Ultimate Warrior (The Fight for Creation (Book Three)) by Saxon Andrew Page A

am.”
    Mitch shook his head, “I thought I did, but you’ve proven me wrong.”
    Russell glared at Mitch and felt tears roll down his face, “I should have been the one killed. They took the best of us and left the worst.”
    Mitch said, “Do you seriously think you wouldn’t have tried to save him in the same circumstances? Why did you attack the enemy formations after his death? You would have tried to save him, Russell. You know you would have. You wouldn’t have allowed him to die if you could stop it.”
    Russell hung his head. After a moment he said, “He has a wife and daughter. I have no one. I should have been the one to die.”
    Mitch sighed and said, “I hate to have to do this but I need to know what happened to you on the slope.”
    Russell looked at Mitch and said, “I wanted to punish those creatures for killing Joe. I also wanted to die.”
    “You saved us, Russell.”
    Russell looked at Mitch and then turned away.
    “I’m serious. What happened to you?”
    Russell looked at Mitch and shook his head, “I didn’t do anything. I just tried to kill as many of the enemy as I could before they killed me.”
    “Russell, I’m going to play the recording of what happened on the slope. Tell me if you remember any of it.”
    The display on the front wall illuminated and it showed Russell on his knees over Joe’s body. Suddenly he stood up and began walking forward. Russell saw his armor’s weapons firing at an incredible velocity and as he passed other Life Warriors they joined him. He looked at Mitch with wonder on his face and couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Mitch said, “When you arrived and saved A Company, I head the music and joined your line.”
    Russell thought and remembered the sad melody that had filled his mind. “I don’t know what happened, Major. I really don’t.”
    Mitch said, “You weren’t able to save Joe. However, you saved the lives of more than six thousand other Life Warriors that would have died on that hill. Think about how many wives and daughters still have their fathers because of your actions.”
    Russell watched the display and said, “I should have been the one to die, Sir.”
    Mitch smiled, “Perhaps Joe saved you so you could save us. If you had died, we would have all probably died with you. I thought I knew you but now I don’t know if I do. It also appears to me that you don’t know yourself either. You’re a lot more than you think.”
    Russell shook his head, “I’m nowhere near the Warrior Joe was.”
    “I don’t know that Joe would agree with you.” Mitch started out but stopped and said, “Do you still hear the music?”
    Russell slowly lowered his head and said, “I wish it would stop.”
    Mitch smiled and said, “I pray it doesn’t.”
    • • •
    Russell sat on his bed and looked at his wrist unit. It was two in the morning on the training planet and the room was dark. He sighed and pressed it. His father appeared on the display and said, “I told you not to contact me.”
    “I wish there was another way but I don’t see it. I need you to help me.” His father’s face turned angry and Russell quickly said, “My partner was killed saving my life.” His father stopped his finger just before it disconnected the call. “I know you don’t owe me anything but he was a great Warrior and I know it should have been me that died instead of him. He left a wife and young daughter, Your Highness. Could you take what I was receiving when I had a title and give it to them. I will not return to claim it if you’ll please do this one kindness for me.”
    His father looked at him and saw the sadness on his face. “What was the Warrior’s name?”
    “Joe Tarver, Your Majesty. It’s my fault they no longer have a father and husband.”
    “I’ll see what I can do.”
    “I’ll not call again, Father.”
    Russ saw the screen go dark and he placed a call to Admiral Mirabal’s office. “Good day, your highness.”
    “I understand my