Free Magician Interrupted by S. V. Brown

up two rows. There was a monitor at the front and a little
podium. The hatch was sealed. Paris sat in the middle.
    Chezza sat next to him and leaned closer.
“It’ll be your turn on the forth mission. The new commander says we
gotta take turns.”
    Even Paris could see the stupidity in
that.
    There was laughter right behind them. Messma
leaned forward. “Yeah, but we all support each other so it’s no big
deal.” He slapped Chezza on the head. “Stop trying to freak out our
newbie.”
    “You’re not the boss … today.”
    They all sniggered.
    “Shhhhh.”
    “Thank you, Path.”
    His feline gave him an annoyed look and
turned her Cheshire cat smile to Jackson.
    “Attention token yella (Chezza), brown
(Kabab), black (Messma), alien (Paris) and chick (Path).”
    They laughed at “whitey (Jackson)”.
    “Now, for my next act I’m going to present
the mission.”
    “Ready?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Are. You. Ready. Marines?” Jackson flexed
his muscles and then puffed out his chest bashing it in a joke.
    “Yeah!”
    Everyone laughed except Path who was
drooling.
    “Path?” Paris asked.
    “Huh?”
    He tossed her a tissue. “Mop up, pussy
cat.”
    She blushed prettily. “Thank you, Paris.”
    Paris tried not to think about the remarks
around about pussy and mopping up. He slapped any head close to him
instead, gaining another notch as “one of the guys”.
     
    After the briefing they went to the shooting
gallery and then into a small sparring room. It only took several
minutes before Jackson walked over and helped Messma up. He
inspected the cut on his dark lip.
    “Clean that up.” He glanced at Paris who was
perspiring. “I think that’s enough. Welcome to the Hammer
Squad.”
    “Ooray!”
    Jackson slapped him on the head.
    “Oorah!”
    “Better.” Jackson watched as Path and the
others left the room and he turned to Paris. “Why don’t you like
saying ‘Oorah’?”
    Paris grimaced. “Noticed that did you?”
Without waiting for an answer he said, “Just some bitch back home
is named ‘O’rah’.”
    “Ah,” Jackson said with a grin and headed
out. “Just remember when you say ‘Oorah’ you can imagine firing a
bullet in her head. You are a good shot. You were a sniper weren’t
you, on the watchtower?”
    Paris nodded. “In my younger days before… You
know.”
    He nodded. “Good to know.”
    Paris finished dressing, no longer quite as
embarrassed by his bony, white body. They’d seen it now. No more
hiding and no one laughed. Path had proven herself a little
spitfire with strange fighting techniques. Only Paris knew why and
tried not to laugh when she hissed and pulled hair.

Spell Nine – Lunatics Act

    Paris checked his medic pack before shoving in more
food bars. Magic meant he had to eat more and while he had only to
help his fellow marines, there might be other friendlies he’d need
to help. Path was their new telecommunication expert and after
batting her long eyelashes at Chezza he was happy to take over
patrol work.
    He was finally ready.
    Standing in his small cabin only for a moment
was enough for him to get the hell out. They had a few months on
planet. As he walked down the narrow companionways he met up with
Chezza, then Messma, then Kabab.
    “Where’s Path?” Paris asked.
    “Already on the tub with Jackson. I think
she’s got the hots for the current leader.” Messma glanced back at
him with a smirk.
    “Yeah, can’t wait till it’s my turn!” Chezza
raised his rifle to bash with Paris’s rifle but he declined. Chezza
asked, “What’s up, man? It’s not loaded yet.”
    Paris’s faced burned. “Hold up.”
    The three turned and covered for him while he
unloaded his weapon.
    “Shit, alien, did we forget to tell you that
rule?”
    “Arseholes.” Paris was really getting the
hang of being a marine. “We always load up at home.”
    Chezza looked insulted. “We didn’t do that on
purpose. We could all get time in the brig for that.”
    Paris felt, and