Star Runners 2: Revelation Protocol Page 3

  As the vessel descended into the blackness, conversations lessened, the tones softening. Austin glanced around the cabin. The occupants appeared much the same as his first trip when he departed Earth, a mix of civilian clothes and Legion uniforms. The image of the Saber flashed in his mind once again. Josh never made it this far on his first trip home from Tarton's Junction. His mind wandered, picturing Josh in his final moments with the pirates. Had he fought until the end? Did death come quickly?

  He shuddered.

  Austin hadn't been away from home as long as Josh, but he earned the right to go home following the incident on Flin Six. Scorpion was on her way to the Legion Core Worlds for rehab on her leg. Skylar and Bear continued their flight training on Tarton's Junction. Austin found himself alone again.

  But it was different this time.

  He glanced at Ryan, a fellow Star Runner, who had fallen asleep during the final moments of the descent. Austin had earned his place in the brotherhood of Legion pilots. He was a Star Runner. No one could ever take that away. He would make Josh proud.

  The descent slowed, awakening the dozing passengers. Bubbles flickered past the window. A soft blue light pulsated from below. The freighter banked into a slow turn, revealing the circular dome of Atlantis and four large saucer-shaped hangar doors. Another freighter, just visible in the low light provided by the landing buoys, drifted away from one of the hangar doors on its way to the surface. He watched the other freighter depart Atlantis, wondering if any passengers on board were seeing this for the first time. Austin shook his head, amazed at the clockwork efficiency of Earth's largest and busiest Legion starport.

  "Makes you think, doesn't it?" Ryan asked.

  Austin turned. "I didn't know you were awake. Yeah, it does." He gazed back out the window. "I've never seen it before—at least, not from up here. On the trip up, it's all dark traveling in the opposite direction."

  Ryan nodded. "I remember that first trip. Seems like it happened a million years ago."

  Austin pressed against the viewport. “I thought I’d be gone longer than this, but I finished up flight school in about a year.”

  "Really?" Ryan sat back, his jaw dropping open. "How’d you manage that? Wait, are you the newbie from the Flin Six mission?"

  Austin's face warmed. "Yes, that was me."

  "Oh, man, we all heard about you just before I was dispatched to Tarton's Junction for leave. That was crazy."

  "Yeah."

  "You scrapped with the pirates and rescued two superior officers. Man. You know someone said you were the fastest pilot through flight school in decades." Ryan shook his head. "You feel like talking about it?"

  Austin grinned. "Not much to say. Scorpion was down, and I had to save her."

  Ryan's eyes widened. "A her, eh? Now I see."

  His brow lowered. "It wasn't like that."

  "Sure it wasn't." Ryan smiled. "I'm just messing with you. If you ever need a thing, man, don't hesitate to ask. If I decide to stay in the service, I hope we get to serve together sometime."

  Austin gestured toward Ryan's green uniform. "Not likely."

  "Squadrons are stationed at the same places all the time. You can forget that squadron hatred out on tour. All that squadron rivalry stuff’s a bunch of crap anyway. They like to cook it up during flight school for the competition of it all, but when you’re out, we’re all Star Runners. With everything in the galaxy gunning for us, we better be on the same side when were out there." He smiled. “And you could always transfer.”

  "Not a chance. I think Tizona would never let me live that down."

  "Probably not."

  The sound of water flowing through pipes filled the air as the hangar door shut above them. The freighter rocked and came to a stop on the landing pad. Passengers stood and stretched, some grabbing bags from overhead compartments while others spoke with one another.

  "Well, we're here," Ryan said, standing and reaching his arms far over his head. "Weird to be back?"

  Austin nodded. "It is."

  As they gathered their belongings, the freighter taxied from the hangar airlock and into the line of other vessels. Spacecraft of different types, from large freighters to sleek cutters, lined up side-by-side. Hanging from suspension wires and harnesses, crews swarmed over the vessels to begin maintenance and repairs. Circular burn marks covered the freighter directly adjacent to their own, the crews focusing on the concerned areas. Sparks flashed from a hundred different locations in the massive hangar of Atlantis. The hangar seemed to stretch into infinity, the view obscured by the rising smoke of the workers.

  "I forgot how big this hangar was," Austin said, stepping closer to the window.

  "Come on, Lieutenant," Ryan said. "We have a tube bound for San Francisco with our name on it."

  A five-car trolley hovered over the steel grating outside the freighter. Passengers boarded like they traveled to an amusement park. Austin hesitated, staring at the space where he should see wheels.

  "Come on," Ryan said.

  "So how does the wheel-less technology actually work? Is it a thruster of some kind?"

  "It's not," Ryan said as he took a seat in the second car. "You ever play with magnets as a kid?"

  "Yeah," Austin sat down. "Why?"

  "It's the same thing. I was told it all has to do with magnetics. You haven't traveled to any other Legion worlds, yet?"

  "No."

  "The magtech negates the need for wheels. It's a lot cheaper too when you think about how much people waste on tires. Magtech uses metals found in whatever it is hovering over."

  Austin looked at the metal grating of the hangar floor. "Guess it doesn't work on water?"

  "Not usually."

  The trolley beeped twice before zipping away from the freighter. A hot breeze hit his face as they passed between the lines of massive starships. His first time in the hangar had been rushed and on foot, so he didn't have time to take in the sights. The trolley moved fast, but he relaxed and marveled at the variety of spacecraft located in the hangar.

  "I thought there were mostly military freighters in Atlantis," Austin said.

  "This is the sole Legion port on Earth not monopolized completely by the military. All kinds of ships come through here."

  "Like what?"

  Ryan shrugged. "Officers on a pleasure cruise, company men with clearance to conduct business on Earth, Legion agents conducting counter-espionage. Who knows? You'd be surprised how much traffic comes through here, and no one in the dark has any idea."

  The trolley pulled into a circle. The speakers beeped twice again.

  In one wave of motion, the passengers left the trolley and marched up the wide, steel stairs leading to three arches. Two led to the right, bringing passengers to a business or pleasure destination. Two Legion Marines flanked the arch on the right, their laser rifles resting on their chests. The Marines clad in black gear and helmets surveyed passengers as they filed past, staring through their thick, clear goggles. They appeared ready for a riot to break out at any moment.

  Ryan approached first, his ID card in his right hand. Austin followed his lead. They passed the Marines without incident. Austin took a deep breath.

  “Are they always there?” he asked.

  Ryan laughed. “Relax, man. They’re just keeping the place secure. When you’re stationed on a carrier, you’ll be around Marines all the time.”

  “You know any Marines?”

  “Sure. We had Marines come and go during my time fighting in the Orm Minor Rebellion. Got to know a bunch of the guys. Lost a few, too.” Ryan waved his hand dismissing the thought. “Anyway, no matter what else happens—you’re home for the next two weeks.”

  The arch led to a pathway winding to the left and culminating in a steel wall. Without slowing, Bean marched toward the gray obstacle. The steel dilated, revealing the Atlantis control room stretching several hundred yards. The massive Earth hologram hovered over the room, tiny points of multicolored light falling in and out of orbit.
Radio traffic buzzed in countless conversations. Hundreds of Legion crewmembers wearing headsets sat at their stations, some reviewing personal holograms while others seemed engrossed in their transmissions. The dark "sky" above the bubble featured none of the luminescent creatures from the depths he viewed during his sole other visit to Atlantis. Instead, one freighter climbed away from the port, disappearing into the blackness.

  Ryan led him through the sea of terminals and moving crewmembers. Austin bumped into a desk as he stared at the hologram of Earth. He marveled at the amount of shrouded traffic arriving and departing from all over the globe.

  “How many ports does the Legion operate on Earth?” Austin asked, his gaze fixated on the hologram.

  “There are four main ports and several smaller ones they wouldn’t tell a lieutenant about. I’m probably not on a need-to-know status.”

  As they weaved between the lines of control stations, a bulky officer in a red Excalibur uniform stepped up to Ryan, who offered a crisp salute. Austin glanced at the bars over the officer's wings signifying the man was a commander.

  "At ease, Lieutenant," the commander said, smiling as he shook Ryan's hand. "Made it back from the Orm Minor I see."

  "Yes, sir."

  The commander’s expression darkened. "Tough as they say?"

  Ryan shifted. "It wasn't easy, sir."

  The commander stared at Ryan for a moment with his black eyes, slowly nodding as he rested his hands on his hips. His eyes darted to Austin. "And who's this?"

  "This, sir, is Lieutenant Stone, fresh from flight school."

  Austin saluted, but the commander waved it off.

  "I can see that from his shiny new wings. Where you from LT?"

  "Around Atlanta, sir." Austin placed his hand at his side, his face warming.

  "Ah, North Georgia's some of the prettiest land this planet has to offer. Name's Commander Carv Wallace, now in my third tour here on Earth." He looked at Ryan. "You stick with Ryan here, okay?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "This guy's seen more of Legion space than most active Star Runners; that's for sure. Orm Minor was a tour … well, let’s just say I’m glad to see you." Commander Wallace saluted. "Nice to meet you, Stone. Safe travels, Bean."

  Austin shook his head as they walked away. "That guy is a beast."

  "Yeah," Ryan said, glancing at his tablet. "He took me under his wing on my first tour."

  "Where was that?"

  Ryan shrugged. "A sector in Quadrant Four. We were patrolling the Zahl-Legion border for almost a year."

  "See any action?"

  "Yes."

  Austin looked at him. “That must be the tour where you got all your warm fuzzies about flying for the Legion.”

  “Right,” Ryan said, allowing a crooked grin.

  Austin knew he shouldn't press the issue. The experienced pilots on Tarton's Junction never spoke about the specifics of their past tours. Not in detail at least. This left him piecing together fragments of information and snippets of stories to form a disjointed narrative of life on tour in the Legion Navy. Like Ryan had alluded to, it sounded like hours of boredom highlighted with moments of action and danger, only to repeat the cycle until the tour ended. But maybe he could get some more information from Ryan while they had coffee.

  The door at the back of Atlantis control widened, revealing the institutional white decontamination room. Staff in tight-fitting white uniforms with silver trim motioned both of them to separate tables floating above the steel floor. Austin did as instructed and allowed the attendant to begin the examination. They took a blood sample, looked in his eyes and typed into the tablets attached to their arms. The exam took only a few minutes.

  "Enjoy your leave, Lieutenant Stone," the attendant said behind a white mask. "You are free to go."

  "Thank you. I will."

  They jumped off the slabs and walked into the next room. A familiar hum droned inside. The shiny tubes lined the floors. Two Star Runners in Excalibur red flight suits stepped out of the nearest tube, nodded and walked into the decontamination room.

  "Let's get this over with," Ryan said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. He turned to the crew. "Both of us bound for Base Prime."

  One shorter crewmember stepped toward Austin and motioned to a tube. Austin sighed and folded himself into the tight space, the intensity of the hum increasing. The crewmember slammed the hatch. Austin forgot gum. Nubern gave him gum the previous time he traveled in a tube. He panicked for a moment but convinced himself it wasn’t a big deal. Light surrounded him and flashed, his stomach dropping and twisting. He shut his eyes.

  The hatch slid open.

  "Welcome to Base Prime, Lieutenant," a voice boomed. "If you will please step out of the tube."

  Austin opened his eyes, a migraine piercing his brain. The pain intensified so much it felt like a hot knife was stabbing his eyeball. "My head's killing me." Austin pressed the palm of his hand to his eye, trying to relieve the pressure.

  "You're still new at this, sir." Two hands gripped under his armpits and yanked him out of the tube. "It'll pass shortly."

  With his eyes still held shut, the hands led Austin to a wall. He leaned back and rubbed his temples with his index fingers. The dull roar of a crowd walking and talking as they passed around him pulsated in his head. He heard voices on speakers and the servos of a thousand machines.

  "You look like hell," Ryan said.

  "I feel like I'm going to puke."

  "Did this happen to you the last time?"

  Austin thought back. "Not this bad."

  "Chew some gum. That should help."

  Austin nodded and slightly opened his eyes. "I'll remember that next time. Why doesn’t this happen to me on a curve?”

  “Because you’re in a ship.”

  Austin shook his head. “And?”

  “The ship’s shields create an atmosphere around you. That protects you from the feeling of the curve. In these tubes, it’s all you.”

  His stomach turned. “I get it.”

  Behind Ryan, people scurried in countless directions like a stadium parking lot after a game.

  "This place sure hasn’t changed. Come on, man," Ryan said, placing his hand on Austin's shoulder. "Let's get you through customs and out for some fresh air."

  "Sounds good."

  Ryan led him slowly through the crowd. Austin's stomach ceased tumbling, and the pounding in his head lessened. They stood in line for ten minutes leading to customs. A man with thick brimmed glasses and a curved nose shaped like a vulture’s beak sat behind the desk, asking Ryan a few questions Austin did not hear. Ryan turned over his laser pistol and stepped into what looked like a mobile fitting room. When he came out, dark blue jeans and a ratty T-shirt replaced the Lobera uniform. He looked ten years younger.

  "Next!"

  Austin blinked and stepped forward. "Sorry. I have a headache."

  The man stared down at him through the thick glasses. "I don't care. Business?"

  "No, I'm on leave."

  The man sighed and stared at the ceiling. "What is your business here?"

  Austin swallowed. "I'm a Legion Star Runner on leave. I am returning home to Atlanta later today."

  "Good for you. I need your weapon, wings and any other identification linking you to your service with the Legion."

  Austin slipped off the wings and unbuckled his holster.

  "Are you carrying any other Legion or off-world technologies or fruits, vegetables, living organisms or drugs?"

  "No. Nothing."

  “Did you have any artificial limbs, organs or other prosthetics installed while off-world that you’d like to claim?”

  “Are you serious?”

  The man lowered his gaze, causing his sharp nose to appear all the larger.

  Austin took a half step back as if the man’s nose would collide with his face. “Sorry. No, I have no fake body parts.”

  "Very well." He pointed to the fitting room. "Change there. Drop your uniform and
other belongings in the silver box provided inside. It will be waiting for you upon your return. Next!"

  "Thank you," he said.

  He walked to the fitting room and shut the door behind him, placing his duffle bag containing the outfit he wore during his first day at Tizona on the bench. As he changed out of his uniform, he thought of Skylar coming to see him while he packed just before he left Tarton's Junction. It felt strange leaving her. They had arrived at the same time, but now he had graduated before she would have the chance. With what Ryan said, they could be sent to opposite ends of the galaxy within the next month.

  He put on the dark green collar shirt Mom had given him and buckled his jeans. He took a deep breath and glanced in the mirror.

  A familiar stranger stared back at him. The old reflection mirrored one from high school, although leaner with much shorter hair. He shook his head. He had worn nothing but Tizona blue for more than a year. The green shirt felt traitorous.

  He dropped the uniform in the silver box under the mirror and stepped out into the flow of people.

  "Come on," Ryan said as he walked next to Austin. "Let's go finish the rest of this and get that coffee."

  *****

  "Good, Lord that's good," Austin said.

  The delightful, bitter taste of coffee washed around his mouth, igniting Austin's taste buds.

  "What?" Ryan said, sipping on his drink. "They don't have coffee on Tarton's Junction?"

  Austin shook his head and took another sip. "Not like this."

  A cool breeze drifted past their table. The California sunshine beamed down, washing everything in a golden hue. Beautiful women walked past and waved.

  "With military bases all along the California coast, the local women hunt this area," Ryan said with a smile. "You have a girlfriend?"

  Austin winced. He didn't know how to answer the question. He and Skylar shared an awkward kiss earlier in the year, but he had grown close with Ryker since the rescue on Flin Six. He thought of Ryker's rehab, wondering if she had reached her destination. When he had a moment, he would have to send her a message.

  "Man, forget I asked," Ryan said. "If it takes you that long to answer, I'd rather not know."