Hello, my name is Jack.\u00a0 I\u2019ve come to realize that there is one thing that has affected me all of my life.\u00a0 That has been my cornerstone.\u00a0 I will break every rule out there, I will run a gauntlet of death, and I will never regret a moment of it.\u00a0 I will risk life and limb for a simple gesture.\u00a0 It\u2019s all very selfish, I assure you.\u00a0 I\u2019m a simple person, and I always have been.\u00a0 I do what I do so I can impress all the pretty girls.\u00a0 What else in all the worlds is worth risking everything for?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jack stepped out of the lift and into Cowboy Country with a swift stride that took him through the main room in seconds.\u00a0 Unlike the majority of the Guardian Light<\/em>, the white walls of Cowboy Country were festooned with symbols and flags and other things designed to remind them all that they were American.\u00a0 The United States Marine Corps symbol, an eagle standing atop a globe with an anchor driven through it, dominated one wall in all its silver and gold glory.\u00a0 Another wall hosted the American and Marine Corps flags, and the other walls sported honors they received from creation in World War II and through the centuries since until the Battles of Alpha Centuari.<\/p>\n The first two at least.\u00a0 Jack had a feeling they were going to be adding a new one soon.\u00a0 The thought that they might lose, never occurred to him.\u00a0 He was Jack after all.\u00a0 And now he was a marine.\u00a0 And he had Betty on his side.\u00a0 He looked over at where she walked beside him with a smile that she answered.\u00a0 Not to mention Hal and his<\/em> guns of course.\u00a0 With all of that arrayed against them, the Chinese didn\u2019t have a chance.<\/p>\n Jack left the main room behind and walked into a long corridor leading to the launch bay.\u00a0 Hatches on either side opened into the sleeping quarters belonging to each pilot.\u00a0 Sixteen private rooms in all, he idly wondered how Hal had built them.\u00a0 There had only been ten the last time he was here, one for each Cowboy on the Guardian Light<\/em>.\u00a0 Of course, he\u2019d learned never to underestimate the old battleship when it came to being able to rebuild himself.<\/p>\n The hatch at the end of the corridor opened into the launch bay and they stepped through into it.\u00a0 Jack scanned around the cramped chamber, taking in the stacked ranks of Avenger and Hellcat fighters in their cradles, ready to launch at a moment\u2019s notice.<\/p>\n \u201cGood of you to finally show up,\u201d Charles transmitted.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you know what they say.\u00a0 Fashionably late and all that.\u00a0 And my fashion sense is amazing<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 Jack bypassed the ladders walking to where his Avenger rested, not really wanting to abuse his aching muscles.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly if the judges are cows and corn.\u00a0 Real civilization on the other hand\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan lick me,\u201d Jack responded with a smile.\u00a0 \u201cFarm girls totally own<\/em> beach or college girls.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He glanced at Betty, she smiled, and he felt the gravity melt away.\u00a0 He kicked against the deck, sending him floating up through the gantries to where the Avenger waited.\u00a0 He grabbed a bar to arrest his motion, spun around it, and landed next to his cockpit.<\/p>\n \u201cYou haven\u2019t met the college girls in Philadelphia,\u201d Charles finally answered.<\/p>\n Jack chuckled and stepped down into the cockpit.\u00a0 \u201cTrue.\u00a0 But can we at least agree that there ain\u2019t nothin\u2019 worth fightin\u2019 for in all the worlds that ain\u2019t a girl?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about Truth, Justice, and the American Way?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack chuckled, sat down, and began locking his restraints.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do you think the American Way is<\/em>?\u201d\u00a0 He could almost see Charles rubbing his temples in exasperation and smirked as he went in for another pass.\u00a0 \u201cThose old fogies didn\u2019t say \u2018Give me girls or give me death!\u2019 because the sun<\/em> came up that day!\u201d<\/p>\n Charles sighed.\u00a0 \u201cYou are\u2026very focused on girls, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack shrugged and let amusement color his tone.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t think of anything better<\/em>, can you<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd suddenly all those fathers don\u2019t sound so crazy to me,\u201d Charles said with another sigh.<\/p>\n Jack smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI never said they were crazy.\u00a0 Just a little over protective.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know what?\u00a0 I really don\u2019t need to know.\u00a0 Do you think we can possibly<\/em> get to business?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack shrugged and scanned his displays, making certain that all systems reported online.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I suppose so, whenever we get shallow enough to do<\/em> our business.\u00a0 Maybe just speaking for me, but I don\u2019t want to surf the rapids.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but we should be ready<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack looked at Betty and she nodded.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I\u2019m<\/em> ready.\u00a0 How \u2019bout you<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJester, you are lucky<\/em> to have Betty.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack smiled at Betty.\u00a0 \u201cIn more ways than one, Chief.\u201d<\/p>\n She sat up tall on the console, crossed her legs, and smiled that smile that said he had a century or two to stop talking like that.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do I have the feeling you just took that ninety degrees off what I meant and ran with it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you know me very well,\u201d Jack answered with a chuckle.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is so<\/em> true,\u201d Charles said in an exasperated tone before the communication system switched over to public.\u00a0 \u201cAll Cowboys, prepare to launch,\u201d he ordered.<\/p>\n Jack looked at Betty and she nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cMischief, here,\u201d Katty reported from just off his wing.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re ready.\u201d\u00a0 He remembered her from boot camp and pilot training.\u00a0 She\u2019d been a dancer before The War and volunteered at the same time he had.\u00a0 He\u2019d been surprised to learn she\u2019d been shot out of her fighter defending Fort Wichita.\u00a0 This would be her first chance to fight again since that day.<\/p>\n \u201cBuckaroo Flight is ready,\u201d Ken\u2019s voice said next, reporting for himself and the new recruit he<\/em> was charged with acclimating to the squadron.<\/p>\n \u201cDutchman Flight is go,\u201d Jessie added.<\/p>\n That made all six fighters of his division ready to fly.\u00a0 \u201cChief, Jester Division is ready to fly,\u201d Jack reported, Betty transmitting the words to Charles for him.<\/p>\n \u201cExcellent,\u201d Charles transmitted after a few more seconds, presumably after getting Jay\u2019s report.\u00a0 \u201cLaunch as soon as Hal gives us a green light.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRoger that,\u201d Jack answered, leaned back in his seat, and let out a long breath.\u00a0 He glanced over to Betty and she cocked her head the side.\u00a0 \u201cDivision,\u201d he said and she nodded, bringing the entire division into a single conference line.\u00a0 \u201cLooks like it\u2019s time to do what we do best,\u201d Jack announced.\u00a0 \u201cHurry up and wait until we get the green light.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo you have experience with that too?\u201d Katty asked.<\/p>\n Jack shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cNot as often with Aneerin as before.\u00a0 He likes to keep his warriors fresh and ready.\u201d\u00a0 He detected a bit of discomfort from her about that word and sighed.\u00a0 \u201cThe Peloran aren\u2019t soldiers or marines.\u00a0 They don\u2019t stand at attention and salute.\u00a0 They grab a beer and drink to the next battle.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow do they maintain discipline like that?\u201d Jessie\u2019s recruit asked.<\/p>\n \u201cThey don\u2019t,\u201d Jack said with another shrug.\u00a0 \u201cNot in the way you<\/em> mean it at least.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen what do they do?\u201d Katty asked.<\/p>\n Jack smiled at Betty and she shrugged back.\u00a0 \u201cWell, you remember all those regulations we had to memorize that tell us how to stand or act when we\u2019re interacting with anyone from a civilian to the commanding general\u2019s wife\u2019s foo foo dog?\u201d<\/p>\n He thought he heard something that sounded like a snort from the other end.\u00a0 \u201cI remember,\u201d Katty finally said, sounding suspiciously like she was trying to keep from laughing.<\/p>\n Jack raised an eyebrow at Betty.\u00a0 She smiled back.\u00a0 \u201cWell, the Peloran version is a lot less wordy and a lot more common sense.\u00a0 In one word, respect.\u00a0 In a few more words, don\u2019t do nothin\u2019 ta nobody they don\u2019t want yah doin\u2019.\u00a0 Unless they\u2019re the enemy.\u00a0 Then kill \u2019em dead.\u00a0 Respectfully of course.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut how does\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The light turned green.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s time!\u201d Jack cut Katty off with a shout and slammed the throttle forward.\u00a0 Not that he really needed to of course, with Betty on the ball.\u00a0 But it felt good to push it forward himself.\u00a0 Like a pilot was supposed to do that when they launched.<\/p>\n They shot through the launch hatch and out into the kaleidoscope of colors twisting through hyperspace.\u00a0 He saw the other Cowboys shooting out with him, and then frowned as something caught his attention.\u00a0 Each of the fighters had a different icon associated with them.\u00a0 Charles had the face of a wolf, Jessie a fox\u2019s face, and everyone else had another animal.\u00a0 He had the face of a deer.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is that?\u201d Jack asked, waving a hand at the icons.<\/p>\n Betty smiled.\u00a0 \u201cOh, those are what the Peloran are calling us now, so they can keep us straight, especially now that we have the drones.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack frowned, not liking the way this looked.\u00a0 \u201cSo they<\/em> get to be hunters while I\u2019m<\/em> a deer?\u201d<\/p>\n Betty laughed and shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cNo, silly, it\u2019 a hart<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack raised an eyebrow at her before scanning the displays with a skeptical eye.\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u00a0 I\u2019m pretty sure that\u2019s a deer.\u201d<\/p>\n Betty laughed again.\u00a0 \u201cLook at the antlers, Jack!\u00a0 It\u2019s a hart<\/em>.\u00a0 H-A-R-T.\u00a0 An old stag.\u00a0 The King of the forests.\u00a0 A noble<\/em> animal!\u00a0 Way<\/em> better than a little fox<\/em>!\u201d she finished with a shout of derision.<\/p>\n Then he displays flickered again and he looked over to see the drones peeling off the Guardian Light\u2019s outer hull.\u00a0 The drones slotted into formation around them, one after another, swelling the numbers of fighters around the massive battleship.\u00a0 As each stopped around Jack and Betty, small twenty-centimeter tall cybers flickered into existence.<\/p>\n He recognized Jasmine instantly and smiled at her.\u00a0 Others he didn\u2019t recognize, but he had the feeling he was looking at the cybers controlling each drone.\u00a0 Then he recognized Drew and raised both eyebrows, silently asking Jasmine what was going on.<\/p>\n Jasmine answered with a bashful smile.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2026well\u2026\u201d\u00a0 She glanced at Betty.\u00a0 \u201cWe decided that\u2026since we\u2019re different, all<\/em> of the drones should have different pilots.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI<\/em> picked characters I play in games,\u201d Betty supplied in a proud voice.<\/p>\n Jack smiled at her before returning his gaze to Jasmine.<\/p>\n Jasmine chewed her lip.\u00a0 \u201cI chose to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBring Drew back?\u201d Jack finished for her.<\/p>\n \u201cAs close as I could,\u201d Jasmine admitted in an unwilling tone.<\/p>\n Charles voice cut into their conversation.\u00a0 \u201cAll flights, move forward and watch for enemies\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRoger that,\u201d Jack answered and nodded towards Betty.\u00a0 She smiled and they began accelerating away from the Guardian Light.\u00a0 \u201cMischief, stay with me,\u201d he ordered.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re on your tail,\u201d Katty acknowledged.\u00a0 \u201cJust lead the way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill do,\u201d Jack said with a nod and stared at the cybernetic Drew.\u00a0 She met his gaze with a quiet, melancholy grace that felt like the Drew he knew.\u00a0 The Drew that died a month ago.\u00a0 It felt weird to see her now, like that.\u00a0 He rubbed his chin, considering his question, and watching her watch him.\u00a0 She was wondering what he thought of her.\u00a0 Well, that was fair.\u00a0 He<\/em> was wondering what she<\/em> thought as well.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you Drew?\u201d he asked very carefully.<\/p>\n She shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u00a0 I\u2019m\u2026based<\/em> on her\u2026but not her<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack continued to rub his chin, considering her answer.\u00a0 \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have the same psyche profile,\u201d the cyber Drew answered.\u00a0 \u201cBut not the same memories.\u00a0 The original Drew never had the full scan you want to do, so I\u2019m really not<\/em> her.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack examined her for several more seconds before letting out a breath, his glance flickering towards Jasmine.\u00a0 \u201cSo you were created because of what I<\/em> would like to do?\u201d<\/p>\n The other Drew nodded.<\/p>\n Jack frowned in thought.\u00a0 \u201cDoes that bother you?\u201d<\/p>\n Cyber Drew shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack stared at her and realized what his next question had to be.\u00a0 \u201cDoes it bother you that you were created despite rules that say you shouldn\u2019t have been?\u201d<\/p>\n Drew smiled.\u00a0 \u201cNo,\u201d she repeated with a calmness that impressed him.<\/p>\n He sighed and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cAre you happy to be here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d she answered without hesitation and he felt something slot into place in his mind.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t know exactly what it was, but he would in time.<\/p>\n \u201cOK,\u201d he said with a broad smile.\u00a0 \u201cGood enough for me.\u201d\u00a0 He scanned the others, seeing the many hair colors from blonde to brown to red to purple, and the clothing styles from blue jeans to cyberpunk.\u00a0 Betty certainly played some interesting games.\u00a0 He smiled at the redhead wearing a green sundress under a suit coat.\u00a0 \u201cI have no idea<\/em> what game you play, but suddenly I\u2019m awful interested,\u201d he said with a wink.<\/p>\n The redhead smiled at him.<\/p>\n Betty on the other hand did not.\u00a0 In fact, she glared at him.\u00a0 \u201cJack, do not<\/em> be lusting after my redhead!\u201d<\/p>\n Jack laughed at the absurdity of the situation.\u00a0 \u201cI am not lusting,\u201d he protested towards Betty.\u00a0 \u201cAdmiring<\/em> on the other hand,\u201d he added with a wink towards the redhead.<\/p>\n She smiled that smile that said he could keep on admiring.<\/p>\n Betty just shook her head, exasperated.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re going to make me change her hair color aren\u2019t you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, hell<\/em> no!\u201d the redhead shouted back, planting her hands on her hips.<\/p>\n Jack leaned back in his seat, crossed his hands behind his head, and smiled at Jasmine.<\/p>\n Jasmine smirked back, as amused as he was at the confrontation taking place in front of them.<\/p>\n \u201cCharacters,\u201d Jack said in amusement, and a dozen sets of eyes converged on him with an intensity that would have sent lesser men screaming in terror.\u00a0 \u201cWhoa!\u201d he shouted bringing his hands back out to shield him.\u00a0 \u201cSet those gazes on stun!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExplain,\u201d Betty said in a tone that said he better<\/em> get the answer right.<\/p>\n \u201cHey,\u201d he said, still holding his defending hands up.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve always heard writers talking about well-developed characters telling their creator what they want to do next.\u00a0 I\u2019ve just never seen it in real time,\u201d he added with a chuckle.<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u00a0 Yeah,\u201d Betty whispered, a look of chagrin on her face.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I do got to hand it to you,\u201d Jack started up again with a big smile.\u00a0 \u201cYou do<\/em> know how to make well-developed characters,\u201d he finished with a wink.<\/p>\n Betty\u2019s eyes narrowed and she scowled at him.\u00a0 \u201cOK.\u00a0 It\u2019s getting crowded in here.\u201d\u00a0 She waved at the others.\u00a0 \u201cYou get back to your fighters so me and Jack can have a talk,\u201d she said in a tone that suggested it would be a rough conversation.<\/p>\n The others smiled and turned to flicker out.\u00a0 The redhead paused and cocked her head to the side.\u00a0 \u201cAurora,\u201d she said in a soft tone.<\/p>\n \u201cBeautiful name,\u201d Jack responded as she left.<\/p>\n Betty glared at him, digging her fists into her hips.\u00a0 \u201cJack, it\u2019s against regulations for you to flirt with me and you know it.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack smiled back at her.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not<\/em> flirting with you.\u201d<\/p>\n She waved a hand towards where Aurora had sat.\u00a0 \u201cThen what in heaven do you call that<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack shook his head and chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cI was flirting with her<\/em>,\u201d he answered as if the answer was obvious.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u00a0 Well,\u201d Betty said in disgust.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s me<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n Jack scratched his chin and considered her statement.\u00a0 \u201cIs<\/em> she?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Betty asked, confused.\u00a0 \u201cOf course<\/em> she is!\u201d<\/p>\n Jack paused, considering the best way to say what he\u2019d noticed.\u00a0 He chewed his lip and smiled as he raised one hand in the air.\u00a0 \u201cAll those characters.\u00a0 Are they you with a different face, do they ask you if they should do something before they do it?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 He brought up the other hand.\u00a0 \u201cOr did you set them up to make their own choices?\u00a0 Will they ever do something that you wouldn\u2019t do?\u201d<\/p>\n Betty frowned at him.\u00a0 \u201cThey are reflections<\/em> of me, Jack, not completely different people.\u00a0 It\u2019s like the way you<\/em> show different personalities depending on who you\u2019re with.\u201d<\/p>\n Hal smiled at her and looked at the displays to see the Cowboys approaching New Washington from every direction.\u00a0 \u201cAs much as I hate to end this stimulating<\/em> conversation, we\u2019re getting close.\u00a0 Mischief, you ready?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not done here,\u201d Betty whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m five by five,\u201d Katty answered his question.<\/p>\n Jack smiled Betty, letting her know he was willing to continue later.\u00a0 \u201cGood,\u201d he said to Katty.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sending a drone through to scout for us.\u00a0 You stay in hyper for now.\u00a0 Hellcats aren\u2019t supposed to be able to jump, so let\u2019s not let them know the rules have changed yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI agree.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCool.\u201d\u00a0 Jack turned to Betty.\u00a0 \u201cSend someone through.\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded and he watched one of the Nemesis drones moving forward.\u00a0 He glanced at it, focused on it, and saw the name of the cyber pilot.\u00a0 He looked at Betty.\u00a0 \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d she asked with an innocent face.<\/p>\n He raised an eyebrow at her as Aurora\u2019s Nemesis disappeared in a maelstrom of roiling gravity.\u00a0 A second later, the displays of his fighter filled with information transmitted from normalspace.<\/p>\n New Washington dominated the view, a cold blue pearl in the starry night.\u00a0 Icons appeared around it, first a dozen, then two dozen, and more.\u00a0 Scores, and then hundreds of ships filled the skies around New Washington, and Jack swallowed the frog that appeared in his throat.\u00a0 Scout Fleet had missed a few ships.\u00a0 The Chinese ruled the skies, surrounded by the wreckage of orbital stations.\u00a0 It was Yosemite all over again, only this time the enemy was sticking around to make certain the point was made.<\/p>\n \u201cBetty?\u201d he asked and began to chew on his lip.<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d she responded, all trace of their argument gone.<\/p>\n Jack licked his lips.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re going to need a bigger fleet.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hello, my name is Jack.\u00a0 I\u2019ve come to realize that there is one thing that has affected me all of my life.\u00a0 That has been my cornerstone.\u00a0 I will break every rule out there, I will run a gauntlet of[…]↓ Read the rest of this 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