Steven Gordon 3: The Modloch Empire (47 page)

‘
OK.’ She touched his
arm. ‘Well, you have no hair. But your skin is soft.’ Her frown
suddenly deepened and she snatched her hand back. ‘It feels
funny.’

‘
That’s because it
isn’t skin. It is actually an alloy.’

She shook her head. ‘Sorry?’

Charlie took a deep breath. ‘The truth
is, I am barely Human anymore. When I was a young lad, I saw
something I wasn’t supposed to see. Something cooked up by spooks
that killed a lot of people. I reported it but it was buried.
During the Albany campaign I ran into those people again. I was
stupid enough to bring up the past. They decided to tidy up the
loose ends, and used their influence to grab me. Then they
systematically tortured me. Steven and his guys rescued me. Trouble
was, by the time they did, there was very little left of me. They
pretty much chopped off everything they could without killing
me.

‘
My life was saved by
this ship. The only trouble was she had to replace about seventy
per cent of my body and organs. Maybe more. The arm you were
touching is artificial. So is the other one. All my limbs in fact.
So are my ears, my eyes. I am more machine than man. Human skin
just doesn’t cut it I’m afraid. It couldn’t take the stresses or
the heat my new muscles can generate. It is how I managed to
managed to complete my last mission. The ship filled me with
nanites. They attached themselves to my skin and gave me an outer
metal layer that was able to generate a shield.

‘
That’s pretty much
all there is to it. There is a few benefits to being like this. I
am capable of enormous feats of strength. I can run faster than a
cheetah, see better than an eagle. My biggest fear is that the type
of people who tortured me might find out about my
abilities.’

‘
You mean
spies?’

‘
Aye, them and their
kind. I just don’t want to come to anyone’s attention ma’am. I hope
you now understand.’

‘
How many people
know?’

‘
About my full
abilities, very few. About some of my abilities, maybe a dozen.
Most are members of this crew.’

Jean felt an upwelling of emotion and
tears sprang to her eyes. ‘I understand now. I am so sorry.’

‘
Don’t
be.’

‘
How do you
cope?’

Charlie looked towards the ceiling for
inspiration. ‘Day by day, a little bit at a time.’

She wiped away a tear. ‘I’m sorry. For
crying.’ She hesitated to ask her next question. ‘You didn’t seem
very impressed when we first picked you up. Were you hoping to die
out there?’

‘
A part of me maybe.
It was so beautiful you know. Floating out there alone amongst the
stars. I felt so at peace, for the first time in a very long time.
I thought, what a beautiful place to die. No bones mouldering in a
six foot hole in the ground. No dank and dark earth pressing down
on me. Just endlessly drifting through the universe, and maybe one
day, eventually, becoming a part of it.’

Jean got slowly to her feet, tears now
streaming down her face. She plucked a hankie from her pocket,
wiped her eyes, and forced a smile. ‘Your secret is safe with
me.’

‘
Thank you ma’am.’
Charlie stood. ‘I will escort you back to your ship.’

He offered his hand and without
hesitation she grasped it. ‘You know your photographs don’t do you
justice ma’am.’

‘
How so
Sergeant?’

‘
Your photographs
merely make you look beautiful. Up close and personal, you are a
force of nature.’

Jean thought it over. ‘I have never
been described as a force of nature before, but I think I quite
like it. It certainly makes a change from the normal remarks.’

‘
I can
imagine.’

‘
You don’t seem to be
affected the way most men are by me.’ She ventured.

‘
You mean ogling,
spitting and stuttering.’

Jean laughed and shielded her eyes as
they advanced down the corridor. ‘Yes pretty much.’

‘
Well, I am probably
older and hopefully more mature than most of the men you meet.
Besides that, you’re not really my type.’

Her head snapped round. ‘Oh my God, are
you gay?’

He felt her hand slacken. ‘Oh hell no.
Honestly!’

‘
Yes, OK. You don’t
look the type. So what is your type then?’

‘
Petite, raven haired
and doe eyed.’

‘
Oh no! Not one of
them. The helpless ones. A woman that makes you feel more
manly.’

Charlie grinned, ‘Yup, that’s me.’

‘
Appeals to your
protective nature.’

‘
Yup, they make me
feel really, really good.’

She laughed. ‘Well, at least you’re
forthright and honest about it. But you just told me that I was a
force of nature. That doesn’t quite compute. I am about as far away
as you could possibly get from one of those women.’

‘
There is no denying
that. However I admired you long before I met you in person. When I
did meet you I couldn’t see you, so I wasn’t aware of your full
bodied figure, shall we say. I simply came to admire you even more
for the time and care you took to make sure I was alright. I used
to really enjoy our daily chats. And I can’t deny that you are one
hell of an attractive woman.’

‘
Having to reassess
the kind of women you are attracted to Sergeant?’

‘
No, not really
ma’am. You are not only out of my rank but well out of my league as
well. I shall simply admire you from afar, as befitting a junior
rank.’

They reached the air lock and he let go
of her hand. She turned and looked into his eyes. ‘It is so hard to
believe they are not real.’

‘
The colour is mine.
That’s it.’

‘
I wonder what they
can see.’ Her voice had become a bit dreamy.

Charlie leaned forward and whispered
into her ear. ‘You would be surprised at what I can actually see.’
He stood upright with a cheeky smile on his lips.

She caught his meaning and her breath.
Colour raced up her cheeks. ‘No.’ She breathed. Charlie’s smile
simply broadened. She took a step back, covering her bosom. ‘Just
when I thought I had met a real gentleman.’

‘
I never said I did.’
He countered.

That caught her. ‘I think it’s maybe
time I took my leave.’

Charlie stood to attention and saluted.
Jean returned his salute. ‘Good luck in the future Sergeant.’

‘
And you ma’am. By
the way, you look really hot with that Desert Eagle strapped to
your leg.’

She couldn’t help the laugh and the
smile. ‘Suits me does it?’

Charlie grinned. ‘You have no idea how
the sight stirs the blood of a fighting man.’

She burst out laughing and gave him a
half whirl. ‘On that note, let us depart.’

‘
Oh man a´ peeps!’
Charlie breathed when she was out of earshot.

A few seconds later he detected a
presence behind him. He turned to find the doctor scowling at
Jean’s retreating back. Her unfriendly eyes caught Charlie’s. ‘What
on Earth did she want?’

Charlie raised an eyebrow at her tone.
‘She had some concerns about the way I was being treated.’

‘
Oh! How
so?’

‘
She thought there
was a lack of recognition for my part in the asteroid
mission.’

‘
Well I hope you put
her straight.’

‘
I most certainly
did.’

‘
Good. What did you
tell her?’

‘
None of your damn
business.’

Her jaw dropped. ‘Don’t you dare speak
to me like that Sergeant.’

Charlie leaned over. ‘If you want to
know, then ask me in a civil manner, and when you are in a better
mood. Ma’am. What are you sneaking about for anyway?’

Amanda ground her teeth together. ‘I am
here to escort two Americans to their quarters. Here they come
now.’

‘
I will leave you to
it then. Good afternoon.’

CHAPTER 59

The remainder of the journey was
uneventful. A few weeks later they reached the rest of the fleet at
the third Modloch planet. The Emperor was wining and dining the
important officials, rewarding them with nice homes on board his
city ship and punishing those who had not done well or had
committed some crime.

The two ships came into orbit around
the planet, which looked very similar to the Modloch home world.
The moment they appeared the orders came flooding in. The two
Americans who had been made welcome during their stay were picked
up by a shuttle. Steven and Komoru had to board the same shuttle,
which was going to take them to see Admiral Baxter and the
President.

The Americans were dropped off first
and the shuttle continued on to the fleet’s command carrier. They
only had to wait a few minutes to be seen.

The President’s office closely
resembled the oval office. He immediately got up and shook both
their hands. He even bowed to Komoru.

He sat back down with a great smile on
his face. ‘I am so happy to see both of you back. Congratulations
to both of you for the part you played in keeping Earth safe. You
deserved every accolade you received. Are your crew all fine?’ They
assured him they were.

‘
We are now moving on
to a different phase. As you know, our bid to become full members
of the federation has been ratified. Although we as yet do not
receive the same benefits as the rest of the alliance, and certain
conditions have been placed against us, the Earth itself is now
safe. The dangers now come from those outside of the federation. We
are still at war with the Albany. If they catch you, they will kill
you and turn you into paste for serum. There is still a bounty on
any human caught.

‘
We are not allowed
to attack their home world or they ours. If our forces are engaged
in anything more than a skirmish then there may well be a ruling
made against both of us. They don’t like members of the federation
fighting with each other. As a probationary member we need to avoid
all such clashes. We are not there yet.

‘
In a few weeks we
have to send a small flotilla to join the federation’s fleet. While
they are part of that fleet they will come under command of the
federation and will not be allowed to take orders from anyone else.
Communications shall also be scrutinized. They are allowed to keep
us appraised of some aspects of what they are doing but not
all.

‘
This doesn’t really
concern either of you. However, I believe it is something you
should be aware of. Within the federation fleet Albany and Human
will have to work side by side. Albany who work for the federation
have all the powers of the federation but are not allowed to attack
you. I have been assured that they will not. All members of every
crew have to swear an oath to the service of the federation during
their tour of service. A crew member of any ship can ask to join
the federation forces permanently. We have no right to stop them
doing so. The core of federation forces is made up by individuals
who have done exactly that. They serve and protect the federation.
They consider themselves the elite and expect to be treated with
respect. You most certainly need to be aware of that. I am sending
you both a complete information pack. You and your crews need to be
made aware of everything in these packs.

‘
Both of you are
going to be goodwill ambassadors for Earth. As such you both need
to be at the top of your games; as will your entire
crews.

‘
In a few days’ time,
when it can be arranged, you will both undergo a formal induction.
This induction will take a number of weeks and will have an exam at
the end of it. You both need some form of higher education
certificate from a formal institute, but I believe you have both
gained one, haven’t you?’

Steven answered for both of them. ‘Yes
sir, we both have advanced navigational certificates from the
Modloch Royal Academy of Science.’

‘
That is perfectly
acceptable, well done both of you. What we aren’t going to do is to
allow you to swan about the universe on your own initiative. That’s
a no go. You will receive official invitations. Travel permissions
and permits have to be arranged.

‘
Remember, you are
only goodwill ambassadors and not official ambassadors. You will
not have to undergo the pomp and ceremony they do. However, you
will be expected to undertake certain ceremonies. These you will
learn about in the next few weeks. Do you have a ceremonial
guard?’

‘
Komoru already has
hers sir, and mine should be arriving about now.’

‘
Excellent. The
information you need is being sent to your ships. Good luck to both
of you.’

CHAPTER 60

‘
What are you bunch
of muppets wanting?’ Charlie asked the group huddled in the
airlock.

‘
You can cut that
crap right from the start Murison.’ A large figure pushed himself
to the fore. Next to him stood Charlie’s friend Eddie, grinning
from ear to ear.

‘
We are the
ceremonial guard attached to our goodwill ambassador, your
Captain.’ He poked Charlie in the chest. ‘And you are now back
under my direct command.’

Charlie’s mouth fell open. ‘No.’

The Bear gave him another poke. ‘Oh aye
Murison. No more skiving off for you.’

The look on Charlie’s face said it all.
The men fell about the airlock in hysterics.