The overcast sky was backlit by the big full moon so that most of the sky looked like silver. It had been quite a rough landing. The Star Skipper screamed down through the atmosphere, with it’s stubby nose still glowing from entering the atmosphere and it was capped off by skipping across a bay and skidding halfway up onto the shore. Their arrival was punctuated by boiling water at the aft and sand steaming at the fore, as they came to rest on an expanse of sandy beach across from the ruins of a small city.
Lewis watched as Michael tried to get the cameras focused through the steam, while Dayen ran a diagnostic test on the atmosphere. As the image became clear on the monitor, they first saw the glowing embers of a campfire that was almost extinguished. Behind it sat three figures on folding chairs. The center figure rolled a smoke without ever lowering his eyes from the ship. None of his gear reflected the light from the sky, except the rifle he had laid across his lap. It looked to Lewis like an old long barreled repeating rifle, and the side of the receiver glowed as if it were a decorative brass plate.
To the right side sat a woman in a stained dress. She had short hair and wore glasses on her round face. Seated on the left was a man dressed in what appeared to be some kind of ballistic armor. Each of them had some type of rifles leaned on their seats. The man on the left opened the pack on the left side of his chair, produced a white cloth and handed it to the larger man in the center. The man took the cloth while bending forward to light the end of his cigarette in the cinders. He then tied the cloth to the barrel of his rifle. The man stood up with the cigarette dangling from his lips and extended the rifle over his head. He was waving it around when Dayel walked into the cockpit.
She looked at the screen for a moment and asked. “So, are the natives surrendering already?”
“I do not think so, this guy looks pretty confident. They are probably extending the white flag for parlay,” Lenon said. “You want to go see what he says? Take Lewis and Michael with you.”
“OK, go get your weapons, boys. I’ll put on a dress, in case. You know, traditions and all,” Dayel replied, and then turned on her heel and sauntered out.
Michael and Lewis were right behind her in a moment. Lewis went to his bunk and strapped on his pistol belt and combat knife. He then grabbed his rifle and told the rest of his team to suit up just in case, and then stand ready. He left while they were scrambling to prepare for whatever happened next.
In the airlock he found Dayel in a stunning blue dress made of the bulletproof material that the DeLeahs had shown him earlier. No weapons were visible, but he was sure she was armed. Michael wore green coveralls with built in ballistic plates. He was carrying a laser rifle slung over his back. Michael’s light brown hair was in one long braid, and he had added a wide headband. He also had two swords hanging from his belt, one of which almost reached his ankle. The other went just past his right knee.
The door opened and they jumped down the four feet to the ground. The three people in the chairs stood up and walked halfway to meet them. When they all reached the center of the beach Dayel extended both hands in front of her with her palms up.
Lewis was shocked that he was able to understand most of what the woman said when she spoke. “This is Tomas and Fink. They call me Fingers.”
Dayel answered her by saying. “My name is Dayel. Allow me to introduce my husband Michael and this is Lieutenant Lewis.”
“Won’t you come join us for some food, drinks and a smoke?” Fingers asked, motioning towards the fire.
Lewis heard Gomez’ voice in his earpiece. “There is some movement about twenty meters beyond the fire. Watch yourself.”
He saw a couple of people rising from where they had hidden. One gathered up gear while the other turned to speak to his companions. By the time they arrived at the fire two were cautiously drawing their weapons. Two others stood watching, while the remaining three ran into the ruins behind their camp. Dayel and Michael observed this without comment, so Lewis followed their lead and remained silent.
When they reached the fire Tomas barked at them. “Put the weapons away. Do you want them to think you’re slavers?”
Fink turned and asked Dayel. “Are there others aboard your ship?”
She answered. “A few.”
Fingers reached for some bowls and filled them from a pot that was next to the fire. Tomas dumped an armload of firewood by the fire and placed a couple of pieces of wood in the embers. He then produced a pipe and a pouch from his pocket and proceeded to fill it. Fingers handed out the bowls and asked them if they came here to trade.
Dayel said. “Maybe, but what we really want is to hear what it’s like in this part of your world.”
Lewis tried the stew and found it to be spicy enough that he couldn’t taste anything past the first bite. He noticed that Michael and Dayel didn’t touch their bowls until Fingers looked Dayel in the eyes and dug her spoon in and ate some. He cursed himself for being the first to try it.
“What happened here?” Dayel asked. “This whole area is a mess.”
“Our ancestors were bastards,” Fink said around a mouthful of food. “Both sides thought they could win the war by nuking the other side first. That theory didn’t work out. Both sides lost pretty much everything.”
Michael asked. “When did that happen?”
“I ran into a guy once that said that he got a computer to work and it told him that one hundred eighty-nine years had passed since the missiles,” Fink answered.
“There weren’t many people left and everything was a radioactive wasteland for a long time,” Fingers added. “It got cold and dark. Folks moved into basements, underground tunnel systems, and caves. The ones that stayed outdoors changed and turned mean. You still have to be careful were you go, but mostly the radiation isn’t too bad anymore. There are a few cities and towns, but there are also people who wander the wastes and hunt mutants or scrounge in the old ruins. A person with enough nerve is able to make a pretty good living that way.” She got up, rinsed her bowl in a water bucket and set it upside down on a board by the fire.
When everyone was done eating the bowls were washed and set down to dry by the fire. Tomas lit the pipe and passed it to Fingers. She took a few puffs and handed it to Dayel. When it came to Lewis, he thought it tasted like a cross between rank tobacco and mesquite, so he didn’t inhale. After a couple of puffs on it, he passed it to Fink. Tomas reached in his bag and produced a bottle and passed it around the same way the pipe had been passed around. Lewis thought the liquor tasted sweet and a lot like the Wild Turkey back home.
“So, what’s it like where you were born?” Fink asked Michael.
Michael bit his lip thoughtfully. Slowly he answered. “Like anywhere, there are cities and uninhabited areas. People just doing their best to get by.”
“But you carry two swords and I’m guessing they’re not just for show. Did you use them before you got that thing?” Fink queried, nodding toward the ship.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“Where I come from people do not have access to anything more advanced than a crossbow or a catapult. I used a longbow or a sword when I ventured out,” Michael answered.
“Man, I thought this place was the most backwater,” Fink said, shaking his head. “Did everyone nuke themselves back into the Iron Age?”
Michael looked hard at him and said. “No, we were busy working our way up through the Iron Age. Technology is not something we lost.”
Dayel cut in at that point, saying. “We had better return to the ship and figure out what we are going to do next. Thank you for your hospitality. Are you going to be here for a while?”
“Yeah, we’ll stay and watch your perimeter for a while,” Fingers said. “Let us know if you want to trade.”
Back on the Skipper everyone was busy, either covering the scout team or doing damage assessment. Lenon listened to their reports and then told them to get some sleep, because they were going to be there for a while.
Lenon took Lewis aside and the two of them sat in the ship’s bridge with a glass of the smoothest whiskey Lewis had ever tasted. Lenon’s eyes were crystal clear light blue and they looked amused as he stared at Lewis over his glass. “You want the good news or the bad news first?”
Lewis chuckled and said. “Let’s get the bad news out of the way first.”
Lenon poured another round and said. “We are going to look for a way to get the Star Skipper running again but I am not optimistic. Then even if we get her into orbit we can’t get back where we belong unless we are able to accurately determine our present location.”
“How long will it take to make a determination of our status?” Lewis asked. “And what can we do to help?”
“Well, let us see. We do not have anybody who is an expert technician, but we have done some repairs on our own before. I am hopeful that in a couple of days we can figure out what’s the matter. I have a couple of concerns, the most immediate being food. Next, we need an accurate location of this rock. Those people out there have to eat on a regular basis. I think we need to find a way to make ourselves useful to them. Trade or labor. We have some trade goods in the hold, but I am guessing that your team of fighters is more valuable.”
“Wait a minute here,” Lewis said, as he set his drink down. “We are honorable soldiers, not mercenaries. What are you suggesting we do? Sign up to kill enemies for whoever pays us the most?”
Lenon set his own drink down next to Lewis’ and looked him in the eye. He folded his huge hands on the table and leaned forward before saying. “You know, I’ve never been a soldier, so I’m not going to say, ‘I know how you feel.’ All my life I have been an adventurer – fighting, trailblazing and treasure hunting. I do however, like to think that I’ve done it with ruth and honor. I can’t put you back where I found you and you have six mouths to feed. The way I see it you can sign on to the crew as DeLeah Ventures Inc. employees or we can consider passengers and you can pay up. Third, you pack your crap and figure this place out on your own.”
Lewis could feel the whiskey roiling around in his gut, so he took another drink to calm it down. He was as nervous as he could ever remember being, but Lenon’s words were making sense. He took a deep breath and asked. “Which of the options would you prefer, Captain?”
“I like you and your crew,” said Lenon. “I’d hate to lose you to this place. Much better for everybody if you sign on to the crew.”
Lewis set down his glass and stood up. “I’ll talk to my team,” he said on his way out the door. He found the crew in the sleeping quarters preparing to bunk down.
“I’m glad to see that everybody is here. ‘Cause we need to talk,” he said and waited until they were all seated on their bunks before continuing. “The captain had a proposition for us. He offered us a job in his organization,” he was telling them what he heard when Blair interrupted.
“Beggin’ yer pardon, Lieutenant, but don’t we already have jobs?” Blair asked.
Lewis smiled and shook his head. “Look, Shawn. We can’t go home right now and I’m sure everybody back there probably thinks we’re all dead. Central Command has broken down to a certain extent and even the enemy was acting as small, autonomous units. This team has operated in a lot of different environments already. The big change here is we would be working for DeLeah Ventures instead of Uncle Sam.”
Rollins spoke up next, sounding old and tired. “Mercs. Do we want to be mercs? I’ll buy your argument about our status back home and my belly tells me I’m not dead. Brass wanted to put me out to pasture and when I complained about it, Pino told me to go with you guys to get it out of my system. He even broke up your team to give me the position, I kinda felt bad about that. If we are stuck here, you’re the only brass we’ve got left.”
Telini looked around the room. “I say we take a vote. The computers on this ship are freakin’ awesome and I’d like to get more time on them. We’ve been a team for a long time and I don’t see the point in changing that now. Uncle Sam isn’t able to pay us or feed us for that matter. I’ll back the Lieutenant no matter what, how about you guys?”
“I was drunk when I signed-up,” Gomez said quietly. “And when I woke up I was like, ‘what the hell did I just do?’ This time I’m sober, Johny. So what are the terms and conditions?”
Lewis sighed. “I don’t know, yet. All I know is the ship needs repairs and supplies. Lenon wants to forage and/or trade. He’s also hoping we can find old records that show the exact location of this place in relation to where he wants to go.”
Roquette looked up from the pistol she’d been cleaning and said. “You used the word autonomous and I think that word needs to be part of any negotiations that occur. By which I mean I’ve got your six in whatever you’re doing. But let’s make sure the captain can’t break-up the team and that you have the right to refuse a job offered by DeLeah Ventures. What do you say guys?” She put out her hand, palm-down, the other four put in their hands.
Telini said. “The motion carries, boss.”
Lewis added his hand to the top of the stack and said. “Thanks, guys. Let’s get some sleep.”
When Lewis woke up, Telini and Roquette were working on computer terminals. Gomez was writing in a notebook with a pencil. He swung his feet onto the floor and put on the jumpsuit Lenon had given him, along with his boots and service pistol and was on his way to find the captain when the aroma of food wafted through the hall, so he followed his nose to the galley. Dayel and Michael were cooking, standing side by side at the range.
When Dayen, who was sitting on the other side of the room, saw him coming she set down her steaming mug to get up and dish him up a plate.
“Morning, Lieutenant, welcome to the crew.”
He took the food and said. “Thanks, I thought we were still negotiating. This is a different side of you guys,” He indicated the kitchen.
Dayel smiled a little and said. “Space rations will keep one alive but Michael likes real food, so him and Lenon went out there and did some trading. Big Brother is still out there. Get your people for breakfast.”
After breakfast they all put on their field armor and went out. The sun, at eleven o’clock in the sky, shone hazily through the cloud cover. Lenon and Fingers were bent over a computer, deep in conversation. Lewis and his team ran for an hour in the sand. Upon returning from their fifth lap they found Lenon standing in the path.
“What have you decided?” he asked Lewis.
“I think we have some details to work out,” Lewis said.
Lenon looked curious. “Really? Like what?”
“Conditions and duration of employment,” Lewis said, counting on his fingers. “Supply policies, separating the team, pay scales and we haven’t even seen a contract yet.”
Lenon chuckled quietly, but he nodded his head in appreciation and replied. “Ok, let us see. Conditions: generally speaking, we tell you what we need, you figure out how to accomplish it. More specifically the only time I anticipate giving you direct orders is if we are on the Skipper or if we are both operating on the same field of battle. However, if you should receive a direct order from Dayen or myself I do expect it to be followed. Orders from Dayel or Michael should be verified with me or carry them out. Your choice.
Duration: as long as it is advantageous to all of us.
Supply: we usually like to obtain our own weapons and gear according to our individual taste. However, if you need something tell us. We will see what we can do. I will not break up your team. We have a program on the ship that determines pay scale; we can draw up a contract when we get back to my office on the ship if you wish.” Lenon was still as a statue while he looked at the team and waited for an answer.
Lewis turned and looked at them also. “What do ya’ll think? It sounds like the captain has answered all of our questions.”
They looked at each other and Roquette nodded. Lewis turned to Lenon and stuck out his hand.
Lenon took his hand saying. “Ok. Fingers is our customer, help her in any way that you can. Meanwhile we need maps of everywhere you go and any information about anything here. The main thing is accurate star charts. I think knowing the history of this will be useful at some time in the future. We have radios and a computer for you to use while you are out there. Go see Fingers and I will meet you back on the Skipper,” Lenon turned on his heel and strode off toward the ship.
Lewis said. “Fall in,” and they marched off to greet their new client.
His team followed him single file and lined up behind him when he stopped before Fingers. “How may we serve you?” he asked.
“Well it sounds like your captain and I have a common interest in an old observatory. We can head back to Ladzoo and find a ship to take you there. I want to send somebody there with you, to look for technology from before the war. We will be ready to go by the time you’re geared up,” she said.
Back at the ship the DeLeahs explained the new gear. Included were tools for working on robots, computers and anything else with moving parts or electronics. Also they were given a medical kit good for everything up to and including surgery. A portable computer and some radio equipment topped it all off.
“Call at sun down each day if possible.” Lenon said. “And do not forget to map everything you can and send that in with your evening reports. If we don’t hear from you we’ll come looking for you, but really we have plenty to do here.” He dismissed them with a fist on his chest.