Ray Gun Revival Magazine, Issue 36

Issue 36 December 15, 2007
Pg. 2
Ray Gun Revival
Table of Contents
Overlords (Founders / Editors):
Johne Cook, L. S. King, Paul Christian Glenn 2 Table of Contents
Venerable Staff:
3 Overlords’ Lair
A.M. Stickel - Managing Copyeditor 7 Hope, by Robert Mancebo
Shannon McNear - Lord High Advisor, grammar consultant, listening
ear/sanity saver for Overlord Lee
9 Wise Men, A Jack Brand story
Paul Christian Glenn - PR, sounding board, strong right hand by John M. Whalen
L. S. King - Lord High Editor, proofreader, beloved nag, muse, 18 Featured Artist: Tomislav Tikulin
webmistress
Johne Cook - art wrangler, desktop publishing, chief cook and bottle
20 The Jasper Squad
washer Chapter 7, Sleeping With the Enemy
by Paul Christian Glenn
Slushmasters (Submissions Editors): 28 The Adventures of the Sky Pirate
Scott M. Sandridge
John M. Whalen Chapter 18, The Cleric’s War
David Wilhelms
Shari L. Armstrong
by Johne Cook
Jack Willard 43 Memory Wipe
Serial Authors: Chapter 16, Hostage
Sean T. M. Stiennon
John M. Whalen
by Sean T. M. Stiennon
Ben Schumacher 52 The RGR Time Capsule
Lee S. King
Paul Christian Glenn December 1 - December 14, 2007
Johne Cook
Cover Art: “Christmas Party” by Tomislav Tikulin
Without Whom... Bill Snodgrass, site host, Visit us online at http://raygunrevival.com

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Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Pg. 3
Overlords’ Lair
I’m always conflicted at Christmas, and this

year is no exception. Some years are better
than others, and so far, this one is actually
egg nog, and open one token present to whet
our greedy little kid appetites. In retrospect,
it’s no wonder we couldn’t sleep. Christmas
Take the 4th of July in America. Now there’s a
holiday. You get your day off, warm weather,
time with family and friends, and a good meal,
shaping up to be pretty low-key, all things eve dreams were always the most vivid. That likely something grilled. You aren’t on the
considered. Some of that is by design, some of may be why. We were sent to bed with the hook for gifts, and pretty much all you need
that is simply situational. I’m not complaining. juices already flowing. There was a delicious to provide is a good shade-tree, plenty of
yearning, a fuzzy anticipation of wonders and liquid refreshment, and some time to sit and
That doesn’t mean I don’t feel the urge to miracles waiting just around the corner. chat together, or read together, or both. The
complain. This is the time of year that I most primary expectation is to relax together. I can
have to fight the urge to vent about all the nutty My dad looked a little haggard, but I didn’t think do that. Add in a hot bratwurst and a cold drink
people with the haunted eyes running around much of it at the time. I get it, now, and wish with friends and family, with a warm breeze and
looking for the last ‘must-have toy’. Factor in I’d shown him how much I really did appreciate cool shade and some good lawn chairs, and I’m
the bad roads and the disruption of my usual everything they did for me and my sisters. I pretty much in heaven. Yeah, that’s my idea of
schedule and I must resist the urge to be cranky remember very little about the stuff we got, a holiday.
when I most want to feel jolly. There are times but I clearly remember Christmas being a
that I think the best thing to do would be to magical time, and my parents and family were So here we are with a holiday that is the polar
grab everybody and just sail away from the very directly responsible for that. opposite of my favorite holiday, and every year I
entire holiday on a cruise ship somewhere. It’s try to figure out a way to make it special without
like I yearn for a holiday from the holiday. Now that I’m responsible for Christmas, I can’t breaking the bank or shattering somebody’s
help but feel the burden for other people’s fragile dreams.
It wasn’t always like this. memories. I have such big shoes to fill, and
that’s a compliment to my family, but every Personally, I’m tired of Christmas being tied
When I was a kid, I remember lying on my year I always end up feeling wanting because to stuff. Stuff is temporary, stuff comes in the
back and looking up underneath the tree. I I’m simply not as good or as into it all as they wrong size, stuff breaks, stuff requires batteries
was practically bathing in evergreen aroma, were. And on top of that, I’m a pragmatist, and of the type that I probably forgot to stock ahead
the lights above me twinkled and danced. I I know going in that nothing I receive will be of time. There’s no stuff tied to July 4th, and
smelled the spritz cookies cooking in the exactly what I want, and what I give will never that holiday rocks.
other room, Andy Williams was playing on the be exactly what they’re expecting. As a result
record player, and I could hear the pop of logs my experience is that Christmas, ultimately, is a The longer I’m here, the more I appreciate
in the fireplace in the other room. I couldn’t holiday to endure more than enjoy, and there’s simple things like fellowship and camaraderie
wait for Christmas eve when we’d read the something very wrong with that. and peace and joy. I think of how much I
Christmas story and drink fresh, home-made liked simpler times watching A Charlie Brown

Pg. 4
Christmas Special. I think of that pathetic story, but I get it now. Some people are better it, got out of his vehicle, and walked around it.
Christmas tree, the last of its kind, completely able to accept love in different formats. Maybe There was no wind, so the footprints the three men
had left behind them were still intact. Brand took
beaten down by even the simplest ornament. you can receive the message of love from Luke a direction finder out of his pocket and pointed
And then I think of Linus getting up on that 2, and maybe you can accept it better coming it in the direction the tracks led: east. He put the
stage and how the place went completely from St. Nick. As a purveyor of quality literature direction finder away and noticed the blue-tinted
quiet when he read the Christmas story from from a niche genre, I think I get it. mountain in the distance.
Luke chapter 2.
So here’s the thing. We at RGR really appreciate “I’ll be damned,” he whispered to himself. The
And there were in the same country shepherds you, our readers. As a token of our affection, mountain was familiar. It had been a while since
abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock he’d been out this way, a year or two, maybe. He
we offer our biggest issue to-date, just in time could feel the hair on the back of his neck rise. He
by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon
them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about for Christmas. I didn’t realize it until just now, knew where they were going now. Maybe they
them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel but there is a little love in every story. Some didn’t know. But he did. He’d been there himself
said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you of that is by design, some of that is simply once before.
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all situational. I’m not complaining.
people. For unto you is born this day in the city I approached this issue with a bit of swagger.
of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And We start with Hope, flash fiction from prolific Unlike some recent issues, we had a lot of
this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe RGR regular Robert Mancebo. Sometimes, stuff that fell neatly into this issue, and it was
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. love can be expressed with something as basic a pleasure to put together. With the exception
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, as vodka. of the cover. I figured it would be a breeze to
find the right Christmas cover.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, Nothing in their training could prepare the
good will toward men.” cosmonauts for what they find when they come to Wow, was I wrong. I didn’t realize how much
the aid of a crippled American space station. holiday-related slash there was out there.
New International Version (NIV) Oh, and if I never see fan art featuring Merry
John M. Whalen follows with a holiday-themed
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International installment of his Jack Brand tales. The star of kissing Pippin again, I’ll die a happy man. I
Bible Society Bethlehem, the three wise men, and a babe looked for a cover for this issue for hours, then
born in a manger. It’s deja vu all over again days, then weeks. I sent out query after query
And that’s when I think I got it. I thought about without success. I was on the verge of panic
that text and I thought about the stories we Hope, Doctor Morrison had said, was what they this weekend when something in my memory
have for you in this issue, and I realized what were looking for. He wasn’t so sure. More likely, fired and I remembered something I’d thought
it is. they just wanted out of the mental hospital. Who
wouldn’t? He couldn’t imagine what it would be last year. I went back and looked and, sure
It’s all about love. As cliché as it sounds, love like, confined to a place like that, surrounded by a enough, the perfect cover was out there, just
is the greatest gift. It’s that simple. Of course, bunch of lost souls who didn’t even know their own waiting for RGR.
names. What happens to people, he wondered.
there are different ways to express love other Would it ever happen to him? Tomislav Tikulin has already graced our covers
than giving gifts, but I won’t go into that now. twice, the first time for our Christmas issue
It was about an hour later when he saw something this time last year. I saw the art for this cover,
I used to resent the Santa Claus story taking ahead in the sand—the delivery van the escapees
away what I saw as the vitality of a different had stolen. It was abandoned. He pulled up behind “Christmas Party,” after I’d already lined up last

Pg. 5
year’s cover, and I remembered thinking that if talking to these guys is because we’re letting him foredeck where they had cared for the dead and
I ever had the chance to revisit that work, it’d stow away while we fly under the radar. Now, if dying as well they could, which was actually pretty
that helps me, fine, but I’m not going to put my best well, as Mr. Lamur was still living, although only
be a perfect cover for RGR. asset in harm’s way just for the sake of keeping an just.
eye on the guy. I’d rather take my chances.”
Tomislav has had a great year, and has achieved “Captain Smyth, Mr. Gillings—I present Cleric
some really cool things. I approached him “Maybe you would,” said Melendez. “But there’s Mathen Vaneras. He is here to...”
about the cover, and he was gracious and one other thing. We’re still acting as GPF agents,
excited to be a part of RGR again this year. whatever the reports say, and you agreed we were “Shh,” said, the cleric absently, bending low over
going to do this by the book.” Lamur.
Who know? Maybe we can work with him
to make this an annual tradition! All I know “Within reason, Lieutenant.” Captain Smyth’s eyes danced with amusement as
is that I love his eye and the quality of his Captain Flynn opened and closed his mouth again.
work. If you need a seasoned digital artist, I “We don’t let an apprehended suspect walk, Sir.” Then Flynn stepped to the side and let the man
work.
highly recommend Tomislav. He has earned Spill glared at her, then shook his head. “Dammit,
my highest recommendation, and I hope he Melendez, you’ve always known how to talk me Lamur didn’t respond to the cleric’s hand on his
is even more successful next year. He’s good into a corner.” forehead, though he did respond when the cleric
people, and he’s earned it. picked up his wrist to feel for a pulse.
“Mind like a con artist, Sir. It’s one of my most useful
That brings us to this issue’s serializations. qualities.” “I’m not dead yet,” he rasped, his eyes still closed.
“I knew Cyl would send someone to receive my
First up is the return of the Jasper Squad story Chapter 18 of The Adventures of the Sky Pirate spirit.” His eyelids fluttered open and fixed on the
from fellow Overlord Paul Christian Glenn. I’ve marks the halfway point in the saga of Cooper face of the cleric. He saw a dark man with bright,
always felt this had a clear Fireflyesque vibe Flynn and friends, and introduces one of the intelligent eyes, and a face without guile.
without being derivative. The Jasper Squad is conflicts I’ve been looking forward to most as “I cannot say that I was brought to you by Cyl…”
familiar and yet unique unto itself. Her crew he matches wits and wills with cleric Mathen said the cleric, honestly, but the look in Lamur’s
are well drawn and complex, and I can’t help Vaneras, a holy man with a secret, colorful eyes pierced his arrogance.
but feeling that this story published at this time past. I’d originally written the part of the
is nothing less than a Christmas gift to me! “I can. I have...been praying...for nothing else
cleric in November of 2004, and when I saw since....this morning.”
Sometimes, love is a weird thing, and if you’re the character of the Operative in the Serenity
film in 2005, I knew I’d found my guy, a man “The name of Cyl be praised,” said the cleric,
anything like me, you’ll be frankly gasping at something twisting inside him.
the conclusion of this chapter. Paul, it’s been who captured the essence of the cleric. In this
too long, buddy, and I’m so grateful so see chapter, Flynn meets his match as the cleric Looking at the captain, Lamur said “Forgive him...
the next chapter, “Sleeping With the Enemy ,” expresses his feelings on being kidnapped to Cleric. He knows exactly...what He does.”
from my favorite rogue crew. serve as a spiritual advisor aboard the airship
Alacrity. The chapter is entitled “The Cleric’s Finally, Sean T. M. Stiennon’s Memory Wipe
“What if he just disappears?” War,” and that should give you a clue of how returns from a short hiatus, with a chapter
well they get along together. Sometimes love called “Hostage.” Scripture says “Greater love
“I’ve thought of that,” replied Spill. “But don’t forget, has no man than this, that he give up his life
he’s in a jam after the job we botched for him back is tough, and sometimes it is deadly.
on Candlevar. The only reason he’s taking a chance for his friends.” Sean wonders if that might not
Mr. Smyth and Mr. Gillings met them on the also include giving up one’s freedom.

Pg. 6
“Sherri,” he said, his voice lisping. “It has been...far

too long.”
Panic made her limbs stiffen. She had been all but
certain that Vass was dead or had left Belar for
good. She forced herself to breathe more slowly.
There was a good reason for his being here and
it wouldn’t do any good if she panicked. He didn’t
seem to be carrying a gun.
“Captain Vass,” she answered, evenly. “I thought
you were dead.”
“Almost. . almost.”
“Something I can do for you?”
“Actually, there is.”
So that’s it, the Christmas issue at RGR. May

you give and receive love during this holiday
season. From a space station orbiting the
moons of titan, Merry Christmas from all of us
at Ray Gun Revival.
Johne Cook
Overlord, RGR
Breezeway, Wisconsin

Hope by Robert Mancebo Pg. 7
Hope
by Robert Mancebo
T he Cosmonauts’ boots trudging the empty
corridors of the space station sounded
like echoes in the halls of a tomb. Klava’s
at another ravaged system. “Look, they’ve
salvaged a low voltage accumulator over
there.”
deeper and deeper into the silent space
station.
lamp swept across darkened panels bringing “Hssst!” Valya waved a hand at a hatchway
sparkles from dead illuminators. “Whatever were they doing?” Klava at the end of the hall. It was not a sealing
asked. “What could they run with that?” hatchway and the dimmest glow of flickering
“Where are they?” Valya whispered. “Maybe just wanton destruction.” Valya waved light came from the crack at its base.
“Power’s been shut down but there’s still air. her on down the dark hall. “Frustration and
They must still be alive.” despair can take bizarre forms.” Not having the slightest idea of what
waited within, the pair stepped to either side
“Were they building something?” Klava’s They stopped at each compartment and of the portal and Klava touched the operating
glove waved at a mangled panel. She lifted a verified it was vacant before passing on handle with a shaking hand.
corner of the hanging coverplate and stared through the station. Other than the meteor
at the empty sockets of what had been illumi- damage outside and the ripped up panels in The hatchway slid open and the cosmo-
nated displays. “They couldn’t build anything the hall, everything looked almost normal. nauts could only stare in disbelief.
usable from a secondary power panel, Even the beds were made in the private com- “You were right,” Klava said. “They’ve gone
certainly.” partments. insane.”
“Insanity, perhaps,” Valya said with a shrug. The galley had been recently used and The three astronauts they had come to
“With their radio destroyed by the asteroid cleaned, yet there was a shredded uniform in rescue sat in a circle upon the floor. Frank
storm, there’s no way they could know we the sink with sections still showing the staining Meyer, their commander, raised a hand in
were coming. Air almost gone. Power collec- red prints of fingers. silent greeting.
tors crushed. They might have gone over the
edge.” Several of the chairs had been upended In the center of the circle was a faux
and their legs sawed off. Valya pointed at the Christmas tree constructed from cannibal-
“Or someone did and the other two had to chairs and made a striking motion. The chair ized parts of the station. It was complete with
deal with him.” Klava brushed a bristling bush legs might very well have been removed to be decorative red bows and twinkling lights.
of exposed wiring. It looked as though cables used as clubs.
had been savagely yanked from the wall and “What are you doing?” Klava asked incred-
slashed in an arbitrary fashion. “Eight months Klava showed Valya the nametag on the ulously.
alone in space is a long time.” uniform. It read “Richards.”
“It’s Christmas,” Meyer replied. “I thought
“These last three weeks in a coffin of a “Lee Richards had a wife and two children.” we needed a tree.”
station, power failing, out of communication, He tossed the torn, red-stained uniform back
knowing death is coming, could seem even into the sink and followed closely. “Out here?” Valya’s dark eyes blinked in
longer.” Valya dropped a loose scrap of wire confusion.
Tension in the thin air became nearly
he’d been examining and pointed his finger palpable as the pair of cosmonauts searched

Hope by Robert Mancebo Pg. 8
“We had to hope someone was coming,”

Meyer told them. “There was always the
Robert Mancebo
chance and, well, whether or not anyone came,
it’s still Christmas.” I‘m a former soldier, locksmith, and technician.
I’ve had dark and historical fantasy published
“But the torn uniform in the sink...” Klava both on-line and in various magazines.
said. “The blood—”
“Dye,” Meyer corrected. “Lee came up
with a vegetable-paste dye for making colored
ribbons.”
One of the other astronauts waved an
apologetic hand and added, “Sorry, comrades.
Didn’t mean to scare you. I would’ve cleaned it
up if we’d known you were coming.”
“Have some punch,” The third American
offered. “I’m afraid it’s non-alcoholic. We don’t
have anything to spice it up with.”
“Non...?” Valya was insulted. “Bah, we have
Vodka. We’ll bring some over and have a real
drink with you.”
“Well you don’t look much like Saint Nick,”
Meyer said with a laugh. “But I guess you’ll
do.”

Wise Men, by John M. Whalen Pg. 9
Wise Men
A Jack Brand story
by John M. Whalen
Dedicated to the memory “Last night,” Masterson said, not letting the Brand glanced over at Masterson. “Any
of Stirling Silliphant woman answer, “three of them. It all started idea where they went?”
about three nights ago, isn’t that right, Dr.
T he inside of Colonel Masterson’s office
hadn’t changed. The same Spartan décor
remained—a desk, a filing cabinet, a map of
Morrison? The damned comet appeared in the
sky that night, you know, the one that’s been
in the news. It suddenly got about a million
“East,” the colonel said. “Right, doctor?”
“I believe so,” she said. “Dr. Lederer kept
the Tulon Desert on the wall, and a couple of pointing to the comet in the eastern sky. I
times brighter than it normally is. Nobody
chairs. The only thing new was a threadbare believe he and the other two mean to follow
knows why. When the loonies at the Blue Park
Christmas wreath hanging on the wall behind it to the east.”
Hospital saw it they went even crazier than
the colonel’s desk. It had been several years usual. Tell him about it, Doctor.” “Follow it?” Brand said. “What for?”
since Brand had set foot in the office of his
old Tulon Security Force Commander. And he The woman frowned at the Colonel and “To find hope, Mr. Brand,” the doctor said.
wouldn’t be here now if Masterson hadn’t smiled exasperatedly at Brand. “Dr. Lederer told me that the comet represents
called him on the Port-Com and reminded him something very important to him—something
that he owed him for past favors. There was “The three patients,” she said, emphasiz- he’d lost—faith that tomorrow will be better
the time in Shy Man’s Bluff when he’d also ing the word, “became agitated at the sight than today and our children’s lives will be
offered him a thousand Tulo-Creds if he took of the comet. One man in particular became better than ours. He wants to believe that
the job he was offering him. extremely excited. His name is Dr. Jeremiah somehow it all makes some kind of sense.”
Lederer. He’s an Alzheimer’s patient. He was
“It’s Christmas Eve,” Masterson said, once a very brilliant man, a religious scholar. “No wonder he’s in an asylum,” Masterson
looking up at Brand from his desk. “I really He’s only in his late fifties—a case of early- said, “with crazy ideas like that.”
got no one else to send out for these lunatics. onset Alzheimer’s. He seemed to think the
Everybody worth anything is on leave. I can’t comet has religious significance. He quoted “What’s crazy about wanting life to make
take those men away from their families. But from the New Testament, referring to the Star sense?” Brand asked.
you, Brand. You got no family, nobody who’d of Bethlehem. He seemed to think it repre-
care if you’re home for the holidays or not. sented a rebirth or the birth of someone who “The more I work with the so-called
And besides, you’re the best tracker in Tulon. would bring a new era. mentally unbalanced,” Dr. Morrison said, “the
It’ll be a quick, easy job—two days at most. more I wonder how unbalanced they really
What do you say?” “The other two are Sturdevant and are…and how balanced the rest of society
Traherne. Ted Sturdevant is a veteran of the really is.” She looked directly at Masterson.
“When did they break out of the asylum?” Terror War who came to Tulon to work in the
Brand asked. He shifted his weight in the oil fields. He suffers from Post Traumatic Stress “They took a delivery van,” Masterson said.
rickety wooden chair and crossed one long leg Syndrome. The third man is Louis Traherne. Of “They’ve got a good ten-hour start. I’ll give you
over the other. He looked over at the middle- the three men, he alone should be consid- a police van to track them in or a Strato-Sled.
aged woman sitting in the chair at the other ered dangerous. He has a history of domestic Your hover-jeep won’t be any good for hauling
corner of Masterson’s desk. violence. He killed his wife.” them back in.”

“I’ll take the van,” Brand said. “I’ll need to big man with dark hair, asked. Sturdevant,” Lederer said, “one I’m sure would
be close to the ground.” satisfy most literal minded people of this age.
“Because that’s the direction the star led Everyone today expects a scientific, material-
“I figured as much,” Masterson said. “I’ve us last night. And the sun came up there this istic answer to all life’s problems. But ponder
got one all geared up and ready to go. Good morning. The sun always comes up in the for a moment. That star, or comet as you call it,
luck.” east. Oh, we might be off a little with the sun those sun spots, this very sun and the planet
overhead now and no compass. But I’m sure itself: where did it all come from? Where is it
Brand stood up. when the star returns tonight, you’ll see it all going? And why are we here to witness this
sitting right on top of the mountain.” endless process of creation? I tell you, there is
“Mr. Brand,” the doctor said, getting out
of her chair. “Please. These men are not more to heaven and earth than is dreamt of in
“Looks pretty far,” Sturdevant said. He was
dangerous criminals. Even Traherne has come your science books.”
thin, with sandy hair and haunted hazel eyes.
a long way. He’s responded well to therapy. I’m Traherne looked up at him and laughed.
sure neither he nor Sturdevant would have “Yes,” Lederer said. “I wish now we’d
broken out, if Dr. Lederer hadn’t talked them thought to take some provisions.” “Doc, you know, I’ve never seen you like this,”
into it. So go easy with them.” he said. “Since I been in Blue Park I never saw
“I’m damned thirsty,” Traherne said. “We you so excited and talkative. You used to just
“They’re three fugitives from the funny should have brought water at least.” sit and stare at the wall…never said nothing to
farm,” Masterson interrupted, “ten hours
“I’m sure we’ll find some soon,” Lederer nobody. What happened to you?”
without their medication. Who knows what
they’ll be like by the time you catch up to them. said. Lederer looked inside the van at Traherne
Don’t take chances with them, Brand.” and then out at the mountain.
“I hope so, Doc,” Traherne said. “For years
I’ve been tellin’ everybody I ain’t crazy, and was
# “You’re right,” he said. “That’s all I did:
just a victim of circumstance. But now I wonder stare at the wall. I’ll tell you something, Louis.
if I’m crazy after all, coming along with you on
Dr. Jeremiah Lederer stood alongside the this wild goose chase.” Back on earth I was a professor of compara-
delivery hover-van he and his two companions tive religions. Did you know that? I had a
had stolen from the hospital parking lot, and “Wild goose chase?” Lederer said. “Do you high position in a university. I was considered
looked off at the blue mountain looming on have any idea how rarely something like this an expert in my field. I knew all there was to
the far horizon. He was a tall man only in his happens. A comet that normally appears once know about the various ways man worhips his
late fifties, with thin, red hair tinged with grey, every forty-seven years shows up the way Creator. I had a secure place in my world until
and dark brown eyes. Sturdevant and Traherne it usually does, but then, suddenly, without one day the police came to my office on the
sat inside the van. It was hot inside the vehicle, explanation, its light increases a million-fold. campus and told me that my wife and son had
but not as hot as it was outside under the The last time this happened was back in the been killed in an traffic accident. I learned right
desert sun. twenty-first century. Such a phenomenon must then that, while I knew all about the faiths of
have significance.” other men, I had really had none of my own. I
“Do you see it?” he asked his companions, had no way to hold onto what was the rest of
pointing to the distant mountain. “There’s “Maybe it’s just an illusion,” Sturdevant said. my life, and I just let it all go. I sank into a hole
where it’s leading us. The east is straight ahead, “A comet lined up with sun spots or something. and couldn’t get out of it…didn’t want to get
in the direction of that mountain.” It doesn’t have to mean anything.” out of it.
“How do you know it’s east?” Traherne, a “A very lucid—very rational—explanation, “Fed up with life on earth, I gave up my job

and came out here to a new frontier. But my wish for nothing. I never had a single wish of Sturdevant jumped out of the van and
depression never left me. I began to drink holed mine ever come true. Guess I sort of gave up started to follow Lederer.
up in a hotel room in Tulon Central. They came on wishing.”
and got me eventually, and took me to the “Where are you going?”
hospital. I stayed in that condition until night “If you had a wish, Ted,” Lederer asked,
“what would it be? What would you wish for.” “With him,” Sturdevant said with a grin.
before last. When I looked out through the
hospital window and saw the star, something Traherne kicked a dent into the door of the
The veteran looked up at him with those
lifted. Some great weight dropped from my van. “You’re both crazy,” he yelled. “But you
haunted hazel eyes. “Maybe just a good night’s
shoulders and a light went on inside me. That ain’t leavin’ me behind.” He ran after them.
sleep. Since the war I don’t sleep so good.”
star spoke to me, and I knew I had to follow it.
I have to find where it will lead me.” Lederer started to climb back into the van. #
“We better get moving,” he said. “We should
“That’s beautiful, Doc,” Sturdevant said, his reach the mountain soon.” He turned the key It was true, what Colonel Masterson
hazel eyes gazing at the doctor in rapt attention. in the ignition. They heard the starter turn had said. Brand didn’t have anyone to share
“I like it when you talk that way. It reminds me over several times, and watched as Lederer Christmas with. His parents had both died
of a chaplain who tried to help me in Afghani- pumped the gas pedal. But the engine didn’t back on earth in the Terror War. The chemical
stan. Only he never did really help me at all.” start. Lederer tried several more times, and attack on Salt Lake City had spread its deadly
Lederer smiled at him. “I’m sure he tried, each time the starter sounded weaker. effects out to the ranch land where he had
Ted,” he said. “But in this world no one can grown up. He had come to Tulon to work on
“Hold it, Doc,” Traherne said. “Something’s the
really help us but ourselves. Somehow we have Tulon Security Force, protecting the Trans-
wrong. Pop the hood.”
to find the courage to face what happens to us Exxon Oil fields and banks. His sister Terry had
and not let it defeat us.” Traherne got out and looked at the engine. followed him and joined the Force. They had
After a moment, he slammed the hood down. worked together until the day that changed
“Is that what the star told you, Doc?” Stur- Brand’s life forever, when the Wilkersons got
devant asked. “What is it?” Sturdevant asked. the drop on them, left him for dead and took
his sister with them—seven years ago...seven
Lederer raised his chin slightly and straight- “Battery’s dead,” he said. “It looks old as years of searching for her. Now, every year at
ened his shoulders. “Right, Ted, that’s part of hell...full of corrosion. Wouldn’t you know it. Christmas, Brand put a small present wrapped
the star’s message.” We pick a van with a bad battery. Now what in bright paper under the artificial tree he set
do we do?” up every year: a reminder of happier days back
“I don’t know what you two are talking
Lederer climbed out the door and started on
about, Doc,” Traherne said. “I didn’t come out earth, before the Terror War ran out of
here to find no answers. I just didn’t like it in control. One hundred fifty years of death and
walking.
there. And one thing’s sure. Now that I’m out, destruction had spread over every continent.
I ain’t never goin’ back. Never. Maybe that’s “Where you going?” Traherne shouted. Someday, when he found her, he’d give her
what the star’s bringing me—freedom. When I those presents.
was a kid my mama used to tell me to wish on “East,” the doctor of comparative religion
answered. “With any luck we should make it to It was already four-o’clock in the afternoon.
a star. Freedom’s what I’m wishing for. What
the mountain by dark.” He’d been in pursuit of the escapees for about
about you Sturdevant? Did you make a wish?” six-and-a-half hours. The police hover-van
“A wish?” Sturdevant said. “No. I didn’t “It’s a good twenty miles,” Traherne said. had taken him about five hundred miles east-

southeast of Tulon Central. It was all wide # Brand started walking toward the men, who
open desert country. If the escapees had come still seemed afraid to come out from behind
this way, as the doctor had thought, there was He got back in the police van and followed the boulder. “It’s all right,” he said. “My name’s
no sign of them. But in the desert a hover-van the men’s tracks. He didn’t have to drive very Brand. I’ve come to take you back. I hope you’re
wouldn’t leave any sign. He had to go on blind far. He saw them up ahead—them and the sand not going to give me any trouble.”
faith that Doctor Morrison was correct and the worms. The men stood wedged between a
patients would journey east until they found couple of boulders at the edge of a long stretch The oldest man, the one with the red
whatever it was they were looking for. All he of scrub land that ran all the way up toward the hair, looked out at him curiously. But then his
could do was follow in that direction and hope mountains. Brand saw two giant sand worms expression changed from curious to horrified
he’d catch up to them. rising up out of the sand, their fierce jaws and his finger shot out. “Look out!”
snapping at the men behind the rocks. They Sand erupted all around Brand’s feet and
Hope, Doctor Morrison had said, was were pinned there. If they tried to get free of
what they were looking for. He wasn’t so sure. the rocks and run for it, the worms would have the ground shook under them. His leg twisted,
More likely, they just wanted out of the mental them. Brand stopped the jeep about a hundred there was sharp pain, and he was knocked high
hospital. Who wouldn’t? He couldn’t imagine yards away. He took the LAR 225 Laser Rifle into the air. He saw the long body of another
what it would be like, confined to a place like down from the rack mount behind him and got sand worm blasting up through the sand under
that, surrounded by a bunch of lost souls who out. He walked toward the worms, and heard him. The shock of impact knocked the wind out
didn’t even know their own names. What the screams of one of the men as one of the of him. The laser rifle flew out of his hand as he
happens to people, he wondered. Would it worms rose up over the rock and tried to grab somersaulted in the air, and then landed hard
ever happen to him? on his back.
him with its gaping mouth. The screaming man
It was about an hour later when he saw was in a total panic, and Brand could see that Too stunned to move, he saw the monstrous
something ahead in the sand—the delivery van one of the men had his arms locked around worm rearing up over him and knew it would
the escapees had stolen. It was abandoned. He him, trying to keep him from running. be over in an instant. Then three laser beams
pulled up behind it, got out of his vehicle, and struck the creature in rapid succession and
“Easy, Sturdevant,” Brand heard the man it dropped in a smoking pile of skin and goo.
walked around it. There was no wind, so the say. “Just sit tight. Stop screaming.”
footprints the three men had left behind them Brand saw one of the escapees, a big man with
were still intact. Brand took a direction finder “He can’t help it,” Brand heard the oldest dark hair, kneeling not far away, the 225 in his
out of his pocket and pointed it in the direction looking one say. “Try to be steady, Ted.” hands, still sighted on the worm.
the tracks led: east. He put the direction finder
Brand stopped about twenty-five yards Brand shook himself and tried to get up.
away and noticed the blue-tinted mountain in
from the worms, raised the rifle to his cheek Excruciating pain shot up from his calf. He’d
the distance.
and fired. A red beam “twerked” out of the busted his femur. He dropped back down to
“I’ll be damned,” he whispered to himself. muzzle and the worm jumped high in the air a sitting position. He glanced over at the man
The mountain was familiar. It had been a while and landed in two wriggling pieces. with the rifle. The man got to his feet and stood
since he’d been out this way, a year or two, looking down at him.
maybe. He could feel the hair on the back of “Hold still,” he yelled at the men. He aimed
“It’s all right,” the man with the rifle said.
his neck rise. He knew where they were going at the second worm and fired. Part of the crea- “There aren’t any more of them.”
now. Maybe they didn’t know. But he did. He’d ture’s head blew off and it fell down on the
been there himself once before. sand, unmoving. The other two came out from behind the
boulder. The older one, who Brand guessed

was Lederer, came toward him, the small thin “Don’t make me shoot you too, Doc.” of spiny looking cacti. When their appetites
one following. were satisfied, Lederer took the medical kit
“No!” Sturdevant shrieked. “Stop it! Don’t out of the back of the van and administered
“Are you all right?” Lederer asked. do it! No killing! There’s enough killing!” His a local anesthetic, which stopped the pain in
face was deathly pale and tears ran down from Brand’s leg. He put splints around the leg and
“Think it’s broken,” Brand said. his hollow eyes. taped it up tight. Trahern stood back the whole
Lederer walked up close to Traherne. He time
“It was fortunate for us you came when you with the rifle on Brand. Sturdevant found
did,” Lederer said. “That overgrown grub worm a dead tree limb back in the scrub. The wood
stopped, standing between the rifle and Brand. was hard
would likely have had us for dinner. I’m sorry and must have been a thousand
“Do you really want to kill me, Louis? If that’s years old, from
you got hurt. But don’t worry. We’ll help you. the time when there were trees
what you really want, then go ahead. I won’t growing in the area.
Are there any medical supplies in your van?” He gave it to Brand to use
stop you.” as a crutch.
“Hold it, Doc,” the man with the laser gun The muzzle of the rifle was only inches
said. “Just leave him be.” “Don’t try anything with it,” Traherne
from Lederer’s chest. Sturdevant pleaded with warned.
Traherne. “No more killing.”
Lederer turned towards him. “What do you
mean? He needs help.” “He won’t,” Sturdevant said. “Just take it
Traherne cursed. easy. What is it with you, anyway? The man’s
“Get in the van,” Traherne said. “We’re “All right, Doc,” he said. “You win. We fix in handcuffs. Why you gotta act that way?”
getting out of here.” him up and drop him somewhere. But I keep “What way?”
the rifle.”
“You can’t just leave him here,” Lederer
said. “He saved our lives. He needs medical “Like—like you always want to hurt
Sturdevant let out a cry of relief.
assistance. We must patch him up and take him people?”
with us. We can leave him some place where “I knew you didn’t want to kill anyone, Louis,” “Bother you?”
there’s a doctor.” Lederer said, smiling. “That part of you is gone.
Or it soon will be.” “I seen enough of people getting hurt and
“You fix him up, and he’ll try to take us
Traherne looked at him as if he didn’t know thingsinthat
dying Afghanistan,” Sturdevant said. “I seen
back,” Traherne said. “I told you. I ain’t going would make your mind explode,
back. I had enough of them shock treatments what Lederer was talking about. Traherne—friends blown to bits, body parts
and pills. I’m free and I’m staying that way.” He everywhere. I seen enough violence to last
raised the rifle and aimed it at Brand. “Maybe # twenty lifetimes. I don’t want to see any more.
it would be better if we just put him out of his But, the thing is, I can’t stop seeing it…at night…
misery right now. At least he won’t suffer.” It was almost nightfall. At Traherne’s insis- when I’m lying there, and it plays over and over.”
tence, they had put Brand’s handcuffs on him He looked up in panic at Lederer. “Doc, I don’t
Lederer’s face became deadly serious. He with his arms in front. They piled into the van feel so good. Maybe I shouldn’t have left Blue
started walking toward Traherne. “Put the gun and drove further into the scrub land, away Park. I need my medication.”
down, Louis,” he said. “You’re not going to kill from the sand, in case there were any more
anyone. We didn’t leave Blue Park to commit worms out there. When it looked safe they “Just hold on, Ted,” Lederer said. The fire
acts of violence. We’re on a quest for peace. stopped, got food and water out of the back washed the red-headed man’s face with orange
Now give me the gun.” of the van, and built a small fire near a clump light. “There will be peace ahead. I promise

you.” “You know, I didn’t mean to kill her,” feel like she might, sometimes.”
Traherne said. “I just lost my head.” He was
Lederer looked over at Brand. “Do you in the driver’s seat speaking to Lederer, who Lederer looked at him calmly, but didn’t
have any idea where we are? Is there any sat next to him looking out the window at the say anything as the van moved steadily up the
place nearby we can leave you to get your leg dark on the passenger’s side. Brand was in the hill, now tilted at a sharp incline. A bright light
properly looked after?” second row of seats. Traherne had found his swept across the windshield.
spare handcuffs and fastened the cuffs around
“There’s a settlement near here,” Brand “Look at that!” Traherne said.
his wrists to a handgrip on the top of the door.
said, “close to yonder mountain.” It was uncomfortable, but at least Brand had Brand looked through the glass and could
All eyes turned in the direction Brand the seat all to himself and could stretch the see the comet, now shining brighter than ever,
nodded at with his head. They gazed up at the splinted leg out. Sturdevant sat in the third as though someone had turned a switch and
sky over the mountain. row of seats. increased its power. Beams of light from it fell
on the other side of the hill they were climbing.
“Hey, look!” Sturdevant said. “It’s there... “I just came home early,” Traherne said, Finally, the van reached the crest of the incline
the star!” “after a haul from Tulon Central to Carbonville. and leveled off at the rim of a long low valley,
She didn’t expect me. Her boyfriend didn’t and Brand could see down into the valley and
Low in the darkening sky, just over the rim either. I caught ‘em in the sack. I just lost it. knew they had finally come to New Eden.
of the distant mountain the comet appeared. I started for him, but she jumped on me to
The white hazy blob didn’t seem to move, a protect him. Can you imagine that? The SOB Only it wasn’t the New Eden he had known
smudge of chalk on the blackboard of night. got out through a window. I pushed Lucy back before. That New Eden was a broken-down,
to go after him. I guess I pushed too hard. She burnt-out line of shacks and store fronts with
“The mountain is called Ararat,” Brand said. fell and cracked her head on the edge of the busted windows. The only building in any sort
“There’s a settlement near it called New Eden. I bureau. She was dead before she hit the floor.” of decent shape had been the old church at
was here a year or two ago.* They were strug-
He stopped talking for a minute to maneuver the end of the one and only main street. The
gling to survive. Don’t know if they’re still there. New Eden before him was something else
It was a religious community. They had trouble, the van up a slight hill covered with brush and altogether.
rocks. “It was like it wasn’t real, Doc,” he said. They lookedThe buildings had all been rebuilt.
and may all have cleared out by now. But it’s new and shining under the light
the only place around within a day’s journey.” “I looked down at her, and it was like she was of the bright comet beaming down overhead.
just sleeping. We had our troubles. We fought And strung out all over
Lederer was on his feet, his eyes fixed on the buildings, down the
too much. Probably never should have got street to the church, were
the comet. “‘And behold,’” he said, “‘the star bright colored lights.
married. But I never thought it was going to Red, blue, green, yellow, and
they had seen in the east went before them, purple lights lined
end like that.”
until it came and stood over the place where the street from one end to the other.
the child was. And when they saw the star they “You must have been very sorry,” Lederer Brand couldn’t help thinking of Christmas
rejoiced exceedingly.’” said. in Salt Lake City when he was a kid…before the
He looked at the other men. “That’s it,” he “That’s the funny part,” Traherne said. “I war obliterated everything. He remembered
said, “New Eden. That’s where we’re going.” wasn’t. I wasn’t sorry at all. I wasn’t anything. the department store Santa Claus, his father
I didn’t feel anything about what happened. It and mother hiding presents in closets in the
# was like I didn’t really believe it, like I expected days before Christmas morning, and the smell
her to wake up and get up off the floor. I still of turkey in the oven.

“The whole town’s lit up,” Sturdevant said. said, “just take you boys back where you’ll be “What’s going on?” Traherne asked one of
“Ain’t it pretty.” safer. There are rules about breaking out of the candle bearers. “What’s inside?”
hospitals before you’re ready to leave.”
“Take us down there, Louis,” Lederer said. “Hello, brother,” the man said. “Merry
“I appreciate your views,” Lederer said, “but Christmas.”
Traherne hit the accelerator and the van for tonight let’s suspend the rules. I’ll release
started down the slope and descended into you, and, Louis,” he said, turning to Traherne, “Can you tell us what you are all lined up
the valley. He found a trail leading through the “you’ll put down the gun.” for?” Lederer asked him.
darkness to the main street. As they leveled off
on the valley floor Brand noticed a long line of “Nothing doing.” “It’s the Reverend Freemont and his wife,”
people standing in front of what looked like a the man said. “She’s delivered a baby boy right
livery stable. They were dressed in their best “Mr. Brand, will you give your word you there in the barn. It happened so suddenly.
clothes and each of them, man, woman and won’t try to take us in until tomorrow, if Louis There was no time to get her back to the house.
child, held lit candles that competed with the puts the gun down?” She delivered the child right there on a bed of
colored lights overhead. As they got nearer straw.”
Brand heard singing. The people in the proces- howIf couldthis man had Alzheimer’s, Brand thought,
he suddenly seem so rational, so A woman chimed in. “It’s almost like in the
sion were singing “Silent Night.” alive and vital? He didn’t like bargaining with Book,” she said, “born in a manger.”
“What is this?” Traherne said. “What are prisoners he was supposed to bring in, but then,
he realized, they really weren’t prisoners. What At that moment, the beams from the comet
they doing?”
did Masterson call them…three fugitives from a seemed to intensify. Bright light shone down
“Let’s go see,” Lederer said. “Pull up.” funny farm? It was against his better judgment, on the barn, dimming the colored lights strung
but like Lederer said, it was Christmas Eve. across its roof. Lederer looked up and held up
Traherne stopped the van. He climbed out, What the hell. “All right,” he said. “Looks like his hands to the light.
the 225 laser rifle in his hands. The others got we won’t get anywhere tonight anyway. Truce
out and stood gawking at the procession that until noon tomorrow.” “‘And entering the house,’” he said, “‘they
led into the livery barn. found the child with Mary his mother, and
“Louis?” falling down they worshipped him.’ Let’s go
“Give me the key to the handcuffs, Louis,” inside.”
Lederer said. Traherne shook his head and handed him
the key. “I’ll probably regret this.” He gave #
“No can do, Doc.” Traherne stood facing Lederer the rifle.
him, holding the rifle. The three escapees walked into the barn,
Lederer put the gun inside the van on the
“Come with me,” Lederer said and walked front seat and released Brand. gaping about in a kind of awe. They had never
to the side of the van. Traherne followed him. seen anything like it. They forgot about Brand
He pulled the van door open and looked in at “Come on, Mr. Brand,” he said, “I think this for the moment, but he trailed in behind them,
Brand. “Mr. Brand, I want to propose something is something you should see.” hobbling on his crutch. It was an amazing sight,
of a truce. If I take the handcuffs off, will you Brand had to admit. The procession went in
give me your word that for tonight, Christmas He helped him out of the van. Brand used one side of the barn’s big double doors, snaked
Eve, you’ll make no attempt to arrest us?” his walking stick, and then he and Lederer and past the horse stalls, and the grain feeder and
Traherne joined Sturdevant and started toward passed quietly before a woman lying on a bed
“I didn’t come here to arrest you,” Brand the barn. of straw, an infant in her arms. A gaunt, lanky

man dressed in black sat behind her, looking who faced down Cal Thorson.” and sleep for about a year, like I could really
down at the child. A cow mooed somewhere rest.”
in the background. Somehow, it was the most “You’re too modest, Mr. Brand,” the reverend
peaceful sight Brand had ever seen. There was said. He looked at the three men standing next “How about you, Louis?” Lederer asked
an atmosphere of complete tranquility. Peace. to Brand. “You see, when Mr. Brand first came Traherne. “How do you feel? Do you feel brave
The three crept up to the couple and their here, this was a dying community. My wife and enough to face the truth? Don’t you think that
infant silently, almost tremulously. I had lost our one and only child and we were if this baby can lie so peaceful and serene in
desolate of spirit. We had lost our way. When this troubled universe, there must be some
Lederer looked them over, his eyes shining trouble came to New Eden we were ready to sustaining force to hold us together even in our
with tears. “We came following a star,” he said lie down and let evil run over us. But Mr. Brand most agonizing moments?”
to the man and woman. “We didn’t bring any helped us. We conquered the evil. We’ve
gifts. But if I had gold, frankincense or myrrh, I’d struggled since then to make a comeback. But “I don’t know, Doc,” Traherne said. “I don’t
give them to you. They’d be worth everything for a time it seemed we would never overcome know.” He looked up at Lederer and his face
I feel at this moment. It wouldn’t be payment the loss of our beloved Jennie. And then one suddenly crumpled. “God! She’s dead. Lucy’s
enough.” day, the miracle of life happened, and Sarah really dead, isn’t she, Doc? I killed her. I killed
told me she was with child. A ray of sunlight her!” He dropped to his knees with a sob. “I’m
The man in the straw looked up at them pierced the dark clouds that had enveloped sorry. I didn’t mean it. I loved her.” Lederer
curiously. “Thank you, traveler,” the man said. us. And now, this night, of all nights, Sarah has and Sturdevant put their hands on his shaking
“You are welcome here. Have you come far?” given birth to our new son...here in this stable... shoulders.
just as it happened back on earth so many
“Very far,” Lederer said, “farther than you centuries Brand slowly turned and walked out of
ago. I don’t mean to imply this birth
can imagine.” the barn. He wasn’t sure what he had just
is anything as important as what happened witnessed in there. All he had seen was a man,
Then the man’s eyes fell on Brand. “Jack then, except to us—our own private Nativity. a woman and a baby inside a livery barn. He
Brand?” he said. “Is that you?” This birth means our work will go on, carried was glad the Freemonts were doing so well.
on by a new generation. And in that lies great But somehow it had meant much more to the
“Howdy, Reverend,” Brand said, stepping hope.” three escapees. He wasn’t sure what it was
closer. “Boys, I’d like you to meet Reverend
Lederer nodded. “Yes…hope,” he said. “I they thought they had seen, but he secretly
Thomas Freemont, pastor of New Eden, and
knew I’d find it. I look at you, the mother and envied them. He looked up at the sky over the
his wife Sarah.”
child, and I can feel it.” He turned to Traherne stable and saw that the comet that had hung
“I’m happy to see you again,” the reverend and Sturdevant. “That’s what I never under- in the night for weeks was now gone, almost as
said. stood before. I tried looking for it with my mind. suddenly as it had come.
But hope isn’t something you can analyze with
“Glad to see you, too,” Brand said. “This your mind or dissect under a microscope. It’s “Who are those men inside?” one of the
place looks mighty different than before—big- only something you can feel. And for the first people in the procession asked him. “Are they
ger, brighter. And now there’s a new addition time, I feel it!” friends of yours?”
to the family.” Brand nodded and said, “I guess you might
Sturdevant looked at Lederer. “I think I feel
“That’s right,” the reverend said. “Since you it too, Doc,” he said. “Ain’t that funny? You say they’re three wise men.”
left us there have been many changes, most of were right. There is such a thing as peace. I
them thanks to you.” don’t know why, but I suddenly feel different
inside. And I feel so tired—like I could lay down
“I didn’t do much,” Brand said. “It was you

* See “ . . .in the waste howling wilderness. . .” Ray

Gun Revival No. 9, Nov. 1, 2006
John M. Whalen
John M. Whalen’s stories have appeared
in the Flashing Swords E-zine, pulpand-
dagger.com, and Universe Pathways
magazine. His Jack Brand stories are a
staple here at Ray Gun Revival magazine.
Contact the author here.

Featured Artist: Tomislav Tikulin Pg. 18
Featured Artist
Tomislav Tikulin
What have you been doing since you were
last featured on the cover of RGR?
I’m really occupied this days. At the
moment, I am working on a couple of
covers for French publisher J’AI LU; classical
Sci-fi novels by Clifford D. Simak (Way
Station, A Heritage of Stars), Frederik Pohl
(Gateway), Larry Niven (The Ringworld
Engineers). I’ve also been doing some other

stuff. For instance, I recently sent my portfolio
to Analog magazine, and I have my hopes up
about that.

Featured Artist: Tomislav Tikulin Pg. 19
Have you added any new tools to your work?

I’m still using the same tools, the same programs, and the same hands. ; )
Have you accomplished anything this year that you’re really proud of?
This year I have had some nice successes. I made covers for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science
Fiction and for Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, and I have couple nice projects for
Subterranean Press.
My website is
www.tomtikulin-art.com
My e-mail address is:
tomislav.tikulin@gmail.com

The Jasper Squad, Chapter 7, Sleeping With The Enemy by Paul Christian Glenn Pg. 20
The Jasper Squad
Chapter 7, Sleeping With the Enemy

by Paul Christian Glenn
C aptain Spill leaned against the edge of the

filthy, odorous dumpster into which he had
just tossed four GPF jackets, and peered out
“Stamp,” he whispered, “which way?”
“Wouldn’t this be easier if you let me take
ogre was, well, on his last leg. He was going to
need some time to recoup, and soon.
into the busy street beyond. Having survived a the lead?” muttered Stamp from the long, Huddled at the rear were the two cadets,
twenty-measure drop from the window of the deep shadow behind the dumpster. Jackaby and Rey. Aside from the fact that
inn, he and his ragtag crew now crept like rats Jackaby was almost certainly a traitor to their
“If I was going for easy, you’d already be nascent cause, Spill didn’t think much of him
through the back alleys of Drinias Pel, clinging dead,” said Spill. “Which way?” when it came to combat. The kid had been
to the shadows, moving as quickly and quietly
as possible. It had taken a while to slip the local groomed for an officer’s job from the time he
He heard Stamp groan in pain and frustra-
enforcement team behind them, but by now had taken his first steps, and as a result, there
tion as he tried to get his bearings. “North,” he
the cops would have abandoned their direct was more than a little yellow in his blood. He
said finally. “If this is Caillor Way, and I think it
pursuit and opened up a wider net in the city had held up well enough so far, but Spill didn’t
is, we need to go north.”
sector. trust him.
Spill scanned the opposite side of the
Night was falling, and the port city Rey, on the other hand, was scrappy. With
street, looking for an opposing alley into which
thrummed with life. Dirty smog hung low over her soft blonde locks tied tightly back against
they could slink, but there was no such luck.
the tall, crowded buildings, dripping thick her head, and her mouth frozen in perpetual
He bit his lip, holstered his shooter underneath
humidity into the streets below. This was the grit, she was eager to prove herself in the field.
his shirt, and ducked back to where the others
sort of place where respected undesirables Unlike Jackaby, she had worked her way up
were waiting.
woke at dusk, dressed up in their finest, and from nothing to earn her position on the force.
headed out into the street, seeking treasure Lieutenant Melendez stood at the fore, a And, although neither of them had mentioned
and trouble in equal measure. In a city like cold look of determination in her eye—the one it, Spill was fairly certain she was the one who
this, he mused, it would be easy to disappear she always got when they were about to march put a hole in Stamp’s leg, an agreeable thought.
for a few weeks, regroup and recharge, make into certain doom. It would have made Spill Still, she was green, and Spill knew fear when
contact with some friends back at the force, uneasy, except that he always saw it when they he saw it, even when it was camouflaged in
maybe work up a solid plan. Unfortunately, the were marching out the other side as well. She bravado.
GPF knew he had landed here, and it wouldn’t was focused, and he needed that right now, Yeah, this was a crackerjack outfit, all
be long before his ship was detained. If he was considering the rest of the group. right.
going to get his crew off this planet, he needed
to get back in the air before anybody figured Stamp was nursing a leg injury he‘d “What’s the plan, Sir?” asked Melendez.
out where the Jasper was parked…two hours, sustained when they crashed into Castel
maybe less. Cuttery’s lair back on Wroume. His face was “We’ve skulked as far as we can,” replied
flushed, which was better than pale, but from Spill. “We’re going to have to work out in the
But first, one other piece of business the sweat on his brow and the periodic flare of open. Stamp and I will head out first. We’ll cross
needed attending to. his obscene nostrils, Spill could tell the big ugly and take the lead on the opposite side of the

street. You three follow on this side. Stay close, me, fine, but I’m not going to put my best asset side, Melendez allowed Stamp to take the lead
but not too close. If you see me put my hand in harm’s way just for the sake of keeping an and they started off north. A moment later, she
on Stamp’s shoulder, disappear. Otherwise, eye on the guy. I’d rather take my chances.” looked over her right shoulder to see Spill and
just follow until we get to the rendezvous.” the cadets emerge from the alley and begin
“Maybe you would,” said Melendez. “But following on the opposite side of the street.
“It ain’t far,” said Stamp, “Ten minutes at a there’s one other thing. We’re still acting as
brisk pace. It’d be best, though, if I go in alone GPF agents, whatever the reports say, and you Stamp was walking with a pronounced
when we get there. Word’s out that Jasper agreed we were going to do this by the book.” limp now, and Melendez wondered aloud if
Squad’s gone renegade, but these guys still he would be able to scramble, should trouble
don’t sound overly excited about four jeepers “Within reason, Lieutenant.” arise.
walkin’ in through the front door.” “We don’t let an apprehended suspect “Don’t worry about me,” growled Stamp.
“Fair enough,” said Spill. walk, Sir.” “I’ve been hurt worse.”
“Sir,” interjected Melendez, “Can I speak to Spill glared at her, then shook his head. “Probably never by a little girl, though,”
you privately for a moment?” “Dammit, Melendez, you’ve always known said Melendez.
how to talk me into a corner.”
Spill nodded and walked a few paces Stamp looked sharply at her from the
deeper into the alley, Melendez following “Mind like a con artist, Sir. It’s one of my corner of his eye, but said nothing.
close on his heels. He stopped and turned to most useful qualities.”
face her, keeping a close eye on the outlaw and They walked on in silence, wading through
Spill sighed. “Fine. You follow him in. I’ll the drifting mob of long-coated, dark-eyed
the cadets over her shoulder. give you ten minutes to signal everything clear, street denizens. Melendez knew better than to
“What is it?” he asked. and then we’re coming in after you.” be afraid. She used to be one of these people,
hands in her pockets, collar turned up against
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to let a “Yes, Sir.” the world. Nearly all of them were afraid of
prisoner walk off unattended, do you?” each other, and even the dangerous ones were
Together they stalked back to the rest of the
group, and Spill outlined the revisions. Stamp more desperate than deviant.
“Have you got a better plan, Lieutenant?”
simply looked at Melendez and shrugged. “It’s The last few days had been a jarring
“I’ll go in with him,” she replied, “unarmed… your hide.” reminder of her former existence, when she
token of good will.”
“Keep your shooters under your shirts,” lived on the outside of respectable society,
Spill shook his head. “Don’t like it.” warned Spill. “Let’s go.” looking for a way in. She found it, eventually,
but it had cost her everything--and everyone--
“What if he just disappears?” # she held dear.
“I’ve thought of that,” replied Spill. “But After Rand was murdered by the gangster
don’t forget, he’s in a jam after the job we Melendez gathered her calm, then nodded Kremm Stathora, something inside of Melendez
botched for him back on Candlevar. The only to Stamp, and together they stepped out into snapped. Almost without deliberation, she
reason he’s taking a chance talking to these the thronging street. Foot traffic was heavy, blotted out her entire life and refocused
guys is because we’re letting him stow away but street traffic was light, and they crossed every thought, every impulse, every decision
while we fly under the radar. Now, if that helps without incident. Once they reached the other on the prospect of starting over. She testified

against friends, gave up every scrap of cash guys?” she asked. the fallen awning of a closed restaurant, and
she had stockpiled on a dozen worlds, spent the three of them huddled down to await her
time in prison, and with each painful sacrifice, “Not very,” replied Stamp. “Never worked signal.
she comforted herself with a single thought: with ‘em, so I can’t vouch for their principles.
redemption. Had some social interaction, drinks—friend of She looked back at Stamp and said, “Lead
a friend, that kind of thing.” the way.”
Now, suddenly and without explanation,
her new life was under fire, and she wasn’t “What do they know?” #
about to go down without a fight. At the “Wouldn’t say much over the com. After
moment, her best hope seemed to be the vile Stamp took a deep breath and laid the full
the broadcast went out over the network,
gargantua limping along beside her. She knew weight of his body on his wounded leg before
they heard some rumblings that it might not
Captain Spill had a vested interest in letting starting forward. He didn’t know what to
be legit—somebody settin’ you up, maybe? I
Stamp disappear before this ordeal came to a expect from Ixter, but decided it wouldn’t be
don’t know.”
head, but she wasn’t going to let that happen. in his best interest to walk in there looking vul-
If they lost Stamp, they would lose the one “If you hardly know them, why would they nerable. He was well practiced at ignoring pain,
untainted witness to this entire affair. He was be willing to help you out?” but the throbbing in his thigh had given way
there when they came under deadly fire from to dead numbness, and he knew he wouldn’t
friendly craft, and as a detainee he could attest “Can’t figure that one out, myself,” last much longer without some reprieve. This
that nothing improper had taken place aboard muttered Stamp, and the resignation in his meeting needed to go smoothly.
the Jasper. Whatever charges were being voice told her he had already mulled over her
leveled against the squad, when the time came question. He shot her another glance. “It’s the Without a word, he led Melendez past the
to testify, Tannen Stamp would be valuable. reason I wanted to go in alone.” front entrance of the building and into the
darkened alley behind. Maneuvering between
With that in mind, Melendez had been Melendez considered this. “Not that I don’t piles of abandoned trash, he quickly found
trying to get a read on Stamp ever since he trust you, Stamp, but technically you’re in the garage entrance and put his hand up to
struck his bargain with the captain. He was a custody. There are regulations.” Melendez, signaling her to both stop and be
criminal, sure, but was he otherwise a stand-up silent. Gently, he laid his ear against the door,
guy? It wasn’t out of the question; she had “Do what you’ve got to do,” he said. “But listening for any rustling on the other side that
known a few in her time. If he could be trusted, if this gets ugly, remember I was straight with might betray an ambush, but he heard only the
she might be able to strike a deal with him. He you.” He stopped walking. “There it is.” grind and hum of an ancient furnace toiling
had helped the squad out of the scrape on away. He gave it a moment’s hesitation, then
Melendez followed his look to a dilapidated
Wroume, which she could use as leverage to decided the hell with it. He stepped back and
gray brick apartment building on the corner
get his charges dismissed, provided he kept his rapped hard on the door.
ahead. The place looked abandoned: broken
mouth shut about the captain’s extracurricular windows, no lights, and a general expression
activities. On the other hand, he could double- For a long stretch, there was no response.
of isolation and doom. Seemed about right.
cross both her and Spill if the prosecutors gave He looked at Melendez and shrugged, and was
him a better deal. “All right,” she said. “You do the talking.” just putting his hand up to knock again when
the door swung wide with a rusty groan.
The labyrinthine possibilities made her She cast a glance over her shoulder toward
head hurt, and she decided to instead focus on Captain Spill and the cadets. Without looking “Tannen Stamp, as we live and breathe!”
the task at hand. “How well do you know these back at her, Spill scuttled the two cadets under

Ixter. followed, closing the door behind her. The threadbare sofa, and pulled up a wooden chair
cavernous garage was cluttered with assorted to face them. From the corner of his eye, Stamp
Stamp had crossed paths with this petty groundcars in various states of assembly, and saw Melendez check her watch, then hold up
hoodlum on a few occasions, none of which lit, poorly, by a single dim bulb hanging next to four fingers to indicate their time was running
had particularly impressed him. Ixter was a an elevator on the far side. out. The signal wasn’t lost on Ixter.
young man with an old, lumpy face. He was
the sort who wore his battle scars proudly, “This is my legit work, here,” said Ixter, “I expect you got the rest of your crew
as if they were a badge of bravery and not a waving toward the mechanical heaps on either hidin’ out in the dark,” he said. “Well, naw, get
sign of stupidity. He was small and wiry, with side. “Tear ‘em up and sell the bits. Don’t ask ‘em in here if need be. We got talkin’ to do,
long yellow hair hanging in greasy ringlets where they come from, of course, ‘cause it’s and there ain’t no reason in the worlds to drag
around his shoulders, and his ever-present grin nobody’s business, is it? Sure ain’t mine. I just it out. We’re all respectable sorts, here. Might
was loaded with multicolored teeth. Stamp sell the bits.” as well act like it.”
grimaced and put his hand out.
As Ixter led them through the mess of auto Stamp was ready to lay his cards on the
“I appreciate you seeing us,” he said. “I parts and toward the elevator, Stamp kept his table. He leaned forward and spoke directly.
know the circumstance is... awkward.” eyes on the shadows. The reception seemed “We appreciate the hospitality, Ixter, but the
warm enough, but he had to be careful. It had fact is, we’re in a bit of a hurry.”
“Us!” repeated Ixter as he squinted toward only been a few days since he got himself stung
Melendez. “Well, naw, you never told us you by these jeepers, but word traveled fast, and it Ixter narrowed his eyes, and his grin faded
was bringing a lady friend! Why’n’t you come wasn’t impossible that Ixter had gotten wind ever so slightly. “Not anymore, you’re not,” he
on in outta the wet?” of the bust. If the little grease ball was properly said. “After you contacted me, I took the liberty
connected, it could be in his best interest to of erasing your ship’s docking records from the
“This Lieutenant Janet Melendez,” said landing bay.”
present Stamp’s head to the powers that be.
Stamp. “GPF, Jasper Squad.”
The elevator doors rattled open and they Stamp’s blood nearly froze.
“Uh-huh,” replied Ixter, bobbing his head all stepped inside. Ixter pressed the button for
lightly as he stared at Melendez. Stamp “Naw, don’t look surprised,” cackled Ixter.
the eighth floor, and from the way the tin box
couldn’t tell whether he was surprised or not. “I know this place looks deader ‘n a brawg on
shimmied and whined on its way up, Stamp
More importantly, he couldn’t tell whether he Mill Day, but I got access to damn near every
wasn’t sure they would make it, but after thirty
was pleased. Ixter licked his lips several times ventricle of officiality in Drinias Pel.” He leaned
terrifying seconds, the elevator shook to a halt,
and continued staring at the Lieutenant as if back and looked triumphant. “My fingers are
and they stepped out on the penthouse floor.
she were an inscrutable abstract sculpture. all up in everybody’s pie.”
The apartment was spacious, if sparse. The
“They don’t have anywhere else to go,” Melendez spoke for the first time. “So, the
windows were blacked out, and the living room
said Stamp. Jasper...”
was murkily lit with dull blue bezlite lamps. A
Ixter came to himself suddenly and waved few pieces of half-rotten furniture were strewn “She’s a ghost,” said Ixter. “Port city like
them both inside. “Course they don’t,” he said about, and the floors were exposed stone, but this, it’ll take ‘em a month to find your lil’ ship
amiably. “On the run! On the habscowl now Stamp did notice the glow of a sophisticated with their eyeballs. Naw, Ixter’s fixed you up
like the rest of us, right?” communication center coming from the next right. We got all the time in the world.”
room.
Stamp stepped inside and Melendez Stamp’s mind raced with the implications.
Ixter invited them to sit on a springy,

Ixter’s move did give them some time to catch “Brilliant,” muttered Stamp. followed by two of his flunkies. The other two
their breath, but it also meant they were effec- guards stepped into the elevator without a
tively his prisoners. If he knew where the Jasper “Keep your hair on,” said Ixter. “I’ll have the word and disappeared back into the bowels
was parked, he almost certainly had it locked knowin’ in the morning, and I’ll even share it from whence they came.
down already. It was clear from Ixter’s tone with you, too, ‘cause I’m a friendly sort.”
that this wasn’t an act of charity. He wanted The second they had gone, Captain Spill
“With respect,” said Melendez, “why would wasted no time getting in Stamp’s face. “You’d
something. this person have contacted you? No one knew better know what you’re doing,” he said.
“Go on, then,” insisted Ixter. “Get your we were coming to this world. No one could
captain up here, and we’ll do some business.” have known Stamp would call you. It doesn’t “This guy’s too stupid to be making it up,”
make any sense.” said Stamp. “He’s got no angle, nothing to gain.
Melendez activated her com and locked Somebody else is pulling the strings.”
into Captain Spill’s signal. She briefly and curtly “Aw, honey,” drooled Ixter with as much
gave him directions to the garage entrance, and condescension as he could muster, “it weren’t Spill glared at Stamp for a moment, then
started to say that she would meet him there, just me. Word’s out among connected people. stepped back. “I’ll take first watch at the
but Ixter interrupted. I was told to keep my eyes peeled, same as bedroom door tonight,” he said. “You need
everybody else. Somebody out there is lookin’ to get off that leg before you fall over.” Spill
“I’ve got some fellas down by the door for you lot—somebody who ain’t the GPF.” turned and herded the rest of his squad down
who’ll let ‘em in,” he said. the hallway toward the bedrooms.
Stamp had heard enough. He stood up and
Stamp cursed himself. asked directly, “Can we stay here tonight?” Stamp watched him go, then exhaled
deeply. He wasn’t sure if Spill had caught any
Within minutes, Captain Spill and the Ixter waved his hands expansively toward of Ixter’s clumsy attempts to silently threaten
cadets had arrived at the penthouse, flanked the rest of the penthouse. “Make yourselves Stamp throughout the course of their conver-
by four of Ixter’s goons. Melendez brought the at home. The rooms are, uh, intermittently sation. The ongoing display of unsubtle winks
squad up to speed, and Ixter invited them all furnished, but I expect everybody’ll find a and meaningful glares might well have been
to have a seat. Spill, who clearly grasped the place to curl up.” mistaken for a mild form of epilepsy, but Stamp
situation, elected to remain standing. was nervous nevertheless. He needed this GPF
“Good,” said Stamp. “We’ll be out of your squad right now, and he couldn’t let anything
“All right,” said the captain, “you want to hair by morning.” threaten his situation onboard the Jasper.
talk? Let’s talk. Who set us up?”
“Speakin’ of which,” replied Ixter, standing With the squad now out of sight, Stamp
Ixter laughed, a strangled, gasping sound up, “My people will be at the door all night. stalked to the door of Ixter’s control room and
that made Stamp’s ears curl back. “Naw, there’s As a businessman, I do need to monitor all knocked softly. The door swung gently open,
a man who likes to do business! Right up in the comings and goings.” and Ixter smiled, running his tongue along his
nose, that one!” The room remained silent as
“Fine,” said Captain Spill. “We’ll take the multihued teeth. “Naw, Stamp, m’boy, just
he finished coughing up his amusement toward
first empty bedroom.” how much do these jeepers know about their
Spill. “Fact is, Captain, somebody does know ship?”
somethin’ about your unfortunate situation. “Yeah, good, good,” said Ixter. “Now, if
I just don’t know his name, an’ I don’t know “Not as much as I do,” said Stamp.
you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some business to
where he is.” attend to.” Without another word, he trotted Ixter laughed. “Thought as much, didn’t I?
off into the adjoining communications room,

But then, that’s another question, ain’t it? How pulled his shirt up and pressed the small skin Stupid.
much do these jeepers know about you?” against his bare chest, where it began to effer-
vesce, to melt away, to dissolve sweetly into #
# his flesh. Within seconds, there was nothing in
its place but a small red spot. Rey awoke to the gentle prodding of
Jackaby stumbled in the darkness, trying Captain Spill’s boot. “It’s your watch, Cadet,”
The familiar euphoric rush caused his every
not to wake the others. His skin burned and he said quietly.
sense to swell. He was flying, falling, drifting
itched, and his hair felt like it was on fire. He and sailing all at once. His blood felt warm and “Yes, Sir.” She sat up straight and shook
kept trying to catch his breath, but couldn’t rhythmic beneath his skin, and he sank to the the sleep from her mind. She looked around
seem to get a lungful of air. The bedroom door floor in both gratitude and despair. the barren bedroom and saw only one
was only a few measures in front of him now...
he was going to make it. other huddled shape on the floor. “Where is
He had only two skins left now. Back home everyone?” she asked.
he could simply buy himself another round,
Suddenly, his arm was being wrenched but out here... lost out here with a captain and “Lieutenant’s sleeping there,” said Spill as
from its socket. No—he was being pulled a lieutenant watching his every move, what he hunkered down and tried to find a comfort-
backwards. Someone was breathing hot on his would happen? able position on the cool stone. “Stamp’s still
face: the captain.
down the hall catching up with his buddy. I
Jackaby had seen the effects of shock with-
“Where are you going, Cadet?” growled don’t like him out there, but I’m hoping he’ll
drawals—they were usually fatal: vomiting
the Spill in a voice like a thousand interstellar come back with something useful to tell us.
blood, internal organs shutting down, relent-
thrusters. Jackaby’s in the bathroom.”
less screaming until the vocal chords burned
Jackaby instantly collected himself, forced up, bloody fingernails tearing at every inch Rey picked up her shooter and stumbled to
his mind to think clearly. “Bathroom.” He of flesh—stupid, stupid, stupid! This wasn’t her feet. “Who’s next?” she asked.
formed the word carefully, but was his voice supposed to have happened to him! It was all
quivering? for laughs back at the Academy, and he thought “You take two hours at the door, then wake
he was in control. But now... now he needed to Melendez,” replied Spill. “Tell her I don’t want
“You’ve got three minutes,” said the get back home. His life depended on it. Jackaby to stand watch. She can wake me again
captain. “Go.” when she’s finished her shift.”
He closed his eyes and leaned back against
Released from the captain’s iron grip, the door. He thought about his father, the “Yes, Sir,” she said. The captain settled on
Jackaby stumbled out into the hall and fell Commander, a man of dignity and honor. A his back, one arm behind his head, the other
headlong into a run. He reached the bathroom man who would never let himself become a draped over his eyes. He looked exhausted,
in seconds, flung himself inside and jammed slave to any substance, let alone something so but agitated and restless, and Rey wondered if
the door shut. base and vile as shock. It was a scumbag’s drug, this was what years of service did to a person.
trafficked by thickheaded thugs and consumed She imagined herself thirty years from now,
With trembling hands, he reached into his by pedestrian criminals. His father was a rock and wondered if she would be as tired as he
trouser pockets and pulled out the small red of integrity, the latest in a long line of revered was. “Sleep well, Captain,” she said quietly,
container he carried with him at all times. Galactic Patrol Force icons—probably the last. and took up her position at the door.
Drooling now, he flipped the lid open, withdrew
a small yellow skin and ran it under water in the His face felt cold, and he realized he was Several minutes passed, and in the near-si-
sink. Before it could dissolve in his fingers, he crying. lence from the other end of the hall she could

hear the murmur of conversation between under his breath, but she couldn’t make out in front of her while he strode past, and she
Stamp and Ixter. She wondered what they were the words. She knocked quietly. watched him until he disappeared back into
talking about, and considered taking a sur- the bedroom down the hall.
reptitious little walk to get a better idea, but “Jackaby,” she whispered. “You okay?”
decided against it. Stamp was a prisoner, and Shaken and confused, she knelt down to
The door swung open, spilling harsh light retrieve her shooter. What had gotten into
likely had a long incarceration in his very near into the hall and causing her to squint. Jackaby him? She had never expressed anything but
future. The guy deserved whatever privacy he stood in front of her, framed by the light, and he mild tolerance toward Jackaby. What made
could get. seemed larger than usual. His shoulders were him think he could..?
Ever since their time together outside thrown back, his chest thrust forward. His eyes
Cuttery’s lair, Rey found herself thinking more were wide, and his nostrils flared, as if he had Something caught her eye; a small, red
and more about the outlaw. She was attracted just beaten some doughty foe in a particularly container lying on the bathroom floor. Tossing
to him, that much she knew. She had always brutal fistfight. He smiled down at her, and his a quick glance over her shoulder, she reached
had a thing for rugged, older men—a weakness grin seemed to go on forever. over and picked it up. It was light, but there
that had given her father headaches for years. was something inside, so she opened the lid
“Rey,” he said genially, “I thought you were and emptied the contents into her hand. It was
But she had always gone for nice guys, and that sleeping.” two fixes of shock.
certainly wasn’t Stamp. He had threatened to
kill her once already. Still, there was something “I’m on watch,” she said. “I heard a noise.” It had to be Ixter’s. Surely Jackaby—that
mysterious about him that she couldn’t put her stuffed up, self-righteous high-hat—wasn’t a
finger on, and she couldn’t seem to put him out “Thanks for checking,” he said. He grinned shockhead. Was he?
of her mind. It seemed silly to wonder what he at her for another moment, then without
was hiding. He was, after all, a criminal. warning put both hands out and grabbed her She quickly tossed the fixes back into place
by the face. She dropped her shooter and and stuffed the container in her pocket. She
Anyway, it was all idle musing. Stamp was a threw her arms out in front of her, but he gathered her shooter, flipped off the bathroom
shock dealer, and she was a jeeper. When this pulled her forward with an unnatural strength light, and headed back down to her position at
mess got straightened out, he’d be going away and pressed his lips against hers. His hot skin the door. Her mind was racing. Should she ask
for a long time, and their paths would never burned against her face, and she bit down hard Jackaby about it? Should she tell the captain?
cross again. on his lower lip.
Before she had time to ruminate any
She was startled from her thoughts by Jackaby drew back sharply and laughed further, she heard heavy footsteps approach-
the strange sound from the other end of the quietly, as if they had just shared a tender con- ing, and Stamp appeared out of the darkness
hall. It sounded at first like a guttural growl, spiracy. in front of her.
and exploded quickly into a sharp, restrained
shout. She realized suddenly that Jackaby had “Don’t ever touch me,” seethed Rey. “You’re up late,” she said.
been gone for too long.
Blood dripped his lip and ran down his “I started to come down earlier,” he said,
She put her hand on her shooter and crept chin in a crimson trickle, which he wiped away “but I didn’t want interrupt you and your little
down the hall toward the bathroom. She softly without looking. He smiled again. boyfriend there.”
put her ear to the door and it sounded like
Jackaby was pacing back and forth on the other “Sorry,” he said. “Couldn’t help myself.” For some reason, she felt herself blush,
side. He was breathing heavily and muttering and she was glad for the darkness. “Jackaby’s
She stepped back and kept her hands

an idiot,” she said flatly. “He was sleepwalking. be over.

Did Ixter get the name of our contact?”
At least now they had a name, someone
“Yeah,” said Stamp. “But the captain’s not who could shed a little light on their predica-
gonna like it. Guy’s name is Doctor something- ment. Things were coming together, and she
or-other, some federal scientist on the lam. But had faith in Captain Spill. With a little luck, it
he’s holed up with a gangster named Kremm wouldn’t be long before she was back in her
Stathora, and that gentleman is bad news.” bunk at the Academy, and she could forget
about Jasper Squad.
“Are we free to leave in the morning,
then?”
“Seems so,” said Stamp. “In the meantime,
I need to get some rest. I’ve got a small crater
in my leg.”
Rey felt like she should apologize for
NEXT EPISODE: A Distant Detour
shooting him, but she couldn’t bring herself to
do it. It was, after all, self-defense. Instead, she
said something entirely inexplicable.
“I wasn’t kissing Jackaby,” she blurted.
Stamp stopped in the doorway.
“I don’t know how much you saw,” she
continued, “but he grabbed me, and I pushed
him away.”
“It’s none of my business, kid,” said Stamp.
“No, you’re right. It isn’t. I just... I didn’t
want you to think something improper was Paul Christian Glenn
going on.”
Paul Christian Glenn is an Overlord (Co-
Stamp turned and looked at her from the
shadows. “Yeah, okay.” With that, he stepped founder and Editor) of Ray Gun Revival
inside and closed the door behind him. magazine, and has been writing for as long
as he can remember.
Rey looked down at her watch, then leaned
against the wall and closed her eyes. Another
hour before her shift ended. She was tired, It should be noted, however, that he has a
and homesick, and wanted this nightmare to notoriously short memory.

The Adventures of the Sky Pirate, Chapter 18, The Cleric's War by Johne Cook Pg. 28
The Adventures of the Sky Pirate
Chapter 18, The Cleric’s War
by Johne Cook
The story so far: cobbled together from shady wharf taverns herself to hear the tale.
and wayward ships. Only one of them displayed
Cooper Flynn has ‘recruited’ a cleric to see to any promise, one of his fellow Grenville sailors, “Well, the captain here anticipated we
the spiritual needs of the crew. Now he can although he was clearly hiding something, just might have trouble with the Grenville,” said
relax. like the cleric was. Chain, “so I brought up a small cannon on deck
and mounted it on a quickly-built incline to
Right. Cleric Vaneras knew how to exploit that, get as much angle as we could. Then, the men
too. and I brought up two full-size cannon muzzles
and fixed them to the side of the ship pointing
# straight down.”
M athen Vaneras started thinking of ways to

escape before he even hit the deck of the
airship Alacrity. When it was clear that they
It was suppertime in the galley. Vaneras
stepped into the galley, his clever ears listening
for the rhythm of the ship. He knew there were
“What were they for?” wondered Bola.
“Wouldn’t a cannon ball just fall out pointing
straight down like that?”
meant to hold him against his wishes, he deter- many ways to win control of a ship from within. Chain looked at her through his small,
mined to waste no time finding weaknesses All he needed was an opening. round glasses. “Actually, yes. They were decoys
onboard, chinks in the crew. He was offered for the actual cannon mounted in back. We
his own cabin, but instead of being stashed He wandered over to the board where waited for the captain’s sign and fired the small
away in a private space, out of sight and mind, the food was laid out. He took one whiff and deck cannon, getting as much downward angle
he refused the cabin and took a hammock in wrinkled his nose: cold fish, congealed beans, as we could. We had to take out a railing to
the forward hold with the crew. If he was going no fruit, and hardtack biscuits that would break get the shot, but it’s easily replaced. We’re just
to be abducted on behalf of the sailors, he’d your teeth. lucky we didn’t take out a chunk of the deck
direct all his efforts to become one of them
He smiled to himself. He already had his while we were making the shot!”
himself as soon and thoroughly as possible,
and Adversary take the hindmost. He’d seen opening. “That’s really sneaky,” she said. “I like it!”
firsthand how democratic some of these fringe Bola walked past the food, drew some kava
crews could be, and he determined right away Chain grinned broadly. “It was the captain’s
in a mug, and joined the officers as they shared
to exploit that to his advantage. idea.”
a hearty laugh over the workings of the “Z-axis
Besides, it was his business to be charis- cannons.” The captain waved it off. “Let’s give credit
matic. If this Captain Flynn wanted a vapid, where it is due—what I said was ‘Chain, see
“You should have seen his face when he
malleable dolt, he’d hooked the wrong man. if you can rig up a distraction.’ I had no idea
heard the boom of the cannon,” said Flynn,
Vaneras had been many things to many people what you’d come up with. Nobody was more
laughing. “When that cannonball splashed
over the course of his full and checkered past, surprised than myself when I looked up and saw
down across the stern, I thought he was going
but the cleric had never been stupid. those twin cannons suspended up there, just
to spit a parrot.” waiting to drop through the deck at my feet. I
The crew of Alacrity had apparently been would have been somewhat vexed, however, if
“What’s going on,” Bola asked, seating

your ploy had killed my cleric,” he said, amidst and yet all we’ve seen so far are a couple of raider. “Thank you all for joining us here on
great peals of laughter. boarding actions. In fact, if my math is right— Her Majesty’s Airship Alacrity. This name was
watch it, you!—we’ve boarded twice as many not picked at random. Bola, hush!” He looked
“Well, to be honest with you, I’m surprised of our own ships as the enemy’s!” to the side with a pre-emptive grin. “Alacrity
the Grenville’s captain fell for it,” said Chain. “I is the fastest ship in Her Majesty’s Navy, and
mean, I didn’t have any cannonballs in those Captain Flynn snorted. “Your arithmetic is the first of the new breed of airships to take
cannons because, even with wadding, they’d impeccable in this case, Bola. I trust that ratio to the skies. We will waste no time challenging
have rolled right on out and smashed through will resolve itself as we go forward. For now, the raiding and plundering of the outer isles,
the deck. That would have been embarrass- we’re arriving back at the other ship. Mr. Pitt, moving ever closer to the shores of Haddirron
ing,” he mused. “The only way to shoot in if you would be so good as to bring the cleric herself. We will not only stem that tide, we will
the Z-axis would be to have a different sort of back on deck. We will be requiring his services do everything within our power to accomplish
weapon, something more intricate than ‘stuff in the very near future.” our goal, reverse the tide, and taking the fight
the muzzle and light the fuse.’ It would have to Sylvan shores. One of our ultimate goals is
to have some kind of self-contained charge # to take on the clandestine construction of the
and a firing mechanism. It would likely have to new Steamdriver armada. I will speak more
have some form of rifled muzzle, as well. With Cleric Vaneras walked up to the officers as about its covert construction at a later time.
such a firing mechanism and self-contained Captain Flynn was giving his orders. Right now,” he said, “I’d like you to line up in
charges, you could probably fire two or three one line.”
times as fast, but it would mean designing a “Mr. Humble, please assemble the new
whole different form of weapon. In fact, that recruits. I think it would be in our best interest The Grenville sailors lined right up, a credit
sort of thing could be scalable. You could have if we quickly won them over and recruited to their training.
personal weapons based on the same principle them to our side. We will need fresh blood as
from the smallest carry-on weapon to great we take over more and more new ships, and we “Starting on the left, I want you to count
ship-mounted guns. This could be the start of also need to have the kind of positive word of off by fours until we have three groups. Group
a whole new industry!” mouth that will inevitably arise from winning number three form up here.”
over these hardworking souls.”
“Much knowledge was lost to our ancestors When they were ready, he walked up to
when they crashed on this world,” said Flynn, “Aye, Captain,” said Humble. every one of them and asked them their name,
quietly. “Our forefathers had great experience making small talk with them, quietly demon-
when it came to designing weapons, but they “And Humble? You can call me Coop when strating their importance to him. From their
had rather less wisdom about when not to use you need to. We run a loose ship here and make response, they had never encountered this
them. With our recent weapons escalation, a tidy profit.” He winked and clapped Humble treatment from a superior officer before. And
it appears we are rapidly heading down the on the shoulder, sending him off with a spring then he laid the final bit out for them.
same path.” He sighed. “All the same, draw up in his step.
“I treat life aboard ship seriously; however,
your ideas and we’ll send them back to Her “Coop?” said the cleric. I also treat life as a lark, as an adventure. It
Majesty’s weapons researchers. With any luck, is a different way of doing things, but I find
such weapons may just turn the tide in the “Short for ‘Cooper.’ You can call me it makes for clearer thinking when things get
upcoming struggle.” ‘Captain.’ Ah, here they are.” hairy, and allows for more fun along the way. If
Bola spoke up. “Speaking of which, Captain, you cooperate with me, and respect yourselves
Captain Flynn addressed the newly recruited
you keep referring to this ‘upcoming struggle,’ and each other, we’ll get along just fine.”
sailors as they approached the drifting Sylvan

Cleric Vaneras stood by the railing with his …with one exception: the smoldering gaze captain about it later.
arms crossed over his chest. “And if they don’t of the black-haired man with the piercing
cooperate?” eyes and the sharp nose. Flynn didn’t seem to Once the cheering settled down, the captain
notice the man glaring at him in the back of informed them how it would work as he called
Flynn’s grin turned a trifle flinty. “Then we the exulting crew, but the cleric did. Vaneras the rest of the crew together. They mingled
notify somebody’s widow. But I’ve saved the made a mental note. nicely, a fact not lost on anyone there.
biggest surprise for last!
The captain continued. “Let me explain this “We will take the third team down to the
“As agents of the Haddirron monarchy, our in more detail so there is no confusion—prop- captured ship we sacked this morning. We
technical charter is to bring order to the isles erty of Haddirron islanders will not be treated will tend to the wounded and dying, divide
by any means possible, not as a Navy ship, but as prizes. We will return it to Haddirron ports the treasure, and make our way further north
as privateers. There is more you should know, to be returned to the raided people. Our big while the raider returns to port. We will meet
however. We are pirates as far as the Sylvan paydays will occur when we take over Sylvan up with her crew again in two weeks at Rigger’s
raiders are concerned. They will give no quarter, ships on their way to Haddirron islands.” Island, where we will put ashore for our first
and we will ask for none as one might with liberty. Any questions?”
‘civilized’ men such as the Grenville’s Captain He gave them all a sober look. It was
Argen.” This was rewarded with a chuckle from impossible to miss the glint in his eye. “It will With a few quick strides, Flynn walked
the men and some knowing glances among also be when we start attacking Sylvan targets. to the rail and waved with a flourish out to
themselves. Therefore, it is in your best interest to remain sea. “Gentlemen, I present our first captured
with us in the various rotations between adversary.”
“That’s but one of the many things that will Alacrity and the ships being returned to
set our ship apart from regular Haddirron naval The Grenville sailors broke and walked
Haddirron ports. I am sure other airships will
ships. For instance, we have no hard-and-fast forward to gaze out over the ocean as they
be coming to our air, to be staffed from within.
uniform requirements. I simply require you to started to angle down, dropping altitude,
It is in your best interest, then, to distinguish
do your work quickly and well, and have some toward the ship growing larger as they
yourselves with whatever valor, ingenuity,
fun along the way as long as nobody gets hurt. I approached.
mettle, and vigor you possess. Meet with Mr.
won’t ask you to do anything I haven’t done or Humble, Mr. Smyth, and Mr. Gillings to discuss Alacrity set down with the captured Sylvan
wouldn’t do myself, and my door is always open. how best to use your talents and abilities while raider ship just as sun was setting.
We share everything on this ship, including all you are with our growing fleet. There will be
the praise we will inevitably earn.” more than enough opportunity for advance- #
ment and personal enrichment even while
The cleric thought he knew what was adding new adventures, new ports of call, new
coming next, nor was he wrong. The captain called for the cleric to join him.
friends and enemies, and new memories to “Cleric Vaneras, I was called upon not long ago
Captain Flynn fixed them all with his huge, your personal account. to deliver the final words to some good men. I
winning smile. “We will also share the prizes.” will handle any burials at sea, dealing with the
“Stay with me, and I will make you rich,”
the captain promised, “and not just in your men’s bodies. However, as a man of the cloth,
If there is any one thing that will break
pocket.” I expect you to see to the spirits.”
decorum, it is the promise of advancement
and personal wealth. For a moment the crew “I was under the impression you did not
Cleric Vaneras thought that was an inter-
were stunned and silent, but then broke into believe in the souls of men, nor right or wrong
esting choice of words, and resolved to ask the
hoots, hollers, and out-and-out cheers… according the scriptures of Cyl,” said Mathen

Vaneras. dead and dying as well they could, which was concerned, not combative.
actually pretty well, as Mr. Lamur was still
“What I believe in is the soul of this ship. living, although only just. Lamur spasmed, grasping at the cleric’s
The souls of men must contribute to her, and tunic. “Receive me, Cleric,” Lamur implored.
for this reason, I leave the matters of souls in “Captain Smyth, Mr. Gillings—I present
your capable hands.” Cleric Mathen Vaneras. He is here to...” “Go with Cyl, my friend,” whispered Vaneras.
“Your days here are done. Your days in the next
The cleric gave a half-bow. “With all due “Shh,” said, the cleric absently, bending world are before you. Go in peace—others will
respect, the captain does not have the slightest low over Lamur. pick up for you here. May Cyl accept you as you
idea what I am capable of.” have accepted me.”
Captain Smyth’s eyes danced with
“With respect in turn, I saw the way Captain amusement as Captain Flynn opened and “Thank you...Cleric. Thank you...”
Argen was loathe to part with you. I saw the closed his mouth again. Then Flynn stepped to
way you prayed for this ship, her crew, and the side and let the man work. Lamur died, content, if not happy.
myself when you were on deck and thought
Lamur didn’t respond to the cleric’s hand on The cleric stole a glance at Captain Flynn
yourself in a private moment. Whether you
his forehead, though he did respond when the to see what his reaction would be. He half
like or agree with me or not, I observe that you
cleric picked up his wrist to feel for a pulse. expected to see casual interest at best, but he
respect your ship’s captain, and already have was very wrong. The captain was lost in the
a passion for the living, and that is enough for “I’m not dead yet,” he rasped, his eyes still moment, his black eyes raging like he wanted
me. And now we are here, and will see what closed. “I knew Cyl would send someone to to look away, wanted to run, wanted to smash
respect you engender among the dying and receive my spirit.” His eyelids fluttered open something, wanted to created wreck and ruin
the dead.” and fixed on the face of the cleric. He saw a and shout from the highest mountain until the
Cleric Vaneras bobbed his head in grudging dark man with bright, intelligent eyes, and a nations trembled and the wicked vanished. It
respect. He knew how to play this game. face without guile. bespoke a greater personal responsibility for
his crew than the cleric expected.
With the toe of his boot, the captain flicked “I cannot say that I was brought to you by
the rope ladder over the edge and vanished Cyl…” said the cleric, honestly, but the look in The cleric looked away before he was
down it, quick as a cat, the rope creaking as Lamur’s eyes pierced his arrogance. noticed, shaken by the captain’s unexpected
he descended. To his credit, the cleric followed emotional intensity.
“I can. I have...been praying...for nothing
him just as quickly and with no less grace. He else since....this morning.” Cleric Vaneras closed Lamur’s eyes, and
jumped off the ladder before he was down, Captain Smyth himself brought over a tarp,
landing lightly on the deck at the same time as “The name of Cyl be praised,” said the which the cleric made to draw over him. The
the captain. cleric, something twisting inside him. captain stepped forward, knelt briefly, touching
They are nimble, thought the cleric, both his the dead man’s rent tunic with his fingers,
Looking at the captain, Lamur said “Forgive
the cat and the dove. Captain Flynn smiled and and drew the canvas over Lamur’s head himself.
him...Cleric. He knows exactly...what He
bowed to the cleric, who smiled and waved his Then the captain rose, spoke a few words with
does.”
arm for the captain to lead the way. Bells, and left to walk the deck with Captain
The cleric could not resist looking up at Smyth and Mr. Gillings.
Mr. Smyth and Mr. Gillings met them on Captain Flynn, his eyes blazing with a fiery
the foredeck where they had cared for the Cleric Vaneras watched all this with an
ambivalence; however, Flynn’s expression was

inscrutable expression, then knelt to speak with The cleric carefully observed, “It sounds bow rail talking about crew dynamics in general
Bells and perform last rites for Mr. Nomherst. like you’re prepared to play both sides of the and new meal arrangements in particular. They
law in order to achieve order—a dangerous passed near the sailor on watch, one of the
# business.” Grenville men. The cleric was there passing the
time with him. It was a clear night with a good
“I will do what I must in order to succeed,” warm summer breeze, nice for this transition
They spent some time with Captain Smyth said the captain. period between spring and summer. The stars
and caught him up to date.
were out and sparkling, and the ship seemed
“How will you do that, exactly?”
“You did what?” Smyth exclaimed. alive even in the dark.
“My allies will come around to my way
“It’s true,” said Flynn. Chain and I Karver Humble arrived to join them, along
of thinking and assist my campaigns. And all
persuaded them to think we had an advantage with Lavs Aefther, the genial Grenville sailor
my enemies will be conquered, reformed, or
we didn’t actually have. They were four times with blond hair, blue eyes, and a ready smile,
dead…or I will be,” said Flynn, fixing them with
stronger than we were and some very serious one of the new sailors. Once introduced, the
humorless grin.
fighters. At least one of the men onboard at captain went straight at it.
this moment is a potential threat to Alacrity “Fret not,” he assured them. “I’m not inter-
in general and myself in particular. However, I “So Mr. Aefther, we are always interested
ested in perpetual power for myself. I’m only
will give him time to buy what I’m selling. If he in seeing how we do with our boarding actions.
interested in creating a new world, and then
comes around, he’ll be a potent ally.” Our aim is to be the most relaxed, highest
retiring somewhere peaceful and quiet with trained crew in the air or on the sea, and any
a fiery vixen for a wife, where we can raise
“And if he doesn’t?” asked Captain Smyth. suggestions you have would be well appreci-
debonair and delightful babies, content in the ated.”
“Then he’ll make a pretty corpse,” replied knowledge that neither raiders nor Riven will
Captain Flynn with a grim smile. disturb our family for as long as they shall live. Vaneras was intrigued by the captain’s
And doing that on an island of my own won’t tactic. Far from being standoffish, this young
Mr. Gillings shot a significant look at the hurt, either,” he finished, laughing, and they sailor was handling his airship like a veteran,
cleric. “You play pretty fast and loose here, toasted a dream as vivid as it was preposter- even though it was clearly new territory for all
Captain,” noted Mr. Gillings. To his surprise, ous. involved. Speaking to the sailor, the captain’s
Flynn agreed. speech shouldn’t have surprised Lavs Aefther,
The cleric stood off to the side, stroked but the cleric noticed the sailor’s hidden smile
“This is the new frontier here, Gentlemen. his chin, and pondered the sanity of Alacrity’s and thought it did nonetheless. A fierce fighter
It calls for new tactics, and taking new chances. captain. and a firm man, Aefther obviously found
In some cases, that refers to our enemies. In himself pleased to be the center of attention.
others, it refers to our allies.” #
“Well, my first thought is that we must get
Cleric Vaneras said, “So you’re suggesting The captured raider ship, crewed by some more men on deck at the beginning of hos-
loving your enemies?” of the Grenville sailors, struck off toward port tilities. You can only get so far with pluck and
Flynn snorted. “I prefer to think of it as giving under command of Captain Smyth and Mr. verve,” he said.
potential allies a second chance. However, I’m Gillings, as Alacrity gained altitude and turned
northeast along the eastern islands. The cleric was struck by everything under
not soft, merely expansive.” the surface of what was ostensibly a straight-
The captain and Mr. Pitt walked along the forward conversation. He heard Aefther use

the word ‘we,’ and Flynn brightened at the man should be able to wield a grapple, swing a salute, and walked away, whistling.
word from the newly-acquired Grenville sailor. rope, and dive into the water from twenty-five
Vaneras looked at Mr. Pitt and supposed he’d feet.” Vaneras looked out over the port railing as
perked up at the idea of being a part of more the captain walked back to the wheelhouse. He
than two to attack ships in the future. He “Yes, Captain.” shook his head. So much for questioning the
watched Bola stride up to join the conversa- captain’s sanity. The cleric was used to playing
“Thank you for your observations, Mr. the straight man, but he wasn’t used to being
tion. Vaneras smiled and wondered if she’d Aefther. I’d like to think we can share ideas at set up by others to play that role. Who sets up
been drawn in by ‘men on deck’ or ‘hostili- any time as we go forward.” the setup man?
ties.’ Vaneras noted that nobody commented
on the words ‘pluck’ and ‘verve,’ although he “Yes, Ven. Captain?” The schemes in his head churned madly as
suspected Bola dearly wanted to. he tried to make sense of the game he’d just
“Yes?”
Continuing the conversation with sailor lost, unaware he’d been playing. The cleric
Aefther, the captain asked, “How do you Aefther stood straighter, summoning the didn’t like being played. He didn’t like it one
propose to quickly transport large numbers will to speak his mind. The cleric observed with bit.
ship-to-ship at the beginning of hostilities, interest the sailor’s dogged determination to
knowing that we have the added element of articulate his thoughts to this young captain. #
the faux Z-axis guns in our ‘arsenal?’” You don’t normally see sailors picking their
sentences. “Thank you for what you’re doing, The cleric showed up at breakfast next
Lavs Aefther thought about it. “I assume why you’re doing it, what you represent. The morning, the first full meal in the galley with
you have only so many floating backpacks?” Navy tries to accomplish good things, but is this many men. He noted that the original crew
hamstrung by old regulations and new division. of Alacrity graciously allowed the Grenville
“...skypacks,” said Mr. Pitt. What you’re doing cuts through all that and sailors to sit at the forward table.
“Yes,” said Flynn. “We currently have limited gets right to the heart of things. It is…nice.”
Piy Twen commented on their amiability
quantities of them, although we will be making The captain grinned. “Thank you for saying and was interested to learn the very practical
more as we can acquire materials and time for so.” He turned to go. answer to his question.
Chain to construct them. He’s also working on
a number of other projects for us that may pay The cleric excused himself from Mr. Aefther “Oh, that.” said Bola, breezily. “You’d be
off in the long run.” and fell in at the captain’s shoulder. “They will happy to give up the position of honor if you
hate you, of course,” said Vaneras. knew you were receiving an extra copper for
Aefther continued. “My first thought is to the meal.”
board the old-fashioned way, via ropes into Flynn stopped and looked at the holy man.
their rigging. Another way is via the rope ladder “Who?” Twen was astonished. “Isn’t that a little
you have, only more of them…also diving into crass, paying people to be polite?”
the water and covertly climbing aboard away “Everyone,” said the cleric, his hands
from the action, with muskets and riflemen to behind his back, “the Haddirron Navy, the Bola shrugged. “Did the bribery make your
provide cover.” Sylvans, even those I haven’t thought of yet. breakfast taste any worse?”
They will all hate you.”
“I think we can arrange for all these things. “No,” he admitted, “although I may have to
Mr. Humble, why don’t you coordinate training Captain Flynn smiled slyly. “I’m rather volunteer to come sit with you at next meal.”
for these activities for the coming days. Each counting on that,” he said, sketched a casual
“Suit yourself,” waved Bola. “You eating

that apple?” more of the same, only colder. If we’re lucky, As the crew filed in, they were greeted with
we may get more kava, although it won’t be a barrage of mouth-watering scents.
The cleric made the rounds that day, trying fresh.”
to get a feel for the ship and its duties, looking “What’s all this then?” asked Bola.
for a way to interpose himself into their daily The cleric dropped his fork and draped his
routine. He wanted to become publicly depend- napkin over his plate, as if he was preparing it Cleric Vaneras stood there with his shirt-
able and indispensable as soon as possible. for a burial at sea. sleeves rolled up, revealing sinewy forearms.
They shared some hot kava all around and then He wiped his hands on the towel at his waist and
set up training exercises for the day, as well as “This won’t do,” he said. “This won’t do at started identifying the various smells. “Salton
loose duty rosters and modes of service. The all. I might be able to accept that Cyl brought fish drenched in melted butter, spicy baked
Grenville sailors surprised the original crew me here, but I cannot accept that He expects beans, garlic biscuits, and glazed apples.”
with their zeal for performing some of the us to suffer with this dreck.” He slapped the
table as if he had arrived at a decision. It was a Bola walked in and her mouth fell open.
more mundane shipboard chores. It wasn’t
long before decks were scrubbed, brass was nice show. “I will show you what a man of the The cleric was amused. “Is something
polished, and cargo was sorted, stacked, and cloth can bring to the table.” wrong?”
stowed. Mr. Pitt looked interested. “Where did you get all this? It’s like it’s all
They all shared a light lunch of sandwiches the same food, only eatable!”
“What table? What cloth?” said Bola. The
and tea in the galley, and turned to training cleric held up his finger to explain it to her,
exercises. The captain led the way, crediting Lavs “Edible,” prompted Eggplant from off in
but she waved him off. “Whatever, whatever. I
Aefther with suggesting new and better tech- the corner.
don’t much care what is being said, exactly, as
niques for dropping down aboard a target ship. long as it involves a better spread of food!” “Edible,” she repeated, dazed.
Some men trained with new rifles, working on
distance target shooting and marksmanship. “It’s a metaphor,” said the cleric in passing. They filed through, getting their portions,
“Come back tonight and I’ll show you a table and seated themselves around the tables. They
The cleric found Dr. Prentiss hard at work worth remembering.” With that, cleric Vaneras were just beginning to dig in when Mr. Humble
outfitting her surgery and giving it a good proceeded to turn the galley upside down, spoke.
professional shake-down. He noted that she stocking and restocking shelves until he knew
couldn’t resist adding a few women’s touches all they had and where everything was. “Cleric Vaneras, we are not used to having
to make it seem a less intimidating place. a holy man onboard.”
Then he rolled up his sleeves and really got
The cleric arrived late at the galley, and made busy. It was time to be his own setup man. “We’re not to having edible food, either, but
an interesting discovery. Mr. Pitt was there I’ll make an exception,” said Bola, her mouth
getting some water as the cleric attempted to
# full, and everyone laughed.
ingest what passed for lunch. “At the risk of
damaging my reputation for fairness, this food “Since you’re here, would you favor us with
is frankly wretched,” Vaneras observed, pushing By the time the captain, the Grenville sailors, a dinner prayer?”
his plate away in disgust. “Being a cleric, one and the rest of the crew were done drilling and
gets a great deal of pedestrian cuisine.” practicing for the day, it was six bells and time The cleric wiped his hands on his waist-
for chow. Only, the smells emanating from the cloth and shot a look at the captain at the back
Mr. Pitt grunted. “Then you won’t be very galley smelled nothing like chow. of the line. Flynn shrugged casually and waited
interested in dinner, either,” he predicted. “It’s

along with the rest. speaker. “May I?” He picked up the mug. He rapidly closed the gap between the two ships.
held it out in front of him, looking at it in the
“Very well. If that’s the desire of the crew, light, apparently getting a feel for the heft of He rose as the crew assembled in a loose
I’d be happy to return thanks.” the thing. Then he raised it vigorously in the circle on the foredeck and went forth to
air. “Alacrity!” he said firmly, and the resulting address them.
“Do we have to,” said Bola, ignoring various chorus thundered again through the galley.
dirty looks. “Gentlemen, this is what we’ve been
The cleric threw back a hearty draught to training for. We have spotted a large Sylvan
Mr. Humble said, “If you aren’t interested raider heading south towards the islands. It
the cheers of the crew, wiped his lips broadly
in the prayer, feel free to do what you normally is a medium-sized ship. That’s the good news.
with a shirtsleeve, and presented the mug
do. We simply ask you to observe a moment of The bad news is that she’s a full-on warship.
back to the crewman amid much laughter and
silence while we express our thanks.” This won’t be a skirmish, this will be a bloody
backslapping.
fight. It will require fortitude, will, and deter-
“Thanks for what?” she muttered. Vaneras passed the captain on his way out mination. This won’t be a smash-and-grab job,
“That we don’t have to eat your cooking,” of the galley. Flynn had a thoughtful look on his this will require all of our training and timing
said one of the crewmen, and they all shared a face as he took in the scene in the galley. to accomplish with a minimum of injuries or
good laugh. Even Bola broke into an uncertain fatalities. And make no mistake, gentlemen,
Vaneras waited until he was up on deck that’s exactly what we’re up against with a ship
grin and turned to the cleric, gesturing to him and broke out in a huge grin. Two could play of this nature.
to continue. games, he thought.
He waited until the room was quiet and took “We have a number of things on our side:
a deep breath. His praying voice was somehow # the advantage of surprise, the advantage of
different than his speaking voice. It was full pre-planned strategy and tactics, and the
and deep and controlled and warm. “Almighty Their next boarding action took place two ability to get the advance drop on them while
Cyl, we thank you for this airship, her captain days later, a raider on its way south toward the the bulk of their crew remains below-decks
and crew, and her mission—to protect the eastern-most Haddirron isles. sleeping or preparing for the day.
innocent, punish the wicked, and bring justice
Shortly after dawn, the lookout caught a “They will have a slight advantage of
and righteousness to a lawless and wicked
reflection glinting in the distance. Carefully numbers. Their ship isn’t here to trade with
world. Please bless this food. Please give us
training his spyglass on the target, what he saw the islands, but to boldly and brazenly plunder
good hunting today. So say we all.”
wasn’t a sleek raider or a fat merchant ship. our towns and coastline.
“So say we all,” intoned the crewmen, This ship bristled. “We must make sure that when she pulls into
rattling the dishes.
He blew his whistle and Mr. Humble came port, she is helmed by our people. I want the
“A toast to the cleric!” shouted one over- running, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. second Grenville team to be ready to transfer
enthusiastic crewman before his neighbor The captain showed up shortly thereafter and over to her after the battle. Mr. Humble, are
elbowed and hissed “He’s a cleric—clerics flipped the bonus coin to the lookout after you ready for your first command?”
don’t drink.” looking through the glass. “Yes, Ven!”
All hands fell silent as the moment grew. “Mr. Humble, sound the ‘All Hands on Deck.’ “The arrangements are the same—meet
The cleric thought a moment, put down his We have a fight on our hands!” He stayed there up in two weeks at Roarke’s Island. Dr. Prentiss,
ladle, and walked slowly over to the first with crewman Bnendra and watched as they

is your surgery ready?” at our backs. We should drop right out of the lightly on the deck—an achievement consid-
sky before they even see us.” He looked at the ering her previous experiences with the sky-
“As ready as I can make it, Captain,” she cleric, “Cyl-willing.” pack—and ran quickly over to finish knocking
said, her voice low and clear. out the stunned sentry before he recovered.
The cleric bowed silently and smiled.
“Cleric Vaneras.” The captain landed lightly next to her. “Nice
Flynn looked around as the deck canted work,” whispered Flynn to Bola.
“Yes?” toward the raider and they started to drop
altitude. He drew his sword and raised it “Not really,” she whispered back. “I was
“What do you intend to do with yourself high. “For Alacrity!” The men thundered going for the stick,” she said, but then she
with regard to this battle?” agreement. smiled despite herself.
The cleric put his hands behind his back The captain took Mr. Humble aside. “Keep Flynn grinned.
and considered for a moment. “If Dr. Prentiss an eye on crewman Rand, will you?”
wishes, I will remain on the ship with her to Once they made sure they controlled the
help in the Surgery and render whatever “What’s up?” deck, they met up by the stairs.
spiritual aid I can.”
“I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s Flynn said, “Mr. Pitt, would you do us the
She nodded, and the captain accepted her something not quite right about that one.” honor?” and gestured toward the stairs. Rand
approval. was behind him. Mr. Humble was also there
“Aye, Captain.” keeping an eye on the situation. Mr. Pitt led
“One more thing,” said Cleric Vaneras. “I’d the party below deck and the captain followed
like to pray for this action.” “Ok, let’s raid this raider and give you your close behind.
first shot running a ship.”
The captain thought it over. With a cal- They walked quietly into the galley as if they
culating look, he waved his arm to take in Mr. Humble grinned and saluted. owned it, surprising the cook, who was reading
those assembled. “By all means,” he said, and a book. Entering quietly, their presence didn’t
everyone immediately dropped their heads # alert him before it was too late. Mr. Pitt walked
in unison, leaving the captain to look on past him, put one meaty paw over his mouth,
bemused. They hit the raider fast just as dawn broke. and swept him off his chair. He was uncon-
The swingers dropped down lightly on the scious before he ever made a sound.
Cleric Vaneras stepped forward and turned deckhouse and the skypackers took out sailors
to face the crew. “Almighty Cyl, be you with in the rigging, while the divers came aboard “This is going too well,” mused Flynn.
our men, our ship, and our swords. Smite the amidships and ran forward. Yhen kept his rifle
enemy, and show them we are your agents, As fate would have it, the Sylvan captain
fixed on the stair.
that you are Cyl.” walked into the galley at that precise moment.
Bola was descending toward the deck in
“So say we all,” they agreed. There was an uncomfortable moment
her skypack. The deck watch made to raise
the alarm, but Bola quickly drew her knife and where the Sylvan captain stopped, sized up the
Flynn waited. The cleric nodded and
threw it end-over-end, thwack-thwack-thwack, situation, and considered his options. Then, he
stepped back into the ranks with the sailors.
hitting him on the head with the heavy hilt, wisely put his hands behind his head without
Flynn clapped his hands once. “We’re ready,
knocking him head-over-heels. Bola landed saying a word.
then. Eggplant, take us down, and keep the sun

“Smart thinking, Captain,” whispered more deaths later when the story gets around, “This leaves us in a sticky position, Mr. Pitt.
Flynn. and Flynn’s legend grows.” We don’t have the crew to take over another
ship right now.”
They locked the door going to the hold, Her excited demeanor was tempered as
after which the Sylvan sailors started yelling, what he said sank in. “If we allow them to sail on through, it will
but it was too late by then. Flynn and company just mean a sacked community somewhere
were swiftly back up on deck, in complete “There was no blood today,” said the cleric along the islands and Haddirron dead,” stated
control of the ship without a shot being fired as he made to walk away, “but I fear there will Mr. Pitt, thoughtfully. Dr. Prentiss and cleric
and without any casualties. be more, later…much more.” Vaneras walked around the corner. They heard
Mr. Pitt’s sentiment. Dr. Prentiss didn’t say
They spent some time talking with the She put her hand out and touched his arm. anything, but Flynn could tell she wanted to.
captain, discovering where they were planning “Where are you going?”
to hit and where they were from. Afterward, “What do you think, Doctor? We don’t have
He stopped and looked at her. “To congrat-
he was added to the prisoners in the hold. the resources to attack and capture another
ulate the captain and crew, of course,” he said.
He didn’t say much, and Flynn didn’t blame ship of the size of the one we took this morning,
He patted her hand, put a thoughtful smile on
him. To lose your ship without mounting a but if we don’t intervene, innocent people will
his face, and walked aft.
defense or firing a shot would have to be the lose property and possibly their lives.”
most demeaning fate for a captain, especially “Of course,” she repeated thoughtfully,
for a race who maintained so much pride and She didn’t hesitate. “Destroy them. Sink
staring after the departing holy man.
self-love. them. Turn them. Do what you have to.”
Back aboard Alacrity, the cleric waited # “That’s pretty callous,” said the captain
until it was clear that they’d scored a perfectly with a twinkle in his black eyes.
bloodless boarding, and reported that to an They got Mr. Humble and the next comple-
ment of Grenville sailors situated and sailing The cleric thought Flynn was baiting the
astonished Dr. Prentiss.
back to port. Alacrity ascended again at noon, good doctor, but to her credit, she didn’t fall
She said, “I’m something of a student making way again for points north. for it.
of naval history. I’ve never heard of such a
Nobody expected to find another ship the “That ship exists for aggression. If you can’t
thing!”
same day, but that’s exactly what happened at turn it, burn it. It’s the humane thing to do for
The cleric was deep in thought. “This is the two bells after noon. Haddirron.”
sort of feat that will become legend, a tale that
Mloit was on the lookout and scored the “I see. And what do you think, Cleric?”
will leak out and streak around the islands like
wildfire.” finder’s bonus, another ship of the same size Vaneras said, “This morning, I confided
as the former. to the doctor that I thought there would be
Deena looked over at the cleric. “You don’t
“Maybe that’s why the Sylvan captain was blood, but I didn’t think it would catch up to us
seem happy about that.”
loathe to say more this morning, expecting this soon. The crew will need a good meal. This
The cleric glanced up at her. “I am, of reinforcements shortly from a ship he knew to may be hot work, Captain,” he said, excusing
course, relieved we don’t have any rites to be reasonably close.” himself.
perform for the dead today. I am, however,
He gave the glass to Mr. Pitt. “Gather the crew,” said Flynn. “We’re going
more concerned that this action will result in to need to get some consensus on this one.”

# limited. We will use that as a secondary aspect “Yes. Swing over and ask her. Explain to
of the plan, but that will be pretty much for her captain what the stakes are. Tell him he is
When the remaining crew was assembled mopping up duties. We need something more outclassed and outgunned and has only one
in the galley, Flynn got their attention and aggressive in place to do a thorough job of it chance to survive: turn the ship around and
broke the news to them. from the outset. Mr. Ghoen, yes?” return to port.”
“Mr. Mloit has spied another raider of the “Burn it, Captain. I assume you have a It was audacious and daring. It was an
same design and size as the one we took over spare cargo net? Drop the cargo net filled opportunity for the cleric to rid the Sylvan ship
this morning.” with flammables and laced with pitch or other of her captain with little bloodshed. It was also
flammable elements over onto her deckhouse. a way to regain some of the momentum Flynn
That was good for a cheer. Flynn let the Her sails will light as well as her mid-ships, and had stolen for himself that very morning, a fact
noise subside before he went on. “However, it won’t be long before she’s incapacitated. You not lost on the cleric.
she’s too much ship for us to handle at this can have your snipers pick off any stragglers
time of day and with our current crew size.” He who attempt to blow it out.” The plan was also highly dangerous, espe-
added, looking around him. “We need to find cially to Captain Flynn himself, and the cleric
another way to stop her at minimal risk for our “That’s good—we’d lose the possibility was secretly pleased when Mr. Pitt stepped
loss-of-life.” of returning a raider ship to Haddirron ports, forward to forbid Flynn from even considering
but at least she wouldn’t be responsible for such madness.
“You anticipate an expected maximal loss killing or looting any, either—a fair trade, in
of Sylvan life, is that right?” said the cleric from my opinion.” Which is why nobody was more shocked
the side where he prepared food. than he when the captain slapped his knee and
“There is one other option, Captain,” said said, “Bold plan! Done!”
The captain met his gaze squarely. the cleric, wiping his hands on the towel at his
“’Accepted’ maximal loss of Sylvan life. Yes, waist. #
that’s correct. Is that a problem?”
Flynn opened out his hands, “I’m open to
The cleric’s silence was expressive. Then he “Captain, you can’t go through with this, “
anything you’ve got. What’s your idea?”
said, “War is anguish, but that doesn’t mean said just about everybody.
we need to attack on empty stomachs.” He put The cleric laid the towel on the wood Flynn clucked. “Not only can I, I will. It is
out a pot of something savory. counter and put his arms behind his back as the sort of plan that, if successful, could save
he carefully picked his next words, his eyes
Flynn nodded in approval. “So, if we’re the ship and her crew for another day, and
sparkling with deadly earnest as he crafted
going to do this, I’d like to make sure it isn’t position us to be able to steal her later rather
his brainstorm. It was a little early to test the
botched. If we’re going to make a bloody end than sink her sooner.”
goodwill he’d banked up, but he was not a man
of it, we need to know what we’re going to do, to shrink back from bold moves. “Ask them to Mr. Pitt grabbed his shoulder and clearly
and how. That’s why the crew is assembled. We give up and turn about,” he said, and there wanted to vigorously shake his friend back to
need your suggestions for a successful attack.” was a collective gasp in the galley among those sanity. “Captain! You can’t really think this will
assembled. The look in his eyes declared he work?!”
The crew spoke up. “Mr. Yhen’s rifles could wasn’t jesting.
shoot them from a distance,” said one. Flynn smiled wearily at Mr. Pitt. “No, Mr.
Flynn’s voice was carefully neutral. “Ask Pitt. I don’t really think it will work. But it might,
“That’s a good idea,” said Flynn, “but too her, cleric?” and I have to take that risk myself if it possibly

means saving the lives of more Alacrity crew. It was full dark when the captain prepared Mr. Pitt turned and waved up at the Crow’s
Besides,” he whispered, “this may win the his assault. He was startled when a figure Nest and forward to the bowsprit netting.
cleric to my side, something I need in order for dressed all in black joined him and started
there to be no division on our ship. But we will strapping on a skypack. Flynn said, “What are Flynn stepped up to the railing and hopped
be ready with the fire in case it doesn’t work. you doing here?” off. The cleric followed after him like an old pro
If it does, we’ll retract the fire materials and and not someone using new technology for the
no one will be the wiser. If it doesn’t work, The cleric smiled to Flynn for the first time first time.
Haddirron waters will not be in danger. We onboard Alacrity. “You didn’t think I’d let you
go down there alone, do you?” Together, they dropped lightly down onto
both win either way.” the deck of the second Sylvan ship. Flynn
Flynn left Mr. Pitt standing there and went Flynn looked at Vaneras warily. “Did Mr. quietly unstrapped his magnificent sword and
to prepare the cargo net. The cleric stepped Pitt put you up to this?” put it in the cleric’s hands.
forward from where he had been eavesdrop- Vaneras chuckled easily. “I’ll be close at “Cyl bless and keep you,” Vaneras whispered
ping. “Well, that didn’t go as planned.” hand if I need to perform your death rites.” without a trace of guile. He was rather proud
Mr. Pitt whirled around, his eyes furious, his of that.
Mr. Pitt appeared at the cleric’s shoulder
mammoth hands poised to choke something. and crossed his arms over his massive chest. Flynn whispered,“It’s strange—you sound
“You… you…” He nodded once to Flynn. like a cleric, but you move like…”
Instead of fleeing, the more sensible tactic, Flynn finished tightening his strap with The cleric put a finger to his lips and smiled.
the cleric smoothly stepped closer to the a firm yank. “Well, I guess it’s settled, then. Then he moved, catlike, to the side and hid
angry behemoth. “I give you my word, I never There’s no arguing with Mr. Pitt.” He winked behind a barrel.
expected he’d go along with the plan,” said the and stepped forward to help the cleric finish
cleric. “It makes no sense.” Flynn put his hands up, cleared his throat,
donning his own pack. “Are you up for this sort
of action? Are you prepared to defend yourself and spoke to the astonished officer on deck.
Mr. Pitt quieted a little as reason returned
if need be?” “Greetings,” he said. “May I speak to the cap-
to him. “That’s Flynn for you,” he said, finally. tain-in-charge?”
Pitt looked at the cleric thoughtfully. “You’re The cleric was in high good spirits, more
going with him,” he said. It was a day of surprises. Instead of taking
relaxed than he’d been since he arrived.
“Believe me, this is easier to prepare for than Flynn with him, the officer left him standing
The cleric nodded. “I pretty much have to,
any sermon. Ready.” there and ran to bring the Sylvan captain.
now, don’t I? Do you think Flynn planned that
when he accepted?” He also brought twenty of his closest
Flynn looked at Mr. Pitt, who cracked a
craggy smirk. friends, who surrounded Flynn.
Mr. Pitt shrugged as if to say such a thing
wasn’t impossible. The Sylvan captain broke through the ranks
The cleric kept his face carefully neutral,
although he was smiling inside, as well. Vaneras and stepped forward to face Flynn. “Who are
The cleric grunted as if to agree. “I’m
wasn’t about to reveal the text of his conversa- you? How did you get here?”
going to need your help,” he said, and Mr. Pitt
nodded sadly. tion with Mr. Pitt. Not ever. Flynn bowed. “I am Captain Cooper Flynn
Flynn cocked his head. “Ok, we’re set, then. of the Haddirron airship Alacrity. I am here to
# Alacrity party of two, prepare to disembark.” spare you and your crew from certain death.”

“You’re...what?!” The Sylvan captain stepped forward, parting cartons, and other flammables that they’d
the men with his presence. He glared at Flynn loaded into the pitch-soaked netting.
“I could explain it more fully, Captain, long and hard. He suddenly slapped Flynn
but all you need to know is that I chased and across the face, twice. It was a big, sticky, mess, and it lit right up,
sacked your sister-ship this morning. Even now, quickly engulfing the top of the wheelhouse.
she is sailing towards Roarke’s Island with her Flynn took it, his black eyes twinkling
crew locked in the hold and her captain hoping strangely in the moonlight. “Goodbye, A pair of objects rolled into the milling
against hope you’ll show up to save her. Which Captain.” group of sailors and then exploded, tossing
brings me to you. My presence here means I sailors in all directions. The cleric appeared out
could do the same thing to you. However, I’m The Sylvan captain bellowed and drew his of the shadows, looking like a piece of shadow
here to give you a chance to heave-to and sword and raised it above his head to strike himself, and slammed shut the door leading
return to Sylvan waters before I unleash the Flynn. down into the bowels of the ship. He picked
power at my disposal.” up a sword from the deck and drove it through
A shot rang out, jerking the Sylvan captain’s the latch, pinning the door shut.
“Captain Flynn. Do I understand that you head back, and he fell to the deck, lifeless,
expect me to surrender and return to my home his limbs jerking in little macabre twitching “Time to go,” yelled Flynn, who bounced
port without a fight?” movements. once and bounded up into the night sky,
grasping the rope when he was maybe 20 feet
“Yes. If you give up and surrender your # above the conflagration. The cleric was right
sword to me with vows to leave and return behind him, grabbing the rope fen feet below
to your port, I will allow you and your crew to A sheathed sword flew up out of the night Flynn.
live, and your ship to survive. If you do not, you over the heads of the sailors. Flynn bounced
will lose everything, starting with the ship and “Fire!” yelled the cleric. The fire was
up and snagged it. He dropped to the deck,
including your very lives.” Flynn seemed to be snaking up the rope from the holocaust on the
rolled forward, and stood on the far side of
enjoying himself immensely. wheelhouse.
the stunned circle of sailors. He drew, whirled,
activated the hilt, and swung back into their “Sword,” yelled Flynn, who dropped his
The Sylvan captain considered this. “Since midst, dropping three men screaming with one weapon, hilt-first.
you are here and I see no ship, I think I will stroke.
discount your story. Nice try.” The cleric neatly grabbed the hilt and,
Flynn turned and bounded around the with one smooth movement, he reared back
“You’re making a big mistake,” said the corner to the wheelhouse. He disappeared up his sword and brought it around in a quick,
captain. into the darkness above the wheelhouse and powerful swing, severing the line like paper.
“Guards. Take him below.” The circle of yelled once up into the blackness, “Now!” Then he floated up toward the ship as the
men closed in on Flynn. rope was reeled in from above, the rope in one
A flaming torch dropped out of the darkness hand, the captain’s flashing sword in the other.
“Captain!” bellowed Flynn. “There is no toward the Sylvan ship. In a nifty bit of timing, A number of shots rang out from the deck of
need for bloodshed. Take the initiative and Flynn caught the end of it before it hit the deck Alacrity, but none came from the raider.
start fresh. This is your last chance! I beg of and redirected it smoothly into the cargo net
you, Ven, captain to captain.” which sprawled loosely over the top of the The Sylvan wheelhouse was burning brightly
wheelhouse. The pitch that saturated the load by the time Flynn and Vaneras managed to get
The men stepped right in front of Flynn. caught quickly and started burning the boxes, back onboard Alacrity.

Flynn stood there breathing heavily as the try,” Flynn said soberly. a wicked-looking dagger in his hand, and the
excitement thundered through his body. The thrown axe sticking out of his chest.
cleric looked like he’d never left the deck, as “That means a great deal to me...Captain,”
cool as can be. Vaneras looked closer at the said Cleric Vaneras, who then stuck out his Bedlam erupted: “What happened?”
magnificent sword in his hand. He whistled hand. roared Mr. Pitt. “Who’s that man?” demanded
once, low. He flicked off the stud on the hilt a muffled Flynn. “Nice throw!” exulted Bola.
Captain Cooper Flynn met the gaze of cleric
and extended it back to Flynn, hilt-first. Mathen Vaneras eye-to-eye, and then they Vaneras put it together right away, and
“Nice blade,” said the cleric with a myste- shook hands. stood up. He extended his hand to Flynn, who
rious smile. “I’d be interested to learn where took it gratefully. Vaneras would remember that
The crew cheered again. Flynn smiled. moment for the rest of his life, and treasure it.
you acquired that.”
What took place next happened very fast. “Thanks,” said Flynn, and dusted off his
“Nice work down there,” replied Flynn in They heard footsteps running toward them; breeches. He stood and walked forward.
turn, breathing heavily, eyes fairly sparking. the cleric looked over the captain’s shoulder,
“I’d be interested to know where you learned released his grip, placed his right hand on the Crewman Rand, he of the black hair, black
how to do that.” captain’s left arm, and pushed Flynn behind eyes, and black attitude, drew up and saluted
The cleric laughed once. “Ha! The touch him. Rand approached, a throwing axe in his the captain. Rand’s demeanor was completely
goes to you.” He turned, both questions unan- right hand, cocked it back in-stride and threw different now: solid, forthcoming, profession-
swered, and they gathered around the railing it hard. Vaneras spun and turned and hurled al.
and watched the Sylvan ship burn as they himself to the side, flattening the captain
underneath him to the deck as he did. “Captain Cooper Flynn, I am Special Under-
drifted apart, the light of the ship on the water cover Agent Harl Uioge, of Her Majesty’s Intel-
showing up for many miles in all directions. Vaneras had time to think two things: ligence Agency. I am a spy. He is an assassin—
The crew of Alacrity gathered around and Assassin! and that the axe was going high your assassin.”
cheered. enough to fly right over the edge of the ship.
Accepting the captain’s surprised salute in
“Hear-hear for the captain and the cleric!” They heard a gruesome THWACK instead. return, Harl Uioge said, “Begging the Captain’s
pardon. I wonder if I might have the use of a
Flynn turned to Vaneras. “We tried. Are Flynn and Vaneras both hit the deck, and skypack and a rope. I’m rather attached to that
you content with the results?” Flynn grunted with the impact. They both axe.”
strained their necks and looked back up where
The cleric watched the flames from above, the spinning axe had just flown. Off to the side, Cleric Vaneras stroked
and his expression became sober. Finally, he his chin as they reeled in the dead, floating
turned to the captain. They saw Rand reach the railing and grasp assassin. Things had taken a dark and troubling
it as if he might leap over the edge. They saw turn. And he, of all people, had an idea why.
“It is too bad so many men had to die today, Mr. Pitt, Bola, and others hot on his heels.
however, I very much appreciate the effort.
‘War is anguish.’ I will waste no tears on them. Climbing to their feet, they saw something
They knew what they were doing, and they that made no sense at all—the always friendly
chose their fate, if not their time.” Mr. Aefther, the genial Grenville sailor with
blond hair, blue eyes, and a ready smile, was
“Life can be tragic. I gave it my very best floating out off the railing in a stolen skypack,

End of Chapter 18
The Adventures of the Sky Pirate continue next
month.
Johne Cook
Johne is a technical writer, help author,
creative writer, and editor.
He likes prog rock, space opera, film noir,

racquetball, and the Green Bay Packers.

Memory Wipe, Hostage by Sean T. M. Stiennon Pg. 43
Memory Wipe
Chapter 16, Hostage
by Sean T. M. Stiennon
“‘P arty of thirty,’” Sherri muttered under

her breath. “‘Looks like a quiet crowd,
Sherri. No trouble and a big tip. I’ll even you let
her scrubbers onto the table. Enough. Most of
the major stains were out, and she had cleaned
off the table and stacked the dishes for the
on the job. Probably wouldn’t even care.
“G’night, Stiller,” she said as she walked
you off work when they’re gone! No, no need kitchen help over an hour ago. She had been past, on her way to the door.
to thank me—I know you’ve been having a alone since then except for the elaborate ivory “Night, Sherri. You look tired.”
tough time recently. I look after my employees.’ masks on the walls which served as the room’s
Well, thank you, Mr. Blaydra! You’re so...very... primary decoration. All of its stately cherry- “That’s because I am.”
kind!” wood tables had been pushed together for the
night’s crowd. Those could be moved later. Takeda would have been up helping her
She knelt down on the damp carpet with scrub the carpet, but Stiller preferred to keep
a scrubber in each hand and started sawing Right now, Sherri just wanted to go home his hands clean. Sherri shoved through the
at the dark stains marring the otherwise pure and collapse into bed. door and descended another flight of stairs. All
white carpet. She might have used the hydro- she knew was that Vass had tried to arrest him,
swipe, but the major spills over by the bar—in- She locked the Ivory Room behind her and with results that had closed the Silver Sun and
cluding a full liter of Ulster hops whiskey—had started down the gray velvet staircase providing kept its employees home for over a week. He
done a thorough job clogging its filters. A bead access to it. Her hand clutched the brass railing had probably pulled a gun on them and shot
of sweat rolled off the tip of her nose and her like a lifeline. Every step made her back throb. his way out. Cops had died. Sherri couldn’t
back felt like someone was standing on it. Sherri knew she should quit the job. She didn’t blame him. He had made it off Belar. Then, just
need it, given her father’s wealth, and there a few weeks ago, Vass’ men had come home
A quiet crowd her ass. Thirty of Green- wasn’t any particular reason to stay. Not with and reported that Vass had surrendered his
dome’s wildest, noisiest, and porkiest old men, Takeda gone. badge to pursue Takeda on his own.
every one of them a high-level investor in the
Company. An afternoon spent around the card At least Brian Vass had vanished with “Wherever you are, Tak,” she whispered
tables and gaming machines had given them the him—the Greendome Police were lying low in under her breath, “I hope you’re okay.”
appetite for a full night of stuffing and soaking his absence. Occasionally they even upheld the
themselves with the best food and liquor the law, a change from Vass’ administration. Back She pushed open the doors into the Silver
Silver Sun stocked. Drinks had flowed freely then, the Greendome cops had spent most of Sun’s main gambling floor. Most of the machines
into their mouths, onto their clothes, and onto their time drinking and chasing women when were powered down for the morning, leaving
the Ivory Room’s imported carpeting. She had they weren’t criminals themselves. the room a dark cavern lit only by pale main-
been hard-pressed to keep their hands off her. tenance lights. The silence allowed to hear her
She found Takeda’s replacement in the footsteps, muffled by the soft red carpeting.
And when they had finally staggered out larger bar below, hunched over the counter
the door, the sum of their tip had been three with a tall glass of something cherry-red and He had never talked much under the best
half-silver coins, four bent playing cards, and a foaming in one hand. He glanced up with a of circumstances. Takeda had always preferred
bent bottle cap. Lovely. twitch, guilt flashing across his face, but he the company of his thoughts and his books,
calmed down immediately. Blaydra wouldn’t both during work and off hours. He had almost
Sherri straightened with a sigh and threw listen to her if she told him his new man drank never smiled, and when he did, it looked more

like a shy grimace. another night. You don’t want to...abandon dear Takeda, do
you?”
Still...she knew she was the only person in Sherri turned, feeling her heart rate rise,
Greendome who he had really talked to. And and saw a man standing thirty feet behind her, Could there be any truth to what he said?
she had always enjoyed their conversations, in the aisle between two rows of slot machines. No. It was nonsense. If Vass had really found
whether discussing their favorite drinks or One of his arms hung limp at his side and red Tak one of them would be dead by now. She
the latest shit tossed around by Vass and the scars mottled his face. When he smiled, coldly, wondered how many of Vass’ missing teeth Tak
thugs’ club he called a police force. He was a she saw black gaps in his teeth. might be responsible for.
good man. He had just been risking his life to
save that bartender downstairs, the last time But she could still recognize Brian Vass. Vass came closer. “You’re reluctant. I don’t
she saw him want to hurt you, but my associates are not as
“Sherri,” he said, his voice lisping. “It has kind as I am.”
She passed a massive holowheel, its been...far too long.”
garish displays and xenon lights now dark She could lose him in the darkness, find
Panic made her limbs stiffen. She had been Stiller, find a gun, lock herself in somewhere,
and colorless. Something felt wrong, but she all but certain that Vass was dead or had left and call...the police? Someone…her father…
couldn’t put her finger on it. Maybe it was Belar for good. She forced herself to breathe would send help.
just that she wasn’t usually in the place after more slowly. There was a good reason for his
closing. being here and it wouldn’t do any good if she Sherri ran, leaping off the stairs and
There had always been just a little sweetness panicked. He didn’t seem to be carrying a gun. bolting into the darkness of the early morning
to Takeda which not many other guys showed casino. She dodged from aisle to aisle of silent
“Captain Vass,” she answered, evenly. “I machines and expected to hear Vass pounding
her. He had never hit on her or tried to get thought you were dead.” after her. Nothing. She could hear only her
her drunk and easy, just talked to her, listened
to her, and didn’t object when she got long- ragged breathing while her heart pounded
“Almost. . almost.”
winded. She missed him more than she would wildly against her ribcage. She ducked out into
admit to anyone. “Something I can do for you?” the central aisle, crossing towards the door she
had entered through, and caught a glimpse of
She approached the etched glass doors “Actually, there is.” Vass still standing exactly where she had last
that led out of the gambling floor. Something seen him…smiling.
really wasn’t right here. Sherri quickened her He advanced towards her. His stride
stride. betrayed a slight limp, and his smile broadened. She froze for an instant, disbelieving. The
It looked artificial on his pale face. “Come with man waved lazily at her. “You can’t get away
She realized what it was only when she me, Sherri. I found Takeda. I can take you to from me, Sherri. Come. I promise I’ll take care
put her hand on the door’s gold-plated handle him.” of you.”
and pulled. The glass rattled but didn’t open—
locked from the outside. She stared at the scene She fought to keep her features expression- He began to come towards her, moving like
of Imperian jungles etched into its surface. less. “Takeda, huh? If he wants to talk to me, a wraith across the dark carpeting. “Five-Five,”
This door was rarely locked, but there should he can call me. I don’t think he’d pick you as a he called, voice echoing from the high ceiling,
be a guard on it around the clock. Now that she messenger.” “she’s yours.”
thought about it, there should also be people Vass seemed not to hear her. “He needs Sherri broke into a sprint. She leapt over
checking the machines, cleaning the floors, you. He’ll die without you. Please come, Sherri. a stray maintenance cart, clipped a foot on its
making sure the place looked good enough for

rim, and sprawled forward across the carpet, three hours. It had a distinct pattern, but the detection systems.
knocking her jaw hard. Her skull echoed with only program capable of calculating the current
pain and it felt like she had dislodged a few pass code was loaded onto a device lodged in Within the hanger a cradle opened to
teeth. Her chest ached as she pushed herself the tiny crevice between Five-Five’s brainstem receive the ship. Five-Five landed it, waited until
up and gasped air frantically. She could hear and right hemisphere. it had been locked into place, and unstrapped
a pursuer now—pounding footsteps, coming himself from his seat. “Bring the girl and Vass,”
fast. She staggered forward. The code went straight from his brain to he said to Four-Two-Six.
his fingers as they clicked across a keypad. The
A shadow swooped over her and landed computer accepted...but he wouldn’t be abso- The hatchway hissed open. Four-Two-Six
in her path. She tried to check her speed and lutely certain it was correct until they reached carried the girl in his arms—they had kept
turn. The smooth carpeting gave her heels the ground without being blasted to stray ions her under drugs for the voyage—and Vass
nothing to grab onto, and she moved too late. by the planet’s covert defense network. shambled beside him, a foolish smile imprinted
The shadow swept towards her and smashed on his face. His insanity had grown steadily
a fist into her jaw. She cried out as her body Caulthor’s surface rose in the canopy, ash worse since leaving Belar, to the point where
collapsed underneath her. gray and pocked with open sores of lava. The Five-Five had considered whether to put him
surface temperature everywhere except the through the airlock. But Tong would wish to
She rolled her head to look up just as the poles was far too hot to sustain normal human decide his fate.
man drew something that gleamed like steel. life. The world’s cities and mines were sheltered
beneath thin plastic domes which maintained #
A knife. He’s going to kill me. the air at just above forty degrees centigrade,
good enough to keep them alive. An hour later, Six-Seven and Three-One
Her breath came in hard, fast pants as she
rolled herself over and tried to get her feet accompanied him into Jezai Tong’s presence.
Five-Five’s course took him to a site five
underneath her. The pain in her head pounded Six-Seven carried the girl.
hundred kilometers from the planet’s southern
like a drum chorus…too slow, too dazed. A hand pole. There, a lone volcano—long dormant, but Pillars of black stone veined with all the
like a steel clamp seized her elbow. She could with fire lingering deep beneath—rose from a colors of fire reflected smoldering light from
feel a thumb pressing the inside of the joint. trackless desert of ash and black sand. Little above. The space was vast, hollowed out of the
was visible from the surface—a few long, low solid stone of Caulthor’s crust, and its heights
A pinprick struck her vein. She struggled bunkers, a sprawling communications relay, were lost in darkness. The Count himself sat
for a few seconds longer, but the pain in her a few scattered defense turrets of a quality high above the black floor, perched like a
skull swelled into a dark fog that enclosed her suitable for an impoverished provincial capital. skeletal dragon in his throne. His red armor
limbs. Five-Five angled his ship towards the volcano was polished to a sheen, and his yellow eyes
Wish you were here, Tak. and tapped another sequence into his keypad. opened as the doors admitted his supplicants.
Five-Five had already given him a report. But
Sherri barely felt her body slide to the A tiny slot opened in the towering the Count liked to hear them in person.
floor. mountain of volcanic rock. As Five-Five’s ship
approached, the volcano filled his vision, and Five-Five knelt on the floor twenty feet
# the slot became a cavernous hanger wide from the foot of Tong’s throne.
enough to hold twenty ships like the one he
piloted. It was small, well-armored, and unlikely “You have the woman,” Tong stated.
The twenty-character code that permitted to be observed by all but the most expensive
access to Caulthor airspace changed every “Yes, My Lord.”

“He knew her? shoulder. A disk-shaped robot wheeled silently tiously. It was still summer in this part of
out from behind the ring of pillars and began Coalsmoke, and the sun had barely set, but
“So this one says.” Five-Five pointed to suctioning the blood staining the floor. he had occasionally seen gangs of men and an
Vass. occasional Drava lurking in the alleyways after
# dark, obviously searching for easy prey among
Vass looked up as he heard himself spoken the pedestrians who wondered past. There
of. He looked at Five-Five for a moment, his
The Lancaster Iron Corporation—the was nothing fancy about his clothing—a dark
expression blank, and then shifted his gaze
parent company which had operated the plastifiber jacket and pants he had picked up
to Sherri. A faint sorrow crossed his features.
colony on Nihil as well as several mines across for half a Silver. Some people in these concrete
“What will you do with her?”
the Empire—was based in one of the grimier tenements might still be desperate enough to
Tong continued as if he had not spoken. “A cities on Coalsmoke. Judging from pictures rob him for whatever they could pry off his
former police officer, wounded, and bordering Takeda had seen, the other cities weren’t too body.
on insanity...tragic. But we have no more use much better. The only possible exception was a And those three men had been following
for him. Three-One?” handful of resorts on the equatorial islands for him since he left his job at a steel refinery. He
rich businessmen and their families.
Three-One took a pace forward. He wore a let his senses expand. He smelled smoke in
standard uniform—voluminous black pants and This particular backstreet of New Bristol the air, hot metal from the refineries, reeking
vest, bare arms, nothing to impede movement. was one of the darker he had seen, but the garbage and wastewater in the gutters, even
Tong raised his hand to point at Vass and curled landlords here took low rent and didn’t ask blood, somewhere...but he also smelled the
a finger. Vass took a step towards Sherri as she questions. Esheera had succeeded in getting sweaty men behind him and caught a whiff of
hung limp in Six-Seven’s arms. “Will she be them a room when the evacuation transport steel from them. His hypersensitive ears heard
safe?” from Nihil had dropped them off here with the one of them say to the others, “Jack, other side
hundred Silvers or so the company had paid of the street, get ahead of him.”
The kill was made in an instant, before Vass them for their help in the mines. Takeda had
could react. A blade of the color of bone sprang Takeda increased his pace. His apartment
spent most of the first week sleeping—sleeping
from Three-One’s exposed wrist and he swept was only a block ahead of them. If they had
and having nightmares.
it across the arteries bracketing Vass’ trachea. guns, he wouldn’t be able to evade them
Blood gushed in a smooth arc to the floor. Vass Some of his nightmares were about the without displaying his powers, which would
died with his eyes still fixed on the unconscious stone tunnels of the iron mine, the chitinous destroy what little seclusion he’d managed to
Sherri. horrors lurking in the darkness, and all the find.
men and women whose blood had soaked
Tong shifted his vermillion eyes back to They jogged to overtake him. Takeda could
the stone: Cramer Orano, Law Krane, so many
Five-Five even before Vass’ corpse had hit the hear one man quick-stepping across the street
others.... But most of his nightmares were of
floor. “Put the woman under heavy guard: Level to overtake him and close him in a pincer. He
heat and blades and pain and his own blood.
Twelve. I will compose the message myself— summoned strength to his legs and broke into
There was a pit-like cell with no windows and
send Eleven to me.” a sprint…half a block to the apartment. The
no light. There were endless halls of dark men shouted and began to pursue, but Takeda
stone, faceless men in black uniforms, endless
He closed his eyes—the only signal of knew he could outrun them easily.
pain...and above it all the skeletal man in red
dismissal he gave. Five-Five stood and was armor—Jezai Tong. He heard the distinctive click of a round
accompanied from the room by Six-Seven,
while Three-One threw Vass’ corpse over one chambering and dropped into a roll on the
Takeda glanced over his shoulder cau-

pavement. The bullet meant for his guts hit “I don’t really need this,” he said, checking “Good enough,” Takeda said. “No burns
the brick wall behind him, striking away gray- the magazine. Full except for the one shot today.”
brown shards. Takeda came up into a crouch fired. “Maybe I’ll give it to Esheera.”
and turned in time to see the spent casing Zartsi propped his rifle up in the usual
rattle against the pavement as the man on the “Rover doesn’t need it. She never leaves corner and threw his cloak down beside it. “No
other side of the street aimed a second shot. room.” kills today, at least,” he said.
He never got a chance to fire it. A second “Good point,” Takeda said, sticking the gun Zartsi had used ten silvers out of their
bullet slapped the weapon from his hand and in his jacket. “You just get off work?” bankroll to buy a cheap rifle and a couple boxes
took a few scraps from his hand away with it. of ammunition, then located a job for a vehicle
Zartsi ducked his head. “Hopefully Rover dealership which had been having problems
The man screamed and clutched his hand. The will have food.” with hijackers. He still wore his leather armor,
others slid to a halt on the pavement, eyes
fixed on the shadow which had materialized now repaired, with the company’s silver
He led the way up the stairs of their
from an alleyway six feet ahead of Takeda. emblem pinned to the shoulder.
apartment building, which were haunted
by eight-legged vermin and a sharp smell of Esheera nodded. Her eyes remained fixed
The musky scent of Lithrallian emanated distilled liquor. Someone on the second floor on the screen as the view shifted to a guide
from beneath the figure’s hood. “Next shot was bellowing at his girlfriend loud enough for somewhere deep underground. “Noodles and
penetrates brain,” Zartsi hissed, his rifle braced the whole building to hear. Takeda shuddered beef on the stove. Help yourselves.”
against his shoulder. “If you have any.” and followed Zartsi up to the third floor, where
The man across the street bit his lip in the they had a room at the end of the hallway. The Takeda put the gun in his room and washed
effort not to scream. The others—one with lights had gone out and only faint twilight from the blood off his hand while Zartsi divided the
a revolver halfway out of his belt—took two the street illuminated the passage. Zartsi’s key food into three bowls. Of all the courses his
seconds to consider the issue. Zartsi shifted his clicked in the lock. life could have taken after leaving Belar, this
aim to point the rifle directly at them. “Your was perhaps the one Takeda least expected:
The place had five rooms: two bedrooms, household life in a grimy city light years from his
choice.” living room, kitchen, lavatory. The furniture home, with a Lithrallian hunter turned security
Both fled, and the third staggered behind was mostly plastic frames with thin synthetic guard and a grounded Rover for roommates.
them with blood dripping from his hand. He cushions stretched over them. The walls looked
left his gun on the pavement. Zartsi waited as if they hadn’t been painted since the first He could remember Tong. For…years, he
until they ducked into an alley, then uncocked colonists had grounded over a century ago. had been tortured, sawn apart and stitched
his rifle and grinned savagely, flicking his tail back together, injected and mutilated and torn
They found Esheera huddled in front of apart, over and over. New organs, new bones,
towards the fallen gun. a vidscreen, watching a travel program with new chemicals and proteins, experiments
“Your spoils, Takeda,” he said. occasional flashes of static. Into the Wind failed and repeated...and still his body had
Tunnels of Aoleus was displayed across the top lived, lived to endure more.
Takeda crossed the street and retrieved the of the screen, and the camera swept in dizzying
weapon, wiping blood off the grip. It wasn’t loops through a series of serpentine caverns He couldn’t remember his real name or
particularly late—most of the stars hadn’t yet hollowed out of dark blue rock. what his life had been like before Tong had
appeared in the darkening sky overhead—but brought him to his palace and had him stripped
no one seemed to have noticed the gunshots. Esheera didn’t look up as they came in. naked before that throne of black rock. They
“Good day at work?” had taken whatever life he’d lived and erased it

from his memory. They gave him a number and a watery look and seemed to have trouble “No...of world, of city,” he growled, as he
nothing else. Two. focusing. She rarely even sat up straight these cleaned the last of his food from the bowl’s
days, and he nearly always found her in front sides.
At the end of everything, he had emerged of the screen, usually watching travel shows
as...something inhuman—a machine, a and nature vids. “If any of us can leave it’d be you,” Esheera
monster, a weapon, forced into Tong’s service. said, shaking her head as she returned her
They had strip-mined his brain along with All three of them knew why. A few days in attention to her food.
everything else, and after they were done...he New Bristol had firmly imprinted on her the
could do nothing but serve Jezai Tong. fact that it would be years, at best, before she For a moment, Zartsi seemed to be thinking
could possibly scrape together enough money very hard—his eyes narrowed and his lips
It was still hazy, like a half-forgotten for a new ship. The Ixlu Seer’s wreckage still curled up around his teeth. He shook his head
nightmare. And there was still so much he lay baking in Nihil’s red sun. Without it, she at last. “I...don’t wish to abandon you.”
couldn’t remember. He still didn’t know who had lost the one thing she treasured above
she was—the woman who haunted his dreams, His eyes rolled towards Takeda. “You are
everything else: the freedom to travel across
too beautiful for words. He didn’t know how not finished yet.”
the stars, as a free Rover. With the loss of her
he had somehow wormed away from Tong ship had come memories of her dead husband. Takeda shrugged. “I don’t know. I can’t
and found his way to Belar and the Silver Sun There was no work for a Vitai in New Bristol. storm Caulthor by myself.”
Casino, or gotten to that tiny hotel room with Few employers would hire women, and those
nothing but a pair of pants and a citizenship who were high-class enough to do so wouldn’t Zartsi let his breath out in a long, sad hiss,
card. touch a middle-aged Vitai with no recommen- deflating his lungs like popped balloons. “True,”
dations. he said, softly, “true enough.”
He had some of his memories. But they
went straight from a night bleeding in his pit to So she sat in front of the screen and Esheera looked as if she was about to say
the hotel room. dreamed of worlds she might never see. something, but her mouth closed, and her
attention returned to her food.
“Not hungry, Takeda?” Zartsi asked around They ate in silence and drank sour beer.
a mouthful of noodles. Takeda tried to think of something to say and #
came up dry. There didn’t seem to be anything.
He sat down and pulled a bowl of the meat- He knew what Count Tong was doing on
and-noodles mixture towards him. Only Zartsi’s “You don’t have...anything to call yourself?”
Caulthor...but there wasn’t any action he could
uncanny ability to get discounts allowed them the woman asked, her head tilted to one side
take. No one in any other province would ever
to buy this much meat. It was bland and watery, so that her mane of ebony hair hung over
believe him. There didn’t seem to be...anything
as always, but far better than anything Takeda her left shoulder. Takeda could see blue light
left at all. Maybe they could work their way
had eaten since...the voyage to Nihil, eating reflected in it.
back to Belar and all get jobs at the Silver Sun.
Esheera’s cooking on the Ixlu Seer. But he was probably still a wanted man, even “I can’t remember my name.”
She entered the kitchen a minute later and with Vass dead.
started shoveling food into her mouth without He felt as if he was standing on a block of
“I’m sick of this,” Zartsi said, echoing gelatin that might melt away underneath him
a word to either of them. Takeda noticed her Takeda’s thoughts. at any moment. The woman was close, yet her
braids were starting to come undone—at least
a couple of her mourning beads had fallen eyes seemed to look at him from the other side
“Noodles and beef?” Esheera asked.
out and hadn’t been replaced. Her eyes had of an infinite abyss. He felt naked before her.

Her mouth tightened, and she let the was oppressively hot, his blankets were caught No more. Takeda stepped closer, feeling a
subject go. “Are you...still in pain?” she asked. in a bundle around his legs, and Esheera terrified numbness creep over him. The words
was standing over him, shaking him by the could have referred to anyone—God knew how
Takeda looked down at himself and saw his shoulder. He yawned heavily and rolled to face they had gotten on the vid—but somehow...
naked body criss-crossed with livid red scars. her. She appeared only as a black silhouette in he wondered how they could hold meaning
They formed a hatched pattern across his chest, the darkness, framed by light from the living for anyone except him. And that thought filled
tore across his stomach, striped up and down room. him with horror.
his legs. A part of him knew the scars would
fade, eventually. The others had. “Awake?” she asked. “What...how did that get there?” he asked
Esheera.
“Yes.” He blinked sleepily. “What’s...wrong?”
“It’s on all the channels. You’ve got powerful
“You probably don’t know what it’s like to “Get up. You have to see this for yourself.” enemies, Tak.”
be without pain.”
She turned and walked out of his room, “I...don’t suppose there’s any way it could
Takeda couldn’t answer that. There were wingflaps rustling faintly. Takeda levered have nothing to do with me?”
many things he couldn’t remember—every- himself up on his elbows. The chronometer
thing, even—no family, no childhood...just next to his bed told him he had only been asleep She shrugged, rattling her beaded braids.
Tong and his torments. for a few hours—it was just after midnight. He “Let me ask you something else: is there any
drew on his powers just enough to give him woman you’d want to protect?”
A carafe of some pale liquid appeared in the strength to roll out of bed, buckle his pants
her hand. She poured some into a glass and on, and stuff a shirt over his head. Then he Even with his mind fogged by sleep, Takeda
offered it to him. “You have to leave soon. stumbled after Esheera. only had to think for a moment before the
Drink this first.” name came to him. “Sherri,” he whispered.
Light from the viewscreen gave the living
The glass felt cold, but her skin was even room a ghostly ambience. Esheera was still “No one else?”
cooler beneath his fingertips. They touched for standing, arms wrapped around her own
a moment, and then she pulled away again, “No...I don’t think so.”
shoulders. She nodded towards the screen.
back across the abyss. Takeda lifted the glass Takeda wiped his eyes to see the image better. She turned to look at him, nostrils flared
to his lips and drank. It tasted sweet and spicy, and eyes intent. “Then let me ask you this,
cold but with a warm aura that filled him from The screen was a monochrome pale blue Tak: how many other people were once called
the bottom up, and better than anything he with text in black letters. He enhanced his sight ‘Two’? And how many of them have someone
could remember. For a moment, he could feel slightly. This was no commercial programming. writing them love notes from a ‘world of fire’?”
almost happy. The glass was empty too fast. The screen said: She sounded more like herself than she had
He returned it to her. She began to fill it Two: since Nihil.
once more. Then he felt someone shaking his
You knew a woman. She is mine. Come back “I...don’t know how they could have found
shoulder.
to me if you wish to save her life. You will find her.”
“Tak? Tak, something you have to see.” me where I have always been, on the world of “Woman from Belar?” Zartsi said from
fire.
Takeda’s eyes snapped open to the behind him. Takeda wasn’t surprised to see
darkness of his New Bristol apartment. The air that he had gotten up too, still wearing his

leather armor. Esheera cocked her head. Even in the smugglers who might try to sneak goods or
darkness Takeda could see that some of the old weapons to the human populace below.
“Well...if it is for me, she’s the only person life had returned to her posture. “Like what?
it could be referring to: Sherri Relstadt.” You’re not quite a one-man army, Tak.” Lashiir had been forced to destroy no less
than three, and still one missile and several
Esheera rustled her wingflaps as she “I know...but I have to save her somehow.” pieces of shrapnel had reached Despair’s
scratched her scalp. “They might not even armor, opening a breach to the passenger
know about her, Tak. They’re just guessing you He could feel Zartsi’s presence at his side. cabins which had once been occupied by his
have someone.” He glanced up to see the Lithrallian staring servants. His engines had been damaged only
at the screen, arms crossed over his leather lightly.
Takeda could barely wrap his mind around breastplate. “Where you go, Tak, I will follow,”
it. Tong’s men knew he was on Coalsmoke, he said, simply. Judicious use of his cloaking capabilities
and they had enough power to broadcast a and careful flying, taking advantage of volcanic
message across at least New Bristol. They were “I suggest you get back to bed, both of you,” smoke and pockets of super-heated air, had
searching for him. Esheera said. “I’ve never found the middle of allowed Lashiir to evade the planetary defense
the night the best time for deciding between fighters which had scrambled against him. They
Then a picture flashed on the screen. A life and death.” were advanced ships with powerful engines
single, static image of a woman lying uncon- and sensor arrays—enough to give him some
scious on a stone floor, in a pit like the one Five minutes later Takeda was lying in bed challenge…but not enough to catch him.
Takeda had once inhabited. The blue high- again, staring up at the dark ceiling. He knew
lights in her golden hair told him everything he wouldn’t sleep again tonight. There was too Now, Despair was concealed just within
he needed to know, as did the dark Silver Sun much swirling through his head, making every the caldera of a smoldering volcano near the
uniform she still wore, filthy and stained with muscle in his body feel tense—Sherri, Tong, planet’s south pole. Lashiir sat on the very
sweat. the scorched surface of Caulthor, Lashiir, his lip of the crater, protected from the heat by
own powers, Esheera and Zartsi. Gaping holes his cloak, and looked towards another, larger
The message returned. You knew a woman. remained in his memory; he was floating on a volcano visible across several kilometers of
She is mine. dark ocean that might open up beneath him at ash desert. The scent of smoke, fire, and
any moment. scorched stone filled Lashiir’s nostrils and the
However they had found her, however they
had learned his connection to her, Takeda had dry, hot air burnt his tongue. It reminded him
He was certain of one thing: he would not
a cold certainty that he couldn’t just go back of Kruushai, where one of the Dark Sphere’s
let Sherri die if there was anything he could do
to bed, go back to his job, go back to the life greatest Arcanums had been built upon islands
to save her.
he had begun to build up in New Bristol. Sherri in a magma sea.
was the only person he had really considered a # Count Jezai Tong ruled Vodrune Province—
friend before meeting Zartsi and Esheera. one of the poorest in the humans’ Empire.
He couldn’t leave her…couldn’t let her Even Lashiir admired the planet’s orbital Lashiir tasted the name on his tongue, attempt-
remain the prisoner of a monster like Tong. defenses, cunningly disguised as satellites for ing to pronounce it without aid from his trans-
the task of monitoring tectonic and volcanic lator. It seemed this man had given Takeda
His road might lead to Caulthor after all. activity. They were equipped with pulser instal- Croster his...unusual abilities. And his defense
lations and hunter-seeker missile batteries— network was far beyond what Lashiir thought
“I’ve got to do something,” he hissed, not more than enough firepower to destroy any such a count could afford.
quite meaning to be heard.

Beyond doubt this human was powerful Sean T. M. Stiennon

and likely to become more so. Perhaps he was Sean is an author of fantasy and science fic-
in need of another sword, one which could tion novels and short stories, with many pub-
bring death silently and swiftly. lications under his belt. His first short story
Lashiir would wait and watch for an oppor- collection, Six with Flinteye, was recently
tunity to make himself known. released from Silver Lake Publishing, and he
won 2nd place in both the 2004 SFReader.
com Short Story Contest and the Storn Cook
Razor-Edged Fiction Contest with his stories
“Asp” and “The Sultan’s Well,” respective-
ly. “The Sultan’s Well” has been published
in the anthology Sages and Swords. Sean’s
short story “Flinteye’s Duel” was published
in Ray Gun Revival, Issue 01, and “Flinteye’s
Sabotage” was published in Issue 35.
Sean’s work tends to contain lots of action and
adventure, but he often includes elements of
tragedy and loss alongside roaring bat-
tles. A lot of his work centers around con-
tinuing characters, the most prominent
of whom is Jalazar Flinteye (Six with Flin-
teye). He also writes tales of Shabak of
Talon Point (“Death Marks,” in issue #9 of
Amazing Journeys Magazine), Blademas-
ter (“Asp,” 2nd place winner in the 2004
SFReader.com Contest), and others who
have yet to see publication.
Sean loves to read fantasy and science fic-
tion alongside some history, mysteries, and
historical novels. His favorites in-
clude Declare by Tim Powers,
the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn
trilogy by Tad Williams, Stephen Lawhead’s
Song of Albion trilogy, and King Solomon’s
Mines by H. Rider Haggard. He has reviewed
books for Deep Magic: The E-zine of High
Fantasy and Science Fiction, and currently
reviews books at SFReader.com.

Pg. 52
The RGR Time Capsule
December 1 - December 14, 2007
Sci-Fi news from the Ray Gun Revival forums
RGR Date: December 07, 2007 with Scalzi’s comments: Lawrence or Bennington or Iowa because
SFWA Changes Copyright Committee that’s what they’re expected to write and
http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1625 However, right now, he’s doing a good thing, and they want to impress their professors and fel-
In a stunning turn of events, John Scalzi noted
also the right thing for SFWA, and I’m inclined low students; people start writing science fic-
an announcement from SFWA president Michael
to give credit where credit is due, without an tion, on the other hand, roughly ten seconds
Capobianco that appears to be exceedingly
undertone of snark. after they set down The Star Beast or Ender’s
good news for those (like me) who had reserva- RGR Date: December 10, 2007 Game or Snow Crash because they get done
tions about Andrew Burt remaining as the chair Trashing Heinlein with the book and think, holy crap, I want to
of the newly organized SFWA Copyright Com- http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1638 do that. Academia generally wants you to
show you can write; science fiction generally
mittee. Here come the links: John Scalzi delivers a scathing, double-bar- wants you to tell a story. It’s the storytellers
reled rebuttal of the premature shelving of who get picked up by the next generation
http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=185 Robert Heinlein’s reputation and influence
SFWA has just released announcement that of science fiction writers, and whose work is
in present-day sci-fi circles. Scalzi should
there is a change in the leadership of the Copy- know - having Heinlein’s name on his break- used as the blueprint for their own works.
right Committee: SFWA VP Andrew Burt is step- out novel kickstarted his career. It helps that
ping down as the chair and Russell Davis, who is RGR Date: December 06, 2007
Scalzi is good enough to accelerate his career
also a board member, will be assuming the role. after that on his own, but he owes a debt to Science Fiction Citations for the OED
http://sfwa.org/news/2007/ccchange.htm Heinlein, and he knows it. http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1623
Russell Davis, the previous chair of the ePiracy http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=191 I just stumbled on this while writing my story
Committee, has stepped forward and volun- for the end of year Liberty Hall challenge. I
teered to chair the Copyright Committee. I can’t The author of the LA Times piece offers up knew that tri-d had been used to describe
think of anyone better qualified to take over Heinlein’s low stock is low in the literary and three dimensional television before, so I
the chairmanship of this extremely controver- academic science fiction circles as one of the googled and found this site:
sial committee, and I’ve determined that he is explanations of why his influence is wan-
committed to both protecting the rights of our ing, which is a fairly backward way of doing http://www.jessesword.com/sf/list
members, and following the recommendations things out here in the real world. Science
of the Exploratory Committee. fiction is and always has been a consumer
genre; its roots are in engineering and pulp
I’ve had my own go-round with Andrew Burt. magazines, not in academia. This is why
However, my stance wasn’t that he was an evil sales matter in science fiction; more directly
man and I hated him with an eternal fire, my than nearly any other genre, the people
criticism was very specific. In this specific case, who eventually write science fiction are the
I credit Michael Capobianco for listening to the people who grow up reading science fiction.
feedback, and to Andrew Burt for likewise doing People start writing literary fiction as they
a good and right thing by stepping down. Bravo, tumble through writing programs at Sarah
and kudos to all. Finally, I agree wholeheartedly

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Issue 36 December 15, 2007

Cover Art: “Christmas Party” by Tomislav Tikulin

Without Whom... Bill Snodgrass, site host, Visit us online at http://raygunrevival.com

I’m always conflicted at Christmas, and this

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

“Sherri,” he said, his voice lisping. “It has been...far

So that’s it, the Christmas issue at RGR. May

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

“We had to hope someone was coming,”

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

* See “ . . .in the waste howling wilderness. . .” Ray

Contact the author here.

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

Engineers). I’ve also been doing some other

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

Have you added any new tools to your work?

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

C aptain Spill leaned against the edge of the

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

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an idiot,” she said flatly. “He was sleepwalking. be over.

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

M athen Vaneras started thinking of ways to

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

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Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

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He likes prog rock, space opera, film noir,

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

“‘P arty of thirty,’” Sherri muttered under

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Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 36, December 15, 2007

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