Roger Wilcox is the dumbest person I’ve ever met, on Earth or in space. Seriously, the guy’s head is all rocks and no brains. Despite this, he holds sway over people I’d hope would know better. Take Suzette, for example. Countless times I’ve watched her foam at the mouth, yammering about how charming and magnificent Roger is. Magnificent! I assure you, that’s the highest praise I’ve ever heard Suzette lay on anyone. I suppose he’s not too hard on the eyes, if you’re into cleft chins and perfectly coiffed blond hair.
Personally, I never cared much for the loud-mouth type of guys. They’re always a little too sure of themselves. So when Roger’s ship – the Dagger – appeared on our radar, Suzette grinned like a dizzy schoolgirl, while I scratched my head. How the hell did he end up out here? Our missions sent us to opposite ends of the galaxy. I’ll have to put a pin in that one for later.
“Dan? Is that you?” Roger crackles over the com through heavy static. “Get ready to punch it. We have to get the hell out of here.”
Roger sounds spooked and now I see why. Three unidentified ships are closing in on the Dagger’s tail, all steadily firing on his rear. I guess I’m not the only one in the galaxy who can’t stand this bozo.
Suzette slams the throttle before I can even reach for it. Her instincts surprise me, as she hurls the ship into evasive maneuvers, spinning and swerving my stomach into knots. One of the three attackers breaks formation, heading for us. Suzette has grown into quite the fighter pilot, evading the attacker with ease. I try to hail Roger to get some intel on what we’re up against, but he’s not answering. I suppose he has his hands full.
“Isaac6, can you get any kind of read on those ships?”
“STATEMENT: The engaged spacecraft do not match any data on record.”
“Of course not. Any other options, smart guy?”
“STATEMENT: The Vanguard Mark II has an onboard intelligence of similar design to myself.”
“I knew that. Why don’t you strike up a conversation?”
“OPINION: It’s possible BETSY6 has updated information regarding our attackers.”
“Make it happen. Suzette, keep this bogey in our rearview. I’ll take aft gun.”
“About time you make yourself useful,” she says with a cocky grin of her own.
I shimmy up the ladder into the aft gun, clearly a part of the ship not designed for adult males above 5 feet. That said, the aft gun is the weapon they never see coming. The targeting panel quickly lights up and sights on the bogey. I’d rather not fire at someone I don’t know, but Roger’s left us with little choice. Getting a bead on this guy isn’t easy with Suzette’s juking and jiving, but I finally get a decent shot or two in, clipping one of his wings. The ship is spinning wildly, but he’ll survive. With our attacker breaking off to lick his wounds, I head back to the cockpit. Suzette moves to intercept the two on Roger’s tail while I fire up the forward cannons.
“Isaac, where are you on that intel from Betsy?” Suzette inquires.
“STATEMENT: Pinging BETSY6…Pinging…Connection was blocked by command override. No results available.”
“What the hell? Why is he jamming us?”
“He’s hiding something, obviously,” I point out.
“I’m sure he has an explanation,” Suzette claims.
“If we don’t clear off those two birds, we’ll never know.”
The Dagger appears in the viewport, a smoking mess. The bandits have nearly finished her off. Suzette breaks hard left, opening up a clear shot at the nearest bogey. This bandit gets more than clipped, exploding into bits. I hope we had just cause. The last bogey turns tail to run.
“Should we pursue?” Suzette asks while adjusting course.
“No. Don’t follow. We still have no idea what Roger’s gotten us into.”
“But Dan, if the hostiles get back to – wait, you see what I’m seeing?”
“I do.”
The onscreen HUD is flashing several warnings about Roger’s ship.
“WARNING: Vanguard Mark II reports imminent systems failure.”
“Why isn’t Roger answering the damn com?” Suzette probes Isaac.
“STATEMENT: BETSY6 reports that Roger is currently unconscious.”
Suzette and I know there’s only one option and it’s extremely dangerous. I grab my helmet and begin suiting up as Suzette flies into boarding range.
“Any kind of time estimate before the Dagger blows?” I ask.
“STATEMENT: Approximately eight minutes, based on BETSY6’s calculations.”
“Isaac, crack that command override. Do whatever you have to. I want you to download all of Betsy6’s logs to the ship. Open the hatch once I’m topside.”
“How the hell are you going to carry them both out of there?”
“Joanie’s my top priority, assuming she’s still aboard.” Although I have a sneaking suspicion she’s not. “Roger will have to wait.”
“Dan, try not to do anything stupid.”
“Listen, if the shields go critical, you haul ass out of here and report back to Mission Control.”
“Like hell! I’m not going anywhere.”
I make my way to the hatch, grabbing my 2028 pistol on the way, just in case there are any other surprises aboard the Dagger. The hatch opens and I step out into open space, firing up my jetpack. A few seconds later, I’m activating the boot magnets to latch onto the hull. I make my way to the external hatch, but the damned thing is locked. Two rounds from the 2028 get me in the door. Beyond the airlock, the lights flicker and the air is heavy with smoke. This sweetheart of a ship has taken a helluva beating from the looks of it. I step onto the bridge to find Roger slumped over the controls, Joanie nowhere in sight. I give him a shake and a smack, but he’s down for the count.
“Betsy6, are you online? Do you copy?”
“STATEMENT: Affirmative, Dan Brown of Vanguard Mark III. How may I assist you?”
“Where is Joanie?”
“STATEMENT: Joan Bell of Vanguard Mark II is deceased.”
“Isaac6 is trying to download your core databank.”
“STATEMENT: My database is encrypted. Uplink cannot be established without proper credentials.”
“Fine! Command: Alpha-8-Foxtrot. Now, upload all files.”
“STATEMENT: Affirmative. Uplink engaged.”
So Joanie’s gone and this jerk is still breathing. I secure Roger’s helmet, then throw him over my shoulder and make for the door. I jump out of the hatch as sparks fly in all directions. As we clear the exit I feel a blast at our backs, propelling us face first into the hull of my ship. I grab onto the hatch handle and signal Suzette to move us out of range. I turn in time to see the rest of her go, then open the hatch.
With Roger laid out in sickbay while Isaac performs an examination, I head to the bridge. Suzette sits motionless in the chair, her face ghastly pale.
“She wasn’t onboard, was she?”
“No. Betsy said she was dead. Was Isaac able to download those logs?”
“He was, but I’m not sure you’ll like what I found.”
“Oh?”
“There was an encrypted message from Mission Control,” she whispers. “And I think we might be in trouble…”
To be continued…
-Fiction by Shawn Coots
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