Shadow Force 1: the Garden Planet (2 page)

It was at that precious moment that good old Ed’s words sunk in. “
One
of my new partners?!” I asked, the reality of what he said finally penetrating my thick skull. “Who, pray tell, is my other partner?”

“You aren’t going to like this, but his name is Max Decker.”

“What?” I practically shouted.

“Are you deaf?” contributed the ice queen, “We need Max and his contacts.”

“And how did you get him to agree to this, considering we have been hunting him for the last seven years?” I asked.

“That, my friend, will be your job!”

This was getting better and better. I knew that Max was at the spaceport Hyatt on Altra Six. I also knew I had been hunting him and he always managed to slip away at the last moment, and I was sure this time would be no different. How the hell was I going to get a renegade commando to join me on a mission? On that subject I had no ideas. Still Sara was right; I would need his contacts and his underground network to make this work.
 

“Why don’t you take Sara and show her around Shadow? I believe you should depart as soon as possible. We know that at this time Max is still at the Hyatt. And even though we have replaced the staff with agents, Max has proven in the past to be a rather slippery character, so time is of the essence.”

With that, we took our leave of Commander Rosen. As I guided Sara to the space dock where Shadow was located we walked in silence. The hostility radiating from her was almost a palpable thing. What her problem was I had no idea but it did not seem like a good start to a partnership.

We arrived at Shadow and as I ordered the lock opened, Shadow replied, “Okee dokee boss, but I need to mention that your guest is carrying seven concealed weapons, the electronics I can take care of, the hard weapons I can overheat with infrared.” “Make it so.” I replied. Of course, all this communication was directly connected from my mind to the neural net so Sara had no inclination of what had just transferred until she started squirming in her jumpsuit, which she quickly stripped off.

Now being a chivalrous man I quickly cycled through the airlock, leaving a naked and very angry Sara inside the lock.

“There are no unauthorized weapons allowed on my ship.” I informed her through the intercom.

Her response was just a little too graphic for me to record; let us just say that the partnership was not getting off to a great start. She obviously despised me, and for my part I just thought she was a stuck up bitch whom I had no intention of letting get under my skin. What I knew, and she had just found out, was that Shadow’s interior defenses were numerous and highly effective. With just a mental command I could render her unconscious, or for that matter, dead. At that point I was considering placing her in one of the twelve holding cells on the ship rather than one of the guest quarters, yet orders were orders, and I had already pushed my luck with good old Ed. So after she was redressed, I cycled the lock, and as she stepped through, she promptly punched me in the face. Yeah, this was not a great start.

Reeling from the punch in the face, I escorted her to the main guest cabin. A duplicate of my own, it was as luxurious as a cabin on a high-end yacht would be. There was a lounge, living room, a private bath complete with whirlpool tub and steam shower and the bedroom had a panoramic screen system built into the walls. You could call up any of thousands of scenes that would let you feel as though you were at a beach, the mountains or just about anywhere that Shadow had in her memory banks. Overall, it was a great way to relax. The amenities also included a food synthesizer. It could produce just about any meal asked of it. Also there was a clothing synthesizer, capable of producing a wide assortment of garments. In any case, I asked Sara to settle in and then join me on the bridge.

I went to my cabin, cleaned myself, as well as my bloody nose up before heading to the bridge. When I arrived, I found Sara sitting in my chair and interacting with Shadow’s main view screens. I was tempted to command her out of my chair, but the memory of our most recent interaction was still fresh in my mind. So I thought better of it.

“Have you found anything interesting? “ I asked as I took the seat next to her.

“Well, Max is still at the Hyatt and showing no signs of leaving. Still I imagine we should get underway as soon as possible.”

With that I agreed, “Shadow take us out of space dock and plot a course for the spaceport.”

“We are cleared for takeoff and are leaving space dock now.” Shadow announced.
 

“Thank you, I’ll be in my cabin, let me know five minutes before landing.” With that, I left the bridge and the ice queen going to the solitary space of my cabin.

“Shadow, bring up program five on full video surround.” Immediately the walls of my cabin became a scene from a mountaintop, where a family was setting up a picnic. The wife was beautiful with long curly brown hair, a set of full lips that at this time were spread wide in a smile showing her beautiful straight teeth. Her daughter, who was just as gorgeous as her mother, was busy spreading out a blanket while the baby, another girl, this one with red hair, was in a playpen curiously watching all that was going on. It was at that point that I walked into the view of the holo recorder, and walking up to my wife I took her into my arms and gently kissed her on the lips. Not to be outdone, my daughter Emma ran over and threw her arms around us both, we all fell to the ground laughing and giggling.

The scene was one of my fondest memories of my family, and I would watch it often. It reminded me of why I now did what I did.

“Five minutes to touch down.” Shadow announced.

I regretfully terminated the program and headed for the bridge. As the doors slid open I was pleased to see that Sara had moved to the copilot’s position, leaving my command chair open.

“Sara, what do we really know about Max?”

“Well, to start with, Max served with the 10
th
squadron of attack fighters in Space Force from 2979-2987. He then left for Special Forces training, and training he got. Two years of intensive defensive and offensive training left him a virtual killing machine. At the start of the Arula conflict he was inserted behind enemy lines; his work at both taking out high profile targets, as well as his numerous acts of sabotage, no doubt saved thousands of Federation lives. However, as you already know, when the conflict ended he had to be disowned and his actions labeled as those of a rogue agent. In any case he has been shunned ever since.”

“It sounds as though he got a shitty deal.”

“We’ve all gotten shitty deals so let’s just get on with it.”

I agreed, but wondered what shitty deal, other than being partnered with me, she had gotten. Someday I expected I would get an answer to that.

Max was still at the Hyatt the agents stationed there reported. Now, all I had to think of was a plan to at least let me get close enough to have a conversation.

“Unidentified person approaching the ship.” Shadow announced.

“On screen.”

What I saw was a large man with a hooded parka pulled up over his face, calmly walking towards the main airlock.

“Arm exterior defenses.”

“Already done, boss.”

“Ok, activate external speakers.”

“You’re on.”

“Please identify yourself.”

With that the man stopped and pulled the hood off exposing his face.

“It took you long enough to get here Jonny.” Mr. Max Decker said.

Well I sat there in shock for about thirty seconds, as did Sara.

“Max, you’re supposed to still be at the Hyatt.” I needlessly said.

“Jonny boy, I’ve been slipping away from you for five months, actually that’s how I’ve been amusing myself. You really did not think a few inexperienced agents were going to be able to keep me cooped up, now did you? And by the way, would you please open the airlock? It is cold out here, oh and say hi to Sara for me.”

How the hell did he know Sara was even on board? Or me for that matter? I was beginning to feel like a puppet in a show.
 

“Shadow open exterior lock and I want every weapon this man is carrying disabled.”
 

Cycling lock now, Shadow responded as both Sara and I headed to the airlock to meet our man of mystery.

“The man is completely unarmed.” Shadow reported.

“Very well, open interior doors.” and as they opened I got my first up-close look at Mr. Maxwell Decker. He was a giant of a man, well over six feet tall and probably three hundred pounds, with no apparent fat. He had short dark hair and chiseled features; I could see Sara’s look of admiration, but Max’s reaction to her was entirely different. He looked at her lovingly but not the least bit sexually, and Sara was hot enough to turn any man’s head, God knows it had turned mine.
 

“Max, I should be showing you the interior of one of the holding cells right about now. But instead we are going to the lounge so you can explain just what the hell you are doing on my ship.”

“Sounds good, I’ll lead the way.” With that, he turned right and headed down the passageway, taking a quick left, then a right turn. He stopped at the door to the lounge, placed his hand on the scanner and the door slid silently open.

Ok, this was getting weird. The scanners were programmed only for my hands, and now Sara’s, surely not Max’s.

“It’s ok Jon, we’re on the same side, and I’ve been on board Shadow at least fifty times.”

“Shadow is this true?”

“I have no memories of any such incursions.” My rather offended sounding computer replied.

“Jon let's have a seat maybe a little drink, and I’ll explain everything. “Shadow I’ll have my usual.” he added. At which the synthesizer jumped into action producing a vodka and tonic with a twist of lime just in time for Max to reach in and get it.

I finally gave in and ordered a rum and coke, Sara simply asked for a non-alcoholic beer. We all took seats on the lounges with both Sara and me looking quizzically at good old Max to start the conversation, a task he seemed reluctant to do.

“I guess I had better start at the beginning.” He finally stated.

“That would be nice.” I added.

“Ok, about seven months ago I heard about a plan to ransom the Sol System including old Earth.”

“Seven months! We just heard about it this week when we got the demands.”

“I know, it was me who sent the demands and the schematics to Ed last week.”

“You sent them!” both Sara and I said almost simultaneously, and not without a great deal of quizzical anger.

“I knew of the plan but not how to thwart it. I knew if left it in the hands of S.F.I. nothing would be done in time. Therefore, I decided to put together my own team and defeat these assholes before they could get started. I chose you and Sara as the main members. Jon, you are the best tracker I have ever come across, a man of honor, and Sara is just about the best agent S.F.I. has ever produced. So I let you follow me around the galaxy as I put together a plan to disable the device. However, in so doing I found a problem. Once this is activated the black hole it creates will be out of control, it will destroy all of mankind in just a matter of years.”

“Are you sure?”

“Without a doubt, I’m just glad it didn’t take S.F.I. six months to figure it out.”

“I still cannot believe there is anything capable of destroying the entire galaxy.” Sara said.

“There is now!” The test results speak for themselves. Our only saving grace is that I have a seven month lead on these scumbags. They also have set up a fail-safe system. It requires the cooperation of five high level Arab terrorists with complex neural transmitters imbedded in their brains. We don’t believe they can physically access them. Although according to my information they will automatically transmit the de-activation code when they are within range of the device. We will have to get all five terrorists on the surface of the Earth at the same time and fully conscious to boot, for the device to be automatically deactivated.”

“Why the surface of Earth, is that where the device is located?” I asked.

“Not exactly, the device itself is most likely hidden in the asteroid belt. It is the disarming device that is on the planet.”

Well, I thought getting two Arabs to agree on one thing is hard enough. Getting five, well that is just about impossible.

If I only knew!

Chapter Two

We were about one hour from the jump point and I was alone on the bridge trying to sort out the last twenty-four hours. I am not used to being manipulated, even if it was for a just cause. However, apparently I had been being manipulated for more than six months, and to say my pride was injured did not even come close to how I was feeling.

“Jon, do you have a minute?” Sara suddenly asked, surprising me as I had not noticed her arrival.

“Sure.” I replied, “What’s on your mind?”

“I just wanted to apologize. It appears you’re not the complete pig I thought you were.”

“Nice apology. I guess I’m sorry for thinking you were just some bimbo that Ed kept around for window dressing!”

“Touché “

“Jon, I just found out about your family, and I’m truly sorry. I also was a victim of the pirates when I was young, and I’ve dedicated my life to eliminating the slave trade ever since.”

“You were enslaved?”

“Yes, but I would rather not get into details just yet. The wounds are deep and I would like to get to know you better first.”

“Ok, but my door is always open if you need to talk.”

“Thanks, and I’m sure sometime soon I’ll take you up on that.”

It was right then that Max returned to the bridge, interrupting a conversation that I knew would soon have to be finished.

“I have the coordinates for our first jump.” He announced. “We’re going to New Libya.”

“May I ask what for, since this is after all my ship?”

“Well, actually the ship belongs to S.F.I., and before that it belonged to me. I owned the company that did the refit, which is why Shadow doesn’t remember me. She was programmed not to. There are also a lot of other modifications that are not in the blueprints but trust me, you and Sara will be briefed on all of them as soon as we have time. But right now we are heading to New Libya using the cover of three very rich and very bored socialites. Our new IDs are being processed as we speak. I’ll be using a holographic disguise, as I am rather well known in this region. You two are fine, there should be no one there that recognizes you. So my name will be Max Randall. You two are the Vander Hoff Children, Jon and Sara we will be using our real first names to keep the confusion down. You two have never worked a day in your lives, and now after the deaths of your parents, you spoiled children are looking for some action in your lives. The man we are going to meet is a Mr. Rashid. He is a low range official in the group we are trying to connect to, but low range or not, for now he is the most important person we have any connection to. So play your roles well, this man and his entourage are not to be fooled with.”