The guard looked at him with disgust, as if insulted by his lavish and decadent ways. But Jafar would have none of it. He picked up the bread and chewed down on it as if it were any other meal, refusing to be seen as weak amongst anyone, let alone the savages now imprisoning him. He got halfway through the food, and the guard had not left; yet he always had within seconds before. He knew something was different this time. He could hear footsteps approaching and stopped eating so that he may listen and watch intently.
Two other guards strode into view on the other side of the bars. They hauled Boz and Gur alongside them, with their hands bound in a thick twine. Both looked battered and bloody, and with barely enough energy to walk. They were dragging their feet and completely unable to resist. Jafar brought his legs back and began to get up when the guard shouted at him.
"Stay!"
The command disgusted him. He was being treated like an enslaved animal, but there was nothing he could do to change their situation. All he could do was wait and hope someone would come for him. Part of him wished he had not sent Sarik away, but had he not, it would only have condemned him and so many more to the same fate. A hatch with a hinged opening at the top was raised, and his two comrades thrown inside. They couldn't keep their balance in their weakened state and staggered in, falling to the floor. The hatch was thrown back down, its base sliding into channels in the floor. A lock slid across, firmly holding it in place.
The three Barbarlars strode off laughing at their plight, knowing Jafar and his comrades were powerless. Jafar rushed to Boz first, whose arm was bound and tied to his chest.
"How is your wound?" he asked.
He turned Boz over onto his back and pulled out a tiny blade from the buckle of his compression suit. He slipped the blade into the binding and sliced it open until his one good arm came free. Boz groaned and seemed dazed.
"Alive," he replied.
Jafar cut Gur's restraints, too, and they both helped Boz sit up against the wall where Jafar had been moments before.
Both of them looked badly beaten. Blood had dried and congealed over their faces from injuries when they were first captured, and what looked like much more vigorous beatings since. He knew the only reason he had been spared such a beating was tradition, and that angered him. That Coskun would appear to stick to the tradition and rules of their ancestors so closely, and yet cheat in a fair contest in order to beat him.
"I am sorry we could not protect you," whispered Boz.
He was exhausted and barely able to get his words out. Jafar shook his head.
"No, there was nothing you could do. This was a trap that no manner of planning or skill could have wriggled out of, and I am sorry."
Boz nodded in gratitude, though Jafar didn't feel he deserved it. He picked up the plate with the remaining food and handed it to them to share.
"Even if we can escape, there is no way off this world without help from the Alliance. All we can do now is hope someone is foolish enough to come after us."
"But you ordered Commander Sarik to leave," Gur insisted.
"Yes, but there are others who would yet come for us."
* * *
Alita opened the door to Taylor's quarters aboard the Guam with a smile upon her face, but it was soon gone when she found an empty room. She tried his comms, but there was no answer, and so she set about looking for him. After trying several places, she strode into the armoury and found him sitting on one of the benches with the Morohta hammer across his lap.
"What are you doing with that?"
His right hand ran over the surface of the hammerhead as if he were studying it.
"We're going after big game. I figure I want to have the right tool for the job. A beast slayer."
"That thing is ridiculous."
"Yes, and it has got me out of more than a few tight spots, already."
"You cannot fight every battle single-handedly, you know that, right?"
He looked up to see genuine concern and worry in her face.
"And I don't, which is why I have come here. We need Jafar. We need his experience, strength, and leadership. Most of all, we need the Krys people, and few of their worlds will support us without him leading them."
"But you can't just go down there and seize power for yourself. A Human will never be accepted."
Taylor shrugged.
"I will do whatever I have to do."
She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by an open call over the loudspeakers.
"Colonel Taylor to the bridge."
He leapt to his feet and rushed forwards with the hammer in hand. He got to the bridge. Song was waiting for him.
"We are being hailed by a Barbarlar vessel. Commander Sarik has asked if you want to handle this."
"Sure, how many are out there?"
"Just one vessel, a small warship, but nothing of note."
"All right, put them on screen."
A Barbarlar appeared a few seconds later. He had the same primitive dress and hard faced look as the representative that had addressed Jafar.
"You bring a fleet where it is not welcome. I represent Lord Coskun of all the Krys peoples, and..."
"Of no people but his own," snapped Taylor.
The alien seemed shocked to have been interrupted.
"If your Lord held any power over the Krys people, then you would have a fleet here to protect this world. Instead, they stand here with me, a Human."
"You have no authority here, no matter how many traitors from our people support you. Advance any further, and you will be treated as an enemy."
Taylor ignored him and looked to the Captain.
"Target their weapon modules and engines."
She did not hesitate to relay the commands, and Taylor looked again at the Krys representative who still seemed utterly calm. He thought Taylor was calling his bluff, and that only made him smile.
"Ready to fire," replied Nichols.
Taylor looked into the eyes of the Barbarlar one last time, but he could see he was not willing to concede a single thing.
"Fire!"
The gun batteries of the Guam opened up with one carefully targeted burst. They watched on another display as the impacts blew holes in the vessel. The Barbarlar was rocked in his seat, and the signal interrupted for a moment. The alien showed on screen before them once more, but he had nothing to say, so Taylor continued.
"Tell your master we are on our way. We come to negotiate, but any sign of force will result in an immediate carpet-bombing of every town and village we see. I will set this world on fire if you give me a reason to do so. There will be no glorious struggle, just genocide that I will have no pleasure nor doubt in dealing out."
He turned back to Song who seemed rather amazed and impressed at the same time.
"Advance towards the planet, and cut this fool off."
The Barbarlar said nothing before the transmission was terminated.
"That was an interesting form of diplomacy," she stated.
Taylor nodded.
"These Barbarlars will be beaten into submission or left for dead. It is their choice."
"You know we don't have the strength or firepower to do that?"
"Yes, but they don't know that."
They soared forwards and past the stricken enemy vessel en route to the planet. Song brought up camera views in front of them that projected deep into the world. Taylor was surprised at how underdeveloped it was. He had expected a primitive and simple world, not one that looked like nothing more than just wilderness.
"Why did we ever need these people? How useful can one planet be? Surely not worth all this risk?" Song asked.
"Is it worth fighting over? No, we can't afford the losses, but is it worth risking a few lives to gain an army, yes. Jafar knew that, he just didn't have the resources to pull it off. I should have had him wait until we returned from Yaxha, and maybe all this could have been avoided."
"Hindsight's a bitch. That's what you are always telling us,"
added Jones.
"Even so, I won't make the same mistake twice. I am taking the Guam's Marine detachment with me, and plenty more from the other vessels. Put me through to Sarik and Tuin."
Song was taken aback to hear them referred to so informally, and yet she did not question or doubt Taylor's ways.
The Commander and the Emperor appeared before them soon after.
"That was not how I expected you to handle this situation," started Sarik.
"Yeah, well surprise can be a powerful negotiating tool."
Jones smiled at the concept.
"I need two hundred of your Mechs to support me, and as many of your warriors Tuin."
"You have them," replied Sarik.
"We are at your disposal," Tuin added.
"Then follow my lead," he replied, and both parties ended the communication.
He turned back to Song. She was calmly awaiting his orders.
"You hold position, gun ports open. I want them to think we are willing to turn their home into a fireball."
"And if they attack you in force?"
"Rain down fire as much as you can, and get us out of there, but only on my signal."
She acknowledged the order and went on to carry out her duties.
"Let's go," Taylor said to Jones.
"Colonel!" Song called.
He stopped. She was standing at a display screen and frowning, as if trying to make sense of what she was seeing.
"What is it, Captain?"
"We are picking up signals from Lord Jafar's shuttle."
Taylor rushed to the console. She was looking at an overhead satellite view of a vast arena with the shuttle dwarfed near the centre.
"Why would they just leave it there? Not try to hide it or stop the signal?"
"Maybe they don't know how?"
Taylor smiled at Nichols and shook his head.
"No, it is a trophy, and likely a trap."
"So you will ignore it?"
"Nope, I'm gonna land right beside it."
The two Navy officers looked confused and waited for him to go on.
"They aren't afraid, and it is a statement of that fact."
"Doesn't that worry you?"
"Just stick to the plan, Captain, and cover our asses."
He left the bridge, and they returned to the docking bay and once again a scene that was becoming all too familiar. The ship’s marines had been formed up, and all equipped as the Immortals now standing beside them. Most were veterans of the Yaxha mission, although there were plenty of new faces. Taylor strode up and down the line, trying to get a good look at every face of the men and women he was about to lead. He stopped to address them.
"I am sorry this had to come so soon. Such responsibility should have fallen on others after the exceptional service you gave on the Cholan homeworld. But that just isn't the way this has gone. It's on us, you and I. I fully expect and intend to fulfil this mission without firing a shot, but a show of force is necessary. Do not provoke these Barbarlars. We may soon call them allies. Any questions?"
A young Lieutenant named Hartley spoke up. He had an artificial hand and a scarred face from burns Taylor knew he had suffered on Yaxha when storming the Emperor's Palace.
"Sir, are these really the sort of people we want to be fighting beside?"
Taylor smiled.
"Not really, but I am sure the enemy will feel far worse being in front of them than we will at their side."
A few laughed at his light heartedness.
"Our primary objective is to bring Jafar back alive so that he may continue his service as the leader of the aligned Krys worlds. Secondary objective is to get these savages on our side. Walk tall, be the intimidating sons of bitches I know you all are. Command respect, but show no intent of violence except in self-defence. Load up and move out!"
They rushed into the heavily armoured Stormer assault craft, and Alita took the pilot’s seat of that carrying Taylor and their team. Mitch sat next to her so he could see the external display screens, as they soon passed through the atmosphere. She gasped at the sight of the first Ejdar.
"Commander Sarik warned us of those creatures, but I think he understated them a little."
"No shit," replied Taylor.
As they descended towards their location, they swooped past one of the huge creatures and noted the Krys rider. Taylor was shaking his head.
"You know it's not so long ago that if you had told me something like that existed, I would have laughed and had you locked up for being insane."
"I am sorry to say that this is as much a shock to me as it is you."
Taylor smiled. It was the first time his comrades had felt like a fish out of water, as he had done since waking up in this new life. He was taking in all of the scenery now, just as Jafar had done, and coming to the same conclusions. It wasn't long until they saw the vast arena walls where the transponder message was hailing from. Alita cautiously checked the scanners and screens, expecting incoming fire any second, but it never came.
As they got overhead, and she slowed their descent for a smooth landing, they saw the shuttle near the centre of the open arena. She looked to Taylor for confirmation that he wanted her to land, and he nodded.
"I don't like this at all."
"Don't worry about it. We've faced far worse," replied Taylor.
Jones butted in. "It stinks, though. You don't enter a world with a small army, without any kind of opposition or questions being asked. Don't you think we are just being reeled into an ambush?"
"I thought about it, of course. But I also know the Krys, and these are the most simple and primitive of them. It is important for their leaders to appear strong in front of their soldiers. If they will want anything out of this, it will be a personal contest."
"And still you came?" Alita asked.
"It's just a thought," he replied, shrugging as if it didn't bother him at all, "Put us down as planned."
She didn't look at all keen but still followed the order. They came in at a steep angle, and thrusters levelled them off at the last minute. They touched down just five metres away from Jafar's shuttle. Taylor was quick to hit the door release, and the murky foul air flowed in through the openings. He felt his nostrils burn and his eyes water slightly, but still he went forward.
He looked around in all directions for some sign of life, but all he could see were dozens of marines pouring out from each of the craft. Krys warriors were disembarking north of their position and Cholan to the right. He was surprised to see Emperor Tuin himself was leading the small force. His eyes met with the Cholan leader, and he nodded in respect of his efforts. Taylor stepped towards Jafar's shuttle. The ramp was lowered, and as he stepped up inside, he found it empty.
Where the hell is Jafar?
* * *
The ground shook slightly, and they heard the roar of engines overhead. Jafar knew it wasn't the Barbarlars, and he looked up to the hole to the surface above him. A Stormer passed by, and he caught just enough of a glimpse to recognise it.
"Taylor has come."
He heard a flurry of shouts coming from the guards down the corridor, and it brought a smile to his face.
"We are getting out of here," he said to the other two.
Footsteps rang out as one of the guards rushed to the entrance of the cell. It was the same repulsive guard he had communicated with before. He held a large two-handed axe in his hands.
"You hear that?" Jafar asked of the Barbarlar, "That is the sound of your doom."
"And yet here you stand, still a caged animal," the alien snapped.
Jafar smiled, stepping up to the bars of the cell, and that only infuriated the guard further. It was in this moment he noticed one of Boz's pistols slung from a primitive holster.
"You know your Lord is nothing more than a lying devious cheat?"
"The Barbarlar bore his teeth and took a step closer. The hulking guard stood as tall as Jafar and a little broader.
"Lord Coskun will have you
r tongue for such an insult."
Jafar stepped right up to the bars so that his face almost touched the thick branches.
"Why not take it now, or are you not up to the task?"
The Barbarlar's nostrils flared with anger, and he took a step up to the other side so that he was in arm’s reach.
"I would gladly, if only my Lord would command it."
In a flash Jafar's arms were through the gaps in the cell branches and wrapped around the Barbarlar's neck. He wrenched him forward so that his head smashed into the hard and barbed surface, pinning his hands and weapon between them. With his left hand holding firm, he reached down for the pistol with his right and drew it to side of the alien’s head. Jafar pulled the trigger before he could think or recover from the impact. The shot passed right through his skull and spewed blood out across the floor, and his body went limp.
Jafar pushed the body back so that it slumped far from the entrance. Boz and Gur were soon by his side.
"Taylor may have come for us, but that is no guarantee these barbarians will not try and kill us."
They nodded in agreement as he took aim at the hinges of the cell, shooting them off until the hatch collapsed onto the body of the fallen guard. Jafar handed the pistol to Boz, who could only use his one good arm. He then knelt beside the guard and smiled as he thought of the end he had met. He noticed the blade of the axe sticking out from between the body and the cell entrance and drew it out from his dead hands.
"Let's go."
* * *
Taylor looked around in all directions, making no attempt to take up any kind of defensive position, and that was making many of the marines restless. Then they heard a shriek that was shrill and echoed around the arena. Within seconds an Ejdar soared into view and landed twenty metres in front of him. The rider seemed to be assessing all those standing with him before lifting and blowing on a large horn. Trees all around the skirting wall of the arena began to rustle, and more than fifty of the creatures burst out into view, landing around them to encircle the combined forces at Taylor's disposal.
Battle Beyond Earth: Insurrection Page 10