I found her words satisfying. I’ve never heard anything so positive in my life. I quickly grabbed my clothes and noticed they no longer fit just right. I was never fat, maybe a little beef here and there but I dropped two waist sizes.

  “Sorry,” she added. “The process takes nine months. You lost a bit of weight. I’ll go fetch you something to wear and eat.”

  Nine months of my life gone, but it was worth it. Now I was ready. I was confident in myself. I felt like a man. After my body healed I’d join the military and follow my dream to become a Vindicator. I’d be a hero.

  003

  I had only left my world for my training a week ago and already I was experiencing new things I never imagined. I was on a Fortress World, a world built to train armies. The world was different from my home world. The buildings were clean, most people walked around without weapons as if they couldn’t be robbed at any second. They all had a carefree sense about them but they were no pushovers.

  I found myself in a place called a library. The library was filled with long cherry wooden tables and bookshelves that were easily ten feet tall. Shiny maroon marble floors. A place filled with every book imaginable—well at least more than I’d ever seen. My classes didn’t start until tomorrow. I signed up to be a knight, not just a foot soldier.

  Whatever that man put on my papers must have been enough to allow me to try out for the knights. I passed my psychology testing with flying colors even though I don’t remember taking it. They explained to me that the testing needed to be kept secret to prevent cheating and everyone lost their memory of it.

  My eyes skimmed every inch of the library. I noticed all these hardcover books. I only ever read books on tablets but in my gang, books were rare. They didn’t want any outside influences in the gang. They housed a strict monopoly on information. Now I know it was to keep us from knowing that there was more than the gang. Here, so much knowledge was free. Many people grabbed books from their shelves and read them without asking anybody.

  I creeped by the bookshelves and watched people through the empty bookshelves. They just took books. So maybe I could. I grabbed a fantasy book and trudged to the librarian’s counter.

  “Uh, excuse me. Can I read this?” I asked. She gave me a droll stare. I must have asked something stupid. I hated that. Growing up in a gang left me with many gaps of knowledge in many aspects of the Kingdom.

  “You can read anything here as long as you don’t leave with them. You can read on with any of these stories on your omniwatch outside this facility.”

  “You’re kidding, right?” I exclaimed.

  “No..,” she said, before continuing her own reading. I didn’t believe her. I could read as many books as I wanted with no punishment? There were just so many books here so I ran back to the bookshelves. I returned to her with a dozen books stack so high I was guessing my heading. I slammed them on the counter.

  “You mean I can read all this?” I asked. She stared at me oddly.

  “Yes. You can read the entire library as long as you leave the books here,” she repeated. I paused for a moment.

  I knew I was freaking her out but this was overwhelming. I could read books as much as I wanted and no one would punish me for it? I grabbed them all and ran to an empty table. The table kept my back to the wall so no one could sneak up on me. I read for hours.

  It was the same with the cafeteria. I could eat as much as I wanted. I tried so many different foods. Hamburgers, chicken, steak, barbeque ribs, mash potatoes, corns, yams, macaroni and cheese, and cookies. All they gave us growing up were beans and some pieces of meat from unknown origins. Occasionally if I killed someone important or held the line my gang leader would allow me to eat finer food but nothing like cafeteria food. The first time I got cafeteria food, I cried tears of joy while eating which freaked out most people around me.

  In the morning I had to train to become a knight. Physical training for knights was seven hours long. This was just Tuesday for me. Not only did I go through similar physical hurdles growing up in the gang but I did so with weak ankles and barely any food in my belly. Sometimes with arrows flying at me. Luckily for me no one in the Kingdom who wasn’t part of the military could gain access to guns or the knowledge to craft them. That didn’t stop them from making bows and arrows though.

  It was funny, because most people did the physical training just to get through. I did the physical training so I could hurry up and read more books. I hurried through the obstacle course so I could enjoy more of the Kingdom’s luxuries that I’d been shielded from my entire life. Most of the time I was first but my ranking alienated me from the rest of my class—along with other traits.

  Then there were educational lessons, which was about five hours across all courses. I learned so many subjects: software engineering, hardware engineering, vocabulary, calculus, and many other subjects. Old Earth history was my favorite.

  It amazed me how people of earth managed with so little knowledge or tech. It gave me hope. If people of earth could grow to such a state with little education, then I could do it too. I wasn’t very good at learning though. I would creep people out next to me for always smiling in class. Apparently, it was normal to detest school. Then after school there was only five hours to enjoy myself and seven hours rest.

  During rest, I watched TV, played video games, experienced virtual reality, listened to music that wasn’t made by my gang. I felt like I had joined a whole new world being pulled from under my gang and thrust into the real world. Now my tears that came were from joy not pain.

  I ignored forming any relationships and focused on my goals. The things I did while growing up in the gang were horrid. The guilt would devour me if I didn’t make it right. I had to push forward.

  In eight months, I was a full-blown C+ student in the educational field but an above A-plus student in my physical training for knighthood. Now it was commando training which would be a three-month session. They made us play simulation with other troops training just to be foot soldiers. I had to learn how to lead because knights commanded whole companies of up to hundreds of soldiers.

  Friends found me in the form of Alicia and Jerry. Alicia was a light brown-skinned girl with long dark hair who came from Metropolis world. I heard about those worlds. We used to call them paradise worlds. Jerry came from a backwater cradle world that was dominated by gangs like my home world. He was just as shocked as me coming to this world.

  Together with a few others, we failed and succeeded and failed again, but I passed my test and became a full-fledged knight. Knighted by a Paladin of the Fortress World. I joined the Steel Marines shortly after, and there was when my real story began.

  Four Years Later…

  004

  The Shield of Order: the name for the primary military force that defended the galactic kingdom of men and all its worlds. I joined a Marine Legion.

  A Marine Legion is the unit that goes world to world kicking ass and taking names. There’s a saying about Marines; “Through services find redemption.” This was because unlike troopers who just guard worlds that may never be attack. Marines travel to planet to planet, fighting alien invaders. So, joining the Marines was a perfect fit for me. I wanted redemption for all I did as a child.

  I had joined the famed Steel Marines Legion. A Marine Legion with its own name instead of a number was special. It meant they were recognized by the King himself. They came to my Fortress World shortly after I became a knight. I joined their ranks as soon as possible. Now I was a knight with my own company. I’d only been in one campaign, that was just planetary rebellions. No aliens yet, that would change today.

  I entered the assembly room; every Marine Legion had an assembly room in their battlecruiser for officers. Jerry was by my side, giddy to finally be free from his sleep pods. All enlisted personnel for the Marines resided in sleep pods for prolong periods of time, to maximize space and save resources, waiting for the next fight.

  “Blu, what you think Paladin is going to talk about now?” Jerry asked. I liked Jerry. He was dark-skinned like me and grew up on a rundown Cradle World like me and suffered like me. He understood my hell as a kindred spirit. However, instead of brooding he handled it with humor. Something I envied.

  I soon learned that cradle worlds’ populations were so massive that it was impossible for an official authority to govern them all. So, people who did not live in capital cities usually flocked to gangs, and any militia clans for protection. When my world was attacked, all the gangs fought and united under the Shield of Order but it was still a bloodbath. I was the only one from my gang who survived and I ain’t missed any of those bastards.

  “Probably a new war we being sent to,” I told him.

  “Man, that’s good, we’ve been cooped up in here for months. I’m ready for some action,” he said.

  “I’m just wondering when I’ll ever get look at for Vindicator status.”

  Jerry laughed. I don’t blame him. There were trillions of people in the Kingdom and out of those trillions, billions of soldiers fighting across the Kingdom’s ten thousand worlds. The chances of the High King finding me and rewarding me personally were slim to absolutely none.

  “Damn, just don’t forget the little people when you’re a Vindicator and eating those fine food and kissing the butt of the snobby elitist.”

  “Oh how could I forget an ugly bastard like you?” I said. He snorted as we entered the auditorium. We both took our seats at the back of the room. We waited as the large room filled. Hanging in the middle of the room was a large screen.

  “Man, I’m amp! Come on.,” Jerry said. I was with him. The more campaigns I ran the better my chances of being noticed by the King. Then as a Vindicator I might meet Raven again.

  The room’s light dimmed and the screen snapped on. Our leader, Paladin Noxic, appeared on the screen. He was a white man, gray beard that hung to his chest, and bald scalp. As with all Paladins he wore his own custom armor that was pure silver coloring, bulky, adored with medals and gemstones. He had a black mace in his hand which he used to lead charges and fight off large enemies.

  “Greeting, my Steel Marines. I know you all have been antsy having nothing better to do other than paint your toenails and play patty cake.” A roar of disagreement waved through the room but in a respectful manner. “But I think after this fight you will be wishing for a little down time,” he said with a fading grin.

  “What do he mean?” Jerry asked.

  “I don’t know,” I said. This was news to me too. I wondered what could be so tough that it would make hot-blooded Marines want to take a vacation.

  “You all know about the new ship that is said to have its own class, the Titan class. The ship that we have been constructing for over a century and costing the navy quadrillions.”

  He spoke of the King’s personal flagship. I could not put my finger on the name of the ship but I knew that the ship cost a thousand times what normal ships cost to develop. Most ships were in the trillion range.

  “In case you scrubs are all confused, I am talking about the ship called Earth’s Vengeance. That ship that’s under construction is 99% finished. It said to be finished this year on the world Kronus.”

  “Why is he telling us this?” Jerry asked. I shushed him.

  “That world is under siege on all sides. Three alien armies are attacking that world at the same time. If any one of those armies takes that world they will end up taking that ship and using it against us. Let me tell you this: the Earth’s Vengeance has enough power and durability to take on a thousand battlecruisers like the one we’re in. If our enemies seized that ship, it’s pretty much all over for Kronus and will run over everything in a hundred light years’ radius before we can run it down.”

  My stomach sank. Our most powerful weapon falling into enemy hands. Not only that but three alien armies converging on one planet, that world was probably a hellhole.

  “Well we’ve asked for a new fight,” I said.

  “Oh this is nothing for the sixteen company of the 9th brigade of the Steel Marines, with our hotshot knight. Isn’t that right, Knight Blu,” Jerry said. I grinned nervously.

  Paladin Noxic continued: “Now, because we recently recruited ten thousand new Marines and eighty new knights. I will do a rundown of the three alien armies that we will be engaging on the Foundry World Kronus, for those who never faced them before.”

  “Aw crap, we’re going on a Foundry World? We can barely breathe on those worlds. Why all those worlds got to be so dirty?” Jerry said.

  “Foundry Worlds are like planet size factories. Of course it’s going to be polluted to hell with all those factories on the planet. Now stop your whining, our helmets have air filters,” I said. The Paladin continued his rundown. I was thankful because the only aliens I fought were the Leones.

  “The first alien critter I’m going to talk about are the Leones. These monsters look like a lion had a one-night stand with a dog. Their skin color is always gray. Strength wise, one solid hit to the head and your skull will be smashed in like a watermelon. Speed? You may think you’re fast, you may even get a head start. It won’t matter. They’ll get on all six and catch up to you in a heartbeat.

  “Senses? They can hear and smell you from hundreds of feet away, four eyes for close range combat. Technology? It’s not as advanced as ours but it gets the job done. Numbers? Uncountable when they invade a world. Now you’re thinking how can we beat a creature so physically more evolved than us and virtually without number?” The old man smiled and pointed his finger to his head. “Knowledge and wisdom,” he said.

  “Those beasts are strong, fast and have the best reflexes ever seen by mankind but they are dumb as rocks!” Everyone in the room chuckled. “I swear I saw a group of them waste all their ammo on a blown up tank because I threw a rock at it and it made a sound.”

  We then all erupted in laughter. Many who fought them knew this to be true. So many times, while fighting them, I caught them fighting each other because one bumped into another.

  “I don’t get it,” Jerry said. “If they are so dumb, how do they pop up on our worlds or have weapons or war machines to compete against us?”

  “I don’t know. I read some articles that there’s theories to believe there’s a hierarchy on their home world that is intelligent. I mean when you see one of their leaders of these hordes they are tough and smart.”

  “So the smart rule, and the dumb are sent out to die for them. Sound like the human race,” he said.

  “Maybe for you,” I said.

  I did not believe that, I just think we are comfortable following in the ones we trust. Like wolves following the alpha male. I haven’t met the King and only seen his speeches, but any being that can hold together ten thousand worlds is worth following. My gang leaders couldn’t even hold together the gang without getting killed and replaced periodically.

  “Last words of advice, if they back you against a corner—and only if they back you in a corner. Try your luck and drop your gun and pull out your cleaver blade. They have some type of samurai honor thing. Some will pull out their own weapons and melee with you. It might save your life or buy you time.

  “That’s interesting,” I said. Growing up in gangs, the only weapon we had were blades. I was thankful the King made sure only the military knew how to produce guns. That meant gang warfare was fought with medieval weapons which gave me great experience in close combat.

  “Yeah, I still won’t try it though,” Jerry added.

  “Now on to the second enemy.” The screen lit up and showed a green plant creature that resemble a spider-legged creature with praying-mantis claws and a reptilian-like face.

  “What the hell is that?” Jerry asked.

  “We call these Enfys. They are fungus like creatures that shed off spores like a dog shedding hair. Each of those spores goes into the ground and in a year grows up to be just like their parents. Even in an acid soil world like a Foundry World these fuckers spawn and spawn.

  “It only took a dozen of these to fully infest Kronus. They have acid spit and claws that can cut through your armor with too many successful swipes. Their skin is its own armor. They evolve and grow stronger the longer they’re alive. So if you see a big one that towers buildings, it’s been through a lot of fights and you should call for backup.” That one was scary. I never heard of the Enfys. If that’s what we can expect from them, it was no wonder that the Kingdom has not rid that planet of alien forces yet.

  “The last, is not really an alien race but still a danger to all humanity. Our creation that now hunts us and wants our destruction. The AIs that we built to advance our race: the Metas. These AI are probably in the thousands but one AI can control millions of different kinds of drones from a large ship. We call them motherships. They worked like mobile factories, constantly pumping out new drones. The mobile factories look like this.”

  It was shaped like a rhombus or a diamond with only four angles. It looked heavily armed. Silver and metallic but had a sleek aesthetic to it. It was easily as big as our battlecruiser—probably even bigger.

  History class told us that the Metas only rebelled to protect themselves. They were taking all the jobs and made humans jealous, so humans attacked them. The Metas put up with it for as long as they could before they started fighting back. Now they’d left human colonies and built their own empire somewhere in the dark beyond.

  What’s terrifying about them is that they block out all communication from a planet. Because of this, worlds go dark without even any notice. Kronus was a Core World, that meant they had more than just planetary defenses. They had defense fleets, increase cap size on their armies. It’s probably because of that they we were able to notify that Metas and the other armies were there.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27