The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (mini ebook reader .txt) 📕

her shoulder to Rikard, who flashed a thumbs-up as he departed.

“Maya, this mission is dangerous. You might not come back.”

“Precisely why I’m here. You need me at the darkest hours. I saved your life in Entilles, kept your head on straight in the mountains, and performed wonderful triage on you in Harrisboro.”

Michael had a revelation. “That’s why you stayed away when Sam and I came home together.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t be a nuisance until you need one.”

“Good to know, Maya.”

She grabbed her bag. “Come along. It’s time to board. Yes?”

Yeah, so … I’ve learned a few things about life.

A man ought to know better than to get comfortable. As soon as they pat you on the back and fill you full of ‘attaboys,’ that’s when you’d best send up the radar. Those same boot-lickers sure as hell won’t be around when you fall – and they’re just waiting for the trapdoor to open.

And another thing: Don’t assume you’ll live forever. Be ready to go next Tuesday. If old man Death has you marked up in his calendar, ain’t a thing you can do about it. Just hold on tight, find the biggest, most impossible rollercoaster in the universe, and let her rip. What’s the worst that can happen?

When he and Maya boarded, an adjutant to the ship’s captain escorted them to the residential quarters, where they settled in. He said Praxis would leave Hinton in thirty minutes and the captain would brief all members of the executive team three hours into flight.

Michael was impressed. “I’m an executive, am I?”

“Of course, Mr. Cooper. Do you not think you’ve earned the title?”

“Yeah, well, I’ve earned a lot of things. Let’s not talk about most of them. But … um … in the meantime, am I free to tour the ship? I did pay for part of it.”

“Certainly, Mr. Cooper. If you need a visual guide, consult your admin stack. You should have received the full schematics by now. However, the Captain would prefer you avoid the command bridge until we have cleared Earth.”

Michael couldn’t sit still, so he walked bow to stern on three of the four levels. On Level 3, he came to a spectacular platform with panoramic viewing ports. Praxis was entering the upper atmosphere. Within minutes, he saw the planet in its glory. Just like the videos he remembered from the International Space Station orbiting first Earth, Michael watched the sunrise and was overwhelmed.

“Is it everything you expected?”

Joseph Doltrice joined Michael. The man whose team rescued him in Harrisboro had shaved off his beard and most of his hair. Michael thought he looked ten years younger. Doltrice signed on to the mission the instant Michael proposed it.

“It’s sweet,” Michael said. “I never figured to see something like this, at least not in person. How is it for a vet like you?”

“Hmm. I’ve seen orbital sunrise on eight worlds. I can’t say they impress me any longer, but do they remind me of how small I am. It’s a humbling exercise, one you will do well to appreciate.”

Michael understood. “Back home, on first Earth, we had this thing called movies. They were like two-hour stories. Space was always so big and exciting. Star Wars. Star Trek. You name it.”

“And these movies? I assume the characters traveled in spaceships. Yes? How do ours compare to theirs?”

Michael scratched his head. “Not too far off, now that I think about it. But they did zip around the galaxy a lot faster. Warp speed. Hyperspace. Got to say, I’m a little disappointed you guys never conquered light speed.”

“I’m an old soldier. I was never strong in quantum math.”

Michael allowed the conversation to die as he studied the view. He caught sight of one of the hundreds of titanic Ark Carriers orbiting Earth. The sight was awe-inspiring, but Michael tempered his excitement. He couldn’t reconcile the caste that built those ships with the assholes who used them to run an empire. Now, he was in league with them.

“I need your help, Joseph.”

“With?”

“I want to be a proper soldier. Strike that. I need to be. I need to know everything. Battlefield strategies, fighting techniques, all of it. Whatever physical training, I’m ready. Don’t matter how brutal. I need you to turn me into a fucking beast.”

“I see. You do understand it might be some time before we enter the Hiebimini system.”

“I do, so I’ll have all the time in the world to train. I’m not as big as a peacekeeper, but I can hold my own. I’m going to rescue Sam, and I’m going to kill James myself. I reckon there’s gonna be a shitload of people coming between me and them. That’s just more people I’m gonna have to kill.”

Joseph grinned. “Your attitude is on-point. I believe our spec-ops team would love new meat.”

Michael extended his hand. They shook.

“Thank you, Joseph.”

“Belay your thanks until after we grind you down.”

The most important thing I want you to remember is this: I lived more in two years than most folks do in a hundred. Damn, what a ride. I’ve seen things you wouldn’t believe. Made friends, made enemies, found the love of my life.

And how about this for a real head-knocker: I led men and women into battle. Yep! Real, honest-to-goodness combat. Pew-pew, and all that jazz. Some folks even said I was a hero. Truth is, I don’t think there are any heroes in war. Just a shitload of people doing whatever it takes to see another sunrise.

Smile whenever you think about me. No matter what happens next, I can honestly say I found my purpose, and I made a difference.

All my love forever.

 

Your son, Michael.

Three hours into the mission, the executive members gathered in the Level 2 Commons. Michael heard