Junkyard Spaceship, page 5
part #3 of Junkyard Pirate Series
"You were harboring an illegal alien, who violated the sovereignty of the United States of America. What did you think was going to happen?" Loveit asked.
"Did you even talk to Captain Baird?"
"Major Baird," Loveit responded, dejection clear in his voice. "She got promoted."
"Let me guess., CIA doesn't like the Army's intelligence service?"
"They're a bunch of damn cowboys," Loveit said. "They knew about these aliens and did nothing to stop them. They raped our country, shit, they raped our entire world."
"Look man, you gotta get some counseling for that," AJ said. "Trust me, I've been there. Holding that in will just eat you from the inside."
"We can't turn the ship around."
"Figure it out," AJ said. "Anyone so much as sticks their nose down this hallway and we'll release that video. Trust me, you don't want to see what an angry Vred can do."
"Vred. Is that the reptile?"
"That's right. Vred, as in one of the most civilized, highly advanced species in the entire Galactic Empire. And your big idea was to shoot down the first one you saw," AJ said. "You're probably not making their Christmas list."
"You're an idiot, Jenkins and you're playing a game you don't understand. The stakes are the entirety of humanity and you act like you're in high school."
"You know what I did my senior year of high school?"
"Can't wait to hear," Loveit answered.
"Ten weeks of boot and then I was marching through rice paddies, watching my friend die. Do you want to know why? Because you fuckers couldn't get your shit together. You thought you knew what was best for everyone. I fought for my country and the CIA got my friend killed. So, I'd save the trust-me-I-know-better speech. Heard it before. Got me a POW sticker."
"Laying it on kinda thick, don't ya think?" Lefty asked, settling into a crouch next to me. "Got anything to eat?"
AJ pulled a package of precooked bacon from his jacket and handed it over. Lefty grunted but went ahead and opened it.
"I think your speech was inspired," Rebel said, appearing on Lefty’s shoulder, flashing AJ a toothy smile. Unlike Beverly, Rebel had exactly one outfit and that was a pair of Daisy Dukes and a checked shirt knotted above her belly button.
He raised his eyebrows. "Thank you, Rebel."
"What do you want, Jenkins?" Loveit asked, climbing up pitched stairs that might as well have been a ladder.
"Tell your men to stand down," AJ said. "Get me a SAT phone and turn this ship around. Oh, and we're going to need food. Anything gets in the food and I guarantee your face shows up on every social media platform pasted on top of John Holmes’ body."
"Who?"
"Geeze, seriously? Just do it."
AJ watched his video as Loveit arrived at the area where the armed guards had stacked up, safe from more gunfire. It took convincing, but they slowly moved away from the door and down the hallway.
"Do you trust that guy?" Lefty asked.
"Not any further than I can throw him," AJ said. "What are we gonna do, though?"
"I say we cap the group and wait for reinforcements."
"They're US citizens."
Lefty glared at him. "They're spooks."
"I doubt those foot soldiers are. We weren't spooks. That could be you or me over there."
Lefty sighed. "This bacon is crap. Can't believe they can even call it bacon."
"Watch my back," AJ said. "By the way, we're even now."
"How do you figure?" Lefty asked.
"You saved me in 'Nam and then again a few months ago. I got you out of Sharg's ship and now today. Even."
Lefty shook his head. "I was almost out of my cell. You had maybe a two-hour jump on me."
AJ chuckled to himself. The video screen on the next cell showed it was occupied by Sharg. For the time being, he skipped that cell. In the next, he found Queenie repeatedly kicking at the bottom of the back wall. Walking through the short maze he knocked on the plexiglass before the man knew anyone had entered.
"Well, I'll be stuffed! If it isn't the big man himself." Queenie's bright smile split his heavily tanned face. "Ow'd yah get back in here?"
"Good to see you, Queenie," AJ said. "We're back in the shit, so we need to double-time back to the Sergeant."
"Got some bad guys needin' a new set o' holes then?"
"Only if they come for us. I'm working on a plan to get us off this tub."
"Tub?" Queenie asked, joining AJ as he worked his way out of the makeshift cell. "What about my gator girl? They better not a done any probin' or I'll be makin' a right mess."
"One cell over. Get armed. We're barely holdin' on here."
He accepted a pistol from Lefty. "Not with ole Queenie on the loose. We get the boys back together, they better keep things nice and clean."
AJ worked his way to the next container and was surprised at who he saw on the video panel. "What in the hell?" he grumbled to himself, having expected to find Jayne.
Darnell Jackson, his best friend, looked back at him. Damn. Until then, AJ had been content knowing that at least this time Darnell hadn't been dragged into this mess.
"About time you showed up," Darnell said, shaking his head. "Lisa's gonna whoop my ass when I get home. I told her I wasn't runnin' off on any more adventures with you."
AJ slid open the plexiglass panel. "Would you believe I didn't do this?"
"Sure, I would," Darnell said, bumping fists and accepting one of AJ's two pistols. "Don't think it matters what I think, though."
"Shit," he said, remembering how angry Darnell’s wife could get.
"That's right, son. You got a whole lotta explaining to do. You best start thinkin' about what you're gonna say now. Just for the record, what is goin' down?"
"I have absolutely no idea. Sharg got shot down over the junkyard and then we all got kidnapped and dumped on this ship."
"What's Sharg doin' back so soon?"
"We'll have to ask her." The video feed on the next container showed that it was empty. His heart thudded a little harder and his blood pressure started to rise. If they'd taken Jayne or if anything had happened to her, there was going to be hell to pay. His heart calmed when he looked at the final display. Curled into the corner was the figure of the woman he would recognize anywhere.
Swallowing hard, he opened the door and raced to the plexiglass separator. "Amanda?" he called. The name sounded foreign on his tongue as he normally called her by her last name. She stirred, but didn’t uncurl, instead pulling her arms tighter around her body.
He slid the panel to the side and pulled his coat off as he raced to her side. "Doc, it's AJ," he said.
"AJ?" she whispered hopefully, still not moving.
He placed his coat over her thin frame, then lay on the floor next to her and wrapped his body around hers. She shivered against him, her skin cold to the touch. "I'm here, Doc. You're safe."
"They did horrible things to me," she said, her breath shuddering in her chest. "They burned me and cut me. They were angry."
He struggled to breathe. "Was it Loveit?"
"I don't know his name."
He pulled closer to her. "Doesn't matter. I've got you."
Jayne rolled over and looked into his face. She had a scar on her cheek where it looked like a propane torch had touched her skin, leaving a finger shaped burn behind. "There's more," she whispered, tears forming in her eyes but not falling. "He wouldn't believe me when I told him I didn't have an alien in me. I tried to explain, but he just didn't care."
"I'm sorry, Amanda," AJ said, smoothing her hair back.
"Where are we? I heard a storm. Are we on a ship?"
Always the curious one. He smiled. "Container ship, headed for Hong Kong."
"CIA?"
"I think so. Lefty, Queenie, Sharg, and Darnell are all here. We've taken control of these jail cell containers and acquired some of their weapons, but if these guys want us bad enough, they can probably get the job done," AJ said. "I've made some threats and some demands. We'll see if it's enough."
"Can you help me up?" she asked.
He pushed himself to a standing position and helped her up. "Of course."
She looked haggard as she gingerly accepted his help. "Tendon was strained in my knee. It'll heal eventually, but it will take a couple of months. I've got a broken toe on my left foot."
"I'll kill him."
"Not for me, you won't," she said, shaking her head.
"Doc!" Darnell exclaimed when AJ and Jayne emerged. "Oh, shit."
Darnell and AJ exchanged a look that communicated everything Darnell needed to know. He came alongside and walked with them, not pushing her for details.
"Good to see you, Darnell," Jayne said, clasping his arm.
Lefty approached and handed a SAT phone to AJ. "Sent it over in a basket. Are you sure we can't do this the hard way now?"
"No killing," She didn't look up but accepted Sharg's gentle touch as the seven-foot-tall reptilian drew her away from Darnell and AJ.
AJ flipped the antennae open and stared at the dial pad. He had no idea what Baird's phone number was and jumped when the phone rang in his hands.
"Uh, hello?" he answered.
"Are you okay, AJ?" The voice belonged to Major Jackie Baird, former assistant to General Heckard, the man who'd sacrificed himself to expose the Korgul.
"We're all up," he said. "Spooks did a number on us, though. Can you help?"
"Hang in there," she said. "You're two hundred miles from a small island off Hawaii occupied by the US Navy. Right now, a pair of Coast Guard FRBs are bearing down on your position. They will arrive in ninety-two minutes, at which point they'll take control of the Bella Cruise and facilitate transfer."
"What's an FRB?"
"Fast Response Boat," she said.
"You know we've got a boat load of spooks, right?"
"Trust me, POTUS got an early morning call," she said. "There might be blowback, but we'll get you home."
"Blowback?"
"Politics, AJ. This thing has taken on a life of its own," she said. "Do you know why that Vred ship crossed into US territory?"
He thought about it for a moment but had no answer. "I'll get back to you on that."
"Hope it's good. CIA wasn't wrong. We can't have aliens, friendly or otherwise, just coming and going as they want. It makes people nervous. Important people."
"Nervous enough to alienate a possible ally?"
"Depends on who you talk to."
"Shit."
Five
Pyrrhic Victory
"Bella Cruise is dead in the water and I've picked up a ship-to-ship transmission that indicates the Coast Guard boats are two miles out," Beverly said. "I believe I'm able to make out their engine noise."
AJ paced past Lefty. Both men were careful to stay out of the line of sight of the CIA-hired mercenaries who had lowered their weapons, but were still on guard and heavily armed.
Activating the walkie talkie, AJ leaned back against a container. "Tell your men to stand down, Loveit. Coast Guard is here and you know it."
"You're armed and have taken hostages," Loveit said. "We'll aid the Coast Guard in taking you into custody. This isn't over yet."
AJ's satellite phone rang again. "Bella Cruise hospitality, how may I direct your call," Beverly answered as he opened the phone. Not entirely unexpected, she was seated at a 1950s-style telephone switchboard, wearing a tight, ankle-length wool skirt and long-sleeve blouse.
"Baird, are you listening to this?" AJ asked, ignoring Beverly's antics.
"To what?"
"I’m afraid Loveit is going to make a move. They're not standing down."
"They will. Word just came down from 1600 Pennsylvania. They don't want an incident and would like to officially apologize to the Vred, Sharg."
He was watching a virtual screen that showed the CIA mercs still in position. "You need to tell Loveit."
"I'm calling to tell you to stand down once the Coast Guard are aboard," she said. "They'll take command of the ship. I need your word."
"Once those mercs are under control, we'll be unarmed," AJ said.
"Good."
A loudspeaker announcement echoed across the deck of the massive container ship. The voice demanded that all ship occupants present themselves at the starboard taffrail, which turned out to be the steel rope that acted as a last defense against falling overboard.
"Should we go?" Jayne asked, struggling to stand.
"No," AJ said. "Coast Guard knows we're up here."
Instead of moving as instructed, Loveit barked a quick order and then turned and strode away in the opposite direction, taking stairs that disappeared below the deck. Instead of following him, one by one the mercenaries stacked their weapons into a neat pile on the deck and walked down the stairwell leading starboard, their hands held up at shoulder level like it was all in a day's work.
"Weapons in the container," AJ said, placing his own rifle in an unoccupied prison container. Darnell, Lefty, and Queenie followed suit.
It was almost ten minutes later when AJ finally saw Coast Guard personnel appear on the ship's deck, having negotiated with Bella Cruise's crew to secure a boarding ladder.
"Albert Jenkins, Bernard Johnson, Amanda Jayne, Darnell Jackson, Joshua McQueen, you are ordered to present yourselves, unarmed. This ship is secure." The man making the announcement was dressed as a Coast Guard sailor and only held a megaphone, his pistol still in its holster.
"That's us, guys," AJ said, helping Jayne walk out onto the catwalk that joined the prison containers with the ship's superstructure. The previous evening's storm had retreated into thick gray clouds that threatened to repeat the earlier drama.
"I'll need you to hold there," the man ordered once the entire group was on the catwalk. AJ could make out five Coast Guard sailors on deck and wasn't surprised when one of them was ordered up the stairs.
"Any weapons?" The bright-eyed, heavily tanned sailor wasn't even breathing hard after running up three flights of stairs to the catwalk. AJ wondered if he was a day over twenty.
"There are two CIA mercs locked in the containers behind us," AJ said. "We put all our weapons in the second container on the left side. We're not armed. Doctor Jayne needs medical attention."
Two sailors on the deck below held rifles at the ready as they watched their compatriot approach and quickly frisk each of us. "Understood. I'm a medic," the younger man said. "I just need to secure…"
At this point the Coast Guard sailor caught sight of Sharg standing in the opening of one of the prison containers.
"Uh, lieutenant… we have an issue," the man said as calmly as he could manage.
"Looks good from down here. What's going on, petty officer?"
"I'm not exactly sure how to describe it. There's a dragon… er… woman up here," he answered.
"Not our business, petty officer. Make sure said dragon woman is unarmed and treated with respect. Do you copy? Just cuff her with the rest and assure them the cuffs are only on until we're secure on the Coast Guard vessels."
"Aye, aye. Good copy, sir," he said. "HVTs are unarmed and mobile. I have request for medical on Amanda Jayne."
"I can make it," Jayne said, hobbling forward. "I just need a little help."
"Are there any others?" the sailor asked.
"Not as far as we know," AJ said. "The main spook is hiding below decks. Not sure if you boys care or not."
"Do we need to immobilize that leg, ma'am?"
"Doctor," Jayne answered. "A foot injury prevents me from walking."
"Very good, ma'am… Doctor."
"AJ, Loveit is coming out," Beverly warned, briefly flitting in front of AJ's face.
He nodded but didn't otherwise say anything.
"This isn't over," Loveit called, emerging from a hatch about the same time the group made it onto the deck.
"Sir, you need to stand back." The Coast Guard Lieutenant turned to address Loveit. He’d been standing on the deck organizing the boarding process on the deck.
"Just need to get your name for my report," Loveit said, his voice full of menace as he passed the group.
Two Coast Guard sailors lowered their rifles and stepped forward with obvious intent. "You will cease!" the larger of the two bellowed.
Loveit stopped moving but pointed at his jacket pocket. "Do you mind if I reach for my ID? I am unarmed and work for the State Department."
"Go ahead, but understand, you're on thin ice here." Watching intently, the lieutenant waited for Loveit to extract his wallet. He accepted the credentials, looking them over carefully. "Lower your weapons, gentlemen."
"I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding," Loveit said, his voice smooth as he smiled confidently.
"I need you to step back, Mr. Loveit," the lieutenant said. "My orders are to bring back these civilians and an unusual, reptilian humanoid. I'm to use necessary force to achieve this objective. There is no misunderstanding."
Loveit nodded. "Perhaps I could just have a quick word with Mr. Jenkins? I won't attempt to further delay your trip."
"I'm sorry, these people are under my protection…"
"It’s okay. Let him have his say," AJ said, interrupting the lieutenant. Glancing over the side of the ship, he saw that the Coast Guard vessels were standing off, most likely due to choppy waters.
"Just have one thing," Loveit said, before the lieutenant could object. Closing the distance between them, he looked straight into AJ's eyes. "I've got your number, Jenkins. When you get home, look up the phrase pyrrhic victory."
Loveit rotated his shoulders and drove his fist into AJ's stomach. He saw the move coming, but too late to block the blow entirely with his hands cuffed in front. He did the next best thing. Shifting his arms, he trapped Loveit's elbow in a tangle of cuffs and forearms and when they fell to the deck, he dragged Loveit forward, almost breaking his arm. He then brought his knee up hard, launching the surprised CIA man through the braided metal line that announced the edge of the deck. Loveit yelped in surprise, his body tumbling over the edge of the deck, the only thing saving him, the grip AJ had on his arm.
"Oh, now someone's got their comeuppance," Rebel drawled, standing on the edge of the deck to look down at the dangling agent. "I don’t think I'd want to be him."
