Alpha Guard - Chapter Five

A sci-fi thriller novel, most easily described as Jack Reacher in space.

Hello alpha-readers, welcome to chapter five of Alpha Guard!

If this is your first time visiting, here’s a quick rundown of what’s what…

• My name is Samuel George London and I’m a writer from Hampshire in the UK. Usually, I write comic books, but this is my first novel. And just so my fellow Brits know, I’m writing in American-English because the main character is originally from the US.

• Alpha Guard is a sci-fi thriller novel, most easily described as Jack Reacher in space, but the short synopsis is as follows:

Even after 300-years of colonization, Mars is still a tough place to live - unless you can afford to live in Dome One. However, when the wealthy need to visit out-of-dome, they hire bodyguards known as ‘bugs’ to protect them. Alpha Guard is the best bug on the Red Planet, and when he's hired to escort a VIP around Mars, his skills are tested to the absolute limit.

• So, in a nutshell, if you like books by Lee Child, Andy Weir, Mark Greaney and Blake Crouch you will (probably) enjoy reading or listening to this story. And if you haven’t read or listened to chapter one yet, you can do so by clicking here.

• I’ll be publishing Alpha Guard on a monthly basis, chapter by chapter, right here for free. So, please be sure to subscribe to stay notified when new chapters are posted.

• I’ll never put a paywall on chapter posts, but if you’d like to, there is an opportunity to upgrade to paid. However, it’s only to fuel my caffeine habit. So, please only part with your hard earned cash, if you can afford it.

• There is an audio version of this post available, but to give you a heads up, the chapter reading is by an AI voiceover via ElevenLabs. However, when I eventually publish Alpha Guard as a polished novel, I will be hiring a human to read the audiobook.

• If you prefer to listen rather than read, Alpha Guard is also available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible or wherever you usually download your podcasts.

• If you'd like to follow me on social media, you can on Instagram, TikTok and X (Formerly Twitter). Whether or not you’re on social media, please consider sharing Alpha Guard with anyone you think would be interested.

Happy reading and please let me know what you think in the comments.

Ciao for now,

SGL

The best way to avoid an assassination attempt is to keep your client’s itinerary under wraps. It’s not always possible, though. Especially when your client is Amrita Andras, doing public appearances in various places. However, there are certain precautions you can take to mitigate wannabe assassins.

For Amrita’s speech at the clock tower in New Jezero Park, the idea was to make it appear unplanned. The last-minute nature eliminated anyone's ability to pre-plan an attack in such a vulnerable location.

In total, New Jezero Park was just over one square kilometer. And for the most part, it looked like a regular park on Earth. Tall trees, well-cut grass and fine gravel footpaths. The clock tower in the middle, sat on several stone steps. And resembled a smaller version of the Washington Monument, but with a clock face on each side.

Immediately opposite the north side of the clock tower were the Chambers. The south side faced the Martian Museum. Then the east and west sides led to the most expensive restaurants, hotels and townhouses New Jezero had to offer.

Basically, there were endless places for someone to position themselves for a kill shot. But because Amrita’s speech wasn’t public knowledge, I didn’t have any serious concerns for potential snipers.

The walk from the Chambers to the clock tower took several minutes. Especially at the slow pace Amrita and Pandu were going. To be fair, they were discussing what to say in the speech they were about to deliver. So, walking slowly but surely was in their best interests.

With it being lunchtime, the park was bustling. And to ensure Amrita’s safety, I went about clearing the steps. Turning my loudspeaker up to sixty percent, I announced, “Everyone on the steps, make your way down to the grass.”

Eric coughed to clear his throat and said, “Dignity, Yankee.”

“PLEASE!” I retroactively added to my announcement.

Almost everyone complied except two guys sitting on the fourth step, who were having a heated conversation. I marched over to them and said, “Gentlemen. Please.”

They both looked up at me with raised eyebrows and one said, “We’re in the middle of something.”

So, I replied, “Whatever you’re in the middle of, you need to take it elsewhere. Please.”

“We have every right to sit on these steps until whenever we want.”

“And I have the right to eradicate any threats to Ms. Andras’ safety. And from what I can tell, this situation is beginning to look threatening.”

They looked at each other, stood up and walked down to the grass, where a crowd of hundreds of New Jezerians was forming.

With the steps cleared, I messaged Prime Guardian Jacobson to make her way over from the Chambers. Five minutes later, she arrived with all twenty-two Guardians along with some media vultures and TV cameras. I directed Jacobson and the Guardians to stand to the right of Amrita on the top step. Then I told the media vultures and TV cameras to set up camp at the base of the steps.

Helping the media machine made me feel dirty. But I hadn’t always seen through the smoke and mirrors. Especially when I was a kid.

In my freshman year of high school, I remember watching a short promotional video about Mars. I have no idea how he got it into schools, but Tristan Andras starred in it himself.

Standing in front of The Diamond wearing his signature all black suit without a tie, Tristan asked, “Who wants to get paid to live on Mars?”

After a fast zoom transition, he stood on top of Dome One with his arms out wide. The camera panned around him while he shouted, “All of this could be yours!”

Another fast transition had him walking through the lava tube farms. While he strode past lots of happy workers pruning plants, he said, “Instantly get a full-time job with three meals a day.”

One last transition showed him sitting in a chair sipping a cup of coffee in one of the pods. Placing the cup on a table with a smile, he said, “And get your own apartment overlooking Dome One.”

Zooming through the window to a wide-shot of Dome One, the end card stated, “After high school, you can get paid to live on Mars. Register your interest online today.”

It was an irresistible offer for a high school kid with a dysfunctional home life. So, I bought it hook, line and sinker, and registered that day.

But what he didn’t tell us in the video was that getting paid actually meant indentured servitude with Andras Corp. And the only way to escape the vicious cycle of debt from living in the pods, was to moonlight other jobs. That’s how I ended up as a bug. The desperate motivation to climb up the social ladder and out of the pods.

Before allowing Amrita to start her speech, I launched four micro-drones. Then, facing the five-hundred person crowd, I stood just below her on the steps. Handing her a wireless microphone connected to my loudspeaker, she began, “Hello New Jezero!”

“HELLO AMRITA ANDRAS!” The crowd shouted back.

“Despite this morning’s incident on Highway Two, Mars has given me a very warm welcome.”

The crowd clapped and cheered. There was even a wolf whistle. Wouldn’t surprise me if it was the same guy who whistled at The Blue Sunset the day before.

“You have a lot to be proud of here on Mars. One-hundred and fifty years ago, Martians refined nuclear fusion. And with that pioneering innovation, New Jezero was built. This marvelous city is a beacon of success for the rest of the solar system. However, there remains one stain on Mars’ record.”

There were some audible gasps, and people murmured between themselves. Despite being surrounded by TV cameras, Jacobson couldn’t hide her scowling stare at Amrita, who continued her speech.

“The pods still haven’t been given a voice on the Council. Through their arduous work in the farms and mines, those that live in the pods are the backbone of Martian society. In my opinion, a Guardian for the pods should be appointed to represent them.”

“That’s the deal,” someone shouted from the crowd.

Acknowledging the heckler, Amrita replied, “You’re right. Working the farms and mines in exchange for living in the pods has been the deal for a long time. And Andras Corp has had a large part to play in continuing that scheme. Which is why I feel responsible for making it right. I realize I’m not a native Martian, but maybe you’ll listen to one of your own, who was born in the pods. Please welcome Guardian Pandu Vishan.”

Although the applause was lackluster and spotty, Pandu kept a smile on his face. Walking over to Amrita, he took the microphone and started his part of the speech. “My fellow Martians, the time has come to decide what type of society we want to live in. One that only looks after the elite or one that equally cares for everyone.”

From my micro-drones scanning the crowd, I could see lots of arms crossing. Turns out, telling people they’re the elite is a real turn off to receiving new ideas.

“Before I was born, my parents came here on an Andras funded ticket. And while my older sister looked after me, they worked day and night to save enough money for my private tuition in Dome One. To say I was fortunate to have such a dedicated family is an epic understatement.”

Several people uncrossed their arms and there were even a fair number of chuckles from the crowd before Pandu continued. “Unfortunately, most people in the pods don’t get that opportunity. Life in the pods is tough. Drugs, violence and robbery are a daily occurrence because everyone is out for themselves.”

Another heckler piped up, “I say, leave them to it!”

I imagined shoving a taser-stick where the sun don't shine with this guy. But impressively, Pandu kept his cool and replied, “We’ve left them to it for a long time, friend, and it doesn’t seem to be helping. If we have someone on the Council to look out for them, there will be less desperation. And with less desperation comes stability. And from that stability, the people of the pods can flourish to help make Mars more successful. One for all, all for one.”

At first, the applause from the crowd was scattered, but within seconds it spread like wildfire. Seemingly, Pandu had won over the people of New Jezero. However, convincing the general public is one thing, and convincing government officials is another.

With all the TV cameras aimed at him, he walked over to Jacobson and said, “Prime Guardian Jacobson, in the interest of Mars’ success, I propose myself to be the first representative for the pods. What do you say? Will you present my petition to the Council?”

Again, blushing on a pale-skinned Martian is more than obvious. Everyone could see that Jacobson was thinking it over. Then, after thirty seconds, and with a sly smile on her face, she said, “Okay. Let’s put it to a vote.”

Snatching the microphone from Pandu, Jacobson marched ten yards across the top step to face all the Guardians from a distance. It was a bit dramatic for my taste, but I could see she wanted the crowd to fully witness what was about to happen.

Taking a deep breath, she said, “Council of Guardians for Mars, this is not the first time this topic has been discussed amongst us. I know some of you are for and some of you are against the idea of the pods having a representative. I, for one, recognize the pros and cons. But it is not for me to decide. It is up to you to consider both sides in order to make the wisest decision possible. That being said, please raise your hand if you wish to pass Guardian Vishan’s petition of becoming the first representative for the pods.”

To begin with there were just glancing looks between the Guardians. Then, after a while, a few hands slowly went up. Jacobson started to count and I could see that sly smile appear on her face again. But before she could call the vote to a close, Pandu grabbed back the microphone.

“Fellow Guardians, before finalizing your vote, I want you to consider that we are not opening Pandora’s box but rather protecting our Achilles heel. Today’s attack on Ms. Andras is a perfect example of how not giving the pods a voice leads to violence. If left unchecked, this will bleed onto the rest of Mars. All I want is for us to achieve our best. And we can’t do that while we leave one-hundred thousand people in squalor. So, who will join me?”

The crowd started chanting, “Pandu, Pandu, Pandu!”

Jacobson’s smile turned into a frown. And seeing the overwhelming public support for appointing a Guardian to the pods, the majority of Guardians put up their hands. Snatching the microphone back from Pandu once again, she announced, “There we have it. The petition has passed the Council’s vote. Beside his current position, Guardian Vishan now represents the pods as well.”

While the Guardians who voted for him celebrated with Pandu, Amrita removed the microphone from Jacobson’s hands. Coughing to get everyone’s attention, Amrita said, “Congratulations, Guardian Vishan. You have set Mars on a path toward success for all. And in honor of your new responsibility, will you join me in visiting the pods tomorrow?”

Pandu had an ear to ear smile on his face and replied, “Absolutely!”