Free Scrapyard Ship 4 Realms of Time by Mark Wayne McGinnis

both the SEAL and the rhino-warrior were unfamiliar to him.
    “ We’re seeing movement, Captain,” the stocky SEAL replied.
    Jason glanced at the name tag on his chest. J. Parker. “Any signs of aggression, Parker?”
    “ Not so far, sir.”
    Jason replaced his helmet and was able to see what the two were looking at. Infrared heat signatures showed what appeared to be thirty men walking single file along the rocky ridge. Then, one by one, each heat signature was gone.
    The rhino made a deep grunting noise, then cleared his snout with a misty snort. “They go beneath the rocks.”
    “ Captain,” Parker said, “this is Fast Like Wind. He says they were following us and were watching our camp.”
    Jason momentarily considered the rhino’s name and wondered if he was in fact a fast runner. “Seems like they’re turning in for the night. Let me know if anything changes.”
    “ Yes, sir,” Parker replied. The rhino grunted again.
    As Jason turned toward the cluster of RCMs in the distance, a laughing cry from a distant hyena wailed mournfully into the night. The camp was quiet, with a flickering amber light moving along the back of Jason’s camp module. Coming around to the front, he saw that the zipper-like flap was partially open. He pulled his sidearm and tentatively stepped inside.
    “ We need to talk,” Dira said, looking up from her seated position on his cot.
    She was out of her battle suit and wearing a spacer’s jumpsuit with the top portion hanging loose, exposing a small white tank top. Her arms were crossed over her chest. The small overhead lantern cast a warm glow over her violet skin, accentuating her softness—her curves.
    “ I wouldn’t recommend removing your battle suit in this environment, Dira.”
    She bit her bottom lip and raised her eyebrows.
    “ So what is it you want to talk about?” Jason asked, sitting down next to her.
    “ You know exactly what I want to talk about.”
    “ I honestly don’t,” Jason replied, pulling his helmet off and placing it down at his feet.
    “ With what you’re going through, Nan’s death, feelings of loss … I know you’re angry. Angry at Stalls, his little brother, and probably everyone else. I want to be there for you, Jason. But you seem determined to push everyone away. I didn’t expect to be one of those people.”
    Jason let her words hang in the air for several moments before speaking. “I am angry. Angry my little girl will grow up without a mother, angry that I can’t be there for her right now. And I’m angry I won’t be allowed some form of retribution against Stalls.”
    “ At least, from the sounds of things, he went out with a bang,” she said.
    Jason’s mind envisioned Captain Stalls as he was literally crushed to death beneath a goliath space vehicle. The ends of his mouth slightly pulled up, eventually giving way to a smile. “I guess that’s one consolidation.”
    Dira pulled one of his hands free and intertwined her fingers with his. “You’re an amazing man, Jason. I can’t pretend to understand what you’re going through. The loss that you feel. My heart aches for you.”
    She brought his fingers up to her mouth and gently kissed them. He watched as her lips brushed against his hand and he felt familiar emotions stir. Emotions he had buried deep beneath others, including those of anger and hatred. Now, looking at Dira’s closed eyes and her long, spectacular lashes, he let his feelings for her reawaken. Overwhelmed, he abruptly stood up.
    “ You should go, Dira. We have a big day tomorrow.”
    Chapter 12 
    Jason awoke with Dira still on his mind.
    Showering in an RCM’s cramped bathroom enclosure was surprisingly effective. It actually didn’t use water at all, but heated pulsating streams of cleansing nanites. After several minutes, when the nanites completed their task, they recirculated back to the nozzle above where they’d be used again when needed.
    Jason emerged from his RCM in his battle suit and