Free T'aafhal Legacy 1: Ghosts of Orion by Doug L Hoffman Page A

could be heard coming from the hold—heavy footsteps. From the shadows emerged two seven foot gray black monsters which took up positions on either side of the diminutive Chief. Then a third armored figure appeared, this one twelve feet tall. The Marines' eyes went wide.
    “Oh good!” said the armored bear in the middle. “I love snack food in green wrappers!”
    The Marines backed down the ramp, eyes fixed on the three armored figures behind the little sailor. None were even tempted to draw one of the stunners they carried on their belts—they knew what men, and bears, in powered armor could do.
    “You'll regret this, asshole!” the sergeant shouted as their retreat turned into a route.
    “That's Master Chief Asshole, dickhead!” Chief Zackly shouted in reply, happily waving at the departing Marines. “These fuckin' new Marines can't find their asses with both hands in the shower, not without an officer tellin' 'em which end is which.” 
     

Chapter 5
    Jimmy's Apartment, Farside
    The day after being brought to the ship, Jimmy Tosh was visited in sickbay by Captain Vincent. After talking with the prospective new cook, Billy Ray decided that Jimmy could join the crew. Jimmy seemed a good man, in spite of his vices, and the Captain had a soft spot for Jesse. He didn't want to disappoint the Jamaican bar keeper. 
    Since the mobsters were undoubtedly still looking for him, it was decided that Jimmy should not leave the safety of the ship to fetch his belongings. Instead, Mizuki and Bobby volunteered to gather his personal effects from his apartment and bring them back to the Peggy Sue. The couple from the ship were accompanied by Mizuki's flock of butterflies, causing a number of passersby to gawk. 
    “At least we got new uniforms,” Bobby commented.
    “Yes, they are very stylish, much nicer that the old jumpsuits.”
    Their outfits were quite attractive, having a two toned color scheme that was mostly black with a departmental color designation on the upper part. Mizuki's was black and burgundy and Bobby's black and dark blue.
    “Yeah, except I sort of feel like we're Star Trek TNG wannabees, attending a convention.”
    “There is just no pleasing you sometimes, Bobby.” 
     In all, it was a ten minute walk from the docks to Jimmy's apartment. Arriving without incident, they soon had Jimmy's worldly belongings stuffed into a duffel bag and were ready to head back.
    “I think that's about it,” said Bobby, looking around the small apartment one last time. “Hardly worth the trip.” 
    “Yes, I think we've gotten everything, excluding the recreational drugs,” Mizuki replied. “At least we took the aoi chō for one last walk before confining them to the ship for many months.” 
    “As long as they're around you they are happy, sweetheart.” About the only thing I have in common with the flying circus.  
    The couple stepped outside of the apartment and closed the door. As the door slid shut, two burly men confronted them.
    “Where is the black boy?” demanded the one on the left, closest to Bobby. “He owes us money.”
    Bobby and Mizuki were not an imposing couple. Mizuki, though tall for a Japanese woman, was not all that large and Bobby was not much taller than she. At one time Bobby had been a pudgy couch potato and not much for physical conflict. That was before they both spent a year in the company of a group of Marines and SEALS, fighting aliens and being fine tuned by the M'tak Ka'fek's AI. That meddlesome sentient computer viewed its crew as biological systems whose performance needed to be optimized. As a result, both Bobby and Mizuki were strong, well trained in the martial arts, and startlingly quick. 
    “We have no business with you,” said Bobby, as he and Mizuki moved apart slightly. “Stand aside and there will be no trouble.”
    “I think you already have trouble,” said the thug on the right, reaching behind his back. Mizuki's butterflies formed a swirling red and yellow