Different Paths (42 page)
Authors: A. E. McCullough
Tags: #Science Fiction, #Action & Adventure, #Fiction
Once they were on, Iaido hit the switch to close
the cargo hatch and spoke to the ceiling. “We’re on. Go!”
Pax responded with words and deeds. “Affirmative.
Firing engines. Maximum burn.”
Everyone in the cargo hold waited for a moment
until they felt the gravity well of Mercury fall behind them and they got the
call from Jay over the speakers. “We are clear of all traffic and making
preparations for jump to hyperspace. We still a go for the plan?”
“Roger that Jay. We’ll be in sickbay if you need
us.”
“Aye, aye Captain.”
Iaido tossed DJ his helmet as he followed Xerxes
up the ladder and through the ship. Eve came running up and jumped in his arms.
“That was exciting!”
“It was nothing, just a simple extraction.”
Setting the young girl down, he tried to put on a stern face. “Don’t you have
lessons that you are supposed to be doing?”
Eve frowned. “Yes, but they’re so boring.”
“You once asked me ‘what is the Way?’ Now I answer
you with this old saying. Tomorrow’s battles are won on today’s practice field.
Study and train. That is the way. Or at least your way for the near future.”
Sullenly, the young half-sylvan turned back to her
room and her studies. Iaido made a mental note to plan something fun with her
in the near future. After all, she was his goddaughter.
Entering sick bay, he saw that Talia had already
been working her magic on the massive miner. Already his coloring was closer to
normal and he no longer had the blank stare and white eyes of the miners. As he
watched, the man blinked twice and shook his head as if waking from a bad
dream.
Talia helped him sit up.
He looked around and locked his eyes on Iaido.
“Who…who are you?”
Iaido shook his head. “No one of consequence.”
“I must know.”
“Get used to disappointment. Let’s just say this,
someone I know wronged you and I am here to correct that.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“To Ceres. From there you are free to go as you
please but I would suggest staying away from Terra for the future.”
“Why? Why would you help me?”
“Because Jagger Jax, I always pay my debts.”
Turning his back on the pirate, Iaido moved
silently through the bowels of his ship. It was crowded compared to just a few
months ago but it was pure heaven to him. By investigating the death of an old
friend, he had lost several more friends along the way but gained so much more
in return.
Yes, he knew that his brother was still out there
possibly hunting him, possibly not. It didn’t matter.
Iaido was home and now…now he had a family, a very
dysfunctional family but still a family. He had also found that his purpose to
life was more than just the hunt. It was to live.
He was designed to be a killer but now he chose to
walk a different path.
Carpe diem.
The End
AUTHOR’S NOTES
Wow…another book
complete.
First and foremost,
I want to thank all of my readers out there. Even without you, I would be
writing. However, it has become more than just my hobby, it is my passion. Of
course, it is so much more enjoyable knowing that I can share my stories with
others.
A little history
about and/or behind this story.
I was new in Corrections
at the time, still in my first year, and was working the control room on the 3
rd
floor of the jail when the thread of this story formed in my head. It was as if
my Muse tapped me on the shoulder and whispered in my ear to write it down. But
as so many ideas begin, it was not fully formed. It needed to ferment like a
fine wine or stout beer. And five years later, it is complete.
Many avid Sci-Fi
readers will notice certain themes and ideas that might seem familiar. I’m not
claiming that everything in this novel to be absolutely original. That is
almost impossible. I believe that we are influenced, consciously and
unconsciously, by our environment. What do I mean by that?
I remember watching
man walk on the moon for the first time (thanks to my parents who thought that
was important to force a young child to sit still and watch the news). Of
course, I was a Trekkie. I grew up watching the original Star Trek (and all its
descendants) and day-dreamed of traveling in space. But what about Star Wars? I
saw that 12 times in the theater when it first came out. I have always been a
fan of the genre, the good and the bad (movies and books). I know that some
shows influenced me directly for this novel. For example; Firefly and/or
Serenity, it was an absolutely wonderful (if not short lived) series and movie.
I personally enjoyed the concept of a crew of adventurers working together in
space. Another example, the Matrix. The red and blue interior of the Sylvan
Embassy was totally an unconscious decision. I didn’t even realize it was in
there until my test readers pointed it out.
My point? Without
being a scientist and delving into super technical jargon, my intention was to
craft a possible future where we know that we are not the only intelligent
species in the universe. Additionally, I wanted to blend science with a little
mysticism, add in a dash of history and a splash of intrigue and craft an
entertaining (if not totally unique) story.
For many of my characters
in this novel I drew inspiration from the wonderful people I work with at
Louisville Metro Corrections. I don’t always get along with everyone (who
does?) but it’s an odd feeling knowing that even officers you dislike will have
your back if/when something bad goes down.
One of the more
interesting characters in this story is Ledrix, however small a part he has in
the novel. I work with an Officer Ledrick and he was bothering me one day about
my scribbles. I honestly don’t remember why but somehow I threatened to put him
in my story (he loved the idea of that). So, I threw him in there but as a joke
I made him a midget and a pimp. But, when he didn’t quit pestering me, I made
him gay and a snitch. And so, Ledrix the midget gay pimp king of New Atlanta
came into existence.
Several of the
other characters came into being in similar manner, some just because they were
handy when I was brain-storming or scribbling. Of course, many have asked to be
in one of my novels. If I missed you this go round, I have a sequel in the
works
J
I cannot pass up
this opportunity to mention the men and women of our health care and mental
health staff who choose to work in the jail. I know it is a hard job, dealing
with inmates and officers, but you do an important job and you have my thanks.
And last but not
least, once again thanks to my wife for putting up with me and supporting me in
my work, both in my day job and my hobby. I love you now and always.
Drew McCullough
March 2012
Drew and Felicia McCullough - 1996
Drew, short for Andrew, was born in
Munich, Germany while his father was stationed overseas with the US Army.
Growing up a military brat, Drew became an avid reader with Fantasy, Science
Fiction and Detective Thrillers being his favorite genres.
Drew served in the U.S. Coast Guard from
1982-88 and began training in TaeKwonDo in 1985. In 1994 he moved to Louisville,
Kentucky to open his own TKD studio and taught for 11 wonderful years where he
met and married his wife, Felicia, and gained a great step-son, John Michael.
In 2005, he closed his studio and switched careers.
He currently works as a Corrections Officer
with Louisville Metro and writes in his spare time. Unable to live on the
beach, he resides on a farm with his wife and animals: 6 cats, 3 dogs and 2
horses.