“You enjoy fighting with each other,” said Axen. “Therefore, I have to assume, you would do it with other races as well.”
He heard the gentle splash of water as Eloise moved around. “We do have a horrible tendency to destroy rather than negotiate. In my work, it’s something I address.”
“The Vorten believe warfare to be an effective strategy in ensuring agreement on a topic of dissension.”
“So, you’re just killing machines,” said Eloise.
Axen looked up sharply. “We are more than just our weapons.”
“And your bodies. You can easily kill me with just your hands.”
Axen instinctively flexed his muscles. “We are bred to be efficient fighting machines. It is not a weakness.”
“I didn’t say it was,” said Eloise. “With a few modifications and your weapons, you are intimidating.”
“That’s the idea.” Axen removed the food from the fire. It wasn’t as exciting as some of the meals he’d had on Vorten. But it had all the nutritional components he needed to remain strong and healthy.
“That smells good,” said Eloise as she watched him eat.
“It’s adequate,” said Axen.
“Do you have any spare? In my haste to escape a sudden death by your hand, I left my rations on the bank.”
Axen grunted and continued to eat. He shouldn’t waste food. But he did find Eloise interesting. Although she was scared, she was still talking to him. She wanted to know more about him and the Vorten lifestyle. Maybe it was her way of getting information to try to find a weakness from him. If it was, she’d be disappointed.
He pulled off a chunk of food and threw it towards Eloise. She caught it easily and, after taking a tentative sniff, began to eat.
“Is this normal food on Vorten?”
“We have genetically modified food on our planet,” said Axen. “It provides us with all the nutrients we need.”
“That sounds... bland.”
“Food is a fuel on our planet,” said Axen. “I know enough about Earth ways to know you had health problems because of your over indulgence with food and addictive substances.”
Eloise nodded. “We used to. But as resources grew scarce and war broke out again, people had to lose their desire for rich foods. By the time the last war finished, there was barely any land suitable for growing things. There were small pockets of safe areas, but they were commandeered by local councils. They grew food for themselves and kept it. Ordinary people missed out.”
“You look healthy. Do you consider yourself more than ordinary?”
Eloise choked on the food. “I was fortunate. I was looked after because of my role with the Intergalactic Council. It didn’t guarantee me the best quality food, but I rarely went hungry.”
“Everyone on Vorten receives adequate supplies,” said Axen. “We make sure no one goes without.”
“What about the individuals born with deformities?”
“It doesn’t happen,” said Axen. “It’s been bred out of our race.”
“I heard different.”
Axen glared at Eloise. “What do you know about my people?”
“You may have solved many of the diseases and abnormalities that happen during pregnancy, but you still get rid of infants who aren’t strong. I’ve heard they’re abandoned and left to die.”
“That happens on rare occasions.” Axen gritted his teeth. It was not a custom he approved of and had lost a blood brother because of such a belief.
“So everyone isn’t provided for.” Eloise swam closer to the bank. “You get rid of those you don’t think fit your lifestyle and can’t serve your planet as you think they should.”
Axen growled and lunged into the water, intent on catching Eloise and ending this game. Her questions angered him, making him doubt, just for a second, the ways of the people he protected.
Eloise gasped and pinwheeled her arms to get out of his reach and back to the safety of the deeper waters.
Axen stared at her in silence. “Don’t underestimate me.”
Eloise spat out water. “Won’t do it again.”
“It seems we do have some similarities between us.” Axen returned to the bank and wiped water from his limbs before squatting by the fire. “From what I know of humans, you abandon the weak as well.”
“In better times, we did provide for them,” said Eloise. “But you’re right. We never did the best we could.”
“And your obsession with nuclear technology?”
“You know about that?”
“It’s why humans are still alive,” said Axen. “Most aliens wish to learn the ways of this power and make use of it.”
“Then they are fools,” said Eloise.
“I agree.”
“Vortens don’t want nuclear capabilities?”
“We had it and destroyed the knowledge,” said Axen. “Something so deadly should not be allowed to exist.”
“I wish we’d done the same,” said Eloise.
Axen nodded. “Were you leaving Earth for good on the Capella to get away from the troubles on Earth?”
“No, I was traveling to a Council meeting on the planet Helicon. We were attempting to negotiate better trading alliances to reduce our dependence on the Fraken. They charge too much for the equipment to clean our polluted water.”
“The Fraken will not be pleased to learn you are looking for alternative assistance,” said Axen. “They laid claim to Earth.”
“It seems tyranny works in the stars as well as on Earth.” Eloise sighed. “But Fraken have access to clean water, safe power supplies, and habitable planets. We need them.”
“Those things were taken by force from weaker alien nations.”
“We have little choice but to accept them, for now. But the meeting I was attending involved a dozen different Council leaders from across the star system in the hopes of finding more opportunities. There was a possibility we’d be negotiating for the remaining humans on Earth to move to safer planets.”
“I cannot see many planets welcoming you,” said Axen. “Your bad reputation precedes you. I doubt we will want you on our planet. We are warriors, but we’re not destroyers.”
“You make us sound as bad as the Fraken.” Eloise’s teeth chattered as the water cooled around her.
Axen growled. “The Fraken are foul. Even you are not that bad.”
“We agree on something, at least.”
Axen huffed a laugh. “But they are a formidable enemy. They exploit weakness.”
“They definitely have me at a disadvantage,” said Eloise. “I’m stuck in the middle of one of their games, with the alien who’s going to kill me telling me how primitive and pointless I am.”
Axen snorted. “You humans are not so bad. I have met plenty worse. And plenty better.” He recalled his farewell to Urel. The hope that shone from the Deorg’s huge eyes made his gut clench. Urel placed so much faith in him. Too much faith.
“Fraken must be evil if they have dominated the Vorten.”
“It’s not as simple as that.” Axen rolled his shoulders.
“Are the Vorten in some kind of debt to the Fraken?” asked Eloise.
Axen nodded, not prepared to divulge the Vortens’ secrets to a stranger.
“What do you know about these games?” asked Eloise.
“I know I’m here to kill you.”
Eloise sighed. “I mean, the Fraken watch us, don’t they? This is being broadcast on the comms channel. We have an audience right now, seeing what we’re doing.”
Axen glanced briefly at the sky. “They watch. And they will be interested to see I have not yet killed you. But at the moment, they will find it entertaining. There will be plenty of e-credits bet on this game. The Fraken will get rich from this.”
Eloise hissed. “The game being to end my life.”
Axen looked at her and shrugged. “I didn’t say I enjoy the games, but I have no choice but to take part.” He tensed and stood in a smooth movement. Something wa
s moving through the rain forest, something that was not friendly. His senses picked up the smell of reptile.
Eloise swum backwards, but then stopped. “What’s wrong?”
Axen’s hand went to the blade attached to his discarded weapons belt, and he drew it slowly.
“You’ve decided to kill me now?” Eloise swam farther into the water.
Axen raised a finger to his lips. “Look to your right.”
Eloise did so and froze. A fifteen foot green scaled monster slid towards the water. It had the jaws of an Earth crocodile, but its teeth were longer and jagged, more like a shark. Its scales glinted in the light of the moon, and it growled low in its chest as its head reached the water’s edge.
Its gaze pinned onto Eloise, and it slipped softly under the water.
Chapter 6
Eloise tried desperately not to move as her heart rammed itself against her chest. She knew enough about Earth crocodiles to know movement attracted them to their prey. But if she didn’t move at all, she’d sink.
“I guess this means the Fraken want to liven up the game,” Eloise whispered to Axen.
Axen had his blade drawn and was in a crouched position by the water’s edge. She couldn’t figure out what he was doing. The whole purpose of the game was for Eloise to die, so why wasn’t he just sitting back and watching?
“Stay still,” said Axen. “This beast is not what it seems. The Fraken modify living creatures. It will have more abilities than you realize.”
“The only ability it needs is to bite my head off.” Eloise’s voice shook.
“Be quiet.” Axen edged into the water, his blade raised.
“You should let it get me,” said Eloise. “It’s going to do your job for you. It will mean you don’t have to clean your blade afterwards.”
Axen glared at her, and for a second, she saw indecision in his eyes. Was he really going to leave her to be eaten by this monster?
“It is not a good way to die,” said Axen. “The beast will drag you under and roll you. You will drown, rather than be bitten to death.”
“Hardly reassuring.” Eloise flinched as a bubble popped on the water’s surface.
“It was not meant to reassure. It was to let you know what’s about to happen if you don’t do what I tell you to do.”
“You should let it kill me.” Eloise shifted in the water, and ripples spread out around her. There was nowhere to hide. “It will be one less death on your conscience.”
“I don’t worry about my conscience,” said Axen.
“Perhaps you should,” said Eloise. “It may change your mind about being involved in the games.”
“It would not. Stop talking.” Axen’s brow furrowed as he stared into the water.
Eloise ducked her head under and spun in a slow circle as she attempted to locate the beast. The water was murky, but she thought she detected movement to her right, still close to the bank. It could be sizing up its prey. She shivered at the thought. Perhaps she should just stay where she was. Would drowning be so bad? She now had three options in regard to her own death, drowning, being eaten by this mutant crocodile, or having her head lopped off by Axen. She felt almost spoilt for choice. If the situation wasn’t so twisted, she’d find it funny.
A movement close to her arm made Eloise panic, and she lunged to the surface of the water. Terror took over as scales brushed her legs. She didn’t know where the beast was, and she didn’t care. She had to get out of the water.
Frantic breaths shot out of her as she ignored Axen’s yells to stay still. Eloise kicked her legs and spun her arms, the opposite bank getting closer every second. Maybe she would get away. She could be faster than this beast crocodile. She’d definitely be faster when she was on dry land. She just had to keep moving. Any second now, she’d be on land and away from those hideous teeth and sharp scales.
Eloise gasped and twisted in the water, as a vice-like sensation latched onto her calf and squeezed. She screamed and swallowed water. She’d been caught. She was going to die.
***
Axen moved swiftly. He unclasped his axe and strode deeper into the water. He could see Eloise had been bitten, and he wasn’t going to let the Fraken beast have her. He walked in up to his waist, realizing that, if he lost his footing, he wouldn’t be able to help Eloise and would be at the mercy of the beast. He took two large strides, grabbed hold of the beast’s tail, and yanked it towards him.
The beast roared and let go of Eloise, slipping around in the water to find its attacker. Axen kept out of reach of the snapping, fetid jaws of the beast, as he dragged it back towards the bank. He needed to get to dry land or, at least, have a sure footing, then he could deal with this monster.
The beast snapped and snarled, using its flexible spine to twist around and attempt an attack. But Axen held on, the beast’s serrated scales piercing the toughened skin on his hands as he did so. He dug the axe into the beast’s tail, and it screeched in anger.
As it flipped towards him, Axen caught sight of the expression of rage in its eyes and almost felt sorry for it. This was an animal that had just been trying to live its life. The Fraken had mutilated it and most likely sent it mad, all for their perverse games. It needed to be put out of its misery quickly.
He felt firm ground under his feet. Axen raised his axe and swiped the head off the beast crocodile. Sparks and acidic blood flew as he made contact with his blade. This monster was barely alive, more artificial intelligence than animal.
Axen grabbed the head of the beast crocodile and pulled it out of the water. He then yanked the rest of the beast onto dry land. He didn’t want the water Eloise was using to be polluted.
He surveyed the area. Was this a single beast the Fraken had sent into the game or were more close behind? After waiting several moments in silence, only his gaze shifting at every sound that filtered through the rainforest, he sat back on the bank.
Indecision swirled through Axen as he scratched his cheek. Why had he saved Eloise? He should have let this beast have her. It may not have been the quickest way for her to die, but it would have meant an end to this torturous game. He could leave the game and get back to his other duties. What possessed him to do this?
Looking over to the opposite bank, Axen saw Eloise was now on dry land as well, her eyes too wide and her face pale as she stared at him. “You saved me.”
Chapter 7
Eloise’s leg throbbed, and she gritted her teeth as a wave of sickness passed over her. But she kept her gaze fixed on Axen, who sat on the opposite bank, with the remains of the beast crocodile next to him.
She should be dead. That monster crocodile had hold of her, and Eloise had felt it pulling her under the water. It had done exactly what Axen said it would do. But then it had vanished. And for a few seconds, she’d had no idea why. All she’d known was she could move again, and despite a searing pain in her left calf, she could swim. So, she’d done so. And as she’d gotten to the bank and pulled herself out, Eloise had watched Axen take the head off the crocodile in a fluid, lethal motion.
“Why did you do that?” Her voice wobbled as she finally found the strength to speak again. “You should have let me die. You’d have won the game.”
Axen shook his head as he knelt forward and cleaned his axe. “No one wins in the Fraken games, other than the Fraken.”
“But you could have gone home,” said Eloise.
“Vorten who take part in Fraken games never get to go home,” said Axen, “not for many cycles.”
“Never?”
“We serve for five cycles under the Fraken.” Axen dried his axe and hooked it on his weapons belt.
“And what then?” Eloise shifted her weight and hissed as her calf protested.
Axen studied her through the gloom. “Your leg looks bad.”
“It is, but you talking is taking my mind off the pain.”
Axen nodded. “Few have managed to serve five cycles. Those who do, never return to tell us of life after the Fraken gam
es. It is believed they are richly rewarded, though.”
“Why did you pull the beast off me?” Eloise gently eased herself to the ground, wincing as she did so, as the bite on her calf throbbed again.
“It was not the right way for you to die.”
“You’d rather do it.”
“No.”
“But you’re going to,” said Eloise.
“One of us must die for the game to be won.” Axen rubbed his forehead, his eyes closing for a second.
Eloise gave a bitter sounding laugh. “I’m no match for you.”
“You’re not.”
“So, you’re just prolonging the inevitable. Giving the viewers what they want. A Fraken game they’ll talk about long after my body is cold.”
“Perhaps.”
Frustration ran through Eloise as she watched Axen. His eyes were studying her intently, and until then, she’d barely noticed she was still only half dressed, and her sodden vest hid little of her figure. She drew her legs up, her calf complaining as she did so, and covered her breasts with her arms.
Axen looked away. “You’ve been injured.”
“Well spotted.”
“You should treat your damaged leg.”
“Why bother? It will make it easier for you to capture me,” said Eloise.
“You’ll have a Medi-kit in the provisions the Fraken gave you before you entered the game,” said Axen. “You risk infection by not treating your leg wound.”
Eloise raised her eyebrows and looked at the discarded bag on the bank where Axen sat. “That’s no use to me now.”
Axen followed her gaze before standing, grabbing her bag, and hurling it across the water, where it landed several inches from her.
Eloise shook her head. “I don’t understand you.”
Axen shrugged. “You’re not the only one.”
Eloise opened her bag and pulled out a Healing Stick. It wouldn’t close the wound on her leg completely, but it would provide a numbing effect and speed up the healing. Healing Sticks were useful for things like cuts and bruises, but major injuries still needed a professional to look at them.
She ran the Healing Stick over her leg several times, and a welcome flood of numbness filled her calf. She let out a sigh of relief and tipped her head back.
Axen (Vortex Alien Warriors Book 1) Page 5