Green Eyes
It's monkey do Zodder, you know the meaning? asked Captain Jen. Yes, Sir! work a trained monkey can do I answered. Trained monkeys are too valuable to waste on this dust heap of a planet, you are here because you are worthless. It's a big space this outpost, you got one mission, you spot a fleeing enemy pod, you aim the laser cannon, pull the trigger and Phew! Poof! Pop! no more bright bug. You got it Zodder?! captain barked. Yes, Sir! Got It, Sir! I assured him.
It's not the days with blowing warm wind and sudden sandstorms, it is the deep darkness of the still nights when the sky above is clear and the distant twinkle of amber stars fade into the vast distance that the sting of lonliness besets you. Alone with a radar scanning fleeing enemy pods, those small space craft that light up like fireflies. Easy targets, why do the dust mites do it? Trying to flee home in those flying bug like pods. Simple suicide. My only salvation is I have eleven kills in my dead zone. Just two years and a lot more kills and I might exonerate my record and leave this tiny dust bowl.
It's been forty days since my last kill, saw the wire round message on the communicator. Zod must like it here, low activity. The boredom smothers you with fatigue, not enough caffeine shots to keep you up. I doze off again dreaming of her. It was my first mission on the dust ball and we were ambushed at dawn by dust mites. Got a direct hit on our glide cruiser. Most of the crew was killed a few survivors. I was blown off my stance into the ground unconscious but could sense being dragged away. Half awake I hear the anguished pleas of my wounded comrades, a small hand cusp my mouth and I faint into the realm of deep wonderful sleep.
My eyes heavy and my vision blurred I awake. I was alive and felt the sharp pain in my shoulder and smelled the dry blood from a head wound. Trying to set up I first saw her. She was short slim hair cut to a stubble and eyes green as the purest emeralds that sparkled and emitted her soul straight through my heart. She motioned to the floor I looked confused and up came her foot on my face knocking me back down. Sleep more her command. Wait, I stutter. Where am I? Where are my crew? I asked. She explained you are here they are dead be quiet or you die too. We never spoke much after that. Somehow that small female was as strong as two men, she had dragged me into this cave, tended my wounds, gave me water and small rations of food that look like corn mush mixed with diced earthworms. What is this stuff I finally asked her. Worms and meal rich in protein she smiled as she answered. During the day she disappeared at night she would hold me in the dark for warmth. As I got better and she was rubbing my shoulder I asked her her name. No names was her reply. Why are you people here I inquire? We, people, are here on our ancestor planet, why are you, people here huh? she retorted.I guess to eradicate you guys, seems this dust ball is a gateway to the Outer Belt and we need the richness of her diamond ash I explained with a smirk. She really started kneaded into my shoulder and as I winced in pain she gloated, Greed, war is always for greed. In the morning she was gone and I knew not returning this time. She had drawn a map on the dirt floor of the cave and she took my jade star medallion that matched the green of her eyes. I notice her always rubbing the jewel in her hand with want. She provided a day's rations and a canteen. Somehow I squeezed out the small cave opening and headed back to base.
I was not executed. Claimed amnesia, was spotted wandering in the desert and detained. Sentence to two years in the Dead Zone. That isolated bunker base high a top this planet's tallest plateau. Mission was to laser bright bugs fleeing into the night sky and somehow stay somewhat sane, Captain Jen and his two air guards work me over pretty good. They tenderize my healing shoulder. At ease men, the captain barked. Zodder you piece of space scum, Nine good men died out there but you're alive?! How did you survive? Who took care of you? Are you a dust mite now boy! No, Sir! No, dust mite Sir! I exclaimed only to meet the back of his huge rough hand slapping me across the floor. Don't get up boy! Captain shouted. I will kill you Zodder he promised. Looking up at the barrel of his hand laser I obliged him. Zodder whenever you feel lonely here just remember the loneliness of nine families of those nine brave heroes you deserted. Captain shouted. I nodded my head in agreement without saying what almost slipped my mind. I heard them begging to live but I felt shame in being alive for I did not know why I was still living.
It seems forever but the comp calendar claims it has only been a few months. I sometimes go out from this underground fortress just to breathe the misty dust in the beige air. I check the communicator hourly but no messages. Only a lifeline to Captain Jen that I will never use. My mind plays tricks on me in the clear dark nights. I swear I see green eyes glowing in the darkness. I love you No Name I proclaim to the emptiness and hear my words echo into the night.
The radar beeps, bright bug warning. But what is that in the far horizon? Search beam lighting the ground, dust mites on foot but are they near here. No scans could pick up those tiny bugs. Communicator sounds off " Glide cruisers launched, these are the ones who killed our nine. No prisoners necessary." I get my cannon laser set and ready to shoot but wait did I secure the upper door? Why don't they fix the security sensors so things can auto lock? I scramble up the lift and as I am rising I can see the boots of the dust mites. Once the lift settles I see her, my green eyes and on her neck my jade star medallion. Beside her is that pink eye rat Chaver, leader of the dust mites. It could have been a sweet reunion except for the beam of Chaver's hand laser on my forehead. Don't shoot cried green eyes. Is it him ask Chaver. Yes, she answered. Chaver pulled back his laser's beam and informed me they are taking my Space Hawk. That old thing I chuckled, it's first generation it will never fly now. Then you die replied Chaver. Let me get it started for you I pleaded. Do that now Chaver commanded as green eyes eased his hand lower and the laser beam left the space between my eyes.
I would be executed for incompetence if I stayed behind probably killed by the dust mites before that my only chance to live a little longer was as a traitor if this Space Hawk would fly. I get in first followed by Chaver, a plump gal, then green eyes who seem stouter and lastly some crazy kid who tried to bite me. Enough barked Chaver, let's go. Space Hawk Twelve could easily fly six people even twelve dust mites the problem was had the dust penetrated the tarp and seeped into her engines? The search beam was edging closer, the glide cruisers nearer, Space Hawk Twelve purred and glowed and hummed. She's on, fly dark or we are dead I warned. Do it barked Chaver. On with the gravity nullifier and the old ship lifted up nicely, within seconds she was high in the atmosphere. Below the glide cruisers were at the base. Captain Jen waited for the report. "no one present, appears Zodder fled with his dust mites. Damn Traitor! I should have killed him! the captain anguished, Chaver order all to sit and belt. Dog boy took over the controls and Chaver with his evil pink eyes said release the bright bug. From whence a dust mite escape pod suddenly appeared lighting the sky. Captain! Captain! bright bug, five detected aboard one full body must be Zod screamed sarge. The captain gleefully pushed aside the corporal manning the laser cannon and aimed at the bright bug. now you die Zodder!Captain Jen joyfully pulled the trigger and the pure white beam of the laser stream exploded the bright bug into nothingness.
Aboard the lifting Space Hawk, the dust mites cheered. Bright bugs were drones, just cheap expendable drones. They used them as diversions to fly on and off the planet Once we obtain flight zone, wrap speed and safety. Chaver where are we going I asked. My boy, we are headed home to Tozzaus. Home Planet they all shouted. You see my boy explained Chaver we have completed our mission.. The gateway is down for a thousand years, by that time both our civilizations will probably have ended and without diamond ash, the profit of war is over. Don't you think seventy years of dying on both sides as enough? I see as all I could answer. For he was right I was a grunt in this war, not a noble, not a class merchant, my family almost extinct and me a planned casualty. Left a prisoner of these dust mites.
Green Eyes was sitting next to me, in the panic of the moment I did not realize we were holding hands, I tried freeing mine but she grasped it harder. Hey No Name what is your name? I questioned. Nacia, daughter of Chaver, my mother was also Nacia, sister to my brother Chaversad and my sister Claudia she answered. What will become of me I asked her? Zodder you belong to me, you are my man. I like those terms I responded but suddenly Nacia unbelted herself and headed for the ships head. Is she not used to flying I asked Chaver. before he could answer Claudia squealed, It's morning sickness, did you not notice the baby bump? You are the father and by our custom, she owns you until the child's majority. Beats dying I chirped and with that my future in-laws bellow out laughter un becoming from people so small. I hope for your sake it is a daughter Chaversad chuckled. Why I ask? Because with a son she really has no need of you he informed me. Gasping I mumbled I hope the child has brown eyes like me And with that another burst of laughter echo through the ship. In space everyone can hear laughter
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