The Shirker by Schultis Mark J

Author:Schultis, Mark J.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Neo Apsis Publishing
Published: 2023-12-12T00:00:00+00:00

Eight

“LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT. Anya Nera just threw herself at you?”

“Well... yeah.” Vio sipped his bourbon, realizing how absurd some of his life sounded when told to a stranger.

Marek chuckled. “And you thought that meant she loved you?”

Vio sighed. “Like I said, I was young and naïve.”

“I’ll say. You were the flavor of the month.” Marek took a sip of his ale, then wiped the foam off his lips. “But I get it, Recarey. I’d have done the same in your place, too. Most fellas would, I reckon.”

“Hook, line and sinker. And because of me, it all collapsed.”

“You exaggerate, you know that?” Marek tapped his finger on the bar. “In the last ten years, Kabban raised Nera’s profits. The Wharf added some class to Luucrum. I mean, it got Celestial Dispatch to give a shit about Obcasio.”

“Yeah. For about a minute.”

“My point is long term, you’re not the reason it’s gone to shit. It’s gone to shit because it’s just another RecOp world crumbling under its own ambitions. I’ve seen it over, and over, and over again. IM Corp and AED pull out, local influence tries to steer their society, selectively. ‘We can do it better than any other world.’ Then they get greedy, or try to rewrite the planet’s history to match their narrative. People lash out, rise up and the new world just becomes another used up wasteland. Nothing but skeletons and empty structures. I bet you saw it, too, during your tours.”

Vio nodded. “Uprising on Toi V.”

“Rattles you, doesn’t it? Seeing the lengths people can be driven to when order disappears.”

Vio started to picture the riot on Toi V.

Marek saw Vio drifting off. “How’s your sleep? Better than when you landed?”

Vio nodded. “Tried to do it without meds, but... I’d get set off... the slightest trigger... and now, now I can’t go without them, but neuprazosin’s getting scarce...”

“Well, could be for the best. Some of those meds have long term side effects, you know? Besides, Recarey, I’ve seen vets with the best docs and best meds and they still can’t cope. Anyone who’s gotten out and is doing okay now? It’s because they found something to focus all their energy on. Dedicate themselves, you know? My advice? Once you start actually living, putting forth your best effort into whatever – farming, business, family – that’s when you clear it out.” Marek took another sip of his drink. “That’s why I do what I do.”

“Hunting shirkers?”

Marek nodded. “I know why they snap. I know why they run. And they think they can slink away into the emerging chaos of all these new frontiers, just disappear from civilization. Well, maybe some do. But not if I don’t say so.”

Sounds like AED didn’t squash his ethics. Few like that. Vio set down his bottle. “Good excuse to see the cluster, right?”

“Sure. Some planets are a sight to see. Beauty to behold and all that. But the people are always the same. And... something about space travel ages you. You’re

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