Renegade Redhead Read online

  Ok, she also danced naked in her quarters to a line-up of ancient songs from Christina Aguilera, Pink, Aerosmith, and Robert Palmer. Dolores said dancing was a magic-producing activity. Sasha figured that not only was it fun and burned off frustration, she could build up her ‘magic’ and use it later. Win, win, as Dolores would say. Neither of them liked modern music that was said to regulate brain impulses via beta and delta waves sonically implanted in the recordings. Having themselves ‘regulated’ by mass-produced recordings designed to calm and control did not appeal to either of them. Why people listened to it when they knew it was supposed to help them ‘control’ themselves, just seemed stupid to Sasha. She was not giving up her ability to think her own thoughts.

  When she’d had her neural chip for her machine-tech program implanted at university, she’d gone to a friend of Vince McCullough’s and had the receptor removed that allowed outside transmitting devices access. No one was going to hack this girl through her implant! Ass-hats had another thing coming if they thought they could use her against her will.

  The waiting around factor didn’t last long in the Intergalactic Guard. The second week of class, after going over the introductory moves in Tai Chi about a dozen times, Major Ishto Donji had them split up into different learning levels for the meditative routine. None too soon either, since Sasha had been about ready to explode with impatience. Seriously, after being shown six times, how many more times did these people need to get a few elementary moves down?

  That was the strength of the Intergalactic Guard, if you didn’t ‘get’ something, they channeled you into something else. You didn’t have to wait around and learn if it wasn’t in your ‘wheelhouse’ as they put it. She had no idea what a wheelhouse was, but the attitude worked!

  Her mechanized weapon’s suit instructor was a Colonel Rustalov. She was the commander’s wife, and Major Ishto Donji’s mother. She was also a total badass. When Sasha had watched her demonstrate the light-weight alloy-impregnated mech-suits the first time, she’d practically drooled. Colonel Rustalov had been graceful and deadly. Sasha couldn’t wait to get started.

  The following three months after that demonstration had blown Sasha’s mind. Besides the weapons and combat training, she excelled in the mechanized-weapons suit. Her ability to tumble, run, jump, and deploy arms at the same time, filled her with glee. Yeah, ok, she liked to blow shit up! Colonel Rustalov said she was the most gifted student she ever had.

  Sasha loved the suits. They made her feel invincible. Strangely, they were very similar in some respects to the machinery she had operated in the fields of Kansas. The gloves that fit over her hands had the same sort of touch sensors that some of the combines and planters had. People severely underestimated the sophistication of farm machinery!

  When she was in the suit it felt as though all she had to do was think what she wanted and it happened. Sasha believed the ease she felt in the suit had something to do with her affinity with energy and the elements. She’d always been able to ‘feel’ things through the air, earth, or water. The suit simply responded. Dolores called it her ‘magic’.

  The other candidates in training seemed to stumble and fall frequently. Her ability to fly through the air and hit anything she aimed at often made for rough feelings among the other recruits. Sasha couldn’t help them get better, and she wasn’t going to apologize. It had put a bit of a hold on her love life though, since no self-respecting jock soldier was going to sleep with the woman that just kicked his ass in mech-suit training.

  Sasha was pacing outside Major Donji’s office waiting for the results of the testing to be posted. Several other Guardsmen also paced about impatiently. The Women’s Corps no longer existed. The stellar performance of the original Corps had been absorbed into Orbit Guard and that then became the Intergalactic Guard as the planet united into one government. All ranks were now co-ed and fully integrated. The Guard put people to use based solely on their propensity for the work they wanted and their personal skills. It worked.

  The station commander before Colonel Donji had been promoted to Territorial Governor Reinegaard, and was now stationed on Uzi with his wife, Colonel Chloe Sedgewick. She was the Battle Commander for the planet’s security forces. The original governor and his wife, Carlo and Johanna Bergstrom, had retired from Orbit Guard and ran a vineyard that produced the first wine vintages on the planet and in the system. Sasha had heard that demand was high for their product and that it sold out quickly after the first year’s production proved to be fantastic and won awards back on Earth. It seemed very positive to her that the old ‘Orbit Guard’ as it had been called back then, had assisted so many women onwards to jobs of great responsibility and status.

  Just then Major Ishto Donji exited his office with a tablet in hand. “I’m sending out personal assignments and test results now. I suggest you return to your quarters and survey the results in private. That will give you time to process how you feel about the possible options you’ve been given for your futures. Go!” Major Donji stated, then with a shewing motion, pressed a button on his tablet. “Done,” he stated. Ensigns scattered to look at their results.

  Sasha sat down on her bunk and opened the window with her test results. Heaving a sigh of relief, she leaned back against the bulkhead and scrolled through. She’d received a 98% overall score. Top of her class. She had a list of options down one side of the screen, and tapped that to see what the percentages were for compatibility with her personality and skills.

  A small notation popped up. It was a message from the Station Commander! It read, “Congratulations Lieutenant Kelty, on the highest score ever achieved in the Intergalactic Guard.” Sasha gasped. Wow! The highest score ever! Damn she was good!

  It then continued, “While we are highly impressed with your abilities and intellect, the profile recommends that you be monitored as your abilities seem ‘unusually’ proficient. We’re going to accept your scores at face value, as we’ve all seen you in action and know that you deserve them. However, you should be aware that the oversight committee of Intergalactic Guard will be watching and monitoring your career to make sure that you’re the ‘genuine’ article. Again, congratulations! On behalf of myself, my wife, and my son, we salute your achievements!”

  What the hell?! They thought she cheated? Or what? Sasha sank her head onto the tablet. If it wasn’t one thing, it was people! Damn people. Too high of a score, because of course, she couldn’t just be ‘that good’. Ass-hats! Well at least the Donji family believed in her. Sighing, Sasha tapped the compatibility rating column again. Please, Goddess Andraste, help me get front-line exploration, she thought to herself, then looked at the list with bated breath.

  The highest-ranking probability was listed as, “Front-line expansion, exploratory combat.” That was exactly what she had hoped for. Flopping down onto her side, she hugged the tablet to her. Oh, thank Heaven. She was going to go to the absolute farthest reaches of space. Places where no humans were established. It was the most exciting thing she could think of. She fell asleep dreaming of space.

  Chapter Three

  More Training, UZ238

  Uzi was beautiful. It was a glorious green and blue marble just like Earth, but with a different configuration. It also had some very strange plants and animals. Having this new atmosphere as the backdrop for her advanced recon training was very productive. On the outskirts of known space, every situation would be new. Each strange training environment on Uzi prepared her for the ones that would come after. So far, Sasha loved it. After six months on Uzi, there was still something new every day, though rumors were swirling that they’d be assigned to Guard units soon.

  Today they were riding an upright two-legged beast called a Gangene into the snowy upper passes of the mountain range closest to Oz, the main colonized city on Uzi. Sasha understood that Oz was named after some very old movie from Earth. She’d never seen it.

  The Gangene reminded her of a giant kangaroo that didn’t spring, it just plodded forward
in an ungainly, swaying lumber that had some of her fellow Guardsmen looking very green around the gills.

  Sasha was having a blast. She’d ridden horses since childhood and found the Gangene to be responsive to the same aids as their Earthbound equine cousins. She supposed this was some sort of test to see if they could manage in extreme conditions. Almost everything was a test, or a way to expose them to new challenges. Being the daredevil that she was, Sasha had found it all incredibly exhilarating.

  She hadn’t had this much fun, ever, in her whole life. The Intergalactic Guard was awesome. The only downside that she could see was having to follow orders. Her classroom instructor often told her that she reminded him of his boss, Colonel Chloe Sedgewick, the commanding officer of the military on UZ238. The way he said it, she didn’t think it was a compliment. Sasha always chirped, “Thank you!” And left it at that.

  Seven hours later there were only a handful of them still mounted and continuing towards the summit of the mountain. Most of them had had to drop back or stop due to complications, miscommunication with their mounts, or sheer exhaustion. Sasha was having no difficulty. She was tired, but the Gangene, whom she’d christened Gomer, was more so. Sasha’d given him a long rein and had simply relaxed in the saddle, occasionally she stood upright in the stirrups to stretch in every direction. Gomer didn’t seem to mind.

  Sometimes she’d bump Gomer with a leg if he was straying from the path she wanted him to follow. Mostly just a ring-finger squeeze on his rein put him back on course. He was a real sweetie, Sasha thought.

  Her instructor, an older officer named Major Blandin, motioned for them to follow him and disappeared into a narrow gorge, barely wide enough for his Gangene. When Sasha and the three other advanced-recon trainees came out on the other side, it was to the unexpected sight of an outpost perched on top of the mountain. A narrow trail led up to a flat landing area and their Gangene’s hugged the side of the mountain as they lumbered up to the top.

  Major Blandin dismounted and gestured for them to follow suit. Sasha grasped the pommel of the saddle and swung her tired legs over Gomer’s back. She kept a hold on Gomer until the blood came back into her extremities. One of the other trainees slumped to the ground, not expecting the leaden weight of their legs to be so uncooperative. “These things shouldn’t be called Gangenes,” he moaned. “They should be called gangrenes, ‘cause my legs feel about ready to rot off.”

  Should have stretched, Sasha thought to herself. Then turned her back on the whining man. Leading Gomer by the reins, Sasha followed the Major into one of the small shelters that lined the mountain. There she followed his example and began to untack Gomer. She let him cool down slowly, leaving his saddle pad in place for a bit while he steamed in the cold air. Going in search of water and a brush, she then groomed and watered him.

  Major Blandin had looked over her shoulder to see what she was doing, muttered, “Carry on,” then gone to see to the other trainees. Sasha admitted that she had an edge when it came to anything animal or farming related. She hadn’t been raised in a rural area without picking up a lot of knowledge about animals, outdoorsmanship or machinery – all of which had all come in handy during training.

  She also had to admit that she had an edge with the skills handed down to her from her grandmother. Meditation calmed the nerves and steadied the hand. Simple energy work helped her heal her exhaustion faster, and run, jump and land with more coordination and grace than most.

  As she slipped Gomer a treat out of her pocket, she heard someone approach behind her. Turning, Sasha met shining blue eyes beneath a wooly, Peruvian-style ear-flap cap. Honey-blonde and grey-streaked hair, capped a slightly weathered face that peaked out from underneath. “Hi, I’m Colonel Chloe Sedgewick. Major Blandin says you’re the least worse-for-wear of your group. I need your help. Come with me, please,” the small woman said, then flashed her a grin. “I see you like the Gangenes,” she said. “I like them too.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’d be happy to help you any way I can. I do like them, the Gangenes I mean. This is Gomer,” Sasha answered back with a salute, and motioned towards the now munching, but still steaming, Gomer. “He’s still hot, so I’ll leave his saddle pad over his back for now. I don’t want him to catch a chill. Plus, he needs to be fed, but not till he’s cooled down. Will someone be doing that? It’s been a long day and he’s been good-as-gold for me,” she added, patting Gomer’s wiry coat one last time.

  “I’m glad to see you have respect for your ride, Lieutenant,” the Colonel said, with a nod towards the tired Gangene. “Some people don’t understand their value. The Major will see that they’re fed in an hour or so.”

  Not knowing what to say to that, Sasha simply nodded, then followed the Colonel out of the shed and up a long flight of rocky stairs to a large wooden door studded with iron nails. A Guardsman swung the door open for them, saluting the Colonel as he did so.

  They walked down a rough-hewn hallway that appeared to be made of local stone, then entered another wooden door. Upon entering the room, Sasha could see that it was a control room and several large screens hung overhead. One was tuned to a council chamber somewhere. The other was a view into dark space. No visible ship or planet showed in the black emptiness.

  “Please, sit down Lieutenant Kelty and have some water,” said Colonel Sedgewick. “You must be tired and thirsty. What we’ll be discussing here today is of the highest clearance and must be discussed with no one. Is that clear?” Asked the Colonel.

  Sasha nodded to the affirmative, then added a verbal, “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Your training time is officially over now,” Colonel Sedgewick began. “You are in the top of your class, as were the other three Guardsmen who accompanied you to Fort Pinnacle today,” she added.

  “However, the other three either didn’t respect their animal or didn’t try to see to its well-being once they arrived. Which is also disrespect. The first thing you did was take care of Gomer. That action secured your place on the expedition that will be heading out next week,” Colonel Sedgewick stated matter-of-factly.

  Sasha was stunned. “Thank you, ma’am,” she managed to stutter out. “Thank you very much!”

  “Don’t thank me yet, Lieutenant. You may want to curse me by the time I’ve explained what that expedition will be doing and why you’re being chosen for it -- besides being able to take care of your animal, that is,” Colonel Sedgewick added, pulling the wool hat from her head and revealing a heavy mass of grey-streaked honey-blonde hair.

  The Colonel must be in her fifty’s, but she was beautiful, Sasha thought to herself. The Guard didn’t seem to mind what people looked like, nor did they try to squash you because of it. That was good. Weird thought to be having now, she chided herself. Focus!

  “You were selected to come to Fort Pinnacle because you have excellent hand to hand combat performance, outstanding mechanical and computing abilities with all types of machinery and weapons. You also have a good aim, are steady in combat, and a rebel. You don’t like taking orders, and though you have up to this point, it’s not what you want to do. Especially when the person giving you the orders isn’t, you believe, as smart as you are,” the Colonel continued calmly.

  Sasha felt a knot building in her stomach and didn’t know if she should be insulted or relieved that the Guard knew her this well. She decided to keep her mouth shut and just see what was coming.

  Colonel Sedgewick smiled at her. “You also know when to keep your mouth shut. That’s actually a very powerful skill. Most people can’t control their traps. So, it’s important when we have a recruit who can,” she added, with a shrug of her shoulders. “And, to put them into an environment where that can be utilized.”

  “The expedition you’re being offered is cutting edge, revolutionary, and life changing. And I mean that. It will change your life in a way that none of us can foresee. That’s why it’s important that you take the time to really think it over in the next week,” the Colonel stated grimly.
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  “The assignment you’re being offered will be to join an exploratory ship that will be going out to the edge of known space and looking for new planets and new species. It will be extremely dangerous,” the Colonel said, looking Sasha in the eyes. “It is also a very expensive venture, and is being funded by a joint effort between the Intergalactic Guard, and two private organizations. One Japanese and one French.”

  Sasha felt the beginnings of confusion start to show on her face. “Private Japanese and French organizations, ma’am?” She asked doubtfully. “I’ve heard of different joint projects being undertaken in science and research between large contractors of science and manufacturing. Is that what you’re saying?

  “Yes, that’s precisely what I’m saying. The difference in this expedition is that the commanding officer will not be a military officer, but a civilian from the Japanese organization. You will be part of a security team that will deal with all threats and safety issues. From aliens, to exploding stars, the safety of the ship’s crew will rest with the security team you will be part of,” Colonel Sedgewick continued. “The civilian component of this crew is key in this mission. We’re working with the Japanese corporation Donji Manufacturing, and the French firm, Roux Enterprises, to sponsor this expedition. The Captain of the mission will be Ryo Donji, one of the principles of Donji Manufacturing.”

  “Aren’t they the firm that makes most of the armor and some of the more powerful ships and weapons we have in the Intergalactic Guard?” Sasha asked, her curiosity piqued. “He is Colonel Donji’s brother, isn’t he?” She asked.