Dead Mech by Jake Bible Page A

was the last thing the Rookie heard before his world went
black and the pain became darkness.
     

Chapter Two

Part One- Welcome To Reality
     
    “Well, you check out fine, but take it easy
for the day,” Doctor Themopolous said, setting her tablet
aside.
    “Wow…Did he hit me that hard?” the Rookie
asked, still groggy.
    “Bisby? No, it was the concrete steps that
really did the job.” Doctor Themopolous handed the Rookie a packet
of pills. “Take one twice a day if you start getting headaches. If
the medication doesn’t help, come see me right away.”
    The Rookie pushed himself from the exam
table and took two tentative steps. “Um, Doc?”
    “Mmmm…?”
    “How’d I get into an exam gown?”
    “Don’t worry, I’ve seen it all.”
    ***
    “Welcome back to the conscious world,
Rookie,” Rachel said, extending her hand as the Rookie exited the
infirmary. “Quite a first impression. You always fall down like a
girl when someone hits you?”
    The large knot at the back of the Rookie’s
head ached, but he pushed that aside and took Rachel’s hand.
    “I usually try to scream a little before I
pass out, but I couldn’t manage it this time,” quipped the
Rookie.
    “I’m Pilot Rachel Capreze, you’re new boss,”
she said, walking away. The Rookie hurried to follow.
    “Oh, I’m--”
    “You’re the Rookie. Leave it at that.”
    ***
    “I got it,” Jay said, entering the
Commander’s office, not bothering to knock.
    Capreze set aside his tablet. “All of
it?”
    “Almost. About a third of the data was
corrupted, but I got most. Whatever happened out there we’ll be
able to see Bisby’s side.”
    Capreze set his hand out. Reluctantly Jay
handed him the small, clear disc.
    “Thank you, Chief Mechanic,” Capreze said
dismissively.
    “Really?” Jay asked, offended. “I spend all
night fighting this data from an almost completely fried drive and
that’s all I get?”
    Capreze raised his eyebrows and nodded
towards the door.
    “Ah, man…” Jay complained.
    ***
    Rachel and the Rookie stepped into the empty
barracks. Rachel motioned towards a bunk that held the Rookie’s
pack. “There’s your new home for the rest of your life.”
    The Rookie took in the room: the grey metal
of the bunks, the foot lockers, larger upright lockers.
    “Huh. Festive,” he said mockingly.
    “Yeah, well, we don’t spend much time in
here,” Rachel said. “You’re gonna want to get cleaned up. Showers
are there, latrine is there.” She motioned to two doors at the end
of the barracks. “I’ll be back in a few minutes to take you to the
mess.”
    ***
    Capreze switched back and forth on his
tablet between the multiple vid feeds recorded by Bisby’s mech.
    The picture was rough, but clear enough to
make the Commander’s gut clench. He tossed the tablet onto his
desk, leaned back in his chair and sighed.
    A knock at his door brought him upright.
“Enter.”
    Doctor Themopolous came in.
    “How’s the Rookie, Doc?”
    “Mildly dehydrated with some minor cuts to
his hands from the trip,” she responded. “He slept nearly eighteen
hours and checked out fine this morning.”
    “Good, good,” Capreze muttered.
    The Doctor eyed him. “How are you doing this
morning?”
    ***
    The Rookie wrapped a towel around his waist
and stepped back into the barracks. Rachel was seated on her bunk,
waiting.
    “You know, water doesn’t grow on trees
around here,” she smiled. “Well, nothing grows on trees, not even
trees.”
    “Sorry, I haven’t showered in a few
days.”
    “No problem,” Rachel hopped off her bunk.
“Hurry up and lets get some chow.” Rachel waited, watching.
    The Rookie crossed to his bunk. “Umm, is
this a hazing thing or do you watch all the guys get dressed?”
    Rachel laughed. “Boy, we all eat, sleep,
shower and shit together. Get over it.”
    ***
    Capreze squeezed his eyes shut, trying to
make sense of the recovered data.
    “Commander…?” Doctor Themopolous asked,
worried by