DJ's Mission (31 page)

Everyone silently nodded at the sacrifice the
pilots had made.

After a moment, Cmdr. Cline continued. “I have
ordered the rest of Alpha Flight to the Horus and to assist in the manning of
the dreadnaught. However, Lieutenant Evans is currently in command of the ship
and will keep it hovering directly overhead until reinforcements arrive. I have
been informed that the UNCF Lexington has been rerouted from Wolf
Three-Five-Nine and should be here before the end of the week. Until that time,
I have been placed as acting governor of the region.”

Jenny stood up and straightened her jacket. “Sir,
the Saturn Sheriffs are always proud to assist the Coalition.” She turned her
attention back to the bounty hunter. “I have one last question, if I may, for
Mr. Spartan. What is the condition of Jagger Jax and Staff Sergeant
DeJarnette?”

Iaido lowered his head. “According to my last
communiqué, Jagger Jax died on the operating table and DJ is in a medically
induced coma while Talia works on him. His prognosis is good but he will be
down for several weeks.”

Everyone lowered their head in silent mourning.

“I’m sorry for the loss of your friend. I would
like an official statement from Staff Sergeant DeJarnette whenever he is well
enough.” She handed Iaido a card. “Here are my contact codes. Please make sure
he gets it.”

Iaido nodded. “I will.”

Jenny snapped a salute to the Commander before walking
out to begin the lockdown of the factory and to oversee the detainment of any
of the SIS officers still alive.

Iaido didn’t envy her next few months. They
promised to be rife with paperwork and lengthy investigations. Stephanie nodded
her goodbyes and silently slipped out of the Conference room like a ghost. Only
Iaido seemed to be aware of her departure and he didn’t say anything. 

Cmdr. Cline turned to face the two SWAT officers,
“Officers Ernspiker and Spurgeon, I have been in contact with your captain and
you have been asked to retrieve the body of Councilor Carpenter and prepare to
transport her home with full honors. He will be contacting you later today to
work out the details.”

Both police officers stood up, saluted and limped
their way back into the bowels of the factory. They had a somber job but Teana
deserved the sacrifice.

Finally, Cmdr. Cline turned to face Iaido and the
ginger haired pirate. “I’m guessing it was you on the comms that wouldn’t
identify yourself earlier.”

Iaido nodded. “Yes, sorry about that. I’ve had too
many run-ins with narrow-minded military commanders over the years to take a
chance on identifying myself.”

“Yes, I’m aware of your record.”

Iaido raised an eyebrow at that statement but
didn’t say anything.

Cmdr. Cline grinned. “In fact, you were the
primary subject of a very interesting call I received less than ten minutes ago
from the President.”

“Really? Do tell.”

“It seems that I’m supposed to extend you any
courtesy and smooth things over with the locals. No questions asked.”

Iaido rubbed his chin. “Hmm, maybe he’ll keep his
word this time. Only time will tell.”

Cmdr. Cline had no idea what he was talking about
but then, it didn’t matter. His orders were to ask no questions of the deadly
bounty hunter, so that was what he was going to do. He held his hand out.

“Well, it was a pleasure working with you Mr.
Spartan.”

They shook hands.

“I doubt that’s true, Commander but I’m sure we
will see each other again.”

Cmdr. Cline turned away and began talking with Lt.
Brockbank. The Alpha Flight commander was giving his pass down report
concerning some anomalies his flight had seen in route. Of particular interest
to Iaido was the description of a large unidentified vessel on the very edge of
their passive radar right before their descent to Titan. The lieutenant was
saying something else when the two Coalition officers moved out of earshot.

Turning his attention back to the red-headed
pirate, Iaido found her studying him. Without a word, he picked up his helmet
and began heading out.

The Hurricane Venus fell in beside him. “You know
Spartan, you’re not exactly what I’d imagined.”

“How’s that?”

“Well, for starters you’re much shorter. To hear
the stories Mörder told about you, I would’ve guessed you to be much bigger,
taller, more menacing looking.”

Iaido chuckled. “I’m glad to disappoint you.”

“Oh, I’m not disappointed…not at all.”

Iaido didn’t catch the barely veiled innuendo.
“Let me ask you a question. Why were you with the pirates? You don’t seem to be
cut from the same cloth.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” She smiled.
“Mörder was interested in breaking out several prisoners from the Freezer. It
just so happens, an old acquaintance of mine is also a popsicle at the moment.
We were helping each other out, nothing more.”

That was important information. If Mörder was
interested in breaking out some prisoners, the odds were that they were also
Praetorians. Nothing else would motivate him. “You have any ideas which
prisoners?”

“Sure, what’s it to you?”

“Let’s just say that if my hunch is correct, I’ll
owe you one.”

Venus cocked her head to the side and pulled out
her datapad. Inserting a data-crystal, she typed in the information and added
the cell of her friend. “It sounds as if you have some powerful friends. If
this is really worth something, see if you can get Miranda released.”

“I can’t promise anything but I’ll try.”

“That’s enough for me.”

Reaching her ship, Venus was about to climb aboard
when Iaido stopped her. “I have a message for you from Jax.”

That got her attention. “I thought you said he was
dead.”

Iaido grinned. “I might’ve stretched the truth a
bit. Although legally, he was dead. However, Talia is a very talented mystic
and was able to bring him back. He is still critical and has a long road ahead
of him but he’ll live.”

“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. What was
his message?”

“We’re even, whatever that means.”

Venus smiled once again. Iaido thought it was a
pretty smile.

“It’s a pirate thing. You wouldn’t understand.”
Turning away, she climbed aboard her ship but spoke over her shoulder. “See ya
around Spartan.”

Iaido watched the pirate’s ship fly off and had
the sneaking suspicion that she was right. He would see her again. Then his
eyes landed on the dark form of the Horus. Even he had to admit that it was an
impressive ship. Although its existence didn’t bode well for the fragile peace
between the Coalition and the Confederacy; they were already suspicious and
fearful of each other. A vessel like the Horus could tip the scales and the
galaxy would find itself at war with itself once again.

Iaido shook his head to clear it of such
depressing thoughts and turned toward the red and black Kestrel of the faux
Falcon. What he didn’t explain to Sheriff Cunningham was that he had already
filed the proper paperwork with the Galactic Commission to seize all of
Nichols’ assets. He had already heard back from his lawyer and everything was
approved. Climbing on his new ship, Iaido quickly fired her up and within
moments, he was airborne.

Punching up the comms-system, he waited as the
Aetós followed him and Aeolus came over the private channel. “Yes sir, how may
I be of service?”

“I would like you to patrol the rings. There is an
unconfirmed sighting of a battlecruiser in the area. I want to see if you can
locate her. If you do, you are not to engage but mark the location and report
back to me.”

Aeolus paused for a moment before answering. “My
apologies Master Spartan but you are no longer my Captain.”

“So true, that is why I asked you. DJ will be out
of commission for at least a few days while he recovers from his injuries. I
only ask you to do this while he is offline. Of course, you don’t have to
comply. It’s your choice.”

“Then, I will comply until ordered otherwise by my
Captain. Besides, it’s better than sitting in a hanger.”

“Thank you.”

“It is a pleasure to serve once again.” And the
comm line went dead.

Iaido punched up the contact codes for the Nemesis
and Pax answered.

“Yes, Captain?”

“Status?”

“We are at the rendezvous point. Xerxes, the
Sylvan and the Master Chief are all in sick bay.”

Before she could continue, the head of his niece
popped into view on the screen. Technically Eve was not his niece but the
daughter of his oldest friend and Talia’s sister who went missing sometime
after the war. When the Sergeant Major was killed, she became a pawn in his
former commander’s revenge. Once the dust settled from that situation, she came
to live on the Nemesis along with Talia. In a short time, his near solitary
existence had changed. Now he had a family. It was pretty satisfying.

Eve’s cheerfulness brought his mind back to the
present. “Uncle Achilles! Thanks for bringing me a friend!”

Kaitlyn popped into view. “You’re the last
Spartan! My Dad has told me stories about you.”

“The same here, it is a pleasure to meet you. Any
word?”

Kaitlyn shook her head. “Athena came out about
five minutes ago and said that it is still touch and go for the moment.”

Iaido nodded. “Roger that, I should be back on
board within the hour. Pax contact me the moment anything changes.”

The Nemesis’s AI responded. “Affirmative.”

Iaido killed the connection and set about piloting
the Kestrel to the rendezvous point and wondering about the future. It seemed
he’d picked up another stray. Oh well, that’s goes with the territory of being
part of a family.

Chapter 22

Several days later, the Red Falcon walked into the
hideout of the Cartel underboss Absolem. He moved with a very pronounced limp
but the blue-hued geometrid had no doubt it was him.

Absolem took a long drag off his qalyan and held
in the smoke of his favorite spice as he studied the bounty hunter. The armor
was dented and scarred but had been repaired recently. Not a professional job
but one who knew a little about the armor. The blue bug nodded to himself and
set down his waterpipe.

“Falcon. I wasn’t expecting you since I heard you
were dead.”

“Stories of my demise have been greatly
exaggerated. But I’m not here to reminisce. You have my payment?”

“How do I know you’re the real Falcon? You could
be an imposter.”

The Red Falcon rested his left hand on the handle
of his gun. Neither the bug or his henchmen missed the veiled threat. “You can
take my word for it or I can shoot you where you sit if you like. Either way,
the job is done and I expect payment.”

Absolem threw his head back and laughed. It was an
odd sound even translated by the AI inside the CSA armor. “You are the real
Falcon. Only he would have enough balls to threaten me.” The geometrid nudged a
large crate with his tail. “Your payment as arranged.”

The Red Falcon moved stiffly over to the crate and
lifted it. “I’m going to trust that it’s all here. I know you wouldn’t cheat me
now, would you?” Seeing the Cartel underboss shake his head, the Red Falcon
began to limp his way out. Just before he left, he paused long enough to look
over his shoulder at the fifteen foot tall bug. “Don’t contact me again. This
is our last business venture together.” Without waiting to hear the bug’s
answer, he hobbled back to the waiting red and black Kestrel.

Once the hatch was closed and the ship was
underway to Titan’s starport, DJ took off the Red Falcon helmet for the last
time. “You know, I’m going to miss this armor.”

Jax’s voice was still weak as he replied. “Are you
sure about this?”

DJ turned to face his friend. “You once told me
that you wanted to find someplace where no one knows your name. Officially,
Jagger Jax is dead but the galaxy could still use Rote Faulken.”

Jax flexed his cybernetic hand and moved his metal
arm around once more to stare at it. The silver alloy gleamed in the weak light
of the cockpit.

DJ laid a gentle hand on his friend’s knee. “Jax,
listen to me. You are no longer the same man you used to be, obviously
externally but more importantly, internally. You chose to sacrifice yourself to
save others. You are no longer the pirate. You are a new man. And as Iaido
would say, there are two paths before you, only you can choose which one to
walk.”

Even as the Phoenix touched down on the tarmac of
the starport, Jax looked up. His cybernetic eye gleamed red. “But DJ, half this
fortune is yours.”

DJ stepped off the ship and hugged his waiting
daughter. “No, I have the greatest treasure right here.”

Turning away, DJ and Kaitlyn left the new Red Falcon
to ponder his future. Father and daughter boarded the waiting Aetós and headed
off to confront the unknown….together.

Epilogue

The red skinned four-armed being looked at the
screen and shook his head. The shadowy figure that represented him on the panel
of the Committee, a human conglomerate of businessmen that thought they ran the
galaxy, copied his movements.

“I disagree Mr. Black. Admiral Thomas is solely to
blame for our failures on Titan, not this Red Falcon character or Spartan. He
underestimated his opponents and let his personal lust for the young girl blind
him to other options available. Once again we see what happens when someone
puts their personal agenda in front of the Committee’s.”

On screen the shadowy form of Mr. Black nodded.
“You have a point, Mr. Red. Very well, if it is the will of the Committee our
assets will not take any actions against this Spartan fellow or the hunter
known as the Red Falcon.”

The twelve member panel anonymously cast their
votes. Of course, the multi-limbed being could easily override their computer
systems and display any vote he wished, but that wasn’t as much fun. The thrill
was manipulating them, not commanding them. The unanimous vote came back to not
take any direct action, as always.