Reenlistment.

AMERICA"S GALACTIC FOREIGN LEGION.

Book 2: Reenlistment.

by Walter Knight.

~AUTHOR"S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT~

I dedicate America"s Galactic Foreign Legion: Reenlistment America"s Galactic Foreign Legion: Reenlistment to American heroes Alvin York, Maximo Yabes, and Johnny Michael Spann. A special thanks to editor Patricia Morrison, and my loving wife Barb, for their support. And thank you to world-famous science fiction writer Piers Anthony for his gracious review of my first book to American heroes Alvin York, Maximo Yabes, and Johnny Michael Spann. A special thanks to editor Patricia Morrison, and my loving wife Barb, for their support. And thank you to world-famous science fiction writer Piers Anthony for his gracious review of my first book AGFL: Feeling Lucky AGFL: Feeling Lucky, in which he wrote, "It"s wild, improbable, but great adventure."

CHAPTER 1.

My name is Joey R. Czerinski, retired hero of the United States Galactic Foreign Legion, and owner of a string of upscale hotel casino resorts that stretch across the galaxy. Maybe early retirement from the Legion made me complacent. And why not? I was filthy rich, and had an insurance policy in the form of a high-tech alien starship buried deep under my casino on New Colorado, a trophy of the last human / spider war. But I was alert now. Mafia types make me nervous. Little did I know the mobster seated across from my office desk would set off a chain of events that would turn my life upside down...

"How you doing, Mr. Czerinski? My name is Guido Tonelli. I am an a.s.sociate of Lou Nelson. Lou told me he has done business with you, and that you might be interested in doing business with me."

Sitting behind my desk, I scowled at the wise guy, recalling how the Mafia had tried to muscle in on my casino action here on New Colorado. It took a small bloodbath to convince them I wasn"t interested in a "partnership" with them. "I doubt you"ve got anything that would convince me to want to do business with you and your bunch, considering our recent history."

Guido Tonelli shifted in his chair. "I regret any past unpleasantness. My business a.s.sociates now have only the highest respect for you and your organization. I come in good faith to make an honest transaction."

I snorted. Who let this salesman in? It"s so hard to get good help these days. Who let this salesman in? It"s so hard to get good help these days.

"I can sell you a computer chip that will allow you to read the minds of alien spiders, ants, and beetles."

Despite my mistrust, that opportunity sounded intriguing. "I might be interested," I said dryly. "How is Nelson these days? Is he still on Mars?"

"No. Lou is working in marketing out on the beetle frontier. He owns an import-export business and is doing very well."

"Did he go into any detail about our past business relationship?"

"No, Mr. Czerinski. Lou says his business dealings with you were discreet. I respect that. I a.s.sure you that any business between you and me will also be discreet."

"It had better be," I warned. "What did he tell you? What do you know? Don"t lie to me."

"Lou told me nothing. I know only rumors," said Guido, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. "There has been talk of a Fountain of Youth chip. But who would believe such a fantastic tale? If there ever was such a chip, the technology has been lost."

Yes, lost on purpose by the government. I was lucky to get one of the last before they were yanked from the market. "You can be a king or a street sweeper," I said. "But everybody dances with the Grim Reaper." I was lucky to get one of the last before they were yanked from the market. "You can be a king or a street sweeper," I said. "But everybody dances with the Grim Reaper."

"I agree, but you do look very young and healthy for your age. Do you take vitamins?"

"Don"t go there," I warned. "I a.s.sume your new chip has all the anti-theft protocols programmed into it. If someone cuts off my arm, the chip will know I am dead and self-destruct?"

"Of course," said Guido.

"Guaranteed?"

"You want a guarantee, buy a toaster."

I frowned at Guido. "My technicians will examine your chip. My doctor will do the procedure. I don"t want to be a.s.sa.s.sinated by a Mafia virus. You will be a guest of the casino until I am satisfied."

"I understand," said Guido. "So, we have a deal?"

"This new chip had better be for real," I said. "What kind of money are we talking about?"

"Only five million dollars. That is a rock bottom price offered to a select few."

"When I first built my casinos, I had to kill a whole bunch of you Italians for trying to muscle in on my gaming action," I said. "If you are messing with me, I will throw you off the roof."

"I understand your apprehension. My organization has nothing but the utmost respect for you, Mr. Czerinski. You are a decorated war hero of the Legion and obviously have a keen eye for business. All we are interested in is doing business with you."

"Why aren"t you selling this chip to the military? Wouldn"t you make more money? Wouldn"t that make better business sense?"

"Maybe," said Guido. "Eventually the government will have this technology. But before that happens, our chip is worth a lot more money to private enterprise. Governments can"t keep secrets. You know that. Once word of the chip gets out, the bugs will develop counter measures, making the technology worthless."

"I still think the military would be interested in this," I said, giving the matter some thought. "I might even sell it to them myself. Am I missing something?"

"The military is not going to buy this technology until certain legal, ethical, and political issues are resolved," advised Guido. "Research and development on this chip involved a few deaths. We don"t want to deal with those distracting issues. We want sales to begin now."

"What deaths?"

"We had to kidnap a few bugs for experimental research and development," explained Guido. "They all died."

"Is that all?"

"Some humans died, too. The authorities might call it murder. We think of it more as just the cost of doing business. The Legion would call it collateral damage."

"And it"s perfectly safe now? You"ve worked all the kinks out?"

"Yes, Mr. Czerinski. It would be bad for business to sell an unsafe product."

"And bad for your health," I added. "Still, five million dollars is a lot of money. From a business point of view, how does it pay for me to put out that kind of money for something I don"t really need?"

"Poker games with aliens alone will pay for the five million," explained Guido.

"I doubt that. If I started winning big time, no one would play me."

"As you well know, Mr. Czerinski, the frontier is a dangerous place," said Guido patiently. "In a place where every green spider out there has a war-surplus nuke hidden under his bed, information is the key to survival. Being well informed has an unlimited value."

"I see your point. How does this chip work?"

"All the bug species have antennae," explained Guido. "Bugs have evolved away from use of their antennae, and now verbalize to communicate. But their subconscious still broadcasts messages through their antennae. A receiver in these sungla.s.ses," he said, holding up a seemingly ordinary pair of sungla.s.ses, "monitors bug frequencies and intercepts bug thought waves, translating them for the wearer. As you can see, the gla.s.ses are quite stylish and"

I waved him off. "I don"t care about style. How does it work work?"

"A micro-computer translates the messages into English and prints them out on a screen on the inside of your sungla.s.ses. Your eye movements are gauged to target specific individuals within a fifty-foot range. If you look at a group of bugs, the gla.s.ses will gather and translate all their thoughts in the order received. Additionally, the gla.s.ses are shielded to prevent observers from seeing anything but your eyes through the lenses, and the print on the inside is visible only to the wearer with the imbedded chip. And as an added feature, the lenses automatically darken or lighten, depending on surrounding light, to optimize your visual range and protect you from UV and other harmful rays."

I thought for a moment, trying to imagine talking to a roomful of bugs and keeping up with reading a screen inside the gla.s.ses while pretending to be involved in the conversation and with regular box translators broadcasting what the bugs were saying. "Seems like reading thoughts would get confusing in a hurry."

"Our research testing showed that many subjects found reading a printout too distracting and disorienting. Also most wearers couldn"t keep up with more than three different translation sources at once. You can elect to receive audio translation only through the transceivers built into the earpieces of the gla.s.ses. Either way, only you can see or hear the translated thoughts, and only you can access the computer through your imbedded chip."

I thought it over for a second. What was there to think about? "You have a deal."

To test my new chip, I asked Amanda, a longtime friend and business partner, to come to my office. I figured that, being a spider, she would be perfect for a test of the mind-reading technology. I had dated her once. It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life.

"You have never invited me to your office before," said Amanda. "At least, not without a chaperone." I wonder if this means you are interested in more than that one-night stand we had, I wonder if this means you are interested in more than that one-night stand we had, she thought to herself. she thought to herself.

I could hear her thoughts! My whole body tingled with excitement and a healthy dose of fear. Amanda was not one to be trifled with in the bedroom. "Have a seat, Amanda. How is our cash flow these days?"

"Very good, Joey. The money is pouring in. I have record books you can review at my Waterstone casino. Come by anytime, and I"ll go over them with you, darling." Yes, come by. If I get you alone in my soundproof office, I"ll rape you like you"ve never been raped before. I can"t wait, babe. Yes, come by. If I get you alone in my soundproof office, I"ll rape you like you"ve never been raped before. I can"t wait, babe.

I cleared my throat, trying to get past her secret intentions. "I might send Lopez by to see the books. I"m too busy here. Better yet, just E-mail the numbers to me."

"Lopez?" Amanda objected. "That hairball bundle of puss? Lopez won"t do. If you want something done right, you should do it yourself. I"ve heard you say that many times."

"I"m getting older," I lied. "Now I believe in delegating."

Amanda came around the desk. I should just make love to you right now, while I have the chance. I should just make love to you right now, while I have the chance.

"Stop!" I shouted. "Do it now."

He says stop, but he means go! He is such a tease. "You humans are so cute and adorable." It turns me on being this close to someone so rich and powerful. It turns me on being this close to someone so rich and powerful.

Amanda put a claw on my thigh. I drew my pistol as I fell backwards. "Not this time, Amanda. I"ll shoot you where you stand. I warned you about this once before."

"Your human foreplay is so violent. It makes me so hot. Come closer. I must have you now."

I shot Amanda in the arm, nicking the outer sh.e.l.l. Green goo oozed out.

"Ouch!" cried Amanda, grabbing her wounded appendage.

"Next round goes through your head."

"It"s a good thing my limbs grow back, or I might be really upset with you, Czerinski." Maybe if I pretend to lose my balance, he will lower his guard, and then he will be mine. All mine for the next hour to do with as I please, yum yum. Maybe if I pretend to lose my balance, he will lower his guard, and then he will be mine. All mine for the next hour to do with as I please, yum yum.

I c.o.c.ked my pistol. "I mean it, Amanda. Back off."

"You should not lead a girl on so. It"s rude."

"Leave my office," I ordered. "I"ll talk to you about our cash flow later."

"Is that a date?" asked Amanda, hopefully. I know he wants me. It"s just that humans have such weird and violent mating rituals. I know he wants me. It"s just that humans have such weird and violent mating rituals. "I"ll see you later, love." "I"ll see you later, love."

"One more thing," I said. "Put the word out that I want a high-stakes poker game against non-humans."

"You want to play poker? You humans can"t keep a straight face. You twitch too much. Every facial muscle gives away your every thought. They will know what cards you hold just by looking at you." And your facial muscles say you want me And your facial muscles say you want me. Where do you get the will power to resist, my lovely? Humans are so repressed. Where do you get the will power to resist, my lovely? Humans are so repressed.

"I will be wearing these sungla.s.ses," I said. "It will help mask my facial expressions. Please set up the game. I"ll owe you one."

Amanda ambled to the door, still clutching her wounded appendage. And I"ll collect what is owed to me, too And I"ll collect what is owed to me, too. I won"t be denied. I won"t be denied. "Anything for you, darling." "Anything for you, darling."

Sitting across the casino poker table was the Lieutenant Governor of the spider side of planet New Colorado. His pet monitor dragon was leashed to a table leg by his side. Next to the Lieutenant Governor was General James of the Coleopteran Federation. Funny how the beetles all took human names after we liberated them from the ants. Also seated was Prince Tuk, an ex-ant commander who now was a captain in the Galactic Foreign Legion.

We had millions of dollars worth of poker chips stacked in front of us. I folded a lot, letting them win small hands while I read their minds. At first it was hard to concentrate on their chaotic thoughts, possibly because they had been drinking. Now, however, it was time to take their money.

"I"ll raise you one hundred thousand dollars," said the Lieutenant Governor. He was holding two aces.

I took his money with my three jacks. Then General James tried to bluff me with a half million dollar bet. I took his money, too. But then I started picking up more sinister thoughts. They weren"t just thinking about poker.

Go ahead and celebrate, human, thought Prince Tuk. thought Prince Tuk. The destruction of Formicidae will be avenged at the stroke of midnight. The destruction of Formicidae will be avenged at the stroke of midnight.

"You don"t seem happy, Prince," I said. "What"s on your mind?"

"I couldn"t be happier," answered Prince Tuk. "Life is good." Too bad yours will end soon Too bad yours will end soon.

"You were given a commission in the Foreign Legion and command of a starship," I commented. "Considering your species was defeated after planning a cowardly sneak-attack on Earth, I think our terms were very generous."

"Yes, I agree. Most generous," said Prince Tuk. "I have no complaints, other than your elevated poker play tonight."

The galaxy will never be safe from human oppression as long as Earth wields power over all of us, thought General James. thought General James. See how arrogantly Czerinski brags about defeating us. That smile will be wiped off his ugly face at midnight. See how arrogantly Czerinski brags about defeating us. That smile will be wiped off his ugly face at midnight. "I will raise you ten thousand dollars." "I will raise you ten thousand dollars."

"You are not happy either?" I asked General James. "Even after humanity saved your sorry beetle b.u.t.ts from slavery?"

"I am forever grateful to the United States Galactic Federation for freeing us from the Formicidaen Empire," said General James. It"s so galling how he lords that over us now It"s so galling how he lords that over us now.

"How about you?" I asked, turning to the Lieutenant Governor. "You have a chip on your shoulder, too?"

"I don"t have a shoulder," said the spider Lieutenant Governor. I should let my dragon tear you apart. I should let my dragon tear you apart.

"Do you know what happens at midnight?" I asked, trying to draw out answers from their thoughts. All three bugs tensed up. "I turn into a pumpkin. I"ve had too much to drink, so I think I"ll retire to my bed early."

At midnight, thermal nuclear destruction will rain down on the human pestilence side of Inhabited Planet #6, thought the Lieutenant Governor. thought the Lieutenant Governor. At midnight the ants will mutiny and seize or destroy the human star fleet. We"ll destroy the ants later. At midnight the beetles will attack all of the new human colonies on their frontier. At midnight the ants will mutiny and seize or destroy the human star fleet. We"ll destroy the ants later. At midnight the beetles will attack all of the new human colonies on their frontier. "I am all in, with ten million dollars," said the Lieutenant Governor. "I am all in, with ten million dollars," said the Lieutenant Governor. Not only will I kill you tonight, I will take all your money, too. Try to beat two pair, jack high. Not only will I kill you tonight, I will take all your money, too. Try to beat two pair, jack high.