Tarik: Entry Level Warfare (26 page)

Tarik sat alone at table in the back corner of the restaurant. He was getting concerned when the group finally started to arrive. The trio of Scipio, Games and Tricky were the first to join him. Scipio no longer required the pneumatic assistance and was in much better spirits. Mange and Razor came a few minutes later. Lamb showed up with Dav much to Tarik's surprise.

“I knew we would be down one so I hope you don't mind.” Lamb said before he sat down.

“Goddess isn't coming?” Tarik asked.

“She quit, took the severance package and left early this morning.”

Razor was the only one who did not show surprise.

“Wow. I thought she would stay on for sure.” Games said.

“She must find a den.” Razor half growled.

“Let's talk about it after we eat, huh?” Tricky asked.

The group ate well that night. Razor put away more meat than Tarik thought a creature of his size rightfully should. Mange drank too much alcohol too early. Dav seemed like the meal had taken a load off stress off of him.

Razor and Tarik talked to each other for a very long time. The wolf bird was old by Gorrex standards. He once had a pack of his own until he was deposed by his son. He was offered a position as his son’s beta but declined the offer. He felt the fight was too strong in him and his presence could undermine his son’s rule. Tarik told him his story and he was especially intrigued by the idea of mining. The Gorrex had no idea a young pup like Tarik would do anything but fight. Tarik asked why he had come to his aid when He was beat up and Rye was coming after him. Razor explained that he had been watching everyone for so long he knew Bink would be in soon and she wouldn't learn that Tarik had other allies.

It felt good to bond with the Gorrex. He felt he did not have a good enough handle on their culture to be friends with one but Razor was a great being to be friends with. His initial run in with Gorrex had not been positive so this was redeeming.

By the end of the meal everybody was feeling better. Dav and Lamb thanked him profusely. The old men said they forgot how much time like this could do to solidify a team. Even though they were down one it sounded like everything would be just fine. Tarik asked why everyone took meals at different time when even Dav said he wasn't sure anymore. The group closed down the restaurant that night. They stumbled back to the Beetle as a team, singing as they went.

Tarik sat in his bunk wondering what could have driven off Goddess. He waited until he was sober and sent an inter-ship message.

I hope you are well. I need to make sure you did not quit because of me. -Tarik

Tarik watched the asteroids tumble for a few more minutes until sleep took over. Still thinking of Goddess he had pleasant dreams.

When Tarik woke up he had a message waiting for him.

Everything is great. I have left to give birth to our children. If your seed produces good offspring I will find you again in five years. Good hunting. -Goddess

Tarik was so shocked he forgot where he was. He did not even know if he wanted children but if he did he'd at least like to be able to see them. He thought he and Goddess could have been an item. Then he felt like kicking himself for being an idiot. Dereft had their own way of doing things this is what happens when you project human morals on nonhuman beings. He sat and thought about it for an hour before he settled on his reply.

If we have daughters let them know I will be there if they need me. If we have sons please let them know how to find me so they are not alone. -Tarik

Tarik never received a reply and did not expect one.

The Beetle shoved off for the next station and he wished for anything to take his mind off his potential children. He resumed his cleaning duties and heavy exercise routine. He would feel normal for a time and then panic at the thought of what his sons would go through. He talked at length with Scout Three to learn every detail. Scout Three told him much but when he saw it was not helping he stopped telling him anything.

Tarik was off in his own world when he saw Daze come in and sit at her table. Tarik walked over to talk to her but she was blowing him off.

“Hey what's the deal? I thought we were close.” Tarik finally asked.

“We are but you and I have different ideas on who we are.” She replied.

“What are you talking about?”

“You look at me as your little sister. At first I thought that would be a good place to start but nothing developed from there. Tarik I don't want to be your little sister. I want more, you don't. We can still be friends but I can't be that close to you if we think differently about our relationship.”

“I didn't know you felt that way.”

“And that is my fault for letting it get that way. I like you, but in a much different way than you like me. It's not a big deal but I am going to need time before we move forward. Whatever direction that is.”

“It is a big deal. I should have picked on it before but I'm really bad at reading people; women in particular.”

She stood up and held her partially eaten tray in front of her. “So I hear. I'll talk to you when I know what I want.”

Tarik watched her leave unsure what the hell was going on. He looked up to ask his gods when he saw Razor was staring down at him.

“Any ideas?” He asked Razor.

“Find a Gorrex female. They will not be as confusing.” Razor growled a laugh after.

“I'll take it under advisement.” Tarik said.

His confusion only grew over the next few days. He would get so bad that he would forget that he was mopping floors and just stand with the mop at his side staring at the walls. He talked to Tilla and she prescribed him sleeping agents which only seemed to cloud his dreams.

When they were pulling into Alpha Six he was thinking about asking Dav if the severance package was still available. He was so out of it he did not think he would be combat ready when they dropped in to the next contract. Dav must have read his mind because he asked that Tarik help take inventory on the docks. In the message he also hinted that he should take some time to clear his mind.

Tarik wasn't sure what he meant for him to do so set upon his work first. He was climbing up stacks of crates when the silver shine of the Beetle caught his eye. He turned and sat on the crate thirty feet into the air. The old stained windows of the station did nothing to diminish her glory. Tarik saw people moving within the connecting tube. He could see Lamb and Daze talking. Mange had another box in his hand probably headed to the markets. His attention always drifted back to the beautiful shine of the Beetle. He just sat and smiled at his home.

Tarik was not sure how long he had been sitting when his thoughts were interrupted by the crates violently shaking below him. When he looked down to find the cause he was greeted by an angry face of a Granuala.

“What the shit are you doing?” Tarik yelled.

“My employer released me. You bring the reason.” The Granuala roared back at him.

“Grash? You better get away from me before I hand you another beating. You don't want to fuck with me today.”

“Sexual relations are not required. These crates are for the new employer. Your thievery will bring your end of days by the master.”

“Fuck you Grash! These belong to my ship.”

“Horned bovine excrement is on the plate! You shall perish at the thought of my new employer.”

Tarik was about to jump onto Grash’s head when he heard Dav.

“Hey Tarik, I see you've met our new Jimmy.” Dav yelled from a walkway below him.

“Tell me you're fucking with me Dav.” Tarik yelled back.

“Get back to the ship we head out soon.” Dav laughed as he pointed Grash in the direction of the Beetle.

So most of these things are so full of crap that you never get any idea of who is writing the book. I can see how it would make a difference if I were writing high school history books but that is clearly not what I am doing here (if by chance you think I am, you may have bought the wrong book).

Let’s just say I’m 33 and a CMTS engineer for a cable company. I’ve got the beautiful wife and two little one’s in the house, I am truly happy with the way life has turned out for me. It has been a long and dangerous road to get here but it was well worth it.

I DO NOT run marathons or enjoy bike rides. Anyone who runs of reasons other than a dangerous animal chasing them is probably not sane.

I wrote this book because I was getting tired of knowing what is going to happen a quarter of the way into what I was reading. I was not intending to release it to the public initially, but the engineer in me took over and thought why write something if nobody is going to see it?

I do not have a website or Blog because this is just a fun hobby for me. If you like it go ahead and leave a review. If you do not like it, that’s cool too. If you do like my work enough I have setup an amazon author's page and you can be notified when I put out new work.

Click HERE

For those interested I have already begun to write a second book in this series. If all goes well it should be out in a few short months.

K Luv U Bye!

-K