The Last Hero (4 page)

Chapter 5: Preparations

M
any of the assembled legionnaires failed to hide their apprehension at receiving nano injections. The intimidating injection table sported four sets of needles to insert their cargo directly into the calf, upper thigh, midsection, and neck, and did nothing to calm their nerves.

Medical grade nanotechnology had been around for well over a century, curing countless diseases. Numerous military research efforts over the decades strove to develop nanotechnology capable of improving physical abilities, but none had achieved success. A few did result in well-publicized spectacular failures. One involved an entire platoon of Chinese soldiers melting, when malfunctioning nanos disassembled their bodies on the cellular level.

Assurances from the eggheads who did the weapons briefing that all the bugs were finally worked out did little to ease fears. But the benefits seemed worth the risk. 

If the nanos scavenged from a mothballed phantom weapons project performed as advertised, each legionnaire would see remarkable increases in strength, reflexes, speed, agility, endurance, and enhanced senses. The nanos also promised to expand the range of breathable atmospheres, temperature tolerances, and repair minor wounds on the fly.

Victory likely wouldn’t be possible without the unnatural advantages. War in space required a new breed of soldier.

In an attempt to lead by example, Trent volunteered to go first.

“Lie down on the table,” the cold lab technician commanded.

Once fully integrated, Trent’s body would not be able to function without the nanos. Nor could the nanos, programed specifically for him, survive outside his body.

Despite the one-way ticket and wearing only boxer-briefs, Trent betrayed no emotion as he obeyed the technician’s callous order.

“Don’t move once the needles break your skin. It will take them several second to finish delivery. It’s important that you not move. It will be painful, but it won’t last too long. Ok?”

Trent nodded.

“Good. Injections beginning in three, two, one...they’re inserting now.”

The needles breaking the skin only hurt for a moment. The unwelcome surge of mass into the body was what caused the real pain. Knowing he could not cry out, for that reaction would validate the worry of the waiting group and forever damage his standing with the unit, Trent closed his eyes tight and gritted his teeth together to internalize the agony.

Just when he felt as if he couldn’t take it any longer, the pain stopped.

“Major, you’re done. I strongly suggest you go back to your quarters and sleep. It will help the nanos integrate themselves. Plus the process is...draining.”

Trent shook his head, trying to dislodge a huge cobweb from his mind.

“I don’t think sleeping will be a problem.”

“The orderly will assist you to your room. Sweet dreams,” the technician said with a sinister grin.

Asshole.

***

The dreams were anything but sweet.

Trent’s sub-conscience did backflips as it tried to resolve the unnatural process taking place within his body.

Visions of combat, some from his own past, but most from the many history books he had consumed throughout his life, mixed in with scenes of his wife and grown daughter mourning his death years in the future. None of it made sense as he found himself unable to wake or exercise control over the images.

Finely it ended when his eyes shot open with a new sense of strength.

What time is it? Holy crap! I’ve been asleep for twelve hours! I’m so hungry. I don’t think I’ve ever been this hungry. Thank God I didn’t miss dinner.

Trent intended to ease out of the bed. Instead, he practically jumped as if while he slept someone had replaced his family car of a body with a high performance sports model. When he tapped the accelerator on this new model, he found it had a bit more power than expected.

What the hell?

He headed straight for the mirror. His fear of having been turned into something totally different quickly evaporated when he saw the same thirty-something man looking back at him.

Upon further examination, it occurred to him that the man staring back wasn’t thirty-something, more like mid to late twenties. Additionally, Trent noticed that his right knee, once the victim of an old high school soccer injury, didn’t ache.

He quickly darted his eyes and hands to various parts of his body to confirm what he suspected. Old scars, from war and a childhood spent on an Iowa farm, were all gone, replaced with perfect skin.

A smile from the wonder and excitement of all the possibilities that lay before him spread along his face.

I can’t wait to see what you can do.
His stomach grumbled.
First, I have to eat.

***

Trent spent the next six weeks pushing himself and his unit to the limit, just so everyone would understand their new capabilities.

One day, they would find themselves jogging in full gear through the Australian outback only to discover their reward for survival entailed a quick trip to Europa, an ice covered moon of Jupiter, to repeat the process before heading off to Mars for mountain war games.

They only took what they could carry and lived off what their suit’s nutrient pack and water recycling unit provided. In a move that didn’t earn him many friends, Trent ordered that while on such excursions on Earth, the unit would remain sealed in their suits at all times.

Fortunately, everyone discovered the nanos in their solid waste broke it down into its basic elements that were reabsorbed by the body. Learning one’s body was in essence, eating its own shit, didn’t sit well.

Trent hoped this training program would prove effective, but who knew? These were a new class of warriors for an equally new class of warfare. He prayed the ad-hoc training regimen in some of the most extreme environments found in the Sol System would help them survive whatever lay ahead.

If nothing else, the shared hardships proved successful in getting the individual members of the team to bond together into a single unit. 

***

By the end of the around the system training blitz, the group of fifty legionnaires was thoroughly beaten down. Having played the role of tyrant so well, Trent needed to endear himself to the unit by playing their savior.

With one week until launch day, Trent walked into General Fairbanks’ office and knocked on the doorframe.

Fairbanks swirled his leather chair away from the window he had been staring through.

“Com’on in, Major, and have a seat. I was just looking out across the central grounds here. I remember when I was your age, how much energy this place once had. It feels like a haunted house now.”

“I imagine you’ll have her humming again by the time we get back.”

“You better believe it. I just wish I was going to live to see this one through. But this is a new kind of war, one that will probably take centuries to play out. You could make it, Major. Between the nanos doubling your life span, and the effects of near light speed travel, you might live to see how this thing ends.”

“Sounds more like a curse than a privilege.”

Fairbanks chewed on Trent’s comment for a few seconds. He stood and walked around to the front of his desk, sitting on the corner.

“You have a point, Major. What can I do you for?”

“Well, sir, as you know, we’re six days away from launch as of tomorrow. Currently the schedule calls for seventy-two hours of leave before we depart. I have a unit meeting in ten minutes, and I would like to announce that leave starts immediately.”

“I see. Don’t you think you need that extra time to prepare?”

“I view that extra leave time as preparing...sir.”

“How so, Major?”

“For the last six weeks, I’ve beat the shit out of them on every piece of terrain I could find. For training purposes, this system is mostly spent given our time remaining. Our time on Earth still has mission value, though.”

Fairbanks’ face remained passive as he listened intently without giving away his feelings.

“We have no idea what the hell we’re marching into. We’re dropping in without the possibility of support. High moral is going to be critical. Plus...I want to make sure that no one forgets what they’re fighting for. I believe some extra time enjoying the luxuries of home and spending time with loved ones is the best use of our time.”

“Interesting point, Major—”

“Sir, we’re going to have almost ten weeks on the ship to run through everything a hundred times and...”

Fairbanks held his palm out.

“You can stop selling, Major. You and your men can have the extra time. God knows you all deserve it.”

Fearful of staying long enough for the general to change his mind, Trent stood and saluted. “Thank you, sir.” He pivoted to walk out the door.

He reached the doorway when Fairbanks spoke, “How old will she be when you get back?”

“Sir?” Trent said confused.

“Your daughter. How old will she be when you get back?”

“Oh. If all goes right, the mission will be twelve years Earth time. She’ll be twenty when I see her again.” He fought hard against shedding a tear.

Fairbanks walked over to Trent, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“It’s not fair, Major. I’m sorry.”

“I know, sir. I know.”

Chapter 6: Good-byes

bandonment.”

Trent knew the word accurately described the situation, but it still stung as he read the divorce paper’s stated reason for the dissolution of the marriage in question.

There was no reason to re-read the details. The agreed upon settlement couldn’t be more in Madison’s favor. Under normal circumstances, a lawyer would have tranquilized him before allowing a client to sign papers sealing such a one sided divorce settlement. These were not normal circumstances. Trent had no worries forfeiting the house, all of their savings, and granting Madison full custody of Anna.

If he did make it back alive, he would have twelve years of salary waiting for him. Even after the automatic thirty percent deducted for child support it, would still be a nice bit of change.

He sat there at his kitchen table in Naperville, staring at the word,
abandonment
.

Madison slapped a hand down on the table. “What’s the problem?”

Her harsh tone, which he didn’t fault her for, startled Trent out of his daze.

“No problem. I—”

“What? Just sign the damn papers will you. Let’s get this over with.”

“I just wanted to say...I’m sorry. I’m sorry for abandoning you. I would have been happy spending the rest of my life here in this house with you. But I have to go. I hope one day you can understand that and forgive me.”

The sincere words thawed her temperament somewhat.

“I know you would have stayed here forever. Despite the fact you were never really meant for this life. I mean, seriously, you, an insurance salesmen?”

They both smiled.

Madison continued, “That just never seemed right. If it were any other war, I imagine Anna and I would have been enough to keep you tethered to this suburban life. This is different, isn’t it?”

“Never been anything like it. The stakes have never been higher.”

Trent signed the papers and moved in front of Madison.

“Then if you must fight,” she said, “if I must lose a husband, and my daughter must lose her father, then fight like the devil himself. Make them pay for starting this war, make them pay for tearing my family apart. Promise me that much.”

“I promise. I won’t rest until those responsible have paid the butcher’s bill in full.”

“Good. Now go spend what little time is left with your daughter.” She stepped forward, taking his face in her hands and gently kissing his forehead. “Wherever you go from here, remember that I love you.”

Tears fell like rain when they embraced one another.

“I love you too, no matter where I am.”

***

Trent placed the car on autopilot in order to watch Anna sleep all curled up in the passenger seat.
So much beauty and innocence wrapped in such a small package.
The thought of leaving her was almost unbearable.

She knew that her father was going away for a long time, but like many children she lived in the moment. Soon it would be time for crying but not now. These final days together were a final chance to bank enough happy memories to last them through the approaching drought.

Whatever she wanted for the next few days she would get. Ice cream sundaes for breakfast, no problem. Staying up past bedtime, sure. It all would be small consolation for finishing the remainder of her childhood fatherless.

It’s all I have to give her. Is it enough?

Anna stirred when the car’s wheels made contact with the gravel coating her grandfather’s farm driveway.

The car came to a stop. She rubbed her eyes, letting out an adorable yawn.

“Are we there yet?”

“Yes, honey. It’s late. I’ll carry you inside. Okay?”

She closed her eyes and curled back up into a little ball, melting his heart.

***

Trent sat on the back porch, looking up at the stars. The creak of a wooden plank gave away his father’s approach.

“Care for a beer, son?” Dad slid the cold bottle down a shoulder.

“Thanks, I could use one of these.”

The old farmer slowly lowered himself into the chair next to Trent. Even with all of the automated equipment, it still took a lot out of a man to farm 10,000 acres with just his brother to help. The years of hard work under the hot Iowa sun had taken their toll on Edgar’s body. He had slowed down considerably as he knocked on eighty.

“Lovely night isn’t it?” Edgar commented.

“Sure is.”

“That little spitball finally wore out?”

“Oh, yeah. I had to carry her in again. She should sleep well tonight.”

“I would imagine so, given the way you’ve been running her into the ground every day. You’re trying to spoil her as best you can.”

“Just trying to make up for lost time. Want her to remember that her daddy loved her.”

“I know, and I’m sure in time she’ll realize as much. Going to be hard on her for a while though.”

Trent finished a long draw from his beer.

“Of everything coming my way, that’s what scares me the most. It isn’t fair to her.”

“Well you know what I’ve always said. Life has never been nor will it ever be fair. Life just is. You’re a soldier, and you have a job to do, an important job at that. I haven’t got much of this world or life figured out, but I can pretty much guarantee you that one day she’ll understand.”

“I pray you’re right. How are you holding up?”

“Oh...don’t be worrying about this old timer with all you have on your plate. I am going to miss the hell out of you, but it’s more natural for a father to say good-bye to his grown son. Just make it home. I’ll either see you then or you can visit my grave. That’s the natural order of things.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Never doubted that for a second. When you two heading out tomorrow?”

“Around lunch, we’ll drive over to Mason City and hop on a shuttle to DC. Madison is meeting me there. They’ll spend the night and see me off the next day. The orbital shuttle is taking off at Andrews’. Going to be a media circus, I’m sure.”

“I can’t tell you how proud of you I am. I never really understood your compulsion to join the Army. Especially since we knew it was a doomed organization. I guess the good Lord knew better and made you a soldier from the get-go.” Edgar chuckled and pointed at a large oak tree. “Some days, I swear I see you reading a military history book in the shade. It’s like you prepared your whole life for this moment.”

“It does feel like that way.”

“Say, do you know what star you’ll be at?” Edgar looked up at the sky.

Trent thought hard for several seconds before laughing.

“You know what...I don’t have the slightest idea.”

***

“Daddy, why does everyone keep staring at us? Aren’t they being rude? You and Mom always tell me not to stare.”

Even before Anna’s observation in the main lobby of the DC shuttle terminal, Trent regretted the decision to wear his Legion blacks on the trip to DC. In a world of nine billion people, only a handful wore the uniform. In a short time, it would be an all too common sight, but those who wore it now were a chosen few.

“Don’t mind them, honey. They’re just curious about my uniform. That’s all.”

“They still shouldn’t stare. It’s rude,” she said in a huff. 

“Hi, guys.” Madison came out of nowhere.

“Mommy.” Anna leapt into Madison’s arms, “I missed you.”

“I missed you, sweat pea.”

“Look what daddy got me. It’s a Legion bear.” She proudly displayed a teddy bear wearing the black uniform.

“Oh, it’s cute. Where did you get it?”

“I had it specially made at one of those bear places. The uniform was the special order part. Thought it might help her remember me.”

“It is...”

A group of reporters pounced on the unsuspecting family. A young and eager female lunged forward, sticking her thumb, which contained a recorder chip under the nail, in front of Trent’s mouth.

“Major, Susan Daniels with the World Broadcasting Corporation. Do you have any comments about tomorrow’s launch?”

“Ummmm. I…I’m sure everything will go fine. The Fleet has been preparing for months.”

Anna wrapped herself around his leg. He placed a hand on her head to sooth her fear.

“Do you guys mind if we do this later, at the scheduled press conference. I’m with my family.”

“One more question, Major,” Susan Daniels begged.

He nodded.

“What do you think your odds are of returning home alive? Some say this mission is too dangerous to attempt. What do you say to those critics?”

“Daddy! What’s she talking about? You might die on your trip?”

Trent looked down at Anna’s wide open eyes and quivering lip. Madison swooped down low to hurry her away.

He shot a murderous gaze upon Susan Daniels. The bothersome reporter slithered away.

“What the hell is wrong with you? That’s my little girl. This whole thing is hard enough without you scaring her.”

“I...”

“Your credentials for today’s press conference are revoked,” Trent spat the vengeful words before stomping away to catch up with Anna and Madison.

***

A soft knock, knock, knock yanked Trent’s attention away from the files he was reviewing while relaxing on bed.

The knocking came from the door connecting his room with Madison and Anna’s. Madison thought it best to start the separation process.  

He slowly opened the door to find her standing there in the hotel bathrobe, holding a bottle of wine. She had her index finger pressed against her puckered lips.

Her wavy red hair flowed seductively down to her shoulders that were somewhat exposed by the loose fitting robe. The entire scene thoroughly confused him.

“Shhh, she’s sleeping. Can I come in?”

“Umm, yeah, sure.”

She headed directly for the wet bar where she preceded to uncork the wine. Trent watched, not sure what to make of it.

With the door closed, she spoke at a normal level, “Anna went down early. I was bored just sitting over there by myself. So I ordered a bottle of wine and thought we could sit around and have a drink. You know, a final toast to our marriage.”

Unsure how to respond, he muttered, “Sorry.”

“I know. I’ve started to make my peace with it. It is what it is. Right?” Madison turned around, revealing two full glasses of red wine.

“That’s what they say.”

She approached Trent, handing him a glass and raising hers.

“To a short but happy marriage. May we both find love again.”   

They touched the glasses together. The clink when they met reminded him of their wedding, of the promises they’d made that day, of what he was losing.

Madison downed her wine in one gulp.

“Easy there sailor. This isn’t a race.”

She flashed him a mischievous grin.

Trent stepped behind Madison to grab the bottle. He was about to turn around to refill her empty glass when a soft, barely audible thud reached his nano enhanced ears.

He turned to find Madison standing completely naked, the robe a half circle of white cloth pooled around her feet.

Her piercing eyes radiated lust.

“Ummm...ma, Madison, what are you doing?” Trent struggled to say through his suddenly dry mouth.

She didn’t say a word. Her body’s seductive movements, and the look in her hungry eyes said more than any words could. 

She pressed her exposed body against his and reached around his neck to bring their lips together. Trent lost himself in the moment when she pushed on his head to walk his mouth down to take one of her waiting nipples, causing her to tip her head back and exhale with pleasure. 

He effortlessly lifted her off her feet and she wrapped her legs around him. A few hurried strides later, they collapsed on top of the bed, paying no attention to the ad-hoc work station.

They spent the night making love. During which Madison was more than pleasantly taken by surprise at the benefits of a nano-assisted erection.

He wished the night could have lasted forever. At last, the rising sun peeking through the hotel window announced the new day.

The day Trent would leave for war.  

***

The legionnaires said their good-byes in an aircraft hangar out of view of the assembled world media. The depressing scene of tearful farewells between parents, spouses, and children would not have made for good PR.

Trent stood between Anna and Madison, holding each of their hands. With each passing second, Anna’s little fingers gripped harder, as if she could keep her father from leaving through sheer will. By now, Madison and Anna’s red and swollen eyes were largely cried out.

General Fairbanks stepped around the corner and stood in the large hanger door. In a booming voice, he declared, “It’s time.”