Disclaimer: I don't own the FF:TSW characters, though General Worthington
was named after someone I worked with who died in a tragic accident this
past summer.
Author's Note: I know, I don't need another story. But my muses won't leave me alone! This chapter was going to be much longer, until I realized it had already reached the length of a "Salvation" chapter – and I was only halfway done. This, by the way, is a "short" story, about four parts are planned. Oh, and does anyone want to volunteer their names – online or real – for members of the cult? Just to warn you, the characters are minor and probably won't be like anything in real life, so don't be offended. I just thought it would be a fun gift to my fans. And the General Ryder referenced is indeed the one from "Out of the Ashes." I have an elaborate timeline I concocted, and both this story and OOTA fit to it.
HEAVEN'S FALL
Part One
First Mission
July 11, 2052
Corporal Alan Gibson clutched nervously at the silver cross hanging at this throat, muttering anxious prayers. His fellow soldiers made their usual jeering remarks, but he ignored them. If they didn't want to believe, that was their problem. But he would survive this day! God would protect him and those he loved.
In the transport seat beside him, Corporal Judy Wallace smiled encouragingly at him, and placed one armored hand on his thigh. "Ignore them," she murmured. "We need all the help we can get." She knew how religious he was, and understood him. It was no wonder he loved her.
Finishing his prayers, he released the cross and leaned over to pick up the clunky helmet at his feet. It was a new model, a prototype that was supposed to use the fairly new scanning equipment to help the soldiers actually see the Phantoms. This was to be the first real field test, and Alan's squadron, along with three other squads, were going to do the test in a Phantom nesting area outside San Francisco.
"All right me, suit up. ETA is ten minutes," Captain Andrews, the field commander, announced. There were groans as the assembled men and women fitted the heavy helmets over their heads. Alan hoped they would refine the technology quickly, or the weight of the helmets would cause more damage than the Phantoms!
He turned to offer his help to Judy, but she had already put her helmet on. He smiled, and she gave him a thumbs up. Then he pulled his own over his head.
Adjusting to the strange vision the helmets gave him was difficult, but they had all put in enough practice that they were used to it. Still, seeing that filmy blue outline in every soldier was disconcerting. What was it he saw? Could the helmets see their souls? It seemed almost blasphemous, somehow.
But he wasn't going to think about that. Their transport had landed, and the troops were filing out. Alan took his place, followed closely by Judy. He hoisted his weapon, wondering what it would be like to actually have a target they could see to shoot.
He was yanked from his thoughts by the cry "Incoming!" and… things… came up from the depths of the Phantoms' lair.
"My God," Judy whispered beside him. She raised her weapon. Alan attempted to do the same, but his fingers had frozen. The creatures still were pouring out from the fissure in the earth where they'd resided, a roiling red-orange mass. They separated as they saw the army, forming a motley collection of armored beasts.
"Fire!" Captain Andrews cried. The soldiers all raised their weapons and targeted creatures they had never seen before. The beasts seemed to explode when mortally wounded, but more would come up to replace them, some coming up through the dirt around them.
That was when the casualties began. When the first tentacles came up underfoot, no one had time to move. They hadn't known the creatures could move through solid earth! Then came a scream, as the first soldier died. Alan could only stare as the glowing red form sank parts of itself into the man's blue glow… and wrenched it away.
They ate souls! Alan had heard nothing about this. He knew the Phantoms' touch was deadly, but he hadn't known why!
As more creatures appeared, Alan realized something with a dread certainty: These creatures weren't alien invaders, they were demons, harvesting souls, ingesting them so they would never find their way to Heaven.
"Retreat!" Captain Andrews cried. "There's too many of them!" There weren't supposed to be this many, and their purpose had only been to test the equipment, not eliminate the nest. The soldiers ran, stopping only to fire at any Phantom blocking their way. They'd lost three of their number, and wanted to get out of there fast.
Then a scream froze Alan in his tracks. Judy's body was slumping forward, into Alan's arms, as her soul was pulled into one of the demons.
"NO!" he wailed. Another soldier grabbed his shoulder, yanking him towards the waiting transport. Judy's still form was knocked from his grasp. He tried to catch her, but he'd already been pulled too far away.
How could this happen? Judy was a good woman! Why did she die? Oh God, how could you allow all these people to be killed?
The answer came to him as he was forced into a seat, and the transport took off. God would never allow demons to get a foothold on earth! But there has been so much death… What if Heaven has fallen to the demons? He yanked his helmet off, and buried his face in his hands. That means this is hell on earth…
He unfastened the cross from his neck and tossed it to the floor.
April 14, 2062
Jane gave her chest plate one last swipe with the rag, the cloth lingering over the angel wings painted there so many months ago. "You're like the angel of death on the battlefield – in a good way!" Jack had said when she'd seen what he'd done. He'd flashed that rare, slow smile that had always made her feel weak at the knees. "I just wanted to let the Phantoms know what they're in for."
Angel of death, maybe. Certainly not a guardian angel. Jane found herself debating once again whether to wipe away the wings he'd painted on there, wings she hadn't earned. I didn't do my duty, and now Jack's gone… They had barely even been broken in as a team! General Worthington had selected herself, Corporal Jack Madison, Sergeant Ryan Whittaker, and Captain Gray Edwards as the best of the Deep Eyes soldiers, intending to fuse them into an unstoppable squad. That had been four months ago. One month later, they had lost Jack.
Jane's hand clenched around the cloth, remembering the sheer pointlessness of his death. They hadn't even been out in the field! Jack had been their technician, and he'd been working on a jeep with a busted axle. The vehicle had slipped… By the time Jane had found him, he'd been dead. If only she'd gotten there earlier…
But there was no point thinking about this now. Her grip relaxed, and she decided to put her armor away, wings intact though undeserved.
After placing her armor in her locker, she wandered back towards her room, cursing her emotions. She couldn't get Jack out of her mind! And the Captain's announcement that they were getting a new technician tomorrow had opened the still-fresh wounds. She'd known they were going to have to take another member to complete their squad, but this was much too soon! And she hadn't realized it would hurt this much.
After all, she'd barely known Jack. But there'd been something about him, an instant attraction that Jane hadn't felt in a long time. Jack was a man she knew she could have loved.
* * *
Ryan and Gray were waiting for her an hour later, meeting in a private room near General Worthington's office. Gray held a datapad in one hand, the luminescence dying his face green.
"What's going on?" Jane asked. She had received the summons, but not the reason for their meeting. She assumed it had to do with their new tech, and fought down the clenching feeling in her stomach.
"General Worthington has selected our new technician," Gray began. "It's only a temporary appointment, really. We need him for our next mission."
Jane perked up at that. Finally, some action… And it seems like we're not going to have the tech with us for long. Good. Maybe she'd have time to recover while they searched for the real replacement.
"We're going," Gray said significantly, "to the Zeus Station."
Jane and Ryan could only stare. "They're sending a combat team out in space?" Jane said incredulously.
"The general needs someone he trusts up there. Don't worry; it's not for a tour of duty. The general didn't go into details though, because he's waiting for our tech."
"Is it someone we know?" Ryan asked.
Gray shook his head. "I've never met him. He's one of General Ryder's men." Jane made a face. General Ryder was supposed to take over Worthington's position when he retired; apparently, he was already trying to insinuate his men into New York. "He's talented; which makes it surprising he's only just been selected for the Deep Eyes." Gray handed his datapad to Ryan, who looked over the info and nodded.
"He almost seems to good to be true," Ryan said, passing it along to Jane.
Jane examined it curiously, wondering who could be that impressive. When she got her answer, she stiffened. She could only stare, her mouth moving wordlessly, at the picture in the profile.
"Jane, what's wrong?" Gray asked.
"No," she breathed, horrified. There must be a mistake! she thought frantically. It isn't possible! "Anybody but him!"
"Jane?" Gray repeated.
"Why does it have to be Neil Fleming?"
"You know him?" Ryan asked. He seemed amused by the normally stoic Jane's reactions, and was barely hiding a grin.
"He was the bane of my existence back in the Houston Military Academy." Jane scowled at the file photo, remembering the mischievous glint Neil had perpetually worn. Maybe he's changed…? "He was a year behind me, and was constantly getting into trouble. Neil could hack into or break into anything… and pin it on others. I was one of his favorite victims; he thought it would 'loosen me up.'" Jane realized she was revealing far too much about herself and changed the subject. "Have you heard about the infamous 'Quatro Incident?'"
Ryan shook his head. "Musta been after my time."
"I have," Gray said. "I was doing a mission for the HMA at the time, so I heard all about it. The Academy had received three new Quatros to train the students, and someone stole one and went on a little joyride with his girlfriend."
Ryan whistled. "Was he caught?"
"That's the thing. The major in charge of the Academy would never have known if the culprit hadn't run into a nest of Phantoms where none had been previously reported, and dutifully told Major Wilkes." Gray's eyes widened. "That was Fleming?"
Jane nodded. "He wasn't expelled since he did inform the major, but his chances for a Deep Eyes placement seemed slim."
Gray glanced down at the datapad that had been returned to him. "Are you sure this is the same man?"
Jane tapped the holographic photo. "I recognize him, sir. Believe me, one does not forget Neil Fleming. No matter how hard they try." Gray grimaced but said nothing. Well, they were going to meet the man tomorrow morning. Maybe Neil had changed…
* * *
Oh God, he looks exactly how I remember him! Jane thought the next morning. She, Ryan, and Gray had gathered to wait for Neil outside the gym. The group was going to work through some team training exercises to try to help Neil fit in before their mission. Jane had been hoping that Neil would be far more mature than she remembered. Taller maybe, with more muscle.
Compared to the rest of the Deep Eyes, Neil was scrawny. He was short, thin, and moved with a nervous energy. His hands were seldom still, and he shifted from foot to foot whenever he paused. His bright blue eyes scanned the soldiers coming and going as he looked for his new team. So far, he hadn't seen them yet.
"That's him," Jane hissed, turning her back to the searching Neil.
"He doesn't look too threatening," Ryan observed.
"You haven't spoken to him yet," Jane growled. Oh please let his voice have deepened! Don't let it be that shrill nasal whine –
"Why Jane! It is you!" A voice Jane remembered all too clearly cut through her thoughts. Jane shuddered, and turned to face Neil. "Never thought I'd see you again."
"Hello, Corporal Fleming," Jane said through gritted teeth.
"I thought that was your name in the file Ryder gave me," Neil continued easily. He turned to face Gray and Ryan, flashing them a grin. "Then you must be the rest of the squad, huh?" He snapped his hand up in a belated salute. "Corporal Neil Fleming reporting for duty, sir." He looked back and forth between Gray and Ryan, unsure which was which.
"I'm Captain Gray Edwards," Gray said, returning the salute uncertainly. "This is Sergeant Ryan Whittaker. I believe you know Corporal Jane Proudfoot." Jane didn't like the way Gray said that. She had the sinking feeling she was going to spend time baby-sitting Neil on their upcoming mission. Dammit…
"All right, let's get started!" Neil said eagerly.
* * *
I will not keel over. I will not pass out. I have been through tougher workouts before… Though never with someone like Jane… Neil Fleming had been happy to see a familiar face when he'd met his new squad. He was regretting that joy now. Jane apparently remembered him all to well and had put him through a workout that had even shocked his new captain. Okay, she holds a grudge, Neil thought weakly as he sank to the locker room bench before his knees gave out under him.
But, now there was a glimmer of satisfaction in Neil's thoughts, she was panting as hard as I was. She didn't expect me to keep up so well!
Of course, if he passed out now, he'd lose whatever respect he'd earned from his new comrades. So he just groaned, gritted his teeth, and rubbed the salve he'd found onto his aching muscles.
"She worked you pretty hard," a voice said casually. Neil looked up to see the sergeant, Ryan, standing over him, a sympathetic expression on his face.
"Yeah," Neil groaned. "Does she do this to all the new guys, or am I just lucky?"
"I don't know. You're the first new guy we've had since she joined."
"I don't see why she had to be so rough. I'm only along for this mission. No one said the position was permanent," Neil sulked. "Besides, it's not even going to require this sort of physical activity. Probably a good thing since, thanks to Jane, I can hardly move."
"You kept up well," Ryan said, his tone admiring.
"Pretty well for a small guy, you mean," Neil sighed. "Why didn't you or Captain Edwards stop her? She could have killed me!"
Ryan chuckled. "We would have stopped it before you died. Besides, we were curious."
"Thanks," Neil muttered.
"I think, though, the Captain was testing you," Ryan concluded.
"Did I pass?"
Ryan shrugged as he pulled a fresh set of clothes from his locker. "The general wants us to assemble at 1200. We'd better hurry."
Neil groaned again, lurching to his aching feet. "I'm just glad we're going to be in zero-G soon, or my legs could never hold my weight.
Ryan laughed. Neil rather liked the sergeant's easygoing nature. He was someone Neil wouldn't mind working with for an extended period of time.
Then Ryan's face suddenly turned serious. "You should watch out for Jane," he warned quietly.
"I've handled her before," Neil said. Something about the sergeant's face made Neil uneasy.
"We lost our last tech in an accident. He and Jane were… very close," Ryan said. "She might resent you for taking his place."
"I'll keep that in mind," Neil said. They finished readying themselves in silence, then hurried to General Worthington's office.
* * *
Jane and Gray were already there when Neil and Ryan finally arrived. Jane smirked as Neil winced when he sad down to face the general.
General Worthington was in his sixties, his hair thin and gray and his face worn and wrinkled. His hazel eyes were weary from the ceaseless threat of the Phantoms. He'd been fighting them since they had first arrived, and was overdue for retirement. Some said the only reason he still fought was because two of his three children had been killed by Phantoms.
General Worthington got straight to the point. "As you already know, I'm sending you to the Zeus Station. Two days ago, at 2300 hours, someone broke into the control room and fired the cannon."
The squad gasped in surprise. "Sir," Neil began tentatively, "construction of the Zeus Cannon was shut down. It was never completed. How can it be fired?"
"And by whom?" Gray wondered. "I was under the impression the control room was sealed when the Zeus Cannon project was halted."
The general nodded. "That is partially why I am sending your squad up there with a tech. I want you to investigate this. As for the cannon being incomplete," Worthington said, gazing at Neil, "it was projected to be only a year away from completion before the severe system glitches and the hefty cost forced the Council to stop construction. However, the accelerator chamber is complete, and the ovo-generators have been cultured almost to maximum capacity. It can indeed be fired, as our culprit has proved."
"Why didn't we hear about this sooner, sir?" Ryan asked. "Seems like something like this would be all over the news."
"It's been covered up. Luckily it hit out in the wasteland near San Francisco. No one was nearby at the time, and the only damage is a big hole in the ground. There aren't even any Phantoms there, either, so it really does work. Too bad the Council won't realize that." Worthington sighed. The Zeus had been his idea; seeing it left to rot bothered him.
"Anyone could have investigated this, sir," Gray said. "There's another reason you want us to go, isn't there?"
General Worthington smiled grimly. "There is a colonel who is heading up there as we speak trying to solve this. However, he can't unseal the control room doors without the proper code, which only I have. I can't just transmit the code to him, and he wants it to arrive safely, with someone I trust completely. He's… a little paranoid," the general said ruefully. He gazed off into the distance for a moment before refocusing his attention on the team. "I want you to up there, deliver the code to the colonel, and find out what you can about why the cannon was fired. I've assigned you the best tech available, and I'm confidant you have the skills to solve this. Your shuttle leaves in three hours; be ready."
Recognizing the dismissal, the squad rose and saluted. As they headed towards the door, Worthington said, "One moment, Captain." Gray stayed behind as the others left to prepare.
"I apologize for assigning a tech at the spur-of-the-moment. I know you still haven't recovered from Jack's loss." The general closed his eyes and pressed his hand to his forehead. "I know Corporal Fleming's record isn't… encouraging, but he is one of the best. I hope you can cope with him."
"We'll do our best, sir," Gray said. "As long as he does his job, we should be fine.
"Good," the general said. He was silent for awhile, and Gray wondered if he had been dismissed. He opened his mouth to speak when the general continued. "Watch the colonel," he said softly. "He's very intelligent, but young, and bitter. Try not to get on his bad side."
Now Gray's curiosity was piqued. "Yes, sir," he said. He waited for the general to say more, but the older man waved a hand. "You're dismissed," he said quietly.
Gray saluted and departed from the office.
To Be Continued…
Author's Note: I know, I don't need another story. But my muses won't leave me alone! This chapter was going to be much longer, until I realized it had already reached the length of a "Salvation" chapter – and I was only halfway done. This, by the way, is a "short" story, about four parts are planned. Oh, and does anyone want to volunteer their names – online or real – for members of the cult? Just to warn you, the characters are minor and probably won't be like anything in real life, so don't be offended. I just thought it would be a fun gift to my fans. And the General Ryder referenced is indeed the one from "Out of the Ashes." I have an elaborate timeline I concocted, and both this story and OOTA fit to it.
HEAVEN'S FALL
Part One
First Mission
July 11, 2052
Corporal Alan Gibson clutched nervously at the silver cross hanging at this throat, muttering anxious prayers. His fellow soldiers made their usual jeering remarks, but he ignored them. If they didn't want to believe, that was their problem. But he would survive this day! God would protect him and those he loved.
In the transport seat beside him, Corporal Judy Wallace smiled encouragingly at him, and placed one armored hand on his thigh. "Ignore them," she murmured. "We need all the help we can get." She knew how religious he was, and understood him. It was no wonder he loved her.
Finishing his prayers, he released the cross and leaned over to pick up the clunky helmet at his feet. It was a new model, a prototype that was supposed to use the fairly new scanning equipment to help the soldiers actually see the Phantoms. This was to be the first real field test, and Alan's squadron, along with three other squads, were going to do the test in a Phantom nesting area outside San Francisco.
"All right me, suit up. ETA is ten minutes," Captain Andrews, the field commander, announced. There were groans as the assembled men and women fitted the heavy helmets over their heads. Alan hoped they would refine the technology quickly, or the weight of the helmets would cause more damage than the Phantoms!
He turned to offer his help to Judy, but she had already put her helmet on. He smiled, and she gave him a thumbs up. Then he pulled his own over his head.
Adjusting to the strange vision the helmets gave him was difficult, but they had all put in enough practice that they were used to it. Still, seeing that filmy blue outline in every soldier was disconcerting. What was it he saw? Could the helmets see their souls? It seemed almost blasphemous, somehow.
But he wasn't going to think about that. Their transport had landed, and the troops were filing out. Alan took his place, followed closely by Judy. He hoisted his weapon, wondering what it would be like to actually have a target they could see to shoot.
He was yanked from his thoughts by the cry "Incoming!" and… things… came up from the depths of the Phantoms' lair.
"My God," Judy whispered beside him. She raised her weapon. Alan attempted to do the same, but his fingers had frozen. The creatures still were pouring out from the fissure in the earth where they'd resided, a roiling red-orange mass. They separated as they saw the army, forming a motley collection of armored beasts.
"Fire!" Captain Andrews cried. The soldiers all raised their weapons and targeted creatures they had never seen before. The beasts seemed to explode when mortally wounded, but more would come up to replace them, some coming up through the dirt around them.
That was when the casualties began. When the first tentacles came up underfoot, no one had time to move. They hadn't known the creatures could move through solid earth! Then came a scream, as the first soldier died. Alan could only stare as the glowing red form sank parts of itself into the man's blue glow… and wrenched it away.
They ate souls! Alan had heard nothing about this. He knew the Phantoms' touch was deadly, but he hadn't known why!
As more creatures appeared, Alan realized something with a dread certainty: These creatures weren't alien invaders, they were demons, harvesting souls, ingesting them so they would never find their way to Heaven.
"Retreat!" Captain Andrews cried. "There's too many of them!" There weren't supposed to be this many, and their purpose had only been to test the equipment, not eliminate the nest. The soldiers ran, stopping only to fire at any Phantom blocking their way. They'd lost three of their number, and wanted to get out of there fast.
Then a scream froze Alan in his tracks. Judy's body was slumping forward, into Alan's arms, as her soul was pulled into one of the demons.
"NO!" he wailed. Another soldier grabbed his shoulder, yanking him towards the waiting transport. Judy's still form was knocked from his grasp. He tried to catch her, but he'd already been pulled too far away.
How could this happen? Judy was a good woman! Why did she die? Oh God, how could you allow all these people to be killed?
The answer came to him as he was forced into a seat, and the transport took off. God would never allow demons to get a foothold on earth! But there has been so much death… What if Heaven has fallen to the demons? He yanked his helmet off, and buried his face in his hands. That means this is hell on earth…
He unfastened the cross from his neck and tossed it to the floor.
April 14, 2062
Jane gave her chest plate one last swipe with the rag, the cloth lingering over the angel wings painted there so many months ago. "You're like the angel of death on the battlefield – in a good way!" Jack had said when she'd seen what he'd done. He'd flashed that rare, slow smile that had always made her feel weak at the knees. "I just wanted to let the Phantoms know what they're in for."
Angel of death, maybe. Certainly not a guardian angel. Jane found herself debating once again whether to wipe away the wings he'd painted on there, wings she hadn't earned. I didn't do my duty, and now Jack's gone… They had barely even been broken in as a team! General Worthington had selected herself, Corporal Jack Madison, Sergeant Ryan Whittaker, and Captain Gray Edwards as the best of the Deep Eyes soldiers, intending to fuse them into an unstoppable squad. That had been four months ago. One month later, they had lost Jack.
Jane's hand clenched around the cloth, remembering the sheer pointlessness of his death. They hadn't even been out in the field! Jack had been their technician, and he'd been working on a jeep with a busted axle. The vehicle had slipped… By the time Jane had found him, he'd been dead. If only she'd gotten there earlier…
But there was no point thinking about this now. Her grip relaxed, and she decided to put her armor away, wings intact though undeserved.
After placing her armor in her locker, she wandered back towards her room, cursing her emotions. She couldn't get Jack out of her mind! And the Captain's announcement that they were getting a new technician tomorrow had opened the still-fresh wounds. She'd known they were going to have to take another member to complete their squad, but this was much too soon! And she hadn't realized it would hurt this much.
After all, she'd barely known Jack. But there'd been something about him, an instant attraction that Jane hadn't felt in a long time. Jack was a man she knew she could have loved.
* * *
Ryan and Gray were waiting for her an hour later, meeting in a private room near General Worthington's office. Gray held a datapad in one hand, the luminescence dying his face green.
"What's going on?" Jane asked. She had received the summons, but not the reason for their meeting. She assumed it had to do with their new tech, and fought down the clenching feeling in her stomach.
"General Worthington has selected our new technician," Gray began. "It's only a temporary appointment, really. We need him for our next mission."
Jane perked up at that. Finally, some action… And it seems like we're not going to have the tech with us for long. Good. Maybe she'd have time to recover while they searched for the real replacement.
"We're going," Gray said significantly, "to the Zeus Station."
Jane and Ryan could only stare. "They're sending a combat team out in space?" Jane said incredulously.
"The general needs someone he trusts up there. Don't worry; it's not for a tour of duty. The general didn't go into details though, because he's waiting for our tech."
"Is it someone we know?" Ryan asked.
Gray shook his head. "I've never met him. He's one of General Ryder's men." Jane made a face. General Ryder was supposed to take over Worthington's position when he retired; apparently, he was already trying to insinuate his men into New York. "He's talented; which makes it surprising he's only just been selected for the Deep Eyes." Gray handed his datapad to Ryan, who looked over the info and nodded.
"He almost seems to good to be true," Ryan said, passing it along to Jane.
Jane examined it curiously, wondering who could be that impressive. When she got her answer, she stiffened. She could only stare, her mouth moving wordlessly, at the picture in the profile.
"Jane, what's wrong?" Gray asked.
"No," she breathed, horrified. There must be a mistake! she thought frantically. It isn't possible! "Anybody but him!"
"Jane?" Gray repeated.
"Why does it have to be Neil Fleming?"
"You know him?" Ryan asked. He seemed amused by the normally stoic Jane's reactions, and was barely hiding a grin.
"He was the bane of my existence back in the Houston Military Academy." Jane scowled at the file photo, remembering the mischievous glint Neil had perpetually worn. Maybe he's changed…? "He was a year behind me, and was constantly getting into trouble. Neil could hack into or break into anything… and pin it on others. I was one of his favorite victims; he thought it would 'loosen me up.'" Jane realized she was revealing far too much about herself and changed the subject. "Have you heard about the infamous 'Quatro Incident?'"
Ryan shook his head. "Musta been after my time."
"I have," Gray said. "I was doing a mission for the HMA at the time, so I heard all about it. The Academy had received three new Quatros to train the students, and someone stole one and went on a little joyride with his girlfriend."
Ryan whistled. "Was he caught?"
"That's the thing. The major in charge of the Academy would never have known if the culprit hadn't run into a nest of Phantoms where none had been previously reported, and dutifully told Major Wilkes." Gray's eyes widened. "That was Fleming?"
Jane nodded. "He wasn't expelled since he did inform the major, but his chances for a Deep Eyes placement seemed slim."
Gray glanced down at the datapad that had been returned to him. "Are you sure this is the same man?"
Jane tapped the holographic photo. "I recognize him, sir. Believe me, one does not forget Neil Fleming. No matter how hard they try." Gray grimaced but said nothing. Well, they were going to meet the man tomorrow morning. Maybe Neil had changed…
* * *
Oh God, he looks exactly how I remember him! Jane thought the next morning. She, Ryan, and Gray had gathered to wait for Neil outside the gym. The group was going to work through some team training exercises to try to help Neil fit in before their mission. Jane had been hoping that Neil would be far more mature than she remembered. Taller maybe, with more muscle.
Compared to the rest of the Deep Eyes, Neil was scrawny. He was short, thin, and moved with a nervous energy. His hands were seldom still, and he shifted from foot to foot whenever he paused. His bright blue eyes scanned the soldiers coming and going as he looked for his new team. So far, he hadn't seen them yet.
"That's him," Jane hissed, turning her back to the searching Neil.
"He doesn't look too threatening," Ryan observed.
"You haven't spoken to him yet," Jane growled. Oh please let his voice have deepened! Don't let it be that shrill nasal whine –
"Why Jane! It is you!" A voice Jane remembered all too clearly cut through her thoughts. Jane shuddered, and turned to face Neil. "Never thought I'd see you again."
"Hello, Corporal Fleming," Jane said through gritted teeth.
"I thought that was your name in the file Ryder gave me," Neil continued easily. He turned to face Gray and Ryan, flashing them a grin. "Then you must be the rest of the squad, huh?" He snapped his hand up in a belated salute. "Corporal Neil Fleming reporting for duty, sir." He looked back and forth between Gray and Ryan, unsure which was which.
"I'm Captain Gray Edwards," Gray said, returning the salute uncertainly. "This is Sergeant Ryan Whittaker. I believe you know Corporal Jane Proudfoot." Jane didn't like the way Gray said that. She had the sinking feeling she was going to spend time baby-sitting Neil on their upcoming mission. Dammit…
"All right, let's get started!" Neil said eagerly.
* * *
I will not keel over. I will not pass out. I have been through tougher workouts before… Though never with someone like Jane… Neil Fleming had been happy to see a familiar face when he'd met his new squad. He was regretting that joy now. Jane apparently remembered him all to well and had put him through a workout that had even shocked his new captain. Okay, she holds a grudge, Neil thought weakly as he sank to the locker room bench before his knees gave out under him.
But, now there was a glimmer of satisfaction in Neil's thoughts, she was panting as hard as I was. She didn't expect me to keep up so well!
Of course, if he passed out now, he'd lose whatever respect he'd earned from his new comrades. So he just groaned, gritted his teeth, and rubbed the salve he'd found onto his aching muscles.
"She worked you pretty hard," a voice said casually. Neil looked up to see the sergeant, Ryan, standing over him, a sympathetic expression on his face.
"Yeah," Neil groaned. "Does she do this to all the new guys, or am I just lucky?"
"I don't know. You're the first new guy we've had since she joined."
"I don't see why she had to be so rough. I'm only along for this mission. No one said the position was permanent," Neil sulked. "Besides, it's not even going to require this sort of physical activity. Probably a good thing since, thanks to Jane, I can hardly move."
"You kept up well," Ryan said, his tone admiring.
"Pretty well for a small guy, you mean," Neil sighed. "Why didn't you or Captain Edwards stop her? She could have killed me!"
Ryan chuckled. "We would have stopped it before you died. Besides, we were curious."
"Thanks," Neil muttered.
"I think, though, the Captain was testing you," Ryan concluded.
"Did I pass?"
Ryan shrugged as he pulled a fresh set of clothes from his locker. "The general wants us to assemble at 1200. We'd better hurry."
Neil groaned again, lurching to his aching feet. "I'm just glad we're going to be in zero-G soon, or my legs could never hold my weight.
Ryan laughed. Neil rather liked the sergeant's easygoing nature. He was someone Neil wouldn't mind working with for an extended period of time.
Then Ryan's face suddenly turned serious. "You should watch out for Jane," he warned quietly.
"I've handled her before," Neil said. Something about the sergeant's face made Neil uneasy.
"We lost our last tech in an accident. He and Jane were… very close," Ryan said. "She might resent you for taking his place."
"I'll keep that in mind," Neil said. They finished readying themselves in silence, then hurried to General Worthington's office.
* * *
Jane and Gray were already there when Neil and Ryan finally arrived. Jane smirked as Neil winced when he sad down to face the general.
General Worthington was in his sixties, his hair thin and gray and his face worn and wrinkled. His hazel eyes were weary from the ceaseless threat of the Phantoms. He'd been fighting them since they had first arrived, and was overdue for retirement. Some said the only reason he still fought was because two of his three children had been killed by Phantoms.
General Worthington got straight to the point. "As you already know, I'm sending you to the Zeus Station. Two days ago, at 2300 hours, someone broke into the control room and fired the cannon."
The squad gasped in surprise. "Sir," Neil began tentatively, "construction of the Zeus Cannon was shut down. It was never completed. How can it be fired?"
"And by whom?" Gray wondered. "I was under the impression the control room was sealed when the Zeus Cannon project was halted."
The general nodded. "That is partially why I am sending your squad up there with a tech. I want you to investigate this. As for the cannon being incomplete," Worthington said, gazing at Neil, "it was projected to be only a year away from completion before the severe system glitches and the hefty cost forced the Council to stop construction. However, the accelerator chamber is complete, and the ovo-generators have been cultured almost to maximum capacity. It can indeed be fired, as our culprit has proved."
"Why didn't we hear about this sooner, sir?" Ryan asked. "Seems like something like this would be all over the news."
"It's been covered up. Luckily it hit out in the wasteland near San Francisco. No one was nearby at the time, and the only damage is a big hole in the ground. There aren't even any Phantoms there, either, so it really does work. Too bad the Council won't realize that." Worthington sighed. The Zeus had been his idea; seeing it left to rot bothered him.
"Anyone could have investigated this, sir," Gray said. "There's another reason you want us to go, isn't there?"
General Worthington smiled grimly. "There is a colonel who is heading up there as we speak trying to solve this. However, he can't unseal the control room doors without the proper code, which only I have. I can't just transmit the code to him, and he wants it to arrive safely, with someone I trust completely. He's… a little paranoid," the general said ruefully. He gazed off into the distance for a moment before refocusing his attention on the team. "I want you to up there, deliver the code to the colonel, and find out what you can about why the cannon was fired. I've assigned you the best tech available, and I'm confidant you have the skills to solve this. Your shuttle leaves in three hours; be ready."
Recognizing the dismissal, the squad rose and saluted. As they headed towards the door, Worthington said, "One moment, Captain." Gray stayed behind as the others left to prepare.
"I apologize for assigning a tech at the spur-of-the-moment. I know you still haven't recovered from Jack's loss." The general closed his eyes and pressed his hand to his forehead. "I know Corporal Fleming's record isn't… encouraging, but he is one of the best. I hope you can cope with him."
"We'll do our best, sir," Gray said. "As long as he does his job, we should be fine.
"Good," the general said. He was silent for awhile, and Gray wondered if he had been dismissed. He opened his mouth to speak when the general continued. "Watch the colonel," he said softly. "He's very intelligent, but young, and bitter. Try not to get on his bad side."
Now Gray's curiosity was piqued. "Yes, sir," he said. He waited for the general to say more, but the older man waved a hand. "You're dismissed," he said quietly.
Gray saluted and departed from the office.
To Be Continued…