Princess Rescue Inc (124 page)

“Thought
you were supposed to wait on me?” he said giving Sydney a dirty look.

“Oops,”
Sydney said. He spread his hands apart.

“My
fault Gregory,” Zara said waving her hand. “Still good though,” she smiled. She
had quite a few young faces around her.

“Yes
and it would have been better, or at least better for you with these,” he
hefted some carrots in his hands. The kids wrinkled their noses.

“Trust
me, you won’t taste it. At least not all of it,” Ryans replied. “Besides,
carrots have even more sugar than beets and almost as much as pure sugar.”

Gregory
gave him a look. Ryans shrugged. “Grams pulled the same trick on me when I
refused to eat my veggies,” the nutritionist snorted.

“All
right you lot, since you've spoiled your lunch, you might as well go clean the
hall and get out of Casius' hair... what little he's got left of it,” Gregory
smiled at the cook. “I'll lend him and the staff a hand cleaning up here and
we'll get your lunch going,” he said firmly. The kids scampered out down the
corridor to the great hall.

“If
you'll wait we can make you anything you want...” Casius said. Ryans held up a
hand.

“No,
I've got to run so I just stopped for a quick bite. I've got to meet Perry;
we've got a short mission nearby. Seems there's a wild titan among a farmer's
herd and he's not happy about it.”

“Dear
me,” Gregory said shaking his head. “Do be careful.”

“We'll
try,” Ryans said nodding.

  <==={}------------>

The
rampaging titan went through a field, slamming its massive head and tusks back
and forth sweeping all before it. The local village elder moaned at the sight
of the damage to the fields, barn, and the fences. A stone wall was
obliterated. The animal paused as it felt the pain of the stones striking one tusk.
It bellowed in sudden pain, throwing its head up in the air. Apparently the
cuts and bruises and the spear sticking out of one flank didn't feel like
anything compared to something touching that tusk.

“What
the hell?” Perry asked watching the thing from his hummer.

“We've
got to head it off, it's going right for the village!” their serf guide yelled
pointing frantically.

“Evacuate
then!” Perry bellowed. He stomped on the gas and revved the hummer up past the
beast then turned into a U turn swerve. A rooster tail of dust and gravel flew
behind him.

The
titan pulled up and stopped in front of the metal creature before it. “Come on
you big lummox, cool off and go walkies in some other direction,” Perry
murmured. He flipped the trucks gears to reverse but kept his foot on the
brake. His right hand touched the light control.

“It's
not moving,” the Gunny said watching the beast warily. “This pee shooter won’t
get through that hide to somewhere vital,” he said, indicating his MP-9.

“Yeah,”
Perry grunted. “Looks like the handler is out of it.” They could see a body
lying in the dust beyond the beast. He was obviously flattened. Beady rheumy
eyes stared at the thing. They could see its breath frosting in the air. It
snorted.

“Not
good, NOT GOOD!” the Gunny said suddenly. Perry's attention shifted as his
hands flashed out and hit the horn and lights. The titan reared back in shock,
snorted and blinked as the light and sounds pierced its rage. It threw its head
about, thrashing and trumpeting in confusion and rage.

“Great.
You got its attention,” the Gunny muttered, leaning out the window to try to
get a shot. “I dunno if shooting it in the eye will help or hurt.”

“Hurt.
A wounded animal is worse Gunny,” Perry said watching the beast toss its great
head back and forth and then stamp meaningfully. Its front legs dug into the
grass as it chuffed. He leaned on the horn then flicked the lights to high
beams as it moved tentatively forward. Its middle legs pawed at the ground as
its rear legs dug in. Its thin tail swished in agitation.

The
titan blinked, then closed its six eyes, dropped its head and charged.

“Crap.
Get in!” he said stomping on the gas to go back as fast as he could.

“Too
late!” the Gunny said as a tusk went down, slamming into the hood. The rear of
the truck bucked up as the front end went down; wheels spinning in the air,
then back down. Perry's head hit the steering wheel. He was dazed for a second.

“Move,
move!” the Gunny said trying to stomp on Perry's foot before the Lieutenant
could recover.

“Too
late,” Perry groaned. The Gunny turned to see the tusk slide along the ground
then up under the truck. With a groan the truck was airborne, they felt a jar
and then sickening twist and roll as it flipped and rolled down a low hill. It
ended up on its top, rocking back and forth.

“Crap,”
Perry snarled, recovering from the tuck and brace he'd instinctively fallen
into.

“Cut
it,” the Gunny snarled just as the titan slammed its tusks into the rear. The
truck spun for a moment, a full three sixty.

“Great,
we've been downgraded to chew toy,” the Gunny snarled as the titan continued to
slam the truck around.

They
heard some weapons fire and then the titan bellowed. “I think the cavalry
arrived,” Perry said woozy.

They
heard the beast roar and then move off. More weapons fire could be heard, the
chatter of a machine gun then an agonized scream. After a moment the titanic
moaning groan as the animal toppled. The truck seemed to jump as it fell
nearby.

“Well
that was fun. Nice Christmas ride in the countryside to see the relatives,” the
Gunny sighed.

“Oh
shut up,” Perry said chuckling and holding a hand to the cut on his forehead.

  <==={}------------>

Scooter
moaned at the sight of the hummer. He rigged lines and flipped the vehicle back
onto its wheels. They pulled spare tires from the other vehicles to get it out
of the rut and to the road.

The
old tires were shredded. Scooter pulled the ripped parts off the bead locks
then used a portable air gun to take the bead lock rims apart. A supply truck
arrived several days later and they put the truck back together, enough to tow
it back home to the capital.

“Well,
the good news is the local village has enough food to smoke for the winter,”
Ryans snorted, looking over his shoulder at the village elders directing the
harvesting process.

“Yeah,
but they lost an asset to do it,” Perry grimaced. They'd listened as the
village elder had moaned about the loss of the draft animal. Nothing had been
said about the dead or the destroyed buildings, fences, or the vehicle.
Apparently those could be replaced a lot easier than the damn titan. “Not that
I'm complaining. Those damn things are scary.”

“Just
be glad it wasn't a
rhinotrike
packing armor and weapons,” the Gunny
grunted.

“Yeah,
there's that,” the lieutenant sighed rubbing the bandage on his scalp. “There
is that,” he sighed again.

  <==={}------------>

Ryans
and Deidra smiled at one another as they walked along the road. They had a
growing crowd, both in guards and in fans.

“I
see the fans still adore you,” Ryans said smiling to her. She had her hand in
his. She turned to smile politely at the crowd and then waved. She tugged his
hand to move on. “This isn't another parade is it?” he asked kicking at the
snow. She grimaced and shook her head.

“Come
on, we've got to get to the city hall,” she urged. “Honestly, why we couldn't
ride in a carriage...” She was wearing a forest green fleece overcoat with a
bright blue and yellow spider silk scarf. He could just make out her simple
circlet crown in her blond locks.

He
chuckled. “You're looking more and more Terran every day you know that?” he
teased, referring to the design of her outfit. It was for winter of course,
thick and well designed, but clearly a modern gaijin design. A woman was behind
them sketching it on a slate. He smiled at her as he playfully swung their
connected arms back and forth. “I needed the exercise you said. We seem to not
be getting enough in other ways,” he said, leering as she peeked at him. She
ducked, blushing and dimpling and then punched his arm. He chuckled softly.
“Besides it's good for your people to see you. Although the security situation
isn't ideal,” he smiled a little toward a nearby guard who frowned, looking
left and right. Waters and Maximus had trained them well.

They
made it to the garage area just in time for a group of students to come out.
Scooter was with them, talking animatedly with a pair of students. He was
gesturing about something as he spoke. His charges, young and old watched,
fascinated.

“Is
that Zara?” Ryans asked amused. “Yup,” he said, answering his own question as
he took in the sight of the protective guards by the door. He had to smile at
that. “That explains where she's been getting off too...and in whose company no
less,” he said. He smiled.

“So
this is where you've been going off to sister?” Deidra demanded, hands on her
hips, lips pursed. Ryans gave her an amused look as she let his hand go.

Zara's
shoulders hunched and she turned. Ryans noticed she had her reddish honey hair
up in a ponytail for convenience, and had smudges of grease and grime on her
cheek and hands.

“Enjoying
a new trade?” Ryans asked. “I see you've got quite a fan club Scooter,” Ryans said
nodding to the mechanic. He smiled at the mechanic.

“You?
You dare come around here? I... you...” Scooter made throttling motions with
his hands. “I just got that baby dialed in perfectly after her dents from the
battle were hammered out then you had to play chicken with one of those titan
thingies?”

Ryans
chuckled. “Wasn't me remember? That was Perry and Paris so talk to them.
Believe me, we would have preferred not to. Shit happens Scooter; you of all
people know that. Besides, it gives you a chance to dig out your tools and show
off and play.” He grinned as Scooter snorted.

“Are
you really mad at them Scooter?” a boy asked looking upset.

“No
son, he's just yanking my chain,” Ryans said. The kid looked at him confused
then straightened, shoulders back. “It means he's giving me a hard time for
fun,” Ryans explained.

“I'll
have you know sirrah, I am Sir Siegfried, Lord of Appleworthy,” he said, eyes
flashing. “And you are?”

Scooter's
hand rested on the kids shoulder. “That's my boss kid so ease up. That is
Eugene Ryans. And
his
boss is his wife the Queen standing right there
next to him.”

The
boy's eyes widened in sudden startled appreciation before he bent his head
flushing and bowed. “I meant no disrespect my lieges.”

“Appleworthy?”
Ryans asked looking confused to Deidra. “I don't remember that on the map.”

“That's
because it's a part of Duluth... and now part of our Imperium. You seem young
and quite... vigorous for your rank and title Sir Siegfried,” she said
politely, nodding to the boy. She treated him as an adult and near equal Ryans
realized.

Siegfried
kept his eyes downcast but nodded. “I was but a squire when the, ah...”

“When
the campaign began?” Ryans asked politely, keeping it neutral.

Siegfried
nodded. “Yes my liege.”

“And
you were elevated in combat?” Deidra asked. Zara looked at her challengingly.
Deidra pulled a hanky out of a vest pocket and tossed it to her sister. Zara
looked at it questioningly until Deidra motioned to her face.

The
princess flushed and turned away wiping at the smudges.

“Ah...”
The boy turned to see Zara, then back. “Yes my lady,” he admitted. He nodded.

Deidra
nodded. “Very well. You're here to learn the new gaijin skills to better your
people?”

“Ah...”

“Just
say yes Dominus,” Ryans said amused. “And you can look up. You don't need to
study your shoes,” he said wryly. The boy looked up slowly. “That's better.
Now, I'm glad you’re taking the time to learn this. Do you enjoy mechanics?” he
asked. He revised the kid's age at around fourteen. He was short, and from the
voice he hadn't quite hit full puberty yet. He did have the beginning stages of
the usual acne though.

The
boy nodded. “It's so amazing to see the wheels turning, the parts...” He
motioned with his hands.

“Good.
Glad you've got a worthy apprentice then Scooter,” Ryans said nodding to the
burly mechanic. “Appleworthy... is it named because it has Terran apples?” he
asked. “Your land I mean.”

“Yes
my liege,” the boy smiled.

“Good
to know. I'll have to buy some. I've got a couple of family recipes for pies
and treats that have apples as the main ingredients,” Ryans said smiling. The
boy blinked at him then smiled tentatively. “Are you just learning vehicle
mechanics or general mechanics?” he asked the teenager.

“Ah...”

“Both.
We're going to work on the hydroelectric water wheels along the river later
today,” Scooter said. “You'll get a kick out of that guys and gals, think of the
alternator in the truck but very big and powered by the water wheel,” he
explained. He used his hands to show the size difference. “With of course a lot
more power and low in torque. It's got enough power to power this here garage
plus a couple of blocks of businesses and houses around here,” he said and then
grinned. “That is when the river's not froze over like now.”