Novels2Search

Chapter Two

Ranger dashed towards the plain metal wall of the corridor, gesturing for Roe to follow suit.

"What's going on?" Roe whispered, her voice barely audible in the tense atmosphere.

Ranger swiftly withdrew his pistol from his belt, deftly disengaging the safety as he peered around the corner. "Listen," he replied, his tone low and cautious, mirroring Roe's own.

Roe's ears twitched involuntarily, swivelling slightly as she picked up the unmistakable sound of rifles being cocked and loaded—the ominous prelude to an encounter with the reptilian creatures that haunted these corridors.

"Stay close," Ranger instructed with a quick wave, signalling for Roe to keep pace.

Slinking around the corner with barely an inch to spare between his shoulder and the wall, he aimed his pistol at an open doorway. Moving slowly to improve his vantage point, he caught sight of a slimy, blue frog-like alien, its long, dangly suction cup digits raised in an ominous gesture. Ranger cursed under his breath, recalling that the room had been empty save for the deceased during his last visit.

Inside, the two found themselves surrounded by cheap-looking metal tables, sofas lining the walls, and lockers—an apparent staff mess hall, now tragically transformed into a scene of death and chaos.

Ranger's translator emitted a series of beeps as the frog-like alien pleaded, "Please! I have spawned back home! Have mercy!"

The lizard's laughter echoed ominously. "Oh, I'll grant you mercy... You're a Garothorn Spawn, correct? If memory serves, your kind fetches quite a price..."

"Do we?..." the frog stammered, his head retracting into the protection of his white armour like a frightened turtle.

The lizard hissed, its forked tongue flickering before withdrawing. "Indeed."

With a clear shot now available, Ranger aimed his pistol directly at the lizard's armoured torso.

Crack! The shot rang out, finding its mark in the gut of the scaly adversary. Despite the armour, the lizard was propelled backwards, its head colliding with a table corner with a sickening crack.

"What in the world?" Ranger muttered, bewildered by the unexpected effectiveness of his weapon. He inspected his pistol, then glanced back at the fallen lizard, its head oozing bluish fluids onto the tiled floor.

Examining the magazine, he noted the size of the bullets—they appeared no larger than the nine-millimetre rounds used back home. Recalling stories of his sergeant's self-inflicted tests with similar bullets to enhance his resilience, thanks to a body reinforced with a titanium frame, Ranger speculated on their potency.

Pushing aside his musings, Ranger entered the staff mess hall, Roe trailing close behind.

"Hey, buddy? Are you okay?" Ranger waved a hand in front of the frog-like creature.

No response.

"Hello? Can you hear me?"

The frog's eyes dilated into pinpricks, followed by a sudden gasp of air before it collapsed with a thud, lifeless.

"Roe... I think I may have broken him," Ranger admitted with a hint of guilt.

"He's a Garothorn. They tend to enter a catatonic state when frightened... I’m going to search for some clothes," Roe explained calmly.

Ranger nodded. "Sure... I'll try to wake this guy up..." He shook the frog-like being gently, but there was no response. After a few moments of fruitless effort, Ranger frowned beneath his helmet. It seemed he would have to resort to a more direct approach.

Raising a hand with his fingers spread, he attempted to deliver a light slap to the sleeping amphibian's face. However, to his horror, he felt the sudden snap of vertebrae in the frog's neck as his hand made contact.

"Shit!" Ranger cursed inwardly, his heart sinking at the unintended consequence of his actions.

"Is everything okay over there?" Roe called out, her voice tinged with concern.

"Uh, yeah... Just giving him a gentle wake-up tap!" Ranger replied, trying to mask his unease. He wasn't sure how to handle the situation now that he had inadvertently caused harm to what appeared to be a neutral civilian.

Feeling a pang of guilt and remorse, he gave the frog another shake, desperately hoping for any sign of life. But as he stood there, holding the limp, lifeless body, he realized that he had killed the creature.

The human glanced over at Roe, who was occupied with searching through the deceased staff for clothing. Seizing the opportunity to conceal his mistake Ranger quickly moved to an open locker and stuffed the dead body inside, using his boot to adjust it into a makeshift coffin. With a swift slam of the flimsy metal door, he turned around, a guilty grin hidden beneath his visor, and discreetly wiped any traces of bodily fluids from his boot.

Roe looked around, holding a top to her chest, her expression puzzled as she realised they were missing one individual. “What happened to the Garothorn?”

"He woke up and ran away," Ranger lied smoothly, his voice betraying no hint of the turmoil within.

"As expected. Probably sensed I'm a Deathworlder..." Roe shrugged casually.

"I've been called that before..."

"Wait, what?" Roe's sudden attention snapped back to Ranger, her surprise was evident as she nearly dropped the top she was holding, momentarily forgetting her search for clothing.

Maintaining eye contact with the cat-like alien, Ranger pretended to be engrossed in their conversation as he tried not to sneak a peek. The shirt she was holding up wasn't long enough to hide anything below, which left her struggling to maintain a semblance of decency.

"When I first docked here, the receptionist had a complete meltdown just because I'm human, Could those pirates be after me for the same reason?"

Roe looked back at Ranger, "Those pirates—I overheard them while hiding in the vents. They want you dead because you're a Deathworlder."

Ranger furrowed his brow in confusion. "That's a bit racist, isn't it? I thought they were just some crazed gunmen and Why would they call me a Deathworlder?"

"Deathworlders hail from planets deemed unsuitable for intelligent life. They're carnivorous and, due to their high-gravity environments, possess immense strength," Roe explained matter-of-factly.

Ranger glanced back momentarily at the locker, which was now leaking life fluids, before returning his attention to his feline companion.

Roe sighed, her expression tinged with weariness. "Compared to most species, we Deathworlders are like super soldiers from their worst nightmares. In this part of the galaxy, where conflict is constant, we can move freely without interference from military forces. Most beings adopt a live-and-let-live approach with us—until we start causing trouble, that is."

Ranger nodded slowly as he thought, "That makes sense. It explains why, when we humans first ventured beyond our solar system, we were immediately targeted by four other empires…"

Roe's ears drooped in sadness, her face reflecting the weight of her memories. "Your people, too, huh…"

The human shook his head, a spark of pride igniting in his eyes. "No, far from it. We've been holding our ground! Trust me, now's the time to invest in human space exploration! I mean we're kicking so much ass! uh… Roe?"

As Roe's translator beeped twice, indicating a reference to a large-hooved animal, she looked up at Ranger.

"Are you alright?" the human asked.

She nodded slowly, a gesture she had learned quickly from interacting with the human.

"Once the Galactic Council sets its sights on a Deathworld inhabited by intelligent life, they don't relent… Until they've eradicated them or scattered them among the solar winds…"

"Am I correct in assuming…" Ranger trailed off, unsure how to proceed.

"Yeah… Can we talk about something else?" Roe interjected softly, her voice tinged with sadness.

"Of course," Ranger agreed, quickly shifting the topic. He moved past Roe and surveyed the deceased staff. Most were clad in their uniforms, ranging from security attire to fast-food cashier uniforms. "Find anything that fits?"

"No," Roe replied flatly, her gaze fixed on the floor.

Ranger stepped around the bodies, examining each one carefully. He stopped next to a short, blue humanoid with long tentacle-like hair. The individual was clad in security armour that covered the thighs, breasts, and forearms, secured by a scanty synthetic material resembling a bikini. Flipping the body over, he noted that the armour accommodated a tail, secured with a black frilly bow.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"I'm not wearing that," Roe stated firmly, her tone icy.

Ranger frowned as Roe dismissed the scanty armour he had suggested. "Why not? It's armour. I've played enough ancient video games to know this is perfectly good armour."

"There's barely anything to protect anything! No wonder she's dead…" Roe retorted, frustration evident in her voice as she struggled to maintain her modesty with the shirt she was using as a makeshift cover.

"It's about agility. You look agile, so…" Ranger began, trying to convince her.

"No," Roe interrupted firmly, her resolve unyielding.

"Fine," Ranger conceded with an eye roll. He scanned the room until his gaze settled on what appeared to be a mix of a maid outfit and lingerie worn by another similarly blue alien.

"Knock everything off the edge! No! Give me the armour!" Roe nearly shouted, noticing where Ranger's attention had shifted.

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Meanwhile, back on Earth, a cyborg's bare metal feet clicked and scraped along the tiled floor as he strode through the corridors of the Coalition War Council's main headquarters. With his augmented metal arms, he pushed through a set of massive double doors. He entered a grand hall adorned with a circular table bearing the names of various countries' military representatives and flags. Passing the large table and then ascending the stairs, he passed by the chairman's imposing seat before finally pushing through another, smaller door into the supreme commander's office.

Coming to attention with a crisp salute, he faced a man who was gazing out of the window, overlooking the twinkling lights of Neo New York's mega city.

"Sergeant Marshal, reporting to the Commander," he announced respectfully, his metallic voice ringing out in the spacious office.

The commander spoke with a gravely, war-torn voice as he gazed out into the light-polluted orange sky. "Sergeant, any news on your lost ranger?"

"About the ranger himself, none, sir. Our unit is collaborating closely with the scientists as we speak. Please forgive the lack of details, but I have information that his fighter caused a ripple in space-time."

"In terms I understand, soldier, do I look like a boffin to you?" the commander snapped impatiently.

The cyborg gave another quick salute in respect. "The scientist says he warped. He teleported using—"

"Did I stutter?" The commander cut off the sergeant, turning around to reveal his scar-covered face and eye patch, his expression stern.

With a resigned sigh, the sergeant pulled a coin from his pocket and placed it in his metal palm. Closing his hand, he held both hands up, then snapped his wrists open to reveal the coin had magically transferred to the other hand.

"Dear lord! A Warp drive. A transference of atomic matter through space-time using the suppression of a zero point that folds the curvature of space itself… Why didn’t you say so sooner, Sergeant?" the commander exclaimed, his tone shifting from annoyance to realisation.

"Unable to find the right words at the time, Commander," the Sergeant replied respectfully. "But my ranger, sir… I fear he is lost. He could be anywhere in the galaxy, if not the universe."

"And you expect me to do something about it? We're already fighting four wars against empires with countless core systems, and there's probably a fifth looming with the Ancient Xcierian Empire on the horizon," the commander grumbled, his frustration evident. He picked up a remote and aimed it at a holo screen, pushing a button to display an image of the borders in the Orion Quarter. "Look at this! They've parked their empire right next to our new military outposts! The nerve of it! So…” With a resigned sigh, he reached into his uniform and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, placing one in his mouth. "... So you expect the taxpayers to foot the bill for finding this lost soldier, let alone funding these wars?" he questioned as he lit the cigarette, exhaling a puff of smoke. “It'll cost trillions.”

“Yes, sir. Exactly,” the cyborg replied crisply.

“Just the answer I was looking for. No man left behind… Ah, it reminds me of one of the stories in the good old American Bible… You know, the one where a band of soldiers search for a lost private.”

“The Gospel of Private Ryan, sir?”

“Exactly. Have you read it? You never struck me as a man of the holy book, Sergeant,” the commander remarked, tapping the ash from his cigarette into an ashtray.

“When Jesus returns on a helicopter wielding two warthog machine guns to save the president from Nazi Cthulhu on the seventh day, it brings a tear to my real eye every time, sir…”

“You're a good man, Marshal. I'll allocate the funds to find that Ranger. In return, you find out how he managed to warp. I can't even begin to imagine the science behind it. I have my assistant forward you the details, You're dismissed,” the commander declared.

The cyborg saluted and promptly left the room, leaving the commander to gaze out the window once more, lost in thought.

Back on the space station, Roe used a claw to adjust the tight-fitting fabric that was already riding up underneath her tail. With a wriggle of her hips, she settled into her new armour.

"At least it fits…" Roe muttered, her voice trailing off into a groan. "Why does it have to be so… revealing…"

Ranger glanced up from looting the dead lizard and stared for a moment. "Says the one who was wandering around naked…"

"Will you—" Roe began, but she broke off with a heavy sigh as she watched Ranger return to his scavenging. She clicked her tongue against a fang in thought. "You know, you never told me your name…"

"Name?" Ranger asked absentmindedly as he inspected another pistol he had pulled from a holster tucked behind the lizard's armour.

"You know, the word I call you by," Roe clarified.

"I know what you meant. It translated fine," Ranger replied, pausing as he hesitated upon pulling off the red dot sight. "It's Ranger."

"Ranger?" Roe repeated, her translator beeping twice as it provided an approximation. "You're military? I wouldn't have taken you for a park keeper… Still, that's not a name."

Ranger chuckled as he stood up. "Military… Just Ranger. I've grown rather fond of it." Flipping the pistol around his finger, he caught it by the barrel. "Ever used a gun before?" he asked, offering it to Roe.

"Not really. I usually opt to run from trouble, or if necessary, I rely on my claws," Roe replied, holding up a hand to decline the weapon.

"I think you're going to need it. Unfortunately, there aren't many places to run to, and if you're going to be my battle buddy, you'll need to fight. Besides, bringing claws to a gunfight isn't a good idea either," Ranger remarked, pushing the grip of the gun into Roe's chest.

Reluctantly, Roe took it from his grip, holding it as if it were made of glass with both hands. "I see your point, but us Kakila, we only fight when there's no other option…"

"Do your kind hunt?" Ranger inquired.

Roe nodded. "We do."

“Then you can fight, I’ll show you,” Ranger declared. Positioning himself behind Roe with her back against his chest, he guided her hands to hold the gun properly.

Reciting the lessons his father had taught him years ago, Ranger began, “First rule, aim away from the face. The second rule is don’t aim the gun unless you intend to kill. Third rule, always aim for the centre of mass… Got it?”

“I think so,” Roe replied, sounding a little uncertain as she aimed the gun up and peered down the red dot sight.

“You'll be fine. And one last thing,” Ranger added, gently adjusting Roe's grip, “Keep your elbows bent. They’ll thank you later down the line.”

Roe lowered the gun and held it in one hand as she brushed her fringe from her vision, her ears twitching at the sound of heavy footsteps approaching. In one swift motion, Ranger pulled her to the doorway, causing her to emit a soft "E-ow" sound followed by a hiss of surprise.

“Shh!” Ranger hushed her, holding a single finger to the vent of his helmet. He peeked around the corner briefly before returning his gaze to Roe, speaking in a hushed tone, “Good news, you've got your first target— one dumb lizard. Now, think of him as prey… Line up the red dot to his centre of mass, then squeeze. You're on the hunt! Go!”

Roe swings around the door frame, lining up the shot on the approaching black-armoured lizard, only to find the trigger jammed.

“Oh no! It’s stuck!” Roe panicked, furiously attempting to fire the gun as the lizard approached, dumbfounded by the malfunction.

After a moment of confusion, the lizard flicked its tongue and raised its gun, amused by the situation. "Got you now, Kakila. The captain will be pleased… And it means a good reward for me… Now…” It hissed with a twitch of its forked tongue, placing the barrel inches from Roe's skull. "Come along nicely…"

“Can I borrow this for a moment?” Ranger intervened, reaching around the door frame to snatch the rifle from the lizard's grasp. Flipping it around, he lightly tapped the butt of the rifle on the lizard's head - human standard at least. With a hiss, it recoils in pain, as it tries to stem the bleeding with its hands.

“Sorry I forgot to mention the safety, thumb down that slide switch thing, but don’t shoot—" Ranger began to instruct Roe, but before he could finish, she fired at almost point-blank range, striking the lizard's knee and blowing off its lower leg entirely.

Ranger put one hand on his hip and huffed at Roe, who sheepishly lowered the gun. With a heavy sigh, he spoke over the screaming lizard rolling on the floor in agony. “I need to ask him some questions, so don’t kill him. Just keep watch while I deal with him, okay?”

Roe gave a small nod, her expression a mix of relief and regret.

“Good,” Ranger said, reaching down to grab the lizard by the tail and dragging him into the staff mess hall. With a swing of his arm, the lizard to collided with a sofa with enough force to wind him. “Now, I want some information.”

The lizard coughed, then snarled defiantly, “You’ll get nothing from me!”

“Really?” Ranger asked calmly, then proceeded to remove his helmet. “What about now?”

The scaly alien's eyes widen as his forked tongue flops flaccid against his chin. Slowly, he raises one finger, ready to press the translator donning his head.

“Go on, call for backup. See what happens,” Ranger said with a chilling edge to his voice that could intimidate any being.

The alien dropped his hand in defeat.

The lizard hesitated, then raised a hand before dropping it again. Ranger took the motion as a sign of compliance.

"Humans exist on the other side of the galaxy. How did you know about us? I had never seen your kind before, yet you saw me as a threat enough to kill on sight. Why?" Ranger interrogated with a low demanding voice.

"We ran into your kind before…" the lizard began to speak, only to be cut off by gunfire.

Ranger snapped his head around to see Roe looking down the corridor wide-eyed.

"Roe?"

"Uh… There was another one, I got him… He is dead…" Roe replied, giving an odd, reassuring smile before muttering something under her breath.

"Well done. I'll be there in a moment, so keep watch," Ranger congratulated her on her first kill.

Roe nodded. "I will."

The human turned back to the bleeding lizard on the now-stained sofa. "What did you mean you ran into my kind before? You meant on this side of the galaxy?"

The lizard raised his hand, this time more weakly, for a yes. "We called him Slays for Days, a Deathworlder, like you… We captured him for a profit… It quickly became a commercial disaster for the captain…"

As the lizard continued, behind Ranger's back, Roe sneaked out the doorway, only to return dragging the body of a black chitin-covered insect-like alien.

"How long ago was this?" Ranger asked.

"Around ten years ago, before I joined the crew, it still haunted the captain to this day," the lizard spoke with his breath becoming laboured.

"Why do you want me dead?"

"C-captain's orders…" The lizard paused to cough up blood. "You were a Deathworlder, we had every right to end your life."

Ranger glared at the lizard, as he did Roe now dragged the dead alien to the lockers, opening one she lifted it and shoved the body in, with a loud crunch she kicked it in before slamming the door shut. Ranger looked over his shoulder once more, eyes wide, with a hint of worry where Roe was standing.

"I thought I heard a noise in the lockers, it was nothing." Roe smiled, baring all her cat-like teeth, before walking over to the human and the interrogated lizard.

"Is it all clear?" Ranger asked.

"It is, I hear nothing," Roe said quickly, as she moved her ears to drive home the point.

The human nodded, but the lizard spoke up before he could say anything.

"I-I answered your questions…" He coughed, "We had a deal."

"Yeah sure, you get to live." Ranger waved a hand dismissively.

"T-thank you…" The lizard uttered his last words before falling unconscious as he breathed weakly.

Roe raised her pistol, not aiming in any direction, as she struggled to locate the safety. "How do I turn this off again?"

"Huh?" Ranger looked at Roe, ready to offer guidance, a sudden single crack of gunfire echoed through the room.

Ranger and Roe stood there, staring at each other in shock, now covered in lizard brain matter.

"I think a bit got in my mouth…" Roe's voice fell into a whine.