Star Runners: Scorpions

Chapter 12-2

“I’m sorry. I haven’t seen anything like that in my—”

“I got work to do,” the bartender interrupted him, walking to the other end of the bar.

In his experience, Austin had found some Star Runners to be arrogant, sure, but never disrespectful to the civilians. He couldn’t imagine any Legion officers treating civilians poorly. Of course, he hadn’t been on many planets with other Star Runners. On Oma with Ryker, he had been too preoccupied to notice anything but her.

“Hey, Sky,” Bear said, pulling Skylar closer and breaking into Austin’s thoughts, “I think we need to dance.”

Skylar placed her hand on his mouth. “I think you’ve had enough, sweetie.”

“Sweetie?” Bear raised his eyebrows. “That sounds nice.”

“Yeah?” she laughed. “What about Brylee? Think about what you’re doing. Okay?”

A sudden realization seemed to hit Bear like a slap in the face. Chewing on his bottom lip, he stared down at the empty bottle in his hand.

“You’re right.” He looked at Skylar. “I’m sorry, Sky.”

“No worries, big guy. I still love you.”

“Hey!” He pointed at both of them. “Why don’t you two dance?”

“Oh, brother.” Austin shook his head. “You’ve had too much.”

Skylar stared at him. “Is dancing with me that hard to imagine?”

“No. I just, uh…”

He rapped his fingertips on top of the bar. The first song ended, replaced by a slower melody with a violin.

“All right,” he said, reaching out. “Come on.”

With her hand in his, Austin led her from the bar and out between the tables. He turned to face her. Looking down at his feet, Skylar stepped in close and pressed against him. She placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Long ways from Tizona Academy,” she said. “Don’t you think?”

“Definitely.”

She glanced at his mouth. “You ever think about those days?”

“The academy?” He laughed. “Sure I do. All the time.”

“Do you ever think about us?”

He looked at her. “How do you mean?”

She looked at his chest. “I don’t know. I owe you a lot, Austin. I wouldn’t have left that night if it weren’t for you. I would have gone on my Christmas break. You and Bear would be here without me. It’s hard to imagine.”

“I wouldn’t be dancing with Bear, though. His feet are too big, and I bet he would destroy my toes.”

“You’ve always been ridiculous.”

“I guess that’s true. Part of my charm, I suppose.”

“I think you’re right.” Her face softened. “Ryker was a lucky girl. She talked to me once, you know, after we thought you had died. I would never want to replace her—”

He placed his hand on her cheek. “Enjoy the moment. If there’s one thing I’ve learned since the Academy, it’s that life can end in a heartbeat. One decision—one snap choice—and you cease to exist.”

The music continued. She rested her head on his chest and sighed. Austin placed his arm around her back as they swayed on the dust-covered floor.

Stars filled the sky as they left the bar in Gen’s Folly. A collection of a half dozen rundown buildings lined each side of the dirty street. Two miners strolled in the opposite direction, heading toward the darkness. Only the neon sign from the bar and a single lamppost illuminated the area.

As they strolled away from the bar, Bear draped his arm around Austin’s shoulder and gazed up. Skylar stood nearby with her hands clasped in front, like a mother watching her child stumble across the floor for the first time and wondering how much assistance she should lend.

“Which one is Earth?” Bear asked, each word coming out mumbled.

Austin laughed. “Come on, man. We need to get back. You’re going to hate that oh-five-thirty briefing.”

“Whatever, man,” he grumbled as they meandered toward Fortson Base. “I could go to the meeting right now, man. I’d still be better than you.”

“Of course, you would.”

They walked in silence. Insects buzzed.

Skylar leaned close to Austin. “Is he going to be all right?”

“I don’t know. He hasn’t really done anything like this before. Not since I’ve known him, at least. I’m not sure if his body can handle it.”

Bear spit as he exhaled. “I can handle anything.” He pulled Austin and Skylar close, his strength nearly yanking them into the dirt. “Listen, you know you guys are my best friends. The best of the best. You know that, right? Cause if you didn’t…if you didn’t know I’d, uh, that would suck. We’ve been through a lot and, ah, you’re the best friends I’ve ever had.”

“Thanks,” Austin said, leading him forward.

“Seriously. I’d die for both of you.”

“Well,” Skylar said, “let’s not do that tonight, ‘kay?”

Bear chuckled. “You guys think I’m drunk, don’t you? I’m really just happy.”

“Oh, you’re happy all right,” Austin said, shaking his head as Skylar straightened Bear’s uniform. “Let’s just get back and hit the rack before—”

Boots sounded in the nearest alley, followed by a man shouting. Soon after, Austin heard rustling and a grunt echoed through the streets.

He moved away from his friends toward the noise.

“Let it go, Austin,” Skylar said. “We need to get back.”

“I just need to check it out,” he said, hurrying toward the commotion.

Trash and wooden debris littered the space between the buildings. Two figures loomed over a miner on the ground holding his hands above him. The pair kicked the local.

“Hey!” Austin yelled without thinking.

The wounded man scurried against the wall as the two standing figures turned and walked toward Austin. When they stepped into the light, he gasped.

Even in the dim light, he saw the men wore the blue of the Tizona uniform. His jaw dropped as he looked at the scowling Star Runners. Skin split on their knuckles and bled down their hands.

“What the hell are you doing?” Austin asked.

The Star Runners shot a glance between them. The taller man with short dark hair and a slender face took a step, his lip twitching.

“And who are you?” he asked, his voice deep. “The police?”

Austin stared into his dark eyes and looked at his companion, who stepped around to the side.

He took a step back, a tingle creeping up his back. “We’re with the Legion.”

“I don’t see any insignia. I don’t see a squadron. Captain Jameson said we’d be getting special visitors. We’re supposed to steer clear of you.” He snorted. “Don’t see what the big deal is.”

“What were you doing to that man?” Skylar asked.

“None of your concern.”

Austin pointed toward the wounded local. “That man is a Legion citizen. It is my concern—especially if you are disgracing the Tizona uniform.”

The Star Runner glanced back at his friend and laughed. “You hear this guy? He says I’m a disgrace!”

“You need to leave him alone,” Austin said. “They hate us enough already.”

The Tizona Officer smiled. “Sure, man. I don’t know what came over me. Let me buy you a drink.”

Austin sighed, glad the tension had passed.

The hurt miner clutched his arm and probably needed medical attention. Here they were on a distant world, and drunk Star Runners harassed the local population.

It wasn’t something Austin had signed up for, but he hated cruelty in all forms. He remembered Nicholas Pavlosky picking on Etti Mar at Tarton’s Junction and the rage flowing through his body.

He shook his head and turned back to Bear and Skylar still in the street. “I don’t need a drink—”

A force struck the back of his head. He tumbled forward, crashing into the pile of trash. Rolling over on his back, Austin caught a glimpse of the Star Runner moving to kick him.

“Hey!” Bear rushed into the alley in a blur, his massive frame smashing into Austin’s attacker and falling in a heap of flesh. The second Tizona Star Runner stepped toward Bear, but Austin leaped to his feet and tackled him.

The four men rolled into the dirt, pummeling one another. Austin yanked the man to his feet by gripping his uniform and punched him square across the jaw. The Star Runner fell back into the trash and didn’t move.

Bear loomed like a conquering warrior over the fallen attacker. He breathed, staring down at the grumbling Tizona man.

“Told you I had your back,” Bear said with a nod. He grinned, a wound on his lip spilling blood down his chin. “Always.”

Skylar stood behind Bear, her eyes wide. “You guys okay?”

Austin nodded. Gasping, he tried to catch his breath and turned back to the local man on the other side of the alley. He staggered as his head and face throbbed with pain.

Stopping in front of the man, Austin stared down at him. He was probably in his forties. A blond beard speckled with gray curled out from his bruised face. The miner recoiled at his approach, backing into the wall as if he thought he could disappear.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Austin said, kneeling. “Are you okay?”

Nodding, the man spit into the dirt. A bloody pool of saliva formed in the dry soil.

“Don’t much know why you care what happens to me,” the man said in a scratchy voice. “You people never seemed to care before.”

“What happened with them?” Austin asked, gesturing back to the Star Runners.

“Jumped me to take my credits. Happens to all of us from time-to-time.”

A cold feeling crept into Austin’s gut. Star Runners were mugging the local population? It couldn’t be possible.

He turned back to Bear. “Check their wallets.”

“What?”

“Just do it.” He turned back to the miner. “What’s your name?”

He hesitated a heartbeat before speaking. “Colm.”

“We’ll get you your money.” He helped him to his feet. “You need a doctor?”

“Seen worse at work. Those guys were just getting started. Lucky for me you showed when you did.” He looked at Austin, his bloodshot eyes softening. “Reckon all you fancy Star Runners aren’t so bad. Or maybe you’re just one of the good ones.”

“Hey,” Austin said, touching the man’s shoulder, “we’re all trained to be the good ones. I’m going to make sure this doesn’t happen to you again.”

Colm smiled, but the expression faded as he looked at the dirt. “Be nice if I could believe you, but this isn’t my first day on this world. I know how things are way out here on the Fringe. I appreciate the thought, though.”

Colm took the money from Bear and slowly made his way into the darkness.

“You did what?” Wilkos glared at Austin, Skylar and Bear from the hangar’s edge. “I’m waiting.”

When no one else spoke, Austin said, “Sir, we saw two Star Runners attacking a local miner. We intervened.”

“You intervened.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And you broke the sacred loyalty of the Star Runners by fighting in an alley like a bunch of sewer lykers! We aren’t thugs! You should’ve reported the issue to me and not taken it upon yourselves to be vigilantes!” Wilkos’ face reddened, and he took a deep breath. “Do you know how this looks to Captain Jameson and the rest of the 54th? We come here, and on the first night, we seriously injure two of his Star Runners. This is going to cause problems.”

Austin swallowed. “Permission to speak, sir?”

“I suppose.”

“We couldn’t let these Star Runners beat this man.” He raised his jaw. “I couldn’t do it. It’s my fault. My comrades just rushed in to help me. I…I have trouble allowing things like that to happen when I feel I can do something about it.”

Wilkos eyed him as a howling wind blew dirt into the hangar. He looked back toward Senza. “Have the crew close the hangar doors. See Bear and Cheetah to their quarters.”

“Right away, sir,” Senza said, snapping off a salute.

Skylar glanced at Austin before moving away.

“Walk with me, Stone,” Wilkos said, turning away before Austin could respond.

He frowned but stepped in line with Wilkos as they strolled into the hangar. The doors rumbled to a close behind them, ending the raging wind.

“You need ice for that?” Wilkos asked.

“I’ll live, sir,” he said, rubbing the back of his head. “Thank you.”

“I think it’s time we had a chat.” He looked down at the ground as they walked. “Before we were assigned to Omeya, I had a chat with Major Nubern.”

Austin’s heart skipped a beat. “Nubern, sir?”

“That’s right. I saw you served with him. He sends his best.”

“He’s a good man.”

“Definitely.” He stopped walking and looked at Austin. “Nubern told me of your past engagements and even a little about your previous mission.”

Austin hesitated. “I see, sir.”

He paused, tilting his head. “You’ve had quite an impressive career thus far. I can see why Command selected you for this new squadron.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“But as of late, Legion Intelligence has been concerned with some developments happening with our friends across the border.”

Austin raised his eyebrows. “Oh?”

“Yes. Bizarre things’ve been happening with our Star Runners. There’s been a rash of reports of Star Runners at remote posts disappearing for weeks at a time, only to return and claim they’d experienced equipment failure.” He sighed. “As a result, Command’s been conducting a thorough review of Star Runners across the entire Legion and there’s something not right about the 54th Tizona. It’s the reason we were sent way the hell out here.”

“What are we supposed to do about it?”

Wilkos looked at the Tridents. “Command gave me leeway on this one. We’re supposed to continue assessing our readiness as a squadron, but they asked me to observe and report any anomalies here. As you can imagine, Command is extremely concerned. Star Runners are our first and best line of defense against the Zahl and the scourge of the Fringe. If we’ve been compromised in any way, Command wants to know about it.”

Space was a big place, impossible to imagine. Traversing the stars was a risky game and pilots could vanish for countless reasons. But numerous Star Runners disappearing only to reappear later? He looked at Wilkos, saw lines of concern stretching out from his eyes.

“Why haven’t you told the rest of the squadron about this?” Austin asked.

Wilkos nodded toward him. “Because of you, to be frank. Because of your recent time across the border, you were the only one of my Scorpions who we felt could have been compromised. Knowing you still have your honor has convinced me you’re still on the right side. I’ll be making an official announcement during our morning briefing. I’ll need all of you to report directly to me or Captain Senza any strange behavior from the 54th.”

He paused. “Nubern couldn’t give me specifics, but he said you completed an incredibly dangerous black ops mission in Zahl space recently and that, my friend, makes me euphoric.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“I served with him, you know. Long time back now. Sure miss him on the active service scene. He was one of the best Star Runners I’ve ever worked with.”

Austin stared at him. “What happened?”

Wilkos looked at the wall. “Quite a long story, actually. I mentioned my time on Tavoy Four to you, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

He sighed. “Nubern and I were in command of a mixed detachment of Tizona and Tarnex Tridents on an escort mission. I wasn’t even told about the secret cargo on the freighter. Marauder activity in the area had been on the rise, but we were used to rumors.”

He bit his lip and blinked. “But these suckers were smart. They created a diversion, sending out a false distress signal. I split our forces. Neither of us had been in command long at this point. We should’ve known better, but they swept in on us so fast. To this day, I swear they were too good. They were flying unmarked, modified Zahlian Interceptors. They moved in so, so fast…half of my men fell before I knew what was happening. I don’t know how many there were—maybe two dozen. We lost many Star Runners and the top secret cargo.”

“What was it?”

“I think Nubern knew, but he was sworn to secrecy. He never told me what we were escorting. Still bothers me, actually.” He wiped at his nose, turning away. “To save my command, he took the blame for the operation. Jon moved into recruitment after that. He says he’s happy, but I’ve never forgiven myself for allowing him to take the fall. I don’t think I ever will.”

Austin’s mouth dropped open. In all the time he had known the man, Nubern had never hinted about his past other than to say he used to command Star Runners. He’d always known Nubern to be a man of honor, but to sacrifice his command for a colleague?

“Anyway,” Wilkos said, “I’m well aware the 54th Tizona has been harassing the local population. About a month back, we lost contact with them. When they reported in again, Jameson said communications were down. A gap in communication this far out is nothing unusual. It takes the curvature drive power of a capital ship just to make it out here. But ever since they went off the grid there’s been a steady stream of complaints from the locals. Frankly, they’ve been quite disturbing.”

“What do we do, sir?”

“We keep our eyes open. If anything seems out of the ordinary here, I want to know about it. There’s just something not right about this place, and I want to find out what it is.”