(eng) Nick S. Thomas - Battle Beyond Earth 06 by Survival

Author:Survival [Survival]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

For once Taylor awoke fresh and relaxed. His woes seemed to have faded into the background as he stepped into the tiny cubicle that was his shower. His skin and hair were thick and greasy from stale sweat. It was unpleasant, but felt increasingly better as it washed away. He soon touched the bruises and fresh wounds. He winced in pain, but he didn’t mind it. They were the best reminder he had that he was still alive and fighting the good fight.

As he pulled on his uniform, he reached for his communicator to contact some of the officers and friends of his units, but that is when it struck him just how few were left. It brought his tone down, but he tried to do his best to keep to positive waves.

“Lieutenant Sommer, have the platoon formed up and ready to depart in one hour.”

“Aye, aye, Sir,” the response came.

He pulled on his sidearm and strode out, suddenly realising how ravenously hungry he was. He soon reached the mess hall to find almost his entire platoon already there. He smiled to acknowledge them as he walked past to get some breakfast.

“’Morning, Colonel,” said the man behind the counter as he passed him a bowl of food.

“Good morning,” he responded.

He didn’t recognise the man, but it was entirely possible he had seen him many other times aboard the Independence. He positively beamed with enthusiasm before Taylor, and Mitch could not fail but be impressed. He took the bowl, and his face turned sour as he looked down to see a gloopy unappetising mess. It was hardly what he had in mind when he got out of bed, but then it would have to do. He saw Sommer and Turan sitting alone and apart from the other ranks. It both impressed and surprised him that the two of them had become so close. Even in the face of how aggressive Turan was towards her and every other human since he had arrived.

It was far from the instant respect and friendship that Taylor appeared to form with Jafar when they met all those years ago, but this seemed to be building just as strong a friendship. He approached them with a smile.

“Can I join you?” he asked.

“Of course,” replied Sommer.

He took a seat and planted his breakfast down at the table. The smile was once more removed as he looked down at the meal.

“Not the finest chow in the world is it?” Sommer asked.

“You can say that again. You know what I wouldn’t give for some bacon? Fresh bacon and eggs.”

“Now you’re talking. I can’t remember the last time I even smelt something like that.”

Turan didn’t seem to understand.

“You never had bacon?”

“This obsession with food that you humans have. I never understood it. Some of the primitive elements of my people are still like this, but it is just food. It provides the nutrients we need to function, what is there to enjoy?”

“And a fight provides the victory we need, but don’t tell me you don’t enjoy a good fight?” responded Taylor.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.