Warborg - Star Panther (21 page)

“Alive and doin’ fine.” He winked. She answered with the first real smile he had seen from her since he got home.

“I thought I heard voices.” Cecil commented as she came down the stairs. She did a double take, stopping dead in her tracks when she saw the display. “Oh damn, I’m not interrupting, am I?”

“No, come on in,” Angel invited, giving Martin a covert wink and mouthing a silent ‘thank you’.

“What is this?” Cecil asked looking into the display with one eyebrow cocked.

“This is where Martin lives.” Angel answered before Martin could speak.

“Nice digs!” Cecil teased. “And who’s your buddy?”

“That’s Prowler, he’s my sweetie . . . and co-pilot.” Martin finished with a toothy grin.

“Oh, I see.” Cecil rolled her eyes and gave Angel an ’ok, he’s toast’ look.

Will and Martin’s father wandered into the room. They looked at the display. His father shrugged and eased into his recliner. “Hell, I couldn’t sleep anyway.” He muttered, wiggling into the cushions. Will and Cecil snuggled together on the couch.

“I’ve never seen the inside of your yacht before, bro. Pretty nice stuff.” Will commented. “Where the heck are you?”

. . .

Martin was totally enjoying himself, everyone was so at ease now that they could see him. After a while Maria and Alysis materialized on the yacht.

Martin’s family were stunned at the sudden appearance of the pair. “I told you those shoes would be clunky.” A very pretty blond advised a tall striking brunette. “Your feet are just too damned big for that look.”

The brunette looked up at the group in surprise. “Oh hell, he’s got company.”

“Oh dang, sorry Martin.” The blond sputtered. “We should have buzzed.”

“It’s ok you guys.” Martin got out of the captain’s chair and collapsed into a couch. “Take a load off. Ok here goes, Maria and Alysis this is my father, my brother Will and his wife Cecil, and my sister Angel.”

Everyone mumbled mutual greeting as they sorted out who was who. The last one was Martin’s father laughing about Maria calling him Mister Morgan and telling them to call him Chet.

“So you guys are warborgs,” Cecil ventured.

“No,” Maria laughed as she snuggled against Martin in the couch. “I’m a cyborg freight handler, I work in the loading bays. Alysis is a warborg though.”

“Really.” Chet smiled, trying to come to terms with the fact that this heart stopper was a stone cold fighter.

“Yeah,” Martin smiled, “and a pretty damned good one.”

Alysis gave a tight smile. “But Martin’s the tough nut.” She looked at Chet. “You should be proud of your son, he’s the best.” She looked a little sheepish. “We all learn from him. It keeps us alive.”

Everyone was quiet, buried in their own thoughts for a few seconds.

“Now I’m confused.” Angel confessed. “Martin is physically here with us, but we see him aboard his ship, that we see as a yacht floating around in space somewhere. Where are you two at?”

Maria smiled. “I’m aboard our base ship around nine thousand light years from Earth.”

“Let’s see,” Alysis’s face went blank for a second. “I’m on extended patrol about five light years from Maria.”

Maria giggled a little at the unabashed stares from Martin’s family. “But right this instant the three of us are at Martin’s place visiting with you guys on Earth.” She winked with a nod. “Welcome to the cyborg reality.”

“You have to be kidding me.” Cecil sighed. “How do you keep it all straight and stay sane.”

“Well . . .” Maria shrugged.

Martin smiled listening to the conversation as Maria and Alysis described Cyberville and being cyborgs in general. He knew this was just what his family needed to hear, and not from him.

Someone buzzed to come aboard. “Come on in, join the circus.” Martin invited.

Reese appeared. “Ladies.” He nodded at Maria and Alysis. He noted Martin’s family in the display. “Sorry to intrude.” He rumbled.

“Oh, sit.” Alysis waved at a chair. “This is Martin’s family.”

Another round of introductions followed.

“It is truly nice to meet you Reese.” Will smiled. “Thanks for everything you’ve done for Martin.”

“No big thing.” Reese answered with a lopsided smile. “The reason I stopped by was to see if any of you wanted to go to Charlie’s, they’re doing the Burlesque Theater.”

“Sure!” Alysis piped up. “That’s always a kick in the butt.”

Maria glowered at Reese and Alysis. “What a bunch of pervs.”

Martin’s family watched in amusement as the cyborgs harassed and teased each other. Will and Cecil exchanged nasty smiles when Alysis mentioned something about some bootleg software that caused Martin to burst out laughing while Maria turned beet red and Reese grumbled something about ‘dang kids’.

“Come on Maria, let’s go.” Alysis urged. “We should let Martin get back to his family.”

“Oh, all right.” Maria sighed. “Besides, someone has to look after you two maniacs.”

The three said good-bye to Martin’s family and faded out still bickering.

“I think I’m going to hit the sack too.” Martin’s father yawned, pushing himself out of the recliner.

Cecil whispered something in Will’s ear that made his eyebrow cock. “Ohhhkay now.” Will chuckled. “We’ll see you in the morning.” They followed Martin’s father up the stairs.

Martin and Angel sat in comfortable silence for a while. “She’s so pretty Martin, and seems really nice. All your friends seem really nice.”

“She is, and they are.” Martin smiled from the display.

Angel crawled the few paces and knelt in front of Martin’s container. The display blinked off as Martin returned to the reality of his container. Angel pulled up his ‘hands’ and laced her fingers among his, holding everything in a tight little bundle she pressed against her cheek.

“I think mom suspected something had happened to you, maybe she could just sense it somehow.” Angel sighed. “She only would have wanted you to be happy . . . and you are I think.” She looked into Martin’s cameras. “I think now we can both rest easy.” She let go of Martin’s hands and stood up, momentarily rubbing the top of his container. “Good night, Martin.” She said as she walked toward the stairs.

“Nite, Angel.”

She looked back over her shoulder and sighed, “Chuckie Fangler was such a dweeb.” She winked with a smile and disappeared up the stairs.

Martin sat at the end of the pew, bathed in sorrow. Angel sat on the end with her hand resting on top of his canister, as if to draw reassurance from the cool alloy. His father and Will had both spoken.
I’ve never seen dad so sad.
They listened while a representative from the mortuary finished the ceremony and invited everyone into the next room for refreshments. “You ok, Angel.” Martin asked quietly.

She looked down on him with red rimmed eyes and nodded. She forced a slight smile. “As good as can be expected, I guess.” She sniffled. “And you?”

“I’m feeling it, sis,” he sighed. “I just don’t have the leaky plumbing anymore.”

She gave the top of his canister a light slap of admonishment. “We better get you out of the way.” She said, standing up.

Martin rolled into the other room with Angel close behind. He spotted an inconspicuous corner by the refreshment table and headed for it. Angel pulled a chair over next to him. “Angel, you don’t have to stay with me.” He offered quietly.

“I know,” she smiled a bit, starting to recover her composure. “But I want to.”

Will and Cecil wandered over, she had their name tags. Angel sighed shaking her head as she took hers and slapped the adhesive label on her chest. Cecil started to apply Martin’s tag to his container.

“No Cec,” Martin whispered. They all gave him a questioning look. “Remember what I am and what I do,” he explained quietly. “In space any residue from the adhesive will out gas . . .” he hesitated trying not to sound melodramatic, “it could cause thermal problems.”
It could get me killed by leading Koth to me.
He thought with a deep sadness, it just showed how different he really was. Will dug up a piece of string somewhere and rigged the tag so it hung from his ion gun.

Martin’s father walked up. He looked the tag and where it was hanging with a dour look. “I can just hear the gossip already,” he muttered, shaking his head.

The next two hours were a kaleidoscope of relatives and friends of the family, many of which Martin couldn’t even remember. “Who are all these people?” Martin whispered to Angel during a lull.

“Beats me.” She whispered back with a smile. “All I know for sure is I’m going to be glad when it’s over.”

“Me too, and if one more of these idiots tries to leave a drink on me I swear I’m going to shoot’em.” Martin grated.

Martin grew very quiet for a few minutes. “Angel, get dad and the others.” He instructed urgently. “Have them meet me outside.” She got a worried look at the tone of Martin’s voice. She left him with a quick nod. Martin rolled himself outside to an empty area in the parking lot. The others joined him a minute later.

“I gotta go.” Martin stated. “I’m getting a lot of flash communications from Merced about a major Koth offensive.” He sighed. “And Prowler’s tracking a bogey.”

“We understand son, go.” Martin’s father gave him a sad knowing smile.

“Keep safe, Martin,” Angel sighed as she removed the name tag, her eyes hesitated on the ion cannon. The ramifications of it hit her and she sagged a little bit.

“I just got clearance. Good-bye you guys. Thank you so much . . . I love you all.” He said running up power systems for his thrusters. The others backed off. Chris came running out into the parking lot waving wildly as he lifted off, he waved back at Chris and the others.

. . .

“Prowler’s tracking a bogey?” Cecil asked in dismay as they watched Martin disappear into the sky. “Why would his cat track a bogey?”

Will put his arm around Cecil, his father did the same with Angel. “Prowler’s not just his cat.” Will explained, realizing he was the only one who knew. “The cat we saw is just the visual front end of an extremely advanced, combat capable, artificial intelligence.”

“Wow,” Chris wheezed staring after Martin.

. . .

Martin jumped as soon as he cleared the atmosphere. He tried to contact the Star Panther and got no response.
Damn!
He thought, reviewing the sparse data Prowler had sent him about the bogey. The trace was so faint, just a whisper from a passing ghost. With the limited capabilities available in the container Martin projected the path of the bogey with respect to the Star Panther.
Closest approach should be about five hundred kilometers fifteen minutes ago.
Martin considered Prowler. “I bet the little guy set the oven timer
[10]
and went stone cold,” Martin muttered to himself.
The question is; for how long . . . and why?
He thought, not really worried, but curious.

An hour later Martin received a very weak, tight beam, text only communication from the Star Panther. Martin studied the message with interest.
Good job, little fella.
He thought as he read.
A Koth tactical surveillance ship headed vaguely toward Earth. Now what are they up to?
He asked himself. He considered his options while following the messages from Central Command. The attacks on Merced were getting heavier, but more sporadic. He made his decision. “Star Panther to Earth Defense Command.”

“EDC, go Star Panther.” The response was almost instantaneous.

Martin relayed the pertinent part of Prowler’s message.

“Can you confirm?” Came the reply several seconds later.

“Negative Command, I am EVA
[11]
away from my ship.” Martin replied with a smile, wondering how they would interpret his response.

“Roger, Star Panther.” The voice seemed nonplused. “We will relay the information to tactical for potential intercept.”

“Roger Command, Star Panther out.”
. . . for potential intercept?
Martin sighed.
Good luck sending some fighters after that ghost.
He shook his head.
Twenty hours and
I’ll be home.

. . .

Martin had been back aboard Star Panther for four hours, still hanging in space where he met his ship. “It doesn’t feel right, little fella.” He commented watching the updates from the Merced System.
They’re making massive attacks at ten to twelve hour intervals with very little action in between.
Martin sighed rubbing his temples, knowing he should head for the Merced System.

A flash message came through from Central Command, they were pulling all ships of the line off of close Earth defense for deployment to Merced. Martin cocked an eyebrow at the report. “Hmmmm,” he unconsciously breathed, pulling up the Earth defense forces on a display and watched the big ships leave. “Well, there’s still a huge pile of hardware here.” He shrugged, scratching Prowler’s ear.

A half hour later the Koth hit Merced again.
Nine hours since the last attack. Just when you think you have them figured out.
He sighed and shook his head.

. . .

Martin woke up and stumbled into the shower. Something didn’t feel right.
The ghost ship.
Martin thought.
The Koth know we’ve pulled all the heavies from around Earth. So what?
A few minutes later he wandered on to the bridge with a cup of coffee and a donut and settled into the captain’s seat. Prowler gazed up at him from the co-pilot’s seat. “Well, I see the Koth haven’t made a run at Merced for sixteen hours. Damn Koth, late for their own party again.” His eyes flew open with a feeling of deja vu. He stuffed the last of the donut in his mouth frowning in concentration.
Dammit!
He slammed a quick gulp of coffee. “Head for Earth, now!”

Sensing the urgency in Martin’s voice Prowler fired off the FTL at maximum power toward Earth.

. . .

Commander Briton appeared on the yacht bridge at Martin’s harried request. “Major.”

“Sir,” Martin gave a quick salute. “We need to get EDC’s attention fast.”

Briton held up his hands. “Slow down Major.” He smiled at Martin. “Now tell me what’s going on.”

“First Sir, the Star Panther is en route to Earth as fast as we can get there.”

“WHAT!” Briton spat, frowning at Martin. “You know that is strictly forbidden.”

“Yes, Sir. I know. Please let me finish.” Martin almost pleaded.

Briton stared and gave Martin a quick stony nod.

“The . . .” Martin started when a very disheveled Admiral Chinn appeared in a display. Martin held up a hand to the glowering Commander Briton. “Admiral Chinn, sorry to wake you.”

She gazed at the frantic Major Morgan and the obviously angry Commander Briton for a heartbeat. Her concern and curiosity blasted away the remnants of her sleep. “What can I do for you Major?”

“If you don’t have any gunfighters what is the standard defense against a killer ship?” Martin asked directly.

“Run.” She shrugged.

“And if for some reason you can’t leave the area?” He cocked his head.

“Then the only semi-workable defense we’ve come up with is heavy bombardment from constantly jumping heavy ships to keep them from being able to start a run. It’s dangerous and ugly, but works.” She answered starting to feel some apprehension.

“Would fixed defensive platforms be able to put up enough fire to deter a killer ship.” Martin asked more quietly.

She felt a small horror crawl up her back and wished she were in her office so she knew where Martin was. “Fixed platforms would be sitting ducks.” Chinn answered coldly.

Martin sagged and hung his head. “That’s what I thought too.” He took a deep breath. “Sirs, sixteen hours ago EDC sent all their heavies to Merced.”

“What?” Chinn’s normally large eyes grew huge.

The color drained slightly from Briton’s face. “Bloody hell.” Then he looked up. “But the killer ship would be useless against Earth itself. The ionosphere will block their main weapon.”

Martin closed his eyes momentarily. “I know Sir. Prowler spotted a faint trace from a Koth tactical surveillance ship a couple days ago. I reported it, but EDC couldn’t track it down.” Martin clenched his teeth. “Prowler and I could have, but we’re not allowed to approach Earth.” Martin looked up and blew out a sigh. “The Koth knew when we pulled the heavies, they attacked Merced a half hour later . . . and haven’t attacked since.”

Briton sagged visibly and Admiral Chinn was ashen. “You think the Koth armada is on its way to Earth.” Briton’s comment was a statement, not a question.

“Yes Sir, with a fifteen hour head start on our forces even if they left right now.” Martin nodded.

“Admiral Chinn . . . the Star Panther is en route to Earth as we speak.” Briton informed the startled senior officer. “I’m sure it’s already well inside of the warborg encroachment zone.”

Martin confirmed Commander Briton’s statement with a nod.

Admiral Chinn closed her eyes and looked down for a moment. “Very well, Major. Proceed on course until directed otherwise, on my authority. I’m going to contact the EDC directly. You two please stand by.” She heaved a sigh and smiled at them. “Why can’t you two ever just call to say hi?”

. . .

“What do you mean we have a warborg bearing down on Earth?” A Commander hissed. “That is totally against regulations.”

“As you were, Commander.” The Admiral in charge of the EDC ordered. “Proceed Admiral Chinn.” He had checked her dossier, she wasn’t to be taken lightly. Nor were the two warborgs in the other displays in the EDC war room.

“Sir, we strongly suspect you have a Koth killer ship on it’s way to Earth. Followed by the Koth armada that was assaulting the Merced System.” She repeated.

The EDC Admiral stared at the faces in the displays. “How confident are you, Admiral?”

“Sir, it’s been my experience that if these two officers suspect something, take it serious . . . dead serious.” She answered looking straight into the EDC Admiral’s eyes.

“What does this have to do with . . .” the Commander checked his display, “this Star Panther warborg coming to Earth?”

“Major Morgan has fought the killer ships before.” Admiral Chinn replied.

“And how did he do? Did he destroy them?” The EDC Commander pressed.

“No,” Commander Briton interjected. “The first time he barely escaped, and the second killer ship was driven off, but not destroyed as far as we know.”

The EDC Commander smiled. “So we’re supposed to let this warborg who has failed twice against the killer ships approach Earth for another shot at a ship that may or may not even show up.” He shook his head. “Sir, I think we’d be fools to depend on this warborg rather than our own planetary defenses.”

“That may be true, Commander.” Admiral Chinn sighed. “But what would it hurt to have him there as an option?”

The EDC Admiral frowned.

“It would hurt for two reasons.” The EDC Commander stated. “First, his simple presence is totally against the most basic regulations. And second, his being here would be a distraction to our defenses . . . and would show a lack of faith in them. Bringing in a single warborg in lieu of our layers of defense would be a total morale disaster for the men.”

The EDC Admiral rubbed his temples. “I suspect the Commander is right, we’ll let our defenses handle the killer ship, if the threat appears.” He sighed. “Star Panther, please change course to exit the Earth zone as soon as possible. No encroachment charges will be forthcoming because your thoughts were in the best interest of the EDC. Thank you Sirs.” The Admiral stood signaling the end of the meeting.