If there\u2019s one thing I\u2019ve learned in my life it\u2019s this. The enemy never waits for a convenient time to show up. If you\u2019re not ready for him, expect him to arrive early. If you are ready for him, expect him to arrive whenever he gets around to it. And if he\u2019s a she you can just throw the schedule right out because you\u2019ll never guess it. The point is they get to try to win too. It\u2019s how life works. Never count on having time to prepare for them. They will show up when it is least convenient for you if they are even halfway competent. The Shang were always at least halfway competent.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The beach stretched as far as the eye could see and waves washed up the sand in a steady rhythm. A bonfire crackled and girls danced. Jack sat in sand still warm from the day\u2019s sun and enjoyed everything about the perfect day.<\/p>\n
\u201cJack.\u201d<\/p>\n
The voice didn\u2019t belong on the beach and he ignored it.<\/p>\n
\u201cJack.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was at peace and the voice belonged to a world at war. He ignored it.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo I don\u2019t,\u201d he answered and focused on the pretty girls dancing around the fire.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Shang are attacking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jack shut his eyes, lowered his head, and let out a long breath. Then he opened them again onto the room with the bed.<\/p>\n
Betty stood next to it and looked down at him. \u201cHow are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jack sucked in a long breath and felt his body protest the action. He still hurt everywhere \u201cHow long?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo hours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jack groaned. Two hours since the last meal. And he didn\u2019t know how long since the Chinese takeout. A few hours maybe? And how long had he slept before that? He was pretty foggy on time at the moment, but he knew one thing for certain. He had not had enough sleep or food to heal yesterday\u2019s gunfight up. Then what she\u2019d said when he was dreaming hit his forebrain and Jack sat up straight despite the screaming of his body.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Shang?\u201d<\/p>\n
Betty nodded. \u201cThey\u2019re here. All military personnel are being recalled immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrak,\u201d Jack intoned and came to his feet. Then he felt lightheaded and had to slam a hand into the wall to keep from falling over as his stomach growled. The empty pit demanded more energy to continue the healing process. \u201cI need sugar.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCheck the table,\u201d Betty said as she waved her hand towards the end table. A bowl of inviting candy and a happily bubbling coffee maker covered it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat works,\u201d Jack said and stepped over to grab a handful of the candy. The sugar rush hit him like a train and he gasped as he chewed them down. Then he grabbed the coffee pot and drank it straight. The caffeine hit and he felt more instant energy flowing through his veins. It wasn\u2019t going to last long considering how fast his metabolism ran but it was enough to jumpstart him and get him moving. He put the coffee pot back in its cradle, grabbed another handful of candy, and walked over to snatch his uniform from the floor. He slipped into it and began putting his mind on the problem. \u201cShow me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you\u2019d never ask,\u201d Betty returned and the holoemitters on Jack\u2019s uniform hummed. A representation of space around New Earth appeared and he examined the Shang battle line out just beyond The Red Line that denoted the closest point a ship could safely transit into or out of hyperspace. The defenders held inside the line and weapons fire crackled back and forth between the two forces. It only took a quick look to verify that the Shang had brought enough firepower to overwhelm the defenders in a matter of minutes. And that wasn\u2019t right.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s Second Fleet?\u201d Jack asked in confusion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is<\/em> Second Fleet,\u201d Betty answered with a wince.<\/p>\n Jack turned to look at her in disbelief. \u201cThat\u2019s a battleship and some heavy cruisers. That\u2019s a vanguard<\/em> \u2026where\u2019s the rest<\/em> of it?\u201d<\/p>\n Betty winced. \u201cIn the new Third Fleet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFrak,\u201d Jack whispered and started seeing where this was going. \u201cAnd where\u2019s the new Third<\/em> Fleet?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cClassified,\u201d Betty said in a tone of voice that showed even she didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n Jack let out a long breath and shook his head. \u201cWhich means, \u2018not at Alpha Centauri\u2019 if I\u2019m hearing you right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re reading between the lines very well,\u201d Betty answered.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, this just got a lot more fun,\u201d Jack said and took another look at the defenses. They would not hold much longer. And then an idea began to tickle the back of his mind. \u201cGet me Captain Thompson, Admiral Lashley, and Holly.\u201d<\/p>\n Betty crossed her arms and cocked her head to the side. \u201cThompson\u2019s a little busy at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell him Captain Wyatt needs him,\u201d Jack explained and walked out of his room to make his way back towards where he remembered the eating room and the kitchen beyond it resided.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what you have planned,\u201d Betty whispered as her holoform walked alongside him, \u201cbut Admiral Lashley\u2019s more <\/em>busy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t either,\u201d Jack said with a conspiratorial shrug. \u201cTell him it\u2019s an emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n Betty gave him one of her looks that said she was questioning his sanity. \u201cHe already has<\/em> an emergency to deal with.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell him I need a warship.\u201d Jack gave her the smile reserved for those of just cause and pure hearts. \u201cAnd I know he\u2019s got a spare one hanging around.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight.\u201d Betty sighed as they stormed through the room he and Katy had devoured the eggs and meat in and Jack\u2019s nose told him more meat was cooking ahead of him. \u201cAnd Holly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAsk her if I can borrow her squadron,\u201d Jack said as he pushed through into the kitchen to the welcome sound of sizzling meat. His stomach did a flip at the thought of real food and he had to grab a counter to steady himself. Three sets of eyes stared at him but he only had eyes for the sausage links on the frying pan.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re about to leave orbit to deal with the bad guys,\u201d Betty said in exasperation as he crossed the distance between the door and the frying pan in less than a second.<\/p>\n \u201cJust get her for me,\u201d Jack demanded and grabbed a link out of the pan. It sizzled and sparked and he yelped as the hot grease tried to burn his skin. He blew on the link and his hand as he juggled it into the other hand. And then that one complained. He spent the next several seconds juggling the link back and forth and blowing on it until it stopped trying to get revenge on the man who was about to devour it. Once it had finally given up the fight he tossed it into his mouth and chomped down. Hot grease squirted out and burned the inside of his mouth, but he managed to keep from yelping again. Then he swallowed it without chewing in direct contravention of his mother\u2019s teaching, and felt his stomach explode at the fresh infusion of energy to be burned. Oh, that hurt so good.<\/p>\n \u201cFine,\u201d Betty whispered in a tone of voice that said it was everything but fine and shook her head. \u201cI\u2019ll see what she says.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack reached for another sausage link but a fast metal spatula intercepted his hand with a stinging whack. He yelped and cradled the wounded hand as the spatula whipped around and stopped so close to his nose he had to cross his eyes to look at it. Then he focused on the bright blue eyes glaring at him over it.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mind your manners and sit down,\u201d Julie ordered.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am,\u201d Jack answered without hesitation and moved to sit down at the small kitchen table. He met Malcolm\u2019s eyes with a rueful look before his stomach growled again. One sausage link had just made it aware there was food out there, waiting to be eaten.<\/p>\n Malcolm turned and opened his mouth to say something, but Katy walked in next and made a beeline for the frying pan. She yelped as she snapped up a sausage link, juggled it, and finally gulped it down with another suppressed yelp. Then froze as the quivering spatula froze in front of her face.<\/p>\n \u201cSit,\u201d Julie growled.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am,\u201d Katy squeaked and did as she was told, taking the seat next Jack.<\/p>\n Finally Ken strode in with lustful eyes aimed at the frying pan but the quivering spatula bopped him on the nose before he could snag a link.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you grow up in a barn?\u201d Julie snapped\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGod! Are all of the Cowboys this bad?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNaw,\u201d Jack said with a smile and waved Ken over to the table. \u201cSome of us are from Dixie. You should see them tear into a bucket of fried chicken.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHush, you,\u201d Julie ordered as she aimed the spatula at him like a battleship clearing her main guns.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am.\u201d Then Jack turned to Malcolm to change the subject from the spitting and oh-so-eatable sausage links on the stove. \u201cSo, you said you had a warship?\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm smiled and shook his head. \u201cI have a carrier.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. What kind?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAn old Republic<\/em>,\u201d Malcolm said. \u201cWith some fighters. All refitted with Peloran tech.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack nodded slowly. The Republics<\/em> had been good old ships, but the long march of gravtech had ground them down into retirement decades ago. \u201cHow many fighters and what kind?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cForty-eight Blackhawks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBlackhawks?\u201d Jack asked with a doubtful look. They had been retired decades ago too.<\/p>\n \u201cFully<\/em> upgraded with Peloran tech,\u201d Malcolm emphasized. \u201cThey can take down warships in squadron strength.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d Jack asked in surprise. Even when they\u2019d been in their prime Blackhawks had never had the firepower to take down warships. \u201cYou\u2019ve tested it?\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm shrugged. \u201cIn simulations.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight,\u201d Jack said with a dubious tone. Simulations were never as good are real life. But the Peloran had done a number on his Avengers. Why not the Blackhawks too?<\/p>\n Movement to the side caught Jack\u2019s attention and he turned to see Julie walking over with a serving plate overflowing with hot sausage links. Jack\u2019s mouth instantly began to water and then he saw Alex with another serving plate piled high with scrambled eggs. They barely had time to back away before the three Cowboys began shoveling the eggs and meat into their faces as fast as they could chew. Faster actually as Jack realized when he had to stop to beat himself on the chest a couple times to get a too-big piece of sausage to start following the laws of physics again. Malcolm just slid his chair back and watched as the Cowboys devoured the energy rich food.<\/p>\n Jack slowed down after a minute when his stomach stopped screaming at him. He had enough food down there to start thinking again.<\/p>\n \u201cBetty. Show us the battle,\u201d he ordered and shoveled some eggs onto his plate.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Betty said in his ear and a holofield appeared over the table. New Earth hovered near the top of the table while friendly green blips fought angry red blips at eye level near a solid red sphere that marked the end of any safety in hyperspace. Jack did not like what he was seeing. He recognized those maneuvers and that meant they were running out of time. But he needed fuel to run on and he needed time to get everybody else on board with the idea pulsing in the back of his mind.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t have time to get to the base,\u201d Jack said and munched down on a link. \u201cCan you bring the Avengers over here? Hover them over the street so we can walk and go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re on it,\u201d Betty said and then nodded towards an empty space next to the table.<\/p>\n Holly flickered into existence right there with a \u201cYou wanted me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEvery waking minute,\u201d Jack answered without missing a step and gave her very best smile.<\/p>\n Holly sighed. She looked like the perfect stereotypical New Japanese schoolgirl, long blonde California hair and bright blue eyes set in an Asian face. And she looked as cute as a button while wearing a perfectly standard white United States Navy uniform. Jack was certain that the Navy had specifically designed its uniforms to be as non-cute as possible, but somehow Holly turned that idea on its head. Through all of that she still managed to give him a look that was all business. \u201cWe\u2019re a little too busy right now for your Captain Jack act.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got a plan,\u201d Jack said and stabbed another sausage link. \u201cI\u2019ve got one warship already.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCarrier,\u201d Malcolm corrected.<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever. I need more. Your squadron to be specific,\u201d Jack finished with a quick bite of the sausage and the taste nearly sent him to heaven.<\/p>\n Holly shook her head. \u201cJack, we\u2019re about to go kill every last one of those Shang warships.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cActually,\u201d Jack began, speared another link with his fork, and aimed it at Holly, \u201cthey\u2019re<\/em> going to kill you<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Holly raised her eyebrows at him. \u201cExcuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re going to kill you,\u201d Jack said and waved a hand towards the ships even now lifting from the surface to join the defense. \u201cAnd every other ship that goes up there to fight them.\u201d<\/p>\n Holly looked at the display with a doubtful expression. \u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack pointed at the red dots. \u201cBecause those are the same Shang that we faced at Epsilon Reticuli and they have a very smart commander.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you know?\u201d Holly asked with narrowed eyes.<\/p>\n Jack swallowed a mouthful of eggs and sighed. \u201cBecause the feel of their maneuvers matches what I saw at Epsilon Reticuli.\u201d<\/p>\n Holly shook her head again. \u201cThey feel<\/em> the same?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I said,\u201d Jack said as Olivia walked into the kitchen with a careful pace.<\/p>\n Holly actually blinked at him in disbelief. \u201cYou want me to tell my captain to disregard the carefully laid plans of the second most important system defense network in the entire Western Alliance because you have a feeling<\/em> about the guys we\u2019re fighting?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack stabbed another sausage and pointed it at her as Malcolm sprang to his feet. \u201cA bad<\/em> feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGod, Jack!\u201d Holly shouted and shook her head. \u201cYou are so full of yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re pulling you into a trap, Holly!\u201d Jack shouted back and slammed one hand on the table hard enough it cracked in protest. \u201cTrust me! I saw this at Epsilon Reticuli!\u201d<\/p>\n Holly sighed and raised her hands in surrender as Olivia sat down with a grateful look towards Malcolm. \u201cOkay. I\u2019ll talk to him. But no promises.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s all I can ask,\u201d Jack said in a more calm tone. \u201cJust please compare what you see to the records we brought back. You\u2019ll see it too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll look,\u201d Holly said with a nod of her head and her holoform went out of focus to show that her attention was elsewhere.<\/p>\n Then Admiral Lashley flickered into existence next to her. \u201cCaptain? You know I\u2019m busy defending a star system right now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Jack said with a sigh as he mentally switched gears to work with someone who was more bureaucrat than warrior. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but I need a ship.\u201d<\/p>\n Lashley shook his head. \u201cI can\u2019t help you, Captain. It\u2019s impounded. They\u2019d have my career.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s fine. I don\u2019t need your help.\u201d Then Jack smiled and hoped that Betty had managed to get the last person on the line. \u201cThompson. Want to take a ship?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d love to,\u201d Captain Thompson said as his holoform appeared next to Lashley.<\/p>\n Lashley ground his teeth and glared at the new arrival in their conversation. \u201cI can\u2019t approve this, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack sighed, rubbed his temple, and put the fork down. This was not going to be easy. \u201cThe Shang are sucking us into a trap, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Lashley asked in disbelief.<\/p>\n \u201cThey aren\u2019t pushing us right now,\u201d Jack said and pointed at the red dots again. \u201cThey\u2019re just sitting there, drawing in as many ships as possible. Don\u2019t you see that?\u201d<\/p>\n Lashley frowned for a moment, looking at displays only he could see. Then he looked back to Jack with narrowed eyes. \u201cWhat do you think it means?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat once they think they have enough of us, they\u2019ll spring the trap,\u201d Jack said and sprung his own little trap. \u201cI saw it at Epsilon Reticuli. But we can suck them into our<\/em> trap instead.\u201d<\/p>\n Lashley leaned back and just stared at Jack for a second. \u201cWhat trap?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack waited for all the holoforms to focus on him and swallowed. This was going to be the point of no return. If they didn\u2019t agree, things were going to go real bad. \u201cOne light carrier, two heavy cruisers, and a squadron of destroyers and frigates supporting them.\u201d<\/p>\n There was dead silence for almost five seconds.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat part of \u2018I can\u2019t help you\u2019 don\u2019t you understand?\u201d Admiral Lashley finally exploded.<\/p>\n Jack pointed at the planet hovering just above the table. Then he pointed at all the red and green dots in the upper part of the display. \u201cThey\u2019re sitting on the Red Line, Admiral. They\u2019re trying to trap us. They\u2019re trying to suck us in and kill us. Focus all sensors on that region, compare them to the records we brought back, and see for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n Lashley just glared at him. \u201cAll<\/em> the sensors?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack shrugged and just happened to wave one hand towards the orbital yard where Los Angeles<\/em> was docked. \u201cWell we know they aren\u2019t there. We might as well focus our sensors on the threat, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Lashley lowered his head and rubbed his temple. \u201cI see nothing, I know nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExactly. And get the defense ships to fall back,\u201d Jack suggested with his best cajoling tone. \u201cAct like they\u2019re retreating. Like they can\u2019t hold the line. Suck the Shang into the gravity well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought they were trying to pull us out<\/em> of the gravity well,\u201d Lashley said in confusion. \u201cWhy would they come in?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack licked his lips and cleared his throat. \u201cThey\u2019re Shang, Sir. They know they\u2019re superior to us. They always have. Show them proof they have us on the ropes and they won\u2019t be able to help themselves. They\u2019ll follow us in and complete the kill before we can reinforce.\u201d Then he pointed to a spot in space halfway between the Red Line and the planet. \u201cGet them there, Sir, and we\u2019ll kill every last one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n Lashley studied the display for several seconds before asking the question that Jack knew he had to ask. \u201cWhat\u2019s there?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack smiled. \u201cIn fifteen minutes, Sir, me. And they\u2019ll never see me coming.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence reigned again. And then Holly sighed. \u201cMy captain approves of the plan. We\u2019re with you.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack barely refrained from shouting out in triumph as he finally got one of the things he needed to make this whole crazy plan work.<\/p>\n \u201cFine. I\u2019ll divert the sensors,\u201d Lashley said with a shake of his head. Then he aimed a threatening finger at Jack. \u201cBe there in fifteen minutes, Jack. Fifteen minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Jack said as Lashley\u2019 holoform disappeared. Then he turned to Malcolm. \u201cI\u2019m counting on you to get that carrier online.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm cleared his throat and looked nervous for the first time since Jack had met the man. \u201cActually she\u2019s never flown anywhere on her own. I haven\u2019t had time to secure an AI capable of running a ship that large.\u201d<\/p>\n Olivia crossed her arms and just looked at the man. \u201cWhy would you want an AI for that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause it\u2019s a lot easier to create an AI than recruit a cyber,\u201d Malcolm said honestly. \u201cAnd it\u2019s not like I planned to take her into battle anytime soon.\u201d<\/p>\n Olivia cocked her head to the side and smiled. \u201cWell, I might be able to help you there. I happen to know a cyber looking for a new ship right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack turned to Olivia and Thompson\u2019s holofield. \u201cDo you think you can get Los Angeles<\/em> and that carrier flying?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely,\u201d Olivia answered.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Thompson added and a chill went down Jack\u2019s spine. He didn\u2019t get \u201cSirred\u201d very often, especially from someone like Thompson. Thompson nodded to say he meant it and then his holoform faded out.<\/p>\n \u201cSee you there,\u201d Olivia said and pointed at the spot in space on his display before turning to leave the room. When Malcolm didn\u2019t immediately follow she stopped and pointed at him. Then she pointed at herself and Malcolm sprang into action.<\/p>\n They left and Jack turned to look at Ken and Katy, wordlessly asking for their approval. He hadn\u2019t asked them if they agreed before just putting his mouth into gear and railroading everybody. He wondered if they would correct him now. They didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re injured,\u201d Jack said with a nod and came to his feet in a smooth motion that almost didn\u2019t hurt. \u201cYou should stay here and heal up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike Hell,\u201d Ken growled and came to his feet as well. He nearly managed to suppress a grimace of pain while doing it.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Boss, but you aren\u2019t getting rid of us that easy,\u201d Katy added and pushed herself onto her feet. Then she gave him a wan but determined smile.<\/p>\n Jack shook his head at them. He had to give them a chance to get out of this, even if it meant violating one of the cardinal rules he\u2019d been taught. \u201cStay here and take time to heal. That\u2019s an order.\u201d<\/p>\n Ken shook his head in a bemused way and glanced at Katy. \u201cAnd here I thought he was smart enough not to make orders he knew would be ignored.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s pretty dumb sometimes,\u201d Katy added with a chuckle.<\/p>\n Jack rubbed his temple and groaned. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes we do,\u201d Ken said with iron determination.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re stuck with us,\u201d Katy said with a shrug. \u201cLearn to deal with it.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack snorted. \u201cI\u2019ve been trying to for years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust makes you a slow learner,\u201d Katy joked back.<\/p>\n Jack was trying to think of a comeback for that when Betty\u2019s holoform flickered into the middle of the room with a smile. \u201cThe Avengers are here. We\u2019re ready to fly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that\u2019s our cue to leave,\u201d Jack said with a glance towards Julie and Alex. Words came into his mind, things he\u2019d wanted to say for years, but he pushed them away. He couldn\u2019t just say that and leave after all. And promising to return was no promise at all when it came to fighting the Shang. And besides, they deserved better. He forced that line of thought out of his mind and gave them his best smile. \u201cDon\u2019t worry. The Shang\u2019ll never know what hit them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd here I thought you always told them before you opened fire,\u201d Alex returned with a raised eyebrow and crossed arms.<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2026not always,\u201d Jack answered with a wince. \u201cJust on days when I\u2019m feeling particularly lippy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd today?\u201d Julie asked with a look of uncertainty.<\/p>\n Jack froze for a second and then shook himself back into action. He had to go. Now. And he didn\u2019t have time to think of the right words to say. He didn\u2019t know if there were<\/em> any right words for this. \u201cI\u2026I don\u2019t know\u2026but I have to go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen go,\u201d Alex said with her still crossed arms and a too-calm voice.<\/p>\n That froze Jack again. He didn\u2019t want to go. He wanted to stay forever. He never wanted to leave. But he had to. After years of being angry with them for leaving, now it was his<\/em> turn to walk away. And if the Shang had anything to say about the matter never come back. And nothing could make that better. No words he could think of. Well, no words he could say right now without sounding trite. So he just nodded and turned to walk away.<\/p>\n He motioned for Ken and Katy to follow and they stepped into line behind. It was a silent march through the halls of the building and Jack barely saw any of it. He just knew which way to go thanks to the contacts that relayed Betty\u2019s directions. Finally they stepped out into a massive entrance area and Jack stopped in his tracks. The wide boulevard outside the doors was filled with people looking up at the three massive fighters floating in the air.<\/p>\n \u201cMake us pretty,\u201d Jack ordered under his breath.<\/p>\n \u201cOn it,\u201d Betty said and he felt his suit\u2019s holoemitters power up.<\/p>\n He turned to see Ken and Katy\u2019s sunken eyes and slack skin disappearing under holographic faces of their own that belonged on recruiting posters.<\/p>\n \u201cShiny,\u201d Katy whispered and spread her beautiful hands out with admiration.<\/p>\n \u201cYup,\u201d Jack said with a smile. \u201cIt\u2019s official. We are way <\/em>too pretty to die now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSpeak for yourself, Sparkles,\u201d Ken grumbled. \u201cI\u2019m<\/em> handsome.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s fine too,\u201d Jack said and strode towards the doors. \u201cNow let\u2019s do this.\u201d<\/p>\n The people outside moved away from the doors, giving the three Cowboys room to walk into the street, and the telltale sound of cameras clicking came to his ears. Their photos would be hitting the networks in instants, and soon everybody would know they\u2019d come out of this theater. Well, so much for hiding where they\u2019d spent the night now.<\/p>\n Jack looked up at the Avengers floating above them, making the boulevard appear small with their massive bulks.<\/p>\n \u201cReady?\u201d he asked with more trepidation than he wanted to admit feeling.<\/p>\n \u201cAlways,\u201d Katy answered confidently.<\/p>\n \u201cDitto,\u201d Ken added.<\/p>\n \u201cWait,\u201d Betty whispered in his ear and an arrow on his contacts suggested that he turn towards the theater. He did in time to see Julie and Alex step out. No. Not Julie and Alex.<\/p>\n The girls who stepped out of the theater wore clothing he\u2019d seen on a thousand screens. They looked nothing like the girls he\u2019d just left in that kitchen. They were stars who belonged on stage and this was their attire. Taylor and Jennifer crossed the sidewalk as the crowd took pictures, stepped in to hug him, and kissed his cheeks in perfect unison. The crowd went wild and Jack\u2019s heart pounded so hard he nearly collapsed right there. Then they stepped back and did the same thing to Ken. Katy came last to another lusty cheer from the crowd, and then T&J stepped back one last time with smiles that said they knew exactly how shiny they were.<\/p>\n \u201cYou come back to us, Cowboys,\u201d they said in perfect harmony.<\/p>\n Jack smiled. They were amazing. They were everything he\u2019d ever hoped they would become. And here they were, owning the worlds on a stage made of asphalt with less than minutes to prepare. They were better than amazing. And Jack had no idea what to say. He wanted to take them up in his arms and kiss them thoroughly enough to make the cameras blush. He wanted to profess neverending love. He wanted to stay. But he couldn\u2019t do any of that.<\/p>\n Then Captain Jack smiled his very best smile and tipped the brim of his cowboy hat towards them. His answer was all stage and propaganda, made for the benefit of those who would hear on the networks. T&J had given him an audience larger than he\u2019d ever had, and Captain Jack could not turn his back on something like that. Not when it could be used to help the War effort. \u201cThere\u2019s no power in the universe that would keep us away.\u201d<\/p>\n He saw Julie and Alex smiling at him from behind the masks they wore for the public, and Jack gave them one he hoped they would remember. Their slight nods told him they did, and then they glanced upward. They were right. It was time.<\/p>\n Jack turned to Ken and Katy with firm nods. They nodded back and then all three looked up at the Avengers in the air overhead. They flexed their knees, they jumped, and gravitic generators aboard the fighters grasped them in the air. Jack felt the air on his face as they flew up like the Big Blue Boy Scout and Friends. The generators placed them atop their fighters and they stepped down into the cockpits. One part of Jack\u2019s mind knew that\u2019d just made one hell of a propaganda video that would be all over the networks within minutes.<\/p>\n The rest of him sat down and buckled his five-point harness as the canopy came down and the Avenger began to move away on gravplating. The cockpit latched, wonderful canned air pushed the smell of New Earth out of his nose, and the Avenger pulled straight up to face away from the city. Other fighters and ships lifting up from spaceports all around the city filled the sky, and he nodded in approval as the three Avengers joined them.<\/p>\n Then the main engines came to life, acceleration pushed Jack back into his seat, and the air brightened as they burned up through the lower atmosphere\u2019s interference. The sunslight of the Alpha Centauri trinary star system assaulted his eyes as they gained altitude, and then it darkened as the air began to thin until it went pitch black all around them. That revealed the stars and Jack\u2019s eyes scanned for the familiar constellations. Alpha Centauri was near enough to Earth that most of the constellations still looked right, but some were a bit odd. And of course he\u2019d grown up only seeing the constellations of the northern sky where constellations like the Southern Pleiades were unknown. He smiled as he looked at those stars for a moment, and then his eyes turned to see the light reflecting off New Earth.<\/p>\n It was a beautiful planet from this far up. Too bad it smelled so bad. And that gravity was just too much. And it was too hot. Jack wondered how the people lived there. Well, he wasn\u2019t going to have to worry about that anymore. He was off to War again.<\/p>\n Jack pulled his eyes down to the console where a twenty-centimeter tall Betty sat with a smile and his favorite yellow sundress. She looked good like that. She watched him with an attentive gaze and he let out a long breath. It was time. \u201cSet a beam for Hollywood<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Betty nodded and the Avenger swung around to aim for the higher orbitals where Hollywood\u2019s<\/em> squadron awaited them. \u201cCourse set and locked in.\u201d<\/p>\n And then it was time to sit back and relax as they boosted away from New Earth and towards the battle to come. They had some Shang to kill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If there\u2019s one thing I\u2019ve learned in my life it\u2019s this. The enemy never waits for a convenient time to show up. If you\u2019re not ready for him, expect him to arrive early. 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