Free A Soldier in Love by A. Petrov Page B

voice called.

 
    “Coordinates?” Serik
repeated.

 
    “Earth Army compound,
Planet Redex,” the voice said.

 
    Fuck it might as well go to Redex, even the
strippers don’t want me , Serik thought
to himself.

 
    “OK, what do you need?”
Serik replied.

 
    “Thank God,” the voice
said.

 
    “What do you need?” Serik
replied a bit annoyed with the dramatics of whoever was on the other end.

 
    “We need food. We just
really need food,”

 
    “Anything else?” Serik huffed.

 
    “Do you have anything
to ward off these molcos hunds?” The Commander asked as he tried to keep his
voice calm and steady.

 
    “I’ll see what I can
find…” Serik replied.

 
    “When can I expect
you?” The Commander asked.

 
    “About three day’s time
and payment will be due in full,” Serik stated as he configured the route to
Redex into the ship’s navigation system.

Chapter Fourteen

 
    “You ready for today?”
Bryce smiled.

 
    “Yeah, but I was
wondering…” Michelle trailed off.

 
    “What?” Bryce furrowed
his brow.

 
    “We’re not going to
have all this gear out there…”  

 
    Bryce looked pensive
for a minute before replying, “I suppose you’re right but it’s against
protocol.”

 
    “Protocol? What’s protocol going to do for us out there?”
Michelle argued.

 
    “OK. Have your way but
if you get hurt…” Bryce said in a hushed tone.

 
    “I won’t,” Michelle
replied confidently.

 
    Michelle strode out
onto the sparring mat. Bryce took his position at the opposite end of the mat.

 
    “You ready?” he called
out.

 
    Michelle nodded.

 
    The two circled around
each other. Bryce took a swing but Michelle ducked. She stepped back. He
followed forward taking a swing again. She briskly jumped back making a circle
around the mat. She knew she was too fast for him.

 
    He came at her again
but she blocked his punch. She hopped back to retreat to her corner. He whirled
and glided across the mat. Michelle knew he was becoming annoyed and overconfident.
With all the strength she could muster she arose from her corner and rushed
across the mat. She hopped back as he swung and then placed a punch to his left
temple. Bryce looked stunned for a moment before he dropped down to his knees. His
body went limp and he sank down the mat. He was momentarily unconscious.  

 
    Michelle caught her
breath. “Sorry, Bryce. I had to.”

 
    Bryce blinked his eyes
as he looked up at Michelle who was stood in front of him.

 
    “Hey, you OK?” she
asked softly.

 
    “That was some hit,” he
said with a dazed look in his eyes.

 
    “Let’s get you to the
medic station,” Michelle said as she slung his body over her left shoulde . They began to make their way to the medic station
as he limply walked with her support.

 
    Aaron
sighed as Michelle entered the room with a disoriented Bryce.

 
    “Let’s
put him in the exam room,” Aaron said as he took Bryce’s other side.

 
 
    Michelle
and Aaron helped Bryce down on the bed. Aaron looked over him and took his
pulse. He pulled open his eyelids open and held his small flashlight as he
checked his pupils.  

 
    “What’s
your name?” Aaron asked sternly.

 
    “Bryce,”
he replied rubbing his left temple.

 
    Aaron
looked down to his watch as he took Bryce’s pulse.

 
    “How
did you get here?” Aaron asked as he wrote in Bryce’s chart.

 
    “That
one,” Bryce pointed.

 
    Michelle
poured a glass of water unsure of what to do with herself .
She handed it over to Bryce. He took a few gulps.

 
    “How
do you feel?” Aaron asked.

 
    “Not
great but I’m OK. My pride is hurt more than anything,” Bryce sighed.

 
    “I’m
going to need you to rest for a few minutes. I’ll come get you in a little
bit,” Aaron said decisively as he walked out of the exam room.

 
    Michelle
followed as he closed the door.

 
    “I
knew I wasn’t going to