Scout's Law Read online

  CONTENTS

  Chapter One - Person Unknown

  Chapter Two - Jade

  Chapter Three - Chris

  Chapter Four - David

  Chapter Five - Chris

  Chapter Six - David

  Chapter Seven - David

  Chapter Eight - Jade

  Chapter Nine - David

  Chapter Ten - Callan

  Chapter Eleven - David

  Chapter Twelve - Callan

  Chapter Thirteen - David

  Chapter Fourteen - Callan

  Chapter Fifteen - David

  Chapter Sixteen - Callan

  Chapter Seventeen - David

  Chapter Eighteen - David

  Chapter Nineteen - Jade

  Chapter Twenty - Chris

  Chapter Twenty-One - David

  Chapter Twenty-Two - Callan

  Chapter Twenty-Three - David

  Chapter Twenty-Four - Callan

  Chapter Twenty-Five - David

  Chapter Twenty-Six - Callan

  Chapter Twenty-Seven - David

  Chapter Twenty-Eight - Callan

  Chapter Twenty-Nine - David

  Chapter Thirty - Callan

  Chapter Thirty-One - Jade

  Chapter Thirty-Two - David

  Chapter Thirty-Three - Chris

  Chapter Thirty-Four - David

  Chapter Thirty-Five - Chris

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Henry's Other Books

  Copyright © 2016 by Henry Vogel

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photographic, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the publisher.

  Published in the United States of America by Rampant Loon Press, an imprint of Rampant Loon Media LLC, P.O. Box 111, Lake Elmo, Minnesota 55042. “Rampant Loon Press” and the Rampant Loon colophon are trademarks of Rampant Loon Media LLC.

  www.rampantloonmedia.com

  Cover art by Aaron Starr.

  ISBN: 978-1-938834-72-1 (ebook)

  ISBN: 978-1-938834-73-8 (print)

  First publication: November 2016

  CHAPTER ONE

  Person Unknown

  Silence. At long last, silence.

  The inspection visit by Prince Rupor and his moronic galactic bride, Princess Heidi, threw the entire camp into an uproar. I knew they were coming. Everyone on the team did. I expected some disruption to our routine. I did not expect ten citizens of the Terran Federation to react like starstruck teenagers at the prospect of meeting one of the most famous couples in the galaxy.

  My companion and I found our teammates’ behavior appalling, fawning as they did over this so-called prince from one of the most advanced nations on Aashla. The planet is one of the most barbaric and least advanced human-settled planets in the galaxy. Worse, our camp was the last stop on our backward guests’ extended inspection tour of scientific expeditions on Aashla. Prince Rupor’s insatiable appetite for new scientific and engineering knowledge—which means virtually everything known to mankind—played right into our teammates’ desperation to impress the barbarian prince. Equipment was unpacked and shown off without regard to procedure. Components we desperately needed were left in untidy and unsorted piles as learned men and women dug out favorite scientific instruments and showed them off to the royal couple.

  And I couldn’t walk more than five meters without tripping over one of their damned Tartegian royal guards. Unlike their prince, the guards were unimpressed with the scientists and their toys, and far too observant. When my companion and I didn’t fall all over ourselves to impress their charges, we drew their unwelcome attention. I was forced to play the introverted researcher who was too shy to speak to the prince and princess. Once the royal couple ‘drew me out,’ I feigned the same enthusiasm as the rest. The effort was exhausting, but the guards turned their attention elsewhere.

  After three interminable days, the inspection ended. The Tartegians boarded their airships and flew away. My companion and I coaxed and goaded and bullied the rest of the team into putting the equipment back in order. Even then, our teammates prattled on about our departed guests. And when they had wrung that subject dry, they immediately turned their attention to the next inspection and their chance to meet another pair of famous royal twits—David Rice and Princess Callan. The inane chatter tried my patience in the extreme, but it did leave our ten teammates in a celebratory mood.

  My suggestion that we open some of the wine Prince Rupor gave us was met with enthusiasm. I took charge of that task, making it incredibly easy for me to drug the wine. Within an hour, our teammates were fast asleep in their bunks. My companion balked at the final task, but I expected that. Sending him off to begin digging, I took care of the researchers.

  One by one, they awoke after the slash of my knife. One by one, they stared into my eyes with terrified incomprehension. One by one, I smiled and stroked their heads as the light faded from their eyes. One by one, I ended their prattle.

  Finally, there was only silence. At long last, silence.

  And then it was time to begin our real work.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Jade

  Mom had me cleaning the toilet when Forbose arrived. Dad brought the new device back from his last trade trip to Mordan and Mom was really proud of our indoor facility. God knows, I didn’t miss the privy—especially on cold days—but Mom was nuts about keeping the new equipment clean. I suppose I could see her point since everyone who dropped by made an excuse to use it. And knowing some of those people as well as I did, they would certainly pass judgment on us based solely on how clean the crapper was.

  Anyway, I heard the knock at the door and hoped it was Forbose. Maybe he could free me from this drudgery.

  Mom answered the door and I could hear the tinge of disapproval in her voice. “Hello, Forbose. What can I do for you?”

  Forbose either didn’t pick up on Mom’s tone or ignored it. “Good morning, Mrs. Cochran, and may I say you are looking lovely this morning?”

  “You may.”

  That was one of Mom’s irritating little tricks—giving answers to obviously rhetorical questions. Silence stretched and I could imagine Forbose trying to figure out why Mom was just looking at him. I really like Forbose—maybe even more than like him—but he’s not good at subtleties.

  Letting a little of my own disapproval tinge my voice, I shouted, “Mom is waiting for you to tell her she’s looking lovely, Forbose!”

  Another few seconds passed, then Forbose said, “You’re looking lovely this morning, Mrs. Cochran.”

  “Why, thank you, Forbose. That’s very kind of you to say. We’re rather busy this morning, so if there’s nothing else, I’ll let you go about your day.”

  I heard the creak as Mom began shutting the door and rolled my eyes. It was going to be one of those days.

  Forbose was quicker on the uptake this time. “Um, I was hoping to get a chance to say goodbye to Jade before I report to my airship tomorrow morning. It’s my first run as a hand on the Sorrin and I’ll be gone for three weeks.”

  Silence fell again as Mom considered the request. We really weren’t that busy and I was close to finishing with the toilet. I knew Mom was weighing her disapproval of Forbose against dealing with a sulky sixteen-year-old daughter all day. Since Forbose was leaving soon, Mom knew I’d be extra sulky. I crossed my fingers and hoped that would tip the scales in my favor.

  “Jade,” Mom called, “Forbose is here to see you.”

  Ha! Score one for the teenager.

  I scampered for my room, calling, “I’ll be right there. I’m just going to put on some clean clothes.”

  I threw the bedroom d
oor shut, startling my little sister Sasha from playing with her dolls. We shared the room, so she was getting used to me doing this. Sasha watched as I pulled off my shirt and pants and looked in my closet for something to wear.

  “What’s going on?” Sasha asked.

  I held up a clean blouse and pair of pants. “Do these go together?”

  Sasha may only be six, but she already has a better fashion eye than I’ll ever have. She considered my choices for a few seconds and then shook her head. “Wear the red blouse. It goes better with your green eyes.”

  Pulling on the clothes, I muttered, “My clothes are supposed to match my eyes?”

  “And your hair,” Sasha said, “but blonde goes with almost everything.”

  “Oh my gosh, my hair!” I finished wriggling into the clothes and grabbed the hand mirror. I yanked off the scarf holding my hair out of my way and dragged a brush through it a few times. “How do I look?”

  Sasha gazed at me in consideration for a few seconds. “Tuck in the blouse and you’ll look better than Forbose deserves.”

  What was it with my family and my sort-of-boyfriend? I stuck my tongue out at her.

  Sasha grinned and, in a sing-song voice, asked, “Are you going to kiss him?”

  That was a good question. Was I going to kiss Forbose? Yes. Definitely. But what if he stuck his tongue in my mouth? I’d heard about that from some of the other girls. It sounded gross, but they said they liked it. Would I do the tongue thing? Maybe. We would see. But he was leaving for three weeks, so…probably.

  I dashed back out of the room. Over my shoulder, I called, “Thanks, Sasha!”

  Mom and Forbose were still standing at the doorway. Mom looked happy just standing there, blocking the door. Forbose looked relieved to see me.

  I stopped and gave Mom a quick kiss on the cheek. I always reward good parental behavior in the hopes it will encourage more of it. “Thanks, Mom!”

  Before I could skip past her, Mom caught me in a quick hug. She took that opportunity to whisper, “Don’t let him pressure you into doing something you don’t want to do.”

  I resisted the urge to heave a dramatic sigh or roll my eyes. It would just irritate Mom and she might even revoke her permission to go out. I slipped from her arms with a non-committal nod. I took Forbose’s hand and we walked down the street.

  We talked a little about his coming trip, which Forbose saw as his final step from boyhood to manhood. If Dad was here, he would insist it was just the first step. But Dad was still off on a trading run and wouldn’t be back for another couple of weeks. At least, that was one bit of disapproval I dodged. I tried talking about how Dad was taking the whole family on the next trade run to show I had something in common in Forbose. He just sort of grunted in response and turned the talk back to his trip and everything he was sure he would do.

  “I almost hope some raiders take a crack at us so the Sorrin can show those bastards a thing or two.” I knew this was just boasting on his part. Nobody with any brains hopes for a raider attack. But Forbose didn’t act like he knew that. “I’ve been practicing swordsmanship with some of the other guys who have signed on with airships. We’re getting real good, too.”

  About then, I noticed Forbose was slowly steering us toward the lake. That’s where those girls went when they learned about the tongue thing. Some of them learned a lot more than the tongue thing, too. I wondered how long it would be until one of them found herself having a hasty wedding. Still, I had decided to let Forbose kiss me and the lake was the place for that.

  We made our way along the path, passing a few secluded spots already occupied by other couples. From the sounds, some of those couples were doing a lot more than just kissing. By the time Forbose found a spot for us, my heart was hammering in my chest. He led me through the bushes, pulling down a colored cloth laid across one bush.

  “I came down here earlier and marked a spot for us,” he said. “I didn’t want to have to drag a blanket and stuff with me—especially with the way your Mom is.”

  I felt an irrational urge to defend Mom, but swallowed it. “What stuff did you bring?”

  We pushed through one last bush and into a small clearing. The trees and bushes muffled the sounds from the lake and the city, making it seem like we were all alone. A blanket was laid out on the ground, along with a small basket.

  “Oh, a picnic!” I exclaimed, finding the idea very romantic. I imagined it was the kind of thing David Rice would do for Princess Callan, that made it even better.

  “Yeah, sort of,” Forbose said. He dropped to the ground and held out his arms. “Come here, Jade.”

  Okay, that was not what I was expecting. At least, not this quickly. But maybe Forbose had something else going on today and there just wasn’t as much time as I thought. I sat and leaned into his embrace. Suddenly, he pulled me around and shoved his lips against mine. I tried to pucker up and let my body melt against his, just like it happens in adventure books. Then I felt a tongue shoving its way between my lips. Without thinking, I closed my teeth. Instead of blocking the tongue, I bit it.

  “Ouch!” Forbose yelped, pulled back. “Why the hell did you do that, Jade?”

  I sat back, surprised and a little hurt at his tone. “I…I wasn’t…You just surprised me, is all.”

  Forbose nodded and reached for the basket. “I’m sorry, honey. I should have known you’d need to relax a bit.”

  He pulled out a dark-colored bottle and popped out the cork. Tilting the bottle back, Forbose took a long drink from it. Then he handed it to me. “Take a swig of this. It’ll help you get relaxed.”

  Taking the bottle, I felt the little thrill you get from doing something forbidden. I’d had wine before, of course, but always at home and with Mom and Dad. I wasn’t allowed to drink it outside of the house, even if they were both with me. Grinning at my boldness, I turned the bottle up and took a big drink—and almost choked as the liquid burned down my throat.

  Gasping and coughing, I wheezed, “That’s not wine!”

  “Nope. This is rum—a man’s drink.” Forbose took another long drink.

  I shook my head when he held it out to me again. I already felt something from that first drink. Something warm and relaxing radiated from my stomach. This time, when Forbose kissed me, I didn’t resist. This time, when I felt his tongue on my lips, I opened my mouth and let it in. His tongue shoved hard against mine and I thought I could see how this might feel good and intimate, but not the way Forbose was doing it.

  He leaned into me, continuing his attack on my tongue. I felt him pull my blouse up. His hand snaked under the suddenly free tail of the blouse and caressed my side. And then his hand began working its way up and around to the front of my body. I knew what he was reaching for and, worse, I realized Forbose wanted more than I was ready to give him.

  I pulled my head back and grabbed his hand. It took both of my hands to push his hand down, then I scrambled back. “No!”

  Forbose looked surprised and even a little hurt. “What’s the matter, baby? I thought you wanted to show me how much you love me.”

  Did I unconsciously send that signal? I must have, because I was sure Forbose would never hurt me. And he was just sitting there, looking at me with that hurt puppy-dog expression on his face. Finding my voice, I said, “I’m sorry, Forbose. I don’t know what I did to make you think I was ready for that. Please don’t hate me.”

  “I could never hate you,” he said, scooting close to me.

  He kissed me again, this time gently and without the attacking tongue. It was nice, so I didn’t stop him when he slid his hand inside my blouse again. This time, it didn’t stray any higher than my waist, so I let it stay there. We kissed like that for a few minutes and then Forbose broke it off.

  “I almost forgot—I’m supposed to report to the Sorrin this afternoon. We’d better go.”

  I knew he was lying—he told Mom he had to report tomorrow morning—but I just nodded. “I’ll help you fold the blanket.”
>
  “Don’t bother. I’ll just leave it in case someone else wants to use it.”

  He led me out through the bushes and back toward the city. Just before we reached crowded streets, I said, “I’m sorry I disappointed you, Forbose.”

  “It’s okay, Jade. You just weren’t ready, yet. But now that you understand my needs, I’m sure you’ll be ready when I get back from this trip.” He pulled me close and wrapped an arm around my waist. “I want your mind and your body to understand just how much I love you.”

  “I’ll…think about it,” I said. “And maybe I will be ready for that when you get back in three weeks.”

  But the Sorrin never returned, making it the third Oshwindon-flagged trader to disappear that month.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Chris

  I know I’m supposed to be sad when ground leave ends. I’m supposed to get upset at the thought of leaving home, of not seeing my parents, brothers, and sisters for a month or more. Whoever decided I should be upset didn’t live with my family.

  Don’t get me wrong, I love them dearly. But life as the youngest of seven children isn’t easy. I grew up wearing hand-me-down clothes, all of them heavily modified by my mother because the three children closest to my age are my sisters. I never had any privacy, either. And while I don’t have any privacy as an ensign in the Navy, I have small areas of the ship that are mine and uniforms that weren’t handed down. I also have responsibilities and even some modicum of respect.

  So getting orders to report to the Vanguard the next morning was just fine with me—especially when I read our mission. It wasn’t even a secret, so I could brag about it to my friends. And to Becca. And maybe she’d be impressed enough to walk with me and maybe, just maybe, give me a goodbye kiss.

  I slipped out of the house, skirted past Dad’s shop, and headed for the merchant docks. We always gathered there as kids, watching the big airships coming and going. Wondering where they were bound and what they carried in their holds. We still gathered there, even though most of us were seventeen. A couple of the gang were still sixteen, but none of us were younger than that.