The Prize [Short stories]

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THE PRIZE

by D. Lopes Heald

Illustrations 1993 by G. MylesJohnson

Scanned & Proofed ByMadMaxAU

* * * *

Stalts landed hard, blasted flat, viewplate shattered, flesh compressed, ears shocked deaf. Trying to scream, hislungs seized into stuttering uselessness. He flopped and lay still, fightingand losing. Heatscorched through the breaks in his armor. Thought disintegrated.

He woke to blindinglighttheblast still seared on his retinasand tried to move. Pain exploded up histhigh, rammed the hollow of his back and shot through his spine like a tearrocket imploding in his skull.

He screamed.

No. A hand pinnedhis flailing arm. Quiet. Gotta be quiet, Cap. Desperation roughened thewhispered command.

An armored palmslid over his mouth. A bodyhide pressed his side. But the pain didnt stop,washed up his leg, swarmed his groin and set his entrails writhing. A whimperescaped.

Fingers pressedharder. A plated chest bladder pumped against his. In the distance, thin pipingsounded, and unreasoned, instinctual fear froze his heart. The call faded.Pump, pump, pump. The other hide breathed. Then

Theyre past. Thehide slumped. The hand lifted from his mouth.

Who? His whisperescaped thin and tremulous.

Rorschoxs.

Schoxs. Hed meant,who are you. But the answer cleared his mind. Schoxs ate wounded alive. If thisman hadnt quieted himHis leg stabbed pain. He twisted, moaning.

All right, Cap.All right. Weight lifted from his armored shoulder. Ill get some damper.

Oh, yes. Maybe hecould think then.

Let me in. Handstugged at his bandoliers. He keyed the shield tab inside his glove and pressedthe t-plate beneath. Such a simple thing. It took forever now. Finally, hisarmor sighed, exposing access seams. Fingers fumbled at his sleeve and slit thehides elbow. Chill seeped inward, followed by the sting of a millionmicroscopic tines piercing his skin, spreading relief like a caress. Hewhimpered. His sleeve snapped shut.

All right, Cap. Be

Weight hit hischest. Something chinked. Something scraped. He stared at blur and white glare,praying. The other mans filter-expelled breath puffed strange and sweetsmelling through his broken view plate, prickled his burns, lifted sweat fromhis hair and whispered over his ear. So scared, he thought. Even with the armorbetween them, he sensed the others heart pounding. Who the hell is it? Hestill didnt recognize the voice. Where was everybody?

Panic threatened,but the drugs dumped in. His thoughts drifted

but startled asthe hand lifted from his mouth. Still the damper held. Nothing hurt. His mindsharpened and cleared.

Who? he asked theshadow hunched above.

Fairner.

Sucks. Why Fairner?The nick couldnt be trusted with latrine duty.

Wherere theothers? He shivered. Theyd been bunched together. Whatever hit him, hit themall.

Dead.

Dead. He swallowedhard and closed his eyes, which made little difference to what he saw. Itfigured Fairnerd survive. But Fairner lied.

Can you see, Kid?

Yeah. Doyle fellon metook most of the blast. Big Doyle. I cant get him off me. Fairnersvoice scaled upward, and Stalts knew the kid wasnt lying this time.

If you get free,can you walk? He kept his own voice low and steady.

Yeah. He couldsense Fairner fighting for control.

What you see?

A hard question,make or break. Fairner hesitated a breath, but kept it together. The fightingsmoved on. Isnt much happening.

We lost, then?

Maybe. But theSchoxs act worried for winners.

Good.

Theres smoke towardBing-toc. Whats the next nearest rally?

Now Staltshesitated. If he told Fairner would the kid zip out and leave him to die? Sixmonths ago Command forced the bastard on him, and every time he looked intoFairners pretty eyes, he saw someone hiding, playing a private game.

Fairner gambled.Fairner joined in anyones tricks for a laughexcept the man didnt laugh.Fairner made friends with everyone and used the friendship like barter. Broadshouldered, pretty, golden skinned, he might as well be sticky-tar and womenchew beetles. He attracted them just the same. Only they didnt end up inFarmers nest. He took their treats and presentsthen they found themselvessleeping under someone else. Asked about it, Sarge just said, hes kind to hisfriends. But which friends?

Damn you, Sargecant be dead. AndPhil? Stalts shuddered. He and the lieuied been a team for a decade. Cant bedead! Dont leave me alone with Fairner. Fairner lied. He clung to thatthought.

Cap? The nickwaited for an answer.

Redeye, he said. Redeyesthe nearest rally station. If there was a rally.

Fairners breathhissed loud in his ear. The tuber knew how to figure the odds too.

Where you hurt?

Bruises. Im Allright. But Fairner always lied Got to get Doyle off my foot.

He watched Farmerssilhouette struggle with a darker blob. Having worked this game for twentyyearstwenty?heknewfocusing now would be a mistake.

B-b-blithin hell Fairners cursebroke on a sob. Stalts squeezed his eyes closed. But he couldnt escape thesmellblood, intestinal bacteriaall of it. The kid flopped at his side, curledup knees to chest and shivered so hard their armor tapped together in a clickysong.

Kid?

Fairner hiccuped.Stalts let him be, husbanding his own strength. The Schoxs might come foraging And it would getdamn cold out here after dark with his armor pierced. They needed to move. IfFairner would just do something with his leg.

Kid?

Unnh. Fairnersounded shakier than ever. Im fi The kid gagged and gulped air.

Stalts gritted histeeth, figuring they were finished. But Fairner struggled up, breath raspingloud against the slaughter field silence surrounding them, strangled a moan,controlled his stomach and pushed onto his feet.

I can see Corky.The kid sucked a long breath and held it. I can get the medpak. Its just a fewmeters. It surprised Stalts that Fairner waited for his order.

Go.

Panic rising, lyingstill, eyes closed, he listened to the kids footsteps move away. Patience. ButFairner didnt return. He opened his eyes and raised his head. A blur of red splatteredhell surrounded him. Nothing moved. He lay back. Panic hovered over his heartand clenched his chest. Call out, he thought, call A single, shortwhistle, like a toot on a musical pipe, startled the breath from him.

Gods, they got him.But there should be more piping. The Schoxs were moving wary. And, hed hearthe fight if they caught Fairner. The kid must either be gone or grounded toofar away to warn him. He lay slack, listening, just listening.

A scream froze hisgut. Dont let it be Fairner. The scream faded. Dear, demon-damned, how couldhe wish someone else dead rather than the kid? But Fairner stood between himand his own death. Shuffling footsteps soundeddragging and rustling Schoxs. Thefootsteps stopped. Below, he thought, beneath the lip of the hill where histroop had stood to fight. Something plopped. Something slurped.

Dont move. Be Allright. Lie stillbefine. His stomach swelled against his diaphragm, and he couldnt find enoughoxygen. But better to meet a full Schox than a hungry one.

He held on,struggling to control his breathing, his stomach, his bowels, struggling not tomake a sound.

The feeding slowed.Gulping faded to snorts and gruntsthen shuffling that moved away. A whistlesounded, faint and distant. Finally, only the evening breeze rustled overcorpses and shattered armor. Staltss leg ached. Chill air seeped through hishides chinks and cracks, growing cooler. A stray puff found the burns on hisface. He shivered.

Had Fairner beenthe main course? Had the nick deserted before the Schoxs arrived? Or decidedhis captain was filleted, and why face the remains? He wouldnt blame a man forthat, not even Fairner.

Something rustledclose, not thewind. His gut bunched, and his bowel threatened.

Cap?

Breath explodedoutward. His eyes flipped open, staring at a darkening sky and a horrid shadowfigure.

Damnit, Kid.

Blinking, hesteadied. His vision cleared. Coated in gore, one arm of his hide quilled withshrapnel, Fairner looked monstrous. Stalts sucked a deep breath. He could see.

I got it. Fairnerdropped a pack at his side and collapsed onto it. You need more damper beforeI do your leg? The kid sounded unreasonably calm.

Just a graze. Hematched Fairners tone. But opening his hide again, he wished with all hisheart he dared gaze out. A needler brushed his arm.

All right?

Yeah. He waited.The drift came just right. He hadnt realized how much he hurt. Tha The sight ofFairner spreading a puff-splint next his twisted leg took his breath again.

Here goes. Thekids jerky movements betrayed the calm in his voice.

Fairner lifted. Heswallowed a scream and grabbed the kids arm.

Fairner yanked. Heyelped. Pain paralyzed him. Then the splint puffed, and the agony spiraleddown. He collapsed beneath Fairners fussing.

Close your eyes,Cap.

They were. Hisbroken view plate creaked open. Chill mist hissed over his face, sealing andsoothing.

Look at me.

He obeyed, andbefore he could focus, liquid slopped into his eyessuperplus salinesolutionblessed relief. Blinking, he rolled his head to keep the stuff out ofhis nose. A cloth blotted the excess. Fairners armored fingers fumbled a tabbehind his earan MVB, multi-viral- bioto stop infection.

Gotta move, Cap.Fairner closed the remains of his view plate. Now.

What about you?Your arm?

Took care of itwaiting for the Schoxs to leave. The kids breath panted against his ear. Damn.I thought they ate you.

I thoughtyou. He grippedthe tubers shoulder. Fairner shuddered. Armored arms slid around his chest andlifted. Hed forgotten how strong the kid waswhen the nick felt like exertinghimself. In camp, Fairner stood up first for dietary duty and last for anythingelse. Like a trained scoot, everything the kid did willingly had to do withfood. Ought to have Curly check him.

No. Curlys dead.Curlys dead. He shook and trembled. Fairner, in the middle of trying to lifthim onto one shoulder while hefting his big firetube over the other, staggeredand fell. He fell on the kid, yelping with pain. Fairner clamped an arm aroundhim and hugged.

Cap? Fairner heldon. Cap. I know. I know.

If the bastard hadsaid, its All right, he might have killed him. But the I know sounded true, asif an old man spoke, who really did know. The shaking stopped. Stalts laystill, face against the kids shoulder. Then Fairner lost it, went stiff,helmet hissing open, and rolled away to bucket convulsively. That steadiedStalts. This bastard was the last damned bit of his command, the end of hiscommand. But captains took care of their people, and the kid needed help.Squirming awkwardly with his splinted leg, he reached a palm under Fairnershelmet and lifted it out of the muck. The kid shook, and the kid whimpered,then took two big breaths and pulled himself together.

Gotta move, Kid.

Fairner nodded,hauled himself up, legs quaking like whipgrass, and leaned on his firetube fora long breath. Stalts didnt see how the man could carry him, but Fairnerreached for the medpak too.

Leave it. Fairnerlet it go. Leave the tube.

Against regs, Cap.Fairners voice rose shrill, hysteria threatening.

Whatever you want.

A tubers launchwas a tubers life. It was no time to upset that balance. And maybe hed nevergiven the kid enough allowance for being the sort of madman it took to wieldsuch a maniacal weapon. Fairner set the tube down just long enough to heft himonto his back, then gathered it up again, locking it in place down his rightside. Through the jarring maneuver, Stalts hung limp and cooperative in spiteof a thin spot in his damper buffer. Hold on, Cap. Fairner swayed, thensteadied. Stalts held on.

But every way thekid turned another body, another one of his soldiers lay torn to shreds. LittleIva stared out of her view plate as beautiful as ever, except she hadnt anybody. The sight cut a hole in him too deep to heal. Fairner didnt make asound. He figured the kid wasnt looking anymore. Or maybe it just didnt meananything to the nick. Stalts cried. The kid hadnt lied.

Fairner walked,moving them from nightmare to nightmare, trudging off the rise. The lastglimmer of light disappeared from the shrouded sky. Fairner kept walking, usingenhancers and heat sensors. Staltss own glowed a halo around his shatteredview plate. He hung a helpless burden on the kids back and began to doubt. Hedprayed for Fairner to come back and haul him out of this mess. But alone, thekid could survivethelast of his troop. Why should he kill them every one?

Better stash me.

No.

Thats an order.

Fairner walked,only slowing as they came off the rise and into the shadows of a guttedbuilding complex. They could hide in the ruins, but so could Schoxs. Put medown. The kid walked. Idiot. Fairner tripped. One knee buckled, and the kidlanded on it with a grunt. Stalts rolled off, taking a crack from Fairnersfiretube that set his ears ringing. Damn. Theyd passed a hundred spots whereFairner could have left him. Tubers were always fritzed.

Fairner, youreinsubordinate.

And youredelirious. The kids chest bladder wheezed against him.

Youre stupid. Yourenot doing any good. Find me a place, get to rally and send rescue back.

What if there isnta rally?

Then were bothSchox fodder. Piss on the kid. At least youll save yourself some pain in themeantime.

Youre wrong.Fairner grabbed an arm, slid his shoulder beneath it and lifted Stalts onto hisfeet. Walk.

He didsort ofbalancingon the splint, gritting his teeth against the pain in his other leg. Theirprogress was slow and hard on him. But Fairners breathing steadied. Theysettled into a haphazard rhythm while his mind wandered.

The nick shouldleave him. What was he going back to anyway? A captain that got his troop blownthe hell away wouldnt find willing recruits to form a new one. No Command.Maybe no legs. No Phil. No Iva. No anyone. What would he do?

Cap?

He caught himself,realized hed giggled aloud. Worrying about what he would do, when there wasntdamn gonna be a would. You laughing, Buggs? The odds of them living were thelittle bookies kind of bet. Stalts felt himself grin like an idiot.

More damper? Fairnersvoice shook.

No. He squashedhysteria. You take a hit.

No.

How deep is thatstuff hanging out of your arm?

Skin deep.

Hope you got thickskin.

Fairner laughed. Itsurprised Stalts all to hell. Well, good, hed done something right by the kid.But then he slipped, taking them down.

Get up. Fairnerrecovered with an effort. Youre wearing me out.

Leave me.

No.

Arguing got themnowhere. He stood still while the tuber wrestled him aboard and started off ata better pace than theyd been making. Teeth clenched, he rode it out. Fairnermustve taken a shot to the head to put this much effort into anything. It wasntlike the nick, not at all. But the kids brain would activate eventually.

* * * *

He woke in darkness, on the ground.Finally. The kid found some sense. But something stirredFairner, not gone atall. Stalts lay still, listening, trying to think. Were they hiding? Did hedare make a sound? He decided a Schox could hear Fairners panting half acrossthe city, so there couldnt be any around.

Kid? He gropedfor Farmers helmet and found it open. The nick had outrun his internal oxygenproduction. Kid?

Salright. Theanswer came weak and breathy.

Damper?

Yeahneedler in mybelt. My right.

Stalts found it byfeel, activated it the same way.

Is it set?

Yeah.

Gonna open?

Cant open the sleeves.

Whats wrong withthe other one?

Same thing. I justclipped the shrapnel ends off so I could carry you.

Damnit, Kid.

Do it in my neck.

Youll pass out.

Thats why Icrawled in here.

Except for theragged glow of his sensor lights, Stalts couldnt see what here meant. Hereached a hand above his head and encountered a coved ceiling. When he rolledto straighten his leg, the floor seeped and settled, a pile of rubble. If theplace didnt cave in on them, it was a good spot. Rorschoxs wereclaustrophobic.

He ran his fingersdown Farmers sweaty jaw, found the hollow of the kids throat and pressed theneedier to it. The tubers breathing slowed, muscles relaxing. Stalts slid hisfingers to Farmers pulse. It beat like a force stream. Damn.

Cocking his head,he finally found a small piece of view plate through which he made out the kidsface. The mans heat color wasnt good. He shifted. Fairner startled, startlinghim. Cap?

Relax. Your heartsbeating.

Farmers breathhissed out. Stalts felt for fever. The kids face turned into his handwarm. Too warm? Caphungry. Hungry?What was happening with the kid?

Illget it. He reached for the regulation food pocket on the kids left bandolier.

Other side.

You got extras? Hehesitated.

Yeah. The kidsvoice faded.

This one? Hetapped the corresponding pocket on the right bandolier.

Yeah.

He dug out twopackets, angling his head and closing one eye to focus through his patch ofintact view plate. The extras were illegal slosh, subspecies mix that wouldfill a man if he could stomach it. He cocked his head farther.

Bad stuff, Kid.Youll bucket.

Im used to it.Please. Im starving.

Fairners voiceshook. Stalts sighed. Damn, it was most of the day since theyd eaten, andFairnerd worked like a q-mule.

I got regular

No. The kidsvoice broke. Regular wont keep me going.

And finallyStalts understood.Funny smelling breath, always scrounging after food, inhuman strength,accelerated pulse The kid was hiding, playing an obscene game.

Youre a blesseddamn breed, arent you, Fairner?

Yeah.

He started tocurse. But the kid shuddered so hard it jolted right through him, and heremembered this was his troop, the nicks life his responsibility. And he owedthe breed his own. Damn. He rolled onto his back and stared at the fritzinghalo of his sensors.

Cap, please.

His hand stillgripped the ration packets. He opened one and held it out to the kid.

Cant raise myarms anymore.

Lords, hand-feedinga breed. No wonder they forced the kid on him. Give it to Stalts, hes too oldto notice. He slit a corner, squinted through his bit of usable view plate andheld the rations packet to Fairners lips. The kid sucked.

More.

He opened thesecond packet. The first held enough to make a Homo sapiens s. sick already. SoFairner was definitely Homo s. something-or-other else.

Armys a piss poorplace to hide.

No. Fairnerswallowed. Its a good place to hide. Just not damn safe. Bitter amusementtinged the breeds voice, and Stalts relaxed a little.

How do you getenough of the right food?

Dont. I gamblefor field rations and save them for maneuvers. In camp, I scrounge.

I noticed. Did yousteal my Holinmas pudding? Hed wanted to kill for that theft, still had anurge to strangle Fairner.

No. Fairnerrolled his head away from the rations packet. But I probably ate it.

So who stole it?

Maybe Iva.Fairners voice shook. Stalts exploded inside.

She wouldnt. Hisfists balled. The nick had no right.

She would. Youwere getting pudgysoft.Shed do anything for your own good. But she probably didnt. More like Trixieand Texie. Theyd take anything.

Youre lying. Histhroat tightened another notch. The part about Iva was true, but not the twins.Id know if I had thieves.

We were all usedto it. No one complained. If you needed something, it was safe. If you didnt,and they did, they borrowed it. Theyd bring it back when they finished with itor leave something else. Theyre Fairner hesitated, voice breaking, theywere Normans, but adopted Bhsi culture. Stalts hadnt known the last. Fairnersighed. They didnt take that much.

Stalts hung overthe breed stunned, mind wandering to better times. Damn.

Someone left me acake later, he said.

Them.

It hurthurt bad that thisfreak knew anything about his own people that he didnt. Damn.

Fairner choked. Hegrabbed the kids collar spigot and pushed it against fevered lips. Sucking,Fairner choked again, but finally settled with a moan.

That damper shouldbe working better.

Doing as good asever.

Damn. What areyou?

Half s.s., alittle Rigl, a little Ush-shangie.

Two subspecies, thelast barely sapiens however pretty the things were. Common sense said that apersons non-norm physical requirements should be known by the commandingofficer. But regulation, this one time, favored the breeds. If they could pass,nothing said they had to reveal their genetics to anyone, not even the troopmedic. Some breeds would rather die of misdiagnosis than take a chance on theirfellow soldiers finding them out.

Did Curly know?

Just abouteverybody knew or guessed.

Stalts felt therubble running out from under him. Hed thought he knew his troop. Damn them.Damn them for dying on him.

Why didnt anyonetell me?

Maybe the way youtreated me, they figured you knew.

He treat the kidthat bad?

You had womenflocking from every troop in regiment. Did they all know?

No. Fairnersvoice dropped. I needed their presents, but it wasnt right to take advantage.

So you let yourfriends sleep with them?

Fairner didntanswer. Stalts slammed a fist against rubble. Fairner sobbed. Damnit.

Stalts couldntmove. It didnt matter that the man hurt, didnt matter hed been a fool toforget Iva and Doyle, Curly and the twins and all the others were Farmerstroop too. He couldnt move, just sat while the kid cried, lost in bad damper.

Eventually Fairnerfell asleep, at least he shut up. Stalts wriggled around until he faced thedim, distant circle of glare that marked their egress from this hell pit. Heshouldnt have shook the kid up, was sorry he knew about the kid, was evensorrier Fairnerd ever been born.

Shouldnt havebeen, the triple scumming abomination. Oh damn, he was sorry everyone was dead.

He drew hisTri-S-10, resting it on a fallen construction block. Those sorries couldnt behelped, but he owed the kid enough to watch over his sleep.

* * * *

Clank.

He shivered awake.Clank.

He reached forFairner, but the kid was already moving. Injured arms pinned to his ribplates,Fairner wriggled near. A call echoed through the building rubble. A low humvibrated the air. Stalts cocked his head. The kid stared back at him.

Rorschoxs.

Fairner grabbed thefiretube, his movements desperate and awkward, his breathing short. Staltsclenched the kids shoulder, stoppingBaammmmm.

The blast slammedthem flat. Rubble rained on their heads. Stalts wrapped his arms about hisweakened helm and prayed.

Baammmm. A secondjolt rained more garbage. Baammmm. Damnit. The shockwave passed. The bigtine-gun whined as it recharged. The Schoxs had a firing pad outside. Heslapped Fairners rump, and they scrabbled forward, the noise of their progressmasked by the guns growl. Fairner rose into a crouch, his big tube tuckedunder one arm, dragging the end of it.

Stalts counted.Twenty seconds. The guns whine built to a shriek. Ten.

Fairner hit theground in front him, armored body shielding his from the forward shockwave. Hewondered as the gun pound-pound-pounded again, if Fairners positioning wasintentional protection. Thirty seconds. They started crawling while the gunswhine spiraled upward again.

Twenty. Ten.

They broke intoopen space next the outer wall of the building. Light flared. The gun blew. Awarm squirt streamed down Staltss sanitary line, and Fairners body bouncedoff the ground in front of him.

Ears stunned, hecrawled over the tuber and looked out on the Rorschoxs emplacement. Outside, amobile launcher supported a double tine unit. Only one arm was operational,which accounted for the thirty second pause between blast clusters. Schoxslabored over the second arm. When that barrel activated, there would be aconstant blast stream. Stalts had lost track of direction, but guessed the gunswere trained on Redeye.

He glanced atFairner. Shadow and light played wildly over the breed as he struggled to gethis arms and the big firetube into position.

Lords.

Stalts froze,looking from Fairner to the Schoxs. It was insane. What kind of game was thekid running?

But Fairner droppedlimp, unable to lift the tube into position, face twisted with pain. Staltstouched his cheek, and Fairners pretty eyes opened. They stared at each other.He leaned next Fairners half open view plate.

If you fire, weredead.

Fairner nodded.Stalts nodded back. No one lived forever.

Bammmmm!

He rode out theshock. A cave-in sounded behind them.

Thirty. He liftedthe firetube.

Twenty. Hepositioned the kids hands and got one knee under himself.

Ten.

He knew that evenwith Fairners arms half useless, the kid would make a better shot of it thanhe could. A firetube was an insane weapon. Man, woman, even a mule likeFairner, tubers possessed special psyche. It took more than training to senseand adjust for the vagaries of an implo-zionate power stream that launched nextto your ear. Stalts put his shoulder under the weapons butt to absorb some ofthe kick for the kid when it came.

Bammmm! Bammm!Bammmm!

Dust billowedaround them. Building blocks thudded distantly. He almost dropped the tube.

Thirty. He felt thelauncher activate.

Twenty. Fairnertensed.

Ten.

The tube slammedStaltss shoulder and knocked him backwards, Fairner on top. He rolled over thekidthetuber too stunned to protect himselfand held on as the prime-charged tine gunoutside went up with a heart stuttering, lung stunning, mind shatteringwhuuummpppfff.

* * * *

They stared at each other, face to face.The little pocket created by their two helms pressed together had saved them,created a space to breathe with oxygen from both hides feeding into it. Outsideof that tiny space, they were buried in debris.

Kid?

Fairners breathcaught.

We did it, Kid.

Unnh. Fairnerslips moved against his cheek. Damn. This was no fair way to die after what thekidd just donetakingout a sucking tine unit.

Come on, Kid. Canyou move?

Unnh.

Rustling sounded,Fairner trying, but the tubers breathing weakened. The rustling stopped. Well

Hey! The yellstartled Staltss gut into his mouth.

You alive inthere?

That wasnt a Schoxyelling. Kid!

Fairner didntanswer. Stalts tried to move himself and screamed, precisely what he needed todo anyway.

Got a live one!

* * * *

Captain?

Yes.

Captain Miing.An attractive woman, she leaned over Stalts. You two take out thisemplacement?

Yeah.

Damn. Miingshook her head. You got some nukes. One hell of a bang. Cant believe yourestill alive.

Me either. Howsmy man?

Be All right.Wheres the rest of your troop?

He is my troop.

Sorry, Sir. Shedidnt sound sorry.

* * * *

Better, Kid? Stalts held a water tube toFairners lips. The breed sucked thirstily, shaking head to toe.

Miings medsdamn themhadpulled two blades of shrapnel out of the kids arm, yanking the shardsbackwards through the armor, taking dangerous risks. The kid squirted blood likea stuck Schoxs, but with sealant pumped into the holes, Fairner had movement inhis right arm again.

Stalts wiped sweatfrom the kids bare face and checked the fluid push taped to his throat. It wassucked dry.

Doc. He waved ata med. Need another push.

When I get achance. The man went back to wrapping a smashed thumb.

Stalts gritted histeeth. Hed been afraid the meds would kill the kid out of ignorance. So hedtold them Fairner was breed. After that, they hurt the kid more than necessary.But he didnt dare complain.

Their rescue wastentative at best. Miings troop, a hundred and fifty strong, hadcommunications with the main army. But it was cut off physicallyoperating behindenemy linesand Miing hadnt been looking for survivors. Her people spottedthe smashed end of Fairners firetube and started digging for its power pak.Every time the troop lieutenant looked Staltss way, his expression said it wasdamn bad luck theyd dug out two wounded with the tube.

Miingscalculating glances gave Stalts no peace either. Shed set the medics to workon Fairner. So what did she want from the kid?

What you think,Cap?

That we arent outof this.

Yeah. Fairnerworked onto his side and slowly curled up to lean his head on his knees.

You ought to rest.

I am.

The kids head slidoff his knee and against Staltss shoulder. He wrapped an arm around Fairner.Theyd lived through too much since yesterday for him to hold a grudge againstthe breed. Besides, he needed someone to cling to himself.

Ill carry you,Cap. Soons this damper wears off. Ill carry you out. Fairner drooped lower.

Just rest.

Yeahthanks. Fairnerwent limp. Damn the kid. Thanks for what?

* * * *

Fairner still slept when the word passed tomove out. Expecting to be left, Stalts didnt disturb the breed. But foursoldiers showed up, shoveled them onto carriers and hauled them off. Staltsdidnt figure Miing for either kind or generous. So what did she want fromthem?

* * * *

They made camp that night in the ruins of amalt-based brewery. The place reeked, but offered solid walls to put theirbacks against. The troop scattered through the wreckage, finding tunnels andrubble caves for shelter.

Abandoned, Staltsshivered in an exhausted heap until Fairner drug him to a smelly vat, tucked himinside and sat down, blocking the vats opening. The accommodations werent thebest to be foundMiingspeople had thosebut better than nothing. Fairner sucked rations in silence.Stalts did the same, studying the breed. Fairnerd walked most of the afternoonand looked worn and tired, but stronger than this morning.

Sleep, Cap.

Stalts obeyedwithout a word, trusting his breed to guard him.

* * * *

Cap. A hand tapped his armored shoulder.

Mmmph. He blinkedinto darkness.

Miings coming.

He forced his headup, then his shoulders. Every fiber clamored cell deep pain, but he wormedagainst Fairners back and strained to focus.

Captain? Outsidethe vat, Miing stood alone. Her too casual, too polite tone grated Staltssnerves.

Yeah?

We need to talk.

Hands on hips, shemade no move to kneel to their level. So Stalts pushed Fairner, and they bothclimbed out, the kid wrestling him onto a pile of building blocks.

At your command,Captain. Stalts watched her through a fuzz of exhaustion as Fairner backed offto give them privacy.

How good is yourtuber?

Reasonable. Helet a note of speculation creep into his voice as if hedging the facts inFairners favor. Actually, Fairner was one of the best tubers hed ever signedsomething else forwhich hed never given the kid credit.

He took out thetine emplacement with both arms paralyzed?

He did. No usetrying to deny it. I placed the tube for him, wrapped his hands around it,held up the back end. He did the rest.

Could he do itagain? Do it alone before dawn?

Looking for asacrifice. And why lose one of her own? A captain needed to be popular comerecruitment time. The ARMY was businesseven more so now than when hed joined.You had to be a very good soldier to be promoted to captain, and you had tocome with your own troop in hand. People meant money. The more people you had,the more security you and they enjoyed. One man did not make a troop. Theinstant death records were filed for his people, his captains shield would beretired. He and Fairner were meat in the wind. Excepthe was still a captain.That didnt change until the accounts closed. He shook his head.

He hasnt slept.Hes stretched on damper. I wouldnt bet your lives on him. Mine, Ive got nochoice.

Youre wrong.

Stalts carefullystraightened his unsplinted leg.

I need a Second.Miing propped a boot on the block next Staltss splint. Mine dropped in thefirst fire.

What about yourlieuie?

Hes just acting.Isnt a leader.

That was tooobvious.

I dont know. Ihave favors to call in. He lied. Ill have a troop before accounts close.

You can do thatanyway, from the safety of a seconds slot. Anythings safer than sitting herewithout legs.

Hed been waitingfor the threat. If he didnt surrender Fairner, Miing would abandon them.Maybe shed leave him anyway. Maybe not. Rescuing an officer earned rewardpoints. StillDamn. If Miing was serious, he could save his shield.

Let me talk to himalone.

Miing hesitated. Whatever.Dont take long.

No.

She moved away.

You hear?Fairner, hovered nearer now than when the conversation had begun.

Yeah. Fairnerknelt beside him. Trust her?

No.

Its a good deal.Take it, Cap.

You want to joinher?

Sure. But the kidtook too longlying.

They know what youare.

Most people do.

Still lying.Fairner didnt want any part of this troop. Rubble crunched. Fairner stood.

Ill take you bothin. Miing had been eavesdropping. I need people. You need a troop. Just dothis errand for me.

Stalts strained hisneck to get some kind of view of Miings face. Her voice was wrong.

Make your lifeeasy. She spoke over his head to Fairner. Make your Captains life easy.After what youve survived already, thisll be slidin easy.

Could you lay itout, Sir?

Fairner sounded sosubservient, it grated Staltss nerves. The kid was never that proper with him.

Ill demonstrateevery detail, she said, voice suddenly husky. Come along to my quarters.

Miing beckoned.What Stalts could see of her expression looked hungry, leaving no doubts as towhat she offered now. Fairner tensed. Cap? Stalts hesitated. Fairner startedto go. He grabbed the mans bandolier.

No. Were tootired for deals tonight.

And through botharmored hides, Stalts felt Fairners relief. The kid took a backward step,planting himself at Staltss shoulder. Youre making a mistake. Miing spunaway. Her retreating footsteps echoed loud in the ruins, and a breeze puffedagainst Staltss face like a backlash of rage. Fairner shuddered.

All right, Kid?

Yes, Sir.

Respect. Itstartled him. But Fairners tone rang true, and it felt good. After all thefailures this tour, it felt damn good, even if theyd just condemned themselvesto slow death.

Comon, Cap. Thewind is nasty.

Fairner wrestledhim back to the vat and started to shove him inside.

No. Staltsbalked. Ill sit watch. Its your turn to sleep.

Doesnt muchmatter does it?

No. He slumped.Miings people would walk away regardless.

So the kid stuffedsalvaged rags beneath his broken leg, providing meager comfort at least, andhugged him near, sheltering the larger holes in his armor.

You All right,Kid? Doubts gnawed. Hed just robbed Fairner of a night with a toasty femalebodyaprospect a damn sight better than this.

Im fine.

You sure youwouldnt have liked a little stroking?

Not from her.

You ever sleepwith Iva? The words spilled out unexpected.

Yes, Sir. Fairnersvoice broke. Staltss jaw clenched. Im sorry if that offends you. I lovedher.

Stalts forced histeeth apart. We all loved her, Kid. Which was too true. He asked her to marryhim once. But she wouldnt give up the rest of the troop, loved them all,family. If she quit fighting, shed never see them again. He didnt ask twice.He should be outraged to learn shed knowingly slept with a breedwasnt. Iva lovedpeoplethats all, and he couldnt imagine a man who loved Iva letting thelikes of Miing touch him. It boosted his respect for Fairner.

Key your helmlamp. He put a hand behind the kids helmet and tugged it nearer.

Light glowed,illuminating Fairners face. He stared at the kids teary eyes and quiveringlips. Even coated with days of grime and sweat, the kid was pretty, but worn tothe bone, nerves raw, cheek twitching from too much damper. Miing meant him nogood. Rage bubbled up.

The bitch. He lethis head drop. Fairners arm settled over him. The light went out.

You hurt, Kid?

Its All right.Sleep.

He yielded, startedto drift, then snapped awake again.

Dont sell me out,Fairner. His heart misbeat. Dont go sneaking off because you think its formy own damn good. Miing will leave me now no matter what. And dont do it forduty or honor. Whatever suicide mission Miings thought up, its only to earnher kill points. Wont make a damn bit of difference to this battle or shedhave sold it that way first. The bitchll for sure claim the tine kill. She cantdo that with either of us alive.

Thats what Ifigure. Fairners head sagged. Thanks for stopping me out there.

Thanks for offeringto go.

Fairners armtightened around him. The kid shuddered. Stalts lay his head down and sleptdeep.

* * * *

They woke to the rumble and quake of heavybombardment in the distancea big ship sizzling the planet. The question was whos?

Fairner wriggled outsideand crouched at the vats opening.

Were alone, Cap.

Miing had madegood on her threats.

I A ground swellslammed Stalts silent. When things settled, he wriggled toward Fairner. Bettermove.

Fairner pulled himout into murky dawn, picked him up and started walking.

You can stillleave me, Kid.

No I cant.

* * * *

The murk grew darker as the day wore on.Airborne debris clogged the sky and weighted the air, making it difficult forStalts to breathe through his broken filter. By middayfinding no shelter, nosafe place to stoptheytraversed the flat rabble of pre-invasion fire targets. From his perch onFairners back, Stalts watched smoke eddy over Fairners boots and crawl up histhighs. Behind them the bombardment stopped.

Fairner wobbled,failing. Stalts didnt know how the breed had gotten them this far. Pulverizedconstruction stone skittered and crunched. Fairner lurched, legs sprawling,braced his feet and managed to steady, but a sound escaped his chest.

Stop.

Fairner walked on.Until both his feet skidded, and they went down, the kids arms slamming theground. Stalts rolled free. Fairners helm opened, and his body convulsed,strangling on dry heaves.

Stalts lay still.Holes gaped in his damper, but with his extremities numb, his legs hurt lessand less. He envisioned the damage progressing up his spine, slowly paralyzinghim. Let it go. He choked down despair and squirmed against Fairners back,slipping his hand inside the kids face plate to press chill fingers to the mansforehead.

Damn you. Burningwith fever, Fairner whimpered as he wrestled him over and pulled the water tubefrom Fairners collar. The tube was dry. So he tugged his own free and leanedclose to reach Fairners mouth, forced to breathe Fairners stinking breath. Itwas worth it to hear the kid swallow and sigh with momentary relief. They weredone.

He wrapped himselfover the breedforall the good that didand went limp, conserving energy, ordering his thoughts, trying tomake his peace.

Sorry, Cap.

Dont be an idiot.You did good. You did fine. He hugged the breeds shoulders.

Not good enough.

Why? There someoneelse youd rather die with?

Fairners breathcaught. Yeah. Miing.

Stalts laughed.Fairner giggled.

Her lieuie willget her eventually.

Fairner giggledagainfritzed.

Funny Stalts talkedto distract the kid. Funny how you think you know people. I thought I reallyknew my troop. I loved every one of you. But I never knew the twins werekleptos, you were a breed or that Curly and Iva would keep that from me. Didntknow them at all.

Youre wrong.Fairners voice shook. You knew what they needed. Took care of them. Theyworshipped you, were good people. You knew that, which is all that counted

Worships a bitstrong. Lying there dying, Stalts knew his troop had never been the richestnor most successful. I never got them as much as they deserved.

Yeah, you did. Yougave them respect.

They deservedthat. Hell, Fairner, Im sorry I never gave you more.

I got it secondhand. From Buggs and Curly, Doyle-- His voice broke. He sucked a long breath. Morethan I got anywhere else. You took me on, so they respected your decision andgave me respect by default.

Hell. You wereforced on me.

I know. But I didnttell them. Fairner swallowed a sob. Gods, Cap, I shouldve told them. Ishouldve

Let it be. Hehugged Fairner, pressing his palms to the kids burning cheeks. Theyd haveresented the forcing more than you.

Yeah. They hatedpeople to cause you trouble. They worshipped you.

Dont start thatagain.

Why? You think Itried to save your life for myself? Fairner laughed, a weak hiccup. Untillast night, I was hauling you on my back just to keep them from haunting me.They would if I let you die.

A tear started fromStaltss eye. Damn you.

Cap! The kidshuddered, shivering uncontrollably.

Its All right.He curled around Fairner and rocked him. Its All right. The kid relaxed,then stiffened. Zammers. Stalts raised his head and held his breath. Damn.Listening with aching ears as the craft flew nearer, he recognized thevibrations. Their own. But the crew would never sensor them in this mess. Smokeeddied and whirled. The zammers passed overhead. He clung to Fairner. The kidwent limp, past caring.

* * * *

Captain?

He woke with anoxygen pad stuck to his face, feeling no pain at all, just a lightness. It didntmake sense. You dont die this way.

Someone yelped.

Fairner!

They held him down.

Hes All right,the med said. Just relax. Rescued? By gods. Rescued!

Howd you find us?

Captain Miingstroop turned in your location.

Miing?

Well, herlieutenant. Miing didnt make it.

Staltss breathsighed out. Its happened to nicer people.

* * * *

Cap?

Stalts peeked fromhis bunk, startled. Hed taken transient quarters while waiting for the army totoss him. His legs were healing, but he didnt have it in him to try toscrounge a troop or beg an officers slot off some old friend. There werefavors he could call in, but none big enough, none he wanted to collect. So whodbe visiting him now?

Fairner.

Hey, Kid. Ithought someone scooped you up. Fairnerd barely stayed in Med two days. Thecondition they released the kid in was a crime, but Fairner wanted to leave. SoStalts signed his freedom pass. He hadnt expected to see the tuber again.

Howre the legs,Cap?

Good, but therapysa bitch.

Yeah. Fairnerwaved the pressure brace on his right arm, evidence of deep musclereconstruction.

Whats up. Kid?Fairner had that look, working some game. You got a berth?

Maybe. Been withfriends.

Fairner wavedbehind him, and Stalts noticed the nearest bunks all stood empty. A chilltrickled down his spine. His stomach yelled a big unh-unh. But he owed Fairnerhis life. So he slipped from the bunk and stood his ground as a pack of theugliest breeds hed ever seen filled the aisle behind the kid.

Speak to me fastFairner.

You still haveyour shield?

Not for long.

You retiring?

Something likethat.

Dont.

You havent theright

But Fairner did.because technically he was still Fairners captain and responsible forproviding him a berth. Thats how hed ended up with the kid to begin with,paying off old debts to another officer stuck with Fairner.

Cap

Sweat popped on thekids forehead, and his cheeks reddened. The breed pack shifted restlessly. Thekid glanced back and wobbled. Staltss gut wobbled too as he saw the tuberclearly for the first time. Fairner was a ghostexhausted, bone thin, hairpatchy, not eating rightifhe was eating at all. And he hadnt begun to heal. You self-pitying old fool,Stalts cursed himself. Hed abandoned this man with nothing. The breed hadntescaped the battlefield yet. No troop would take him in this condition. The kidwould die.

Fairner?

Cap. You want atroop? The kid blinked and squinted, his voice weary, scared, but defiant. Theresfourteen of us. Say yes, and well get more.

Wha Stalts tookseveral deep breaths before he understood. Gods, Kid.

He looked from faceto monstrous face as the breeds bunched at Fairners back. They all wore thatlook in their eyestheone Fairner used to wear with himdistrust. They wanted to hope, but didntdare. How had Fairner coaxed them this far? What scam had the kid pitched? Didthey know this captain for sale killed his entire damn troop? He breathedbetween clenched teeth. These breeds could all be more sapiens thanFairner, but none were passers, were all untouchables, genetic abominations, acaptains nightmareexcept he wouldnt be a captain much longer. Fairner staggered. Alien handsreached to steady him. Stalts caught him first.

Kid

Fairner blinked,his expression still hopeful. Stalts started to shake his head. But the kidwouldnt look awayand he owed this man.

Say the word, Sir.And youre still a captain. Give us a shield, and well be the loyalist damntroop ever.

Fairners voicebroke.

Stalts tugged thekids head onto his shoulder, remembering what theyd both lost. Did the memoryof his past troop demand that he do better than captain a monstrosity of breedsor demand nothing less? Fairnerd saved him for the love of the troop. Thetroop loved Fairner tooIvadid anyway. He knew that in his gut, remembering things now that hed ignoredwhen hed been smug in possession of the othersBuggs, Rose, Joe, Philall ofthem. Would they haunt him if he let Fairner die? The kid straightened andstood back, aligning himself with the other breeds. His gut danced. I needofficers.

Fairner nodded. Alta-Lieutenant Osh.

A huge womanstepped forward, all teeth and hard muscle. Stalts stared. Osh stared him back,her eyes intelligent and quick.

The rest? Henodded toward the pack.

All good soldier,Osh answered. I keep my eye to the regiment breeds. You got a good one, justyoung. Phil talked like that

Realizationexploded over him. He didnt have to retire broke or beg a troop. He could callin debts. Sucks, people would give him breeds. Fairner, he said. This gameyoure playing is dangerous.

I figure The kidshrugged. theres a reason we lived, Cap. Ive made this mine. Their eyesmet.

They know whathappened to my last command?

They understand,Sir. It wasnt your fault. Most officers try to get them killed. Staltsslungs seized. His heart stuttered.

Forgiveness. No oneelse had offered itnotthe review board, not himself. He bit down on his lip, tasting blood. Fairner,you damn nick.

All right. Heforced his clenched jaw open. Ill play.

Fairner blinked,his expression muddled with relief and astonishment. Yes, Sir.

Respect.

It felt good, aprize damning hard to win in Fairners game.

a N.E.R.D's Release ~~ Read First ~~.txtA N.E.R.D's Release

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