Issue 36
December 15, 2007
Ray Gun Revival
Pg. 2
Table of Contents
Overlords (Founders / Editors):
Johne Cook, L. S. King, Paul Chris\ue005an Glenn
Venerable Staff:
A.M. S\ue000ckel - Managing Copyeditor Shannon McNear - Lord High Advisor, grammar consultant, listening ear/sanity saver for Overlord Lee Paul Chris\ue000an Glenn - PR, sounding board, strong right hand L. S. King - Lord High Editor, proofreader, beloved nag, muse, webmistress Johne Cook - art wrangler, desktop publishing, chief cook and bo\ue006le washer
Slushmasters (Submissions Editors):
Sco\ue006 M. Sandridge John M. Whalen David Wilhelms Shari L. Armstrong Jack Willard
Serial Authors:
Sean T. M. S\ue005ennon John M. Whalen Ben Schumacher Lee S. King Paul Chris\ue005an Glenn Johne Cook
2 Table of Contents 3 Overlords\u2019 Lair 7 Hope, by Robert Mancebo 9 Wise Men, A Jack Brand story by John M. Whalen 18 Featured Artist: Tomislav Tikulin 20 The Jasper Squad Chapter 7, Sleeping With the Enemy by Paul Christian Glenn 28 The Adventures of the Sky Pirate Chapter 18, The Cleric\u2019s War by Johne Cook 43 Memory Wipe Chapter 16, Hostage by Sean T. M. Stiennon 52 The RGR Time Capsule December 1 - December 14, 2007
Cover Art: \u201cChristmas Party\u201d by Tomislav Tikulin Without Whom... Bill Snodgrass, site host,
Visit us online at http://raygunrevival.com
Web-Net Solu\ue005ons, admin, webmaster, database admin, mentor, con\ue001 All content copyright 2007 by Double-edged Publishing , dante, liaison \u2013 Double-edged Publishing a Memphis, Tennessee-based non-pro\ue001t publisher.
Special Thanks:
Ray Gun Revival logo design by Hatchbox Creative
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Rev: 20071215b
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Pg. 3
Overlords\u2019 Lair I
egg nog, and open one token present to whetTake the 4th of July in America. Now there\u2019s a \u2019m always conflicted at Christmas, and this year is no exception. Some years are betterour greedy little kid appetites. In retrospect,holiday. You get your day off, warm weather, than others, and so far, this one is actually it\u2019s no wonder we couldn\u2019t sleep.time Christmas with family and friends, and a good meal, shaping up to be pretty low-key, all things eve dreams were always the most vivid. Thatlikely something grilled. You aren\u2019t 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\u2019m not complaining. juices already flowing. There was a deliciousto provide is a good shade-tree, plenty of yearning, a fuzzy anticipation of wonders andliquid refreshment, and some time to sit and That doesn\u2019t mean I don\u2019t feel the urge to waiting just around the corner. chat together, or read together, or both. The miracles complain. This is the time of year that I most primary expectation is to relax together. I can My dad looked a little haggard, but I didn\u2019t think have to fight the urge to vent about all the nutty do that. Add in a hot bratwurst and a cold drink people with the haunted eyes running aroundmuch of it at the time. I get it, now, and wish with friends and family, with a warm breeze and I\u2019d shown him how much I really did appreciate looking for the last \u2018must-have toy\u2019. Factor in cool shade and some good lawn chairs, and I\u2019m the bad roads and the disruption of my usual everything they did for me and my sisters. Ipretty much in heaven. Yeah, that\u2019s my idea of remember very little about the stuff we got, a holiday. schedule and I must resist the urge to be cranky when I most want to feel jolly. There are timesbut I clearly remember Christmas being a So here we are with a holiday that is the polar that I think the best thing to do would be to magical time, and my parents and family were opposite of my favorite holiday, and every year I grab everybody and just sail away from the very directly responsible for that. try to figure out a way to make it special without entire holiday on a cruise ship somewhere. It\u2019s I can\u2019t breaking the bank or shattering somebody\u2019s like I yearn for a holiday from the holiday. Now that I\u2019m responsible for Christmas, help but feel the burden for other people\u2019s fragile dreams. It wasn\u2019t always like this. memories. I have such big shoes to fill, and Personally, I\u2019m tired of Christmas being tied that\u2019s a compliment to my family, but every When I was a kid, I remember lying on my year I always end up feeling wanting becauseto stuff. Stuff is temporary, stuff comes in the back and looking up underneath the tree. I I\u2019m simply not as good or as into it all aswrong they size, stuff breaks, stuff requires batteries was practically bathing in evergreen aroma, were. And on top of that, I\u2019m a pragmatist, of the type that I probably forgot to stock ahead and the lights above me twinkled and danced. I I know going in that nothing I receive will be of time. There\u2019s no stuff tied to July 4th, and smelled the spritz cookies cooking in the exactly what I want, and what I give will neverthat holiday rocks. other room, Andy Williams was playing on the be exactly what they\u2019re expecting. As a result The record player, and I could hear the pop of logs my experience is that Christmas, ultimately, is a longer I\u2019m here, the more I appreciate simple in the fireplace in the other room. I couldn\u2019t holiday to endure more than enjoy, and there\u2019sthings like fellowship and camaraderie and peace and joy. I think of how much I wait for Christmas eve when we\u2019d readsomething the very wrong with that. liked simpler times watching A Charlie Brown Christmas story and drink fresh, home-made
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
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 Therewasnowind,sothefootprintsthethreemen le behindthemweres llintact.Brandtook beaten down by even the simplest ornament.you can receive the message of love from Luke had a direc on nder 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 direc on the tracks led: east. He put the stage and how the place went completely from St. Nick. As a purveyor of quality literaturedirec on nderawayandno cedtheblue- nted mountain in the distance. quiet when he read the Christmas story fromfrom a niche genre, I think I get it. Luke chapter 2. “I’ll be damned,” he whispered to himself. The So here’s the thing. We at RGR really appreciate 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 he’d been out this way, a year or two, maybe. He abidinginthe eld,keepingwatchovertheir ock we offer our biggest issue to-date, just in time couldfeelthehaironthebackofhisneckrise.He bynight.And,lo,theangeloftheLordcameupon for Christmas. I didn’t realize it until just now,knew where they were going now. Maybe they them,andthegloryoftheLordshoneroundabout but there is a little love in every story. Some didn’tknow.Buthedid.He’dbeentherehimself them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel once before. of that is by design, some of that is simply said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good dings of great joy, which shall be to all situational. I’m not complaining. I approached this issue with a bit of swagger. people. For unto you is born this day in the city Unlike some recent issues, we had a lot of of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And We start with Hope, flash fiction from prolific this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall nd the babe stuff that fell neatly into this issue, and it was RGR regular Robert Mancebo. Sometimes, wrappedinswaddlingclothes,lyinginamanger. a pleasure to put together. With the exception love can be expressed with something as basic Andsuddenlytherewaswiththeangelamul tude of the cover. I figured it would be a breeze to as vodka. of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, find the right Christmas cover. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Nothing in their training could prepare the cosmonautsforwhatthey ndwhentheycometo the aid of a crippled American space sta on.
Wow, was I wrong. I didn’t realize how much holiday-related slash there was out there. New Interna onal Version (NIV) Oh, and if I never see fan art featuring Merry John M. Whalen follows with a holiday-themed kissing Pippin again, I’ll die a happy man. I Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Interna onal installment of his Jack Brand tales. The star of Bible Society Bethlehem, the three wise men, and a babe looked for a cover for this issue for hours, then days, then weeks. I sent out query after query born in a manger. It’s deja vu all over again 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 they just wanted out of the mental hospital. Who it is. last year. I went back and looked and, sure wouldn’t? He couldn’t imagine what it would be enough, the perfect cover was out there, just It’s all about love. As cliché as it sounds, love like,con nedtoaplacelikethat,surroundedbya waiting for RGR. bunch of lost souls who didn’t even know their own is the greatest gift. It’s that simple. Of course, names. What happens to people, he wondered.
there are different ways to express love other Would it ever happen to him? than giving gifts, but I won’t go into that now.
Tomislav Tikulin has already graced our covers twice, the first time for our Christmas issue Itwasaboutanhourlaterwhenhesawsomething this time last year. I saw the art for this cover, I used to resent the Santa Claus story taking aheadinthesand—thedeliveryvantheescapees hadstolen.Itwasabandoned.Hepulledupbehind “Christmas Party,” after I’d already lined up last away what I saw as the vitality of a different
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Pg. 5 to these guys is because we’re le ng him year’s cover, and I remembered thinking thattalking if stow away while we y under the radar. Now, if I ever had the chance to revisit that work, it’d thathelpsme, ne,butI’mnotgoingtoputmybest be a perfect cover for RGR. assetinharm’swayjustforthesakeofkeepingan
eye on the guy. I’d rather take my chances.” Tomislav has had a great year, and has achieved some really cool things. I approached him “Maybe you would,” said Melendez.“But there’s one other thing. We’re s ll ac ng as GPF agents, about the cover, and he was gracious and whateverthereportssay,andyouagreedwewere excited to be a part of RGR again this year. going to do this by the book.” Who know? Maybe we can work with him to make this an annual tradition! All I know “Within reason, Lieutenant.” is that I love his eye and the quality of his work. If you need a seasoned digital artist, I “We don’t let an apprehended suspect walk, Sir.” highly recommend Tomislav. He has earned Spillglaredather,thenshookhishead.“Dammit, my highest recommendation, and I hope he Melendez, you’ve always known how to talk me is even more successful next year. He’s good into a corner.” people, and he’s earned it.
“Mind like a con ar st, Sir. It’s one of my most useful quali es.” That brings us to this issue’s serializations.
foredeck where they had cared for the dead and dyingaswelltheycould,whichwasactuallypre y well, as Mr. Lamur was s ll living, although only just. “Captain Smyth, Mr. Gillings—I present Cleric Mathen Vaneras. He is here to...” “Shh,” said, the cleric absently, bending low over Lamur. Captain Smyth’s eyesdanced with amusementas Captain Flynn opened and closed hismouth again. Then Flynn stepped to the side and let the man work. Lamur didn’t respond to the cleric’s hand on his forehead,thoughhedidrespondwhenthecleric picked up his wrist to feel for a pulse.
“I’mnotdeadyet,”herasped,hiseyess llclosed. “I knew Cyl would send someone to receive my First up is the return of the Jasper Squad story Chapter 18 of spirit.” His eyelids u ered open and xed on the from fellow Overlord Paul Christian Glenn.marks I’ve 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 conflicts is I’ve been looking forward to most as cannot say that I was brought to you by Cyl…” familiar and yet unique unto itself. Her crewhe matches wits and wills with cleric Mathen “Isaid 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 “I can. I have...been praying...for nothing else is nothing less than a Christmas gift to me!cleric in November of 2004, and when I saw since....this morning.”
Sometimes, love is a weird thing, and if you’rethe character of the Operative in the Serenity “The name of Cyl be praised,” said the cleric, anything like me, you’ll be frankly gasping at film in 2005, I knew I’d found my guy, a man something twis ng inside him. the conclusion of this chapter. Paul, it’s beenwho captured the essence of the cleric. In this Looking at the captain, Lamur said “Forgive him... too long, buddy, and I’m so grateful so see chapter, Flynn meets his match as the cleric expresses his feelings on being kidnapped to Cleric. He knows exactly...what He does.” the next chapter, “Sleeping With the Enemy ,” serve as a spiritual advisor aboard the airship from my favorite rogue crew. Finally, Sean T. M. Stiennon’s Memory Wipe Alacrity. The chapter is entitled “The Cleric’s “What if he just disappears?” War,” and that should give you a clue of how returns from a short hiatus, with a chapter called “ H o sta g e .” Scripture says “Greater love well they get along together. Sometimes love “I’vethoughtofthat,”repliedSpill.“Butdon’tforget, has no man than this, that he give up his life is tough, and sometimes it is deadly. he’sinajama erthejobwebotchedforhimback for his friends.” Sean wonders if that might not onCandlevar.Theonlyreasonhe’stakingachance Mr. Smyth and Mr. Gillings met them on the also include giving up one’s freedom.
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Pg. 6 “Sherri,” he said, his voice lisping. “It has been...far too long.” Panicmadeherlimbss en.Shehadbeenallbut certain that Vass was dead or had le Belar for good. She forced herself to breathe more slowly. There was a good reason for his being here and itwouldn’tdoanygoodifshepanicked.Hedidn’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
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Hope by Robert Mancebo
Pg. 7
Hope
by Robert Mancebo
T
deeper and deeper into the silent space he Cosmonauts’ boots trudging the empty at another ravaged system. “Look, they’ve corridors of the space station sounded salvaged a low voltage accumulator over station. like echoes in the halls of a tomb. Klava’s there.” “Hssst!” Valya waved a hand at a hatchway lamp swept across darkened panels bringing “Whatever were they doing?” Klava at the end of the hall. It was not a sealing sparkles from dead illuminators. 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 Not having the slightest idea of what They must still be alive.” despair can take bizarre forms.” 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 The hatchway slid open and the cosmoat the empty sockets of what had been illumi- damage outside and the ripped up panels in 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 Several of the chairs had been upended edge.” 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 bushlegs 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 incredslashed in an arbitrary fashion. “Eight months Klava showed Valya the nametag on the ulously. uniform. It read “Richards.” alone in space is a long time.” “It’s Christmas,” Meyer replied. “I thought “Lee Richards had a wife and two children.” “These last three weeks in a coffin of a we needed a tree.” station, power failing, out of communication, He tossed the torn, red-stained uniform back “Out here?” Valya’s dark eyes blinked in knowing death is coming, could seem even into the sink and followed closely. confusion. longer.” Valya dropped a loose scrap of wire Tension in the thin air became nearly he’d been examining and pointed his finger palpable as the pair of cosmonauts searched
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Hope by Robert Mancebo
Pg. 8
“We had to hope someone was coming,” Robert Mancebo Meyer told them. “There was always the chance and, well, whether or not anyone came, I‘maformersoldier,locksmith,andtechnician. it’s still Christmas.”
I’vehaddarkandhistoricalfantasypublished
“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.”
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Wise Men, by John M. Whalen
Wise Men
Pg. 9
A Jack Brand story by John M. Whalen “Last night,” Masterson said, not letting the Brand glanced over at Masterson. “Any woman answer, “three of them. It all started idea where they went?” about three nights ago, isn’t that right, Dr. he inside of Colonel Masterson’s office Morrison? The damned comet appeared in the “East,” the colonel said. “Right, doctor?” hadn’t changed. The same Spartan décor sky that night, you know, the one that’s been “I believe so,” she said. “Dr. Lederer kept remained—a desk, a filing cabinet, a map of in the news. It suddenly got about a million pointing to the comet in the eastern sky. I the Tulon Desert on the wall, and a couple of times brighter than it normally is. Nobody chairs. The only thing new was a threadbare knows why. When the loonies at the Blue Park believe he and the other two mean to follow Christmas wreath hanging on the wall behind Hospital saw it they went even crazier than it to the east.” 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 The woman frowned at the Colonel and “To find hope, Mr. Brand,” the doctor said. old Tulon Security Force Commander. And he smiled exasperatedly at Brand. wouldn’t be here now if Masterson hadn’t “Dr. Lederer told me that the comet represents called him on the Port-Com and reminded him something very important to him—something “The three patients,” she said, emphasizthat he owed him for past favors. There was he’d lost—faith that tomorrow will be better ing the word, “became agitated at the sight the time in Shy Man’s Bluff when he’d also 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 extremely excited. His name is Dr. Jeremiah the job he was offering him. 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 “What’s crazy about wanting life to make Everybody worth anything is on leave. I can’t comet has religious significance. He quoted take those men away from their families. But from the New Testament, referring to the Starsense?” Brand asked. you, Brand. You got no family, nobody who’d of Bethlehem. He seemed to think it repre“The more I work with the so-called care if you’re home for the holidays or not. sented a rebirth or the birth of someone who mentally unbalanced,” Dr. Morrison said, “the And besides, you’re the best tracker in Tulon. would bring a new era. more I wonder how unbalanced they really It’ll be a quick, easy job—two days at most. “The other two are Sturdevant and are…and how balanced the rest of society What do you say?” 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 legSyndrome. 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 them back in.” corner of Masterson’s desk. violence. He killed his wife.”
T
Dedicated to the memory of Stirling Silliphant
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Wise Men, by John M. Whalen
Pg. 10
“I’ll take the van,” Brand said. “I’ll needbig to 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 morning. The sun always comes up in the for a moment. That star, or comet as you call it, got one all geared up and ready to go. Good 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 more to heaven and earth than is dreamt of in of her chair. “Please. These men are not “Looks pretty far,” Sturdevant said. He was your science books.” dangerous criminals. Even Traherne has comethin, 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. “Yes,” Lederer said. “I wish now we’d sure neither he nor Sturdevant would have 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 nobody. What happened to you?” “I’m sure we’ll find some soon,” Lederer without their medication. Who knows what said. they’ll be like by the time you catch up to them. Lederer looked inside the van at Traherne Don’t take chances with them, Brand.” “I hope so, Doc,” Traherne said. “For years and then out at the mountain. 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 Back on earth I was a professor of comparaDr. Jeremiah Lederer stood alongside the this wild goose chase.” tive religions. Did you know that? I had a delivery hover-van he and his two companions “Wild goose chase?” Lederer said. “Do you high position in a university. I was considered had stolen from the hospital parking lot, and 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 onceknow about the various ways man worhips his every forty-seven years shows up the way Creator. I had a secure place in my world until late fifties, with thin, red hair tinged with grey, it usually does, but then, suddenly, without one day the police came to my office on the and dark brown eyes. Sturdevant and Traherne explanation, its light increases a million-fold. campus and told me that my wife and son had sat inside the van. It was hot inside the vehicle, 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 then that, while I knew all about the faiths of twenty-first century. Such a phenomenon must desert sun. other men, I had really had none of my own. I have significance.” “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
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Wise Men, by John M. Whalen
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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 started to follow Lederer. depression never left me. I began to drink holed mine ever come true. Guess I sort of gave up up in a hotel room in Tulon Central. They cameon wishing.” “Where are you going?” and got me eventually, and took me to the “If you had a wish, Ted,” Lederer asked, hospital. I stayed in that condition until night “With him,” Sturdevant said with a grin. before last. When I looked out through the “what would it be? What would you wish for.” 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 sleep. Since the war I don’t sleep so good.” ain’t leavin’ me behind.” He ran after them. 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 Afghanipumped 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 really help us but ourselves. Somehow we have the Tulon Security Force, protecting the Transwrong. 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.” followed him and joined the Force. They had Traherne got out and looked at the engine. worked together until the day that changed After a moment, he slammed the hood down. “Is that what the star told you, Doc?” SturBrand’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 ofhell...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 on earth, before the Terror War ran out of about, Doc,” Traherne said. “I didn’t come out Lederer climbed out the door and started control. One hundred fifty years of death and here to find no answers. I just didn’t like it in walking. destruction had spread over every continent. there. And one thing’s sure. Now that I’m out, I ain’t never goin’ back. Never. Maybe that’s “Where you going?” Traherne shouted. Someday, when he found her, he’d give her those presents. what the star’s bringing me—freedom. When I “East,” the doctor of comparative religion was a kid my mama used to tell me to wish on It was already four-o’clock in the afternoon. a star. Freedom’s what I’m wishing for. What answered. “With any luck we should make it to He’d been in pursuit of the escapees for about about you Sturdevant? Did you make a wish?” the mountain by dark.” 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-
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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 sandnot going to give me any trouble.” faith that Doctor Morrison was correct and theworms. 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 thehair, 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 havethe ground shook under them. His leg twisted, More likely, they just wanted out of the mentalthem. Brand stopped the jeep about a hundredthere 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 gotsand 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 on his back. ever happen to him? him with its gaping mouth. The screaming man Too stunned to move, he saw the monstrous It was about an hour later when he saw was in a total panic, and Brand could see that one of the men had his arms locked around worm rearing up over him and knew it would something ahead in the sand—the delivery van him, trying to keep him from running. be over in an instant. Then three laser beams the escapees had stolen. It was abandoned. He struck the creature in rapid succession and pulled up behind it, got out of his vehicle, 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.” Brand saw one of the escapees, a big man with footprints the three men had left behind them dark hair, kneeling not far away, the 225 in his were still intact. Brand took a direction finder “He can’t help it,” Brand heard the oldest hands, still sighted on the worm. out of his pocket and pointed it in the directionlooking one say. “Try to be steady, Ted.” the tracks led: east. He put the direction finder Brand shook himself and tried to get up. away and noticed the blue-tinted mountain in Brand stopped about twenty-five yards Excruciating pain shot up from his calf. He’d from the worms, raised the rifle to his cheek the distance. busted his femur. He dropped back down to and fired. A red beam “twerked” out of the a sitting position. He glanced over at the man “I’ll be damned,” he whispered to himself. muzzle and the worm jumped high in the air with the rifle. The man got to his feet and stood The mountain was familiar. It had been a while and landed in two wriggling pieces. looking down at him. since he’d been out this way, a year or two, “Hold still,” he yelled at the men. He aimed maybe. He could feel the hair on the back of “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 sand, unmoving. been there himself once before. The other two came out from behind the boulder. The older one, who Brand guessed
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Wise Men, by John M. Whalen
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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’tout 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 “It was fortunate for us you came when you Lederer walked up close to Traherne. He time with the rifle on Brand. Sturdevant found a dead tree limb back in the scrub. The wood did,” Lederer said. “That overgrown grub worm stopped, standing between the rifle and Brand. would likely have had us for dinner. I’m sorry “Do you really want to kill me, Louis? If that’s was hard and must have been a thousand you got hurt. But don’t worry. We’ll help you. what you really want, then go ahead. I won’t years old, from the time when there were trees growing in the area. He gave it to Brand to use Are there any medical supplies in your van?” stop you.” as a crutch. “Hold it, Doc,” the man with the laser gun The muzzle of the rifle was only inches “Don’t try anything with it,” Traherne said. “Just leave him be.” from Lederer’s chest. Sturdevant pleaded with warned. Traherne. “No more killing.” Lederer turned towards him. “What do you “He won’t,” Sturdevant said. “Just take it mean? He needs help.” 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 “Like—like you always want to hurt said. “He saved our lives. He needs medical Sturdevant let out a cry of relief. people?” assistance. We must patch him up and take him “I knew you didn’t want to kill anyone, Louis,” with us. We can leave him some place where “Bother you?” Lederer said, smiling. “That part of you is gone. there’s a doctor.” Or it soon will be.” “I seen enough of people getting hurt and “You fix him up, and he’ll try to take us dying in Afghanistan,” Sturdevant said. “I seen Traherne looked at him as if he didn’t know back,” Traherne said. “I told you. I ain’t going things that 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 insiswhen I’m lying there, and it plays over and over.” tence, they had put Brand’s handcuffs on himHe 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 vanfeel 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 “Just hold on, Ted,” Lederer said. The fire worms out there. When it looked safe they 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
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Wise Men, by John M. Whalen
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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 legdark on the passenger’s side. Brand was in thehill, 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 thesplinted leg out. Sturdevant sat in the third as though someone had turned a switch and row of seats. sky over the mountain. 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 “after a haul from Tulon Central to Carbonville. the star!” 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 rimeither. 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 backbefore. That New Eden was a broken-down, to go after him. I guess I pushed too hard. Sheburnt-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.bureau. I 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 strugthe end of the one and only main street. The gling to survive. Don’t know if they’re still there. He stopped talking for a minute to maneuver New Eden before him was something else the van up a slight hill covered with brush and It was a religious community. They had trouble, altogether. The buildings had all been rebuilt. and may all have cleared out by now. But it’s rocks. “It was like it wasn’t real, Doc,” he said. They looked 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 Lederer was on his feet, his eyes fixed on too much. Probably never should have got And strung out all over the buildings, down the the comet. “‘And behold,’” he said, “‘the star married. But I never thought it was going to street to the church, were bright colored lights. Red, blue, green, yellow, and purple lights lined they had seen in the east went before them, end like that.” the street from one end to the other. until it came and stood over the place where “You must have been very sorry,” Lederer the child was. And when they saw the star they Brand couldn’t help thinking of Christmas said. rejoiced exceedingly.’” 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. Itand mother hiding presents in closets in the days before Christmas morning, and the smell was like I didn’t really believe it, like I expected # her to wake up and get up off the floor. I still of turkey in the oven.
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“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 Christmas.” “I appreciate your views,” Lederer said, “but 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 for?” Lederer asked him. the valley. He found a trail leading through the“you’ll put down the gun.” darkness to the main street. As they leveled off “It’s the Reverend Freemont and his wife,” on the valley floor Brand noticed a long line of “Nothing doing.” the man said. “She’s delivered a baby boy right people standing in front of what looked like a “Mr. Brand, will you give your word you there in the barn. It happened so suddenly. livery stable. They were dressed in their best won’t try to take us in until tomorrow, if LouisThere was no time to get her back to the house. clothes and each of them, man, woman and puts the gun down?” She delivered the child right there on a bed of child, held lit candles that competed with the straw.” colored lights overhead. As they got nearer If this man had Alzheimer’s, Brand thought, Brand heard singing. The people in the procesA woman chimed in. “It’s almost like in the how could he suddenly seem so rational, so sion were singing “Silent Night.” alive and vital? He didn’t like bargaining with Book,” she said, “born in a manger.” prisoners he was supposed to bring in, but then, “What is this?” Traherne said. “What are he realized, they really weren’t prisoners. What At that moment, the beams from the comet they doing?” seemed to intensify. Bright light shone down did Masterson call them…three fugitives from a “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 gotwe won’t get anywhere tonight anyway. Truce “‘And entering the house,’” he said, “‘they out and stood gawking at the procession that until noon tomorrow.” found the child with Mary his mother, and led into the livery barn. falling down they worshipped him.’ Let’s go “Louis?” “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 gaping about in a kind of awe. They had never “Come with me,” Lederer said and walked front seat and released Brand. seen anything like it. They forgot about Brand to the side of the van. Traherne followed him. for the moment, but he trailed in behind them, “Come on, Mr. Brand,” he said, “I think this He pulled the van door open and looked in at hobbling on his crutch. It was an amazing sight, is something you should see.” Brand. “Mr. Brand, I want to propose something Brand had to admit. The procession went in of a truce. If I take the handcuffs off, will you He helped him out of the van. Brand used one side of the barn’s big double doors, snaked give me your word that for tonight, Christmas Eve, you’ll make no attempt to arrest us?” his walking stick, and then he and Lederer andpast 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
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man dressed in black sat behind her, looking who faced down Cal Thorson.” and sleep for about a year, like I could really rest.” down at the child. A cow mooed somewhere “You’re too modest, Mr. Brand,” the reverend in the background. Somehow, it was the most said. He looked at the three men standing next “How about you, Louis?” Lederer asked peaceful sight Brand had ever seen. There was 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 I had lost our one and only child and we were if this baby can lie so peaceful and serene in infant silently, almost tremulously. 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 “I don’t know, Doc,” Traherne said. “I don’t gifts. But if I had gold, frankincense or myrrh, I’d struggled since then to make a comeback. But 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 Brand slowly turned and walked out of centuries ago. I don’t mean to imply this birth the barn. He wasn’t sure what he had just can imagine.” is anything as important as what happened witnessed in there. All he had seen was a man, then, except to us—our own private Nativity. a woman and a baby inside a livery barn. He Then the man’s eyes fell on Brand. “Jack This birth means our work will go on, carried was glad the Freemonts were doing so well. Brand?” he said. “Is that you?” 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 they thought they had seen, but he secretly Lederer nodded. “Yes…hope,” he said. “I Thomas Freemont, pastor of New Eden, and envied them. He looked up at the sky over the knew I’d find it. I look at you, the mother and his wife Sarah.” child, and I can feel it.” He turned to Trahernestable 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 suddenly as it had come. said. stood before. I tried looking for it with my mind. But hope isn’t something you can analyze with “Who are those men inside?” one of the “Glad to see you, too,” Brand said. “This your mind or dissect under a microscope. It’s people in the procession asked him. “Are they place looks mighty different than before—big-only something you can feel. And for the first friends of yours?” ger, brighter. And now there’s a new addition time, I feel it!” to the family.” Brand nodded and said, “I guess you might Sturdevant looked at Lederer. “I think I feel say they’re three wise men.” “That’s right,” the reverend said. “Since you it too, Doc,” he said. “Ain’t that funny? You left us there have been many changes, most ofwere 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
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Wise Men, by John M. Whalen
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* 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, pulpanddagger.com, and Universe Pathways magazine. His Jack Brand stories are a staple here at Ray Gun Revival magazine. Contact the author here.
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Featured Ar st: Tomislav Tikulin
Pg. 18
Featured Ar st 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- novels by Cli ord D. Simak (Way Sta on, A Heritage of Stars), Frederik Pohl (Gateway), Larry Niven (The Ringworld
Engineers). I’ve also been doing some other stu . For instance, I recently sent my por olio to Analog magazine, and I have my hopes up about that.
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Featured Ar st: Tomislav Tikulin
Pg. 19
Have you added any new tools to your work? I’m s ll 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 TheMagazineofFantasy&Science Fic on and for Orson Sco Card’s Intergalac c Medicine Show, and I have couple nice projects for Subterranean Press. My website is www.tom kulin-art.com My e-mail address is: tomislav.
[email protected]
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
The Jasper Squad, Chapter 7, Sleeping With The Enemy by Paul Christian Glenn
The Jasper Squad Chapter 7, Sleeping With the Enemy
Pg. 20
by Paul Chris an Glenn
C
“Stamp,” he whispered, “which way?” ogre was, well, on his last leg. He was going to aptain Spill leaned against the edge of the filthy, odorous dumpster into which he had need some time to recoup, and soon. just tossed four GPF jackets, and peered out “Wouldn’t this be easier if you let me take Huddled at the rear were the two cadets, into the busy street beyond. Having survived a the lead?” muttered Stamp from the long, Jackaby and Rey. Aside from the fact that twenty-measure drop from the window of the deep shadow behind the dumpster. Jackaby was almost certainly a traitor to their inn, he and his ragtag crew now crept like rats “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 groomed for an officer’s job from the time he as possible. It had taken a while to slip the local He heard Stamp groan in pain and frustrahad taken his first steps, and as a result, there enforcement team behind them, but by now tion as he tried to get his bearings. “North,” he the cops would have abandoned their direct said finally. “If this is Caillor Way, and I think itwas more than a little yellow in his blood. He had held up well enough so far, but Spill didn’t pursuit and opened up a wider net in the city is, we need to go north.” trust him. sector. Spill scanned the opposite side of the Night was falling, and the port city street, looking for an opposing alley into which Rey, on the other hand, was scrappy. With thrummed with life. Dirty smog hung low overthey could slink, but there was no such luck. her soft blonde locks tied tightly back against her head, and her mouth frozen in perpetual the tall, crowded buildings, dripping thick He bit his lip, holstered his shooter underneath humidity into the streets below. This was the his shirt, and ducked back to where the othersgrit, she was eager to prove herself in the field. Unlike Jackaby, she had worked her way up sort of place where respected undesirables were waiting. from nothing to earn her position on the force. woke at dusk, dressed up in their finest, and Lieutenant Melendez stood at the fore, a And, although neither of them had mentioned headed out into the street, seeking treasure and trouble in equal measure. In a city like cold look of determination in her eye—the oneit, 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 marchput 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 he saw it, even when it was camouflaged in contact with some friends back at the force, uneasy, except that he always saw it when they were marching out the other side as well. She bravado. maybe work up a solid plan. Unfortunately, the 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 wasconsidering the rest of the group. right. going to get his crew off this planet, he needed Stamp was nursing a leg injury he‘d to get back in the air before anybody figured “What’s the plan, Sir?” asked Melendez. sustained when they crashed into Castel out where the Jasper was parked…two hours, Cuttery’s lair back on Wroume. His face was “We’ve skulked as far as we can,” replied maybe less. 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 ofopen. 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
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
The Jasper Squad, Chapter 7, Sleeping With The Enemy by Paul Christian Glenn
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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 athere’s one other thing. We’re still acting as brisk pace. It’d be best, though, if I go in aloneGPF 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 “Within reason, Lieutenant.” don’t sound overly excited about four jeepers arise. walkin’ in through the front door.” “We don’t let an apprehended suspect “Don’t worry about me,” growled Stamp. walk, Sir.” “Fair enough,” said Spill. “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,” “Dammit, Melendez, you’ve always known said Melendez. you privately for a moment?” how to talk me into a corner.” Spill nodded and walked a few paces Stamp looked sharply at her from the “Mind like a con artist, Sir. It’s one of my corner of his eye, but said nothing. deeper into the alley, Melendez following close on his heels. He stopped and turned to most useful qualities.” They walked on in silence, wading through face her, keeping a close eye on the outlaw and 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 and then we’re coming in after you.” “What is it?” he asked. 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?” Together they stalked back to the rest of theeach other, and even the dangerous ones were 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.” lived on the outside of respectable society, “Keep your shooters under your shirts,” looking for a way in. She found it, eventually, Spill shook his head. “Don’t like it.” warned Spill. “Let’s go.” 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 Melendez gathered her calm, then noddedKremm Stathora, something inside of Melendez don’t forget, he’s in a jam after the job we 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 otheron the prospect of starting over. She testified
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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 workedsignal. she comforted herself with a single thought: with ‘em, so I can’t vouch for their principles. Had some social interaction, drinks—friend of She looked back at Stamp and said, “Lead redemption. the way.” a friend, that kind of thing.” Now, suddenly and without explanation, “What do they know?” her new life was under fire, and she wasn’t # 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 they heard some rumblings that it might not weight of his body on his wounded leg before Captain Spill had a vested interest in letting be legit—somebody settin’ you up, maybe? I starting forward. He didn’t know what to 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 vulIf 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 aboardmuttered 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 question. He shot her another glance. “It’s the Without a word, he led Melendez past the leveled against the squad, when the time came front entrance of the building and into the to testify, Tannen Stamp would be valuable. reason I wanted to go in alone.” darkened alley behind. Maneuvering between With that in mind, Melendez had been Melendez considered this. “Not that I don’tpiles 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, “Do what you’ve got to do,” he said. “But guy? It wasn’t out of the question; she had 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 withmight betray an ambush, but he heard only the she might be able to strike a deal with him. Heyou.” 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 gray brick apartment building on the corner decided the hell with it. He stepped back and get his charges dismissed, provided he kept his ahead. The place looked abandoned: broken rapped hard on the door. mouth shut about the captain’s extracurricular windows, no lights, and a general expression For a long stretch, there was no response. activities. On the other hand, he could doubleof isolation and doom. Seemed about right. He looked at Melendez and shrugged, and was cross both her and Spill if the prosecutors gave 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 onCaptain Spill and the cadets. Without looking “Tannen Stamp, as we live and breathe!” the task at hand. “How well do you know theseback at her, Spill scuttled the two cadets under
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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, andsaw 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 “This is my legit work, here,” said Ixter, “I expect you got the rest of your crew the sort who wore his battle scars proudly, hidin’ out in the dark,” he said. “Well, naw, get as if they were a badge of bravery and not a waving toward the mechanical heaps on either 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 nobody’s business, is it? Sure ain’t mine. I justit out. We’re all respectable sorts, here. Might around his shoulders, and his ever-present grin as well act like it.” was loaded with multicolored teeth. Stamp sell the bits.” 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. parts “I 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 said. “After you contacted me, I took the liberty on in outta the wet?” of the bust. If the little grease ball was properly connected, it could be in his best interest to of erasing your ship’s docking records from the “This Lieutenant Janet Melendez,” said present Stamp’s head to the powers that be. landing bay.” Stamp. “GPF, Jasper Squad.” Stamp’s blood nearly froze. The elevator doors rattled open and they “Uh-huh,” replied Ixter, bobbing his head all stepped inside. Ixter pressed the button for “Naw, don’t look surprised,” cackled Ixter. lightly as he stared at Melendez. Stamp the eighth floor, and from the way the tin box “I know this place looks deader ‘n a brawg on couldn’t tell whether he was surprised or not. shimmied and whined on its way up, Stamp Mill Day, but I got access to damn near every More importantly, he couldn’t tell whether he wasn’t sure they would make it, but after thirty ventricle of officiality in Drinias Pel.” He leaned was pleased. Ixter licked his lips several times terrifying seconds, the elevator shook to a halt, back and looked triumphant. “My fingers are and continued staring at the Lieutenant as if and they stepped out on the penthouse floor. all up in everybody’s pie.” she were an inscrutable abstract sculpture. 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 wavedfew pieces of half-rotten furniture were strewn “She’s a ghost,” said Ixter. “Port city like them both inside. “Course they don’t,” he saidabout, 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 communication center coming from the next right. We got all the time in the world.” like the rest of us, right?” room. Stamp stepped inside and Melendez Stamp’s mind raced with the implications. Ixter invited them to sit on a springy,
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The Jasper Squad, Chapter 7, Sleeping With The Enemy by Paul Christian Glenn
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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 effecguards 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.” The second they had gone, Captain Spill that this wasn’t an act of charity. He wanted “With respect,” said Melendez, “why wouldwasted 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 yourwe were coming to this world. No one could “This guy’s too stupid to be making it up,” have known Stamp would call you. It doesn’t captain up here, and we’ll do some business.” said Stamp. “He’s got no angle, nothing to gain. make any sense.” 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 Spill glared at Stamp for a moment, then condescension as he could muster, “it weren’t gave him directions to the garage entrance, and 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 I was told to keep my eyes peeled, same as bedroom door tonight,” he said. “You need but Ixter interrupted. 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 converby 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 hair to 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 multihued teeth. “Naw, Stamp, m’boy, just he finished coughing up his amusement toward “Fine,” said Captain Spill. “We’ll take the how much do these jeepers know about their Spill. “Fact is, Captain, somebody does know first empty bedroom.” 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,
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The Jasper Squad, Chapter 7, Sleeping With The Enemy by Paul Christian Glenn
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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 effervesce, 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... other huddled shape on the floor. “Where is he was going to make it. 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 comfortbackwards. 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, relentthrusters. Jackaby’s in the bathroom.” less screaming until the vocal chords burned up, bloody fingernails tearing at every inch Rey picked up her shooter and stumbled to Jackaby instantly collected himself, forced 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 for laughs back at the Academy, and he thought “You take two hours at the door, then wake quivering? 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 Jackaby to stand watch. She can wake me again get back home. His life depended on it. 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 bathroomman 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 sobut 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 rockand 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-silence from the other end of the hall she could sink. Before it could dissolve in his fingers, he crying.
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The Jasper Squad, Chapter 7, Sleeping With The Enemy by Paul Christian Glenn
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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 the words. She knocked quietly. Stamp and Ixter. She wondered what they were watched him until he disappeared back into talking about, and considered taking a surthe bedroom down the hall. “Jackaby,” she whispered. “You okay?” reptitious little walk to get a better idea, but Shaken and confused, she knelt down to decided against it. Stamp was a prisoner, and 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. Jackabyhim? 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 werehim think he could..? Ever since their time together outside thrown back, his chest thrust forward. His eyes Something caught her eye; a small, red Cuttery’s lair, Rey found herself thinking morewere wide, and his nostrils flared, as if he had container lying on the bathroom floor. Tossing just beaten some doughty foe in a particularly and more about the outlaw. She was attracted to him, that much she knew. She had always brutal fistfight. He smiled down at her, and hisa quick glance over her shoulder, she reached over and picked it up. It was light, but there grin seemed to go on forever. had a thing for rugged, older men—a weakness was something inside, so she opened the lid that had given her father headaches for years. “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 heat her for another moment, then without warning put both hands out and grabbed her was hiding. He was, after all, a criminal. 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 awayand 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 approachthe strange sound from the other end of the quietly, as if they had just shared a tender coning, 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 softlywithout looking. He smiled again. boyfriend there.” put her ear to the door and it sounded like For some reason, she felt herself blush, Jackaby was pacing back and forth on the other “Sorry,” he said. “Couldn’t help myself.” and she was glad for the darkness. “Jackaby’s side. He was breathing heavily and muttering She stepped back and kept her hands
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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 predicament. Things were coming together, and she gonna like it. Guy’s name is Doctor somethingor-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 shooting him, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. It was, after all, self-defense. Instead, she said something entirely inexplicable.
NEXT EPISODE: A Distant Detour
“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 going on.”
Paul Christian Glenn Paul Chris an 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 magazine, and has been wri ng for as long inside and closed the door behind him.
as he can remember.
Rey looked down at her watch, then leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. Another It should be noted, however, that he has a hour before her shift ended. She was tired, and homesick, and wanted this nightmare to notoriously short memory.
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
The Adventures of the Sky Pirate, Chapter 18, The Cleric's War by Johne Cook
The Adventures of the Sky Pirate
Pg. 28
Chapter 18, The Cleric’s War by Johne Cook The story so far:
Cooper Flynn has ‘recruited’ a cleric to see to the spiritual needs of the crew. Now he can relax. Right.
cobbled together from shady wharf taverns herself to hear the tale. and wayward ships. Only one of them displayed any promise, one of his fellow Grenville sailors, “Well, the captain here anticipated we might have trouble with the Grenville,” said although he was clearly hiding something, just Chain, “so I brought up a small cannon on deck like the cleric was. and mounted it on a quickly-built incline to 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
“What were they for?” wondered Bola. athen Vaneras started thinking of ways to It was suppertime in the galley. Vaneras “Wouldn’t a cannon ball just fall out pointing escape before he even hit the deck of the stepped into the galley, his clever ears listening airship Alacrity. When it was clear that they for the rhythm of the ship. He knew there werestraight down like that?” meant to hold him against his wishes, he determany 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 He wandered over to the board where his own cabin, but instead of being stashed 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 goingno 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 while we were making the shot!” He smiled to himself. He already had his 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 Chain grinned broadly. “It was the captain’s crews could be, and he determined right awayin a mug, and joined the officers as they shared idea.” to exploit that to his advantage. 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
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Issue 36, December 15, 2007
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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 surprisedof 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 Captain Flynn snorted. “Your arithmetic isthe first of the new breed of airships to take mean, I didn’t have any cannonballs in those cannons because, even with wadding, they’d impeccable in this case, Bola. I trust that ratioto the skies. We will waste no time challenging have rolled right on out and smashed throughwill 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 officersabout as 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.” “Mr. Humble, please assemble the new times as fast, but it would mean designing a 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 haveif we quickly won them over and recruited to their training. them to our side. We will need fresh blood as personal weapons based on the same principle 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 mouth that will inevitably arise from winning number three form up here.” a whole new industry!” over these hardworking souls.” When they were ready, he walked up to “Much knowledge was lost to our ancestors every one of them and asked them their name, “Aye, Captain,” said Humble. when they crashed on this world,” said Flynn, making small talk with them, quietly demonquietly. “Our forefathers had great experience “And Humble? You can call me Coop when strating their importance to him. From their when it came to designing weapons, but they had rather less wisdom about when not to use you need to. We run a loose ship here and makeresponse, they had never encountered this them. With our recent weapons escalation, a tidy profit.” He winked and clapped Humbletreatment 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 upin 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 you cooperate with me, and respect yourselves Bola spoke up. “Speaking of which, Captain, Captain Flynn addressed the newly recruited and each other, we’ll get along just fine.” you keep referring to this ‘upcoming struggle,’ sailors as they approached the drifting Sylvan
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Cleric Vaneras stood by the railing with his …with one exception: the smoldering gazecaptain about it later. arms crossed over his chest. “And if they don’tof the black-haired man with the piercing Once the cheering settled down, the captain cooperate?” eyes and the sharp nose. Flynn didn’t seem to informed them how it would work as he called notice the man glaring at him in the back of Flynn’s grin turned a trifle flinty. “Then wethe 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 treatedwill 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?” He gave them all a sober look. It was ‘civilized’ men such as the Grenville’s Captain With a few quick strides, Flynn walked Argen.” This was rewarded with a chuckle fromimpossible to miss the glint in his eye. “It will to the rail and waved with a flourish out to the men and some knowing glances among also be when we start attacking Sylvan targets. sea. “Gentlemen, I present our first captured Therefore, it is in your best interest to remain themselves. adversary.” with us in the various rotations between “That’s but one of the many things that will Alacrity and the ships being returned to The Grenville sailors broke and walked set our ship apart from regular Haddirron naval Haddirron ports. I am sure other airships will ships. For instance, we have no hard-and-fast be coming to our air, to be staffed from within.forward to gaze out over the ocean as they uniform requirements. I simply require you to It is in your best interest, then, to distinguish started to angle down, dropping altitude, do your work quickly and well, and have some yourselves with whatever valor, ingenuity, toward the ship growing larger as they fun along the way as long as nobody gets hurt. Imettle, and vigor you possess. Meet with Mr. approached. 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 allyou 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 your personal account. Captain Flynn fixed them all with his huge, to deliver the final words to some good men. I winning smile. “We will also share the prizes.” “Stay with me, and I will make you rich,” will handle any burials at sea, dealing with the men’s bodies. However, as a man of the cloth, If there is any one thing that will break the captain promised, “and not just in your I expect you to see to the spirits.” pocket.” decorum, it is the promise of advancement and personal wealth. For a moment the crew Cleric Vaneras thought that was an inter- “I was under the impression you did not 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
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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 “Go with Cyl, my friend,” whispered Vaneras. Cleric Mathen Vaneras. He is here to...” your capable hands.” “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 have accepted me.” idea what I am capable of.” Captain Smyth’s eyes danced with “Thank you...Cleric. Thank you...” “With respect in turn, I saw the way Captainamusement as Captain Flynn opened and Argen was loathe to part with you. I saw the closed his mouth again. Then Flynn stepped to Lamur died, content, if not happy. way you prayed for this ship, her crew, and the side and let the man work. 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 to see what his reaction would be. He half like or agree with me or not, I observe that you his forehead, though he did respond when the expected to see casual interest at best, but he respect your ship’s captain, and already have cleric picked up his wrist to feel for a pulse. 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 stillmoment, 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 dark man with bright, intelligent eyes, and a nations trembled and the wicked vanished. It Cleric Vaneras bobbed his head in grudging face without guile. bespoke a greater personal responsibility for respect. He knew how to play this game. his crew than the cleric expected. “I cannot say that I was brought to you by With the toe of his boot, the captain flicked the rope ladder over the edge and vanished Cyl…” said the cleric, honestly, but the look in The cleric looked away before he was noticed, shaken by the captain’s unexpected down it, quick as a cat, the rope creaking as Lamur’s eyes pierced his arrogance. emotional intensity. he descended. To his credit, the cleric followed “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 his the dead man’s rent tunic with his fingers, They are nimble, thought the cleric, both Looking at the captain, Lamur said “Forgive the cat and the dove. Captain Flynn smiled andhim...Cleric. He knows exactly...what He and drew the canvas over Lamur’s head himself. Then the captain rose, spoke a few words with bowed to the cleric, who smiled and waved his does.” Bells, and left to walk the deck with Captain arm for the captain to lead the way. The cleric could not resist looking up at Smyth and Mr. Gillings. Mr. Smyth and Mr. Gillings met them onCaptain Flynn, his eyes blazing with a fiery Cleric Vaneras watched all this with an the foredeck where they had cared for the ambivalence; however, Flynn’s expression was
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inscrutable expression, then knelt to speak with The cleric carefully observed, “It sounds Bells and perform last rites for Mr. Nomherst. like you’re prepared to play both sides of the law in order to achieve order—a dangerous business.” #
bow rail talking about crew dynamics in general and new meal arrangements in particular. They passed near the sailor on watch, one of the 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“So Mr. Aefther, we are always interested in general and myself in particular. However, ested I in perpetual power for myself. I’m only in seeing how we do with our boarding actions. will give him time to buy what I’m selling. If heinterested in creating a new world, and then Our aim is to be the most relaxed, highest comes around, he’ll be a potent ally.” 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 apprecidebonair and delightful babies, content in the ated.” knowledge that neither raiders nor Riven will “Then he’ll make a pretty corpse,” replied disturb our family for as long as they shall live. Vaneras was intrigued by the captain’s Captain Flynn with a grim smile. 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 somemore men on deck at the beginning of hosloving your enemies?” of the Grenville sailors, struck off toward port tilities. You can only get so far with pluck and under command of Captain Smyth and Mr. verve,” he said. Flynn snorted. “I prefer to think of it as giving potential allies a second chance. However, I’mGillings, as Alacrity gained altitude and turned The cleric was struck by everything under northeast along the eastern islands. not soft, merely expansive.” the surface of what was ostensibly a straightThe captain and Mr. Pitt walked along the forward conversation. He heard Aefther use
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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 out over the port railing as Vaneras looked at Mr. Pitt and supposed he’d feet.” the captain walked back to the wheelhouse. He perked up at the idea of being a part of more “Yes, Captain.” shook his head. So much for questioning the than two to attack ships in the future. He captain’s sanity. The cleric was used to playing watched Bola stride up to join the conversa“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 ‘hostiliany 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?” lost, unaware he’d been playing. The cleric Continuing the conversation with sailor Aefther, the captain asked, “How do you Aefther stood straighter, summoning the didn’t like being played. He didn’t like it one bit. propose to quickly transport large numbers will to speak his mind. The cleric observed with 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 The cleric showed up at breakfast next sentences. “Thank you for what you’re doing, 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 of Alacrity graciously allowed the Grenville hamstrung by old regulations and new division. “...skypacks,” said Mr. Pitt. What you’re doing cuts through all that and sailors to sit at the forward table. gets right to the heart of things. It is…nice.” “Yes,” said Flynn. “We currently have limited 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?” “Everyone,” said the cleric, his hands the water and covertly climbing aboard away Bola shrugged. “Did the bribery make your from the action, with muskets and riflemen to behind his back, “the Haddirron Navy, the Sylvans, even those I haven’t thought of yet. breakfast taste any worse?” provide cover.” They will all hate you.” “I think we can arrange for all these things. “No,” he admitted, “although I may have to volunteer to come sit with you at next meal.” Mr. Humble, why don’t you coordinate training Captain Flynn smiled slyly. “I’m rather for these activities for the coming days. Each counting on that,” he said, sketched a casual “Suit yourself,” waved Bola. “You eating
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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 shirtsleeves rolled up, revealing sinewy forearms. able and indispensable as soon as possible. for a burial at sea. He wiped his hands on the towel at his waist and They shared some hot kava all around and then “This won’t do,” he said. “This won’t do at started identifying the various smells. “Salton set up training exercises for the day, as well as 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 crewme 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 Bola walked in and her mouth fell open. more mundane shipboard chores. It wasn’t table as if he had arrived at a decision. It was a 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 “What table? What cloth?” said Bola. The the same food, only eatable!” and tea in the galley, and turned to training cleric held up his finger to explain it to her, “Edible,” prompted Eggplant from off in exercises. The captain led the way, crediting Lavs but she waved him off. “Whatever, whatever. I the corner. Aefther with suggesting new and better techdon’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 “Cleric Vaneras, we are not used to having all they had and where everything was. 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 practicing for the day, it was six bells and time The cleric wiped his hands on his waistgets a great deal of pedestrian cuisine.” 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
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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, He rose as the crew assembled in a loose light, apparently getting a feel for the heft of I’d be happy to return thanks.” circle on the foredeck and went forth to the thing. Then he raised it vigorously in the address them. air. “Alacrity!” he said firmly, and the resulting “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 the cheers of the crew, wiped his lips broadly raider heading south towards the islands. It in the prayer, feel free to do what you normally with a shirtsleeve, and presented the mug is a medium-sized ship. That’s the good news. do. We simply ask you to observe a moment of back to the crewman amid much laughter andThe bad news is that she’s a full-on warship. 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, this will require all of our training and timing “That we don’t have to eat your cooking,” of the galley. Flynn had a thoughtful look on his face as he took in the scene in the galley. to accomplish with a minimum of injuries or said one of the crewmen, and they all shared a fatalities. And make no mistake, gentlemen, good laugh. Even Bola broke into an uncertain 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. “We have a number of things on our side: He waited until the room was quiet and took the advantage of surprise, the advantage of # a deep breath. His praying voice was somehow pre-planned strategy and tactics, and the different than his speaking voice. It was full Their next boarding action took place two ability to get the advance drop on them while and deep and controlled and warm. “Almighty Cyl, we thank you for this airship, her captain days later, a raider on its way south toward thethe bulk of their crew remains below-decks sleeping or preparing for the day. and crew, and her mission—to protect the eastern-most Haddirron isles. innocent, punish the wicked, and bring justice “They will have a slight advantage of Shortly after dawn, the lookout caught a and righteousness to a lawless and wicked numbers. Their ship isn’t here to trade with world. Please bless this food. Please give us reflection glinting in the distance. Carefully the islands, but to boldly and brazenly plunder training his spyglass on the target, what he saw 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 mustmake sure that when she pulls into rattling the dishes. port, she is helmed by our people. I want the He blew his whistle and Mr. Humble came second Grenville team to be ready to transfer “A toast to the cleric!” shouted one over- running, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. over to her after the battle. Mr. Humble, are enthusiastic crewman before his neighbor The captain showed up shortly thereafter and you ready for your first command?” elbowed and hissed “He’s a cleric—clerics flipped the bonus coin to the lookout after 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
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is your surgery ready?”
at our backs. We should drop right out of the lightly on the deck—an achievement considsky 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 “Not really,” she whispered back. “I was altitude. He drew his sword and raised it “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?” smiled despite herself. agreement. 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 calThey 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 unconThe 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 “This is going too well,” mused Flynn. in the rigging, while the divers came aboard 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 where the Sylvan captain stopped, sized up the the alarm, but Bola quickly drew her knife and Flynn waited. The cleric nodded and situation, and considered his options. Then, he stepped back into the ranks with the sailors. threw it end-over-end, thwack-thwack-thwack, wisely put his hands behind his head without hitting him on the head with the heavy hilt, 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
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The Adventures of the Sky Pirate, Chapter 18, The Cleric's War by Johne Cook “Smart Flynn.
thinking,
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Captain,”
whispered more deaths later when the story gets around, “This leaves us in a sticky position, Mr. Pitt. 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 “There was no blood today,” said the clericalong the islands and Haddirron dead,” stated were swiftly back up on deck, in complete control of the ship without a shot being fired as he made to walk away, “but I fear there willMr. Pitt, thoughtfully. Dr. Prentiss and cleric be more, later…much more.” and without any casualties. Vaneras walked around the corner. They heard Mr. Pitt’s sentiment. Dr. Prentiss didn’t say She put her hand out and touched his arm. They spent some time talking with the anything, but Flynn could tell she wanted to. “Where are you going?” captain, discovering where they were planning “What do you think, Doctor? We don’t have to hit and where they were from. Afterward, He stopped and looked at her. “To congratthe resources to attack and capture another he was added to the prisoners in the hold. 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 but if we don’t intervene, innocent people will him. To lose your ship without mounting a his face, and walked aft. lose property and possibly their lives.” defense or firing a shot would have to be the most demeaning fate for a captain, especially “Of course,” she repeated thoughtfully, She didn’t hesitate. “Destroy them. Sink for a race who maintained so much pride and staring after the departing holy man. them. Turn them. Do what you have to.” self-love. # “That’s pretty callous,” said the captain Back aboard Alacrity, the cleric waited with a twinkle in his black eyes. until it was clear that they’d scored a perfectly They got Mr. Humble and the next complebloodless boarding, and reported that to an The cleric thought Flynn was baiting the ment of Grenville sailors situated and sailing astonished Dr. Prentiss. back to port. Alacrity ascended again at noon,good doctor, but to her credit, she didn’t fall for it. She said, “I’m something of a student making way again for points north. of naval history. I’ve never heard of such a “That ship exists for aggression. If you can’t Nobody expected to find another ship the thing!” turn it, burn it. It’s the humane thing to do for same day, but that’s exactly what happened at Haddirron.” The cleric was deep in thought. “This is thetwo bells after noon. sort of feat that will become legend, a tale that “I see. And what do you think, Cleric?” Mloit was on the lookout and scored the will leak out and streak around the islands like finder’s bonus, another ship of the same size wildfire.” 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 wasblood, 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 tomay be hot work, Captain,” he said, excusing himself. course, relieved we don’t have any rites to be reasonably close.” perform for the dead today. I am, however, “Gather the crew,” said Flynn. “We’re going He gave the glass to Mr. Pitt. more concerned that this action will result in to need to get some consensus on this one.”
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The Adventures of the Sky Pirate, Chapter 18, The Cleric's War by Johne Cook
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#
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 from the outset. Mr. Ghoen, yes?” return to port.” broke the news to them. “Burn it, Captain. I assume you have a It was audacious and daring. It was an “Mr. Mloit has spied another raider of the spare cargo net? Drop the cargo net filled opportunity for the cleric to rid the Sylvan ship same design and size as the one we took over with flammables and laced with pitch or otherof her captain with little bloodshed. It was also this morning.” 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 The plan was also highly dangerous, espetime of day and with our current crew size.” Hewho attempt to blow it out.” cially to Captain Flynn himself, and the cleric added, looking around him. “We need to find “That’s good—we’d lose the possibility was secretly pleased when Mr. Pitt stepped another way to stop her at minimal risk for our of returning a raider ship to Haddirron ports, forward to forbid Flynn from even considering loss-of-life.” 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 Which is why nobody was more shocked of Sylvan life, is that right?” said the cleric from my opinion.” than he when the captain slapped his knee and the side where he prepared food. “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 “Captain, you can’t go through with this, “ The cleric’s silence was expressive. Then he anything you’ve got. What’s your idea?” said just about everybody. said, “War is anguish, but that doesn’t mean 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 counter and put his arms behind his back as out a pot of something savory. 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 sparkling with deadly earnest as he crafted the ship and her crew for another day, and going to do this, I’d like to make sure it isn’t his brainstorm. It was a little early to test the position us to be able to steal her later rather botched. If we’re going to make a bloody end goodwill he’d banked up, but he was not a manthan sink her sooner.” 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
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The Adventures of the Sky Pirate, Chapter 18, The Cleric's War by Johne Cook
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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 fordressed 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 off. The cleric followed after him like an old pro be ready with the fire in case it doesn’t work. you doing here?” and not someone using new technology for the If it does, we’ll retract the fire materials and The cleric smiled to Flynn for the first timefirst time. no one will be the wiser. If it doesn’t work, Haddirron waters will not be in danger. We onboard Alacrity. “You didn’t think I’d let you Together, they dropped lightly down onto go down there alone, do you?” both win either way.” the deck of the second Sylvan ship. Flynn quietly unstrapped his magnificent sword and Flynn left Mr. Pitt standing there and went Flynn looked at Vaneras warily. “Did Mr. Pitt put you up to this?” put it in the cleric’s hands. to prepare the cargo net. The cleric stepped forward from where he had been eavesdropVaneras 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 of that. Mr. Pitt whirled around, his eyes furious, his 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…” like a cleric, but you move like…” He nodded once to Flynn. 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 and spoke to the astonished officer on deck. Mr. Pitt quieted a little as reason returnedof action? Are you prepared to defend yourself “Greetings,” he said. “May I speak to the cap if need be?” 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. Flynn with him, the officer left him standing “Believe me, this is easier to prepare for than The cleric nodded. “I pretty much have to, there and ran to bring the Sylvan captain. now, don’t I? Do you think Flynn planned thatany sermon. Ready.” when he accepted?” Flynn looked at Mr. Pitt, who cracked a He also brought twenty of his closest friends, who surrounded Flynn. craggy smirk. 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, and stepped forward to face Flynn. “Who are The cleric grunted as if to agree. “I’m although he was smiling inside, as well. Vaneras you? How did you get here?” wasn’t about to reveal the text of his conversagoing to need your help,” he said, and Mr. Pitt tion with Mr. Pitt. Not ever. nodded sadly. Flynn bowed. “I am Captain Cooper Flynn of the Haddirron airship Alacrity. I am here to Flynn cocked his head. “Ok, we’re set, then. # Alacrity party of two, prepare to disembark.” spare you and your crew from certain death.”
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“You’re...what?!”
The Sylvan captain stepped forward, parting cartons, and other flammables that they’d the men with his presence. He glared at Flynnloaded 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, quickly engulfing the top of the wheelhouse. sacked your sister-ship this morning. Even now, she is sailing towards Roarke’s Island with her Flynn took it, his black eyes twinkling strangely in the moonlight. “Goodbye, A pair of objects rolled into the milling crew locked in the hold and her captain hoping group of sailors and then exploded, tossing against hope you’ll show up to save her. WhichCaptain.” sailors in all directions. The cleric appeared out brings me to you. My presence here means I The Sylvan captain bellowed and drew his of the shadows, looking like a piece of shadow could do the same thing to you. However, I’m sword and raised it above his head to strike himself, and slammed shut the door leading here to give you a chance to heave-to and Flynn. down into the bowels of the ship. He picked return to Sylvan waters before I unleash the up a sword from the deck and drove it through power at my disposal.” 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, “Time to go,” yelled Flynn, who bounced expect me to surrender and return to my homehis limbs jerking in little macabre twitching once and bounded up into the night sky, movements. port without a fight?” 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, youover the heads of the sailors. Flynn bounced “Fire!” yelled the cleric. The fire was will lose everything, starting with the ship andup and snagged it. He dropped to the deck, including your very lives.” Flynn seemed to berolled forward, and stood on the far side of snaking up the rope from the holocaust on the wheelhouse. enjoying himself immensely. 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 oneweapon, 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 uphis 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 ofyelled 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 deckAlacrity, but none came from the raider. start fresh. This is your last chance! I beg of and redirected it smoothly into the cargo net which sprawled loosely over the top of the The Sylvan wheelhouse was burning brightly you, Ven, captain to captain.” wheelhouse. The pitch that saturated the loadby 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.
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The Adventures of the Sky Pirate, Chapter 18, The Cleric's War by Johne Cook
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Flynn stood there breathing heavily as thetry,” Flynn said soberly. a wicked-looking dagger in his hand, and the thrown axe sticking out of his chest. excitement thundered through his body. The “That means a great deal to me...Captain,” cleric looked like he’d never left the deck, as Bedlam erupted: “What happened?” cool as can be. Vaneras looked closer at the said Cleric Vaneras, who then stuck out his roared Mr. Pitt. “Who’s that man?” demanded magnificent sword in his hand. He whistled hand. a muffled Flynn. “Nice throw!” exulted Bola. once, low. He flicked off the stud on the hilt Captain Cooper Flynn met the gaze of cleric and extended it back to Flynn, hilt-first. Vaneras put it together right away, and Mathen Vaneras eye-to-eye, and then they stood up. He extended his hand to Flynn, who “Nice blade,” said the cleric with a myste- shook hands. took it gratefully. Vaneras would remember that rious smile. “I’d be interested to learn where 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 different now: solid, forthcoming, professiongoes to you.” He turned, both questions unan-right hand, cocked it back in-stride and threw al. it hard. Vaneras spun and turned and hurled swered, and they gathered around the railing himself to the side, flattening the captain and watched the Sylvan ship burn as they “Captain Cooper Flynn, I am Special Underdrifted apart, the light of the ship on the waterunderneath him to the deck as he did. cover Agent Harl Uioge, of Her Majesty’s Intelshowing up for many miles in all directions. Vaneras had time to think two things: ligence Agency. I am a spy. He is an assassin— Assassin! and that the axe was going highyour assassin.” The crew of Alacrity gathered around and enough to fly right over the edge of the ship. cheered. Accepting the captain’s surprised salute in return, Harl Uioge said, “Begging the Captain’s “Hear-hear for the captain and the cleric!” They heard a gruesome THWACK instead. 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 Flynn grunted with the impact. They both axe.” you content with the results?” 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 They saw Rand reach the railing and graspassassin. Things had taken a dark and troubling turned to the captain. 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. Climbing to their feet, they saw something ‘War is anguish.’ I will waste no tears on them. They knew what they were doing, and they that made no sense at all—the always friendly Mr. Aefther, the genial Grenville sailor with chose their fate, if not their time.” 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,
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Issue 36, December 15, 2007
The Adventures of the Sky Pirate, Chapter 18, The Cleric's War by Johne Cook
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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. Helikesprogrock,spaceopera,filmnoir, racquetball, and the Green Bay Packers.
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Memory Wipe, Hostage by Sean T. M. S ennon
Memory Wipe
Pg. 43
Chapter 16, Hostage by Sean T. M. S ennon
“‘P
arty of thirty,’” Sherri muttered under her scrubbers onto the table. Enough. Most ofon the job. Probably wouldn’t even care. her breath. “‘Looks like a quiet crowd, the major stains were out, and she had cleaned “G’night, Stiller,” she said as she walked Sherri. No trouble and a big tip. I’ll even you letoff the table and stacked the dishes for the past, on her way to the door. you off work when they’re gone! No, no need kitchen help over an hour ago. She had been 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 Takeda would have been up helping her night’s crowd. Those could be moved later. She knelt down on the damp carpet with scrub the carpet, but Stiller preferred to keep Right now, Sherri just wanted to go home a scrubber in each hand and started sawing his hands clean. Sherri shoved through the at the dark stains marring the otherwise pureand collapse into bed. door and descended another flight of stairs. All white carpet. She might have used the hydroshe 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 started down the gray velvet staircase providing cluding a full liter of Ulster hops whiskey—had kept its employees home for over a week. He access to it. Her hand clutched the brass railing done a thorough job clogging its filters. A bead 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 At least Brian Vass had vanished with Company. An afternoon spent around the card “Wherever you are, Tak,” she whispered him—the Greendome Police were lying low in tables and gaming machines had given them the under her breath, “I hope you’re okay.” appetite for a full night of stuffing and soakinghis 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 ofSun’s main gambling floor. Most of the machines were powered down for the morning, leaving into their mouths, onto their clothes, and onto their time drinking and chasing women when the room a dark cavern lit only by pale mainthe Ivory Room’s imported carpeting. She hadthey weren’t criminals themselves. tenance lights. The silence allowed to hear her been hard-pressed to keep their hands off 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 in one hand. He glanced up with a of circumstances. Takeda had always preferred half-silver coins, four bent playing cards, andfoaming a twitch, guilt flashing across his face, but he the company of his thoughts and his books, bent bottle cap. Lovely. 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
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Memory Wipe, Hostage by Sean T. M. Stiennon like a shy grimace.
another night.
Pg. 44 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, Could there be any truth to what he said? Greendome who he had really talked to. Andand saw a man standing thirty feet behind her, 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 But she could still recognize Brian Vass. Vass came closer. “You’re reluctant. I don’t save that bartender downstairs, the last time want to hurt you, but my associates are not as she saw him “Sherri,” he said, his voice lisping. “It has kind as I am.” She passed a massive holowheel, its been...far too long.” She could lose him in the darkness, find garish displays and xenon lights now dark Panic made her limbs stiffen. She had beenStiller, 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. Sherri ran, leaping off the stairs and being here and it wouldn’t do any good if she bolting into the darkness of the early morning panicked. He didn’t seem to be carrying a gun. There had always been just a little sweetness casino. She dodged from aisle to aisle of silent to Takeda which not many other guys showed “Captain Vass,” she answered, evenly. machines “I 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 ragged breathing while her heart pounded to her, and didn’t object when she got long“Almost. . almost.” wildly against her ribcage. She ducked out into winded. She missed him more than she would the central aisle, crossing towards the door she “Something I can do for you?” admit to anyone. 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. He advanced towards her. His stride really wasn’t right here. Sherri quickened her She froze for an instant, disbelieving. The betrayed a slight limp, and his smile broadened. stride. 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— He began to come towards her, moving like locked from the outside. She stared at the scene She fought to keep her features expressionless. “Takeda, huh? If he wants to talk to me, a wraith across the dark carpeting. “Five-Five,” of Imperian jungles etched into its surface. he can call me. I don’t think he’d pick you as a he called, voice echoing from the high ceiling, This door was rarely locked, but there should messenger.” “she’s yours.” be a guard on it around the clock. Now that she 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
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Memory Wipe, Hostage by Sean T. M. Stiennon
Pg. 45
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 withonly program capable of calculating the current Within the hanger a cradle opened to pain and it felt like she had dislodged a few pass code was loaded onto a device lodged in receive the ship. Five-Five landed it, waited until teeth. Her chest ached as she pushed herself the tiny crevice between Five-Five’s brainstem it had been locked into place, and unstrapped up and gasped air frantically. She could hear and right hemisphere. himself from his seat. “Bring the girl and Vass,” a pursuer now—pounding footsteps, coming The code went straight from his brain to he said to Four-Two-Six. fast. She staggered forward. 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 reachedcarried the girl in his arms—they had kept turn. The smooth carpeting gave her heels the ground without being blasted to stray ionsher under drugs for the voyage—and Vass shambled beside him, a foolish smile imprinted nothing to grab onto, and she moved too late. by the planet’s covert defense network. on his face. His insanity had grown steadily The shadow swept towards her and smashed Caulthor’s surface rose in the canopy, ash worse since leaving Belar, to the point where a fist into her jaw. She cried out as her body gray and pocked with open sores of lava. The Five-Five had considered whether to put him collapsed underneath her. 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 accompanied him into Jezai Tong’s presence. rolled herself over and tried to get her feet Five-Five’s course took him to a site five Six-Seven carried the girl. underneath her. The pain in her head poundedhundred 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 volcanowas polished to a sheen, and his yellow eyes and tapped another sequence into his keypad.opened as the doors admitted his supplicants. Wish you were here, Tak. 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. mountain of volcanic rock. As Five-Five’s ship floor. 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.”
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Memory Wipe, Hostage by Sean T. M. Stiennon
Pg. 46
“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 suctioning to 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 plastifiber jacket and pants he had picked up to Sherri. A faint sorrow crossed his features.parent company which had operated the colony on Nihil as well as several mines acrossfor 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. “Acities 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. let his senses expand. He smelled smoke in Three-One took a pace forward. He wore a 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 shequestions. 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 theone 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 Takeda increased his pace. His apartment could react. A blade of the color of bone sprang spent most of the first week sleeping—sleeping was only a block ahead of them. If they had from Three-One’s exposed wrist and he sweptand having nightmares. guns, he wouldn’t be able to evade them it across the arteries bracketing Vass’ trachea. Blood gushed in a smooth arc to the floor. Vass Some of his nightmares were about the without displaying his powers, which would stone tunnels of the iron mine, the chitinous destroy what little seclusion he’d managed to died with his eyes still fixed on the unconscious horrors lurking in the darkness, and all the find. Sherri. men and women whose blood had soaked Tong shifted his vermillion eyes back to the stone: Cramer Orano, Law Krane, so many They jogged to overtake him. Takeda could Five-Five even before Vass’ corpse had hit the others.... But most of his nightmares were of hear one man quick-stepping across the street to overtake him and close him in a pincer. He floor. “Put the woman under heavy guard: Level heat and blades and pain and his own blood. Twelve. I will compose the message myself— There was a pit-like cell with no windows and summoned strength to his legs and broke into a sprint…half a block to the apartment. The send Eleven to me.” 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, chambering and dropped into a roll on the while Three-One threw Vass’ corpse over one Takeda glanced over his shoulder cau-
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Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Memory Wipe, Hostage by Sean T. M. Stiennon
Pg. 47
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.” Zartsi propped his rifle up in the usual and turned in time to see the spent casing “Rover doesn’t need it. She never leaves corner and threw his cloak down beside it. “No rattle against the pavement as the man on the kills today, at least,” he said. other side of the street aimed a second shot. room.” “Good point,” Takeda said, sticking the gun Zartsi had used ten silvers out of their He never got a chance to fire it. A second bankroll to buy a cheap rifle and a couple boxes bullet slapped the weapon from his hand and in his jacket. “You just get off work?” of ammunition, then located a job for a vehicle took a few scraps from his hand away with it. 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 now repaired, with the company’s silver fixed on the shadow which had materialized He led the way up the stairs of their from an alleyway six feet ahead of Takeda. apartment building, which were haunted emblem pinned to the shoulder. 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 shudderedbeef on the stove. Help yourselves.” against his shoulder. “If you have any.” and followed Zartsi up to the third floor, where Takeda put the gun in his room and washed The man across the street bit his lip in the they had a room at the end of the hallway. The the blood off his hand while Zartsi divided the lights had gone out and only faint twilight from effort not to scream. The others—one with food into three bowls. Of all the courses his a revolver halfway out of his belt—took two the street illuminated the passage. Zartsi’s key life could have taken after leaving Belar, this seconds to consider the issue. Zartsi shifted hisclicked in the lock. was perhaps the one Takeda least expected: aim to point the rifle directly at them. “Your 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 He could remember Tong. For…years, he left his gun on the pavement. Zartsi waited as if they hadn’t been painted since the first had been tortured, sawn apart and stitched colonists had grounded over a century ago. until they ducked into an alley, then uncocked back together, injected and mutilated and torn his rifle and grinned savagely, flicking his tail 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 withnew chemicals and proteins, experiments occasional flashes of static. Into the Wind failed and repeated...and still his body had “Your spoils, Takeda,” he said. Tunnels of Aoleus was displayed across the toplived, 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 Esheera didn’t look up as they came in. no one seemed to have noticed the gunshots. naked before that throne of black rock. They “Good day at work?” had taken whatever life he’d lived and erased it
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Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Memory Wipe, Hostage by Sean T. M. Stiennon
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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 All three of them knew why. A few days in attention to her food. They had strip-mined his brain along with everything else, and after they were done...heNew Bristol had firmly imprinted on her the For a moment, Zartsi seemed to be thinking fact that it would be years, at best, before she could do nothing but serve Jezai Tong. very hard—his eyes narrowed and his lips could possibly scrape together enough money 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 His eyes rolled towards Takeda. “You are she was—the woman who haunted his dreams,everything else: the freedom to travel across too beautiful for words. He didn’t know how the stars, as a free Rover. With the loss of her not finished yet.” 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,” he said, softly, “true enough.” He had some of his memories. But they dations. 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 meatHe knew what Count Tong was doing on “You don’t have...anything to call yourself?” and-noodles mixture towards him. Only Zartsi’s Caulthor...but there wasn’t any action he could the woman asked, her head tilted to one side uncanny ability to get discounts allowed them take. No one in any other province would ever so that her mane of ebony hair hung over to buy this much meat. It was bland and watery, believe him. There didn’t seem to be...anything her left shoulder. Takeda could see blue light as always, but far better than anything Takeda left at all. Maybe they could work their way reflected in it. had eaten since...the voyage to Nihil, eating back to Belar and all get jobs at the Silver Sun. Esheera’s cooking on the IxluSeer. But he was probably still a wanted man, even “I can’t remember my name.” She entered the kitchen a minute later andwith Vass dead. He felt as if he was standing on a block of started shoveling food into her mouth without “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 eyes seemed to look at him from the other side a couple of her mourning beads had fallen “Noodles and beef?” Esheera asked. of an infinite abyss. He felt naked before her. out and hadn’t been replaced. Her eyes had
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Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Memory Wipe, Hostage by Sean T. M. Stiennon
Pg. 49
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 hisshoulder. 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 inhe 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 “Awake?” she asked. “What...how did that get there?” he asked fade, eventually. The others had. 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 Even with his mind fogged by sleep, Takeda her hand. She poured some into a glass and on, and stuff a shirt over his head. Then he only had to think for a moment before the offered it to him. “You have to leave soon. stumbled after Esheera. name came to him. “Sherri,” he whispered. Drink this first.” 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 “No...I don’t think so.” a moment, and then she pulled away again, 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, The screen was a monochrome pale blue cold but with a warm aura that filled him from 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 since Nihil. He returned it to her. She began to fill it Two: once more. Then he felt someone shaking his “I...don’t know how they could have found Youknewawoman.Sheismine.Comeback 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. behind him. Takeda wasn’t surprised to see Takeda’s eyes snapped open to the that he had gotten up too, still wearing his darkness of his New Bristol apartment. The air
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Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Memory Wipe, Hostage by Sean T. M. Stiennon
Pg. 50
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 oldweapons 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 He could feel Zartsi’s presence at his side. cabins which had once been occupied by his know about her, Tak. They’re just guessing you He glanced up to see the Lithrallian staring servants. His engines had been damaged only have someone.” at the screen, arms crossed over his leather lightly. Takeda could barely wrap his mind aroundbreastplate. “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 Esheera said. “I’ve never found the middle of allowed Lashiir to evade the planetary defense searching for him. 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 unconand sensor arrays—enough to give him some Five minutes later Takeda was lying in bed scious on a stone floor, in a pit like the one 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 Sunmuch swirling through his head, making every the caldera of a smoldering volcano near the uniform she still wore, filthy and stained withmuscle in his body feel tense—Sherri, Tong, planet’s south pole. Lashiir sat on the very the scorched surface of Caulthor, Lashiir, his lip of the crater, protected from the heat by sweat. own powers, Esheera and Zartsi. Gaping holes his cloak, and looked towards another, larger The message returned. Youknewawoman. 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 atash desert. The scent of smoke, fire, and any moment. scorched stone filled Lashiir’s nostrils and the However they had found her, however they dry, hot air burnt his tongue. It reminded him had learned his connection to her, Takeda had He was certain of one thing: he would not a cold certainty that he couldn’t just go back let Sherri die if there was anything he could doof Kruushai, where one of the Dark Sphere’s greatest Arcanums had been built upon islands to bed, go back to his job, go back to the life to save her. in a magma sea. he had begun to build up in New Bristol. Sherri 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, attemptremain the prisoner of a monster like Tong. defenses, cunningly disguised as satellites foring to pronounce it without aid from his transthe 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 instalCroster 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.
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Issue 36, December 15, 2007
Memory Wipe, Hostage by Sean T. M. Stiennon
Pg. 51
Sean T. M. Stiennon Beyond doubt this human was powerful and likely to become more so. Perhaps he was Sean is an author of fantasy and science cin need of another sword, one which could onnovelsandshortstories,withmanypub bring death silently and swiftly. lica ons under his belt. His rst short story
collec on, Six with Flinteye, was recently Lashiir would wait and watch for an opporreleasedfromSilverLakePublishing,andhe tunity to make himself known.
won 2nd place in both the 2004 SFReader. comShortStoryContestandtheStornCook Razor-EdgedFic onContestwithhisstories “Asp” and “ The Sultan’s Well,” respec vely. “ 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,Issue01,and “Flinteye’s Sabotage” waspublishedinIssue35. Sean’sworktendstocontainlotsofac onand adventure, but he o en includes elements of tragedy and loss alongside roaring battles. A lot of his work centers around connuing characters, the most prominent of whom is Jalazar Flinteye (Six with Flinteye). He also writes tales of Shabak of Talon Point (“ Death Marks,” in issue #9 of Amazing Journeys Magazine), Blademaster (“Asp,” 2nd place winner in the 2004 SFReader.com Contest), and others who have yet to see publica on. Sean loves to read fantasy and science con alongside some history, mysteries, and historical novels. His favorites in- clude Tim Powers, Declare by the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy by Tad Williams, Stephen Lawhead’s Song of Albion trilogy, and King Solomon’s Mines byH.RiderHaggard.Hehasreviewed books for Deep Magic: The E-zine of High Fantasy and Science Fic on, and currently reviews books at S FRead er.c o m.
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007
The RGR Time Capsule
Pg. 52
December 1 - December 14, 2007
Sci-Fi news from the RayGunRevival forums RGR Date: December 07, 2007
Lawrence or Bennington or Iowa because that’s what they’re expected to write and they want to impress their professors and felhttp://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1625However, right now, he’s doing a good thing, and also the right thing for SFWA, and I’m inclined low students; people start wri ng science cIn a stunning turn of events, John Scalzi noted to give credit where credit is due, without an on, on the other hand, roughly ten seconds an announcement from SFWA president Michael undertone of snark. a er they set down The Star Beast or Ender’s Capobianco that appears to be exceedingly Game or Snow Crash because they get done good news for those (like me) who had reserva - RGR Date: December 10, 2007 with the book and think, holy crap, I want to ons about Andrew Burt remaining as the chair Trashing Heinlein do that. Academia generally wants you to http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1638 of the newly organized SFWA Copyright Comshow you can write; science c on generally mi ee. Here come the links: John Scalzi delivers a scathing, double-barwants you to tell a story. It’s the storytellers reled rebu al of the premature shelving of who get picked up by the next genera on h p://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=185 Robert Heinlein’s reputa on and in uence of science c on writers, and whose work is SFWA has just released announcement that in present-day sci- circles. Scalzi should there is a change in the leadership of the Copyknow - having Heinlein’s name on his break- used as the blueprint for their own works.
SFWA Changes Copyright Commi ee
with Scalzi’s comments:
right Commi ee: SFWA VP Andrew Burt is step ping down as the chair and Russell Davis, who is also a board member, will be assuming the role.
out novel kickstarted his career. It helps that RGR Date: December 06, 2007 Scalzi is good enough to accelerate his career a er that on his own, but he owes a debt to Science Fic on Cita ons for the OED http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1623 Heinlein, and he knows it. h p://sfwa.org/news/2007/ccchange.htm I just stumbled on this while wri ng my story Russell Davis, the previous chair of the ePiracy h p://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=191 for the end of year Liberty Hall challenge. I Commi ee, has stepped forward and volunknew that tri-d had been used to describe teered to chair the Copyright Commi ee. I can’t The author of the LA Times piece o ers up three dimensional television before, so I think of anyone be er quali ed to take over Heinlein’s low stock is low in the literary and googled and found this site: the chairmanship of this extremely controveracademic science c on circles as one of the sial commi ee, and I’ve determined that he is explana ons of why his in uence is wanh p://www.jessesword.com/sf/list commi ed to both protec ng the rights of our ing, which is a fairly backward way of doing members, and following the recommenda ons things out here in the real world. Science of the Exploratory Commi ee. c on 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 ma er in science c on; more directly man and I hated him with an eternal re, my than nearly any other genre, the people cri cism was very speci c. In this speci c case, who eventually write science c on are the I credit Michael Capobianco for listening to the people who grow up reading science c on. feedback, and to Andrew Burt for likewise doing People start wri ng literary c on as they a good and right thing by stepping down. Bravo, tumble through wri ng programs at Sarah and kudos to all. Finally, I agree wholeheartedly
Ray Gun Revival magazine
Issue 36, December 15, 2007