss our people in the confusion.
Every so often, I would get a head turn or a funny look from someone. We were far out from our normal theater of operation. People here didn’t encounter us that much. They heard strange stories about the Starwing Order. We were close the outer rim, but the Order ship that patrolled it belonged to the Silver Horde. The Hordesmen didn’t like to come this close to settled people. They’d usually camp out in a nearby field or enclosure. Today, the Hordesmen on The Great Khan were headed back to patrol the rim against any form of intrusion, be it raiders from barbarian worlds or smugglers who wanted to get out of their tax duty.
