Burden of Sisyphus

rail-gun launch tubes jutted from the long, glossy black hull. The Goliath, converted from a regular cruiser to a warship when the Alliance reallocated the ship for use by covert operations, contained a myriad of weaponry far superior to any other ship in the Fleet.

From his vantage point, the vessel of destruction clashed violently with the serene beauty of the planet below. In his own mind, Vance was very much the flesh-and-blood version of the Goliath, constantly clashing with the beauty of the world around him. Over his past seven years in command of the team, he went to many beautiful planets like the one below-always with malicious intent, including assassination, destruction of Terran outposts, and kidnapping. His team spilt red blood across the sparkling white sands of dozens of worlds.

As he watched, another transport launched from the Goliath, heading toward the planet’s surface. He smiled at his most-recent iteration of soldiers. Eza Riddell, the Wyndgaart warrior, was the eldest team member, having served with Vance for two years. All the others were recent additions within the past six months. Already, they coalesced into a dangerous, proficient team, but they were still young and vivacious.

Vance, however, began feeling his age. Though still in his thirties, seven years of command took their toll on his body and spirit.

A series of faces slashed through his mind, images of former soldiers who served under him. His heart ached, as he realized that nearly half of them were killed in the line of duty. Vance was a fluke of the system, lasting long past the three-year life expectancy for covert operations soldiers. Though he knew his current unit was one of the best ever, he still missed the days of having more-mature soldiers under his command.

With a pang, he realized he missed mature soldiers like Aleiz.

Looking down at his watch, he realized nearly two hours had passed since his team departed for the planet’s surface. Calculations and coordination with planet-side supply crews should have been completed, which meant Halo’s attention could be undividedly his. Though, he conceded, splitting her attention until she was overloaded with tasks was nearly impossible.

Stepping off the lift at one of the central floors, he walked to the heart of the ship, following a single silver line of paint on the wall. He walked those corridors so many times, he no longer needed a guide, but still he ran his fingers over the silver trail while he walked. Turning onto a side hall, the line ended at a doorway with the words, High Altitude Logistical Operations (HALO).

As he reached to knock, the door slid open. Standing awkwardly in the hall with his hand still raised, he shook his head. Halo always knew what he was thinking before he could verbalize it. Stepping into the room’s cold darkness, he let his eyes adjust, while his breath formed clouds of condensation.

“Hello, Michael,” a soft, feminine voice said, her words amplified by the speakers lining the walls. “I wondered what was taking you so long on the observation deck.”

“Does the fact that you were watching me mean you care?” he asked the darkness.

Halo replied with a soft laugh, the tone slightly lost by the mechanical undertones from the speakers. “Come and sit with me.”

The lights in the room glowed softly, adding gentle mood lighting to the still-shadowed room. In the dimness, he walked to the single chair that dominated the otherwise-empty room.

Halo reclined in the chair, her body conforming to the seat’s thick cushions. Her barely discernable female form was naked, though all sense of modesty was lost among the thick, black cables snaking from her body. From her eye sockets, permanently open mouth, breasts, arms, and snaking from her genitals, ribbed black tubes carried her consciousness to the giant computer console before her prostrate form. Though unseen, within those tubes was a multitude of wires that created a direct connection between Halo’s brain and Goliath’s higher mechanical functions. Those wires kept her bodily functions performing normally, including removal of waste. For the lithe female in the chair, it was months since she volunteered for the Halo program and was fully integrated with the system. Though she was aware the ship could function without her, she had become Goliath.

Vance reached the side of the chair, his jacket pulled tightly around his body, his breath escaping in clouds. Though the room was frigid to ensure no damage was done to the computer system, Halo seemed unaffected. She didn’t move, though he noticed a series of video cameras around the room tracking his movements.

“I didn’t want to interrupt in case you were busy,” he said.

“You could’ve come at any time.” Her voice came eerily from eight separate speakers around the room, an effect that strengthened her integration with the ship. “No matter what I was doing, you wouldn’t have been a bother. My lower brain functions can run the ship for years while I talk with you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind next time.” He placed his hand on her arm, feeling her skin icy to the touch, and quickly changed the subject. “You look healthy.”

“Healthy?” She laughed sweetly. “We’ve been together for five years, and all you can say is I look healthy?”

He smiled and ran his hand over her clean-shaven scalp. “Well, you looked a lot better with hair.” Personal grooming was the only thing the computer couldn’t maintain for her. To ensure her body remained as sterile as possible, all Halo’s body hair was removed every day by an assigned crewman.

“I’m surprised you didn’t join the rest of the team for some much-deserved vacation time.” She changed the subject almost as artfully as he did. “You would’ve enjoyed Fatutu IV.”

“This is relaxation for me.” He gently squeezed her hand. “We don’t get to spend a lot of time together anymore unless it’s between missions. I miss that time.”

“What would you like to do?”

“Oh there are so many choices. I can sit and watch you not move, or I could guess which speaker you’re talking through. I don’t know where to begin.”

“You really are a jerk.” She laughed.

“I wish I could take you out of here,” he said seriously. “From everything I can see, you would’ve enjoyed this planet.”

“I know I would have. Michael, I know you still aren’t comfortable with what I’ve become.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“You forget I have six video cameras watching and analyzing every facial expression you make.”

“It’s not that I don’t like what you’ve become.” He ran his fingers over her arm, gingerly avoiding the black tube attached to the veins at the crook of her elbow. “I know this was the opportunity of a lifetime, being one of the first volunteers for the Halo program. I just miss the time we used to spend together. I love Halo, but I miss Aleiz. Does that make sense?”

“After five years, I still wouldn’t have pegged you for a softie. Shall I have a crewman bring you a tissue?”

“Oh, you’re full of jokes today. Fine. No more sweet talk. What would you like to do today?”

“Well, there’s sit and watch me not move….”

After a few days’ vacation time, Vance was again in deep conversation with Halo when his transponder chirped.

“Magistrate Vance, this is Captain Young.”

Vance raised an eyebrow. He didn’t expect to hear from the captain for at least another week. “This is Vance.”

“Sorry to do this to you, Michael, but we’ve had a change of plans. I have a new mission coming down the pipe for you and your team.”

Vance turned off the radio before turning to Halo. “Do you know anything about this?”

“No, but judging from the amount of radio chatter, it’ll be a fairly large operation. Aside from recalling your team, the captain has activated four platoons of infantry.”

“When have we ever needed that many soldiers for a mission?” he asked arrogantly. Pressing the transmit button, he said, “Sir, I hear my team is already in transit from the planet?”

“Yes. They’re on their way.” The captain chuckled.

“When and where do you need us?”

“They’ll be onboard within two hours. I’ll give everyone another hour to get back into uniform before you and your team report to the briefing room. You’ll be joined by the four sets of platoon leaders for your support