a derelict. Martin loosed two missiles at the remaining Koth as he broke cover then powered through a lopsided pin wheeling somersault to evade the returning fire as his foe evaded the missiles. This boy’s good . . . just not good enough. He flashed over the last Koth and managed to get in a broadside with both turrets at spitting range. Both end segments of the Koth exploded; because of the distance between Martin’s turrets the center section was virtually untouched. Now there’s one for the books. Martin thought, then burst into elation, howling with delight and throwing his ship in all directions celebrating a freedom he never dreamed could exist.
. . .
Reese decelerated to a stop just short of the four wrecked ships. ^I guess I could follow him in and pick up a few souvenirs.^ He shook his head in disbelief as Dottie and Brian joined him in a hard link.
^Did I really see that, he didn’t . . . how in the hell.^ Dottie sputtered. ^Now what’s he doing?^ She muttered watching Martin’s ship gracefully spin and flip. Then she noticed a song playing in the background from Martin’s audio hard link, it was some of the ancient rock and roll he was becoming known for collecting. ^I am Ironman?? Brian, he’s dancing with his ship.^
^Yep, looks like it.^ Reese winked and cocked his head with a ‘so what’ shrug.
^He’s a madman.^ Dottie grumbled.
^Nope, he’s a warborg.^ Brian disagreed with a smile.
^Madman, warborg,^ Reese rumbled, ^is there difference?^
The others shook their heads in sad agreement.
^Reese, after he calms down bring him back in, get him in a bay for a check out and take him to Charlie’s Place.^ Brian smiled watching Martin’s continuing antics, he knew he had to get out of there or he’d be dancing with his ship in a minute. It’s so pagan, it’s so damned enticing. ^Dottie let’s go home.^
^You’re taking him to Charlie’s!^ Dottie was delighted. ^I’ll put out the word.^
^Sure, no problem.^ Reese sighed, totally relaxed as he watched the other two ships fade into the distance then vanish with their FTL jump. He smiled, enjoying the music flowing from Martin’s ship, at peace with the universe, as the four smashed Koth fighters drifted away.
. . .
Commander Briton watched the recording of Martin’s fight again at one tenth speed. ^Three seconds, unbelievable.^
^You know the most incredible part Commander, watch it again, he never throttled back on any of his thrusters through the whole thing. I don’t even know how . . .^ Brian ended with a shrug.
^I’m not surprised Major. It’s not widely know but there have only been a dozen or so Light Fighter pilots ever converted to cyborgs, and only three of them were really top level combat pilots. The first two didn’t work out, one was totally psyched out from getting his ship chewed to pieces around him, it was really ugly, and the other never really adjusted to being a cyborg at all. Morgan is the third, and was among the elite manned fighter pilots in the force, maybe the best period. When Doctor Swain told me in passing he had never seen anyone adapt to the container as quickly and comfortably as Morgan did, I became intrigued. Then I noticed when he was distracted and not concentrating solely on flying his ship his flying went from rose garden variety excellent into the realm of the surreal. I hoped that when he went into combat the first time he would concentrate on the Koth, not on flying his ship, and just do what seems to come so naturally to him.^
Brian studied his commanding officer for a second and nodded. ^Reese and I noticed the same thing. In fact Reese commented once that when Martin went into his zone it was like watching an expert street dancer; you can only stare in awe not quite believing what you’re seeing.^ He saluted. ^Request permission to go off duty, Sir^
^Permission granted.^ Briton answered his salute. Then broke into roaring laughter as Brian’s uniform
. . .
Reese decelerated to a stop just short of the four wrecked ships. ^I guess I could follow him in and pick up a few souvenirs.^ He shook his head in disbelief as Dottie and Brian joined him in a hard link.
^Did I really see that, he didn’t . . . how in the hell.^ Dottie sputtered. ^Now what’s he doing?^ She muttered watching Martin’s ship gracefully spin and flip. Then she noticed a song playing in the background from Martin’s audio hard link, it was some of the ancient rock and roll he was becoming known for collecting. ^I am Ironman?? Brian, he’s dancing with his ship.^
^Yep, looks like it.^ Reese winked and cocked his head with a ‘so what’ shrug.
^He’s a madman.^ Dottie grumbled.
^Nope, he’s a warborg.^ Brian disagreed with a smile.
^Madman, warborg,^ Reese rumbled, ^is there difference?^
The others shook their heads in sad agreement.
^Reese, after he calms down bring him back in, get him in a bay for a check out and take him to Charlie’s Place.^ Brian smiled watching Martin’s continuing antics, he knew he had to get out of there or he’d be dancing with his ship in a minute. It’s so pagan, it’s so damned enticing. ^Dottie let’s go home.^
^You’re taking him to Charlie’s!^ Dottie was delighted. ^I’ll put out the word.^
^Sure, no problem.^ Reese sighed, totally relaxed as he watched the other two ships fade into the distance then vanish with their FTL jump. He smiled, enjoying the music flowing from Martin’s ship, at peace with the universe, as the four smashed Koth fighters drifted away.
. . .
Commander Briton watched the recording of Martin’s fight again at one tenth speed. ^Three seconds, unbelievable.^
^You know the most incredible part Commander, watch it again, he never throttled back on any of his thrusters through the whole thing. I don’t even know how . . .^ Brian ended with a shrug.
^I’m not surprised Major. It’s not widely know but there have only been a dozen or so Light Fighter pilots ever converted to cyborgs, and only three of them were really top level combat pilots. The first two didn’t work out, one was totally psyched out from getting his ship chewed to pieces around him, it was really ugly, and the other never really adjusted to being a cyborg at all. Morgan is the third, and was among the elite manned fighter pilots in the force, maybe the best period. When Doctor Swain told me in passing he had never seen anyone adapt to the container as quickly and comfortably as Morgan did, I became intrigued. Then I noticed when he was distracted and not concentrating solely on flying his ship his flying went from rose garden variety excellent into the realm of the surreal. I hoped that when he went into combat the first time he would concentrate on the Koth, not on flying his ship, and just do what seems to come so naturally to him.^
Brian studied his commanding officer for a second and nodded. ^Reese and I noticed the same thing. In fact Reese commented once that when Martin went into his zone it was like watching an expert street dancer; you can only stare in awe not quite believing what you’re seeing.^ He saluted. ^Request permission to go off duty, Sir^
^Permission granted.^ Briton answered his salute. Then broke into roaring laughter as Brian’s uniform
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